Tony Caspada sits on a large couch in the center of the Caspada family's country estate, nearly an hour's drive from Rome.

The estate was once used for receptions or to host important guests, but it has been abandoned for years.

Yet no guest ever received here has been more important than the one Tony is waiting for now: the vampire Levreshka Dulcar, better known as Levreshka Hawkley, or rather, Velshekar.

Despite all his efforts to hide it, Tony trembles with fear and restlessness.

He drums his fingers nervously against the armrest and taps his heel on the floor again and again.

A cigarette dangles from his lips—the third in twenty minutes.

He is afraid—he knows perfectly well that at the slightest hesitation or suspicion, Velshekar could kill him without effort.

More than once, he has been tempted to drop everything and leave.

But his obsession with being the center of attention wins out.

He cannot stand the thought that soon, other members of his family, and even other clans around the world, will become like him—vampires.

The desire to remain unique burns even stronger than the fear of death.

Behind Tony lies a door separating the main lounge from a smaller one, reserved for more intimate guests.

In that second lounge, beyond the closed door, Hakuto, Chantal, and Shin wait silently for Velshekar's arrival.

Velune should have been with them too, but she backed out at the last moment.

After the death of deputy director Alexia Kendrow—the one who had pushed harder than anyone else for Velune's integration into HESPARC U.S.—all cooperation between the pink-haired necromancer and the organization collapsed.

The new deputy director immediately opposed any collaboration, convinced that Velune was nothing more than a Trojan horse ready to betray them when least expected.

He issued a kill order against her, but thanks to a bond that was less friendship and more mutual sympathy with Chris Kendrow, Velune was warned in time and managed to escape.

The kill order was issued to every HESPARC division in the world.

As a reinstated HESPARC member, Shin Tendo seized the opportunity.

He contacted Velune at once—they had exchanged numbers during the Amazon operation—and offered her help against Velshekar in return for room and board.

Velune, being undead, needs neither food nor warmth.

The only reason she accepted was to have a television available at all hours to watch episodes of the soap El Suspiro de Valmara, of which she is the world's number one fan.

And yet, Velune is nowhere to be found.

She does not even answer the phone, and Shin fears she may have been captured.

Still, he is not overly concerned.

Drakhul would only have been a bonus.

In Shin's mind, with Velshekar's strength, the three of them are more than enough.

In fact, he is convinced that even Hakuto alone could handle it.

But caution is never too much, especially since they cannot know how many henchmen Velshekar will bring, or what hidden powers her new vampire body might contain.

After nearly half an hour of waiting, the old gates of the estate finally swing open, and only three figures step into the hall.

A woman with long silver hair and blood-red eyes—Velshekar, in the body of the vampire Levreshka Dulcar.

A massive bald man—Lurek, the insectoid creature.

And Clarissa, in her usual flawless secretary attire.

At the sight of them, Tony's attempts to maintain even a shred of composure collapse completely.

He is visibly shaken, his body trembling from head to toe.

He knows what that vampire is capable of, and above all, he knows that even the smallest mistake could be fatal.

And yet, Hakuto, Chantal, and Shin are right behind him, ready to cover him at the first sign of danger.

Before making any move, Shin wants to gather more information about the damage Velshekar has caused.

For all he knows, countless other humans may already have been turned into vampires, just as she did with Tony.

That kind of information is priceless—and must be collected before killing her.

«You look good, boy. Much better than I imagined. Even from here, I can see your vampiric abilities have improved a lot since I turned you.» Velshekar grins wickedly. «A truly surprising achievement for a self-taught vampire—unless someone has been helping you...»

At those words, Shin's muscles tense.

From the tone she used with Tony, he is certain Velshekar has already picked up on something.

Or maybe it is only his impression.

«I'm a genius, that's all.» Tony replies coldly.

«I suppose...» Velshekar murmurs. «Anyway, you made me come here in such a rush, saying there was another very important Italian mafia family desperate to meet me—I hope they haven't changed their mind at the last minute. My time is precious, and I wasted quite a lot to come here. Let me warn you: I have no intention of leaving empty-handed.»

«They'll be here soon, they just ran into a bit of traffic.»

«They'd better,» Velshekar warns. «Because as I told you, I won't leave without something to make up for the time I've lost. And I'd say you might be the right compensation. You know, thirteen years ago I trained a young vampire—about your age, if I remember correctly. He had great potential, but he threw it all away, and in the end our paths split… forever. Still, thanks to my help, he made remarkable progress. So, since you're such an ambitious boy, I'm certain that under my guidance you could become a powerful, feared vampire.»

Tony falters—the offer takes root instantly in his mind.

~If I joined that woman, I could really become someone—important, powerful. Someone I could never become if I stayed chained to this stupid family. We're influential, sure—the Caspada family is the most feared and respected in Italy, and yet… we're nothing compared to the criminal empire John Hawkley and his wife Levreshka built. The idea is tempting… but if those three bastards behind me turn out stronger than Levreshka, I'll end up dead too! For now, I can only stick to the plan and hope Levreshka kills Hakuto and the others~

«A very tempting proposal,» Tony comments. «But tell me, how many others that you turned into vampires have you made the same offer to? There's a big difference between being your protégé and being just one among many.»

In response, Velshekar bursts out laughing.

«Oh, boy, you're truly amusing—you really remind me of him, that vampire from thirteen years ago. And I think you'll meet the same fate.»

«The same fate…?» Tony repeats, sweat starting to bead on his forehead. «He died because he thought he could play both sides with me.»

«Play both sides? What the hell are you babbling about?» Tony snaps.

At that exact moment, something emerges from the floor, as if phasing through it.

It is colorless, formless, insubstantial—a ghostly cloud that can only be seen by the way it bends the light around it.

It swirls around Velshekar, drawing closer, as if whispering something in her ear.

«I told you I wouldn't leave empty-handed, and I believe what you're hiding is far more valuable than your worthless services. You see, a little bird told me that three Monster Reapers are waiting in the room right behind you...»

Velshekar extends her arm toward Tony.

A wound opens in her palm, blood dripping as a red glow ignites around her hand.

«Goodbye, brat!»