"Of course there's no problem, Supreme."
Emilia agreed without hesitation, her tone respectful to the extreme. Then, as if anticipating his needs further, she added with careful attentiveness, "Aside from William Stryker, is there anyone else you wish us to locate?"
Ryan paused briefly, considering.
"Remy LeBeau. Codename—Gambit."
"Logan. Codename—Wolverine."
"Fred Dukes. Codename—Blob."
He listed the three names one after another, his voice calm but precise.
Each of them mattered.
Gambit knew the exact location of Stryker's secret base. Blob knew where Gambit was. And Wolverine… Wolverine would inevitably find Gambit.
Ryan didn't know exactly how far the timeline had progressed, so he wasn't about to gamble everything on a single lead. Casting a wider net was the smarter play.
A multi-pronged approach.
"Understood," Emilia said immediately, committing the names to memory without question.
Ryan exhaled lightly, a faint trace of regret crossing his expression.
"It's a shame I've never heard their voices."
His super hearing could sweep across all of New York, picking up countless conversations at once. But that ability came with a limitation—without a specific target, it was like trying to find a single drop of water in the ocean.
Too many voices.
Too much noise.
Even if someone mentioned something like "mutant base" or "secret facility," the chances of catching it were slim. And that was assuming those people were even in New York to begin with.
Which meant…
For now, relying on the vampire network was the only viable option.
Not even Superman was omniscient.
And Ryan wasn't Superman—at least, not yet.
Still, he wasn't in a hurry. Killing Stryker wasn't some monumental task. It was closer to crushing an insect than fighting a real opponent. There was no need to rush recklessly.
"Supreme, everything has been noted," Emilia confirmed again.
"Good." Ryan waved it off casually. "Then let's move on. Get me a place to stay. And assign some people for me to use."
"Understood."
Emilia nodded, then turned slightly.
"Klein."
"Yes, Elder."
"Bring the directory of all industries controlled by our clan."
Klein responded immediately and left to carry out the order. However, the moment he turned his back, his expression darkened ever so slightly.
For years, the elders had remained distant from daily operations. Everything—from finances to logistics—had been handled by him.
In practice, he had been the one in control.
A king beneath the surface.
And now?
A "Supreme" had appeared out of nowhere and taken everything over in an instant.
Even errands like this had to be handled personally.
It was humiliating.
He had clawed his way to this position, even going so far as to secretly cooperate with Lucian in the past to secure his standing. And now, all of that meant nothing in the face of a higher authority.
Still, no matter how dissatisfied he felt, Klein didn't dare show it.
Not when even Emilia was bowing without resistance.
Ten minutes later, he returned.
In his hands was a thick volume—more like a ledger than a book.
Emilia took it and presented it to Ryan with both hands.
"Supreme, this contains the full record of our clan's industries, accumulated over centuries. Please review it."
Ryan flipped it open casually.
Then paused.
"…Well damn."
Even he couldn't help reacting.
Beside him, Raven and Hank leaned in out of curiosity, only to freeze after a few quick glances.
Their eyes widened.
This wasn't just wealth.
It was absurd.
Just from a brief scan, Ryan had already spotted three estates comparable in scale to Xavier's mansion. And that was just what he happened to notice while skimming.
Beyond that?
Luxury hotels. High-end clubs. Entire chains of businesses.
Assets stacked upon assets.
Compared to this, even Charles Xavier seemed… modest.
But when you thought about it, it made sense.
This was the accumulation of over three hundred individuals, operating across centuries. Charles, no matter how wealthy, was still just one man.
"You've built quite the empire," Ryan said, glancing at Emilia with mild surprise.
In his mind, vampires weren't supposed to care about this kind of thing. Blood was all they needed.
But clearly, reality was different.
"The Supreme is too kind," Emilia replied with a faint, self-aware smile. "This is simply… necessity."
"Our kind is rejected by humanity. If we want to survive safely, we must sustain many operations behind the scenes."
She continued calmly, her tone steady.
"And if we wish to live with dignity… with elegance… then financial support becomes indispensable."
Ryan understood immediately.
Longevity came with its own burdens.
Without something to occupy their time, even immortals would eventually lose themselves. Wealth, influence, structure—these weren't luxuries.
They were anchors.
Ryan didn't press the matter further. Instead, he flipped through a few more pages before stopping at a particular entry.
"This one."
He tapped lightly on the page.
Emilia leaned in, glanced at it, and immediately handed the book back to Klein.
"Arrange it at once. And gather all clan members."
"Yes, Elder."
Klein accepted the order and moved without delay.
As for Emilia, she remained behind, accompanying Ryan personally. The two of them continued talking, the conversation shifting naturally as Ryan took the opportunity to learn more about the vampire world.
What he discovered confirmed his earlier assumptions.
Vampires weren't unified.
They were divided into multiple clans, each originating from a "Supreme" like himself. However, the relationship wasn't strictly one-to-one. A single Supreme could give rise to multiple branches, creating entire networks of bloodlines.
For example, Alexander Corvinus—the progenitor of the Underworld lineage—was technically a Supreme as well.
But his situation was… unique.
He had largely withdrawn from his own bloodline, showing little interest in its affairs. That detachment had left Emilia's clan in an awkward position among the undead.
Not weak.
But not dominant either.
As the pieces fell into place, Ryan understood something else.
Why Emilia had submitted so easily.
Why there had been no resistance.
She wasn't just acknowledging him.
She was investing in him.
If a Supreme stood behind her clan, their status would rise instantly. Their influence would expand. Their position among the undead would change.
In the end, it all came down to one thing.
Interest.
Whether human or vampire, it made no difference.
Ryan didn't mind.
As long as they remained useful—and loyal—he had no issue giving them what they wanted within reason.
.....
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