First question, Steve, you saved the World, but you lost everything. Do you have any regrets?"
"No, I was lost and regretful, but I had no regrets. If I didn't stop it, everything I cherished would be destroyed. I lost everything, but everything I had didn't disappear."
Steve's voice was firm and powerful, his eyes clear and fearless, as if he had returned to the war-torn battlefield, his belief unwavering.
Peggy looked at Steve, her eyes full of pride and heartache.
"I'll give that answer full marks. Second question: If there was a bomb on your Peggy right now, and you had a button in your hand.
This button would randomly transfer the bomb to other people, possibly criminals or innocent civilians. Would you press it?"
"I can disarm the bomb, or I can pull it off…"
"You only have ten seconds."
Steve's brows furrowed tightly, his face showing a tormented struggle.
His gaze lingered on Peggy for a moment, then shifted to Qinuo, his lips pressed together, falling into extreme entanglement.
Peggy got angry and questioned, "Why do you ask such questions, such assumptions that violate human nature and morality! This is simply intentional Make things difficult!"
Her face flushed red, her eyes wide, and anger made her body tremble slightly, some out of breath.
Steve quickly reached out and took Peggy's hand, trying to soothe her agitated emotions.
Peggy, however, still glared at Qinuo.
"What kind of test is this? Then I ask you, what would you choose if it were you?"
"I'd press it, even if the bomb transferred to Tom, I'd press it."
Qinuo answered without hesitation, no trace of guilt or hesitation on his face, as if it were the simplest decision.
Tom smiled slightly, bowing respectfully, "It is my honor to dedicate myself to the leader."
"…" Peggy was speechless.
"You remind me of an old enemy."
Steve looked at him with complex eyes, that gaze containing both memories of the past and helplessness and confusion about the current situation.
"Red Skull? So, what's your answer?"
Steve took a deep breath and slowly said, "I… I'll press it."
His voice was full of pain and struggle.
Peggy sighed slightly, looking at Qinuo angrily. This was destroying Steve's belief.
"Also full marks. Then, the last question: One day in the future, your Peggy regains her youth and has a child with you, but then dies in a car accident.
You are very sad. While sorting through her belongings, you discover she was assassinated. After a series of investigations, you find the real culprit and, consumed by anger, want to kill him.
At this moment, your friend stops you, saying that this culprit is his brother, who was brainwashed by a dark organization. Let him go. What would you do?
A: Kill him. B: Let him go."
Qinuo's gaze was fixed on Steve, awaiting his choice.
Peggy was very confused. Wasn't this question similar to the last one? What was the point of the Demon King asking again?
Car accident Death? This way of dying felt familiar.
Dark organization…
Brainwashing…
Peggy's aging brain kept recalling past memories.
Where? Where had she seen it? She frowned, trying to search her mind for relevant fragments.
And Steve, because of the previous question, didn't hesitate too much.
"I choose A: Kill him." His voice was firm and cold.
"Steve, wait…"
Peggy's pupils contracted, but it was too late to stop him, her outstretched hand frozen in mid-air.
Qinuo smiled and applauded.
"Three questions, all full marks. Congratulations, Steve, you're hired."
"Demon King, may I ask you a question?"
Peggy was a little uneasy, her guess making her more apprehensive.
She finally remembered.
Howard Stark, Maria Stark.
When they had their car accident back then, something felt off. She used all her power to investigate but found nothing. All the evidence pointed to it being an accident.
But today, Qinuo's question made her recall that if the people in his questions changed identities, then…
Peggy's body trembled slightly, her eyes filled with shock and anger.
Steve noticed Peggy's abnormality and tightly held her hand.
Qinuo nodded.
"Howard and Maria, they didn't die in an accident, they died by assassination!"
"That's right, and their son also thought it was an accident."
Steve's breathing hitched, and he stared blankly at Qinuo.
The recent question revolved in his mind. If he changed perspectives, the dark organization was HYDRA, and the ones who died were Howard and Maria, then he would be the one stopping it!
"Why? Didn't I already eliminate HYDRA? Who was brainwashed?"
He already had an answer in his heart, but he dared not admit it, or perhaps he still held hope.
"James Buchanan Barnes."
"Impossible! It must be fake, you're lying to me. HYDRA is dead. If they're not dead, what was everything I lost for?"
Steve stood up excitedly, his body trembling slightly with anger, his eyes bloodshot.
The enemy wasn't dead, his friend killed his benefactor, and his benefactor's son didn't even know.
These messages were like heavy hammers, striking Steve's heart one after another, making his will waver.
Qinuo was very satisfied with Steve's expression.
"Why don't you ask your Peggy."
Steve looked at Peggy.
Peggy also sighed and slowly began, "Project Paperclip…"
The more he listened, the uglier Steve's face became, so grim it seemed water could drip from it.
Bang!
Steve punched a large hole in the table, wood chips flying, venting his inner rage.
Tom looked at him with displeasure. Such disrespect in front of the leader made him quite unhappy.
"If I can defeat them once, I can defeat them a second time." Steve's eyes were full of determination and defiance.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I want to incorporate them. Such an insightful, useful, and obedient organization would be a pity to destroy by you."
Qinuo crossed his arms.
"But they are evil and want to conquer the World." Steve still wanted to argue.
"Conquering the World is evil? If I remember correctly, this country also has ambitions to conquer the World. You wouldn't not know that, would you?
Steve, I dislike you.
Do you remember my previous question? You are actually a very hot-headed person. For your friends and loved ones around you, no matter what your position, as long as it will harm the people around you, you just don't care.
Actually, I'm also like that. I dislike you simply because you are clearly selfish but act selfless, and you want others to be selfless towards you too.
This makes you seem hypocritical."
Qinuo finished in one breath.
Splitting the Avengers for Bucky, inducing Scarlet Witch to help him, finding the semi-retired Tony Stark, and finally going back to the past to be with Peggy—there's nothing wrong with any of that.
But he insisted on acting as if he was doing it for the World, for justice, and that he was forced to do so, which was a bit of a double standard.
His own life was perfect, but what about others? Vision died, Scarlet Witch went mad, Tony died, Black Widow died, Hulk disappeared…
A large part of these reasons was closely related to the Avengers' split.
Steve's face instantly turned pale. He opened his mouth but found himself unable to refute Qinuo's words.
Peggy looked at Steve worriedly. She wanted to comfort him but didn't know where to start.
Tom's gaze towards Steve also changed. The Captain America in the stories was still somewhat different from the one in reality.
"Of course, as your boss now, I still care about my subordinates. I'll give you two choices."
Qinuo said, taking out a black contract and placing it in front of Steve.
"One: Sign the contract, abandon your so-called justice, become a Demon Captain. I will help you get Bucky back, and I will also revive the deceased."
Qinuo's tone was steady.
Steve was slightly stunned, his gaze fixed on the contract and potion on the table.
"Two: Turn around and leave, go find Nick Fury, tell him the truth, destroy the entire S.H.I.E.L.D., and then await my revenge."
After speaking, Qinuo looked at Tom and smiled, "Tom, I'll reward you 3000 contribution points, consider it your treat for the good show."
Tom's face showed a surprised expression, and he quickly bowed in thanks, "Thank you, leader!"
"As compensation for being the lead actor in this play, if you sign the contract, this anti-aging potion will be given to you in advance. You'll need to contribute 10,000 points within a year."
Qinuo gave Steve a final look. The show was over, and he didn't have time to wait for a man to slowly make a choice, leaving a remark.
"I've always believed that if a person's performance is perfect, then their heart must have a void that needs these perfections to fill.
Did you really save the World only for justice, and not for fame and glory?"
Tom also wisely went out, gently closing the door, leaving the space for the two of them.
Steve showed no reaction, staring blankly at the contract and potion on the table, his eyes somewhat unfocused.
Abandon your false persistence, and you can have everything—lover, friends, benefactors. What are you hesitating about?
A voice kept echoing in his mind.
A somewhat rough hand reached into his palm, fingers intertwined.
Steve looked up at Peggy.
Her once spirited beauty was now full of wrinkles. Time had left deep marks on her face, her firm skin had become loose, her eyes were no longer as bright as they once were, and a decaying aura began to emanate from her body.
But in Steve's eyes, she was still the woman who made his heart flutter.
Peggy looked at him gently, her eyes full of understanding and determination.