Having spent so many years in South City, this was the first time anyone had the guts to talk to Hugo like this. It was like playing with fire."Yep, you heard me right." Dustin nodded seriously."This is getting interesting ..." Hugo suddenly burst into laughter, but his expression turned ice cold. "Kid, I've met no one as audacious as you. Demanding the Langford family's assets—that's quite the bold move! "I could hand you the Golden Balcony, but would you want it?""If you hand it over, I want it. If you don't, I'll just have to snatch it," Dustin replied bluntly."Hahaha..." Hugo's laughter now seemed to be filled with anger than amusement. "Kid! Do you even know what you're getting into? You're playing with fire, and it will burn you!" He spat out the last few words through gritted teeth."We'll soon find out who's playing with fire," Dustin replied, his face impassive."Alright, I hope you don't end up begging for mercy later. I like your guts," Hugo said, raising h
Lana was sitting in her luxury car outside the entrance of the Golden Balcony, her eyebrows arched as she looked through the window.Just when she thought she'd finally met a handsome guy, she couldn't believe his string of bad luck. First, Dustin offended Pablo, and then he dared to challenge Hugo. Now, Dustin was stuck inside the Golden Balcony, where the chances of survival were close to zero.Resigned to her powerlessness, Lana's remaining option was to prepare for the grim task of collecting Dustin's lifeless body. Her thoughts turned depressed thinking of his pitiful life."Oh, Ms. Camron. You're still here?" Cody and Harper approached from the opposite direction."You guys are sticking around too?" Lana responded casually."Us?" Cody smiled faintly. "We have some ties to Dustin through Harmony Healers. We thought it'd be right to stick around and help with his last rites.""Hmph! Spare me your hypocrisy," Lana said coldly. "I'm not blind to the fact that you bait
Lana was in awe, her mouth agape. "Wow, did a miracle happen?" What she'd mentioned in passing had magically come true, leaving her shocked.As everyone was still processing this, an even more unbelievable scene played out.Not long after Dustin had walked out, Maximus followed closely, carrying two people. On his left was Pablo, with broken limbs and in agonizing pain. On the right was Hugo, who was so battered and bruised that he was almost unrecognizable. They were like rag dolls, clutched by their collars, as Maximus dragged them out of the Golden Balcony, leaving a trail of blood in their wake.It became clear that it wasn't Hugo who spared Dustin and Maximus. Instead, Dustin and Maximus had fought their way out of an intense situation.Earlier, Hugo had brought the elite martial artists from the Langford family, each capable of taking on a hundred enemies. Yet, in just a few minutes, all the elite martial artists were defeated, and Hugo himself had been captured. Th
"Stop! Who's there?"As Dustin and Maximus stepped out of the car, the two guards at the entrance of the Langford residence immediately tensed up."I'm here to see Mr. Ethan. Can you let him know?" Dustin asked calmly."You can't just barge in to see Mr. Ethan. You'll have to send a request in writing tomorrow and wait for a response," the left guard replied curtly.Without further ado, Dustin made a simple hand gesture.Maximus understood the cue and quickly pulled Hugo out of the car, positioning him in front of the residence's gate."Mr. Hugo?"The guards scrutinized the battered Hugo closely. Their expressions quickly shifted from suspicion to concern. "Who are you? You've got some guts to attack a member of the Langford family!""Tell Mr. Ethan that an old friend has come to visit," Dustin said impassively."Hurry... Please let Uncle Ethan know ..." Hugo, lying on the ground, gasped weakly.The two guards exchanged a glance and didn't hesitate. One stayed on guard whil
Ethan had reached his breaking point and slapped Hugo in frustration.The force of the slap sent Hugo sprawling to the ground, leaving everyone in the crowd bewildered. They exchanged incredulous looks, struggling to process what had just transpired."What on earth is happening here? Shouldn't Ethan be dealing with the troublemaker who barged in?" Some in the crowd whispered. "Why did Hugo get slapped? Is this some kind of mix-up?""Uncle Ethan?" Hugo held his cheek, looking confused. "Wh-why'd you hit me?"Ethan's anger flared, and he threatened, "You blind fool! I'm gonna slap you again!" He stormed over, landing a series of punches and kicks while yelling, "You laze around all day, bully people, and stir up trouble everywhere. "Our family is ashamed to have a good-for-nothing like you! Today, I'm giving you a lesson on behalf of your father, you worthless scoundrel!""Ouch! Please, stop! Uncle Ethan. I know I messed up ..." Hugo winced from the relentless blows and be
In the living hall inside the Langford residence.Ethan took charge, commanding, "Everyone, step outside. Only enter when I say so." With a gesture, he dismissed his subordinates and servants.Dustin signaled to Maximus. "Why don't you take a breather in the adjacent hall for a while? I need a word with Mr. Ethan.""Sure thing." Maximus nodded and quickly exited.As the doors closed, the grand living hall was left with only two people—Ethan and Dustin.Now more at ease, Ethan couldn't resist shedding his formal facade. "Your Grace, what brings you here?"Dustin's presence was a sensitive issue, given his role as the heir to the West Lucozian monarchy. As the imperial court minister, Ethan knew that having a private meeting with Dustin could stir up controversy and accusations of treachery or conspiracy."What's the deal, Mr. Ethan? You're not about to tell me you're unhappy to see me?" Dustin asked with a sly grin.Internally, Ethan rolled his eyes. "Oh, don't give me that!
"Two will do, no need for two hundred," Dustin said with a grin."I'm not sure which two medicinal herbs you're after, Your Grace. But I'll have someone start searching right away," Ethan replied, taking a sip from his teacup."It's pretty simple. I'd like an Iceheart Lotus and an Emerald Corolla," Dustin said casually.Ethan, who had just taken a sip of tea, couldn't help but spit it out when he heard that. His face contorted in shock. "Your Grace, did I hear you right? You're asking for an Iceheart Lotus and an Emerald Corolla?""Exactly." Dustin nodded.He had brought this up because he was worried about the Welch family's slow progress in finding these herbs. Cinna's health was on the line, and there was no time to waste. He hoped that with the Langford family's help, it could speed things up."Do you realize how rare and precious those herbs are?" Ethan asked, his voice quivering."Yes, they're precious, but I trust you could handle this task," Dustin said with a smile.
"What?!"Dustin's request hit Ethan like a bolt of lightning, instantly draining the color from his face. Ethan knew the Purple City rebellion from ten years ago was taboo. The death of the Princess Consort of West Lucozia, still a mystery, wasn't because of its unsolvability but the collective reluctance to investigate it. Even the once-mighty Prince of West Lucozia had to shut down any inquiries, leaving the truth buried. Who, in their right mind, would dare to address it?Despite the royal family's assurance to uncover those responsible for the Purple City rebellion, the issue gradually receded from the public eye. This silence suggested that the elusive masterminds behind the rebellion held significant influence. Also, this matter involved the highest imperial authority.The Langford family might be wealthy and influential but not on the same level as the top royal relatives. So, when Ethan heard Dustin's request, it rattled him. He was uneasy and downright scared.Dust
Austin sat in his chair and silently watched the royal advisors put on their pretentious act. He slowly sipped his tea as if he couldn't be bothered by their so-called accusations.His nonchalant demeanor made Langdon and the others frown. Their once-outrageous voices began to falter.They had stormed in full of righteous fury earlier, only to be met with complete apathy. What was the point of arguing when he wasn't even listening?"Are you done?" Austin finally spoke once the room had quieted down. "If not, go ahead and keep talking. Say as much as you need to until you're satisfied.""Your Highness, we're here to discuss serious matters. Your dismissive attitude is truly disappointing," Langdon said sharply."Serious matters?" Austin let out a short laugh.He went on, "You barge in here without even understanding the full picture and spewing accusations like they're facts. As far as I'm concerned, you're no different from clowns putting on a show.""You… How dare you!" Langdon
"Are you even qualified to sit while speaking to me?"Austin's words struck like the blow of a hammer. They were sharp and unrelenting, and they left no room for retort.Langdon sat frozen and was momentarily speechless. He hadn't expected a brat like Austin to have such a sharp tongue.If he admitted he had come for personal matters, he would keep his pride intact, but he would lose control of the conversation. Everything he had prepared—and all the accusations he meant to throw—would be meaningless.But if he insisted it was official business, he would have to show proper respect and offer a formal greeting. No matter how he answered, he would be conceding ground."I'll ask one more time. Are you here on official or personal matters?" Austin asked coldly."O-Official matters." Cornered, Langdon barely managed to get the words out."Well? Is this how an official conducts himself?" Austin pressed.Langdon had no choice but to rise and offer a deep bow. "Your Highness, it's an h
After a night of chaos, some of the Red Legion's members were killed, others were captured, and the entire force had been wiped out.But the fallout didn't stop there. The Prescott estate was also raided. All embezzled wealth was confiscated, and those found guilty were thrown into prison.Anyone connected to the Prescotts was placed under house arrest and subjected to rigorous investigation.And the man behind it—Warrick—had become the kingdom's most wanted fugitive.Until he was captured, Celestria remained under lockdown. Major roads were sealed off, and patrol teams scoured every corner to ensure Warrick had no way out.Austin's crackdown sparked outrage among senior officials who didn't know the full story. They voiced their dissatisfaction, with some even gathering outside the castle gates in protest. They stomped their feet in outrage, just short of openly cursing him.To them, Warrick had made great contributions to the nation. Even if he had committed crimes, he didn't d
Austin's words were calm and almost casual. Yet, they struck like thunder and echoed in the hearts of the three assistant generals of the Red Legion.If they answered Austin's questions, there might still be a slim chance of survival. But if they refused, death was the only outcome.After all, who would willingly choose death when they had worked so hard to achieve their wealth and status? Yet, pride and dignity held them back. They didn't want to be branded as traitors.Now, they were caught in a dilemma. Which was more important—their honor or their lives? It was an impossible choice."You have ten seconds left. If you don't speak, you'll lose your chance." Austin's voice was utterly devoid of emotion.His words seemed to pierce their souls, and the three Red Legion assistant generals broke into a cold sweat.As the countdown neared its end, Auron finally couldn't hold back. "Your Highness! I'll talk—I'll tell you everything."Dropping to his knees, he scrambled forward and wa
Axel swallowed hard, shock written all over his face. He had always known the Draken Guardians were formidable, but he had never expected them to be this lethal.He had pushed himself to his limit just to hold his own against Connor and Dave, only to end up seriously wounded. Yet, when the Draken Guardians arrived, they wiped them out—along with several dozen Red Legion soldiers—without losing a single man.If Axel hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that the Red Legion, a force renowned for its elite soldiers, could be so easily crushed. Or perhaps it wasn't that the Red Legion was weak, but that the Draken Guardians were far stronger than anyone had imagined.Even their most ordinary members were strong enough to become a mighty general. As for those at the level of captain, their strength was far beyond Axel's. The lethality of a team made up of such skilled experts had reached the point of being an overwhelming force."Mr. Cruz, please arrange some
"Damn it! This punk's tougher than I thought. We're in real trouble if this keeps up," Connor said, swinging his twin blades relentlessly. Every strike was aimed at Axel's vital points.But Axel was quick. He weaved in and out of reach and avoided direct confrontation. It was obvious he was just stalling for time."Sir Prescott should be far enough by now. There's no point dragging this out. Let's fall back."Sensing the futility of their efforts, Dave considered retreating. He didn't fear death, but he wasn't about to waste his life for nothing.Since Warrick had escaped, their interception mission was also completed."You guys hold him off. The rest of you, fall back with me."Connor was decisive. Realizing they weren't making any progress, he quickly ordered a retreat and left a few decoys behind to buy time.They had barely run a hundred yards when a wave of soldiers suddenly appeared at the alley's entrance. Hundreds, maybe even thousands, filled the narrow space and comple
"This punk's a real pain in the ass!"Connor glanced over his shoulder and noticed Axel was still hot on their trail.The squad he had sent to intercept Axel was completely outmaneuvered, and they couldn't get anywhere near him.To Connor's dismay, Axel kept shooting off signal flares as he pursued them. Each flare gave away their position. At this rate, it didn't matter which direction they ran—they were bound to be intercepted."Connor! Dave! Make a move and swat that damn fly," Warrick ordered decisively."If we leave, who's going to protect you?" Connor hesitated.Warrick was in bad shape. Without them guarding him, a single attack from an expert could be fatal."If you don't take out that fly, I'll be in even more danger. Get moving now!" Warrick snapped."Yes, sir!"Connor and Dave exchanged a glance before splitting up with their squads to surround Axel.They both knew what was at stake. If they didn't take Axel down quickly, their entire force would be stranded and do
"Kill them all!"At Warrick's command, the Red Legion charged without hesitation. Blades flashed as they stormed toward the elite enforcement unit.This time, nearly a thousand Red Legion soldiers arrived. With their sheer numbers, they launched a pincer attack from both flanks, leaving the enemy with no way to fend it off."Form the Shield Formation!" Axel shouted upon seeing the dire situation. His men immediately sheathed their blades and raised their shields to form a defensive line. Their pursuit had cut them off from the main force. Since they were up against an enemy ten times their size, forming a defensive line was their best option.If they could stall for even a moment, reinforcements from the castle would arrive, and the tide would turn in their favor. Once that happened, the thousand-strong Red Legion would be the ones on the defensive.After a brief charge, the two forces collided.Warrick had personally trained the Red Legion. He selected only the most loyal and
Axel had no time to hesitate. He lunged forward and grabbed the overturned Dragon-Binding Net. Then, he used every ounce of his strength to pin Warrick down again."Get over here! We have to keep him restrained."As the net strained under Warrick's sheer power, Axel let out a roar and pushed his cultivation to the limit. His veins bulged and blood pounded in his ears. He threw every last bit of strength into holding Warrick down.For now, he managed to pin Warrick down, but the elite enforcement unit on the other side wasn't faring well. Warrick thrashed wildly, sending more than a dozen men swinging through the air. Some slammed into trees, while others crashed into walls. Within moments, the Dragon-Binding Net flipped over again.Several elite enforcement units tried to rush in and help, but they barely got close before getting hit by their own airborne comrades and sent flying.Against Warrick's Divine Strength, they were utterly outmatched. The regular guards didn't stand a