Of course, Liam could build the armor himself if he wanted to. With his abilities, replicating something like that wasn't beyond him. But with Tony Stark right in front of him—a genius engineer and a ready-made tool—why would he bother doing the work personally?
More importantly, if the armor's energy core used the Arc Reactor, he could replace the original palladium-based system with a new element he created himself. That way, the poisoning issue would be solved completely, without compromising performance.
"Absolutely not," Tony said firmly, shaking his head. "Do you have any idea how much it costs to build one suit? At least five hundred million dollars per unit."
"Money isn't a problem," Liam replied without hesitation, waving it off as if it were nothing.
After all, as the second-largest shareholder of Stark Industries, he was practically using his own money anyway. Ten suits would only come out to five billion, which wasn't even worth worrying about.
Tony's expression darkened slightly. So it all came back to company money in the end.
"No. Five suits, maximum."
"Five?" Liam raised an eyebrow. "Tony, I saved your life. Are you really telling me your life is only worth five suits? I want nine."
Tony crossed his arms, clearly unwilling to budge. "Each suit takes time, effort, and precision. They're not mass-produced toys. Six. That's my final offer."
"Six?" Liam scoffed lightly. "You bargain worse than someone at a street market. I'm asking for eight, and that's already generous."
"You call that generous?" Tony shot back immediately. "You're the most ruthless negotiator I've ever met. Seven. Not a single suit more."
The two of them stood there like traders arguing over produce, neither willing to back down. Back and forth they went, their voices rising and falling as they pushed for advantage.
Clarice watched from the side, completely speechless.
"…Fine," Liam said at last, clapping Tony on the shoulder with a grin. "Eight suits. Deal. Trust me, you're the one getting the better end of this."
Tony stared at him, clearly unconvinced. "I should throw your own words back at you. You're worse than any market hag I've ever seen."
Liam just laughed it off. "Don't stress over it. I'll also provide you with more of that new element for your research."
Tony's expression shifted instantly. "You mean that?"
"Of course," Liam replied casually.
That was all Tony needed to hear. The value of that unknown element far exceeded the cost of a few suits. For a scientist like him, access to something like that was priceless.
"Alright then," Tony said, raising his glass with a satisfied smile. "Cheers."
"Cheers."
The two clinked their glasses together.
"Don't hold back tonight," Tony added, grabbing another bottle of wine and pouring generously. His grin carried a hint of challenge. "Let's see how well you handle your liquor."
Unfortunately for him, this was a battle he was destined to lose.
With his enhanced physique, Liam's body processed alcohol far beyond normal human limits. No matter how much Tony drank, he simply couldn't outlast him.
In the end, Tony was the one who started to sway.
Liam, meanwhile, leaned back slightly, his expression faintly flushed—not from actual intoxication, but because he chose to enjoy the sensation.
"Weiss, are you okay?" Clarice asked softly, staying close by his side the entire time.
"I'm fine," Liam replied, waving a hand lazily. "If I wanted to sober up, I could do it instantly."
Still, he didn't. There was something relaxing about letting himself drift like this for once.
"Mr. Hayes, if you'd like to rest, your room is ready," a waiter said respectfully from the side.
"Good timing," Liam muttered, pushing himself to his feet. "Take me there."
The waiter led the way, and Clarice followed closely behind.
The room they entered was lavish, filled with soft lighting and high-end furnishings. Liam barely spared it a glance before collapsing onto the bed.
"Don't fall asleep yet," Clarice said, nudging him lightly. "At least take a shower first."
"A shower…" Liam mumbled, dragging himself upright. Despite his current state, his habits hadn't changed—he wasn't about to sleep like this.
After a quick rinse, he returned and dropped onto the bed again, slipping into sleep almost immediately.
Clarice stayed behind, quietly gathering his scattered clothes and tidying the room. The calm atmosphere stretched on for a long while.
Then—
Liam's eyes snapped open.
Something felt different.
Even in the darkness, he didn't need to see to understand what was happening.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains.
Liam didn't wake until late, the brightness already strong outside. He turned his head slightly, a faint smile forming when he saw Clarice beside him.
After a quick shower, he headed out for breakfast.
"Hey, Tony. Up this early?" Liam said casually as he walked into the hall. Without waiting for permission, he grabbed a slice of pizza from the box on the table and took a bite.
Tony glanced at him with a knowing smirk. "Looks like you didn't need much sleep."
Liam rolled his eyes. "I'm not the one who's been worn out for years."
Tony straightened immediately, his pride clearly touched. "Hey. You can question anything about me, but not that."
Liam didn't even bother responding, just gave him a look full of silent judgment.
Tony opened his mouth, then closed it again, deciding not to escalate.
"Alright," he said instead, standing up. "Let's get to work."
He led Liam into the lab, the familiar hum of advanced equipment filling the space.
"Come here," Tony said, pulling him toward a workbench. With a few quick gestures, a holographic projection appeared, displaying the detailed structure of the Arc Reactor.
"I still don't fully understand your ability," Tony admitted, glancing at him. "Can you create palladium without the toxic side effects? Or at least something that can replace it?"
Liam smiled slightly. "The material I create isn't fixed. I can assign properties to it as needed."
Tony's eyes sharpened.
"In other words," Liam continued, raising his hand, "I can replicate the useful characteristics of palladium… while removing everything harmful."
As he spoke, a diamond-shaped piece of metal slowly formed in his palm.
It gleamed with a soft, clean light—stable, flawless, and completely free of impurities.
Tony stared at it, his breathing slowing for just a moment.
"Incredible…" he murmured.
He immediately activated the robotic arm beside him, carefully taking the material and running it through a series of rapid tests.
Even though he trusted Liam, verification was non-negotiable.
And as the results began to come in, the excitement in his eyes only grew stronger.
....
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