As night fell, Dustin finally returned to the villa in the southern city of Oakvale. As for Scarlet, Adam, Abigail, and the others, they had gone back to prepare for the upcoming unrest. So much had happened during his trip to Quandary Mountain. Although he had learned the truth and eradicated the Dragon Guard, Seth's death left him in deep sorrow.He was exhausted, both physically and mentally. He longed for a good night's sleep, free from thoughts and responsibilities. He wanted to just drift into sleep and wake up naturally. Perhaps tomorrow would be better.Their car came to a stop at the entrance of the villa, and Dustin got off wearily. He had just opened the door when he spotted a woman sitting in the living room. She was dressed in white, wearing a veil that covered her face. The woman had a graceful figure and emitted a unique fragrance. Although her features were not visible, she gave off a gentle, outstanding allure. "Grace?" Dustin recognized the woman seated o
"Someone important? Who?" Dustin asked. "The King." Grace dropped a bombshell. "Huh?" Dustin frowned slightly, feeling puzzled. Wasn't the King ill and bedridden? Why would he want to meet him? Dustin wondered if it concerned the Dragon Guard or perhaps the vital force. Would this journey be dangerous? Would there be an ambush waiting for him in Aylka?"You can stop the blind guessing," Grace said calmly, seemingly seeing through his concerns."If the King wanted to harm you, he wouldn't have sent me here to invite you. He would have just sent the elite fighters from the palace or even the Imperial Guards. Given your current condition, would you even be able to fight them off?" Dustin breathed a silent sigh of relief after hearing her. Admittedly, Grace had made a valid point. If the King truly intended to harm him, he wouldn't have sent just one woman. Considering the current circumstances, only a fool would aggravate the problem. After all, with the Dragon Guard elim
Late at night, an elderly man with gray hair and a stooped figure was reviewing official documents inside Galene Palace in Aylka. He appeared pale and listless. Occasionally, he would erupt into violent coughing fits. After his coughing fits, his white handkerchief would even reveal faint bloodstains. The elderly man was none other than the reigning King, Valon Linsor."Your Majesty, you haven't fully recovered from your illness. It would be wise to rest and prioritize your well-being!" an official attending to him urged. The King had fallen ill precisely because of overexertion, resulting in excessive fatigue. Despite having only a few days of rest and a slight recovery, he resumed the arduous task of reviewing official documents and handling various matters with unwavering dedication. How could his body possibly withstand such demands? "No worries. I'll be done in a little while." Valon took a sip of tea from his cup before immersing himself back in work.Ever since the
Valon looked like a completely different person compared to ten years ago. A decade ago, Valon exuded charisma and a vibrant spirit, commanding dignity befitting a ruler. However, the Valon today appeared frail and listless, looking like an elderly person nearing the end of life. This was despite him being only in his fifties. At his age, he was supposed to be in his prime. Why did he appear so aged? "When did you get so good at talking, kid?" Valon chuckled. "Well, this might be for the better. You've lost a little bit of edge and appear calmer. Seems like you've grown mature."Dustin lowered his head slightly, remaining silent.Before the tragic incident that occurred all those years ago, both families had shared a close relationship. Dustin's father and Valon even considered themselves brothers. They were able to talk about everything. However, all of that had changed. Even though the Dragon Guard were the ones who plotted the assassination, it did not rule out the poss
"Thank you for the reminder, Your Majesty. I've already made preparations. Even if the Dragon Guard does not come looking for me, I will seek them out," Dustin said. "In short, I will not give up until the Dragon Guard is totally destroyed!""Your determination is commendable. I will support you fully and provide you with all the resources you may require," Valon said seriously. "Thank you, Your Majesty." Dustin didn't refuse his offer, only nodding in acknowledgment.Regardless of the past, at least for now, both of them shared a common enemy and could work together temporarily. They would go their separate ways after everything was settled. "Logan, I know you still have many questions. Just ask away, I will answer everything that I know of tonight," Valon said."I do have a question that I'd like to ask, Your Majesty."Dustin appeared to have remembered something and asked, "Would you happen to know where Reston Rever is?" Although the Dragon Guard was destroyed, he still
"It's good that he's alive! That way I can personally seek revenge and eliminate Reston and the rest of the Dragon Guard members once and for all!" Dustin said with fierce determination."This matter requires careful planning. You should not rush into it. Reston is a cunning man. It's easy to fall into his trap if you act recklessly," Valon said solemnly.Upon hearing him, Dustin took a deep breath and suppressed the anger within him. He understood all too well that anger wouldn't resolve any issues.It was going to be a challenge to deal with someone as cunning as Reston who hid in the shadows. "Logan, I'll constantly keep an eye on any updates about Reston and the Dragon Guard. I'll let you know of any news immediately," Valon promised. "Thank you, Your Majesty," Dustin expressed his gratitude with a respectful bow. Valon had endured a decade of hardships and must have accumulated a massive influence during that time. Now, with the Dragon Guard's downfall, he was finally Dra
Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Dustin replied, "Your Majesty, I haven't had the chance to interact with the princes. Thus, I lack the familiarity needed for a fair evaluation. Please, forgive me." "It's alright if you're not familiar with them. Let me provide you with more insights," Valon said. He wasn't one to back down and continued, "My eldest son possesses a calm temperament and grew up learning the ways of governance next to me. "While he may not be able to expand our territory, he is more than capable of safeguarding what we have now. "Unfortunately, his frail health and persistent illnesses make him unsuited as a ruler." By the end of it, Valon let out a sigh. His eldest son would be considered a wise ruler, but unfortunately, he didn't have a King's destiny. A prophecy had predicted that his eldest son wouldn't live past 36. If he passed the throne to him, he would probably meet his end within a few years of the taxing work. "If the eldest Prince isn't
When Dustin thought about it carefully, he could guess Valon's intentions. With the Dragon Guard eliminated, the royal family would gain true control of the nation. However, due to the Dragon Guard's influence over the years, the royal family found itself in a precarious position and needed substantial support. It was clear that Valon had considered the West Lucozian monarchy the best choice to provide this support. On one hand, the West Lucozian monarchy boasted formidable military strength and wielded influence in the court. On the other hand, since they considered the Dragon Guard their sworn enemy, collaborating with them seemed like the logical move. As long as the royal family had the backing of the West Lucozian monarchy, their position would be fortified. This was the reason Valon had sought out an audience with Dustin. Although it sounded absurd for Dustin to decide the next in line for the throne, it underscored Valon's sincerity. He was indeed a strategist with a
"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