Dustin jumped to his feet when he heard what Florence said. "How did that happen?""You beast! How dare you ask me how that happened? It's all because of you, of course!" Florence shouted. "After she met you the other night, Dahlia seemed to have lost her soul! She refused to eat or drink, and she cried endless nights! Then, this morning, she attempted suicide by jumping off the building!"Dustin felt like he'd been struck by lightning. His mind went completely blank. Never in his wildest dreams had he ever thought that Dahlia would act so rashly!How could she attempt suicide by jumping off a building without saying anything to anyone at all? Had she lost her mind?"She … How is she now?" There was a tremble in Dustin's voice."She's still in a critical condition and doing horribly! Her life is in danger!"And this is all because of you! You beast! You're the reason Dahlia threw herself off the building!"I'm warning you, Rhys! If anything happens to Dahlia, I'll make you pay
"Who are you? Do I know you?"Her words shocked Dustin.Florence and the rest of them exchanged bewildered looks."You … you don't recognize me?" Dustin was stunned."Should I know you?" Dahlia looked at him coldly.It was like she was looking at a stranger. She looked at him warily as if she wanted Dustin to stay away from her."Is something wrong? Let me have a look." Dustin went forward to check on her pulse. But the moment he touched her, she recoiled instantly, as if his touch burned her."What are you doing?" Dahlia looked at him frostily, caution in her eyes.Dustin wasn't used to how she was treating him like a total stranger. Could she be suffering from … amnesia?"Dahlia, what's wrong? Don't scare me!" Florence was flustered. Looking close to tears, she approached Dahlia and asked, "You can't have forgotten everything, can you? Don't you remember me?""Mom, what are you saying? Of course, I remember you!" Dahlia looked at her, confused."You do? Oh, that's grea
"Take care, and don't do anything reckless anymore. We'll meet again in the future."Dustin turned to leave after saying farewell. It seemed like things were fated to end between them."Mom, that man was weird. Have I met him before?" Dahlia frowned as she watched Dustin leave. Somehow, he made her feel nostalgic. But she couldn't recall who he was."No, of course, you haven't met him before. He's just an insurance agent. Why would you be concerned about him? "Here, lie down and have a good rest." Florence was overjoyed."That's right, Dahlia. You've just had a traffic accident and barely survived. Don't overthink things," Julie chimed in.To them, Dahlia forgetting about Dustin was a good thing."Okay." Dahlia nodded. Though things seemed weird to her, she didn't give them further thought.…Dustin's emotions were a mess on his way back.The current outcome was a relatively good ending for both of them. But somehow, Dustin couldn't find it within him to feel happy.Maybe
Dustin frowned when he saw Brittany. "Why are you here? Haven't you been kicked out of the sisterhood?""If Nikki can be reaccepted, then so can I! How's that? Do you like the surprise?" Brittany taunted as she crossed her arms.Dustin could plan all he wanted but could not go against Edith's word."I need a reasonable explanation." Dustin looked at Letitia."Young man, I must admit that you have cured Edith of her injuries. But we've paid you 50 billion as compensation. "I think that's more than enough. You should be appreciative," Letitia said calmly.She looked poised and showed no signs of remorse."Money is one thing, but this is an entirely different matter. Since you promised me, then you should have kept it. "The Jade Maiden Sisterhood is a decent guild. Are you going back on your word?" Dustin asked frostily."So what if we go back on our word? You have no place meddling in affairs of the sisterhood!" Brittany huffed."That's right! We will do as we please. It has
"Wait!"Nikki came running out and stood between Dustin and Edith. "Can we please sit down and talk things through calmly? There must be a misunderstanding. Please don't fight.""Get lost! This is none of your business!" Edith glared at her fiercely."Madam Edith, Dustin saved your life today! You can't repay his kindness with revenge!" Nikki was exasperated."Shut up! You're in no place to speak here!" Edith lost her cool. It was embarrassing for her to be lectured by her disciple."Madam Parker, I'm giving you a chance for Nikki's sake."Dustin demanded coldly, "If you break Brittany's leg, we can all pretend that nothing happened today.""Utter rubbish! Why should anyone do as you say? Who do you think you are?" Brittany glared at him."Have you gone mad, brat? What makes you think that I'll take orders from you?" Edith looked at him condescendingly."Why?" Dustin stepped forward before confidently saying, "Because I have the original copy of the Jade Maiden Scripture!
For a moment, all eyes were on Brittany.The Jade Maiden Scripture was important to the Jade Maiden Sisterhood.But Dustin had made his condition known. He demanded that Brittany's leg be broken. And most importantly, he wanted Edith to do it personally."Dus—!" Nikki intended to speak for them, but Dustin cut her off by raising a hand. His gaze was fixed on Edith. "What do you say, Madam Parker?""Brittany is my lead disciple. I can never hurt her as her mentor," Edith said righteously."So I take it that you have no interest in the Jade Maiden Scripture?" Dustin raised a brow."Of course, I'm interested in it. But I do not plan to take orders from you."Edith lifted her chin and said, "I will have the scripture and protect my disciple. "Pass me the Jade Maiden Scripture now. That is an order. "If you do, I will forgive you for your rudeness earlier. Otherwise, do not be surprised if I attack you!"Dustin was so angered that he failed to hold back a laugh.She had rea
Nikki rushed over to stop Edith. "Madam Edith, you haven't recovered yet! Please stop!""Damn it, brat!" Infuriated, Edith slapped Nikki across the face. "If it weren't for the incomplete scripture you gave me, I wouldn't have gone to extremes in training and gotten injured!""I—it wasn't me …" Nikki held her cheek and shook her head frantically. "Stop lying!" Edith shouted. "How did that bastard get his hands on the Jade Maiden Scripture? I'm sure you were the one who stole it and gave it to him. You ungrateful bitch!""I didn't!" Nikki denied anxiously. "I see what you're up to, Nikki Horst. You gave Madam Edith the incomplete scripture and gave that bastard the real one. You're such a bitch!""I thought you were a loyal disciple. It turns out you're just a backstabber who betrayed us!""Enough with the acting. You make me sick!"Instantly, the Jade Maiden Sisterhood disciples began cursing at Nikki. They were sure Nikki must have conspired with Dustin and took the Ja
"I know the two of you are working together. If you don't want her to be killed, you better release Brittany!" Edith threatened, holding her sword at Nikki's neck. She would have never resorted to such tactics if she hadn't been injured. "Why? Why?" Nikki mumbled as she sat on the ground, tears dripping down her cheeks. Dustin frowned and eventually nodded. "Fine, release Nikki, and I'll let go of your disciple." He gestured for Cornelius to step back."Take Brittany away first." Edith signaled. The Jade Maiden sisterhood disciples hurriedly dragged Brittany away. Letitia remained by Edith's side to keep an eye on Cornelius in case he decided to do anything. "Brat, I demand you to hand me the Jade Maiden Scripture!" Although Brittany had been released, Edith did not lower her sword. Instead, she began to shout out her requests. "I've already compromised once. You'd better not take things too far." Dustin's face hardened. How dare that witch try to make another unre
"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
"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