"You have just about as much chance of winning her over as I have with Natasha," Gordon told him bluntly. Kate was as beautiful as Natasha, so it would not be easy to court her. Zeke laughed. He said excitedly, "Then we'll both have to work harder!" "The Harmon family has such perfect genes! Every one of them looks gorgeous. If I marry Dylan, I'm sure we'll have such beautiful babies!" Zoey exclaimed giddily. Her words left the rest of them speechless. She had not even so much as spoken a word with him, and she was already thinking about having his babies? "Hey! It looks like they're coming our way! Could he have noticed my beauty so soon? Oh no! Is my makeup in perfect condition?" Zoey was overjoyed to see Dylan walking in their direction and immediately whipped out her compact mirror to touch up her makeup. Gordon and Zeke swiftly sucked in their stomach and puffed up their chests, trying to look like distinguished gentlemen. "Dylan, that guy in white is Dustin Rhys, Natasha'
"I'm not drinking that. Get lost." Dustin's words were short and sweet, but he brought a deathly hush over the hall. All eyes were on Dylan the moment he entered. There were numerous people present who would do anything to gain his favor, so when they witnessed Dylan offering Dustin a drink, the onlookers, including Zoey, Gordon, and Zeke, were astonished. Jealous, even. It was definitely something worth bragging about to have someone like Dylan offer you a drink. However, they had never expected Dustin to actually turn him down and even arrogantly dismiss him. What was the meaning of that? Was Dustin really so full of himself? "What did you just say?" Not only were the onlookers surprised, but even Dylan couldn't believe his ears. He was a Harmon, a high-ranking commander in the Dark Panther Cavalry, and a future general! No matter where he went, people would fawn over him and go out of their way to please him. Just a smile from him could make someone's day, so shouldn't regular p
"Whoever wants the drink can have it, but it's not going to be me." Dustin remained unfazed by the comments and derogatory remarks hurled his way. "Well, that's not up to you!" Dylan's expression turned cold. "Boys, make him drink it!" "Yes, sir!" The two adjutants immediately went up to Dustin, ready to force the drink down his throat. "Buzz off." With two backhanded slaps, Dustin sent the two adjutants sprawling on the ground, blood streaming from their noses and their teeth broken. They scrambled to get back up but failed miserably. "Holy shit! The guy's getting violent!" The onlookers were startled and enraged by what they saw. Assaulting military personnel was a major offense, and when the situation called for it, they were authorized to use their guns. "You've got a death wish, you bastard!" Dylan finally had it when he saw the two adjutants being slapped. He swiftly threw a punch at Dustin's face. As a high-ranking commander of the Dark Panther Cavalry, it went without
"He spiked the wine?" Everyone looked at Dylan in shock. If that was the case, then it would make sense for Dustin to refuse the drink. "You—What nonsense!" Dylan had a sinking feeling, but he forced himself to appear composed as he roared, "Do you know who I am? Why would I spike your drink? You're dragging my reputation through the mud!" He had no idea how Dustin could tell that the wine had been spiked, but there was no way he was going to admit to doing it. "That's right! My cousin offered you a drink, and you not only turned him down, but you even accused him of such dirty tricks? You truly are cunning!" Kate feigned anger. "Hah! I think someone's just here to cause trouble!" "What a heinous crime to slander a military officer!" "We should just kick him out! He's despicable!" In a clamor of voices, the crowd accused and scolded Dustin. With their preconceived notions, they clearly believed Dylan more than they did Dustin. "Dustin, do you have any proof for claiming t
"That's it?"Natasha was extremely displeased. Naturally, she wasn't willing to swallow her anger when her man was being mistreated. "Natasha, let's look at the big picture. Why don't you sit down?" Hector gave her a look. Then, he led the others to sit at the tables allocated for the Harmons. The ten tables at the very front of the ballroom were designated for the core members of the Harmon family as well as the other bigwigs in the family. The regular guests were relegated to the back. "Darling, I'm sorry for the injustice. I'll definitely find an opportunity for a payback!" Natasha said through gritted teeth. "It's nothing but a petty issue. Don't worry about me. Go and keep your father company." Dustin smiled lightly. Her saying that was already good enough for him. "What, you don't want to sit with me?" Natasha raised an eyebrow. "No, guests shouldn't sit with the stars of the evening. I'll just sit here. Not to mention, sitting too close to Dylan might invite trouble.
Meanwhile, at the Grants' mansion, Tyler sat in the study, quietly poring over war strategy books. He gave each and every word on the page his undivided attention. Suddenly, there was a series of knocks on the door."What is it?" Tyler asked without turning his head."Mr. Grant, the big day has arrived. We should head out," an elderly voice said from outside the door.Tyler set the book down and got to his feet. After straightening his clothes, he opened the door and walked out. An aged servant stood outside the door, waiting for him with his head bowed."How are the Harmons reacting?" Tyler asked with an indifferent look. "The Harmons haven't started preparing for the wedding yet. Instead, they're throwing a birthday party," the man replied."Birthday party?" Tyler's mouth twitched. "Is that supposed to put pressure on me? How amusing." "Mr. Grant, should we fetch the bride another day?" the man asked tentatively. "Since the engagement is today, it can't be changed. We'll
"She's right!" Zeke added. "Rhys, here's a word of advice. You'd better leave Natasha as soon as possible, or you'd just be humiliating yourself!"Dustin wasn't bothered enough to entertain them. He simply minded his own business, sipping at his drink. Yet, his lofty attitude pissed them off even more. "Hpmh, weren't you acting all cool earlier? Has the cat got your tongue? That's all you're good for," Zoey said with a cold laugh. To her, it was obvious that Dustin was feeling ashamed of himself. "Let it go. Let him keep some of his dignity, or you'll back him into a corner," Gordon teased with a smile. Dustin was just a brute who knew a move or two; he really didn't think too highly of him.At that moment, Zoey seemed to have noticed something. She pointed at the door and asked, "Hey, who's that? He's really good-looking and even has a certain air about him." The others turned their heads to look, and their gazes fell upon a handsome man walking inside, holding a folding fan.
"What?" Gordon and the others were dumbfounded by how politely and courteously Patrick had spoken to Dustin. Their eyes were round with disbelief.The son of the Hill family—one of the Ten Princes of South Province, dubbed the top aristocrat—had actually greeted that jerk with a smile?How was that even possible?!"No way. Dustin knows Mr. Hill?" The smile on Zoey's face turned to ice. She had initially thought that Patrick had walked over for Gordon; never in her wildest dreams would she have thought that he was there for Dustin. Not to mention, from the way they were acting, it seemed like they were close."How the hell did that punk climb his way up to become friends with Mr. Hill?!" Shock aside, Zeke was more jealous than anything. What right did a loser have to hit it off with the top aristocrat?"How could this be?" Gordon was rooted to the spot, astonishment written on his face. It was one thing to be ignored by Patrick, but he couldn't come to terms with how the person h
"So what if I am? And what if I push even further?" Dustin's smile slowly faded. "If you don't like it, do something about it."There was no reasoning with tyrants like Warrick."Punk, are you really willing to risk your life against me? Have you ever considered what happens if you lose?" Warrick's face turned grim as a wave of killing intent spread from him.He had already taken a step back to avoid unnecessary trouble. If Dustin refused to back down, there was no choice but to fight."Cut the crap. You wanna fight, fight." Dustin didn't bother with more words. With a flick of his wrist, a silver needle shot out and aimed toward Warrick's forehead—silent, unassuming, but deadly."Hmm?" Warrick's brow furrowed as he instinctively raised his arm. Sparks flew as the needle deflected off his arm and buried into the ground."Oh? You've mastered the Adamantine Body Technique?" Dustin narrowed his eyes. At that instant, he saw through Warrick's technique. Not only was he halfway
Mulder's body trembled, and he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. His energy drained, and his entire being seemed to collapse.Dustin's finger flick had not only shattered his sword but also injured his internal organs. With the effects of the enhanced serum wearing off, Mulder was now back to his original state and completely spent.His once-powerful frame now shrank like a punctured balloon. He looked as if he had aged ten years in an instant. Mulder could no longer fight. Even standing up was a challenge."He's finished," Dustin said coolly, then looked at Warrick. "Now it's your turn.""Hmm?" Warrick frowned, and his expression turned serious.Dustin's display of strength earlier had made him feel a sense of crisis. If they fought head-on, there was no telling who would come out on top.But Warrick was just one step away from escaping West Lucozia, bound for Artea and a life of freedom and luxury. He had no intention of risking his life in battle unless he absolutely
"This is interesting." Dustin smirked as the dense barrage of swords came slashing down at him. In the blink of an eye, his figure dissolved into a wisp of smoke and vanished.A storm of sword shadows carrying the force that could split rivers and overturn seas crashed down on the fishing boat where he had just been standing. The entire vessel broke apart in an instant—some sinking into the depths while others drifted across the water."What? He dodged it?" Warrick's eyes flickered with surprise.Mulder's attack just now had been a 360-degree attack. Once caught in its range, there was no chance to dodge—only the option to endure. He couldn't understand how Dustin had managed to avoid it. Did he just teleport?"Hiding like a coward? What kind of warrior are you? Come fight me face-to-face."Frustrated after his attack missed again, Mulder grew desperate. His enhanced serum would only last for 15 minutes. If this dragged on, he'd collapse from exhaustion before Dustin even touche
"Oh? Are we going all out now?" Dustin smirked, with a hint of amusement in his eyes.Mulder, who had advanced to become a grandmaster martial artist through drugs, had a weak foundation. Even after taking the enhanced serum, he still posed no threat to Dustin. If Mulder were a hundred times stronger, he might just barely be able to fight Dustin.As the serum's effects pushed his body to the limit, Mulder suddenly let out a furious roar. His muscles swelled rapidly, and his bones cracked as they expanded. His body grew larger at an alarming rate, and his clothes tore apart under the strain.His six-foot frame stretched to nearly seven feet in mere moments as his body swelled to monstrous proportions. His face twisted fiercely, and his skin darkened as black scales surfaced.With another guttural growl, his roar turned beastlike. He grabbed his shredded shirt and ripped it away, exposing his broad chest covered in dark scales. A faint, eerie sheen flickered across their surface."D
Dustin's words made Mulder frown.Mulder knew all too well that Warrick was the kind of man who had no sense of loyalty or honor. If Warrick could kill his own personal guards without hesitation, what would stop him from killing a stranger? Mulder was certain that the moment things went south, Warrick would be the first to flee. Given the choice, he'd never willingly risk his life as Warrick's sacrificial pawn. But now, there was no turning back.With his undercover identity exposed and him helping Warrick escape, Mulder became a sworn enemy of West Lucozia. His name was now on the most-wanted list.Tonight was their best chance to escape. If they missed it, finding another way out would be nearly impossible.There was only one path left for him—kill whoever stood in his way and make it onto that escape boat."Enough talk, punk. Let's see what you're really made of," Mulder said.After weighing his options, he gritted his teeth and finally decided to draw his longsword. His fig
"You had your chance. Don't blame me for what happens next," Dustin said.With a slight squeeze of his fingers, the steel blades clamped between them shattered with a sharp clang.Before the two Hall of Gods members could even react, Dustin waved his hand.The two men were sent flying as if they'd been hit by a truck, hurtling over 30 feet through the air. Blood sprayed from their mouths and noses before they hit the ground. They were critically injured and on the verge of death.Dustin slowly turned his head and looked at the man who had just tried to ambush him.The man glanced at the broken sword in his hand, then at Dustin, who looked utterly unfazed. He hesitated for a split second—then bolted.With a powerful leap, he dove straight for the sea. He knew Dustin's strength was on a completely different level. There was no chance of outrunning him on land, so the only hope was to disappear into the water.It might have worked—if not for what happened next.Just before he hit
"You're not a fisherman? Who the hell are you?"Mulder's guard shot up the moment he got a clear look at the young man's face.Fishermen who spent their days at sea were usually tanned from the sun, but this one had a fair complexion. It felt a little strangeNoticing something was off, the men behind Mulder drew their blades and fixed their sharp gazes on the fisherman.The so-called fisherman standing guard wasn't just anyone—it was Dustin, who had been waiting for them all along.Since his plan was set in motion, he'd been stationed there from morning until midnight. After what felt like an eternity, his targets had finally arrived."Isn't it obvious? I'm here to capture you."Dustin rose from the deck and rolled his shoulders before speaking in an even tone. "If you don't want to die, surrender now. Otherwise, it'll be too late.""Watch out! It could be an ambush." Mulder swiftly pulled out his dagger. His sharp gaze scanned the surroundings for any sign of hidden troops.
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