Chapter 632 - Little Brother (Patreon)

Leyvi felt a little embarrassed. He really did feel as though he was being treated like a little brother.

“Oh right. Because you finished this faster than I expected, more than half of the people I selected are not here yet. So we’re going to proceed with the ones who are already available,” Jade informed him.

Leyvi nodded weakly. His mind was still barely functioning.

“Also, the person you recommended to me arrived yesterday, so he can start right away as well,” she continued.

The moment those words reached him, Leyvi’s mind cleared completely. The fog that had clung to him after the long study vanished at once, replaced by sharp focus. Knowing that a family member was already here seemed to pour energy straight back into him.

“But are you sure you want him to lead the investigation?” Jade asked, her tone more careful now. “I know he has incredible potential, and Sherlock himself vouched for him. Still, this case carries a weight most people never face. The expectations will be enormous, and the consequences of any mistake could affect the entire continent. Many talented individuals end up unable to show their true abilities simply because they cannot bear that kind of pressure.”

Leyvi immediately straightened his posture. The exhausted look from earlier was gone. He stood tall and clear-eyed.

“Sister Jade, bring me to him right away. Whether he can handle it or not, let’s ask him ourselves. It should be his decision to make,” Leyvi said with a firm smile.

“Oh? Are you sure you don’t want to rest first? You looked half dead just a few moments ago,” Jade said.

“Hahaha! I’m completely recovered already. As if a few mere symbols could take me down.” Leyvi spread his arms and flexed his biceps for emphasis, as if to prove the point.

“Hehe.” Jade chuckled. “Then what about your libido? A renowned sex fiend must need to release it quite frequently, right? Anda isn’t here to help you at the moment, so how about asking my disciples?”

Leyvi nearly lost his balance. The disciples again…

“Sister Jade, can you stop promoting your disciples? I’m really not interested,” Leyvi said with a wry smile.

“Is that so? Sigh… my poor disciples… even our Cloud Continent Harem Lord doesn’t want you ladies. Your master is completely powerless…” Jade acted out the lament with dramatic flair, even placing a hand over her heart.

“You’re the legendary woman who runs the entire continent. How is it that you still can’t find suitable candidates for them?” Leyvi asked.

“I did. I found you. How about just one of them? Or two? I’ll even let you choose,” Jade continued trying to bargain, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

Leyvi could only roll his eyes and refuse to answer any further.

Afterwards, Jade led Leyvi to the housing area near the headquarters where the person he wished to meet was staying.

Jade adamantly insisted on traveling by horse carriage instead of simply flying. Even though Leyvi felt the choice was rather pointless, he still went along with her whim.

Along the way, he quietly tried sensing the bloodline connection between himself and his children. He had never been this far away from them since the day they were born, so he was not certain whether his Bloodline Connection ability had any range limit.

Jade had told him he had only been inside the vault for a little over a month. That meant Anda and the children were most likely still on their journey home. The trip from here back to Bara Territory took roughly two months, after all.

I can sense them! Leyvi’s eyes widened with quiet delight.

Not only could he sense them clearly, but he also noticed that the connection did not feel weakened at all despite the long distance. That was excellent news. Being able to know the whereabouts of his children at any time put him greatly at ease.

“Oh? Why are you suddenly smiling? Did you see something funny?” Jade asked.

“Secret,” Leyvi replied with a small chuckle.

“What? How can you keep secrets from your Big Sister? Tell me,” Jade urged playfully.

“Hahaha! Not telling.” Leyvi refused with a light laugh.

After the two of them joked around a little longer, the horse carriage finally came to a halt.

“We’re here. Let’s go meet him.” Jade immediately jumped down from the carriage.

Leyvi smiled and stepped down as well. In truth, he had already located Tal’s position halfway through the ride and had quietly whispered to him that he was on his way.

The moment Leyvi stepped out of the carriage, a happy Tal immediately greeted him with a deep bow.

“Master! It’s been a while since I last saw you. How have you been doing?” he asked with a genuine, bright smile.

Tal’s appearance and demeanor had become even more scholarly and refined, the complete opposite of Leyvi.

“Hahaha! I just came out of the toughest and longest battle of my life. It’s a miracle I’m still alive. I wanted to take a long, nice rest, but then I heard you had arrived. Suddenly I felt completely better.” Leyvi replied energetically and pulled Tal into a firm side hug for a few moments, clearly glad to see him.

“I’ve heard. I didn’t expect that you had been here trying to figure out the ancient language. You’re as unpredictable as ever,” Tal said, letting out a deep sigh.

A month ago he had been approached urgently by an Envoy and informed that his service was required at the highest level. The news had shocked him to the core. The crisis across Cloud Continent had only been announced a few days earlier. Although he had not been given any details at the time, he strongly suspected the two matters were connected.

Only after he arrived yesterday was he told the full truth. The information released to the public was not the entire story. He would be joining a top-secret investigation team with the task of identifying and locating the true source of the disaster.

Logically, someone of his current standing should not even have been considered for a case of this magnitude. He was still only well-known in certain parts of the South Region. Learning that his master was already here working on the same matter made him realize why he had been selected.

“Not trying to figure it out,” Leyvi corrected him casually. “I already did. Other people can start learning the ancient language from now on. You too.”

“It’s done?” Tal stared at him for a second, genuinely surprised this time. Then he exhaled and gave a small, resigned smile. This was his master, after all. Normal standards simply did not apply to him.

“Now it will be your turn. Have they told you why you are here?” Leyvi asked.

“They did.” Tal nodded. “I was wondering how I got chosen for such an important mission. It turned out it was because of you.”

“Well, it wasn’t just me. Senior Sherlock vouched for your ability too.”

“Master, you have met Protector Sherlock?” Tal asked, looking visibly excited. He had long wanted to meet the man.

“Not just him. All of them,” Leyvi said casually, as if it were nothing special.

“All… all of them?” Tal’s eyes widened. He could not help but gulp, his heart suddenly pounding harder in his chest.

He had assumed Leyvi had been working with the Envoys at most. The idea that his master had already stood before every single one of the Protectors left him momentarily speechless.

Those figures were the true legends of Cloud Continent. Their names carried more weight than any sect leader or family head. For most people, even catching a distant glimpse of one Protector was considered a once-in-a-lifetime event. Meeting all of them was something almost no one outside their inner circle could ever hope for.

After joining the Bureau of Investigation, the prestige of the Protectors had become even clearer to him. He had watched how even high-ranking officials spoke of them with careful respect. Rising through the ranks had become more than just ambition. It was the only realistic path he could see that might one day place him in a position to meet them.

Now that his master had already done so, the possibility that he himself might stand before them no longer felt like a distant dream. It felt suddenly real, and that realization made his chest tighten with nervous energy.

“I want you to lead the investigation team. Can you do it?” Leyvi revealed his intention directly.

Tal’s eyes widened the moment he heard those words. Suddenly his legs felt completely weak. His knees nearly buckled, and for a second he thought he might actually collapse on the spot.

“Mas… Master… did you misspeak or something?”

He had thought he would only be a minor figure in this investigation. He had assumed Leyvi was simply using the opportunity to let him experience things on a grander scale, perhaps observe how high-level operations were run. The idea that his master actually wanted him to lead the entire operation had never once crossed his mind. The weight of that request left him stunned.

“Why would I misspeak? I really think you’re the best person for this. Think carefully and tell me whether you can do it or not. She said you might not be able to handle the pressure. Don’t worry. If she’s right, I won’t force you.” Leyvi pointed toward Jade as he spoke.

“Mas… Master, who is this lady?” Tal asked. His voice had grown noticeably more timid, clearly affected by the weight of Leyvi’s expectation.

“Oh right. I forgot to introduce you. This lady here is Protector Jade. Sister Jade, this is my little brother, Tal Leyan.” Leyvi made the introduction casually.

Thud!

Tal’s legs finally gave out. He fell straight onto his rear with an undignified impact, eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

“Pro… Pro… Protector Jade?!” He had completely lost his composure.

“Hehehe. Look at that. Your little brother fell down so hard. Well, since he is your little brother, I’ll consider him my little brother too. Don’t worry, I take care of my family.” Jade giggled, clearly amused.

Me? Little brother? Sister Jade? What’s going on here? Tal’s mind spun with confusion and fluster. Too many sudden turns were happening to him at once, and he could barely keep up.

Leyvi was speechless. He had never seen Tal lose his usual composed and refined demeanor like this before. Well, except when he was around Tasya.