Chapter 253
The Grand Elder''s Protégés swiftly took control of the stronghold, vigntly securing it from within
and outside. They imprisoned the entire Rocke family, closely guarding both their personal guard
and their devoted servants.
No one in the stronghold dared to rebel, let alone speak out of turn. This was the work of Cobalt
Strike, the Rocke family''s overlord in name!
The Grand Elder''s authority and ruthlessness subdued many restless hearts,pelling them to
rein in their tempers.
"Father, do what you must to negotiate until I return," Lawren bid farewell to Lanard. The Grand
Elder only permitted Lawren to leave the stronghold to participate in the investigation; all others
were required to remain.
"Negotiate? Do you think the Grand Elder is capable of mercy?" Lanard seemed to have aged
considerably, weakly waving Lawren off. "Go on, search thoroughly, and if you find nothing, go into
hiding and do not return."
"I will return, just wait for me." Lawren now regretted his past decision to ambush the Mallister
family, but it was toote. He needed to quickly discover who had taken the ancient sword, or else...
the Rocke family would truly be finished, and with them, the entire city could face ughter.
"Go... just go..." Lanard sat exhausted in the room.
"Take care, Father." Lawren bowed and withdrew.
"Wait. Come here," Lanard beckoned him to close the door.
"Father, do you have further orders?" Lawren approached Lanard''s side.
Lanard spoke in a hushed tone, "Make your greatest effort, but also prepare for the worst. If the
Grand Elder truly orders a massacre, how will you avenge this?"
"I..." Lawren gave a bitter smile. Avenge? How could he possibly challenge Cobalt Strike?
"The Nortnds are home not only to the Eight Orders and Five Lords but also to Amber Valley!"
Amber Valley, the most formidable andrgest guild of assassins in the Nortnds, would do
anything for the right price. It was said that the Eight Orders, Five Lords, and various other powers
in the Nortnds had all secretly worked with Amber Valley. There, the darkest and most sordid of
deals were struck.
Lawren''s expression shifted. Amber Valley? An assassination?
"Go, take the family''s most precious magical treasures. Use them for barter if need be." Lanard
dismissed Lawren with a wave of his hand.
No sooner had Lawren left the room than a Cobalt Strike apprentice awaited him outside. “Lord
Lawren, by the Grand Elder’s edict, we shall assist you in your investigation to swiftly find the lost
ancient sword.”
Assist? It was more like a surveince. Lawren eyed them, a flicker of coldness passing through his
gaze before he quickly concealed it. "Wait for me outside the stronghold. I''ll join you once I''ve
gathered my things."
"What do you need to gather? We can assist."
"I’m taking a few treasures, to issue a bounty. No need for such caution, my entire family and city
are in your hands. We cannot flee."
Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g
The Cobalt Strike apprentices exchanged nces and pressed him no further.
From the stronghold''s high tower, the Grand Elder and two Elders watched as Lawren left the
stronghold.
"Grand Elder, can we trust Lawren? Might he take this chance to flee?"
After eight long years of suspicion, they felt no joy at the confirmation of the culprit, but rather a
deep rage. It would be one thing if it were an outsider, but to be betrayed by a hound raised by
Cobalt Strike was worse!
A dog that bites its master! And the master had been oblivious, nurturing it for eight long years,
protecting it.
"Flee? Where could he flee to? No one in the Nortnds would dare protect a man pursued by
Cobalt Strike," the Grand Elder said with icy authority.
"Do you truly believe the ancient sword was stolen by another?"
"It''s likely the work of the escaped Chained Spirit. But with the Chained Spirit''s feeble energy, it''s
unlikely it could awaken the ancient sword."