"Mr. Swanson, you seem sincere in wanting the formula. How about this? I'll take a loss and cover the extra costs. I'll only need the first ten herbs. How does that sound?" Dustin put on a reluctant front. "10 herbs won't do, either!" Zion maintained his grim expression. "Then how many will you agree to?" Dustin sought a compromise."One." Zion raised one finger."I can only give you one!""One herb?" Dustin frowned. "Mr. Swanson, is this some kind of joke? I don't think negotiation works like this.""Your Dew Balm formula is only worth one top-grade precious herb. That's all I can offer." Zion was getting impatient. If Dustin had merely asked for money, he could have managed the situation. However, Dustin was throwing out exorbitant demands and treating him like a fool. "Since you're not cooperating, let's forget about today. I'm sure there will be someone else who would be interested." Dustin didn't waste his breath and prepared to leave. "Stand right there!" Zion sla
"Miracle doctor, are you surprised?" Eleanor asked with a smile."I saw you on the streets and thought you looked familiar. I can't believe it's really you. We parted ways in a rush the last time. I didn't even get to thank you. I'll have to treat you to a meal this time.""It's nothing, Ms. Welch. I just did what anyone should do." Dustin nodded slightly. "Ms. Welch, you … know this guy?" Zion asked cautiously. Eleanor slapped Zion across the face once more. She yelled at him, "Of course! This miracle doctor is my savior! How dare you touch him? Do you think I won't kill you?""Your savior?" Zion was so shocked that his legs almost gave way. He had thought Dustin was only an ordinary citizen who could fight and had some medical skills. He didn't expect him to have the backing of the Welch family's heiress. He had made an unwise move. "What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and apologize to him before I make your life miserable!" Eleanor glared at him. Zion to
"Ms. Welch, what can I do for you?" Mr. Yaxley approached her eagerly with a big smile on his face. "Let me ask you, is it true that we have a Dragon Panax?""Indeed we do. It's in the vault," Mr. Yaxley replied honestly."Great, bring it to me now," Eleanor instructed."Ms. Welch, what are you going to do with it?" Mr. Yaxley tried to ask."Why do you care? I have my reasons!" Eleanor replied impatiently."Ms. Welch, I must confess that this item is a part of Mr. Welch Senior's precious collection. I'm afraid I cannot simply hand it over without his permission," Mr. Yaxley explained with his head lowered."Just bring it to me for now. I'll talk to Grandpa about it later," Eleanor insisted."This … doesn't seem right." Mr. Yaxley was put in a difficult spot."Hey! You won't even listen to me now?" Eleanor glared at him. "I told you to bring it to me! Why so much nonsense? Go!" As she spoke, she gave his backside a swift kick. "Please, hold on, Ms. Welch." Mr. Yaxley was l
What Mr. Yaxley had brought was a box of gold bars. They sparkled brightly under the sunlight, creating a visual impact more stunning than money ever could."Dustin, here's a token of appreciation from the Welch family. Take it as your payment for saving Eleanor," Joanne said calmly as she glanced at the gold bars."What is the meaning of this, Mom?" Eleanor pouted in displeasure."The Welch family never owes favors. Since Dustin saved you, it only makes sense that I reward him handsomely," Joanne said matter-of-factly."Mrs. Welch, I did not save Eleanor for money." Dustin shook his head."What? Is this too little for you?"Without saying anything else, Joanne gestured to Mr. Yaxley. "Joaquin, bring out another box." "Yes, Ma'am." Mr. Yaxley promptly turned to leave."Mom!" Eleanor couldn't keep it in any longer."Not everything is about money! What the miracle doctor needs is the Dragon Panax! He needs it to save lives, not some useless gold bars!""The Dragon Panax?" Joan
"The Iceheart Lotus and the Emerald Corolla," Dustin listed the herbs he needed.The Welch family was a notch above the Swanson family in terms of power and influence. As long as they put some effort into it, they should be able to get their hands on those herbs."Young man, you've got quite the appetite for good things, haven't you? The herbs you mentioned are precious herbs that are extremely valuable! Aren't you a bit greedy to be asking for three precious herbs in return for a formula?" Joanne's brow knitted together in displeasure."I can't say the same for other formulas, Mrs. Welch. But the formula for Dew Balm is definitely worth as much. The profit it can bring the Welch family certainly exceeds the value of those herbs," Dustin guaranteed."Is that so?" Joanne's gaze on Dustin was sharp as she tried to read his expression.However, there wasn't a hint of guilt in his eyes. He simply looked back at her boldly. And that was enough to tell Joanne that he wasn't lying. "
"I'm sorry, Dustin," Eleanor remorsefully said when they reached the gates. "The Dragon Panax should have been a gift. I didn't expect my mother to pull something like that and ruin my plan.""There is no need to apologize, Ms. Welch. Without your help, I would never have obtained the Dragon Panax, nor would I have been able to strike a deal with your mother. "This is the best outcome I could have asked for." Dustin chuckled.It was not a loss for him since he got the three precious herbs in exchange for a mere formula."You're alright with this?" Eleanor perked up."Of course." Dustin nodded, smiling."Hehe! I really like you, Dustin. You're a friend I'd like to keep!"Eleanor smiled, showing off her dimples. "You haven't had lunch yet, have you? Come on, I know a restaurant that serves really good food. Let's go!"With that, she dragged Dustin into her car.Just then, her phone started to ring. As she answered the call, a deep voice was heard saying, "Ms. Welch, we've got
Ezra was a typical player who would never change his ways. Eleanor should consider herself lucky for discovering his true colors before they got married. Otherwise, it would have been too late."Of course, I know that I should let go. But not without making him pay first!" Eleanor gritted her teeth, full of resentment."How dare he treat me like this? I'm not letting him off easily! "I'll make him regret messing with me! I'll make him understand that losing me is the biggest loss of his god-damned life!""What do you have in mind?" Dustin questioned."Since he's cheating on me with other women, I'll get myself a man. I'll humiliate and piss him off!" Eleanor sniffled. All of a sudden, her gaze landed on Dustin. "You'll be my boyfriend from now on, Dustin. I'll show him that he isn't the only one who can mess around!""What?" Dustin was startled. "Are you kidding, Ms. Welch? We barely know each other.""So what? Do you think I'm not good enough for you?" Eleanor huffed."I'
When the door was kicked open, everyone was stunned and instinctively looked over.A fashionably dressed and sweet-looking Eleanor stood at the door. She walked in with an air of indifference. Dustin trailed in behind her casually."Eleanor?""Ms. Welch?"When they saw who it was, everyone's expression changed. Especially Ezra, who immediately withdrew his hand from the lady's waist as if he was electrocuted. Then, he stood up and forced a smile. "Eleanor, why are you here?""What, you can be here, and I can't?" Eleanor glanced at the lady before fixing her gaze on Ezra.Though she had mentally prepared herself, it still angered her to see the cheating couple behave so intimately."Sure you can! But why didn't you tell me beforehand? I could have made arrangements for you," Ezra said with a smile."No need. I'm just here to have a look."As Eleanor spoke, her gaze trailed over to the lady on the couch, who looked nervous. Eleanor asked casually, "Who's this beside you? I
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