Because of the shock to his mind, the illusion Locke had cast on himself faltered.
To Cole and the two viscounts, it was as if Locke had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"Who—?"
Seeing a stranger appear in the meeting room, Kross and Marek immediately stepped in front of Cole, their battle auras flaring, ready to strike at any moment.
"You—"
However, when the three saw Locke, they hesitated.
Finally, Kross and Marek exchanged a glance and immediately dropped to one knee.
"Kross, Marek, we pay our respects to the Grand Duke."
"Big Brother."
"Mm."
The three words awakened Locke.
"Cole, how long was I in seclusion this time?"
Seeing his older brother's face, unchanged from decades ago, Cole could only shake his head wryly.
Although he had long known that Sanctuary-level cultivators enjoyed endless lifespans, now Cole felt it deeply.
"Big Brother, you've been in seclusion for thirty-seven years this time."
"Thirty-seven years…"
Locke pursed his lips.
He remembered becoming a Sanctuary at thirty-five, being discovered by Emperor Ceres at fifty-two, defeating the Bright Temple's legion at fifty-five, and bringing his parents to live in Locke City at fifty-six.
Now, thirty-seven more years had passed—Locke was ninety-three.
His father had been nineteen, and his mother seventeen, when he was born.
"Hoo…"
In a single breath, Locke calculated the ages of his parents in his mind.
"Hey, Cole…"
"My father and mother…"
Though Locke had a premonition, he still held a glimmer of hope, asking Cole cautiously.
Cole fell silent.
After a long moment, he said, "Big Brother, Mother passed away thirteen years ago. Father… five years ago."
Cole's words struck Locke like a heavy hammer.
He never imagined that a simple period of seclusion would separate him from his parents by life and death.
"Whoosh!"
In a single step, Locke was in front of Cole, grabbing his collar and shouting, "Cole, why didn't you call me?"
"Lord Locke, please calm down!"
Seeing Locke so agitated, Kross and Marek immediately rose from the ground, each grabbing one of Locke's hands to prevent him from harming Cole.
Of course, with their strength, they couldn't stop Locke if he truly intended to attack.
Thirty-seven years of seclusion had passed. Unknowingly, Locke's warrior cultivation had already reached Sanctuary.
To a Sanctuary-level cultivator, ninth-level warriors were nothing more than large grasshoppers.
"Lord Locke, your father and mother instructed Cole not to disturb your training, so he didn't come to call you."
Hearing Kross and Marek's explanation, Locke froze, then released Cole's collar, allowing the two to pull him aside.
"My apologies, Cole. I was too impulsive."
Taking a deep breath, Locke apologized.
"It's okay. When our parents passed, I didn't call on you either. That was my fault."
Locke shook his head, no longer dwelling on the matter.
After all, no amount of regret could bring his parents back.
"Where are my parents buried? I want to see them."
"In Puer Village, next to the wooden house you built long ago."
"Mm."
Nodding at Cole, Locke left the meeting hall, soaring toward Puer Village.
Back in Locke City's lordly manor meeting hall, Cole and the others were pale, cold sweat dripping from their foreheads.
"Lord Locke… has he flown far?"
After a moment, Kross asked hoarsely.
"Mm, judging by a Sanctuary-level cultivator's flight speed, he has already left Locke City."
"Hoo…"
At Marek's words, Cole exhaled sharply, leaning on the long table and sitting down.
"Viscount Kross, Viscount Marek, tell me—did Big Brother discover our secret?"
"Lord Cole, rest assured."
"You're Lord Locke's brother. Even if he did find out, he wouldn't harm you."
Marek reassured him.
"Heh…"
Cole shook his head wryly.
Big Brother Locke had been detected at age six with water magic affinity and sixteen times the mental power of his peers, entering the magic academy shortly afterward.
By the time they reunited, both brothers were in their twenties.
Truth be told, their bond wasn't that deep.
While their parents were alive, Big Brother respected Cole because of them.
But now…
Looking back at what had just happened, if it were the past, Big Brother would never have grabbed his collar.
It's better to rely on oneself and reach Sanctuary alone!
This was why Cole chose to cooperate with Kross and the others.
Of course, he would never admit that to them—that his bond with Big Brother had grown distant.
After all, Kross and the others wanted to cooperate to ensure that if the matter were exposed, Big Brother might look favorably on them and overlook it.
If they knew that they now had no real protection from Big Brother, they would have abandoned Cole instantly.
"All right, Kross, Marek. The Radiant Temple has already sent the materials over."
"Go down and make arrangements. Begin searching Locke's territory discreetly."
"But I want you both to understand: if anything is truly found, I will be the first to use it!"
Cole's eyes flickered sharply as he stared at Kross and Marek.
"If any of you dare deceive me, I will tell Big Brother everything you've done, and he'll kill all five of you."
"Of course, if you're confident you can escape Big Brother alive after reaching Sanctuary, consider this unspoken."
Kross and Marek were startled by Cole's words, quickly trying to calm him.
"Lord Cole, please rest assured."
"All five of us do want to take a further step, but only if our lives are guaranteed."
"As you said, even if we reach Sanctuary, we are no match for Lord Locke."
"You are the only one who could save us from him. That much we know."
"We swear that if we truly find anyone, you will be the first to use it."
(End of Chapter)
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