"Dustin!" Sheila panicked when she saw Dustin leave, so she chased after him."Dustin, I'm sorry. I didn't know Mr. Saunders would be here, too. "This is all my fault. Please don't be angry," Sheila said remorsefully."I'm not angry, Sheila. As a doctor, I hope that your dad can receive good treatment. But nobody trusts me." Dustin shook his head.He had warned them multiple times, but his warnings had been ignored. It wouldn't be appropriate for him to force himself on them further."Dustin, I trust you. But …" Sheila stopped herself. Her parents were the ones who made the decisions in the family. As their daughter, she did not have much say."It's alright, Sheila, go back in. I'll go out for a cup of coffee. "If anything happens, give me a call right away." Dustin smiled as he patted her on the shoulder."Alright then." Sheila nodded and headed back into the ward. But not before turning around several times to check on Dustin. She truly felt sorry for making him come ov
When faced with insults from influential figures, the doctors struggled to remain composed. They may not have been as skilled as Rudolph, but they found it hard to tolerate the harsh remarks.Meanwhile, Lily noticed her husband's vital signs had stabilized but wondered why he remained unconscious. "Mr. Saunders, when will my husband wake up?""Don't worry. Your husband will wake up once I remove these silver needles," Rudolph reassured her before removing the needles.Suddenly, Caden's body trembled, and his bloodshot eyes shot open. "He's awake!" Everyone was relieved. "Thank you, Mr. Saunders! You're amazing!" Jayden praised."You're much better than the doctors in Dragonmarsh!" Vivian and others chimed in."Thank you so much, Mr. Saunders. I'm so grateful," Lily exclaimed with joy. "I specialize in treating unusual diseases, so this was easy for me," Rudolph boasted. But nobody noticed Caden's eyes were bloodshot, and he was writhing in pain. He suddenly screamed and ju
"I—Is Mr. Saunders dead?"Caden's sudden violent outburst toward Rudolph stunned everyone in the room. They began to doubt Rudolph's treatment after he suggested that a silver needle could cure Caden.Caden flung Rudolph's lifeless body against the wall. This snapped everyone back to reality. "Mr. Saunders!"Vivian and Evan were devastated by Rudolph's death. "Quick! We must restrain Uncle Caden!" Jayden instructed his men to hold Caden down. But Caden attacked anyone who approached him."Caden, please stop!" Lily pleaded."Dad, come back to your senses!" Sheila cried out in despair.Their heartfelt pleas had no effect and only captured Caden's attention."Die!" He charged at Sheila with his hands aimed at his daughter's neck. "Caden, no!" Lily instinctively threw herself in front of Sheila to shield her.Suddenly, a silver needle flew from a distance. It hit Caden's neck, and he froze. Sheila stood stiff with her father's hand just inches from her neck. Meanwhile,
"Your safety is at stake if I don't return," Dustin said as he shot another silver needle.Caden was still struggling, but this time, the needle rendered him completely immobile."Dustin, don't you have medical skills? Please help my husband," Lily pleaded. "I'm sorry, but my medical knowledge is limited compared to Mr. Saunders'. You should seek his treatment."Lily glanced at Rudolph's lifeless body in the corner and sighed. She knew Rudolph wouldn't have died if he could cure her husband.Then, she added, "I apologize for offending you earlier. You're our only hope now that Mr. Saunders is dead."Sheila also pleaded, "Dustin, my father has lost his sanity. Please, save him.""Okay, I'll do my best to help you." Dustin felt indebted to Christopher, so he couldn't refuse to help his family."Thank you." Sheila expressed her gratitude.But Jayden voiced his concern, "Aunt Lily, are you sure about letting him treat Uncle Caden? Even Mr. Saunders couldn't do it. Can we trust th
Dustin knocked Caden unconscious after the others had left. Then, he proceeded with the treatment. Caden's condition had worsened due to practicing forbidden techniques. These techniques drained his vitality, damaged his circulatory pathways, and affected his internal organs. Moreover, Rudolph's treatment had exacerbated his condition. Hence, Dustin needed to use silver needles to stabilize Caden's life force. He then channeled his true energy to clear Caden's blocked circulatory pathways and mend the injured organs. Dustin began by inserting the silver needles into Caden's body. He started at the head, then the chest, and finally the abdomen. Afterward, he flicked the needles to infuse pure energy into Caden's pressure points. After one hour, Dustin stopped the flow of his true energy and collected all the silver needles.Lily looked at the unconscious Caden on the bed and asked, "Is it done?" "Don't worry, Caden was merely knocked unconscious. He'll wake up soon," Dustin
"Huh?" Caden's sudden awakening stunned everyone in the room, especially Vivian. She shook her head in disbelief."He's awake! My dad is awake!" Sheila cheered."He actually woke up? Is that punk's medical skill so amazing?"The group exchanged bewildered glances. They were shocked. Even Rudolph couldn't find a cure for Caden's illness, but Dustin had healed him."Vivian, any comment? Do you agree now that Dustin's abilities are amazing?" Sheila asked proudly."Um …" Vivian blushed in embarrassment. She had just made a bold statement and was now proven wrong. "What's going on? Why am I here?" Caden, looking confused and in discomfort, tried to sit up despite the pain."Dad, you were in a very serious condition, and Dustin saved you!" Sheila explained.Caden furrowed his brow. "Dustin saved me? How is that possible?""It's true!" Sheila insisted. "Without him, you might not have survived.""It can't be," Caden mused after thinking it over. "If Mr. Saunders couldn't heal me,
"No, no! That's not true!'" Sheila defended Dustin when they said he did something wrong. She shook her head and continued, "He's not a bad person. You can't simply accuse him!'""Silly girl, you're pretty young. Some people hide their true selves really well, and you might not notice it. Only someone like your dad, who can tell things apart, can see it," Caden said."Yes, Sheila, Dustin definitely has ulterior motives. Don't let him fool you," the others chimed in and tried to persuade her."I don't believe it! Dustin would never hurt anyone!" Sheila pleaded and turned to Lily. "Mom, please say something. You know Dustin saved me once and cured Dad's illness, right?""Caden, is there a misunderstanding here?" Lily tried to mediate."Nonsense!" Caden shouted.With a frown, he said, "Sheila might not see it, but can't you? I've met all kinds of people over the years. Some folks will do anything to gain favor or move up in society. I've seen it happen.""But—"Lily wanted to
Lily strongly disapproved of Sheila having a relationship with Dustin."Why do things have to be like this?" Sheila was crying under a dim streetlight after leaving the hospital. She loved Dustin regardless of his background, but everyone disapproved of their relationship. She asked herself, "Should I follow my heart and go after love, or should I listen to my family and hide my feelings?"Suddenly, a mysterious black SUV with fake license plates pulled up beside Sheila. Men in masks got out of the vehicle and surrounded her.Sheila asked, "Who are you? What do you want?" She instinctively stepped back.The leader of the masked group said, "Our master wants to talk to you, Ms. Murray. Please come with us.""I won't go with you! Leave me alone!""Catch her," the leader ordered his men, and they quickly rushed to stop Sheila."Let go of me!" She struggled as she cried for help."Sorry, Ms. Murray, but we must take you with us." The leader signaled his men to put Sheila in t
That night, two young men sat playing chess inside a secluded mansion in the Inner City. On the left was Anders, who had visited the Ballard estate earlier. Across from him sat Matthias, a broad-shouldered man dressed in richly adorned robes.The game was intense, with fast moves followed by moments of deep thought. About ten minutes later, Anders finally conceded defeat."Anders, you've really improved since we last played. You almost had me there," Matthias said, stroking his beard in mild surprise."You flatter me, Your Highness. My chess skills are nothing compared to yours. If you hadn't gone easy on me, I wouldn't have lasted half as long," Anders replied with a modest smile."You're as smooth with words as ever." Matthias let out a hearty laugh with a look of smug satisfaction. Winning was in his nature—whether in war or on the chessboard, defeat was not an option."Well, we've eaten, and we've played. Let's get to business." With a wave of his hand, he signaled his men t
"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