The four didn't dare disturb. Just focused on watching Hermione's operation.
Saw Hermione pour some mysterious liquid into the cauldron. Threw in things that looked extremely disgusting. Then slowly stirred.
Watching Hermione unconcernedly grab materials directly from the floor—many things' surfaces even stained with dirt and dust—Tony's eye twitched wildly.
"This..."
Tony's face full of resistance.
"Oh relax, won't affect the potency."
Hermione waved her hand.
That's not what I'm worried about! Tony roared internally.
Pulled out a small bottle. Hermione gently poured in one drop of liquid.
BOOM!
After an explosion, a skull-shaped cloud rose from the cauldron.
Hermione grabbed an iron spoon from the table. Put it in to stir. Lifted it—found the spoon's lower half had vanished. Showed a satisfied expression.
Everyone's eyes widened.
"Done!"
Hermione cheered. Poured the purple-black liquid into a bottle. Shoved it into Tony's arms.
"Drink up!"
Tony swallowed. Forced out, "Before drinking, won't you tell me what this thing actually is?"
"Antidote!" Hermione said. "What else did you think I was making?"
"No... I'm poisoned by radioactive elements, not chemical toxins..."
Tony still struggled.
He naturally guessed it was an antidote. But the brewing process just now was deeply imprinted in his mind. Now his entire body resisted this thing in his hands.
"Who cares what poison? This is a potion. Can clear anything harmful to the body." Hermione said. "Don't always use your knowledge to explain magic."
"Hurry up. The potion's already brewed—why aren't you drinking?"
Tony forced a smile. "How about you take a sip first?"
Hermione shook her head. "This potion is extremely precious. How can I, a young witch, drink this potion? Should be for the poisoned person."
Seeing Tony still not moving, Hermione finally got angry. Grabbed his collar. Other hand pointed her wand at his head.
"Are you disgusted by it!"
"I worked so hard to brew this—drink it now!"
"Drink! Why won't you drink?! Drink, drink!"
"Won't drink? Fine, I'll use the Imperius Curse on you!"
Tony looked troubled. Looked at Pepper.
"You saw the explosion just now..."
"Drink!"
Pepper's face cold as iron.
Tony looked at Natasha.
"There was even a skull cloud..."
"Drink!"
Black Widow's gaze sharp.
Tony looked at Fury.
"The iron spoon corroded away. Even sulfuric acid isn't that fast..."
"Drink!"
Fury like an impartial judge.
Tony looked desperate. Closed his eyes. Gulped it down.
"Farewell, Pepper... Hm? Actually tastes good!"
Potion down, he opened his eyes in surprise. Face showed unexpected expression.
Way better than the vegetable juice I've been drinking daily these months.
"How is it?"
The three looked at Tony nervously.
Tony blinked. Seemed to feel something. Hurriedly took out the palladium detector.
"Cleared!"
Looking at the 0% reading on screen, he said in shock, "The palladium in my blood—all disappeared. And my body condition's much better. Seems other toxins were cleared too!"
Hermione glanced at him. Huffed. "Of course. Everything I brew is good stuff. Someone just kept refusing. Good intentions treated like garbage."
Tony laughed awkwardly.
Pepper hugged Hermione. Fiercely pulled her into her arms.
"Thank you, Little Hermione!"
Watching Hermione not resisting in Pepper's arms, Natasha felt jealous. Also wanted to go forward. Finally held back.
"Great! This way, Iron Man will be reborn!"
Tony rubbed his hands. Couldn't wait to immediately replace with a new palladium core. Power the armor, soar the skies, fight crime.
"Hey, hey, wake up."
Hermione tapped his reactor with her wand.
"My potion only cleared the toxins in your body. Doesn't block this thing. If you overuse the suit, you'll get poisoned again."
Tony nodded. "I know. Don't I still have you? From now on, ten or eight bottles a month—what problem can't be solved?"
Hermione showed dead fish eyes.
"Ten or eight bottles? Are you kidding me? Do you know how precious the ingredients are?"
"A bunch of weird liquids and animal organs. I don't see what's expensive..." Tony muttered quietly.
"Isn't it just money? A million per bottle—no problem, right!"
He waved his hand grandly.
Hermione sneered.
"Seems you didn't understand what I said. I said precious, not expensive! Brewing this requires unicorn blood. Do you know what a unicorn is? Know how hard its blood is to get?!
This can brew the Elixir of Life. Many wizards struggle to get one drop their whole lives. You want me to use it daily for your detox?!"
Elixir of Life!
Everyone's eyes widened. Faces showed shock.
"There's really a potion for immortality?!"
Fury suddenly stood. Exclaimed.
Hermione nodded. "Yes. Only extremely difficult to brew. But as long as materials are sufficient, can infinitely extend lifespan. Some wizards lived hundreds of years with it."
Fury and Natasha exchanged glances. Forcibly suppressed their shock. Looked at Hermione seriously. "Miss Witch, please absolutely don't reveal this information. Maybe among you wizards, this is common knowledge... But don't underestimate ordinary people's desire for immortality. Once those greedy politicians know, they'll definitely try every means to get it from you. Even make moves against you."
He wasn't worried about Hermione's safety. On the contrary, he worried about those politicians losing their minds.
Hermione usually looked quite human. Still reasonable. Could even uphold justice, protect civilians.
But once someone dared make moves against her, she'd immediately transform into a terrifying Witch. Wouldn't care what status you had among ordinary people. Slaughter them all.
Pierce and the S.H.I.E.L.D. strike team deeply understood this.
If these stupid greedy politicians were massively killed, could eventually evolve into war between ordinary people and wizards. Something he absolutely couldn't accept. Had been trying to avoid all along.
"I know, I know." Hermione said. "I'm young, not stupid. TV shows have played this scenario many times."
Fury's heart finally eased slightly.
Tony's heart sank.
Immortality or not—he didn't care. But if it was ingredients for a potion granting immortality, he immediately understood its preciousness.
Absolutely not something money could buy.
Even if Hermione was willing to give him some, probably couldn't make many bottles.
Thinking of that bottle just now, Tony's gaze at Hermione softened considerably.
Though this kid usually bickered with him. Never did proper things... But at critical moments, truly willing to use such precious things to save him.
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