The Nicholsons stared at the three gold-tier assassins before shirting their gazes at the expressionless Dustin with great alarm. No one had anticipated Dustin to be so powerful. If they had not witnessed the scene with their eyes, they would have laughed at the idea of a good-for-nothing person being talented in martial arts."Is there something wrong with my eyes? When did the trash become a hero?" James widened his eyes in disbelief. His impression of Dustin was that he was a kept man who only learned a few useless martial arts tricks that were no match for the top assassins. However, Dustin's performance shattered James' preconception. He was shocked to learn that his ex-brother-in-law was a martial arts expert."Heavens! Is that really Dustin?" Florence was equally astonished. Even though she was clueless about the gold-tier assassins from the Bounty League, she was aware of the capabilities of Tarragon and Cougar. Logically, Dustin beat Hillcrest in terms of expertise, which wo
"Now! Kneel down immediately!" Edwin bellowed at Dustin. Dustin narrowed his eyes. "What if I don't?""No? Then I'll take it out on her!" Edwin grabbed Gloria and pointed the gun at her temple. Knowing that Dustin was powerful, he needed to get himself a human shield."Edwin Hummer! You'd better be careful! That's Madam Gloria from the Nicholson Family!" Dustin's expression sank."Oh, she's your Madam Gloria? Sounds like you care a lot about her, don't you?" Edwin chuckled. "Listen to what I say if you don't want her to die!""Dustin! What are you standing there for? Quick! Kneel!" Dakota urged him frantically. "You punk! Kneel! Do you want me dead?" Gloria's face paled."Madam Gloria, please be patient. I'll save you real soon." Dustin faked an angry expression and challenged Edwin, "Edwin Hummer, just come at me! If you lay a finger on her, I won't let this slip!""Oh, you don't know what it means to be desperate." Enraged, Edwin shot Gloria in one of her knees. She yelped
Dakota grunted as her body trembled and came to a stop, just like her voice that died down. The darkness within the muzzle and Edwin's cruel face started blurring as she lost consciousness. Finally, she collapsed flatly onto the ground with a thud. Everything happened too fast, and she had not expected herself to die in such a manner. "I-is she dead?" Florence and the rest of the people were shaking in fear when they stared at Gloria and Dakota's bodies. It felt so surreal to see the two arrogant ladies killed. Meanwhile, Dustin glanced at the scene without much emotion. Evil defeats evil. Dakota and Gloria had always been impudent bullies who did not reflect on their actions even after being taught a lesson. Not only that, they came to him to seek revenge. Their deaths meant nothing to him, partly because he was never a merciful person to start with. He saw no issue with getting rid of the trouble by pulling some tricks. "Hah! How does that feel? Are you feeling the rage and pai
Two shots were fired, but the bullets came to a halt one inch before Dustin's body. A protective energy sphere crystallized in the air, forming a shield against the bullet. "What?" Edwin's pupils wavered in shock. He was mentally prepared for Dustin's prowess but was greatly taken aback at how Dustin stopped the bullets in the air. "Did you believe that you could hurt me with bullets?" Dustin shook his head. "If I can't hurt you with a gun, I'll die with you!" Suddenly, Edwin pulled out the remote control for the bomb and laughed deliriously. "Dustin Rhys, see you in hell!" With that, he pressed the button on the control. …Meanwhile, Dahlia was on the run with James. They were some distance away from the villa before hearing the two gunshots. They spun around and realized that Dustin had not followed after them. "Dustin?" Losing her composure, Dahlia frantically clambered toward the villa. "Hey! Why are you turning back? Do you want to die?" Florence quickly pulled her
Dustin felt the softness in his arms and the familiar scent tingling his nose. He broke into a smile. He could tell from her uncontrolled crying that she cared greatly about him. "Okay, now. Stop crying. Your tears are wetting this new shirt I bought two days ago." After some hugging, Dustin finally opened his mouth. "What's the big deal? I'll just pay for the shirt." She let go of him and didn't forget to give him a pinch in the waist, sending him grimacing in pain. "And what was that just now? Why didn't you escape sooner?" she confronted him. "He's a ticking time bomb—no pun intended. Of course, I had to subdue him before I left," he answered matter-of-factly. "I know you're great at fighting, but you have to care about your safety. He had bombs strapped on his body. What if he got you killed in an explosion?" she protested. He grinned and replied, "But I'm all well." "It's all because of your dumb luck. You'd better not push your luck the next time!" she warned him. "
"Hmph!" Dahlia refused to talk to him. Before leaving, she made sure to stomp hard on his foot. Thus, the brutal and unfortunate episode came to an end. The authorities arrived soon after the explosion. The fire brigade helped to clear the scene and put out the fire. At the end of the day, the authorities publicly announced the cause of the explosion, blaming it on a gas explosion. …Three days went by in the blink of an eye. During this time, Dahlia and her family returned to the Nicholson family home to keep Henry Nicholson company. The Glenstead Nicholsons, meanwhile, sent a team to investigate Gloria and Dakota's deaths, but after learning that the murderer, Edwin Hummer, had died in a suicide bombing, they had no choice but to close the case. Notably, Regulus Nicholson made the decision to confirm Dahlia's role as the chairman of the Cardinal Group. It was only time before she was officially acting in the chairman's capacity. During the three days, Dustin received surpr
"Hey, how can you be so stubborn?" Dustin's one-track mind made Ruth blow her top. "My sister didn't tell you for your own sake. Otherwise, you'd always be at risk of a fatal disaster!" "Hmph, I've been through rain and fire for years. Is there anything I haven't encountered before? I stand by my words—if you don't say it, I'll go ask myself!" Dustin said resolutely. "You …" Ruth stamped her feet in fury, but she didn't know how to rebut. After a moment, she shook her head helplessly. "It seems like my sister was right; you won't give it a rest. I really don't know if this is a blessing or a curse. Didn't you say you want to go to Millsburg to see my sister? Fine … I can take you there, but you have to listen to me. You can't act rashly! Or else my sister and I will also get dragged down with you. Got it?" "Alright!" Dustin agreed. Right now, he only wanted to see for himself that Natasha was fine. "Tidy up. I'll wait for you in the car," Ruth said, then went straight to the ca
Dustin accepted the cup with both hands and said, "Mr. Robinson, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you for the next few days." "It's no trouble. It's what I should do." Edmund Robinson smiled. "Ms. Harmon saved me before, and my family is hugely grateful for her. Any opportunity to repay Ms. Harmon is my honor." "Really? I didn't know Natasha was so beloved," Dustin said with a chuckle. "Why, of course!" Edmund said, his voice tinged with pride. "I watched Ms. Harmon grow up. No one can say anything about her character—no one in Millsburg can measure up to her!" "I can tell." Dustin nodded, smiling. "Mr. Rhys, look at me. I was all focused on chatting that I almost forgot to do my job. Have you eaten? Please wait a moment while I whip something up," Edmund said, hurrying into the kitchen and getting to work. He looked like a proper househusband. Dustin smiled softly. Sipping at the tea in his hand, he surveyed his surroundings. The villa consisted of two floors, complete
Axel had no time to hesitate. He lunged forward and grabbed the overturned Dragon-Binding Net. Then, he used every ounce of his strength to pin Warrick down again."Get over here! We have to keep him restrained."As the net strained under Warrick's sheer power, Axel let out a roar and pushed his cultivation to the limit. His veins bulged and blood pounded in his ears. He threw every last bit of strength into holding Warrick down.For now, he managed to pin Warrick down, but the elite enforcement unit on the other side wasn't faring well. Warrick thrashed wildly, sending more than a dozen men swinging through the air. Some slammed into trees, while others crashed into walls. Within moments, the Dragon-Binding Net flipped over again.Several elite enforcement units tried to rush in and help, but they barely got close before getting hit by their own airborne comrades and sent flying.Against Warrick's Divine Strength, they were utterly outmatched. The regular guards didn't stand a
If Warrick had been at his peak, Axel might have been more cautious. But with Tranqurin coursing through his vein, Warrick had barely a fraction of his usual strength left. His power was still fading, and Axel wasn't about to waste the opportunity. He had to capture Warrick while he had the chance."Get the hell out of my way!"As the enforcers closed in, Warrick let out a furious roar and slammed his massive fist into the floor.With a loud explosion, the earth shook violently. The ground within dozens of yards cracked and caved in, splitting apart like a spiderweb. A powerful shockwave tore through the air, sending dirt flying and walls shattering. The entire meeting room collapsed into ruins.The elite enforcers, caught in the blast, were flung backward like ragdolls. They crashed to the ground, disoriented and battered. Even Axel was thrown back more than ten yards.Warrick panted heavily, his face pale and drenched in sweat. Forcing his internal energy into action had only
Austin's words were strong and commanding, each one landing like a thunderclap.Warrick felt the weight of his presence. His brow furrowed for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. He glanced at the so-called evidence on the floor, showing no sign of panic or guilt. Instead, he said indifferently, "Your Highness, these dead men were nothing more than ants. Is this really worth making such a fuss over? I doubt you haven't killed anyone before."As the old saying went, the higher one climbed, the heavier one's purse. Warrick had clawed his way up, risking his life at every step for the sake of rising above the masses. Everyone had their own desires—some sought fame, others fortune. Some were greedy for money, some for power, and others reveled in the adoration of the masses. To achieve those things, one inevitably had to engage in shady dealings. It was an unspoken rule among officials, and Warrick saw nothing wrong with it."Ants?" Austin sneered. "Without these 'ant
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