Lisa Lisa and Messina finished healing Caesar and Applejack. "You were fortunate Wamuu underestimated how much damage it would take to kill Applejack," Messina noted. "No doubt," Caesar agreed, "If not for that, neither of us would be alive right now. So, now we have some idea of what we're up against." "I just noticed something," Joseph chimed in, "This mansion looks equal parts fortress and hotel." "There's a reason for that," Applejack said, "I asked the Speedwagon Foundation for some info regarding this place."

She turned to look at him. "Turns out it was built as a castle back in the 14th century by Gessler, the cruel bailiff defeated by famous Swiss hero William Tell." "The one who pulled off the arrow through the apple trick?," Joseph asked. Applejack nodded. "That's the one. Around the turn of the century it was converted into a hotel, hence the modern decorum, but it's owner died around nine years ago, causing the place to close down. It's been abandoned ever since." "At least until Kars decided to use it as his personal protection residence from the sun," Caesar noted.

Joseph nodded. "Well, at least we know the history of this place. For all the good it does us. We have no idea about the layout, Donovan having only checked the outside and the first floor. So Kars and Wamuu have home field advantage. The easy part will be dealing with the vampires. Donovan said he heard at least several dozen, so I think we can estimate there to around a hundred, give or take." Messina nodded. "A vampire should be easy compared to the Pillar Men. Especially with four Hamon masters and a superhuman warrior."

"I'll have my Stand take point," Applejack offered, "It has a projection range of around twenty meters and can go unseen by everything here that isn't me. That should help us navigate." "We can also follow the blood Wamuu left behind," Caesar noted, pointing to the blood trail, "At least we have a clear direction to follow." "That's quite a bit of blood," Joseph noted, "You two really did a number on him. Hope you saved some for me." Caesar chuckled. "He rather forced the issue by retreating when it was clear he couldn't win."

The group followed the trail, To The Core reporting all clear as they continued until they reached a door. "Careful guys," Applejack said, "My Stand notes something funny about that door. Look, the knob looks like a human hand." "Oh ho," came a voice from nowhere, "I was planning on waiting until one of you grabbed my hand, but I guess that won't be happening." Suddenly, the "door" morphed into a fanged humanoid. "A vampire!," Joseph called out. The vampire struck at Applejack, but looked surprised as Applejack only got her head rolled back without looking hurt.

"Pathetic," Applejack said, "Just who is this asshole?" "More importantly," Messina said, "Why did it look like he had ten fingers during that attack?" The vampire scoffed. "My name is Wired Beck. I used to be a fugitive, convicted of strangling my girlfriend, before Kars used some weird stone mask to change me into a vampire. Now I swear allegiance to him." "So they've started turning the local populace into their personal pantry," Caesar noted, "Well, don't think you'll be stopping us from getting through."

Wired Beck laughed. "Oh please! I know all about the strengths and weaknesses of a vampire! You five pitiful humans could never kill me! Sure, the girl seems durable, but I'll break through it soon enough!" The five of them raised an eyebrow at each other. "Where did you learn about vampires?," Messina asked. "I know all the old legends," Wired Beck explained. "So Kars never explained it to you," Joseph clarified. "He offered," Wired Beck admitted, "But I assured him I knew all I needed."

He then eyed Lisa Lisa and got a lecherous look in his eye. "Well, well. What a beauty we have here. Why not come over so I can hug you tight and drain your blood from beneath that porcelain skin?" "I'll pass," Lisa Lisa said curtly, "Though if you try to force the issue, I assure you it will be the last thing you do." Wired Beck chuckled as his hair receded, only for numerous spikes to appear all over his body. "So that's what it was," Applejack noted, "I thought I felt something pointy trying to scratch my face up."

"He's turned his hair into barbwire," Joseph realized, "Giving the appearance of a spiky body." "I don't like it when a woman is teasing me," Wired Beck said, "I'll have to punish you for that, okay?" "Remember how Caesar was when we first met him?," Joseph said to Applejack, "This is worse." "I'm standing right here," Caesar pointed out. Joseph shrugged. "I'm just saying, at least you weren't a misogynist." Wired Beck rushed at Lisa Lisa, who deftly dodged the assault and wrapped the vampire up in her scarf.

"Ha!," Wired Beck called out, "You think you can just wrap me up and call it a day!?" He tore through the scarf, but Lisa Lisa just calmly walked past him. "What?," Wired Beck said, confused, "Hey, come back here! Don't ignore me!" He saw the others walking past as well. "Hey, you guys agree that a woman like that should be punished, right?" "Why would we?," Caesar said, "I was trained by her." "Don't assume everyone shares your viewpoint," Messina pointed out.

"You're asking the wrong gal," Applejack chimed in, "I'm that sort of woman too." "Besides," Joseph said, "You're already dead thanks to the Hamon she sent inside you." Wired Beck looked confused. "What kind of nonsense are you talking about?," he asked as smoke started coming out of his mouth, "I mean, for some reason I don't feel good anymore but that doesn't--" He got cut off by his own scream as his body quickly dissolved, his hair spikes falling off as he did.

"That's some amazing technique," Joseph noted, "You didn't waste any movement whatsoever. And the movements were like the silk scarf you used to transfer your Hamon to that vampire." "All Hamon users develop their own style as they learn," Lisa Lisa noted, "That was part of my style. There are some things that simply cannot be taught." She noted the blood trail was getting thinner. "Looks like Wamuu has started recovering. Doubtless he'll be at full strength when we find him again." Joseph grinned. "I can't wait."

Yeah, short chapter but let's face it, Wired Beck never stood a chance. Guy was honestly disturbing up until Lisa Lisa attacked him.