"Snapped!" With a light snap of his fingers, the lights in the room turned on, and John Li sat at the computer desk, watching the messages in the modeling group chat.
"John, I have a friend who wants a Gundam model. Is there a way?"
"Kai, you believe in John too much. He doesn't have to make one or two models anymore. Just say no!"
"Yeah, John's technique is the best I've ever seen. Kai, this isn't the first time you've asked, why would you ask such a silly question?"
"Oh, wait for me to finish, this time I want a big one!"
"This friend has suddenly become obsessed with Mobile Suit Gundam recently, and he is also wealthy. He wants a big all-metal model for his private collection villa!"
"Hey, Kai, you know such a rich guy!"
"Kai, let's be friends!"
The topic in the group gradually went off track.
"@Kay, how big does he want it?" John Li responded directly in the group.
"John is online!!"
"John, do you take apprentices?"
"John, there's an offline meeting this weekend. Come out and play. I'll cover all the expenses!"
"John, you..."
John Li's appearance online attracted everyone's attention. There were only about twenty people in this group, mostly second-hand dealers in the modeling industry and fans of metal models, but they rarely participated in the chat.
"Everyone, be quiet. How about I just add that friend to the group? @John"
"Okay, it looks like it's a big order, and you don't dare to quote anymore, hehe! @Kay"
John smiled and replied. Not long after, a person named Harry joined the group chat.
"Welcome!"
"Welcome to the group!"
"Hello, boss!"
The people in the group, mostly shrewd businessmen relying on wealthy clients, were eager to show their goodwill. After all, familiarizing themselves with such a rich person could be beneficial in the future!
Kay didn't joke about money matters. Everyone was well aware of the stakes and didn't play around when it came to business unless they wanted to risk their reputation.
"I heard from Kay that there's a master here who's very good at making models. Is that true?"
"Of course, John is very skilled. He has produced more than 100 different metal models, each one a classic. The prices in the circle have doubled several times. @Harry"
"John's work is the best I've seen, and his prices are very fair. Fortunately, his output isn't high, otherwise, other model makers would be out of business. @Harry"
"@Harry, this group is basically a gathering place for all the model elites in New York. You can always find us if you need anything, as long as you have money. We're not limited to models! @Harry"
John watched the lively group chat and smiled, shaking his head. "@Harry, what kind of model do you want? Let me say first, an all-metal model over one meter high is already very big. You'll need a truck to transport it."
"Really, I want one taller than me!" Harry replied in the group.
"All metal? One meter high can weigh a thousand pounds. Think carefully, or consider making the inside wood and the outside gilded!" Someone suggested.
"No, I want all metal. I want one that's 1.3 meters tall! @John"
"All metal? 1.3 meters? The price isn't cheap. How old are you? @Harry" Only John dared to ask that.
"How much is it? I'm eight years old already!"
John became speechless. An eight-year-old wanting a one-meter-high all-metal model? Was this a joke?
"@Kai?"
"John, uh, he paid for it." Kai quickly replied.
"How much is it? @John"
"Probably fifty thousand dollars. @Harry" John thought for a while, including the five thousand commission to Kay, and gave a reasonable market price.
"Oh, I thought it would cost more than 100,000. I almost thought my pocket money wasn't enough. Fifty thousand isn't expensive! When can it be done?" Harry replied nonchalantly.
"..."
"..."
A series of exclamation marks popped up. Is this the world of the rich? Fifty thousand dollars was just pocket money for an eight-year-old?
John was also taken aback but still calmly said, "Okay, first give Kai half of the deposit, and then send me the model style you want. I'll start making some preparations."
After finishing, he pushed the computer aside, glanced at the few iron rods left on the shelf in his room, and walked toward the garage.
This was his studio, specially organized by Jenny and George.
Aunt May had been sent home by Aunt Jenny, just two blocks away, only ten minutes from his house.
John entered the garage alone, closed the door, and it became a closed space, his favorite state. Everything here was arranged by himself. The bright light bulbs surrounded by countless metal accessories gave him a great sense of security.
Sitting on his work chair, he casually attracted a few silver metal blocks to the workbench.
"The last time I fought in Manhattan, I forgot to take all the knives back, so I have to make them again!"
John's hands moved as if squeezing rubber. Soon, three shiny throwing knives appeared in front of him. He picked them up and examined them.
He sighed, "Ordinary metal still doesn't work. It's okay to deal with normal people, but against someone like Abomination, they can't even breakthrough. But high-end metal isn't easy to come by. Maybe I should check with the military?"
Casually tossing them, the three throwing knives automatically flew back into the knife bag on his calf.
Metal wire, metal rod, and joint protector, John pointed out each one.
The metal in front of him changed rapidly. Within a minute, a small piece of metal turned into a roll of metal filaments less than one millimeter in diameter and flew into John's waist pocket.
Another piece of metal turned into two metal rods no more than one centimeter thick, which he set aside with several auxiliary devices.
John complained, "I really want to know what adamantium feels like, and vibranium too. I must go to Wakanda if I have the chance. It must be amazing!" He drooled again.
John understood that with his current control over metals, he had absolute control over most ordinary metals.
But for those more advanced metals, even if they were placed in front of him, he might not be able to completely control and deform them.
As he pondered, John's eyes lit up. He went to his small warehouse and pulled out a small box from the bottom. Inside was a metal block no more than five centimeters in diameter, shining brightly.
Gold titanium alloy!
Last time, while following an ordinary vehicle, John sensed over a hundred pieces of such high-quality metal inside. Drooling, he secretly followed and managed to extract three pieces of gold titanium alloy during transportation.
The two throwing knives he made from them were dedicated to Abomination, but this time, he wasn't planning to make a tool out of this piece.
"Maybe I should try new abilities. My defense is too weak. If I'm not careful someday, an ice bullet could end me!" John looked at the shiny metal in his hand, his eyes gleaming.
He held the gold-titanium alloy with both hands and began to absorb it. Wonderful energy flowed out of his mind, gathering the golden light emitted by the gold-titanium alloy.
A marvelous light film attached itself to John's skin and slowly penetrated into it.
'Strengthening: Gold Eye (54%), Copper Skin (4%), Steel Bar (0%), Iron Bone (0%)'
The copper skin attribute began to slowly increase: 5%, 6%, 7%, and up to 8%.
The golden light on his body gradually converged, and the shiny metal block in his hand became dull, its size reduced. When thrown into the waste bin, it broke into several pieces, losing its metallic luster.
John squeezed his small face, feeling it had become tougher.
Then the phone on his desk beeped with a message: $25,000 had been deposited, along with a picture of a handsome Gundam.
"John, all the money has been transferred to you. I get three thousand this time. By the way, the buyer is the son of the chairman of the Osborn Group. I had a hard time getting this connection, so please don't mess it up! Thanks!"
Looking at the message from Kai, John smiled and flexed his wrist. "1.3 meters? Looks like I'll be working late tonight!"
What? You asked about the students' homework.
Stop joking. Fourth graders are still learning addition and subtraction. Only in America!