Vol·8 [ALIVE]

In the cabinet office at Nine Realms Station, David Victor remained motionless, deeply concerned about the two students' trip to London and demanding a reasonable explanation from his boss.

The Black Cat asked the Cat Tree Lady to fetch a file folder containing transcripts and audio tapes as backups, with all the answers left on the tapes.

Without a word, Victor took out his Walkman and started playing the cassette tape recording.

First, the electronically synthesized female voice of the Cat Tree Lady came through.

"File number: 11817401 -- [JoeStar]'s communication records."

"Communication tool: telephone."

"Caller: Ming De"

"Summoned by: Jiang Xueming"

This was followed by rustling noise and interference from the signal, as well as the content of the recorded conversation.

"Hello, BOSS."

"Hello, Anonymous, I believe you've already started your operation. Is this a convenient time for you to take a call?"

"I was just about to ask my little finger to give me a female body, and I have a funeral rehearsal tonight—I have time to answer the phone, so just say what you need to say."

"I got a copy of the Arcane Library's borrowing records from the wolf mother. Are you planning to deal with the vampires?"

"That's right. I thought you knew about this."

"Of course I know. You had no trouble getting through the journey, and no one stopped you from entering and leaving Sky Station with weapons. I believe in your abilities and had already spoken to the armed group brothers beforehand."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome, but I have a few small questions. As far as I know, you went to Sky Station to cause trouble for the vampires because of the Radiant Stone?"

"Not entirely, there's also Xiao Qi's arm."

"Ha, I knew it, even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman."

"."

Why aren't you saying anything?

"Boss, this call will be recorded, right? I can hear background noise on your end; it's the sound of other listening equipment operating."

"You little rascal, you have such sharp ears! I have to record every serious conversation I have with the leaders of all the schools of thought."

What do you mean?

"You're now the leader of [the anonymous group]. I know you don't care about this empty title, but we have to follow the procedures."

What do you mean?

"Didn't you understand?"

"I understand. Let's get straight to the point."

"I know you're worried. I asked an old instructor from the SAS to check where the item went. He sent back a clue a minute ago, and I called you immediately."

Thank you.

"According to our investigation, the other half of the Steel Heart is currently in the hands of the matriarch of the Rose Sect within the Stuart Family. Naval Academy students have seen the matriarch at family gatherings; she was wearing your ring, and her name is Mary Stuart."

"I learned about these things from the Tang Ning's testimony."

"You met up with that kid Tang Ning?"

"Yes."

"Then I've really wasted my time."

"Anyway, I have to thank you, Boss. I appreciate your concern."

"I feel a little embarrassed by what you've said. Is there anything else I can do for you? What do you need? Fire support or something else?"

"Do you have a nuclear button? I want to flatten London. Does this city of sin really need to exist? I disguised myself as a cleaner, went to the subway station with a temperature gun, and spent a whole week conducting preliminary investigations. Out of every thousand people, at least three are vampires—this cannibalistic city with such a high purity is making my body tremble with fear. You don't know until you see it; the world we live in on Earth is full of monsters. Based on the population density of the United Kingdom, the main subway lines of this city are inhabited by at least four hundred cannibalistic demons."

"Looks like your intelligence skills are pretty good, kid. You're getting more and more tempting. As for your request to me, a nuclear strike? I'll take that as a joke, but I have to give you a serious answer—I don't have that capability. Don't even think about planting an artificial sun in the capital of a country this size. The earth has its own rules, its own order."

"BOSS—the station has extraordinary people, so does it have a VIP who can summon the sun and change the weather? Or a weather weapon? I've seen the sun in the underground world, was that a nuclear test at the station? Or a mythical creature? Can you ask this golden crow to fly over London?"

"I can't do it; that's not a power I can currently control."

"Same as runes?"

"Yes, just like runes."

"In the Royal Free Hospital, I killed seven beasts who were in the human flesh trade. These guys showed no remorse whatsoever. Even if you judged them by the dosage of human blood as drugs, they were involved in drug trafficking, manufacturing, and distribution, accepting bribes and committing contract fraud. Their crimes were enough to warrant hundreds of deaths. What's wrong with the United Kingdom? Boss, this is too surreal."

"If you insist that I give a detailed explanation, I can only say that the existence of a powerful constitutional monarchy on Earth in 2025 is itself a very surreal thing. We flew to the moon fifty years ago—the seeds of civilization should have sprouted in outer space long ago, but in reality, we are still in this cradle, constantly singing lullabies and dreaming the same beautiful dream."

"."

"Jiang Xueming, I want to ask you a question in return. Why do you think this is? I am indifferent to what happens on the surface world, but I have heard a little about its history. It grew up by plundering and robbing, by sucking human blood and eating human flesh. Now it is old and frail, but it has found a way to maintain its youth forever with the Blessed Holy Blood. Is that strange? I don't find it strange at all."

"."

"You seem like a straightforward person, so I'll tell you something practical. All my research activities are closely related to the human race itself. The expenses for each passenger's activities are provided by the United Nations [Philosopher Foundation]. For example, for passengers in the Hung Hom area near the Nine Realms Station, the [Paramount Entertainment Company] listed on the payment information is a shell company that specializes in foreign exchange transactions."

"."

"In order to build railways, I have already tied myself to the high-speed train of humanity. Mythical creatures in history are nothing more than things that can be destroyed by a few cannons or tactical nuclear bombs in modern society. I must do this to ensure that I do not become a historical relic or a few light words in a tale of the strange and supernatural."

"."

"After this explanation, you should understand what I mean—whether above or below ground, all life on Earth has evolved through countless extinction events to the present day. Apart from chickens that serve and are eaten by humans, the dominant species on this planet is still Homo sapiens."

"Let's get back to business, Boss."

"The Sky Station has a long history, but its security design is specifically aimed at blood-soaked monsters, especially vampires— Guangling Zhixi is stationed in the City of Tears and frequently conducts [Operation Chastity]."

"What exactly do you mean?"

"There are many zombie trains that depart from Zero Platform of the Madness Butterfly Sect. The lucky ones on these trains manage to slip through the cracks and infiltrate the local transportation department or trade hubs. These vampire monsters disguise themselves as humans, marrying passengers, employees, and even crew members for various purposes—whether it's to gather intelligence, to sabotage, or simply to start a new life—Operation Chastity refers to the hunting campaign to exterminate vampires."

What about my activities on the Earth's surface?

"It can also be considered a kind of [Chastity Operation] -- did you know? Why is Rain City also called the City of Tears? Because in the continuous rainy weather, young and handsome vampires can live peacefully with ordinary people. There are also Lapis Lazuli Guards and soldiers of Guangling Zhixi who secretly drink the Blessed Holy Blood in pursuit of greater power. But whenever my soldiers start to clear out the hunt, many families fall apart, former friends turn into enemies, and the raindrops in the sky turn into people's tears."

"."

"Hundreds of years ago, we didn't have such powerful guns or such deadly weapons. Relying solely on radiant stones and clubs to fight against the monsters was far from enough. In order to fight against the monsters, the weak would voluntarily transform into monsters."

"It's a problem left over from history."

"The Blessed Holy Blood is a product of the Madness Butterfly Sect, just like White Lady's products. However, my Universal Elixir is less potent and safer."

"I understand. Any further questions, Boss?"

How confident are you about this operation?

"That's not true—if I survive, I'm 100% certain; if I die, I have nothing."

"That's a reassuring answer. I know you; if you were facing a deadly threat, you'd probably be the first to run."

"This time, I really have no confidence."

"Why? If it were just brilliance, I could simply have Ling Weng create new jewelry for you two. You don't need to go against hundreds or thousands of vampires in London—different monsters are created based on different formulas of the Blessed Holy Blood. According to the Red Queen Parish, a vampire's finger strength is around 120 kilograms, four times that of a human. All their physical attributes far exceed those of ordinary people. They possess night vision, can detect human body temperature with the naked eye, and have extraordinary hearing. If I were to assign armed soldiers from Guangling Zhixi to operate in the surface world and engage in gunfights on the streets of London, that wouldn't be a righteous expedition. I would become a terrorist carrying out terrorist attacks. Actually, I was also very angry when I learned about the attack on 9527, but I couldn't give her this justice."

"Boss, I'm not just after the Radiant Stone—I'm also after tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"The 'freedom' in Royal Free Hospital doesn't literally mean 'freedom,' but rather 'free'—it's a medical institution open to the poor, a sacred place for healing the sick and wounded."

"."

"But I saw it with my own eyes: in the hospital, a group of old, decrepit cannibals were directing tall, strong men to draw blood from children's bodies with knives and syringes, in exchange for wealth and luxury—they were engaged in the human flesh trade."

"Oh, I understand."

"You should know what I hate most in my life. This is the first time I've ever killed someone—in the Skull and Bones Society, I never considered those monsters with Earth Dragon blood flowing through their veins to be human. But this time, I shot and killed without hesitation."

I can roughly understand how you feel.

"After killing them, I only felt sorrow and fear. What I couldn't understand was why what I saw were children lying in hospital beds waiting for treatment, but in their eyes, they turned into banknotes?! Was there something wrong with my eyes?"

"."

"Are these people any different from vampires? I'm afraid that apart from the blood still being warm in their bodies, the blood in their hearts has long since turned cold! When the attending pediatrician told me about these things, his face was beaming with a happy smile. The bodyguards he hired were armed with guns, ready to turn anyone who stood in his way of making money into a pile of minced meat at any moment!"

"Anonymous, adults only care about interests; only children distinguish between right and wrong."

"Boss, I always do it, but I rarely say it. You have given me and Bailu a second life. I have always regarded you as my benefactor. In front of you, I will always be a child who never grows up."

"Alright! Go ahead and cause trouble! I'll try my best to clean up your messes—but let me make this clear: if one day you're no longer of any use to me, if you become a useless person, I will abandon you without hesitation, Nameless."

The conversation in the Walkman went on for a very long time.

So long that Professor Victor thought the recording was over.

Finally--

--Jiang Xueming's sneer came from the Walkman.

"Perhaps millions of years later, when people come to excavate underground, your entire body will be completely rotten, and no trace of the Taowu beast's flesh will be found in the ruins, making it almost impossible to verify."

"Hahahaha, you brat! Hahahaha!"

"I believe your mouth will turn into a fossil, indestructible, and so hard it'll explode."

"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha."

"Perhaps we can even hear it opening and closing its mouth, speaking human language, so that archaeologists can study it and figure out what the phrase '[Good cats can't hear this]' really means in ancient human language."

"Good luck, Anonymous, may my bones help you overcome obstacles."

"I have fulfilled my mission, Boss."

Victor, chin in hand and buttocks sticking out, leaned against the desk, eager to get the details. "Boss, my eldest and second apprentices..."

The Black Cat wasn't very good-natured and just felt that Victor's mother was worrying too much.

"I explained it very clearly to them, and they see it very clearly too. The 'Great Rift of All Things' in the Arcane Library teaches them how to kill enemies. Jiang Xueming knows in his heart how many vampire monsters are waiting for them! Do you want to go and join the fun?"

Victor: "If possible."

BOSS: "No, Victor. I won't give you that pass. Young eagles must learn to fly on their own. I gave them strong wings. You look down on these [rising stars]? If you show up in London, I'm afraid the [Philosopher] will impose economic sanctions on me."

Victor wanted to call Wen Bucai, and had just picked up his phone.

The BOSS immediately interrupted --

"--JOE asked me about the two kids' schedule a while ago, and guess what he said?"

Victor remained silent.

The BOSS then mimicked that arrogant tone.

"Great! Remember to take pictures! Kill a few more for me! Consider it a return gift for the Guangling San Xiaolongbao! I can't go to that place. My wife and daughter died in Downing Street. Just thinking about it is enough to make me sad for days. Don't call me unless it's absolutely necessary. You guys handle this little matter yourselves!"

Victor pursed his lips, feeling resentful.

Searching for another address in long-forgotten memories, I immediately wrote a letter, heated the BOSS's claw over a candle, melted the sealing wax, and closed the envelope.

The boss looked surprised and delighted. "Oh! Oh! You're going to call for outside help? You're going to cheat? You're going to use deus ex machina? You can't tell stories like that!"

The sun rose over St. James's Park.

"The invincible Knight Spencer will return to his sacred territory! With his new master Robert Tang Ning! To destroy evil! To shatter the darkness!" Uncle Winston led the way, boasting to the guests behind him.

Bu Liuxing followed closely behind Uncle Winston, his face beaming with excitement as he asked about tricks to ward off anger.

"Uncle! Uncle, please teach me your secret technique! You said it's about instantly going berserk in a second! Tensing all your muscles and smashing that vampire bitch's head in one go? Wow! There's such a powerful technique for anger? I want to learn it! I want to learn it!"

Winston, feigning mystery, gestured for quiet with Meteor: "This park has witnessed the rise and fall of Downing Street for centuries, young man, you should keep quiet."

Meteor nodded vigorously. "Okay, okay!"

Officer Jessica's voice came from the weapons case.

"What kind of amazing skill is that! I think he just got lucky! According to Jiang Xueming, these vampires have such ridiculously strong constitutions, wouldn't this old rogue have fainted from fright if he saw a monster?"

Tang Ning, looking displeased, tapped the weapon case lightly and explained to Jessica, "My family's security cameras don't lie. I saw clearly the footage of Uncle Winston keeping watch for me. Just as the monster was about to pounce through the door—he unleashed an astonishing burst of power with a roar."

Meteor started drooling with desire, grabbing Uncle Winston's arm and shaking it vigorously.

"Teach me! Teach me! Please! Give me something, please! Give me something useful!!"

Jiang Xueming was very curious about this incredibly capable old butler.

--There are many unsolved mysteries surrounding this middle-aged man.

The butler spent only four hours using his connections to secure the choir and priest, and get the funeral arrangements taken over by Jiang Xueming.

After simply flipping through a few passengers' logs and reading the passenger instructions, Winston gained a rudimentary understanding of the rules of the underworld. He was a very shrewd and tactful person, and he could immediately chime in on any topic.

Winston Spencer —he was incredibly good at boasting, but after running around Downing Street about twenty times and making over fifty phone calls, he had arranged the seating order of the blood nobles in the Red Queen's faction perfectly.

Calling him the godfather of St. James's Park is no exaggeration.

The flower vendors' informants on the streets and among the gangsters, as well as the minister's driver, all recognized this White Dove Knight.

Winston could strike up a conversation with even the park cleaners, asking who had been coming and going in the park, or what major events had recently occurred in Downing Street, and he would know immediately.

When Winston whistled, even crows and pigeons would fly to his shoulder in the quiet park, begging for corn kernels.

Jiang Xueming had also seen the video of this old man killing the vampire in Tang Ning's room—that was indeed a genuine power amplification technique.

It is a human instinct that has undergone countless scientific training sessions and proven effective.

When encountering a violent assailant, it is difficult for the human body to immediately enter a state of anger.

It's like seeing a dark alleyway where someone is violating lives, committing rape and kidnapping, and abducting children.

Most people passing by this place will only feel confused and bewildered, and will have to weigh the pros and cons, think about how to handle the situation, whether to call the police or look for weapons, and consider their own capabilities. They may even back down under the intimidation of the perpetrator.

To truly emulate Winston's ability to instantly enter a state of rage and treat the perpetrator as an enemy requires years of dedicated practice.

Furthermore, regarding the method Winston used to kill Maria Bruce, was it simply random shooting?

--He wasn't just randomly attacking; he came prepared.

He first lifted the stick, and when he fastened the bolt to lock the door, he counted the chain's locking joints, leaving just enough space for a head to pass through.

He then opened the door, his expression remaining completely unchanged; there wasn't a trace of adrenaline in his eyes.

In the instant the monster crashed into the gate, the old man's trapezius muscles and two upper arms suddenly swelled up, followed by a sharp and terrifying roar. Adrenaline took effect instantly, boosting his body's maximum strength by 20% to 30%.

--Swing the baseball bat with all your might.

It shot so accurately!

The timing was perfect!

Jiang Xueming asked Uncle Winston.

"Old sir, could you tell me about your special technique for raging? What's the secret?"

Winston turned around and replied.

"There was no secret to it—people said Winston Spencer was a fraud, a braggart, and those rumors were like a whip, constantly lashing at my pride. All these years, it may have seemed like I was just loafing around, raising pigeons in James Park, but I was actually prepared, always ready to unleash my fury, just waiting for the right opportunity! Thank God, I didn't waste my time."

This middle-aged man, whose ugly face could almost frighten a child, spoke menacingly.

"When I was smashing that vampire bitch's head, I felt incredibly satisfied. My body seemed to be saying—I'm the real deal, I was born to do this kind of thing, and if I had a knife, I could do it even better!"

Bu Liuxing seemed lost in thought, not quite understanding the meaning of "self-esteem".

Jiang Xueming was also completely baffled. Like the others, they couldn't sense any spiritual pressure from the old steward.

According to the butler's description, when he took Tang Ning home, Winston couldn't see Maria Bruce's reflection in the rearview mirror at all; he was just an ordinary person without Inspiration.

But where does this amazing combat skill, this instinctive muscle manipulation, come from?

According to Meteor's understanding, this ability to regulate bodily hormones using emotions is very rare among the passengers in the underground world.

Jiang Xueming didn't think much of it.

--He walked straight to the Chinese-style funeral hall and sat in the host's seat.

Tang Ning, still feeling something was amiss, immediately asked, "Mr. Jiang Xueming, isn't this outfit a little inappropriate for you?"

Xue Ming countered, "How about I take it off now?"

Tang Ning immediately turned red. "No! That's not what I meant."

Xiao Qi said, "I've only ever heard of weddings that combine Chinese and Western elements, I never imagined I'd be able to attend a funeral that combines Chinese and Western elements."

Xue Ming waved his hand, telling his colleagues to go back to their posts.

"Teacher San San, you and Uncle Winston go to the roadside, help the guests park their cars, unload their weapons, and take them to the utility room next to the funeral parlor."

"Meteor! You and Commander Jessica prepare a Nuo opera performance. You don't actually need to sing. At the beginning, make an excuse to go to the restroom. Then, Meteor, you wait in the small chapel fifty meters away. Commander Jessica, these immortal vampires have never seen your life form before, so they will be very interested in you. They will surround you, and you may be a little frightened."

"Earth Dragon Sister"

The little Earth Dragon girl immediately shouted, "I have a name! My name is Anna!"

Jiang Xueming changed his tune. "Anna, you are very sensitive to temperature. You hid under the registration desk with Bai Qingqing and separated the living people from the vampires, arranging them in different batches of seats, and letting people from different families sit separately—these vampires are most vulnerable when they are separated from their patriarchs and mixed with strangers, as they are in family units."

Tang Ning pointed to her own nose and asked, "What am I doing?"

Jiang Xueming's words were concise and to the point.

"Find a place to sit down, do what you're good at, you rock kid who even has a subwoofer next to the toilet—I want you to control your electronic devices, you know what to do, right? Keep breathing, try to live. Use the loudest noise, the loudest firecrackers, to shatter these bats' eardrums and avenge your blood feud!"