"Alright, Mr. Lin, what can I do for you?"
After Tony issued the command, a holographic projection of J.A.R.V.I.S. appeared on the computer screen—a digital butler composed entirely of flowing data streams.
Lin Mei muttered under his breath, "Convenient."
Then, turning to J.A.R.V.I.S., he got straight to the point. "I need you to scan street cameras within a 200-meter radius of my house. I was there just a few minutes ago."
"Understood, sir," J.A.R.V.I.S. responded. "Retrieving surveillance footage now."
Within moments, the display lit up with security footage, revealing Lin Mei's recent battle against the two vampires.
Lin Mei narrowed his eyes. "Good. Now, track down their identities and their current hiding place."
J.A.R.V.I.S. hesitated. "Sir… Mr. Stark?"
Lin Mei knew exactly why. Accessing that level of information required breaching official government systems—something that would need Tony's authorization.
Meanwhile, Tony, though still struggling with his damaged armor, had been secretly monitoring Lin Mei's request. When he had J.A.R.V.I.S. feed the surveillance footage directly into his HUD, his expression shifted. These weren't just ordinary thugs—these were something far worse.
He straightened. "J.A.R.V.I.S., proceed."
"Understood, sir."
Within seconds, detailed files appeared on the screen. Identities, histories, and most importantly—their current location: a hidden bar.
Lin Mei exhaled, a hint of relief on his face. "If I can track them down, I can deal with them."
But he wasn't done yet.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., I need you to locate two more people. This is critical—potentially life-saving for the woman standing next to me."
The black woman tensed beside him. Lin Mei's words made it clear: these two people might be her only hope.
J.A.R.V.I.S. responded with mechanical precision. "Understood. Please provide names."
Lin Mei's voice was steady. "Eric Brooks. Abraham Whistler."
The system immediately began searching, lines of text flashing rapidly across the screen.
"Sir, could you provide additional keywords to refine the search?" J.A.R.V.I.S. asked.
Lin Mei thought for a moment. "Blade. Vampire. Daywalker."
Seconds later, J.A.R.V.I.S. spoke again. "Search complete. I've also found nearby surveillance photos."
Lin Mei's eyes locked onto the screen.
Eric Brooks—better known as Blade, the Daywalker—stood at the edge of an abandoned factory, his figure dark and brooding against the night. His posture was tense, alert. Abraham Whistler, his longtime mentor and ally, was positioned nearby.
Lin Mei smirked. "Perfect. J.A.R.V.I.S., excellent work."
"Thank you for your compliment, Mr. Lin," J.A.R.V.I.S. replied smoothly.
From the side, Tony scoffed. "Hey, hey, hey! What about me? Shouldn't you be thanking me? I was the one who told J.A.R.V.I.S. to help you!"
Lin Mei shot him a deadpan look. "J.A.R.V.I.S. did all the work. You just stood there struggling to take off your suit."
Tony huffed. "Not the point! The point is—"
"Yeah, yeah, you're amazing," Lin Mei cut him off. "Speaking of trouble, let's not forget who got my mother caught up in a terrorist attack."
J.A.R.V.I.S. interjected hesitantly. "Mr. Lin, is there something else you require?"
Lin Mei smacked his forehead—he had nearly forgotten! "Right! Let's fix you up."
Reaching into thin air, he pulled out a wand and cast a Repair Spell.
A golden glow surrounded Tony, and before his very eyes, the damaged Iron Man suit began mending itself. Metal shifted, dents disappeared, circuits realigned—until the armor looked brand new.
Tony gawked, his brain trying to process what had just happened.
Lin Mei twirled his wand once before slipping it back into his coat. Then, without another word, he activated his Sling Ring, opening a shimmering portal. He and the black woman stepped through, disappearing from Stark Manor.
Still frozen in place, Tony finally peeled himself out of his now-pristine armor and turned to J.A.R.V.I.S., his face blank with shock.
"J.A.R.V.I.S.… did that just happen?"
"Yes, sir. You did not imagine it."
Tony rubbed his temples. "Is it just me, or is Lin Mei becoming more and more like a… wizard?"
J.A.R.V.I.S. responded with mechanical calm. "Based on all available data and observations, Mr. Lin Mei's abilities align closely with the established field of magic."
Tony let out a long sigh, shaking his head. "Great. Just great. This world keeps getting weirder. Now we have vampires, wizards, and who knows what else. J.A.R.V.I.S., any idea how many more surprises the universe has in store for us?"
J.A.R.V.I.S.'s response was simple yet profound: "Infinite universe. Infinite possibilities, sir."
Tony took a deep breath. And then, despite the chaos, despite the absurdity of it all—he grinned.
"Alright then. If we're in the game, might as well play it right."
His eyes flicked to the screen, where the information on Blade and Whistler was still displayed.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., analyze all intel Lin Mei provided. I want to know everything about Blade and Whistler. And more importantly—I want to know why they're here."
"Already processing, sir."
As the data flooded in, Tony's grin slowly faded.
The more he read, the more the unease in his chest grew.
The power of the vampire underworld was far greater than he had imagined.
And if the data was correct—if these creatures had already begun infiltrating modern society at every level…
Tony swallowed. "J.A.R.V.I.S.… are we sure this is accurate?"
There was a brief pause before J.A.R.V.I.S. answered.
"Yes, sir. The evidence is undeniable."
For the first time in a long time, Tony Stark felt a chill crawl down his spine.
The world had just become a much darker place.
And for once, even Iron Man wasn't sure if he was ready for what was coming.
"Yes, sir. This information has been corroborated through multiple reliable intelligence sources, including classified government documents, reports from private detective agencies, and anonymous leaks from online forums. Though these sources operate independently, cross-referencing their data reveals a consistent and comprehensive picture."
J.A.R.V.I.S.'s voice remained calm and precise, yet there was an undeniable certainty in his tone.
Tony fell silent, his mind racing. Then, suddenly, he shot up from his seat and began pacing the lab, frustration etched across his face.
"This is insane! How could something like this stay under the radar? How do we know nothing about it? What the hell are the governments doing?"
J.A.R.V.I.S. responded smoothly. "The government is aware of the existence of vampires, but for a variety of reasons, they have chosen to keep it classified. Their primary concern is preventing mass hysteria. Additionally, they are conducting covert research, searching for ways to coexist with vampires while maintaining social stability."
Tony scoffed, running a hand through his hair. "Coexist? With bloodsucking monsters? Yeah, that sounds like a brilliant plan."
J.A.R.V.I.S. continued, unfazed. "From their perspective, an all-out war could be catastrophic. They are seeking alternative solutions—containment, regulation, perhaps even diplomatic channels."
Tony exhaled sharply, stopping in his tracks. "Right. Because that has worked out so well in the past."
His eyes flicked to the data scrolling across the screen. The more he read, the more his stomach twisted.
This wasn't just a small-scale conspiracy.
This was a shadow war, and they were already losing.