It was fortunate that Lord Horst hadn't taken things too far, or the consequences would have been dire."So, you agree to join my gang?" Lord Horst asked, lighting another cigarette after calming down."I don't mind joining, but I want to be the gang leader." Dustin shocked everyone with his words, causing Lord Horst's second cigarette to fall out of his mouth.Couldn't Dustin say something normal?"Are you nuts? Even my brother is only the assistant leader. What gives you the right to be the gang leader?" the suited man argued, displeased. Lord Horst took a deep breath and stuck another cigarette into his mouth before asking, "Do you have any idea how big Flame Dragon Gang is? People all over Millsburg are dying to get in, so what gives you, someone with no power or strong family background, the right to say something like that?" "This."With a flick of Dustin's finger, a beam of light shot towards the wall. An ear-splitting boom broke out as a meter-wide hole appeared in the
In a coffee shop across the street, Mike and his group hadn't left. Instead, they'd made themselves comfortable in the shop to enjoy the show. "Abigail, was that man your relative? He's so handsome and brave! He even dared to boss Lord Horst around." "She's right. With his looks and moves, he makes me feel so safe." The girls gathered together and gossiped, their voices turning into adoration when talking about Dustin. "So what if he can fight? In this day and age, the only things that matter are brains, connections, and family backgrounds." Mike humphed begrudgingly. "Besides, we don't even know if he can make it out of the place alive after offending Lord Horst, so what's there to brag about?" "He's right! That guy beat up Lord Horst's men and embarrassed Flame Dragon Gang. It doesn't matter how strong he is; he's still dead meat." "He's just a foolish brat who likes to show off." The boys grumbled unhappily in return, making the girls worry again. Dustin may be stron
"He actually got out?" Mike was stunned. He never expected Dustin to leave that place safely. He only made a casual call to his dad without expecting much. Since when had his father gotten so authoritative? "Um, are you all right?" Abigail was the first to walk out of the coffee shop and approach Dustin, the rest of the students following behind her."What could've happened?" Dustin splayed out his hands. "And why haven't you gone home yet?" "Abigail was worried you were going to be chopped up, so she wouldn't leave," Nina interjected. "Still, to think you managed to get out of there safely after upsetting Lord Horst. You sure are lucky, I'll give you that." "Is he very powerful? I went easy on him just now and didn't give him a beating." Dustin responded indifferently. "What? You wanted to give him a beating?" Nina rolled her eyes. "Are you crazy? Lord Horst is the assistant leader of Flame Dragon Gang, and he's got hundreds of men at his beck and call. No one could save yo
Located in an urban village was Enchanting Villa. As soon as Dustin and Abigail got out of the car, they spotted Edmund anxiously pacing the entrance. "Are you alright, Mr. Rhys?" Edmund was delighted when he saw them. "I called Ms. Ruth for help, but I'm surprised at how quickly she got you out of there." "Thanks, Mr. Robinson, but it wasn't necessary to bother the Harmon family with something so minor." Dustin smiled. "Minor?" Edmund's eye twitched. If crossing Nelson was a minor issue, then what would Dustin consider a major one? "How about you, Abigail?" Edmund turned his attention to his daughter. "It's none of your business. Don't ever show up in front of my classmates ever again!" Abigail spat, heading straight into the house. She was clearly still holding a grudge over how cowardly her father was. Edmund sighed. He was completely clueless about how to mend the relationship with his daughter. "Don't worry, Mr. Robinson. She'll understand you one of these days." Du
Dustin was rendered speechless. What else was he supposed to think when a girl willingly approached him at night? Too lazy to argue, Dustin merely asked, "What do you need?" "Judging from today's battle, you seem like a good fighter. How did you do that?" Abigail asked. "Ever heard of Elder-level martial artists? I'm one of them, so I can easily handle over three hundred opponents." Dustin answered nonchalantly. "Yeah, right. I doubt it." Abigail clearly didn't believe him. "Whatever. You probably can't comprehend what I'm telling you anyway. All you need to know is that I'm very powerful." Dustin summarised. Most ordinary citizens didn't know about martial artists, so even if they met one, they wouldn't be able to tell. "Fine. Can you teach me some moves? I'm not asking for much. I just want to be able to defeat a dozen men." Abigail looked at Dustin with hopeful eyes. "You want me to take you in as my disciple?" Dustin raised an eyebrow. "Ugh, you're so old-fashioned.
Early the next morning, Dustin received a phone call from Nelson when he woke up. "Hi, Mr. Rys. Are you up yet?" "I just woke up. What's up? Any results?" Dustin asked. "Our gang leader would like to meet you. We can slowly chat then." Nelson smiled apologetically. "Sure. Where?" Dustin responded bluntly. "At the Flame Dragon Dojo." "Alright. I'll be there soon." Dustin hung up, did a simple freshening up, and left in a taxi. He had already expected that the gang wouldn't give in so easily, and since he had some spare time on his hands, he didn't mind having some fun with them. After thirty minutes, his taxi pulled up in front of Flame Dragon Dojo. Dustin got out of the car, and Nelson immediately brought his men over to greet him with a smile. "Welcome, Mr. Rhys. This way, please." Dustin hummed and nodded in response, walking straight in. Hundreds of the gang's elites had gathered inside the dojo, each of them sturdily built and with ferocious attitudes. As soon a
"You must have a death wish for challenging the four of us, kid!" On the platform, the four bald men stared at Dustin intently with cold smiles. They've met countless skilled martial artists in Millsburg, but they had defeated all of those who challenged them. Dustin was not going to be any different. "Cut the chit-chat. Let's fight." Dustin kept his left hand behind his back and stretched out his right. "Since you're determined to die, let me help you!" One of the bald men couldn't wait any longer and dashed toward Dustin, throwing a punch at the man. The force and speed of his attack produced an audible whoosh. "What a powerful punch! It could kill someone easily!" "I take back what I said. He won't even last one punch!" The ladies were stunned by the bald man's strength. While Patrick didn't say much, he was secretly shaking his head. Each of the Four Guardians was a High-level martial artist, and a strike from any of them was enough to crush stones. Not many could wit
For a moment, the room fell into an eerie silence, stunned by what had transpired. "You should give up if that's all you've got." Dustin stretched, bored. "You're dead meat!" Pissed, the Four Guardians exchanged glances before launching themselves at Dustin again. This time, they gave it their all, aiming for his vital or vulnerable spots with firm attacks. "Humph!" With a mighty stomp, the ground beneath them gave way, forming a large pit. The commotion shook the entire dojo, and at the same time, extreme Divine Aura whirled around before heading straight toward the four brothers. Like they were being hit by a truck, the four men were thrown into the air, blood gushing out of their mouths and noses, before they landed on the floor heavily, passing out instantly. "Um …" The crowd gaped at the fallen men in disbelief. They couldn't believe that the Four Guardians of Flame Dragon Gang, who were all High-level martial artists who had never lost any battles, had been utterly
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