American variety show world begins with subduing Jason

Chapter 240 From then on, many things happened.

Alex was still quite pleased with Craven's obsequious flattery, even though he knew Craven had ulterior motives.

Perhaps influenced by the way that human collaborator acted, he felt that power was also a very interesting toy.

Alex parted his lips slightly, about to savor the thrill of having the power of life and death.

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly snorted coldly, and a phantom of thorny chains rose from his body and flashed by.

Sensing the urging from afar, his expression quickly darkened, and a hint of sinister anger flashed in his eyes.

"You can handle it however you like, but make sure it's clean. We should try to keep my promotion a secret as much as possible."

Alex's good mood was abruptly interrupted, and he waved his hand dismissively.

With the tacit approval of his new backer, Craven suddenly became bolder and no longer afraid of the Witcher Alliance behind his target.

Fearing that things might get complicated, he swiftly moved in front of Eric, his claws lashing down with a powerful force, ready to eliminate this thorn in the side of the dark creature!

"boom!"

Craven felt a sharp pain in his five fingers, as if he had grabbed a solid, towering mountain, which jolted his arm high into the air.

A strange pattern formed from clear light stretched across his face, and an invisible pressure surged forth, forcing him to stumble backward.

The pattern, composed of six layers of continuous or discontinuous horizontal bars, is square and resembles bricks and stones. The mysterious phantom of a mountain floating above the blue sky flickers slightly, exuding a strong and solid inexplicable artistic conception, firmly protecting the powerless demon hunter.

Is this a "divination"?

The tricks of Eastern sorcerers!

As a high-ranking vampire living in the 21st century, Craven was no longer as closed-minded as his ancient predecessors. He was familiar with the extraordinary methods of various systems and instantly recognized the origin of the intruder.

The next moment, a point of crimson light flew towards them, accompanied by a chilling roar: "Who's there!"

The scarlet rose-patterned rapier, imbued with the evil energy of the corrupted gold stone, shattered along with the clear light pattern, the powerful aftershocks sending Eric soaring high into the air.

However, in the blink of an eye, the light spun and rearranged, and the pattern suddenly reversed. Four consecutive horizontal bars were on top, and two broken horizontal bars were on the bottom. The illusory shapes of mountains and blue sky swapped positions and quickly enveloped the demon hunter, instantly piercing into the void and disappearing without a trace!

With Qian above and Gen below, this is the sixty-fourth hexagram – Tian Shan Dun (Heaven Mountain Retreat)!

"Your Highness..." The target who needed to be eliminated was suddenly rescued. Craven quickly turned over and knelt down, feeling uneasy, fearing that he would be punished.

But to his surprise, the newly crowned vampire king did not fly into a rage and give chase. He merely stared into the distance, his expression shifting between light and dark, before turning away in a huff.

……

……

"I told you beforehand that there might be some problems, and I told you not to rush in, but you wouldn't listen. Now look what happened, you almost met your maker!"

On the wasteland dozens of kilometers away, Henry flicked his sleeves, swept away a patch of snow, carefully laid down [Blade] Eric, and took out various potions and spells to begin first aid treatment.

"No...it's nothing." Eric's dark face was full of sighs as he listened to his old friend's complaint.

"I was only slightly injured. Victor, that old fox, is the real scumbag. Not only did his long-planned promotion ceremony and all his power benefit someone else, but the ancient vampire family he founded was also taken over by the Federation. Such a selfless and great contribution deserves to have his portrait engraved on Mount Rushmore by the White House!"

Seeing that he still had the energy to joke, Lai Hengli felt relieved. He took out an amber-colored pill, crushed it, sprinkled it evenly on the wound, clapped his hands, and said calmly:

"We have all underestimated the ambition and wisdom of the federal government. It seems they are not satisfied with the current balance in the supernatural world and have been secretly pursuing absolute dominance."

By using a joint operation during Christmas to strategically divert the Los Angeles Special Investigations Bureau's guard forces, they deliberately gave the enemy the opportunity to attack and steal the Source Blood. Then, they launched a frenzied manhunt, making the enemy firmly believe that they had obtained the genuine article, leaving them no time to examine it closely.

Furthermore, this exploration of the secret realm attracted the attention of the vast majority of extraordinary forces, causing the target to lower their guard and proceed with the ritual with peace of mind.

Lai Hengli exhaled a breath of white air, creating a transparent repulsive barrier that blocked the cold wind and snow from outside. He said, half wary and half amazed:

"They had everyone in their grasp, and even bribed the number two figure in the Night Family as an informant, luring Victor into a trap tailor-made for him. Step by step, they eliminated interference, lured the enemy deep into their trap, and then delivered the final blow. This most senior and powerful vampire lord in the Federation, the Duke of Night, died without resistance, thus ending his legendary life. It was truly an extremely brilliant game of chess."

Eric's anger flowed like volcanic lava: "They killed so many people, and with such despicable means, they raised such a powerful dark creature. Aren't they afraid of being held accountable?"

"Who will investigate? Who dares to investigate?" Henry Lai retorted coldly.

"The ceremony was held in the Maple Leaf Republic. Would they dare to challenge the Federation for the sake of a mere few hundred lives and a small town? They'll just cower and pretend they don't know anything."

The blood essence from thousands of people that the vampires had prepared beforehand was an even more murky affair, its origins completely unclear.

He gave a mocking laugh: "Do you expect those councilors and judges you've befriended in the Witcher League to step forward and seek justice for a group of potentially murdered missing persons, the underprivileged, and illegal immigrants?"

Eric lay on the ground, gripping the hilt of his longsword with resentment. "What about the Church? They should step in, right? This isn't some small-time operation like raising a few werewolves or sirens; it's a terrifying force capable of destroying a city in an instant. If it suddenly gets out of control, the consequences are unimaginable!"

“The fact that they have cultivated such a dark monster has indeed crossed their bottom line. They can no longer turn a blind eye to the inhuman existence within the official ranks as before. However, I still don’t think it will end well.”

Henry Lai shook his head slowly with a gloomy expression. "Since the Federation dared to defy the world to help it get promoted, it must have the confidence to deal with inquiries from all sides. They may have more trump cards than we know."

I even suspect that the official forces have even more [Crown Rank] combatants in their possession.

"And how much resolve and strength do the various churches of today still possess to negotiate with the regime of a superpower?"

"I'm afraid that in the end, it will just be a case of starting strong but ending weak." He stroked his beard with certainty.

“You’re being far too pessimistic. You have to try to do something.” Eric found his speculation hard to accept.

"I will first contact the elders of the Protestant Evangelical Church, and together we will take action to at least implement strict restrictions on that vampire to prevent it from causing harm..."

Listening quietly to his friend's nagging, Henry could only respond with a wry smile. After all, he came from a commoner background, had no interest in politics, and had spent half his life fighting demons and monsters. He was a pure fighter who hated dealing with bureaucrats. Eric's views on related matters were still too naive.

That's ridiculous. How could we possibly let you have control of our carefully crafted secret trump card?

Moreover... the official actions clearly indicate a desire to support their own elite forces and reduce their dependence on other major powers. Whether everyone can maintain the superficial harmony they once had remains to be seen.

Henry squinted, gazing at the distant sea hidden in the wind and snow, sensing the extremely high level of psionic energy fluctuations there, and sighed silently:

"From now on, things will get complicated..."

Ah, my drafts are all gone. I wonder how many more days I can keep updating (￣.￣)

Chapter 241 sequel, Gathering 1

When it comes to the most famous wealthy neighborhood in Los Angeles, most people will immediately think of Beverly Hills, a place of extravagance and celebrity gatherings.

However, as a well-known metropolis, the upper-class community is naturally not limited to one place. Compared with the luxurious areas in the core urban area, the Xishan District, located in the northwest suburbs of the city, is more favored by established wealthy people because of its quiet and private environment.

Nestled against the renowned Topanga State Park and facing the Pacific Ocean, this area boasts lush vegetation and stunning scenery, offering breathtaking views year-round. Coupled with its excellent security and tranquility, it has attracted numerous celebrities to purchase property here.

Given its many advantages, its real estate prices are naturally extremely high. Even the most ordinary apartment would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

As for villas and estates, there is no upper limit.

However, for a certain heiress born with a silver spoon in her mouth, this place and her family's other dozen or so properties are nothing special.

After showing his credentials, the gold-green Bugatti nimbly drove away from the guard post.

"This is the second time already, they're really strict with their checks."

“That’s normal! Everyone who lives here is either rich or powerful. It’s always been a key protected area by the police. Even homeless people can’t sneak in.”

Bai Ziyuan discerned the route, turned onto a clean asphalt road, and after traveling about a hundred meters, slowly came to a stop in front of a garden mansion hidden among tall trees.

"Hmm, the arrangement is very meticulous." After getting out of the car, Zhu Mingyao looked at the lush and vibrant flowers and plants and exclaimed in admiration.

The layman sees the spectacle, but the expert sees the details. From the sturdy oak trees at the entrance to the shrubs that form the fence, everything, regardless of species or planting location, follows a certain order, vaguely forming a mysterious array that repels unwanted people and protects against the invasion of evil.

"Although it's not particularly powerful, it's quite ingenious, with a hint of feng shui... The old oak tree gathers natural spirituality, the witch hazel provides protection, and the rue repels evil spirits..." Zhu Mingyao plucked a cluster of golden flowers and sniffed them. He suddenly became interested and tried to analyze the various concepts that constituted the magical restrictions.

"Hey you, don't you dare pick my flowers!"

Madison, dressed in loose loungewear and wearing cute fluffy slippers, stood on the steps grumbling angrily.

Zoe came out of the yard, opened the wrought iron gate, and welcomed the two inside.

Today, ostensibly to visit a wounded comrade, the group actually took the opportunity to meet privately and exchange intelligence.

Leading them into a secluded basement, a series of spells were activated to isolate the inside from the outside. After several air elemental servants served them refreshments, Madison, stroking his still-healing fingers, asked repeatedly:

"What kind of riddle were you and that undead captain playing? Why did he so generously agree to so many of your conditions?"

The girl looked impatient, clearly having been driven to distraction by her curiosity for some time.

Zhu Mingyao leisurely picked up a piece of chocolate muffin, took a small bite, and savored the rich, slightly bitter flavor lingering on his tongue before beginning his explanation.

"Most of what he described was probably true, but he likely withheld some details at crucial points. So I tested him a little, and he responded cryptically as expected."

"So you mean he has ulterior motives? Should we continue helping him search for that undead coin?" Zoe asked, frowning.

Zhu Mingyao smiled and waved his hand, "Since he gave a hint, it means he meant no harm. Besides, I can roughly guess what he was hiding..."

He took a sip of juice to wash away the remaining snack bits between his teeth.

"The fact that I deliberately asked for the Black Pearl and was refused already speaks volumes. Why would a spirit truly seeking eternal rest care about such material possessions?"

"So the truth is, he never intended to die," Bai Ziyuan said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin.

Recalling the other person's personality, Zhu Mingyao said with emotion, "The legendary Captain Jack Sparrow will never stop exploring. He must be planning his next great voyage."

He clapped his hands, changing the subject, "Alright, let's talk about something else. New Louisiana and Florida are your territory. Have you found any information about the Fountain of Youth ruins?"

Mentioning this, the two girls' eyes lit up immediately. For girls who love beauty, nothing is more important than staying young forever.

"After reaching an agreement with your chamber of commerce, President Fiona gathered all the relevant information based on the description of that undead captain, but unfortunately there are still no concrete clues."

Zhu Mingyao sighed inwardly. In the original movie, although the spring was destroyed by the fanatical Spanish navy, a few remnants remained. If they could be found, they would definitely be a rare and valuable treasure. But now it seemed that the hope was slim.

"Oh, right, I've opened two anonymous accounts and deposited the money in them. You can give them to those two brothers later." Madison handed over two black bank cards.

Due to severe injuries and unconsciousness sustained in the battle against the demon, Knight Gavin and the Wen brothers were unaware of the deal they had made with Captain Jack Sparrow. Because it involved the enormous interests of various organizations in the subsequent development of the secret realm, they could not reveal it to them for the time being. However, considering that they had fought side by side before, they still left them a small portion of the treasure they had obtained, intending to secretly send it over when the time was right.

After chatting for a while, the conversation returned to the mysterious demon they had encountered in the secret realm.

"The news has been communicated to various organizations and federal officials. Everyone is taking it very seriously, especially the Catholic Church. They have invited the Warrens, exorcists who have been retired for several years, to serve as consultants, hoping to use their rich experience to conduct a thorough investigation within the New World."

"The first thing we investigated was Mary's Voodoo Cult. Who told her to send out problematic people?" Madison said gloatingly. Having been influenced by the Sisterhood of Witches, she naturally had no goodwill towards her rivals.

Although the demonic possession was carried by members of the Warlock's House, the fact that they were killed on the spot temporarily cleared the sorcerers of suspicion. After all, no one believed that these petty guys would be willing to sacrifice their future successors as a vessel for the demon's one-time descent.

The Voodoo Cult members, who were also suspected of being possessed and infiltrated by a high-ranking being, became the focus of the next investigation—as soon as the Red Sun Venerable's disciple, Simani, came out, he reported his suspicions.

The mysterious disappearance of the voodoo master "Queenie" almost certainly confirms this. If it weren't for the fact that Mary, the voodoo matriarch, had cultivated her reputation for many years, the Special Investigations Bureau would have directly raided her premises...

After finishing their business and sitting idly for a while, Zhu Mingyao and his companion got up to say goodbye.

As he reached the door, he suddenly remembered something and casually asked Madison:

"Given the current complicated situation, are you still going to continue with your travel plans?"