The person on the other end of the line chuckled.
"Yes, we are vampires."
"No way, Chief Stacy just won't stop chasing us."
"You wanted the murderer, we gave you the murderer, but you're still not satisfied. Since that's the case, we can only fulfill your wish."
"Ben Urick is much smarter than you."
"But only by a little bit."
"He may be secretly investigating very discreetly, but we knew from the start. However, he never thought to contact anyone, so we didn't bother with him."
"Until now."
"You're giving us headaches, Chief Stacy."
"But..."
"We admire you so much, we even want to befriend you. So rest assured, Ben Urick hasn't become a vampire."
The man's voice on the other end of the line spoke somberly, then suddenly changed tone: "However, although he hasn't become a vampire, whether he's dead or alive depends on you, Chief Stacy."
George's face was sullen, no nonsense.
"What do you want?"
"Of course, we want to be friends, Chief Stacy. Don't be angry, becoming a vampire is a precious thing many in your precinct long for, but to you, we easily gave it."
This is the truth.
Why does the legend of vampires endure, even thrives in Hollywood?
It's because people like it.
Once again.
Though vampires have many side effects, once transformed, as long as you avoid those side effects, there lies the foremost benefit of never aging, eternal life.
So...
People who like, worship, or even wish to join vampires greatly outnumber those who despise and eliminate them.
So in some respects, the vampires on the other end of the phone were not wrong.
To most humans, becoming a vampire is a gift, and this gift they easily gave to George.
But...
George is not like most people.
Most belong to the type that 'long life is a pursuit,' while George belongs to the type that 'long life is a curse.'
George is a Catholic.
He pursues justice, partly because he adheres to his professional ethics, and partly because he believes that if he upholds justice, upon his death, he will return to Heaven.
There, he will join Helen, become an angel, eternally by God's side.
The result...
He became a vampire.
No chance of going to Heaven anymore, might as well dream on, obediently head to Hell, and as a VIP at that.
So George's mindset was shattered.
He truly had thoughts of suicide just now.
But it wasn't Hawk who enlightened him.
Rather, because suicide is also a sin, dying would still lead to Hell.
The most important thing.
He saw Gwen's eyes, full of anxious pleading looking at him, then heard Hawk's asshole remark that if he dared to die, he would break up with his precious daughter, which ultimately dispelled his suicidal thoughts.
Now George has only one thought in his mind.
This may be God's test for him.
Yes.
A test.
God made such a devout follower the most shameful vampire, surely not because he did something wrong, but as a test.
God didn't let him die, which means it's not yet his time.
Since that's the case.
Then find and uncover these vampires hidden in the dark corners of New York City one by one, and in the name of God, completely eradicate these evil vampires.
George's eyes flashed, and then he looked at Hawk holding the phone: "Fine, we're friends now, you can release Ben."
The vampire on the other end of the line laughed loudly.
"Chief Stacy, friends don't do that. We've bestowed upon you unprecedented power, and in return, you should give us something."
"What do you want?"
"This incident started with you, so it should end with you. Regarding your wife's death, I express my deepest condolences, but you will personally put an end to your wife's unfortunate death incident. At that time, someone will come forward to confess, and once you personally end this case, we can meet."
"..."
George listened to the vampire's words, his eyes narrowing, almost losing control when the door opened.
Helen, returning from the operating room, came in, looked at George who was already out of bed, and instinctively opened her mouth.
Seeing this, George looked at Helen, whose mouth was open, and shouted.
"Alright!"
"Bang!"
"..."
Hawk raised his eyebrows, looking at the phone in his palm smashed to pieces by George with a slap.
At the same time.
Helen's voice followed.
"Thick with gratitude!"
"George, your wound..."
"I'm fine now."
George looked at Helen, who was reaching out to hold him, trying to pull him back to bed, and quickly spoke, then his gaze swept over Helen, finally sharply fixing on a very familiar bullet hole on Helena's coat chest.
"This is..."
"This..."
Helen looked at the focus of her husband's gaze on her chest clothing bullet hole, then realized and took out a bullet from her pocket that 'should have' fallen off her body.
George cautiously controlled his seemingly unfamiliar power, took the bullet from Helen's palm, and looked at Helen.
"This is..."
"I'm not sure either."
Helen shook her head, full of confusion.
"I feel like someone entered the room, shot me in the chest, and then I died."
"But..."
"Somehow, I came back to life."
"..."