"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
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