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In the days that followed, Vic took Enid and Wednesday on an exhaustive tour of every hidden nook and cranny of Hotel Transylvania—corners that even Dracula might not have known about.
The ancient castle was like a massive labyrinth, filled with secret doors and hidden passages everywhere. According to Uncle Dracula, it had been renovated for monsters using blueprints inspired by some famous wizarding school.
Some passages were hidden behind rotating bookshelves; others required tapping specific bricks in a precise sequence to open.
There was even a slide-like shortcut that went straight from the kitchen spice rack down to Dracula's cellar of vintage blood-wine.
Vic was smug about that particular discovery for a long time.
Happy times always fly by.
The start of the new semester at Nevermore Academy was approaching.
On the morning of their departure, a faint air of melancholy hung over the hotel entrance.
Dracula embraced Vic elegantly, whispering, "Take care of them, and take care of yourself, my child."
Mavis pulled Vic aside. Wearing that unique big-sister smile—part mischievous, part caring—she shoved a rectangular object wrapped carefully in soft leather into his hand.
Vic touched the shape, and his heart skipped a beat—it was the Succubus Seduction Guide (Authentic Han Dynasty Edition).
"Silly little brother~"
Mavis winked, lowering her voice with a meaningful, teasing grin.
"The second half of the content... when you get back, remember to 'study it thoroughly.' No more Ludo nights, okay?"
She dragged out the last few words, glancing pointedly at Enid and Wednesday, who were saying their goodbyes to Dennis and Winnie nearby.
Vic's face turned bright red swish. Damn Mavis, you definitely used your super hearing that night, didn't you?
The helicopter blades began to spin, creating a deafening roar. Vic, Enid, and Wednesday boarded the chopper, waving through the window to the "family" seeing them off below.
The hotel grew smaller in their vision, eventually disappearing amidst the mountains and mist.
Vic scratched his perpetually messy black hair, looking left and right. Suddenly, he felt something was off.
"Eh? Wait a minute..."
He counted on his fingers, muttering with a confused face.
"When we came, it was me, Enid, Wednesday, and Tyler... four people, all lively. Why are there only three of us on the flight back?"
He slapped his thigh, shouting as if realizing a profound truth: "Where the hell is Tyler?!"
Wednesday glanced at Vic expressionlessly and stated the facts flatly.
"He volunteered to stay behind at Hotel Transylvania to 'help out,' claiming to have a strong interest in the hotel's operations and 'cross-species cultural exchange.'"
"Help out? Cross-species cultural exchange?"
Vic's voice went up an octave.
"Is that helping? That is clearly... losing himself in pleasure! He didn't even try to act! Every monster in the hotel saw through his little scheme!"
Vic could practically visualize Tyler circling around that curvaceous Siren with the bewitching voice—fetching tea, pouring water, fixing pipes, unclogging drains, all with a goofy grin on his face.
"Helping"? His intent was definitely not on the work!
A realistic and thorny problem floated into Vic's mind, making his face drop instantly.
"Oh—dammit! How am I supposed to explain this to Sheriff Galpin?!"
He started neurotically simulating the potential conversation to himself.
Vic cleared his throat, trying to put on a serious, reliable face.
"Greetings, respected Sheriff Galpin! Your son Tyler is doing very well..."
Then he instantly switched to a pained expression, mumbling at high speed:
"He is currently 'deeply attracted' to a deep-sea Siren who is at least one hundred and eighty years old. He is in a state of immersive 'reluctance to leave' and has no plans to return in the short term."
Vic imagined the reaction of Tyler's father, the former sheriff, upon hearing this "report."
"I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead!" Vic covered his face in agony. "Sheriff Galpin is going to have a stroke on the spot!"
---
The helicopter landed steadily on the rooftop helipad of the Dark Hand headquarters.
The wind from the blades whipped Valmont's expensive suit jacket violently.
He was already waiting respectfully in line with his core subordinates—Finn, Ratso, and Chow.
Valmont plastered a professional, enthusiastic smile on his face. Just as he was about to step forward and say something ceremonial like "Welcome back, Mr. Vic,"—
"Catch."
Vic didn't give him a chance to speak. He casually pulled a bulging, heavy-looking small bag from behind his back and tossed it over like he was throwing out trash.
Valmont instinctively reached out to catch it. His hand dipped sharply under the sudden weight, nearly dropping it.
This weight... His heart began to race involuntarily.
He glanced cautiously at Vic, whose face said, "Go on, open it."
Receiving permission, Valmont took a deep breath. With trembling fingers, he carefully untied the drawstring of the bag.
WHOOSH—!
A blinding golden light burst from the opening, nearly blinding everyone present! Inside was a bag full of perfectly cut, high-purity gold nuggets and massive gems of various colors!
Finn, Ratso, and the others stared with straight eyes, drool practically dripping from their mouths.
But Valmont didn't mind the blinding light at all. Instead, he took a deep, greedy breath, as if the smell of gold were the sweetest air in the world!
His inner voice screamed: Shine! Shine brighter! I hope this gold light illuminates the entire San Francisco Bay Area!
"Mr. Vic! This... this..."
Valmont was so excited he became incoherent. He clutched the money bag tightly with both hands as if holding onto a lifeline, his voice even carrying a sob.
"Oh God! Finally... finally seeing a return on investment! Following you, Mr. Vic, truly has a future! There is hope!"
He recalled the days of following Shendu, that stingy old dragon. Working hard to find talismans.
Funding everything himself, bearing all the risks, and in the end, nearly losing his pants in the deal. It was a history of blood and tears!
In contrast, Young Master Vic was basically the Boy of Wealth... no, the God of Wealth descended to earth!
Vic looked at Valmont's pathetic state and waved his hand dismissively, his tone as casual as discussing the weather:
"It's nothing. Just stopped by Atlantis on the way. Accidentally found a treasure vault piled up there. Oh, and fished out a talisman while I was at it. This little bit of gold is a souvenir for you. The boys worked hard too."
He said it so lightly, as if he had just gone to the convenience store downstairs to buy a soda.
"At... Atlantis?! Treasure vault?! And... and a talisman?!"
Valmont's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and his jaw almost hit his feet.
He couldn't believe his ears!
You call this "accidentally"? This isn't God feeding you; this is God chasing you down to smash you in the head with gold bricks, isn't it?! Are you sure you aren't Lady Luck's biological son?
After the massive surprise and disbelief passed, Valmont rubbed his hands together. His face was piled with a fawning yet slightly bashful smile:
"Mr. Vic, this... this is too much... You shouldn't have... How can we accept this..."
While his mouth said no, his hands clutched the gold bag even tighter, terrified Vic might take it back.
He could already see the beautiful blueprint of his future—eating well, living large, and reaching the pinnacle of life by following Vic.
Vic nodded with satisfaction. He beckoned Enid and Wednesday and walked straight toward the elevator.
Valmont, like a kid who just got a prize, hugged the gold bag and trotted happily behind them. His face bloomed with a smile as he already began calculating how to renovate the headquarters and distribute bonuses to the boys.