"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
Edgar nodded and said, "I'll leave this to you. Find some skilled experts to deal with Dustin for me." He knew money could solve his problem without him having to get his hands dirty."No problem," Caden replied. A thought ran in his mind, "This is Edgar's order, so any blame would fall on him if things went wrong."The next morning, there was a lot of activity in front of the Murray residence. Guests were coming and going to celebrate Christopher's birthday. He had retired from the public eye but was still highly respected.Christopher had always kept to himself. He invited only a small group of friends and relatives to his birthday party. However, some unexpected guests had shown up.At this moment, a black sedan pulled up in front of the mansion. The door opened, and Dustin stepped out, holding a gift. He was accompanied by Cornelius. "Sir Rhys, you attacked Jayden last night, and now you're here for General Murray's birthday. Aren't you afraid the Murray family will tur
"I've come to congratulate General Murray on his birthday. I don't want trouble, so please step aside," Dustin said despite the shouts and threats."Congratulate him? Hmph! Do you even deserve it?" Vivian sneered. She continued, "Who do you think you are? What makes you qualified to congratulate General Murray? If it weren't for Sheila, you think you'd be allowed in?"To Vivian, Sheila's intervention was the only reason Dustin got inside."That's right! Take a good look around. Everyone who is here to congratulate General Murray is from high society. You're just an insurance agent. What gives you the right to be here with us?" Evan scoffed.Despite his fighting skills, they viewed Dustin as a mere brute and didn't think he could cause a scene.Sheila remained silent, watching Dustin with a somewhat uncertain expression. Their relationship had already soured due to the incident the previous night. She harbored resentment toward him, especially since Jayden was still in the hosp
Sheila was surprised by Dustin's irrational behavior. She never imagined he would become violent over a minor disagreement. At first, she believed he was a good person, but his actions have left her bitter and skeptical. "Ms. Murray, I'm joking. You have nothing to worry about. I'll not use violence unless provoked," he said calmly.Vivian retorted, "Hmph! You're saying you're only joking? If Sheila hadn't intervened, things could have turned violent!"Evan added, "Dustin, knowing martial arts doesn't justify reckless behavior. The Murray residence is no place for such conduct!""If someone doesn't annoy me, I don't resort to violence. But if they do, I might. That's my advice, and I'll give you a break now," Dustin said coldly."Sheila, this guy is out of control. You should consider kicking him out before he disrupts the celebration!" Vivian suggested, hoping Sheila would agree."Vivian is right, Sheila. One troublemaker can ruin the celebration. Today, we're celebrating Gen
"Sheila! They're lying!" Vivian was concerned about the situation. She continued, "All this talk about saving you and repaying their kindness is nonsense. From the moment Dustin approached you, it was all part of his master plan to win your favor. Don't be fooled by him!"Evan interjected, "She's right, Sheila! He's a sly guy with hidden motives. You have to be careful!"As she listened to them, Sheila's momentary guilt vanished. She realized that Dustin's actions were not out of genuine kindness. Instead, he had ulterior motives. She saw his true nature yesterday. And now, she no longer felt any obligation or kindness toward him.Sheila took a deep breath and glanced at Dustin. "Dustin! I don't want to see you anymore. Please leave.""You—"Just as Cornelius was about to say something, Dustin interrupted him.Dustin looked disappointed. "Miss Murray, it seems you don't like me. Then, I'll leave now. Goodbye." With that, he turned and walked to the door.He noticed her deter
"Is this punk looking for trouble?" Caden narrowed his eyes, his expression hostile.Diego, who was sitting with the other guests, couldn't help but smile mischievously. "Well, this is getting interesting."After what had happened last night, he had expected Dustin to run away and hide. But Dustin's bold appearance at the Murray residence had caught him off guard."The kid's in trouble now! General Murray has his eye on him. He won't get away today!" Evan chuckled maliciously. "He brought it upon himself! He could've left earlier and avoided the whole mess. But no, he chose to stay and become a pain in the ass. He really wants to be in trouble!" Vivian sneered, her face filled with gloating satisfaction.They believed Christopher had learned what had happened to Jayden and wanted revenge."General Murray, please accept my well wishes. I've some other matters to take care of, so I'll take my leave," Dustin said. He bowed courteously and walked away."Stop!"Evan suddenly lunged
"Ouch!"Evan and Vivian winced at the unexpected slap that caught them off guard. They held their burning cheeks, confused by the sudden turn of events. They couldn't understand Christopher's actions, especially since Dustin was the troublemaker. The Murray family and their guests were also baffled. No one had expected Christopher to slap someone out of anger on his special day."General … General Murray." Evan tried to argue. "Did you confuse us with someone else? This punk is causing trouble and should be dealt with."Vivian added, "Yes, General Murray, he even assaulted Mr. Murray last night. He committed a crime and should be punished." She believed that Christopher might not know the truth."Quiet!" Christopher glowered at them. His authoritative voice filled the room. He continued, "Dustin saved my granddaughter's life. He's the savior of the Murray family and my most esteemed guest. Any more of this nonsense, and I'll have you removed!"Anxiety set in as Evan and V
As more and more guests arrived, there was a great commotion in the banquet hall."Hello, I'm the regional chief of Aurumvale. I wish General Murray a year filled with health and happiness!" "I'm Cullen Avery from Advantia. May General Murray's birthday be as wonderful as the memories you've created.""I'm the president of the Haydon Group. I wish General Murray a birthday filled with love and gratitude!" After their arrival was announced, a group of well-dressed guests entered the room. Among them were leading military leaders, mayors, affluent business moguls, and prominent figures. They all had rare and valuable gifts with them. "Thank you all for coming to celebrate with us. Please, take your seats," Edgar, the next family patriarch, warmly welcomed the guests. Christopher, the man of the hour, acknowledged the well-wishes with a smile."Sir Gage has arrived!" A clear voice cut through the chatter, and all eyes turned to the entrance. A middle-aged man dressed in whi
"Get lost! I'm not in the mood for anything right now. If you want to eat, go on your own." Warrick snapped, looking annoyed."I'm not going either," Percival refused flatly. "I'm on a health regimen these days—only tea, no alcohol.""Fine. If you're going to wait, then keep waiting. I won't be sticking around." Huxley forced a smile and acted like he was about to leave.But as he turned, he almost bumped into Boston, who was approaching from the other direction."Sorry, Sir Thatcher! I hope I didn't startle you." Since he was surrounded by so many high-ranking officials, Boston was already on edge. He had momentarily spaced out and almost caused a mishap by running into Huxley, which left him flustered and a bit tongue-tied.Unlike the other generals, Boston didn't come from an influential background or have any powerful connections. He had worked his way up from the bottom, and the last thing he wanted was to offend Huxley and risk losing everything he had fought so hard for.
After parting ways with Boston, Jovian checked into a nearby hotel to await the good news. Boston wasted no time. After changing into a fresh set of clothes, he headed to the castle to deliver a letter of introduction. But when he arrived, he was stunned by what he saw.The gates of the West Lucozian monarchy had already gathered quite a few people, and among them were several figures he immediately recognized. These included Huxley Thatcher, the Commander of the Militia; Warrick Prescott, the Major General of the State Guard; and Percival Wentworth, the Chancellor of the National Academy.These three were first-ranking officials. In West Lucozia, they were nothing short of kingmakers who wielded immense power and influence. Warrick, in particular, was two ranks above Boston. Hence, he felt the need to be cautious in his presence and was eager not to make a bad impression.Alongside these three prominent figures, several second- and third-ranking officials also stood in line at
The following morning, Jovian stood at the entrance of West Lucozia Airport, wearing a sharp suit.Before the trip, he had contacted his comrade with whom he had fought side by side in the military. After earning military merit and with the Ballard family's influence, he was fortunate enough to stay in Oakvale and secure a decent position.His comrade, on the other hand, had moved to West Lucozia to carve out a life for himself. Years of hard work had paid off—he was now a third-rank general with considerable power, influence, and a strong network of connections. Jovian's meeting with the Prince of West Lucozia would depend entirely on his comrade's connections.Just then, the roar of an engine cut through the air as a military jeep pulled up beside him. The window rolled down, and the first thing that came into view was a bald head gleaming in the sunlight like a lightbulb. The glare nearly blinded him.Under that shiny dome was a face that looked ordinary at first glance. But w
"Grandfather, I understand why you sent Uncle Jonathan and Uncle Jensen to the Spanner and Fallon families to gather information," Natasha began. "But West Lucozia is thousands of miles away."She shook her head slightly. "They've always stayed out of the government's political matters. Sending Uncle Jovian there wouldn't achieve anything. He'd likely just be turned away." Oakvale and West Lucozia were worlds apart. The fight for the Oakvale throne didn't really affect the West Lucozian monarchy. Both sides had long adhered to an unspoken agreement to avoid meddling in each other's affairs."I know, but it'll be different this time. The royal throne is at stake, and every faction will do whatever it takes to secure West Lucozia's support. If the West Lucozian monarchy picks a side, the balance we've maintained for years will collapse. That's why I need to be ready for whatever happens," Simon replied.It would be best if the West Lucozian monarchy stayed out of the political strug
At the Ballard estate, Dustin was warmly welcomed to stay after dinner. This was the first time Natasha had brought her boyfriend home, so the Ballards made a big deal of it.Simon personally accompanied the young couple and invited them to the study to chat over tea. With his sharp eye, Simon could tell Dustin was no ordinary martial artist. His manners, speech, and broad knowledge set him apart from most people."Dustin, I fully support your relationship with Natasha. Your background or status doesn't matter. What matters most is that you two are happy together." Simon paused and said earnestly, "I want you to understand that she's been pampered all her life and hasn't faced much hardship. Now that she's with you, I hope you'll take good care of her.""Don't worry, Mr. Ballard. I would never let her down," Dustin replied sincerely.Though they had known each other for some time and hadn't yet taken their relationship to the next level, they had already made their feelings clear
After hearing Nathaniel's words, Tristan's expression darkened. His brow furrowed as he sank into deep thought.It seemed he had underestimated the situation. He had assumed it was just a simple rivalry between brothers; he hadn't anticipated Seamus seizing the chance to further his own agenda.Seamus already wielded considerable influence. Under the guise of supporting Matthias' ascension to the throne, he had been forming alliances and recruiting talents. His influence had grown to rival the royal family's.If Seamus really supported Matthias' ascension, he'd overshadow the king, and no one would be able to stop him. The worst-case scenario would be Seamus using Matthias as a puppet to overthrow the House of Linsor."Nathaniel, is everything you said true?" Tristan frowned."Absolutely. Every word," Nathaniel replied solemnly. "Of course, if you don't believe me, you can send someone to investigate.""I believe you. But… taking down Seamus won't be easy. Do you have a plan?" Tr
An hour later, Nathaniel quietly entered a private mansion wearing a disguise.Inside the living room, Tristan had already prepared tea and refreshments. He looked as if he had been waiting for a long time."Sorry to have kept you waiting, Tristan." Nathaniel took off his coat and walked forward with a smile."No need to apologize. I'm happy that you made the effort to arrange this. A few extra minutes are nothing, especially since it's rare for us to meet." Tristan gestured for him to sit while he poured two cups of tea and handed one to his brother.Nathaniel accepted the cup and discreetly set it aside. Whenever he was out, he was always cautious about food and drink—this wariness had become second nature."You asked to meet me on short notice. Is this about official matters or something personal?" Tristan took a sip from his cup and got straight to the point."Both," Nathaniel replied, still smiling."Oh?" Tristan raised an eyebrow. "Let's hear it, then.""Given how things
In another luxurious mansion in the Inner City, a female spy dressed in black, cloaked in a hood, was reporting the results of her investigation to Nathaniel."Your Highness, the Moseys have been particularly active recently and are rallying allies. Many of the eight great families and other influential factions have already allied with them. If left unchecked, they'll pose a serious threat to us," she said, kneeling with her head lowered slightly."So the Moseys are backing Matthias, huh?" Nathaniel sat quietly, his expression unreadable."The Moseys have grand ambitions. While they claim to support Prince Matthias, they're merely setting him up as a puppet to rise to power and expand their own influence," she revealed.She had been infiltrating the Moseys' mansion for years and had gained a deep understanding of their operations, from the smallest details to the key players.Though Seamus appeared as a benevolent philanthropist, it was all a façade. Behind closed doors, he was r
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