Chapter 145: The Sinclairs Sort For a New Ally

Chapter 145: Chapter 145: The Sinclairs Sort For a New Ally

Unlike the other organizations, which were merely shocked by Graham Cole’s strength, the Sinclair family had reasons to fear what his rise might mean for them personally.

After all, the conflict between Graham Cole and the Lindsay family had begun with his repeated efforts to protect Mira.

And the Sinclair family had its own history with her.

"Adrian Sinclair, you’ve brought this disaster upon us!" one clansman shouted.

"You must get Mira to forgive you! Otherwise, step down as family head immediately!" another demanded.

"Exactly! The Sinclair family cannot afford to lose Mira. She’s General Victoria Quill’s personal disciple, and there’s a powerful expert at the Divine Power Realm backing her. You need to apologize to her and persuade her to return!" a third added.

"Elder, I believe Adrian is no longer fit to lead the family. We should remove him from his position!"

The Sinclair family compound was already in an uproar early that morning.

Several members from different branches had gathered around Adrian, openly challenging his authority. Men and women alike voiced their complaints, while even the younger members watched the confrontation unfold.

News of the Lindsay family’s destruction had spread across the region overnight.

By morning, reports of the massacre were already appearing on television, and the Sinclair family had naturally learned what happened.

They were no strangers to the name Graham Cole.

Although they knew far less about him than Samuel Bush and the other influential figures in the martial arts world, they had witnessed enough to understand how terrifyingly powerful he was.

Just days earlier, Graham Cole had appeared at Arcadia Academy, where he killed Damon Veil, the former leader of the Bloodshadow Cult.

Before leaving, he had also given Mira something in front of everyone.

That alone suggested that the two knew each other. And Graham Cole was believed to be a Divine Power Realm expert!

The Sinclair family did not even have a single martial artist at the Star Sea Realm. Someone of Graham Cole’s stature could easily change their fortunes with a few words, let alone offer them his direct support.

Yet instead of building a relationship with such a powerful figure, they had managed to turn him into a potential enemy.

All because Adrian had driven Mira out of the family.

The clansmen could barely stomach the thought. In their eyes, their family head had thrown away an opportunity that countless families would have sacrificed everything to obtain.

Worse still, he might have brought Graham Cole’s wrath down upon them.

"That’s enough!" Adrian’s face darkened. The veins on his forehead bulged as his furious roar silenced the courtyard.

"Tell me, where were all of you when I expelled Mira from the family?" he demanded.

"Did a single person stand up to oppose my decision?" He swept his gaze across the crowd, his anger growing with every word.

"And when I decided to establish ties with the Lindsay family, who among you objected? Not one of you!"

"Now that Mira has a powerful backer and a promising future, suddenly you’re all full of regrets," he continued.

"You want to wash your hands of the matter and make me take responsibility for everything!" He gave a cold laugh.

"Don’t even think about it! There’s no way to undo what has already happened. From this moment onward, you have two choices. Either you remain with me and share whatever fate awaits the family, or you leave the Sinclair family and make your own way in the world!"

His expression hardened as he looked at the people who had just been clamoring for his removal.

"You’re a disgrace!" he snapped.

"None of you has any ambition of your own. All you know how to do is search for powerful people to shelter beneath their wings. With a bunch of parasites like you, how do you expect the Sinclair family to grow stronger? If you have nothing useful to contribute, keep your mouths shut. Otherwise, pack your belongings and get out!"

The courtyard fell silent.

Adrian took a breath before continuing, his tone turning more confident.

"Besides, the Lindsay family’s destruction doesn’t mean our opportunities have disappeared," he said.

"The Shelby family of Groundcrest is still around. Surely I don’t need to explain what kind of force they are?" He paused to let that sink in.

"Last night, word came from the Lindsay family that a girl named Maya Knox, who had been lost outside the family for years, has awakened the Calamity Poison Body. I learned about the girl’s former appearance through my connections with the Lindsay family. If we can locate her before anyone else does, we may be able to secure the Shelby family’s support!"

His eyes swept over the crowd.

"So what if Graham Cole is a Divine Power Realm expert? The Shelby family has at least three experts at that level. Once we establish a relationship with them, the Sinclair family will have nothing to fear!"

Adrian was still the head of the family, and the only elder in the Sinclair family stood behind him.

Together, they were the family’s sole Spirit Platform Realm martial artists.

Their combined authority was enough to keep the other clansmen in check. After Adrian finished speaking, nobody dared to challenge him openly again.

However, as he studied their expressions, he noticed that several people had begun exchanging thoughtful glances.

The mention of the Shelby family had clearly caught their attention.

Rather than feeling relieved, Adrian felt a deep sense of helplessness.

If these people dared to pressure him into surrendering his position today, there was no telling what they might try tomorrow.

Give them an inch, and they would soon be demanding the entire family.

He had a growing suspicion that unless he found Maya Knox and established ties with the Shelby family as quickly as possible, his position as family head would not remain secure for long.

But where was he supposed to find her? Silver Lake City was a vast city, and Maya had disappeared into it long ago.

Even with the information he had obtained, tracking her down would be no easy task.

Adrian rubbed his temples, his earlier confidence fading.

"If only I’d been more patient back then," he muttered bitterly. "I shouldn’t have moved against Mira so hastily."

Unfortunately, regret could not undo the damage.

* * *

While Adrian struggled to find a way out of his predicament, Xavier had already returned to Valemont with Maya.

After wiping out the Lindsay family’s leading figures the previous night, he had taken her back with him without wasting any time.

Now, the two stood in a modest courtyard covering roughly two hundred square meters.

The property was less than two kilometers from Arcadia Academy, making it a convenient place for Maya to stay while she focused on her cultivation.

"For now, settle in here and concentrate on training," Xavier instructed. "I’ll come by every other morning. If anything comes up, call me."

During their journey back, he had explained what he overheard from Garrett Lindsay. Maya now knew that her mother, Sarah, was the eldest daughter of the Shelby family of Groundcrest.

He had also made a decision regarding their next move. They would wait another month or two before visiting the Shelby family. When the time came, he would personally accompany Maya to look for her mother.

His decision was not simply a matter of convenience. It came down to how much confidence he had in his own strength.

Although he had ultimately killed Winston Lindsay, the old man’s final attack had left a lasting impression on him.

Winston had been at the half step Divine Power Realm, yet defeating him had still forced Graham to draw heavily on his abilities.

What would happen if he encountered a genuine Divine Power Realm expert from the Shelby family?

There was no guarantee that the Shelby family would turn hostile.

They might welcome Maya and allow her to reunite with her mother without incident.

Nevertheless, Xavier preferred to prepare for the worst rather than rely on good fortune. A month or two was not an especially long time.

With consistent cultivation and the rewards from his system investments, he might be able to raise his strength enough to contend with a true Divine Power Realm martial artist.

There was another advantage to keeping Maya nearby, too. It would make investing in her much easier. Xavier had no intention of overlooking such an opportunity.

Maya, who respected her new master, had no objections to the arrangement. She had already spent eighteen years searching for her mother. Waiting another month or two seemed insignificant in comparison.

"There’s one more thing," Xavier said, taking out his phone.

"If you can’t reach me directly, call this number. The person who answers is Marcus Reed. He’s someone I trust, and he’ll know how to contact me."

He saved Marcus’s number in Maya’s phone. Xavier had considered enrolling her at Arcadia Academy, but Maya was uncomfortable around strangers and preferred not to attend classes. He decided not to force her into an environment she disliked, at least for now.

Besides, Marcus already knew that Graham Cole was his identity’s public face. If Maya needed help reaching him, his friend could serve as a reliable intermediary.

"Understood, Master!" Maya nodded eagerly.

Since her father had died, she had been alone in the world. She had spent months wandering Silver Lake City in search of her mother, often struggling to find enough food and somewhere safe to sleep.

Now, she finally had someone she could depend on. She even had a place to call home.

For Maya, that alone was enough to fill her with happiness.

"Good. Take these pills and use them to improve your cultivation. Don’t worry about conserving them. Your master has more than enough."

Before leaving, Xavier reached into his spatial ring and produced a large assortment of medicinal pills.