Dawn

The restored Ghost Rider roared in the direction Wang Bert had left, seeming to want to chase after him. But when he remembered Mindy, he held himself back and turned to glare viciously at the abandoned Banner!

Banner gave a bitter smile. "If I were you, I definitely wouldn’t make a move!"

"You carry many sins. Die!"

Ghost Rider did not waste words. He swung his chain and smashed it hard toward Banner. Banner sighed, and his body suddenly turned green and grew larger, even bursting through his clothes.

Hulk had officially entered the stage.

Immediately afterward, Hulk grabbed the chain and gave it a hard yank, pulling Ghost Rider helplessly through the air.

"Smash!"

Hulk roared and slammed a heavy punch into Ghost Rider’s face. Ghost Rider spun as he flew backward, then crashed to the ground with a bang, smashing a huge crater into the earth! Before Ghost Rider could get back up, Hulk pulled again, dragging him over once more. Ghost Rider flew into a rage, controlling the Harley Motorcycle to ram Hulk to the ground, then hurling a blazing fireball at him that could easily burn through the ground! Hulk rolled across the ground as he burned. Enraged, he smashed the ground apart and climbed up, charging toward Ghost Rider with thunderous steps! Just like that, Hulk and Ghost Rider began a fierce battle on the dock. The ground shook continuously, containers came crashing down, and it was easy to foresee that this place would soon become ruins!

Betty stood atop the lighthouse, watching anxiously. "Bruce!"

"Don’t worry, Banner will be fine. Hulk has an incredibly powerful regenerative ability!"

Wang Bert smiled. "However, Ghost Rider is immortal. Even Hulk can’t kill him. The two of them will keep fighting."

Betty could not help asking, "Mr. Wang, what exactly are you trying to do? You can handle this monster yourself, can’t you?"

Wang Bert said, "Too much trouble. Since we’re just stalling for time anyway, we might as well let Hulk do it. It also gives Hulk a chance to have some fun!"

"Mr. Wang, Hulk is a monster. He should be eliminated!"

Betty tried to persuade him. She could tell that Wang Bert was very interested in Hulk!

"He is a monster because all of you treat him like one!"

Wang Bert said, "In my eyes, he is just a bad-tempered child. What he lacks now is other people’s care and guidance."

Betty shook her head repeatedly. "He only brings destruction and ruin!"

"He saved your life!"

Wang Bert said, "He and Banner share the same emotional core. Whatever kind of person Banner is, he is the same. For example, Banner values relationships, so he does too."

"He shouldn’t exist at all!" Betty cried. "Without him, Banner and I wouldn’t have suffered so much!"

Wang Bert asked, "Have you considered that Hulk might never be removed?"

"No," Betty said. "Banner and I will definitely get rid of him!"

"Betty, if Banner’s problem cannot be solved, he will leave again, just as he did before."

Wang Bert glanced at Betty and said, "Elimination is one method. Reforming him is another."

"Leave again?"

Betty’s thoughts were thrown into turmoil, and she did not know what to do. Wang Bert had not expected to persuade her all at once. He raised his head to look into the distance, frowning slightly. Ghost Rider was causing such a huge commotion, so why had Kamar-Taj’s mages not appeared? New York was one of the Three Sanctuaries!

"Are they on holiday today?"

Wang Bert shook his head and turned his attention back to the violently intense battle in the distance.

By now, Ghost Rider had gone mad with battle. He wrapped the chain around his fists and fought Hulk at close range. Although he was not as strong as Hulk, his technique was superior, and he could control flames. Even Hulk was forced back again and again by his attacks!

Wang Bert shouted, "Hulk, don’t just use the strength in your arms. Use the strength of your waist and legs too. Learn from your opponent!"

Hulk was actually very smart. Upon hearing Wang Bert’s guidance, he immediately began watching Ghost Rider’s movements, then quickly imitated the way his opponent exerted force!

This caused Hulk’s strength to soar dramatically. Ghost Rider took a punch and nearly fell apart. He turned to glare at Wang Bert, only to find that the guy was hiding behind the lighthouse, leaving him unable to see his face at all.

Bang! The distracted Ghost Rider was sent flying by a punch from Hulk, his head even falling off. Hulk jumped and danced excitedly, waving his arms like a child weighing several hundred kilograms! Betty asked in shock, "You’re actually teaching Hulk how to fight? Aren’t you worried he isn’t strong enough already?"

Wang Bert smiled. "Look how happy he is. He’s just like a child!"

Betty froze. This side of Hulk really was somewhat beyond her imagination!

A bad-tempered child? The problem was, what child tore down a building and smashed apart an entire district whenever they got angry?

At that moment, Ghost Rider recovered completely and charged over in fury. Naturally, Hulk was not afraid. The two began fighting fiercely once more.

Neither Hulk nor Ghost Rider could grow tired. The more they fought, the more intense the battle became, until the entire dock was reduced to level ground!

Wang Bert did not care about that at all. It would only cost some money to rebuild it. He had bought this dock in the first place just so people could fight here!

At this moment, Electro arrived. He first marveled at the battle in the distance, then reported to Wang Bert with some excitement, "Mr. Wang, Chief George has found evidence of Kingpin’s crimes. This time, Kingpin is finished. New York will soon return to peace!"

But Wang Bert shook his head. "Once Kingpin is finished, New York will not become peaceful. It will become even more chaotic!"

Electro was stunned. "Why?"

"Once the tiger dies, the jackals beneath it will fight desperately for the throne!"

Wang Bert said, "Next, New York’s gangs will erupt into countless gunfights until a new king is decided!"

Electro could not accept it. He shouted, "Then were we wrong to investigate Kingpin?"

Wang Bert waved his hand. "Max, the world is not simply black and white. When you have time, ask Chief George for advice!"

Although Electro did not understand, he still nodded. "All right, Mr. Wang!"

Wang Bert smiled. "Now, watch the battle. You don’t get to see a fight like this often!"

"Mm!"

Electro turned toward the battlefield, but Wang Bert’s earlier words remained on his mind. Would New York really become even more chaotic? Time gradually passed amid Hulk’s roars and Ghost Rider’s furious howls. Before they knew it, crimson clouds filled the sky, and the sun was about to rise! Bang! Ghost Rider was knocked flying once more. Just as he was about to get up, he realized dawn was near. Startled, he prepared to flee, but Hulk had no intention of letting him go and charged at him again! Ghost Rider rolled aside to evade Hulk’s attack, then leaped onto the Harley Motorcycle. At that moment, a stone fell from the sky and landed with a bang on the ground in front of the motorcycle. Ghost Rider knew it was a warning and could only helplessly get off the motorcycle! At last, the sun rose above the horizon. Sunlight shone over the dock, now reduced to ruins. Ghost Rider screamed and dropped to his knees. The flames around him rapidly faded, while flesh and blood quickly regenerated.

In only a few seconds, Ghost Rider disappeared, replaced by a melancholy middle-aged man. In addition, the Harley War Chariot returned to being an ordinary motorcycle, no longer carrying its special effects!

Wang Bert clicked his tongue in amazement. "Not only did his flesh regenerate, even his hair grew back!"

Betty rubbed her aching eyes and said, "This is extremely unscientific!"

Seeing Skeleton Man suddenly turn into a melancholy middle-aged man, Hulk’s face filled with question marks. At that moment, Wang Bert flew over from afar with Betty and landed in front of Hulk!

Wang Bert gestured for Betty to speak. Betty took a deep breath, suppressing her fear of Hulk, and held out her hand. "Hulk, we agreed that it would end at dawn. It’s time for you to go back and rest!"

Hulk shifted irritably. Looking at Betty and Wang Bert, he asked unclearly, "Next time?"

What Hulk meant was, would they let him come out again next time?

"He can really communicate?"

Betty was shaken. She said, "Yes, I promise. You can come out again next time."

"Okay!"

Hulk nodded. His body rapidly shrank, returning him to the thin and weak Banner. Banner smiled at Betty, then fell backward. Electro caught him with quick reflexes!

Wang Bert walked up to the kneeling Ghost Rider and asked, "Damon Macready?"

Damon raised his head. "Yes, I’m Damon Macready. What do you want?"

Wang Bert put on a serious expression and said, "Hello, Mr. Macready. You are suspected of child abandonment. You are now officially under arrest. You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say may be used as evidence in court!"

"Huh?" Damon’s face was full of question marks!…

At Dragon Subduing Teahouse, in a sunlit room, Damon watched Mindy rush in and roared at Wang Bert, "You promised me you wouldn’t tell Mindy!"

"When did I ever promise you that? Did Hellfire burn your brain out?"

Wang Bert sneered. "What I promised Mindy was that I would find her father!"

Damon glared at Wang Bert, but Wang Bert ignored him completely and leisurely ate a fried dough stick. It had been specially made by the chef he had hired back.

Damon grew even more annoyed. At that moment, Mindy rushed over and threw herself into his arms, crying, "Dad, Master told me everything. I don’t blame you. You’re the best father in the world. You definitely never wanted to kill me!"

Damon’s heart melted. He hugged Mindy and said gently, "You’re my little treasure. Of course I would never kill you!"

Wang Bert clapped his hands. "Father and daughter reunited. Perfect. I’ve done another good deed. I really am too great!"

Damon was speechless. Could this guy have even a little shame? He actually dared to claim he had done a good deed? Damon took a deep breath and asked Mindy, "Mindy, how are your injuries? I sensed that you were hurt!"

"I’m fine now. Madame Gao used qi to heal me. I’ll be better in two days!"

Mindy said excitedly, "Madame Gao is going to teach me qi. I’ll become super powerful then!"

"Qi?"

Damon was somewhat confused. After thinking for a moment, he turned to Wang Bert and said, "I’m very grateful that you saved Mindy, but you are not human. I can’t let Mindy stay by your side!"

"Master really isn’t human, but neither are you, Dad. What’s the problem?"

Mindy said indifferently. She had known from the start that Wang Bert was a Vampire. Trish and the others knew as well. Wang Bert never hid such things!

"I’m not human either?"

Damon’s face twitched slightly. She was definitely his biological daughter! Wang Bert asked, "Then what do you plan to do with Mindy?"

"I have a police officer friend," Damon said. "I’ll have him become her guardian!"

"That won’t work!"

Wang Bert shook his head. "Damon, other people also possess the technology to restore a skull face. When the time comes, everyone will know who you are and what your weakness is. An ordinary police officer cannot protect Mindy!"

"This…"

Damon froze. He had once been a police officer, so he naturally knew Wang Bert was right. But he truly could not rest easy leaving Mindy beside a group of evil nonhuman beings.

"In America, there are not many forces capable of protecting Mindy. I am one of them. With me here, no one will dare lay a hand on her!"

Wang Bert said, "Following me is Mindy’s best choice."

"Dad, Master treats me very well. Not just anyone would be willing to spend tens of millions helping their disciple find her father."

Mindy said, "Even though I hate that he makes me go to school, he would never harm me."

"Tens of millions?"

Damon was stunned. Did this guy truly have no other motive? Wang Bert said casually, "Tens of millions may be a lot to you, but it means nothing to me. Setting everything else aside, cleaning up your mess this time will cost at least ten million!"

Damon immediately felt a little embarrassed. After thinking it over carefully, he let go of Mindy and said to Wang Bert, "Thank you for helping me protect Mindy. I will definitely repay you in the future!"

The other meaning of those words was: I’ll be watching you at all times!

"She is my disciple. You don’t need to repay me!"

Wang Bert waved his hand and asked, "Damon, why did you become Ghost Rider?"

"Yeah, Dad, why did you become so cool? Can I become like that too?"

Mindy asked excitedly. A skull head burning with blazing fire, plus a flaming Harley War Chariot—it was cool as hell!

Damon sighed. "You would not want this kind of ability. Every night, whenever I encounter a sinful person, I turn into Ghost Rider to judge them, then ride the war chariot around searching for guilty people.

To avoid that, whenever night falls these days, I hide in deserted mountains or deserts!"

Mindy did not understand. "How is that any different from what we used to do?"

"It is different. It is uncontrollable. Whenever I see evil, I want to act."

Damon pulled Mindy over to sit down and slowly began recounting his story. "Several years ago, I was framed and sent to prison by a bastard. To eliminate the root of the problem, he bribed prisoners to kill me. When I was in the greatest danger, someone appeared before me and wanted to make a deal!"

Damon looked at Wang Bert and said, "That person called himself Mephisto!"

"Hell Lord Mephisto?"

Wang Bert narrowed his eyes. As expected, it was that guy. In other words, although Ghost Rider had changed from Exploding Flame Johnny to Big Daddy, the Behind-the-Scenes Manipulator had not changed!

"Yes, Hell Lord Mephisto!"

Damon nodded and said, "He said he could let me live and grant me the power to take revenge, but the price was my soul!

At the time, I had no choice but to sign a contract with Mephisto! Then, that very night, all the people in prison who intended to kill me died in accidents. To be honest, I was shocked at first, even somewhat terrified. But for the next several years, nothing happened again, and I gradually put the matter out of my mind!

Afterward, I was released from prison and trained Mindy so we could take revenge on the Behind-the-Scenes Manipulator together. Everything had been going smoothly, but one night a few months ago, I suddenly turned into Ghost Rider and burned to death over a hundred people in the Behind-the-Scenes Manipulator’s base! When I returned home and saw Mindy, I even wanted to burn her to death too. I was truly afraid then, and I fled New York as quickly as I could!

I knew that the farther I was from her, the safer she would be!"