No one knew where the news came from, but it spread at an unusually fast speed, rapidly spreading to almost the entire underground world in just a few tens of minutes.
When many people first heard the news, they simply didn't believe it and were dismissive.
"War with vampires? That recently famous mechanic? You must be kidding me. How could he possibly fight a vampire? He's such a good kid."
Someone spoke on a special black website with sarcasm and mockery, mocking Downey for being a good boy who rarely got into trouble and didn't look like a high-level mutant at all. This made the official bosses very worried and they didn't know what to say.
But the rumor intensified, its influence grew, and it caused a huge storm in just a few hours!
An unknown person uploaded a video claiming that it was a video of Donny fighting a vampire!
Many people were alarmed. Some factions and top international hackers were utterly shocked and launched their own efforts to verify the situation. Various organizations mobilized computer experts overnight to verify the authenticity of the video. The video was blurry, but Optimus Prime was clearly visible because he was so conspicuous. In the video, Optimus Prime, with a rocket launcher in one hand and a Vulcan cannon in the other, swept across the sky in all directions. The murderous aura was palpable even through the screen.
Some hackers, curious about the person who uploaded the video, attempted to track them down online, hoping to uncover their true identity and position at the time. Was they Downey's accomplice, a vampire, or a third party? However, their efforts failed. The person who uploaded the video was cunning and immediately removed all traces of their identity.
Some forces seemed to have sensed a conspiracy and were very cautious, intending to wait and see what would happen.
But no matter what, many people understood that Donnie was causing trouble again, and it was a big one! He single-handedly wiped out a vampire stronghold! This slap was too loud, and there was no telling how the vampire clan would respond.
This night was destined to be a sleepless night. The news of Donny's fight with the vampires spread throughout the dark world like the wind. Many major forces also got the news. Some were worried, some laughed, and some even danced with joy.
"Ha! That idiot, are vampires so easy to provoke? What a fool seeking death. It's a pity, a high-level mutant is very valuable." The Kingpin was bloated and slumped on the sofa, sneering continuously.
Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. rubbed his forehead and gave orders: "Keep a close eye on them. If necessary, send senior agents to assist Donnie and cleanse those vampires. They've been too active lately. Keep them quiet."
Magneto had been sleepless for days. He stood in front of a huge and strange instrument. He was unconcerned when he heard the news: "Vampires? A bunch of scum, just right for Tang to practice. If he can't even withstand this, he's nothing but a waste... Never mind, send someone over to help him."
The authorities responded most quickly, announcing to the media that the fire was caused by a drunk man who accidentally ignited alcohol. The fire has been extinguished, and no one has been injured or killed.
It was also on this night that Donnie's nickname "The Mechanic" became known to many people.
Donnie knew nothing about this. He had assumed that he could destroy most of the evidence with fire, and that even if the remaining evidence was discovered, the authorities would pretend to be unaware of it. Even if someone tipped off the vampire, it would at least delay his exposure and allow him to make some preparations.
The vampires may not be able to swallow this anger. If a fight really breaks out again, it is likely that the vampire army will be mobilized, and it will be a major war.
Time was of the essence for Donnie, and he needed to arm himself quickly. Fighting a vampire might seem exciting, but as long as he avoided getting bitten, it wouldn't be a big deal. Vampires were a renowned clan worldwide, and aside from their mythical ancestors, whose depths were unknown, all their pureblood descendants could be slain.
Until Coulson called him.
After asking him some questions, he realized that such a huge wave had been caused so quickly.
"Mr. Downey, this matter has now spread not only to major organizations but also to the entire underground world. Many people are familiar with you because of this," Coulson explained to Downey in a gentle tone. SHIELD also tried to find out who was behind the information, but failed. They couldn't find the person.
Donnie was a little surprised, but also understood.
"Someone is plotting against me, but I don't know who it is," said Donnie.
He wasn't stupid, he just hadn't been in this extraordinary world for long, so he still used his mortal way of thinking to judge many things. This required a lot of experience to mature him, otherwise he wouldn't be fooled and take chances. A veteran who had experienced a lot wouldn't take chances; only a newbie with little experience would do that.
People like Coulson have been playing with conspiracies and intrigues for most of their lives, and calculating gains and losses has almost become an instinct.
If you think about it carefully, from that random administrator, to the attack on the road, when he was given a lot of heavy weapons, to the final confrontation with the vampire, someone was plotting against him, or was afraid that he didn't have enough firepower, so they arranged for someone to deliver arms to him halfway.
Not to mention that magical phrase "For the glory of vampires"...
Someone was secretly encouraging him to go to war with vampires.
"Mr. Downey, do you have any leads? We can use our resources to help you find the person behind this." Coulson was well versed in psychology and had a keen grasp of Downey's inner thoughts. He understood that what Downey needed most urgently wasn't to know who that person was, but rather a force and background that he could rely on.
Even if this force and Donny are using each other, both sides can accept it.
SHIELD has been silently paying attention to Downey and understands what kind of person he is. To use inappropriate words to describe him, he is not a good person. Killing and destruction are no longer a big deal for Downey, but he is a person who tends to be neutral and lawful. As long as there is no big grudge, he is someone who can have a serious talk with.
Otherwise, Downey could have easily gone to Professor X and Magneto, where he'd have more freedom. They'd surely have been happy to accept him as a fellow kin. Downey didn't have to cling to his house; it was, after all, in downtown New York City, with numerous cameras on every street. Living in a metropolitan city meant accepting that one was being secretly observed. This wasn't limited to Downey; nearly everyone living in a metropolitan city was exposed to cameras the moment they stepped out of their homes. Everyone knew this.
Therefore, the official agencies and Downey have an unspoken understanding. They will no longer tamper with Downey's house and fully respect Downey's privacy. Downey will not openly cause trouble in front of the officials. This is a choice that makes both parties feel comfortable.
In fact, there were indeed a large number of people in the officialdom who had a favorable impression of Donny, a newly born Level 4 mutant. They advocated taking the initiative to win over Donny and bring him into the government agencies, and even to build a special forces team with Donny as the core.
Of course, people like General Ross must have great malice towards Downey.
This isn't to say the officials are easy to talk to. Just look at the situation. Which high-ranking fighter is as easy to get along with as Downey? Professor X's place is practically an independent kingdom. Magneto is isolated overseas, completely oblivious to the authorities. The Super Soldier Program has been repeatedly frustrated. It's incredibly difficult for the official agencies to win over a superhuman fighter.
They are crazy about having an ace to suppress everything.