Before drawing the card, Shen He still harbored hope of obtaining a powerful servant.
However, the harsh reality reminded him once again—this was a card-drawing game, and luck was the only law.
That same cycle of anticipation and disappointment was what had driven him to burn through his resources so recklessly in the past.
But now… there's no Krypton channel!
Shen He looked visibly dejected.
"This is just normal probability," Qimu Kusuo offered in an attempt to console him.
However, Shen He remained unmoved.
Suddenly, Violet tugged gently at his sleeve, her violet eyes silently asking if she could help.
"Wow, Violet is the best."
He ran his hands through her soft, golden hair, enjoying the silky texture. It worked—his mood lifted almost instantly.
There was no point dwelling on a bad draw. If luck failed him now, he could always rely on his backup plan—Ou Youfei.
Shen He turned his attention to the one guaranteed four-star item in his draw.
Name: Virtual Reality Experience Helmet
Origin: Sword Art Online
Evaluation: "Do you wish to experience magic beyond reality? Welcome to virtual reality—but be warned, losing yourself here could mean losing everything."
A virtual gaming helmet—from Sword Art Online!
Shen He had always envied this kind of technology when he watched anime. The ability to enter a fully immersive virtual world had always seemed like a distant dream.
And now… he actually had one.
Wait—!
This is a virtual gaming helmet!
Shen He suddenly sprang up.
He had been sulking over his luck, but this—this was a piece of black technology that even the Marvel world didn't have!
For a moment, he restrained himself from immediately taking it out. Instead, he took a deep breath, calmed himself, and pulled out his phone.
"Tony, where are you?"
"I'm at a banquet. Hey, ladies—lower the music for a sec." The background noise in Tony's call dimmed as he spoke again. "He, what's up?"
"Come over right now. I have a super profitable project."
Shen He suddenly felt incredibly lucky to have met Tony first.
Introducing something as revolutionary as virtual reality games wasn't a simple matter. Without a strong ally, he would be devoured by corporate giants before he even had a chance to profit. The intrigue and power struggles that would follow were something he wanted no part in.
If anyone could handle that kind of chaos, though, it was Tony Stark.
"God, are you serious?" Tony chuckled. "I thought you were about to tell me something shocking. Forget your little project—just bring your Chaldeans to Stark Industries. I guarantee you'll never run out of money."
"Shut up and get over here," Shen He snapped, his face darkening.
This guy… even after multiple life-or-death situations, he still couldn't keep his mouth shut.
That said, their bond had strengthened significantly after the Villa Incident. Shen He had initially wanted to avoid interfering with the main storyline, but somehow, fate had pulled him closer to the key players regardless.
---
Thirty Minutes Later
Tony's efficiency was as ridiculous as ever.
Barely half an hour had passed before a custom Lamborghini pulled up at the hotel entrance.
"T-Tony…? TONY STARK!?"
The front desk lady stammered in disbelief.
A global superstar, a business mogul, and one of the most famous men in the world… had just shown up at their hotel.
"Hey, where's your new boss? He told me to come."
Tony pulled off his sunglasses as he approached, the fading bruise on his forehead doing nothing to diminish his usual charm and arrogance.
"Ah—h-he's on the 23rd floor!" The receptionist, still in shock, boldly asked, "Wait… does our boss actually know you?"
"Of course. And by the way, I don't mind shy Chinese girls. Has anyone ever told you you're cute?"
Leaving behind a group of swooning staff, Tony strode confidently toward the elevator.
Only now did the hotel employees begin to realize that their mysterious new boss was no ordinary figure.
He could summon Tony Stark with a single call.
And just like that, gossip exploded about their boss's true identity.
---
In Shen He's Living Room
Inside, Shen He examined the VR helmet he had pulled from his inventory.
It came with an attached metal box—similar to a PC tower, filled with unknown hardware.
"Tony's here," Qimu Kusuo announced.
At that very moment, the door swung open.
"Happy housewarming, He. You better have something good, though. I just turned down a multi-billion-dollar contract meeting for this."
Tony mimicked Shen He's earlier dramatic tone as he strolled in. But his playful attitude vanished when he spotted the device on the carpet.
"...This ugly thing is your 'super profitable project'? What is it, a sleep aid for the elderly?"
"You'll know once you try it," Shen He smirked.
Tony's instincts kicked in. Something felt off.
"Wait… did one of your 'colleagues' send this, too?"
He picked up the helmet, scrutinizing the sleek metal plating and the array of sensors embedded throughout.
"…It looks like a microwave oven," he muttered.
After exchanging a glance with Qimu Kusuo, Tony carefully put it on.
He trusted that with Qimu here, nothing would go wrong. And, more importantly, he knew Shen He wasn't the type to pull a cruel prank.
"Initializing link."
The moment Shen He flipped the switch, a gentle female voice announced the activation.
Tony's world instantly went dark.
For a brief second, everything was silent.
Then—a burst of colors.
A kaleidoscope of vibrant light engulfed him, pulling him forward like an unstoppable current.
Before he could react—the lights faded.
And when his vision cleared—
"…My God."
Even Tony couldn't suppress his shock.
Stretching infinitely in every direction was a vast meadow, golden under the evening sun.
The sky was a crisp, endless blue, dotted with massive, slow-drifting clouds. The soft wind rustled the grass, sending ripples across the horizon.
And Tony was… floating.
No body. No weight. Just the overwhelming realness of it all.
Then, in front of him—a virtual interface appeared.
Its text was clear, precise.
[Welcome to the Digital World.]
---
Back in Reality
Shen He watched nervously as Tony lay motionless on the sofa.
What if there's no exit button?!
Thankfully, before panic could set in, Qimu Kusuo's time-reversal ability activated, and Tony was safely ejected from the virtual world.
The moment he sat up, Tony's expression was one of pure shock.
"…How?"
His mind raced. Sight, sound, touch—even gravity felt real.
"What is the principle behind this? Visual, tactile, and even gravitational perception…?"
He pressed a hand to his forehead, trying to process the impossible.
"How do you feel?" Shen He nudged his shoulder twice.
Tony looked at him, his expression unreadable.
"He… I only have one thought right now."
A pause.
Then, with absolute sincerity, Tony declared—
"You just became richer than me."
Shen He blinked. Then—
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
A rare chance to see Tony Stark speechless.
It was worth everything.
—