Jynx arrives in Blackshire Village to check on the dragon, and is met by Count Vlad Tempest, a human Sylvanian who addresses Jynx as "Shikouju" and challenges him to unarmed combat. Jynx forfeits the challenge, which makes Count Vlad the winner … but he calls the count an "idiot", earning the latter's ire.

When Jynx refuses to apologize, Count Vlad attacks him, pinning the cat's arm behind his back, until Jynx relents and claims that he's sorry. Born-in-Shame and Scarlet arrive in time to see Count Vlad's departure. Jynx plots revenge.