Dahlia thought about it long and hard before finally recalling what happened in the casino last night. She had drank two glasses and passed out with no recollection of what happened afterward, but it seemed like she was safe. "This is all that bastard's fault! If Dustin didn't harbor any ill intentions toward you and your brother, none of this would have happened to the both of you!" Florence exploded. "Dustin? What does any of this have to do with him?" Dahlia was puzzled. "I bet you still have no idea that he conspired with the owner of the casino to drug you. He was going to take advantage of you. Fortunately, James fought back and managed to save you," Florence replied."Mom, there must be some kind of mistake." Dahlia smiled. "Dustin would never hurt me, much less use such dirty tactics. You've got it all wrong.""Oh, Dahlia. You get tricked all the time because of how naive you are." Florence retorted, her face serious. "You should never judge a book by its cover. Dustin may l
James' death shocked everyone. They couldn't believe that the man who had been so full of life last night was now dead. "N—no! It can't be! How could my brother be dead?" Dahlia shook her head repeatedly, her face full of disbelief. "Please try and save my brother again! I'm willing to pay any price!""I'm sorry, but there's nothing we can do. Our deepest condolences." The doctor shook his head. "But how could this be?" Tears streamed down Dahlia's face, and she staggered backward. She couldn't believe that her brother had died just like that."Oh, James! My son!" Florence wailed in anguish as James' body was wheeled out. She burst into tears at the sight of the lifeless body. She couldn't believe that her only son, whom she babied endlessly, had died so suddenly. What a tragic outcome! "Doctor, my nephew was fine yesterday, so why did he die? Did you guys make a mistake during surgery?" Victoria questioned. "The patient suffered a severe head injury that resulted in intracranial
Meanwhile, Dahlia sat alone on the hospital bed with a dull gaze and a haggard face. All the crying had tired her out, and her head was so hazy she felt like a zombie. Today's blow had completely overwhelmed her. "Dahlia …" Dustin suddenly walked into the room. His tone was concerned as he asked, "I heard you were admitted to the hospital. Which part of your body is the discomfort coming from? Do you want me to take a look at it?"Unresponsive, Dahlia sat still like a statue. "What's wrong, Dahlia?" Dustin waved a hand in front of Dahlia's face, whose expression remained as emotionless as a lifeless doll. Usually, only devastated people who had lost all hope showed such an expression. Dustin frowned and immediately felt her pulse, only to realize that it was irregular and extremely weak, like a candle that was going to blow out at any moment. "How did this happen?" Dustin was shocked. He quickly took out his silver needles and began treating Dahlia. A stream of true energy started
"Don't make excuses! Your palm prints are all over my brother's face, and the doctors said he suffered severe head trauma. If you weren't the one who caused it, who else could it be? Why? Why did you have to hit him so hard? Even if he did something wrong, you shouldn't have killed him!" Dahlia bawled, her fist pounding on Dustin's chest. Although Dustin should be the one in pain, the person who ended up with tears streaking down their face was Dahlia. "Dahlia, I think that there's something fishy with James' sudden death. Please believe me. I would never kill him!" Dustin responded gravely. "Believe you? How am I supposed to do that when all evidence is pointing at you?" Dahlia roared. It has been proven that Dustin was the person who hit James, causing the latter to be hospitalized. Doctors have also confirmed that the cause of James' death was head trauma. These answers were concrete evidence that pointed to Dustin as the murderer. So even if Dahlia was willing to believe that t
It was obvious that someone was trying to frame Dustin for James' death, but who? Was it the Doyle family or the Grant family? Or perhaps someone he had never met before. And why would they do this? Were they trying to turn Dahlia against him?Dustin stared at the black needle he was holding. He wanted to explain everything to Dahlia but stopped himself. He knew that in her current state, she would never believe him.Besides, all he had was the needle, which wasn't enough to prove anything. He would only be able to prove his innocence when he found the real killer. Just then, the sound of the phone ringing tore through the air. Dustin fished out his phone and saw that it was Nelson. "Hello? Great timing, Nelson. There's something I need you to—" Before Dustin could finish what he wanted to say, a panicked voice rang out. "We're in trouble, Sir!""What's happening?" Dustin frowned. "A bunch of martial artists just randomly barged into our dojo and began beating our men up. They are
"Hey, motherfucker. I bet you didn't expect me to come for you so soon." Maggie sneered. "I've warned you not to cross me, or you'd be dead meat. I bet you're shaking in fear now, aren't you?"As soon as she went home, she ordered her men to look into Dustin and discovered that he was the leader of the Flame Dragon Gang. Her cousin Terry had been the one who was controlling that gang, so how dare Dustin touch that gang!She immediately went to report her findings to Terry, secretly exaggerating the story, which led to the current situation. "Wasn't yesterday's lesson memorable enough? Why would you ask for another beating?" Dustin asked nonchalantly."A beating? Haha! Look around you. You're surrounded by martial artists who work under my family!" Maggie yelled. As the only martial arts family among the Fabulous Five, the Doyle family focused more on security and provided martial arts assistance, which was why despite being the weakest of the five families in terms of wealth, their p
"Hey, kid. You should've listened when they told you to run, but unfortunately, it's too late now." Bennet stepped closer to Dustin. Soon, Bennet was less than 20 feet away from Dustin, which was the best range for an attack. There was no way Dustin could escape from him. "When did I ever say that I wanted to run?" Dustin retorted calmly. "Do you still plan to resist after hearing my nickname?" Bennet sneered. "Resist? No, you misunderstand me. I'm merely going to knock you out." Dustin corrected. "Knock me out? Pfft!" Bennet sniggered. "Fine. I'll give you a chance. I won't move from this spot. You have three chances to strike me. I'll let you go if you can make me take even a single step backward."His words put a smirk on Maggie's and the others' faces, who were all aware that Bennet's body was impenetrable. Even those of the same rank as him couldn't break through his defenses. So everyone was confident that even if Bennet let Dustin attack him thirty times without protecting h
Flabbergasted, everyone gaped at Bennet, who landed on the floor with a crash. None of them expected someone as powerful as Bennet to be defeated with only one punch.Wasn't he supposed to have an impenetrable body and be insanely strong? How was he defeated so easily?"I—impossible!" Maggie's gleeful expression had vanished and was now replaced by aghast. This was Maniac they were talking about. A revered Divine-level martial artist who was also Terry's best fighter. She couldn't believe that such a powerful person had been defeated by a single punch from Dustin. "Is this Sir Rhys' true strength? He's terrifying." Nelson's eyes were wide open with disbelief. Bennet was well known for his strength, which made him the best fighter in the Doyle family. He had never lost a single battle and was even strong enough to eliminate the Flame Dragon Gang by himself, yet he had been defeated by a single attack from Dustin. That was incredible!There was a pregnant pause before the uproar bega
"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