I sparked a mysterious resurgence in Marvel.

Chapter 173 Exorbitant Transaction

Looking at Pepper, whose eyes flashed with panic and fear.

Tony felt a pang of inexplicable heartache, but instinctively retorted stubbornly, "How could that be? It's just palladium poisoning, how could it kill me! I'm almost there with an antidote. Just give me a little more time, and I can solve this little problem..."

Pepper ignored Tony Stark's excuses and said with an unusually grim expression, "So, you really were poisoned? Why did you hide this from me?"

Seemingly realizing he had admitted something, Tony glanced at Erin, the instigator, with a resentful look.

but.

Arlin ignored his resentment and continued, "The poison in Mr. Stark comes from the large light bulb on his chest. While that light bulb provides Mr. Stark with powerful energy, it also constantly erodes his body."

"Every time he puts on the armor and activates the large light bulb on his chest at high power, he is actually accelerating the spread of palladium poisoning and also overdrawing Mr. Stark's life."

"Mr. Stark himself should be well aware of this, but it's clear that our Mr. Stark is currently hopelessly addicted to his superhero fantasies!"

Even though he knew that putting on the armor every time would drain his life force, he still enjoyed it immensely.

"It's understandable to be obsessed with the glory that comes with being a superhero. If it were a different kind of poison, Mr. Stark would certainly have a solution with his wealth. However, palladium poisoning seems to be an incurable disease right now."

"Before his body is completely consumed by the toxins in palladium, is Mr. Stark truly confident that he can overcome this global problem and find a cure for palladium poisoning?"

"After all, given the rate at which palladium poisoning is spreading in Mr. Stark's body, it might not be long before he... "

With each word Erin spoke, Pepper's expression grew increasingly grim.

As Erin finished speaking, Pepper's gaze towards Tony gradually turned hostile.

"Tony, I think we need to have a serious talk!"

Pepper glared at Tony Stark before turning to Erin and asking hesitantly, "Erin, since you can concoct a medicine that can cure Norman Osborn's terminal illness, then what about the poison in Tony's body...?"

obviously.

Upon learning that Tony Stark had palladium poisoning, Pepper also thought of the extraordinary potion that Arlin had mentioned earlier, which had cured Norman Osborn.

"The extraordinary potion that cured Norman Osborn was not concocted by me, but by an extraordinary potion master. I just happened to receive it as a gift from that master."

After explaining for a moment, just as Pepper's gaze began to dim, Erin continued, "Although palladium poisoning is somewhat troublesome, it's nothing compared to the [universal antidote] concocted by that master."

Ok?

After hearing this sentence.

Both Pepper and Tony Stark, who was standing next to her, were immediately impressed.

Especially Tony Stark.

After realizing he was poisoned by palladium, he quickly understood that if he allowed the palladium to spread, he would soon die.

For the sake of his own life.

Tony quickly began his self-rescue.

He devoted himself to researching treatment options for palladium and alternatives to replace the palladium in the small reactor in his chest with a pollution-free element.

As a result, Tony Stark even reduced the frequency of his "heroic deeds," and he even handed over the presidency of Stark Industries to Pepper.

but.

During this time, Tony Stark had tried every element known in the world, but he could not find a new element that could replace palladium.

Even the data on palladium poisoning.

Tony Stark's gains were meager; aside from drinking that bitter chlorophyll every day, Tony couldn't even find an effective way to inhibit the spread of palladium.

to this end.

Tony Stark even felt a surge of despair.

That's why Tony's eyes lit up when he heard that the extraordinary potion in Erin's hand could really cure his palladium poisoning.

"Do you still have that kind of master-prepared 'all-purpose antidote' you mentioned?"

Seeing Aunt Pepper's hopeful eyes, Erin didn't deliberately hide anything or keep her in suspense.

"I do still have the [universal antidote]. Aunt Pepper, I can even give you one if you want. However..."

Arlin glanced at Tony Stark beside him before continuing, "However, the root of Mr. Stark's health problems is not palladium poisoning. Even if the Panacea removes the palladium poisoning from his body, it will only treat the symptoms, not the root cause. Given how often Mr. Stark wears his armor, I'm afraid that in a few months, he will accumulate enough palladium poisoning to be fatal again."

After a few seconds of contemplation, Pepper suddenly asked, "What if Tony stopped wearing that damn suit of armor?"

Upon hearing this, Arlin glanced at Pepper, who had spoken up, and then said, "If the large light bulb on Mr. Stark's chest is just functioning normally, then a dose of the [Universal Antidote] can extend Mr. Stark's life by at least a few years, or even more than a decade."

Pepper breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the number.

"That's enough. If we have a few years, or even a decade or more, to give us a buffer, Stark Industries can easily set up a dedicated department to research and develop an antidote for palladium poisoning, regardless of cost. With that much time, I believe we can definitely develop a treatment for palladium poisoning... You agree, Tony!"

Tony Stark, who was being stared at by Pepper, didn't immediately answer her question. Instead, he asked Erin, "How many of those potions do you have?"

This question gets right to the heart of the matter.

After smiling, Erin didn't hide anything, "That master gave me a dozen back then, and apart from the one I gave to Norman Osborn, I haven't used the rest."

One dozen minus one portion means there are eleven portions left.

If so many "all-purpose antidotes" could extend Tony's life by several to more than ten years with just one dose.

That means if Tony stops being Iron Man, these super-potent serums could last him a lifetime.

Hearing this, Pepper finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Even Tony Stark felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of escaping death when he heard that Arryn had so many "panaceas".

However, Tony's excitement was somewhat different from Pepper's.

He reasoned that with so many finished products of the "universal antidote," he was confident he could replicate a similar potion.

By then...

Does this mean that even if he can't find a new element to replace palladium, he can still rely on the "universal antidote" to continue being Iron Man?

Thinking about this...

Before Pepper could even voice her dislike, Tony Stark spoke up, "For the sake of me helping your friend collect his body yesterday, could you sell me two of those 'all-purpose antidote' you mentioned? Don't worry, I'll buy it at the same price Norman Osborn paid. I won't let you lose out."

In conclusion.

Tony Stark also looked somewhat pained.

Norman Osborn purchased the "panacea" for nearly ten billion US dollars per dose.

If he were to buy two portions, that would cost a whopping 20 billion US dollars.

Two hundred billion US dollars is not two million US dollars.

This is an enormous fortune.

Even Tony Stark, who had long regarded money as just a string of numbers, felt extremely heartbroken.

However, compared to money...

Tony Stark undoubtedly values ​​his own life more.

Two hundred billion US dollars to buy two doses of the "universal antidote"—this astronomical price almost made Erin, who was standing nearby, think he had misheard.

Norman Osborn was once on the verge of death.

In order to cure the disease and save lives, of course, one will spare no effort.

Even so, his willingness to trade five percent of Osborn Corporation's shares for the "universal antidote" was still influenced by Erin's hypnosis, resulting in a premium purchase.

Otherwise, who knows if the extremely cold-blooded Norman Osborn would hire someone to kill and steal the "panacea" from Erin's hands?

After all, he had already taken countless lives on his hands.

That's why Erin didn't believe Tony knew exactly how much of a premium was being paid for the "universal antidote" at $100 billion.

But even under these circumstances, Tony was still willing to buy it at that price.

It seems that my anxiety and despair regarding palladium are much more severe than I imagined!

of course.

For Erin.

For a fool to be willing to pay 10 billion US dollars for the "universal antidote" is undoubtedly a sure-fire way to make money.

Therefore, he did not refuse.

After leaving behind the words "Wait."

Erin turned around again and went up to the second floor.

Pepper, who witnessed the entire exorbitant transaction from the sidelines, slightly opened her mouth.

In the end, they still couldn't stop Erin from going upstairs.

Although the price of the "universal antidote" was outrageously high, the two people present were both willing to pay, so what reason did she have to stop them? After all, these two were among her closest people.

··········

soon.

Erin then came down from the second floor again.

This time, Erin came down with three tubes of the [Universal Antidote].

After Arryn handed two vials of the universal antidote to Tony Stark.

Tony Stark immediately replied, "I don't have 20 billion in cash on hand. I'll test it when I get back. If this potion really works as you say, clearing my palladium poisoning, then I'll do what Norman Osborn did and trade 20 billion worth of Stark Industries stock for these two doses of the 'Universal Antidote.' Stark Industries stock is soaring right now; believe me, you'll make a killing."

Arlin was not surprised to hear that Tony planned to use Stark Industries shares to pay off his debts.

After all, although Tony Stark is a well-known billionaire, no billionaire in the Federation would leave such a huge amount of wealth to gather dust in a bank.

Arryn did not object to using Stark Industries shares to pay off the debt.

After all, as Tony Stark said, Stark Industries' stock skyrocketed after he revealed that he was Iron Man.

By using Stark Industries stock worth $200 billion to settle his debts, Erin didn't lose out; on the contrary, he made a huge profit.

Therefore, after nodding, Erin tacitly agreed to the transaction method Tony proposed.

"Can!"

After saying that, Erin turned around and walked to the side, handing the remaining vial of the [Universal Antidote] to Pepper.

"Aunt Pepper, here's a sample of the [All-Purpose Antidote] for you."

When Pepper saw Erin hand her the remaining dose of the "Universal Antidote," she instinctively pushed it back.

"No, this is too valuable, I can't accept it!"

After all, Pepper had just witnessed firsthand just how "valuable" this "universal antidote" was.

No matter how good her relationship with Erin was, she couldn't accept such an expensive gift with a clear conscience.

When Erin saw Pepper's expression, he laughed and said, "Don't worry, Aunt Pepper, it's not as precious as you think. I think that apart from Norman Osborn and Mr. Stark, who are super-rich people on the verge of death, no one else in the world would buy such an extravagant bottle of medicine at such an outrageous price."

Erin didn't deliberately lower her voice or anything like that.

So Tony Stark, who had heard everything clearly, couldn't stop twitching at the corner of his mouth.

Did this guy tell me to my face that I overpaid?

That's a bit much!

···········

At that moment, Erin also forcibly stuffed this "panacea" into Pepper's hand.

Before Pepper could refuse again.

Arlin leaned close to Pepper's ear and whispered, "Trust me, Aunt Pepper, Mr. Stark will need this [panacea] later..."

I don't know if it was Erin's last words that moved Pepper or something else.

In the end, Pepper accepted the "panacea" that Erin had given him.

···········

It's unclear whether it was Arryn's final words, which almost implied he was being taken advantage of, that stung Tony Stark, or whether it was his eagerness to go back and study the "panacea" after obtaining it.

Let's see if the "all-purpose antidote" that Erin mentioned can really cure his palladium poisoning.

In short, Tony Stark hurriedly left the Arryn family shortly after obtaining the "universal antidote".

After discussing the specifics of the Joker's funeral with Erin, Pepper quickly left.

After both of them left.

Erin's eyes flickered slightly after closing the door.

Now that he has been promoted to [Magician], it's time for him to verify his previous guesses.

(End of this chapter)