The Strongest War God

“I want to know what Grandpa and Dad are hiding,” Sorrell Neal declared, his tone laced with hostility.

“Why are you here, Sorrell?” Lowell Neal’s shock and anger were palpable.

He hadn’t anticipated his youngest son overhearing their conversation.

“You may deceive Braydon, but you can’t fool me. Remember, I grew up in the Neal Mansion. I witnessed Grandpa wielding a sword, attempting to kill Uncle Louis,” Sorrell’s voice remained icy.

Sorrell’s demeanor mirrored Braydon Neal’s, displaying striking similarities in their personalities.

“This is an affair for the elders to handle. It’s not your place to question it as a junior. Leave,” Lowell retorted with a darkened expression.

“If I do, Braydon will surely come to inquire,” Sorrell retorted, invoking Braydon’s name.

Certain matters that the elders withheld from Sorrell would be revealed if Braydon pressed for answers.

Given Braydon’s nature, it was uncertain what actions he might take if left uninformed.

The fate of the millions of comrades from the Northern Army, sworn to follow Braydon, rested within the confines of the 16th ruin.

If any member of the Neal family conspired with the aborigines, endangering the Northern Army, Braydon would be compelled to act.

In the realm of adulthood, desires rarely align with reality.

Sorrell’s presence forced their hand.

Graham Neal sighed softly.

“Take a seat. Tonight, I’ll divulge everything.”

“I want to know if the Neal family is colluding with the aborigines!” Sorrell’s demand remained direct.

Did the Neal family collude with the aborigines?

The answer he received left Sorrell in a state of despair and heightened fury.

Graham nodded slightly, silently acknowledging the truth: the Neal family indeed colluded with the aborigines.

If Braydon were to learn of this, he might follow the same path as his father, Louis Neal, severing ties with both his grandfather.

Louis and his father stood resolute.

It was likely due to this very issue.

Collaborating with the aborigines amounted to betrayal of the family, a crime of such magnitude that even Braydon would bear the consequences.

Generations of Neals would carry the burden of shame throughout history.

In this moment, if Braydon were present, he might grasp why his grandmother, Whitney Jansky, and grandfather harbored discord.

Graham found himself at odds with his wife, son, and grandson—a betrayal by all.

Whitney had once warned Braydon that those aspiring to greatness might even cause them to betray their loved ones.

Today’s events seemed to validate her caution.

Perhaps Whitney feared the day when the Neal family’s actions would harm Braydon.

Despite the widespread knowledge of the Neal family’s current head, Braydon remained oblivious or deliberately averted thoughts of his family’s darker aspects.

It was akin to witnessing a murder on the streets while playing with one’s younger brothers; instinct would never implicate one’s own kin as the culprit.

Even in the future, the truth might elude recognition.

“Why?”

Sorrell’s eyes welled with tears.

“Why would you strike a deal with the aborigines? Even I know that the aborigines’ hands are stained with the blood of countless Hansworth ancestors. There exists a deep-rooted feud between the two sides! By doing this, how can the valiant souls of past generations find peace?”

Sorrell’s voice cracked with emotion.

Tears pooled at the corners of his eyes, his gaze heavy with despair.

As a teenager, every child looked up to their father as an idol, and Sorrell was no exception.

Yet now, the foundations of his world had crumbled.

Sorrell had faced brutal battles in the 16th ruin, cultivating a fierce determination and aloof demeanor.

But learning of the Neal family’s darkest secret shook him to the core.

It was a scandal that would burden the Neal descendants with shame for generations.

“I would never betray my family, even if it costs me my life,” Sorrell’s voice cracked as he spoke hoarsely. “Why would you do that?”

“Your generation has seen Emperor Hansworth’s reign for a century, witnessing the nation’s growth day by day. Why betray the country?” Sorrell pleaded, struggling to comprehend.

Graham’s expression turned serious as he explained, “The 16th ruin harbors three major races: plant demons, spirit beasts, and aborigines. The Donta Imperial Dynasty, led by the aborigines alone, boasts immense power, able to summon millions of martial artists, including hundreds of emperors and even divines. With the millennium decree nearing its end, they seek to destroy the bronze door.

“In addition,” Graham continued, “the allure of the outside world is irresistible to all inhabitants of the ruins. They have grown tired of the lies of the Oracle Palace and the divinity it claims. When they do try to breach the bronze door, how are we to defend ourselves?

“A great calamity looms, and I must find a path for the Neal family’s survival.”

…

Graham knew as much as Braydon, yet he made a different choice—to cooperate with the aborigines in order to secure the family’s future.

It was a decision that demanded sacrificing everything for survival.

However, for this kind of survival, Sorrell didn’t want it.

He would rather die in battle.

“You gave up everything just to survive,” Sorrell said with a sad smile.

Graham and Lowell remained calm.

Some sacrifices had to be made for the sake of family inheritance.

Turning around, Sorrell left, his heart already dead.

He left with a final remark, “The Neal Mansion is becoming more and more like an aristocratic family!”

It was reminiscent of the aristocratic families of Hansworth, willing to do anything to preserve their legacy, prioritizing family above all else.

Sorrell was gone.

There was no longer any attachment to the Neal residence.

This place did not belong to him.

In the years to come, they might be safe and sound, but Sorrell’s choice was to wait quietly for the end of the thousand-year imperial edict, then fight to the death in the 16th ancient city to defend the bronze door.

He would rather die standing than live kneeling.

The Neal Residence had already defected to the aborigines.

While Graham’s choice might protect the Neal family in the future, it still left a bitter taste.

Sorrell pondered. “In the end, he is just a dog in the eyes of the aborigines!”

As Sorrell departed, the sky outside had already darkened.

Graham and Lowell watched him leave in silence.

After a moment, Lowell spoke up, his fists clenched.

“Father, why didn’t you tell Sorrell the truth? The Neal family is not what he thinks!”

Graham sighed heavily.

“So what if I tell him the truth? Besides, this top-secret information cannot be leaked. There are people in the Alliance who have really sided with the alien races, but we haven’t found them yet.”