Delico's Nursery (デリコズ・ナーサリー)

No, it can't be!

Frida!

Frida!

Dali, my dear.

Our children.

Shower them with all of your love.

They need you.

I beg of you!

Don't do this!

Well...

the ringleted Goldilocks himself.

I see you cut a striking figure as ever.

Spare me your prattling.

Lord Johannes awaits us.

Murders, you say?

Indeed.

Many cases as of late.

Our summons may be related.

I'm flattered, but why can't the Police of the Blood

handle this sort of thing?

Apparently TRUMP is somehow involved.

This isn't their jurisdiction.

Oh.

Therefore, the board has decided it's best to call us.

We serve the top-secret intelligence forces.

A situation such as this is precisely why

the Vlad Agency was created.

Greetings, sir.

Hm.

It's been a while since the two of you've darkened my doorstep.

You've served in the Vlad Agency for some time now,

how long exactly?

Nearly nine months now, sir.

I see.

Well, that long, eh?

- Lord Johannes. -Hmm.

I do enjoy a pleasant conversation once in a while.

But I would assume that

we weren't summoned here for chitchat.

Dali!

I would appreciate if you were to get

to the bloody point!

Your assumption's correct, so I shall skip the pleasantries.

Recently, there've been a string of murders.

I would like you both to investigate them.

I knew it.

I've taken the liberty to look over the reports.

Hmm. Of course.

Always showing initiative, aren't you?

The reports imply they could be random attacks.

Seems there's no indication that the victims are connected.

It may appear that way at first.

Ah?

But upon investigation, we've found this card's

been left at the scene of each murder.

A blood-stained note that says "Equal death is given.

This Vamp is no TRUMP."

How cryptic.

So, in theory, are you suggesting the perpetrators

actually believe that TRUMP exists?

I'm curious as to both your opinions.

If I may, sir.

The very notion of TRUMP is nothing but a fairy tale.

Or that's what the entire world needs to believe.

I agree.

But TRUMP's existence is very real.

Living on somewhere in this world as we speak.

The one known as "True of Vamp..."

originator of our race.

As the legends tell us, this ancient being

begat our entire species.

One could say this entity is akin to our God.

Every single vampire not only shares

a unique mental connection with "True of Vamp..."

but is fully under the influence of this being.

Now, suppose something catastrophic were to happen,

something that disturbed TRUMP.

You're suggesting that such an event would spell out

the utter collapse of vamp society.

Am I right?

Considering the effort that needs to be given

to avoid the wrath of a moody God,

I can think of nothing more tedious.

How dare you criticize the duty we uphold to preserve

the prosperity of our people!

That said.

If an incident occurs that winds up having

some kind of effect on TRUMP, it may lead to a catastrophe.

For that reason,

I would like the two of you to lead the investigation in--

I respectfully decline.

Hm?

Apologies, sir.

But I'm afraid I must humbly refuse the assignment.

-Excuse me. -

Hey, stop!

Come back here! Dali!

That's hilarious, he turned down your request

and just walked away?

This isn't a matter to laugh about, Sir Henrique.

Pardon me, you're right.

I know.

It's just that sounds exactly like something

Dali-boy would do.

Well, if these cards were intentionally left behind

at the scene of each one of the murders.

I would guess it's the work of a zealous cult

that believes in the existence of TRUMP.

Or perhaps...

That's possible.

Or maybe the killer's hell bent on murdering vamps,

going around killing them one by one

to see if they're immortal or not.

And who knows the number of innocent vamps

they'll have to slaughter in order to find TRUMP?

- Sir Henrique! -

That's enough.

This matter will need to be dealt with in secret.

And immediately, before it gets any further out of hand.

I agree.

That's exactly why I wanted Dali

at the helm of the task force I'm assembling.

The man's the head of the esteemed Delico family.

Yet he snubs a job as crucial as this?

That's nothing short of dereliction of duty.

Why must you always take things so seriously, Dino?

If Lord Johannes entrusted this delicate matter

to the hands of Dali,

I'd say he is expected to live up to it.

Then it would fall upon us to force Sir Dali

to perform his duties.

True. In fact, it's arguably your obligation.

However, you'll find it no easy task.

It'll be apparent upon your arrival there.

But you'll soon understand

the predicament Dali Delico faces.

Oh, dear.

Why couldn't the old man just spit it out

instead of trying to build suspense?

-Sir Henrique. -Dino.

You'd do well to adopt a manner more becoming of your station.

You'd do well not to be so judgmental.

Isn't it what's on the inside that counts?

I have serious doubts about what lies within as well.

Oh, is that so?

I can attest to the fact that our Dali-boy is a big deal.

So I understand why Lord Johannes

pinned his hopes on him.

It's quite obvious.

The Delico family is one of the oldest aristocratic houses

in all of vampire society.

Its previous heads have risen to tremendous heights,

such as chairing the Blood Pact Council.

From his earliest days, Sir Dali's influence was such

that the Council's most prominent members

took stock of him.

Oh, I must say, this is impressive.

Welcome to the Delico Estate.

Master Dali awaits, gentlemen.

Dino.

Who is this weird old geezer we're following?

He's most likely a Delico servant.