"Cole, come to the training chamber immediately!"
Just as Cole was lost in thoughts of the future, his elder brother Locke's voice suddenly rang in his ears.
"Huh?"
Cole shot up in alarm.
What's going on?
Ten years ago, hadn't his elder brother just come out of seclusion and told him he would be entering a long period of training?
And now, only ten years later, he's awake already?
And he's summoning Cole to the training chamber!
This was completely different from his previous returns from seclusion.
Although confused, Cole dared not neglect his brother's summons.
Straightening his clothes, he hurried to Locke's training chamber.
…
"Brother."
Pushing open the door and entering the chamber, Cole approached Locke, who was seated cross-legged in the center.
"Ah, Cole, you're here. Sit down."
Locke opened his eyes and waved his hand. Dust rose from the ground before him, smoothing the floor until it shone like a mirror.
Cole frowned slightly but ultimately sat cross-legged opposite Locke.
"Brother, why did you call me here?"
"Hm."
Locke nodded and, without beating around the bush, asked directly,
"Cole, what exactly have you been doing in Locke Domain?"
Cole's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly steadied himself.
"Ah? Brother, what are you talking about? I haven't done anything!"
"Nothing?"
Locke gave Cole a long, penetrating look.
"Just now, His Majesty Celes directly sent me a divine perception message, asking whether I had betrayed…"
"What?"
Hearing Locke's words, Cole was startled, springing to his feet in terror.
He had never expected that even before he could find a soul pure enough to help him reach the Sanctum, what had happened in Locke Domain had already reached Celes of the Frostsnow Empire.
Everything had been exposed. What would his elder brother do to him?
Would he kill him?
Cole did not want to die!
In a panic, he immediately dropped to his knees before Locke, crying loudly.
"Brother, this… all of this was because Viscount Kross and the others threatened me!"
"Viscounts Kross and Marek are peak-level Level-9 warriors, far stronger than me. They threatened that if I didn't obey their orders, they would kill me…"
"They even joined forces with Viscounts Gasco, Berkley, and Dar, monopolizing the Locke Domain's economy…"
"They… they also threatened that if I revealed even a single detail to you, Brother, they would kill my wife, children, and grandchildren."
At this moment, to save his own life, Cole had effectively betrayed all five viscounts of Locke Domain.
He had no choice. He already knew from Locke that his high-profile search for pure-souled individuals throughout Locke Domain had been exposed, drawing Celes' attention.
Under these circumstances, only his elder brother could guarantee his survival.
Locke sighed lightly.
If the last time he came out of seclusion, he had not sensed Kross and Marek's respect toward Cole, he might have believed Cole's words without question.
If at the previous seclusion, Locke's soul comprehension had not advanced to perceive Cole's emotions, he would still consider Cole his closest brother in this world.
But…
There are no "ifs."
Sigh…
Locke stood up from the ground.
"Cole, I once promised our parents at their grave that as long as I exist in the Wakanda Plane, I would ensure your wealth and prosperity."
"I believe your son is already over 130 years old, right?"
"From today onward, let your son take over the administration of Locke Domain."
"And you—without my permission—are not to leave the mansion in Locke City!"
"Y-yes, Brother! Don't worry. I will stay in the mansion and not run around!"
Although Cole felt frustrated at being stripped of his control over Locke Domain, he knew that in light of the current situation, this was the only way to preserve his life.
Moreover, Cole had his own plan.
Even if he could not openly control Locke Domain, the one now managing it was his son.
If he needed something, would the boy not obey?
Once the turmoil he had caused subsided in a few years, he could have his son return the administration of Locke Domain to him.
Cole's emotions naturally flickered, and Locke sensed every one of them.
But now, Locke was completely disappointed in Cole.
If previously Locke still treated Cole as his own younger brother because of their parents, now he considered Cole merely as "kin."
"Family" and "kin" are two different bonds.
Locke could give unconditionally to family, hoping only for their well-being.
With kin, every effort requires a return.
…
Although Locke had never managed Locke Domain directly, this did not hinder his will from operating within it.
Even the five viscounts who had been loyal to Locke Domain for nearly a century could not defy his will.
Viscounts Kross and Marek, belonging to the "central nobles" of Locke Domain, offered no resistance and were immediately captured.
The remaining three viscounts, upon learning of Kross and Marek's capture, abandoned their territories and fled with their families to the Temple of Light.
"Damn it!"
In a shadowy forest, Gasco slammed a massive tree with a palm, venting his anger.
Cole had betrayed them all, claiming he had no choice but to obey their threats.
Otherwise, with their usual secrecy, how could they have been found out?
In over four centuries, Gasco had never experienced such a betrayal.
If Cole were present, Gasco would likely not hesitate, even against Locke, to strike him down with a single sword.
He had previously intended to hand over the pure-souled individual he found to Cole.
"Don't be angry, Brother Gasco," Dar said beside him, comforting him. "It's fortunate that Lord Locke did not personally pursue us, otherwise we would never have escaped Locke Domain."
Hearing this, Gasco and Berkley fell silent.
Indeed, it was only because Locke himself had not chased them that they escaped safely from Locke Domain.
(End of Chapter)
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