"Ms. Camron, I have a business proposal I'd like to discuss with you, one that's sure to be absolutely profitable." Dustin got straight to the point."Oh? What kind of business?" Lana was interested. "I can't explain it over the phone. Let's meet face-to-face at Regal Court in an hour," Dustin suggested."Alright, see you there."After hanging up, Dustin got into his car and left the house. With Maximus keeping guard at home, he didn't need to worry about what the Swansons and Welchs were up to. It was noon when Dustin arrived at Regal Court. He walked through the front doors and was led straight to the second floor by a waiter. He eventually ended up in a private room.Inside, Lana was sipping her tea leisurely in her tight-fitting red dress. She had put on light makeup and had a paper fan in her hand. Her long hair was tied behind her back, and her red dress accentuated her voluptuous figure, making her exceptionally alluring. Her long, pale legs that were crossed were pa
When Dustin noticed Lana's concerned look, he was momentarily stunned, and his thoughts drifted. It was as though he saw Natasha in her. He wondered about her well-being and whether she might resent him for taking so long before getting in touch. Shaking himself back to reality, Dustin withdrew his hand. Stopping Lana from tending to his wound, he explained, "It's alright, Ms. Camron. It's just a minor cut. It'll heal soon after I apply some Dew Balm." With that, Dustin took out the Dew Balm he had prepared earlier and applied it to his wound. Unlike the previous versions, which were black in color, the Dew Balm he used this time was a clear emerald green. This was the improved, authentic version. It had no side effects and had a remarkable healing effect."Hey, handsome. Even if you wanted to test the medicine, you didn't have to harm yourself. Look at how painful it looks." Lana said with a hint of resentment. "This was the fastest and most convincing way," Dustin repl
"Ms. Camron, since this is a collaboration, I won't let you fight alone. I'll shoulder most of the pressure. "Your role would be to manufacture and market the product, using the Camron family connections to build up the reputation of Dew Balm," Dustin explained earnestly. Lana fell silent upon hearing this. While Dew Balm was indeed a valuable product, was it worth offending the Swansons and the Welchs over it? "Of course, if you have your reservations, I won't force you. Consider this jar of Dew Balm a gift from me to you," Dustin said with a faint smile. Placing the medicine on the table, he pushed it toward Lana. The Camrons held significant influence in South City, but even then, they only ranked third. The first and second were the Welchs and the Swansons, respectively. To take on both of those major families simultaneously would be a tremendous challenge. It now only depended on whether Lana was willing to take the risk. "Handsome, why did you choose to partner up wit
Back at the villa, Dustin appeared hesitant as he held up his phone. While he was discussing business with Lana earlier, thoughts of Natasha had surged through his mind. It consumed his every thought and left no room for anything else. He had learned from Maximus that Natasha had accompanied her grandfather back to Oakvale. She wanted to extend her influence there. It would take just one call for them to reunite. However, Dustin was worried. Oakvale was a different world from Southern Province. It was filled with brilliant individuals and lurking threats. His objectives in Oakvale were extremely dangerous, and he couldn't bear to have Natasha involved. "Maybe I can just meet her briefly and say hello," Dustin murmured. After pacing back and forth on the balcony, he took a deep breath and dialed her number. The call rang for about five seconds before it connected, and he soon heard a familiar voice. "Hmph! You jerk, you finally call me. Tell me honestly, where have y
Within the Inner City was the City of Aylka, symbolizing supreme power. It was a sacred place that countless ambitious individuals dreamt of being in. It was also where Dustin intended to seek the truth and justice. However, now was not the time for that. Inner City was quite congested, as it happened to be rush hour. Even though Dustin had left an hour early, it was already dark when he finally arrived at his destination. Natasha hosted the celebration at Skylight Heights Hotel, a luxurious five-star hotel. The venue was perfect for hosting a grand celebration as it offered a wide range of entertainment facilities. It was a high-end establishment with excellent service, making it the ideal choice for hosting such an event.Meanwhile, inside Banquet Hall One on the top floor of the hotel, a group of young men and women had come together. They were all elegantly dressed, toasting their drinks and chatting happily. On stage, song and dance performances were constantly entert
"Harper, do you realize how powerful she is now?" Cody's face displayed a hint of pride. "As long as Ms. Harmon is willing to step in, the Swansons won't be able to do anything," he finished. "You're right …" Harper nodded enthusiastically. She was filled with delight.She had made up her mind. She was going to impress Natasha no matter what it took. By doing so, she could turn her situation around. Plus, she could also rise to the upper circle of Oakvale's elite."By the way, Cody, how do you know all this?" Harper suddenly became curious."To be honest, my uncle is a military advisor in the monarchy working under the Duke of Lachshire. He has a lot of connections. So it's easy for me to learn about all these secrets," Cody replied proudly. In fact, Natasha's identity was already publicly known within the powerful circles. It wasn't much of a secret. Rather, it was something most ordinary people wouldn't come across."Cody, you're truly amazing!" Harper gave him a thumbs u
"Stop joking. Ms. Harmon is pursued by many outstanding people in the industry. How could I compare to them?" Cody shook his head. Even though he was flattered, he was self-aware. The gap between their social status was far too wide. "Cody, if you put your heart into it, you can achieve anything. No matter what, you should give it a try. What if you happen to be Ms. Harmon's type?" Harper encouraged him."Really?" Cody was somewhat uncertain."Why would I lie to you?" Then, Harper added, "Look at yourself. You're handsome, tall, poised, and charming. "Most importantly, you're skilled in medicine, attentive, and have great character. A man of your caliber is truly a rare find in this world!""Is that so?" Cody ran his fingers through his hair and straightened his tie. His confidence surged, and he looked delighted. After all, he considered himself an outstanding and nearly perfect man. He also had tremendous potential. It didn't seem too far-fetched to marry the granddau
"What? She's yours?" Both Cody and Harper exchanged puzzled glances when they heard that. They began to wonder if they had heard him wrongly.Natasha was, after all, a siren who ranked third in the Beauty Ranking. Besides, she was also the Duke of Lachshire's granddaughter. She was basically the dream of countless young men! How dare a poor loser like Dustin so shamelessly claim that she was his? Had he lost his mind?"Dustin. Are you … serious?" Cody probed."Of course," Dustin answered confidently. "Pfft!" Cody burst out laughing as though he'd just heard the greatest joke of the century. "Oh, Dustin! Do you even hear yourself? Did you just say that Ms. Harmon is yours? Hahaha!" Cody clutched his belly as he laughed with an exaggerated expression."Hmph! How shameless!" Harper folded her arms in front of her chest as she huffed. "Don't you have any self-awareness?"Don't go around thinking that your identity has changed just because you put on new clothes. A loser will alw
"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