After Ethan's explanation, Tony couldn't hold back anymore.
"So we don't have to go to hell now, and we're already on Satan's list just by being alive. Not only that, we've even snagged a position and will take office immediately after death?"
Tony summarized Ethan's words and confirmed again, "That sounds pretty good, it should be better than heaven."
"If 'Lackey Number One' and 'Lackey Number Two' count as positions, then we've officially started work."
Ethan shrugged. Half a day had allowed him to successfully accept this. Compared to the image of God as an old Whitebeard, a blonde beauty was indeed more alluring.
He was now starting to research the enemies of the devils, familiarizing himself with his future workplace.
"Are positions in hell all that casual? Aren't there positions like dukes and such?" Completely relaxed, Tony was much livelier than he had been in the cave.
"It's not that hell's positions are casual, it's our positions that are casual. If you work hard, maybe when you go to hell in the future, you'll be able to enjoy it like you do up here—with succubi or something," Ethan said with a smile, extending his fist.
"Well, it looks like I'll be busy then," Tony pouted, also extending his fist to bump Ethan's.
The two exchanged a smile, only now feeling the relief of having escaped death.
"Then it's time to solve this problem," Tony said, patting the much smaller and more refined battery beside him.
It had significantly more power than the one in the cave, but Tony already had new ideas for his injury.
"What are you planning to do? Make a small battery? Or continue with that unfinished arc reactor?"
"arc reactor!" Tony said without a second's hesitation, with certainty.
"I had no choice in the cave, so I didn't object, but Tony, you need to know that this technology has been stagnant for almost thirty years."
The arc reactor, once considered a dead end, had a large version at Stark Industries, though its symbolic meaning was greater than its practical use, powering the factory.
"That's because for these thirty years, Tony Stark hasn't been researching this problem," Tony said confidently.
Now, all he had to do was miniaturize this arc reactor, shrink it enough to fit into the cavity in his chest; it would become his second heart.
Additionally, the armor he had originally planned to build to escape the Ten Rings Gang should now be put on the agenda.
"If we were still in the cave, you'd see the finished product in two days," Tony said, holding up a finger. "But now, you'll see it in one day."
Ethan was infected by Tony's confidence and stopped trying to dissuade him, instead asking, "Alright, then is there anything you need help with?"
"You'll be a great assistant," Tony said, getting up and patting Ethan's shoulder.
"That's truly an honor," Ethan said, shrugging with a smile.
"Oh, right, where is Her Majesty Nero?" There was one more thing he wanted to do now, but he needed to discuss it with Nero.
"His Majesty has just ascended the throne, and she's not used to the name Satan yet. It's best to address her as Her Majesty Nero."
"OK... you're already a qualified lackey. So where is Her Majesty Nero now?" Seeing Ethan's change in attitude towards Nero, Tony still felt a bit unaccustomed and grumbled.
"Of course, I'm still hoping that His future Majesty can bring my family to hell as well," Ethan twisted the corner of his mouth. "His Majesty is currently unpacking deliveries in her room; she bought a lot of things."
"Your family is truly blessed to have you... Wait, unpacking deliveries? I was only unconscious for a few hours?"
"In America, there are few problems that money can't solve."
"...Alright, then what about your family? Do you want to bring them over too?"
Ethan paused, his lips moving twice, and finally, he smiled and said, "No, I don't think so. My current job... you understand."
"Alright, then let's go eat something first, and then we'll go together to visit the great Sa... Her Majesty Nero."
Tony didn't mind when he heard this. They didn't know much about Nero, and if he had a choice, he wouldn't want Pepper to have any contact with Nero right now... After a quick meal, the two decided to go find Nero together.
The doorway was piled high with cardboard boxes of all sizes, plastic containers, and bubble wrap. The two waded through this trash, one deep, one shallow, before reaching the door.
They knocked, and with Nero's permission, they pushed the door open, only to be stunned by the sight before them.
Various models, clothes, shoes, electronic products... a chaotic mess of things filled the hundred-square-meter bedroom.
Nero sat on an ornate armchair, gently swirling a glass of wine in her hand. On the table was Tony's treasured red wine.
Sniffing the aroma of the wine, Nero took a small sip and then said with emotion, "This empress has finally begun to live a proper life."
Tony and Ethan at the doorway both wore expressions like old people looking at their phones on the subway: "..."
"What do you two want from this empress?" Nero put down her wine glass and turned her gaze to the two of them.
"Um, just a small matter." Facing Nero, Tony still felt a little intimidated remembering her actions, and the words he was about to say instinctively got swallowed back.
However, he quickly realized that this was something he had thought about for a long time and had to do.
"I'm going to shut down Stark Industries' weapons manufacturing division until I find a new direction for the company," Tony declared emphatically, looking at Nero with a serious expression.
She was a devil, and he was an arms dealer; closing the weapons division should be very difficult.
But Tony realized that the weapons he produced did not bring peace. He saw the people who died by his weapons.
He didn't want to say he was just a weapons manufacturer, and how others used them was their business. He wasn't selling knives; a single missile could cause the demise of tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands or millions of lives.
He shouldn't just bring explosions to this world; he should be able to do more.
"Hmm, no problem!"
"I've made up my mind, even if... what... no problem?"
Nero agreed so readily that Tony was somewhat taken aback.
"This empress doesn't care about any of that. As long as you can make money, whether it's selling weapons or shampoo, this empress doesn't mind."
Nero's ahoge swayed, most of her attention on the robot model in her hand: "Anything else?"
"No, nothing else," Tony stammered a bit. He had prepared for a fierce battle, but he didn't expect Nero to be the type who only wanted to enjoy herself and ignore state affairs.
This result... was fantastic!
He had originally thought Nero would take over the company, but he didn't expect her to just want a wallet.
About the fact that I'm raising a demon lord... Tsk tsk, why does that sound so much like a Japanese light novel?
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