After leaving Stroheim, Lin Jiu didn't leave Europe. He contacted Speedwagon to gather information and then waited in Italy for Lisa Lisa and the others.
Two days later, he met up with JoJo, Caesar, and Lisa Lisa. Messina was there too, but there was no sign of Loggins. Lin Jiu also noticed a few other contractors following behind them like cannon fodder. He couldn't help but wonder if there were contractors involved.
The group of five also saw the mysterious contractor, Vampire Hunter Red. Just from his aura, they could tell he wasn't an easy person to deal with. They were a bit nervous, unsure how this would affect their mission. If they couldn't complete the main quest, their only fate would be death.
"Yo, Red! Long time no see, what have you been up to?"
JoJo greeted Lin Jiu, pretending to be familiar, even though they'd only met once. But since they were comrades now, it was important to build a good relationship.
"Just wandering around. But I heard from Speedwagon that your situation isn't too good," Lin Jiu said calmly.
"That was before! Now, after rigorous training, Caesar and I can take down Kars easily!"
JoJo confidently spread his arms wide.
"Don't be ridiculous."
Lisa Lisa quickly shut JoJo down and said, "We've roughly determined Kars' location. Let's go check it out first."
Lin Jiu turned his attention to the five contractors who had joined the main group.
"Hello, sir!"
Gentle Youth felt the pressure from Lin Jiu's gaze, recognizing him as a high-level contractor. He greeted him cautiously.
Lin Jiu scanned the group, assessing their combat strength. Pointing at the little girl among them, he asked, "Are you the healer?"
Before the contractors could respond, JoJo interjected, "Healer? What healer? This little girl has no chest or butt. You don't have a thing for that, do you?"
JoJo quickly found himself crouching in a corner with two panda eyes. He had tried to fight back but failed. His Hamon energy was neutralized by a mysterious force when used on Lin Jiu.
The nature of spiritual energy is calm, like water, forming a protective barrier within Lin Jiu. Other energies either require him to resolve them himself or simply cannot penetrate his body.
Hamon energy fell into the latter category. After all, JoJo needed a weapon to cut Kars' skin before injecting Hamon into it.
Blue steel Shadow energy in Su Xiao's body doesn't prevent foreign energy from invading; it starts devouring it after the invasion.
Lin Jiu understood this, as spiritual energy comes from the power of the soul, making it naturally less aggressive.
After confirming that the group had a healer, Lin Jiu was in a good mood.
Lin Jiu then inquired about JoJo and the others' experiences on the island. They only needed to wait for specific information from Speedwagon's SPW Foundation.
However, he knew that the German army would intervene. At this point, the German military had conquered most of Europe but was troubled by how to maintain long-term rule.
The rumored Stone Mask and Super Aja were said to hold the secret of immortality. They needed this power to solve their problem, and it was also a secret that would drive the world mad if revealed.
Lin Jiu didn't have high hopes for their goal. The Stone Mask stimulated the human body, giving humans great power and transforming them into vampires. Kars and his kind needed the Super Aja because the regular Stone Mask couldn't stimulate their bodies anymore; they needed the Super Aja's enhancement.
But human bodies hadn't reached the level of Kars' immortal race. Using the Super Aja with the Stone Mask would likely result in the same outcome as Muzan Kibutsuji injecting pure blood into an ordinary person—cellular collapse and death!
However, Lin Jiu wondered what would happen if it were used on contractors. Their physical strength, power, and agility would likely increase significantly. However, the success rate would undoubtedly be low, and the side effects after success would probably be severe.
"Let's go. We're heading to Rome!"
Lisa Lisa said after hanging up the phone.
As the group left the hotel, Lin Jiu suddenly stopped, his gaze sharpening. Lisa Lisa quickly followed, sensing something was wrong. They were being watched, and not by just one person.
"Come out!"
Lin Jiu demanded coldly.
Figures emerged from the shadows, around seventeen in total, all contractors. They were grouped temporarily. A tall, two-meter blonde contractor stepped forward, acting as the leader.
"Be careful; this guy's name is Doran. He's as strong as I am!"
Gentle Youth warned Lin Jiu.
"As strong as you? If you say so, then I feel relieved. I thought he was a real tough guy."
Lin Jiu sized up jim.
Gentle Youth: ???
"Honorable Hamon Warriors, we don't want any conflict with you, but we'd like to borrow the Super Aja necklace for a few days," Doran politely addressed Lisa Lisa.
"You're not working for Kars, are you?"
JoJo was already preparing for battle, holding his Steel Ball.
"No, no, no! We just want to borrow the Super Aja necklace for a few days! If you're worried, you can watch us the whole time!"
Doran denied.
"You've got some nerve! Why should we give it to you and then watch you? We're quite busy, you know!"
Caesar was the first to curse at them.
Lisa Lisa nodded and said, "Although this young man is a bit harsh, he's not wrong."
"Hey, Caesar, have you ever seen anyone so shameless?"
JoJo mocked.
Caesar played along, saying, "I thought you were the most shameless person, JoJo, but it seems there's always someone worse!"
The contractors were agitated, muttering angrily.
Doran raised his hand to quiet them and said to the main group, "We can help you fight Kars. We just need to hold the Super Aja necklace for a few days. If you doubt our strength, we can prove it!"
"I've seen some of you before, in Venice. It's hard for me to trust you since you've been planning something from back then."
Lisa Lisa's words darkened Doran's face.
"I think it's a good idea."
Lin Jiu suddenly spoke up. His side was visibly shocked, not expecting one of their own to agree.
Doran didn't know who Lin Jiu was, but since he seemed to be speaking for them, the contractors looked at Lin Jiu with friendly expressions.
"Let's make a contract—if Kars isn't dead, you all die!"
Lin Jiu said to Doran. If they agreed to the contract, they couldn't return to the Reincarnation Paradise without killing Kars, meaning they would have to help with the boss fight.
"Seriously? You plan to trust them?"
Joseph Joestar, the ever-skeptical gentleman, questioned.
JoJo and the others thought it was just a regular agreement, but Doran and his group knew Lin Jiu was referring to a contract within the Reincarnation Paradise, one they couldn't break.
"That sounds great! Let's sign a contract!"
Gentle Youth immediately supported the idea.
Doran's face stiffened. A death battle with Kars? How many of them would survive? But if they refused, everything he'd just said would be like a joke, and Lisa Lisa definitely wouldn't trust them.
"Just our luck! Let's go!"
Doran signaled his group to leave.
After they left, Lin Jiu said, "These people are clearly after the Super Aja. They won't give up easily. I think they might join forces with Kars to steal the Super Aja. Contact Speedwagon and have the SPW Foundation keep an eye on them. If they show any signs of this, we'll strike first."
Although this derivative world had no factions, siding with Kars could give them a chance to obtain the Super Aja. Lin Jiu didn't want any more instability, so he planned to eliminate these contractors.
"You're right!"
Lisa Lisa immediately contacted Speedwagon to arrange surveillance.
Gentle Youth and the others quietly glanced at Lin Jiu, impressed by his ruthless tactics. Based on their understanding of Doran's group, Lin Jiu's prediction was highly likely. He intended to take out the contractors before they could cause any trouble.