[California, at Tony's Home]
Although Tony did not know where Corin had gotten his father's belongings, he was still half doubtful about whether these relics could really help him get through the crisis.
This doubt only grew stronger as Tony flipped through the everyday items his father had left behind.
'It doesn't seem like there's anything useful.'
This made Tony's mood sink bit by bit. He subconsciously glanced at Corin beside him, who looked completely relaxed, 'What is it that makes him so confident in these relics?'
'Honestly, I really am something else. I clearly decided not to believe this bounty hunter in anything except fighting.'
Even so, who could not grab onto any shred of hope when trapped in desperation?
Just at that moment, on the projector screen, Tony's father, Howard Stark, called out toward the camera, ["Tony…"]
This caught the attention of both Tony and Corin.
For some reason, Alyssa had not come along with Corin.
On the screen, Howard Stark spoke seriously, ["You're still young. Everything I've done is to pave the way for your future."]
Howard stated that with the level of technology of his era, it was simply impossible to innovate the future of humanity.
["The map I left behind will bring you new discoveries. Only you can change the future of mankind."]
Hearing this, Tony immediately found the map his father had left behind.
It was worth mentioning that what Corin had taken from S.H.I.E.L.D. back then was only a small portion of the Stark relics. Large items like the map model had all been loaded onto a truck and, at Corin's request, delivered directly to Tony's home.
"Damn, remembered it wrong.'
Corin looked at the opened box on the ground. He had thought the important thing was inside that box, but in the end the only useful thing in it was a videotape.
What could truly bring hope to Tony was the thing hidden inside the map model.
Corin looked at the model that was half a wall tall and thought to himself, 'This is it!'
Tony keenly sensed that there seemed to be something different hidden within this map.
As if a doubt in his heart had been unlocked, he quickly moved the model into the workshop to study it.
With Jarvis's help, he discovered that inside an inconspicuous sphere was an elemental structure he had never seen before.
Through analysis, he was pleasantly surprised to find that this new type of element could not only eliminate palladium but also serve as a new core for the reactor.
"I knew it. Only a new element could help me!"
In order to detoxify himself, Tony had tried all kinds of combinations of existing elements in the scientific world, but none of them worked.
This was also one of the things that drove him to despair, "This is forcing me to develop a new element…"
Tony really had entertained the idea of developing a new element, but time simply did not allow it.
The appearance of the new elemental structure dispersed the dark clouds that had been pressing on Tony's heart for many days.
Tony finally revealed a happy smile.
"Tony?"
At this moment, Corin spoke up, pulling the cheerful Tony back to reality.
Tony turned his head to look at Corin, who looked confident and assured, and silently praised him, 'Really a guy who can bring me surprises.'
Tony recalled that Corin had already keenly noticed his predicament earlier and proposed that he had a way to help him solve it, and he himself had dismissed it at the time.
Who would have thought that at the critical moment, Corin would actually bring something that could change his fate.
'This bounty hunter really has something to him.'
'Although when we first met, he seemed like he wanted to kill me, but to be fair, the guy really does play by the rules~'
Back then, he bought my life for just 50 million. Tony felt it was an absolute bargain.
Thinking back on his past with Corin, he had saved him more than once, and in the end only took some money and left.
Tony had never met such a good person in his entire life.
Although driven by his competitive nature, he had found him unpleasant everywhere before.
'But Mr. Silver Duke is like timely rain, always showing up right when I am in trouble.'
'What a lovable guy…'
'Although I, Tony Stark, have never bowed to anyone, but for someone like Mr. Silver Duke, who does good deeds and only wants money, how could one not like him?'
Tony forgot that Corin's asking price was not low at all. It was just that he did not care.
From this moment on, the always-arrogant Tony left a pretty good impression of Corin in his heart.
Just as he was about to say something, a wave of pain struck. The symptoms of palladium poisoning worsened again.
Tony let out a muffled groan, and the gray-black stripes on his neck were already visible to the naked eye.
Psh!
At this moment, Corin quickly injected some kind of medicine into Tony's neck.
"Oh right, Director Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. asked me to pass along his regards…"
If Tony had not suffered a poisoning episode, Corin would almost have forgotten that before leaving S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury had handed him a syringe containing medicine that could slow down the symptoms of palladium poisoning.
Nick Fury had originally planned to personally go and talk to Tony, help him through the poisoning crisis, and thereby persuade Tony to join the Avengers Initiative.
But since he had already given the most important Stark relics to Corin as bargaining chips in the deal, and he was also thinking of recruiting both Corin and Tony into his plan at the same time, he simply generously handed the medicine over to Corin as well.
After all, it was not an antidote. This kind of medicine could only temporarily relieve the symptoms of palladium poisoning.
So in Nick Fury's eyes, its value was far inferior to Corin and Tony.
"Ah~ What is this?"
Feeling the sharp pain from his neck, followed by a cool sensation that eased the stifling symptoms he had been enduring recently,
Tony could not help but feel curious.
Corin felt a bit shaken afterward. Thankfully, Tony's poisoning flared up right in front of him and reminded him, otherwise he really would have forgotten about injecting Tony with the medicine.
If Tony suddenly dropped dead in the middle of developing the new element, his sin would have been huge.
Thinking of this, Corin was very straightforward, "Tony, this is a drug specially developed by S.H.I.E.L.D. for you to relieve the symptoms of palladium poisoning."
"I think this dose should be able to help you hold on until the new element is successfully developed."
"I almost forgot, hehe!"
Tony touched his neck and felt that the strange bulge from before was slowly receding. Knowing that what Corin had injected into him really could help delay the symptoms, he let out a sigh of relief, but also had a bit of a complaint, "With something this good, why didn't you take it out earlier? You made me suffer for so many days…"
But the fact was that he had genuinely saved his life and ensured that he had time to research the new element.
Tony would not ignore this favor, "Mr. Silver Duke, I know your rules. Five hundred million, paid in full."
"Stop!"
Corin raised his hand and looked at Tony in surprise.
'What's this about?'
'Back then, I said five hundred million and you didn't agree. I flew back and forth between Brazil and Washington like a poor sap and finally managed to get the thing.'
'You've now confirmed that it works, and you're still thinking of taking it at the original price?'
'Where does that kind of good deal come from?'
'Can pre-sale and finished product prices be the same?'
"Tony, I have to remind you, that was the original price…"
Tony Stark looked at Corin's professional smile and knew his style very well, 'Alright, alright~'
'Isn't it just money? Small matter…'
But how could the proud Tony show enthusiasm toward another man?
Thinking of this, Tony snorted coldly, "I'll give you double! One billion…"
At the same time, his eyes kept glancing toward the new element structural diagram, wishing he could dive straight into it.
Corin looked at the generous Tony and knew he was eager to develop the new element. Since he had already offered double the price, continuing to haggle at this point would only be annoying.
Besides, there would be plenty of opportunities later.
So he did not act coy, "Deal!"
As soon as the words fell, the phone rang, and Alyssa's slightly hoarse voice came through, ["Boss… the military is calling. There's a commission…"]
Without even saying goodbye, Corin directly left Tony's house.
At this moment, Tony dialed a phone number. He knew that manufacturing this new element would require enormous energy.
With his current small workshop, it was simply impossible to accomplish.
On the call, he arranged to purchase a set of ion emission components worth ten billion, then picked up a sledgehammer and began renovating his mansion, which was worth several hundred million.
If the hurriedly departing Corin knew that Tony spent over ten billion just on purchasing equipment, who knows if he would regret leaving so decisively.
[🎉 Shoutout to Fanisa, Genesis00, Blacklight4321, Weiss, Kameko, BlueFernXO, Eduardo and Cirrpzzy for joining patreon. Thank you very much.🤗]
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through P@treon.