In the morning, at the airport. Edwin and Tina waited in front of a Rolls-Royce Phantom. "Dad, we've already been waiting for two hours. Why isn't Joshua here yet?" Tina glanced around, looking anxious."It's normal for flights to be delayed. Let's wait it out a little longer." Edwin looked calm. Last night, he'd suddenly received a call from Joshua, saying he'd completed his refinement, which meant he was now the Hummer family's trump card. As they spoke, a young couple exited the airport. The man was handsome and dignified, giving off an air reminiscent of a sharp blade, making one unable to look him in the eye. The woman beside him was dressed in red and equally outstanding. She was beautiful, elegant, and looked powerful. "Dad, he's here!" Tina's eyes lit up with excitement. She'd been eagerly anticipating his return. "Josh, you're finally back!" Edwin approached him with a bright smile. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Dad." Joshua smiled and gestured to the woman beside him.
Divine-level martial artists, on the other hand, could manifest their energy externally and use it to harm or even murder others without anyone realizing it. Low-level martial artists weren't even in the same league as them. Even in Millsburg, where powerful martial artists converged, divine-level martial artists were existences to fear. It was no wonder Joshua had won the Grant family's favor—how could he not when he possessed such talent and potential? Which family wouldn't want to have something to do with him? "Dad, are divine-level martial artists truly that powerful? How will Joshua fare against Dustin?" Tina asked curiously. "Joshua can destroy that brat with a snap of his fingers!" Edwin said proudly. "That's great! Joshua, you have to teach him a good lesson on my behalf!" Tina said excitedly. "There's no hurry to deal with Dustin—he's a weakling that can be slaughtered at any time. What's more important now is that we have to give Joshua and Jade a proper welcome."
"What, are you gonna resort to physical violence?" A cold smile curved Dustin's lips at the sight of the security guards surrounding him. He'd always been the type who was open to persuasion, not coercion. Perhaps he would've given in to them if they'd talked to him nicely, but if they wanted to opt for physical violence … well, he didn't mind teaching them a lesson or two. "So what if I am? Don't think too highly of yourself, you brat!" Quentin snarled. He'd always harbored a grudge against Dustin for humiliating him at their first meeting. If not for Natasha keeping him in check, he would've exacted revenge on Dustin ages ago. Now that Natasha wasn't around, it was his chance to get payback! "Quentin, don't take things too far!" Ruth couldn't stand it anymore. "It's up to Dustin whether he wants to sell the shares. If you dare do anything to harm him, I won't let you off the hook!" "Ruth, this has nothing to do with you. Keep your nose out of this!" Quentin didn't back down.
Nobody expected Dustin to suddenly get physical and attack someone from the Boulderthorn Guild. Had he lost his mind? "Dustin, are you out of your mind? How dare you attack Mr. Williams' son! Do you have a death wish?" Jessica glared at him with a mixture of shock and fury. Attacking Brody was equivalent to issuing a challenge to the Boulderthorn Guild. "You may have a fucking death wish, but the rest of us don't! Mr. Williams isn't someone you can afford to offend!" Quentin bellowed. Though he wanted nothing more than for Dustin to get in trouble, that didn't mean he wanted to perish with him. "Dustin, you've really done it now!" Even Ruth looked panicked. The Boulderthorn Guild was much too powerful; even the Harmon family wouldn't survive a retaliation from them. "He's nothing but a piece of trash. What does it matter if I've attacked him?" Dustin said coolly. "You—you're so thickheaded!" Jessica glared daggers at him. At this moment, Brody had finally managed to free hi
Buying 50% of the shares with 50 million dollars was like robbing. It was that they didn't want to displease Boulderthorn. Therefore, relatively speaking, they could only sacrifice Dustin. With that, they didn't really need to pay the price and could also take the opportunity to be on friendly terms with Boulderthorn. However, they didn't expect that Dustin would be so unyielding. Not only did he refuse to hand over the shares, but he also attacked Brody. Plus, Natasha also happened to be strongly supporting what he had just done after she hurried back. Everything was such a mess that they couldn't resolve the situation. "Natasha Harmon! Break his arms and legs right now! This is an order! If not, we won't have mercy on the Harmon family!" Brody stood up and staggered to his feet with a sullen look. "Mr. Williams, I'm sorry, but I can't do it," Natasha spoke calmly, "Boulderthorn is indeed powerful, but the Harmon family isn't weak either. Nobody is able to harm the family easi
The conference room was in an uproar after the hawk-nose elder came in. Everyone looked at him with a sense of respect after knowing he was the King of Kicks, whether they knew him or not. After all, he was the expert who was ranked ninth in The Hundred Immortals. Not anyone would have the chance to meet him, even once in a lifetime. "You actually invited the King of Kicks?" Jessica was surprised. She didn't expect Natasha to bring a master from The Hundred Immortals back after returning from Millsburg. It was known that the King of Kicks was an arrogant man. It wasn't easy to invite him. Natasha probably made much effort to get him to agree to come to Swinton. "There were lots of people eyeing Immortunal these days. Of course, I had to take precautions as soon as possible. This is also our chance to lure the tiger out of the mountains," Natasha said impassively. She had always been keeping an eye on what Boulderthorn was up to. That was why she had made preparations earlier.
The King of Kicks made Mr. Wangley spurt out blood without even using half his strength. If he did it with full strength, Mr. Wangley would probably die on the spot. Were experts from the top tenths of The Hundred Immortals so scary? "Brilliant! King of Kicks, you've just blown our minds!" Quentin was surprised at first, then put up a smile and blew the King of Kicks with flattery. He thought that if he could be on good terms with masters like the King of Kicks, he could solve problems easily in the future with his help. "Mr. Wangley, are you okay?" Natasha frowned slightly. One of their allies was hurt before the battle even started. She thought that the King of Kicks had gone too far. "I'm okay." Mr. Wangley wiped off the blood at the corner of his mouth and paid his respects. "King of Kicks, I expected no less from you. I concede defeat from the bottom of my heart." "At least you know your limits." The old man raised his head with a sense of arrogance and defiance. "Alri
Dustin was speechless by the clamoring crowd. "Where did these psychopaths come from?" he thought. They looked like they had just gone insane and were howling and shouting nonstop, like dogs. "Hey, enough!" Ruth, who was sitting beside them, couldn't stand it anymore. "Gosh, there's a beauty here!" Otto's eyes lit up with a burning desire. Her outstanding figure and visuals attracted him. "Hey beautiful, you should break up with such a coward. He'll probably be busy saving his own life when you're in danger," Otto taunted. "Exactly! You should find a boyfriend like Otto. Look at his muscles. It'll make you feel secure!" the crowd jeered. "He's so tanned and ugly. Why would a woman like a man like him?" Ruth snorted with a contemptuous look. "Hey, what nonsense are you talking, you little bitch! Watch your mouth!" "Damn it! I'll probably beat you up if you are not a woman!" The crowd grew angry after listening to what she had said. "Enough. Don't bother her. She's ju
The ashen-faced Huxley was dragged away. With his crimes exposed, his fate was sealed. His entire family would be implicated, and their assets would be seized.Those guilty would be punished, and even those who had merely benefited from his corruption would be held accountable. To put it bluntly, Huxley's entire family was about to be annihilated.Austin issued his next order once the bloodstains were cleaned up. "Axel, it's time to bring in the mastermind."With Huxley dealt with, the next step was to confront Warrick. Unlike Huxley, Warrick wouldn't be easy to deal with. After all, he commanded a large number of troops. If backed into a corner, he could become a major threat."Understood!" Axel responded respectfully, then turned to his subordinates. "Gather more men and come with me."Warrick had earned his prestigious position through years of fierce battles. On the battlefield, he was a one-man army, a warrior capable of taking on thousands. His strength was beyond what mos
"You bastard! With all this evidence in front of you, what do you have to say for yourself?" Austin barked."Your Highness, please let me explain…" Huxley broke out in a cold sweat, his voice trembling with panic."This is a lie. Someone's trying to frame me! I've always followed the law—how could I possibly be involved in something so vile?""The evidence is right in front of you, and you're still trying to weasel out of it?" Austin shot back. "Looks like you won't confess until death is knocking at your door."He raised his hand and ordered, "Guards, throw him into Grimhold Keep. Use whatever means necessary—let's see how long he keeps up this act.""Yes, Your Highness."A squad of enforcement team members rushed in and surrounded Huxley.Cornered, Huxley finally lost his nerve. He dropped to his knees with a thud and begged, "Your Highness, I admit I made a grave mistake."His voice cracked as he continued, "I wasn't thinking clearly at the time. Please, for the sake of my y
Night had fallen. Austin sat in the meeting room, quietly reading a book as he waited for the results of the investigation.After successfully turning Percival against his allies, it was only a matter of time before they uncovered solid evidence of Warrick and Huxley's crimes.For years, the castle had turned a blind eye to their shady dealings. After all, corruption among officials was nothing new.But this time was different. The two had secretly orchestrated Jovian's murder, a direct challenge to the authority and dignity of the royal family. Such defiance couldn't be ignored. If Austin didn't set an example, others would surely follow."Your Highness!"Axel burst into the meeting room, panting heavily. He had clearly run the whole way to avoid any delay.Austin set his book aside and asked calmly, "Well? How did it go?""Your Highness, we've completely shut down all of Warrick and Huxley's illicit operations. Every hidden network they had built over the years has also been d
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