Abigail, Natasha, and the others were devastated. They knew that the force Marlon used was enough to kill his opponent. Even the strongest martial artist would have died on the spot from that attack. There was no way Mr. Robinson was fine. "That piece of shit dirtied my clothes." Marlon tried to dust the blood off his pants legs, disgusted."I'll kill you!" Abigail howled. She grabbed her dagger and charged toward Marlon. Marlon sneered and grabbed her wrist, effectively pressing her onto the ground. "No one's going to interrupt us now, honey. Let's do it here." Grinning perversely, he tore off her jacket, exposing her voluptuous figure. "Fuck off!"Abigail slammed her knee into Marlon's groin with all her might, her eyes bloodshot. "Aargh!" Marlon wailed. His face was twisting in pain. "You bitch! How dare you harm me! I'm going to kill you!" He pulled out his sword and swung it toward her. The blade was going to slice through her, but a bloody hand appeared from nowher
"What?" Everyone gaped incredulously at the bloody mist that used to be Marlon.Marlon was a Divine-level martial artist strong enough to take all of them down effortlessly. However, a finger was all Mr. Robinson needed to kill him. How terrifying! Was this really the cowardly old man they all knew? "Run!" Once they got over the shock, the group of large men spun around and began to flee. They had no idea what had happened, but they knew Mr. Robinson was far stronger than expected. Marlon had been killed easily, so there was no way they'd stand a chance against that man. "You shouldn't have done all that if you were afraid of dying." Mr. Robinson waved his hand casually, and the men immediately burst apart. They turned into a bloody mist. "Uh …" Everyone was shocked by the sight, especially Abigail. Her eyes were wide open. She couldn't believe that her cowardly father had suddenly turned so strong. "Wow, he really kept his skills well hidden!" Dustin, who had just arrived, ga
"Hurry! Let's head over to the banquet hall!" Hector ordered immediately."No need. I've taken care of it." Dustin emerged from the darkness. His white clothes were stained red as some murderous air lingered on him. "That's good." Hector sighed in relief before asking, "Dustin, did you catch sight of the Dark Lord?""Not yet?" Dustin shook his head. "As long as the Dark Lord is alive, our family will be in danger. All members of the Harmon family, listen up! Split yourself into groups of five and root him out!" Hector commanded. "There's no need for that. I'm already here." Just then, a sinister voice spoke out. Everyone turned and saw a man standing proudly on the gazebo nearby. He wore a black cape and a mask that covered half of his face. The air surrounding the man was so poisonous that the ring of plants around him had already withered. Even the snow that fell on his body turned black. "The Dark Lord?" The Harmon family instantly had their guards up and their weapons
"What?" Everyone was shocked as they watched Dylan land on the ground. The way he had leaped into the air tricked everyone into thinking that he had a winning chance against the Dark Lord. However, his opponent was able to get rid of him effortlessly, shocking the crowd. "Dylan!" Jacob paled. He rushed over to hold his son up. "I slipped, Dad …" Dylan forced out before his head fell to one side as he passed out. Jacob was tongue-tied. He couldn't believe how stubborn his son was. "How could he act so foolishly when he's so weak? Does the Harmon family have no one else to send?" At the gazebo, the Dark Lord sneered at them scornfully. "Don't be cocky. We'll deal with you!" A voice was heard as nine people emerged from the group of people. There was a mix of men and women, as each of them were powerful fighters well-known in the martial world. Without doing much, they gave off immense pressure on those around them. "To tell you the truth, these are skilled martial artists we hi
As if they had been struck by a train, the remaining five fighters were brutally thrown backward and landed in a pile of snow. Some died, while others were severely injured, and none of them were able to stand up again. "What? The nine fighters lost?" The Harmon family was devastated to see that the skilled fighters they spent a hefty amount to hire hadn't even been able to touch a hair on the Dark Lord's head. "Who's up next?" The Dark Lord stood at the same gazebo, and he peered down at those useless fools. "Even those nine fighters lost to him. There's no way anyone could win against him." The Harmon family exchanged fearful glances, none of them daring to step forward. Was this the end of the Harmon family?"The two of us will have some fun with you, Dark Lord." Suddenly, a grave voice broke the silence. Everyone turned to see two shadows emerging from the sky, nimbly making their way toward them. They moved as stealthily as a cat, making it hard for others to spot them.
"Hmph, foolish brat!" Caelus glanced at Dustin and sneered. "What would a stupid pig like you know about Sir Leon's strength? You could never even hope to reach his level!""Dustin, Sir Leon is a semi-Grandmaster. You shouldn't talk about things you don't know. Others might laugh at you," Ivy grumbled in displeasure."She's right. You should watch how Sir Leon takes his opponent down!" Maria echoed. All of them saw Dustin as someone who liked to talk others down to make himself feel good. The Dark Lord might be a powerful person, but he was still a Divine-level martial artist, which was nowhere near the level of a semi-Grandmaster."Let's hope things turn out the way you're hoping they will," Dustin simply responded. He's said everything he needed to say. If he said anymore, he would just make a fool of himself. "Sir Leon, I think he's right. If you're too scared to fight me alone, you can ask your leader to join the battle. Otherwise, you might suffer an embarrassing loss," The D
It had only taken the Dark Lord two seconds to defeat Herman and Leon. "What?" Everyone exclaimed, flabbergasted. No one had expected the two semi-Grandmasters to lose so terribly to the Dark Lord. "Master Herman!" Terrified, Caelus, Ivy, and Maria dashed toward their mentor. Herman and Leon were severely injured; they bled profusely from their noses, and they couldn't get back onto their feet. "How is this possible? The leader of the Invincible Guardians actually lost?" The Harmon family couldn't believe their eyes. The two semi-Grandmasters had been their final trump card, and they'd thought they'd have a winning chance against the Dark Lord, yet the latter had eventually won, which begged the question: if the Dark Lord was stronger than Herman and Leon, which Harmon family member would stand a chance against him?"If the two of you had come at me together, you could have won against me. Unfortunately, your confidence and pride blinded you." The Dark Lord peered down at them.
"Draw your weapons and fight!" Hector bellowed, his determined gaze psyching the rest of the family up. "Fuck, let's do this!""Charge!"The Harmon family yelled and drew their weapons. Their conflict with the Dark Lord had been going on for years, and there was no way he would let them go easily. So, they might as well give it their best shot if they were going to die. "You pests dare challenge me? You will all die!" The Dark Lord's expression hardened. "Hector, since you're being so stubborn, I'll turn this place into a bloodbath today!" He slowly pulled his hand back before slapping the ground harshly. Instantly, the ground shook, and snow exploded everywhere. A huge shadow palm fell from the sky and onto the Harmon family members, making it hard for them to breathe or even move. They realized that when their opponent was a Grandmaster martial artist, they couldn't even run if they wanted to."Hmm …" Dustin frowned. He was just about to make his move when a pebble shot towa
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
A dull sound echoed through the air.Jovian's body shuddered. Blood streamed from his eyes, ears, and nose as he crumpled to the ground, lifeless. He was dead. After fighting to his last breath, he had chosen the only honorable way out.The scene had left even the assassins, who were no strangers to bloodshed, momentarily stunned. Taking one's own life so decisively wasn't something just anyone could do. Even the lowest of creatures had the instinct to cling to life, let alone a human being."This guy… He's ruthless," Ronan muttered, and his face darkened.Warrick had given strict orders to capture Jovian alive, but now he was dead. Now, Ronan had no way to deliver. If he had known it would come to this, he would have personally intervened to kill Jovian first."What now, boss?" one of the assassins asked."Clean up the scene," Ronan ordered. "I'll take the body back myself." With that, he hoisted Jovian's body onto his shoulder, tossed it into the vehicle, and drove off.…W
The sounds of battle echoed under the streetlights. Shouts of pain mixed with the clash of weapons could be heard. Five figures were locked in a deadly struggle, and blood splattered across the ground.The fight raged for nearly half an hour until the noise gradually subsided. The five figures lay motionless in pools of blood.Under the dim glow of the streetlights, three of the black-clad assassins were confirmed dead. One's neck was snapped, another's chest pierced, and the last had bled out from a fatal wound.Jovian and Boston were in no better condition.Boston was soaked in blood. His body was riddled with deep cuts, some so severe they exposed the bone beneath.Jovian wasn't much better. His abdomen and shoulder were slashed. His right arm had been severed, and he was left in a pitiful state.Boston coughed. After taking down the last assassin, he collapsed to the ground. He gasped for air as blood poured from his mouth. His chest and abdomen were torn open, and his orga
"Jovian, listen to me. West Lucozia's trouble runs deep. You won't be able to handle it. You need to get out of there," Boston urged.When Jovian remained silent, Boston couldn't hide his growing concern. After all, they were comrades, and he didn't want to see his friend die on the street."You're right. I'm not afraid if they come at me head-on. What worries me is if they come at me from behind."After hesitating for a moment, Jovian nodded. "Alright, Boston. Take me back to the hotel. I'll pack my things.""Now that's more like it." Boston sighed in relief. "As they say, there's always a chance as long as you're alive. The most important thing is to stay safe.""Thanks, man. I'll buy you a drink next time." Jovian smiled.Without Boston's constant advice, Jovian might have taken a chance. But if things went south, he'd regret it too late.Back at the hotel, Jovian wasted no time. He packed quickly, then hopped into Boston's car to head to the airport. With the burden lifted,