Fletcher threw a glance at Dustin and went out with his apprentices.“You should go out too.” Natasha gestured for him to exit the room.Dustin nodded and went out.They had a tacit understanding with each other, or in other words, they had ulterior motives.“So, you’re Natasha’s personal bodyguard? You don’t look like much!” The twins sized Dustin up like he was their prey.“Is that so? You’ll find out soon.” Dustin went down the stairs without another word.“Liam and Noah, follow him and get rid of him,” Fetcher ordered coldly. In his opinion, he didn’t need to deal with an insignificant person like Dustin. His two apprentices could easily finish him off.“No problem!” Liam and Noah grinned and followed him quietly.Once Dustin went downstairs, he strolled through the garden and entered the underground parking lot. The company had just launched, and the parking lot was still closed, so it was quiet and empty.“Boy! You really know how to dig your own grave!” At that mome
“I’d advise you not to do that, or you will regret it.” Dustin remained calm and unbothered. Chris had always been nothing but a joke to him.“Ha! I know you practice some martial arts, but it’s not enough to defeat the men I hired. They’re all experts in martial arts. Besides, even if you can fight, you’d only get chopped up by my men!” Chris smiled coldly. It was a completely different matter to fight with hand-to-hand combat than armed combat. He refused to believe Dustin could survive a weapon!“Hey! I don’t know what grudge you hold against each other, but we set our eyes on him first. You’d better stand aside!” the twins yelled.Initially, they thought Chris and his men were Dustin’s backup, but they turned out to be his enemies.“Who are these two idiots? Step aside, or we’ll deal with you too!” Chris glared at them and roared.“Deal with us?” Liam and Noah glanced at each other and chuckled, “Haha! We’ve not met someone as fearless as you in some time. Come, let us see w
“Who on earth are you?” Liam trembled as he dragged himself over. His laidback expression had been replaced by shock and fear. Never did he imagine that his full strength could not even scratch his opponent. Instead, he had injured himself gravely.Was this man even human?Fletcher had clearly told them he was just an ordinary martial artist. Why was he so powerful?“Liam! Run away! Quickly!” Noah, who was pressed against the wall, yelled out at the top of his lungs.The moment he crossed paths with Dustin, he realized that Dustin was much stronger than they had imagined. He had been able to render him completely useless with one move.“Ah!” Liam cried out begrudgingly. Reluctantly, he abandoned his brother and ran away. He knew he couldn’t save him. He didn’t even have the power to fight Dustin to his death.If Dustin was a mountain, they were nothing but ants. His punch just now had completely crushed his will to fight!“I have to tell Fletcher! This man is too frightening. He
In a lounge at the Emerald building, Natasha greeted Dustin. “Mr. Rhys, you’re not hurt, are you?” Her eyes scanned him over in worry.“I’m fine.” Dustin shook his head and continued, “I’ve dealt with the twins. What do you plan on doing next?”“Those two were some of Edwin’s most useful men. I think he will be very alarmed now that they are dead. We should take things slow lest we scare them away,” Natasha said. She did not want to burn the bridge between her and Edwin. She just wanted to teach him a lesson so he would back down. This was the best option.“Alright. It’s up to you.” Dustin didn’t say more.“Oh, yes, you should take cover for the time being. I received news that Trevor’s brother, Travis, is back, and he’s hunting for the murderer.” Natasha’s tone and expression turned grave. She would not pick battles with the military. Travis was a general in the warzone. Even she had to think twice before getting on the wrong side of him.“Thanks for the advice. I know what to do
Everyone was shocked when they watched the guards swarm in. They looked at each other in confusion for some time.“Officer, what is the matter?” Florence braced herself and asked. She had never witnessed such an occasion as a civilian. Even if she did not do anything illegal, she still felt guilty.“I’m asking, who is Dahlia Nicholson?” the officer spoke in a somber tone with a hostile look in his eyes. “I am…” Dahlia slowly stood up and put on a brave face as she asked, “What can I do for you, officer?”“According to our investigations, you are collaborating with the enemy. You are accused of being a spy planted by the west. Come with us immediately to assist in the investigation!” the officer announced.“Collaborating with the enemy? A traitor?”Everyone was shocked at his accusation. That didn’t seem plausible. Dahlia was born and raised in Swinton, she wasn’t mixed in any way. Even her ancestors were all ordinary farmers.How could she end up being a traitor?“Officer, is
Chris was completely dumbfounded to be pointed out by Edward. Never in his wildest dreams had he expected Edward to do so. He didn’t do anything, but somehow he got involved.“Tell me honestly, did you have anything to do with my dad’s death?” Edward glared and shouted.“No! It had nothing to do with me! I don’t know anything!” Chris shook his head in fear, cold sweat dripping down his forehead.“You don’t know, or you don’t want to tell?” Edward narrowed his eyes menacingly.“Mr. Spanner, I really have no idea! This is all a misunderstanding!” Chris started to plead, every inch of his body was begging for mercy. Although he knew Edward was taking the opportunity to settle their personal grudge, he couldn’t say a word.“Huh! It seems like you won’t spill without some pressure. Come, beat him up!” Edward ordered, and two officers immediately took action.“Wait!” James suddenly stopped them. “Do you know who he is? He’s Chris Nolan of Nolan Pharmaceuticals! He’s also very close wit
“Could it be Dustin?” Dahlia wondered. She then immediately dismissed this thought.That was impossible!They were already divorced. Besides, they were now like water and oil. Why would he help her? Moreover, he wasn’t capable of it.“Chris Nolan! You’re such a vile and despicable human being! I must’ve been blind to believe in someone like you!”“Bastard! I even thought of you as family! You’re even worse than that trash, Dustin!” Florence and James cursed at him after knowing the truth. They had put their whole trust in Chris. They didn’t expect him to be a fraud.“We all have to look out for ourselves! You only have yourself to blame for being so dumb!” Chris mocked scornfully.“Shut the fuck up! My ears are sore from listening to your bickering!” Edward roared, and everyone fell silent at once.“What I’m trying to say is, I have nothing to do with the Nicholson family. I don’t know Hunter Anderson either. The Nicholson family was behind Sir Spanner’s death! I had nothing to
After being subjected to the torture, Dahlia finally passed out.Her back was bloody and horrific to look at. The fresh wounds were still bleeding profusely, her body still twitching uncontrollably even while she was passed out.“General, she has lost consciousness!” one of his men reported.“Wake her up and keep going,” Travis spat coldly.“Uncle Travis, can I have a go?” Edward interjected eagerly. Ever since he was crippled, there had been a tremendous shift in his psychology. The more beautiful a woman was, the more he wanted to destroy her.“If you want to, go ahead.” Travis nodded in approval.“Thank you, Uncle Travis!” Edward grinned eerily.Once Dahlia awakened, he wielded the whip in his hand and struck her.“Tell me!”“Just kill me!” Dahlia could no longer endure the pain. Her mind was at the end of its rope. Now, she could only hope they would put an end to her misery. “Kill you? Not so fast! I haven’t even had enough!” Edward smiled sadistically and continued wit
As night fell, Warrick sat motionless in his room as he tried to calm his mind through meditation. He had always been able to clear his mind with ease. But tonight, no matter how hard he tried, focus eluded him. A restless unease settled over him and refused to let him relax.Nearly two hours passed before Mulder's scouts finally returned. This time, they brought good news.The smuggling route they had scouted was completely safe, with no signs of an ambush. The West Lucozia army had yet to discover this potential escape route.Once everything was confirmed, Mulder let out a breath of relief. Warrick, too, finally felt the weight lift from his chest."Since the route is safe, we should set out immediately to avoid any unexpected complications." Warrick said. He had no intention of waiting any longer. He was a wanted man, and every moment in West Lucozia increased his chances of capture. There was no telling when the army might surround him. Only by escaping to Thaloria would he
After a hearty meal, the burly Warrick sprawled lazily onto the bed and dozed off. He slept soundly till dusk, lost in a deep dream. When the sky was painted in brilliant hues of the setting sun, only then did he wake up leisurely.The exhaustion from the previous day seemed to have melted away. He felt invigorated, refreshed, and in high spirits.At that moment, Leigh had already set the table in the hall with quiet efficiency. Compared to the first meal, this spread was far more lavish.At the center of the table sat a whole roasted pig. Its golden-brown skin glistened with a rich, crispy sheen. The mouthwatering aroma filled the room, making it impossible not to crave a bite.Warrick had never been one for formalities. The moment he saw the feast, he didn't hesitate. He strode over, took a seat, and started digging in. He ate with zero restraint without sparing a single thought for Mulder, who was still out gathering intel.After a while, half of the roast pig was gone. His fac
"Who is it?" Warrick's grip tightened around the hilt of his steel blade. His eyes, sharp and alert, were like those of a startled predator—full of caution and menace.For the past few days, he had been on edge, like a cornered animal. He barely slept and was constantly on high alert, fearing danger would strike at any moment.The door slowly creaked open. An elderly man with gray hair stepped inside with a tray of fruit and pastries in both hands.Before he could even register what was happening, a flash of cold steel appeared, and Warrick's blade was at the elderly man's throat.The elderly man trembled with fear. The tray slipped from his grasp, and fruit and pastries scattered on the floor."Easy, Sir Prescott. He's one of us." Mulder stepped forward and pressed down on the flat of Warrick's blade with a finger. He smiled and explained, "His name's Leigh Houston. He's mute and has served the Hall of Gods for years. He keeps watch over this tunnel entrance and has never slipp
"Here's the problem—even if we know Warrick's intentions, how do we stop him?" Austin asked.Right now, Warrick had already disappeared without a trace. Austin's team hadn't even come close enough to get a hold of him, so there was no way to track him down.West Lucozia's vast territory and resources made it impossible to seal off every exit route completely. While it might be manageable in the short term, prolonging such an operation would significantly impact West Lucozia's economy. Wasting resources on a single fugitive wasn't a wise move."Warrick is a wanted man across the entire city. There's no way he's leaving through official channels. He'll have to sneak his way out," Dustin analyzed. He continued, "According to the maritime charts, if he's traveling from West Lucozia to Artea, he'll have to go through Thaloria. That's our lead. Get someone on it immediately—find out how many smuggling routes there are from West Lucozia to Thaloria.""Got it. I'll get it done right away
"Damn you, Mulder! You've really screwed me over this time." Axel gnashed his teeth as rage boiled inside him. Mulder's betrayal hadn't just implicated Axel's sister, but it had also dragged Axel himself into the mess.Mulder had climbed the ranks to assistant chief of the City Defenders in just a few years, and Axel had played a major role in backing him.Now that this mess had blown up, Axel was right in the middle of it. No matter how he tried to explain, he was going to take the fall for it."Everyone, follow me! Let's capture that traitor."After learning Mulder's escape route, Axel waved his hand and led his enforcement team out at full speed.He had already messed up by failing to capture Warrick, which was a serious lapse in duty. Now, with his brother-in-law openly rebelling against them, things had only gotten worse.If Axel didn't turn this situation around and bring those traitors to justice, his days as an enforcement team captain were numbered.After a thorough s
"Damn it!" Warrick cursed. "I was just getting started."He was covered in blood. His eyes burned with a wild, excited gleam.Warrick lived for the fight. After two days in hiding, he was itching to let loose—and now that he had, he wasn't ready to stop."Sir Prescott, think about the bigger picture. If we don't leave now, it'll be too late," Mulder urged, grabbing his arm.At the far end of the street, dark figures were already visible in the distance, rushing toward them.Though Warrick still seemed reluctant, he quickly calmed down."Fall back!" he shouted.With that, he and Mulder charged past the checkpoint and led a handful of battered soldiers into the outer city.Unlike the inner city, the outer city had much weaker defenses. The sheer size of the area made it impossible to secure every corner, so only the main thoroughfares had a strong military presence.Mulder had already mapped out their escape route and prepared the gear.According to the original plan—if they ha
"Stop right there!" Colton suddenly shouted and stopped Mulder just as he was about to pass through the checkpoint.In an instant, everyone tensed up. Mulder's hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his blade, and Warrick clenched his fists, ready for a fight."Mr. Dane, is there a problem?" Mulder turned, smiling calmly."Are these men your soldiers?" Colton's gaze swept over the men, scanning each one from the front to the back."Of course. I trained them myself." Mulder nodded, the easy smile still plastered on his face."Show me their ID badges. I need to check them one by one.""Is that really necessary? I'm in a bit of a hurry to carry out my mission.""I'm just doing my duty, and I'd appreciate your cooperation," Colton replied, his gaze unwavering."Mr. Dane, it's not like we just met. Do you still not trust me?" Mulder's eyes narrowed slightly. "Besides, I have Mr. Cruz's signed authorization right here. Even if you won't do me a favor, surely you wouldn't disrespect
With Mulder leading the way, Warrick—disguised as a member of the City Defenders—walked openly through the streets.Night had fallen, and the streets were eerily empty—not a single soul was in sight. Only heavily armed patrols moved through the city.Every checkpoint along the main road was heavily guarded. Even the patrol squads had to show their emblems to pass.Warrick walked at the back of the group. His hat was pulled low so that it covered half his face. In the darkness, it was nearly impossible to make out his features unless someone got close."Austin is more meticulous than I expected," he muttered. "If it weren't for the Hall of Gods' undercover agents helping me, I'd never make it out of Celestria."Seeing sentries stationed openly on the streets and hidden in the alleys, Warrick felt a chill crawl down his spine. In less than two miles, they had already passed seven or eight checkpoints.In addition to the heavily guarded checkpoints on the main roads, countless hidde
"To avoid trouble, the four guards must die," Mulder said bluntly.The four Red Legion guards instantly turned pale upon hearing that.Even Warrick frowned, his face darkening. "What nonsense are you spouting? They are my personal guards, my brothers-in-arms. How could they possibly betray me?""You never really know who you can trust. Betrayal happens all the time—even between comrades. For your safety, we can't take that risk," Mulder said solemnly."A warrior can be killed but never disgraced. We've followed Sir Prescott for years, through life and death. No matter the cost—even if it's our lives—we would never betray him," Geralt said."That's right. Don't judge loyal men by your own petty standards," Kalen snapped.Hmph! Scum like you could never understand the bond between men who have fought and bled together," another added.They responded to Mulder's words with a mix of anger and disdain. These men were Warrick's personal guards—battle-hardened and fiercely loyal. The