"That's fantastic!" Greta's face beamed with excitement, and she felt a renewed sense of optimism. She had been fretting about how to deal with the competition and minimize potential losses. However, to her surprise, good news had come their way.The Dawson family already held a prominent position in the pharmaceutical industry, controlling nearly 70 percent of the Oakvale medical market. With their resources and connections, they never struggled to sell their products. That was why the Welch and Swanson families had approached them for a collaboration to promote their Rejuvenaid. But, their greed and reluctance to compromise had caused the negotiations to fail.Now, with the unexpected news from Bo, the Dawson Medical Group was no longer shackled. In fact, this could be an opportunity to go head-to-head with the Welch and Swanson families!"Hold on a sec ..." After the initial excitement, Greta seemed to recall something important. She suddenly asked, "Bo, who are these peopl
Inside a speeding Maserati, Eleanor was seated in the back. She poured herself a glass of red wine, which she chugged down. Her beautiful face was now tainted with anger and bitterness."Those damn Dawson siblings!" Eleanor fumed. "Kicking us out? I'll make them pay for this!""Eleanor, take it easy. Dealing with the Dawson family won't be a cakewalk. Let's not make this worse," Ezra advised."Hmph! We're part of Oakvale's eight great families and a force to be reckoned with! We shouldn't fear them," Eleanor argued."It's not that I fear them; it's just unnecessary to stir up trouble." Ezra shook his head.If the strengths of the Welch and Swanson families combined, it would give them an edge over the Dawsons. But if they faced the Dawsons head-on, it would only result in mutual damage."I still think it's necessary!" Eleanor responded with determination in her eyes. "In a competition of willpower, we should stand our ground. With Rejuvenaid at our disposal, we can use this o
Brooke, who had been standing behind Dustin, broke the silence. Brooke had been watching the situation unfold, but there was little he could do. Even with his impressive medical skills, he couldn't help without the right ingredients."Mr. Shaffer is stable for now, but I can't say for how long. We need to gather the ingredients and make the Sanctifix as soon as possible to cure him fully," Dustin said, concern etched on his face.Using true energy to prolong life was a temporary solution, not a permanent fix. With time, Mr. Shaffer's condition would deteriorate. If they continued on this path, there would be no way out."It's my fault for not being able to find the other two rare herbs," Brooke said, filled with guilt. Despite his reputation in the medical field, he had hoped his connections could help locate the herbs, but he was disappointed."Don't blame yourself, Dr. Busch. Precious herbs can be hard to come by. We can only do what we can and leave the rest to fate." Dustin
An hour later, Dexter slowed down the Land Rover and parked in front of a huge martial arts dojo.The dojo was almost like a school, with various facilities and activities. A stone plaque at the entrance bore the words "Celestial Dojo".The Celestial Dojo belonged to the Celestial Alliance.There were three major factions that reigned the martial world: the Celestial Alliance, the Mystic Arts Order, and the Sword Union.The Celestial Alliance boasted an impressive army of disciples, with a whopping hundred thousand members, most of whom were elites. Among these three factions, the Celestial Alliance stood out for its numbers and tremendous influence.Conversely, the Mystic Arts Order was known for its mysterious and deadly techniques. They were a nightmare to those in the martial world. As for the Sword Union, they were famous for one thing—pure strength!The Sword Union's disciples might be few in number, but they're unbelievably powerful. Their disciples were like supernatu
"What an ignorant young man." Dante shook his head. "You should remember we're not in Southern province but in Oakvale. It's a place teeming with brilliant and gifted individuals. Your meager skills won't cause a ripple here.""Sir Dante, if you're itching for a fight, let's not waste more time. I have a lot on my schedule," Dustin yawned as he spoke, looking sleepy.He had been busy with a multitude of tasks lately. He had been occupied with the reconstruction of Harmony Healers, staff training for Dew Balm production, and keeping his eyes peeled for information on the Emerald Corolla and Iceheart Lotus.His relentless back-and-forth travels had nearly exhausted him. If it weren't because the Fallons could be useful to him, he wouldn't have been bothered with them."You insolent brat!" Dustin's nonchalant behavior angered the Fallons.They've seen plenty of audacious individuals, but nothing like Dustin's type, who didn't take them seriously at all.He was asking for death!
Samson had lost badly. His huge frame created a dent in the wall, and his upper body was stuck inside, rendering him utterly immobile. From a distance, he resembled a piece of artwork hanging on the wall. "What?" The crowd was dumbfounded by the scene they had just witnessed. Their eyes widened in disbelief. When Samson had charged forward, they thought the results were clear. But they didn't expect Samson to be sent flying in such a fashion. They couldn't wrap their head around the unexpected turn of events."What just happened? Samson … lost?""How is that even possible? With Samson's strength, he couldn't have lost to that kid!" "It must have been an accident!"After a momentary silence, the crowd erupted into a heated discussion. Nobody had anticipated the outcome before them. Samson was gifted and highly skilled and was known for his nearly impenetrable defense. The fact that an elite fighter of his caliber couldn't withstand a single strike from Dustin was simply
They weren't confident about taking Dustin in a one-on-one battle. However, they were certain they could defeat him if they were to join forces."Hold it!" Right then, a group of people entered the dojo. Leading the group was a tall, white-haired elderly man. He was dressed in a suit and carried himself with an air of authority that had developed through the years. There was a beautiful woman by his side. She possessed delicate facial features and an attractive figure. She carried herself elegantly like a queen. The woman was none other than Natasha, who had arrived just in time. "The audacity! Who are you people? How dare you intrude into Celestial Dojo?" one of the Fallons shouted angrily. "Silence!" Dante paled as he delivered a harsh slap to the Fallon who had spoken out. He then hurried up to the elderly man and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Duke of Lachshire.""What? The Duke of Lachshire?"The atmosphere shifted as realization dawned upon the crowd. The previ
Dustin felt pressured by Simon's scrutinizing gaze. However, he had already anticipated a situation like this and showed no outward signs of discomfort. "My Lord, I've long heard of your name, but we've never met. Perhaps you find me familiar because I possess a rather unremarkable appearance," Dustin explained humbly. Over the past decade, his height, appearance, and temperament significantly changed. Even his closest friends from the past wouldn't recognize him at first glance. "Is that so?" Simon looked him up and down again. He then replied impassively, "Perhaps that is true." "Grandfather, Dustin is an exceptional man. He excels in both the literary and martial arts and has outstanding medical expertise. He has also helped me out many times in the past. "It would be difficult to find a young talent as outstanding as he is in all of Oakvale," Natasha introduced Dustin proudly. She was always eager to highlight the merits of her man. "Haha. Don't you think you're exagg
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