"Rimuru, you're a genius! Come to Stark Industries! Name your salary and choose your benefits!"
After learning Rimuru's background, Tony immediately extended an olive branch.
Although Rimuru had clearly stated he wouldn't become an experimental subject, nothing is truly impossible in this World.
If it seems impossible, it simply means the offer isn't high enough!
Money isn't everything, but for Tony Stark, anything that can be solved with money is not a problem.
Rimuru: "Working is impossible. I will never work in this life. Rather than working, I'd rather become a shareholder of Stark Industries!"
"Oh?"
Tony Stark raised an eyebrow and said, "Stark Industries' stock is almost crashing to the limit right now. You dare to take it over?"
Rimuru: "Why wouldn't I dare? You're Tony Stark! Are you not confident in yourself?"
Tony smiled happily. "I like kids like you, who dare to speak the truth. You have far more foresight than those useless hosts out there!"
Rimuru was speechless. Tony's arrogant personality really deserved a beating.
"If you treat me like a child again, this conversation ends!"
"Okay, okay, I apologize for my rudeness. But don't you think your self-esteem is a little too troublesome?"
"No, it's proof that I once existed!"
"Fine. So what if you proved you once existed? Do you want the whole World to know you're different from everyone else, that you had a 'previous life' as a man?"
Rimuru: "…"
Tony looked at Rimuru seriously. "You can't live solely in the eyes of others. But you should never completely ignore the existence of others, especially when you don't yet have the ability to disregard them."
"Mutants still face all kinds of discrimination. What do you think would happen if your unique experience were discovered by the FBI or the CIA?"
Rimuru: "…"
Although Tony Stark was as sharp-tongued and annoying as ever, he wasn't wrong.
Rimuru understood these principles; it was just that the pride of having been a man for more than twenty years made him unwilling to admit it.
Recalling the mutants captured by William Stryker for experiments, Rimuru's eyes slowly became determined.
There were too many big shots in Marvel; he should keep a low profile for now.
After he Predates a few Infinity Stones, he'll let this World experience the terror of being ruled by Rimuru!
Rimuru: "Thank you, Tony. From now on, I'll try my best to act in a way that matches my current identity."
Tony Stark: "It's never too late to correct yourself."
Rimuru: "Honestly, I'm so used to your narcissistic, arrogant behavior that seeing you suddenly so serious made me think you were possessed by Pepper!"
Pfft!
Tony Stark almost spat out a mouthful of old blood. "Narcissistic? Arrogant? That's slander! Who spread such rumors? I've always been low-key and steady. If you don't believe me, ask Jarvis!"
Jarvis: "Sir has always been low-key and steady. His favorite colors are the understated maroon and golden yellow, and his favorite villa faces the sea. Sir has always ignored awards that boast of achievements. There is no one more low-key and steady than Sir."
Rimuru was speechless. Jarvis, are you sure you're not betraying him?
Where in the world do any of those things count as being low-key or steady?
"Tony, I want to exchange this for shares of Stark Industries."
As Rimuru spoke, a bottle of Recovery Potion appeared in his hand.
"What is this?"
Tony took the Recovery Potion, immediately curious.
"The highest-grade Recovery Potion. Any injury can be healed completely in a short time. Even severed limbs can be restored!"
Tony Stark's eyes widened. "There's such a miraculous medicine in the World?"
Seeing Tony act like a country bumpkin who'd never seen the World, Rimuru suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of superiority.
Damn it, after half a day with Tony Stark, this 'rich dog,' his biggest takeaway had been: 'poverty limits my imagination.'
Now he finally won a round!
"Mortal wisdom. Do not try to comprehend magic potions with a brain rusted by science!"
Tony Stark: "…"
This kid's mouth was as sharp as ever!
Laboratory.
One hour later.
Jarvis: "Sir, all data tests are complete. The medicinal effect is even more miraculous than Rimuru described."
Tony Stark, already a magnate standing at the peak of the World, hadn't felt true shock in a long time.
But this Recovery Potion thoroughly shook him!
Not only because of its healing ability—but because it overturned his worldview.
Parallel worlds exist, other universes exist, magic exists…
All of this greatly expanded Tony's horizons, while filling him with both pressure and hope!
With this miraculous potion, why would he still need an electromagnet in his chest?
Palladium was toxic; he wouldn't have to drink that awful green chlorophyll juice anymore!
"Jarvis, did you detect the ingredients of the Recovery Potion?"
"Sir, the formula is not complex, and the ingredients are very simple. However, the main material is unlike any element known on Earth. It appears to be a special product from another world and cannot be analyzed."
"A special product from another World?!"
"Hipot Grass, a miraculous herb that only grows in areas rich in magic. It is the core material of the Recovery Potion."
Rimuru kindly gave Iron Man some basic knowledge.
Simply put, the Recovery Potion was his secret weapon. Even if Tony had the formula, without Hipot Grass, he couldn't produce it.
Tony Stark: "This is called Hipot Grass? What a miraculous herb!"
The next second, Tony's eyes widened. "Wait—why are you here? Who allowed you into the laboratory?"
Rimuru waved casually. "Jarvis' core program is indeed unique, but it no longer holds any secrets from me."
Tony Stark looked surprised. "You're an expert in artificial intelligence too?"
Rimuru smiled smugly without answering. Expert? He hadn't even fully learned basic C language.
But that didn't stop him from showing off!
After all, he was Great Sage's father! (Great Sage: Heh.)
With Great Sage, he could even upgrade Jarvis and create an intelligence far beyond him—perhaps even true AI.
Tony stared at Rimuru, and an overwhelming desire to recruit him rose in his heart again.
"Rimuru, be my son!"
Pfft!
Rimuru almost spat out blood. Did you think you were White, casually telling me to be your son?
Are you begging to be beaten right now?