A gruesome sound of flesh being cut apart filled the air.Out of nowhere, Gage stabbed Edgar's chest with the knife. Blood oozed from the wound and dripped to the floor."Huh..." Edgar stood frozen, staring in disbelief at the knife lodged in his chest. He never thought his beloved brother would attack him with such ruthlessness.Everyone in the banquet hall was shocked. Who would have thought that Gage, who had been calm and smiling, would attack Edgar? This was no longer a simple drunken fight."You … how could you …" Edgar stammered. He wanted to say more, but the blood gushed from his mouth. Then, his body swayed, and he slumped to the floor."Edgar, don't worry. The blade missed your heart by just an inch. It won't take your life for now. Just lie still and don't make any trouble," Gage said calmly. He took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood off his fingers. His demeanor was strangely calm, as if his actions didn't matter. Christopher was furious. "Bastard! How co
The Murray family had a thousand armed forces. It kept order through its formidable presence. "Where are my reinforcements? I need backup, now!" Caden shouted, but there was no response from outside."There's no need to shout. My men have infiltrated the Murray residence. Your soldiers have been defeated," Gage said with a faint smile."That's impossible! You're lying!"Caden's eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn't imagine the defeat of a thousand well-trained soldiers.Gage calmly explained, "It took five years of preparation to get me here today.""So, you were prepared all along," Caden said. His face darkened as he looked at his surroundings. He continued, "Gage, you're brave and resourceful, but there's one thing you overlooked."Gage asked, "What did I overlook?""Me!" Caden replied. He slowly removed his coat, revealing his muscular physique. He went on, "I've been training for years, and now I'm a semi-grandmaster. Your subordinates won't stand a chance against me
"What?"Everyone gasped at the sight before them. They could not believe their eyes. Caden, who they had expected to dominate the fight, was now coughing up blood after only one exchange of blows."Caden!""Dad!" Lily and Sheila rushed forward to help him.Caden's face contorted in shock and disbelief as he coughed up more blood. His faith in the Soul Devouring Technique had been unshakable. Yet, he could not comprehend his sudden vulnerability. Was he weak, or was his opponent too strong?"You … who the hell are you?" Caden gritted his teeth. He couldn't accept his defeat."I am Grimshade of Eskus." The black-cloaked figure slowly lifted his hood, revealing a foreign face. His cheeks were gaunt, and his eyes were deep-set, giving off an eerie feeling."Grimshade? The grandmaster martial artist from Eskus? Why is he here?""Gage must have sunk a fortune into this. No wonder Caden couldn't keep up.""Oh my! The strength of the Murray family is crumbling. If Caden fall
Grimshade was strong, but compared to Jordan, he fell short. "Jordan? I've heard of him, but I doubt he can help you now," Gage said calmly."Jordan! Please come out!" Caden shouted in the direction of the mountain.After a long silence and no response, he raised his voice again."Caden, there's no need to shout. Jordan is already here," Gage said. He took out a cardboard box and casually tossed it on the ground. The box burst open, and a severed head rolled out. It was a bloody head with white hair, expression frozen in shock and terror."Is that … Jordan?!" Caden gasped. He backed away several steps, and his face contorted in horror.The others reacted similarly, fear and shock written all over their faces. Horror paralyzed their bodies."No, it can't be! Jordan is dead?""Jordan was a grandmaster. How could he end up like this? What happened?""Shit! It's over now. If Jordan is dead, the Murray family is in grave danger!"The members of the Murray family trembled with f
Gage's words weighed heavily on Christopher and made everyone present uneasy. All eyes were focused on Christopher, the most influential person in the Murray family. His decision would decide the fate of the entire family."You insolent bastard!" Christopher thundered, his voice trembling with anger and frustration. He continued, "You attacked your brothers and threatened the family with such disgraceful actions! And now you dare to demand an explanation from me? Are you trying to play the victim?" He had always thought of Gage as his successor. Courageous, clever, and quick-witted—Gage could have led the family to greatness. Sadly, he had lost his way and caused an irreparable rift within the family.Christopher was angry and heartbroken."Father, you must understand that my actions were a response to your own," Gage replied with surprising composure. "Had you not driven my late wife to her tragic end, none of this would have happened.""Her death may be connected to me, but
"Yes, sir!"In response, a group of thugs brandished their weapons and advanced menacingly.The members of the Murray family panicked and quickly huddled together. Soldiers had always protected them in their privileged lives. But now, faced with this dangerous situation, they were completely lost.Suddenly, a series of silver needles darted through the air, freezing the dozen or so thugs in their tracks. Their weapons remained suspended in midair. "Who did this? Who's behind this?" Gage looked around, his face tense. "It was me," Dustin replied calmly. The moment he stood up, he immediately caught everyone's attention.The Murray family was in grave danger. The guests also felt threatened and hesitated to intervene. No one expected anyone to step forward."Who are you?" Gage eyed Dustin suspiciously."I'm a guest of the Murray family," Dustin replied calmly."This matter is none of your business. You better not interfere," Gage warned.Dustin shook his head slightly."I ow
The whole banquet hall fell into silence. All eyes were on Grimshade, who lay on the floor after just one punch from Dustin. Their eyes widened in shock and disbelief. Grimshade, renowned as a grandmaster martial artist from Eskus, was knocked to the ground by a single blow from Dustin. It left everyone baffled. How could it be possible? "Wow, that kid really packs a punch, huh?" "The skinny guy has it in him?""We shouldn't judge people by their looks."After a brief silence, a commotion broke out in the hall. What initially appeared as Dustin seeking trouble now seemed to be him hiding his incredible strength."Could he be … a grandmaster?" Caden wondered aloud, his eyes widened in shock.Moments ago, he had experienced Grimshade's immense power firsthand. One move and Caden was defeated, without a chance to defend himself. Seeing Dustin defeat Grimshade made Caden suspect that Dustin was at least a grandmaster. In the world of martial arts, only a grandmaster could def
Dustin's expression grew serious as he realized the gravity of the situation. He knew the Dragon Rope was one of the few things that could trap a grandmaster. Renowned for its incredible sturdiness, it could withstand blades and fire. Even a grandmaster would be helpless if tied up with it. However, it was a protected item of the Martial Arts Union. No ordinary person could get their hands on it."Yes, I wove this net from Dragon Rope. It was designed to immobilize grandmaster martial artists like you," Gage explained. He continued, "I kept this ace up my sleeve just in case, and it came in handy now. So, who do you think will emerge victorious?"It was clear to him that anyone below the grandmaster level was defenseless against the Dragon Rope, no matter how good they were."Oh no! Dustin is trapped, and there's no one who can stop Duskfang!" Caden's face turned pale.Dustin's earlier display of strength had given Caden hope. But he hadn't expected Gage to have another trick
"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