Peggy Carter

"Really. But if you want to join, you must agree to a few conditions."

Wang Bert said, "First, protect the interests of Vampires. If a law-abiding Vampire is killed, you must arrest the murderer. Also, you must help destroy those organizations that research Vampires.

"Second, the price of blood bags must be lowered. They were too expensive before. Many Half-blood Vampires had no money to buy blood bags and were forced onto the path of crime."

"That can't be helped. There was only so much blood. To supply you Vampires, our blood banks were already running a little short!"

Senator Stern said. Selling blood to Vampires was a major source of government revenue, a highly useful off-the-books income stream that did not require approval from both houses. He had no desire whatsoever to lower the price.

Wang Bert smiled. "There is always a way. The price must be lowered."

Director Fury pondered for a moment, then said to Wang Bert, "I can consider your conditions, but your proposed share is too low. I think Fifty-Fifty would be more appropriate!"

"Fifty-Fifty is absolutely impossible!"

Seeing Director Fury make such an outrageous demand, Wang Bert shook his head and said, "Director Fury, I'm only setting the tone. If you have any ideas, you can discuss them in detail with my President!"

"President?" Director Fury asked.

"That's right. I plan to establish the Blood God Group, with a highly paid President handling all kinds of affairs! She is currently finding out just how many assets I have. You'll meet her shortly!"

Wang Bert smiled. "Director Fury, my President will definitely surprise you."

Director Fury merely smiled without speaking. Surprise me? Who does he think I am? I'm the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. What haven't I seen?

Wang Bert continued, "Also, for the chief of the Blood Clan Police Department, I would like to invite the Vampire hunter Blade to take the position!"

"Me?"

Blade was somewhat stunned. Wang Bert nodded and said, "Yes, you. It won't be much different from your old work. You'll still be killing Vampires. The difference is that before, you killed them all. Now, you only kill those who break the law! Not all Vampires are bad. I believe you agree with that!"

Blade said coolly, "I didn't kill all of them before either. At the very least, I didn't kill you!"

"That's true!"

Wang Bert burst into laughter. Director Fury could not help glancing at Blade. If you'd killed him back then, where would all these troubles be coming from now? Blade said to Wang Bert, "After the Blood Clan Police Department is established, a lot of Vampires will die! There are countless Vampires who drink the blood of living people!"

"What happened before will not be pursued. From now on, those who break the law will be killed without mercy. No matter how many there are, kill them."

Wang Bert said cruelly. He did not mind devouring a little more blood at all.

Thinking of something, Wang Bert took a badge from his pocket and tossed it to Blade. "Blade, this is for you!"

"Which family's badge is this? A blood-red dragon? I've never seen it before!"

Blade looked at the Blood Dragon on the badge and asked in confusion. Wang Bert smiled. "This is my badge. The one in your hand is the first one. It contains my power. Seeing the badge is the same as seeing me. Other than me, you may kill any Vampire first and report back afterward! Of course, you will have to undergo a strict investigation afterward!"

Everyone stared at Wang Bert in shock. He actually trusted Blade so much, giving him such tremendous authority?

"An Eastern Shangfang Sword? Execute first, report later?"

Director Fury narrowed his eye slightly. This Blood God's way of doing things was completely different from those rotten Vampire elders. Young and vigorous, swift and decisive!

The badge felt a little heavy in Blade's hand. He asked, "You trust me that much?"

"Because you and I are the same kind!"

Wang Bert smiled. "Besides the Blood Clan Police Department, I will also spend money hiring people to research Artificial Blood that Vampires can drink. Once it succeeds, Vampires will be able to integrate into human society and no longer need to hide like they do now!"

The three of them were all taken aback. Then, they secretly shook their heads. The idea was completely unrealistic. Vampires could never integrate into human society; their forms of life were simply too different.

Even the integration of groups with different skin colors came with countless problems, let alone integration across species!

This new chief was a little naïve. Still, law-abiding Blood Clan members fit humanity's demands quite well. Senator Stern and Director Fury exchanged a glance and secretly nodded.

"You still need dreams. What if they come true?"

Wang Bert saw through their thoughts and smiled. "Blade, what do you think? I believe you can accomplish more as chief than by acting alone."

"I'll think about it!"

Blade said. The way he gripped the badge made it clear that he was tempted. "Take your time. I'm not in a hurry!"

Wang Bert smiled. Director Fury said, "We've discussed the general framework. I'll send people to negotiate with you about the prisoner exchange and the Blood Clan Police Department. Chief Bert, I hope everything you just said was true!"

"At least more true than you!"

Wang Bert said. Stern nodded in satisfaction. Under his mediation, everything had gone very smoothly and harmoniously! Just then, the side door of the conference room opened. A young and beautiful British woman with a mature, graceful bearing walked in. Behind her was the Pureblood Vampire Mercury, carrying a stack of documents with an irritated expression.

When Director Fury saw the British beauty, he froze for a moment, then suddenly stood up and shouted in disbelief, "Ms. Carter!"

Although she had become younger, Director Fury could not possibly mistake her. The reason was simple: he had grown up watching films of Ms. Carter—documentaries about Captain America.

Stern was also stunned, but what shocked him was not why Ms. Carter was here. It was that she had become so young! Becoming a Vampire had such a benefit? Why had he never heard of it before?

If these two matters got out, they would definitely cause a sensation—whether it was Ms. Carter becoming a Vampire or Ms. Carter regaining her youth, either one would create a huge uproar!

Peggy Carter smiled and greeted Director Fury. "Director Fury, we meet again!"

Director Fury slammed his hand onto the table and glared at Wang Bert with his one eye. "Blood Clan, you have some nerve! You actually turned Ms. Carter into a Vampire. Do you want to die?"

Wang Bert sneered. "Are you threatening me?"

Carter waved a hand and said, "I wasn't forced. He talked to me for three hours and successfully persuaded me. I will serve as President of the Blood God Group, leading the Blood Clan and humanity toward integration. The payment he offered was immortality and youth!"

Director Fury did not believe it. Other women might agree to those terms, but an extraordinary woman like Ms. Carter certainly would not. He took a deep breath and said, "I want to speak with you alone!"

"As you wish."

Wang Bert waved his hand. Carter nodded and led Director Fury aside for a private conversation.

As soon as they left, Stern impatiently asked, "Chief Bert, can your Blood Clan restore people's youth?"

"That required an extremely costly special treasure. Inviting Ms. Carter was not so easy!"

Wang Bert smiled. In truth, no treasure had been used. His blood had the ability to restore youth. That was right, Ms. Carter was his descendant! "Extremely costly? I believe most women would be willing to pay that price!"

Senator Stern stood and said, "Chief Bert, regarding the ceasefire and the Blood Clan Police Department, I need to return and report to the Vice President."

"I'll see you out."

Wang Bert stood to escort Stern out. Along the way, he said, "Senator, what kind of yacht do you like? I've recently been planning to hold a swimsuit beauty gathering and need a yacht! Oh, and if you're interested, Senator, you can come along!"

"That does sound nice. I'll go back and look through some magazines to see which one suits!"

Stern smiled. He knew the other party wanted to give him a yacht! "Then it's settled."

Wang Bert smiled and shook Stern's hand, then watched him leave!

"If I remember correctly, that old bastard seems to be Hydra, right? What would happen if I whispered 'Hail Hydra' in his ear?"

Wang Bert shook his head and turned back toward the reception room, only to find Mercury and Blade glaring at each other, looking ready to draw weapons!

Wang Bert smiled. "You'll be colleagues in the future. You should get along peacefully!"

Mercury turned around and said unhappily, "Why did you ask Ms. Carter to be President? Don't you know she's one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s founders?"

Blade could not help looking at Wang Bert. He actually invited one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s founders to be President. Did a donkey kick him in the head? "I know, but she is also a Vampire now. She will protect the interests of the Blood Clan!"

Wang Bert poured himself a glass of red wine and said, "Besides, I need someone who doesn't belong to you Purebloods to help me control the Blood Clan. Ms. Carter's abilities are perfectly suited for it!"

Mercury said, "We have already handed all our assets over to you. Why do you still not trust us?"

"Trust needs to be built slowly. Talking about trust now will only hurt our relationship."

Wang Bert sneered. Without bringing Carter in, he would become a puppet of the Blood Clan in no time. He continued, "Besides, the Blood Clan needs reform, or it will be finished sooner or later. Having an outsider serve as President will make reform easier!"

"The Blood Clan does need reform, but not your kind of reform!"

Mercury shouted, "Once the Blood Clan Police Department is established, many Vampires will die, and many more will flee. By then, the strength of our Blood Clan will be greatly weakened!"

Wang Bert said, "It won't be weakened. I will devour the Vampires who commit crimes. In other words, their strength will become my strength. That way, the Blood Clan's power will not decrease; it will increase instead! It will be enough to ensure the Blood Clan's safety and interests!"

Both Mercury and Blade were stunned. "You want to devour those lawbreaking Vampires?"

Wang Bert nodded. "Is there a problem? We can give it a nice name: returning to the embrace of the Blood God. What do you think?"

"Not much!"

Blade asked suspiciously, "Was that your purpose in establishing the police department? To have us collect blood for you?"

Wang Bert's face darkened as he said in an incomparably sinister voice, "You know too much!"

The atmosphere immediately turned heavy. Blade pushed up his sunglasses, looking utterly disdainful. Wang Bert burst into laughter. "It's simply killing two birds with one stone!"

Mercury said again, "Even if we establish a police department, humans will never treat us as one of their own!"

"Of course they won't. That Bald Director is probably already researching how to kill me!"

Wang Bert said, "But it will reduce their hostility toward us. We have enormous capital, a large number of Blood-thirsty Clan members, and nuclear bombs. Unless necessary, humanity will not easily go to war with us! The reason the Blood Clan faced this crisis was largely because Radical Faction Vampires like you kept shouting all day about enslaving humanity. That was why S.H.I.E.L.D. came up with its plan, and why there was a traitor like Deacon Frost!"

At the mention of Deacon Frost, Mercury's face completely darkened. This was absolutely the greatest stain in her life. She had actually served as an undercover agent for a human and even worshipped him immensely!

"In short, the Blood Clan Police Department must be established. All lawbreaking Vampires, Radical Faction Vampires, and Vampires who think themselves superior to others must be dealt with!"

Wang Bert said in a tone that allowed no doubt. "This is not for show to humanity. This is my demand of the Blood Clan. I have never liked Blood Clan members who drink the blood of living humans!"

Blade nodded approvingly. Bert had not lied. He was still human! Mercury snorted. "What's wrong with our Blood Clan being superior?"

"Are you still not awake? If humanity were willing to pay any price, they could wipe out the Blood Clan within a month!"

Wang Bert said disdainfully, "The Blood Clan's weaknesses are far too obvious. This is no longer the Middle Ages. Modern humans have countless ways to kill Vampires!"

This time, Mercury fell silent. They had indeed thought too highly of themselves. But this clash with S.H.I.E.L.D. had made them understand that humanity had grown stronger than them—they had not won a single battle against S.H.I.E.L.D. They had been slaughtered in a completely one-sided massacre.

If the Blood God had not taken down S.H.I.E.L.D.'s base, they would not even have been qualified to negotiate! The Speaker and Twelve Elders' strategy of compromise had not actually been wrong. The ones at fault were the Half-bloods and Radical Faction who had been exploited by Deacon Frost.

Wang Bert said, "Mercury, times have changed!"

Mercury gritted her teeth and said, "I will support your establishment of the Blood Clan Police Department, but I hope you remember that you are the Blood God of the Blood Clan."

"Of course I am the Blood God of the Blood Clan!"

Wang Bert smiled. At that moment, Director Fury walked in through the side door with a dark face. He said to Wang Bert, "I will send someone to discuss the matters from before! Bert Wang, remember this: I will be watching you at all times!"

With that, Director Fury left without looking back. Apparently, his conversation with Ms. Carter had gone poorly. Of course, it was also possible that he was merely putting on an act!

"Should I act very scared?"

Wang Bert shrugged. He asked Carter, who had come out behind him, "President Carter, how many assets do I have now? Have you finished counting them?"

"I've only made a rough estimate. You are now richer than the Stark Family! If you want a complete accounting, I'll need a professional team to assist me!"

Carter smiled. "Speaking of which, I truly didn't expect you Blood Clan members to be so wealthy, with investments in so many fields. You even control Universal Pictures, one of Hollywood's Big Six!"

"Without investment from our Blood Clan, Universal Pictures would have gone bankrupt long ago!"

Mercury said disdainfully. The Blood Clan had investments in many fields and even had its own Financial Company on Wall Street—a Vampire company in every sense of the word! "I didn't expect that either. Looks like we can make our own movies in the future!"

Wang Bert stroked his chin, then turned to Blade. "Blade, how about we make a Blade Warrior film to promote the Blood Clan? You can be the lead!"

Carter and Mercury were both speechless. Could a movie starring Blade really promote the Blood Clan? He was a Vampire hunter! Blade said coolly, "Not interested. I can't act either!"

Wang Bert laughed. "You don't need to act. Your sunglasses are your true body. As long as we have the sunglasses, that's enough!"

Blade directly gave Wang Bert the middle finger. Wang Bert did not mind and said, "Since everyone is here, let me talk about the next arrangements. Uh, mainly the framework. You'll handle the specific implementation!"