Europe, S.H.I.E.L.D. Branch.
"Sir, that blood slave still hasn't said a word."
Facing Hill, Glass—the head of the local S.H.I.E.L.D. branch—stepped forward and explained, "So far, we haven't gotten a single answer out of him."
Hill nodded after hearing Glass's report.
He then led Linen and the others toward the interrogation room.
In the corridor—
"I don't know if it's just me, but ever since you put on that mask, the temperature around us feels a lot colder."
Walking beside Linen, Tony Stark complained as he strolled along. "If that's not psychological, then man, as long as you're around, we might save a ton of money on air conditioning during summer."
Linen only glanced at Tony and said nothing.
Steve shook his head helplessly.
Tony really was just like his father…
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Tony spread his hands. "Did I say anything wrong? Even a billionaire doesn't mind saving on electricity."
Ignoring him, they continued to the interrogation room.
Inside, the blood slave—the one who had paid mercenaries to attack Linen and the others—sat calmly in the chair.
Seeing them enter, he leaned back and sneered, "Don't waste your time. I'm not saying anything."
"And Tony Stark… for the rest of your life, you'll always be living under the threat of assassination."
Because Linen wore the Judge's Mask, the blood slave didn't recognize him.
Tony wasn't affected at all by the threat. "Living under threat? You give that vampire behind you way too much credit."
"You really think we won't find him?"
The blood slave looked at Tony with pity, then turned back to Hill.
"Ever since S.H.I.E.L.D. forced all vampires out of America into Europe, most vampire families lost the connection networks they had built for decades, even centuries."
"It took my master decades to rebuild everything from scratch using Kenneth Baker. The whole relationship web, the entire chain of influence—rebuilt."
"But all of it… discovered by Tony Stark and then destroyed by S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Do you know? Through that network, my master was about to find the location of the Ancestor Stone."
"That was his only chance to surpass Dracula. He even sacrificed most of the family for it. And now? Gone. All because of you."
The blood slave spread his hands casually. "So this hatred will never end. Don't waste your time on me."
"I suggest you protect Tony Stark and that young man, Linen, at all times."
"Maybe one day… they'll be killed."
His tone was calm, but the message was clear—the vampire behind him hated them deeply.
Tony, who had been relaxed, finally looked serious.
Decades of preparation. Sacrificed clan members. All to surpass Dracula.
And Tony accidentally ruined it.
Yeah… that vampire was definitely furious.
"So he wants the Ancestral Stone, huh? I thought maybe he was trying to find Dracula's tomb," Linen said coldly.
Tony turned to him. "You know what the Ancestral Stone is?"
"The Ancestral Stone—also called the Vampire Stone—was what Dracula used to strengthen his bloodline. To vampires, it's sacred."
"It was lost in the war between vampires and werewolves. Dracula tried to find it, but was hunted by the Hunters."
"Even until Dracula died, there was never any news of it."
Hearing Linen's explanation, the blood slave stared at him in surprise. "I didn't expect you to know our history."
"A friend from the Hunter Clan told me."
Linen stepped closer. The emotionless, icy gaze under his mask made the blood slave feel as if his blood froze.
His back stiffened against the chair.
"G–gulp…"
"It's useless," he stammered. "I can't reveal my master's name. I can't say anything about him or the family. If I do, the blood contract will kill me instantly."
Linen turned to the others and nodded. "He's telling the truth. As long as he even thinks about betraying his master, he'll be destroyed. That's how vampire blood contracts work."
Tony and Steve exchanged serious looks.
"Damn it… what do we do then?" Tony frowned. "He's our only lead to the vampire clan. Natasha is still in their hands. If he can't talk, then we—"
Before Tony's impatience could flare further, Hill stepped forward to calm him. "Relax, Tony. If the Judge isn't worried, that means he has something planned."
"Right?"
Hill directed the last word at Linen.
Seeing everyone look at him, Linen nodded. "I told you—I have a friend from the Hunter Clan. Her family has hunted vampires and werewolves for generations."
"She knows more than any of us about their hiding places. She might be able to track down the vampire family behind him."
Linen pulled out his phone and made a call.
A moment later, after he hung up, Steve asked, "Linen, what did she say? When is she coming? Do you need us to pick her up?"
Linen looked at his watch.
"Five…"
"Five days? Five hours?" Tony asked.
"Four… three… two… one…"
Just as the countdown ended, a glowing portal opened beside them.
A woman with a burgundy ponytail stepped out, followed by a dark-skinned man in sunglasses carrying two swords on his back.
"You're getting slow, Elsa. I thought you could teleport here in three seconds."
Linen stepped forward and hugged the newcomer.
Then he looked at the man behind her.
"Elsa, you brought Eric Brooks—Blade—along with you?"
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