sub x{ 
    my( $s1, $s2, $s3 ) = @_;
    $s1 *= 10 if $s1;
    $s2 **= 4 if $s2;
    $s3 *= $s2 % $s1;
    return [ 
        { n1 => $s1, n2 => $s2 }, 
        { n1 => 41 * $s2, n2 => ( $s1 * $s2 ) % $s3 } 
    ];
};;
$I = 50e3; 
$t = time; 
x( 123, 456, 789 ) for 1 .. $I; 
printf "$I calls took %.4f seconds\n", time()-$t;;
50000 calls took 0.3174 seconds

$I = 50e5; 
$t = time; 
x( 123, 456, 789 ) for 1 .. $I; 
printf "$I calls took %.4f seconds\n", time()-$t;;
5000000 calls took 26.5590 seconds