"Regarding this matter, I've already explained it to your father and Trent. The treasure map was stolen several years ago, and its whereabouts remain unknown," Hector said."Uncle Hector, it sounds suspicious if you put it that way."Dylan grabbed a banana and casually peeled it. "The treasure map is a precious item. You've deemed it more valuable than your own life. "How would you let someone steal it? Are you sure you didn't secretly hide it for yourself?""Are you doubting me? Where's your evidence?" Hector furrowed his brows."Uncle Hector, the day has eyes, and the night has ears. We all know the truth."Dylan took a bite of the banana and grinned. "As your nephew, I advise you to consider handing it over soon. Otherwise, no one can guarantee that today's events won't repeat themselves."Everybody's faces fell when they heard that. Especially Natasha, as her anger flared up. She rushed forward and grabbed Dylan's collar. "What did you just say? Are you saying you had a h
Dustin and the others rushed to the operating room after receiving the news.Still unconscious, Cecilia was being wheeled out. Beside her was something covered with a white sheet.Dustin's hands trembled as he lifted the white sheet. It was the baby's lifeless body.His eyes turned bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth. A wave of anger surged within him.He had promised Nelson that he would protect Cecilia and their baby.Now, not only were the mother and daughter severely injured and hospitalized, but Cecilia had also tragically lost her child.It was an earth-shattering tragedy for him. Amidst the guilt and self-blame, he was overwhelmed with anger.He was livid!"How did this happen? We were fine when we left. How did ..." Natasha's face turned pale as she struggled to comprehend the situation.Cecilia was nine months pregnant and about to give birth.They couldn't imagine the pain of losing a life that was growing in her."I'm sorry, we did our best." A doctor explained,
A red carpet was stretched from the house's entrance to the reception hall.Today marked the official announcement of Trent's position as the patriarch of the Harmon family. It was previously acknowledged within the family but was now being publicly declared. The Harmon family extended invitations to many guests and organized a banquet.Anyone who had good relations with the Harmon family or wished to gain favor with them made their way to congratulate them. The change in leadership meant that other influential families or figures would need to realign themselves with the Harmon family.…Meanwhile, Trent and the core members of the Harmon family gathered inside the conference room.Compared to before, the number of people present had significantly decreased.After the recent change, nearly half of the core members had been marginalized. Most people in the room were Trent's trusted inner circle and allies."Trent, after today, you'll be widely recognized as the patriarch of
"What the heck! What is this?"When the severed head rolled out, everyone was shocked. They instinctively backed away. Their shock only increased after they comprehended the situation.Today was supposed to be a joyous day for Trent, but someone dared to send such a gruesome gift. Were they trying to offend Trent?No!It was a provocation!"Who is it? How dare someone send me a severed head?" Trent seethed with anger.His mood was ruined instantly."You worthless piece of trash! How could you be so careless?" Furious, Jacob slapped the butler hard.As a butler of the Harmon family, he had been negligent and delivered the gift without inspecting it. What if it was a bomb?"I—I thought it was just an ordinary guest. I never expected this." The butler knelt on the ground and trembled.The person was smiling when he passed the butler the gift. So the butler thought it was a guest trying to get on the family head's good side. Who would have thought there was a severed head ins
Dustin just replied with a single word."Thanks." The girl in the blue dress smiled and motioned for her friends to sit. She thought, "This seems to be the only place with many empty seats. He looks friendly, so sitting with him shouldn't be an issue." "Hey, I'm Livia, and these are my friends, Leah and Quinton. What's yours?""We just met, so there's no need for names," Dustin replied bluntly. He was on a mission, not here to socialize.His rudeness caught Livia off guard.But Leah couldn't hold back and confronted him. "Hey, watch your tone. We're just asking for your name! "What's the big deal about that? You're not even dressed like a rich man. What makes you think you can act so high and mighty?"Quinton chimed in, "Yeah, you're not exactly dressed to impress. It's an honor for you to meet us.""It's ok, let's all forget about it." Livia tried to defuse the situation.But Leah couldn't let it go and snapped. "You can't give in to a loser like him, Liv. It's clear he d
Dustin's remark caught Livia, Leah, and Quinton off guard, leaving them puzzled."Hey, what are you babbling about? Who's going to die?" Leah raised an eyebrow and wondered if he had lost his mind."Are you jealous of Dylan, dude? You're saying nonsense now because you know he's better than you," Quinton remarked."Hmph, you know you're worthless, yet you badmouth someone you're jealous of. You're just a petty bastard!" Leah could not stand petty people like Dustin."Hey, if you've got something to say, say it to Dylan's face. What's the point of talking behind someone's back?" Quinton taunted."Yeah, be upfront and confront Dylan like a real man, not a coward," Leah added.While Livia remained silent, she shook her head in frustration. She found Dustin's behavior irritating.Ignoring their remarks, Dustin picked up a wine bottle and weighed it in his hand. Then, he shouted, "Dylan Harmon!"Dylan turned to locate the source of the voice. Suddenly, a wine bottle crashed onto his
"Unbelievable!""This is outrageous!""You have the nerve to mess with the Harmon family. You must have a death wish!"The startled guests shouted and protested.The commotion drew the guards' attention, who surrounded the area.Dylan sneered at Dustin. "You've got some nerve attacking me. If your bodyguard was here, you might have a chance. But going up against me alone is just asking for death!"Despite his previous loss to Cornelius, Dylan remained confident in defeating Dustin. Among his peers, he believed only Tyler could pose a challenge."Kid, today marks my ascent as the Patriarch. I don't want bloodshed, so surrender now," Trent shouted at Dustin. He knew Dustin's skills and gangs, but it was nothing compared to the Harmon family's forces. Besides, he had the support of the Grants."Dylan's life ends today, and anyone who intervenes will die too!" Dustin proclaimed."How dare you!" Trent barked at his guards, "Grab him!""Wait!" Dylan stepped forward. "Uncle Tr
"What happened?" The sight of the unconscious Dylan shocked everyone. Nobody expected the high-ranking commander of the Dark Panther Cavalry to lose. Everyone expected him to win, but the outcome was unexpected."Is this a dream? Did Dylan actually lose?" Quinton struggled to accept reality. He had anticipated Dustin's defeat, not him winning."How can this be? It's unbelievable." Leah stared in disbelief. She couldn't understand how someone as insignificant as Dustin could defeat Dylan."Wow! Is he that strong?" Livia's eyes widened in amazement. At first, she underestimated Dustin, but now she acknowledged his skills.Trent's eyebrows furrowed in surprise, "I didn't expect this kid to be a master level." While he had seen Dustin's amazing medical abilities, he was unaware of his martial arts skills.Jacob was shocked by the sudden turn of events. "My son lost?" He could accept if Dylan lost to Tyler but not to Dustin.Amid the stunned onlookers, Dustin strode forwar
"Honestly, we shouldn't waste time debating who's better suited to be king. We just need to figure out who's most likely to take the throne," Jensen said matter-of-factly.As a businessman, he only cared about maximizing profit. To him, it didn't matter who sat on the throne but who had the best odds. He felt that backing that person would be the wisest choice."Who's most likely depends on who has the strongest backing," Jonathan said thoughtfully."Oh, right! I forgot to ask—who are the Moseys supporting?" Jovian asked, smacking his forehead. They'd been discussing this for so long but still hadn't figured out where the Moseys stood."My guess is Prince Nathaniel." Jensen narrowed his eyes as he analyzed the situation. "He's close to Anders. With his immense potential and the king's favor, the Moseys might see him as their best bet.""Anders' personal ties can't speak for the entire Mosey family," Jovian countered, shaking his head. "Family interests outweigh personal relationsh
Even without the king's involvement, the ambitious individuals would tear the Ballard family apart and leave nothing behind.If Simon chose the right side and it prevailed, his family could enjoy a century of stability and prosperity. But if he backed the wrong prince, everything could fall apart in a single night.At that moment, he didn't know what to choose. This was a critical decision—one mistake and the entire family could be ruined."Regarding this matter, I need to think it over carefully. I can't give you an answer just yet," Simon said. He knew the stakes were too high. A single misstep could lead to disaster, so he had to be cautious."I understand," Anders replied with a faint smile. "This isn't an easy decision. Still, I hope Your Lordship can decide soon.""Your Lordship, the forces seeking a marriage alliance with the Mosey family aren't limited to your family alone," Zack added coolly. "Don't think you can afford to wait for the highest bidder. Time is running out,
"In response to Your Lordship's question, this marriage alliance between our two families isn't my decision alone—it's also my godfather's and the entire Mosey family's," Anders said with a smile."According to the established rules, marriages between royal bloodlines are forbidden. Have you forgotten?" Simon replied coolly. "Sticking to outdated rules only holds us back," Anders said, shaking his head with a smile.He continued, "Right now, Dragonmarsh is going through a turbulent time—internally and externally. I've also heard the king's health is deteriorating. There are rumors he plans to name a successor and step down soon."With that, Oakvale will likely be in turmoil. When that happens, all the powerful families—the four ancient houses, the eight great families, and other factions—will be dragged into the chaos."That's why I'm hoping our families can form a marriage alliance to navigate the coming crisis together."Simon remained calm and said, "It's natural for the king
"Dad, what do you think?" Jonathan asked, turning to Simon."A guest has arrived, so we can't be rude. Invite them to the living room so we can discuss things properly," Simon replied calmly.Anders represented the Mosey family, and regardless of his intentions, Simon couldn't simply turn him away. As for the proposed marriage alliance, it was a matter that required thorough consideration."Understood," the butler replied promptly before leaving."Go on with your meal. I'm going to meet with Anders," Simon said, excusing himself from the table.Jonathan, Jensen, and Jovian exchanged glances and, without hesitation, followed their father. They were curious to see what the Mosey family had in mind."Alright, let them handle it. Let's focus on our meal," Gemma Letcher, Natasha's grandmother, said with a smile and signaled everyone to continue eating.…Three minutes later, in the Ballard family's living room, Simon sat at the head of the table near the entrance. Jonathan and his b
After leaving Dash Corporation, Dustin and Natasha headed to the mall, where they picked out gifts for every member of the Ballard family. From the eldest to the youngest toddlers, no one was left out. Later, they stopped by an antique shop and chose a beautiful calligraphy painting as a special gift for Simon.By evening, Dustin had everything ready for his first visit to the Ballard estate, located in the heart of Oakvale's city center. The estate was a sprawling courtyard mansion built on a large plot of land.Simon, the Duke of Lachshire, had three sons and a daughter. His eldest son, Jonathan Ballard, was a third-ranked official in the government. The second son, Jensen Ballard, was a successful entrepreneur in the pharmaceutical industry in Oakvale, with billions in assets. Meanwhile, the youngest son, Jovian Ballard, had made a name for himself in the military and was now a third-ranked general.Simon's youngest daughter, Jessica—Natasha's mother—was highly favored with
While Dustin was away, Natasha couldn't help but worry about him. She would always keep an eye out for any news about him. But no matter how much she missed him, she wouldn't call him. She didn't want to distract or cause him to lose focus on the important matters concerning the nation's affairs. Understanding how busy he was, she kept her feelings in check and buried herself in work to keep her mind occupied.But when Natasha finally saw Dustin again, all the emotions she had bottled up came rushing out. Months of longing turned into overwhelming affection, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.Her assistant, Tanya, watched in shock. She had no idea Natasha—typically the poised, decisive, and commanding chairwoman—was in a relationship. What surprised her even more was how different Natasha seemed around Dustin. The usually unshakable "queen" now appeared soft and tender in his presence.Tanya couldn't help but watch Dustin more closely. His looks and charisma were u
Dustin had boarded the plane back to Oakvale. His trip to Sacred Wrym Summit had been full of ups and downs. From the Combat Tournament to the invasion of the Hall of Gods, his journey had been perilous. Thankfully, the outcome was favorable. He had won the championship at the tournament, acquired three Dracan essences, and ultimately foiled the Hall of Gods' plan. In every way, the mission had been nearly flawless.After bidding farewell to his newfound allies, Dustin joined Grace on the return flight. Four of the five Dracan essences had already been gathered, leaving only one remaining. According to Grace, the last essence had been located, and the person holding it was in Oakvale. Though their identity was still unknown, she suspected it was most likely one of the three princes.With the position of heir to the throne still uncertain, the three princes were all eager to secure their power. Whoever obtained the Dracan essence would be blessed with fortune and have a higher c
The chaos of the night quickly settled.By morning, as the first light of dawn broke across the horizon, Sacred Wrym Summit had regained its usual tranquility. Yet, the bloodstains across the ground and the wreckage of buildings stood as grim reminders of the previous night's violence.The military forces summoned by Grace had already taken the Hall of Gods' prisoners into custody.Rumors spread like wildfire, fueling gossip throughout the martial world as all the major guilds watched with keen interest. After all, very few in history had ever dared to challenge Sacred Wrym Summit, and a bold invasion aimed at destroying it was nothing short of unprecedented.The outcome was clear to all who bore witness. After many years, the world had come to recognize the true terror of Arion. He was no mere mortal—he was almost a godlike figure.…Inside the Hall of Gods' headquarters in Streuqua, the core members were gathered, seated in two rows on either side of the grand hall.On the thr
After dealing with the Hall of Gods' elite fighters, Arion disappeared in a blur. When he reappeared, he was hovering above the forbidden ground of Sacred Wrym Summit.The scene at the entrance to the forbidden ground was one of utter carnage. Bodies lay strewn across the ground, and rivers of blood flowed freely. All members of the Hall of Gods, including Hank, lay motionless on the ground.Dustin and Willard, both covered in blood and exuding killing intent, had fought fiercely. After a long, grueling fight, they succeeded in defending the forbidden ground of Sacred Wrym Summit. They had thwarted the Hall of Gods' plan to destroy the Dracan force.At that instant, Dustin seemed to sense something and suddenly looked up. Through the mist and darkness, he pinpointed Arion's figure hovering above. Arion smiled faintly and nodded at Dustin before disappearing again.Crossing several mountains in mere seconds, Arion arrived above the Sacred Wrym Summit's grand hall. Below, the discipl