[Comprehensive Anglo-American] Gem Merchant

On that point, Pepper is all for it.The blond young man's origin is unknown. Since returning from Afghanistan, she has been in the position of her boss's emergency contact. It is said that the relationship is at the level of a lifesaver.

She looked through the other party's information, and initially couldn't understand why a gem merchant whose specifications were many times smaller could be upgraded to the level of a savior, until the other party lightly completed the space jump, and used a sharp knife in the underground research room of Stark Industries. The spar brought her boss's health back to the standard value.

——Well, there may still be some distance from the standard value, if you ignore the sub-health state caused by staying up late and picky eaters.

"Al is an alchemist."

The wealthy businessman, who had already dressed up, explained to his secretary, and turned his head to look at Alphonse as soon as he finished speaking: "Pepper is my secretary, and he will not reveal the secret no matter what, you can rest assured."

"This violates..."

"Occult Confidentiality Regulations? Pepper, you are going to draft a confidentiality agreement about Al now, and you need the specifications of the Stark Industries Legal Department. You must know that this little gentleman will want to erase others if he disagrees with him." memory."

"...!!"

Pepper looked at Alphonse in shock.

Al: "..."

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"There will be no next time, Mr. Stark."

The jeweler frowned: "A friend tells a friend, and then a friend, that's how secrets are spread."

"Hey, take it easy, we're all heroes now."

Tony Stark patted the other party's shoulder hard, and staggered like a thin alchemist: "Having a drink with Stark himself is a good thing that no one can reach."

"...Sorry sir, I can't drink alcohol."

Alphonse pulled the arm off his shoulder: "I have to keep myself awake all the time..."

While Tony Stark felt that this guy was so serious and disappointing for the umpteenth time, Pepper Potts' favorability for this strange young man soared.

——There are really not many people who can persuade her boss while not drinking.

"Four spinels, ground to a size that can be carried on your furnace core."

Alphonse sighed and handed over all his inventory: "I actually rarely prepare such spells for avoiding poisoning and absorbing curses... I have handed over all of them now, so you can save some use."

There are no gem cutting tools in the basement of Stark Industries, but the modern processing system and a complete set of artificial intelligence equipment are enough to complete the things that most craftsmen can do.After the four gemstones were precisely cut as required, they were arrayed in a ring around the ark reactor, slowly and continuously absorbing the bad toxins produced by the metal palladium on the body.

As long as he doesn't abuse his battle suit casually, but only keeps his heart beating safely, four spinels are enough to last for quite a long time, and this time is also enough for Alphonse to purchase new raw materials, and Charge a new batch of gems with the same spell.

Pepper was noncommittal about the price of gemstones. These things that have surpassed scientific understanding can hang people's lives. What made her curious was that the other party did not ask for the remittance to be transferred to her account.

"Maris Billy Animsfia."

Alphonse proficiently reported a bank account: "There is no need to send an additional money order, he knows it is me."

Pepper raised his eyebrows, this is not a small amount of money.She is not someone who would overly probe into other people's secrets, but Stark questioned immediately: "The artificial intelligence monitoring data in your store shows that most of the money you make every time you sell gems is sent to this encryption key." past bank account..."

He speculated reasonably with the thinking logic of a playboy: "You are so sincere in taking care of others, be careful that they lie to you."

With a puff, Alphonse spat out a mouthful of water.

Pepper coughed dryly, trying to excuse his boss, when the young alchemist covered his face and explained in a speechless way: "That's my...a friend from the mysterious side, just like the research needs of jewel magic. Like consuming a lot of gems, his research needs a considerable degree of financial support if he wants to advance."

But not all research can receive immediate returns. Most of the funding in the field of basic scientific research is state funding, such as the research and development of the Large Hadron Collider... such as Stark Industries, which can support Tony Star It is rare for companies to freely develop battle suits, and this is when Stark's ingenuity can be effectively transformed into economic benefits.

Apparently, there is no suitable funding method for the mysterious side.There is no policy support, financial support, risk plan, and estimated returnable income assessment.

"So...you are your friend's angel investor?"

Stark changed his description: "What is he studying?"

"It's a secret."

Alphonse refused to answer.

"Oh, it's your non-disclosure agreement again."

Tony Stark understood: "Then maybe, he wouldn't mind having one more angel investor? If it's a project that interests me, maybe Stark Industries is willing to pay for it."

"This is research that cannot be aimed at ordinary people."

Alphonse still shook his head: "I can only say that he is not trying to make weapons, nor does he intend to pose a threat to humans... Mr. Animsfia's research work has been started since I was very young , but whether it can produce results or play a role, even he himself doesn’t know.”

Mystery is so unreliable, luckily the world is dominated by science - thought Tony Stark and Pepper Potts at the same time.

The perennial online EQ prevented Pepper from expressing these thoughts, but Tony Stark never stingy with his own opinions. He raised his eyebrows and looked at the blond alchemist. He knew it without guessing. With his low cost The high-priced store opening model, and the estimated earnings of these years have all been sent to the unknown Animsfia in various forms.

"It's a really touching friendship."

Stark protracted his tone, and described in an exaggerated tone: "I don't think you even know where these scientific research funds are used. Listen to my Al, with the intervention of Stark Industries, we can at least Putting together a reasonable oversight body, even if I don't know you jugglers, I'm pretty good at doing research itself. Just because you're an alchemist guarding the world doesn't mean you're going to invest most of your profits in In a bottomless pit where there is no hope, I..."

"Stark!"

Seeing his boss talking more and more vigorously, Pepper finally couldn't listen anymore.

"...sorry, Mister Stark."

One hand was pressed on Tony Stark's chest, and the Ark reactor glowed through the shirt. After reacting for a long time, Stark realized that the other party was checking whether the four gems embedded in his body had actually started to operate. .

"Mystery itself is not a field that ordinary people should set foot in. You know that I am an alchemist, and it is enough to be able to make some gems with special effects."

His voice was steady, and he even glanced at his phone leisurely. On the screen was a text message from Bruce Banner, asking him if he would come back for dinner tonight, and he planned to cook some pasta.

"Even among magicians, inquiring about each other's magic is a very impolite and transgressive behavior. Mr. Animsfia, as the monarch of the astronomical department, such speculation will make the astronomical department even more dusty."

Even after saying such a heavy word, Tony Stark still didn't see much fluctuation in the other party's expression.

"Over the years, S.H.I.E.L.D. has been helping me keep the secrets of the mysterious side. At the same time, I help them solve some problems that science can't explain temporarily. I think this mutually beneficial relationship is enough, thank you very much Proposal, I wish you good health, Mr. Stark."

Alphonse flipped his palm, and the blue cone stone in his palm glowed with dazzling brilliance.A blurry portal appeared behind the alchemist. He turned and stepped in without hesitation, disappearing from the sight of Tony Stark and Pepper.

After a long time, the former asked nonchalantly, "Pepper...did I say something wrong?"

This is probably a one-sided breakup.

……

Alphonse's only job in the near future is to watch over Bruce, and they get along pretty well as temporary roommates.Knowing that when his emotions went berserk, someone had the bottom line instead, Banner's emotions were calmed down. He never lost control once.

"It's not fair, I feel at least 50.00% should be attributed to my recent skyrocketing yoga level."

Bruce Banner looked at Alphonse's lake-green eyes, struggled for a few seconds and then reiterated: "...Well, maybe 30.00%, Mr. Magician."

Since the Hulk has been extraordinarily quiet recently, they have expanded their activities to nearby neighborhoods.Some complex spells require gemstones with a higher finish, so Alphonse occasionally visits real jewelry stores as a temporary emergency.

"I find it embarrassing for the two of us to watch this together."

Bruce whispered under the teasing eyes of the clerk. The front of the showcase in front of them was filled with a row of rings, and the tops of the rings were inlaid with gemstones of different sizes.

[Diamonds are forever, one will last forever. ]

The picture next to it is a couple happily hugging each other.

Even if he knew rationally that the blond man next to him just wanted to take them off and use them, emotionally the eyes of the people around him made him feel particularly aghast.

"Excuse me, I want these three kinds, please settle the bill..."

Before the words fell, a big hole was smashed through the dome of the jewelry store. The blue-black steel body came into everyone's eyes, and there was a familiar wave of magic power coming from the reactor on the chest.

Those were the four spinels he had just sold a few days ago, and they were put on someone else.