Chapter 101
Back in the interrogation room, Dustin and Dahlia sat
with their backs against each other for warmth. Such peaceful moments
were rare from the moment they were married until their divorce. No one
spoke anything as they remained silent for a while. “Dustin, do you think
we will walk out of here alive?” Finally, Dahlia broke the silence. She
couldn’t stand the damp and dark surroundings that forced her to think
depressive thoughts. Furthermore, Mr. Gardner wasn’t easy to deal with.
Her heart thumped with fear at what would happen to them. “Don’t scare
yourself. We will definitely leave this place in one piece,” Dustin
comforted her. “What if we don’t? Do you have any last wishes?” Dahlia
murmured glumly. “There’s no possibility of us dying. Let’s talk after we
get out,” Dustin replied. “Not after we have offended Lord Asmon. With
his connections and resources, getting rid of us would be as easy as
killing a gnat.” Dahlia sighed. Even if she pooled all her resources, it
would be nothing compared to the wealth of the nobility. “Dahlia, this
doesn’t sound like you. I thought you were a person who would not give up
until the last second. With your personality, you would take on any
challenge that got in your way. Why are you being so pessimistic?” Dustin
raised his voice. When she heard this, Dahlia gave a chuckle. “You’re
right. No one knows what will happen until the last minute. Perhaps we
should have hope that things would turn around!” The metal door creaked
open once again as she finished her sentence. Light streamed into the
room as Mr. Gardner stomped in with a few burly, intimidating–looking
men. “Kid! Your time is up; have you made your decision?” He shot Dustin
a fierce look. “Yes, I’ve decided. I will not return the items,” Dustin
replied firmly. “What?” Mr. Gardner frowned. “Kid, don’t you know who
these men are? I’ll be honest, they are the worst criminals and bandits I
have in prison! They have been deprived of the touch of a woman for a
long time! If you refuse to cooperate, you will definitely regret it.
These men will have their way with your girlfriend while you shall watch
her ravaged and abused in front of your very eyes!” “If you dare to touch
her, I’ll tear this whole place down!” Dustin warned with a growl. “You
piece of shit! How dare you talk back to me! Now, you have no choice but
to bear the consequences!” Mr. Gardner gestured to his men. “Guys, make
sure to put on a good performance for this kid so that he knows his
place! Show him a fate worse than death!” Chapter 101 “Of
course, sir! We are much obliged!” The men cackled with pleasure. They
had been locked up in prison for a long time without a woman’s touch. Now
that such a beauty was in their presence, they could not hide their evil
desires to ravish her body. “Hi, gorgeous! Let’s have a good time!” “I’ll
get the girl, you can get the guy!” The men began to strip while laughing
maniacally as they stepped menacingly toward Dahlia. “You must be looking
for death!” Dustin stood up, furious. He tore the shackles around his
hands and legs with brute force, and they fell to the ground with a
clang. After that, Dustin turned around and untied Dahlia easily. “You!”
Mr. Gardner was taken aback at the sudden turn of events. The shackles in
the interrogation room were specially made to be extra tough. It was
impossible for a human to tear the metal apart like butter. How did this
scrawny kid do that? “Gardner, you have pushed my limits!” Dustin kicked
the shackles aside and rushed towards him. “Quick, stop this kid!” Mr.
Gardner screamed for help. The burly men immediately surrounded Dustin,
and all of them attacked him at the same time. “Get out of my way!” A
surge of energy was released when Dustin stomped his heel on the ground.
The sheer force threw the men backward and crash into the walls of the
interrogation room. All of them were dead in an instant, bleeding from
their internal wounds. “Help, anybody! Please help!” Mr. Gardner turned
pale and whirled around to escape.
Chapter 102 Dustin kicked the limp body of a man lying beside him. It
flew like a bullet and crashed into Mr. Gardner, who was attempting to
escape. He screamed in pain and fell to the ground, unable to run any
longer. “I’ve warned you not to touch her.” Dustin strolled up to him and
hissed murderously, his eyes boring dangerously into Mr. Gardner. “Kid,
don’t forget you’re in the police station! You can’t go too far!” Mr.
Gardner backed away on all fours. “Too far? What will you do about it?”
Dustin chuckled as he crushed Mr. Gardner’s arm with his foot. The
immense pain from his broken arm caused Mr. Gardner to howl in agony.
“Dustin! Stop it!” Blood drained from Dahlia’s face. Even though they
were innocent, they could be charged with excessive self–defense if they
fought back against the police. It would only complicate the situation!
“Come back to your senses, kid! Confess and turn yourself in so that you
still have a chance to save yourself. If not, there will be no mercy!”
Mr. Gardner threatened with a grimace. Without a word, Dustin kicked Mr.
Gardner in the stomach. Mr. Gardner spurted out the contents of his
dinner last night by reflex as pee flowed out of his bladder. A putrid
stench filled the air from the mess he created. “You–You!” Mr. Gardner’s
face turned red from the violent coughing as nausea caused him to vomit
bile from his stomach. “Dustin, have you gone crazy? If something
untoward happens to Mr. Gardner, we will have to take responsibility!”
Dahlia called out frantically. “Even if I did not fight back, he wouldn’t
have let us go either. Since things have come to this, we should just
kill him,” Dustin retorted nonchalantly. “The situation has not escalated
to that level. Stop it now, and we can still fix this. If you murdered
Mr. Gardner, everyone would have to pay for your mistakes!” Dahlia tried
to reason with Dustin. What if Dustin really went insane and did
something stupid out of anger? “Do you hear that? Another violation from
you, I will make sure you and your whole family pay for this!” Mr.
Gardner roared. “Mr. Gardner, what happened?” Draco ran into the room
with a group of underlings when they heard the commotion. However, they
were all stunned at the sight of the bloody scene and Mr. Gardner, who
was heavily injured. “Kid, you must be looking for death! Let Mr. Gardner
go immediately if you still want to live!” Draco warned.
Chapter 102 “Let him go? Alright, take him.” Dustin kicked Mr. Gardner
and sent him flying into the air. He crashed hard on a few of Draco’s
underlings, taking down several of them simultaneously. Dahlia was
speechless at Dustin’s impudence. She never thought he could be so
reckless as to kick Mr. Gardner. Even when he was surrounded by ruthless
men on all sides, he did not even think of surrendering! Had Dustin gone
mad? Did he not understand the consequences of crossing Mr. Gardner? He
was the police inspector, also known as Heinous Hades. Mr. Gardner was
the officer in charge of the prison and criminal interrogation. The lives
of prisoners were at his mercy. How could Dustin be so bold? “Mr.
Gardner, are you alright?” Draco quickly helped him up. Mr. Gardner
spewed profanities in a blind rage as he ordered his men, “All of you!
Kill that kid right now! I want him dead and his body chopped up into
pieces!” Never had anyone humiliated him in such a manner! “Kill him!”
Draco shouted as they took out their weapons and charged toward Dustin.
Just as the fight was about to break out, a loud voice was heard at the
door. “Stop this instant!”
Chapter 103 “Stop this right now!” A loud voice rang out. A group of
men in suits and armed to the teeth filed into the room. “Who are you?
How dare you enter the interrogation room without permission! Are you
starting a riot?” Mr. Gardner screamed in fury. At this moment, he was
stewing with rage. The only thought in his mind was to rip Dustin up into
pieces, and anybody who stood in his path would be his mortal enemy as
well! “Mr. Gardner, what an honor to see you!” “The crowd of people
parted like the Red Sea as a gorgeous, alluring woman stalked into the
room in her high heels. “Natasha?” When Mr. Gardner saw who it was, the
expression on his face fell as the burning rage in his eyes died down.
“You’re lucky, Dustin. Your girlfriend is here to save you.” Dahlia said
sarcastically when she saw Natasha arrive. She felt a little frustrated.
Although she was relieved at the thought of being rescued, she felt a
twinge of annoyance at receiving Natasha’s help. As she was Dustin’s ex–
wife, she didn’t want to feel obligated to another woman. Unfortunately,
Natasha was the only one who could save Dustin right now. “Ms. Harmon,
why are you here at the police station this late at night with your men?
What’s the meaning of this?” Mr. Gardner stepped forward to block their
way. “Hmph! Are you seriously questioning me? You were the one who
brought people in without a fair trial. Is this how the police
investigate crimes?” Natasha scoffed. “I have no idea what you are
talking about.” Mr. Gardner said sheepishly. “You don’t understand?
Alright then, I’ll be straightforward. I’m here to request the release of
my man. Let Dustin go immediately before I make you regret it!” Natasha
demanded. “Let him go? This man is a wanted criminal with definitive
evidence. Are you going to make me release him? Aren’t you going above
the law?” Mr. Gardner declared righteously. Just now, Dustin had beat him
up into a pulp. There was no way he could live this down. Offending
Natasha was a small price to pay for him to get his revenge on Dustin!
“How dare you talk about the law to me! Aren’t you aware of how
contradictory your words are? It is as easy as pie for me to reveal all
your dirty underhanded tricks. Let him go immediately if you want to keep
things swept under the rug!” Natasha threatened. “Natasha, don’t push my
buttons!” Mr. Gardner warned, his expression darkened. 1/3
Chapter 103 “I know that the Harmon family is influential, however, I
have my rights! This is my territory and that guy is a criminal.
Moreover, he is under my jurisdiction. You have no right to Interfere in
what I do with him!” “If Ms. Harmon doesn’t have the right, how about me
Instead?” Hunter walked into the interrogation room with his men in tow.
His noble aura caused the men to move away from him involuntarily. “What?
This kid knows Mr. Anderson?” Draco turned pale with shock. He didn’t
believe it when Mr. Gardner told him about this. Now that he had
witnessed the situation with his own eyes, only then did he realize the
gravity of the situation. “Wow, even Mr. Anderson is here. Natasha must
have asked for his help to save you. Seems like she really can’t live
without you, huh?” Sarcasm dripped from Dahlia’s voice as she spoke. “Mr.
Anderson, why are you here as well?” Mr. Gardner frowned. Natasha alone
was tough enough to handle. If Hunter joined in the fray, things might
get out of hand. “If I didn’t show up, would you listen to reason?”
Hunter retorted angrily. “Mr. Anderson, I informed you in the call last
time. Give me some time so I can look into it. If there’s a mistake. I
will let him go immediately.” Mr. Gardner tried to wriggle his way out.
“I have no time to waste yapping with you. Let Dustin go this instant!”
Hunter ordered impatiently. The corrupted ways of the police inspector
were well known. If they had waited for the investigation to end, Dustin
would have been dead and gone. “As an inspector, my duty is to capture
wanted criminals and protect the peace of the city. I don’t think there’s
anything wrong with my actions,” Mr. Gardner defended himself. “Mr.
Gardner, I’m giving you one last chance. I’m warning you; let him go
immediately. If not, you shall die an unseemly death!” Hunter wasn’t
taking it. “Mr. Anderson, are you threatening me? Don’t you know the
consequences of going against the police?” Mr. Gardner narrowed his eyes.
“I don’t care what the consequences are. If you won’t let Dustin go, I
will tear down this building!” Hunter retorted. Mr. Gardner’s face
twisted with rage. He never expected Natasha and Hunter to be so
obstinate. Why would they go to such lengths for a nobody like Dustin?
Didn’t they know that Mr. Granville was his father–in–law? What’s wrong
with the two of them? They wouldn’t even budge an inchi “Mr. Anderson,
don’t blame me for not warning you. It is an offense that you have barged
into the Interrogation room without permission. If Mr. Granville wants to
find fault. It would be a nightmare for you to handle!” Mr. CS
CamScanner Chapter 103 Gardner quickly name–dropped his father–in–law.
“What the hell!” Hunter lost his patience and swung a heavy blow to Mr.
Gardner’s face. “I asked you to release him immediately. What’s with all
the excuses?” “You–How dare you slap me?” Mr. Gardner held his burning
cheek in disbelief. He was Mr. Granville’s son–in–law and a police
inspector. On account of Mr. Granville, they should know better than to
provoke him! Were they going to rebel against Mr. Granville? “What’s
wrong with slapping you? Another word from you, and I’m going to put a
bullet through your skull!” Hunter drew his pistol and placed the barrel
on Mr. Gardner’s forehead. “Wh–What are you trying to do? Stop messing
around!” Cold sweat ran down Mr. Gardner’s forehead. He never expected
Hunter to pull out his gun in the police station, nonetheless. Had he
gone crazy as well? Wasn’t this blatant disrespect toward the law? “What
the hell, when did Mr. Anderson become so rash?” Natasha thought when she
saw the gun. She knew Hunter as a calm, collected man. He was always
good–natured and composed in any situation. What was wrong with him
today? He lost his temper, slapped, and threatened a man at gunpoint. If
it were his son who was kidnapped, Hunter might not even have overreacted
in this manner. “I’m going to count to five. You will bear the
consequences if you still refuse to release Dustin!” Hunter warned, his
face nonchalant. “Mr. Anderson! I’m Mr. Granville’s son–in–law! Are you
going to defy him?” Mr. Gardner screamed in shock. “Five, four.” Hunter
started counting. “Hunter! What’s wrong with you? If you dare to touch a
hair on my head, Mr. Granville will never forgive you!” Mr. Gardner’s
legs were shaking like a leaf “Three, two, one!”
Chapter 104 Hunter pulled the trigger immediately after his
countdown. With a loud bang, a bullet went through Mr. Gardner’s ear. He
let out a bone–chilling cry and hold on to his bleeding ear, staggering
backward. “Are you crazy? How dare you shoot me!” Mr. Gardner shouted
hysterically. He thought Hunter was just all talk. Who knew that Hunter
would really pull the trigger? “The next time, I won’t miss my aim.”
Hunter cocked the gun and aimed it toward Mr. Gardner’s face.. “I’ll ask
again. Will you release Dustin, or will I?” Mr. Gardner shivered in
fright. At this rate, it was highly possible that Hunter would go crazy
and murder him in cold blood. As Mr. Gardner was stuck in a dilemma, a
ruckus was heard at the door of the interrogation room again. An elderly
man with snowy white hair rushed in with his men. “Mr. Granville?” At his
arrival, the whole interrogation room went silent. The elderly man
standing before them was the mayor of Swinton, the highest–ranking
official in the city. He was truly the most powerful man in Swinton!
“Finally, Mr. Granville is here! Rhys, you’re dead meat! What’s the use
of getting Ms. Harmon’s and Mr. Anderson’s help? As long as Mr. Granville
is on our side, no one will be able to save you today!” With the
appearance of Mr. Granville, the expression on Draco’s face changed from
fear to arrogance. He laughed mockingly, knowing that Mr. Granville was
here to back them up. He was their savior! When Natasha and Hunter came
to save Dustin, Draco thought that they were doomed. Fortunately, Mr.
Granville arrived just in time, which gave him peace of mind. “Mr.
Anderson! You slapped and shot me in the ear for that punk’s sake! You
have gone too far! Now that my father–in–law is here, let’s see how you
will explain this to him!” Mr. Gardner snickered with a resentful
expression on his face. Weren’t they so brazen a minute ago? He couldn’t
wait to see how impudent they would be now that the mayor of Swinton was
here! “What a coincidence; his timing was perfect. Mr. Granville knows
how to make an entrance!” Natasha frowned slightly. Mr. Granville’s
position as mayor was not to be trifled with. Chapter 104
Even with Natasha and Hunter’s influence, Mr. Granville’s decision would
be final. More importantly, Mr. Granville and Mr. Gardner are related by
marriage. Were they going to open a can of worms? “Mr. Granville, your
son–in–law is guilty of distorting the truth, taking bribes, and accusing
the innocent. You must properly explain the situation to us today!”
Defying everyone’s expectations, Hunter did not back down. He raised his
voice and demanded an explanation from Mr. Granville. Even if Hunter was
the president of the Chamber of Commerce, he was still under the
jurisdiction of Mr. Granville. His actions were no less than rebellion
against his superiors! 1 “You’re lying! I’ve always been righteous and
impartial in my duties!” Regaining his composure, Mr. Gardner rushed
towards Mr. Granville and started accusing them. “Father, they were the
ones who broke into the interrogation room without permission.
Furthermore, Mr. Anderson shot me in the ear! Look at this; my ear is in
a mess! Father, you have to bring them to justice!” He revealed his
wounded ear to Mr. Granville. It was a shocking sight to behold as the
wound was still bleeding profusely. “Right! There’s that kid!” Ignoring
Mr. Granville’s dark expression, Mr. Gardner pointed toward Dustin. “He’s
the main cause of all this. Father, you must teach him a lesson. He even
hit me in the stomach just now!” “Shut up!” Mr. Granville roared in anger
and slapped Mr. Gardner’s cheek. The force of his slap was so strong that
Mr. Gardner was thrown a few feet away, stars circling above his head.
“What?” Everyone was dumbstruck at the sudden bombshell. Who would have
expected Mr. Granville to reprimand Mr. Gardner instead of backing him
up? What’s going on? Natasha’s jaw dropped. Dahlia was equally as
shocked. Draco and his men couldn’t believe their eyes. They were all
stunned at the astonishing turn of events. “Father? Why did you hit me?”
Mr. Gardner asked, bewildered, as he rubbed his burning cheek. He had
never seen his father–in–law so furious. Mr. Gardner was confused as to
what he had done wrong. “Bastard! You lock up the innocent and let the
guilty walk free. How dare you try to defend yourself? I’m going to teach
you a lesson!” Mr. Granville declared righteously. Chapter 104 “Father,
what’s wrong with you? I’m your son–in–law, aren’t I?” Mr. Gardner was
close to tears. Wasn’t Mr. Granville here to save him? Why was he getting
beaten up instead? “Don’t call me your father–in–law! I don’t have a
despicable son–in–law like you!” Mr. Granville scoffed and continued,
“You accepted bribes and corrupted the law. In addition, you took
liberties with your authority as a police inspector. As of now, you are
fired from your position!” “What?” When Mr. Granville announced this, Mr.
Gardner shuddered in fear. His body was drenched in a cold sweat.
Although he didn’t know what caused the rift, Mr. Gardner knew that his
father–in–law had decided to cut all ties with him. Furthermore, Mr.
Granville was going to investigate and expose his past deeds! They had a
good relationship before this. What could have happened for Mr. Granville
to change so abruptly? Without any hesitation, Mr. Granville gave his
last orders to the men standing behind him, “Come and arrest Mr. Gardner
immediately! Once the investigation into his crimes is complete, throw
him in jail!” Mr. Gardner fell on his knees in dismay, his face ashen
with despair. The only reason his father–in–law would be so harsh on him
must be due to pressure from a superior who had intervened. That was why
Mr. Granville had no choice but to toe the line as well How could this
happen? He had only detained Dustin, a punk with no background. How could
this disaster have befallen him? Could it be? Could it be that the Rhys
kid had some powerful people backing him up? That must be it! At this
thought, Mr. Gardner was filled with regret that he had gone up against
Dustin. Never in his dreams would he have imagined that a young punk had
such formidable support. Even his father- in–law had to kowtow to him!
All of it was Duane’s fault! He was doomed because of Duane! CS
CamScanner
Chapter 105 “We are finished!” When Draco saw that Mr. Gardner had
been apprehended, his face paled in shock. From Mr. Granville’s
appearance until the arrest of Mr. Gardner, Draco couldn’t make sense of
what was going on as everything had happened in a flash. The only thing
he could be sure of was that Mr. Granville did not let his son–in–law off
the hook. This meant that he was going to be in trouble as well. Draco
thought that Mr. Granville was their savior. Who knew that he was here to
bring them to justice? This world could be so unpredictable! Draco turned
back and glanced at Dustin, who had remained silent all this while. He
had an expression of indifference on his face, as if he had known this
would happen all along. Who was this man, and why was Mr. Granville
treating him with such respect? Why would Lord Asmon have a grudge
against such a monster? “Arrest all the other men as well!” Mr. Granville
barked an order. Draco and Mr. Gardner’s men were all apprehended. Mr.
Gardner and Draco stared at each other in despair. It was obvious that
they would have to pay for their crimes. “What–What’s happening?” Natasha
couldn’t wrap her head around the plot twist. She expected trouble when
Mr. Granville appeared. Unexpectedly Mr. Granville did not find fault
with them. Furthermore, he fired Mr. Gardner and threw him into prison.
Who could have expected Mr. Granville to do such a thing to his own son–
in–law? “Am I dreaming? Is Mr. Granville on our side?” Dahlia’s eyes were
wide with shock. She was also taken aback at Mr. Granville’s actions.
When she knew of his relationship to Mr. Gardner, she was already
prepared for the worst. At one point, Dahlia even thought that Dustin and
her were doomed. However, the outcome was beyond belief. Could Mr.
Granville truly be a righteous and upright official? “Are you Dustin? I
can tell that you are a capable young man.” After he had tied up the
loose ends, Mr. Granville walked up to Dustin with a rare smile on his
stern face. Chapter 105 “Greetings, Mr. Granville.” Dustin
nodded politely. “I’m very sorry for the inconvenience. Because of my
incompetence, you had to go through such trouble. I humbly request for
your understanding and forgiveness.” Mr. Granville apologized. “It is
said that there will be rotten apples in every bunch. I find it very
admirable for you to even bring your son- in–law to justice.” Dustin
smiled. “Thank you for your consideration, young man. Now, I can finally
stop worrying.” Mr. Granville secretly breathed a sigh of relief. No one
knew that he received a call from the Governor of Millsburg not long ago.
The only message given was to protect Dustin Rhys at any cost! Dustin’s
background and influence must be unimaginable if the governor personally
made a call to ensure his safety. In a city like Swinton, a person with
such connections was untouchable! Mr. Granville and his men left in a
hurry after greeting Dustin. “Mr. Rhys, Ms. Nicholson. Are the both of
you alright?” Hunter asked anxiously after everyone left. “We’re fine.
Thanks for your help, Mr. Anderson.” Dahlia nodded her thanks. “It’s
nothing. Don’t worry about it.” Hunter nodded in return. “Dustin, it
seems you’re having a good time!” Natasha came over, her heels clacking
on the ground. She stared at Dustin with resentment, as if he had cheated
on her. “What do you mean?” Dustin said, puzzled. “Am I mistaken?”
Natasha crossed her arms and countered sarcastically. “When I heard that
you were locked up, I was so worried that I went everywhere looking for
help to get you released. On the other hand, you are here chatting with
another woman. Why wouldn’t you be having a good time?” “Don’t misread
the situation. She was arrested because of me,” Dustin replied awkwardly.
“Is that true?” Natasha wasn’t convinced. “If that was the case, why are
your hands clasped together so tightly?” “What?” Dustin and Dahlia looked
down simultaneously. They hadn’t realized that their fingers were
intertwined. Startled, they let go of each other immediately. “I never
thought a simple man like you would be a playboy. I’m so disappointed in
you, Dustin! My devotion is wasted on you!” Natasha gave an exasperated
sigh, turned around and left. “Ms. Harmon!” Dustin took a few steps
toward Natasha before giving Dahlia a glance, as if he had something to
say to her. Chapter 105 “Why are you looking at me? Go
after her. It’s none of my business!” Dahlia faked a nonchalant tone and
avoided his gaze. “Alright. Use a cab to get home.” With that, Dustin ran
after Natasha. Did Dustin really chase after Natasha? Dahlia gritted her
teeth in annoyance. Did he not know that it was just a test to see
whether he would prioritize her or Natasha? What a dolt! She was being
sulky to get his attention, that’s why she asked him to chase after
Natasha. If she asked him to jump off a building, would he just obey like
an idiot? The thought of Dustin spending time with Natasha irked her
immensely. “Ms. Harmon, please listen to my explanation!” Dustin caught
up to Natasha at the entrance. “Due to the dangerous circumstances, I had
to protect Dahlia. I’m not thinking of getting back together with her.”
“Is that true?” Natasha stared at him suspiciously. “Of course! Why would
I lie to you?” Dustin replied with a serious expression. “Alright then,
since you rushed out to explain to me, I’ll forgive you on account of
your sincerity!” Natasha suddenly grinned from ear to ear.. The
disappointment and resentment on her face disappeared in a flash. Dustin
was stunned at how quick a woman’s mood could change. Their emotions were
as unpredictable as the weather. He couldn’t help but suspect Natasha had
just pulled a fast one on him. “Dahlia, you’re still a notch below me!”
Natasha thought as she gave Dahlia a smug glance. From Dustin’s actions,
it was obvious that he was more concerned about her than Dahlia. “Let’s
go, I’ll send you home,” Natasha said with a bright smile. “Not right
now. I have to meet someone.” Dustin shook his head. “Meet someone? Who?”
Chapter 106 At this moment, in a beautiful villa. Duane was talking
to a young man dressed in luxurious clothes. Behind that man, two female
bodyguards stood at attention. They were armed with swords and emitted an
unapproachable aura. “Duane, what’s this gemiphen that you are talking
about? Is it really that powerful?” Oliver Williams took a sip of his
coffee. “Mr. Williams, I can assure you of its effects. I have personally
tried the pill myself!” Duane boasted “confidently. “A gemiphen pill
saved my life when I was close to death from internal injuries. I’m not
exaggerating when I say this medicine could heal almost anything!” “Talk
is cheap. Where’s the pill? Let me have a look.” Oliver stretched out his
palm. “Due to the rarity of gemiphen, I do not have one with me right
now.” “Are you joking? You called me here in the dead of the night for a
deal. How could you not be prepared with the goods?” Oliver’s eyes
glinted coldly. “Mr. Williams, please calm down. I would never dare to
offend you. One of my men is on the way to obtain the prescription. I’m
sure he will be here soon.” Duane tried to appease him. “For your sake, I
hope he does. Don’t you know the consequences of toying with a member of
the Boulderthorn guild?” Oliver rapped impatiently on the table. “Of
course, Mr. Williams. Once I receive the prescription, I will start
production immediately and present the first batch of gemiphen to you,”
Duane answered. “That’s more like it.” Oliver nodded with satisfaction.
“On my end, I will say a few good words about you to my father. Who
knows? He might extend his support to you if he is in a good mood!”
“Thank you so much, Mr. Williams! I will not let you down!” Duane’s face
broke into smiles. According to his research, not only could gemiphen
heal severe internal injuries, but it could also accelerate the effects
of training in martial artists. If the pill was properly marketed,
martial artists all over the world would be interested in getting this
pill for themselves! That was why Duane contacted Boulderthorn guild in
the first place. As one of the top guilds in the South, Boulderthorn’s
influence was spread far and wide. Their guild members were in the
hundreds of thousands, having top positions in politics, the military,
and the business world. If he was able to get an exclusive contract to
supply gemiphen to the Boulderthorn guild, his wealth would be multiplied
numerous folds. Chapter 106 Being the top dog in Millsburg
wouldn’t be a farfetched dream. “Duane, don’t get ahead of yourself. If
you want my father’s support, first, you would have to supply us with
gemiphen continuously. Secondly, loyalty is paramount. Do you
understand?” Oliver said sternly. “I will remember your advice, Mr.
Williams!” Duane nodded. While talking, they were interrupted by a
commotion from the gardens. The noise sounded like a cacophony of curses
and cries of pain. “What’s going on?” Duane frowned. At this moment, a
bodyguard rushed into the room, his face pale as a sheet. “Boss, someone
trespassed into your villa!” “What?” Duane’s expression darkened. “Who’s
the punk who dared to trespass on my property?” “It’s too dark to
identify the intruder. However, it is confirmed that he came alone,” the
bodyguard mumbled. “Geez! What’s wrong with the lot of you? Can’t you
handle even one person?” Duane roared in anger. “Boss, that person was
too powerful! Our men could not hold him down!” the bodyguard cried out
helplessly. The man had infiltrated the villa as inconspicuously as a
shadow. His movements were agile and his attacks ruthless. No number of
bodyguards could stand up against him. With a flick of his finger, they
were all blown away like leaves in the wind! “According to your
description, he must be a martial artist?” Duane scratched his chin in
confusion. “There are many martial artists in Swinton, however, few are
on my level. Besides, they have started guilds of their own and rarely
appear except for important occasions. They wouldn’t trespass on my
property without reason.” “Boss, now is not the time to contemplate these
things. For your safety, it is better for you to flee!” the bodyguard
advised Duane. “Flee?” Duane scoffed. “How can I ever show my face in
public if any simpleton could chase me away from my own villa?” “But–But
that man is too powerful! What if” the bodyguard trailed off. “That’s
enough. I am curious to see the man’s abilities for myself!” Duane was
not intimidated at all. He had been well–trained in martial arts since
childhood. How could he back down from a challenge? “Duane, it seems you
have met with some trouble. Do you need my help?” Oliver asked knowingly.
“It’s just a small inconvenience, Mr. Williams. Don’t trouble yourself.”
Duane chuckled. “Please wait for a moment, I’ll be back shortly after I
settle this matter.” He stood up with a slight bow and left the room.
Chapter 106 Since someone came with a direct challenge, he
had to accept it. Otherwise, it would be an insult to his training all
these years. Outside, a silhouette dressed in white could be seen in the
garden. It was Dustin, walking up the driveway to the villa. Numerous
armed bodyguards surrounded him, trying to land an attack. However, it
was pointless. They were like moths flying into a flame. With every step
Dustin took, the swirling energy around him blew the guards away if they
got close enough. Howls and cries of pain rang out as he walked past the
sea of bodyguards nonchalantly. “If they were lucky, they only sustained
broken arms and limbs. The unlucky ones died instantly on impact. None
were strong enough to withstand his aura. In the end, Duane’s men could
only look on from a distance. They did not have the courage to even go up
to him. They could only stare at him with the eyes of looking upon a
monster. Being fully trained bodyguards, they assumed that this would be
a walk in the park. Who would have expected them to be completely
defeated by a punk? Dustin made his way up to the villa’s main doors,
leaving a trail of dead bodies in his wake. Taking a deep breath, he
roared, “Duane, come out and meet your maker!”
Duane, come out and meet your maker!” Dustin’s roar of anger echoed
through the villa like a clap of thunder. When Duane heard this
contemptuous challenge, he was furious. “Which idiot is dumb enough to
cause trouble on my property?” Duane thought as he rushed out in a hurry.
However, when he saw Dustin in a distance, he couldn’t help but be taken
aback. “It’s you, Dustin! Weren’t you arrested? How did you escape?” He
had bribed Mr. Gardner to arrest Dustin and detain him in the
Interrogation room. Even if Natasha were to intervene, she couldn’t have
helped him escape. “Was it you who framed me for the crime?” Dustin
demanded coldly. “Since you are already here, it means that you know the
answer to your question. You’re right, I am the one who framed you!
However, you only have yourself to blame. I had to go to such lengths
because you did not appreciate the chances that I have given you.” Duane
smirked. “At the very least, you confessed to your crime. Now, I’ll give
you a chance to redeem yourself. If you cripple yourself voluntarily and
leave Swinton for good, I will not exact my vengeance against you.”
Dustin sald indifferently. “Cripple myself? Leave Swinton?” Duane was
initially stunned when he heard this. After a moment, he roared with
laughter. “Punk, have you gone crazy? Who do you think you are? If it
weren’t for Natasha, do you think you could stand there and threaten me
with your words?” Duane assumed that somehow, Natasha must have found a
way to sa save Dustin. “If that’s the case, you’re not going to comply?”
Dustin’s expression grew stern. *Kid, it seems like you don’t understand
the situation. You were the one who trespassed into my property. If I
killed you here right now, no one would say anything! Of course, I’m not
one to hold grudges. As long as you give me the prescription for the
gemiphen, I’ll consider letting you go.” Duane narrowed his eyes
meaningfully. “It’s you who are unaware of your precarious state.” Dustin
shook his head and gave Duane a pitiful look. “I know you have great
strength, punk. However, brute strength is not everything!” Duane smriked
and drew his sword. “I wasn’t fully prepared during our last duel. The
reason I lost that time was that my forte is in sword fighting and not
bare–handed martial arts!” “Well then, come at me with all you’ve got!”
Dustin gestured for Duane to make the first move. “Arrogant prick! Let’s
see if you can withstand my attack after training for 20 years!” With
that, Duane struck a pose. Chapter 107 Extending his
arm, he aimed his glittering sword at Dustin’s chest as he flew towards
him at the speed of light. However, Dustin did not dodge. Without a word,
he intercepted the attack by gripping the blade with merely two fingers.
Vibrations from the rebounding force caused the blade to bend in on
itself. “What?” Duane was utterly shocked at the sight. Never in his
dreams could he imagine that a full–blown attack could be stopped with
bare hands! Furthermore, Dustin only used two fingers! What could be
happening? Before Duane could regain his composure, Dustin flicked his
fingers. The bent sword broke into a thousand pieces. Duane was thrown
back from the impact, and he staggered backward, his face stricken with
fear. His prowess in sword fighting seemed like child’s play as compared
to Dustin’s abilities. With just a single move, Duane was completely
defeated! “Wh–Who are you? How could you have such immense powers?”
Today’s Bonus Offer
Chapter 108 Duane exclaimed in terror, cold sweat pouring down his
back. As a martial artist, Duane was well–known for his agile and deadly
attacks. At his peak performance, the massive energy from his sword could
move mountains! How was Dustin able to intercept his attack? What kind of
monster could shatter swords with his bare hands? Dustin could not be
human! “Don’t you already know who I am?” Dustin closed the distance
menacingly and glared at him with icy–cold eyes. “Stay–Stay away!” Duane
backed away in a panic. “I don’t need the gemiphen’s prescription any
longer. Please let me go!” “I have given you a chance to redeem yourself,
but you didn’t take it. It’s too late to regret now!” Dustin clapped his
hands on Duane’s shoulders and squeezed tightly. With a loud crack,
Duane’s arms were dislocated from their joints. An agonizing howl escaped
Duane’s lips as intense pain spread throughout his body. Without
hesitation, Dustin added a punch to his abdomen. The force of Dustin’s
attack was concentrated on his organs, which caused Duane to bleed
profusely from his internal injuries. He fell to the ground in a heap,
unable to move. “You–You made me a cripple!” Duane gritted his teeth, his
eyes were red with fury. “On account of Mr. Anderson, I will not kill
you. However, you must pay for your crimes!” Dustin grabbed Duane by the
collar and threw him carelessly into the air. His limp body flew backward
and smashed into the main doors of his villa. At this moment, Hunter
walked in with his men. He had a stern look on his face. “Hunter! Save
me, quick!” When Duane saw who it was, he clung onto Hunter like a
lifeline. “Save you? You ought to be thankful that your life Is spared!”
Hunter scoffed. “Don’t be too happy though. You will be locked up in
Azkaban for the rest of your life to pay for your crimes!” “Azkaban?”
Duane was visibly shaken. “What nonsense are you spouting? I am a direct
descendant of the Welch family, one of the most important families in
Swinton. Even your position pales in comparison to my status. How dare
you threaten to throw me into Azkaban?” Chapter 108 Azkaban
was a prison for criminals on death row. Once admitted, it was impossible
for anyone to get out. The prisoners locked up there were as good as
dead. “This was decided by the Welch family’s patriarch. Your father had
agreed to it as well.” Hunter replied calmly. “No! You are lying to me!
Why would my father turn against me?” Duane shook his head violently.
“That’s because you have offended Mr. Rhys. The only way to protect the
Welch family was to sacrifice you,” Hunter said bluntly. “Mr. Rhys? Do
you mean Dustin?” Duane’s eyes widened. “How could it be possible? Why
would the Welch family be afraid of a young punk like him? What is his
identity?” “Dustin Rhys is just an alias. Ten years ago, he went by the
name of Logan.” “What?” “Logan, Rhys.” “Logan Rhys?” When Duane heard
Dustin’s real name, the blood drained from his face. No wonder the Welch
family was shaken to the core. Logan Rhys, also known as the kirin, was a
legendary martial artist. His skills were in a league of their own,
unsurpassable to this day. The mere mention of his name struck fear into
all of Stonia! How could he have provoked such a formidable person by
mistake?
Chapter 109 After Dustin’s Identity was revealed, Duane gave up
resistance. His eyes were lifeless as if his soul had left his body.
Duane knew that he was a goner. No one would save him, nor did they dare
to. “Take him away!” Hunter ordered his men to bind Duane up. Despite
knowing the truth, Duane could never leave Azkaban. There was only one
way to leave. That is, being carried out for cremation after death. “Stop
right there! What are you doing? Leave that man alone!” At that moment,
Oliver appeared with his two female bodyguards and approached them
aggressively. Initially, he hadn’t planned on getting involved. However,
Duane was such an incompetent Idiot! How could he lose the fight? Oliver
was forced to intervene before that knucklehead got himself locked up. At
any rate, Duane was still of some use to him. He had to ensure Duane’s
safety before he got his hands on the precious gemiphen. “You have
nothing to do with this. Don’t poke your nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Hunter warned in a cold tone. “Too bad, I insist. What are you going to
do about it?” Oliver stuck his hands in his pockets and walked up to
Dustin with a swagger. “Are you one of Duane’s men?” Dustin asked
nonchalantly. “Duane? With his ability, he could only be my underling!
However, I have a business deal with him. Without my permission, no one
can take him away. While I am still being nice, release him immediately!”
Oliver retorted proudly with his nose in the air. “What if I refuse?”
Dustin asked. “You refuse? Punk, don’t you know who I am? Don’t you know
who my father is? How dare you talk back to me? Are you looking for
death?” Oliver glared at him contemptuously. “I couldn’t care less about
who you are, or who your father is. It’s best for you to stay out of this
and let us deal with Duane,” Dustin replied nonchalantly. “Have you gone
crazy? Emma, Anna! Break this punk’s legs. Let’s see if he could continue
speaking in such a condescending tone while kneeling on the ground!”
Oliver smirked. “Yes, sir!” The two female bodyguards behind him rushed
toward Dustin simultaneously. 1/3 Chapter 109 Flanking him
on both sides, they poised to strike Dustin’s knees with the intention of
incapacitating him. There was no hesitation in carrying out Oliver’s
orders. With that, Dustin did not hold back. He made the first move and
slapped both of them on the cheek. They staggered backward, stunned by
the force of the heavy blow. “You!” Cradling their swollen cheeks, they
tried to draw their swords in retaliation. Before they could do that,
Dustin kicked them in the stomach and slapped them on the other cheek as
well. The two bodyguards teetered as stars circled above their heads.
“Punk, you need to be taught a lesson! How dare you engage in a sneak
attack?” Oliver was burning with anger. He rushed forward to land a punch
on Dustin’s face. It was obvious that he was a martial artist. His fists
were fast, sure, and accurate. However, Dustin wasn’t impressed. He
caught Oliver’s fist and twisted it. Oliver’s arm was displaced from its
joint as he screamed in misery. Before Oliver could catch his breath,
Dustin followed up with a punch to his abdomen. Oliver was thrown back a
few feet away and landed heavily on his back. The impact caused Oliver to
throw up, and he vomited all over himself. “Sir!” When they saw Oliver
injured, the female bodyguards anxiously ran up to defend him. “Kill him!
I order you to kill him right now!” Oliver held his stomach and roared
with a ferocious expression on his face. “There is no mercy for those who
hurt our boss!” The female bodyguards drew their swords and prepared to
light. “Nobody moves!” Suddenly, Hunter shouted and pulled out his gun.
The bodyguards were startled by Hunter’s threat and froze in place. They
did not dare to move a muscle. “Bastard! Don’t you know who I am? How
dare you point a gun at me?” Oliver stood up; his face livid. “I’m Oliver
Williams, a member of the Boulderthorn guild. Moreover, my father is the
second–in–command!” “Boulderthorn guild?” When Oliver revealed his
identity, Hunter’s expression grew serious. As the best guild in the
South, Boulderthorn has significant influence in Swinton. Even Edwin, the
wealthiest man in Swinton, was only a normal member of the Boulderthorn
guild. This showed how strong and powerful the guild was! CS
CamScanner “What, are you scared?” Oliver cackled mockingly as everyone
remained silent. “Now that you know who you are up against, kneel down
and beg for forgiveness Immediately. Otherwise, I will slaughter you and
your entire family!” What was the use of having guns or being a good
fighter? These were all pointless as compared to the support of the
Boulderthorn gulld. With a single word, he could destroy them all like
ants. This was the power of influence and authority! “Boulderthorn, is
it?” Dustin was still unfazed after hearing Oliver’s threat. “What if I
kill all three of you right now? Then no one would know what had happened
here.” “Kill me? How dare you!” Oliver widened his eyes. “If you touch
even a strand of hair on my head, I assure you that your body would be
blown up into pieces.” “Since you threatened my family, what’s there to
be afraid of? An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” Dustin
shrugged nonchalantly. Dustin’s words made Oliver step back in fear, as
he was unprepared for a fight. It would be troublesome if Dustin decided
to follow through with what he said. “I’m going to remember this, punk!
I’m not done with you!” Seeing as the situation was unfavorable, Oliver
and his bodyguards left in a hurry with their tails between their legs. A
wise man knew better than to fight when the odds were against him. With
his noble status, it wasn’t worth it to put his life on the line. “Mr.
Anderson, what do you know about Boulderthorn?” Dustin asked as his gaze
trailed after them. “Boulderthorn guild has been expanding rapidly. With
their reputation in the world of martial arts, they were set to be the
best guild in the South. Their members are widespread in every possible
field, which allows the guild to spread its influence far and wide. In
addition, I heard that Boulderthorn is planning to open a branch in
Swinton. That man’s father, Mr. Williams was sent here as a
representative for the new branch,” Hunter reported in a low voice.
Dustin nodded in acknowledgment and turned around to leave. That person
must have had something to do with the Boulderthorn guild, right?
Chapter 110 At the Nicholson villa. Everyone was amazed to see Dahlia
return home safely. “Dahlia, you are finally home! I was so worried about
you!” “Sis! Are you alright? Have you been bullied in the interrogation
room?” Florence and James fawned over her eagerly. Since they received
news of Dahlia being detained by Mr. Gardner, they had been extremely
worried for her safety. They’ve used up all their connections and spent a
ton of money trying to get Dahlia out. However, there was no reply. They
were at a loss for what to do. Just when they had given up, Dahlia
unexpectedly returned home on her own. “Mother, I’m fine. Sorry for
making you worry.” Dahlia smiled. She was a little spooked by everything
that had happened today. Fortunately, she managed to return home safe and
sound. “It’s all Dustin’s fault. If it weren’t for him, you wouldn’t have
been captured as well!” Florence muttered angrily. “Mother’s right! That
shameless man is always doing sneaky things! Sis, you should stay away
from him to avoid getting caught up in his crimes!” James chimed in.
“Actually, this incident has nothing to do with him. He was framed by
someone else.” Dahlia tried to defend Dustin. “How is it possible? If he
is truly innocent, why was he arrested?” “Yeah, why would they frame him
instead of anyone else? This could only mean that he has bad character!”
Florence and James complained one after another with disdain. Dahlia
could only sigh in resignation. “If it were up to me, I would choose
Matt. When he heard that you were detained, he went around looking for
help to bail you out. A gentleman like him is rare nowadays!” Florence
changed the topic. “That’s right! Sis, if it weren’t for Matt’s help, you
might still be stuck in jail!” James agreed enthusiastically. “Matt? Are
you sure that it was his doing?” Dahlia said, surprised. “Who else could
it be? He and the Hummer family go way back. He must have asked for Sir
Hummer’s help to get you out,” James mused. “I see, I thought…” Dahlia
trailed off. 1/3 Chapter 112 She was a bit puzzled
regarding Mr. Granville’s appearance. From Natasha’s expression, she
seemed just as surprised as Dahlia to see Mr. Granville there. By the
looks of it, it must be Matt who had requested help from the Hummers
family. Sir Hummers was one of the Mighty Three. It would not be
surprising if he had connections with Mr. Granville. “Dahlia, last time
Matt managed to retrieve the large sum of money we had lost; now he got
you out of the interrogation room. You need to show some appreciation.
Your cousin, Julie, will be here tomorrow, why don’t you invite Matt
along and spend the day together?” Florence asked expectantly. “Let’s see
if we have the time.” Dahlia squeezed out a forced smile. Whenever Matt’s
name was mentioned, she was reminded of another person. …… The next
morning, at the Peaceful Medical Center. “Let’s eat!” Dustin shouted from
the ground floor while setting up the table for breakfast. “I’m coming!
Why are you in such a hurry?” After a moment, a one–eyed old man limped
down the stairs with a walking stick. “Hey, punk! Where’s the alcohol?”
He demanded angrily. “No alcohol for breakfast. Have some soup.” Dustin
gave him a bowl of chicken soup. “I’m not going to eat if there’s no
alcohol!” The old man threw a tantrum. “Suit yourself.” Dustin paid him
no mind. He sat down and started eating his breakfast. The old man
couldn’t hold back any longer as Dustin was about to finish the food.
“Geez, what a rude young man!” Lifting the bowl, he swallowed the soup in
large gulps. “Here, this is the Panax root you asked for. Keep it safe.”
After breakfast, Dustin placed a box made from cedar wood on the table.
“Oh, did you manage to obtain another precious herb? You are really
efficient!” the one–eyed man exclaimed in surprise. “I need another four
herbs; hopefully, I can collect them all in time.” Dustin muttered.
“These things can’t be forced. Leave it up to fate,” the old man said
casually. For an elderly person like him, each day was like a gift. A
silver Bentley stopped at the entrance of the medical center,
interrupting the conversation. A gorgeous, alluring
woman got out of the car and walked up to them. “Wow, what a beauty! She
has curves in all the right places! Punk, aren’t you divorced? Don’t you
want to take her as your wife?” The old man cackled gleefully. “Shut up,
old man!” Dustin glared at him and stood up to greet Natasha. “Ms.
Harmon, why are you here?” “What? Am I not welcome?” Natasha smirked. “Of
course not. Have a seat.” Dustin pulled out a chair for her. “You must be
Old Mr. Whiskey? I’ve heard that you love alcohol; that’s why I brought
some homebrewed ale as a gift.” With a smile, Natasha placed two bottles
on the table. “I’m satisfied as long as I have some alcohol! A glass of
well–brewed ale is as valuable as liquid gold!” The one–eyed man beamed
with joy. He was just complaining about the lack of alcohol. This was
exactly what he needed. “If you like, I can send alcohol to you every
day.” Natasha chuckled. “You are such a thoughtful and considerate young
lady, much better than that Dahlia girl!” The one–eyed man grinned from
ear to ear. – “Punk, you are so fortunate to have met such a wonderful
woman like Ms. Harmon. You have to cherish her!” “Take your alcohol and
go away!” Dustin complained in annoyance. “Alright, alright. I’m going
upstairs to drink on my own. I don’t want to be a third wheel here.” The
old man carried both bottles and went up the stairs. “Ms. Harmon, I
apologize on behalf of that old man. He could be rude and ignorant.”
Dustin smiled sheepishly. “I don’t think he said anything wrong. Are you
offended?” Natasha raised her eyebrows. “No.” Dustin shook his head.
“That’s alright, then.” Natasha chuckled. “That reminds me, I’ve gone
through so much trouble to help you escape from the interrogation room.
How are you going to repay me?” “Can I treat you to dinner?” Dustin asked
hesitantly. “That’s too predictable.” Natasha rolled her eyes. “Well,
what do you want in return?” Dustin asked in confusion. Without a word,
Natasha closed her eyes. She pointed to her pouty red lips and motioned
for Dustin to kiss her.
Chapter 111 Looking at Natasha’s closed eyes and puckered lips, she
exuded a seductive aura that left Dustin stunned. “What’s wrong with your
mouth? Does it hurt or something?” Dustin was oblivious. “What are you on
about? I’m letting you kiss me.” Natasha explained with frustration.
“Huh?” Dustin’s eyes twitched in disbelief as he gasped audibly. “This
can’t be a good thing, can it?” He thought to himself. “Fine, if you
don’t want it so badly, then this will be the last time you’ll ever get
it,” Natasha teased playfully. “You idiot! If you don’t grab this
opportunity now, when would you ever get another chance like this!” The
one- eyed old man peeping from the second floor hollered. He sighed
deeply, shaking his head in disbelief at Dustin. “You’d better shut it!”
Dustin turned around and shouted back, his eyes shooting daggers.
However, when he turned his head back again, his attention was drawn to
Natasha’s flawless complexion and cherry–red lips, making him suddenly
realize what he might be missing out on. “Anyways, I’m done teasing you.
Let’s get down to business,” Natasha interrupted his line of thought and
continued. “Recently, Edwin headhunted the bulk of the main workforce
behind Harmon Pharmaceuticals, so now we’re currently looking for leaders
to reorganize the team. Given your exceptional medical skills, how about
working for me as an honorary chief physician?” “I don’t think I’m a good
fit for the job,” Dustin grumbled. He was great when it came to healing
and saving lives, but leadership was not his strong suit, and he had
absolutely zero experience in that aspect. “To be honest, you don’t need
to do anything for the job. You just need to help me keep an eye on
things once in a while. But if you ever decide that it’s not for you,
then you just need to hold on to that title until I find another good fit
for the position.” Sensing his skepticism, Natasha put on a pitiful look
for him again. “If you don’t help me out here, I’m afraid the only thing
I can do at this point is to just sit and watch as Edwin obliterates
Harmon Pharmaceuticals into dust.” Feeling defeated and unsure of how to
refuse her, he finally relented. “Fine…I suppose I can try.” “I just knew
that you’d help me! Let’s go! Come to my place first, then I can walk you
through your duties and responsibilities!” Natasha exclaimed, immediately
all eyes and smiles. With that, she grabbed him and ushered him into her
car. Half an hour later over at Java Joys, Ruth sat at a table with her
mother, Jessica. The two of them were busy entertaining a few guests. One
of them was a well–dressed, handsome young man, while the other was an
old man who had a lab coat on. The young man spoke first, cutting
straight to the point. “I won’t mince words this time, Ms. Ballard. The
reason I’m here today is that I’m Investigating the traitor. On a related
note, I’m also here to assist my cousin Chapter 111 in
taking down Swinton’s pharmaceutical market as soon as possible, mainly
to pave the way for future developments in my family.” “Natasha can
definitely rest well with you helping around, Quentin. But you know how
bad that temper of hers can get. She doesn’t like anyone meddling in her
affairs, after all,” Jessica replied with a small grin. “I’m afraid
there’s nothing else I can do, not when this is the outcome of my
family’s deliberations. As long as my cousin does not do anything that
conflicts with the family’s interests, I will do the same for any of the
decisions she makes,” Quentin said as he sipped his tea. “Hmph, the way I
see it, you’re obviously just here to spy on my sister!” Ruth, with a
scowl on her face, muttered under her breath. With her sister’s
engagement with Tyler Grant coming up, the heads of the family wanted to
take every precaution to make sure nothing happened, which was why they
sent a spy over to keep watch on her at all times. “Oh, and another
thing, are the rumors about Edwin Hummer poaching the bulk of the
workforce of the company and stealing Eternumax’s research documents
true?” Quentin brought up the subject out of nowhere. “Such rumors did
surface, but I firmly believe that Natasha has the capacity to resolve
everything well.“. Jessica’s expression was unwavering. “Eternumax is the
fruit of the Harmons‘ research for many years now, which could have been
used as a trump card to dominate the pharmaceutical market in Swinton,
but now that this incident has occurred, the guys over at HQ are furious,
which is why they had to send an expert over.” Quentin explained before
stretching out a hand to introduce the white–haired old man sitting next
to him. “This man here is Mr. Wangley. His medical research skills are
second to none. So, from now on, he will become the next chief physician
for Harmon Pharmaceuticals.” But the moment Quentin finished his
sentence, a cold voice suddenly boomed from outside the cafe. “I’ve
already found the right guy for the job, Quentin. So no need to bother
Mr. Wangley or whatever his name is anymore!” Natasha exclaimed with
Dustin, arm in arm, as the two of them stepped through the front doors
boldly. “What!” Quentin gasped with a frown. His expression darkened as
he witnessed the lovey–dovey display between the two of them. Before
this, he’d caught wind of Natasha securing herself a boy toy, but he
didn’t expect the rumors to be true. If the Grant family heard about
this, then the marriage between the two families would obviously be
greatly affected.
Chapter 112 “Why’d you bring him here for, Natasha?” Jessica frowned
as she probed. Natasha replied calmly. “This is my turf, I can bring over
whoever I like. Anyways, I’ve already found a good fit for the position
of chief physician, and it’s Mr. Dustin!” “What?!” Everyone exclaimed in
shock when she announced that. “You’ve got to be kidding me, Natasha! Is
he even qualified to serve as chief physician for the Harmons?” Jessica
voiced her displeasure. “Dustin’s medical skills are top of the line, and
he knows the ins and outs of medicine. I believe he won’t face any
problems while serving as chief!” Natasha assured Jessica. “W–what kind
of nonsense are you talking about?!” Jessica hollered, obviously agitated
by her response. Ruth interrupted and clamored to her feet to de–escalate
the situation. “Calm down, there’s no need to make a fuss. Let’s just sit
down and talk it out. Dustin, let me introduce you to everyone. This is
my mom, I believe you’ve met her before. And this man here is my cousin,
Quentin Harmon.” “A pleasure to meet the both of you,” Dustin responded
politely with a few nods, with no hint of being condescending at all. “So
you’re the pretty boy who keeps clinging on to Natasha like a leech?”
Quentin sneered after looking Dustin up and down. His gaze was full of
disdain toward him. It was as if he was looking at ants crawling beneath
his feet. Quentin’s holler–than–thou attitude caused Dustin to raise an
eyebrow, but he quickly returned to his normal resting face. “Didn’t I
ask a question? Why aren’t you saying anything?” Quentin taunted and
lifted his chin as if to Intimidate Dustin. “I’m afraid I didn’t quite
catch that, Mr. Harmon,” Dustin replied in the calmest manner he could
muster. “You sure you didn’t catch that, or are you trying to play dumb
with me right now?” Quentin egged him on before letting out a sharp sigh.
“Fine, I’ll reword my question then. Did you kill Tilda Snider?” “I did,
but-” Before Dustin could explain himself, he was interrupted by
Quentin’s booming voice, “Great! Since you’ve already admitted to the
crime, that makes my job a whole lot easier now. I’ll see to it that
Tilda, one of the pillars in the Harmon household, doesn’t die in vain!”
he proclaimed. Immediately after that, he brought out an urn and slammed
it on the table. “Now, I want you to look at her ashes and bow your
F*cking head down as an apology to her!” “What?” Dustin frowned in
confusion. Quentin had shown his disdain before this, but now, it was
obvious that he was planning to outright humiliate him in front of
everyone. “Do you have a few screws loose or something? Are you sure that
the Tilda Snider you’re referring to is the Chapter 112
same one who betrayed the Harmons and also plotted to assassinate Ms.
Harmon here? Are you saying that I should’ve spared her?” Dustin
questioned. “Who are you to decide if she gets killed or not! Even if
she’s a traitor, she still belongs to the Harmons. Her mess should be
ours to clean up, not yours! Shouldn’t you choose your targets properly
before disposing of them? Who are you to meddle in the Harmons” family
business anyways?!” Quentin barked out. Dustin merely let out an
exasperated chuckle after hearing his bullshit speech. Not only did he
not receive any thanks for helping the Harmons dispose of their traitors,
but now he was even about to get punished for it? What an eye–opening way
to show one’s gratitude! “Enough talk. As long as you bow down to Tilda
to make amends for my cousin’s sake, I’ll consider letting you off the
hook,” Quentin ordered in an overbearing manner. After all, he was but a
tiny ant to him, he could step on it as much as he wanted. “What if I
refuse?” Dustin shrugged indifferently. “What if you refuse? Then I’ll
make sure to break your F*cking legs!” Quentin sneered. “I’d like to see
you try,” Dustin replied as he narrowed his eyes. He had a wicked glint
in his eyes. “Tsk! Now you’re just asking for it!” Quentin exploded in
rage and slammed his fists on the table and the sound of a teacup
shattering beneath his feet could be heard. “Quentin Harmon! If you dare
so much as to touch even a single hair on Dustin, I’ll be the one to
break your legs instead!” Natasha screamed in fury as she marched toward
them. 2/2
Chapter 113 “What?” Natasha’s sudden outburst of anger caused Quentin
to furrow his brows. “Are you seriously going to turn on me just to
protect this boy toy of yours?” One reason he wanted to humiliate Dustin
so much was that he hated his guts, while the other was because he wanted
to gauge Natasha’s reaction to the situation. “Dustin saved my life, so
if you dare so much as lay a finger on him, don’t blame me if I flip out
on you!” Natasha warned Quentin sternly. If not for the fact that he was
her cousin, she would have slapped the shit out of him already. “Is that
so!” Quentin snorted as his expression twisted into a scowl. “While I can
put Tilda Snider’s case aside for now, I’m still very opposed to the fact
that you plan to elect him as the chief physician when he doesn’t even
have the right qualifications for the job!” Quentin argued back. Since
this was one way of securing power in the company, it was obvious that he
wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip away so easily. 1 “Whether he’s
qualified or not, it’s not up to you to decide, but me!” Natasha growled
with authority. “Everything you own now was given to you by the family,
so if you insist on getting in the way of the family’s interests, you’re
not allowed to blame me if I report you to the board when the time
comes!” Quentin threatened. “Do whatever you want,” Natasha spat. She
wasn’t afraid of him in the slightest. “Wait!” Jessica suddenly spoke up.
“Eternumax’s research document leak isn’t a trivial matter, so the next
chief physician must be capable enough to mitigate this. I feel Dustin’s
still too young for this, so that would make Mr. Wangley the most
suitable candidate, no?” She refused to let a naive child like himself
hold such a key position in Harmon Pharmaceuticals. “Dustin’s medical
skills are superb, so I doubt if he’d lose to some dusty old man,”
Natasha justified confidently. “Fine, since you keep insisting that he
has great medical skills, then I propose that he beat Mr. Wangley in a
medical showdown. Then, we shall see who’s the best among them,” Quentin
suggested, stoking the flames. Natasha couldn’t help but furrow her brows
as he finished his sentence. Suddenly, she realized that she might have
fallen into his trap. “How are we supposed to compete then?” Dustin
suddenly spoke up. Although he wasn’t too interested in becoming chief,
Quentin’s arrogance had rubbed him the wrong way, so he decided to roll
along with his plan just to prove him wrong. “Competing
between medical prowess is just too boring, don’t you think, younguns?
Why don’t we play with poison instead?” Mr. Wangley changed the topic out
of the blue. “Sure, how do you plan to do that?” Dustin remained poker
faced. “Hehe… It’s simple actually. Each of us will concoct a bottle of
poison on the spot and exchange it with one another to ingest. Whoever
manages to come up with an antidote to save themselves first will be
declared the winner. Sound good?” Mr. Wangley proposed. “Wait a minute!
But what if you can’t cure yourself from the poison?” Ruth quickly asked.
“Well, if you fail, then I guess you can either get lucky and survive
being a cripple or die a violent death instead!” Mr. Wangley guffawed,
his eyes gleamed with excitement as he said that. “No way! Who the hell
goes so far for a duel? What if something goes wrong?” Ruth exclaimed in
shock. One wrong step, and one could easily get killed! “Since we’re
going to compete with one another anyways, why don’t we raise the stakes
a little? So, up for the challenge, young man?” Mr. Wangley nudged
amusedly. “Don’t fall for his tricks, Dustin! He’s obviously doing this
just to back you into a corner,” Natasha warned in a low whisper. She now
suspected that Mr. Wangley wasn’t a physician at all but a master of
poison! Unlike physicians, who cure diseases and save lives, polson
masters do research on the complete opposite spectrum of medicine. For
them, they specialized in witchcraft, voodoo, and poison. They had
ruthless tactics and strange tricks up their sleeves. If they settled on
a competition to battle out their medical skills, then Dustin would stand
a pretty good chance of winning. But if they opted to go with a poison–
concocting competition with a master of poison instead, then it was like
they were begging to be killed! “I’m giving you one more chance to back
out of this, Mr. Boy Toy. If you admit defeat now, you’ll be giving up
your title of chief physician and I’ll still need you to bow down and
apologize to Tilda Snider’s ashes!” Quentin spat. Who was this pale–
skinned wimp who was bold enough to pick a fight with the great Mr.
Wangley anyway? “Aren’t we just dabbling with some poison? Fine, It’s
on,” Dustin proclaimed. He was not the least bit afraid. “Ha, you asked
for it!” Quentin let out a maniacal laugh as he gazed at the soon–to–be–
dead man in front of him. To think he had the gall to compete with a
polson master at making polson. He certainly had a death wish! “Are you
out of your mind. Dustin? You could diel” Ruth said anxiously. “It’s not
like they have any rivalry between them either, so why does he Insist on
putting his life on the line like Chapter 113 this?”
She thought to herself. “I know full well what I’m doing.” Dustin
answered nonchalantly. “Dustin, are you sure you want to do this?”
Natasha frowned. He could see the slight worry in those beautiful eyes of
hers. She was aware that Quentin was deliberately making things difficult
for him, but it wasn’t like she could outright stop him either. “Don’t
worry, I’ll be fine. You should be worried about them instead.” Dustin
grinned. In fact, he was not only proficient in medicine but very much a
specialist in voodoo magic and poison as well. “Less talk, more poison–
making. Mr. Boy Toy!” Quentin urged hurriedly, afraid that he’d chicken
out and go back on his word. “Wait!” Dustin voiced out and raised his
hands all of a sudden. “I’m all for making poisons, but my only condition
is that I need you to be involved in this as well.” “What are you talking
about?” Quentin asked in shock, feeling a little uneasy. “Didn’t you say
that you wanted this to be exciting? Later when we’re done, why don’t you
and I test it with our bodies, then leave our lives at the mercy of the
Lord?” Dustin suggested coolly. “Cut the crap!” Quentin hollered, and his
expression immediately changed. “How are you compare your peasant life
with mine? Why don’t you look at yourself in the mirror for once?“
“Admitting defeat so quickly? If you don’t have the balls to take up this
challenge, then kneel down in front of me and admit defeat right now. Oh,
and I’ll need an apology too, then I can pretend none of this ever
happened in the first place.” Dustin taunted. “You-” Quentin stumbled
over his words as a burst of anger overtook him in an instant. Would he
even have any face left after this if he backed down now? Then again, he
was the one with the money and status, so it wasn’t like he stood to gain
anything from putting his life on the line with a filthy peasant like
him. I won’t “Rest assured, Mr. Harmon. With my skills, I’ll make sure
that any kind of poison this punk conjures up even hurt you in the
slightest,” Mr. Wangley announced with conviction. If he were to scan the
entirety of South City, he was confident that the only person who was
able to top him was Dr. Linden Watkins when it came to making poisons.
“Are you sure about that?” Quentin probed, his brows furrowed slightly.
“Of course! Just take the bet, Mr. Harmon, and I’ll make sure to keep you
safe from harm,” Mr. Wangley declared confidently. “Sounds good to me!”
Quentin shouted and slapped his hands on the table before getting up to
his feet. “If it’s my life on the line you want, Mr. Boy Toy, then it’s
what you’ll get! I’ll make sure to accompany you to your last dying
breath!”
Chapter 114 After reaching an agreement on both sides, the atmosphere
instantly became tense. Dustin and Mr. Wangley had their subordinates
purchase some medicine for them. The plan was that the two of them would
concoct poisons on the spot and down them together at the same time. As
for who would win, that would have to depend on their respective skills.
“Do you think Dustin’s going to make it, Sis? What if he gets poisoned to
death instead?” Ruth voiced out anxiously. “Well, since he agreed to it
in the first place, I suppose this means he’s confident that he can win.
Have some faith in the guy.” Natasha assured with a straight face.
Although she looked calm on the outside, she felt uneasy on the inside.
If it were possible, she’d rather Dustin straight–up admit defeat. “You
can say that, but Dustin’s only proficient in medicine. Surely he can’t
beat Mr. Wangley in terms of his experience in the field of poison
research,” Ruth murmured while shaking her head. There were many
subfields in the field of medicine, with each subfield being vastly
different from one to the other. So, how can an amateur compete with a
professional? Compared to the two sisters‘ worries, Jessica felt
secondhand embarrassment for Dustin as she sat at the side. She wasn’t
sure if she should label Dustin as arrogant or stupid to agree to compete
with a master of poison at making poisons. Then again, she was still
amused that things managed to get to this point. If Dustin loses, he’ll
either be dead or crippled, which would mean that she wouldn’t need to
expend so much energy thinking about her daughter’s marriage anymore. “I
would advise you to drop out of the competition while you can, Mr. Boy
Toy; else, when the poison kicks in your system, you might not even get
the chance to regret your decision anymore!” Quentin pressed. “To be
frank, I have to commend you for your bravery as well. To think that
you’re willing to put your life in someone else’s hands. I don’t suppose
you ever thought that if ever the old man loses, the one who might kick
the bucket is you?” Dustin pointed out flatly. “Ridiculous! Mr. Wangley
has been researching poisons for many years now, so how could he possibly
lose? You’ll see how great he is later!” Quentin gave a bark of laughter.
Dustin merely let out a short chuckle and said nothing more in response.
A few moments later, the subordinates the two of them sent to purchase
medicine for them entered through the front doors hurriedly. CS
CamScanner Immediately after retrieving the goods, Mr. Wangley started
concocting his polson at lightning speed. His movements were so fast that
it was enough to make one’s head spin. In the meantime, Dustin took his
time with it and did everything at his own pace. After a long while, Mr.
Wangley had finished concocting his polson, which appeared to be a bottle
of viscous, black liquid. One could even smell a faint scent of dead fish
watting out of it. “I’m done with my poisons, Mr. Boy Toy. Dare to put it
down the hatch?” Quentin taunted as he placed the bottle on the table and
provocatively glared at him. Anyone with a discerning eye could
definitely see that the black potion in front of them was highly
poisonous. This meant that anyone who ingested it would surely be in
danger! “What say we just forget about this whole thing. Dustin? It’s
obvious that anyone who drinks this will surely die!” Ruth pleaded,
clearly upset. Natasha, who was standing beside her, also couldn’t help
but ball up her fists. “It’s just polson. There’s nothing to worry
about.” Dustin grinned before picking up the bottle and downing the
entire thing in one swig. His swift but confident motion caused Quentin
to freeze. “Was this punk actually not afraid of death?” He thought to
himself. “How are you feeling?” Natasha hurriedly probed. “Well, my mouth
feels bitter from the aftertaste, but all in all, the taste is fine.”
Dustin evaluated. Natasha was speechless at his reply. The corners of her
mouth started twitching. “Did you think that I was asking you about the
taste?” She thought to herself incredulously. “You don’t have to put up a
front if it’s too much for you to bear, young man. You just need to bow
down to Mr. Harmon and admit your mistakes if you want me to save you,”
Mr. Wangley said amusedly. “Your ‘poison” is mildly toxic at best,”
Dustin replied while smacking his lips a few times. “If I’m not mistaken,
what you just conjured up is the Devil’s Elixir, right? It’s a good
poison of choice, but it’s a shame you used the wrong ingredients for it.
What you should’ve used was aconite instead of epiphyllum. Although both
of their medical properties are similar, there are still a few minor
differences between them. This is one determining factor of what makes a
poison so potent,” he explained. “Huh? How did you know? Did you peek at
me while I was concocting the mix just now?” Mr. Wangley gasped as his
expression warped into pure shock. He was absolutely correct in deducing
that the poison he made was the Devil’s Elixir, and that he had added
epiphyllum as one of the ingredients. “Was it even necessary to peek? I
could tell the moment I smelled it in the air.” Dustin retorted. 2/4 CS
CamScanner “You used a total of five ingredients, namely strychnine,
Zeus‘ Vine, oranges, phyllanthus, and a sliver of Devil’s grass. It’s
such a shame that you were this close to making the perfect poison
though.” The moment Dustin finished speaking, Mr. Wangley couldn’t help
but break out in a shudder. To think that this punk could list out every
single one of the ingredients he’d used to make his poison. He’d be fine
if he had just told him that he peeked, but it was terrifying to think
that he could deduce everything just by smell alone! Even he felt that it
would take him light years to even get to this level! “What the hell
happened, Mr. Wangley? A few minutes have already passed, and yet he
hasn’t reacted at all” Quentin thought to himself with some unease. *Rest
assured, Mr. Harmon. Anyone can tell that he’s just putting on a bold
front right now. Without an antidote, I can guarantee you that he’ll kick
the bucket in no time flat!” Mr. Wangley hollered with confidence after
reeling from his shock. Even if Dustin found a way to make a cure, it
would still be impossible to completely get rid of the poison from his
system. And that was because Mr. Wangley had added something extra
inside. “Now that’s music to my ears.” Quentin secretly sighed in relief.
“I’m also done making my poison,” Dustin declared as he presented a
bottle with a yellow–colored liquid inside. A lot of steam emanated from
the foul–smelling, hot liquid. It looked absolutely disgusting. “W–what
the F*ck is that? It reeks!” Quentin sneered. He immediately covered his
scrunched–up nose with his hands. “While it might stink a bit, I promise
you it tastes pretty good. Feel free to give it a go,” Dustin said
casually as he pushed the bottle toward them. “You can’t possibly be
thinking of chickening out now, right, oh great Quentin Harmon?” Natasha
pressed. Quentin remained silent but turned to look at Mr. Wangley
standing beside him, clearly hesitating. “Relax, Mr. Harmon. I saw every
ingredient this kid used clearly, so even if you ingest the poison, I can
whip out an antidote for you in under three minutes!” Mr. Wangley assured
confidently. *Sounds great. Here we go!” Quentin exclaimed with his
newfound courage. He then proceeded to pick up the bottle, pinch his
nose, and down the whole bottle. “Eugh!” Quentin gagged just as he downed
the poison. It felt like it was about to come back out again. Not only
did it reek, but it also tasted bitter, rancid, and disgusting all at the
same time. It felt as if he had just eaten a pile of shit. It was an
extremely unpleasant experience. “Uh uh, it won’t count if you spit it
out!” Dustin reminded. 711 Chapter 114 “You-“Quentin
gritted his teeth. He had no other choice but to swallow everything back
down with a flushed face. It’d be a waste to spit everything out after
all that effort of drinking it in the first place. “What exactly did you
add inside? How come it stinks so much?” There was a “lingering‘ taste in
his mouth and teeth that refused to go away. “Oh, nothing much. Just some
golden juice,” Dustin said flatly. The moment he revealed it, Mr.
Wangley’s face contorted with shock. Even Jessica, who had been sitting
at the side all this while, raised an eyebrow upon hearing that. ““Golden
juice“? What the F*ck is that?” Quentin probed, feeling uneasy. ““Golden
juice“, or “golden liquid‘ or ‘fecal fluid‘, it basically just means
“human excrement” in layman’s terms,” Dustin explained with a small grin.
Chapter 115 “WHAT? HUMAN EXCREMENT?” As soon as Quentin heard this,
he immediately started dry heaving next to Dustin. But since the poison
was already in his stomach, he couldn’t spit it out even if he wanted to,
his face flushed red instead. Before this, the phrase ‘eat shit‘ had only
been a suggestion, but he couldn’t believe that it had actually happened
to him. “I didn’t expect Dustin to be so heartless by forcing our cousin
to eat shit. How is he going to eat anything else from now on?” Ruth
commented as she covered her nose with her hands. She then started to
move away from them with a look of disgust. “For all the shit he spews
out from his mouth, I think this is a most fitting punishment.” Natasha
couldn’t help but add fuel to the fire too. “How dare you trick me, you
little bastard!” Quentin roared as he raised his head. His expression
darkened and his gaze was murderous. He had never been humiliated this
badly in all his life. “Since we were tasked with making poison, I had
the freedom to choose my own recipe, so I was allowed to add any
ingredient I saw fit inside, no?” Dustin stated matter–of–factly. “Good,
good! You’ve got some nerve, don’t you?” Quentin shouted, his face
contorted with anger. “I can’t wait to see you begging at my feet later
once the poison kicks into your system!” “We’ll certainly see who will be
the one who gets down on their knees later. Now, you’d better ask the
people around you whether they can cure the poison I made or not.” Dustin
grinned. “Give me the antidote now, Mr. Wangley!” Quentin urged. He
certainly didn’t want his high–class body to suffer any more damage.
“Calm down, Mr. Harmon. Let me take a look at you first,” Mr. Wangley
picked up the bottle with the rest of the poison and brought it close to
his nose to smell it. Then, he dipped his finger into the remaining
liquid and placed a drop on the tip of his tongue to taste it. “Here I
was beginning to think it was some kind of potent poison. Who would’ve
guessed that it was Venenum Insectum all along?” Mr. Wangley chuckled. It
seemed he had found his answer. ““Venenum Insectum‘? What’s that?”
Quentin asked. “Venenum Insectum‘ is a poison that’s made from seven
types of venomous organisms. They’re first ground into a fine powder,
then mixed together. If I’m not mistaken, the organisms in question are
snakes, scorpions, toads, centipedes, spiders, poisonous bees, and fire
ants,” Mr. Wangley explained with confidence. “Are you for real? You got
all that from tasting one small droplet?” Ruth asked incredulously. 1/4
Chapter 115 If he had the skills to figure out Dustin’s
recipe like that, that would mean that he was pretty much an expert as
well. “As expected of a poison master, you clearly are an expert in your
field,” Dustin remarked with a smile. He had to admit that Mr. Wangley
was indeed talented, but it was a shame that he was so close yet so far
once again, mistaking his concoction for Venenum Insectum instead of
Venenum Insectim. The golden juice was merely added in for extra flavor.
“Will you stop spewing nonsense to yourself already, Mr. Wangley? Hurry
up and make me an antidote. My stomach is starting to hurt again.”
Quentin whined as he clutched his abdomen with a strained look. His
stomach had begun to churn again two minutes later. “Wait for me while I
whip up an antidote for you, Mr. Harmon.” Mr. Wangley swiftly started
preparing an antidote with the ingredients that remained. “H–Hurry up!
It’s getting more and more painful by the second!” Quentin howled in
pain. The longer time went on, he felt as if there was a knife inside his
abdomen that kept stabbing his insides. He started to break out in a cold
sweat. In the meantime, Dustin looked absolutely fine and showed no
abnormal symptoms, so much so that he managed to sip his tea leisurely.
“H–how are you not affected?” Quentin stuttered, visibly taken aback.
Dustin had drunk the poison first, so why was it that he seemed like he
wasn’t affected by it in the slightest? “I’ve already gotten rid of the
poison in my system. So, how could I still be affected?” “You’ve already
concocted an antidote? But how? You didn’t do anything!” Quentin spat in
disbelief. “That’s not for you to worry about. Why don’t you focus on
your case first? Like what you’re going to do if the person standing next
to you can’t cure the poison,” Dustin suggested with mock concern. “The
poison I conjured up was a rough one, by the way. It’ll induce searing
pain first, and if you fail to obtain the antidote within three hours,
then it’ll tear through your guts and intestines and cause you to die a
horrible death!” “What!” Quentin gasped and panicked. His stomach was
already hurting badly before this, but after receiving a scare from
Dustin, it seemed to hurt even more. “I’ve got the antidote for you, Mr.
Harthon!” Mr. Wangley announced as he brought a vial of white liquid over
to him in the nick of time. Without any hesitation, Quentin downed the
whole thing in one gulp.. As soon as the antidote landed in his stomach,
he immediately felt better. However, after enduring the pain for a few
seconds, he vomited all the white liquid out of his system. 2/4 CS
CamScanner Chapter 115 “What are you doing, Mr. Harmon? You just threw up
the antidote!” Mr. Wangley exclaimed in surprise. “I–I couldn’t help it.
I really couldn’t hold it in!” Quentin whined helplessly. “You could even
stomach eating shit, so why can’t you do the same for the antidote?” Mr.
Wangley scolded, flabbergasted. “Cut the crap! Hurry up and prepare
another dose, I’ll make sure to hold it in this time round,” Quentin
shouted as his face twitched. Mr. Wangley had no choice but to do as he
was told. Soon, he’d finished whipping up another dose, and Quentin
wasted no time ingesting it. This time, he managed to hold it in. “My
stomach still hurts like hell, Mr. Wangley. Why haven’t the effects
kicked in yet?” Quentin complained with a strained look on his face. “It
can’t be, the main ingredients to make an antidote for Venenum Insectum
are forsythia, lotus root, and white creepers. Then, it just needs to be
supplemented with a few herbs and heated up, to be able to detoxify the
poison. Perhaps the effects of the antidote haven’t kicked in yet, so
I’ll need you to wait a little while longer,” Mr. Wangley comforted.
Quentin nodded and forced himself to endure the severe pain for a few
more minutes. His face even started contorting to reflect the
indescribable pain he was feeling as time went on. “Mr. Wangley! I don’t
think this was the right antidote! Not only did it do nothing to ease the
pain, but it also hurts even more now!” Quentin shouted through gritted
teeth and continued to be drenched in sweat. “How could this be?” Mr.
Wangley stepped forward to check Quentin’s pulse. “D–don’t tell me this
isn’t Venenum Insectum?” Mr. Wangley exclaimed. “Huh? Then what about the
antidote that you gave me just now?” Quentin roared in anger. “What else
did you put in your poison, you bastard? I clearly saw you add venomous
creepy crawlies inside!” Mr. Wangley turned around and questioned. “The
kind of ingredients I used isn’t the main focus here. The real question
should be whether you can get rid of the poison or not,” Dustin said
indifferently. “You played dirty, didn’t you? So be it! Even if this ends
up in a tie, as long as you hand me the antidote. I’ll give you the
antidote for the Devil’s Elixir!” Mr. Wangley proposed as he made the
decision to be the bigger person. If he’d concocted the poison using a
different recipe, then he would need to take the time to analyze it
properly. But now that Quentin was writhing in pain, he didn’t have the
luxury to take his time. It would be bad for him too if his source of
income were to disappear just like that. “You want the antidote, don’t
you? Fine.” A cocky grin spread on Dustin’s face. “According to what you
said to me earlier, I want the same back from you. I want you to kneel
down before me 34 Chapter 115 and admit defeat. After that,
I’ll give you the antidote.” The second he finished his sentence, Quentin
and Mr. Wangley’s expressions changed.
Chapter 116 “Don’t get ahead of yourself yet, you bastard!” Mr.
Wangley shouted in anger. “You have to remember that Mr. Harmon isn’t the
only one who’s poisoned here. Without my antidote, you won’t be able to
live past tomorrow with my poison in your system!” “Is that so? Wanna bet
on who kicks the bucket first?” Dustin chuckled. “Why you-!” Mr. Wangley
had been rendered speechless. Looking at the current state of affairs, it
was obvious that Quentin was the one who would lose first. And it was
exactly for this reason that Mr. Wangley proposed to call it a draw.
Unfortunately, the other party was having none of it. “Hurry up and give
me the antidote already, Dustin! We’ll count this as a loss on our side!”
Quentin yielded grudgingly. If it weren’t for the fact that he really
couldn’t bear the pain anymore, he would never concede to a puny ant like
him. “You can’t just ‘say‘ that you’ve lost. Where’s the sincerity in
that, Mr. Harmon?” Dustin teased while shaking his head. “Don’t you test
me, Rhys!” Quentin roared. “When you make mistakes, it’s only logical
that you admit your wrongdoings, no? Are you telling me that you can’t
even do that much?” Dustin urged on, devoid of the slightest bit of fear.
“Oh, so you want me to get down on my knees and admit my mistakes to you?
What makes you think you’re F*cking worthy of that?” Quentin sneered as
his expression turned cold. “Of course, I’m not worthy. I guess you’ll
just have to get rid of the poison by yourselves then,” Dustin replied
with a shrug. “Are you threatening me right now?” Quentin scowled.
“Goodness, no. I’m just returning the favor,” Dustin replied,
unperturbed. “Enough, everyone stops this farce at once!” Jessica
suddenly screamed. “You’d better hurry and pass the antidote to Quentin
right now, Dustin. Otherwise, you won’t be able to take responsibility if
anything happens to him after this!” “With all due respect, ma’am, every
man considers his promises like gold. So since I made a promise just now,
naturally I would need to fulfill that promise,” Dustin replied plainly.
“What are you on about? And why do you insist on making yourself an enemy
of the Harmons today?” Jessica snapped, her pretty face now stone cold.
She initially thought that Dustin would back down and be the bigger man
in this situation, but didn’t expect him to be so insensitive instead. 17
Chapter 116 “Can you cut the act already? You didn’t say
anything when Quentin was bullying Dustin before, so why are you jumping
to Quentin’s aid when he’s in a difficult situation now? Do you even have
a shred of dignity left?” Natasha suddenly voiced out. “Why are you
speaking for an outsider when Quentin is your own cousin?” Jessica
frowned. “I only speak for the truth, not blood relations!” Natasha
proclaimed, righteously. “Quentin was the one who started this whole
thing in the first place, so now he’s getting what he deserves. Since
we’re outsiders in their competition, we should just sit and watch and
not interfere!” “Why you-!” Jessica growled, obviously angry at her
daughter’s outburst. Although she let Natasha have her way outside, she
really could not do anything about her in private. All of her nagging and
lectures failed to get to her. She was such a thorn in her side! “This is
the last time I’m going to ask, Rhys! Are you giving me the antidote or
not?” Quentin demanded while gritting his teeth. “And I’ll reply with the
same answer. Kneel down and apologize first,” Dustin stated flatly.
“Fine! Fine!” Quentin finally gave in with a sinister look on his face.
“I can kneel down, for sure, but are you sure you want to take
responsibility for the consequences that ensue?” Quentin growled, his
expression was murderous now. “I’ll need to see it for myself first.”
Dustin smiled mockingly. “Fine! I hope you don’t regret this!” Quentin
shouted through clenched teeth. After hesitating for two seconds, he
finally dropped down to the floor on his knees with a heavy “thud“. But
as he knelt, his death glare was firmly planted on Dustin, and his
expression extremely fierce. Humiliating him in public like this was
equal to asking for death! “The man has already knelt before you. Are you
satisfied now, Dustin? Hurry up and hand him the antidote then!” Jessica
snapped. Humiliating Quentin Harmon was equal to humiliating the entirety
of the Harmon family. How dare a measly doctor humiliated a Harmon like
that. He was really asking to be killed! “Here. Bottoms up.” Dustin said
as he fished out a small, white vial and poured out the powdery contents
into a cup of tea. “Is that Hexanavir? Mr. Wangley thought to himself.
Chapter 117 When Mr. Wangley laid his eyes on the small, white–
colored vial, his expression immediately turned into shock, but a look of
greed replaced it soon after. That was legendary Dr. Rowan Cross‘ Miracle
Cure! Why does a punk like him have such a treasure on him in the first
place? Anyone could see that this antidote was incredibly precious and
worth a lot of money! Even the tiniest amount of powder could already
fetch sky–high prices. It was no wonder that the punk could act so cocky,
and that was all because he was in possession of Hexanavir. Today shall
be the day of his downfall! “Hmph!” Quentin snorted and said nothing
before downing the whole cup of tea in one gulp. Almost immediately after
he gulped down the tea, the ongoing sharp pains in his stomach gradually
started to disappear. The pain completely disappeared a few minutes
later. This caused Quentin to feel like he’d just survived a huge ordeal.
“I won’t forget the shame you inflicted on me today, Rhys! You had better
not fall into my clutches anymore in the future!” Quentin barked before
turning to Natasha Harmon. “And as for you, Natasha, you’d better solve
the crisis surrounding Eternumax soon. Else, don’t blame me if I report
you to the board!” The moment he finished barking, Quentin left the room
in a haggard state. “You’ll definitely regret everything you did today,
young man!” Mr. Wangley grunted before turning to chase after Quentin.
Did he know who Quentin was? How could a puny doctor like him humiliate
him like that? If ever he decided to seek revenge eventually, he bet that
his bones wouldn’t be spared even after he was brutally murdered! “So you
came prepared, Dustin. You really scared me just now.” Ruth heaved a sigh
of relief. “It was all thanks to the Hexanavir your sister sent me.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t have won so easily,” Dustin let out a small
chuckle. But of course, the antidote merely made things slightly easier
for him. “Hmph! It was all a trick then!” Jessica snorted and looked at
Dustin in disdain. She initially thought that he’d used his skills for
this, but who knew that he had just utilized Hexanavir which was made by
the legendary Dr. Rowan Cross. “You can stay unconvinced as long as you
like, but the fact remains that Dustin won” Natasha argued with a CS
CamScanner Chapter 117 hard glare. “So what if he won by a fluke? What
makes you think this kid can research Eternumax without Mr. Wangley
here?” Jessica questioned. Eternumax was the heart and soul of Harmon
Pharmaceuticals for many years now and was an equally important part of
the family’s development plans. This was why she refused to believe that
such an unknown figure like Dustin would have any ability to save the
day. “Who says? To me, Dustin is way more knowledgeable than whoever this
Wangley guy is.” Natasha stood her ground firmly. “Fine, since you keep
insisting that he’s the superior choice, then why don’t we make a bet? If
he can develop Eternumax from scratch, I’ll take it as he’s passed the
test. Otherwise, I’ll have him resign from his post immediately to make
way for the others!” Jessica roared, clearly enraged. “I have no qualms
with that,” Natasha said, refusing to give way. Whether he would be able
to do it or not was a separate matter. She couldn’t back down now. “Rhys,
you punk! You’d better not let my daughter down!” Jessica spat after
getting a clearer look at Dustin. She then folded up her sleeves and up
and left. “What did mom mean by ‘test‘ just now?” Ruth asked, out of
curiosity. “Kids shouldn’t butt into adult matters.” Natasha rolled her
eyes at her in response. “Hmph! Well, I’m sorry for asking. Who died and
made you queen?” Ruth pouted. “You all keep mentioning Eternumax, but
what is it exactly. Ms. Harmon?” Dustin asked while feigning ignorance.
Natasha Harmon forced a smile and started explaining. “Although the
Harmons have a firm grip over many industries, the main focus is still
medicine. This was why the decision behind the selection of business
partners and benefit–sharing were all made in hopes of dominating the
pharmaceutical market of the entirety of Swinton. Thus, that was how we
began researching and developing a new kind of drug, which we plan to use
to capture all of that market share, “Everything was going to plan in the
beginning, but no one had expected that there would be a traitor who had
been planted among us. Thus, Tilda Snider’s assassination presented an
opportunity to us, while serving as a warning to all traitors. But the
moment they realized that they were about to be exposed, they employed
methods of coercion and enticing benefits to lure our employees to other
companies instead, which was how they took away a big chunk of our
workforce. Not only that, they even stole our research findings! And the
research findings in question were for the new drug we’re developing,
Eternumax!
Chapter 118 “I see.” Dustin nodded. Dustin recalled something and
asked, “Following what you said, between you and Edwin, whoever first
creates Eternumax would dominate the market in Swinton?” “You could say
that,” Natasha confirmed his thoughts. “However, the documents of my
researchers have been robbed. We have to start all over again. It would
be too difficult.” “Humph! That Hummer is too despicable! Him and his
dirty tricks!” Ruth was indignant. ““What kind of medicine is Eternumax?”
Dustin asked once again. “Eternumax is a medicine that not only increases
your lifespan but also retains beauty. It was said to be derived from an
ancient antidote recipe. However, because the recipe was crafted such a
long time ago, half of it was lost. We could only keep researching to
restore the full recipe.” Natasha explained. “An ancient antidote
recipe?” “If I’m following correctly, I do know about a type of secret
medicine that has a similar effect to Eternumax.” Dustin rubbed his chin
“Oh? And what medicine is that?” Natasha’s eyes sparkled with interest.
“This medicine is called Immortunol. I read about it from a medical book
archive. It also increases one’s lifespan and retains beauty. Its effects
should be on par with Eternumax.” Dustin smiled faintly. The archives
that he read contained all valuable antidotes that had been lost in time.
Whatever was listed in there was definitely no ordinary medicine. “Hah! I
don’t believe you for one second! Eternumax is a secret ancient recipe.
How could this ‘Immortunol‘ even compare to it? I’ve never even heard of
such a thing!” Ruth pouted. “Just because you never heard of it, doesn’t
mean it does not exist. There could even possibly be a surprise
discovery.” Dustin suggested. “No matter if it works, we should give it a
try. Let me know what ingredients you need. I’ll prepare them right.
away.” Natasha offered without any hesitation. That was because there was
no other way to go about this. They were in a bind. “Rue, bring me a pen
and paper.” Dustin tumed around and commanded. “Hey! I told you a
thousand times already. My name is Ruth! Ruth!” Ruth clenched her teeth.
Ruth gave Dustin a kick before bringing him the pen and paper. After
taking the pen and a few scribbles, Dustin finished writing Immortunol’s
recipe in an instant. Natasha scanned through the list and nodded. “These
ingredients are quite common and easy to find. The only
tricky ingredient would be Luminianth Root.” *Sis, there are a few
sellers in the medicine market. Perhaps we could find some there.” Ruth
suggested. “Yeah. Bring Dustin along to check it out. I still have some
stuff to do.” Natasha replied. “Alright…” Ruth pouted. Although she was a
little disappointed, she agreed to her sister’s request. Her sister had a
lot of stuff to do. She knew that she had to help her out. After setting
their destination, Ruth drove Dustin to the market. A Mercedes–Benz
parked in front of a shop named Emporium. Dahlia and the others stepped
out of the car which stopped abruptly. Other than Florence and James,
there was also a pretty, well–dressed lady beside them. This woman was
Florence’s niece, Julie Amberson. “Julie, didn’t you say you wanted to
get a present? Why are we at a place like this?” Florence was confused.
“Aunt Florence, I just got the news that this shop has a very rare
ingredient called the Luminianth Root!” Julie whispered. “Luminianth
Root? What’s it for?” The name piqued Florence’s curiosity. “It’s great
as a gift, of course! Tomorrow is the Hummers‘ birthday party. I’m
planning to gift this to Miss Hummer!” “Why are you gifting this instead
of gems or jewelry like everyone else?”
Chapter 119 “Hehe…You wouldn’t know, would you? Miss Hummer is a
noble lady. She doesn’t need gems or jewelry. If you truly want to
impress her, you should give her a one–of–a–kind gift. Luminlanth Root
has the ability to retain one’s beauty. No woman could ever resist it. I
believe that Miss Hummer would like it!” Julie uttered confidently.
“You’re not wrong, but this Luminianth Root costs a fortune, right?”
Florence asked. “Of course! This is an extremely rare item. You won’t be
able to buy it without three to five million dollars.” Julie nodded.
“What! It’s that expensive?” Florence was shocked. “Julie, do you even
have that much money?” “Of course, I don’t. But you do! So, lend me a few
million dollars, I’ll return it to you next time.” Julie requested
without hesitation. Her words stunned Florence. Dahlia and James also
frowned at her words. This cousin of theirs would always borrow money
every time she visits. Last year she “borrowed” a Mercedez–Benz from them
for two days. Until now, she still hadn’t returned the car. It seemed
like they will not be getting it back. If they gave her a few million
dollars now, there would definitely be no return as well. “Julie, it’s
not that I don’t want to lend you the money. A few million dollars is
really too much.” After thinking for some time, Florence still refused.
“Aunt Florence, your family owns a business! There’s no way you don’t
have that kind of money. Or is it that you guys don’t want to lend me the
money?” Julie was getting upset. “No, I really don’t have that much
money.” Florence laughed awkwardly. “If you don’t, then Dahlia should
have that money, right? She’s the president of Quine Group! I don’t
believe for a second that she doesn’t have a few million dollars to
spare!” Julle turned to Dahlia as she uttered those words. “The company’s
finances are a bit tight at the moment. Every penny counts. I wouldn’t
recommend spending the money on such birthday gifts.” Dahlia shook her
head lightly. If it was an emergency, she would definitely spend money
without hesitation. But for her situation, she really could not help her
even if she wanted to. “Dahlia! You can’t be that stingy? It’s just a few
million dollars! It’s not like I wouldn’t return it to you!” Julie
crossed her arms and said confidently. “After I send Miss Hummer this
gift, I’ll become her friend. Then, I’ll get a high–
rank position in Hummer Pharmaceuticals. I’ll be earning a few million
dollars every year, easy peasy!” “Julie, you must not get ahead of
yourself. It’s not that easy to get into Hummer Pharmaceuticals. Never
mind a high–rank position, with your experience, it would be best for you
to get some training in my company.” Dahlia tried to reason with her
calmly. “Dahlia, let me get straight to the point. I’m a valuable
graduate of the Ivy League. Everyone wants me. A small company like Quine
Group is not worth my time.” Julie mocked. Dahlia was speechless at her
remarks. This cousin of hers was a classic narcissist. No experience and
no skill, and yet she still dreamed about becoming a rich supervisor. She
looked down on almost everyone, and yet she doesn’t even have the basics
down. “Alright! Back to the point! Are you lending me the money or not?”
Julie’s arms were still crossed in front of her body arrogantly. She
really had no shame as the one who was borrowing money. “No!” James
answered. “Fine! Today I finally get to see what kind of people you guys
really are! Relatives, my ass! You all just abandoned me when I’m in
need. Tomorrow, I will make you pay!” With that, Julie turned around and
stomped away.
Chapter 120 “Julie! Don’t be mad, calm down!” Florence quickly
stopped Julie and smiled. “Isn’t it just a few million dollars? I’ll lend
it to you! We’re all family after all. There’s no need to fight.” “Mom!
Why are you playing along with her?” James frowned. “Julie is my only
niece. Now that she’s in a pinch, who would help her if not me?” Florence
stated the facts. “Are you sure this is someone who needs help?” James
was displeased. “Shut it!” Florence glared at her son. “I’m not using
your money. Can’t I use my own money?” “You-!” James was shocked. “Is she
still my mother?” James wondered. She treated a niece better than her own
son. “Aunt Florence treats me the best!” Julie chirped with a smile on
her face. This was not her first time acting like this. It was effective
every single time. “Of course, who’d treat you well other than me? Let’s
go, we’ll buy you the Lumianth Root.” Florence grabbed Juile’s hand and
entered Emporium. “Sis! You’re not going to stop mom?” James was worried.
“What’s the use of stopping her? This isn’t her first time doing such a
thing.” Dahlia already gave up. Her mother had been treating her sister’s
family like this for a long time. The only problem was their despicable
attitude, exploiting her mother’s kindness. “Hey, boss!” Julie
immediately called out confidently while entering the shop. “Welcome!
What can I get for my distinguished guests?” A middle–aged man with a big
belly walked forward to greet his customers. “A little bird told me that
you sell Luminianth Root here. Is that true?” Julie sat down on one of
the chairs in the shop. “Miss, this bird of yours must be very efficient
at its job! We do sell them here. In fact, it just arrived yesterday.”
The shop owner spoke truthfully. “Really? How do you plan to sell them?”
Julie continued asking. “This Luminianth Root is not that cheap. We’re
planning to hold an auction for it.” The shop owner replied. “Auctions
are too much of a hassle. Why don’t you just sell it to me? It saves you
the money to hold an auction.” Julie tried to convince the shop owner.
Chapter 120 “But The shop owner was troubled. “What? Do
you think I can’t afford it? Say it. How much are you planning to sell
this for?” Julle asked. “If miss truly wants to buy it, I wouldn’t try to
stop you. I just need this much.” The plump shop owner held up five of
his fingers. “Five million? That’s expensive?!” Florence immediately
froze in place. Although she expected it, she was still shocked when she
heard the price. “Five million already includes a discount for our
friendship. If I were to auction this, I probably would earn five to six
times this price. This is also an early price, otherwise, it wouldn’t be
so low.” The shop owner shook his head. “Can’t you lower the price a bit?
This amount is too high.” Florence tried to negotiate with him. “I can’t
do that. This precious gem cost me a lot of fortune. To be honest, if I
encounter someone who needs this, it wouldn’t even be a problem to sell
it for a hundred million dollars.” The shop owner said with a serious
face. “But” Before Florence could finish her sentence, Julie interrupted
her. “Alright, alright! Aunt Florence, we shouldn’t be too sensitive!
Isn’t it just five million dollars? We’re buying it!” “Miss, I love your
attitude! I will get someone to bring over the Luminiath Root right
away!” The shop owner smiled from ear to ear as he signaled the man
behind him. The man immediately understood and ran upstairs. After a
while, he came back and presented a big wooden box. “Inside is the
Luminianth Root. Miss, will you be paying by card or cash?” The shop
owner grinned, pleased with the transaction. “Card.” Julie said without
any remorse, “Go ahead, Aunt Florence.” The corner of Florence’s lips
twitched as she painfully reached into her bag for a card. As they were
finishing up the transaction, a woman’s voice yelled from outside. “Wait!
That Luminianth Root is ours!” Everyone looked towards the voice, and
immediately, a man and woman walked into the shop. It was Dustin and
Ruth.