After Dustin returned to the castle, he avoided alerting anyone and wrote two letters instead. He left one letter in Rufus' study and the other in Austin's bedroom. Dustin considered it his unspoken farewell. He wasn't great at expressing sentimentalities, and at times, leaving in silence was the better choice.As dusk settled, Dustin headed straight for the southwestern desert, riding in Grace's car. The largest desert was known as the Deadlands. It had earned its name due to its harsh and dangerous environment. Survival seemed nearly impossible for those who mistakenly ventured within. In spite of its dangers, the Deadlands were home to a wealth of hidden treasures, including gold mines. Hence, there were frequent expeditions from teams that risked their lives to tempt fate. If lucky, one might stumble upon valuable treasures and become wealthy overnight. However, if luck was not on their side, the consequences could be fatal.It wasn't a stretch to claim that more than a h
Their vehicle cruised steadily, maintaining a consistent speed. Eventually, by noon the next day, they reached the outskirts of the Deadlands.There was a large village with around five to six hundred households on the outskirts. The village boasted amenities like an inn, a gas station, a supermarket, and the like. Though not sprawling, it had the essentials.It also served as a supply station for the exploration teams and a lifeline in critical moments. Whether it was entering or exiting the desert, people would stop there to rest and gather information.It was worth mentioning that, given the challenges in transporting goods, the prices within the village were several times higher than in the city. Upon entering the village, Grace's convoy finally came to a halt in front of a rural inn named House of Hope. The inn had once been a primary school, with enough rooms to accommodate over a hundred people."Ms. Linsor, we've arrived." After the convoy stopped, a man appearing to be a
Dustin was taken aback and slightly puzzled at Garrett's sudden hostility. Considering that it was their first meeting, Dustin couldn't fathom the reason for his animosity. Why did the guy before him have such a lofty attitude?"Captain Wilder, have we met before?" Dustin slowly lowered his hand that had been left hanging. "No," Garrett said with an icy expression."Since we've never met, what makes you say that?" Dustin countered. "I'm just concerned about Ms. Linsor."Garrett asserted with a self-righteous tone, "The Deadlands is extremely dangerous, and those who enter face almost certain death. "Without considerable strength, professional knowledge, and extensive experience, ordinary people wouldn't last a day inside. "Ms. Linsor has paid a considerable sum to bring me here, and it's my responsibility to ensure her safety. "Judging by your physique and behavior, it's evident that you're not a professional bodyguard. So, I have serious doubts about your abilities."I
"I've never been through anything quite like this before. It feels different this time," Garrett admitted, taking the teasing in stride. After having been through life-and-death situations together, there was nothing they couldn't talk about."Ms. Linsor is truly unique. Although I haven't seen her in person, the vibe she gives off suggests she's an extraordinary beauty," the bald, burly man said excitedly."Dozer, Captain has his eye on Ms. Linsor. Don't even think about going down any inappropriate rabbit holes, okay?" the short-haired girl cautioned."Oh, come on, I was just throwing it out there casually. I wouldn't dream of competing with the captain for a woman." Dozer chuckled sheepishly.She gave Garrett confidence and said, "Captain, finding someone who really gets to you doesn't happen daily. Don't overthink it, and just go for it. Your charm is bound to do the trick!" "I'm afraid it could be too late." Garrett sighed, shaking his head. He added, "Ms. Linsor has her o
In the inn, Dustin changed into clean clothes and sneezed. "I wonder who's talking about me," he mumbled, rubbing his nose.Then, he left the room and headed to the dining hall. The dining area, originally a school cafeteria, was quite spacious. It covered around 600 to 700 square feet and easily fit over a hundred people."Over here."Grace waved at him as he walked in. He made his way over, noticing a table adorned with more than a dozen mouth-watering dishes."Our chef whipped up these dishes, so feel free to dig. They're not just tasty but also safe," she assured."You're playing it safe and all." Dustin chuckled, sliding into a seat before diving into the food without a second thought."It's always a good call to be careful when you're out and about, especially in the outskirts of the Deadlands. You never know what kind of dangers lurk around, and a single misstep could be fatal," Grace explained as she enjoyed her meal.Suddenly, a group of young men and women dressed in g
Dustin and Grace were just watching the scene unfold when, suddenly, the ponytailed girl turned her focus on them. It took them a moment to shake off the surprise."Exactly! Just look at their dishes. Each is a culinary masterpiece. Compare that to what we've got on our table—it's just garbage!""I don't care! Swap our food right now, or we'll cause a scene!" the group shouted. In the middle of their protest, they angrily tossed the food from their table onto the floor, making a mess."I'm afraid our small establishment has a few constraints when it comes to swapping these exquisite dishes," the waiter explained, wearing a regretful and apologetic expression."You can't swap them? Are you suggesting that we can't afford it?" Bran frowned."Damn! Are you seriously discriminating against us? Do you even know who we are?" the ponytailed girl shouted. "We are disciples of the renowned Frostwing Sect. If you piss us off, we might just have to give your inn a bit of a makeover, you kn
After Dustin's taunts, the ponytailed girl grew even more infuriated. "This is ridiculous!" she exclaimed.Despite the obvious difference in their physical abilities, she tapped into her internal energy and advanced with renewed determination. However, her efforts proved futile as her sword became entangled in his grip as if he had a vice-like hold on the blade."You're really overestimating yourself." Dustin chuckled, tightening his fingers around the sword.With a distinct snap, her sword broke, sending her stumbling back a few feet. Upon hitting the ground, she winced in pain, her face contorting with discomfort as a wave of dizziness swept over her."Bran! He bullied me!" Feeling helpless, the ponytailed girl turned swiftly to those nearby for assistance."How dare you lay your hands on my junior? Are you asking for trouble?" Bran snapped. He unsheathed his sword, intending to teach Dustin a lesson."Stop!" A commanding voice echoed at the entrance. The man in red strol
Despite Bran's intense glare, Dustin nonchalantly shrugged it off. He knew he could have easily emerged victorious in their fight without any intervention.After handling a couple of minor disturbances, Aidan resumed his meal. Jackson, accompanied by the disciples of the Embersteel Order, chose to keep a low profile and settled into nearby seats.Grace stood up and approached Jackson's table. "Hello, everyone. Thank you for your timely assistance," she expressed her gratitude.Jackson dismissed it coolly, saying, "Just helping out, no biggie." He added, "I've always had a thing against those who prey on the weaker ones. Our sect consistently stands against injustice.""The Embersteel Order truly lives up to its reputation as a haven for true heroes," Grace remarked admiringly."Why not join us at the table for a few drinks?" she asked, warmly inviting them. "I've got a couple of bottles of premium wine in my collection."At the mention of premium wine, Jackson's eyes widened