The Comprehensive Evolution of American Comics

Even when his blood was boiling, the cunning and calm demon still glanced at Constantine's right hand. First, he saw a very simple contract, and then he sensed a divine aura on it.

It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured on him. The demon's body withered at a speed visible to the naked eye, like a deflated balloon. Only when his size returned to normal did he look at Constantine with a mercenary expression.

"Oh, isn't this Constantine, sir? I ate my brother a while ago and haven't finished digesting him yet. My mind went haywire again just now. Thanks to you slapping me, I came back to my senses. Why don't you slap me a few more times to make me more clear-headed?"

Such a mercenary demon, who knew how to read the wind, left the three bystanders speechless. Unlike them, Constantine was used to this. His expression was as usual, and he just raised an eyebrow at the demon.

The demon immediately understood, snapped his fingers, and a faint flame immediately lit the cigarette that Constantine had been holding in his mouth for a long time. Yang Le finally knew why he hadn't lit it for so long; it turned out it was for this.

Constantine took a puff of his cigarette and said lazily, "Well done, Malphas. You're the most resourceful one in all of Hell."

"You flatter me," Malphas said, rubbing his four hands together with a flattering look. "I was only awakened by your slap. It's all thanks to you."

"Are all the demons in Hell like this?" Zatanna felt incredulous. This was completely different from what she had learned in books. Where was the vicious and cunning talk? Why was he like a dog?

"Hmph," Constantine exhaled a puff of smoke. "You have to remember, little Z, you can't understand demons just by reading books. They're fickle. You'll understand after you and I have dealt with a few more. Let's take care of business first, or this guy's stench will stink up my house."

"You're right," Malphas continued to rub his hands like a fly. "If you have anything, just order me to do it, so I don't offend your eyes."

Constantine stepped aside and nodded at Yang Le and the others, his meaning was self-evident. Wonder Woman immediately understood and stepped forward.

"I need you to help me find the witch Circe."

"Find who?" Malphas couldn't hold back anymore, and even his flattering expression couldn't be maintained. "The witch Circe? She's a witch who has lived since the age of the gods."

"Who told you to introduce her?" Constantine said sharply. "Hurry up, can you do it or not? If you can't..."

Constantine raised his right hand, inadvertently showing it off as if he was scratching his head. Malphas once again felt the faint divine aura.

'Filthy hellish curse words!' Malphas cursed Constantine in his heart with the dirtiest language he could think of.

He didn't know how this junkie had gained the favor of a god. He didn't even dare to look closely at the contract because he was too afraid, but no matter who the owner of that contract was, he was not someone a little demon like him could afford to offend. In comparison, the witch Circe was simpler. At worst, he just wouldn't come to the human world for a few hundred years.

"I can," Malphas gritted his teeth and nodded. "But I will have to sacrifice many of the souls in my hand. I wonder if Constantine, sir, can help me reduce some of the losses."

"None of my business," Constantine said with a smile.

'Fine! You have guts!' Malphas quickly lowered his head, afraid that another glance at Constantine's smug look would make him lose his soul in anger.

"Please wait a moment, everyone. I'll be right back."

After saying this, Malphas plunged into the blood under his feet and disappeared without a trace.

"He won't run away, will he?" Zatanna asked.

"It's 'it,' little Z," Constantine corrected Zatanna's pronoun. "Don't worry, when I summoned it, the contract was already established. It must fulfill my request, otherwise the contract will take half its life. Demons are trash, but they do abide by contracts."

Sure enough, after a while, Malphas emerged from the blood again, holding a piece of parchment in his hand. Judging by the pained look on its face, it must have paid a considerable price.

Malphas handed the parchment in his hand to Constantine and said, "The location of the witch Circe is on this. Now we can complete the transaction."

Constantine took the parchment without even looking at it and handed it directly to Wonder Woman behind him. Then, he took out a small terracotta jar from his trench coat and threw it to Malphas.

"Here, the soul of your enemy. I was originally going to use this to trade with you myself, but today I'll let you have it cheap."

Malphas cursed Constantine endlessly in his heart. The soul of his enemy, he might have been very happy in the past, but today, in order to fulfill Constantine's request, the things he lost were far more than this one soul could make up for. But when he thought of the god behind Constantine, he could only swallow his anger, or he might lose his life.

"Are you sure it's accurate?" Wonder Woman looked at the parchment, but still asked worriedly.

Without waiting for Malphas to answer, Constantine preemptively replied, "Don't worry, it can't lie to us. The contract won't allow it."

"In that case, thank you, Constantine." Diana memorized the address on it and put the parchment away. She turned to leave, eager to avenge herself. Of course, she didn't forget her promise and grabbed Zatanna, knowing that it would be impossible to leave her alone with Constantine.

Zatanna wanted to resist, but Wonder Woman didn't waste any words. She pulled out the Lasso of Truth and tied her up, saying, "Sorry, Zatanna, although I promised your father, I don't have time to play with you. I can only wrong you for a while."

Yang Le also followed, and when he reached the door, he seemed to remember something. He said to Malphas, who was behind him, finishing up the contract with Constantine.

"By the way, demon, although I don't know why you're so afraid of Constantine, you might as well take a closer look at the contract on his hand."

Hearing this, both Malphas and Constantine were stunned. They both looked at Constantine's right hand. To Malphas' surprise, the trace of divine aura had disappeared.

No, rather, the contract had fallen into a very strange state, as if the other signatory of the contract had disappeared. If Constantine's aura wasn't still on the contract, Malphas would have thought this junkie was teasing him with a temporary tattoo.

"What's going on?" Constantine also noticed something was wrong. He immediately looked at Yang Le, only to find that the latter was hiding behind the crack in the door, watching him. The narrow crack only allowed Constantine to see half of the other's face with a mocking expression and the middle finger he extended.

This was exactly the same as what he did to the First of the Fallen at the end of his famous battle.

"Click."

As the door gently closed, Constantine felt enveloped by a huge shadow.