The People of America Are in for a World of Hurt!

S.P.E.A.R., Ring Fortress.

Lin Hao, dressed in a white lab coat and black-rimmed glasses, looking refined and scholarly, walked into Director Zheng Xian's office.

Zheng Xian, who was tending to a potted orchid, glanced back. "Have a seat. There's tea in the pot—freshly brewed Longjing Tea."

Lin Hao walked over to the sofa and sat down. He picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup. Thinking that he was asking someone for a favor, he unusually poured Zheng Xian a cup as well.

After finishing up by the windowsill, Zheng Xian set down his scissors, wiped his hands with a wet wipe, then leisurely walked over and sat to Lin Hao's left.

"Is there a result for my application?" Lin Hao took a sip of tea.

"Look at you, always in such a hurry!" Zheng Xian shot him a glare.

Hearing that, Lin Hao seemed to space out, as though he had recalled something. He smiled and replied, "Zheng Plant, I just want to make progress!"

As he spoke, he began laughing to himself, reminiscing over distant memories.

"Off the rails again..." Zheng Xian could do nothing with him. He sighed helplessly and said, "The higher-ups have approved your application. From now on, you'll be in charge of the Americas Branch. Go over there and rebuild the intelligence network."

Lin Hao's smile faded, but a flicker of delight flashed through his eyes behind his glasses.

He slowly finished his tea, set down the cup, and asked seriously, "What's the bottom line?"

Zheng Xian likewise set down his teacup, met Lin Hao's gaze, and said solemnly, "Remember what country you belong to. Other than that..."

"Anything goes!"

The delight in Lin Hao's eyes could no longer be concealed, and the corners of his lips quietly curved upward.

"Alright, I'll go arrange the handover." Lin Hao stood up, looking somewhat impatient to get going.

Watching his cheerful footsteps, Zheng Xian shook his head with a laugh.

A moment later, the office door was pushed open again, and a woman with a graceful figure and waterfall-like black hair walked in.

She sat down without ceremony and poured herself some tea.

"Are we really sending Director Lin to America?" Weather Witch still found it hard to believe.

"Ever since Nick Fury took office, S.H.I.E.L.D. on the other side has grown more and more arrogant. Not only did they wipe out our network in the Americas, they even established a S.H.I.E.L.D. branch in Hong Kong, using the membership fees we pay to act as America's thug."

"It's time to teach him a lesson." Zheng Xian's face hardened as he said coldly, "Fight poison with poison."

"But this poison..." Weather Witch still felt lingering fear. "Isn't it a little too potent?"

"Indeed, the people of America..." Zheng Xian's expression suddenly turned strange, as though he were suppressing a laugh. "They're in for a world of hurt!"

His tone was thick with irrepressible schadenfreude.

Bang.

The meeting room door was violently shoved open. A white-coated man with grass-like messy hair barged in and impatiently asked Zheng Xian, "D-Director, is Director Lin going out on assignment?"

Zheng Xian glared at him. "That's not something you should be asking about."

"Uh..." Yu Zhen immediately changed his question. "Will Director Lin be coming to work tomorrow?"

Zheng Xian stared at him for a long while before carefully saying, "Director Lin will be taking leave for a while. While he's gone, the Technical Development Department will need an assistant like you to hold things toge—"

Yu Zhen's shoulders shook, his limbs trembled, and tears streamed down his face. He had not heard a word after that. He immediately pulled out his phone, unable to wait any longer.

"Brothers, it's confirmed! The Great Demon Lord... he's gone!"

Even through the phone, Zheng Xian could hear the deafening cheers erupting from the other side.

"Ha ha ha! Quanjude tonight! My treat!"

He shouted as he dashed outside.

Zheng Xian chased after him, yelling, "You brat! If the schedule falls behind, I'll hold you responsible!"

"Relax, relax!" Yu Zhen ran off happily, waving a hand. "If there are any problems, I'll consult Director Lin at any time. As long as the Great Demon Lord doesn't tear into us anymore, our enthusiasm for work will absolutely skyrocket."

Zheng Xian shook his head and returned to his office.

Lin Hao left the Ring Fortress, which was temporarily stationed in northern Yanshan, drove back to his home in Beijing, had dinner with his parents, and honestly told them that he would be away on business for a while, with no set return date.

Early the next morning, Lin Hao boarded a flight for America. Twelve hours later, the plane landed at San Francisco International Airport.

Tall and well-proportioned, dressed in a black trench coat, Lin Hao walked out of the airport.

His features were gentle, and when he smiled, he looked like the boy next door. The black-rimmed glasses on his nose added a touch of scholarly air.

A taxi stopped in front of Lin Hao. The Black driver tilted his head and asked, "Hey, sir, need a ride?"

Lin Hao glanced at the young Black man and gave a knowing smile. "Sure."

The taxi started up and headed toward downtown.

The brightly lit city that never slept was shrouded in a hazy glow. Lin Hao had boarded the plane at eight in the morning Beijing time, and after twelve hours of flying, it was now four in the morning in San Francisco.

Along the way, the Black driver proved quite talkative and repeatedly tried to strike up a conversation with Lin Hao.

"Sir, are you Japanese?"

"No, I'm Chinese."

"Wow, China? I've heard of it. Pretty nice country!"

The Black driver studied Lin Hao through the rearview mirror, his smile widening.

Seeing Lin Hao admiring the streets outside the window, he smiled and asked, "Is this your first time in America, sir? San Francisco is a beautiful city, isn't it?"

"Welcome to America. This is heaven!"

The Black driver had no idea what Lin Hao's eyes were seeing at that very moment.

The Essence of Grievance drifting above the city, the wails of the weak echoing in his ears, and that ever-present blood-red haze...

"Yes, this is my heaven!" The Great Demon Lord smiled.

His application had not been in vain after all. He had finally arrived here—a paradise for devils!

The taxi suddenly veered off the main road and sped up. After making several twists and turns, it arrived in a ramshackle slum before finally charging into an abandoned old factory building.

"Hey, guys!" The Black driver slammed on the brakes, smoothly pushed open the door, and happily waved into the factory.

In the dim light, several pieces of clothing suddenly floated over.

"Hodi, don't tell me you're getting off work already." One floating garment suddenly spoke. "Looks like I need to remind you how much money you still owe me."

"Boss Ryan, I'll be able to repay you right away." Hodi, the Black man, pointed at Lin Hao, who had already gotten out of the taxi on his own, and smiled. "This guy just came from China. He's definitely carrying plenty of dollars."

"You know how people from that country are stupid enough to save money."

Ryan stepped into the light, revealing that beneath the floating clothes was actually a farm tool.

"Not bad. You actually managed to find a lone yellow-skinned monkey."

As he spoke, all the farm tools in the abandoned factory gathered around, glaring greedily at Lin Hao.

"Yellow-skinned monkey, hand over everything valuable you have!"

"Boss Ryan might spare your life for God's sake."

Lin Hao looked around at the farm tools and gave a knowing smile. "Sure enough, this is my heaven."

All at once, thick blackness surged from Lin Hao's body. Before the horrified eyes of the farm tools, it transformed into a towering figure.

Above the pitch-black body, a pair of huge crimson eyes abruptly opened. It had two horns atop its head and held a black pitchfork in its hand.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa... what the fuck!"

"M-M-Mom! H-H-He's a devil!"

"Ah!!!"

The farm tools erupted into shrill screams, but blackness had already enveloped their surroundings, preventing the sounds from escaping.

"D-Don't eat me..."

"I-I-I'm sorry..."

"I preferred how you looked just now. Please change back."

Lin Hao held out his hand. The enormous demon head actually leaned beneath his palm of its own accord, rubbing against it from side to side with a blissful expression. Even its crimson eyes narrowed.

"That way, my little darling can at least eat its fill."

The Demon was terrifying enough, but the man before them, who smiled like the boy next door, was even more terrifying than a Demon... the! Great! Demon! Lord!