Hawk didn't take Klaus's matter to heart.
Because for him, it was a trivial matter.
As long as Klaus appeared, he appeared, and then Klaus would choose to accept.
No matter if he was willing or not.
He had no choice.
In the past, Hawk also had no choice, only able to watch Hulk and Abomination, who had killed his sister, go their separate ways. So he chose to become stronger, precisely so that one day, the one with no choice would no longer be himself.
He had achieved that now.
But Klaus didn't appear. Hawk spent Christmas Eve and Christmas with Gwen in Waterfall Town, and even when they were preparing to return to New York City, Klaus still hadn't shown up.
Not just Klaus.
Even Klaus's brother, Elijah, the Original Vampire who had appeared once, misleading Stefan and others by promising to intercede with Klaus for them if they found the moonstone, never appeared again after that one time.
Caroline and the others found this very confusing.
Especially after learning that Hawk and Gwen were returning the next day, the confusion turned into a bit of unease.
Early in the morning, Caroline, dressed in a purple gown, arrived at the Manor and found Hawk, who was tying his tie in front of a mirror under Gwen's vocal instruction.
"Elena and Stefan are very worried."
Caroline said to Hawk, "Worried about what will happen if Klaus comes after you return to New York City."
Hawk and Gwen exchanged glances, then looked at Caroline and said with a smile, "It's not my fault that Klaus didn't come to the town."
He was actually quite curious as to why Klaus hadn't come to Waterfall Town.
After all, three days ago was a full moon, and logically speaking, Klaus wouldn't miss this opportunity.
And according to the original plot, Hawk remembered very clearly that after Katherine was locked up by Stefan and Damon, the Original Klaus was already on his way to Waterfall Town.
But... Klaus didn't appear.
Hawk was also curious about this, but not curious enough to linger in Waterfall Town for this matter.
It was still the same old saying.
Klaus, for him, was just a small matter; he had more important things to do.
For example, Dr. Merrick, who was suspected of being a minion of Heaven.
He had given this Dr. Merrick a Christmas holiday to use his blood to clone something that could make him's eyes light up.
Unfortunately, he hadn't seen anything, which also indicated that Dr. Merrick's skill level was nothing special.
In that case.
He had had his vacation; the real Dr. Merrick should be found and then thrown into his Underworld to experience the eight great hells he had prepared for him, which were guaranteed to make him's eyes light up.
Caroline, hearing Hawk's words, quickly apologized, then said to Hawk, "Cousin-in-law, I don't mean to blame you, you know, I'm just saying, what if you leave and Klaus comes to drain Elena's blood again?"
Hawk chuckled and glanced at Caroline.
"Then what do you want me to do?"
"Uh..."
Caroline opened her mouth and froze in place.
Gwen, standing to the side, looked at Hawk, who was repeatedly tying his tie in front of the mirror, chuckled, walked forward, and brushed away Hawk's somewhat clumsy hands.
Hawk complied, then looked down at Gwen, who was helping him tie his tie, and asked with some curiosity.
"Do I really have to wear this tie?"
"It's a gift from Grandpa, so, yes, you have to wear it."
Gwen quickly and skillfully tied Hawk's tie, tidied it up, then patted Hawk's equally crisp White shirt, and said with a smile, "And Grandpa really wants you to wear a suit and take a photo together, after all, Grandpa really likes the saying, 'A suit is a man's second face.'"
Hawk's mouth curved upward at her words.
"For ordinary men, yes, but for me, saint cloth is. How about I put on my saint cloth?"
"I just want to make Grandpa happy."
Gwen looked up and met Hawk's eyes: "Not to send Grandpa to the hospital."
Hawk shrugged: "Believe me, Grandpa's psychological endurance is stronger than you imagine."
After all, an Angel skeleton was bound in the Underground Room of the annex building.
So, basically, for Grandpa William, there probably wasn't anything that could surprise him anymore.
Gwen met Hawk's gaze, her peripheral vision catching Caroline, who was about to speak but hesitated. She changed the subject, picking up the ironed suit jacket from the bed: "Could it be that Klaus smelled your presence, knew you were in Waterfall Town, and so he didn't dare to appear before you, afraid you would kill him?"
Caroline's eyes also lit up at her words, and she looked at Hawk.
Hawk spread his arms, accepting Gwen's dressing service while smiling and saying, "Do I look like such a scary person?"
Gwen put on Hawk's suit jacket, then walked in front of him: "Perhaps you're already infamous in the supernatural World, after all, you are a Demon Lord."
Once again.
Minor cases involved exterminating a family, major cases involved exterminating a clan.
This was not a description, but a realistic portrayal, the cornerstone of Hawk's title, written as 'phoenix' but read as 'Demon Lord.'
At Gwen's signal, Hawk lifted his chin: "Yes, I am a Demon Lord, and you are the Demon Lord's shackles. You know, with you around, I basically don't lose my temper."
Gwen adjusted Hawk's collar slightly, then glanced at Hawk.
"But you are indeed quite terrifying when you do get angry."
"I only defend and counterattack."
"I know."
Gwen smiled faintly, then took a few steps back, admiring Hawk, who was now wearing the suit custom-made for him by Grandpa at the town's tailor shop for Christmas. Then she said, "Then can you find Klaus? Caroline's worry isn't unreasonable. What if we leave, and Klaus arrives right after?"
Hawk shook his head with a chuckle, then looked at Gwen and offered a solution: "If Elena is worried, you can invite her to New York City. Katherine Pierce has already gone to New York City anyway."
Caroline was slightly stunned at her words and interjected, "Wait a minute, Katherine Pierce? What's she doing in New York City?"
Hawk didn't speak; it was Gwen who spoke.
Gwen turned to look at Caroline: "Because Ms. Katherine Pierce helped your cousin-in-law with something, so your cousin-in-law told Klaus to stop hunting her as a reward."
Caroline blinked.
"What thing?"
"That's none of your business."
Gwen said with a smile, "And Hawk has things to do back in New York City, so if your friend Elena is worried, you can relay Hawk's suggestion to her. I'd be happy for her to stay at my house when she comes to New York City."
Caroline thought for a moment, then nodded.
"I'll ask Elena."
"Okay."
Gwen chuckled, then looked at Caroline, who seemed eager to leave now, and said, "After we take the photos."
Today was their last day in Waterfall Town. At Christmas, Grandpa suggested that on this day, the two of them, along with Aunt Liz and cousin Caroline, take some photos on the Manor's lawn. Once developed, they would be hung on the wall of the Fox Manor's main building.
Hawk and Gwen readily agreed.
Aunt Liz and Caroline also agreed at the time.
The photographer was a local of the town, with first-class photography skills. Some tourists who revisited Waterfall Town would specifically seek out this photographer to help them take souvenir photos at the town's developed tourist attractions.
The photographer actually had an appointment today.
But the Fox Family was one of the founding families of the town, so the photographer agreed to free photos with the scheduled clients and rescheduled before coming over.
However, a few group photos didn't take too much time.
After Aunt Liz arrived at the Manor in her police car, everyone got into position. In about an hour, they had taken souvenir photos on the front and side lawns of the Manor, as well as in the backyard garden.
After the photos were finished, Caroline rushed off to find Elena.
Aunt Liz also hurried back to work.
Hawk, too, immediately returned to his room, untied his tie, unbuttoned his collar, and said to Gwen, "I still don't really like suits."
Gwen, who had followed him in, smiled faintly.
"You look very handsome and cool in a suit."
"...Give me some time to get used to it."
Hearing Gwen's words, Hawk suddenly felt that suits weren't entirely unacceptable.
After all, Gwen's taste was always excellent.
"So, the plane is at eight in the morning tomorrow. Where are we going this afternoon, staying at the Manor?"
"Pack, unpack."
"Pack?"
Hawk raised an eyebrow, looking at the already packed luggage on the room's table, as well as the gifts from his grandpa, aunt, and Caroline for the two of them, and gifts for George and Helen: "Isn't it already packed?"
Gwen smiled mysteriously, lowering her voice: "I was talking about the flowers in the conservatory. I picked out three pots and already arranged for Federal Express to pick them up. I specifically asked them to come when Grandpa was taking his nap, so by the time we get home tomorrow, those three pots of flowers will also be home."
Hawk heard this, his expression one of surprise, then after thinking for a moment, he looked at Gwen and nodded.
"Smart!"
"Thank you."
"Remember to remind me, when we have children in the future, it must be a boy."
"Why? Don't you like daughters?"
"Of course I li—"
Before Hawk could finish, Gwen's phone rang. After answering, Gwen, looking at Hawk, her eyes lit up. She hung up the phone and turned to walk out the door: "Federal Express is here, Hawk, use your superpower to make sure Grandpa doesn't hear anything from the conservatory."
Hawk, who was in the room, couldn't help but twitch his mouth.
Half an hour later.
A cargo truck with "Federal Express" printed on it rumbled out of Fox Manor.
Standing at the manor's entrance, Gwen watched the express truck drive away, letting out a sigh of relief. Then, she saw a very familiar car driving over from not far away.
Caroline's silver corolla.
However, Caroline wasn't the only one in the car; Elena and Stefan were also there.
After Caroline went to them and told them the solution, Elena was initially a bit conflicted.
She didn't really want to go to New York, after all, who knew if Klaus would truly come after her.
But Stefan, after Caroline mentioned that Katherine Pierce had also gone to New York, immediately stated that he and Elena would also go to New York.
In Stefan's words.
He might not know Klaus very well (his memory seal hadn't been broken at this point), but he knew his ex-girlfriend Katherine Pierce very well.
Because survival was always etched into Katherine Pierce's bones.
She knew where she would survive.
So... they would also go to New York. Therefore, they came this time to tell Hawk their decision in person.
Gwen watched Elena and Stefan get out of the car, then listened to their decision, smiling as she said: "The two of you together, of course, you can."
Stefan and Elena exchanged glances, then looked at Gwen, who was welcoming them to New York: "Ms. Stacy, I wonder if Mr. Phoenix..."
As the words fell.
Hawk, who had walked out of the manor's main building, appeared next to Gwen in the next second.
Stefan looked at the appearing Hawk, his already still heart suddenly trembled.
Gwen looked at Stefan and Elena, who seemed a little afraid of Hawk, chuckled, and said to Hawk: "Elena wants to ask you if she and her boyfriend Stefan can go to New York together."
Hawk's gaze was fixed on the direction of Waterfall Town. Hearing this, he glanced at Elena and Stefan.
"They don't need to go to New York anymore."
"Huh?"
"Mr. Phoenix, if it's me..."
Stefan was stunned at first, then, thinking Hawk didn't like him very much, he quickly started to explain.
Hawk's figure had already vanished before his eyes.
"Klaus is here, so you don't need to go to New York anymore."
"...Klaus?"
Stefan jolted, turning his head to look at the town they had come from.
Whoosh!
Hawk's figure appeared silently at the entrance of a bar that was open during the day in the town.
Pedestrians and tourists walking on the town's streets seemed not at all surprised by Hawk's sudden appearance, as if his abrupt arrival was so natural and to be expected.
Hawk, who had used the Reality Stone to modify his presence, canceled the modification the moment his palm pressed against the bar door. He then pushed open the bar door and walked inside.
Instantly.
Hawk's eyes immediately fell on Klaus, who was sitting alone at the bar counter not far away, one hand playing with the glass in front of him.
The Original Vampire, Klaus Mikaelson.
The moment Hawk saw Klaus, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Similarly.
Klaus, looking at Hawk who walked in from outside, his aura going from nothing to everything in an instant, a hint of undetectable surprise also appeared in his eyes, on his face that held a wicked smile.
Hawk walked straight over and sat down in the booth opposite Klaus.
A bartender handed over a drink menu.
Although Hawk would be twenty after Christmas this year, he hadn't reached twenty-one yet. However, from his appearance, he no longer looked underage at a glance.
So, it was normal for the bartender to assume he was already an adult.
But... Hawk waved his hand at the bartender.
The bartender understood and didn't mind. Anyway, it was daytime, and the boss hadn't stipulated that one couldn't come in and sit down without drinking.
After the bartender left, Hawk looked at Klaus, who was sitting opposite him and watching him, and spoke first.
"Mikaelson, Klaus Mikaelson."
"Yes."
Klaus spoke, a pure London accent washing over them. With a wicked smile on his lips, he looked at Hawk: "I presume you're here for Ms. Elena Gilbert?"
Hawk smiled and said: "And Katherine Pierce."
Klaus heard this, his expression dawning: "May I ask what it's about?"
Hawk, with a slight smile, activated his Face-Face Fruit power!
"Give me some face, stop chasing Katherine Pierce."
"..."
Klaus didn't speak, just stared at Hawk, the smile on his lips growing with an uncontrollable urge to widen.
"Give you some face?"
"Yes."
"I don't even know who you are."
"Phoenix, Hawk Phoenix. If you give me face, you can call me Hawk."
"Hawk Phoenix."
Klaus, leaning against the booth, his right hand on the table, played with his whiskey glass in front of him while staring intently at Hawk: "A few days ago, when I saw you, your aura was completely different from now."
A few days ago?
How did he not know Klaus had seen him?
Hawk's sword-like eyebrows raised.
Just as he was about to ponder, Klaus continued: "I don't think you have..."
Before he could finish.
Hawk's Little Universe subtly rotated.
In an instant.
Klaus's face, where a mocking smile was about to form, stiffened. The playfulness in his eyes vanished instantly, his pupils constricted in a flash, and he looked at Hawk without speaking further.
Hawk smiled at Klaus, once again throwing out his Face-Face Fruit power.
"I think I have that face. What do you think, Klaus?"
"...Of course."
Klaus was inwardly shaken, feeling the surge of energy that was as vast as the Universe and as brilliant as the stars in an instant. After reacting, he raised the whiskey glass in his hand: "As you wish, Hawk, Katherine Pierce will no longer be hunted by me and my Vampires."
Hawk heard this, his smile bright: "Thank you."
See.
Problem solved.
However... Hawk didn't leave immediately. Instead, he looked at Klaus curiously: "When was your werewolf bloodline unsealed? Katherine's doppelgänger, Elena, has always been in Waterfall Town."
Yes.
This was also why he only mentioned Katherine just now, and not Elena.
Because Klaus's werewolf bloodline had already been unsealed.
Without having caught Elena.
Klaus met Hawk's slightly curious gaze, and also looked at Hawk, who had spoken, with a hint of curiosity.
"Three days ago, you were also there. Did you forget, Hawk?"
"I've always been in Waterfall Town. Three days ago I..."
Hawk said subconsciously, then suddenly paused, looking at Klaus, as if he had thought of something.
"You found another doppelgänger?"
"Yes."
"And I was there too, in that place?"
"Yes, but the you I saw was not the same as the you now."
"Where?"
"Molokai, Mauna Loa!"
"..."
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