Chapter Fifty-Two: Ivan Vanko

Having spent nearly fifteen years serving his sentence behind bars, Ivan Vanko had become a seasoned veteran of prison life. Thanks to his exceptional intelligence and impressive physique, he had long since carved out a comfortable existence. New inmates treated him with respect, while the old-timers always gave him face; even the guards rarely bothered him without cause. He had truly achieved what many joked about: “Life in prison is just like life at home.”

Ivan walked down the prison corridor humming a tune, flashing a grin of yellowed teeth at anyone he met. Without exception, people either looked at him in confusion or simply asked outright, “Why are you so happy?” At these moments, Ivan would merely shake his head and smile in silence.

It wasn’t until he returned to his cramped four-man cell, glanced at his roommates’ empty bunks, and found himself alone, that he finally let out his excitement, pounding the iron bed with fervor. The bed protested with creaking groans, but Ivan didn’t care—as long as it didn’t collapse, it was enough. He was so elated his grin nearly reached his ears, his yellow teeth gleaming.

He was finally about to walk out of this damned prison, returning to the long-awaited, beautiful freedom. Nearly fifteen years—fifteen years! Did anyone know how he had survived these fifteen years?

He had entered prison in middle age. Before that, Ivan was full of ambition, certain he was the most promising candidate to fully take control of the secret smuggling network for weapons-grade plutonium. It was a true golden road. Even if he’d held it for only six months—no, a single month—the money he’d earn would be enough for both him and his elderly father to live lavishly for the rest of their lives.

But to his astonishment, mere days after he took over, the operation was exposed and the entire network uprooted; as the leader, Ivan was sentenced to twenty years.

During his early years in prison, Ivan spent his days scheming, plotting how to escape. He tapped into every connection, even secretly reached out to his brothers on the outside, hoping they’d help break him out or collaborate in a jailbreak. Those former friends readily agreed, but soon their promises vanished without a trace, as if they’d sunk to the bottom of the sea.

After several such experiences, Ivan finally understood: he had been nothing more than a scapegoat. No wonder he was given the role of leader despite lacking both seniority and merit.

From then on, Ivan withdrew, accepting that he could neither escape nor use any other method to get out. Instead, he resolved to behave himself, making life as comfortable as possible in prison. Thus began his career as a model inmate. After performing several tasks that brought merit to the prison, Ivan was rewarded with repeated reductions in his sentence.

Today, the warden summoned him with news: his sentence had been reduced to fifteen years and six months. This meant he had less than five months left before release!

Since learning this, Ivan’s face had been frozen in a smile. The joy he felt was something only those who had endured a fifteen-year loss of freedom could truly comprehend. And soon… he’d see that old drunkard father again.

Ivan’s feelings toward his father, Anton Vanko, were complicated. As a child, his father had treated him well. Their family’s living conditions were above average, even by American standards. Ivan loved dismantling and reassembling all sorts of devices, often making a mess—sometimes unable to put them back together, sometimes managing to do so but rendering them useless.

At such times, his father’s warm hand would gently pat Ivan’s head; he never scolded him, but smiled and said, “It’s fine, just do better next time.”

Those childhood days were pure joy—the happiest memories of Ivan’s life. But it didn’t last long.

His father was expelled from America by Howard Stark. Their family’s fortunes plummeted, and Ivan’s mother chose to leave, delivering a crushing blow to his already despondent father.

From that moment, Anton Vanko changed. He became obsessed, unstable, and those once warm hands, after drinking, became the source of Ivan’s daily nightmares.

Ivan remembered most clearly the day his father was teaching him about electromagnetism and the basics of electric engine modification. Ivan made a mistake, ruining everything. His father, furious, said: “Howard’s son, Tony Stark, built circuit boards at four, created engines at six. Look at you—how old you are, yet you can’t even grasp the basics of electromagnetic conversion. Ivan… I’m very disappointed.”

Ivan… I’m very disappointed…

Those words pierced Ivan’s young heart like a needle. From then on, he studied diligently, and his exceptional scientific knowledge eventually drew the attention of the plutonium smuggling network, leading him onto the path of no return.

In just over five months, he would finally see the father he had been separated from for fifteen years…

Ivan’s feelings toward his father remained complex. On the one hand, Anton was his biological father and teacher—everything Ivan knew was taught by him. On the other, Anton was an utter scoundrel, who hadn’t visited Ivan even once in fifteen years. Yet he was Ivan’s only family, the only lifeline to which this drifting soul could cling.

Don’t die on me, old man, Ivan thought.

“Hey, Ivan, why’s your mouth stretched so wide? Something good happen?” The teasing voice snapped Ivan out of his reverie. He looked up to see his young white roommate from the upper bunk—a man sentenced to forty years for intentional homicide while drunk, now serving his fifth year. He was witty enough that Ivan occasionally chatted with him.

“I’m about to be released,” Ivan replied calmly, putting away his smile.

“!!!” His roommate stared in shock, quickly suggesting a secret farewell party for Ivan, claiming he had a way to get alcohol since tonight patrols were unusually sparse—success was likely.

Ivan immediately refused. If his roommates got drunk and caused trouble, he’d be caught up in it, possibly facing more years or having his sentence reduction revoked—something Ivan absolutely couldn’t accept.

So the party was canceled.

…

Night slowly settled.

The snoring of his three roommates rose and fell, as if they were harmonizing some tune in their dreams. Ivan lay on his bed, arms as his pillow, unable to sleep. He wondered what he could do once he got out—fifteen years had made him obsolete in today’s world. But Ivan was confident; given time, he could relearn everything, catch up with society, perhaps even surpass it.

Suddenly!

As Ivan’s mind wandered, sleepiness just beginning to stir, a sharp beep sounded.

The cell door… opened!