"Sir, what about this guy? You decide." Abigail glared at Ezra, who was on his knees. If looks could kill, Ezra would be dead by now.At that moment, Ezra snapped out of his daze, pleading, "Dustin, please don't kill me! I messed up; I won't mess with you again. I swear, I won't cross you from now on! Please, spare me!""Spare you?" Dustin chuckled, "After all your ploys to mess with me, you think I'd just let you off? Does that even make sense?"Ezra crawled over, grabbed Dustin's leg, and bawled, "Dustin! No, Sir Rhys! It wasn't me; it was all Eleanor's crazy idea! I just followed orders. Please, I'm begging you, let me off the hook!""Eleanor?" Dustin narrowed his eyes. "Tell me, was this attempt on my life payback, or did you have another scheme?"Ezra didn't hesitate and disclosed, "Due to the Dew Balm issue, we faced setbacks. So, Eleanor proposed to kidnap and rough you up. "They're hoping to extract more of top-notch formula to recover our losses and rebuild our reputati
"Whoa! So many members from the Mystic Arts Order are involved in this business deal. It must be something big!" Dustin exclaimed, looking surprised.Several grandmaster martial artists stood behind Abigail—some on the verge of becoming grandmasters and others who had become divine-level martial artists.With such power, which was exceptionally rare, they were more than capable of taking on the Four Ancient Houses."This is indeed significant because the person who initiated this deal is—" Abigail was about to speak, but an elder behind her interrupted, "Grand Sorceress! This is a crucial Mystic Arts Order secret. It must not be disclosed to outsiders!""What?" Abigail glanced back; her gaze startled the elder, who visibly shivered. "Let me make this clear. This person is my mentor, not an outsider. You better watch your words.""I apologize." The elder immediately lowered his head, genuinely fearful."Abigail, forget about it," Dustin said, shaking his head. "Since it's a se
"What?" Barry raised an eyebrow, puzzled. He observed Ezra, who appeared to be emotionally disturbed.Inwardly, Barry couldn't help but wonder, "Is there something wrong with his head? Why is he spouting nonsense?""Dad, stop standing there and give the order quickly! Or our Swanson family will be in real trouble!" Ezra urged impatiently.Ezra had been haunted by Dustin's words from the previous night. He might have avoided one disaster, but it didn't guarantee their safety. It could lead to deadly consequences if they continued associating with the Welch family.He reminded himself that Dustin was not just a martial arts expert but also the mentor of the Grand Sorceress of the Mystic Arts Order. With a single command, he could easily wipe out the Swanson family.In the face of a powerful dark sect and a prominent family, even the four ancient houses would be no match for them."Doctor, you assured me my son was fine. Why is he talking nonsense as soon as he wakes up?" Barry tu
Enough was enough, and the tension between Ezra and Eleanor was about to spill over."Ezra, I get that things have been tough, but come on, be a man! You're not seriously leaving me, a fragile lady, to deal with everything on my own, right?" Eleanor huffed, displeased with Ezra."Whatever! I'm done with your drama. From now on, don't bother finding me. And about our engagement, consider it over!" Ezra declared with a cold tone."Over?" Eleanor widened her eyes, finding it hard to believe. "Ezra, are you joking? Are you aware of what you're saying?""Didn't you catch that the first time? Let me spell it out—I want to call off the engagement!" Ezra raised his voice."Call off the engagement?" Eleanor was utterly baffled. She never expected him to say such a thing. Just the night before, he was compliant and eager to please. It seemed like he had turned into an entirely different person overnight."Ezra! Don't be ridiculous!" Barry scolded. Even if they were to cut ties with the W
In the Welch family living room, Eleanor had just returned home and vented her frustrations about the incident in the hospital to her parents."Dad! Mom! Ezra Swanson is despicable! He not only wanted to call off the engagement but also wanted to break ties with our family. He even physically assaulted me when I asked a few questions!"Look at my face; he beat me black and blue. I don't care; you guys must avenge me this time!" Eleanor roared; her blood was boiling. As a daughter of a prestigious family, for her to be dumped and physically assaulted was intolerable."Calm down, Eleanor."Alistair raised his hand to calm her and asked, "This is unlike Ezra; he's usually mature and composed. Did you two have a fight?""How would I know?" Eleanor pouted. "I heard he got injured last night. So this morning, I went to the hospital to visit him. "But when he saw me, he went berserk, hurling insults and even physically attacking me. It's just outrageous!""That's strange." Alistair
Joanne nodded and said, "Eleanor, you go ahead and handle it. I'll need to meet with Ms. Forrest for a chat.""Alright," Eleanor replied."Wait a moment ... What about Dustin? Do we still need to address the situation with him?" Alistair suddenly asked."Absolutely," Eleanor replied, looking frustrated, "He exploited the situation, created discord, and caused our falling out with the Swanson family. He must face the consequences!""To avoid arousing suspicion, we shouldn't deal with this personally. Let's hire someone to take care of it." Joanne suggested."Don't worry, I know how to handle these arrogant men," Eleanor said, her eyes narrowed. "I have my ways!"…Meanwhile, outside Camron Medicals, a car came to a slow stop. Then Dustin and Abigail got out one after the other."Is this your new business, Sir? It looks quite bustling!" Abigail said, observing the scene with an innocent expression.After the commotion from yesterday, Camron Medicals continued to flourish. Variou
Amidst the bustling crowd, Julie strolled in confidently, flaunting a designer bag and expensive high heels. She was accompanied by two attentive male assistants and surrounded by a dozen bodyguards. It looked as if she was a wealthy heiress."Why is she here?" Dustin pondered. After a period of absence, Julie appeared to have undergone a substantial style upgrade, exuding an aura of affluence but lacking refinement. So, she looked more like a nouveau riche."Do you know her, Sir?" inquired Abigail, her curiosity piqued."An old acquaintance, but we're not on good terms," responded Dustin."No wonder ... seeing her face, I already feel uneasy," muttered Abigail, her displeasure evident."People of Camron Medicals, listen up! Get your boss out here; I want to discuss a major deal with her!" Julie declared as she removed her sunglasses, her voice echoing loudly."Hey! Who do you think you are? Don't you understand the concept of first come, first served?" a man in a suit compla
"It's really Sir Mosey's badge! Looks like her status isn't simple!" someone exclaimed."I heard Sir Mosey took in a god-daughter recently. Could it be her?" another speculated.After the gold badge was revealed, the crowd was buzzing with discussion. Ordinary members of the Mosey family didn't have the privilege of receiving such a badge. It was reserved for those highly favored by Seamus. This elevated the woman's status even higher."Ms. Mosey, I apologize! I was wrong!" the man in the suit realized his mistake and immediately knelt, panic-stricken. "I was blind and spoke out of turn. Please forgive my rudeness, Ms. Mosey!""Humph! Now you're scared? Why didn't you act this way earlier?" Julie raised her head high, reveling in the deferential gazes. What was a scion of a prestigious family compared to her? They still had to bow down before her. This was real power!"Ms. Mosey, I know I was wrong! I won't dare behave so arrogant anymore. I have a family to support. Please, h
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
If Warrick had been at his peak, Axel might have been more cautious. But with Tranqurin coursing through his vein, Warrick had barely a fraction of his usual strength left. His power was still fading, and Axel wasn't about to waste the opportunity. He had to capture Warrick while he had the chance."Get the hell out of my way!"As the enforcers closed in, Warrick let out a furious roar and slammed his massive fist into the floor.With a loud explosion, the earth shook violently. The ground within dozens of yards cracked and caved in, splitting apart like a spiderweb. A powerful shockwave tore through the air, sending dirt flying and walls shattering. The entire meeting room collapsed into ruins.The elite enforcers, caught in the blast, were flung backward like ragdolls. They crashed to the ground, disoriented and battered. Even Axel was thrown back more than ten yards.Warrick panted heavily, his face pale and drenched in sweat. Forcing his internal energy into action had only
Austin's words were strong and commanding, each one landing like a thunderclap.Warrick felt the weight of his presence. His brow furrowed for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. He glanced at the so-called evidence on the floor, showing no sign of panic or guilt. Instead, he said indifferently, "Your Highness, these dead men were nothing more than ants. Is this really worth making such a fuss over? I doubt you haven't killed anyone before."As the old saying went, the higher one climbed, the heavier one's purse. Warrick had clawed his way up, risking his life at every step for the sake of rising above the masses. Everyone had their own desires—some sought fame, others fortune. Some were greedy for money, some for power, and others reveled in the adoration of the masses. To achieve those things, one inevitably had to engage in shady dealings. It was an unspoken rule among officials, and Warrick saw nothing wrong with it."Ants?" Austin sneered. "Without these 'ant
The ashen-faced Huxley was dragged away. With his crimes exposed, his fate was sealed. His entire family would be implicated, and their assets would be seized.Those guilty would be punished, and even those who had merely benefited from his corruption would be held accountable. To put it bluntly, Huxley's entire family was about to be annihilated.Austin issued his next order once the bloodstains were cleaned up. "Axel, it's time to bring in the mastermind."With Huxley dealt with, the next step was to confront Warrick. Unlike Huxley, Warrick wouldn't be easy to deal with. After all, he commanded a large number of troops. If backed into a corner, he could become a major threat."Understood!" Axel responded respectfully, then turned to his subordinates. "Gather more men and come with me."Warrick had earned his prestigious position through years of fierce battles. On the battlefield, he was a one-man army, a warrior capable of taking on thousands. His strength was beyond what mos