Night finally descended upon Athens.
Guards of the Athena Library began escorting visitors toward the exits, their voices echoing through the grand halls.
Outside, the Fat Man waited beside the fountain plaza.
He waited.
And waited.
Stars slowly filled the sky.
One by one, the remaining guests were politely—but firmly—ushered out. The massive gates slammed shut with a heavy metallic echo.
Still no sign of Adam.
"…Guess that's it."
The Fat Man turned and climbed into his carriage.
With a shout from the driver, the wheels rolled forward and disappeared into the night streets.
Before entering the mountain earlier, Adam had already warned him—
If night fell and he still hadn't appeared,
it meant he intended to stay inside.
No waiting necessary.
So the Fat Man left without concern.
Moonlight slipped silently through tall windows, spreading across the cold marble floor.
The enormous library fell into absolute silence.
When the last patrol finally departed—
movement stirred within the shadows untouched by daylight.
Adam emerged soundlessly.
Smoke had delivered bat venom during this visit.
Now, Adam fully mastered Bat Form.
As a bat, even the most meticulous patrol would struggle to detect him.
He glanced around.
"Now… where would they hide it?"
Books began disappearing from shelves.
Adam worked quickly, pulling volumes down one after another, inspecting every inch of the structure.
The bookshelf was ordinary.
Fine wood.
Excellent craftsmanship.
Nothing else.
No mechanism.
No hidden compartment.
Nothing.
He searched the entire shelf.
Still nothing.
Adam scratched his head.
"…Fine."
"If I'm already here—might as well go all the way."
He moved to the next row.
Night granted freedom.
No guards.
No witnesses.
Adam worked at full efficiency.
Sometimes a bat—speeding between shelves.
Sometimes human—using overwhelming strength.
At times, he even entered partial combat form, movements blurring through the chamber.
Minutes passed.
Then chaos followed.
Books scattered everywhere.
Shelves tilted.
Entire rows collapsed into disorder.
The once-pristine archive now looked like a battlefield.
Adam stood amid the mess, frowning.
"…Not here?"
The Mythical Races Archive had been completely searched.
No blind spots left.
No clues.
His irritation grew.
"Another room…?"
Then realization struck.
"The Restricted Archive."
Of course.
The precious collection not open to the public.
Without hesitation, Adam transformed into a bat and flew toward the chamber entrance.
—
And suddenly—
A golden object smashed toward him.
"—Ack!"
Adam twisted sharply midair, barely dodging.
He landed instantly, reverting to human form and spinning toward the attacker—
A voice spoke.
Clear.
Young.
Annoyed.
"I say, Vampire."
"You make a mess of my books and just leave?"
"That's extremely rude."
Adam froze.
Before him stood—
a girl.
She looked no older than eleven or twelve.
White robes draped her small figure.
Golden hair flowed like liquid light down her shoulders, glowing faintly in the darkness.
Her blue eyes shimmered like moving crystal.
Brows furrowed.
Lips slightly pursed in dissatisfaction.
Childlike—
yet impossibly composed.
Different.
Not human.
Not vampire.
Something older.
Adam narrowed his eyes.
Olive-leaf crown.
An oversized staff nearly taller than her body.
And then—
his gaze locked onto the necklace at her throat.
A transparent crystal fragment.
Moonstone.
A shattered divine relic.
Adam's pupils shrank.
Elsewhere—
Athens remained brilliantly lit beneath the Greek night.
Four shadows gathered atop a dark rooftop.
"I love this feeling," one small figure trembled excitedly."This is real vampire life."
"Control yourself," growled a tall, muscular silhouette."We cannot expose ourselves."
Another figure lounged nearby, long limbs relaxed as silver threads danced between his fingers under moonlight.
"I feel nothing," he said lazily."It's work. I only care when vacation starts."
The muscular one snorted.
"With eternal life, you still worry about holidays?"
"One day you'll understand vampire loneliness."
"Please," the long-limbed vampire scoffed."I've been undead for over a thousand years. I've never had free time."
"Lord Chaoyang's missions never end."
The leader ignored him and turned serious.
"Tonight's minimum—twelve targets. Aim for twenty."
"Choose well-dressed victims."
"No nobles."
"They have agreements here."
He paused.
"And leave no survivors."
"If resistance appears—retreat immediately."
"Lord Chaoyang warned us."
"Youming is dangerous."
He gestured.
"Teams of two. Same as yesterday."
Four shadows split apart—
transforming into bats that scattered into the night sky.
A luxurious carriage rolled quietly along an empty street.
"Heh… target spotted."
The short vampire landed lightly on a rooftop.
Small frame.
Lean body.
Hairy face resembling a monkey.
Fast.
Restless.
"Monkey," another figure landed beside him, limbs long and thin.
"You're too excited. This is work."
Monkey clicked his tongue.
"We clearly define work differently, Spider."
The carriage curtain lifted slightly.
Inside—
a breathtaking woman appeared.
Pale skin.
Soft black curls reflecting moonlight.
Eyes like distant stars.
She glanced outside briefly—
then lowered the curtain again.
Monkey held his breath.
Then heard rapid breathing beside him.
"…Spider?"
"Can you not hyperventilate?"
Spider grabbed his shoulder desperately.
"I've never had a wife, Monkey!"
"Neither have I!"
"That's my type!"
His voice trembled.
"I want to turn her."
"…What?"
"We'll live together forever!"
Monkey stared in horror.
"I miss when you acted like dried squid doing paperwork."
Honestly—
being paired with the team leader suddenly felt wonderful.
Anyone was better than Spider.
"She's coming," Monkey muttered, leaping downward—
Only to jerk violently midair.
He stopped.
Hanging.
Bound by silver wire.
"…Spider?!"
He snapped the wire instantly and crashed onto the street, roaring upward.
"Have you lost your mind?!"
On the rooftop, Spider covered his face dramatically.
"For love… madness is inevitable."
"I forbid you from harming her."
Monkey exploded.
"You're not even human anymore!"
"You've fried your brain reading romance novels!"
"I'm reporting you to Lord Chaoyang!"
Spider raised a finger solemnly.
"You barbarian."
"Do you understand love at first sight?"
Steel threads retracted into his sleeve.
At that moment—
the carriage stopped.
The door opened.
The woman stepped down gracefully, lifting her gown.
Her fingernail extended slowly into a sharp blade.
She sighed.
"…Would you two mind respecting me a little?"
Her eyes gleamed faintly in the night.
"Are Western European vampires always this unstable?"