As the new owner of Sun University, Slacovich built new buildings and an underground headquarters. The headquarters is fully equipped with training equipment for hunters to practice their skills. Carolina trains the new hunters hands-on and also gives lessons about vampires. To hide the existence of the hunters' society within Sun University, they still welcome regular students. The clubs are divided into seven: the music club, literature club, theatre arts club, arts and photography club, science club, sports club, and the seventh one is only available for those students or outsiders whom they see fit to be hunters.
Slacovich endorsed Carolina to the dean as a professor majoring in science. This will make it easier for them to guide the hunters and set plans for them. The dean already knew what they were from the very beginning. As a matter of fact, out of the eight targets they originally had, five of them are already down. The sixth one is the dean of Sun University. His case is a little different from the others, he backed out the moment he learned about Dr. Brischt's research. He was the one who strongly opposed Dr. Brischt's research back at Harvard. Dr. Verdan was his wife, but the experiment killed her instantly. He pledged his loyalty to Slacovich to wipe out evil-doers in society. Having the dean as an ally makes it much easier for them to take action.
Sun University's location is a bit secluded; students who study there live in the school dormitory. Slacovich's first project for the school is to expand it further, adding additional buildings for hunters who aren't university students. Li made the blueprints for all buildings and the headquarters. They started construction as soon as ownership was transferred to them.
"President Demonfire, I am really thankful for giving me this chance to work under your guidance. Not only can I avenge my wife's death, but I can also stop this raging violence from those evil vampires," the dean said as he walked slowly toward him.
"Mr. Nicholson, if you hadn't told us about your wife's contribution to Dr. Brischt's research, we might have killed you already."
"I can't blame you. All of you are victims of his inhuman acts, making all of you his guinea pigs as test subjects for those serums."
"Carolina is Dr. Brischt's only daughter, but she despises her father's work, not her father himself."
"I know what you mean. I truly blame Dr. Brischt for killing my wife because of that stupid experiment, but my wife knew that Dr. Brischt's intention was pure. The people around him left him no choice but to obey their ill wills. Her daughter's life was at stake at that moment, his only treasure. I know that because I've been discussing terms with General Johanssen. My wife's death caused too much ruckus, and in order to silence it, they tried to bribe me, but I didn't buy it. Then I learned that Dr. Brischt didn't want to continue his research after my wife died. He blamed himself for it. Another life would have been taken away from him if I hadn't followed what they told me."
"You mean Carolina's life was the trade in return for your silence about the incident with your wife? If the research went public, everything would be shut down completely. The President won't allow such a thing to happen. Am I right?"
"You are quite formidable. Not just that, Dr. Brischt and I loved the same woman. But I ended up marrying her instead of the two of them."
"That's a sudden turn of events."
"Even at the start of his research, he was closely monitored and followed. To ensure the safety of Verdan, who was pregnant at the time, he asked me to stand in as the husband. That way, she'd be out of the picture."
"So-- you mean? My mom was Dr. Verdan?" Carolina appeared from behind them.
"Caro---" Nicholson gently caressed her cheek.
"How'd I end up with Dad if Mom was with you?" Tears suddenly fell from her eyes.
"Your dad at that time was full of dreams. The serum was next to impossible then. We thought he had stopped his research, so your mom agreed to let him take care of you. Your mom and I spent our married life trying to conceive, but I couldn't give her that. We saw you grow up through pictures your dad sent us. I think of you as my own daughter. Eight years ago, both of them reunited. Your dad managed to convince your mom about the success of the formula. She always believed in him. We quarreled about it at first, but then I realized I was the one who got in their way. I agreed with the hope of letting them fulfill both their dreams to cure cancer. But the incident shattered that dream into tiny pieces. You were 11 years old at that time and always left alone at home. Your dad was forced to continue the creation of the serum in exchange for your safety. But who'd have thought that you'd be who you are today, with your own strength. You possess the brains of both your parents and the beauty of your mother. Seeing you like this makes me regret it. I shouldn't have agreed to let you stay with Dr. Brischt. Your mom wouldn't have died, and we'd also be a happy family." Nicholson couldn't hold back his tears.
"Whatever happened in the past is in the past. We should live in the present and nurture our future. I bet Mom believes that too. If things hadn't happened the way they did, then I wouldn't be here standing in front of you as an independent woman. I'm just so happy to know that I still have a family." She hugged Nicholson tightly as her tears flowed continuously. Nicholson patted her back, calming her down. He lifted her face and wiped off her tears, then gave her a loving kiss on the forehead.
"We should clear up your father's name. I'll help you clean up every mess those monsters made. Using your father's serum to do wicked things is such a disgrace to his name. He should be known for his success, not for the stain left by those greedy people around him."
"I agree with that. That's why I'm here. These people were victims too, yet their main goal is to live harmoniously with humans. Volton Hellgazer is our main target. He planted Dr. Spencer in the facility to steal your father's serum and research materials. They pose a threat to all of us if they aren't stopped."
"I'll do what I can to help. Sun University will be the nesting place of brilliant vampire hunters. We humans won't just rely on Demonfire to save us always. We should fight back and not allow them to take us as prey."
"Seems like you two have finally reconciled. With us working hand in hand, we can fight them back," Slacovich smiled at both of them.
"By the way, you mentioned before that I'm one of your targets. Who else is on the list, and how many are left?"
"Good thing you mentioned that. There are eight people on the list. Five have already been silenced, and you are the sixth. Having you as an ally removes you from the list. That leaves us with two more: Dr. Theresse Spencer and Volton Hellgazer. Taking them down will end the crisis. No one would know about the facility's existence or ours. We can try to coexist, hiding our true identities. We just want to live normally."
"Simple, yet very hard to accomplish. I'll support you all the way. I will gladly give my life to secure your secrets."
"You don't have to go that far, Father. Actually, there's a machine I've invented. It's not accurate yet, and I need to make use of the vortex. Doing it alone will take time." Carolina faced Slacovich.
"Tyler and Li can help you with that. Let's tend to that when we polish our hunters. We don't have any numbers yet, and the construction just started. Volton's probably doing something to surprise us."
"You're right. A man like that won't stop until he's satisfied with his power. I'll start recruiting and training them as well. Giving them knowledge about the enemies will give them a heads-up on what's going on." Carolina left Nicholson and Slacovich alone as she headed toward Carl and Hilda's class as a professor.
"She turns out to be someone more reliable. Young, yet so experienced in such difficulties."
"Knowing she still has a father motivates her to do her best. She lost a mom and then a dad. Having someone to call family is truly amazing."
"You also have a family of your own. All of you may not be blood-related, but you've been through all the hardships from the beginning. That's family to me."
"I can't agree with you more. They've been with me since I was taken to the facility. Their best interests lie in every decision I make."
"I've heard Princess Sofie's one of the six Demonfire heads."
"Having you mention her like that, what do you know?"
"I did some research on my own. You can expand your power using her status. Take control over the royal family. It will be much easier for us to strike back when we have outside resources. The royal family's legendary Black Knights still exist to this day. They work secretly under the queen's command. Not even the king can pass on the command. They only serve the queen."
"How do you know all of this?"
"I've studied history all over the world. It's my forte."
"If only the queen can command them, what's the use of telling me this? Sofie's title is just a princess."
"She's the only heiress. Haven't you wondered why Volton's so desperate manipulating the queen? I've heard you've taken down his control over the UK, but he won't leave that country alone."
"He's after the Black Knights and wants to use the queen to have power over them."
"That's right. Sofie must ascend to the throne while she's there."
"That's going to be between her and her family. I'm not going to intervene with that."
"I know you'll say that. But I think she's already thinking about it. The addition of the Black Knights can help us train the hunters. We're not just fighting criminals but bloodsuckers. I hope you're not offended."
"Whatever you call them doesn't matter. We're not them."
The two of them continued their conversation. Slacovich's decision to keep him alive serves a purpose. He's quite knowledgeable in both strategy and tactics. He will be a great help to them as an adviser.