"Alright, that's it for today." Eleanor stood up slowly, glanced at Ezra, and deliberately said, "I'm going to have lunch with Dustin. We'll get going now. You guys have fun." As she said that, she held Dustin's arm and sashayed out of the VIP room.The people left behind looked at each other, upset. The good mood earlier had been ruined completely."Sheehan, how are you feeling? Are you alright?" Ezra checked his injuries and realized that Sheehan was in bad shape. His face had been disfigured. Originally, he was already not good-looking, but now he looked worse."Fuck! That bastard was vicious! I've never been humiliated this badly!" Sheehan gritted his remaining teeth in anger."I just wanted you to play a trick on that guy. Who knew you'd be embarrassing yourself instead?" Ezra shook his head. Sheehan shouldn't have embarrassed himself by showing off if he wasn't that skilled."That's weird. The occult spells that I used to control others would always work. I don't kno
"Hahaha! Dustin, I almost died laughing when you started slapping Sheehan. Granted that he's fat, but he looked so swollen!" As they left the Imperial Oasis Club, Eleanor laughed uncontrollably. Her depressed mood disappeared in an instant.She initially brought Dustin over to provoke Ezra, which worked surprisingly well. Not only did he get back at that jerk, but Dustin even taught his unsavory companions a lesson. It was very satisfying."After all, they brought it upon themselves. If they didn't have the intention to do any harm, I wouldn't have beaten them up." Dustin smiled calmly."What do we call it? Cutting off your nose to spite your face!" Eleanor started laughing again. She clearly knew that Sheehan wanted to play a trick on Dustin. It was too bad that he wasn't very skilled and lost control. Instead of pranking Dustin successfully, his plan backfired. This was just cosmic justice."They are all bad people. You should distance yourself from them if you can." Dust
"Caitlyn's here with me as well," Maximus replied."After Mr. Jones left, Caitlyn's quite lonely at home. That's why I brought her along for a little adventure. "We haven't been to Oakvale. We heard it was a great place and wanted to see it for ourselves.""Oakvale may be a great place, but it also has its dark sides. You wouldn't even know it if someone sold you out," Dustin said helplessly."That's why we have you, Dustin. We have nothing to be afraid of." Maximus laughed heartily."That's enough. Stop flattering me. Where are you now?" Dustin asked."Oh, we just got off the train. We're at the south station," Maximus replied."Wait there. I'm coming to get you." After the call ended, Dustin asked the driver to turn around and headed straight to the south station.The car stopped at the south station after an hour."Dustin! Over here!"Dustin saw Maximus and Caitlyn waving happily to him as soon as he exited the car. They had a lot of luggage with them. Looking at them,
Dustin didn't force Caitlyn to stay at the five-star hotel. Instead, he took them to another suburb further away from the city and bought a bungalow there. It was fully furnished with two stories and a small garden. They could move in right away after paying for the house.Dustin had been thinking about it. He knew staying at hotels or renting rooms would be inconvenient as he planned to stay longer in Oakvale. With that, he bought a bungalow to make things easier. He had a lot of money anyway.Caitlyn felt much better once they moved into the bungalow. She was glad to find out that it was a good investment, as the property prices around Oakvale were on the rise. Besides, they could save more by cooking at home. It was a sweet deal.Once the house had been paid for, Dustin took both of them to buy daily necessities and showed them around the neighborhood. It was already nightfall when they finally settled in the new house.Dustin and Maximus were both starving at the end
There were around a dozen gaming tables offering different games, and the guests scattered across different tables. In the VIP lounge, guests had a beautiful waitress attending exclusively to their needs as they gambled. It was the epitome of excellent customer service.Only the rich and famous could enter the VIP lounge. The simplest bet could casually start with hundreds of thousands or even millions. For the generous ones, they would even wager tens of millions and hundreds of millions. This was something a commoner could never achieve in their lifetime.Dustin immediately spotted two familiar figures seated at the central table as soon as he entered the VIP lounge. It was Cody and Harper. With Harper's status, it was obvious that she couldn't have entered the VIP lounge alone. Cody must be the person who wanted to meet him."Hey! Dustin's here! Join us! Let's play a few rounds." Cody immediately stood up and welcomed Dustin enthusiastically. Though he wore a friendly smile, the
"Oh?" Pablo followed Cody's gesture and focused his attention on Dustin. He observed Dustin closely, and his eyes glinted with interest. "You're a very impressive young man."Don't just stand there; take a seat. I want to talk to you about something." He sat on a nearby couch and took a sip of red wine from a waiter, looking confident."Dustin, this is the renowned Mr. Hans. I've brought you here to make sure you make a good impression. Don't miss out on this opportunity," Cody said with a half-smile."So, you brought me here for him?" Dustin asked casually."Mr. Rhys, Cody called you here because I want to make a deal with you."Pablo took a long drag from his cigar and exhaled a smoke ring. It drifted lightly towards Dustin's face, dissipating about a foot away from him, vanishing into thin air."A deal?" Dustin remained unfazed. "Are you talking about the Dew balm formula?""Good! I appreciate talking with smart people," Pablo snapped his fingers and grinned. "Now that yo
Upon hearing this, Pablo's smile faded, and his expression hardened. "Mr. Rhys, I can't bear to be rejected again. I have been patient long enough, so don't disappoint me," he warned menacingly."Dustin, you need to be wise. It is a privilege to earn Mr. Hans's favor; stubbornness could only get you in trouble," Cody cautioned."Enough with the chit-chat!" Pablo roared, growing impatient. "I want that Dew Balm formula today! Give it to me, and you'll be safe and get a lot of cash.""What if I say no?" Dustin asked."What if you say no? Hmph!" Pablo sneered, clapping his hands together.The VIP room door burst open, and about 40 to 50 gangsters in suits came storming in. They looked like a bunch of wolves."Kid, this is my territory. A word from me will determine your fate," Pablo said, glaring at Dustin. "If you don't give up that formula today, you may never leave this place.""Mr. Hans, I don't want any trouble. But if you continue to be stubborn, I'm pretty sure I'll en
"Mr. Hans, we all come to the Golden Balcony for a good time. What's gotten you so worked up?" Lana askedHer hips swung as she stepped into the room with a dazzling smile.As soon as she entered, she caught everyone's attention. Her voluptuous figure and the unique allure radiating made her look like a cunning fox."Ms. Camron, I've got some work to attend to, but If you're here for fun, I can arrange a private room," Pablo said, his voice softening though he still held his gun tightly."Mr. Hans, this young man is actually my friend. I hope you can cut him some slack." Lana smiled as she took Dustin's arm affectionately.Dustin was confused but didn't argue. After all, Lana was trying to help him, and he didn't want to embarrass her in front of everyone."A friend?" Pablo glanced around and said icily, "Well, Ms. Camron, your friend is quite bold. "He has refused me multiple times and threatened to damage my Golden Balcony. He does not show me any respect at all.""Really?
"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
The following morning, Jovian stood at the entrance of West Lucozia Airport, wearing a sharp suit.Before the trip, he had contacted his comrade with whom he had fought side by side in the military. After earning military merit and with the Ballard family's influence, he was fortunate enough to stay in Oakvale and secure a decent position.His comrade, on the other hand, had moved to West Lucozia to carve out a life for himself. Years of hard work had paid off—he was now a third-rank general with considerable power, influence, and a strong network of connections. Jovian's meeting with the Prince of West Lucozia would depend entirely on his comrade's connections.Just then, the roar of an engine cut through the air as a military jeep pulled up beside him. The window rolled down, and the first thing that came into view was a bald head gleaming in the sunlight like a lightbulb. The glare nearly blinded him.Under that shiny dome was a face that looked ordinary at first glance. But w
"Grandfather, I understand why you sent Uncle Jonathan and Uncle Jensen to the Spanner and Fallon families to gather information," Natasha began. "But West Lucozia is thousands of miles away."She shook her head slightly. "They've always stayed out of the government's political matters. Sending Uncle Jovian there wouldn't achieve anything. He'd likely just be turned away." Oakvale and West Lucozia were worlds apart. The fight for the Oakvale throne didn't really affect the West Lucozian monarchy. Both sides had long adhered to an unspoken agreement to avoid meddling in each other's affairs."I know, but it'll be different this time. The royal throne is at stake, and every faction will do whatever it takes to secure West Lucozia's support. If the West Lucozian monarchy picks a side, the balance we've maintained for years will collapse. That's why I need to be ready for whatever happens," Simon replied.It would be best if the West Lucozian monarchy stayed out of the political strug
At the Ballard estate, Dustin was warmly welcomed to stay after dinner. This was the first time Natasha had brought her boyfriend home, so the Ballards made a big deal of it.Simon personally accompanied the young couple and invited them to the study to chat over tea. With his sharp eye, Simon could tell Dustin was no ordinary martial artist. His manners, speech, and broad knowledge set him apart from most people."Dustin, I fully support your relationship with Natasha. Your background or status doesn't matter. What matters most is that you two are happy together." Simon paused and said earnestly, "I want you to understand that she's been pampered all her life and hasn't faced much hardship. Now that she's with you, I hope you'll take good care of her.""Don't worry, Mr. Ballard. I would never let her down," Dustin replied sincerely.Though they had known each other for some time and hadn't yet taken their relationship to the next level, they had already made their feelings clear
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