After the meeting ended, Van En's mood sank noticeably.
He returned to his office in the Typhon Building and threw himself into a mountain of documents. Contracts, intelligence reports, investment proposals, and operational summaries piled up across the massive desk like a miniature city of paper. For several hours he worked without pause, signing files, flipping pages, and scribbling notes in silence.
Eventually, the frustration building inside him reached a breaking point.
He tossed his pen aside and stood up abruptly, walking toward the massive floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Manhattan. The endless skyline stretched across the horizon, glittering with lights as traffic flowed through the streets far below.
Van En stared at the city with a gloomy expression.
His mood was terrible.
Honestly, it felt like waking up one morning and discovering that everyone around him had suddenly become successful professionals while he remained the only lazy slacker lying on the couch doing nothing.
He let out a long sigh.
Until recently, things had been calm. He had even believed most of Hydra's leaders were unworthy of the title of "snakehead." In his mind, the only one who truly carried that legacy was Pierce.
Pierce alone had been the pride of their generation.
But now everything had changed.
Even Dr. Zola, a refined academic who normally hid quietly in the background, had suddenly jumped into the game. That development had caught Van En completely off guard.
Compared to them, what had he been doing lately?
Traveling to Asgard.
Recruiting Hulks.
Teasing knights.
None of it counted as some earth-shattering conspiracy. It all looked suspiciously like good deeds.
Van En rubbed his face with both hands.
If this continued, he would completely fail to live up to his reputation as a Hydra snakehead.
But what could he do about it?
In the end, his father had never been an ambitious Hydra mastermind. The man had spent his entire life quietly researching enhancement serums for the organization. There had been no grand unfinished ambitions left behind for Van En to inherit.
The old man hadn't even known many of Hydra's deeper secrets.
Van En sighed again.
Why did I end up with such an incompetent father?
Looks like I'll have to rely on myself in this life.
Suddenly, a strange idea appeared in his mind.
If you can't solve the problem…
Why not eliminate the person who raised it?
If you refuse to give something up, perhaps someone else can help you give it up.
Pierce had actually said something very true earlier.
Hydra was a family.
A loving family.
In the past, Van En had been immature. He had always waited for opportunities, hoping someone would eventually show him favor or appreciation.
But now he realized something.
Why wait to be loved?
Why not take the initiative?
Instead of waiting for someone else to make the first move, perhaps it was better to act first.
You fight on the front lines, and I'll "support" you from home.
Perfect teamwork.
The thought amused him.
After making up his mind, Van En felt considerably more relaxed.
Of course, such matters required careful planning. Each Hydra leader possessed an extremely strong survival instinct. If word of his intentions leaked prematurely, it could easily provoke suspicion or retaliation.
Just as he finished organizing his thoughts, his phone suddenly rang.
Van En glanced at the screen.
Minister Pierce.
He frowned slightly.
Why is everyone looking for me today?
Am I suddenly some kind of heartthrob?
He accepted the call.
"Speaker," Van En greeted politely. "What can I do for you?"
Pierce's voice sounded irritated.
"Don't call me that," he replied in a low tone. "My proposal earlier was meant to benefit everyone. Unfortunately, they refuse to understand that."
Van En blinked.
Inflated ego confirmed.
"People often need time to process new ideas," Van En replied smoothly. "But I believe they'll eventually understand your intentions."
Pierce's tone improved noticeably after hearing that.
"I'm contacting you today on someone else's behalf," he said. "They hope to reach some form of agreement with you."
"Oh?" Van En asked curiously. "And who might that be?"
"Several ancient vampire clans."
Van En was genuinely surprised by that answer.
Perhaps because of movies he had watched in his previous life, he had never taken vampires particularly seriously. They existed, of course, but he hadn't considered them strategically important.
Recently, however, things had changed.
After Blade recovered from his injuries, Van En had arranged for Jessica—the super-strength mutant—to join his operations.
Soon after, they discovered that hunting vampires provided excellent combat training.
Because of that, several newly recruited Justice League members had participated in Blade's extermination operations. Iceman, Pyro, Deathstrike, and Shadowcat had all joined the missions.
Even Ghost Rider had been training with them during the past two days.
Eventually the group had given themselves a dramatic name.
The Midnight Justice Enforcement Team.
Their activities were no longer limited to New York City. They had begun operating across several neighboring states.
From the current reports, their extermination campaign had been extremely successful.
After all, if a mission ever went badly, they could simply call for reinforcements. The main Justice League could arrive in high-speed jets faster than the police.
"Van," Pierce continued, "vampires have existed in this world for a very long time."
"Their weaknesses are obvious, and their strength is limited."
He paused briefly.
"But the government has never attempted to completely eradicate them. Do you know why?"
Van En answered honestly.
"No."
"Because the consequences would be too complicated," Pierce explained. "These clans have existed for thousands of years. Over time, they've become deeply integrated into society."
"If we attempted to eliminate them entirely, the damage would extend to humanity itself."
"So instead, we allow them to survive within the darker corners of the world while maintaining a certain degree of cooperation."
Van En frowned slightly.
"From what I've seen recently," he said, "vampires already represent a threat to this world."
Pierce chuckled.
"You're misunderstanding something," he replied.
"The ones causing chaos are hybrid vampires."
"They're brutal, disorganized, and savage. You can eliminate those however you like."
"The ones who wish to negotiate with you are pureblood vampires."
"The difference between the two groups is enormous."
Pierce hesitated briefly before simplifying the explanation.
"You can think of it like the difference between humans and livestock."
Van En shook his head slowly.
"As expected of my great America," he muttered. "Even monsters are part of the system."
Pierce ignored the sarcasm.
"Van, you have some very capable people working for you," he continued. "But I hope you can keep them under control."
"The rules of this world are more complicated than you realize."
The meaning behind his words was unmistakable.
Van En could hear multiple emotions buried within Pierce's tone.
Fear.
Jealousy.
And faint contempt.
The mixture confused him slightly.
Where did Pierce find so many complicated feelings?
Pierce continued speaking.
"I should remind you that your extermination campaign has succeeded largely because vampire clans operate independently."
"If you push them into uniting, they will become a formidable opponent."
He paused before adding more seriously.
"I'm saying this for your own good. I hope you'll consider it carefully."
Van En thought for a moment.
"Since this is a negotiation," he said, "what price are they offering?"
Pierce laughed from the other end of the line.
"Don't worry about that," he replied confidently. "I'll make sure you receive the best possible terms."
"After all… we're on the same side."
"Then I'll leave it to you, Minister," Van En said politely. "I'll wait for your call."
The conversation ended shortly afterward.
Van En sat quietly for a moment, thinking.
Pierce's words sounded reasonable on the surface.
Vampires integrated into society.
Eliminating them would damage humanity.
But Van En didn't believe any of that.
This so-called integration was almost certainly built on money and mutual interests.
The Midnight Justice Enforcement Team's operations had clearly frightened the vampire clans. They had finally realized that someone possessed the power to wipe them out.
So now they wanted to pay protection money.
Simple as that.
Van En had no intention of refusing such an offer.
If vampires were willing to bribe the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. to act as their intermediary, the price must be enormous.
Not only would Van En accept the money.
He intended to take the largest share.
With that decision made, the Midnight Justice Enforcement Team's extermination campaign could not stop.
But its strategy would change.
The number of operations would decrease.
The intensity of each strike would increase.
They would either remain completely inactive…
Or descend like lightning.
Their existence would become the Sword of Damocles hanging over every vampire clan.
Have you paid your protection fee?
Did you deliver it to the right person?
If you refuse to pay, you die.
If you pay the wrong person, you die even faster.
Satisfied with this plan, Van En immediately contacted the Midnight Justice Enforcement Team's logistics division.
These agents and analysts had originally been assigned to assist Blade. Every one of them was completely loyal to Van En.
They handled intelligence gathering, operational planning, and mission coordination. During operations, they even served as tactical commanders directing the field teams.
They were the brain of the Midnight Justice Enforcement Team.
Additionally, several mutant members within the group had been influenced by the power of Van En's divine kingdom. Their loyalty had become nearly absolute.
When Van En issued a command, they would carry it out without hesitation.
Van En leaned back in his chair and smiled faintly.
"Vampires," he murmured quietly.
"You've never seen a real vampire before."
.....
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