Could it be some kind of scam call from Northern Myanmar?
Tony heavily thumped his head and pressed his sore waist, feeling as if he had lost a day of his lifespan.
"Damn it, I've been ruined by wine and women. I look terrible. I can't keep living like this. Jarvis, note this down immediately: starting today, I'm quitting alcohol!"
"Sir, are you not quitting women?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? Don't blame the alcohol problem on other people!"
Tony got out of bed and took the call.
"Hello, this is Tony Stark. If you're trying to sell insurance, prepare to receive a letter from my lawyers."
"…Stark, do you want metal?"
"??? Do I look like someone who lacks metal?"
Tony subconsciously moved to hang up.
The only reason he hadn't started cursing was because the caller had somehow obtained his private number.
"Vibranium, adamantium, uru metal."
Tony's hand froze mid-motion.
"Wait, what did you just say?!"
"Vibranium and adamantium are ten thousand U.S. dollars per gram. Uru metal is fifty thousand U.S. dollars per gram. Interested?"
Tony's expression kept shifting.
Of course he knew about adamantium. He even had its formula. Although the material was incredibly strong and durable, it wasn't suitable for his suit.
While he had already solved the energy problem, the materials for the Iron Man suit needed versatility. In other words, the lighter, the better.
Of course, the main issue was that the amount of adamantium he could obtain was far too limited. It simply wasn't enough.
Just like the original adamantium, Captain America's shield also contained Vibranium.
But he didn't have Vibranium.
Vibranium, however, was different. That material was extremely versatile. Although its hardness was slightly inferior to adamantium, it was light.
It weighed only one-third as much as steel.
Tony had coveted Vibranium for a long time.
The problem was that Wakanda maintained extremely strict control over Vibranium distribution. At the slightest disturbance, they would mobilize to reclaim it.
Tony had no channels to purchase Vibranium.
The only external source of Vibranium was the arms dealer Ulysses Klaue.
But Ulysses was afraid of being discovered by Wakanda and didn't dare sell Vibranium at all.
As a result, Tony could only grudgingly use aerospace metals like titanium alloys to build his suit.
As for uru metal… what the hell was that?
Why was it more expensive than Vibranium and adamantium?
Tony couldn't help but ask.
"Do you know about that hammer in New Mexico?"
"You mean… the hammer no one can lift?"
Tony's heart skipped a beat. Could it be—
"Mjolnir, the Hammer of Thor, is forged from uru metal. It has another name: the Metal of the Gods."
Sss~
Tony quietly sucked in a sharp breath. "Who exactly are you?!"
He couldn't figure out who else in this world could have such connections.
"I'm Luke. Cut the crap. Do you want it or not?"
"I want it!"
Anyone who didn't want it was an idiot.
Once he heard it was Luke, Tony no longer suspected it was some scam from Myanmar, Pakistan or India.
That name alone was the best guarantee.
Thirty minutes later,
Luke and Tony Stark met at a fried chicken restaurant.
Tony looked around, unable to believe that such a massive, billion-dollar deal was being discussed in such a ...humble place.
Was this reasonable?
Luke, along with Emma, Yulinka, and Sharon, each had a three-piece meal set.
This harmonious scene made Tony feel like it wasn't real.
In this era, even gods were this down-to-earth and close to everyday life?
Tony observed Luke in secret.
Luke smiled and patted Yulinka's small head, then patted Emma, who had leaned in, and finally Sharon, who was joining the fun. He then looked up, his smile vanishing.
"Mr. Stark, tell me, how much do you want?"
Tony's mouth twitched. Good heavens, I am the customer, and the customer is God.
The way you look, it's as if I owe you money.
Tony was very displeased and couldn't resist showing off.
"Who are you looking down on? How much do you have? I'll take it all."
Tony lacked nothing except money.
"Are you sure?"
Luke's expression turned strange.
Tony patted his chest proudly. "Look who I am. I am Tony Stark, the richest man in the world."
Thud!!
Luke raised his hand and tossed out a large cube of adamantium, less than a tenth of a cubic meter.
"This is one ton. Is that enough? If not, I can add ten tons, or a hundred tons. And as for Vibranium…"
Under Tony Stark's violently twitching eyelids, Luke casually tossed out a cubic block of Vibranium and another cubic block of uru metal.
"There are about two tons of Vibranium here, and over ten tons of uru metal."
"If that's still not enough, I can fill this entire place. I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
Tony was rendered speechless.
If he hadn't already confirmed that this Luke was indeed the Luke Rowling, he would have suspected someone was deliberately messing with him.
What kind of sane person sells Vibranium and uru metal by the ton?
Do you seriously think this stuff is free, like you're just giving it away?
Luke: Sorry, it really is free. I have as much as you want. What? You don't believe me? Take it up with my golden finger.
"So, how much do you actually want?"
Luke was starting to get impatient. This stuff was effectively unlimited.
Tony remained silent for a long time, pacing between the three massive chunks of metal that looked like scrap, occasionally glancing at the indifferent Luke.
In that instant, Tony actually felt a connection with the poor.
Poverty really does limit the imagination.
He was extremely rich, but compared to Luke, he suddenly felt poor.
One ton of adamantium was worth ten billion U.S. dollars.
One ton of Vibranium was worth the same.
One ton of uru metal was worth fifty billion U.S. dollars.
What Luke had casually produced was worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
This wasn't selling goods. This was practically showoff.
Although Stark Industries was wealthy, Luke could casually produce precious materials equal in value to the entire company.
If he weren't certain he couldn't beat Luke, Tony might have been tempted to take it all by force.
This was simply outrageous.
Why don't you just crush me to death with money?
When he thought about the wealth accumulated over two generations through hard work and intelligence not even being worth a single hair Luke casually produced,
Tony instantly sobered up.
He was now completely honest, practically begging to be spared.
Tony sat up straight and said seriously, "I'll take two hundred pounds of each metal first."
"Tch, so you only want this much? What a waste of expression."
Luke pouted. It was only a seven-billion-dollar transaction, yet Tony had made it sound like a trillion-dollar deal.
Tony clenched his fists.
How annoying.
How could this guy act like this?
At least show some respect to the nominal richest man, okay?
I am the customer. The customer should be treated as god.
Luke put away the large chunks of metal and took out several smaller blocks.
"Cash on delivery."
Tony nodded. "Alright. But I need to inspect the goods first."
He donned his Iron Man suit and activated the laser cutting test.
All three metals remained completely unharmed.
Especially the Vibranium, which absorbed the energy entirely.
"Pure, premium goods."
Tony felt a little numb.
The good news was that the materials were real.
The bad news was that Luke was the true richest man.
He felt like the Joker, witnessing someone weaponize money for the first time.
This was truly outrageous.
____
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