As more high-ranking officials and nobles continued to arrive, the scene became a mess. Notable figures like the Minister of War, the leader of the Imperial City guards, the Marquis of Riaz's eldest son, and other influential figures from Oakvale arrived. Just looking at this group of VIPs, it was clear they could easily take over Millsburg. Everyone was stunned, with their jaws dropped in disbelief as these prominent figures appeared one after another. It was something they never imagined."Sir Hyde, General Barker, Mr. Schmid, you've finally arrived!" Arthur's face lit up as he greeted his esteemed guests warmly.They were Minister of War, Landon Hyde, Chief of the Imperial City guards, Rhett Barker, and the Marquis of Riaz's eldest son, Neal Schmid. They held considerable influence in Oakvale, and in terms of status and power, they were on the same level as the Spanners' twins.Especially Landon, the leader of the group, held the highest position within Dragonmarsh. Even the
The Harmons thought the Grant family had lost the battle when the Spanners' twins appeared. They had even prepared to be treated as the scapegoats. But Landon and his group appeared like a ray of light, giving them hope. So what if Lord Xenos was here? So what if General Murray was here? Even with the Spanners' twins added to the mix, they weren't a threat to the Grants in front of the high-ranking officials led by the Minister of War."Tyler, it's your engagement day today, but I don't have much to give you. I've carried this emerald with me for many years, and now, I'm passing it to you. "I hope you continue to strive for excellence in the future." Landon smiled as he took out an antique emerald and passed it to Tyler. "Thank you, Sir Hyde." Tyler received it respectfully with both hands. "Lord Grant, is something going on? The atmosphere seems tense." Landon was quick to notice that something was amiss. "Sir Hyde, we've encountered some trouble today. Thankfully, y
"Comparing numbers, now are we? Let's see how many brains you have here!" Scarlet didn't bother wasting her breath at the crowd's uproar and raised her sword. She was obviously irritated. But before she could attack, Dustin stopped her. "Kid, don't act impulsively."With Scarlet's temper, she wasn't afraid to kill. But if she did kill, the consequences would be severe.The people they were up against were of different status. They were Oakvale's high-ranking officials. If Scarlet hurt them, she would be responsible for it. She might even be dismissed. The Spanners were a prominent family and had many enemies. Once they had a weakness, their enemies would use it against them. The prime example was the time he was falsely accused of starting a rebellion. He didn't want Scarlet to get into trouble because of him. "Dustin, these people are despicable and only bully the weak. They will continue their acts if we don't teach them a lesson." Scarlet glared fiercely at the grou
Everyone instinctively turned toward the voice. At the entrance, they saw a group of armed guards escorting several aristocrats, marching in magnificently. Leading the group was an elegantly dressed, beautiful young woman. The beautiful young woman seemed to take good care of her appearance and looked to be in her early 30s. She exuded an air of grace and elegance, her every move screaming royalty. Beside her was a handsome young man who had his hands in his pockets. As he walked in, his gaze darted around his surroundings, looking indifferent."Oh my goodness, it is the Princess Consort of Theswe! Why is she here?""The Princess Consort of Theswe? The one from West Lucozia?""Of course! Who else would dare claim that title?" After seeing the beautiful young woman, the scene was again thrown into chaos. Even the high-ranking officials of Oakvale became respectful. They wouldn't have felt so nervous if it were just any other Princess Consort. But the Princess Consort o
"What?" The sudden turn of events left everyone dumbfounded. Nobody expected the Princess of Theswe to greet Landon with a slap to the face. It was a simple, brutal action without any warning nor words of exchange. The problem was Landon was the Minister of War and an official of the first rank. She completely disregarded him by slapping him in public. "Yo—Your Highness, why did you hit me?" Landon was dumbfounded. He felt disoriented as he clutched his throbbing cheek. He would have flown into a rage if it had been just another ordinary aristocrat. But given that this was the Princess Consort of Theswe and Dragonmarsh's eldest princess, he could only hold it in even if he was frustrated. "That slap was for your ignorance. Now, kneel before you speak." The beautiful woman spoke icily. "Your Highness, I don't understand. What have I done to offend you?" Landon summoned up the courage to ask. She struck him hard across the face again. Coldly, she demanded, "Are you deaf?
"We can only hope that the Princess Consort of Theswe will not implicate us Grants," Arthur said, swallowing dryly. He had lost his previous arrogance. It was now replaced with fear and anxiety. The Princess Consort of Theswe's appearance had changed the situation unexpectedly. "Hmph! You bunch of impudent scum! You would have lost your heads if the Prince of Theswe was here!" The beautiful woman sneered.Then, under the watchful eyes of many, she walked up to Dustin. Her previously proud and cold demeanor disappeared. It was now replaced with a rare smile. "Logan, long time no see. How have you been all these years?""Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I've been living quite well." Dustin nodded slightly without arrogance.While he didn't exactly hate the woman before him, he didn't have positive feelings about her either. "Ten years had gone by so quickly. You've grown so much, I almost didn't recognize you."She smiled, then waved to someone behind her. "Austin,
Austin's hands were on his hips. With one foot stepping down on Landon's chest, he launched into a violent tirade. Every word he uttered was an earth-shattering revelation that shocked the crowd. For a moment, the entire scene was covered in silence. Everyone was dumbfounded and in disbelief.They could never have imagined that Dustin had hidden such a huge secret. He was Austin's eldest brother, the unparalleled Kirin, and the Crown Prince of West Lucozia. The three revelations weighed upon them like three massive mountains."I—I know who he is now. He was that monstrous genius who stirred Oakvale into a storm ten years ago. Logan Rhys!""What? Logan Rhys? Isn't he supposed to be dead? How can he still be alive?""Logan Rhys … It's Logan Rhys! Oh my goodness! How did we manage to offend such an influential figure?" After a brief silence, the entire scene erupted into chaos. Everyone had their attention on Dustin. Their faces displayed astonishment, fear, doubt, and mostl
Arthur was overcome with panic as he broke out in a sweat. Dustin was the Rhys family's Kirin and the future Prince of Theswe. The Grants had provoked someone they never should have."It's over … we're done for!" Trent fell to the ground with a thud; the color drained from his face. The elders of the Harmon family were also filled with despair, deeply regretting their actions. Nobody expected Dustin to have hidden such a terrifying background. It sent shivers down their spines. The Grant family was powerful and influential enough to have support from the Minister of War and other high-ranking officials. They were undeniably a force to be reckoned with in Balerno. But all of that was nothing compared to a colossal figure like the Prince of Theswe. They were but insignificant pawns that would never be able to put up any resistance. They stood on entirely different planes of status. As the Crown Prince, Dustin could destroy the entire Grant family if he wanted to. And the Har
When Dustin heard Felicia's word, his hand briefly hesitated before he placed the chess piece. He smiled and said, "I thought you came to learn chess, but I didn't expect you to be here as a messenger."Felicia gave a light, teasing laugh. "With a mind like yours, how could you not know why I'm here?"She added candidly, "Prince Nathaniel saved my life and welcomed me as an honored guest. It's only right that I repay the favor by helping solve his troubles. I hope that it doesn't bother you.""You're frank and gracious, Ms. Thorns. Why would I take offense?" Dustin replied with a faint smile.He had expected her to start with pleasantries or try to butter him up. So, her bluntness actually caught him off guard."To be honest, Prince Nathaniel has never taken this kind of interest in anyone before," Felicia said as she placed another chess piece on the board. She smiled and continued, "I can tell he truly wants you on his side. And as someone close to him, I'd like to help make
Nathaniel's mansion was huge. It was more like a maze than a home. Even with a detailed layout, Dustin had to stay sharp as he moved through the grounds. After all, blueprints never quite captured the twists and turns of the actual place.Led by a maid, he followed a winding path through the corridors for nearly ten minutes before finally arriving at a guesthouse with a garden.The place was spacious and quiet, filled with birdsong and blooming flowers. It was a secluded spot that was ideal for privacy."Mr. Rhys, you can stay here. If you need anything, just let me know," the maid said. Her gaze was warm with a hint of admiration. She had watched Dustin's performance in the training ground earlier and knew he was an important guest brought in by Nathaniel. If she could catch his attention, it could completely turn her life around.He waved her off and said, "Okay. You can go now. I don't need anyone to attend to me." "Uh… but…" The maid hesitated."Don't worry. I'll explain
The crowd murmured among themselves as they looked at the broken broadsword and the stunned expression on Lycas' face."That strike was insanely fast and dead-on too," someone commented."I never expected General Derin's secret move to be defeated like that. It's unbelievable," another said."I thought General Derin could turn things around for us, but he still lost," a third added.Everyone knew how strong Lycas was. As a fully developed grandmaster with a broadsword, he was supposed to be unstoppable. However, at the critical moment, Dustin's strike shattered his broadsword.Lycas' loss was sudden and almost unbelievable. Some blamed bad luck and thought he could have won if things had gone differently. But those who truly understood what happened knew better.Even with Dustin's movement restricted and Lycas unleashing his strongest technique, he still pierced through the opening with near-impossible timing. That strike wasn't just lucky but masterful. It was a brutal display
Lycas gripped his broadsword with both hands and roared. The sound cracked through the air like a thunderclap.He sidestepped sharply and charged straight at Dustin like a raging bull.The heavy broadsword moved like it weighed nothing in his hands. He swung it with brutal speed. Each arc cut through the air with a sharp, whistling howl, as if it could slice through anything in its path.The broadsword came crashing down on Dustin with bone-crushing force, like a mountain falling from the sky.Lycas threw his full weight into the swing. As the sword descended, the force of the strike stirred up dust from the ground. It sent plumes of dirt in every direction.He knew Dustin was no ordinary opponent. If he wanted a chance to win, he had to make the first move and seize the initiative."Nice form," Dustin said.As Lycas launched a powerful, aggressive attack, Dustin remained calm and unruffled. With effortless grace, he sidestepped without the slightest rush. The broadsword whizz
Bryce knew Dustin was strong, but this was beyond anything he anticipated. Though he had gained the upper hand early on, Bryce still believed his skills matched Dustin's.From his observation, Dustin relied on martial arts techniques and hit-and-run tactics. Plus, he didn't dare to confront Bryce head-on.He had assumed that as long as he found an opening, he could exploit Dustin's weaknesses and defeat him. But when Dustin finally stopped holding back, Bryce realized how wrong he'd been.It turned out Dustin wasn't just playing hit-and-run tactics. Instead, he'd held back the entire time to spare Bryce from an embarrassing defeat.The moment Dustin stopped holding back, Bryce didn't stand a chance. Even without special techniques, Dustin's raw power, speed, and reflexes were enough to crush him.The difference in their abilities was staggering, so much so that no amount of skill could close the gap.And it wasn't just Bryce who was shocked. Except for Nathaniel, who had already
Bryce's request for a fight heated up the atmosphere.Soldiers around the training ground started murmuring among themselves."Lieutenant General Gantz is a legend in our ranks. His combat skills are no joke—he's taken down countless enemies on the battlefield. I haven't seen him in action in years," one young soldier said with awe."Yeah," a veteran agreed. "Lieutenant General Gantz has been through countless battles, and his strength is unmatched. If he steps in, Mr. Rhys might be in for a rough time."After the fight earlier, the soldiers knew firsthand that Dustin was no slouch. Otherwise, he wouldn't have easily defeated the five elite soldiers.But in their minds, no matter how skilled Dustin was, he stood no chance against Bryce.Bryce was a grandmaster not just in rank but in skill, physical strength, and battlefield experience. He was stronger than any expert from the martial world.Nathaniel had once recruited several grandmaster martial artists to spar with them, but
"Your Highness, the soldiers under me are trained solely in killing techniques. If they hurt your guest, things could get ugly," Lycas said.He didn't say it outright, but the message was clear. If Dustin wasn't strong enough, he'd better stay out of the way, or he was just asking for trouble.Bryce didn't say anything, but the look he gave Dustin was full of contempt. How could a pampered young man like Dustin measure up to soldiers who've been through the grind? He figured Dustin was probably some heir from a prominent family who knew Nathaniel and was trying to assert his relevance."You guys are blind to greatness when it's standing right in front of you." Nathaniel chuckled and shook his head. He added, "If any of you manage to land a hit on Mr. Rhys, I'll pay out a thousand gold. But honestly, I doubt any of you have what it takes."At the mention of rewards, the soldiers perked up. Their eyes lit up with excitement. They were practically itching to charge at Dustin and g
During the meal, Nathaniel arranged for two women to accompany Dustin.Throughout history, even the greatest heroes couldn't resist the allure of beautiful women. Sometimes, a woman of extraordinary beauty could be far more enticing than rare treasures or high status.Dustin remained composed. He neither showed any enthusiasm nor did he deliberately reject it.As for the women seated on either side of him, he treated them with polite respect. He enjoyed a drink and the easy conversation with them, but nothing beyond that.However, Nathaniel saw it differently. To him, it seemed that Dustin was unimpressed by the women at his side.Considering Dustin's background, it made sense. A woman of ordinary beauty would never catch his attention. Nathaniel realized he would need to pull out all the stops. Perhaps, it was time to bring out his most prized companion and see how Dustin responded.After the meal, he led Dustin to his mansion's training ground.The midday sun blazed overhead
"This…" Dustin began.He hesitated on purpose and didn't give an immediate answer.Upon seeing him deep in thought, Nathaniel was convinced that Dustin was weighing the pros and cons. He leaned in slightly, his smile widening with anticipation. "You should know how much the Dracan essence means to me," he said. "If I can gather all the essences, it’d be like fate is on my side. My path to the throne would be unstoppable—and when that time comes, your reward will be waiting."As he spoke, his gaze stayed on Dustin as he searched for any sign of hesitation in his expression.Dustin looked up and met his eyes. For a moment, something unreadable flickered in his gaze.He pressed his lips together and spoke slowly. "You're right, Your Highness. But it wasn't easy to find the Dracan essence. I went through quite a few twists and turns. Besides, if I give it to you, it might put me at odds with the other two princes."He paused deliberately and left the rest unsaid. Still, the concern