He transformed into a handsome man.
The man had a sickly pale complexion, with skin that was pale and bluish; his eyes were bloodshot and his pupils were deep; his lips were thin, revealing a pair of sharp vampire fangs; his hair was light-colored; and his expression was cold and arrogant.
Upon seeing the newcomer's face, Lucian's aura suddenly intensified, his pupils contracted sharply, and he roared in a tense voice:
" Marcus! All personnel on high alert!"
Raze reacted immediately, leading the front guard to press forward and form a defensive line between Marcus and the clansmen in the hall, adopting a defensive posture. Many Werewolf in the back row were then jolted out of their daze of revenge and looked towards the door.
Many people looked puzzled when they saw him alone and didn't recognize him, but upon hearing his name, they understood that he was Marcus, one of the three elders of the vampire clan.
Everyone tensed up, ready to attack at any moment, after all, they had just executed one of the vampire elders.
But Marcus stood still, raised his hand to reassure her, and said:
"Don't be nervous, I'm not here to start a war."
As he spoke, his gaze swept casually across the execution platform, landing on Selene, before shifting to the shadowy corner of the hall, where he precisely spotted Kraven, who had already shrunk into the shadows.
With just a glance, Selene's hand unconsciously tightened. Kraven shuddered, shrinking even further into the shadow of the stone pillar. He couldn't help it; he was feeling incredibly uneasy!
Hearing Marcus's words, the Werewolf did not relax, but the sense of oppression in their hearts eased slightly. Their wary eyes remained fixed on the uninvited guest at the door.
Lucian stared intently at him. "If you're not here to fight, then what is your purpose in coming here?"
"You've finished executing everyone. I'll take Viktor's body with me. That's not an unreasonable request, is it?"
Upon hearing this, Raze was in the front row, looked displeased and instinctively blocked the way with his arm. Most of the Werewolf, upon hearing this, were even more indignant, and their suppressed anger was reignited.
"Why should his corpse be handed over to the vampires!"
"They must remain here as witnesses to all the victims!"
"So many of our people died at his hands, and now you want us to return their bodies just because of a single word?"
Facing the progenitor of the vampires, the Werewolf maintained their defensive line, none of them retreating a single step. If Marcus dared to make any rash moves, they would pounce on him without hesitation.
"No." Lucian naturally wouldn't agree either. " Viktor has served his sentence in our wolf clan's trial hall. This body is both evidence of his crimes and a solace to all our fallen kin."
Marcus's voice turned colder:
Have you considered that this might sow the seeds of new conflict?
We are not afraid of you!
A young Werewolf in the front row shouted.
"Yeah! We can always fight another match!"
"We just executed one, so it's the same if another one comes!"
The other Werewolf echoed their sentiments, reigniting their fighting spirit.
The Werewolf now have plenty of confidence; the victory in executing Viktor has given them immense assurance.
Ignoring the commotion, Marcus turned to Draco and Hermione: "You two wizards, why don't you settle this matter?"
" Viktor is dead. Respect for the dead is paramount; debts are settled upon death. Returning his body is the proper way to preserve his dignity. Leaving the corpse here will not appease his soul; it will only create new animosity between the two races."
Hermione glanced at Draco, tossing him the thorny question. Draco didn't answer; instead, he asked:
"Leaving the corpse aside for now, when you take charge of the vampire clan, how do you plan to handle the relationship between vampires and Werewolf?"
Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent instantly.
The Werewolf were all taken aback; this wizard had actually considered the very survival of their clan. Hermione glanced at Draco again, and Trillian watched Draco's retreating figure, thinking to herself, "Young Master is indeed Young Master; his vision is truly beyond the reach of ordinary people."
Marcus paused for a moment before saying, "I will not continue Viktor's policy of enslavement. As long as the werewolves do not actively invade the vampire territory, I can maintain a policy of non-interference."
Upon hearing this, most Werewolf secretly breathed a sigh of relief; not interfering with each other was at least much better than being hunted.
Anyway, the person has been judged and executed, and the anger has been vented.
If the deaths can bring peace, that would be the best outcome.
However, some veteran wolf warriors were more cautious.
"What if they're the ones who start the trouble first?"
"Exactly, it sounds nice, but what if the people below don't listen to you?"
"You think you can just brush us off with a few words?"
"I think we need to discuss the terms in more detail first."
Listening to the discussions among his people, Lucian also said:
"I need to see the full cost. There are things you don't want to talk about right now, but they won't just disappear."
Marcus replied calmly:
"The conflict will not end; we will discuss it again another day."
Many Werewolf exchanged glances, dissatisfied with the answer. Seeing their reaction, Lucian shared the same stance, insisting, "A ceasefire is negotiable, but the corpses—"
Give it to him.
Draco interrupted Lucian, but he didn't make a move, leaving the choice to Lucian himself.
Marcus nodded slightly. "Thank you, wizard."
Lucian glanced at Draco. Since Draco had spoken, he couldn't very well refuse. Draco was a benefactor of the wolf pack; he wouldn't harm them. So he nodded and said:
"Since Mr. Draco has said so... then take him with you."
Draco then raised his wand and cast a Summoning Charm. Viktor's corpse slowly rose from the ground and flew toward Marcus.
Marcus reached out and caught it, thanking Draco again.
Just as Marcus was about to leave, he remembered something, stopped in his tracks, and looked back at Selene and Kraven.
Marcus's gaze swept between the two men:
" Selene, Kraven, I hope you will leave with me. Viktor is dead, and I will not pursue your past stances. From now on, I will continue to entrust you with important responsibilities."
Selene said without hesitation:
"Having avenged my great grudge, I have no regrets and have no interest in this kind of factional and racial struggle."
Marcus turned to Kraven.
Kraven did hesitate for a moment.
Going back would offer a chance to regain power, but his head could be choked at any moment; escaping would save his life, but all his lifelong ambitions would vanish. The balance between the two options was precarious.
However, after talking with Draco and the others, Kraven realized something: his ambition didn't necessarily have to be unleashed here.
He thought that by moving to another country and shedding the shackles of vampirehood, he might find a new world. So he composed himself and refused.
"I appreciate Elder Marcus's kindness."
"It's just that the stain I carry is too heavy. Even if you are magnanimous and willing to forgive and forget, the others in the clan may not be able to let it go. It would be better if we parted ways here and wished each other well."
Marcus's expression darkened slightly after both women rejected his offer to his face. He could understand Selene's rejection; after all, she had just avenged the massacre of her family, and it was natural for her to be disheartened.
But Kraven actually dared to refuse him?