All the Harmons were stupefied. Andrew's words had shocked them. None of them had expected that the well-dressed old man was actually the noble Duke of Lachshire!In the five peerage rankings, namely duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron, the dukes were ranked first. They were of the highest ranking of nobilities and were above everyone else.Their influence exceeded even that of first-ranking ministers. They were the definition of authority!The Grants had become the leader of the Tremendous Three in Millsburg just because Arthur was an earl. The Harmons dared not even think how much power a duke possessed.But the question was, why would a duke show up at the Harmon family residence? Who among them got such an influential person to come here personally?"What are all of you doing just standing there? Quick! Bow to His Lordship!"Andrew turned to shout at the rest of them. He was so anxious that he was sweating all over.The old man before them wasn't just anyone. He was
"But what will happen to the Harmon family once I'm gone?" Natasha turned to look behind her. Her father had just passed away, and the family was on the verge of breaking apart. She'd feel bad to just walk away like that."They are them, and you are you. Why do you put unnecessary burdens on yourself? "All I want is for you to lead a happy and blissful life. Nothing else matters," Simon said."But …" Natasha was in a dilemma.She had lived with the Harmons for so many years. How could she just abandon them and leave without a care?"Fine, if you're so torn, I'll help the Harmons out just this once," Simon said earnestly. "If you promise to return with me to Oakvale, I guarantee the Harmon family will return to its former glory within a year. "In three years, I'll make the Harmon family better than it ever was and replace the Grants as the new leader of the Tremendous Three. How's that?"Chaos broke out among the Harmons as they were overjoyed to hear that.To have their f
Over in a meeting room at Zephyr Lodge.Cornelius said to Natasha apologetically, "I'm sorry, Ms. Harmon, you're one step behind. Sir Rhys has left Millsburg.""Left? Where did he leave for? When did he leave?" Natasha was full of questions."Sir Rhys left for Oakvale this morning. He said he had some things to deal with there but never gave us any details. Oh, right!"Cornelius recalled something, took out a letter, and handed it to Natasha with both hands. "Ms. Harmon, here's a letter Sir Rhys left for you. Before he left, he ordered me to hand you this letter if you ever come. He said you'll understand once you read this.""A letter?" Natasha took the envelope and opened it. It had a lengthy letter inside.The general content of the letter was Dustin telling Natasha that he had something important he needed to handle and would be there for some time before he returned. He also reminded Natasha to take good care of herself. He mentioned that he didn't want Natasha to worry
Dustin slowly raised his head. That caught his interest.The information that Eloise gave him was that Cinna was in Harmony Healers. And Harmony Healers belonged to Brooke Busch.He had been the one who had saved Cinna and kept him hidden away from pursuers back then. For the ten years that Cinna was unconscious, Brooke had been the one taking care of him."Know him? I don't mean to brag, but Brooke and I are tight. He often rides in my cab."If you're getting medical treatment from him, just tell him that you're a friend of mine. I guarantee he'll give you a discount!" the bald driver said confidently."Is that so? What's he like?" Dustin asked."Brooke's character is flawless. He's the incarnation of Florence Nightingale!"The bald driver gave a thumbs-up as he continued praising Brooke. "He basically treats the poor for free and doesn't even charge them for the medications."Even if he does, he just charges them at an unbelievably cheap price. Kind and generous doctors like
"Doctor! Where the fuck are the doctors?"The bodyguards clamored fiercely, scaring the patients in the medical center. They quickly got out of the way for fear of getting into trouble."What happened?" Several of the doctors from Harmony Healers went up to them."Move aside! I'll handle it!" Caldwell pushed the doctors aside and stepped forward voluntarily. "Is this Ms. Eleanor Welch from the Welch family?" he asked tentatively."If you know who she is, why aren't you saving her yet?" the lead bodyguard pressured."I'm on it!" A look of glee flashed on Caldwell's face for a fraction of a second. It was as though he had got his hands on a treasure.The Welch family was one of Oakvale's eight great families. They were filthy rich and extremely powerful. As a daughter of the Welch family, Eleanor Welch was known to be both rich and pretty.This was Caldwell's chance to play the hero and save the damsel in distress. He wasn't ready to pass up on such a chance! If he managed t
"I'm just offering you some advice because the patient will die if you use the wrong method. And if that happens, you'll regret not listening to me," Dustin said "Hah! That's rubbish!" Caldwell snapped rudely. "Dr. Busch personally taught me this method to save patients. It has worked every single time without fail! Do you think that you're better than Dr. Busch?""There is no hard and fast way to save a patient. You must consider the situation before using a certain method. You must be adaptable," Dustin reminded him."Shut up! One more word from you, and I'll throw you out!" Caldwell's embarrassment fueled the anger within him.He was Dr. Busch's star apprentice who would be in charge of running Harmony Healers in the future! How dare a nobody tell him what to do? He thought too highly of himself!"Well, have it your way then." Dustin shook his head, saying nothing more. "Cut the crap! Save her!" the head bodyguard urged.Caldwell suppressed the anger within him and bega
"Wait a second!" Caldwell suddenly came back to his senses. He quickly exclaimed, "You can't seriously believe what this brat is saying, can you? He's not even from Harmony Healers! Don't be fooled!""Fooled?" The head bodyguard looked Dustin up and down before he frowned and asked, "You're not a doctor?""I'm not a doctor from Harmony Healers, but I do have some medical knowledge," Dustin told him honestly. He had nothing to hide."Hmph! If Harmony Healers can't save her, what makes you think you can?" Caldwell snarled."Just because you can't doesn't mean I can't too. As I told you, you were using the wrong method," Dustin said calmly."Rubbish! I'm Dr. Busch's star apprentice! Who are you to compare yourself to me?" Caldwell fumed in frustration."I don't want to waste time with you. Move aside. Don't distract me from saving the patient," Dustin said impatiently.He really couldn't understand what was going on inside Caldwell's head. Was he trying to stop Dustin from saving
Dustin waved his hand to signal everyone to move back so there would be enough space."Support her!" Dustin ordered the head bodyguard to hold Eleanor up.He then used his finger to pry open her mouth and held onto her tongue as he pulled out a small part. As he did that, he activated his internal energy and gave Eleanor a sudden smack on her back.It was a loud slap. Eleanor's body suddenly trembled, and her head lifted upward as she started regurgitating a large amount of water with a loud noise. As everyone took a closer look, they realized that there was a fish in her vomit!"My goodness! Why would there be a fish in Ms. Welch's mouth?""Was this fish stuck in her throat? Was this why she couldn't breathe?""No wonder Dr. Quinn's method didn't work. A fish was stuck in her throat. Such bad luck!"The onlookers were shocked to see the tiny fish on the ground as they whispered among themselves. The cause behind Ms. Welch's suffocation was finally revealed."H—how could this
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
"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