Cooperation

Because of the turmoil in his mind, the illusion Locke had cast on himself failed.

To Cole and the two viscounts, it was as though Locke had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"Who?"

Seeing a stranger suddenly appear in the meeting hall, Cross and Marik immediately stepped in front of Cole. Battle aura surged from their bodies as they prepared to strike at any moment.

"You..."

However, when the three of them saw Locke, they hesitated.

At last, Cross and Marik exchanged a glance, then immediately dropped to one knee.

"Cross and Marik greet the Grand Duke."

"Big Brother."

"Mm."

Their forms of address snapped Locke out of his daze.

"Cole, how long did this period of seclusion last?"

Looking at his big brother's face, unchanged from decades ago, Cole gave a bitter shake of his head.

Though he had long known that Saint-level Experts possessed endless lifespans, only now did Cole truly grasp what that meant.

"Big Brother, this seclusion lasted thirty-seven years."

"Thirty-seven years..."

Locke pressed his lips together.

He remembered that he had reached the Saint-level at thirty-five, been discovered by His Majesty Ceres at fifty-two, defeated the Temple of Light's legion at fifty-five, and had his younger brother bring their parents to live in Locke City at fifty-six.

Another thirty-seven years had passed. He was now ninety-three years old.

When he had been born, his father had been nineteen and his mother seventeen.

"Whew..."

In an instant, Locke calculated his father and mother's ages in his mind.

"Hey, Cole..."

"Father and Mother..."

Though Locke already had a premonition in his heart, he still clung to the faintest hope as he looked expectantly at Cole.

At Locke's question, Cole fell silent.

After a long while, Cole finally said to Locke, "Big Brother, Mother passed away thirteen years ago. Father passed away five years ago as well..."

Cole's words were like a heavy hammer crashing down in Locke's mind.

He had never imagined that a seemingly ordinary period of seclusion would leave him forever separated from his parents.

Whoosh!

With one step, Locke arrived before Cole. He grabbed Cole by the collar and roared, "Cole, why didn't you call me?"

"Lord Locke, please calm down!"

Seeing Locke treat Cole this way, Cross and Marik immediately rose from the ground. Each grabbed one of Locke's arms to prevent him from hurting Cole.

Of course, if Locke truly wanted to harm Cole, the two of them would not have been able to stop him at all.

After thirty-seven years of seclusion, Locke's warrior cultivation had unknowingly broken through to the Saint-level as well.

Before a Saint-level Expert, a Ninth-level Warrior was no more than a slightly larger grasshopper.

"Lord Locke, it was the master and madam who forbade Lord Cole from delaying your cultivation over their affairs. That is why Lord Cole did not go and call you."

Hearing Cross and Marik's words, Locke froze. His hand loosened from Cole's collar, allowing Cross and Marik to pull Cole away.

"I'm sorry, Cole. I was too impulsive."

After taking a deep breath, Locke apologized to Cole.

"No, it was my fault for not calling Big Brother when Father and Mother passed away."

Locke shook his head and did not dwell on the matter any longer.

After all, no matter how much he regretted it now, his parents would not return.

"Where were Father and Mother buried? I'll go see them."

"In Pu'er Village. They were buried beside the wooden house Big Brother built before."

"Mm."

After nodding to Cole, Locke left the meeting hall and soared toward Pu'er Village.

In the meeting hall of the Lord's Manor in Locke City, Cole and the other two were pale-faced. Large drops of cold sweat dripped from their foreheads.

"Has Lord Locke flown far away?"

After a long while, Cross asked hoarsely.

"Yes. Judging by a Saint-level Expert's flying speed, Lord Locke must have flown far beyond Locke City by now."

"Whew..."

As Marik finished speaking, Cole let out a long breath, braced himself against the long table in the center of the meeting hall, and sank into a nearby chair.

"Viscount Cross, Viscount Marik, do you think Big Brother discovered what we did?"

"Lord Cole, please rest assured."

"You are Lord Locke's younger brother. Even if Lord Locke did discover it, he presumably would not do anything to you."

Marik comforted him from the side.

"Hehe..."

Hearing Marik's words, Cole shook his head with a bitter smile.

Big Brother Locke had been tested at the age of six and found to possess an affinity for Water Element Magic, as well as Mental Strength sixteen times greater than that of children his age. He had then left Pu'er Village to study at a magic academy.

By the time the two brothers met again, they were both already in their twenties.

To be honest, there had never seemed to be much affection between him and his big brother.

While their parents were still alive, Big Brother had treated him, this "younger brother," very well for their parents' sake.

But now that their parents were gone...

Just look at what had happened earlier. In the past, how could Big Brother possibly have grabbed him by the collar?

Rather than counting on others, it was better to become Saint-level himself!

That was also why Cole had chosen to cooperate with Cross and the others.

Of course, Cole would not actually tell them that his relationship with Big Brother was no longer as close as before.

After all, wasn't the reason Cross and the others had sought him out to cooperate that, when the matter was exposed, Big Brother might spare everyone for his sake?

If they learned that he could no longer get any real protection from Big Brother, they would certainly cast him aside at once.

"Alright, Cross, Marik. The Temple of Light has already delivered the items."

"Go make the arrangements. Have people search Locke Territory in secret."

"However, I hope you two understand this: if we really find it, I will be the first to use it!"

As he said this, a fierce glint flashed through Cole's eyes as he looked at Cross and Marik.

"If any of you dare deceive me, I will tell Big Brother everything you have done and have him kill all five of you."

"Of course, if you are confident that you can escape Big Brother alive after becoming Saint-level, then pretend I never said that."

Cross and Marik were badly startled by Cole's words and hurried to reassure him.

"Lord Cole, please rest assured on this matter."

"The five of us do indeed wish to go one step further, but only while ensuring our own safety."

"As you said, even if we become Saint-level, we would still be no match for Lord Locke."

"Only you can save us from Lord Locke's hands. We understand that very clearly."

"We can swear to you that if we truly find the person, you will be the first to use them."