[ Zhou Family Mansion… ]
Natasha received a surprise visitor. It's the CEO of Scarlet Heart Inc. Since the person who personally came to see her was a well-known businesswoman abroad, Natasha welcomed her warmly.
"To whom do I owe this visit, Miss Bancroft?" Natasha greeted her with a gentle smile. She thought Scarlet Heart Inc. wanted to do business with the Zhou Empire. And Natasha was glad that Victoria chose to see her instead of talking to Marceline who was currently the Chairwoman of the Zhou Empire.
"Hello, Miss Natasha Zhou, I am here to make a deal with you." Victoria didn't want to go around the bush.
Natasha just smiled, inviting her to sit down on the sofa. She ordered someone to prepare snacks for her esteemed visitor.
"I want to talk to you… Alone," Victoria said once more as she looked around. Some maids and the butler were around so Victoria requested Natasha to talk privately.
Natasha motioned everyone to leave the living room. When Victoria made sure that no one was around, she could now freely express what was on her mind.
"So what kind of deal are you talking about?" Natasha asked, her eyes filled with interest.
"It's related to Marceline Zhou…" Victoria mumbled, assessing Natasha's reaction.
Natasha's expression darkened at the mention of that name. "Are you here for Marceline?"
"No, don't misunderstand. I don't like Marceline Zhou, that's why I am here to make a deal with you. I have a proposition to bring her down. Let's work together." Victoria cleared her real intention so that Natasha would understand. And just like what she had expected, Natasha's mood brightened up!
"I'm in!" Natasha said excitedly. "Let me hear it out!"
Victoria's tugged upward into a satisfied smile. She knew it. Natasha would take the bait. She would definitely help them.
"I will tell you a secret… but in return, I want you to help us. I know you are a gatekeeper… am I right?"
Natasha was taken aback by Victoria's last remarks. If she knew about the gatekeepers, it only meant Victoria was not an ordinary human. Was she a friend or a foe?
Natasha immediately took the stone for her protection. She couldn't trust anyone. But Victoria immediately pacified her.
"Don't be afraid of me. I'm not here to hurt you. I want us to collaborate. You and I against Marceline." Victoria was trying to convince her.
Fortunately, Natasha's hatred towards Marceline overpowered her. "Okay. What do you want?"
"Help us pass through the portal gate and I will make sure to kill Marceline for you. You want her dead right?"
Victoria's frankness was making Natasha speechless. How could Victoria offer her that kind of deal? Though she wanted it but Victoria didn't look like a murderer! So looks could truly be deceiving.
"But wait, why are you telling me this? If you want to kill her then kill her," Natasha said, frowning at her.
"I'm offering you this as a deal. Besides, I can't kill her because she's in another world!"
"What?! What do you mean Marceline is in another world? Did she go to the land of the werewolves?" Natasha asked Victoria in disbelief.
Victoria sneered at her. "As I told you… I know a secret about Marceline's identity. She is not your cousin. She is not blood-related to the Zhou Family. Marceline is a werewolf! You can't defeat her alone so you need my help!" Victoria finally revealed the truth to Natasha.
Natasha was shocked beyond belief. She couldn't believe that Marceline was a werewolf and she was completely unrelated to the Zhou Family.
"Fuck! How come grandpa made her as the Chairwoman of the Zhou Empire. She didn't have the right! I feel betrayed!" Natasha felt enraged!
"She deceived us all!
Victoria could only add fuel to the fire. "Your grandfather probably didn't know that she was adopted. Your real cousin already died at birth. The werewolves exchanged Marceline and made her become part of the Zhou Family. They wanted to control you as gatekeepers, that's why they allowed Marceline to stay by your side."
"Damn! I can't forgive her. I will do what I can to help you! Just promise me one thing… punish and kill that bitch for me!" Natasha requested Victoria.
"Don't worry. I will do that. Marceline also offended me so I want her dead!" Victoria expressed her hostility towards Marceline. She was glad Natasha was easily convinced to become an ally.
Vampires could now go back to the Kingdom of Phantasia with the help of Natasha, the gatekeeper. She would open up the portal for them.
"Let's seal our deal! Sign to this magic scroll so that I can guarantee that you will not back out of our deal!" Victoria wanted to make sure that Natasha would not betray them or sell them out to the werewolves.
Natasha didn't hesitate to sign the contract. It was a magical scroll made by witches. The people who signed on this scroll must abide by the rules. If someone broke the deal, he or she would suffer through the punishment spell.
Since Natasha was not forced to sign this and she did it willingly, the protection stone would not be able to protect her against the punishment spell once she broke their deal.
Victoria was a wise woman. She didn't want to trust anyone as she already learned her lesson. The vampires were betrayed by the werewolves, witches, and other creatures.
"We will do it every day. Every night, one batch of our army will enter the Kingdom through the portal gate which you will open for us. Understand? It will start by tomorrow." Victoria reminded her about her role.
"Yes, I understand. I will keep this in mind."
When Victoria left, Natasha immediately looked for her brother. She would tell him that Marceline was not their cousin. Enrique should stop caring about an outsider.
After a while, Enrique returned home with a puzzled look on his face. He received Natasha's message telling him to go home soon.
"Are you okay?" Enrique asked Natasha. She sounded like there was an emergency so Enrique went home in a hurry.
"We were deceived, brother. Marceline kidnapped our grandfather and she is not our cousin. She is a werewolf!" Natasha said it directly, making Enrique speechless.
'Huh? What did she just say? Marceline is not our cousin… we are not blood-related?'