“WHAT? HUMAN EXCREMENT?”As soon as Quentin heard this, he immediately started dry heaving next to Dustin.But since the poison was already in his stomach, he couldn’t spit it out even if he wanted to, his face flushed red instead.Before this, the phrase ‘eat shit’ had only been a suggestion, but he couldn’t believe that it had actually happened to him. “I didn't expect Dustin to be so heartless by forcing our cousin to eat shit. How is he going to eat anything else from now on?” Ruth commented as she covered her nose with her hands. She then started to move away from them with a look of disgust. “For all the shit he spews out from his mouth, I think this is a most fitting punishment.” Natasha couldn't help but add fuel to the fire too.“How dare you trick me, you little bastard!” Quentin roared as he raised his head. His expression darkened and his gaze was murderous.He had never been humiliated this badly in all his life.“Since we were tasked with making poison, I had th
“Don't get ahead of yourself yet, you bastard!” Mr. Wangley shouted in anger. “You have to remember that Mr. Harmon isn’t the only one who’s poisoned here. Without my antidote, you won’t be able to live past tomorrow with my poison in your system!” “Is that so? Wanna bet on who kicks the bucket first?” Dustin chuckled. “Why you—!” Mr. Wangley had been rendered speechless.Looking at the current state of affairs, it was obvious that Quentin was the one who would lose first. And it was exactly for this reason that Mr. Wangley proposed to call it a draw.Unfortunately, the other party was having none of it.“Hurry up and give me the antidote already, Dustin! We’ll count this as a loss on our side!” Quentin yielded grudgingly.If it weren't for the fact that he really couldn't bear the pain anymore, he would never concede to a puny ant like him. “You can’t just ‘say’ that you’ve lost. Where’s the sincerity in that, Mr. Harmon?” Dustin teased while shaking his head.“Don't yo
When Mr. Wangley laid his eyes on the small, white-colored vial, his expression immediately turned into shock, but a look of greed replaced it soon after.That was legendary Dr. Rowan Cross’ Miracle Cure!Why does a punk like him have such a treasure on him in the first place?Anyone could see that this antidote was incredibly precious and worth a lot of money!Even the tiniest amount of powder could already fetch sky-high prices.It was no wonder that the punk could act so cocky, and that was all because he was in possession of Hexanavir.Today shall be the day of his downfall!“Hmph!” Quentin snorted and said nothing before downing the whole cup of tea in one gulp.Almost immediately after he gulped down the tea, the ongoing sharp pains in his stomach gradually started to disappear. The pain completely disappeared a few minutes later. This caused Quentin to feel like he’d just survived a huge ordeal.“I won’t forget the shame you inflicted on me today, Rhys! You had bet
“I see.” Dustin nodded.Dustin recalled something and asked, “Following what you said, between you and Edwin, whoever first creates Eternumax would dominate the market in Swinton?”“You could say that,” Natasha confirmed his thoughts. “However, the documents of my researchers have been robbed. We have to start all over again. It would be too difficult.” “Humph! That Hummer is too despicable! Him and his dirty tricks!” Ruth was indignant.“What kind of medicine is Eternumax?” Dustin asked once again.“Eternumax is a medicine that not only increases your lifespan but also retains beauty. It was said to be derived from an ancient antidote recipe. However, because the recipe was crafted such a long time ago, half of it was lost. We could only keep researching to restore the full recipe.” Natasha explained. “An ancient antidote recipe?” “If I’m following correctly, I do know about a type of secret medicine that has a similar effect to Eternumax.” Dustin rubbed his chin“Oh? And
“Hehe…You wouldn’t know, would you? Miss Hummer is a noble lady. She doesn’t need gems or jewelry. If you truly want to impress her, you should give her a one-of-a-kind gift. Luminianth Root has the ability to retain one’s beauty. No woman could ever resist it. I believe that Miss Hummer would like it!” Julie uttered confidently. “You’re not wrong, but this Luminianth Root costs a fortune, right?” Florence asked.“Of course! This is an extremely rare item. You won’t be able to buy it without three to five million dollars.” Julie nodded.“What! It’s that expensive?”Florence was shocked. “Julie, do you even have that much money?” “Of course, I don’t. But you do! So, lend me a few million dollars, I’ll return it to you next time.” Julie requested without hesitation. Her words stunned Florence.Dahlia and James also frowned at her words.This cousin of theirs would always borrow money every time she visits.Last year she “borrowed” a Mercedez-Benz from them for two days. Until
“Julie! Don’t be mad, calm down!”Florence quickly stopped Julie and smiled. “Isn’t it just a few million dollars? I’ll lend it to you! We’re all family after all. There’s no need to fight.”“Mom! Why are you playing along with her?” James frowned.“Julie is my only niece. Now that she’s in a pinch, who would help her if not me?” Florence stated the facts. “Are you sure this is someone who needs help?” James was displeased. “Shut it!” Florence glared at her son. “I’m not using your money. Can’t I use my own money?”“You—!” James was shocked.“Is she still my mother?” James wondered.She treated a niece better than her own son.“Aunt Florence treats me the best!” Julie chirped with a smile on her face.This was not her first time acting like this. It was effective every single time.“Of course, who’d treat you well other than me? Let’s go, we’ll buy you the Lumianth Root.”Florence grabbed Juile’s hand and entered Emporium.“Sis! You’re not going to stop mom?” James was w
“Why are you here?” Dahlia was surprised to see Dustin. When she saw the pretty lady standing beside him, she couldn’t help but frown. Her heart clenched in jealousy. “Was Natasha not enough for him? He still wanted more women?” Dahlia wondered to herself.“Men are all playboys after all!” She concluded in her mind.“Dustin, you guys know each other?” Ruth looked between the two of them, feeling a little awkward.“We do. She’s the president of Quine Group, Miss Dahlia.” Dustin explained. “So it’s her!” Ruth’s gaze immediately turned hostile. This woman in front of her was her sister’s greatest love rival. She certainly has to keep an eye on her. She must not let the two of them rekindle their love!“Humph! How do we keep running into each other? How unlucky of us!” Florence’s face was full of contempt.”“Dustin! How impressive! I can’t believe you got another girl with you so soon! You really are a gigolo!” James mocked. At the same time, he was envious of him.“Damn it! I
Seeing Julie’s joyful face, Ruth clenched her teeth and held back her anger.“Pretty lady, I really need this Luminianth Root. Can’t you just sell it to me? I’ll pay you 20 million!” Ruth tried her best to rein in her emotions. “So what if you have money? You want my Luminianth Root? Dream on!” Julie hugged the wooden box closer to her body, looking proud of herself. “You—!” Ruth was at her limit. She had never been treated like this before ever since a young age. In the end, she gave up. “Dustin! I don’t care anymore! You handle it yourself!” Looking at the situation, Dustin could only ask, “Julie, what are you planning to use the Luminianth Root for?”“That’s none of your damn business!” Julie glared at him and declared firmly, “Listen up you guys, I will never sell the Luminianth Root to you guys no matter what you say!”“That is a huge Luminianth Root. You won’t be able to finish it if you’re planning to use it as a medicine—” Before Dustin could finish, Julie inte
The next morning, Nathaniel was inside a lavish mansion. He was in his study, flipping through an ancient manuscript. One of his most trusted aides hurried in and lowered his voice, "Your Royal Highness, word just came in. Another trace of Dracan essence has been found."Nathaniel raised an eyebrow and closed the manuscript. "Where?""Our investigation shows it ended up in the hands of Logan Rhys," the aide replied."Logan Rhys?" Nathaniel narrowed his eyes slightly and was surprised by the name.He had tried to win Logan over before and spared no expense, but never received a response. Later, he discovered that Tristan and Matthias had done the same.Fortunately, Logan still hadn't picked a side. He might be holding out for the best offer, but at least he hadn't shut the door on Nathaniel.With the Dracan essence in his hands, Logan had become an even more valuable target. In addition to the West Lucozian monarchy, Logan was an ultimate grandmaster, which made him worth recrui
"Give me a moment to think," Dustin said.Grace's words sent him into deep thought.After all, carrying the fate of Dragonmarsh was no small burden. First, he had to be tough enough to handle it. Then, he needed the resolve to accept what came with it. Once he carried that burden, it meant taking on a heavyweight.He used to act on his own terms and do things as he pleased without worrying too much about the consequences. But once the nation's fate was involved, everything changed.Not that he had many options.Dustin could either hide in Sacred Wrym Summit and hope Arion would protect him, or take a risk and absorb the Dragonmarsh's fate to push through his cultivation's bottleneck. Between the two, he was leaning toward the latter."I can give your plan a shot," Dustin said suddenly. "But we're still missing a piece of the Dracan essence. If we're doing this, we need to find that last one first."Only once all five pieces of Dracan essence were united could he truly wield the
"Royal gods? And two of them?" Dustin frowned at the news.His battle with Poseidon in West Lucozia had shown him firsthand that the Hall of Gods didn't send weaklings into the field.One royal god had already pushed him to his limit. If two came at him together, winning wasn't even the question. He'd be lucky just to make it out alive."That's right," Grace said solemnly. "The royal gods, Zeus and Hera, have crossed the border. They're even stronger than Poseidon. If they ambush you together, your chances are slim."She knew Dustin was strong, but he was still young. Moreover, Zeus and Hera weren't just anyone. They were world-class powerhouses. Surviving a fight with them would be next to impossible.The Hall of Gods had probably figured out how dangerous Dustin could become. If they had given him a few more years to grow, they might not have been able to stop him."Well, that complicates things." Dustin rested his chin in one hand with a thoughtful expression.Two royal god
Soluna Hall had one rule—they wouldn't accept unfamiliar customers. They only served those they knew well or people introduced by someone they trusted. Every transaction required an appointment. Exceptions were made for urgent matters, but those came with an additional fee.When Dustin reached the entrance, two security guards stopped him. After stating his name and being verified by the guards, they let him through.Inside, a female attendant with a pleasant smile greeted him and led him across the main hall straight into the back garden. They passed a small fish pond and stopped in front of a secluded private room."This is Ms. Linsor's private reception area. Mr. Rhys, please come in," the female attendant said with a smile."She's not here?" Dustin asked curiously."She had something come up, but she'll be here soon. Please make yourself comfortable," the attendant said, still smiling."Alright then." He nodded and walked into the room.The room was spacious, with a vintag
"You're wrong, Tristan," Matthias said with a meaningful look.He continued, "Sure, I've got the Moseys to back me, but I'm still far from securing the throne. Nathaniel's got strong backing too, and this won't be an easy win. But if you were to support me, I'd say my chances shoot up to 80%."In his eyes, Tristan's support was worth more than the Ballard family.If he could win Tristan over, his odds would jump from 60% to nearly 80%. The only question now was whether Tristan would be willing to shelve his own ambitions and place his bet on Matthias."You know me, Matthias. I've never been one for ambition or glory. This kind of power struggle just isn't for me. I hope you can understand that," Tristan said.After thinking about it thoroughly, he finally turned his brother down. He knew his chances of winning were slim, yet he couldn't let go.Tristan was the eldest legitimate son, the rightful and undisputed heir to the throne. Aside from his poor health, he had no real shortco
Tristan, Matthias, and Nathaniel weren't fools. They understood the unspoken message loud and clear.Their purpose for this trip was to take advantage of the opportunity to offer their condolences and win the Ballard family's support. Should it work, all the better. If not, they'd at least make a good impression. The key was that as long as the Ballard family didn't pick a side or turn against them, there was still room to make things work. No need to rush into anything.Tristan spoke first. "You're being too kind, Duke of Lachshire. We've always admired Mr. Jovian's loyalty and courage. We're simply here to pay our respects—nothing more."Matthias added, "That's right. Your family has a lot to deal with right now. Plus, you're not as young as you used to be, so don't wear yourself out over this. We won't take up more of your time today."He gave a respectful nod, then turned to leave."Duke—"Nathaniel opened his mouth to speak, but Tristan interrupted. "That's enough, Nathani
"Oh? I didn't expect both of you to be here," Nathaniel said.He was just about to pay his respects when he spotted Tristan and Matthias inside the mourning hall. He gave a respectful nod and said, "Hello, Tristan, Matthias."Truthfully, he wasn't surprised. He had already guessed they would show up.The four ancient houses and the eight great families were all key players he needed on his side. And with the Ballard family still undecided, he wasn't about to miss the chance to make an impression."I heard you left Oakvale on official business. Funny how quickly you came back," Tristan said, his tone laced with meaning."It wasn't anything important. When I heard about Mr. Jovian's passing, I returned immediately. I wanted to pay my respects in person," Nathaniel answered smoothly, without missing a beat.He brushed off Tristan's subtle jab and used the moment to show the Ballard family he was genuinely there to pay his respects."Don't just stand there, Nathaniel. Go pay your re
"Your Royal Highness, it's an honor to have you here," Jonathan said.Upon seeing the distinguished guest arrive, he quickly pulled himself together and aside his grief. He led his family to greet Tristan, and they bowed in respect.Before they could finish the gesture, Tristan raised a hand to stop them. "No need for such formalities," he said. "The deceased deserves our respect."He turned to Jovian's portrait, which was displayed in the mourning hall, and sighed deeply.Tristan continued, "Mr. Jovian's untimely passing is truly a great loss to Dragonmarsh. May his soul rest in peace. My condolences to your family during this difficult time."Jonathan's eyes were filled with tears as he bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your kind words. My family is heartbroken over my brother's tragic death."Tristan nodded slightly. His gaze quickly swept across the hall before asking, "I've heard that Duke Lachshire fainted from grief. How is he doing now?"Jonathan
The unrest in West Lucozia finally ended with the capture of Warrick.Every official who was his accomplice was thoroughly investigated. Those who needed to be arrested were taken into custody, and those who deserved to be punished were executed.After the purge, more than 300 officials in West Lucozia were removed from their posts. Those guilty were arrested, and those whose crimes were severe were executed.Under Austin's iron-fisted reforms, West Lucozia's government underwent a complete overhaul. Corruption, bribery, and the tangled web of illegal deals were swept away like dust in the wind.The citizens quickly noticed the difference. When they visited government offices, they no longer faced delays, refusals, or demands for bribes.Long-neglected public issues began to move forward, thanks to the organized efforts of newly appointed officials. Things were improving across the board.Instead of fearing the crackdown, the citizens welcomed it. The corrupt officials who had dr