"Mr. Brooks, why on earth are you willing to go against our family for him?" Phineas demanded with a threatening glare. He had approached Roderick confidently but never expected this outcome."To tell you the truth, Mr. Rhys is my savior and honored guest. If you have a problem with him, that means you have a problem with me! So, you either beg for his forgiveness, or your family is over!" Roderick declared; the aura he exuded was overwhelming."You want us to apologize to that asshole? In your dreams!" Matt yelled angrily."Then, get lost! I wonder how long your family can last." Roderick kicked them out."Roderick Brooks, life has its ups and downs, so don't look down on a broke man! You'll regret it one day!" Matt forced through gritted teeth and stormed away."Mr. Brooks, you've incurred the wrath of the Laney family. I doubt my family can't borrow merely three billion dollars elsewhere!" Phineas glared at Roderick before following his son."Arrogant fools!" Roderick sneered.No on
"How did it go, Dad? Is anyone willing to help us?" Matt asked tentatively."Fuck those bastards! They come wagging their tails as soon as they have something they want and call themselves my friends, but the moment they find out that our family is in trouble, they start running away! Those fucking fakes!" Phineas' face contorted with rage. He never thought that he, the head of the Laney family, would end up like this."Dad, everyone always says that misfortune shows you those who are not your real friends. Stop hanging out with them from now on. I'll make them regret their choice after we pull through." Matt swore solemnly."Matt, my contacts are useless now. You're the only one I can rely on." Phineas suddenly thought of someone. "Aren't you close with Edwin Hummer's daughter? Why don't you ring her up and see if she can lend us some money?""Oh, right! I nearly forgot! The daughter of the wealthiest man in Swinton should be able to spare us three billion dollars easily. I'll call he
"Hello? Hello!" Matt held his phone by his ear with a dumbfounded expression. All he did was mention Dustin's name. Why did Tina sound so frightened? Matt had no idea that Tina was still traumatized from the time Dustin slapped her. What's worse was that instead of getting her revenge, she had been forced to grovel for Dustin's forgiveness, which was nothing less than an utter embarrassment and a terror for her.Although she was bitter about it, she couldn't lay a hand on Dustin because her family didn't dare seek revenge before her brother returned. Dustin was someone who could defeat a martial arts master like Mr. Milfroy with ease. If someone like him were to go crazy, he could destroy the entire Hummer family in a heartbeat! Because of this, they didn't dare seek revenge, and Tina shook in fear every time someone mentioned Dustin."What did Ms. Hummer say, Matt?" Phineas saw his son in a daze and asked. "Fuck! That bitch is terrified of Rhys. There's no way she'll lend us money.
Meanwhile, at Peaceful Medical Centre, Dustin was reading a book in silence when a Maybach pulled up at the door. The car door opened, and Phineas came out holding some gifts."Mr. Rhys." Phineas entered the building with a smile, no longer carrying the arrogance he had when they first met."Do you need me for something?" Dustin glanced at the other man indifferently. "Mr. Rhys, I'm really sorry about today's incident. Please forgive us for being so ignorant." Phineas smiled apologetically.He finally understood that there was more than meets the eye when it came to Dustin, who had the support of the Harmon family and the friendship of Big Bucks Brooks. If Phineas wanted to borrow three billion dollars, he had to first get Dustin's forgiveness."How could a nobody like me make the Laney family apologize?" Dustin replied, unconcerned."What are you talking about, Mr. Rhys? You're young but talented. We admit defeat proudly. Please give us a way out." Phineas bowed his head. However, Du
"Huh?" Phineas covered his cheek with a hand, dumbfounded.…Meanwhile, inside a room in Estelle Hotel, Dahlia was lying strewn across the bed, nearly unconscious, her head heavy and her body weak.Matt stood next to her, grinning wickedly as he admired her voluptuous figure."Dahlia, I have to admit. You sure are a beauty." He tsked. "Your looks and figure are perfect. I've fucked countless women, but none were as charming as you. Naturally, I'm the perfect man for you. How dare Dustin Rhys try to claim you as his! But don't worry, you'll be mine after tonight."Sneering, Matt began to unbutton his shirt before remembering something. He pulled out his phone and panned the camera toward Dahlia."I nearly forgot to record our wonderful night. I promised Dustin that I'd send him a video of us making love. Men don't break promises." Matt grinned excitedly."You despicable, shameless bastard! I'll throw you to jail if you touch me!" Dahlia seethed feebly."If you don't mind others seeing
Bang!As the room door was kicked open, the lightbulbs in the room exploded simultaneously, shattering into pieces of glass, and an ominous chill blanketed the room."Who the fuck is it? Who's ruining my fun?" Matt spun around, scowling. He was unable to identify the person due to the sudden darkness in the room."Matt Laney, you have a death wish!" An icy voice growled as the shadow approached.The moonlight peeked through the window, and Matt saw the other person's face. It was Dustin!"It's you!" Matt's expression changed, and he hastily pulled out a handgun from the bedside drawer. He yelled, "You imbecile! I haven't paid you back for ruining my plans so many times, yet you approached me first!""Dustin? Hurry up … and go. Don't care about me …" Dahlia cried out weakly. When she saw Dustin, she thought she'd finally be saved, but she never expected that Matt would have a gun, so she instantly panicked."Weren't you talking so big, dipshit? Ha, you still have to admit defeat to our
"You fucker!" James got up and was about to spew insults when he realized that Dustin was already gone. "Damn it! That kid's lucky he got away, or I'd have taught him a lesson!""He can't run away forever! After doing something like this, I'll make sure he stays in jail for the rest of his life!" Florence gritted her teeth."That's right! You can't let him go!" Julie and the others quickly agreed. Dustin had gone too far!"Hmm …" Just then, Dahlia began to wake up."You're finally awake!" Florence lit up. "How do you feel?""What are all of you doing here, Mom?" Dahlia rubbed her aching temples, her memory was a mess."Lyra called and told us that you might be in danger, so we hurried here. Thank God we made it in time, or Dustin would have raped you!" Florence got angry again."Dustin?" Dahlia frowned, seeming to have recalled something. She asked, "Where is he?""Don't worry. We chased him away." Florence reassured Dahlia. "That's right. We called the police too. We'll catch that a
At the Laney villa, Phineas paced back and forth in the living room, looking extremely anxious. It was the break of dawn, but he hadn't slept a wink since he lost contact with Matt, who left at midnight. It was as if Matt had vanished into thin air. Phineas sent a group of bodyguards to search, but there was still no news of Matt, which told him that something was wrong.Suddenly, someone's car beeped at his door. He glanced outside and saw a black SUV parked outside. The car door opened, and a figure wrapped in a burlap sack was dumped out as the car drove away."Huh?" Confused, Phineas nodded to the bodyguards at the entrance, who quickly opened the sack to reveal a naked man with a swollen nose and bruised body."Dad …" The young man opened his eyes dazedly and cried out hoarsely. "Matt?" Phineas was flabbergasted. "W—what happened to you?""It was Dustin Rhys … H—he …" Matt burst into tears. No one knew what he'd been through last night. There had been many times when Matt wante
"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