Director Edward

Chapter 249: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Premieres! (11)

The Summit of the Mage's Tower

As JoJo's Bizarre Adventure reached its climax, even the Archmages—who had remained silent until now—couldn't resist joining the discussion.

After all, at their level, they had already grasped a considerable understanding of the world's truths. Many things that were once unspeakable had long since become open secrets to them.

"I never expected that Durin would make a film like this, let alone depict vampires as the antagonists."

At Warden Archmage's remark, Dean Hohenheim pondered for a moment before responding:

"Vampires are, in a sense, a taboo subject in the Empire. That extermination war back then involved far too many factions."

"In a way, the Empire's current portrayal of vampires as noble figures is an attempt to pacify lingering resentment from all sides. What I don't understand, however, is why the Church hasn't interfered. To them, aren't vampires the ultimate heretics?"

"Well, the reason is simple—the Church was one of the major forces entangled in the Vampire War. And to eradicate the remaining vampires, they slaughtered countless innocents. Those sins… the truly devout members of the Church in that era spent their entire lives atoning for them."

"It's truly staggering. I've only read about that period in historical records, yet I still find it overwhelming. A massive war that engulfed the entire Empire, altering the fate of so many people… only to end in a façade of peace. It's far too tragic."

"Sometimes, a lie is not a lie—it's a gentle version of the truth. If the whole truth were known, who in the Empire could escape the reckoning for those sins?"

"At any rate, only the deepest archives of the Mage's Tower still hold records of that war. But even those records are riddled with gaps. The so-called 'truth of history' may have already been lost to time."

"…"

The discussion among the Archmages came to an end. Even they showed a deep sense of caution toward this historical event and chose not to delve further into it, shifting the conversation back to the film itself.

"In this movie, vampires are created by that eerie mask. While the exact mechanism is unclear, the traits of these vampires are almost identical to the ones we know from reality. If that's the case, these vampires might also be capable of turning ordinary people into their kind, just like real ones."

"The one who obtained the Stone Mask is Dio Brando—a man utterly devoid of morality, willing to use any means necessary. If he ever finds himself in a desperate situation, he'll almost certainly resort to this dangerous trump card."

"If that happens, the Joestar family will be in grave danger. No ordinary human can possibly stand against a vampire."

"…"

With just a few brief exchanges, the Archmages had already deduced the general direction of the plot.

Clearly, when it came to storytelling, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure—with its straightforward main narrative and distinct character personalities—offered little suspense for minds as perceptive as theirs.

...

Duke's Manor in the Southern Territories

As the vampire made its entrance, Duke Constantine, Daphne, and her attendants were all slightly taken aback. None of them had expected the vampire to appear in such a grotesque form.

After all, this depiction differed somewhat from their understanding of what a vampire should be.

What was even stranger, however, was that despite noticing this discrepancy, they still found it entirely natural—almost as if vampires were always meant to be terrifying and hideous creatures.

True Ancestor Arcueid observed everything in silence, yet despite her keen insight, she made no attempt to correct or explain. Instead, she simply smiled and remarked:

"What an interesting story."

Hearing such a remark from a True Ancestor of vampires left everyone stunned.

Given her status, one would expect her to be displeased by such a portrayal—perhaps even see it as an insult. Yet, she had so effortlessly accepted the depiction, leaving the others struggling to make sense of it.

Of course, no one in the duke's household dared to question their ancient forebear. So, they could only remain silent, keeping their doubts buried deep within.

...

The Story Continues

As the movie progressed, Dio, having uncovered the true power of the Stone Mask, returned to the Joestar estate in exhaustion.

However, instead of the warmth of a crackling fireplace, what awaited him was Jonathan—standing in a dimly lit room, surrounded by flickering candlelight.

"I've finally found the proof, Dio—the evidence of your devilish scheme!"

"..."

Dio's face immediately contorted in panic. He hadn't expected Jonathan to confront him so directly.

Yet, despite realizing he was cornered, Dio showed no intention of fleeing. Instead, he clenched his teeth, his eyes betraying a resolute determination.

Jonathan slowly set down his candle and spoke with a heavy heart:

"I've already found the antidote and given it to Father. My heart is heavy, Dio. We grew up as brothers, but now, I have no choice but to turn you over to the police… It pains me deeply. You may not understand, but these words come from the bottom of my heart."

Hearing Jonathan's heartfelt confession, Dio calmly took a seat, as if in acceptance, and replied:

"That kindness… It's just like you, JoJo. I know this is selfish, but I have one last request. Just a little time—give me a moment to turn myself in to the police."

Jonathan was taken aback—he had fully expected Dio to resist until the bitter end. He never imagined Dio would accept reality so easily.

But in truth, Dio had no intention of surrendering. He was merely waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike—to eliminate Jonathan once and for all.

"I regret my past, JoJo. Growing up in the slums twisted my ambitions, leading me to chase meaningless desires. To think I would stoop so low—to poison my own benefactor, to covet the wealth that raised me… My decision to turn myself in is proof of my remorse. If I had wanted to escape, I would have fled the country long ago!"

As he spoke, Dio even shed 'tears of remorse.'

Seeing Dio's seemingly heartfelt emotions, Jonathan hesitated, a wave of sympathy rising in his heart.

And just as he was about to step forward—while Dio's hand was already reaching into his coat—a voice suddenly rang out from the distance.

"Mr. Joestar, be careful! Don't believe a word that bastard says!"

At that moment, Speedwagon, from Ogre Street, emerged from the shadows at the side of the room, a cold smirk on his face as he fixed his gaze on a now visibly flustered Dio.

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