"Is this guy a monster?" Diego muttered. "Okay. It's your turn!" Dustin glared at the scared Diego."Mr. Rhys, let's talk it out. No need for a showdown. I'll return your woman and leave, never bothering you again," Diego begged. He had over twenty warriors at his disposal, but they were no match for Dustin. He couldn't believe Dustin was this terrifying."Your fate was sealed when you kidnapped someone. Words won't save you now," Dustin declared, raising his sword."Wait!" someone shouted.Then, Jayden stormed in with soldiers, followed by Vivian and Evan."You came just in time. These Kimboku people attempted to kidnap Sheila. Arrest him and bury them," Dustin said, pointing to the lifeless bodies on the floor."Shut up! You have no say here!" Jayden retorted. He was surprised to see Diego. "Diego? Is that you?" Diego was equally surprised. He had met Jayden during their studies abroad, and they were acquainted."So, what brings you here?" Jayden asked."I ..." Diego
"Huh?"Dustin looked at the crushed phone in shock. He hadn't expected Jayden to do something like this. Jayden had boldly destroyed evidence in front of everyone to protect Diego.Even Diego seemed surprised that Jayden had intervened on his behalf."Diego, don't worry. I've got your back," Jayden said.Sheila had been kidnapped, and Jayden didn't care about that. But he saw an opportunity to gain Diego's favor. It was mainly because the Bourbon family was influential in Kimboku."With you supporting me, I'm not worried." Diego eagerly accepted Jayden's help."Jayden, are you teaming up with Diego like this?" Dustin's expression hardened. He had caught the person responsible and provided evidence. However, in an effort to cover up for Diego, Jayden lied and destroyed evidence. It was a despicable act. "Dustin, you have no evidence to accuse Diego. How bold of you!" Jayden responded. He added, "And I have reason to believe the video you showed is fake. It was probably s
Jayden sneered. "Look around you. Everyone here follows my orders. If you act recklessly, you'll be shot!""Mr. Rhys, bullets stray. Just give up," Diego bragged. He knew the folks in Dragonmarsh often fought among themselves and began to enjoy the show. "Rhys, if you want to stay alive, surrender now. Otherwise, you'll regret it!" Vivian and her group declared arrogantly."Jayden, you're playing with fire," Dustin warned. He added, "Out of respect for General Murray, I don't want violence. Leave now, and we can forget what happened. But if you keep protecting Diego, I won't show you mercy." "Mercy?" Jayden laughed and thought Dustin was a fool. "Dustin, who do you think you are to threaten me? I can kill you with just a word!"He snapped his fingers, and all the soldiers behind him pointed their guns at Dustin."Now, kneel!" Jayden ordered, pointing down confidently. "What did you say?" Dustin remained unfazed."Are you deaf? I said kneel—" Before Jayden could finish,
"Stop!"Just as Dustin was punching Jayden, a sudden cry rang out from behind them.Dustin turned to find Sheila awake and bewildered. She hadn't expected to wake up to this scene and was confused about what was happening."Dustin, what's going on?" Sheila asked, looking puzzled. "I'm teaching Jayden a lesson on behalf of General Murray," Dustin replied bluntly. "He's been helping the bad guys, and I'm trying to keep him from causing harm to others and himself.""That's nonsense!" Vivian interjected. She added, "Sheila, Dustin was the one who kidnapped you. We came to rescue you, but Jayden got caught up in this mess when Dustin attacked him. Look at Jayden; he's been badly injured.""Exactly! This guy has no shame. When we exposed him, he resorted to violence. He's truly despicable!" Evan added.Sheila, still puzzled, turned to Dustin and asked, "Is what they're saying true?""Do you think I'm the kind of person they describe?" Dustin replied with a question."No." Sheil
Diego was startled but quickly apologized, saying, "Miss Sheila, I'm sorry for earlier. The kidnapping was all planned by Dustin. If I had known your identity, I would never have kidnapped you." He showed his sincere regret.Taking the chance, Jayden added, "Sheila, did you hear that? Dustin is the real bad guy!""That's right! Dustin is responsible for everything!" Vivian said.Evan chimed in, "I agree! He's sneaky and will do anything to get what he wants!" "We can all testify! Dustin kills these warriors to cover his tracks!"Everyone started talking, and it became hard to tell the guilty from the innocent. Sheila was confused and lost. She wasn't good at making decisions and didn't know whom to trust now. "Sheila, I'm telling the truth," Dustin said. "Sheila, I'm your cousin. Would I lie to you?" Jayden pleaded. "Sheila, why would I kidnap you?""Sheila, we've known each other for years. Have I ever lied to you?""Sheila, stay calm and think. Don't let anyone fool
A sudden loud noise startled everyone. They turned to see Jayden stuck in the wall. Only his hands and feet were showing, blood coming out from his mouth and nose."Jayden!""Mr. Murray!"After a moment of shock, their faces paled. They rushed to get Jayden out of the wall and give him first aid."Rhys, how could you harm the Murray family's heir? This is outrageous!" Vivian exclaimed."Dustin! If anything happens to Jayden, you won't get away with it!" Evan warned firmly. "Are you all blind? Jayden attacked me first. I was only defending myself," Dustin replied."I didn't see anything. All I saw was you injuring someone. Turn yourself in or face serious consequences!" Vivian's expression turned sinister."That's right! Surrender now!" Evan added."Fools," Dustin sneered, ignoring their threats.He knew Jayden attacked him first, and if he hadn't acted fast, it could have been deadly. Grandmaster martial artists like him relied on their protective energy sphere to handle s
Sheila laughed at herself, her voice trembling with mixed emotions. "If you think of me as a friend, why did you hurt Jayden? Why did you kidnap me? What's the point of it all?" Dustin was momentarily speechless. He had mentioned his involvement in the fight with Jayden earlier. Still, Sheila didn't believe him. She had already decided, and it seemed pointless to explain. Trust faded once suspicion took hold, which he had come to accept. "Why are you so quiet? Are you admitting you did it?" Sheila's voice quivered with disappointment. "It seems my dad was right about you. Your past actions were just an act to gain our favor." She continued, "I thought you were different and special. You're not like those who care only about power. But now I see I was mistaken. "You're like those who pretended to be close to me but were better at hiding your true intentions. You fooled me, made me doubt myself, and almost caused problems in my family." "Dustin! I hate you!" Sheila shouted an
"Mr. Murray! Mr. Murray, wake up!"The loud shout suddenly interrupted Sheila's thoughts. She turned quickly to see Jayden, who was unconscious. "Jayden!" Sheila rushed to check on him. Dustin had punched Jayden hard in the stomach. It left him barely breathing and on the brink of death."That Dustin went way too far, injuring Jayden like this," Vivian fumed."I wish that guy hadn't run off so quickly. Or I'd have beaten him to death," Evan grumbled.Though they couldn't beat him in a fight, they were seething in anger."Quick, let's get him to the hospital!"Sheila called for help, and they quickly got Jayden into a car, racing to East Swinton Hospital.Soon, the doctors began to treat Jayden's injury. It wasn't until late at night that Jayden was finally out of danger. Luckily, Dustin had held back to avoid causing fatal harm. In the ICU, Jayden lay unconscious. He looked as pale as a ghost. Caden and the others stood vigil at his side.The past few days had been tumu
If Warrick had been at his peak, Axel might have been more cautious. But with Tranqurin coursing through his vein, Warrick had barely a fraction of his usual strength left. His power was still fading, and Axel wasn't about to waste the opportunity. He had to capture Warrick while he had the chance."Get the hell out of my way!"As the enforcers closed in, Warrick let out a furious roar and slammed his massive fist into the floor.With a loud explosion, the earth shook violently. The ground within dozens of yards cracked and caved in, splitting apart like a spiderweb. A powerful shockwave tore through the air, sending dirt flying and walls shattering. The entire meeting room collapsed into ruins.The elite enforcers, caught in the blast, were flung backward like ragdolls. They crashed to the ground, disoriented and battered. Even Axel was thrown back more than ten yards.Warrick panted heavily, his face pale and drenched in sweat. Forcing his internal energy into action had only
Austin's words were strong and commanding, each one landing like a thunderclap.Warrick felt the weight of his presence. His brow furrowed for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. He glanced at the so-called evidence on the floor, showing no sign of panic or guilt. Instead, he said indifferently, "Your Highness, these dead men were nothing more than ants. Is this really worth making such a fuss over? I doubt you haven't killed anyone before."As the old saying went, the higher one climbed, the heavier one's purse. Warrick had clawed his way up, risking his life at every step for the sake of rising above the masses. Everyone had their own desires—some sought fame, others fortune. Some were greedy for money, some for power, and others reveled in the adoration of the masses. To achieve those things, one inevitably had to engage in shady dealings. It was an unspoken rule among officials, and Warrick saw nothing wrong with it."Ants?" Austin sneered. "Without these 'ant
The ashen-faced Huxley was dragged away. With his crimes exposed, his fate was sealed. His entire family would be implicated, and their assets would be seized.Those guilty would be punished, and even those who had merely benefited from his corruption would be held accountable. To put it bluntly, Huxley's entire family was about to be annihilated.Austin issued his next order once the bloodstains were cleaned up. "Axel, it's time to bring in the mastermind."With Huxley dealt with, the next step was to confront Warrick. Unlike Huxley, Warrick wouldn't be easy to deal with. After all, he commanded a large number of troops. If backed into a corner, he could become a major threat."Understood!" Axel responded respectfully, then turned to his subordinates. "Gather more men and come with me."Warrick had earned his prestigious position through years of fierce battles. On the battlefield, he was a one-man army, a warrior capable of taking on thousands. His strength was beyond what mos
"You bastard! With all this evidence in front of you, what do you have to say for yourself?" Austin barked."Your Highness, please let me explain…" Huxley broke out in a cold sweat, his voice trembling with panic."This is a lie. Someone's trying to frame me! I've always followed the law—how could I possibly be involved in something so vile?""The evidence is right in front of you, and you're still trying to weasel out of it?" Austin shot back. "Looks like you won't confess until death is knocking at your door."He raised his hand and ordered, "Guards, throw him into Grimhold Keep. Use whatever means necessary—let's see how long he keeps up this act.""Yes, Your Highness."A squad of enforcement team members rushed in and surrounded Huxley.Cornered, Huxley finally lost his nerve. He dropped to his knees with a thud and begged, "Your Highness, I admit I made a grave mistake."His voice cracked as he continued, "I wasn't thinking clearly at the time. Please, for the sake of my y
Night had fallen. Austin sat in the meeting room, quietly reading a book as he waited for the results of the investigation.After successfully turning Percival against his allies, it was only a matter of time before they uncovered solid evidence of Warrick and Huxley's crimes.For years, the castle had turned a blind eye to their shady dealings. After all, corruption among officials was nothing new.But this time was different. The two had secretly orchestrated Jovian's murder, a direct challenge to the authority and dignity of the royal family. Such defiance couldn't be ignored. If Austin didn't set an example, others would surely follow."Your Highness!"Axel burst into the meeting room, panting heavily. He had clearly run the whole way to avoid any delay.Austin set his book aside and asked calmly, "Well? How did it go?""Your Highness, we've completely shut down all of Warrick and Huxley's illicit operations. Every hidden network they had built over the years has also been d
At that moment, Percival truly panicked. Earlier, he had only worried about being implicated. But now, faced with such a serious accusation, he was completely caught off guard."Hmph! The evidence is irrefutable, and you still dare deny it? Do you want me to torture the truth out of you?" Austin barked."Your Highness, I'm innocent!" Percival was so terrified he was on the verge of tears. He raised his hand and swore, "If I had anything to do with Jovian's death, may I be damned for eternity.""If swearing oaths proved innocence, we wouldn't need an enforcement team," Austin said coldly. "Out of respect for your years of service to West Lucozia, I'll give you a chance to come clean and receive a lighter sentence. Tell the truth now, or I'll throw you into Grimhold Keep."At the mention of Grimhold Keep, Percival began to shake uncontrollably. Tears and snot ran down his face as he wailed, "Your Highness, I swear I didn't do anything. Who's the bastard making up these accusations?
Ten minutes later, Warrick was escorted out of Room A1 again.Axel's demeanor had completely changed since their first meeting, and he had become unusually warm."Sir Prescott, Lord Austin has concluded the investigation. It turns out this matter has nothing to do with you. We made a mistake earlier, and I apologize for any offense caused." He smiled apologetically and spoke with a humble tone."Hm?" Seeing the fawning expression on Axel's face, Warrick raised an eyebrow and looked surprised. Just moments ago, the two sides had been at each other's throats. What had caused such a sudden change?"Did you really investigate it thoroughly?" Warrick asked tentatively."Of course! According to our findings, Jovian's disappearance was the result of a personal vendetta from his enemies in Oakvale," Axel said with a straight face.He continued, "He was a tyrant and always stirring up trouble everywhere he went. He got what was coming to him. Lord Austin only launched the investigation
"After you, Sir Prescott." With one hand resting on the hilt of his sword, Axel's other hand gestured toward the door."Hmph!" Warrick shot a cold glance at Axel's subtle movement and then turned to leave the meeting room.Even if Austin had his suspicions, Warrick knew he couldn't do anything to him without concrete evidence.Axel escorted Warrick back to Room A1. After closing the door, he went to Room A2 and led Huxley to the meeting room."Your Highness, it is my privilege to stand before you." Huxley entered the meeting room with a respectful salute."Mr. Thatcher, please take a seat." Austin's face remained neutral as he gestured for Huxley to sit, then motioned for Axel to pour him a cup of tea."Do you know why I've summoned you here today?" Austin spoke calmly, and his words carried the same probing tone as earlier."Is it about Jovian's disappearance?" Huxley asked in return."Oh? It seems you're quick on the uptake." Austin raised an eyebrow. "In that case, g
The enforcement team worked with remarkable efficiency. Within an hour, Huxley, Warrick, and Percival had been brought back to the castle.Per Austin's instructions, Axel made sure the three met briefly upon arrival, though they were given no opportunity to speak to one another. Afterward, they were taken to separate rooms and were guarded individually.Due to their status, the enforcement team treated them with respect, offering them tea and wine. However, they weren't allowed to leave their rooms and had to wait for Austin to summon them.Warrick was confined to Room A1, Huxley to Room A2, and Percival to Room A3. Their rooms were right next to each other, separated only by thin walls. If they stepped out, they would see one another, but none of them knew how close they were.This, of course, was all part of Austin's plan. He knew that extracting the truth from these three cunning foxes would require unconventional tactics.…Inside Room A1, Warrick sat calmly, sipping his te