Doctor Doom

"Falling... utterly fallen."

In the presidential suite of a hotel in Las Vegas, Wang Nanxuan stood on the balcony, gazing sadly at the dazzling lights and revelry below.

He had clearly planned to head to New York to handle business three days ago, but instead, he had played for one day after another.

It was not entirely his fault. Surrounded by beauties and a crowd doing everything possible to please him, after being lonely for a year, it was truly difficult not to fall.

What, why were all the beauties flocking around him? Naturally, because he... had money. There was no helping it—he won every bet, so it was hard not to get rich.

Because he had won too much, the casino owners had even written checks and begged him never to return. Of course, some had tried using force, and some had even tried to rob Wang Nanxuan.

All of them had mysteriously vanished—their bodies and souls alike had been taken into Rebirth Hell, where they worked tirelessly toward its modernization. Uh, unpaid, twenty-four-hour shifts.

"I still need to handle proper business. I'm a target for everyone now. Without strength, those Demon Kings will swallow me up sooner or later."

Wang Nanxuan looked toward New York in the distance and muttered, "Doctor Doom, and Tony Stark, we'll be meeting very soon."

Doom Group had become a fairly well-known emerging technology corporation in Manhattan over the past few years. Its chairman, Victor von Doom, was a super genius in both technology and business. In only a few years, he had developed Doom Group into a publicly listed company and even established a small Space Station in orbit.

The problem was that Doctor Doom was not happy. He had come to America to start a company not to make money, but to use advanced technology to resurrect his mother.

Doctor Doom's mother, Cynthia, was a Gypsy Enchantress. To protect her country, she had made a deal with Mephisto. In the end, not only had she failed to save her country, but her soul had fallen into Mephisto's hands.

"Could I have chosen the wrong path? Should I be studying magic?"

The cold-faced Doctor Doom sat in his office, his brow tightly furrowed. With current technology, it was simply impossible to blast through Hell and rescue Cynthia.

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out. "With your talent, your future in magic would be limitless."

"Who?"

Doctor Doom was startled. He abruptly looked up and saw an Eastern man in a trench coat, carrying an air of mystery, seated across from him.

Wang Nanxuan smiled. "Don't be nervous. Although I'm a Demon King, I don't eat people. Even if I did, I wouldn't eat them raw. I'd add plenty of chili peppers."

"A Demon King? You've successfully made me even more nervous."

Doctor Doom was no ordinary man. He took a deep breath and asked, "May I ask what business brings this Demon King to my office?"

Wang Nanxuan gave Doctor Doom an approving glance and said, "I'm here to make a deal with you."

"I don't make deals with Devils."

Doctor Doom said coldly, "People who make deals with Devils never end well. My mother is one example."

"My reputation is rotten. Business is hard to do."

Wang Nanxuan sighed and opened his right hand. A witch's soul slept in his palm. "Still not interested?"

"Cynthia!"

Doctor Doom's expression changed. He abruptly rose to his feet and asked, "Are you Mephisto?"

"No. I snatched her from Mephisto."

Wang Nanxuan said, "Whether you make this deal is your own decision."

Doctor Doom's breathing quickened. Looking at his mother's soul, he asked in a low voice, "What do you want?"

Wang Nanxuan said, "Help me handle three matters in the future. Don't worry, nothing I ask you to do will endanger you or your mother. Oh, and throw in your Doom Group as a bonus."

"Handle three matters for you?"

Doctor Doom was somewhat surprised. As for Doom Group, he did not care much about it. With his intelligence, making money would be easy. In fact, Wang Nanxuan did not care much about it either, which was why he called it a bonus.

The key to this deal was the three matters. Doctor Doom had limitless potential; his future achievements might not even be inferior to Doctor Strange's.

Doctor Doom did not hesitate for long before nodding. "Fine. I agree to your terms. As long as you are not plotting against me, I will definitely handle three matters for you in the future."

"We of Hell place more faith in Contracts. If you violate the Contract, your soul will belong to me."

Wang Nanxuan snapped his fingers, and a Contract appeared before Doctor Doom. Doctor Doom examined every detail of it carefully before pressing his fingerprint onto it.

The Contract officially took effect. Wang Nanxuan sent Cynthia's soul before Doctor Doom and said, "My magic is on her. For one year, she can remain in this world as a soul. After that, you can handle it yourself. Also, your blood can awaken her, provided you are truly her biological son."

"That need not concern you."

Doctor Doom snorted. He now believed Wang Nanxuan was not Mephisto. If he were Mephisto, he certainly would not have given Cynthia magic.

Wang Nanxuan stood and said, "I only want the shares you currently hold. Keep everything else for yourself."

Doctor Doom reminded him, "I do not hold many shares. Also, Doom Group is a publicly listed company, so the procedures are rather troublesome. We need to notify all the major directors, explain matters to the securities regulator, and so on. It will take some time."

"My lawyer will contact you."

Wang Nanxuan nodded and vanished from before Doctor Doom—returning to Las Vegas to continue enjoying himself. A costume ball was waiting for him there.

"These days, even Devils use lawyers."

Doctor Doom shook his head and impatiently used his blood to awaken his mother.

That afternoon, Doctor Doom's girlfriend, Susan Storm—the future Invisible Woman and a member of the Fantastic Four—looked at Doctor Doom in shock and asked, "You gave away the company's shares? And you're going back to Eastern Europe?"

"Yes. I cannot say too much about the specifics. Susan, come back with me. I'll make you Queen."

Doctor Doom nodded. He had spoken with Cynthia and planned to give up everything and return to Latveria to study magic. Only then could he resurrect his mother or allow her to be reincarnated as a human.

"I don't want to leave New York, Victor. Have you been controlled by someone? Why would you have such a crazy idea?"

Susan refused. Doctor Doom tried to persuade her several times, but could not change her mind. In the end, they parted on bad terms. More than ten days later, Doctor Doom completed all the procedures and hurried back to his homeland with his mother's soul.

The story of God Emperor Doom had officially set sail. Wang Nanxuan's investment would yield returns hundreds or thousands of times greater in the future.

Leaving Doom aside for the moment, that morning, Susan entered the chairman's office and asked the tall figure standing before the floor-to-ceiling window, "Mr. Wang, you wanted to see me?"

Although Wang Nanxuan held Doom's share transfer agreement, the procedures had not yet been fully completed, nor had the board meeting been held. Therefore, Susan still addressed him as Mr. Wang—strictly speaking, Wang Nanxuan was not yet the Boss of Doom Group.

Wang Nanxuan turned and glanced at Susan, a flash of appreciation passing through his eyes. She truly deserved her reputation as the famous Blonde Sweetheart. Getting straight to the point, he said, "Miss Stone, I intend to promote you to group vice president. Be prepared."