"Supreme, all the tribes in the castle have been summoned and are waiting in the hall. They've been gathered for some time now, so whenever you're ready, we can head over."
After exchanging a few final words with Emilia, Klein stepped back and gave her a subtle nod. Emilia caught the signal immediately, her posture straightening as she turned respectfully toward Ryan Cross, her tone carrying both deference and urgency.
"Everything is prepared. If it pleases you, we can go meet them now."
Ryan paused for a brief moment, his expression unreadable as he considered the situation. Then, without unnecessary words or theatrics, he gave a slight nod and followed Emilia toward the grand hall.
Even before stepping inside, faint whispers drifted toward him from within, carried through the corridors like restless echoes.
"Is there really a Supreme here?"
"I thought the Supreme abandoned us long ago."
"They say it's not Alexander this time… it's someone new."
The murmurs overlapped and intertwined, forming a low, constant hum of speculation. For a race like the vampires, the existence of a Supreme wasn't just symbolic—it defined everything. A tribe with a Supreme had direction, protection, and authority. A tribe without one was little more than a drifting remnant, vulnerable and fractured.
As Ryan approached, the voices grew sharper, filled with curiosity and anticipation. Then, the moment Emilia stepped into view, everything changed.
"Quiet! Elder Emilia is here."
"Silence, all of you."
The chatter vanished almost instantly, as if a switch had been flipped. The once-buzzing hall fell into absolute stillness, the only remaining sound the faint echo of footsteps across polished stone.
Dozens of gazes snapped toward Ryan in unison.
They studied him carefully, openly, without restraint. Some eyes gleamed with excitement, others with suspicion. A few held clear indifference, as though reserving judgment until proven otherwise.
There was no doubt in their minds—this had to be the new Supreme. Emilia's respectful demeanor alone made that clear. And yet, the sight of him unsettled them.
He still looked entirely human.
He had not undergone the transformation into an Undead being, had not embraced the cold immortality they all shared. And yet here he stood, commanding the absolute loyalty of one of their elders.
That contradiction alone stirred unease.
Emilia stepped forward, her voice ringing clearly across the hall as she addressed the gathered vampires.
"Everyone, you've already heard from Klein. Our tribe has been blessed with the arrival of a Supreme. From this day forward, we are no longer rootless wanderers—we stand under the protection of one who will lead us."
Her tone carried a quiet pride, her gaze sweeping across the crowd.
"This is an honor for our entire tribe. And now, allow me to formally introduce the one to whom we will pledge our loyalty."
She turned slightly, extending a hand toward Ryan.
"This is Supreme Ryan Cross."
The declaration settled over the room like a weight.
Without hesitation, Emilia pivoted to face him fully, lowering her head in a deep bow. Her voice, solemn and unwavering, echoed in the silence.
"As an elder of this tribe, I, Emilia, swear my allegiance to you."
Behind her, the rest of the vampires followed suit, bowing their heads in unison. The synchronized motion created a striking visual—an entire room of ancient beings submitting to a single figure who, by all appearances, was still human.
Ryan let the moment linger just long enough before speaking.
"You can all stand."
His voice was calm, neither loud nor forceful, yet it carried effortlessly through the hall. One by one, the vampires straightened, though traces of doubt still lingered in some of their expressions.
Even so, none of them dared to voice it.
These were creatures who had survived centuries, some perhaps longer. They understood power when they saw it—or at least, they knew better than to challenge it prematurely.
Emilia resumed her role without missing a beat, stepping slightly to Ryan's side.
"Supreme, these are the members of our tribe currently residing in the castle. Allow me to introduce a few of our key figures."
She gestured toward a tall, broad-shouldered man standing near the front.
"This is Kahn, our strongest warrior and the captain of the guard."
Her hand shifted to another figure.
"And this is Selena. She is also one of our finest warriors and has made significant contributions during our long-standing conflict with the werewolves."
At the mention of her name, Ryan's gaze moved naturally toward the woman in question.
She stood slightly apart from the others, dressed in a sleek black combat suit that accentuated her lean, athletic build. Her face was striking—cold, refined, and undeniably beautiful. But what truly set her apart wasn't just her appearance; it was the presence she carried.
There was a quiet strength in her, a sense of discipline and sharp intelligence that set her apart from the rest.
Selena.
The central figure of the Night saga.
Ryan couldn't help but take a moment to appreciate her. Her beauty wasn't soft or delicate—it carried an edge, a kind of hardened elegance forged through battle. In some ways, she reminded him of Peggy Carter, though far less… irritating.
Sensing his gaze, Selena looked up briefly, her eyes meeting his for a fraction of a second. Unlike the others, there was no obvious excitement or awe in her expression.
Only calm observation.
And beneath it, a trace of indifference.
For her, the arrival of a Supreme didn't change much. Her focus had always been singular—eliminating werewolves. Titles, authority, hierarchy… those were secondary concerns at best.
But reality didn't always bend to personal preferences.
After finishing the introductions, Emilia turned back toward Ryan, her posture slightly deferential.
"Supreme, if you wish, you may choose someone to serve by your side. Someone you find suitable."
Ryan didn't hesitate.
He raised a hand and pointed directly at Selena.
"She'll do."
The decision was immediate, leaving no room for discussion.
From his perspective, the choice was obvious. She was capable, composed, and—importantly—free of the petty scheming that plagued many others in the room. On top of that, her identity as the story's central heroine made her even more valuable.
If fate had placed her in front of him, there was no reason not to take advantage of it.
"Selena," Ryan said casually, his tone almost conversational. "Pick a few people you trust. From now on, you'll be working with me."
The effect was instantaneous.
Dozens of eyes snapped toward her again, this time filled with a very different emotion. Envy burned openly in many of them, accompanied by resentment and disbelief.
Being chosen by the Supreme wasn't just an honor—it was a direct elevation in status. From this moment on, Selena stood under his protection. Even the elders would have to think twice before crossing her.
Not that she had ever been weak.
Even before this, Selena's position within the tribe was already secure, largely due to Victor's backing. It was one of the reasons she had always acted with a degree of independence, even ignoring Klein at times without consequence.
She had always been favored.
And now, she had been chosen again.
The unfairness of it was almost suffocating.
Yet while the room simmered with emotion, Selena herself remained composed. For a brief moment, she even seemed ready to refuse, her lips parting slightly as if to speak.
Compared to hunting werewolves, serving at the side of a Supreme held little appeal.
But she wasn't foolish.
She understood the weight of the title standing before her. No matter how reluctant she felt, outright refusal wasn't an option she could afford.
In the end, she said nothing.
Emilia's gaze settled on her, carrying a subtle pressure.
"Selena, did you hear what the Supreme said?"
There was a brief pause before Selena gave a small nod.
"Yes, Supreme."
Her voice was steady, betraying none of her internal reluctance.
Emilia let out a quiet breath of relief. Selena had always been somewhat difficult to manage, her behavior shaped by Victor's indulgence. For a moment, Emilia had genuinely worried she might say something inappropriate.
Fortunately, she still understood where the line was drawn.
With that resolved, there was little left to discuss. The formalities concluded quickly, and Emilia personally escorted Ryan away from the hall.
The rest of the arrangements he had requested were carried out with impressive efficiency.
By the time afternoon arrived, Ryan was already on the move again, seated within a convoy of high-end vehicles. The cars moved smoothly through the streets, their presence understated but unmistakably elite.
Eventually, the convoy came to a stop in front of a sprawling, equally luxurious villa.
.....
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