Chapter 236: Squad Seven’s Gifts

"Blake was captured."

The sentence was enough to kill every conversation inside the small improvised camp.

The six werewolves were hidden in a forested region relatively close to the Capital, far enough from the main roads not to draw suspicion but close enough to enter Valentine territory within a few hours.

There was no campfire, no tents, or anything that would suggest a prolonged occupation.

Only a few stones covered by dark cloaks, equipment scattered among the roots, and natural-energy runes buried in the ground to distort the senses of any vampire passing nearby.

A large man with grayish hair tied behind his head raised his eyes.

"Captured how?"

"We don’t know."

The werewolf who had brought the information clenched his teeth.

"His mark disappeared for a few minutes. Then it returned completely motionless inside the facilities."

Another stood.

"That’s bad."

"Wow, really?" a woman beside him replied. "Blake was one of the best infiltrators we had. If he was caught inside the Royal Palace, it means they figured out how to pierce the camouflage."

"Or he fucked up."

"Blake doesn’t fuck up."

The oldest member of the group remained silent while studying a small map spread across a stone.

There were numerous markings around the Valentine facilities, some publicly known and others obtained through months of espionage.

The original plan depended on Blake getting inside, confirming the objective’s location, and preparing an internal route for the rest of the group.

Now that was gone.

He ran a hand over his face.

"Send a message to Central."

The others looked at him.

"We’re moving the plan forward."

"Without Blake’s confirmation?"

"We don’t have a choice."

He tapped one of the markings with a finger.

"We need that thing before the Valentines understand why we’re here. If Blake talks, every route will be closed."

"He won’t talk."

"Everyone talks."

The woman let out a small laugh.

"You have a lot of faith in vampires."

"I have faith in torture."

That ended the discussion.

One of the werewolves pulled a small metal device covered in inscriptions from his pocket.

It was not vampire technology.

Inside was a compressed natural stone connected to dozens of tiny hand-carved lines.

He pressed the center, and a thin layer of green energy appeared around the object.

The man brought it close to his mouth.

"Unit Six to Central. Blake has been captured. We suspect the internal route has been compromised. Requesting authorization to begin stage two immediately. Repeating: we are moving the plan forward. The objective remains absolute priority. We need to recover it before it is moved."

He released the button.

The stone flashed.

The message disappeared.

For less than a second, no one spoke.

Then they all felt it.

An invisible pressure descended over the small camp.

It was not crushing.

It was worse.

Absolute precision.

All six realized at the same time that their bodies had been marked by something that had not been there seconds earlier.

The leader slowly raised his eyes.

A woman stood between the trees.

Long, voluminous light-blue hair fell down her back, contrasting with the white-and-black military uniform fitted perfectly to her body.

High boots, a belt, bracers, and metallic details completed the appearance of an officer who had made no effort to hide her rank.

She was smiling.

It was not a pleasant smile.

"Look what I found."

The six werewolves stood instantly.

Natural energy exploded around them.

Claws emerged.

Fangs grew.

The leader took one step forward.

"Mirella Voss."

Mirella tilted her head.

"Ah. You know me."

"Captain of Squad Seven."

"Then this will be easier."

She took another step.

"Kneel."

No one obeyed.

Mirella sighed.

"I always try."

A presence appeared behind them.

There had been no footstep.

No movement of leaves.

Only killing intent so absurd that two of the werewolves immediately turned around.

They found a little girl.

Or at least something that looked like one.

Nera stood only a few meters behind the group with her enormous scythe resting over one shoulder.

Her childish face held a smile far too calm in front of six werewolves ready to kill, while her eyes followed every movement of their hands.

"Lower the claws."

Her smile widened.

"Before I cut them off."

One of the werewolves growled.

"She’s a child."

The companion beside him went pale.

"Idiot."

Nera tilted her head.

"Can you repeat that?"

He did not.

The leader realized the full problem a few seconds later.

It was not only Mirella and that little abomination.

Above them, two women sat on opposite branches.

Liora and Liria Vane.

Their nearly identical faces held equally amused expressions.

Liora sat with one leg swinging in the air, while Liria crouched on the branch, watching the group as though only waiting for permission to jump.

To the left stood Yvonne.

Short black hair, completely relaxed posture, and a long sword already drawn.

She said nothing.

She did not need to.

Her eyes moved between the six, identifying distance, joint position, and possible escape routes.

On the right side stood Dahlia Rehn.

She adjusted the glasses on the bridge of her nose and examined the werewolves with an almost offensive degree of interest.

"Oh."

One of them stepped back.

Dahlia smiled.

"They’re very healthy."

"I didn’t like the way she said that," someone muttered.

"Neither did I."

Mirella crossed her arms.

The six were completely surrounded.

Dahlia stepped forward.

"Let’s make one thing clear."

Everyone looked at her.

"You are not going to die."

For a moment, that sounded positive.

Until she added:

"I need to run experiments on you."

The silence was immediate.

Yvonne glanced sideways.

"Sadist."

Dahlia placed a hand over her chest.

"I am a researcher."

"You smiled."

"Because I’m happy about the scientific possibilities."

"Same thing."

Liora raised a hand from the branch.

"Can I keep one?"

Liria immediately raised hers too.

"I want another one!"

Dahlia frowned.

"Don’t ruin the organs."

"No promises!" the twins answered together.

The werewolves exchanged looks.

The leader made the decision.

"BREAK THE ENCIRCLEMENT!"

Natural energy exploded.

One charged Mirella.

Two jumped toward the twins.

Another tried to open space against Yvonne, while the remaining two turned to attack Nera.

Mirella did not even change posture.

"Nera."

The world went quiet.

For a single second.

Nera disappeared.

The sound of the scythe cutting through the air came afterward.

Six shining lines appeared in space almost simultaneously.

The werewolves stopped.

One tried to move his arm.

He could not.

Another took one step and dropped to his knees.

The third’s claws fell to the ground along with part of his reinforced gloves.

The fourth tried to turn and discovered that the main tendons in his legs had been cut with enough precision to disable him without striking any major arteries.

The fifth lost control of his shoulder.

The sixth simply fell backward when the scythe passed so close to his neck that it shaved a single line of fur.

None of them died.

But all six were completely neutralized.

Nera reappeared in the exact spot where she had been before.

She spun the scythe.

A small amount of blood slid along the blade.

"Done."

Liora’s eyes widened.

"Oh, come on!"

Liria pointed indignantly.

"IT’S BORING when she takes everything!"

"You were slow."

"No one said we could start!"

"Mirella said my name."

"That doesn’t count!"

"Yes, it does."

Dahlia approached the first fallen werewolf and examined the cuts.

Her expression became sad.

"Now I have to heal all of them."

Yvonne partially sheathed her sword.

"You’re sad because you have to heal them?"

"I wanted to study them first."

"Definitely a sadist."

"Shut up."

Mirella looked over the six prisoners scattered across the ground.

None of them could fight, but all were alive and conscious.

One was still trying to drag himself using an elbow.

Mirella planted a boot on his back.

"Stay still."

He growled.

She increased the pressure.

"Good boy."

The man stopped.

Mirella let out a long sigh.

"I think this is kind of boring."

Dahlia raised her head while stabilizing one of the severed legs.

"What?"

"Keeping them here. Interrogating them. Filling out reports. Sending them to another facility."

Liora dropped from the branch.

"Agreed."

Liria landed beside her.

"Too much bureaucracy."

Mirella looked toward the distant Capital.

Then smiled.

"How about we take these intruders to the main event?"

Dahlia stopped.

Yvonne slowly turned her head.

Mirella spread her arms.

"Think about it. A hall full of the most important people in the Valentine Family, everyone dressed nicely, drinking expensive blood and pretending to be civilized. Then we walk in dragging six werewolves across the floor."

Liora started laughing.

So did Liria.

Mirella continued:

"I would love to watch them try to kill each other in front of important people."

Dahlia stared at her.

"And I’m the sadist."

Mirella smiled.

"Let’s go."

---

In the middle of the banquet, Victor leaned against a pillar with his eyes closed.

Enough time had passed since Anette’s entrance for people to return to pretending everything was normal.

Music played, servants moved around with drinks, and small groups formed throughout the hall.

For almost everyone there, it was an excellent opportunity to build relationships, negotiate favors, and meet important people.

For Victor, it was a pain in the ass.

He had already been approached by members of at least six different Valentine branches.

Some wanted to congratulate him on the Ascension Ritual.

Others asked about his training with Rakshasa.

Two tried to discreetly find out whether he had any interest in their daughters.

One man spent almost fifteen minutes explaining the history of a family technique Victor had never asked about.

Victor tried to be polite.

He quickly discovered he did not have enough charisma for that.

Or patience.

At that moment, he remained leaning against the pillar as though asleep on his feet, holding a glass he had barely touched.

"You look excited."

Victor opened one eye.

Grace had stopped beside him.

She leaned against the pillar too, keeping a small distance between them.

"I’m living the best moment of my life."

Grace looked at his face.

"You look like you want to die."

"Exactly."

She let out a small laugh.

Victor opened both eyes.

"And you?"

"I didn’t want to come either."

"Then why did you?"

Grace hesitated.

"My father told me to."

Victor nodded.

"Fair."

The two spent a few seconds watching the hall.

Grace looked different than usual in that dress, mainly because Victor was used to seeing her in training clothes, surrounded by ice, or trying to destroy someone.

She was also quieter than usual.

Victor noticed.

"Want to ask something?"

Grace turned slightly red.

"No."

"All right."

He closed his eyes again.

Grace frowned.

"You could insist."

"I don’t have the energy."

She took a deep breath.

"You and Rakshasa are..."

The enormous doors to the hall flew open.

Victor opened his eyes.

Everyone turned toward the entrance.

Mirella Voss appeared.

Her white-and-black uniform contrasted violently with the dresses, suits, and noble clothing throughout the hall.

She walked with complete calm while holding what looked like an improvised rope.

Except it was not a rope.

It was tails.

Behind her, six werewolves were being dragged across the floor.

Two still had their legs partially immobilized.

Another had his arms wrapped in thick bandages made by Dahlia.

All six were conscious, humiliated, and furious.

Nera came right behind her, carrying the scythe over one shoulder.

Liora and Liria were arguing about who would have defeated more enemies if Nera had not stolen the fight.

Dahlia carried a box of medical equipment.

Yvonne simply followed in silence.

The entire hall stopped.

Victor looked at the scene.

Then smiled genuinely for the first time that night.

"Captain."

Mirella heard him as she passed near the pillar.

She turned her head.

Victor raised his glass.

"Long time no see."

Mirella smiled.

"How are you, recruit?"

"Bored."

"I noticed."

She lifted the tails in her hand slightly, making the six werewolves complain as they were dragged across the marble.

"Brought you a present since you’re bored."