Rocco immediately backed down, gritting his teeth. "Mr. Garner, I've never offended you. Isn't this a bit extreme?" "If you'd offended me personally, we could talk this out for Tony's sake," Dylan said coldly. "But you idiots actually threaten Mr. Lloyd, and I'm not okay with that." With that, Dylan kicked Rocco hard in the chest, sending him reeling back as he coughed blood. "Get the hell out of here!" Dylan barked, his gaze murderous. Rocco shuddered, completely baffled by why this notorious Dylan would defend some pretty boy. However, the situation was clear—hurting Andrew was no longer an option. "Let's go!" Rocco commanded, quickly retreating with his East Side crew. Meanwhile, Juan blended into the crowd, shrinking down as he tried to make himself invisible, not daring to make a sound. "Wait!" Andrew called out. Juan trembled and nearly broke into tears. "W-What do you want? My dad is—" Andrew slapped him twice across the face, cutting him off. "Yeah, yeah. Yo
Andrew raised an eyebrow. "Someone put him up to it? Who?" "Harvey Weller," Dylan replied simply. Lauren gritted her teeth. "I was wondering why Juan would randomly target Dr. Lloyd. So, it was that sneaky bastard Harvey pulling strings behind the scenes after all." Dylan growled, "Mr. Lloyd, just say the word. I might not be able to touch the Weller family, but I can definitely teach Harvey a lesson." Andrew shrugged it off casually. "Forget it. He failed anyway. But you helped me today, and I don't like owing favors. Give me your hand." Dylan was a bit puzzled by the request but complied, stretching out his hand. Andrew's grip was lightning-fast, his fingers hitting specific pressure points on Dylan's arm and along his meridians precisely. A wave of intense pain shot through Dylan's body, making him break into a cold sweat. Suddenly, the pain transformed into an unprecedented feeling of clarity, and he felt a rush of energy flowing through his entire body. "Did I just…
Dylan was caught off guard by Francesca's question. Then, he chuckled. "Ms. Aicker, I think you've got it wrong. While Mr. Yates has something to do with my respect for Mr. Lloyd, it's not the main reason." "So, you're not doing this just to please Mr. Yates?" Francesca pressed, still doubtful. Dylan scoffed. "I respect Mr. Yates, but I wouldn't grovel before somebody for his sake. Anyway, it's not just me who respects Mr. Lloyd. Even Mr. Yates himself holds him in the highest regard. I can't say much more. All I'll say is, Ms. Aicker, it's best not to dig too deeply into Mr. Lloyd's business." The cautious look on Dylan's face sent Francesca's mind reeling. The fact that even Marvin, the wealthiest man in Jayrodale, someone with enough influence to command the city, respected Andrew was unbelievable. If she had heard this from anyone else, she would have dismissed it as pure exaggeration. Yet, the person who said this was the crime lord of South City, an existence that e
Andrew's casual demeanor only made him seem all the more mysterious to Francesca. … Meanwhile, at the Stevens residence, Harvey made grand declarations to Christina. "I promised you and Mrs. Stevens a spectacular wedding. I want to make you Jayrodale's most admired bride!" Irene and Leroy applauded enthusiastically. Leroy even commented, "Harvey, you and Christie are a match made in heaven!" "Harvey, we all see how much you care for our Christie," Irene said with a bright smile. "You mentioned using the King of Diamonds for the proposal. How's that coming along?" "Mom, why are you bringing that up?" Christina protested gently. "I'm just asking because Harvey mentioned it," Irene replied with a chuckle. "Besides, Christie, with your grace and beauty, only the King of Diamonds would be worthy." Harvey smiled confidently. "Mrs. Stevens is right. Christie, I'll get the King of Diamonds as your engagement gift." Christina shook her head. "Harvey, there's no rush. I feel our
Marvin's tone was cold as he replied, "You must be Kane's son. Just get to the point." Harvey noticed the distant tone but pressed on with a friendly laugh. "Mr. Yates, I'd like to purchase the King of Diamonds from you. Please name your price." "King of Diamonds? What King of Diamonds?" Marvin's response left Harvey stunned. "The multi-million-dollar diamond ring in Jayrodale," Harvey explained. "From what I know, it's currently with Andrew, your staff. I wouldn't bother you with such a small matter, but Andrew refuses to sell it to me." Harvey continued smoothly, "I thought it was best to let you handle your subordinate. However, I must warn you—Andrew might be trying to steal this valuable piece for himself." A cold smile spread across Harvey's face after finishing his speech. Not only would he get the ring, but he would also expose that loser's true nature to Marvin, who was known for his harsh treatment of subordinates. "I have no idea what you're talking about," Marv
One of Tony's closest men handed him a phone. "Mr. Madden Senior, here you go." After some hesitation, Tony dialed Dylan's number. "What's so important at this hour?" Dylan's voice came through the phone. "Dylan, I need an explanation," Tony said darkly. "I have nothing to say," Dylan replied. Tony barely contained his rage. "If that's your attitude, then know this, Dylan—I'm not afraid of South City. You're not usually this reckless, but don't you think you've gone too far when you ignored Juan getting beaten and then surrounding Rocco's men?"Dylan chuckled. "Honestly, Tony, I don't think I have." Tony's patience snapped. "Fine, if you want it that way, we'll go to war! I've been in this game for so long that even the mayor respects me. South City barely made a name for itself, and you think you're untouchable now?" Dylan replied steadily, "Tony, you can be angry, and you can even declare war on South City. However, you might want to investigate what your brat actua
At the Aicker residence in Jayrodale, Andrew accompanied Francesca through the entrance. He asked, "Why aren't we doing the treatment at the hospital?" Francesca's face flushed as she replied, "The hospital is too crowded, and there are too many prying eyes. Also, I'd rather keep my condition private." Andrew nodded understandingly at Francesca's troubled expression and did not press the matter any further. He had come to the Aicker residence to help treat Francesca's condition—a rare disorder she had lived with since birth. At 28, Francesca should have been thinking about marriage and romance like her peers. However, her condition made those dreams seem impossible. While she was accomplished and carried herself with pride, this issue remained her deepest insecurity. Even Cedric, one of Jayrodale's most renowned medical experts, had been stumped by her unusual condition and had not yet found a solution. "Fran, who's this?" Simon Gaal, Cedric's senior apprentice, asked as he
Cedric was seething with rage. As a renowned medical expert, having his granddaughter seek treatment from an outsider felt like a direct insult to his abilities, implying he was useless. "Fine then, Grandpa!" Francesca snapped, her cheeks puffing with anger. "Go ahead and cure me right now. I don't want to live with this condition anymore!" Cedric immediately deflated, forcing an awkward laugh. "Fran, you know I've been researching your condition to find a cure. Just give me a few more years, and I promise I'll heal you." "That's exactly what you said three years ago," Francesca replied, her voice heavy with sadness. "How many more years can I wait? I'm already 28. Do you want to watch me grow old with this condition?" Tears welled up in Francesca's eyes as her emotions got the better of her. Cedric's expression softened as he sighed. "You're right, sweetheart. It's my fault. But how can this young man accomplish what I couldn't?" Francesca bit her lip and admitted, "I don
Mosby's second apprentice, Old Hayface, had bandages wrapped around his swollen face and a freshly splinted arm. He screamed through gritted teeth, "Yeah, it was that little bastard! Mr. Lake, you've ruled Blumedale for years—when have we ever been humiliated like this? We've got to kill Andrew. Not just kill—wipe him off the face of the earth!" Mosby's face was dark as thunder, his fists clenching so tight that his knuckles cracked. "Andrew, you arrogant little runt… you've gone too far. Way too far." With rage in his eyes like flames ready to erupt, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. He called Richard, patriarch of the Golding family. "Mr. Golding Senior, I want to increase the payment—add another 500 million!" Mosby growled. I want that punk Andrew dead by tomorrow. No—tonight. I want his body in pieces!" His furious roar was so loud it nearly burst Richard's eardrum on the other end. "Dr. Lake, calm down! Lower your damn voice!" Richard snapped. "You alr
"I'd rather hand it to you for free than let that scumbag Mosby get his hands on it!" Ronan said firmly. Andrew finally took the partial map and tucked it away carefully. He promised, "Don't worry, Mr. Bates. I'm just holding onto it for now. Even if this treasure is real and ever uncovered, it still belongs to you and Janice." Ronan gave a weary smile. "That treasure isn't so easy to find. To be honest, I've spent years secretly investigating it myself. But I haven't found much. This is only a piece of the map. "In other words, we'd need to gather the rest of the fragments before we could even begin to figure out where the treasure's actually hidden." Andrew chuckled. "So this was passed down through your family and dates back to the fall of the Crimson Dynasty, right? That means it's been over a century. Finding the rest of the pieces seems like a lost cause." Surprisingly, Ronan shook his head. "That's where you're wrong, Mr. Lloyd. From what I know, this treasure is tied
Naturally, Andrew refused and said, "Mr. Bates, this treasure map has been tied to your family's legacy for generations. You can't just hand over something this important to me. I can't accept it." However, Ronan shook his head. "Mr. Lloyd, don't think of this as something you're unworthy of or need to feel guilty about taking. This partial map—rather than calling it a gift, it's more like we're transferring a curse. Only by passing it on can we hope to survive." Still, Andrew did not take it. Instead, he asked, "So someone's already after the map, aren't they?" Ronan's eyes filled with seething hatred as he gritted his teeth. "You're right. And the one after this partial map isn't just anyone—it's Mosby himself. People thought he kept attacking Oak Apothecary because he wanted to take over my practice. "But that was just smoke and mirrors to distract the other big families. Mosby's real goal has always been to get his hands on our family's treasure map." Andrew's expression
Andrew waved his hand with a smile and said, "Mr. Bates, I'm not worthy of being compared to those so-called prodigies you mentioned. I just don't like being pushed around, that's all." Ronan gave a bitter smile and said, "In times like these, not being pushed around has practically become a luxury. A lot of folks just want some basic fairness and justice, but even that feels impossible to get. "And someone like you, Mr. Lloyd, who dares to fight back against the big, powerful families—well, people like that are few and far between." Andrew caught a deeper meaning behind Ronan's words. "Mr. Bates, did something happen to you and Janice? Something you can't face alone?" "If so, don't hold back—I'm just one man, but I'm not afraid to speak up for what's right," Andrew said, his voice steady and firm. Ronan hesitated, clearly torn, and after a long pause, let out a tired smile. "We are facing something we can't survive on our own. But I've been struggling with whether or not to
Back at Oak Apothecary, Andrew turned to Janice and said calmly, "If anyone from Genesis Dispensary dares show up here again, you call me immediately." The cold edge in his voice made Janice's heart skip. She nodded quickly and murmured, "Got it, Andrew." Even now, standing back in familiar surroundings, her nerves had not fully settled. There was only one word she could use to describe him: unstoppable. Just then, Ronan, supported by an assistant, walked slowly from the back room. "Mr. Lloyd, Janice… you two went to Genesis Dispensary, didn't you?" Janice hesitated, then glanced at Andrew, unsure whether to speak. However, Andrew did not make a big deal of it. He waved her on. "It's fine. Go ahead." Janice did not hold back. "Grandpa, Andrew took me to Genesis Dispensary… and completely wrecked the place!" Ronan nearly dropped his reading glasses. "What? Mr. Lloyd, you—" Janice interrupted quickly, "Don't worry, Grandpa! We're fine. The ones who aren't are Genesis Disp
It was too late for Ellis. Before he knew it, Andrew's Dragon Claw Strike clamped down on his shoulder with crushing precision. Ellis let out a blood-curdling scream, his voice thick with agony. His shoulder twisted violently as he attempted to spin through the air—a full 360-degree motion meant to break free using a technique known as Dragon Molting. Even while airborne, he gritted his teeth and launched a vicious counter-kick toward Andrew's abdomen. Yet, Andrew did not even flinch. With a cold, soundless smirk, he snapped his knee upward, effortlessly intercepting the incoming strike. Ellis's foot missed entirely, and the impact shredded ligaments along the way. At the same time, Andrew's grip shifted, his Dragon Claw morphing fluidly as it locked onto Ellis's elbow joint. A loud crack echoed, and the sound was sharp enough to make onlookers wince. Ellis threw his head back and let out a tortured scream. "My arm! You bastard, I'll kill you—" But it was too late. One
The crowd could not help but wonder if Andrew was just that hurried to die, "Dragon Claw Strike!" With a low, lethal growl, Ellis struck, his eyes full of murder. His hands curled into claws, shooting straight for Andrew's chest and eyes, going for nothing less than a kill shot right from the start. However, Andrew's expression did not change. He stepped back once, then again, calm and fluid. It looked casual, but every move was calculated—just enough to slip right past Ellis's deadly thrusts. "Not bad. That's some decent footwork," Ellis sneered, his tone mocking even as he circled again. Then, his wiry frame lunged low, sweeping toward Andrew with a lightning-fast kick. Andrew's voice remained quiet and steady. "Dragon Claw Strike and Golden Cicada Stance are elite techniques from Silverthorn Monastery. Too bad you only learned the shell, not the substance." He stopped moving. Like a rock in a river, his stance suddenly locked in place. Ellis's sweeping legs, fast as
The bald man, Ellis, was not some no-name street thug—he was well-known in Blumedale. Among Mosby's apprentices, he was one of the rare few with zero talent in medicine but exceptional prowess in martial arts. Insiders knew the truth—Mosby had not taken Ellis in to pass on his medical legacy or help heal the sick. He wanted muscle, someone who could handle the dirty work behind closed doors. The whispers began almost instantly among the growing crowd. "This is bad. That's Mosby's third apprentice—trained under the monks at Silverthorn Monastery. I heard he's so powerful he can crack stone with his bare hands." Another chimed in, "Genesis Dispensary isn't the kind of place you just stroll into looking for trouble. That young guy's finished." "Well… I don't know. Judging from what I saw earlier, the guy's no amateur either." "Amateur? My ass. Ellis doesn't hold back. People have died under his fists before. That punk's either going to be crippled or dead in minutes..." More a
Barely two minutes had passed, but every single one of Genesis Dispensary's enforcers lay sprawled on the ground—some unconscious, some writhing in pain, and some not even moving. Janice clutched the edge of her sleeve, her face pale as a sheet. She stared at Andrew in shock, as if not recognizing this man. The Andrew she knew was gentle, refined, eloquent—someone who had won her grandfather's respect the moment they met, a miracle doctor with endless skill. However, the Andrew standing before her now was the complete opposite—ruthless, cold-blooded, and surrounded by a sea of blood from the beatings he had just handed out. Old Hayface's legs trembled as he stared at Andrew like he had seen a ghost, thinking this was beyond insane. How could some young punk wipe out all of Genesis Dispensary's muscle like it was nothing? He shook his head furiously in denial. "Andrew, you've messed up big time—real big. Mr. Lake is on his way and—" Before he could finish, Andrew delivered t