Conditions

"She'll be in the ICU for a while. Go handle the paperwork for her. I hope you have adequate health insurance—the treatment costs ahead will be very expensive."

The doctor nodded and led the nurses away with the patient. Frank watched the hospital bed depart and could not help letting out a sigh of relief.

At that moment, a voice sounded beside Frank. "No need to worry so much. I promised you she wouldn't die."

Frank turned stiffly and looked at Andrew, who had suddenly appeared. "Are you really the Demon King?"

Andrew smiled faintly and teleported Frank to Rebirth Hell. Then he said, "This is my Hell. Uh, the air is a little bad, please excuse it. It can't be helped—we're in a period of major production right now, and the factories have been continuously producing robots."

"Hell, producing robots?"

Frank was completely dumbfounded. I may not have read much, but don't try to fool me. How could Hell have factories, let alone modern factories?

Andrew smiled and took Frank on a tour of the robot factory. Frank finally accepted reality. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Demon King, I'm deeply grateful that you saved my wife and children. They are everything to me, so I'm willing to serve you.

"But I won't do anything utterly immoral or against my country's interests. I'm a soldier. I have my honor."

"Honor? Does America have honor?"

Andrew could not help laughing. He asked, "Frank, do you know why you were shot?"

Without waiting for Frank to answer, Andrew continued, "On the surface, it was because your wife Maria happened to stumble upon a deal between two gangs. In fact, someone set it up to silence you."

Frank was stunned and hurriedly asked, "Silence me? Who?"

"Your superior in the Middle East. He used the bodies of fallen soldiers to smuggle illegal drugs into America for profit. The Operation Hellhound you carried out in the Middle East was actually a silencing operation."

Andrew said, "You silenced others, and now others are silencing you. Perfectly reasonable."

"That's impossible!"

Frank roared with bloodshot eyes. He was so agitated that even his burly body trembled slightly.

Selling illegal drugs, even using the bodies of fallen soldiers to transport them—how could the military he held sacred do something so utterly immoral?

Beyond his Wrath, Frank also felt fear. If this was true, then what was his so-called honor worth?

Andrew said, "Your good brother Billy knows about this. In Fact, Billy also knows they planned to silence you."

"Billy knows about this?"

Frank suffered another crushing blow and even staggered back two steps in disbelief. That was his best brother.

Frank glared at Andrew as if he were a volcano on the verge of erupting. "I don't believe it. I'll investigate this myself."

Andrew said, "No problem. Do whatever you want. If anything happens, I'll take care of it for you."

At that moment, Howard, standing nearby, said, "Soldier, selling illegal drugs is a CIA tradition. The CIA is definitely involved in this. Don't let your guard down."

"The CIA?"

Frank paused, then said, "I'll uncover everything. If it's true, no matter who he is, I'll send him to Hell."

"Here, take a mask. It will help hide your identity and block bullets."

Andrew tossed a Bone Mask to Frank and said, "Oh, and remember to bring back some evidence. The Daily Bugle is always short on headlines."

"The Daily Bugle? It's one of your businesses?"

Frank was astonished. His Wife had told him only that morning that the Daily Bugle was New York's conscience, more reliable than other newspapers.

Conscience, my ass. It belongs to the Demon King.

"That's right."

Andrew waved his hand, and Frank disappeared. Then Andrew said to Howard, "Custom-make a suit for Frank. He'll be the Commander of the Peace Knights."

"No wonder you value him so much."

Howard said, "Customizing a suit for him won't be a problem, but the materials we have In Hand aren't quite complete."

Rebirth Hell had iron mines that could provide steel and some alloys, but certain high-precision materials had to be transported from Earth.

Andrew did not lack money. The problem was that many materials required permits and connections; money alone could not buy them. That was why Rebirth Hell had relatively few combat robots.

Andrew smiled. "Don't worry. Materials will soon cease to be a problem, and I'll also gain a large number of perfect customer service representatives."

Howard looked completely baffled. Materials? Customer service representatives? What did those two things have to do with each other?

Andrew did not elaborate. He said, "You and Trask will have to work harder for a while. The next disaster could strike at any time."

"The next disaster could strike at any time?"

Howard was stunned. "How many times has this been already? When did Earth become so unsafe?"

Andrew said, "Ever since your son became Iron Man."

Howard: "..."

Late at night, Natasha was still reviewing the information S.H.I.E.L.D. had sent her. The past clung to her like a Demon, leaving her unable to eat or sleep. She needed work to numb herself.

"Not a single trace. How did Drakov do it? S.H.I.E.L.D. is the largest intelligence organization in the world."

Natasha frowned tightly. Just then, she suddenly appeared on a floating platform. Across from her was a mass of Golden Fire, within which a towering figure flickered in and out of view.

Natasha did not panic. As she observed her surroundings and prepared to ask a question, she discovered that she could not speak.

Andrew slowly said, "Natasha Romanoff, agree to the conditions of the contract, and I'll tell you how to find Drakov and Antonia.

"By the way, your former Sister has been under Drakov's control all this time, living a fate worse than death."

After he spoke, a contract appeared before Natasha. Its terms were simple: keep this matter completely confidential, do not inform S.H.I.E.L.D., and search for Drakov alone. If she violated it, her soul would be taken by the Demon King.

Why did he not demand Natasha's soul?

Because Natasha would never agree so easily. More importantly, once she signed this contract, her soul would belong to Andrew sooner or later. Of that, Andrew was certain.

"Yelena is under Drakov's control?"

Natasha was greatly shocked. She carefully read the contract before her. Once she finished, her face was full of confusion. This contract was far too simple. What did this Demon King want?

Natasha pointed to her mouth, indicating that she wanted to speak.

"Not signing? Then goodbye."

Andrew raised his hand, and the Illusion Realm began collapsing from the outside. Natasha grew a little anxious. After hesitating, she pressed her hand onto the contract. The conditions were loose anyway, and more importantly, she had to find Drakov and end everything.

Andrew nodded in satisfaction. "Go find your adoptive father, Red Guardian. He'll lead you to your adoptive mother. Your adoptive mother knows where Drakov is."