Chapter 252


    The Grand Elder, expressionless, asked again, "Give me an exnation."


    Lanard, drenched in cold sweat, opened his mouth, but no words came out.


    "My patience is limited. Exin, and there may be a chance to resolve this. Otherwise... the entire


    city will suffer the consequences. Not a single soul will be spared!" The Grand Elder''s voice was


    calm yet chilling. He was clearly a man of his word.


    "I... we..." Lanard had considered numerous scenarios for dealing with the Cobalt Strike and


    thought of ways to handle them, but he never expected the Grand Elder''s demand for ountability


    to be so sudden and ruthlessly decisive.


    Did the Grand Elder have irrefutable evidence? No! He would rather wrongfully kill than let anyone


    slip through the.


    Such cruelty!


    "Kill!"manded the Grand Elder, raising his hand.


    The two Elders behind him raised their hands in unison, and with a tightening grip, the first group of


    the Rocke family members who had been brought forth were swiftly beheaded by the Cobalt Strike


    Protégés. Before the members of the Rocke family could react, their bodies fell on the grass at the


    front of the courtyard.


    "No!" Lawren roared in despair, nearly rushing forward.


    "Stop! If you don''t want your entire house eradicated, you best keep calm." the Elders stepped


    forward, blocking Lawren''s path.


    "Grand Elder, I beg of you, please show mercy," Lawren pleaded, his heart heavy with sorrow and


    anger.


    "What exnation do you want, Grand Elder? I truly do not know. It''s a mistake, all a mistake!"


    Lanard also implored.


    "Stop ying the fool. I have no time for idle chatter. Execute more."


    "Grand Elder!" Both Lanard and Lawren felt a chill run down their spines.


    The Grand Elder approached Lanard, looking at him coldly. "I''ll give you one chance. I ask, and you


    answer. Eight years ago, who stole the ancient sword?"


    "What? No... it wasn''t us... we really don''t know what you''re talking about," Lanard denied through


    gritted teeth, too afraid to admit anything. The harsher the Grand Elder was, the more frightened he


    became.


    "Execute!" The Grand Elder raised his hand again.


    “No, please!” Lawren was desperate and attempted to move forward but was held back by two other


    Elders.


    Members of the Rocke family were brought forward and forced onto the ground. At that moment,


    men and women alike wept, their screams echoing throughout the estate.


    "Stop! Do not kill anyone anymore!" Lawren couldn''t take it any longer. He screamed with red eyes.


    "It was us! We did it!"


    "Say it again!" The two Cobalt Strike Elders shouted in unison. Their fists slowly tightened, and their


    knuckles cracked ominously.


    Lawren had no choice but to confess. "It was us. We ambushed the Mallister family''s caravan."


    Lanard closed his eyes in agony, everything was ruined.


    "Why?" Grand Elder asked emotionlessly, yet his gaze was colder and sharper.


    "We were keeping watch on the Mallister family that year, and when we learned of your partnership,


    we..."


    The Grand Elder asked again, "Where is the ancient sword now?"


    "It was taken."


    "By whom!"


    Lanard shook his head weakly. "We do not know, truly. That night, a faint call was heard within the


    city. The ancient sword seemed to awaken and shoot toward the night sky, then vanished without a


    trace. We searched for days but found nothing."


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    With a bitter smile, he added, "Eight years... for eight years, I''ve guarded it cautiously... and in the


    end... it was all for naught..."


    The Grand Elder then turned to Lawren. "Where is the ancient sword?"


    "It truly was taken by someone else. Even if you y the entire city, we cannot produce the ancient


    sword."


    "Why was it stolen now?" asked another Elder.


    Lanard shook his head. "We don''t know. We know nothing. We didn''t even see a shadow."


    The Grand Elder asked further, "Are vin''s parents alive or dead?"


    "Dead, all of them were killed."


    The Grand Elder looked back at the Rocke family members being continuously brought forth and


    cruelly ordered, "Leave none alive."


    "Grand Elder... I implore you... give us a chance to make amends," Lanard and Lawren knelt and


    begged, having finally experienced the Grand Elder''s ruthlessness. They were afraid.


    "Now you know regret?"


    "We will do anything for you. Please, spare the Rocke family."


    "You have ten days to find the ancient sword. Every two days, I will execute a group; in ten days, all


    will be killed. How many you can save depends on your own efforts."


    "Thank you, Grand Elder! We will do everything in our power to track it down." The two men, with


    teeth clenched and eyes red, were filled with hatred inside!