"General Murray, our families never crossed paths before. Why did you have to come all the way here today to cause trouble?" Tyler frowned.With his current power, he couldn't directly confront these two powerful forces. But that didn't mean he had to give in. As one of the Tremendous Three, the Grant family had the influence and strength to match them. If they really fought, the result would be uncertain."Why am I here?" Christopher chuckled."If your family didn't cause trouble, why would I be here? Are you saying your family can do whatever you want, but we can't? "Today is Dustin's birthday, and as his elder, I originally planned to attend the celebration at Zephyr Lodge. But as soon as I heard about the situation, I rushed here with my men."Tyler, if you don't want this to get out of hand, release the hostage immediately, or you will suffer the consequences!" George threatened sternly."Ty, maybe ... we should think about it?" Kate hesitated and said it softly. "It's
The Grant family had been a powerful force for generations. Their strength came from their accumulated influence over the years. Arthur, the former family patriarch, was a brilliant strategist.In the past, during power struggles, he made wise decisions to form alliances. He rose in the political world, became a significant figure within the family, and earned the title of Earl of Loyalty and Valor.Arthur's authority and military capabilities were comparable to Christopher's and even exceeded him in certain aspects. The only difference was that Christopher achieved his position through battles, while Arthur excelled in politics. Regardless of their paths, they were both remarkable men."Haha! This is great! Sir Arthur is here!""With Sir Arthur here, no one will ever challenge our family again."The arrival of Arthur brought joy to the Grant family, filling them with a renewed sense of relief. They found their source of strength and put their worries to rest."Kate! There is h
"You gonna tear down my place?" Arthur taunted. "Christopher, just because you have your men with you doesn't mean you get to mess around in my territory. Your Murray family may be strong, but they are no match for the Grant family. I won't hold back from taking action because I'm in charge here.""You won't hold back, huh? Let's have a match and see who's tougher!" Christopher rolled up his sleeves, getting ready for a fight.He figured a good fight would be more satisfactory than endless conversation."Christopher, itching for a brawl, aren't you? Alright, I'll find someone you can fight!" Arthur raised his voice and shouted, "Zachary, it's your turn!""Hahaha!" Suddenly, there was an eruption of laughter from all sides.It was so loud that the crowd was forced to cover their ears. Out of nowhere, a crimson figure fell from the sky like a cannonball. The figure landed with a loud explosion that sent rocks flying and a cloud of dust billowing.A strong wind from the explosio
Zachary flashed a sly grin. "Some argue that military strategy and martial arts are two different things. I'm curious if you are the master of combat, or is it my martial arts that will shine?"His words excited the onlookers as they sensed a challenge brewing.It was clear that a duel was going to happen. Christopher was best in strategy and tactics, while Zachary had few rivals in martial arts within the Balerno.Zachary had publicly challenged Christopher, and declining it would ruin Christopher's reputation."Zachary, you're not qualified to take on General Murray. Allow me to take the challenge instead!"Suddenly, a stern and authoritative female voice broke the tension.All eyes turned toward a striking woman in red armor with short silver hair and an intimidating aura. She was carrying a three-foot viridescent sword and radiated a commanding presence."Wow! Look who's here, the Scarlet Warrior!""Gosh, am I imagining things? Dragonmarsh's top Goddess of War has joined in
"What? The God of War? This can't be real!""Oh, my goodness! First, we had the Scarlet Warrior, and now it's Adam, the God of War. Is the world turning upside down?""What's happening? Who could get the Spanners' twins involved?"With Adam's arrival, the scene became even more chaotic.Adam's reputation was comparable to, if not surpassed, Scarlet's. She earned her military rank through combat skill, bravery, and exceptional martial abilities.Conversely, while skilled in martial arts, Adam was also known for his strategic brilliance. During his military service, he won numerous battles, often overcoming numerical and tactical disadvantages with his brilliant plans. He was a mastermind.While Scarlet excelled in combat skills, Adam shone with his exceptional intelligence. These sibling prodigies, known as the Spanners' twins, were unrivaled in military expertise throughout Dragonmarsh."We're in trouble now! The God of War has arrived!" Kate panicked, sweating nervously.Dea
Scarlet was a prominent figure in the nation, establishing herself as a potential leader in the political scene. Zachary may be skilled in martial arts but would not dare to challenge such an influential person."Why are you silent now? Weren't you showing off just now? If you're brave enough, then fight me. Let's see your abilities," Scarlet jeered, shifting everyone's attention to Zachary.Zachary found himself in a dilemma. Acknowledging defeat would damage his reputation. But winning could lead to more trouble, risking consequences from the Martial Arts Union and potential blacklisting."Scarlet, I used to have a close relationship with your father. Is it fair to bring a crowd to my mansion?" Arthur asked seriously.Scarlet replied breezily, "What does your connection with my father have to do with me?""You!" Arthur seethed with anger, feeling embarrassed to be reprimanded by someone younger."Alright, let's calm down," Adam smiled and stepped forward. He turned to Arthur
As more high-ranking officials and nobles continued to arrive, the scene became a mess. Notable figures like the Minister of War, the leader of the Imperial City guards, the Marquis of Riaz's eldest son, and other influential figures from Oakvale arrived. Just looking at this group of VIPs, it was clear they could easily take over Millsburg. Everyone was stunned, with their jaws dropped in disbelief as these prominent figures appeared one after another. It was something they never imagined."Sir Hyde, General Barker, Mr. Schmid, you've finally arrived!" Arthur's face lit up as he greeted his esteemed guests warmly.They were Minister of War, Landon Hyde, Chief of the Imperial City guards, Rhett Barker, and the Marquis of Riaz's eldest son, Neal Schmid. They held considerable influence in Oakvale, and in terms of status and power, they were on the same level as the Spanners' twins.Especially Landon, the leader of the group, held the highest position within Dragonmarsh. Even the
The Harmons thought the Grant family had lost the battle when the Spanners' twins appeared. They had even prepared to be treated as the scapegoats. But Landon and his group appeared like a ray of light, giving them hope. So what if Lord Xenos was here? So what if General Murray was here? Even with the Spanners' twins added to the mix, they weren't a threat to the Grants in front of the high-ranking officials led by the Minister of War."Tyler, it's your engagement day today, but I don't have much to give you. I've carried this emerald with me for many years, and now, I'm passing it to you. "I hope you continue to strive for excellence in the future." Landon smiled as he took out an antique emerald and passed it to Tyler. "Thank you, Sir Hyde." Tyler received it respectfully with both hands. "Lord Grant, is something going on? The atmosphere seems tense." Landon was quick to notice that something was amiss. "Sir Hyde, we've encountered some trouble today. Thankfully, y
"Damn it! This punk's tougher than I thought. We're in real trouble if this keeps up," Connor said, swinging his twin blades relentlessly. Every strike was aimed at Axel's vital points.But Axel was quick. He weaved in and out of reach and avoided direct confrontation. It was obvious he was just stalling for time."Sir Prescott should be far enough by now. There's no point dragging this out. Let's fall back."Sensing the futility of their efforts, Dave considered retreating. He didn't fear death, but he wasn't about to waste his life for nothing.Since Warrick had escaped, their interception mission was also completed."You guys hold him off. The rest of you, fall back with me."Connor was decisive. Realizing they weren't making any progress, he quickly ordered a retreat and left a few decoys behind to buy time.They had barely run a hundred yards when a wave of soldiers suddenly appeared at the alley's entrance. Hundreds, maybe even thousands, filled the narrow space and comple
"This punk's a real pain in the ass!"Connor glanced over his shoulder and noticed Axel was still hot on their trail.The squad he had sent to intercept Axel was completely outmaneuvered, and they couldn't get anywhere near him.To Connor's dismay, Axel kept shooting off signal flares as he pursued them. Each flare gave away their position. At this rate, it didn't matter which direction they ran—they were bound to be intercepted."Connor! Dave! Make a move and swat that damn fly," Warrick ordered decisively."If we leave, who's going to protect you?" Connor hesitated.Warrick was in bad shape. Without them guarding him, a single attack from an expert could be fatal."If you don't take out that fly, I'll be in even more danger. Get moving now!" Warrick snapped."Yes, sir!"Connor and Dave exchanged a glance before splitting up with their squads to surround Axel.They both knew what was at stake. If they didn't take Axel down quickly, their entire force would be stranded and do
"Kill them all!"At Warrick's command, the Red Legion charged without hesitation. Blades flashed as they stormed toward the elite enforcement unit.This time, nearly a thousand Red Legion soldiers arrived. With their sheer numbers, they launched a pincer attack from both flanks, leaving the enemy with no way to fend it off."Form the Shield Formation!" Axel shouted upon seeing the dire situation. His men immediately sheathed their blades and raised their shields to form a defensive line. Their pursuit had cut them off from the main force. Since they were up against an enemy ten times their size, forming a defensive line was their best option.If they could stall for even a moment, reinforcements from the castle would arrive, and the tide would turn in their favor. Once that happened, the thousand-strong Red Legion would be the ones on the defensive.After a brief charge, the two forces collided.Warrick had personally trained the Red Legion. He selected only the most loyal and
Axel had no time to hesitate. He lunged forward and grabbed the overturned Dragon-Binding Net. Then, he used every ounce of his strength to pin Warrick down again."Get over here! We have to keep him restrained."As the net strained under Warrick's sheer power, Axel let out a roar and pushed his cultivation to the limit. His veins bulged and blood pounded in his ears. He threw every last bit of strength into holding Warrick down.For now, he managed to pin Warrick down, but the elite enforcement unit on the other side wasn't faring well. Warrick thrashed wildly, sending more than a dozen men swinging through the air. Some slammed into trees, while others crashed into walls. Within moments, the Dragon-Binding Net flipped over again.Several elite enforcement units tried to rush in and help, but they barely got close before getting hit by their own airborne comrades and sent flying.Against Warrick's Divine Strength, they were utterly outmatched. The regular guards didn't stand a
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