In the evening, Dustin was quietly sipping tea at his table by the window of the Roseate Restaurant.The battle of grandmasters shook up the two major martial arts alliances entirely. Various parties were thinking of ways to recruit him. This even included several overseas alliances. Of course, he paid no attention to those people.Because today, he'd invited Natasha for dinner.At that moment, the restaurant's doors opened. Natasha walked in elegantly. She was in a long black dress that complemented her complexion. She was wearing light makeup today. Her natural features looked even more alluring.Together with her unique aura, she was a stunner. Even though he'd seen her many times, Dustin was still as surprised as always."Why are you staring at me? Am I not beautiful today?" Natasha purposely twirled in front of Dustin, putting her sexy figure on full display."Of course, you're beautiful. Words cannot describe your beauty." Dustin nodded with a smile."Hehe … Da
Natasha was solemn. Given her father's personality, she knew he would never hand over the treasure map once he knew Tyler was behind everything. However, that would certainly anger Tyler and put her father in danger. "I understand. I will send someone to protect Mr. Harmon discreetly," Dustin assured her."That puts me at ease." Natasha grinned. "Of course, I won't be gone for long. Once I've taken care of things with my new company in Oakvale, I'll return to Millsburg immediately. If everything goes well, I'll be back in three to five days.""Alright, I'll wait for you." Dustin nodded.After their food arrived, they chatted and ate in a pleasant atmosphere. Just then, the doors to the restaurant opened once again. A group of elegantly dressed young men and women entered, chatting happily. Dustin glanced over instinctively. He didn't think much of it at first, but suddenly, he froze. Looking back in the same direction, he appeared somewhat surprised. "What's wrong?" Nata
"I've been here for a while now. But I've been quite busy and haven't had the chance to visit General Murray."Dustin smiled and changed the subject, "By the way, how are you recovering? Do you still feel unwell?"Polarfrost was an extremely rare disease. It was hard to get rid of it entirely. His method of using a fiery beetle to suppress it could only ensure Sheila's safety for the next ten years. After ten years, unless she found a rare treasure to save her, she would die. "I'm doing great! I've been eating well too." Sheila smiled. "Of course, it's all thanks to you. I would have been long gone if it wasn't for you.""No need to mention it. Solving people's problems and getting paid is what I'm supposed to do," Dustin replied with a smile."Sheila, who's this? Why don't you introduce him to us?" a woman in red beside Sheila asked. "Ah, I almost forgot." Sheila was quick to catch on. "Vivian, this is Dustin. The one I've talked about. He's the one who cured me of my
Just then, a treacherous-looking young man spoke out."Neither." Dustin shook his head. "Oh? Are you from some backwater university?" The young man snickered.The rest of the group looked on amusingly. They were ready to witness a spectacle. "I've never gone to university," Dustin replied. "What? You've never even gone to university?" The young man replied with an exaggerated expression, "Bro, are you joking? How can you be a doctor without a degree?""I practice traditional medicine. I grew up in that environment, so I acquired the skills naturally." Dustin remained unfazed. "Traditional medicine?" The young man froze before bursting out in laughter. "Bro, you're joking, right? Traditional medicine? That's just another name for a swindler in the martial arts world.""Hah! Who believes in traditional medicine these days? Those who do are fools!" "You can't say that. Those old folks who frequent the parks are totally into it. There sure are those who fall for it."At
Everyone in the private room was stunned as they looked at the floor covered in yellow piss. Their mouths hung open in astonishment and disbelief. The young man, in particular, stood frozen, his face drained of color. He couldn't believe he had lost control of his bladder by just pressing two points!The most embarrassing part was that people were staring at him. "Ah—!" After a brief moment of shock, the young man screamed.He fled the room, clutching his crotch. Every step he took left a piss-stained footprint. The others looked on with strange expressions, the corners of their eyes twitching. It wasn't just embarrassing for him; it was utterly mortifying."Dustin! What exactly did you do to Jake to make him that way?" Vivian snapped. She rose from her seat. How dare a mere country doctor humiliate a scion of a prestigious family? It was nothing short of a horrible offense."I told you, he has weak kidneys. But you wouldn't believe it. You insisted on proof, so there you
Dustin couldn't be bothered with a smug know-it-all like Vivian."What's the matter? Cat got your tongue now that you're feeling guilty? I knew it!"Vivian sneered with disdain. "I've seen plenty of scammers like you in the martial arts world. You may be able to fool Sheila, but you won't fool me!""Vivian, Dustin isn't a scammer. I believe him!" Sheila spoke up for Dustin. "Sheila, you're a good person, but you're just too naive and easily fooled. You should be especially careful with those with unclear backgrounds." As Vivian spoke, she glanced at Dustin, clearly implying something. To her, Dustin was no different than the pretty-faced boys who used to pursue Sheila. They tried their best to please her, aiming to climb up the social ladder and gain a foothold in upper society. Fortunately, Vivian was sharp enough to see through all the tricks."Vivian, you got it all wrong. Dustin is a good man." Sheila's brow furrowed lightly.It suddenly occurred to her that her friend
Looking at the broken glass on the floor, everyone was stunned.Nobody expected Dustin to return and knock the glass out of Vivian's hands without a word."Hey! What are you doing? Are you crazy?" After a brief moment of shock, Vivian slammed the table as she stood up. The slap had left the back of her hand swollen and burning in pain. "Outrageous! How dare you offend Vivian like that? You have nerves of steel!"The others berated Dustin in righteous anger. "If you don't explain yourself, I'm afraid you won't be able to walk out that door." Evan stood up slowly, his domineering aura gradually showing itself."The wine was poisoned. I was saving your lives," Dustin responded coldly. "Poisoned?" They all exchanged dismayed looks, feeling doubtful. They had assumed Dustin acted out in revenge, but his revelation caught them off guard. "Hah! Am I supposed to just take your word for it? How do we know you're not lying?" Vivian yelled. She was naturally suspicious and would
"Vivian, what are you talking about? Dustin saved us!" Sheila was dumbfounded."Sheila, don't be fooled by him. This guy has ulterior motives!" Vivian smugly explained, "He was the one who poisoned our drinks! He made a show of leaving before returning at a critical moment to play the hero. "He did all that to earn our trust! But these tricks won't fool me!"Vivian's explanation cast a shadow of doubt in everyone's minds. What she said did seem possible. After all, they would rather trust Vivian than a stranger. "Hey, are you that full of yourself? I'm not that desperate for entertainment to play these petty games with you," Dustin replied coldly.He had been kind enough to help them, but he didn't expect this woman to be so ungrateful!"Hmph! You still won't admit it? Fine!" Vivian said. She continued, "Then let me ask you. How did you just so happen to bump into that waiter and just so happen to pick up this vial of poison? "Don't tell me these are all just coincidences
"Get lost! I'm not in the mood for anything right now. If you want to eat, go on your own." Warrick snapped, looking annoyed."I'm not going either," Percival refused flatly. "I'm on a health regimen these days—only tea, no alcohol.""Fine. If you're going to wait, then keep waiting. I won't be sticking around." Huxley forced a smile and acted like he was about to leave.But as he turned, he almost bumped into Boston, who was approaching from the other direction."Sorry, Sir Thatcher! I hope I didn't startle you." Since he was surrounded by so many high-ranking officials, Boston was already on edge. He had momentarily spaced out and almost caused a mishap by running into Huxley, which left him flustered and a bit tongue-tied.Unlike the other generals, Boston didn't come from an influential background or have any powerful connections. He had worked his way up from the bottom, and the last thing he wanted was to offend Huxley and risk losing everything he had fought so hard for.
After parting ways with Boston, Jovian checked into a nearby hotel to await the good news. Boston wasted no time. After changing into a fresh set of clothes, he headed to the castle to deliver a letter of introduction. But when he arrived, he was stunned by what he saw.The gates of the West Lucozian monarchy had already gathered quite a few people, and among them were several figures he immediately recognized. These included Huxley Thatcher, the Commander of the Militia; Warrick Prescott, the Major General of the State Guard; and Percival Wentworth, the Chancellor of the National Academy.These three were first-ranking officials. In West Lucozia, they were nothing short of kingmakers who wielded immense power and influence. Warrick, in particular, was two ranks above Boston. Hence, he felt the need to be cautious in his presence and was eager not to make a bad impression.Alongside these three prominent figures, several second- and third-ranking officials also stood in line at
The following morning, Jovian stood at the entrance of West Lucozia Airport, wearing a sharp suit.Before the trip, he had contacted his comrade with whom he had fought side by side in the military. After earning military merit and with the Ballard family's influence, he was fortunate enough to stay in Oakvale and secure a decent position.His comrade, on the other hand, had moved to West Lucozia to carve out a life for himself. Years of hard work had paid off—he was now a third-rank general with considerable power, influence, and a strong network of connections. Jovian's meeting with the Prince of West Lucozia would depend entirely on his comrade's connections.Just then, the roar of an engine cut through the air as a military jeep pulled up beside him. The window rolled down, and the first thing that came into view was a bald head gleaming in the sunlight like a lightbulb. The glare nearly blinded him.Under that shiny dome was a face that looked ordinary at first glance. But w
"Grandfather, I understand why you sent Uncle Jonathan and Uncle Jensen to the Spanner and Fallon families to gather information," Natasha began. "But West Lucozia is thousands of miles away."She shook her head slightly. "They've always stayed out of the government's political matters. Sending Uncle Jovian there wouldn't achieve anything. He'd likely just be turned away." Oakvale and West Lucozia were worlds apart. The fight for the Oakvale throne didn't really affect the West Lucozian monarchy. Both sides had long adhered to an unspoken agreement to avoid meddling in each other's affairs."I know, but it'll be different this time. The royal throne is at stake, and every faction will do whatever it takes to secure West Lucozia's support. If the West Lucozian monarchy picks a side, the balance we've maintained for years will collapse. That's why I need to be ready for whatever happens," Simon replied.It would be best if the West Lucozian monarchy stayed out of the political strug
At the Ballard estate, Dustin was warmly welcomed to stay after dinner. This was the first time Natasha had brought her boyfriend home, so the Ballards made a big deal of it.Simon personally accompanied the young couple and invited them to the study to chat over tea. With his sharp eye, Simon could tell Dustin was no ordinary martial artist. His manners, speech, and broad knowledge set him apart from most people."Dustin, I fully support your relationship with Natasha. Your background or status doesn't matter. What matters most is that you two are happy together." Simon paused and said earnestly, "I want you to understand that she's been pampered all her life and hasn't faced much hardship. Now that she's with you, I hope you'll take good care of her.""Don't worry, Mr. Ballard. I would never let her down," Dustin replied sincerely.Though they had known each other for some time and hadn't yet taken their relationship to the next level, they had already made their feelings clear
After hearing Nathaniel's words, Tristan's expression darkened. His brow furrowed as he sank into deep thought.It seemed he had underestimated the situation. He had assumed it was just a simple rivalry between brothers; he hadn't anticipated Seamus seizing the chance to further his own agenda.Seamus already wielded considerable influence. Under the guise of supporting Matthias' ascension to the throne, he had been forming alliances and recruiting talents. His influence had grown to rival the royal family's.If Seamus really supported Matthias' ascension, he'd overshadow the king, and no one would be able to stop him. The worst-case scenario would be Seamus using Matthias as a puppet to overthrow the House of Linsor."Nathaniel, is everything you said true?" Tristan frowned."Absolutely. Every word," Nathaniel replied solemnly. "Of course, if you don't believe me, you can send someone to investigate.""I believe you. But… taking down Seamus won't be easy. Do you have a plan?" Tr
An hour later, Nathaniel quietly entered a private mansion wearing a disguise.Inside the living room, Tristan had already prepared tea and refreshments. He looked as if he had been waiting for a long time."Sorry to have kept you waiting, Tristan." Nathaniel took off his coat and walked forward with a smile."No need to apologize. I'm happy that you made the effort to arrange this. A few extra minutes are nothing, especially since it's rare for us to meet." Tristan gestured for him to sit while he poured two cups of tea and handed one to his brother.Nathaniel accepted the cup and discreetly set it aside. Whenever he was out, he was always cautious about food and drink—this wariness had become second nature."You asked to meet me on short notice. Is this about official matters or something personal?" Tristan took a sip from his cup and got straight to the point."Both," Nathaniel replied, still smiling."Oh?" Tristan raised an eyebrow. "Let's hear it, then.""Given how things
In another luxurious mansion in the Inner City, a female spy dressed in black, cloaked in a hood, was reporting the results of her investigation to Nathaniel."Your Highness, the Moseys have been particularly active recently and are rallying allies. Many of the eight great families and other influential factions have already allied with them. If left unchecked, they'll pose a serious threat to us," she said, kneeling with her head lowered slightly."So the Moseys are backing Matthias, huh?" Nathaniel sat quietly, his expression unreadable."The Moseys have grand ambitions. While they claim to support Prince Matthias, they're merely setting him up as a puppet to rise to power and expand their own influence," she revealed.She had been infiltrating the Moseys' mansion for years and had gained a deep understanding of their operations, from the smallest details to the key players.Though Seamus appeared as a benevolent philanthropist, it was all a façade. Behind closed doors, he was r
That night, two young men sat playing chess inside a secluded mansion in the Inner City. On the left was Anders, who had visited the Ballard estate earlier. Across from him sat Matthias, a broad-shouldered man dressed in richly adorned robes.The game was intense, with fast moves followed by moments of deep thought. About ten minutes later, Anders finally conceded defeat."Anders, you've really improved since we last played. You almost had me there," Matthias said, stroking his beard in mild surprise."You flatter me, Your Highness. My chess skills are nothing compared to yours. If you hadn't gone easy on me, I wouldn't have lasted half as long," Anders replied with a modest smile."You're as smooth with words as ever." Matthias let out a hearty laugh with a look of smug satisfaction. Winning was in his nature—whether in war or on the chessboard, defeat was not an option."Well, we've eaten, and we've played. Let's get to business." With a wave of his hand, he signaled his men t