My Reinforcements

My Reinforcements

The bar was so quiet a pin drop could be heard. Everyone watched the vampire miserably shake what remained of his face—only a quarter of it left—as sunlight reduced him to ash.

And the vampires Alvin had mentioned were actually living among them? This was way too exciting!

Kingpin was the first to snap out of it. He said, "So, Boss Alvin, you came here because of these things?" His tone carried a hint of disdain.

Alvin nodded and said gravely to Kingpin, "Don't underestimate them. Without sunlight, they're very hard to kill. Silver weapons only work if you can hit them. They're also incredibly fast and fairly strong. If you don't believe me, ask that idiot Bullseye."

Ignoring Bullseye's knife-like glare, Alvin thought, Look at you, acting like you were facing some great enemy when you arrived. You must have suffered for it.

Kingpin didn't ask. He could tell from Bullseye's expression that Alvin was telling the truth.

"So what do you want to do?" Kingpin was straightforward. Since these things survived by drinking human blood, they were natural enemies. Their only fate should be to die. There was no need to ask anything else.

That was how gang bosses were—decisive. Once Kingpin nodded, everyone else eagerly agreed. Those things were living around them. What if one day they or their families got bitten to death? That would be far too unjust.

At times, Alvin really liked dealing with these gangsters. As long as he could convince them, their efficiency was higher than that of many Fortune 500 companies.

Alvin smiled. "Simple. Hell's Kitchen isn't big. My three big dogs can cover the whole place in a day. Split up and follow them. Drag every vampire in your territory out into the sun!" He pointed at Kingpin. "You don't like me entering your territory, so I'll go back to my restaurant and wait for everyone's good news. Remember, ordinary weapons are useless. Use silver weapons."

Everyone looked at each other, unsure of what to do. Where were they supposed to find silver weapons?

A tall, bald Russian with a face full of beard reacted quickly. He wiped his beard, grabbed a silver candlestick from behind the bar, and gave it a swing. With the candles removed, it would make a decent weapon. He gestured at Alvin.

Alvin gave him an approving thumbs-up. He knew the man—a Russian gang boss who dealt in arms, named Alexei. Alvin's first P226 had come from him. He hadn't expected the guy to think so quickly.

After thinking for a moment, Alvin said to Alexei, "Buddy, I remember you have a bullet reloading setup at home. Melt down some silverware and make bullet heads out of it. You'll definitely get a good price over the next couple of days. None of the bosses here are short on cash!"

Alexei gave a hearty laugh and hugged Alvin, thanking him for the suggestion. Then he immediately called his men and ordered them to take every piece of silverware from his home, melt it down, and turn it into bullet heads for reloading ammunition. A big deal had arrived.

With that problem solved, everyone relaxed and prepared to discuss where to begin searching. After all, there were only three ghost wolves. Everyone wanted to find and kill the vampires in their own territory first.

Alvin didn't bother with them. Kingpin, the big shot, would naturally arrange everything in the end. Besides, even though he no longer lived in Hell's Kitchen, he still had to contribute money and effort to this matter.

Just as the bored Alvin was considering leaving early to prepare lunch for Ginny, the bar's front door was smashed open with a bang.

Everyone looked over to see who had the nerve to cause trouble here at a time like this. The bodyguards brought by the various bosses slipped their hands inside their jackets, ready to draw their guns at any moment.

A massive black wolf had burst through the wooden door. Riding on its back was an adorable five- or six-year-old girl with fluffy hair, dressed in a waitress uniform. She charged straight in.

Facing the gazes of the surrounding bosses, the little girl sat on the giant wolf's back without backing down. She wrinkled her nose, bared her teeth, and let out a childish growl. Her fists were clenched tight, like a wolf cub guarding its food, ready to fight at any moment.

Alvin gave an "Oh!" and hurried over, scooping the little girl into his arms. "Ginny, why are you here? Where's Jessica?"

Even in Alvin's arms, Ginny kept staring at the bosses in the bar, waving her hands threateningly.

When she heard Alvin's question, she replied without turning around, "Daddy, fight. Ginny help Daddy. Thor help Daddy."

Alvin's nose stung. She really is my daughter. She already knows to help her father fight, and she even brought Thor along as backup. She'll definitely make something of herself someday.

He kissed Ginny hard on the cheek. "Ginny is Daddy's good girl. Such a good girl. How did you know I was here?"

Ginny waved her little fist and declared boldly, "Old Kent said Daddy negotiating. Ginny help Daddy fight."

Alvin was utterly satisfied. The little girl could barely speak properly, yet she already knew to help her father fight. He really hadn't spoiled her for nothing!

Alvin comforted little Ginny and held her against his chest. Then he proudly swept his gaze across the surrounding gang bosses. "See that? This is my daughter, my final reinforcement!"

The people around them froze for a moment, then burst into laughter. It was a misunderstanding, but the scene was genuinely amusing.

Having just benefited from Alvin's advice, Alexei removed a silver cross set with a ruby from around his neck. He held it out to Ginny, signaling for the little girl to accept it.

Ginny froze, then looked at her father in confusion. She had clearly come to fight. Why were they giving her presents instead?

Alvin, so happy he had forgotten his own name, smiled and nodded at Alexei, signaling Ginny to take it.

Ginny foolishly accepted the silver cross and hung it around her neck. Holding it in her hand would make fighting inconvenient.

Alexei playfully gave a knight's salute. "Welcome, Your Highness, my princess!"

Alvin smiled and shook Alexei's hand. "Buddy, believe me, Ginny deserves to be called Your Highness." Then his gaze turned icy as he looked at everyone present and said firmly, "I said so!"

The gang bosses had no reason to offend Alvin over a form of address. Everyone politely applauded Ginny. The little girl really had guts. If it had been their own children, they would have pissed themselves by now!

The envy in the tall, burly Kingpin's eyes was practically overflowing. He slowly walked over to Alvin and looked at Ginny with the expression of an honest, good-natured Black elder. Parting his thick lips, he revealed his most sincere smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, little princess of Hell's Kitchen."