Chapter 1 The Warlord Of The North

• “Lord Lockwood, a total of three hundred and one elite soldiers from thirteen nations, including thirteen high-ranking generals, were involved in the armed invasion. They have all been eliminated with zero casualties on our side. We await further directives.”
• “Clean up the battlefield. Withdraw the troops.”
• Under the blazing sun at the frontier of Clusia, Finneas Lockwood, one of the Four Supreme Warlords of Clusia and the Warlord of the North, gave a nod expressionlessly. He was about to board the helicopter to leave when suddenly someone came with another report.
• “Lord Lockwood, there's an urgent message from Hofcaster!”
• “Speak!”
• A hint of emotion unexpectedly stirred on Finneas' face, which was usually devoid of any expression, when he heard that the news came from Hofcaster.
• Hofcaster was his roots.
• Joaquin Lockwood, his only kin and his elder brother, was still in Hofcaster.
• “Joaquin fell from a building and has been confirmed dead.”
• “What did you say?” Finneas abruptly stood up almost as soon as the signaller finished speaking.
• A chilling aura of solemnity instantly engulfed the entire battlefield.
• The vast jungle was transformed into hell in an instant, so much so that the closest signaller to Finneas collapsed on the spot, his legs giving out under him.
• Finneas abruptly seized the report from the hands of the signaller. As he read the line of text, an icy aura intensified around him. His eyes began to moisten, and a sudden sting hit his nose.
• There was a time when tears had become foreign to the man who had emerged from a heap of lifeless bodies and a river of blood.
• Having observed the cycle of life and death repeatedly, Finneas had long since lost touch with emotions such as desolation, grief, and agony.
• What he hadn't anticipated, however, was for all those emotions to come back to him when he heard the news of his own brother's death.
• A man may shed tears, but not without significant reason, only when he's truly heartbroken.
• The signaller no longer had the courage to look at Finneas' face. After much hesitation, he still nervously raised Joaquin's will above his head. “Lord Lockwood... there's also a scanned copy of a will here.”
• Finneas swiftly took hold of the will.
• It read: Finneas, it's been a decade since you left home, and I've heard nothing from you. I don't even know if you'll ever get to read this letter I'm leaving behind. Eight years ago, I married your current sister-in-law, Yolanda Joubert. She didn't despise me for being poor. She dismissed the disapproval of her family and chose to be with me in the end. She even blessed me with a lovely daughter, your elder niece, Suzannah Lockwood. Finneas, since you left home at sixteen to join the army, it's been a solid decade since we last saw each other. I really wish I could see you in your military uniform. I'm certain you would look striking. My only regret is leaving behind Yolanda and Suzannah. If you're reading this letter, please take care of them. Consider this my last wish. Finneas, I'm useless. Once I'm gone, please take good care of them for me. Joaquin Lockwood.
• Once Finneas read the last word, the report quietly dropped to the ground. His vision was nothing but a blur.
• He hadn't forgotten how Joaquin had cared for him after the death of their parents. There was a time when, in their desperate struggle for a single meal, Joaquin had resorted to stealing bread from others, narrowly escaping a brutal beating.
• He hadn't forgotten that he had once been gravely ill. In order to find someone to cure him, Joaquin had carried him through the streets, begging every passerby they encountered.
• He also hadn't forgotten the tears and anticipation in Joaquin's eyes as he boarded the train the day he left for the military.
• His departure seemed to have drained all of Joaquin's vitality.
• “Lord Lockwood, please accept my condolences.”
• As Finneas' bodyguard, Frederick Yandell knew that Finneas, who constantly exuded a chilling aura, was the most formidable.
• He dared not speak too much. He could only stand at the side, his eyes brimming with tears, sharing in Finneas' pain.
• “Frederick.”
• “Yes, Lord Lockwood!”
• “Arrange a private jet for me to Hofcaster immediately. I must get there tonight.”
• “Understood!” Frederick gave a military salute. “Lord Lockwood, are we going to pay tribute to Joaquin? Do I need to prepare anything?”
• To Frederick, Finneas was his savior and the person he respected the most. Finneas' elder brother was his elder brother.
• The name Finneas, to Clusia and even the entire world, carried a certain sense of intimidation.
• Once, it was said that as long as the Warlord of the North was present, Clusia could enjoy eternal peace.
• However, at that moment, Finneas was away, battling on foreign lands, safeguarding the vast mountains and rivers. Yet, there were those who dared to harm his loved ones. It was utterly despicable.
• No one could claim that Frederick or any soldier from Clusia for that matter would remain indifferent upon hearing the news.
• “No need. Joaquin wouldn't just commit suicide for no reason. This matter is too suspicious. I'm going to get to the bottom of this!” A cold glint flashed in Finneas' eyes.
• “Sure, I'll see to it right away!” Frederick responded before immediately turning around and leaving.
• From Frederick's perspective, no matter who the adversary was, if Finneas was determined, they could be effortlessly wiped out with a mere flick of his hand.
• For a decade, Finneas had never meddled in local affairs.
• This time, he was about to make an exception, and it was bound to cause earth-shattering consequences.
• Three hours later, a military jet slowly landed at Hofcaster Airport. As the hatch opened, a face, resolute yet tinged with a hint of sadness, was revealed.
• Finneas didn't bring anyone else along for this return. Only Frederick accompanied him.
• Finneas had made arrangements not to alarm the locals.
• He intended to settle this grudge on his own.
• After they disembarked from the plane, they hailed a taxi and headed toward Joaquin's house.
• Finneas gazed at the scene before him that was both foreign and familiar. His face remained expressionless, yet a storm was brewing within his heart.
• Joaquin, I'm back! I hope you won't hold it against me for only returning now. Don't worry, I will definitely take good care of Yolanda and Suzannah. I won't let them suffer any harm again. And no matter who they are, I'll make sure those who harm you pay the price!
• Half an hour later, the taxi slowly came to a halt next to a dilapidated mansion.
• After paying the taxi fares, Frederick followed Finneas out of the taxi and headed straight for Joaquin's house.
• The two of them halted before a small, weather-beaten red iron gate.
• What puzzled Finneas was that the small iron gate was tightly shut and even locked.
• What's going on? Where are Yolanda and Suzannah?
• How could they possibly not be at home when Joaquin just passed away?
• Noticing Finneas' confusion, Frederick didn't hesitate for a moment and leaped up the wall, casting a glance inside the house.
• “Lord Lockwood, the light inside the house is out. There's no one there.”
• “What are you two up to at this hour? Planning to steal something by climbing over walls?”
• No sooner had Frederick finished speaking than a roar of anger could be heard.
• An elderly man dressed in a white tank top, wielding a shovel, stormed out from the opposite gate. “Have you no decency left? The Lockwood family is already in such a state, yet you still want to rob them?”
• “Oh, no, sir, we're friends of Joaquin. We heard what happened to him and came over to visit,” Frederick quickly said, hopping down from the wall with an awkward smile.
• “Visit?” The elderly man paused slightly, setting down his shovel. He shook his head first before sighing. “That won't be necessary. The Lockwoods are gone. They're all gone!”
• “What did you say?”
• A fierce look appeared in Finneas' eyes. He seemed like a volcano ready to explode any second.
• “I said the Lockwoods are gone. Joaquin jumped off a building during the day, and just an hour ago, his wife hanged herself too. Oh, what a tragedy!”
• Finneas' eyes narrowed coldly.