Chapter 1368: An Honest Answer As soon as Blackjack arrived, Kai didn’t waste time. He led the vampire straight into one of the three private offices he’d had built inside the manor. Kai had envisioned moments like this, important, private conversations with members of the team or external parties. He worked better in structured environments, and an office allowed him to stay focused. That’s why he’d had an architect carefully design the manor, optimizing layout and access points so he could move quickly and efficiently throughout his day. “This whole place smells new,” Blackjack said, sniffing the air. “There’s a mix of moisture in the wood… and I’m guessing you brought me straight here so I wouldn’t see Gary? I can smell he’s here. Along with the others.” Kai took his seat in the spinning chair behind his desk. Without replying, he calmly picked up his phone and tapped the record button, placing it face-down in front of him. “For the record,” Kai said, voice firm. “And if you already knew that, then why are you asking me questions? You think I’m hiding something? Going behind Gary’s back?” His golden eyes narrowed. “Right now, Gary’s busy. So if you have something to say, then you’ll be saying it to me, unless I’m not good enough for that.” Kai prided himself on controlling his emotions. Even in stressful moments, he remained composed. But something about this meeting… even he was feeling a flicker of irritation, and that was rare, especially in front of a vampire. “So,” Kai continued, his tone sharp, “I hope your visit comes with good news. Or at the very least, something worth tracking down. Maybe even a message.” Blackjack finally took his seat across from him, crossing one leg over the other. “First of all,” he said bluntly, “stop sending your people around asking about the settlement. Are you trying to stir up more rumors?” There hadn’t been much contact with the vampires lately, and Kai had been hoping to change that, especially before the full moon arrived. Since Edvard’s return, they’d had no real insight into the vampires’ current stance. Had their failed attack made them retreat? Or were they simply regrouping for another strike? Kai doubted he’d get the full truth, but he had always been good at reading between the lines. That’s why he asked. “It worked, didn’t it?” Kai said. “That’s why you’re here. And if you really want to know why I wanted to talk, it’s this: What are the settlement’s plans?” He leaned forward slightly. “I see it’s you here this time, not your king like before.” “You’re as sharp as ever,” Blackjack replied, smirking. “But let me clarify something first.” His expression grew serious. “I owe Gary a lot. Without him, there’s a good chance I’d still be locked in that prison… or worse, dead. And if Edvard had fallen? That would’ve been a disaster for our family.” “When he returned, he did everything in his power to paint Gary in a positive light. He fought to make the settlement understand that the Howlers weren’t our enemies.” Blackjack’s eyes flickered with emotion. “My loyalty is to my family first. The settlement second.” Hearing those words, Kai’s frustration softened. He felt a twinge of guilt for the harsh way he’d started the conversation. The vampire hierarchy was different from the werewolf world. Unlike the unified structure of a pack, the vampire settlement was a tangled web of families, opinions, and old grudges. “Thanks for telling me that,” Kai said. “Gary’s mentioned he saw Edvard in a good light. Same goes for Innu. The way I see it, we’ve fought side by side. I’d rather avoid another confrontation.” Blackjack gave a nod in agreement, and for a moment, there was a rare silence, tense, but respectful. Then Blackjack continued. “With all that said… the settlement has asked me to deliver a message. Going forward, all communication will go through me, as Edvard intended.” Kai leaned back, listening closely. “As of now, the settlement has no plans to pursue Lupus or his group. Worldwide, the Altered Hunters are being disbanded from the inside. The settlement’s focus is on the Altered situation.” Kai raised an eyebrow. That was vague, on purpose, most likely. Was the settlement trying to dissolve the Altered organizations like NIRV from the shadows? Or were they secretly orchestrating the chaos behind it all to gain favor or power? “We acknowledge what you’ve done for us,” Blackjack continued. “Which is why the king wanted me to deliver this offer personally: If the Howlers ever find themselves in a serious battle… we’ll make sure your backs are covered. So don’t worry.” Kai couldn’t help but chuckle. “I see… You’re saying, ‘we’re not getting involved’, but at the same time, ‘don’t be afraid to take down Lupus yourself.’ And the part about our backs being covered? That has to be a subtle nod to the Dark Guild.” He sighed and leaned forward on the desk. “Alright. Let me ask you something, your opinion, not the settlement’s. If we were to defeat Lupus and his group, what would the settlement do then?” Blackjack didn’t hesitate. “I think there’s a fifty-fifty chance they’ll leave you alone,” he said. “The king seems to like Gary, at least, a little. But the existence of a powerful werewolf pack will always be a concern. If you succeed where they failed… you become the next threat.” Kai nodded slowly, impressed. “That’s… a pretty honest answer. More than I expected.” “And now,” Kai said, narrowing his eyes, “what if we didn’t fight Lupus? What if we made an alliance instead?” Blackjack actually laughed at that. “That would never happen. Has never happened. Your hypothetical makes no sense.” Kai smirked and tapped his desk. “Just humor me. Give me an answer.” Blackjack straightened, his smile fading. His tone was cold. “If that happened… it would be a full-out war between vampires and werewolves.” *** For updates for MWS and future works, please follow me on my social media below. Instagram: Jksmanga P.a.t.r.e.o.n: jksmanga When news of MVS, MWS or any other series comes out, you will be able to see it there first, and you can reach out to me. If I’m not too busy, I tend to reply.