Lincon was the first to react. "Quick! Go after the military insignia!" he shouted. Eloise immediately commanded, "Go after it!"Jaxon drew his sword abruptly. He led a squad of Draken Guardians in the direction where Elijah disappeared, racing after him."How could this happen?" Austin was bewildered, standing frozen, unsure of what to do. He hadn't expected Elijah to snatch the military insignia, so he was completely unprepared. By the time he realized it, Elijah had already made a swift escape."Your Highness, Elijah is likely working for Julius," Lincon explained with a grave tone. He added, "His unwavering support for you and helping the castle maintain order was just a ploy to make you drop your guard. When the time was right, he'd seize the military insignia and push us into a corner.""Damn it! I never thought Elijah would be a traitor. How despicable!" Wyatt fumed."No wonder he kept suggesting using the military insignia to control the Black Dragon Army against Jul
"What? Abandon West Lucozia? That's like handing the throne to Julius!" Austin's expression turned grim."As long as we're alive, there's still a chance. We need to stay resilient. There are opportunities, and we must not lose hope," Lincon said with heartfelt sincerity."The throne is stolen, the military insignia is taken, and 50 thousand Black Dragon Army soldiers are all following Julius' orders. In this situation, where do we have a chance?" Tyrus shook his head.If he had known it would come to this, he wouldn't have been so greedy by forming an alliance through marriage with the Rhys family. Now, he didn't gain any advantage and only managed to entangle himself in a difficult situation."I think Sir Blaze is right. We must prepare for the worst in case of unforeseen events." Eloise nodded.Though reluctant to admit it, the current situation was highly unfavorable for them. If the military insignia truly fell into Julius's hands, they would lose any chance of turning the t
It appeared to be a desperate move, a gambit that Austin and the others unwittingly fell into. Julius not only tracked their every movement but also discerned their intentions from the beginning. Unwittingly, they stumbled into Julius's trap, with all their actions unfolding exactly as he had anticipated. Julius's foresight allowed him to set up this intricate trap, enticing them unsuspectingly and maneuvering them into a precarious position. The ultimate goal was to seize the military insignia.Moreover, Austin and the others' actions led the wolf to the door, falling victim to Julius's scheme and resulting in the loss of the military insignia. Admittedly, achieving the esteemed rank of Grand General Rhys in West Lucozia was truly an exceptional accomplishment. However, in the intricate game of strategy, they proved to be inexperienced.Time passed quickly, and dawn arrived. After a night of cleaning, the bodies in front of the castle gates were cleared. However, the bloodst
"What? The Black Dragon Army sealed the city? How did this happen so quickly?" Tyrus's face changed. He nearly jumped out of his seat. They thought they could delay for a few days. But overnight, Julius had already brought his army to their doorstep. The efficiency was terrifyingly fast."Quick! Assemble the troops immediately, prepare to escort Her Highness and His Highness out of the city!" Wyatt shouted."It's too late. The Black Dragon Army has already sealed the city. We can't escape." Eloise shook her head, her expression grim. Despite being mentally prepared, facing this was still hard to accept."We have to try. We can't just sit and wait for our demise." Wyatt urged anxiously."It's futile." She shook her head again. She added, "With the military insignia in Julius's hands, our fate is sealed. Instead of scurrying around like mice, it's better to face it head-on, at least with some dignity.""Your Highness—"Wyatt was about to say more but was interrupted by Eloise.
"Your Highness—"Wyatt, standing behind, was about to speak, but Eloise raised her hand to stop him."Oh? Is that so?" Julius smirked slightly, showing some interest. "Your Highness, are you here to negotiate with me?""That's right." She was straightforward. "As long as you agree to three things, we will all support you as the prince. We will ensure you ascend without a worry in sight.""Your Highness, even without your support, I can still become a prince. So, what qualifications do you have to negotiate terms with me?" He grinned slyly."Grand General Rhys, I believe you are someone who values your reputation. Smoothly ascending to the throne without any opposition, isn't that preferable?" she stated."Fine, I'll give Your Highness some respect and hear what conditions you propose." Julius chuckled. He was in a winning position now. It wouldn't hurt to agree if he could avoid some trouble by agreeing to a few conditions, provided these conditions weren't excessively demandin
"Grand General Rhys, I have only one son. I cannot leave him behind and return to Oakvale alone. I implore you to show mercy!" Eloise bowed deeply.At that crucial moment, she had cast aside all concerns for her pride. The sole focus was on extracting Austin from the raging inferno, a sacrifice she deemed worthwhile even if it meant surrendering her own life."If Your Highness does not wish to return to Oakvale, you can stay here," Julius said indifferently. He went on, "I can find a beautiful place in West Lucozia for both of you to spend the rest of your lives carefree. How about that?""If you become the Prince of West Lucozia, it might not be appropriate for us to stay here. It would be better if you allowed us to return to Oakvale. That way, everyone would be happy," she suggested."There's nothing inappropriate about it. Austin is my nephew," he said with a faint smile.He added, "So, having him assist me in West Lucozia is normal. If he performs well, he might even be r
In West Lucozia, only a few could match Elijah's strength. If Elijah hadn't seized the military insignia last night, Julius wouldn't have been able to advance his forces. Ultimately, the outcome depended on Elijah's choices."Your Highness, the wiser man adapts to circumstances. Grand General Rhys is more suited to be the Prince of West Lucozia than you. Is there a problem with me serving him?" Elijah asked with a faint smile."I thought you were a loyal subject, but you turn out to be a vile person!" Austin accused."The victor becomes the king, and the loser is the enemy. Whether I'm loyal or vile depends on the one who prevails." Elijah shrugged."Even if we lose, I won't let you off easy!" Austin declared. He reached out and effortlessly retrieved the fallen long sword with a swift motion through the air, bringing it back into his hand."You want to continue fighting?" Elijah shook his head, chuckling. "Even if you go all out, it's just a joke to me.""Whether it's a joke o
"Who is this guy? He actually pushed Elijah back. That's impressive!""Having such formidable strength is mind-boggling at such a young age. He'd undoubtedly be a great asset if we could have him on our side!""Don't be so quick to judge. Elijah has yet to show his true strength. The outcome remains uncertain."As the crowd watched the intense confrontation between Dustin and Elijah, they couldn't help but discuss the extraordinary scene. As the top martial artists of West Lucozia, the crowd was familiar with each other's strengths. Hence, they found this mysterious young man intriguing.No one recognized Dustin as if he appeared out of thin air, adding an element of curiosity. Top-notch warriors like him were indeed rare, capable of single-handedly influencing the course of a battle."Austin, where did you find this young expert? I've never seen him before," Eloise asked while supporting her son, looking puzzled."Mom, the time isn't right yet. I can't tell you for now." Austi
After stepping into the castle, Boston felt a knot in his stomach. He had been here before, but only for official matters.He was always escorted by guards or attendants, but this time, Austin himself had led him inside. Boston felt both honored and somewhat overwhelmed. Since when had he earned such treatment?Austin had brushed off higher-ranking officials, so why was he showing him so much attention? Was it because his shiny bald head made him stand out? He had no answers, only a growing curiosity as he followed Austin into the meeting room. "Sit." After Austin sat at the head of the table, he raised his hand and gestured for Boston to do the same."No… no need. I'll just stand." Boston smiled awkwardly."Just sit down. Why are you so nervous? I won't bite," Austin said in a dismissive tone. "Y-Yes, Your Highness." Boston didn't dare refuse again and obediently took a seat. He was six feet three inches tall, yet he looked like a startled rabbit. He sat up straight and didn't
When the castle's gate swung open, every eye turned toward the entrance. Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, Austin strode out with his two guards. His posture exuded confidence and authority."Your Highness!"The gathered officials instantly rushed forward to greet him. Grins spread across their faces as if they couldn't wait to please him. Whether it was Huxley, Percival, or Warrick, all wore the same ingratiating expression.After all, Austin was the infamous hellraiser. Though he had reined himself over the past two years, his past reputation still loomed over them.At least Rufus could be reasoned with. But Austin? He was a wild card—utterly unpredictable, like a ticking time bomb. Every last one of them had suffered his wrath before.Percival approached with a flattering smile. "Your Highness, you finally come out. I have something important to discuss with you. If you'd be so kind as to listen—"Before he could finish his sentence, he was dismissed by Austin, who found h
"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