Chapter 182: Stifling Calm 5

Before even the ice night arrived, the tale of the Serpentine Queen cleaning the Crimson Palace reached the ears of the Gold Beast residing in the east.

"You...You're telling me the Serpentine Queen saw through the accounts? How is that possible?" Luciana jumped to her feet in disbelief.

Ten years! It had taken her ten years to learn and memorize every letter and word, every digit and scratch on the da** red stones just so she could take over the Crimson Palace's management rights.

During these ten years, she poured her entire heart and soul to accurately record and distribute the rations between the beasts.

She worked so tirelessly just to impress and win the Werewolf King's favor.

And yet, the newly arrived serpentine took only one visit to the Main Hall and she read the accounts? 

With crazed eyes, Luciana turned and lunged forward, grabbing the female slave by the neck.

"You're mistaken, right? Tell me you're mistaken! I don't believe such a blatant lie! It's not possible! It's impossible...how could she..."

The rough shaking made the female slave dizzy and disoriented. Her eyes teared and she bit her lips to suppress her cry. She didn't dare to make a sound. If she dared to make a sound, she had no doubt a severe beating would follow.

But just as she was concentrating on holding her breath, the Gold blood's grip loosened as she powerlessly crumbled to the floor.

"M...Mistress!"

Da**! Beta's mate Luciana was kneeling at her feet. If anyone saw this scene, then even death would be more preferable over what she would have to suffer.

"Mi...Mistress!" With a loud thump, the beast fell to her knees in anxiety and fear.

This time, Luciana was too overwhelmed to keep her surroundings in mind.

"How can this be..." Tears of hate, rage, pain, and desperation slowly slid down her cheeks, fading with her silent whisper.

In this manner, the Gold Blood and the female slave sat on the ground, one shedding tears of despair, the other trembling in trepidation.

By the time Luciana's tears had dried, the female slave was close to fainting.

"Tell me. What else happened?" 

If the Serpentine Queen saw through the accounts, then she would've certainly noticed the lapse in numbers.

Luciana's hoarse voice startled the female slave to her senses. She scooted back and bowed her head even lower.

"That...nothing else happened. Only, when the Serpentine Queen questioned them, the male slaves that committed the thievery took their lives." She timidly replied.

A sneer stretched across the Gold Blood's face. 

Serpentine Queen, I've underestimated you. However, it won't be so easy for you to catch me as well.

At the time she made the plan to steal from the Crimson Palace, she didn't think of anything else other than to not let the serpentine enjoy a good life.

Since she couldn't enjoy the luxurious life of eating good food and wearing good clothes anymore, then why would she allow the serpentine to do so?

But even then, she was too fearful of the Werewolf King's wrath. 

If in the most unlikely scenarios she got discovered, Olsen wouldn't step up to save her.

As such, to prepare for the worst outcome, she'd made the male servants take a blood vow. As long as there was blood in their veins, they would never speak a word about her involvement to any other beast.

And good thing she did. Otherwise, the serpentine would've brought her down with her own scheme.

"Ah! There's another thing. The Serpentine Queen said to conduct an investigation into the matter until every lost stolen item was brought back. Otherwise, she wouldn't let the matter rest." The slave beast had thrown this matter to the back of her head.

But when she heard Luciana ask what else had happened, the words of the serpentine inadvertently returned to mind.

It was as if they were meant to be spoken at this moment...

Unbeknownst to her, the moment the words left the female slave's mouth, Luciana's expression froze. Her blue eyes flickered with complex emotions before widening in disbelief.

This...this is to threaten me?

She wants me to return all the stolen rations, otherwise, she'll investigate to the end?

She's threatening me to return everything I've stolen!?

The complacent smile immediately vanished from the Gold Blood's face as her heart thumped in her chest. 

The Serpentine Queen knew she was behind the stealing?

How did she know? Clearly, the male servants had committed suicide.

So how?

The next heartbeat, her expression froze again as realization dawned on her.

Right from the beginning, the Serpentine Queen had never lowered her guard against her...

Luciana's expression turned ugly and her eyes became sinister and vicious.

Heh...It seems I've underestimated you again, serpentine.

Now more composed, the Gold Blood pushed herself to her feet and dusted her dress.

"Slave, go and inform the male servants. I want to see them in the Storeroom within ten breaths of time." 

Since she was found out, she could only return the rations for the time being. If the serpentine really dug into the matter and exposed her involvement with the male servants, then her situation would become dire.

Because to steal from the Werewolf King was tantamount to betraying and showing disloyalty to the Werewolf Clan.

It was a crime worthy of death. An act collectively abhorred by the loyally bound wolves.

In the darkest alleys of the Underworld Palace, a group of male servants stealthily leaped from shadow to shadow, carrying large sacks on their backs. 

Out of every beast's eyesight, out of every beast's hearing, they entered the Storeroom of the Crimson Palace and dropped their burden. 

Then they departed in the same manner they arrived; stealthily, secretively, and under the shadows, they returned to the mansion on the east.

"Is it done?"

"Yes, Mistress. We did it as you instructed."

"Did any beast spot you?"

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"No, Mistress. We took advantage of the loop in security to replace the items."

"Alright, you can go now. And remember to erase this incident from your minds. Otherwise..."

"Don't worry, Mistress. You won't hear a word."

Luciana dismissively waved the male servants away and leaned back on the wall.

Since the Serpentine Queen entered the Underworld Palace, all her years of plots and schemes had been falling apart like loosely wound soil.

Her dream...the dream to forever remain by the Werewolf King's side was shattered in the blink of an eye. Kicked out from the Crimson Palace, she had no way to keep track of the matters that went on within its walls.

At this time, she was still living inside the Crimson Palace, she could've easily thwarted the serpentine's visit to the Main Hall. If not, then she would've just changed the numbers written on the Red Stones.

But because she wasn't in the Crimson Palace, she neither saw nor expected this sudden attack.

The serpentine checked the accounts, exposed the loopholes in the records, and raised her value and image in the Werewolf King's heart.

And as time passed, the Serpentine Queen's prestige and reach would only grow.

"No, I can no longer make plans with only the present in mind. From now on, I'll have to plan big and think beyond my feelings. I need to plan with the future in mind. I need to plan beyond the serpentine's foresight."

This time, she'll have to scheme deep and take a greater risk.

Because this time, she longer just wanted to torture and torment, then kick the serpentine from King Ramose's side.

This time, she wanted to throw her out of the entire Underworld Palace in shame and disgrace...

"Serpentine Queen, it's my defeat this time. But next time, my aim won't miss its mark." Light and faint, the vow carried a malicious intent that made the surrounding space shudder.

*

"Alpha Kulimo, it's done. The Wolf King's Trial is set for the next day." Elder Saros shifted and transformed into his wolf form.

Across from him, Kulimo sat on his hunches, his aura carrying the same presence of majesty it did the last time.

A faint gleam of excitement flashed through the black wolf's eyes. But he quickly calmed down and resumed his previous composed aura.

"The Werewolf King doesn't mind the sudden appearance of a challenging alpha?" He nonchalantly asked.

Elder Saros paused, his mind flashing back to the unperturbed expression of the Werewolf King.

Even though he told the black wolf such earth-shattering news, the Wolf King didn't display a flicker of emotion, a frown of displeasure.

Throughout their entire exchange, his expression remained the same, not changing from that of boredom.

Was he acting unaffected or was he really unaffected?

This was a puzzle that still baffled the Elder wolf. And no matter how hard he tried to get the image out of his mind, it won't leave.

It was almost as if he stood before a thick mist and everything on the other side was too hazy to see through.

It was as if...the Wolf King saw right through him...

No way! If King Ramose had seen through me, then why would he allow me to leave unscathed? I'm only being paranoid because everything is proceeding so well.

Shaking off the disquieting feeling, he focused back on the expectant black wolf.

"Even if he minds, does he have any other choice? It's the previous King's order, the rule of the clan. In case two alphas have a claim to the throne, they are to exchange blows during the Wolf King's Trial. Even if he doesn't want to, he has no choice but to accept it."

Elder Saros was convinced that King Ramose didn't deserve to sit on the Werewolf King's throne. A king that placed a female on a higher pedestal than his clan deserved to be abandoned.

As such, he felt nothing wrong in turning to the other black wolf. After all, he was more worthy than the mate-slaving Werewolf King.

Kulimo nodded, a thin smile spreading across his face.

As long as he had the support of the Ruling Wolf Pack, no wolf would be able to prevent him from returning to the Underworld Palace.

"When are you planning to return?" Elder Saros asked.

In his mind, the sooner the black wolf returned, the better it was for the Underworld Palace.

"I'll return tomorrow. There are still some matters that I need to wrap up."

"Okay. Settle everything you need to settle soon. As for the attack...?"

"Elder Saros, we'll discuss this when everyone else is present. This matter concerns their future and survival as well." Cold and commanding, the black wolf immediately silenced the elder before he could delve further into the topic.

"Elder Saros, please don't take offense. I just don't want the others to feel left out. We're a pack, and as a pack, we should discuss everything together and move forward together."

The Elder's face instantly softened and he nodded in agreement.

"You're right. I was being too hasty. Then, until we meet again."

"Until we meet again."

The Elder gave a brief nod and disappeared into the shadows.

"This Elder, doesn't he think too highly of himself? When has a Wolf King ever discussed his plans with Betas?" Kulimo scoffed scornfully, his earlier amiable expression had vanished the instant the grey wolf's presence faded.

With another scornful glance, the black wolf turned and disappeared from the underground cave.

When he returned to the Flaming Valley small enclose, he found the Snake Queen loitering around the entrance. Again.

"Nakee, didn't I tell you to stay inside? Why are you standing so close to the entrance?"

"Kulimo! You're back!" The Snake Queen slithered forward and threw herself at the black wolf.

Instantly, Kulimo's expression turned dark. But thinking of the other's identity, he controlled his anger and opened his arms to embrace her.

Why the Nar is she always throwing herself at me? Does she think I'm a Shepard?

Da** it! If she wasn't the Serpentine Queen's best friend, then I've already shown her her place!

"Kulimo, where did you go?" Queen Nakee lifted her head and asked the black wolf.

With a stiff smile and flickering eyes, Kulimo unwrapped the Snake Queen's arms from his neck and stepped back.

"Didn't you want to enter the Underworld Palace? I went out to make preparations for that. Nakee, we'll be entering the Underworld Palace tomorrow. This means you have one ice night to wrap up everything in the Snake Clan.. Tomorrow, be ready by the first warm light."

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