But it makes sense. With Eric Foster's current frail body, he couldn't possibly support the weight of a grown woman. After all, Olivia Green is quite tall and doesn't belong to the petite type.

It's not that Eric Foster is cowardly, nor can he be blamed for overthinking. The truth is, Emily's comic is just too rich in content, and Eric Foster had helped Emily fill in quite a bit of the later plot. Naturally, he couldn't be more familiar with the character Olivia Green.

"Master, come on. If they know you've woken up, they'll definitely be very happy too."

Olivia Green gently helped Eric Foster up.

To say "helped"—

But in reality, it was more like propping him up.

They?

Who are "they"?

A completely confused Eric Foster was half-carried by Olivia Green out of the room and into a small courtyard. In the yard, there was only a well and a loquat tree, and the area wasn't large.

It seemed to be a layout of a front hall and a back courtyard. The two-story building in front was the storefront, while the small courtyard and the row of single-story rooms in the back were where the staff lived. It was just like the modern setup where the first floor is the shop and the second floor is the living quarters.

Just as they were about to leave the courtyard and reach the front hall, Olivia Green stopped, supporting Eric Foster as they looked into a small room. The door to this room was very narrow, and it was a bit dim inside.

By the faint light, several layers of wine jars could be seen stacked inside. It should be a wine cellar.

A man in a tailcoat was standing in front of an opened wine jar, holding a long-handled ladle in his hand, as if tasting the wine, or perhaps checking its quality.

A tailcoat—such a modern outfit. The girl who had helped wipe his body earlier was clearly dressed in ancient Chinese clothing, but the man before him was dressed in stark contrast.

At this moment, Eric Foster naturally didn't have time to consider that the tracksuit and boots he was wearing were also obviously modern styles, just as out of place here.

"Mason, the master is awake, the master is really awake!"

Olivia Green called out excitedly to the person inside.

Mason, Mason? Mason!!!

Could it be...

The man in the tailcoat, holding the long-handled wine ladle, took a few steps toward the door, finally revealing his face clearly.

It was a very pale face, a bit like the pampered young masters of ancient times who liked to powder themselves, but compared to those young masters, this man had an even more otherworldly aura.

His tailcoat was also clearly very worn, with obvious patches in some places.

Mason,

It really was Mason!

That face, that person—Eric Foster had drawn him many times. In the three years after the studio disbanded, he spent a small part of his time drawing comics he could monetize to pay for his euthanasia in the Netherlands, and most of his time helping his friends continue their unfinished works.

Vampire Mason,

He—

Was actually here too!

At this moment, Eric Foster seemed to finally understand what Olivia Green meant earlier by "they," and what it really implied.

In this world, it wasn't just him and Olivia Green; there were others—others from the comic stories, those... demon kings!

However, a vampire in evening dress holding a long-handled wine ladle in a Chinese-style wine cellar did seem a bit too out of place.

His identity seemed more suited to red wine,

A swirling wine glass, lips stained as if with blood...

Mason's gaze fell on Eric Foster, as if scrutinizing him carefully.

This scrutiny carried no humility, and wasn't even on equal footing. There was a faint sense of looking down from above.

At least, from Eric Foster's personal feeling, this vampire Mason's attitude toward him was vastly different from Olivia Green's!

He looked down on him!

The character Mason was created by Mark Bennett, and Mark Bennett himself, though he seemed easygoing, was known by everyone in the studio to be quite proud. In fact, Mark Bennett had every reason to be proud—after the studio disbanded, two animated films he led became huge hits, making him a hot commodity in the eyes of investors.

And Mason inherited Mark Bennett's personality. Unlike Mark Bennett, as a comic character, he was far less restrained. In the comic "Vampire Mason," he never yielded to any opponent, never admitted defeat, and never pretended—he always chose to confront his enemies head-on.

"Insolent! Why haven't you paid your respects to the master yet!"

Olivia Green's low voice came.

Mason's eyes narrowed slightly,

His right hand placed over his left chest,

He bowed his head slightly,

And spoke:

"Greetings... Master."

Olivia Green seemed infuriated by Mason's perfunctory attitude, but also worried that Eric Foster would be upset, so she whispered to Eric Foster:

"Master, don't mind him. He just has that deadpan temper. Let's go to the front and meet everyone."

As soon as she finished speaking, Eric Foster was once again half-carried by Olivia Green into the front hall.

The front hall was much larger, with a vibe that was a mix between a cabaret and a stage troupe, though still in a retro style.