Chapter 69

Termination 14

-:-

3 days later.

A press conference hall in the Allied Kingdoms.

As per standard practice of the mainstream media, the moment a story about human death and suffering, journalist would do their very best to spin the news towards their political agendas.

It was an interesting display of how humanity would gladly fabricate lies just for their political enemies to be thrown under the bus.

As such, it shook the media world when someone they wouldn't dare piss off called a press conference to explain about the thing that they lied profusely about.

In a certain conference hall were every international media outlet was gathered stood confidently Count Korlo Nosferatu.

“Ladies and Gentlemen of the press. I thank you for coming in such a short notice. As you may know, I am Count Korlo Nosferatu of the Nosferatu bloodline and I have come to dispel the many lies perpetrated by you yourselves.” said Nosferatu.

“Normally these type of conferences starts of with a long winded explanation followed by a question and answer portion. However, I want to start taking questions first. I think that would be more interesting. With that said, kindly raise your hands if you have anything to inquire.”

Immediately, all the hands in the room shot up.

“Energetic aren't you? Very well, let us start with the FNN journalist.” said Nosferatu.

“I am Penelope Morka of FNN news. There have been multiple evidences that recent Alkebulan Incident is perpetrated by a secret Commonwealth genetic experiment gone wrong and they used the most powerful nuclear bomb in history to cover it all up. Are you saying that this is not true?” asked the FNN reporter.

“Indeed it is not.” replied Nosferatu

“Then who is at fault here?”

“There are multiple guilty parties in this situation but the origin of the incident is me.” said Nosferatu

This caused quite a stir in the room

“Can you please clarify?” asked the reporter

“Gladly. The Nosferatu strength lies in the high mutation abilities. This is hereditary via vampiric turning and natural birth. As the vampiric gene becomes diluted through the generations through natural birth with a human partner to the point where a person becomes completely human by all standards, the vampire gene remains dormant within their body. Normally this is of no consequence since a large population of humans have such genes and nothing has happened to them throughout their life. The problem lies within an extremely few people where their dormant gene has somehow mutated into something akin to cancer. Once again, this is normally fine as long as the gene remains dormant. However, if the vampiric gene of a certain individual becomes active AKA said person becomes a vampire, the cancerous gene will cause horrific mental and physical mutation. We call this the ‘Mad Progenitor’ gene and the result is the outbreak in Alkebulan.”

This shocked everyone in the room. Very rarely does someone of Nosferatu’s stature admit his fault, and a serious fault it was.

FNN was known to have journalist that were persistent at trying to find faults in the one that they were interviewing and exploiting it like no tomorrow.

However, such unethical display was not present today.

No one in their right mind would willingly provoke one of the most powerful beings in the world.

As such, the FNN reporter sat down promptly and another one took her place.

“My name is Jonah Bristleworth of Lindo Newspaper Group. My question is this: If such a dangerous genetic flaw exists, why haven't you told the proper authorities about it?”

This question made everyone fearful for their life.

It was as if the journalist was accusing Nosferatu of withholding information.

What if he gets pissed off?

Fortunately, Nosferatu’s reaction was the opposite.

“HAHAHA! Brave one aren't you young lad. I like you. I shall answer with this: What makes you think I haven't reported it? I have approached the Hero Alliance, government's, health organizations and even criminal organizations with this information and they simply dismissed my plea for help. And I did not do it once. I approached all authorities repeatedly, year after year for centuries, yet all fell to defts ears. I understand the prejudice towards the Nosferatu given our past wars against the world, thus I hold no ill will to anyone. Nevertheless, it was slightly frustrating that we had to deal with this on our own.”

With that done the next reporter asked a question.

“Is there a cure?”

Nosferatu replied

“There is a treatment that nullifies the Nosferatu Gene by increasing a person’s immune system until they are immune to all forms of virus and diseases. This includes the virus that turns a human into a vampire. This process takes 5 years at the very least. Michele Sway is currently undergoing this treatment. I will bring her in 2 weeks once the treatment requires less professional supervision. However, once the person gets turned, there is no cure. Only termination. Such was the case of Bella Sway.”

The next journalist came to the mic and asked.

“Based on your previous statement, is it safe to assume that there is an effort to prevent this Mad Progenitor gene?”

Nosferatu smiled at this question

“Of course. For thousands of years, we of the Nosferatu bloodline have tracked down and prevented millions of outbreaks from ever happening. The only times we have failed in our endeavour is when someone interferes. The incident in Alkebulan was the result of us not reaching Bella Sway in time due to the interference of the Quile Shapeshifters and the Valalya Kingdom. If it wasn't for them, none of this tragedy would happen.”

Normally this would be the time where the reporters would ask who was to be blamed for this mess.

However, even the bravest of the brave didn't have the courage to ask that, for it implied that Nosferatu was at fault.

One of the previous statements was brave, but this one was suicidal.

Thus, it became a unspoken understanding that no one would ask the responsibility question

The next reporter stepped up.

“I’m Joseph Roxas of the La Solidaridad. It was said that you hired a few questionable individuals, is this true?”

“”YOU DUMB FUCK!”” internally roared all of the journalist within the conference room.

The responsibility question might be suicidal, but this was much worse.

“Huh. Another brave one. How rare it is for 2 mortals with such spine to appear in front of me. How rare indeed. To answer your question: yes it is true. With no allies to ask help from, we were forced to find anyone that was willing to risk their lives for our cause. One of them was a gentleman named The Boss. The Hero Alliance has mistakenly categorize him as a villain. He is a mercenary that has taken many jobs for both good and evil individual. Naturally, neither side would confirm his involvement. If I was not in such dire need of help, I would not have resorted in such questionable individuals. ”

After that, another reporter stepped up. However, unlike the other reports, this one looked very out of place.

It was an old man in his 50s with a fancy suit. However, his eyes were covered by a blinder and the lower half of his jaw and the front part of his neck was artificial.

“I am Alial Milza. I am not a reporter or anything” said the old man

“I know of you young Alial Milza. I met your…. I think it was you great great great grandfather? I am not entirely sure. But to think the owner of one of the largest shipping companies would be here. How far he has come from a simple fisherman. Good man. Anyway, to what honor do I owe the pleasure?” ask Nosferatu

“I’ll get to my point. Who is the one in the Golden Armor?” asked Alial Milza

At this point, Nosferatu started spouting bullshit and played a light hearted prank on Theo

“Hmm… I regret to say that I am not entirely sure who is that is. I became acquainted with him a few months ago, but even now, I have no insight as to who or what he is. When I asked for his name, he replied: Call me whatever you want Vampire. But I may have someone who may shed some light on this golden individual.”

Nosferatu beckoned to someone off stage.

A second later, a handsome wizardly looking Drow went in front of the podium while Nosferatu went off stage.

This caused quite the stir for the reporters, for they knew who this Drow was.

“You speak to Du Al Ryien. Chief Skald of the Undertide in the realm of Alfheim. I believe that Chief Skald is equivalent to a Vice President or a Prime Minisiter in this world. I have spent about one hour in the presence of the Golden Machine and Lord Nosferatu asked me to impart what I have learned.” said the Drow.

“As you may know by now, I came to this realm at the behest of one of my stupid daughters who fell in love with a certain white mage of this realm. I am talent hunting so to speak. As such, I was surprised to find that this world was capable of producing a God.”

This caused quite a stir for among the reporters.

Alial Milza was particularly excited about Du Al Ryien’s words

“A god? What do you mean?” asked Alial with great interest.

“I will not fault anyone in this world for not being able to detect the divine. Even beings from our realms have a difficult time as well. However, it takes but a little effort to detect a divine when that divine is but a fledgling of a god and when that divine is in close proximity.”

Murmurs spread quickly through the room.

It was a commonly accepted fact that this world can't produce a god due to severe lack of mana.

If that’s the case and if Du Al Ryien’s words were true, then why did a high ranking Drow, a citizen of a realm filled with divinity, say that the Golden Machine was a divine entity?

“If I may ask. Were you able to figure out this fledgling God’s aspect?” asked Alial with clear excitement in his voice.

“No. As I have stated earlier, this is a fledgling. It does not have any aspect whatsoever. Nevertheless, I, Du Al Ryien, invite the Machine God to come visit me. If you desire to learn more of your divinity, I am readily available to accommodate you.”

Du Al Ryien’’s Q&A session continued on as the reporters and the Drow speculated as to who or what the Machine God was.

In a certain room within the conference room, Nosferatu has lost the battle against laughing out loud and was literally rolling on the floor as he watched the cringeworthy delusions of a biased media and a not so sane Drow spiral out of control.

All Nosferatu did was ‘imply’ that there was a ‘very small chance’ that Theo’s Terminator ‘might’ housed a God

The Drow took it was fact!

What a gullible fool!

Somewhere in a different side of the world, Theo swore to his heart that he will find a way to get back at Nosferatu.

This whole Machine God mania made it much harder for him to bring the Terminator Armor without attracting too much attention.

Neither of Nosferatu and Theo knew that this little prank would have far reaching consequences that literally threatened the whole world in a few years.