When the system mission appeared before Vincent Hall, he paused, then let out a cold sneer.
He finally understood why the coffin in the picture looked so familiar.
The Blood Coffin.
Was this a plot from The Strain?
Something felt off. But Vincent didn't dwell on it.
The reward was a Purple Blind Box.
This was unprecedented. Usually, purple boxes came from stacked missions or escalating rewards. His first purple box had given him the Ice-Ice Fruit (Hie Hie no Mi)—one of his favorite anime items.
"Destroy the Blood Coffin?"
Vincent stroked his chin, staring at the image of the ornate wooden sarcophagus.
He was a man of his word.
He had come to the Vatican to transport an item for the banking family behind Wells Fargo. In exchange, he would receive Tesla Lighting & Energy.
This would complete his energy monopoly strategy for Oscorp. Tesla Lighting alone brought in over $2 billion in annual profit.
"If these disgusting parasites spread... will this become a Vampire Marvel Universe? Or a Zombie Marvel Universe?"
All Marvel universes start the same. But a single butterfly effect—a divergence in the timeline—creates a new reality. The Marvel Zombies universe exists. Vampires exist (Blade is out there somewhere).
"System, don't blame me. But a man has to have principles."
Vincent shook his head.
"I will take the Blood Coffin back to New York... and then I will destroy it."
His women—Gwen, Jessica, Julia—were in New York. If the city fell to a vampire plague, it would hurt him deeply.
Private Jet. Landing in Rome.
"Sir, we are about to land. I hope you enjoyed the flight."
The chief flight attendant smiled, though her eyes held a hint of disappointment.
"Wake Ms. Roberts."
Vincent gave a curt order.
The attendant went into the private bedroom and woke Julia Roberts.
"I can't let Julia stay with me," Vincent muttered.
"After we land, have her return to New York immediately."
Involving a normal human in a vampire hunt was a death sentence. He wouldn't risk her life.
Rome. Near the Vatican.
The Vatican. 0.44 square kilometers. 800 residents. The smallest country in the world, yet one of the safest and most influential.
Vincent felt nothing but indifference.
He was taken to a luxury hotel in Rome overlooking the Holy See.
It was late at night. Julia was already on a connecting flight back to New York.
But Vincent wasn't alone.
A team of top-tier international mercenaries was waiting in the suite.
X-Factor Investigations (Mercenary Team).
Team Leader: Alex Hayden (Agent X).Inez Temple (Outlaw).Mary Zero (Mutant). A quiet black girl.Tony Masters (Taskmaster). The mysterious mimic.Sandi Brandenberg. A sexy redhead wearing a mercenary outfit.
They had been waiting for a while.
Vincent glanced at the tablet dossier. Clearly, his arrival didn't thrill them.
"I'm Agent X, the operation leader," Alex Hayden said, his massive frame imposing, a large 'X' scar carved into his face. "I don't know why the Vlad Family invited you, but I don't refuse a client's orders."
He extended a gloved hand.
The black-suited middleman who brought Vincent just stood aside, smiling silently.
Vincent scanned their files. The only one who really interested him was Taskmaster.
Expert in all forms of combat—Karate, Kung Fu, you name it. A former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent injected with a special serum. Though he hadn't reached his peak "anti-hero" status yet.
Agent X frowned when Vincent ignored his handshake.
The other four mercenaries looked amused.
Especially Inez Temple (Outlaw), the mutant cowgirl from Texas. She knew what Alex could do. He wasn't just strong; he had a healing factor and a nasty telepathic virus he could unleash.
"Whoa, Cap. Looks like the new kid has a problem with your authority," Mary Zero teased.
Inez twirled her revolver. Her skimpy cowgirl outfit brought some heat to the cold hotel room.
Taskmaster stood with his arms crossed, watching silently.
Sandi Brandenberg, wearing little more than a bandeau top, eyed the handsome Asian newcomer with interest.
"I don't care who you are," Agent X said coldly. "But if you get in my way, I'll put a bullet in your brain."
Vincent turned to the black-suited middleman.
"When does the cargo arrive?"
The middleman smiled. "The cargo requires assistance to be moved out of the Vatican. We need to be discreet. No violence inside the Holy City."
Vincent smirked. He shoved the tablet into the middleman's chest.
"My mission is simple: Watch you load the cargo onto my jet and fly it to New York. If you can't get the cargo out, that's not my problem."
He looked around the presidential suite.
"Also, I don't share rooms with men."
"And if these three women are the 'entertainment' provided by the cowardly Vlad Family... tell them they got my taste wrong. I'm not into everyone here."
Vincent's voice was flat, insulting, and calm.
The middleman's face went pale.
He looked at the mercenaries.
"Do you want to die?" Mary Zero shouted.
Taskmaster cracked his neck.
Inez smiled a dangerous smile.
Sandi tapped her fingers on her holsters.
Agent X's eyes glowed red with bloodlust. "Sir, follow the rules. The Vlad Family paid for you to be here."
The middleman didn't actually know who Vincent was. He just knew the Vlads said a "young man" would join the op.
"Paid?"
Vincent looked at the middleman with icy contempt.
"I'm doing this because Wells Fargo begged me. I'm allowing them to buy my friendship. I don't know this 'Vlad Family.' They aren't my friends. If I get unhappy... the consequences will be severe."
"Hahaha!" Inez laughed.
"Interesting man. I like him," Sandi grinned.
"Hey! You haven't apologized for what you said!" Mary Zero yelled.
Vincent shook his head, looking bored.
"I'm going to sleep. Wake me when the cargo arrives."
He walked out of the suite.
He went to the room directly opposite. He broke the electronic lock with a touch of ice, walked in, and shut the door.
He had spent the flight "exercising" with Julia. It was 1 AM. He was tired.
"Alex," Taskmaster said coldly. "I don't want to carry that kid during the mission."
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