Chapter 216


    Elder Connas felt a pang in his heart and quickly lifted several ck shrouds to reveal the faces


    beneath. His vision darkened, and he nearly copsed. As a confidant of the Grand Elder, he was


    somewhat privy to the Grand Elder''s ns, and these ''brigands'' were clearly the Protégés sent by


    the Cobalt Strike.


    The total was over seven hundred Protégés, all from the Grand Elder''s faction, now dead.


    vin approached him, his tone was neither too harsh nor too soft. “Do you recognize any of these


    brigands, Elder Connas?”


    “I do not,” Elder Connas replied, squatting on the ground and closing his eyes tightly. Their loyal


    Protégés, who were secretly cultivated over many years, were now gone without a trace. He could


    imagine the Grand Elder''s fury upon receiving the news.


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    What was meant to be a simple task had gone horribly wrong. How could such an error have


    urred?


    Elder Connas paused for a long while, his face a mask of ice as he turned to Mari. "Speak. What


    exactly has transpired here?"


    Mari replied coolly, "Everything vin has said is true."


    Adirich nearly shouted in anger. His thoughts were racing with usations of lies and deceit. "Do


    they take us for fools?"


    With feigned gravity, vin dered, "This atrocity cannot stand. Cobalt Strike must investigate this


    matter thoroughly."


    "Cobalt Strike will never let the perpetrator escape justice," Elder Connas said, struggling to control


    his emotions and regain hisposure. The situation was suspicious; how could it be that over


    seven hundred Cobalt Strike Protégés had perished without exnation? What had happened in


    the depths of the previous night? And where was Garrat? Surely, this was not the work of the


    Mallister family''s guard; theycked the strength.


    The only possibility that came to mind was that vin had aplices. Perhaps there was a


    hidden force within the Azure Mountain!


    This thought tightened Elder Connas'' chest as a crucial concern dawned on him. If vin dared to


    y Vandill and kill over seven hundred Protégés of Cobalt Strike, did he also n to turn on them?


    He nced around the mine nervously, a deep unease spreading within him.


    “The handling of these corpses will be a task for Elder Connas, I’m afraid,” said vin.


    “How am I to manage that?”


    “By returning them to Cobalt Strike, of course. Let the Commander investigate the origins of these


    bandits. It’s abhorrent that they would dare to kill Elder Vandill, to target Cobalt Strike’s Protégés.


    Elder Vandill served Cobalt Strike tirelessly for years, only to meet such a tragic end in this mine. It’s


    a sorrowful fate.”


    vin spoke with solemnity, but Elder Connas felt like cursing. They were all clever enough to


    understand the subtext. This detestable vin was far too arrogant!


    “Why so silent, Elder Connas? Have you thought of something?” vin prodded.


    Concerned about potential ambushes within the mine, Elder Connas dared not provoke vin


    further. “We will look into this matter thoroughly. Leave it with me.”


    “Good, that’s settled then. We’ve finished our business here and n to return home today.”


    “Congrattions, and travel safely,” Elder Connas said, his words not matching his feelings.


    “The mine will be closed today. My people are gathering in the square. Would you care to address


    them, Elder Connas?"


    "There''s no need. I''d rather not interfere with your affairs."


    "They''ve been enved for eight years, carrying deep scars, and still hardly believing they''re free. I


    thought perhaps you could say a few words to show your support, Elder Connas."


    "Really, there''s no need. I doubt they wish to see another Elder from Cobalt Strike."


    "How could that be? We''re all part of the samemunity, after all. Please, just a few simple


    words."


    The more vin insisted, the more uneasy Elder Connas felt – a genuine disquiet. With over seven


    hundred lifeless bodies before him, the threat of death was both real and overpowering, making it


    impossible for him to assert dominance. Never had he imagined that there woulde a day when


    he''d stand before vin... and feel fear.


    Adirich and the others were puzzled. Why had Elder Connas'' presence weakened? As they mulled


    this over, their expressions shifted subtly. If vin dared harm Vandill, could it be that he nned to


    do the same to them?