Everyone's a Villain (Seeking Investment!)

Don't misunderstand. Salomon was no hero eager to dispense justice. Those people were already dead, and delayed justice was worthless. He simply wanted to learn certain information he needed.

Although Vampires were classified as undead, they could still reproduce. They could have children through the same methods as humans, or transform humans into new Vampires through the First Embrace.

The First Embrace was a Blood Pact, an unbreakable magical contract. This contract flowed in a Vampire's blood, passed down from generation to generation.

Barnabas Collins's status was highly unusual. He had been transformed directly through magic from the Darkhold. Perhaps even he had not realized just how exalted his standing was. Many years ago, those so-called "pure-blood" and "mixed-blood" Vampires entrenched in Detroit had to bow to him. The Venerable One had once told Salomon about those Vampires who summoned some so-called "Blood God" as a joke.

But Salomon would never get to meet those Vampires. They had all been slaughtered by someone called Blade.

The current Barnabas was still extremely young, by Vampire standards, and had not accumulated much power. Otherwise, Salomon would not have dared come to meet him rashly. Salomon only wanted to know whether Barnabas had reproduced like a rat. Only then could he determine how many Vampires there were in this town.

"I admit it—the incident at the Highway 9 construction site. I had just been dug up then, and I was terribly thirsty." Barnabas spoke with a heavy southern England accent. He pinched a sheet of printed paper between his fingertips and held it far away. After examining it closely, he said, "Oh, and this too. A group of hippies. Their blood tasted utterly foul from all those awful drugs they took."

"Only these?" Salomon kept smiling. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that the Collins family seated across from him was growing impatient. Caroline's expression had darkened again, and David was quietly backing away. The air had become tense. Yet Salomon seemed not to notice anything wrong at all. "I want to confirm one thing—Mr. Barnabas, have you ever transformed a human?"

"You mean the First Embrace? Only one!" The Vampire shook his head sharply. "...Sir? I forgot to ask your name."

"Damonnet."

"Very well, Mr. Damonnet." The Vampire crossed his hands over his chest. "I once considered transforming Elizabeth into a Vampire, but she refused. Liz enjoys growing old. And Victoria... she did not escape Angie's clutches. After Angie killed her, I transformed her, allowing her to survive. If that too is a crime, I am willing to bear the responsibility."

"Then there are two Vampires here." Salomon rose to his feet and pushed the remaining printed pages before Barnabas. "Then were all of these committed by your wife, Victoria?"

"No, no, no." Barnabas pushed the papers back. He was not angered by Salomon's choice of classifier. He shook his head in fierce, resolute denial. "Victoria would never do such things. The Collins family invested in a hospital, and now we drink blood bags from the hospital. In truth, we have been puzzled as well. Victoria is the only Vampire I transformed... We have had to spend a great deal of money covering up the facts because of this, all to prevent suspicion from falling on the Collins family, even though we did not commit those crimes."

"Could there be other Vampires in the area?" Salomon paced through the living room, slowly and naturally putting distance between himself and the Collins family. "Please think carefully, Mr. Barnabas. Could you have transformed another human? Those bite marks on the corpses cannot be faked. By your account, I do not believe that witch would have transformed any other Vampires—she was devoted enough already."

The Vampire lowered his head and paced around the living room, his cane continuously striking the marble floor as Barnabas muttered under his breath. But no matter what, he was certain he had transformed only Victoria. In fact, the Collins family had investigated those cases through the police more than once, but every inquiry had ended fruitlessly. Later, to conceal the Collins family's traces, Barnabas could only use his ability to control minds to stop the police from continuing their investigation.

But the Collins family had still found a clue pointing to another Vampire.

"No, I'm certain." Barnabas finally stopped walking. Elizabeth kept signaling to him with her eyes. After glancing at her, the Vampire swallowed the words he had been about to say and changed his phrasing. "However, I can help you investigate this matter again."

"Very good." Salomon nodded. "Please have what I need prepared. I will come collect it tomorrow."

After Salomon left the hall under Willie's guidance, Elizabeth rose with David's support. "You don't really believe that wizard, do you? He said he represented some Mystic Order... I'm worried he'll bring people here."

"Of course not, my dear Liz." The Vampire blinked. Even though Barnabas had been buried in a coffin in the prime of his youth and had retained some naïveté and romanticism when he was first dug up, as the former head of a great family, he could not possibly trust a stranger's proposal so easily. Moreover, whether he wished it or not, the Negative Energy lodged within him would drive his thoughts toward darkness and evil. That was why Dark Magic was said to lead to corruption.

He said, "Now that Victoria and I both enjoy eternal youth, why would I want to become human? It is only a pity that I cannot enjoy human food."

"What about the other Vampire?" Elizabeth frowned. "This could expose the Collins family."

"Liz, don't worry. I already have an idea." Barnabas said, "Do you remember Julia Hoffman?"

A circular arc of sparks suddenly appeared in the hall of Collingwood Manor, genuinely startling the waiting Collins family. Poor Willie was still waiting bitterly at the manor gates for Salomon to arrive, yet Salomon had already stepped through the portal into the hall.

"My dear Mr. Damonnet." Barnabas came forward and curiously leaned around to look behind Salomon, but saw nothing except orange sparks. He could only lower his gaze back to Salomon. "I regret that we were unable to entertain you properly yesterday. However, I have prepared everything you require."

Elizabeth's eyes flickered. Barnabas had once demonstrated some magic to her, but apart from spells that bewitched people's minds, the rest could only be considered minor tricks. Salomon opening a portal in the hall, however, forced her to raise her estimation of him on the spot. The true person in charge of the Collins family adjusted her attitude perfectly and immediately revised the plan she and Barnabas had made yesterday.

Originally, the Collins family only intended to use Salomon to deal with the other Vampire entrenched in Port Collins. Barnabas's performance had been enough to deceive most people. The Vampire had displayed guilt at being forced to drink blood, though that part was genuine, as well as a desire to become human again, which was false.

Then, when Salomon tried to help Barnabas become human again, they would kill him by surprise and thoroughly bury the Collins family's traces. Perhaps they would need to consider how to deal with the Mystic Order afterward, but the moment Salomon appeared, the Collins family had already landed in trouble. Now, they could only take things one step at a time.

Elizabeth spat to herself—the witch had to cause trouble for the Collins family even after death.

But now, Elizabeth believed that Salomon surely possessed other unknown magic. Barnabas's magic had already lost its effect on him, and their greatest means of killing Salomon had vanished. Of course, she did not believe firearms would be effective against a wizard either. She had once attacked Angelique Bouchard with a shotgun, but the results had not been good.

She even believed that Salomon's move was meant to increase his deterrence. It was highly likely that he had not been fooled by yesterday's performance. The unspoken meaning of using this magic was, I know where you are, and I can come here whenever I want. You cannot escape.

In reality, Salomon had no intention of helping Barnabas lift his curse at all—it was already beyond his capabilities. Nor had he studied the parts of the Book of Vishanti concerning the removal of Vampire curses. Even if such magic existed, its effect would surely be to destroy Vampires, nothing more. Furthermore, Vampire dust was an extremely rare spellcasting material. If possible, he would not mind adding some to his Dimensional Bag collection. Vampire spines and fingers were also excellent materials.

Facing a progenitor Vampire who had yet to fully master his power, Salomon felt that even if he could not defeat him, he could still escape.

If Salomon had still been the original Otaku, he would never have entertained such thoughts. But as mentioned before, he might have been influenced by the necromancers and Dark Magic masters in his memories, because while mastering part of the Holy Marks, he had also learned some of those mages' memories.

So Salomon might be... a little insane now.

Yet no one noticed, not even the Sorcerer Supreme—what normal person would be interested in a terrifying place like the Dark Dimension?

"Thank you very much, Mr. Barnabas." Salomon did not shake the Vampire's hand, instead offering a mage's salute.

Barnabas opened his hand, then withdrew it. The corners of his mouth rose as he extended his right hand toward the massive staircase leading from the living room to the second floor. "Everything you need is up there. Please follow me."

"Certainly." Salomon answered with a smile. His eyes gleamed with interest, for those spellbooks, and also... for the Vampire.

P.S. I want recommendation votes and investments—all of them! clenches fist

Good morning.