Although he didn't look like someone with ulterior motives, this was after all their first meeting, and Rhodes didn't understand Shi Xiaolei character.
From Rhodes perspective, disagreeing with the suggestion Shi Xiaolei made to Stark was completely natural.
It was human nature, nothing unreasonable about it.
Understanding Rhodes thinking, Shi Xiaolei wasn't bothered by his opposition.
Well, actually, after blurting out that suggestion in a moment of impulse, he did feel somewhat regretful, feeling he might have violated the taboo of 'speaking too deeply with a shallow acquaintance.'
After all, he and Stark were just friends, not yet at the level of 'best buddies' and it wasn't very appropriate to discuss topics involving matters of life and death.
But the words had already been spoken and couldn't be taken back.
After some thought, Shi Xiaolei could only sacrifice a bit of his own interests and, with a desire to make amends, pulled out one of his trump cards.
"What is this?"
Looking at the small vial in Shi Xiaolei hand, Stark was first taken aback, then revealed a very curious expression.
"A new type of potion? What effects does it have?"
"I call it a Vitality Potion."
Tossing the small vial to Stark, Shi Xiaolei explained with a pained expression.
"It can refresh the mind, detoxify... Well, its most widely applicable effect is actually instant healing of injuries. You can think of it as an upgraded version of the Red Potion."
"Instant?"
Stark shook the small bottle, and the purple liquid flashed with dreamy and mysterious colors under the light.
"Is it the 'instant' I'm thinking of?"
"Well, I've already given it to you, so verify it yourself."
Shi Xiaolei shook his head with a bitter smile.
"This is my treasured possession that I originally wasn't planning to bring out. If it weren't for... Anyway, if you decide to undergo the surgery, remember to let me know in advance. I'll get you more of these potions then, as an insurance."
"Judging by your expression, this thing isn't cheap, is it?"
Three mana potions + three healing potions + one fractured gem, could only synthesize one small bottle of vitality potion.
If Shi Xiaolei had been playing a version before 1.10, where he couldn't directly buy from the store but had to craft purple potions.
In terms of rarity and preciousness, this item would be worth at least ten times more than ordinary red potions.
"It's indeed not cheap. If we must calculate the cost, it's at least ten times higher."
Shi Xiaolei grinned awkwardly while rubbing his head.
"And the quantity is also very limited, which is why I asked you to give me advance notice, to avoid being unable to supply when needed."
"Just ten times? I'll give you twenty times."
As expected of a wealthy tycoon who didn't lack money, Stark raised his eyebrows and said without hesitation.
"And let's not wait for later. Starting tomorrow, however many you can accumulate, I'll take them all."
"...You have the money, your call."
What else could he say? Shi Xiaolei spread his hands and shrugged.
"Do you have any other good items?"
Weighing the purple potion in his hand, Stark asked again.
"I mean, like this one... Things you've been secretly hiding and are reluctant to bring out."
"Well..."
If you asked whether there were any, the answer was certainly affirmative.
It should be known that after the malfunctioning hard drive evolved into a system, Shi Xiaolei had completely unlocked the game database.
Aside from NPCs and monsters not controlled by game characters, any equipment and items that could be farmed in the game could be obtained through paying real money.
Remember those potions that Stark bought from Shi Xiaolei for research?
Although the quantity per transaction wasn't as large as SHIELD, there were many transactions.
Coming and going, he had plucked nearly three million from Stark, half of which Shi Xiaolei had invested into the system.
Averaging fifty thousand per gamble, he had tried over thirty times.
Just like how he would never gamble for swords when playing a Witch in the game, he selectively looked only at what he might use.
After over thirty attempts, Shi Xiaolei had indeed gambled and obtained several good items that could be put to use at the current stage.
A 'Silks of the Victor' (normal grade ancient armor), a Jordan Stone (ring), a 'Blood Letter' (expanded grade Roman short sword), and an expanded grade two-handed great sword with five sockets that only had the attribute of increasing damage by 65%.
Let's look at the attributes of these equipments one by one.
.....
[Silks of the Victor]Ancient Armor
Defense: 491
Required Level: 28
Required Strength: 100
Durability: 60
+110% Enhanced Defense
+1 to Skill Levels
5% Mana Stolen Per Hit
+2 to Light Radius
....
[Jordan Stone]Ring
Required Level: 29
+1 to All Skills
Increases Maximum Mana by 25%
+1-12 Lightning Damage
+20 to Mana
.....
[Blood Letter]Roman Short Sword
One-Handed Damage 31-97
Required Level: 30
Required Strength: 25
Durability: 54
+140% Enhanced Damage
+12-45 Damage
+90 to Attack Rating
20% Increased Attack Speed
10% Slower Stamina Drain
8% Life Stolen Per Hit
+3 to Whirlwind (Barbarian Only)
+3 to Sword Mastery (Barbarian Only)
.....
[Call to Arms]Hwanin Sword (Runeword, not yet socketed)
+1 to All Skills
+40% Increased Attack Speed
+250-290% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+5-30 Fire Damage
7% Life Stolen Per Hit
+2-6 to Battle Command (varies)
+1-6 to Battle Orders (varies)
+1-4 to Battle Cry (varies)
Prevent Monster Heal
+12 Life After Each Kill
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
....
Not enough money, and temporarily unable to afford rune stones, the last runeword would have to wait for some time before acquisition, so let's set it aside for now.
Looking just at the ones already obtained.
The armor had 'Mana Stolen Per Hit', the short sword had 'Life Stolen Per Hit' and 'Slower Stamina Drain', which together could greatly enhance endurance;
The 'Increases Maximum Mana by 25%' and '+20 to Mana' on the ring might not be very useful for mage class characters, but for Shi Xiaolei, who had integrated the Barbarian bloodline, they were very useful, after all, Barbarians were traditionally weak in intelligence and lacking in mana.
And those affixes like enhanced defense, enhanced damage, +attack rating, +lightning damage could also bring some substantial enhancements and strengthening.
Of course, the most useful were those affixes that added skill levels.
If damage wasn't enough, it could be supplemented with attribute points.
Although character levels had a cap, don't forget that in the game, there was also a 'Tome of Akara' that could add attribute points.
Previously, when he didn't have money to gamble for equipment, Shi Xiaolei had thought about taking a shortcut.
Simply put, it was to spend money to exchange for a few unique items that had appeared in the quest flow to tide him over for a while.
After his attempts, he was delighted to discover that items like the King Grace, Viper Amulet, and Khalim Will were not restricted and could indeed be purchased with money.
Since that was the case, what about other quest items?
The skill scrolls that dropped from the chest after killing mummies in the sewers in Act II; 'The Tome of Akara' found in the abandoned temple in Act III, and the potion that added 20 to maximum life obtained from the apothecary Alkor after completing the Golden Bird quest.
Beyond the surprise, there was an even bigger surprise.
Shi Xiaolei discovered that these items could also be farmed.
The only issue was the cost.
As quest items or rewards, these things were ten to twenty times more expensive than ordinary equipment.
The cheapest one would cost five to six hundred thousand US dollars, which was unaffordable with Shi Xiaolei current income.
In comparison, gambling for equipment was more cost-effective, offering better value for money.
For instance, now, after spending one million five hundred thousand, he had obtained three pieces of equipment that could add skill levels, which, all things considered, was equivalent to gaining sixty skill points.
But if he used this money to buy 'The Tome of Akara', he could only buy two, gaining two attribute points.
With a thirty-fold difference, was there even a need to consider which option to choose?
Moreover, using books to gain skill points could only increase skills to level 20 at most.
But the '+skill levels' attributes on equipment were not limited by the skill level cap.
If the enhancement brought by stacking attribute points was within the rules, then the '+skill levels' attributes inherent in equipment brought breakthroughs beyond the specifications.
The reason Shi Xiaolei treasured these few pieces of equipment so much, to the point of loving them to the bone, was precisely because of this attribute.
"Hey, buddy, what are you thinking about?"
Focused on his newly acquired equipment, he forgot that Stark was still sitting in front of him.
Coming back to his senses, Shi Xiaolei embarrassedly scratched his head.
"Thinking for so long..."
Stopping a temporarily hired waiter, taking two glasses of whiskey with ice from the tray, Stark handed one to Shi Xiaolei.
"It means you really do have good items that you haven't brought out, right? Let me clarify, I don't accept 'NO' as an answer."
"Alright."
Nodding with a bitter smile, taking a sip of the drink, Shi Xiaolei reluctantly admitted.
"I do indeed have some inventory, but..."
"Don't hesitate because of money, you know, money is the last thing I lack."
"It's not because of money..."
While answering, he looked around.
After confirming the situation around, Shi Xiaolei turned back, just about to say 'now is not appropriate', when he met Stark gaze full of expectation and urgency.
"Alright, alright."
Not intending to play hard to get, nor wanting to be seen as indecisive, Shi Xiaolei sighed and exchanged a shiny gem from the system with a wave of his hand.
"Here, this is it."
Skull, Diamond, Topaz, Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby, Amethyst, in "Diablo 2" there were a total of seven types of gems that could be used for socketing.
According to levels from low to high, each type of gem had five grades: Chipped, Flawed, Normal, Flawless, and Perfect.
Not wanting to attract the attention of the ladies present, what Shi Xiaolei exchanged was just a 'Chipped Diamond' of the lowest grade and without color.
But...
"Wow~!"
Extending two fingers to pick up this diamond from the dazed Shi Xiaolei hand, Stark face also showed a very surprised expression.
"I really didn't expect you to bring out such a large diamond. Rock, now I understand why you were hesitating earlier."
Irregular in shape, with some cracks, in terms of appearance, it wasn't very impressive.
But this thing was big enough.
Although it was just the lowest grade chipped diamond, its size was almost comparable to a peanut.
According to international standards, the weight of this diamond was at least over eight carats, perhaps even reaching ten carats.
How much is a ten-carat diamond worth?
On Earth where Shi Xiaolei came from, a ten-carat diamond would be worth at least 8 million, and if it had excellent purity and good cut, crafted by a master hand, jewelry set with a ten-carat diamond could possibly sell for 50 million to 100 million.
And here in the Marvel world.
Although there was no De Beers company, there were other giants controlling the market, and overall, the price of diamonds wouldn't be much lower than on Earth.
Someone like Stark could, of course, go through backdoor channels and get large diamonds at a very cheap price.
But with Shi Xiaolei connections, it was obviously impossible to go through such channels.
Being merely middle class yet able to produce such a large diamond.
It was very illogical, yet it was a fact right before their eyes, no wonder Stark was so surprised.
And at this moment, Rhodes, who had gone to the bathroom, had just returned.
"Wow~. Tony, are you planning to propose to Pepper?"
As soon as he saw the diamond in Stark hand, Rhodes couldn't help but make an association.
Although he had become an Air Force Colonel, when interacting with friends, Rhodes still often unconsciously revealed the slightly flamboyant side of his Black nature.
Like now. Half surprised, half happy for his friend.
Once his mood got excited, Rhodes not only forgot to inquire about the facts but made his own judgment, and his voice when calling out was a bit louder.
"Buddy, why didn't you tell me about such good news? Emm, you definitely want to give Pepper a surprise, right? Hehe, I get it."
Setting aside Stark reaction, Rhodes exclamation of 'wow' had already drawn some attention—whether it was the ladies Stark had paid to create atmosphere, or the family members or female companions guests had brought upon invitation, their different identities didn't prevent them from sharing a common love for jewelry.
About seventy percent of the people present were women.
Well, given Stark popularity among single women, even without Rhodes call, the diamond in his hand would have been noticed by the female guests.
Fortunately, Pepper was with 2B at the time, accompanying little Kanna upstairs, and was not in the hall.
"Don't shout."
Looking around and confirming Pepper wasn't there, Stark secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Rhodes, you misunderstood, this thing was brought out by Rock. You understand my meaning? Like the potions, this is also a treasure with other uses, not an ordinary diamond... By the way, Rock, what exactly is this thing called?"
"I call it a Chipped Diamond."
Shi Xiaolei shrugged and answered with a smile.
"The name is indeed the same, if you don't mind, you can also treat it as a regular diamond, used to make jewelry. Although it's a bit wasteful, not utilizing its capabilities, it doesn't matter... After all, in a person lifetime, there aren't many things more important than a proposal. Haha, Tony, if you plan to make a ring with it for Pepper, needless to say, I fully support it with both hands."
"And me too~."
Catching Shi Xiaolei eye, Rhodes also joined in the teasing.
"...It's good. Using it for a proposal? Still a bit small."
Outnumbered one to two, Stark could only find another excuse.
"Want a bigger one?"
Shi Xiaolei laughed.
"Tell me, how big do you want, what color? Apart from this colorless one, I can get red, green, blue, yellow, purple gems. As long as you're willing to spend the money, I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist?you can read 20 chapters ahead on my P@treon [[email protected]/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)