Despite having flaws such as arrogance, willfulness, sharp tongue, lechery, and self-centeredness, it was undeniable that Tony Stark was fundamentally a good person.
If Obadiah were still the CEO of Stark Industries, Shi Xiaolei would have had almost no chance of getting any profit sharing.
But now, with Obadiah locked in prison and disqualified from handling negotiations, the person managing the consultation had changed to Pepper Potts, who was more willing to listen to and cooperate with Tony Stark wishes, making things different.
"Pleasure doing business with you."
"Pleasure doing business with you."
Another weekend arrived, and at Tony invitation, Shi Xiaolei came to Stark Industries headquarters.
After a negotiation lasting half an hour, Shi Xiaolei and Pepper reached an agreement, and he solemnly signed his name on the freshly printed document.
According to this agreement, Shi Xiaolei would hold ten percent of the shares in Stark newly opened subsidiary company.
Looking at the ratio, merely ten percent did seem a bit small.
But from an objective perspective, this proportion wasn't unreasonable.
After all, Shi Xiaolei only provided the original potions as experimental materials without directly offering the formula.
Additionally, this "energy replenishment drink" being launched by the company was re-formulated by Stark using his exceptional intellect, and its formula indeed had significant differences from the original stamina potion.
Considering it was just a contribution that sparked inspiration, getting ten percent wasn't bad at all.
Moreover, the agreement contained a separate clause—when providing original potions to certain special customers, all income would belong to Shi Xiaolei personally.
Put simply, if military, intelligence organizations, or upper-class individuals wanted to purchase the original potions with uncompromised effects.
Business negotiations and product delivery would be handled by the company, while all profits from these transactions would go entirely to Shi Xiaolei personally, with the company not taking a penny.
It was equivalent to using the company shell to open a tax-free private studio for himself, without even having to pay for labor costs.
Plus the ten percent dividend mentioned earlier.
Besides exchanging the potions, he didn't need to worry about any other tedious matters, and money would fall from the sky like rain.
How could Shi Xiaolei not be satisfied?
"Mr. Rock, could I have a word with you?"
"Uh."
At the celebratory dinner after the negotiations, Shi Xiaolei encountered Coulson, who had appeared from somewhere.
Although he didn't yet know the other party's intentions, thinking of Coulson identity, Shi Xiaolei felt a chill in his heart, and his previously cheerful mood was somewhat affected.
There was no escaping this, so after some thought, Shi Xiaolei could only nod.
"Alright."
After glancing at Kanna, who was being accompanied by 2B—the little girl was happily sampling various foods and probably wouldn't encounter any problems—Shi Xiaolei turned around and followed Coulson out of the restaurant to a secluded spot in the courtyard.
"What is it, Coulson?"
"First, congratulations on reaching a collaboration with Stark Industries."
With his trademark nice-guy smile, Coulson spoke in a gentle tone.
"Mr. Rock, I believe that in the near future, you will also become a billionaire and live an even better life."
"Thank you."
Seeing Coulson raise his glass, Shi Xiaolei also casually raised his glass and clinked it lightly with Coulson's.
After drinking the liquid in the glass, he placed the empty glass on a nearby step and looked back into Coulson eyes, maintaining a questioning gaze.
"Additionally if possible, we would like to order a batch of potions from you."
Meeting Shi Xiaolei gaze, Coulson explained his true purpose,
Straightforward people don't speak in riddles, and Shi Xiaolei didn't bother with wordplay.
"You mean the original potions?"
"Yes."
Nodding, Coulson smiled and said.
"The ones you gave to Stark. I'm referring to all three types."
Even Stark couldn't replicate them, and with the capabilities of SHIELD, or rather HYDRA, the result would certainly be the same.
Not needing to worry about them deciphering the formula, and considering further that even if HYDRA got the potions, they wouldn't have the ability to truly threaten the safety of his family, Shi Xiaolei nodded.
"Alright, since you've put it so clearly, I don't need to pretend. All three potions, right? Fine, I agree."
"If possible, we hope to arrange the quantities in a ratio of 6:3:1. Sixty percent red potions, thirty percent white potions, and the remaining ten percent black potions."
During missions, injuries from gunfights or hand-to-hand combat were most common, situations requiring enhanced endurance were relatively fewer, and scenarios needing to deal with toxins occurred least frequently.
From this ratio, it wasn't hard to see that Coulson brought this order not with the intention of buying potions to analyze and manufacture themselves, but genuinely planning to use these potions in missions.
Inwardly relieved, and feeling increasingly relaxed, Shi Xiaolei nodded decisively.
"No problem, 6:3:1, right? What about the specific quantity? Oh, and I don't need to mention the price, right?"
"Regarding the price, we've already investigated—ten thousand dollars per bottle, correct?"
Coulson responded.
"As for the quantity... due to budget constraints, I can only preorder one hundred bottles for now. You know, for organizations like ours, the approval process for external procurement is a bit cumbersome."
"We typically start with small batch purchases, and only after confirming the effectiveness through use is there a possibility of large-scale orders."
"One hundred bottles..."
Not realizing that Shi Xiaolei was internally complaining about the small quantity, but instead considering from a conventional perspective that he might not be able to produce so many potions at once.
Coulson maintained his composure and probed.
"Is that too many? If you can't supply them all at once, we can transact in batches. Starting from today, can you deliver half within a week?"
How often to trade, how many bottles per transaction.
With this data, they could deduce Shi Xiaolei efficiency in manufacturing potions.
As expected of an agent, every sentence contained a trap.
However, this probe didn't yield any effective intelligence, because Shi Xiaolei gave this response.
"It's not too many. I have some stock, so as soon as the payment clears, we can trade anytime."
Having stock...
Unable to calculate the other party potion manufacturing efficiency, Coulson felt slightly disappointed.
Nevertheless, he maintained a faint smile on his face.
"That's great, how about tomorrow? If I'm not mistaken, tomorrow is Sunday, and your store will be closed."
"Let's make it the day after tomorrow. Come to the store at eight in the evening, and I'll be waiting for you."
Shi Xiaolei shook his head.
"Tomorrow won't work. I promised the little girl at home that I'd take her sea fishing tomorrow. She's been preparing for several days for tomorrow, and if I suddenly said we weren't going... Well, I don't want to see her cry."
"Alright, then the day after tomorrow at eight in the evening."
Nodding, Coulson very gentlemanly said.
"By the way, I hope you have a great time tomorrow and catch some big fish."
"Thank you."
While returning a smile, Shi Xiaolei couldn't help but think to himself.
'Even if we don't catch big fish, I'm sure I'll be happy, because...'
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist?you can read 20 chapters ahead on my P@treon [[email protected]/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)