"Have we? I don't remember anything." Dustin replied calmly."Let me ask you, do you know who I am?" Dante asked another question."I just found out you're Dante Fallon, a Cardinal Dragon Marshal," Dustin replied."If you already know my title, why aren't you afraid?" Dante was a little curious. Normal people would be trembling in fear whenever they saw him. And yet, this guy before him was calm and collected. It was as if he didn't care about him. Was he a fool? Or did he have a strong backing?"Why should I be afraid?" Dustin replied calmly, "Oakvale is not a lawless place. Your nephew wanted to fight, and he lost. Everyone here witnessed it. "Besides, the Fallon family is an ancient house in Oakvale. Are you trying to turn the heat on me based on your status?""Haha, smarty pants." Dante narrowed his eyes. Then, he said, "But you're right. Dexter lost because he was useless. The Fallon family will not intimidate the weak just because we're strong. Nevertheless, I can't
Cody and Harper were taken away, howling. It didn't matter how much they explained or how much they begged for mercy.Dante was already upset, and these two idiots provided him a channel to vent his anger. Cody and Harper only had themselves to blame. They met him at a bad time.There was nothing to fight about. But they just had to stand up and pick a fight. Without a doubt, they brought it upon themselves. Eighty strokes from the military whip were anything but fun. Even a sturdy army personnel would be out sick for at least two weeks after the punishment.Needless to say, for a normal person who had never undergone training, it wasn't rare for them to be crippled or dead after the punishment."Dear, those two seem to hate you a lot. Have you ever upset them?" Natasha asked curiously when she saw Cody and Harper being taken away forcefully."They're just two crazy dogs. Let them be." Dustin shook his head.Harper and Cody were typical bullies who looked down on the powerless
Natasha smiled and took Dustin by the elbow. "Let's go. I'll show you around, and we'll drop by Dash Corporation."…In South City, the Swanson family room was bright and spacious. Ezra sat across Eleanor at the table, talking and eating dessert."Ezra, why is Sir Crane still not here? Do you think he stood us up?" Eleanor looked at the time, appearing upset. She'd been waiting for an hour, but no one showed up."Eleanor, be patient. Sir Crane is a very busy man. Let's wait for a little longer. He should be here soon." Ezra flashed her a charming smile.As soon as he was done talking, someone opened the door. Soon, an old man dressed in an all-black suit with a stern and cold expression strode in. The old man had his hands behind him. His facial expression was icy, and his gaze haughty. He had this mysterious air around him."Sir Crane, you've finally arrived." Ezra's eyes lit up, and he stood up to welcome him."Have you prepared what I requested?" Theodore sat down slowly. H
Eleanor's cruel expression gave Ezra the chills. He thought that she might hesitate. He never thought that she would want Dustin to experience excruciating pain from the beginning.After all, Dustin did help her once. Wasn't that too cruel? When Ezra thought of what he had done before, he was a little frightened. It was lucky that he still had the support of the Swanson family. If his fate was in the hands of this crazy woman, he knew he'd end up with a horrible ending."Ezra, is there a problem?" Eleanor looked at him again with an innocent smile. She looked completely different from the cruel and vengeful person a few moments ago."No, no problem at all!" Ezra laughed. "This guy has it coming. He actually had the guts to upset my girl. He must pay for it!""I knew it! You love me most!" Eleanor smiled sweetly. Then, she pointed at the green wooden container and said, "Sir Crane, we'll use the venomous thing in this. We must teach this goon a good lesson.""You've paid for
"Y'see," Theodore began."The critters I keep need to feed on my blood to forge a bond. Over time, it forms a connection. Once that connection's solid, I'll know it in a heartbeat," he explained.Eleanor raised a curious eyebrow. "Sounds pretty otherworldly.""It's occult, something a high-society girl like you might not grasp," he said with an air of secrecy."But what if it doesn't work?" she prodded."Hmm?" Theodore furrowed his brow. Was she trying to test his patience?"Don't worry, Eleanor, you don't need to worry about that," Ezra chimed in, flashing a reassuring smile. "Sir Crane's mastery of the occult is legendary. There's no room for failure.""But I'm talking about the 'what if,'" Eleanor insisted."Hmph! There's no room for 'what ifs'!" Theodore's expression grew cold. "Unless that kid has the skin of steel and a spirit beyond, disaster is certain.""I don't get all this magic stuff. I just want to know, will there be a sign if it fails?" She kept pushing.Theo
"Sir Crane!" Ezra shouted. His voice was filled with urgency as he rushed to Theodore's side.But as they gathered around Theodore, they witnessed an alarming transformation. His body convulsed uncontrollably, blood streaming from his nose, and a look of terror in his eyes."What's happening to Sir Crane? Could he be possessed?" Eleanor's eyes widened with shock. Theodore's condition had changed abruptly. He was fine before, but now, he was convulsing strangely. It was utterly perplexing."Quick, to the hospital!" Panic swelled in Ezra's voice as he gave orders to his assistants. They carefully carried the stricken Theodore out and rushed him to South City Hospital. After all, Theodore wasn't any ordinary person. He hailed from the enigmatic Mystic Arts Order. So, his untimely demise within the Swanson family's estate could bring them huge trouble. The night deepened as they arrived at South City Hospital. The doctors fought to stabilize Theodore in the ward.Ezra paced b
Usually, a mere backfire might leave you dizzy and disoriented. At worst, you'd feel a little under the weather for a few days. But the sheer force of the backfire Theodore had just experienced was enough to cost him his life!That could only mean one thing—the person he had crossed paths with was not to be trifled with. If they came knocking for revenge, there would be nowhere to hide!"Sir Crane, did you maybe take a knock to the head just now? What else could explain these nonsensical words of yours?"Eleanor chimed in, her voice dripping with skepticism, "Dustin is just a doctor. What could he possibly do to reduce you to this quivering mess? You look like you've seen a ghost, for goodness' sake. Is it really that terrible?""Yeah, Sir Crane," Ezra added, puzzled. He'd done a bit of digging into Dustin's background. Dustin was nothing more than a rustic, real small-town guy. He had some fighting skills, some medical know-how, and a few tricks up his sleeve. Even so, those c
As the clock struck midnight, Dustin bid Natasha farewell and returned to his villa in South City. Their parting carried a tinge of sorrow. Even so, it was necessary to avoid drawing attention. Dustin was going on a dangerous journey. He was determined to keep Natasha out of harm's way. From now on, they would meet in secret, or they would minimize their encounters. Natasha was Simon's granddaughter. That title made her shine too brightly. Thus, spending too much time with her risked exposing Dustin's true identity.The night faded away like mist in the morning sun. The following day, Dustin headed to the Regal Court to meet Lana. They sat in a private chamber, having tea and discussing their plans."Handsome," Lana began. "The Camron family fully supports our partnership. We're committed to investing all our resources in developing and promoting Dew Balm."She skillfully made tea and filled two cups. The room was then engulfed in its delightful aroma."A wise decision," Dust
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
"Honestly, we shouldn't waste time debating who's better suited to be king. We just need to figure out who's most likely to take the throne," Jensen said matter-of-factly.As a businessman, he only cared about maximizing profit. To him, it didn't matter who sat on the throne but who had the best odds. He felt that backing that person would be the wisest choice."Who's most likely depends on who has the strongest backing," Jonathan said thoughtfully."Oh, right! I forgot to ask—who are the Moseys supporting?" Jovian asked, smacking his forehead. They'd been discussing this for so long but still hadn't figured out where the Moseys stood."My guess is Prince Nathaniel." Jensen narrowed his eyes as he analyzed the situation. "He's close to Anders. With his immense potential and the king's favor, the Moseys might see him as their best bet.""Anders' personal ties can't speak for the entire Mosey family," Jovian countered, shaking his head. "Family interests outweigh personal relationsh
Even without the king's involvement, the ambitious individuals would tear the Ballard family apart and leave nothing behind.If Simon chose the right side and it prevailed, his family could enjoy a century of stability and prosperity. But if he backed the wrong prince, everything could fall apart in a single night.At that moment, he didn't know what to choose. This was a critical decision—one mistake and the entire family could be ruined."Regarding this matter, I need to think it over carefully. I can't give you an answer just yet," Simon said. He knew the stakes were too high. A single misstep could lead to disaster, so he had to be cautious."I understand," Anders replied with a faint smile. "This isn't an easy decision. Still, I hope Your Lordship can decide soon.""Your Lordship, the forces seeking a marriage alliance with the Mosey family aren't limited to your family alone," Zack added coolly. "Don't think you can afford to wait for the highest bidder. Time is running out,
"In response to Your Lordship's question, this marriage alliance between our two families isn't my decision alone—it's also my godfather's and the entire Mosey family's," Anders said with a smile."According to the established rules, marriages between royal bloodlines are forbidden. Have you forgotten?" Simon replied coolly. "Sticking to outdated rules only holds us back," Anders said, shaking his head with a smile.He continued, "Right now, Dragonmarsh is going through a turbulent time—internally and externally. I've also heard the king's health is deteriorating. There are rumors he plans to name a successor and step down soon."With that, Oakvale will likely be in turmoil. When that happens, all the powerful families—the four ancient houses, the eight great families, and other factions—will be dragged into the chaos."That's why I'm hoping our families can form a marriage alliance to navigate the coming crisis together."Simon remained calm and said, "It's natural for the king
"Dad, what do you think?" Jonathan asked, turning to Simon."A guest has arrived, so we can't be rude. Invite them to the living room so we can discuss things properly," Simon replied calmly.Anders represented the Mosey family, and regardless of his intentions, Simon couldn't simply turn him away. As for the proposed marriage alliance, it was a matter that required thorough consideration."Understood," the butler replied promptly before leaving."Go on with your meal. I'm going to meet with Anders," Simon said, excusing himself from the table.Jonathan, Jensen, and Jovian exchanged glances and, without hesitation, followed their father. They were curious to see what the Mosey family had in mind."Alright, let them handle it. Let's focus on our meal," Gemma Letcher, Natasha's grandmother, said with a smile and signaled everyone to continue eating.…Three minutes later, in the Ballard family's living room, Simon sat at the head of the table near the entrance. Jonathan and his b