"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?
Lana smiled flirtatiously at Pablo. "Lana, if you want to have some fun, I'll be happy to join you later," Pablo said, then grabbed her wrist and gave her a wicked grin. "But first, I have to deal with this kid here, so stay put and stay out of trouble.""Mr. Hans, you're hurting me!" Lana complained, her face twisting into a scowl. She tried to pull away from him, but he wouldn't let her go."Slut, weren't you trying to seduce me earlier? Once I'm done with this kid, I'm sure your night will be one to remember." Pablo grinned wickedly, drawing Lana closer to him. He looked at Dustin tauntingly. "Kid, it seems like something is going on between you and this slut here, doesn't it? "I doubt your scrawny arms and legs will do her any good, but I'll make sure she has the best time of her life. She'll be on cloud nine.""Mr. Hans, please don't be reckless. I'm from the Camron family!" Lana panicked."What about the Camron family? I'll do whatever I want with you today. Your fami
Pablo's breath caught in his throat, his face flushed, and his forehead veins bulged. He tried to struggle but found his limbs weak. He felt a sudden surge of fear. He had always thought of Dustin as weak as a kitten, but now he looked like a fierce tiger. His strength was so great that Pablo had not doubted that Dustin could snap his neck easily."This is insane!""He's out of control!""Let Mr. Hans go right now!"After a short pause, the VIP room erupted into chaos. The group of gangsters in suits began shouting."Dustin! Have you lost your mind? How dare you touch Mr. Hans? You're only getting yourself into trouble. Let him go!" Cody exclaimed."Rhys, we're at the Golden Balcony. If you hurt Mr. Hans here, you'll suffer consequences you can't imagine," Harper said worriedly. She had brought Dustin in, and any harm to Pablo would put her in a difficult position."I didn't mean to do this, but you put me on the spot. You think I'm easy, don't you?" Dustin said, taking Pa
"Alright, we got it sorted out. Let's put our differences aside and have a good time together." Cody chuckled, exchanging a secretive look with Pablo.Pablo quickly caught on, stepped into the crowd, and shouted, "Hey, bastard! You dare to threaten me? You're asking for trouble! Someone, grab him!"Instantly, the group of gangsters in suits surrounded Dustin."Hold on!"Lana abruptly stepped in front of Dustin. "Mr. Hans, we had a deal. Why are you resorting to violence now?""Humph! I agreed before, but now I've changed my mind," Pablo declared."You've got a reputation to uphold, so you're not afraid of public criticism?" Lana frowned."Criticism?" Pablo scoffed. "This is my turf. After I'm done with this kid and have my way with you, I'll keep all this under wraps. No one will ever find out.""Yo-you're so shameless!" Lana exclaimed."I'll tell you what I've got in store. When we get closer later, you'll get it," Pablo leered."Pablo, I've given you a chance. If you thre
After dealing with the gangsters, Maximus glared maliciously at Pablo. "Dustin, what do we do with this big guy?""Let's break one of his arms first," Dustin calmly proposed."Sure, no problem!" Maximus rushed forward and pinned Pablo to the ground immediately."Wai-wait! Let's talk this out. I believe we can resolve this—Ah!" Pablo panicked, but Maximus twisted his arm before he could say anything. Pablo screamed in agony.Cody and Harper watched in horror. Their backs stiffened with fear at the sudden downfall of the haughty Pablo."Pablo, you made a grave mistake," Dustin asserted as he approached the giant-like figure."I gave you two chances that you didn't take. Instead, you chose a path that will lead to your death. How am I supposed to handle this now?""Kid, I surrender now!" Pablo gritted his teeth and conceded, "You've beaten and humiliated me. Let's end this now. "We won't cross paths again. Can we agree on that?""You think I'm a gullible fool, don't you?" Dust
Cody's words were a mixture of determination and a heartfelt plea that might have convinced any ordinary person to change their mind.However, Maximus was quick to react. He raised his hand and slapped Cody across the face, yelling, "You talked too much!"Cody's head spun, and his mouth was knocked open. He was dizzy, and his nose was bleeding."You ... how dare you hit me?" Cody blurted out. He covered his throbbing face with his hands, trying to comprehend what was happening. As the young master of the Ostrower family, he had never been so publicly humiliated."Why did I hit you? Keep talking, and I'll have to shut you up for good," Maximus threatened sternly.Cody was trembling with fear, and he dared not utter another word. He couldn't believe that Dustin and Maximus had acted so recklessly, disregarding Pablo's position and their safety."You two bastards sure are bold!" Pablo, who lay on the floor, roared in anger"This is the Golden Balcony, my territory, and part of t
"This is interesting." Dustin smirked as the dense barrage of swords came slashing down at him. In the blink of an eye, his figure dissolved into a wisp of smoke and vanished.A storm of sword shadows carrying the force that could split rivers and overturn seas crashed down on the fishing boat where he had just been standing. The entire vessel broke apart in an instant—some sinking into the depths while others drifted across the water."What? He dodged it?" Warrick's eyes flickered with surprise.Mulder's attack just now had been a 360-degree attack. Once caught in its range, there was no chance to dodge—only the option to endure. He couldn't understand how Dustin had managed to avoid it. Did he just teleport?"Hiding like a coward? What kind of warrior are you? Come fight me face-to-face."Frustrated after his attack missed again, Mulder grew desperate. His enhanced serum would only last for 15 minutes. If this dragged on, he'd collapse from exhaustion before Dustin even touche
"Oh? Are we going all out now?" Dustin smirked, with a hint of amusement in his eyes.Mulder, who had advanced to become a grandmaster martial artist through drugs, had a weak foundation. Even after taking the enhanced serum, he still posed no threat to Dustin. If Mulder were a hundred times stronger, he might just barely be able to fight Dustin.As the serum's effects pushed his body to the limit, Mulder suddenly let out a furious roar. His muscles swelled rapidly, and his bones cracked as they expanded. His body grew larger at an alarming rate, and his clothes tore apart under the strain.His six-foot frame stretched to nearly seven feet in mere moments as his body swelled to monstrous proportions. His face twisted fiercely, and his skin darkened as black scales surfaced.With another guttural growl, his roar turned beastlike. He grabbed his shredded shirt and ripped it away, exposing his broad chest covered in dark scales. A faint, eerie sheen flickered across their surface."D
Dustin's words made Mulder frown.Mulder knew all too well that Warrick was the kind of man who had no sense of loyalty or honor. If Warrick could kill his own personal guards without hesitation, what would stop him from killing a stranger? Mulder was certain that the moment things went south, Warrick would be the first to flee. Given the choice, he'd never willingly risk his life as Warrick's sacrificial pawn. But now, there was no turning back.With his undercover identity exposed and him helping Warrick escape, Mulder became a sworn enemy of West Lucozia. His name was now on the most-wanted list.Tonight was their best chance to escape. If they missed it, finding another way out would be nearly impossible.There was only one path left for him—kill whoever stood in his way and make it onto that escape boat."Enough talk, punk. Let's see what you're really made of," Mulder said.After weighing his options, he gritted his teeth and finally decided to draw his longsword. His fig
"You had your chance. Don't blame me for what happens next," Dustin said.With a slight squeeze of his fingers, the steel blades clamped between them shattered with a sharp clang.Before the two Hall of Gods members could even react, Dustin waved his hand.The two men were sent flying as if they'd been hit by a truck, hurtling over 30 feet through the air. Blood sprayed from their mouths and noses before they hit the ground. They were critically injured and on the verge of death.Dustin slowly turned his head and looked at the man who had just tried to ambush him.The man glanced at the broken sword in his hand, then at Dustin, who looked utterly unfazed. He hesitated for a split second—then bolted.With a powerful leap, he dove straight for the sea. He knew Dustin's strength was on a completely different level. There was no chance of outrunning him on land, so the only hope was to disappear into the water.It might have worked—if not for what happened next.Just before he hit
"You're not a fisherman? Who the hell are you?"Mulder's guard shot up the moment he got a clear look at the young man's face.Fishermen who spent their days at sea were usually tanned from the sun, but this one had a fair complexion. It felt a little strangeNoticing something was off, the men behind Mulder drew their blades and fixed their sharp gazes on the fisherman.The so-called fisherman standing guard wasn't just anyone—it was Dustin, who had been waiting for them all along.Since his plan was set in motion, he'd been stationed there from morning until midnight. After what felt like an eternity, his targets had finally arrived."Isn't it obvious? I'm here to capture you."Dustin rose from the deck and rolled his shoulders before speaking in an even tone. "If you don't want to die, surrender now. Otherwise, it'll be too late.""Watch out! It could be an ambush." Mulder swiftly pulled out his dagger. His sharp gaze scanned the surroundings for any sign of hidden troops.
As night fell, Warrick sat motionless in his room as he tried to calm his mind through meditation. He had always been able to clear his mind with ease. But tonight, no matter how hard he tried, focus eluded him. A restless unease settled over him and refused to let him relax.Nearly two hours passed before Mulder's scouts finally returned. This time, they brought good news.The smuggling route they had scouted was completely safe, with no signs of an ambush. The West Lucozia army had yet to discover this potential escape route.Once everything was confirmed, Mulder let out a breath of relief. Warrick, too, finally felt the weight lift from his chest."Since the route is safe, we should set out immediately to avoid any unexpected complications." Warrick said. He had no intention of waiting any longer. He was a wanted man, and every moment in West Lucozia increased his chances of capture. There was no telling when the army might surround him. Only by escaping to Thaloria would he
After a hearty meal, the burly Warrick sprawled lazily onto the bed and dozed off. He slept soundly till dusk, lost in a deep dream. When the sky was painted in brilliant hues of the setting sun, only then did he wake up leisurely.The exhaustion from the previous day seemed to have melted away. He felt invigorated, refreshed, and in high spirits.At that moment, Leigh had already set the table in the hall with quiet efficiency. Compared to the first meal, this spread was far more lavish.At the center of the table sat a whole roasted pig. Its golden-brown skin glistened with a rich, crispy sheen. The mouthwatering aroma filled the room, making it impossible not to crave a bite.Warrick had never been one for formalities. The moment he saw the feast, he didn't hesitate. He strode over, took a seat, and started digging in. He ate with zero restraint without sparing a single thought for Mulder, who was still out gathering intel.After a while, half of the roast pig was gone. His fac
"Who is it?" Warrick's grip tightened around the hilt of his steel blade. His eyes, sharp and alert, were like those of a startled predator—full of caution and menace.For the past few days, he had been on edge, like a cornered animal. He barely slept and was constantly on high alert, fearing danger would strike at any moment.The door slowly creaked open. An elderly man with gray hair stepped inside with a tray of fruit and pastries in both hands.Before he could even register what was happening, a flash of cold steel appeared, and Warrick's blade was at the elderly man's throat.The elderly man trembled with fear. The tray slipped from his grasp, and fruit and pastries scattered on the floor."Easy, Sir Prescott. He's one of us." Mulder stepped forward and pressed down on the flat of Warrick's blade with a finger. He smiled and explained, "His name's Leigh Houston. He's mute and has served the Hall of Gods for years. He keeps watch over this tunnel entrance and has never slipp
"Here's the problem—even if we know Warrick's intentions, how do we stop him?" Austin asked.Right now, Warrick had already disappeared without a trace. Austin's team hadn't even come close enough to get a hold of him, so there was no way to track him down.West Lucozia's vast territory and resources made it impossible to seal off every exit route completely. While it might be manageable in the short term, prolonging such an operation would significantly impact West Lucozia's economy. Wasting resources on a single fugitive wasn't a wise move."Warrick is a wanted man across the entire city. There's no way he's leaving through official channels. He'll have to sneak his way out," Dustin analyzed. He continued, "According to the maritime charts, if he's traveling from West Lucozia to Artea, he'll have to go through Thaloria. That's our lead. Get someone on it immediately—find out how many smuggling routes there are from West Lucozia to Thaloria.""Got it. I'll get it done right away