Michael looked confused, his eyes wide with fear and disorientation. "I don't know. I don't know what happened. I ran home after the shooting at the subway station, and they caught me right after I arrived. I didn't even see the werewolf you mentioned."
Seeing that Michael knew absolutely nothing, Selene's faint flicker of interest died. Her face went blank with disappointment. She turned and gave a sharp jerk of her head to Soren, and they both stepped outside the cell-like room, pulling the heavy door shut.
"Soren, let him go."
Soren's head snapped toward her, his expression a mix of confusion and protest. "Let him go? Selene, many of us died capturing him, and we're just releasing him?"
Selene's voice was low and cold, devoid of any emotion. "It's obvious at first glance he knows nothing. What's the point of keeping him? Let him go. Send someone to follow him, and see what the werewolves are after."
She crossed her arms. "This time, we won't interfere. We just see where the werewolves take him. Only if we know their location can we eliminate them all at once. Aren't you curious about where these werewolves are hiding?"
After hearing Selene's words, Soren's expression shifted. The protest vanished, replaced by a slow, dawning understanding.
"I'm genuinely curious about where they're hiding," he said, his voice a low growl. "They say they're almost extinct, but so many appeared this time. The one you met at the subway station and the ones I encountered at his house. The total numbers don't suggest near-extinction. Quite the opposite."
His expression hardened. "Use this kid as bait to find the nest and lure out all those filthy werewolves."
After the two reached agreement, they turned and re-entered the room. Michael flinched as the door opened.
"Since you know nothing, you can go home now."
Selene produced a simple, black business card from her coat and handed it to Michael. "If you're attacked by werewolves again, call me."
Looking at the card as if it might bite him, Michael numbly took it.
Soren nodded toward the door. "You can leave now."
After Michael confirmed he could actually leave, his movements still shaky and uncertain, he departed the castle, walking quickly, never once looking back.
Selene walked to a tall, narrow window. She watched out of it as Michael's small figure walked safely from the castle grounds and disappeared into the dark street, then she looked away.
At that moment, Kraven entered the room, followed by Kahn. He glanced out the window, his gaze sharp. "I saw you let that kid go?"
Selene nodded, turning from the window. "There's no point keeping him. We might as well see where the werewolves take him. Soren's team will follow in secret."
Soren spoke up, his tone practical. "I placed a tracker on him. He can't get lost, even during daylight hours."
Kraven nodded, then took a deep, almost theatrical breath and looked at Selene. "I apologize to you. Your judgment was correct. Werewolves haven't disappeared or gone extinct. They're even equipped with more powerful weapons. Next, I'll have someone investigate these weapons' origins. I believe it won't be long before we know whether they came from the military or government."
Selene felt a genuine flicker of surprise. Her eyes widened, just barely, before her expression turned impassive again. This power-obsessed man had actually learned to apologize.
"Now that you've confirmed werewolf activity," she said, her voice cool, "the next step is eliminating them."
Kraven shook his head. "This is a special period. The power transfer and the elder awakening are approaching. Not only can I not send anyone out, even those Death Dealers you deployed must return to defend the castle."
Hearing Kraven's words, Selene's face showed a flash of cold disappointment. "My people have their own assignments. I'll explain to my father when he wakes."
In Selene's mind, the Dragon Ball matter far outweighed the resurgence of a few werewolves. It was impossible for her to recall those Death Dealers.
Kahn, sensing the frost in the air, quickly stepped forward to ease the tension between them. "Based on the weapons you brought back, I've developed new weapons. Take a look."
Kahn produced a new, silver-white pistol and handed it to Selene.
Selene took the new pistol. Her movements were fluid and practiced. She checked it, loaded a magazine, and pulled the trigger in one smooth motion. The shot was a sharp crack, and the bullet struck the head of a nearby stone statue.
The statue's head, where the bullet hit, didn't chip. Instead, it began leaking a liquid similar to mercury, which sizzled as it ran down the stone.
Kahn looked at Selene. "Open the magazine and look."
Selene ejected the magazine. She examined the new bullets, and her eyebrows rose in genuine surprise. "You imitated the werewolf's ammunition. Silver nitrate. This will be a lethal weapon."
She looked at Kahn. "They won't be dug out and expelled from the body like the bullets we used before."
Kahn took the pistol back, his expression proud. "It goes straight into the bloodstream. Nothing comes out."
Selene handed the pistol to Soren, who studied it briefly, feeling its weight before saying, "If I'd had this weapon yesterday, that werewolf would never have escaped."
Kahn nodded. "We'll mass-produce it as soon as possible, so all Death Dealers can be equipped with new weapons."
Kraven looked at Selene, his brief moment of apology gone, replaced by his usual commanding tone. "Elder Amelia will arrive soon. I hope there won't be any disturbances within the castle's vicinity. Everything with the werewolves will be settled after the handover ceremony."
Without waiting for Selene's reply, Kraven took Kahn and left the room.
Watching them depart, Soren turned to Selene, his voice lowered. "Selene, do you believe Lucian is really dead, like Kraven claims?"
Selene looked at Soren with some surprise. He was, after all, Kraven's number one supporter.
"You should be very familiar with Kraven's war stories," she said.
Soren nodded, his expression troubled. "Yes. It's because of his war stories that I support him so much. You have to understand that after the war, countless people worshipped Kraven. Even the new generation of vampires grew up hearing his stories."
His brow furrowed. "But the werewolf resurgence has made me uncertain about those stories. After all, there's no evidence proving he killed Lucian. He didn't bring back a body, only a piece of skin and his story."
Selene smirked, a faint, cold expression. "I never believed Kraven's story. But my father believed him, and that's what matters. Maybe you can investigate relevant information, or dig deeper through that Michael this time. Maybe there will be unexpected discoveries."
Hearing Selene's words, Soren frowned slightly, studying her. "What about you? I feel like you don't seem to care much. I heard at the beginning you were very concerned about this matter and even wanted to lead the team yourself."
Selene smiled, but the expression didn't reach her eyes. "I have more important things to do. As for what they are, you'll have a chance to know later."
After saying that, Selene turned and left the room, her long coat swirling behind her. What she had to do next was meet with the dark web buyer and find a suitable location for the transaction.
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