“Who was behind it all?” Dustin asked. “I don’t know,” said Brennan and shook his head. Dustin scowled and was just about to gesture to Blake to continue his killing when Brennan cried out anxiously, “I really don’t know! I’m not the only one. Most of the people who participated in the operation don’t know either. That person never showed his face. We only know that the order was passed down through the ranks. We don’t even know who exactly gave the order and who led everyone through it. “Many of the people who took part were drawn in by a bounty post on the global black market. We received a notification and gathered in one place before doing what we needed to do.” Dustin narrowed his eyes. The mastermind had acted with caution. Even if he made use of the special privilege given to him as the King of Hades to look into the global black market, the bounty was put up more than twenty years ago, and he might not be able to find any clues. “The bounty was put up anonymously.
Dustin sneered. “Certainly not. If you tell me, I can leave one person alive, but if you don’t, I’m going to annihilate your entire family.” Brennan’s face turned grim, but in the end, he could only sigh. Then, he whispered, “I can tell you that the person who gave the orders that day was someone with a red spider lily tattoo on the back of his hand.” Dustin’s face froze. Some organizations used tattoos to mark their members. That was a very common thing. But he had never heard of any organization that used a red spider lily tattoo on the backs of their hands. Dustin turned to Drake. “My Liege, I’ve never heard of such an organization before,” said Drake and bowed to him. “Look into it,” Dustin said. “Understood.” Drake left. “Anything else?” Dustin looked at Brennan. Brennan had a complicated look on his face. In the end, he said regretfully, “If I could turn back time, I would have made sure the Aquila family never took part in something like this.” Dustin’s f
Bianca was in a five-star luxury hotel six miles away from the Aquila family. In a presidential suite, she soaked in a bathtub. Her phone was right beside her. She was feeling great today and hummed a cheerful tune. She had no idea what had happened to the Aquila family. She did not care. She was certain that things would progress according to her plan. She had always looked down on Dustin and regarded him with disdain. Even if Dustin was no longer the person he was from the past, she still looked down on him. So, she believed that the last resort that she had provided the Aquila family with was enough to keep Dustin in check. “I told Brennan to keep Dustin alive. I’m going to toy with him on behalf of my cousins until he sinks into despair!” Bianca sneered. Soon, her phone rang. Bianca answered it. When she heard the news, her face changed. “What? Dustin left the Aquila family unharmed?!” she cried out in disbelief. Once she confirmed the news, she stood up from the
Dustin walked in front of the sovereign grade fighter and removed his mask. With just one glance, his face darkened. He could not see the fighter’s face at all. The poison had not just taken his life but had also corroded his face rapidly. Dustin had seen this sort of poison before in his medical books. Assassination organizations often used it to kill people and silence them. This person’s corpse would be reduced to a pool of blood within a short period of time and leave nothing behind, which also meant that Dustin would not be able to get any clues. The knowledge was a sobering burden on him. An organization capable of training such powerful assassins was certainly something to be feared. Soon, a Hell Guard showed up and greeted Dustin. “My Liege, Blake and Jennifer were ambushed,” the Hell Guard said. Dustin did not even listen to what had happened to them. He headed straight to where the Torell siblings were. When he arrived, Blake and Jennifer were pale, but th
The West family villa’s living room was jam-packed with people that morning. All the core family members were there, along with some Zimmer family members. The Zimmer family members were excited because Dustin had finally summoned them. The Wyatt family had gained a lot of capital recently, and the Zimmer family had lost because of it. They begged Dustin for help and joined Hell Hall, but Dustin had only asked them to wait. If Dustin did nothing about the whole situation, the Zimmer family was going to fall. “You’ll be using the money we got from the Aquila family as start-up capital,” Dustin said to the people. “From today, the West family and the Zimmer family will work together as strategic partners. I hope that you can gain your own footing in Lannopolis.” “Thank you, Master Fox. We won’t let you down!” The West family agreed to it happily. Ever since the Fox family was destroyed, the West family had faced persecution and had fallen from grace. Finally, they could mak
Before he could confront Bianca, she had sent her people to him. “How dare you address Miss Bianca directly? You clearly don’t know your place! You should be punished!” Lewis barked with a stern face as he pointed at Dustin and yelled. Dustin glanced at him calmly and said, “Yes. A punishment is definitely in order.” “Then, go ahead, or should I give you a hand with that?” Lewis sneered. The words had barely left his mouth when his vision blurred. Smack! A deafening slap echoed through the air. Lewis grimaced, and he was sent flying before he crashed headfirst into a nearby flower bed. When he raised his head, blood trickled from his nose and mouth. He was shocked as much as he was angry. He could not fathom who had hit him. He had not even seen it coming. He represented the Winter family. How could anyone here have the audacity to hit him?! He shouted in rage, “What the f*ck?! Are you mad?” Smack! Another blow struck him and sent him sprawling in the opposite
Bianca stood by the window inside a lavish hotel suite. Her delicate face was twisted in rage. A disheveled Lewis knelt before her, with a swollen face stained with blood. His teeth had been knocked out, and he managed to stammer out his tale of humiliation and suffering at the West family villa. He recounted Dustin’s blatant insolence and ruthlessness. “Miss Bianca, Dustin...” he said and wheezed through the gaps between his teeth. “He doesn’t respect you! He doesn’t respect anyone! People like him won’t learn their place unless you crush them!” Bianca narrowed her eyes with a chilling ferocity. “Oh Dustin, so you refuse the easy way out and insist on challenging me? Fine! Do you think the world revolves around you? Do you think no one can bring you down? Let me show you—there’s always someone stronger than you in this world.” She had hoped to threaten Dustin into surrendering the guards using the damning evidence. But his indifference showed her that he was not afraid to gamb
Few martial artists in Lovellia dared to defy the Martial League. Dustin had never heard of Victor Cain. “Who is Victor Cain?” he asked the members of the West family. Lucius’s face grew solemn. “Mr. Cain is no ordinary man. He’s revered as the strongest martial artist in all of Lannopolis—a legendary sovereign grade fighter. He earned the title of National Hero for his exceptional contributions to Lovellia. He once served as the head of the Lannopolis branch of the Martial League. Though he has since retired, his influence and prestige remain unparalleled and command immense respect from martial artists across Lannopolis...” Dustin raised an eyebrow as his interest was piqued. A National Hero—the nation’s pride, bestowed with privileges few could imagine. Yet, what drew Dustin’s attention was the claim that this man was the strongest in Lannopolis. “Master Fox, Mr. Cain has sent the Martial League to arrest you. The situation is dire! You mustn’t resist them. Any violen
She only began resenting Irene after that incident and targeted her relentlessly ever since.Little did she expect that, at the graduation ball, Aaron would propose to Irene in front of everyone with the Verdigris Emerald ring. This was madness!Irene’s face reflected discomfort as she was surrounded by chanting students. “Aaron, I’m sorry, but I can’t say yes,” she said helplessly. “Why not? Irene, I’ve liked you for four years! Isn’t that enough to prove my sincerity? I’m willing to sacrifice so much for you. Why won’t you say yes?” Aaron lifted his head, and his voice grew agitated. So many people were watching them. He had spent a fortune on the Verdigris Emerald from the Central Harbor Auction House. Irene’s rejection felt like a public humiliation to him. “Aaron, stop fixating on this. I simply don’t like you!” Irene had no choice but to be honest. Irene’s words struck Aaron like lightning. “Why? What’s wrong with me? Did you fall for someone else?” he asked an
The dance battle ended without any debate. The difference between the two sides was clearly visible to all. As Dustin and Irene finished their stunning performance, many in the crowd turned their attention toward Phoebe. Irene had won, so it was her turn to fulfill the bet. She had to get on the floor and oink like a big. “Phoebe is the daughter of the most prestigious family in Lannopolis. For her to kneel on the ground and squeal like a pig? It’ll be the headline in the local paper tomorrow, and the Chandler family’s reputation will be in ruins!” someone muttered. “The heiress of the Chandler family forced to squeal like a pig after losing in a dance-off? By noon, Lannopolis Elite College will be abuzz with gossip. How will Phoebe ever show her face here again?” Amid the murmurs, Phoebe’s face soured, as if she had just swallowed a fly. How could she possibly stoop so low? “You’ve won. What happens next is up to you,” Dustin said to Irene. Irene looked at Phoe
The contrast between the two pairs on the dance floor could not be more striking. On Phoebe’s side, their dance was lively and graceful, and each movement showed elegance and versatility, which earned enthusiastic applause from the surrounding students. In stark comparison, Dustin and Irene’s performance was stiff and riddled with mistakes. Irene nearly twisted her ankle several times. “Is there even a comparison? This is just pathetic!” said Phoebe with a scoff. Her confidence soared as she saw victory within reach. Irene’s frustration grew with every misstep, and her anxiety was evident in her increasingly unsteady movements. “Let me lead,” Dustin suddenly said in a calm yet firm voice. Before Irene could respond, he had taken the lead. He tightened his grip ever so slightly and took control of their movements. In that instant, everything changed. Their dance transformed, like a machine that had just been oiled. It was seamless, breathtaking, and utterly mesmeri
“Drape a stone in silk and jewels, and it still won’t become a gem,” Dustin said indifferently. As soon as he said that, Phoebe’s face darkened. Everyone could tell the remark was a jab at her. “Who do you think you are? How dare you show up here? This isn’t a place for the likes of you. Someone, get him out of here!” she ordered coldly. Her lackeys leaped into action and stormed toward Dustin in menace. Dustin remained unfazed but waved his hand abruptly. “Ah—!” Thud! Thud! Thud! The lackeys were thrown back like rag dolls and rolled across the ground in a heap. Their faces were bruised and battered. The spectacle stunned the students at the ball. “Looks like Irene’s date is quite something,” someone murmured. “A bunch of fools!” Phoebe spat angrily. Dustin turned to Irene. “Sorry for the delay. I had something urgent to take care of.” “It’s okay. You’re here now. That’s all that matters,” Irene said and shook her head. She turned to look at Pho
“Still acting tough? Refusing to admit defeat until you hit rock bottom, huh?” Phoebe sneered. “Don’t forget our little bet—if your so-called ‘perfect date’ doesn’t show up or fails to impress, you’ll have to get on the floor and squeal like a pig!” Irene’s face turned ashen. She regretted her impulsiveness and bitterly cursed herself for agreeing to such an absurd and humiliating wager. If Dustin did not come, she would be forced to crawl on the ground and oink in front of everyone... That would be utterly disgraceful. Her reputation would be ruined forever. “He will come!” Irene said firmly. “Alright then. Let’s wait until 7:30 p.m. Get ready to become a sow,” said Phoebe in disdain and smirked. Time ticked away at an agonizing pace. Irene’s heart was racing, and anxiety gnawed at her insides. Still, she maintained a facade of composure and refused to let her unease show. Phoebe and her friends, on the other hand, continued their relentless stream of taunts a
“Keep an eye on her every move and report back to me immediately,” Dustin ordered one of the Hell Guards as they exited the alley. Although he had given Bianca three days, he was not going to wait around. Someone as arrogant as Bianca would only grow more insolent under direct threats. His ultimatum was a deliberate trap. It was paired with round-the-clock surveillance to ensure she led them straight to his father’s remains. After issuing his orders, Dustin returned to the West family villa. Recently, the West family had been rising to prominence with his support. Most members were now preoccupied with various affairs, and the villa was quieter during the day. “Master Fox…” Irene stood by a pillar and called out to him softly. She was still struggling to address him like that. The young man she had once recruited from a bar had now become “Master Fox” to the West family. Lucius wanted everyone in the family to show Dustin the utmost respect. This left Irene feeling awkwa
There was the Zimmer family and the Panther Gang... “He must have some secrets. Dig up everything there is about him!” Bianca said coldly. “I want all his secrets exposed. Every last one of them! Only then will I be able to deal with him!” “Yes, understood,” Michael said and nodded. “Off you go.” Bianca waved him off impatiently. She was ready to return to her hotel and rest. Her trip to the Cain family villa today had been a waste of time. It left her exhausted both mentally and physically. “Leaving so soon, Miss Bianca?” A languid voice suddenly echoed from the alley’s entrance. Bianca stiffened and turned in the direction of the voice. The dim light at the entrance made it hard to see who it really was. “Who are you?” Michael shouted. When the person stepped closer, Bianca finally saw who it was. “Dustin!” she spat the name out in disgust as her face darkened. It was none other than Dustin, who she thought had left. Michael immediately stepped forward to s
There was an underground domain in Lannopolis, which was also a secret stronghold of the Divine Hall. It was fortified with impenetrable security. Metal Mask entered with a steady pace. Everywhere he passed, the people bowed deeply and greeted him. “Sir, you’ve returned! Did you capture Lucas’s only student?” asked the elite assassin of the Divine Hall, codenamed Ace, who stepped forward and bowed. In his mind, the Master of the Order was unmatched in strength, which meant he would absolutely succeed in subduing the Fox family’s heir. Metal Mask glanced at him. He then suddenly coughed up blood and swayed unsteadily. Ace was shocked. He rushed to support him and helped him to his seat. “Sir, what happened? How were you injured?” he asked in disbelief. He had never seen Metal Mask this hurt before. No one in Honora was capable of wounding him. “I underestimated him,” Metal Mask said gravely. “The Fox family’s heir has surpassed the sovereign grade. He’s already a Martial S
Victor’s hesitation was painfully obvious. He did not dare fight Dustin. The thought of tarnishing his hard-earned reputation or, even worse, losing his life to Dustin, was enough to sap any courage he might have had. He was leaving himself an easy way out. All Dustin needed to do was offer a plausible explanation, and Victor would latch onto it as an excuse. “Why did I kill the Aquila family?” Dustin sneered with a cold face. “The Aquila family was once an underling of the Fox family. They betrayed us and colluded with traitors. They were involved in the slaughter of my entire family. Now, I’ve returned for revenge. An eye for an eye… Does anyone have a problem with that?” At Dustin’s words, the crowd exchanged surprised glances. The Fox family… Was he referring to the Fox family from Grayvale over twenty years ago? No one had expected that there was a survivor from that family… Victor’s face grew serious. The massacre of the Fox family was a complicated affair. An