Conditions

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

The doctor nodded and led the nurses away with the patient. Watching the bed disappear down the corridor, Frank could not help but let out a sigh of relief.

At that moment, a voice spoke beside Frank. "You don't need to worry so much. I promised you she wouldn't die."

Frank turned his head stiffly and stared at the suddenly appearing Wang Nanxuan. "Are you really the Demon King?"

Wang Nanxuan smiled faintly and teleported Frank to Rebirth Hell. Then he said, "This is my Hell. Uh, the air is a bit bad, please forgive me. It can't be helped. We're in a period of major production right now, and the factories have been continuously manufacturing Robots."

"Hell, manufacturing Robots?"

Frank was utterly baffled. I may not have read much, but don't try to fool me. How could Hell possibly have factories? Modern factories, at that?

Wang Nanxuan 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 my entire world, so I am 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?"

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

Without waiting for Frank's answer, Wang Nanxuan continued, "On the surface, it was because your wife, Maria, happened to uncover a deal between two gangs. In reality, 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. Operation Hellhound, which you carried out in the Middle East, was actually an operation to silence witnesses."

Wang Nanxuan 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 muscular body trembled slightly.

Selling illegal drugs, and even using the corpses of fallen soldiers to transport them... How could the military he regarded as sacred commit such depraved acts?

Beyond his fury, Frank also felt fear. If this was true, then what did his so-called honor amount to?

Wang Nanxuan said, "Your good friend Billy knows about this. In fact, Billy also knew they intended to silence you."

"Billy knew about this?"

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

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

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

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

"The CIA?"

Frank froze, then said, "I'll uncover the truth behind everything. If it's real, no matter who he is, I'll send him to Hell."

"Here, take this mask. It will help conceal your identity and block bullets for you."

Wang Nanxuan 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 belongs to you?"

Frank was dumbfounded. Just that morning, his wife had told him that the Daily Bugle was the conscience of New York, more trustworthy than other newspapers.

Conscience, my ass. It was the Demon King's property.

"That's right."

Wang Nanxuan waved a hand, and Frank vanished. Then Wang Nanxuan said to Howard, "Make Frank a custom Battle Suit. He will be the Commander of the Peace Knights."

"No wonder you value him so highly."

Howard said, "Customizing a Battle Suit for him won't be a problem, but we don't have a complete supply of materials on hand."

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

Wang Nanxuan was not short of money, but many materials required permits and connections. They could not be bought even with money. That was why Rebirth Hell had relatively few combat Robots.

Wang Nanxuan smiled. "Don't worry. Materials will stop being a problem soon, and I'll also gain a large number of perfect customers."

Howard looked utterly confused. Materials? Customers? Those had absolutely nothing to do with each other.

Wang Nanxuan did not elaborate. "You and Trask will need to work harder during this time. The next disaster could descend at any moment."

"The next disaster could descend at any moment?"

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

Wang Nanxuan said, "Since your son became Iron Man."

Howard: "..."

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

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

Natasha frowned tightly. At that moment, 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.

Wang Nanxuan slowly said, "Natasha Romanoff, agree to the conditions of the contract, and I will tell you how to find Drakov and Antonia.

"By the way, your former sister has been under Drakov's control all this time. She is suffering a fate worse than death."

After he spoke, a contract appeared before Natasha. Its terms were simple: keep this matter completely confidential, do not notify S.H.I.E.L.D., and seek out Drakov alone. If she violated the agreement, 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 sooner or later belong to Wang Nanxuan. Of that, Wang Nanxuan 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. The contract was far too simple. What did this Demon King want?

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

"Not signing? Then goodbye."

Wang Nanxuan raised his hand, and the Illusion Realm began collapsing from the outside. Natasha grew anxious. After hesitating for a moment, she pressed her hand onto the contract. The terms were lenient anyway, and more importantly, she had to find Drakov and bring everything to an end.

Wang Nanxuan nodded in satisfaction. "Go find your adoptive father, Red Guardian. He will lead you to your adoptive mother. Your adoptive mother knows where Drakov is."