This was enough to prove that Dustin's skills were not far behind his own."What's the matter? I thought you were going to allow me ten moves? Why did you dodge?" Dustin retracted his palm, a faint smile playing on his lips."He did say that, but that didn't mean he was going to stand there and get hit!" Daphne retorted indignantly."Dustin, I must admit, you're stronger than I expected." Declan said seriously, "Honestly, I wasn't taking you seriously since I didn't think you were qualified to be my opponent. However, that strike you delivered just changed my perspective.""So?" Dustin smiled."So, from now on, I'm going to take this seriously," Declan responded as he slowly took off his coat. His once indifferent gaze grew sharp. "Take it seriously? Will that even make a difference?" Dustin was doubtful. However, Declan ignored him and stated, "It's been a long time since I've taken a duel seriously, and you're one of them. Consider yourself honored to be defeated by me!"
"Good luck, Declan! Teach that insolent brat a lesson!" Daphne cheered enthusiastically as she admired Declan's imposing figure.Growing up as a Fallon, she had always admired powerful individuals. That was why she had always been close to Declan since childhood. In her eyes, only exceptional people like Declan deserved to stand on equal ground with her."Sweetheart, looks like your boyfriend here might be in danger."Simon remarked, his eyes narrowed on the scene, "Declan is the top talent of their family. With his improved skills and ascent to the level of a semi-grandmaster, few among his peers can truly rival him.""Grandfather, let's not jump to conclusions. Nobody knows how it will end yet," Natasha said with a smile. While Declan was undeniably strong, she believed that Dustin had the upper hand. "Oh?" Simon raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued."Sweetheart, you seem quite confident in this young man.""Of course," Natasha replied with pride. "The man I've chosen i
The blow from the battle was too much for the crowd to withstand.It must be over, right? Who could withstand such a terrifying punch?At the moment of the explosion, they saw it clearly. Declan's punch had struck Dustin. Even a person made of iron would surely have been obliterated by a semi-grandmaster's punch. When the dust settled, all eyes were firmly fixed on the battlefield. However, the scene that greeted them left them dumbfounded. In the center of the battle ring, Dustin was standing perfectly still. He hadn't dodged nor defended against the attack, allowing Declan's punch to strike his chest. His feet seemed rooted in place, and he showed no sign of being pushed back. The only evidence of the impact was the hollow ground around him that was surrounded by cracks."H-How is that even possible?" The crowd couldn't hide their disbelief as they looked at unharmed Dustin. Declan had delivered a full-powered special technique, yet Dustin blocked it with his body?What
The sight of the seriously injured and unconscious Declan left the crowd at a loss for words. The outcome before them was beyond their expectations. Even though it was difficult to accept, they had to admit that Declan had indeed been defeated, much like Samson and Dexter before him.As one of Oakvale's ancient houses, a family renowned for its martial and military powers, not one family member among the younger generation could hold their own against Dustin. This was undeniably an embarrassment."The outcome has been decided. Do we still need to continue with this duel?" Dustin smiled faintly, turning his attention toward Griffin and Dante. He had deliberately chosen to secure victory with a single move so he could save his energy and intimidate the Fallons."Who exactly are you? How were you able to defeat Declan?" Dante furrowed his brows, and his expression grim. The Fallons' reputation had taken a serious blow after three consecutive defeats."Is it shocking that I def
If things continued like this, the Fallon family would undoubtedly face a decline, and their status as one of the ancient houses would lose its prestige. That was why Griffin had been recruiting young, gifted talents in recent years. Sadly, none of them had met his expectations. That was until he witnessed Dustin's skills earlier. He immediately developed a keen interest in him and was willing to entice him with power, influence, and fame. "Damn! This guy is incredibly lucky! He gained Sir Fallon's attention. And he also has a beautiful woman by his side. It's like a double stroke of luck!"The crowd was both envious and jealous of Griffin's offer to Dustin. Even though they were disciples of the Fallon family, they only had limited resources provided to them. Their success depended solely on their own efforts. However, Dustin was different. Once he joined the Fallons, he would become the star they would prioritize for future development, putting him in a completely differen
"Gentlemen, please stop arguing for now and calm down!" Dustin quickly intervened when he sensed the situation getting out of control. Otherwise, if they continued bickering, they might start fighting physically. "Dustin, it's time to make a choice. Are you going with the Fallons or the Ballards?" Griffin asked. "Young man, think about it carefully. Don't make a decision you will regret." Simon added, stroking his beard.For a moment, all eyes were fixed on Dustin. It was a rare sight to witness two influential figures vying for an individual. While it was an immense honor, it also caused a tremendous dilemma.The Fallons were a family with a strong military background. They were an ideal fit for Dustin, given his status as a grandmaster. In terms of his future, the Fallons were undoubtedly the better choice. However, as one of the ancient houses, the Ballards were as strong as the Fallons. When combined with Natasha's influence, their proposition became even more persuasive.
Natasha believed it wouldn't be long before Dustin truly made a name for himself. …Over the next few days, Dustin was pretty busy. He had to search for the medical herbs to treat Cinna, rebuild Harmony Healers, and monitor the situation regarding Dew Balm.He also had to take some time out of his schedule to take Natasha out for meals and go shopping with her. In general, Dustin rarely had time for himself. What was worth celebrating was that the production for Dew Balm was right on track. The Camrons had used their family influence to establish a pharmaceutical company dedicated to selling Dew Balm. After a round of advertising and word of mouth, their product was already competing with the Swansons' and Welchs' Rejuvenaid. Since it was more affordable and had superior efficacy, its reputation had gradually spread within the industry. They were only waiting for the official launch to happen. Meanwhile, the Welch family was holding an emergency meeting due to the latest
"Hmph! Dustin got nerves of steel. He actually dared provoke us? He's asking for death!" Alistair's expression was grim, and a murderous glint flashed in his eyes. These days, the Welchs had mobilized all their resources to turn Rejuvenaid into a hot-selling item.They flooded the market with advertisements, offers, and discounts. They had invested lots of money into it. The original plan was to use this opportunity to build its reputation, make substantial profits, and expand their network. Little did they expect Dustin to spoil their plans from the very beginning. It was infuriating!"Eleanor, didn't I ask you to deal with Dustin as soon as possible? Why is he still alive?" Joanne suddenly turned to her daughter, her tone scolding. "I—" Eleanor was at a loss for words. Faced with her mother's sharp gaze, she shifted the responsibility onto Ezra instead."Actually, Ezra has been the one handling this matter."Ezra's lips twitched, and he could only respond in resignation.
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