"Scarlet ... The Scarlet Warrior?!" The assistant general couldn't help but tremble at the sight of Scarlet. Being in the military, he was well aware of Scarlet's reputation as the one and only Goddess of War in Dragonmarsh. Her military prowess and decisive actions on the battlefield were enough to command respect from any man."Quick! Drop your weapons." After a moment of shock, the assistant general swiftly signaled his subordinates to put away their guns. He was aware of Scarlet's notorious temper. After all, pointing guns at her could easily lead to a bloodbath. They might even be accused of rebellion, facing death without a chance to put up a fight."Why is Scarlet here?" Eleanor and Elena exchanged surprised glances. Scarlet was a formidable figure that women in Oakvale knew. Not only was she powerful and noble, but she also wielded significant military influence, earning favor from the royal family.In addition, Scarlet was exceptionally beautiful. She was ranked s
Was Scarlet irritated? What was wrong with her? Even though Elena was frustrated and seething with anger, she dared not utter a word.The assistant general from the Moseys was puzzled. But he was relieved that he kept his mouth shut earlier. Otherwise, he might have gotten a few slaps."Now, listen up. I'm only saying this once." Scarlet's icy gaze swept over everyone. "Dustin is my friend, and the Camron family is our business partner. If any of you start talking nonsense, don't blame me for beating you up!""What? Friends?" The crowd gasped, utterly astonished. Who would've thought Scarlet was here because of Dustin? What kind of connections did he have to get the Goddess of War here?"My Lady, are you serious? You're friends with this loser?" Eleanor couldn't believe it. To her, Dustin was just a doctor with some fighting skills. How could he be friends with the high and mighty Spanner family?"Yes, My Lady! He's just a loser. How could you be friends with him?" Elena
Eleanor and the others left, and the tension within the Camron family finally began to ease. Matteo and the rest observed Scarlet, who maintained an impassive expression, feeling uneasy.While they were grateful for Scarlet's intervention, they couldn't quite fathom why she chose to help. In the eyes of the Camron family, who felt like mere ants compared to the towering giants of the Spanner family, they couldn't fathom why anyone would be concerned about them.Then, Scarlet offered a straightforward explanation. "Don't overthink it. I helped you all because of Dustin.""Dustin?" The Camron family's attention shifted to Dustin, their faces reflecting surprise and suspicion. Initially, Dustin was perceived as having no influence or background, merely a bold martial artist. But now, it seemed there was more to Dustin than they thought. If someone like Scarlet was willing to help him, then perhaps he wasn't as insignificant as they had presumed.In the face of everyone's surpris
Scarlet nodded. "Seamus has plenty of adopted sons and daughters. Losing one or two won't bother him. I'll handle it personally. If they put up a fight, we're not afraid to go to war."She never accepted Anders to be called the God of War. If there were an opportunity, she'd be more than willing to have a showdown to prove who was truly stronger."And those two big-shot families, the Welch and Forrest families, acting all high and mighty. They really need a reality check," Dustin remarked casually."That's easy. Just dig up their family's dark history, expose them, and send them to prison. No need for elaborate plans," she replied.For the Spanner family, it was easy to take down the Welch and Forrest family. There was no need for intricate schemes. A simple command could make them pay for what they had done.This stark difference between the great families and ancient houses showcased the hierarchy. Even though the great families were incredibly wealthy, their riches and status
The sudden, furious outburst left Elena in shock. Holding the phone, she looked bewildered and asked, "Dad, what's happening? Is something wrong back home?"Her father's voice roared from the other end, "You got the nerve to ask? It's all because of the mess you've stirred up!"Just now, the authorities sent in a bunch of troops. They not only locked down all our assets but also arrested most of our key members! "Now, the entire Forrest family is on the edge. If this keeps up, I might even end up behind bars!""What? How could this happen? Our family business is thriving, and we have extensive connections. Who could seize our family assets?" Elena widened her eyes in disbelief. The Forrest family business had been thriving. With the extensive network connections, any issues could usually be resolved easily. It never escalated into such a dire situation."What the heck have you done? Do you have any idea what's going on? Someone is dead set on putting you behind bars. "You t
Eleanor had never imagined that the Welch family would be in such dire straits. With her parents desperately fleeing for their lives and the family teetering on the precipice of bankruptcy, the once-mighty great family had crumbled overnight.This sudden and shocking downfall marked the end of her life of luxury and the days of carefree extravagance."Eleanor, is your family possibly going through a similar ordeal?" Elena cautiously asked."Just like you, authorities raided our home," Eleanor replied, her expression grim, beads of sweat forming on her forehead."My family is in trouble, and your family is being raided, too. Is this really just a coincidence?" Elena furrowed her brow.Overnight, two prominent families were targeted simultaneously. It was clearly a sabotage. But who could wield such immense power? "Looks like someone from the four ancient houses is pulling the strings." Eleanor mused."Are you suggesting ... the Spanner family?" Elena quickly made the connectio
"A chance? How?" Elena perked up instantly. With disaster looming for both their families, who else could save them? "The Spanners may be powerful, but they don't have absolute control. Also, the Moseys are still the most powerful among the four ancient houses."Eleanor said seriously, "Don't forget that Dustin killed Scott. Even if the Spanners back him up, the Moseys won't just let him get away with it. "That is why we can work with the Moseys to turn the tables on Dustin. We won't only protect ourselves that way, but we can also exact revenge. It'll be a win-win situation!""You're right, that's a great idea!" Elena lit up. Why hadn't she thought of it earlier? Despite pressure from the Spanners, there might still be a chance for them with the Moseys' support. "Eleanor, I'll call Dahlia immediately and ask her to find a way to help us through this crisis." Elena picked up her phone and was about to make the call when Eleanor stopped her. "Wait! Calling Dahlia may not h
"Don't worry, I won't die for now. Considering the gravity of the situation, I won't be able to rest well anyway. If I visit while in a wheelchair, I'll also appear more sincere," Elena said. "Alright then, let's pay a visit to Jadeleaf Manor." Eleanor didn't delay and quickly had someone bring a wheelchair over. After helping Elena into it, they got in the car and headed straight for Jadeleaf Manor. … It was late at night. Anders was at Jadeleaf Manor. He was in his study, poring over some documents in his hands with a serious expression.Ever since Dustin created a scene at Jadeleaf Manor earlier in the day, he had mobilized all available resources to investigate him secretly.After several hours of effort, he finally got his hands on some information. It was revealed that Dustin was originally from Swinton and had a prior marriage with Dahlia. Initially, Dustin was just an ordinary individual with a basic knowledge of medicine. However, after his divorce, he transformed
"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