"Steve, no matter what decision you make, I will support you."
Steve tightly held Peggy's hand as if he were holding onto his entire world.
"I'm sorry, Peggy."
His voice was low and hoarse, filled with guilt.
Hearing his apology, Peggy, despite being mentally prepared, couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. Her eyes dimmed briefly, but she quickly regained her composure.
Without hesitation, Steve picked up the pen and signed his name. The contract ignited into flames and vanished instantly.
At the moment he signed the contract, Steve felt something inside him shatter. It was the belief he had held onto for decades.
"Steve..."
Peggy stood frozen in shock.
Steve grabbed a vial from the table and injected it into Peggy's arm.
"I'm sorry for wasting your time. I'm sorry for failing your expectations. I'm sorry for being selfish..."
He murmured these words repeatedly, tears welling up in his eyes. After holding onto his beliefs for so many years, how could he abandon them so easily?
The signs of aging on Peggy's body began to fade. Her figure grew youthful again, her chest filling out beneath her clothing.
Yet, there was no joy on her face—only heartache and worry for Steve.
But as a woman, she felt a small sense of relief. At least now, Steve wouldn't disappear from her life one day without warning.
"No, you will always be my hero."
Peggy embraced Steve, allowing him to cry freely in her arms.
No one knew how much time had passed before Steve finally lifted his head. A spark of hope flickered in his eyes once again.
"Peggy, dance with me."
"Alright, for as long as you want."
She smiled warmly, a smile as radiant as a flower blooming in spring.
The two held each other tightly, as if, in that moment, nothing else in the world mattered but them.
At S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters—
"Sir, Nick Fury has detected anomalies and is summoning all relevant personnel to the conference room," Sitwell reported hastily as he entered the office.
"Understood. And remember to address him as Director while you're here," Alexander Pierce replied calmly, without lifting his head from the documents he was reviewing.
"Yes, sir. But why aren't we silencing the witnesses at the hospital? That would minimize the risk of exposure."
"Because the Demon King does not favor senseless slaughter. We need to adjust our methods accordingly."
Pierce set down his pen, leaning back in his chair with an unreadable expression.
"Sir, why are we so eager to curry favor with the Demon King? Our people are everywhere in this country, and with Project Insight, we're just one step away from ruling the world."
Sitwell couldn't understand why they would willingly relinquish the throne.
Pierce gazed at the ceiling, his mind drifting to the video footage of the Demon King's battle in Hell. The sheer power on display was nothing short of godlike.
"You don't understand. Since the Demon King's appearance, the world has been undergoing rapid changes. The surge in mutant populations, the descent of gods—these events signal that the world can no longer be controlled by weapons and schemes alone."
His voice was heavy and filled with the weight of experience.
"But sir, can't you lead us?" Sitwell asked, his eyes filled with respect and hope.
"I can't. If I were younger, I might risk it, but I'm too old now. The other two factions of Hydra would never follow me. They are too arrogant, believing that tricks and conspiracies can secure everything they desire. But they will only bring destruction upon themselves. For Hydra to survive, I must hand it over to the Demon King before I die."
Pierce sighed deeply, the lines on his face seeming more pronounced as he spoke with both resignation and unwavering determination.
Sitwell fell silent, processing his superior's words. After a long pause, he finally nodded and said, "I understand, sir. I will submit to the Demon King."
"Good. Head to the conference room. The meeting is about to begin."
"Yes, sir!"
Pierce watched Sitwell's retreating figure and shook his head slightly.
Initially, he had hoped to groom Sitwell as his successor. However, the man lacked ambition and was only fit to serve as an assistant.
Just as Pierce lowered his head to resume his paperwork, a shadow flickered at the edge of his vision.
Without hesitation, he drew a hidden pistol and aimed it at the figure.
"Demon King?"
Pierce's voice faltered in surprise.
"Hello, Alexander Pierce," Chino greeted with a faint smile as he lounged casually on the office sofa.
Pierce relaxed and lowered his weapon. Composing himself, he walked over and began brewing tea as if hosting an old friend.
"You really should announce yourself, sir. I would have prepared something special," Pierce said smoothly in fluent Mandarin.
Chino's smile deepened. It was always pleasant to encounter someone so attentive.
"I just arrived. Your gift caught my attention, so I thought I'd drop by."
"As long as you're pleased," Pierce replied, inwardly relieved that he hadn't spoken ill of the Demon King earlier.
"Does Hydra have any interest in working for me?" Chino asked, his tone casual but carrying undeniable authority.
"I would gladly serve, but the other two factions may not agree," Pierce responded carefully.
"I don't care about them. I'm asking about you."
"I am willing. Long live the Demon King," Pierce declared, rising to his feet and raising his right hand in a gesture of absolute loyalty.
Chino produced a contract, and Pierce signed it without hesitation.
"Coordinate your personnel with Tom. Also, transfer S.H.I.E.L.D.'s advanced technology and artifacts. By the way, do you still have the Tesseract?" Chino inquired.
"Yes, my lord. It is currently in a secure facility under Nick Fury's supervision for energy weapon research. I can deliver it within an hour if you wish."
"Not yet. Keep things as they are and make sure Fury doesn't suspect anything," Chino instructed, waving a hand dismissively.
He still needed Fury to lure the Chitauri army.
Pierce bowed slightly. "Understood, my lord."
"One more thing—send Bucky Barnes to the Demon Corporation. Have his brainwashing removed."
"Yes, my lord."
Pierce agreed to every demand without the slightest hesitation, willing to do anything to ensure Hydra's survival and his own place in the new order.
Chino smiled faintly and placed a vial of mysterious liquid on the table.
"A leader's greatest strength lies not in domination, but in knowing when to bow to a greater power."
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