22: Task Re-triggered

"Very well."

Serena knew that objecting was useless, so she didn't show much expression upon hearing this, and could only silently lower her hand.

Although she didn't object, she had already begun to think of a countermeasure in her heart:

"It really is like this. Just as Michael said, he wants to make a move on Elder Emilia. In that case, I have no choice but to go secretly."

At this moment, the Vampire who had just sat down deliberately raised his hand and said with a hint of concern:

"But Lord Kraven, if Lady Serena doesn't go, then we'll be one person short. What should we do about that?"

While saying this, he subconsciously glanced at Locke.

With Locke's cautious nature, he naturally wouldn't fail to notice his little action, but he didn't make a scene, wanting instead to see what they were actually up to.

"Hmm, you've considered this question very well."

After tapping the table and feigning thought, Kraven aimed his spearhead at Locke.

"Since Serena cannot go, then let her subordinate Vampire go instead."

Speaking of this, he looked at Locke with a smile,

"I think as the first Vampire converted by Serena, you shouldn't refuse such a simple task, right?"

As soon as he finished speaking, with a 'ding', Locke discovered that the system had triggered a mission again.

【 Ding -- Key node appeared, important side mission triggered. Please choose whether to accept 】

Mission Description: Please save or kill Vampire Elder Emilia. You will receive varying degrees of rewards based on the host's performance.

Mission Difficulty: Low

Settlement Reward: ★★

Locke did not hesitate and immediately chose to accept it.

This mission coincided with his own plan; there was no reason not to accept it.

The next second,

With a loud 'bang',

his attention was immediately pulled back to reality.

Serena stood up, slamming the table, and blocked him behind her. She stared at Kraven murderously and said viciously:

"Kraven, I think I warned you not to target him. Have you forgotten?"

The meeting room suddenly became deathly silent.

Those who didn't know the truth didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

Kraven shrugged, showing a helpless expression:

"Going to welcome Elder Emilia isn't a very difficult task. I was just trying to be kind and let your subordinate go out and see the world, yet it somehow becomes my fault?"

As soon as he finished speaking, his subordinates hurriedly chimed in.

"That's right, Lady Serena. Going to welcome Elder Emilia won't cause any trouble. Lord Kraven is truly acting out of good intentions."

"Yeah, yeah. Besides, with Elder Emilia there, there definitely won't be any issues, so why are you so angry?"

"Besides, I think this little brother, being a man, shouldn't be afraid, right?"

It was obvious that they had colluded beforehand.

And looking at this mission on the surface, it was indeed as simple as Kraven described.

This was an open conspiracy, an unavoidable one at that.

Kraven crossed his arms, watching Locke and Serena with ease, looking as if the situation was completely under his control.

Locke, Serena, and even Erica all knew it clearly, knowing what his goal was.

The few people chattered on incessantly, and with every sentence, Serena's expression grew uglier:

"Impossible. I absolutely do not agree. He just joined us and hasn't undergone combat training yet. How can he go on a mission like this?"

"What is there to train for?"

Kraven remained grinning: "It's just going through the motions; it's not like he's going to war. This is an opportunity others would beg for."

"You!" Serena was so angry she pointed directly at Kraven's face, unable to speak for a long while.

"Since he has joined the Vampire Clan, he should make some contributions. I am doing this for his own good. Serena, don't be ungrateful."

"Kraven, since you want it this way, don't blame me."

Serena was overcome with anger and reached directly for the gun strapped to her thigh, wanting to just break ties openly.

She couldn't just hand Locke's life over to Kraven like this.

So she planned that even if it meant fighting Kraven to the death right here, she would not agree to let Locke go to his death.

Just as Serena's hand was about to touch the gun,

Locke, who had been silent and watching the whole time, smiled and reached out to place his hand on her shoulder, then shook his head at her.

"Since Lord Kraven thinks so highly of me, I naturally won't refuse."

"I will accept this mission."

After saying all this, Locke secretly exhaled.

"Fortunately, I noticed Serena's action under the table, otherwise my plan to save the Star Slave would have been ruined."

To tell the truth, he hadn't spoken earlier mainly because he wanted to see what Kraven was planning.

He didn't expect it to be such a low-class tactic.

But fortunately, this move by Kraven made him clearly realize how important he was in Serena's heart right now.

Seeing the plan succeed, Kraven immediately clapped his hands:

"What ambition. Truly worthy of being Lady Serena's man. Three days from now, at 12 midnight, that is when you depart. Don't be late; I have high hopes for you."

"Thank you. I will absolutely not be late, and I will absolutely not embarrass Lady Serena."

Locke pretended to agree with a face full of joy.

But as soon as he finished speaking, Serena stood up, grabbed his hand, and walked out of the conference room without looking back.

The remaining neutrals who didn't understand at all, or who just didn't want to get involved, also stood up and left.

Erica glanced at the two's backs, wanting to follow them, but in order to complete the mission Locke had entrusted her with—to scout for information—she held back.

"No, Kraven doing this is definitely up to no good. I must find out the information clearly."

Thinking of this, she set her sights on Kraven.

At this moment, Kraven was beyond furious.

Seeing Serena being so intimate with Locke, and not even avoiding people, was equivalent to rubbing salt in his wounds.

Plus the fact that Serena had gone against him for Locke's sake during the meeting just now,

Kraven's pale face was livid with anger, the muscles on his entire face twitching slightly. It took him a long while to calm down and recover.

Then, with a cold sneer, he beckoned to the few subordinates who hadn't left yet:

"Follow the plan and take that pretty boy out for me."

"Understood."

"Remember, don't even leave his corpse intact. After you kill him, throw him under the sun for me."

"Lord Kraven, rest assured. This time, it is impossible for him to come back alive."

Seeing that Kraven had no other instructions, Claube led four Vampires and bowed before retreating.

When they left, their faces actually carried smiles; they didn't take this mission very seriously.

After all, in their view,

Locke was just a newly joined rookie,

and any one of them was a veteran Vampire warrior of over a hundred years.

Five killing one—wasn't that easy? It was a piece of cake.

Plus, with the help of the Werewolf Clan, killing a weakling like Locke was as easy as pie.

As everyone left, Kraven turned his gaze to Erica and probed:

"Erica, you won't tell that kid what I just said, right?"

"Naturally not."

Erica, who had long anticipated this, didn't change her expression and said with a smile: "In my heart, you are the most important one. How could he compare to you?"

"Besides, even if he dies, he deserves it. Who told him to be blind and dare to hook up with Lady Serena."

Kraven stared intently at her face, and only after several seconds did he show a smile.

"I still have to trouble you. Keep an eye on him from today until tomorrow; don't let him run away."

"Alright, I'll go now."

Erica agreed with a smile and then left the conference room as if nothing had happened.

Throughout the entire process, she didn't reveal a single flaw.

And in the room, after watching her leave, Kraven quietly retracted the sharp claws he had been hiding behind his back.