Deacon Frost held a computer, recording what Alexandra said and using his methods to verify its authenticity. Deacon Frost was also a computer genius; he had written an algorithm to help decipher ancient texts, though its efficiency was very low. However, it was sufficient to determine if Alexandra's deciphering had any issues.
This was a specially designed room, filled with glass display cases, inside which were all the Vampire ancient texts Deacon Frost had collected. However, the corresponding script had long been lost, and no one within the Vampires cared about these, except for Deacon Frost, who was different.
Those Vampires, with their wealth and power, were content with the status quo, forgetting the past glory of the Bloodline, which was now a compromise with humans.
Of course, Deacon Frost was not the kind of person whose ideal was to make the Bloodline great again; he was a spy, a S.H.I.E.L.D. spy, a HYDRA spy.
Growing up in a HYDRA concentration camp, in that dog-eat-dog environment, Deacon Frost developed an intense obsession with power—the power to control his own destiny.
Later, he was sent into S.H.I.E.L.D. as a spy. By a stroke of luck, he was noticed by the previous S.H.I.E.L.D. Director, Alexander Pierce, who was also a HYDRA leader, and sent to infiltrate the Bloodline as a spy. At that time, he believed his life was just a pawn in The Hands of those high-and-mighty individuals.
Deacon Frost's experience was like the protagonist of an inspirational movie. He was fortunate enough to come across ancient texts within the Bloodline, legends that concealed the Bloodline's ultimate secret—texts that contained the method to become a god.
Deacon Frost, who had been a puppet for decades, did not miss this opportunity. While mingling with the Vampires and raising his status, he continuously gathered clues from the ancient texts. Finally, after decades of struggle, he became the Vampire boss, and the secrets within the ancient texts were about to be revealed to him.
"What does this sentence mean?" Deacon Frost handed over a glass panel. He was very excited; he had a premonition that this would be the final piece of the puzzle.
Alexandra glanced at the ancient text within the glass frame but did not translate it. She just sat there, looking at Deacon Frost.
"Why aren't you continuing the translation?" Deacon Frost was so excited he almost stood up to shake Alexandra's shoulder.
"I need to make sure you won't discard me once I'm no longer useful. I've already realized that the ancient texts you're having me decipher are secrets of your Bloodline, involving the secret to becoming a god. Will you eliminate me once I've finished deciphering these? After all, I'm just a frail old woman."
Alexandra said this in a joking tone, but Deacon Frost couldn't smile, because that was exactly what he was thinking.
"Hahaha, I, Frost, am a man of my word! And you know that becoming a god requires a ritual. I need your help. I'm still waiting for you to successfully summon a beast to help me!"
Alexandra did not believe Deacon Frost's words. She called Elektra, who was guarding outside, in.
"You stay here and protect my safety."
Elektra stood beside Alexandra, her cold gaze fixed on Deacon Frost, making Frost feel like he could be killed by this woman at any moment.
"A dangerous monster!" This was Deacon Frost's impression of Elektra.
"These are some runes that I also don't understand, but it says later that these are necessary runes for the ritual, needing to be carved onto the altar to form a magic array to activate the power of a god."
"Magic array, a bit familiar. Where have I seen something like it?" Deacon Frost pondered where he might have seen similar things.
Deacon Frost asked, "Does it say how to carve them?"
"It mentions here, you need to…"
Alexandra relayed how to carve the magic array to Deacon Frost.
"Hahahahaha, Alexandra, you've helped me immensely! The blood you requested will be delivered to you shortly. I'll take my leave now!"
With that, Deacon Frost did not linger. He excitedly took the organized ancient texts and left.
Deacon Frost did not break his word. That very night, several Vampires delivered the blood Alexandra needed.
"The venue Frost has prepared for you is an abandoned factory in Hell's Kitchen. Please follow us."
Alexandra, accompanied by Elektra and several of her trusted ninjas, followed Frost's Vampires and departed.
---
"Two days, how can there be no clues at all?"
Phil Coulson was extremely anxious; even his poor hairline was receding further.
For two days, Phil Coulson and Hawkeye Barton had been searching New York for clues about the missing people. The disappearance of dozens of people should have been easy to find clues for, but for some reason, their movements seemed to have been known in advance, always a step behind.
"Is there an mole in the bureau?" Coulson couldn't help but suspect this. With S.H.I.E.L.D.'s capabilities, it was impossible to have no progress for such a long time.
Just as Coulson was wondering if he should report to Director Fury and ask him to secretly dispatch another team to investigate the incident, thinking there might be clues.
Hawkeye Clint Barton, in plain clothes, returned. After consistently failing to find clues, Hawkeye had separated from Coulson's team and went to gather clues alone.
"I have a lead."
Hawkeye's first sentence brought good news to Coulson.
Coulson asked, "What is it?"
"I taught the local Gang a lesson, and from them, I learned that the Ghouls have been collecting blood, large amounts of blood, during this period. This behavior is not normal, as Ghouls are still humans and don't need to consume fresh blood. Moreover, they aren't sending the collected blood to the Vampires, but rather to a strange place: an icehouse in Queens."
Hawkeye Barton concisely relayed the intelligence he had gathered to Coulson.
"So, The Hand is likely summoning a demon there. Clint, send me the exact location. I'll organize the personnel. We move in 20 minutes!"
Coulson checked the time, quickly arranged the schedule, and went to organize personnel and report the situation to Fury.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s efficiency was extremely fast. In just fifteen minutes, the combat team was organized and, under the command of Hawkeye Clint Barton and Phil Coulson, moved towards the icehouse in Queens.
---
An abandoned factory in Hell's Kitchen was filled with hundreds of jars of fresh blood, with an open space left in the middle—that was where Alexandra would perform the ritual.
Alexandra asked a seductive female Vampire:
"Will S.H.I.E.L.D. not discover this place?"
The female Vampire, named Water, who wore a White cloak, was Deacon Frost's capable subordinate. She openly expressed her admiration for Frost, saying:
"Deacon My Lord had already taken precautions. He had us send part of the blood, without much concealment, to an icehouse in Queens, specifically to attract S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attention. You can use this factory with peace of mind; they won't find this place anytime soon."