"What more is there to discuss? Back off! Everyone, just back off!" Brian's voice boomed as he motioned for everyone to retreat.He decided not to return to the Celestial Alliance and confess his wrongdoing. His sole recourse now was to keep Alicia captive and seek sanctuary at the Hall of Gods."Brian, there's no escaping this. Release Alicia and I assure you, I'll find a solution." Fenley's expression grew solemn.He was confident that he could swiftly defeat Brian in a direct confrontation. However, with Alicia held captive, Fenley hesitated and was reluctant to take the risk. If anything were to happen to Alicia, he'd be the one to blame."Brian, it's not too late to repent. Stop making one mistake after another," Alicia pleaded, her voice strained with anguish. "If you stop now and confess willingly, I can plead with my dad to be lenient in his judgment.""Mistakes? Where have I gone wrong?" Brian snarled. "Survival of the fittest is the rule of nature. Everything I've undert
Just as Alicia was about to be struck down by Brian's deadly palm strike, a silver needle suddenly hit his wrist with precision.The force of the impact caused him to stagger backward several steps. Then, a wave of excruciating pain surged through his arm. His body trembled uncontrollably and left him momentarily incapacitated."Crap!" Brian cursed. He quickly yanked the silver needle out from his wrist, which eased his pain slightly."Alicia, run!" Aurora shouted.Freed from his grasp, Alicia snapped out of her daze and bolted at full speed."Where do you think you're going?" Brian, now recovered from the pain, refused to give up.With a sudden burst of speed, he transformed into a blur and lunged toward her. Even if he was going to die, he was determined to take her down with him."Bastard! How dare you!" Fenley's eyes widened in fury upon seeing that. He immediately propelled himself into the air, then delivered a palm strike toward Brian from above.The air erupted with a t
Brian was dead. The enforcement team stood indifferent to the scene before them and showed no sympathy for his fate. His headless body slumped to the ground, and blood started to pool around it.Brian was the elite disciple of the Celestia Alliance. But his fate was sealed when he colluded with the Hall of Gods and betrayed the guild. He had even tried to harm Alicia.Given his accumulated crimes, his death was inevitable. Even if Fenley hadn't killed him, the guild would have punished him."Brian got what was coming to him." Aurora grimaced as she looked at his lifeless body and spat on the ground.She had regarded him as a brother and a decent person. Yet, she never anticipated he would turn out to be such a hypocrite and involved in all sorts of misconduct for his own gain.He had even colluded with the Hall of Gods and betrayed the Celestial Alliance. When confronted, he showed no remorse and even tried to hold Alicia hostage.Aurora believed someone like him deserved to di
"Aurora, bring me the Novem Bloomadol," Alicia said with a knowing glance.Aurora couldn't resist asking, "If you give it to Dr. Rhys, how will you cultivate later?"While others might not know its value, she knew the rarity of the Novem Bloomadol. It was a precious treasure that martial artists could only dream of obtaining to break through to the grandmaster level. Aurora never expected Alicia to part with it willingly."I don't have any use for it anyway. I'm sure Dr. Rhys would put it to good use." Alicia smiled faintly.The higher one's martial aptitude, the better the effects of the Novem Bloomadol. With Dustin's exceptional talent and cultivation, she knew he would gain far more from it than her."Don't just stand there. Go get it," Alicia urged.Despite her reluctance, Aurora knew that the pill belonged to her sister. She couldn't decide for Alicia, so she simply nodded. Shortly afterward, she returned with an exquisite sandalwood box."Alicia, are you sure about givin
Besides the battle ring matches, Abigail's gambling business was thriving. She had set up two temporary betting rings to attract more patrons.One accepted cash, and the other VIP betting ring only accepted rare treasures and valuables. These betting rings catered to different gamblers and ensured everyone's preferences were accommodated.The spectators became Abigail's prime targets. Her strategy remained unchanged. First, lures the gamblers with small wins. When they grew complacent, Abigail would reclaim everything in one decisive move. Her tactic proved to be effective.Over the past few days, she had amassed a fortune and emerged as the biggest winner.Although some savvy individuals knew her schemes, they refrained from exposing her due to her stature. So, they simply turned a blind eye.Gamblers would still cling to their hopes even if her schemes were revealed. When they saw others hit the jackpot, this only fueled their urge to try their luck. They were convinced that the
Alicia, who rarely ventured outside, had only heard about betting rings without ever stepping into one. Seeing one today at the tournament was a new experience. With her curious nature, she couldn't resist diving into the excitement."She still can't change her reckless personality." Fenley shook his head in exasperation and followed closely behind.Since the incident involving Brian, Fenley had become the personal bodyguard for the Marshall sisters. He was constantly vigilant about their safety now.Abigail, the Grand Sorceress of the Mystic Arts Order, actively promoted her business and shouted enthusiastically, "Come on, everyone! Place your bets and pick your favorites!"No risk of getting ripped off here—bet as much as you want, win or lose fair and square! Our reputation speaks for itself!"She oversaw the VIP section where rare treasures could be exchanged for celestial stones used in gambling.They started by appraising the treasures bettors brought and exchanging them fo
"Dr. Rhys, don't worry. Even if Number 12 loses, no one's going to blame you," Alicia said with a reassuring smile."Yeah, we're just here for the fun of it. Winning or losing doesn't really matter," Aurora chimed in."That's a relief." Dustin nodded.Gambling could remain harmless if one didn't become too engrossed in it. However, once addicted, it was easy to lose one's rationality. Therefore, it was wise to clarify matters beforehand to prevent unnecessary complications."Fenley, do you want to join us?" Alicia suddenly turned to Fenley beside her."No thanks. You guys go ahead. I'm not into it." Fenley smiled and shook his head. He was passionate about martial arts. Aside from training and fighting, nothing else piqued his interest."What about you, Dr. Rhys?" Alicia asked Dustin."I'll just watch the match," he declined politely. He knew that Abigail's role as the dealer could manipulate the outcome. Plus, those who placed their bets would eventually lose everything."Come
Atlas' attack came with fierce momentum as he swung his axes with enough force to shatter stone. Miles focused intently and chose to advance rather than retreat. He deftly ducked under Atlas' swinging axes, his hair barely missing their deadly arc.As Atlas' axes missed their mark, Miles' sword was already in motion.A sharp clang echoed through the air. While taking advantage of his momentum, Miles' sword sliced fiercely across Atlas' chest and abdomen as he skimmed past him.The blow shredded Atlas' attire and exposed the padded armor beneath, marked with a faint white streak."Hmm?" Miles frowned. His sword strike had been cunningly angled, executed swiftly and accurately. He had anticipated it would incapacitate Atlas immediately. But to his surprise, Atlas' padded armor absorbed the critical blow."Kid, I hate to admit you've got skills," Atlas remarked. He looked down at his torn clothes with a serious expression.He added, "If I hadn't been prepared, you might have had
At that moment, Percival truly panicked. Earlier, he had only worried about being implicated. But now, faced with such a serious accusation, he was completely caught off guard."Hmph! The evidence is irrefutable, and you still dare deny it? Do you want me to torture the truth out of you?" Austin barked."Your Highness, I'm innocent!" Percival was so terrified he was on the verge of tears. He raised his hand and swore, "If I had anything to do with Jovian's death, may I be damned for eternity.""If swearing oaths proved innocence, we wouldn't need an enforcement team," Austin said coldly. "Out of respect for your years of service to West Lucozia, I'll give you a chance to come clean and receive a lighter sentence. Tell the truth now, or I'll throw you into Grimhold Keep."At the mention of Grimhold Keep, Percival began to shake uncontrollably. Tears and snot ran down his face as he wailed, "Your Highness, I swear I didn't do anything. Who's the bastard making up these accusations?
Ten minutes later, Warrick was escorted out of Room A1 again.Axel's demeanor had completely changed since their first meeting, and he had become unusually warm."Sir Prescott, Lord Austin has concluded the investigation. It turns out this matter has nothing to do with you. We made a mistake earlier, and I apologize for any offense caused." He smiled apologetically and spoke with a humble tone."Hm?" Seeing the fawning expression on Axel's face, Warrick raised an eyebrow and looked surprised. Just moments ago, the two sides had been at each other's throats. What had caused such a sudden change?"Did you really investigate it thoroughly?" Warrick asked tentatively."Of course! According to our findings, Jovian's disappearance was the result of a personal vendetta from his enemies in Oakvale," Axel said with a straight face.He continued, "He was a tyrant and always stirring up trouble everywhere he went. He got what was coming to him. Lord Austin only launched the investigation
"After you, Sir Prescott." With one hand resting on the hilt of his sword, Axel's other hand gestured toward the door."Hmph!" Warrick shot a cold glance at Axel's subtle movement and then turned to leave the meeting room.Even if Austin had his suspicions, Warrick knew he couldn't do anything to him without concrete evidence.Axel escorted Warrick back to Room A1. After closing the door, he went to Room A2 and led Huxley to the meeting room."Your Highness, it is my privilege to stand before you." Huxley entered the meeting room with a respectful salute."Mr. Thatcher, please take a seat." Austin's face remained neutral as he gestured for Huxley to sit, then motioned for Axel to pour him a cup of tea."Do you know why I've summoned you here today?" Austin spoke calmly, and his words carried the same probing tone as earlier."Is it about Jovian's disappearance?" Huxley asked in return."Oh? It seems you're quick on the uptake." Austin raised an eyebrow. "In that case, g
The enforcement team worked with remarkable efficiency. Within an hour, Huxley, Warrick, and Percival had been brought back to the castle.Per Austin's instructions, Axel made sure the three met briefly upon arrival, though they were given no opportunity to speak to one another. Afterward, they were taken to separate rooms and were guarded individually.Due to their status, the enforcement team treated them with respect, offering them tea and wine. However, they weren't allowed to leave their rooms and had to wait for Austin to summon them.Warrick was confined to Room A1, Huxley to Room A2, and Percival to Room A3. Their rooms were right next to each other, separated only by thin walls. If they stepped out, they would see one another, but none of them knew how close they were.This, of course, was all part of Austin's plan. He knew that extracting the truth from these three cunning foxes would require unconventional tactics.…Inside Room A1, Warrick sat calmly, sipping his te
"Hm?"Even Warrick frowned at the news.The royal enforcement team was rarely mobilized. When they did, it was always for something monumental. The question was, did a minor figure like Jovian Ballard really warrant such attention from Austin?"Mr. Thatcher, are you sure the royal enforcement team has been mobilized? And it's because of Jovian?" Warrick asked skeptically."Of course I'm sure," Huxley replied with a grave expression. "I've just received orders from above. The enforcement team captain will be taking over my duties temporarily. From now on, they'll have full control over the city's defense and investigative operations.""That's strange. Why would Lord Austin go to such lengths for someone so insignificant?" Warrick was confused, his brow furrowing.According to his intel, this was the first time Jovian and Austin had even met. Even if they had crossed paths before, it shouldn't have been enough to justify deploying the enforcement team.It seemed Warrick had undere
The next morning, after breakfast at the West Lucozian castle, Austin tried calling Jovian. However, his calls went unanswered. After several attempts, he still couldn't get through."Huh?" Austin was puzzled. They had made plans the previous day to head to Oakvale that day. Why was Jovian suddenly unreachable? Had he stood Austin up?After thinking it over, he found that unlikely. He and Jovian had gotten along well and even called each other brothers. On top of that, they had promised to travel together and watch out for one another.If Jovian had an urgent matter that required him to leave West Lucozia, he would have at least given Austin a heads-up. Jovian wouldn't just disappear without a word."Could something have happened to him?" Austin's unease grew. He quickly summoned his trusted aide. "Go find out where Jovian is. Report back to me as soon as you have any information.""Yes, Your Highness," the aide replied before hurrying off.Austin poured himself a cup of tea
A dull sound echoed through the air.Jovian's body shuddered. Blood streamed from his eyes, ears, and nose as he crumpled to the ground, lifeless. He was dead. After fighting to his last breath, he had chosen the only honorable way out.The scene had left even the assassins, who were no strangers to bloodshed, momentarily stunned. Taking one's own life so decisively wasn't something just anyone could do. Even the lowest of creatures had the instinct to cling to life, let alone a human being."This guy… He's ruthless," Ronan muttered, and his face darkened.Warrick had given strict orders to capture Jovian alive, but now he was dead. Now, Ronan had no way to deliver. If he had known it would come to this, he would have personally intervened to kill Jovian first."What now, boss?" one of the assassins asked."Clean up the scene," Ronan ordered. "I'll take the body back myself." With that, he hoisted Jovian's body onto his shoulder, tossed it into the vehicle, and drove off.…W
The sounds of battle echoed under the streetlights. Shouts of pain mixed with the clash of weapons could be heard. Five figures were locked in a deadly struggle, and blood splattered across the ground.The fight raged for nearly half an hour until the noise gradually subsided. The five figures lay motionless in pools of blood.Under the dim glow of the streetlights, three of the black-clad assassins were confirmed dead. One's neck was snapped, another's chest pierced, and the last had bled out from a fatal wound.Jovian and Boston were in no better condition.Boston was soaked in blood. His body was riddled with deep cuts, some so severe they exposed the bone beneath.Jovian wasn't much better. His abdomen and shoulder were slashed. His right arm had been severed, and he was left in a pitiful state.Boston coughed. After taking down the last assassin, he collapsed to the ground. He gasped for air as blood poured from his mouth. His chest and abdomen were torn open, and his orga
"Jovian, listen to me. West Lucozia's trouble runs deep. You won't be able to handle it. You need to get out of there," Boston urged.When Jovian remained silent, Boston couldn't hide his growing concern. After all, they were comrades, and he didn't want to see his friend die on the street."You're right. I'm not afraid if they come at me head-on. What worries me is if they come at me from behind."After hesitating for a moment, Jovian nodded. "Alright, Boston. Take me back to the hotel. I'll pack my things.""Now that's more like it." Boston sighed in relief. "As they say, there's always a chance as long as you're alive. The most important thing is to stay safe.""Thanks, man. I'll buy you a drink next time." Jovian smiled.Without Boston's constant advice, Jovian might have taken a chance. But if things went south, he'd regret it too late.Back at the hotel, Jovian wasted no time. He packed quickly, then hopped into Boston's car to head to the airport. With the burden lifted,