The hall where the event was held had become lively. On the stage, a group of dancers dressed in vintage clothing danced to classical music. Every facial expression and move was full of charm and grace, leaving a lingering impression in the audience's mind. Below the stage sat a crowd of well-dressed celebrities. While some clinked their glasses and chatted, others quietly enjoyed the performance. Dustin had found an empty seat and sat down, sipping on a glass of juice as he watched the show. "Yo, Rhys! Didn't think you would actually sneak in here!"Suddenly, a discordant voice disrupted Dustin's moment of peace. Glancing over at the source, Dustin spotted Chris and Dahlia together with the secretary."Hmph, what an unlucky day. Why are you everywhere?" Lyra huffed in annoyance.Dahlia didn't say a word. She threw a cold glance at Dustin and went to take a seat in the front row. "Hey, the charity auction is starting soon. Can you even afford to participate? Why are you sittin
"We were chosen?" Dahlia was shocked. She couldn't believe his words. The general manager wasn't talking about her place on the candidate list, but was referring to their appointment as the Harmon family's partner! They’d even skipped the final assessment. What was happening?"Did you mean what you said?" Dahlia questioned tentatively."Of course. If you don't believe it, you may come to our office tomorrow to sign the contract. I have other things to attend to, so I'll hang up now." After saying a few words, the general manager ended the call.Dahlia on the other end was feeling both astonished and delighted. Never had she expected things to go so smoothly. A few moments ago, the Jackson Group was just about to get removed from the candidate list but in the blink of an eye, they had become the Harmon family’s partner. Everything was happening too abruptly.Of course, it must've been due to Chris' help that she was able to make it this far. The Nolan family's influence was surprisi
Never in Dustin's wildest dreams would he think that was how Dahlia viewed him. She had no faith in him at all. As it turned out, three years of marriage meant nothing when compared to an outsider."You're right. I'm despicable, while Chris is a hero. I slandered him. Are you happy now?" Dustin said self-mockingly. It was pointless to defend himself when there was no trust to begin with."What's with your attitude? Are you saying I'm accusing you?" Dahlia frowned."Not at all. I'm the one to blame for badmouthing a good person," Dustin replied curtly. "You're so stubborn!" His words angered Dahlia. She never knew that Dustin would act like this out of spite and refuse to admit his mistake. Was he finally showing his true colors after their divorce? "It's all right, Dahlia. Don't get too worked up." At this time, Chris put up a pretentious act of kindness and said, "Dustin must be doing this because he doesn't like that I'm too close to you. I don't blame him. Everyone makes mist
"What the hell? Why did he bring so many people?" Chris gulped, feeling faint for some reason. Weren't they supposed to fight one-on-one? Edward had disrespected the rules of a fair fight by involving a gang. Though Chris was cursing in his heart, he had no choice but to face them head-on. No matter what, he couldn't lose face in front of Dahlia. "That's them. Surround them!" With a wave of his hand, the bodyguards led by Edward dashed forward at once, surrounding Chris, Dahlia, and Lyra. "What are you doing? I'm warning you, don't you dare touch me. My father is David Nolan, the president of Nolan Pharmaceuticals!" Sensing that he was at a disadvantage, Chris hurriedly threatened them with his father's status."So what?" one of the bodyguards yelled. "Do you know who you've messed with? He is Sir Spanner's son, the heir of Drey Group!"His words caused an uproar among the crowd."Sir Spanner? Is he talking about Trevor Spanner, King of the Underworld from East City?" "It must
“Then go to die!” Dustin stated expressionlessly, but his hard gaze was unnerving.“Go to thell?” Edward burst out laughing.Even the group of bodyguards standing behind him burst into laughter; all of them looked at Dustin as though he were an idiot.“You little punk! Don’t you know who I am? You’ve got some nerve speaking to me that way,” Edward said cockily.“I don’t know who you are, and I couldn't care less. You have three seconds to let her go, or else,” Dustin stated plainly.His words instantly caused a stir; even the people who were holding Dahlia were shocked.None of them expected that Dustin would say such a thing; he was remarkably brave compared to the silent Chris.However, such bravery was useless.“You really don’t know what’s good for you. You’re going to die!” Chris’ face was full of resentment because Dustin’s show of bravado only made his cowardice even more apparent.Naturally, Chris was irritated and even filled with resentment when a good-for-nothing l
“Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and beg Mr. Spanner for forgiveness!” Chris chimed in, taking advantage of the situation to add to Dustin’s humiliation.Chris was green with jealousy when Dustin was showing off earlier, so he was now trying to get some payback.“Will he kneel? Or will he not? If he does, he will forever be too ashamed to show his face. But if he doesn’t, he might be dead or maimed once Edward retaliates,” Chris thought.“Hey punk, don’t say I didn’t give you a chance to make amends! I’ll spare you if you grovel at my feet today. If not, don’t blame me for being merciless.” Edward jabbed Dustin’s chest with his finger with a smug expression on his face.“What does it matter if he knows how to fight when he has no power and no status? In the eyes of the public, he’s nothing more than a foot soldier,” he continued mentally .“Are you aware that you’re playing with fire?” Dustin asked as he looked at Edward’s finger.“Playing with fire?” Edward smirked. “N
The hall was in an uproar because of Dustin’s actions.The timid guests had long left, in fear of becoming caught in the crossfire.As for the unconscious and critically injured Edward, his bodyguards had immediately taken him to the hospital.“This is troublesome.” Dahlia had a concerned look on her face as she scowled.Sir Spanner was infamous for being cruel and ruthless, and he surely wouldn’t be inclined to just let things go when his son had been beaten into such a state.Dustin may not have much longer to live.“Lyra, I want you to find out if there’s any way this can be resolved peacefully,” Dahlia suddenly said.Lyra was puzzled. “What do Dustin’s actions have to do with us, Ms. Nicholson? Why do we need to expend effort for his sake?”Dahlia had a frosty expression as she retorted, “He saved my life earlier. Should I just watch him die?”“That’s not what I meant, I just think it would be very unwise to cross Sir Spanner at this point. Moreover, no one would willingly
The next morning, in the most luxurious private room at Mirage.“Mr. Rhys, thank you for protecting me. Here is the canscora you wanted. Please take a look.”Natasha put an exquisite wooden box on the table before pushing it forward.“Huh?”Dustin opened the box and saw a blood-red canscora in it.The herb was crooked, like a dragon’s tooth. It had an interesting appearance.He gently sniffed it, and its unique stench filled his nose.“It is really a canscora! Thank you, Ms. Harmon!”Dustin’s face lit up. He had been searching for various rare herbs all these years. Finally, he found another one.There were still five herbs left. If he could collect the remaining five herbs, there would be hope!“You’re welcome. You deserve it. Come to think of it, I should be the one thanking you.” Natasha smiled.“Ms. Harmon, I have a favor to ask. Can you contact me immediately next time if you find such rare herbs? I am willing to pay heavily for them!” Dustin looked serious.“Of course I can do th
After making up his mind, Jovian no longer hesitated. He instructed the driver to make a U-turn and head straight to the meeting place.The meeting location was in a restaurant not far from the castle. It was only a ten-minute drive from where they had turned back.When Jovian and Boston walked inside, they found the place nearly empty. There were no guests in sight, just a few receptionists. It looked like the restaurant had been cleared out just for them."Sir, please follow me. Sir Prescott is waiting for you upstairs," the restaurant owner personally greeted them and led them to a private room on the second floor.Warrick, Huxley, and Percival were leisurely drinking tea inside the room. The three chatted and laughed, but their conversation stopped the moment Jovian and Boston entered. All three turned their attention to Jovian.They were quite curious about him. He had been privately invited by Austin and even stayed for dinner at the castle. It was a privilege none of them h
"An outsider? Who is it?" Percival asked urgently. "Could it be that assistant general who came in at noon?"Warrick frowned. "I've looked into that man. No background, no connections—just an old hand in the military. Been around forever, knows the ropes, but has no real pull.""It's not him—it's someone connected to him." Huxley lowered his voice. "Remember what Sir Austin said at noon? When he summoned that assistant general, he specifically mentioned the Ballard family.""The Ballard family?" Percival looked surprised. "You mean the Ballards from Oakvale? Are you saying they've already beaten us to it and met with the prince?""The prince hasn't met with them, but according to my intel, this man, Jovian Ballard, spent two hours chatting with Sir Austin today. They talked and laughed like old acquaintances. Sir Austin even invited him to stay for dinner at the castle." Huxley's face darkened. He continued, "Look, the Ballards sent someone at a time like this. They're obviously
After a brief discussion in the meeting room, Austin invited Jovian to tour the West Lucozia castle.The castle was enormous, equipped with imaginable facilities. Unfamiliar visitors could easily get lost in its vastness.Jovian prided himself on being well-traveled, yet as he toured the castle, even he couldn't hide his astonishment. Unlike the ostentatious displays of wealth seen in luxurious estates, this castle could only be described as grand, majestic, and awe-inspiring. Everything in his line of sight conveyed a sense of grandeur and majesty.What stunned Jovian the most was the House of Heroes inside the West Lucozia castle. The structure was nine stories high and looked like an ancient monument.The walls were lined with memorials of fallen soldiers. The place was packed with thousands of tablets, each engraved with the hero's name and a detailed account of their life stories for future generations to honor and remember.The Ballard family had a family tree that record
"Your Highness! Please mind your words," Jovian quickly cautioned. He glanced around nervously, as if afraid someone might be eavesdropping.Speculating on Valon's fate in private was an act of grave disrespect. If someone with a hidden agenda spread this information, a ruined reputation would be the least of their concerns—what came after would be far worse."Relax, Mr. Jovian. We're in West Lucozia, not Oakvale. Here, we can say whatever we want without worry." Austin smiled faintly, showing no concern.These were well-known facts, so what was the harm in saying them out loud? Keeping quiet wouldn't change a thing, anyway. What a joke."Ahem… perhaps I was overthinking it." Jovian let out an awkward chuckle. He knew Austin wasn't wrong, but his cautious nature kept him from discussing Valon's affairs too openly."Honestly, a lot of people have been showing up in West Lucozia lately. There's a whole group standing outside right now, and they're all here for the same reason as you
Austin smiled brightly as he ushered Jovian into the meeting room with surprising enthusiasm.Jovian looked confused and somewhat unprepared. Before entering, he had already imagined many possible scenarios for their meeting. He had mentally prepared for a range of reactions from Austin—whether he would be ignored, faced with cold indifference, or dealt with arrogance. He was ready for any of those. After all, the rumors about Austin painted him as a "hellraiser" who did whatever he pleased.But, to his surprise, Austin didn't give him any trouble at all. Instead, he was giving him a warm reception, which left him utterly confused.Something felt off. He couldn't make sense of Austin's sudden warmth, and he had no idea what game he was playing."Bring the tea!" After inviting Jovian to sit, Austin gestured for the attendant to serve the tea. The drink was a rare specialty from West Lucozia, a premium elixir tea not sold to the public but reserved for high-ranking officials. Its
After stepping into the castle, Boston felt a knot in his stomach. He had been here before, but only for official matters.He was always escorted by guards or attendants, but this time, Austin himself had led him inside. Boston felt both honored and somewhat overwhelmed. Since when had he earned such treatment?Austin had brushed off higher-ranking officials, so why was he showing him so much attention? Was it because his shiny bald head made him stand out? He had no answers, only a growing curiosity as he followed Austin into the meeting room. "Sit." After Austin sat at the head of the table, he raised his hand and gestured for Boston to do the same."No… no need. I'll just stand." Boston smiled awkwardly."Just sit down. Why are you so nervous? I won't bite," Austin said in a dismissive tone. "Y-Yes, Your Highness." Boston didn't dare refuse again and obediently took a seat. He was six feet three inches tall, yet he looked like a startled rabbit. He sat up straight and didn't
When the castle's gate swung open, every eye turned toward the entrance. Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, Austin strode out with his two guards. His posture exuded confidence and authority."Your Highness!"The gathered officials instantly rushed forward to greet him. Grins spread across their faces as if they couldn't wait to please him. Whether it was Huxley, Percival, or Warrick, all wore the same ingratiating expression.After all, Austin was the infamous hellraiser. Though he had reined himself over the past two years, his past reputation still loomed over them.At least Rufus could be reasoned with. But Austin? He was a wild card—utterly unpredictable, like a ticking time bomb. Every last one of them had suffered his wrath before.Percival approached with a flattering smile. "Your Highness, you finally come out. I have something important to discuss with you. If you'd be so kind as to listen—"Before he could finish his sentence, he was dismissed by Austin, who found h
"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