Fermentation

No one knew where the news had come from, but it spread at an eerily rapid pace, sweeping through almost the entire underground world in just a few dozen minutes.

When many people first heard it, they simply did not believe it and dismissed it outright.

"A war with the Vampires? That famous Mechanic from lately? What kind of joke is that? How could he possibly fight the Vampires? He's such a good little boy."

Someone posted on a specialized dark website, dripping with sarcasm and mockery. They ridiculed Donnie for being such a well-behaved child who rarely caused trouble, nothing like a high-level Mutant at all. He made the big shots in the authorities so worry-free that they hardly knew what to say.

But the rumors only grew more intense, their influence expanding by the minute, until they whipped up a massive storm within just a few hours!

An unknown person uploaded a video, claiming it showed Donnie fighting a bloody battle against Vampires!

Many people were alarmed. Several factions and top international hackers were deeply shocked and used every means at their disposal to verify it. Organizations hurried through the night to assemble computer experts to determine whether the footage was real. The video was blurry, but Optimus Prime could indeed be seen. He was simply too conspicuous—one hand wielding a Rocket Launcher, the other a Vulcan cannon, sweeping through everything in his path. Even through the screen, his killing intent could be felt.

Some hackers became intensely curious about the uploader and tried to trace them online, hoping to expose them in one stroke. Who was bold enough to do this, and where had they been at the time? Were they Donnie's helper, a Vampire, or a third party? But they failed. The uploader was cunning and had erased their tracks immediately.

Some factions seemed to smell a conspiracy and remained cautious, choosing to wait and see.

But no matter what, many people understood that Donnie had stirred things up again—and this time, he had caused a major incident! He had single-handedly slaughtered a Vampire stronghold! That slap had landed far too loudly. No one knew how the Vampire race would respond.

This night was destined to be sleepless. News of Donnie's fierce battle with the Vampires spread through the dark world like the wind. Many major factions received the news; some were worried, some laughed uproariously, and some practically danced with joy.

"Ha! That idiot. Are Vampires really so easy to provoke? What a suicidal fool. Still, it's a pity. A high-level Mutant is worth a lot." Kingpin's bloated body sprawled across the sofa as he sneered without pause.

Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. rubbed his forehead and issued an order. "Keep a close watch. If necessary, deploy senior agents to assist Donnie and wipe out those Vampires. They've been far too active lately. Make them behave."

Magneto had gone several days without sleep. Standing before a huge, strange machine, he was dismissive when he heard the news. "Vampires? A pack of trash. They're perfect practice for the kid. If he can't even withstand this, then he's nothing but waste... Forget it. Send someone to help him."

The authorities reacted the fastest. They immediately stepped forward and announced to the media that the fire had been caused by a drunk accidentally igniting alcohol. The blaze had been extinguished, and it had been confirmed that no one was injured or killed.

It was also on this night that Donnie's nickname, "The Mechanic," became widely known.

Donnie knew nothing about it. He had thought the fire would destroy most of the evidence, and even if the remnants were discovered, the authorities would pretend not to know and handle them quietly. Even if someone tipped off the Vampires, it would at least delay his exposure and give him as much time as possible to prepare.

The Vampires might not swallow this insult. If fighting broke out again, they would likely deploy a Vampire army. It would be a full-scale war.

Donnie was short on time. He needed to arm himself quickly. Fighting Vampires looked spectacular, but as long as he was not bitten, it was not much of a problem. The Vampire race was famous worldwide. Aside from that mysterious ancestor from myth and legend, whose strength was unknown, even the pureblood descendants could be killed.

It was not until Coulson called him to ask about a few matters that he learned such a massive uproar had erupted so quickly.

"Mr. Donnie, it's not just the major organizations anymore. This matter has spread through nearly the entire underground world, and many people have become familiar with you because of it." Coulson's tone remained gentle as he explained what had happened. S.H.I.E.L.D. had also tried to uncover who was spreading the news, but they had failed. They could not find that person at all.

Donnie was both surprised and unsurprised.

"Someone is plotting against me. I just don't know who it is," Donnie said.

He was not stupid. He had merely entered this supernatural world not long ago, and he still habitually judged many things with a mortal way of thinking. He needed a great deal of experience to mature. Otherwise, he would not have been tricked or clung to wishful thinking. A veteran who had experienced too much would never harbor wishful thinking. Only inexperienced rookies who had not seen enough of the world would do that.

People like Coulson had spent most of their lives playing with schemes and intrigue. Calculating benefits, losses, and gains had practically become instinctive for them.

Thinking it over carefully, from the administrator who had approached him out of nowhere, to the attack on the road, to someone delivering a pile of heavy weapons to him, and finally to his clash with the Vampires—someone had been plotting against him. They had even feared his firepower was insufficient and arranged for someone to deliver arms to him halfway through.

Not to mention that remarkable line: "For the glory of the Vampires"...

Someone had been secretly urging him into war with the Vampires.

"Mr. Donnie, do you have any leads? We can use our resources to help you drag out whoever is behind this." Coulson was highly skilled in psychology and keenly grasped Donnie's state of mind. He understood that what Donnie needed most urgently was not to know who that person was, but a force and backing he could rely on.

Even if that force and Donnie were merely using each other, both sides could accept it.

S.H.I.E.L.D. had been quietly observing Donnie and understood what kind of person he was. To put it in somewhat inappropriate terms, he was not a good person. Killing and destruction were no longer anything remarkable to Donnie, but he leaned toward lawful neutrality. As long as there was no deep grudge, he was someone who could be reasoned with.

Otherwise, Donnie could have gone to Professor X or Magneto, where he would have been freer, and they would certainly have gladly welcomed a fellow Mutant like him. Donnie had not needed to stubbornly remain in his house. It was, after all, in New York City, where every road had countless cameras. Living in a metropolis meant tacitly accepting that one was being secretly watched. This was not limited to Donnie alone. Nearly everyone living in a major city was exposed to cameras the moment they stepped outside. Everyone understood that.

Therefore, the authorities and Donnie had formed an unspoken understanding. They would no longer tamper with Donnie's house and would fully respect his privacy. In return, Donnie would not openly cause trouble right in front of them. It was a choice that made both sides comfortable.

In fact, quite a few people within the authorities viewed Donnie, this newly emerged Level 4 Mutant, favorably. There were no small number of them. They advocated taking the initiative to win Donnie over and bring him into government agencies. They could even build a special team around him.

Of course, people like General Ross certainly harbored enormous hostility toward Donnie.

That was not to say the authorities were especially easy to deal with. Looking at the situation, what high-level powerhouse was as easy to get along with as Donnie? Professor X's side was practically an independent kingdom. Magneto was isolated overseas and did not give the authorities the time of day. The Super Soldier Program had repeatedly suffered setbacks. It was fucking difficult for government agencies to win over a supernatural combatant.

They had gone mad with desire for an ace capable of suppressing everything.