41: My people are none of your business!

Kraven glared fiercely at Locke, dumping the blame for the failed mission squarely on him.

His voice was cold, attempting to overwhelm Locke with his imposing presence and force him to confess.

Once Locke couldn't withstand his pressure,

and accidentally admitted to being a deserter who caused the mission's failure, then Kraven would have an excuse to execute Locke.

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However, he underestimated Locke.

In his eyes, Locke was merely a newly joined Vampire, no older than 25, whose experience should be vastly inferior to his.

Having gone through so much, how could Locke be simple? He stood calmly behind Serena and replied placidly:

“Everyone else is dead, killed by the Werewolves.”

The calmer he appeared, the more unwilling Kraven became, and his gaze grew increasingly fierce:

“Since they are all dead, why are you, a fellow traveler, unharmed?”

“As soon as we arrived, I felt unwell and went deep into the dense forest to relieve myself. Who knew that as soon as I returned...”

Speaking of this, his voice became a little choked, and he stopped.

Serena, very understandingly, turned around and held his hand: “Don't be nervous, speak slowly. As long as it's not your fault, no one can touch you.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Locke bowed his head, looking sorrowful: “Alas, who knew that as soon as I returned, I found them ambushed by the Werewolf Clan, all sacrificed. I could only hide in the shadows, not daring to make any sound, otherwise I certainly wouldn't have been spared either.”

He pushed all the blame onto the Werewolf Clan, making the story sound more plausible.

This was something he had already thought of before returning.

Kraven remained skeptical of this story, but he couldn't produce any evidence, so he could only change his approach and Diao Nan: “Since you saw your kin in trouble, why didn't you secretly assist them?”

“Since you saw your kin in trouble, why didn't you secretly assist them?”

“Even Elder Emilia and the others were no match, how could I, someone who just became a Vampire, do anything?” Locke remained calm.

Kraven didn't care about any of that. He even started slandering Locke, throwing his own actions onto him:

“You brat, tell me quickly, did you collude with the Werewolf Clan and cause Elder Emilia's death? Otherwise, why are you, the weakest one, the only one who survived?”

“I've already made it very clear.”

Locke was naturally neither humble nor arrogant. He could guess most of Kraven's thoughts.

It's just that Kraven didn't know he was the real mastermind, otherwise he probably wouldn't dare to falsely accuse him like this.

Kraven, with no evidence and only subjective accusations, was treating him like an inexperienced little rabbit.

Locke appeared unfazed, but in reality, he had already begun to despise Kraven.

“Could it be that he really thinks I'm a pretty boy kept by Serena?”

Just a failed plan, and he's already so flustered. It's simply mediocre, too mediocre.

“Does anyone believe this story of yours?”

“I believe it.” Serena stood up, cold as ice, and said firmly:

“Before he even left, I had already instructed him that if he encountered problems, saving his life was paramount. What... could it be, Kraven, that you would only be happy if he died?”

Serena stared intently into his eyes and retorted: “Or are you saying that the purpose of this mission was to have my subordinate die during it?”

As soon as she said this, everyone in the meeting turned their gaze to Kraven.

After all, the news of the mission's failure and the death of all personnel was released by him.

Now that Locke was alive, his intense reaction made anyone suspect something was fishy.

Furthermore, everyone knew he had a strong possessiveness and affection for Serena, but Serena ignored him.

Therefore, everyone had reason to suspect whether he intentionally sent Locke there.

“Kraven, you should explain. Why did you say the mission failed and everyone died, yet one person is still alive?”

“Sometimes, you have to be responsible for what you say.”

“This mission was originally handled by you. With its failure, you can't shirk responsibility, can you?”

As Serena spoke, the Vampires supporting her faction also immediately began to attack.

Everyone's angles were extremely tricky, almost catching Kraven off guard for a moment.

Kraven slammed the table:

“It's true that I presided over the mission, but its failure was due to the Werewolves interfering. Can you blame me for that?”

“Tsk, why are you already trying to shirk responsibility? Weren't you just gloriously trying to be the interim Elder?”

“Without even this much responsibility, how can you be an interim Elder?”

“I think the interim Elder should be taken by Serena. Kraven, you're still not steady enough.”

One of Serena's subordinates, an elderly-looking Vampire with white hair, spoke sharply, seizing the opportunity to nominate Serena as the interim Elder.

Kraven immediately became anxious upon hearing this. If Serena really became the interim Elder, all his efforts would be in vain.

So he immediately aimed his spear at Locke again, hoping to implicate Serena:

“Have you ever wondered why the Werewolves were able to find the mission's top-secret location? I believe this living brat colluded with the Werewolves and sold them the clues, which led to the mission's failure.”

He pointed his finger at Locke, his tone very agitated.

“Before I even set off or arrived, I didn't know the mission location. How could I have revealed it to the Werewolves?”

Locke wasn't stupid, how could he fall for it? He immediately retorted:

“Could I have foreseen it?”

“Regardless, the mission failed, Elder Emilia died, and you, as the escort personnel for this mission, cannot shirk responsibility either.”

Kraven didn't bother saying more, immediately bringing up the charge of dereliction of duty, which Locke couldn't possibly brush off:

“Guards, seize him and take him to the dungeon for a good lesson.”

“I'd like to see who dares.”

Serena glanced at him sideways, then with a bang, she pulled out a gun and slammed it on the table.

“My subordinate was derelict, I know how to punish him myself. Is it your turn to interfere?”

“You...”

“You what? He is my fledgling. By rights, a Vampire of your position has no right to handle him.”

Serena gave Kraven no face at all, directly shutting him up. She turned to Locke and said lightly:

“You were derelict in this mission. Are you willing to accept punishment?”

Locke saw the smile at the corner of Serena's mouth and immediately cooperated, putting his hands behind his back.

“Whatever Lady Serena decides.”

“Very good.”

Serena, a smile playing on her lips, grabbed his hand: “Then I shall punish you with three days of confinement in your room. During these three days, you are not allowed to go anywhere; just stay put.”

“I accept the punishment.”

After Serena finished all this, she turned around and gave Kraven a rather haughty glance.

Then she quickly pushed Locke towards her room.

She was now eager to ask Locke what exactly happened during his outing.

Kraven watched Serena and Locke, who seemed to be performing a duet, trembling with rage, unable to speak.

He had calculated everything, but he never expected Locke to return alive from such a deadly mission.

This completely exceeded his expectations and disrupted his rhythm.

Then, remembering Locke's meaningful glance back at him before stepping out the door,

he felt as if Locke was provoking him, which made him utterly furious:

“F***, useless, all useless.

It would have been fine if they died, but they let this guy come back alive.”