"Hmph! You're trying to go against us, are you? You're just making things difficult for yourself!" Seeing Lana in such a mess, Eleanor smirked.Business was a warzone. The Welch family was familiar with using underhanded tactics to make things go their way. In the past, those who failed to show proper respect and refused to align themselves with the Welch family were destroyed. Clearly, it wasn't going to be any different for the Camrons."Those are just rumors! Nothing but fabricated lies!" Matteo stepped out when he saw that Lana couldn't handle the crowd. He stated solemnly, "I guarantee with the Camron family's reputation at stake that the entire production of Dew Balm adheres strictly to regulations. "There can't possibly be any problems with our products. What happened today is because someone is out to frame us!""That's rubbish! I have concrete evidence that you are the reason my father died!" the man bellowed.As he said that, a woman rushed up to the corpse and bega
Dustin said calmly, "You claim you're from the Food and Drug Administration, but you don't even have an arrest warrant. So, on what basis are you arresting her?""That's true! You can seize the drugs, but you have no right to arrest her!" Matteo was quick to react.Every department had its responsibilities. It was true that matters of medical products were under the control of the Food and Drug Administration. However, they had no authority to arrest people."You've broken the law. As a governmental department, we are responsible for taking charge!" the bald man declared."Oh, drop the act, will you? We didn't break any laws. Besides, even if we did, it's not your place to arrest us." Dustin remained cool as a cucumber."How dare you?" The bald man glared at Dustin, feeling his authority challenged. He shouted in frustration, "Hey, bastard! I'm warning you, you better not obstruct us, or we'll arrest you too!""Arrest me? Do you have the authority to do that?" Dustin scoffed.
At that moment, Mr. Zagatti was shocked and flustered about what to do. Never in his dreams had he expected the Dawson family to be involved in this matter, too.After all, the Dawson family ranked second among Oakvale's eight great families, only second to the Langfords.The Dawsons were the leading group in the medication field. Even the head of the Food and Drug Administration was backed by them. As a manager in the department, how would he dare cross the Dawson family?His lips trembled as he said fearfully, "M-Mr. Dawson, there must be some sort of misunderstanding going on! "The Dawson family is a role model of the entire industry, having a great reputation throughout the years. There's no way you'd break the law knowingly!""Is that so? Then what about the issue with Dew Balm? Weren't you about to arrest people just a while ago?" Bo asked frostily."No, no, no! That was just a misunderstanding!"Mr. Zagatti was so frightened that he waved his hands repeatedly. "The Foo
"They've got concrete evidence! What else do you need to look into?" Eleanor challenged with displeasure."Arrest them right now, or I'll sue you for abuse of power! This is an order!""What?" Mr. Zagatti frowned, his expression darkened."Mr. Zagatti, look around you. Countless pairs of eyes are watching, and reporters are also present. Are you really going to cover up for these people?" Ezra demanded sharply."Well …" Mr. Zagatti found himself stuck between a rock and a hard place.Though he dared not offend the Dawsons, the power of public opinion was equally as formidable. If any exaggerated news were to be reported, it would make things very messy for him."Ezra Swanson, you better watch your words, or I'll sue you for defamation," Bo said calmly."Mr. Dawson, this is something between us and the Camrons. Please do not interfere," Ezra said."The Dawson family and the Camron family are now allies. Dew Balm is a joint production between both families. Do you think that I ca
When Elara took out the final evidence, the middle-aged man fell on his knees in despair.Had it just been the insurance records, he could have worm his way out. But now that they found the poison, and it even had his fingerprints on it, there was nothing else he could say to save himself."So it turns out that this bastard had lied! How despicable!""He even murdered his own father! Does he have no conscience?""A beast! He's a beast through and through!"The onlookers who had gathered around began berating and condemning him.They had thought that the victim had died due to the products of the vile sellers, but the man had intentionally framed them. And the worst part was that he was evil enough to harm his own father! Not even an animal would do something like that. It was downright inhumane!"What a good-for-nothing!" Eleanor muttered under her breath with her brows furrowed. Not only had he failed to accomplish his purpose, he even left behind such important evidence. I
"Bo, what exactly have the Camrons offered you? Why are you helping them?" Eleanor asked with her brows furrowed."I have always stood up for people in unjust situations. Do you have a problem with that?" Bo lifted his chin and looked down his nose at them."There are never lasting enemies, Bo; Only lasting interests. No matter what benefits the Camrons have offered you; the Welch family will offer you double!" Eleanor tried to strike a deal with Bo."Double?" Bo chuckled at that, and a hint of contempt crept into his smile."Truth be told, I'm the biggest shareholder of Dew Balm. I hold 40% of the shares. So, if you were to double that, that'd be 80%. Are you able to afford that?""What?" When she heard that, Eleanor's expression soured.She had assumed that Bo had been offered some form of benefit to assist the Camrons. It hadn't occurred to her that they had formed such an alliance. It was impossible to get Bo to side with them now."So this is how it is." Ezra frowned, his
Eleanor was secretly pleased to see that all three of them had agreed to it. A sly smirk graced her features.What a bunch of idiots! All it took were a few words to agitate them, and now they fell into her trap. She would never have suggested such a bet if she was not fully confident that she would win!Framing them with the dead body had just been Plan A. But now, they would go all out and deploy Plan B. As long as Dustin agreed to take her up on the bet, he'd be jumping head-first into the trap Eleanor had laid out for him."Draft us an agreement to sign now!" Eleanor ordered.The people who were with Eleanor immediately began busying themselves. A while later, two copies of an agreement were brought to her. Relevant clauses of the agreement were clearly stated. Not only would the losers need to surrender their formula, but they would also have to make a public apology and promise never to sell similar products again."Have you had a good look at it yet? If you have, then
At the sight of that, Ezra beamed even brighter. "See that, Dustin? This is the surprise we've prepared for you!""So you guys came prepared! Isn't this just cheating!" Lana criticized them."Haha! All is fair in war! You can't blame me for your own stupidity! I can't believe you actually took us up on the bet!" Ezra gloated."It's jam-packed over on our side, but I can't say the same for you. It's pretty clear who's going to be the winner now. You might as well just admit defeat." Eleanor smirked.Though their plan to frame Dustin and Lana with the dead body hadn't worked, their strategy to provoke them had. Eleanor and Ezra's plan had not gone to waste."What's the rush? We've still got time before the day ends." Dustin remained calm and composed."What? Are you still unwilling to admit that you've lost?" Ezra mocked with a taunting smile. "Fine, we'll just take things up a notch and make sure that you acknowledge your defeat!"Then, he pulled out his cell phone and made a cal
"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