"Yes, Hart was in the wrong for speaking to hispetitor in such a tone, but it


    did not warrant his death. That was why I had someone take out Molton. Some people tend to forget who they are the second theye into big money. Haron was a good worker, and I had half a mind to train him myself, but he left Rostead."


    Locke sat with his back to Wilbur as he spoke. He stopped wiping the photo of his son abruptly, turning to look at Wilbur. "Do you think it was cruel of me to kill Molton?"


    "What happened to Molton is more or less a retribution of his own doing, but I understand where you''reing from, Mister Locke. I''m very sorry. I should not have worked with him. I never wanted this to happen."


    "That''s enough."


    Locke cut Wilbur off. "You can drop the act. We''re all businessmen here, and there''s no way you don''t know about that ancient trade route since you''ve worked with Haron and Molton. You''re here for that treasure, aren''t you?"


    "No, Mister Locke. I think you''ve misunderstood me. I''m actually here to talk about working with you."


    "No, you shouldn''t havee. I''m sure you know I can''t let my son go. You might not be a direct perpetrator, but you''re not entirely innocent in rtion to Hart''s death. I was going to find a way to lure you here and kill you, only for you toe looking for me. I have to say I admire your courage, and you might thinking here is courageous yourself, but you must know that courage means nothing in some situations."


    Locke got to his feet facing Wilbur, his left hand gripping the photo of Hart tightly as his right hand drew a pistol from his pocket that he aimed at Wilbur.


    "Your fate''s been sealed, Wilbur. But I suppose I could tell you about that trade route before you die since I do indeed admire your bravery. I''ve actually tracked that route down recently. I hired people to dive in and take a look, and there are some pretty valuable things in the sunken ship. You could buy two entire cities of Rostead from selling everything on that ship. So many people dream of a fortune like that. It''s a shame it''ll never belong to you."


    "Oh, no," Wilbur raised his hands. "I think you''ve misunderstood me, Mister Locke. I''m not here for the treasure on that ancient trade route."


    "Oh, please. Drop the act."


    "I''m here for the Shadow King''s energy."


    Just as the words rang through the air, Locke''s eyes shed with shock. He put away his pistol quickly after. "Ah, so you''re a cultivator too."


    Wilbur saw that Locke had put his defenses down and got straight to the point. "Mister Locke, I''m sure you must be heartbroken over Hart''s death, but Molton was the cause of it, not me. Now that Molton is dead, I hope you won''t bring tragedy to all of Rostead over your own selfish reasons."


    "My own selfish reasons?"


    "Rostead would never be what it is today without the Jackson family! Do you know what a poor country Rostead was twenty years ago? My family and I brought this nation into prosperity!"


    Locke was overwhelmed with emotion, glowering at Wilbur. "Do you know how much hard work it takes to take a country from rags to riches? Do you even know how much my family has sacrificed for this nation? I suffered all my life to get to this ce, only for me to not even be able to keep my own son alive. What meaning does any of this have? Since life has been so unfair to me, the Shadow King shall descend and show these people the meaning of true suffering!"