Three Questions

"First question, Steve, you saved the world, but you also lost everything. Have you ever regretted it?"

"No, I was confused, I had regrets, but I never regretted it. If I hadn't stopped it, everything I cherished would have been destroyed. I lost everything, but everything I had didn't disappear."

Steve's voice was firm and powerful, his eyes clear and fearless, as if he had returned to the battlefield where war raged, and his belief had never wavered.

Peggy looked at Steve, her eyes filled with pride and heartache.

"I give this answer full marks. The second question is, if a bomb were to appear on your Peggy right now, and you had a button in your hand."

This button will randomly transfer the bomb to other people, possibly criminals or innocent civilians. Would you press it?

"I can defuse the bomb, or I can tear it off..."

You only have ten seconds.

Steve's brow furrowed tightly, and his face showed a painful struggle.

His gaze lingered on Peggy for a moment, then turned to Kino, his lips pressed tightly together, lost in deep turmoil.

Peggy got angry and demanded, "Why are you asking such a question, such an inhumane and immoral assumption! This is just deliberately making things difficult for you!"

Her face flushed red, her eyes widened, and anger made her body tremble slightly, leaving her somewhat breathless.

Steve quickly reached out and grabbed Peggy, trying to calm her down.

Peggy, however, continued to glare at Kino.

"What kind of test is this? Let me ask you, what would you choose if you were in that situation?"

"I'll press it, even if the bomb ends up on Tom."

Kino answered without hesitation, his face showing no remorse or hesitation, as if it were the simplest of decisions.

Tom smiled slightly and bowed respectfully, saying, "It is my honor to serve the leader."

Peggy was speechless.

"You remind me of a former enemy."

Steve looked at him with a complex expression, a look that held both memories of the past and helplessness and confusion about the current situation.

"Red Skull? And what's your answer?"

Steve took a deep breath and slowly said, "I... I can press..."

His voice was filled with pain and struggle.

Peggy sighed softly, glaring angrily at Kino, who was destroying Steve's resolve.

"Also a perfect score, so here's the last question: One day in the future, your Peggy regains her youth, has a child with you, but dies in a car accident."

You are heartbroken. While sorting through her belongings, you discover that she was assassinated. After a series of investigations, you find the real culprit and, unable to contain your anger, want to kill him.

At this point, your friend stops you, saying that the real culprit is his brother, who has been brainwashed by a dark organization, and that he should be let go. What would you do?

A: Kill him. B: Let him go.

Kino stared intently at Steve, awaiting his decision.

Peggy was puzzled. Wasn't this question similar to the one from last time? The Demon King repeated his question, asking what the point was.

Death in a car accident? This way of dying feels so familiar.

The Black Organization...

Brainwashing...

Peggy's aging mind kept recalling past memories.

Where? Where have I seen her before? She frowned, trying hard to recall any relevant fragments.

Steve, because of the previous question, didn't hesitate much.

"I choose A: kill him." His voice was resolute and cold.

"Steve, wait..."

Peggy's pupils contracted; it was too late to stop her, and her outstretched hand froze in mid-air.

Kino smiled and clapped.

"Three questions, all answered perfectly. Congratulations, Steve, you're hired."

"Demon King, may I ask you a question?"

Peggy felt uneasy, and her suspicions made her increasingly anxious.

She finally remembered.

Howard Stark, Maria Stark.

She sensed something was wrong when they had the car accident. She mobilized all her resources to investigate but found nothing. All the evidence pointed to it being an accident.

But today, Kino's question reminded her that if the person asking the question had a different identity, then...

Peggy's body trembled slightly, her eyes filled with shock and anger.

Steve noticed Peggy's unusual behavior and gripped her hand tightly.

Kino nodded.

"Howard and Maria, they didn't die in an accident, they were assassinated!"

"That's right, and their son also thought it was an accident."

Steve's breath hitched, and he stared blankly at Kino.

The question from earlier lingered in his mind: if we change the perspective, and the Black Organization is Hydra, and Howard and Maria are the ones who died, then he is the one who actually stopped them!

"Why? Didn't I already destroy Hydra? Who's been brainwashed?"

He already knew the answer in his heart, but dared not admit it, or perhaps still held onto hope.

"James Buchanan Barnes."

"Impossible! It must be fake, you're lying to me. Hydra is dead. If they're not dead, what does everything I've lost matter?"

Steve stood up agitatedly, his body trembling slightly with anger, his eyes bloodshot.

The enemy is not dead, his own friend killed his benefactor, and the benefactor's son is still unaware of the news.

These messages struck Steve's heart like heavy hammer blows, shaking his will to the brink of collapse.

Kino was pleased with Steve's expression.

"Why don't you ask your Peggy?"

Steve looked at Peggy.

Peggy sighed and slowly began, "Project Paperclip..."

The more Steve listened, the uglier his face became, so dark it looked like it could drip water.

Steve punched a large hole in the table, sending splinters flying as he vented his anger.

Tom glared at him, clearly displeased by his rudeness in front of the leader.

"If I can beat them once, I can beat them a second time." Steve's eyes were filled with determination and unyielding spirit.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I want to recruit them. They're perceptive, useful, and obedient. It wouldn't be a shame if you destroyed such an organization."

Kino crossed his arms.

"But they are evil, they want to conquer the world," Steve tried to argue.

"Conquering the world is evil. If I remember correctly, this country also has ambitions to conquer the world. You must know that."

Steve, I hate you.

Do you remember my question from before? You're actually the kind of person who gets very impulsive and hot-blooded. For the sake of your friends and loved ones, no matter what your position is, you'll do anything if it might hurt those around you.

Actually, I'm the same way. I hate you because you're clearly selfish but act selfless, and you expect others to be selfless towards you too.

This makes you seem hypocritical.

Kino finished speaking in one breath.

To split the Avengers for Bucky, to manipulate Scarlet Witch to help him, to find the semi-retired Tony Stark, and finally to go back in time to be with Peggy —all of these are fine.

But his insistence on doing it for the sake of the world and justice, out of necessity, is quite hypocritical.

His life was perfect, but what about everyone else? Vision died, Scarlet Witch went mad, Tony died, Black Widow died, Hulk disappeared...

The majority of the reason for this is related to the split within the Avengers.

Steve's face turned pale instantly. He opened his mouth, but found himself unable to refute Kino's words.

Peggy looked at Steve with concern, wanting to comfort him but unsure where to begin.

Tom's gaze towards Steve also changed; there were still some differences between the Captain America in the story and the real one.

"Of course, as your boss, I still care about my subordinates. I'll give you two choices."

As Kino spoke, he took out a black contract and placed it in front of Steve.

"One: Sign the contract, abandon your so-called justice, and become a Demon Captain. I will get Bucky back for you, and I will also resurrect the dead."

Kino's tone was steady.

Steve paused slightly, his gaze fixed on the contract and potion on the table.

"Second: Turn around and leave, find Nick Fury, tell him the truth, destroy the entire S.H.I.E.L.D.., and then await my revenge."

After saying that, Kino looked at Tom and laughed, "Tom, here's a reward of 3,000 Contribution Points. Consider it a treat for me to watch a good show."

Tom's face lit up with surprise, and he quickly bowed and thanked him, "Thank you, Chief!"

"As payment for being the lead actor in this play, if you sign the contract, you'll receive this Rejuvenation Potion ahead of schedule, and you'll have to pay 10,000 Contribution Points within a year."

Kino gave Steve one last look. The show was over, and he didn't have time to wait for a man to make a decision. He left with a remark.

"I have always believed that if a person's performance is perfect, then there must be an emptiness in his heart that needs to be filled by such perfection."

You saved the world truly for justice, not for fame or glory.

Tom tactfully left the room, gently closing the door behind him, leaving the two of them alone.

Steve didn't react at all, staring blankly at the contract and potion on the table, his eyes somewhat unfocused.

Give up your false insistence, and you'll gain everything—a lover, friends, benefactors. What are you hesitating about?

A voice kept echoing in his mind.

A somewhat rough hand reached into his palm, and their fingers intertwined.

Steve looked up at Peggy.

Her once striking beauty is now covered in wrinkles; time has left deep marks on her face. Her once firm skin has become loose, her eyes are no longer as bright as they used to be, and she has begun to exude an aura of decay.

But in Steve's eyes, she was still the woman who made his heart flutter.

Peggy looked at him tenderly, her eyes full of understanding and determination.