Lin Mei waved her hand, opening the portal. It was already too late to waste time looking for the entrance; she had no choice but to act quickly.
As the portal materialized, Lin Mei felt an unmistakable presence from the other side—humans.
She stepped through and was immediately struck by the sight before her. People, alive but imprisoned, were lying motionless on shelves. Their bodies were connected to a maze of infusion tubes, thick and tangled, their origins unclear. But one thing was certain: the people trapped here were all fully aware of their suffering.
When they saw Lin Mei, fear exploded in their eyes, an intense panic that confirmed their horror. They clearly thought she was one of them—one of the vampires.
Lin Mei's gaze swept over the room. Almost a hundred individuals were tethered to blood-drawing machines. Nearly half had already succumbed to the blood loss, lifeless and pale.
"These vampires deserve to die," Lin Mei muttered under her breath, her anger building. She had never imagined that the so-called 'Dicken' vampires could be this ruthless. This scene alone was enough to shock the world.
Blade, standing beside her, remained silent. Vampires, whether purebred or not, no longer fit into the category of humans.
Lin Mei knew she could do little more than rescue the remaining survivors—there was no time to solve the greater issue of Dicken's whereabouts. But the question remained: where could she take these victims for safety? Alone, even Blade wouldn't be able to assist them.
"Hey, I'm still a kid! And I've just returned! I didn't even get a chance to rest tonight!" Lin Mei thought, frustration bubbling up inside her.
Blade, understanding the situation, spoke up. "It seems catching Dicken tonight isn't going to happen. Open the portal and send me back."
Lin Mei nodded. "Thank you for your efforts. If you find any leads on Dicken, contact me."
She opened a portal to Blade's base, and he stepped through. Lin Mei casually closed the portal behind him, her thoughts still focused on the grim scene she had just witnessed.
But unbeknownst to her, a small camera hidden in the blood supply station recorded everything. The footage was instantly transmitted to a building, where a pale, thin man with messy hair watched the entire scene unfold.
"I didn't expect that this kid would meet Blade," the man murmured, a sinister grin spreading across his face as he licked his lips. "But this is good. Once my plan succeeds, no one will be able to stop me."
The man was Dicken, the shadowy figure who had orchestrated everything from behind the scenes. The location Lin Mei had discovered, revealed through the tortured vampires' words, was nothing more than a diversion—a smoke bomb. Dicken had never once exposed his true hideout. His caution was evident.
At Stark Manor, Nick Fury and Tony Stark were discussing the Avengers' plans when a portal suddenly opened in the living room. Lin Mei stepped through, much to the surprise of Tony and Nick.
"Little Wizard, this is your second time today. Should I call the police and let them take you to a children's home?" Tony teased.
"Only if you want trouble," Lin Mei shot back coolly.
Tony smirked, "Oh, come on! Tony Stark, billionaire, philanthropist, genius! What trouble could I possibly be in?"
Lin Mei rolled her eyes. "Wait and see. You'll understand soon enough why you're so arrogant."
Nick Fury watched their banter in silence, unsure how to interject. After a moment, he extended a hand. "Hello, Lin Mei. I'm Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.—the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division."
Lin Mei raised an eyebrow and deadpanned, "That's a mouthful. Doesn't it annoy you to say it?"
"To be honest, yes, it does," Nick Fury admitted with a wry smile.
Lin Mei didn't offer her hand in return. She wasn't fond of this man. Especially after his dealings with the Skrulls—an alien race that had promised to help him protect Earth in exchange for assistance in finding a new home. Lin Mei couldn't understand why he relied on aliens for Earth's security. Did he not realize that there were other forces—like the mystic arts of Kama Taj or Kunlun's Iron Fist—that could do the job just as well?
Fury's promises to the Skrulls had gone unfulfilled for over thirty years, and their patience was wearing thin. The Skrulls had infiltrated Earth, replaced key officials, and caused chaos in their quest to conquer Earth and build a new home. Meanwhile, S.H.I.E.L.D. was a mess. Fury had abandoned it after the Civil War, leaving Agent Hill to pick up the pieces. The result? Hill almost lost control entirely.
Lin Mei glanced at Fury with quiet disdain, her thoughts drifting toward the complexities of his actions. She had no interest in getting involved with his tangled web.
Nick Fury patted his pants and turned to leave, his mind already focused on the creation of the Tianjian Bureau. He had initially hoped to recruit Tony Stark, but it was clear he wasn't interested in Tony's wealth or connections. Fury was, after all, a seasoned strategist—an old fox who always prioritized his own interests. Lin Mei, however, had no desire to shake hands with someone like him.
Fury noticed Lin Mei's cold reception and, though unfazed, he withdrew his hand. He then asked, "Mr. Lin Mei, would you be interested in joining us?"
Despite Lin Mei's obvious age and potential identity issues, Fury was persistent, still hoping to bring her into his fold.
Lin Mei gave him a dismissive look, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "According to the Federal Law of the American Federation, minors over the age of 14 can be hired—except in agriculture, where the age threshold is even lower. However, children aged 14 to 15 are prohibited from engaging in manufacturing or dangerous jobs."
She let the words hang in the air for a moment before adding, "So, Mr. Nick Fury, as a government official, are you aware that hiring a minor for such tasks would be considered illegal child labor?"
Fury was caught off guard by Lin Mei's sudden legal reference. He froze, realizing she was mocking him for attempting to recruit someone so young. Though Lin Mei's abilities clearly surpassed those of an average person, Fury could sense her dissatisfaction, and her words were a sharp reminder that she was not easily manipulated.