No matter the organization, once its power grows large enough, internal strife becomes almost inevitable.
This was especially true for the Umbrella Corporation a little over a decade ago.
Two of the three founders had passed away.
Only the Spencer family held sole sway, making the purge of the other two founders’ family factions inevitable.
During this internal purge within the conglomerate, the more capable a person was, the more attention they drew, and the more frequently “accidents” befell them.
Mark’s parents were prime examples.
Mark’s mother had been a famous child prodigy since youth, making monumental contributions to research on the evolution of the Progenitor Virus.
As for Mark’s father, who managed to marry Mark’s mother despite his Chinese heritage, he too was a top-tier genius.
When even geniuses of their caliber suffered consecutive “accidents”…
It was completely understandable that Mark used playing dumb and acting insane to explain away his past years as an “idiot.”
Just as Mark had said:
In an era fraught with vicious internal purging, surviving was the true mark of great wisdom.
As Christine listened to Mark’s words, her eyes quickly filled with immense change.
If Mark had merely awed and coerced her earlier through his mysterious blood-control techniques…
…then now, the look Christine directed at Mark carried genuine admiration.
Sensing the change in Christine’s gaze, Mark nodded inwardly.
Unless strictly necessary, Mark did not want to eliminate Christine directly.
Blue Umbrella could hardly survive without her in the short term.
Unlike the three founding families of Umbrella Corporation…
…the Henry family behind Christine was an established, old-money European aristocratic house.
Furthermore, Christine becoming the CEO of Blue Umbrella was the result of a tacit understanding between major European financial syndicates and Umbrella Corporation.
She represented the interests of these European conglomerates and controlled over seventy percent of Umbrella’s global distribution channels.
To put it plainly, Blue Umbrella was Umbrella’s purse, and Christine was the hand holding it.
If he were to purge Christine using excessively brutal methods, the difficulty for Mark to take control of Blue Umbrella would skyrocket tenfold or more.
Conversely, if he could truly win her over, the difficulty would plummet a hundredfold.
This was the main reason Mark had concocted his persona of “feigning foolishness while biding his time.”
Seeing the resistance in Christine’s eyes wane…
Mark struck while the iron was hot, directly lifting the Myriad Transformations Blood God Talisman’s control over her.
Once free…
Christine stretched her limbs slightly, her expression turning increasingly conflicted.
Mark followed up, saying, “Ms.
Henry, the misunderstanding between us has been cleared up.”
“Now, it’s your turn to make a choice.”
“I wonder if Ms.
Henry still recognizes the status and rights of Umbrella’s founding families?”
Umbrella Corporation was a massive interest group, housing countless representatives from various financial syndicates, factions, and organizations.
But indisputably…
…the three founding families of Umbrella had always held a vital, central position.
Even now, after Umbrella had suffered major setbacks and was being torn apart by numerous factions, once consolidated internally, Umbrella Corporation would still be one of the top conglomerates in the world.
With White Umbrella, Red Umbrella, and Blue Umbrella each holding their own ground…
…only Mark, as the sole heir of the three founding families, had the chance to unite Umbrella once more.
On one hand was the opportunity to return to the summit.
On the other hand was an olive branch from one of Europe’s mysterious factions—a vampire clan.
Christine found it difficult to choose.
After a long pause…
Christine finally spoke: “Mark, your parents and I used to be good friends.
Emotionally, I want to support you, but in reality, I have to be responsible for the family and shareholders behind me.”
“This is Ms.
Selene.
Er…
they hold the inheritance rights—or rather, the control—of the Marcus family’s shares in Umbrella Corporation.”
“I believe Blue Umbrella shouldn’t meddle in the internal affairs of your three founding families.”
“Perhaps the two of you need to speak in private?”
Emotional ties were pure nonsense.
The subtext of Christine’s words was crystal clear: she would only side with the winner.
Having said her piece, Christine tactfully stepped away.
Only then…
…did Mark finally have time to look at Ms.
Selene in her black leather suit.
Strikingly similar appearance, exact same name.
Especially with the looming vampire background behind the Marcus family.
Mark was practically certain that the “Ms.
Selene” before him was none other than the female protagonist from the *Underworld* film series.
If he could confirm it…
…perhaps he could use this “female protagonist” to advance his Blood God Dao Plan?
Numerous thoughts flashed through his mind.
Mark retracted his hand seal, slightly relaxing the control of the Myriad Transformations Blood God Talisman on Selene.
The moment Selene regained her freedom, her hand instinctively went for her gun.
Faster than Selene, however, was Mark’s mental intent.
Forming a hand seal, the Myriad Transformations Blood God Talisman pulsed slightly.
Selene’s hand reaching for the firearm at her waist instantly froze solid.
The blood control techniques of the Blood Fiend Demon Sect were no exaggeration.
Mark offered Selene a sunny, handsome, and elegant smile, saying, “Beautiful lady, compared to fighting to the death, I believe we should talk in a more civilized manner, wouldn’t you say?”
Selene slowly withdrew her hand.
While wary of Mark, her gaze grew increasingly sharp.
The two stared at each other for a moment.
Only then did Selene speak stiffly, “Mark Ashford, you are provoking the majesty of the Golden Court Clan.”
The Golden Court Clan, one of the thirteen vampire clans.
The King’s Clan, Blood Frenzy Clan, Winter Sun Clan, Curse Demon Clan, Moon Feast Clan, Soul Hunter Clan, Thousand Faces Clan, Jade Blood Clan, Shadow Forsaken Clan, and the Golden Court Clan.
These were the thirteen oldest progenitor clans of all vampires.
Back then, the thirteen clans were not called vampires, but the Kindred.
Rumor had it that among the original thirteen Kindred clans, the progenitor of every single clan had become a demon lord in the Infinite Abyss or the Hell Dimensions.
In the underworld and the supernatural realm, the reputation of the thirteen original Kindred clans was quite intimidating.
Yet upon hearing Selene’s words, Mark suddenly burst out laughing.
If he hadn’t watched the entire *Underworld* movie series in his past life…
…he really might have been bluffed.