"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
Dustin had a plan that involved not just the Langford family but also some powerful allies. He knew he needed enough support to take on the mastermind behind the Purple City rebellion.Meanwhile, two cars were parked outside the Langford residence, one behind the other. Lana, looking exhausted, lounged in the back seat. A cigarette in hand, lit but untouched. She let the breeze extinguish it slowly, her mind wandering. Dustin had been inside the Langford residence for almost two hours, and there was no sign of activity. Did something go wrong?Ethan's earlier actions were surprising, but it might have been all a show for outsiders. Once inside the Langford residence, with no witnesses, he could easily deal with anyone.As Lana contemplated this, she couldn't shake an unsettling feeling of unease. She couldn't understand why she was so concerned about Dustin, someone she had just met. Was it merely because of his striking appearance and unique personality?Suddenly, a car pu
Harper and Cody exchanged bewildered glances, completely thrown off by Ethan's strange behavior. They silently questioned, "Is it really wise to respond to hostility with kindness? Are those high-society types really willing to risk their honor?"Dustin smiled faintly. "I've patched things up with the Langford family. Let's put our issues on the table." Harper and Cody couldn't help but notice that Dustin's smile seemed rather insincere.Cody tried to lighten the mood. "Dustin, this mess isn't my doing. I'm a victim here, too. I've been waiting by the door, worried about your safety." But deep down, he couldn't help but think, "This guy's nuts! He even dared to face off with Hugo. I'd be in for trouble if I crossed him."Dustin added, "We can deal with our stuff later. Right now, I need to talk to her." He pointed toward Harper through the car window.Growing anxious, Harper urged, "Cody, let's get out of here, now!""You want to run?" Maximus snorted. He punched through t
Don't pick a fight you can't handle."Think fast. If you don't spill the beans, I'm going to use this poison for your extreme makeover." As he spoke, Dustin unscrewed the bottle. He held it threateningly over Harper's head."No, please! Don't mess up my face!" Harper's legs turned to jelly as tears streamed down his face. She pleaded, "Okay, okay, I'll talk. Just put that thing away!""It would've been easier if you'd started with that," Dustin said, putting the bottle away. After all, someone like Harper never changed unless she was backed against the wall.Harper gasped for air and composed herself. In a shaky voice, she began, "The story about Cinna goes back a few years. "One day, a stranger suddenly showed up at our door and chatted with my grandpa. I overheard a bit through the door. "It turns out this stranger is the one who saved Cinna ten years ago.""Wait! Wasn't it Dr. Busch who saved Mr. Shaffer?" Dustin interjected."This stranger brought the critically inj
The following morning, Dustin was in a cozy, secluded villa. He sat on the bed with his legs crossed, focused on his training. When the sun rose, he slowly opened his eyes.His martial arts cultivation was ascending at a breathtaking pace. He didn't need to work hard and train, empowered by the Celestial Pearl. The Celestial Pearl automatically helped him to absorb spiritual energy, constantly improving his powers. The better his natural talents, the more powerful the Celestial Pearl's effects.In less than a month, Dustin was close to becoming an ultimate grandmaster. He could break through to the next level anytime. Still, he chose to be patient and focus on building a solid foundation. After all, he had half a year left before his decisive year-long agreement with Nestor ended.Suddenly, his phone rang, and he retrieved it from beneath his pillow. Brooke's voice on the other end sounded urgent. "Hey Dustin, I've run into some trouble. I need your help."Dustin asked in c
"Mr. Welch Senior seems stable for now, but this bizarre sickness has us scratching our heads. I'm sorry to admit, I can't help much," Brooke sighed.Alistair implored, "Dr. Busch, you're one of the best doctors in South City. Please find a way to heal my Dad, and don't worry about expenses. We will do whatever it takes to get him back on his feet.""Mr. Welch," Brooke replied gravely. "The symptoms your father is displaying don't seem like an illness to me. It looks like he's bewitched.""Bewitched?" The word left the Welch family members bewildered. Hearing this from a doctor sounded absurd."Dr. Busch, what do you mean by that? Please explain?" Alistair probed.Brooke clarified, "When I say 'bewitched,' I'm referring to practices like witchcraft, sorcery, dark spells, and the like. "My knowledge in these areas is limited. I mainly read about it from books, so it's just a guess.""You mean something like voodoo and dark spells?" Alistair furrowed his brow. He wouldn't bel
"Wow! That's amazing! He could make the paper crane fly?""Is this the occult expert they were talking about? This is truly impressive!"The display by Theodore left the Welch family in awe. They'd only heard about such things in stories but had never seen them in real life."What do you think? Now, do you believe in Sir Crane's abilities?" Ezra said proudly."Wow, that's what you call a true master!" Alistair exclaimed with a newfound respect. He thought, "If Dad is truly under some sort of spell, then only someone with extraordinary abilities could cure him.""But it's just a simple trick, really, nothing much," Theodore remarked casually, appearing humble."The crane trick we just saw is just a small part of his skills. Sir Crane has more in store for us. Let's eagerly await the next performance," Ezra added."That's great." Alistair nodded with a smile. "Eleanor, you don't need to worry. With Sir Crane here, Grandpa will be fine."Ezra smiled smugly. But Eleanor responded
"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