"Mr. Swanson, you seem sincere in wanting the formula. How about this? I'll take a loss and cover the extra costs. I'll only need the first ten herbs. How does that sound?" Dustin put on a reluctant front. "10 herbs won't do, either!" Zion maintained his grim expression. "Then how many will you agree to?" Dustin sought a compromise."One." Zion raised one finger."I can only give you one!""One herb?" Dustin frowned. "Mr. Swanson, is this some kind of joke? I don't think negotiation works like this.""Your Dew Balm formula is only worth one top-grade precious herb. That's all I can offer." Zion was getting impatient. If Dustin had merely asked for money, he could have managed the situation. However, Dustin was throwing out exorbitant demands and treating him like a fool. "Since you're not cooperating, let's forget about today. I'm sure there will be someone else who would be interested." Dustin didn't waste his breath and prepared to leave. "Stand right there!" Zion sla
"Miracle doctor, are you surprised?" Eleanor asked with a smile."I saw you on the streets and thought you looked familiar. I can't believe it's really you. We parted ways in a rush the last time. I didn't even get to thank you. I'll have to treat you to a meal this time.""It's nothing, Ms. Welch. I just did what anyone should do." Dustin nodded slightly. "Ms. Welch, you … know this guy?" Zion asked cautiously. Eleanor slapped Zion across the face once more. She yelled at him, "Of course! This miracle doctor is my savior! How dare you touch him? Do you think I won't kill you?""Your savior?" Zion was so shocked that his legs almost gave way. He had thought Dustin was only an ordinary citizen who could fight and had some medical skills. He didn't expect him to have the backing of the Welch family's heiress. He had made an unwise move. "What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and apologize to him before I make your life miserable!" Eleanor glared at him. Zion to
"Ms. Welch, what can I do for you?" Mr. Yaxley approached her eagerly with a big smile on his face. "Let me ask you, is it true that we have a Dragon Panax?""Indeed we do. It's in the vault," Mr. Yaxley replied honestly."Great, bring it to me now," Eleanor instructed."Ms. Welch, what are you going to do with it?" Mr. Yaxley tried to ask."Why do you care? I have my reasons!" Eleanor replied impatiently."Ms. Welch, I must confess that this item is a part of Mr. Welch Senior's precious collection. I'm afraid I cannot simply hand it over without his permission," Mr. Yaxley explained with his head lowered."Just bring it to me for now. I'll talk to Grandpa about it later," Eleanor insisted."This … doesn't seem right." Mr. Yaxley was put in a difficult spot."Hey! You won't even listen to me now?" Eleanor glared at him. "I told you to bring it to me! Why so much nonsense? Go!" As she spoke, she gave his backside a swift kick. "Please, hold on, Ms. Welch." Mr. Yaxley was l
What Mr. Yaxley had brought was a box of gold bars. They sparkled brightly under the sunlight, creating a visual impact more stunning than money ever could."Dustin, here's a token of appreciation from the Welch family. Take it as your payment for saving Eleanor," Joanne said calmly as she glanced at the gold bars."What is the meaning of this, Mom?" Eleanor pouted in displeasure."The Welch family never owes favors. Since Dustin saved you, it only makes sense that I reward him handsomely," Joanne said matter-of-factly."Mrs. Welch, I did not save Eleanor for money." Dustin shook his head."What? Is this too little for you?"Without saying anything else, Joanne gestured to Mr. Yaxley. "Joaquin, bring out another box." "Yes, Ma'am." Mr. Yaxley promptly turned to leave."Mom!" Eleanor couldn't keep it in any longer."Not everything is about money! What the miracle doctor needs is the Dragon Panax! He needs it to save lives, not some useless gold bars!""The Dragon Panax?" Joan
"The Iceheart Lotus and the Emerald Corolla," Dustin listed the herbs he needed.The Welch family was a notch above the Swanson family in terms of power and influence. As long as they put some effort into it, they should be able to get their hands on those herbs."Young man, you've got quite the appetite for good things, haven't you? The herbs you mentioned are precious herbs that are extremely valuable! Aren't you a bit greedy to be asking for three precious herbs in return for a formula?" Joanne's brow knitted together in displeasure."I can't say the same for other formulas, Mrs. Welch. But the formula for Dew Balm is definitely worth as much. The profit it can bring the Welch family certainly exceeds the value of those herbs," Dustin guaranteed."Is that so?" Joanne's gaze on Dustin was sharp as she tried to read his expression.However, there wasn't a hint of guilt in his eyes. He simply looked back at her boldly. And that was enough to tell Joanne that he wasn't lying. "
"I'm sorry, Dustin," Eleanor remorsefully said when they reached the gates. "The Dragon Panax should have been a gift. I didn't expect my mother to pull something like that and ruin my plan.""There is no need to apologize, Ms. Welch. Without your help, I would never have obtained the Dragon Panax, nor would I have been able to strike a deal with your mother. "This is the best outcome I could have asked for." Dustin chuckled.It was not a loss for him since he got the three precious herbs in exchange for a mere formula."You're alright with this?" Eleanor perked up."Of course." Dustin nodded, smiling."Hehe! I really like you, Dustin. You're a friend I'd like to keep!"Eleanor smiled, showing off her dimples. "You haven't had lunch yet, have you? Come on, I know a restaurant that serves really good food. Let's go!"With that, she dragged Dustin into her car.Just then, her phone started to ring. As she answered the call, a deep voice was heard saying, "Ms. Welch, we've got
Ezra was a typical player who would never change his ways. Eleanor should consider herself lucky for discovering his true colors before they got married. Otherwise, it would have been too late."Of course, I know that I should let go. But not without making him pay first!" Eleanor gritted her teeth, full of resentment."How dare he treat me like this? I'm not letting him off easily! "I'll make him regret messing with me! I'll make him understand that losing me is the biggest loss of his god-damned life!""What do you have in mind?" Dustin questioned."Since he's cheating on me with other women, I'll get myself a man. I'll humiliate and piss him off!" Eleanor sniffled. All of a sudden, her gaze landed on Dustin. "You'll be my boyfriend from now on, Dustin. I'll show him that he isn't the only one who can mess around!""What?" Dustin was startled. "Are you kidding, Ms. Welch? We barely know each other.""So what? Do you think I'm not good enough for you?" Eleanor huffed."I'
When the door was kicked open, everyone was stunned and instinctively looked over.A fashionably dressed and sweet-looking Eleanor stood at the door. She walked in with an air of indifference. Dustin trailed in behind her casually."Eleanor?""Ms. Welch?"When they saw who it was, everyone's expression changed. Especially Ezra, who immediately withdrew his hand from the lady's waist as if he was electrocuted. Then, he stood up and forced a smile. "Eleanor, why are you here?""What, you can be here, and I can't?" Eleanor glanced at the lady before fixing her gaze on Ezra.Though she had mentally prepared herself, it still angered her to see the cheating couple behave so intimately."Sure you can! But why didn't you tell me beforehand? I could have made arrangements for you," Ezra said with a smile."No need. I'm just here to have a look."As Eleanor spoke, her gaze trailed over to the lady on the couch, who looked nervous. Eleanor asked casually, "Who's this beside you? I
"Mr. Rhys, you're so generous," Felicia said. "I don't know how to repay you."She lightly ran her fingers over the smooth surface of the ornate box. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she looked up at Dustin gratefully."It was nothing, Ms. Thorns. Don't mention it," he replied with an indifferent smile. "Besides, this Dracan essence was always destined for Prince Nathaniel. I'm merely delivering it."Felicia smiled earnestly. "What do you want in return? If it's within my power, I'll gladly help."Dustin replied, "I'm not asking for anything. I only hope that if I ever find myself in trouble, Prince Nathaniel will be willing to help me.""I get it now." Felicia nodded.Dustin wasn't asking for treasure, but rather seeking a favor from Nathaniel. With Nathaniel's current status, his favor was more valuable than any treasure.If he ascended the throne and became king, the value of that favor would increase exponentially. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that, even if D
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