Mephisto, whose expression was full of sorrow and expectation, instantly showed a bright expression upon hearing this.
"Great, Hawk, I knew you would..."
"From now on, the deaths in the Western Hemisphere belong to me."
"..."
The joy that Mephisto had just shown froze instantly and, after realizing it, he gnashed his teeth at Hawk.
"You're taking advantage of the situation."
"No, I'm saving your life."
"We had an agreement before."
"I know."
Compared to the gnashing Mephisto, Hawk was much calmer, looking at Mephisto: "But what I said then was I would assist you, this time I am saying I will assist you."
Mephisto blinked.
"Is there a difference?"
"Before, I was assisting you to find that Hell Angel, now I am the main force throughout, you can't expect not to give me any benefit."
"Hiss!"
Listening to Hawk's plausible argument, Mephisto's mind turned, and he suddenly took a cold breath, then looked at Hawk with a strange expression.
"You're more like a demon than me."
"Thank you."
Accepting Mephisto's compliment, Hawk looked at Mephisto and spoke honestly: "Actually, my initial thought was that if you had really colluded with Heaven, it would have been best. After all, in that case, I could swallow Heaven and Hell without any psychological burden."
Upon hearing this, Mephisto couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.
"But I didn't collude with Heaven. So you're disappointed?"
"Not exactly."
"..."
Mephisto silently looked at Hawk.
Hawk did not evade.
Their four eyes met.
The next second.
Mephisto looked at the composed Hawk and exploded.
"Are you planning to double-cross?"
"Don't get so excited."
Hawk glanced at Mephisto, who had jumped behind the bar with his back pressed against the liquor rack, and laughed: "Haven't you ever thought about double-crossing?"
Mephisto resolutely shook his head: "I haven't."
Hawk said nothing, just quietly stared at Mephisto.
After a while.
Mephisto opened his mouth, then said nothing, returned, and filled both their glasses with Angel Whiskey, picking up his own glass.
Hawk also lifted his own glass.
Their glasses clinked in the air.
After Mephisto downed his drink, he sighed, looking at Hawk.
"At this point, I think we should be more sincere with each other."
"I've always been sincere."
Hawk smiled at Mephisto: "You're the one who broke the foundation of trust."
He had trusted Mephisto very much the first time.
And what was the result?
The guy had his eye on his Phoenix Divine Authority. He even went so far as to use his own son as bait to lure him in.
Upon hearing this, Mephisto let out a bitter laugh, then looked at Hawk.
"Can you trust me one more time?"
"I can."
"Really?"
Mephisto's eyes lit up as he watched Hawk nod without hesitation: "Are you truly willing to lend a hand to a brother?"
Hawk chuckled: "If I wasn't planning on helping you, I wouldn't be here drinking with you."
He had indeed considered going all out and taking everything.
Truly.
Until Hawk came to the Hell Dimension to drink, he'd been pondering this issue, then thought of Hydra.
Why had Hydra's efforts failed twice?
Fighting on two fronts was inadvisable.
The Celestial God Team behind Heaven Dimension.
Death behind Mephisto.
Hawk could afford to offend one, but not both at the same time.
The most important point.
Helping oneself first before attacking faraway foes.
Death was too distant, while the Celestial God Team was too close.
Mephisto could die, but not now; currently, Heaven was in the dark, while he and Mephisto were in the open. If they fought, it would only give Heaven more opportunities.
Gwen's words made sense.
As long as he kept a shred of good intentions and remained calm, then no matter how many tricks Heaven used, they would be meaningless to him.
So...
Hawk contemplated and ultimately decided to extend a hand to Mephisto.
However!
"My goodwill only comes once."
After downing another glass filled by Mephisto, Hawk turned the glass over on the table and looked at Mephisto: "Don't let me down, Old Mo."
Mephisto showed a grateful expression, watched as Hawk got up, and tapped his fist on his own chest before pointing at Hawk.
Seemingly saying, watch my performance, bro!
"But, how do you plan to find that Hell Angel that's still developing?"
"Simple."
"Seek external assistance!"
Hawk turned and headed toward the door of the Hell Tavern, waving casually without turning back, then pushed the door open and left.
The next day.
Hawk got up early, first taking Gwen to the foot of the Osborn Biotechnology Industry Building.
Felicia was already waiting in the parking lot.
"Felicia."
"Hawk."
Felicia embraced Hawk, who had just gotten out of the car, and then looked at him: "Wanna go up and take a tour of Dr. Stacy's lab together?"
Hawk waved his hand: "No, I have things to do."
Upon hearing this, Felicia said okay, then looked over at Gwen: "Dr. Stacy, are you ready to show us your lab?"
Gwen smiled: "Of course, can't wait."
Felicia nodded her head and then looked at Hawk: "We'll head up first then, see you at noon."
Today is the second day after Little Ben's baptism ceremony. According to tradition, Peter and Felicia have to take him out for a meal today.
After all, Little Ben's baptism ceremony was paid for by him.
Hawk also said, "See you at noon," then got back in the car and drove his Audi A8 out of the Osborn Biotechnology Industry Building, heading towards Times Square.
Half an hour later.
"A woman who looks kind of Italian."
"She should have a little boy by her side."
"Oh right."
"A priest."
"Beside them should be a priest, a black-skinned priest, by the way, he's carrying a silver hip flask."
Having obtained the authority over life and death in the Western Hemisphere and being constantly drawn to souls in the Netherworld, Hawk sat right in Sharon Carter's office at S.H.I.E.L.D. New York City to seek help from S.H.I.E.L.D.
Mephisto had mentioned that Hell Angel, and Hawk already had some theories.
It's just that boy from the second Ghost Rider film.
But...
He's forgotten most of the plot, although he vividly remembers the drunkard priest from the film.
After all, who ever heard of a black-skinned priest?
But considering that the current God is also black-skinned, it all makes perfect sense.
Sharon ogled, jotting down the traits Hawk wanted to identify, then looked up at him.
"Anything else?"
"No, that's all."
"..."
A woman who looks Italian.
A child.
A drinking black-skinned priest.
Looking at these traits she'd noted down, Sharon's lips moved slightly, then she nodded: "Alright, I'll send these characteristics to headquarters and have S.H.I.E.L.D. agents worldwide keep an eye out."
Hawk nodded.
"Thanks, let me know as soon as they're found."
"No problem."
Sharon didn't hesitate.
Ever since hearing from Hawk in the Atlantic that a godly battle was brewing between Heaven, Hell, and Hawk...
The Five Good People have been even more proactive than Hawk.
To put it this way.
For the Five Good People, God can exist, might even be real, but God must not appear on Earth.
In a word.
The Five Good People don't want it.
After all, God's been gone for so many years; now it's the Five Good People's turn to call the shots, why pop back?
If nothing else, if God really returned to Earth, whose judgment would count regarding Earth's matters, God's or the Five Good People's?
So...
Compared to Hawk and Mephisto, the Five Good People are even less inclined to see God's return.
Hence, at that time, the Five Good People sent their intelligence personnel to start searching for anybody resembling 'Hell Angel.'
Unfortunately, Hawk didn't say much back then, leaving them quite aimless and as blind as bats in their search.
But now?
Even though Hawk offered limited hints, there's at least a trail, better than being a blind bat, searching needles in a haystack.
Sharon figured once this intel circulated, the Five Good People would be happy.
Soon.
After seeking support, Hawk didn't linger long in Sharon's office.
However, as he was walking with Sharon towards the parking lot, he suddenly spotted an acquaintance.
"Hawk!"
"Jane!"
The approaching person was none other than Thor's girlfriend, Jane Foster.
After a brief embrace with Jane, Hawk looked at her curiously: "Why are you here today?"
Jane closed her file and shrugged.
"Director Hill said some astronomical data was unlocked and asked if I was interested in checking it out, so I came over."
"Thor?"
Seeing Jane reminded Hawk of Thor, and Thor reminded him that he had found everything but was just short of the material for crafting the Golden Holy Armor needed by the Divine Artifact Blacksmith.
But due to the Seventh Sense not breaking through yet, Hawk wasn't in a rush to have Thor introduce him to the Dwarf King.
However, he keeps an eye on maintaining his friendship with Thor since help from the Dwarf King would rely entirely on Thor.
Jane chuckled.
"You should ask Sharon."
"Ask Sharon?"
Hawk asked, looking at Sharon standing nearby.
With a smile, Sharon said: "Thor is an Avengers member, and lately, The Avengers have been scouring the world, eradicating Hydra remnants. Thor's really into this; after battles, they gather for drinks and chats, and Thor says it feels like post-battle time in Asgard."
Hawk blinked.
"Why didn't I get an invite?"
"Uh..."
Sharon hesitated to speak.
Beside her, Jane laughed and said: "Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"
Hawk raised his eyebrows, looking at Jane.
"The lie is..."
"You're too high-level, Thor says they'll call you when things become unmatched."
"And the truth?"
"Thor said you're not twenty-one yet on Earth, you can't drink, inviting you would be pointless, so they didn't call you."
"..."