An Understated Dominance (Chinese Version) Chapter 81-100

“Sir! You’re here?!” Upon seeing Dr. Rowan Cross, Ross was
stunned. He rushed to greet the older man with respect. At that moment,
he looked very humble. “Sir?” “Could it be… this person is the great Dr.
Cross?!” After learning the identity of the older man, the Nicholson
family members were excited. They surrounded him, trying to gain his
favor. “Oh my! What an honour to meet the great Dr. Cross in person!”
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Dr. Cross. I’m so lucky to meet you!”
Everyone chimed in, praising the doctor. One should know that this doctor
was well–known across the seven seas. Not only was he good at curing
others, but he also had a vast network of connections and was incredibly
influential. Just a word from him could change one’s life. “Dr. Cross,
aren’t you resting? Why are you here?” the doctor asked curiously. “A
friend called me saying you were messing around with a patient. Did such
a thing happen?” replied Rowanross. He was not happy. Earlier that day,
he had received a call from his biggest savior. He was so happy that he
rushed to the hospital as fast as possible. “A friend?” Everyone
exchanged glances before looking at Matt. In their eyes, only someone
noble could be considered a friend of Dr. Cross. In this room, Matt was
the only person noble enough. “Dr. Cross, I’ve heard a lot about you!” At
that moment, Matt suddenly stepped forward and introduced himself. “I’m
Matt Laney, from Millsburg. I believe you’ve met my father.” “Oh…” Rowan
replied softly. He scanned the room as if looking for something. He did
not even spare Matt a glance. Shot down by the doctor’s cold response,
Matt fell silent awkwardly. “Sir! Have you lost something recently?” Ross
asked. “Lost something?” Rowan raised his eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Earlier, someone here stole your antidote. Luckily I noticed in time and
stopped him so that you won’t suffer any losses!” the doctor said
excitedly. Hexanavir was his mentor’s most prized treasure. Now that he
had helped return it, he would surely be rewarded. “Stole my antidote?
Who?” Rowan was puzzled. “It’s him!” exclaimed the
doctor as he pointed to someone behind Rowan. “He’s the one who stole
your Hexanavir! He even babbled on about how you gave it to him as a
gift. Thankfully I’m smart enough to see through his lies. Otherwise, he
would’ve run off with the antidote!” “Dr. Cross, Dustin’s actions have
nothing to do with us. If you want to get him, just get him! It is none
of our business.” “That’s right! Hurry and get rid of him!” The Nicholson
family was afraid to get in trouble, so they all started pointing fingers
at the culprit. However, no one expected the dark cloud that fell across
Rowan’s face. “Dustin, what are you still waiting for? Hurry and return
the antidote and apologize! If you’re lucky, Dr. Cross might forgive
you!” Dahlia started sending him signals. Although she hated his actions
at times, she still felt bad for him when he found himself in bad
situations. “Bastard! You’re done for! You dare steal my mentor’s
treasure. No one can save you today!” Ross sneered with a smug look as if
he had won. One should know that although his mentor was kind and
forgiving, he was serious when it came to medicine. There was no way he
would let Dustin off easily for stealing his antidote! “Dr. Cross, you’ve
done a great job teaching your apprentice. Since this antidote is so
precious, I’ll return it to you.“Dustin pulled out the bottle of
Hexanavir and threw it over to Rowan. Rowan almost collapsed in shock.
However, Ross still had not grasped the situation and continued mocking
Dustin. “Bastard! Now you’re scared? Why didn’t you do this earlier? Even
if you return it now, it’s too late! I want you to kneel and apologize.
Maybe then I’ll let you go!” the doctor with glasses exploded, his head
held high. “Shut up!” At that moment, Rowan’s patience had run out, and
he slapped Ross across the face with all his might. Ross fell to the
ground with a loud smack. He felt like he had dislocated his head. Blood
started to flow from his nose. “S–sir. Why did you hit me? He’s the one
you should hit!” Ross asked, stunned as he held his face, not
understanding what he did wrong. His master had slapped the wrong person.
“You dare disrespect Mr. Rhys? You’re the one who should be slapped!”
Rowan bellowed in a fit of rage. He lifted Ross to his feet and slapped
him several more times. Ross‘ face turned a darker purple with every
slap. Even his teeth started falling out. Everyone was confused at this
scene. “What is going on? Shouldn’t Dr. Cross be lashing out at Dustin?
Why is he hitting his apprentice?” everyone wondered. “You imbecile!
Brainless scum! Who gave you the guts to disrespect Mr. Rhys? I’ll beat
you till you come to your senses!” Rowan
roared as he kept hitting with no mercy. If Dustin hadn’t stepped up to
stop Rowan, Ross wouldn’t have survived. After all these years, Rowan had
been searching for Dustin so that he could repay him for his kindness.
And now that they had finally met in person, it should have been a
momentous occasion. However, his failure of an apprentice disrespected
and openly mocked his greatest savior. He was clearly looking for a
beating! After letting out his anger, Rowan presented the bottle of
Hexanavir to Dustin and said, “Mr. Rhys, I’m terribly sorry. It’s my
fault for not training him well enough that you had to go through all
that. Please forgive me!” He fell to his knees in front of Dustin. Seeing
Rowan kneeling before the man, everyone was stunned into silence. Their
eyes widened with shock as if they had seen a ghost. “The great Dr. Cross
is kneeling and apologizing to a nobody? What in the world is
happening?!” everyone wondered.

Chapter 87.

Rowan’s actions had left everyone in the
room stunned. “N–no way! Dustin knows Dr. Cross? How is that possible?!”
“Oh my goodness, Dustin is incredible! He can even make Dr. Cross
apologize?” Everyone in the room exchanged glances of shock as they
watched Dustin’s calm, unfazed expression and the respectful look on Dr.
Cross‘ face. They had difficulty picturing someone mediocre knowing
someone like Dr. Cross. “Are–are my eyes playing tricks on me?” Florence
was in disbelief. *The great Dr. Rowan Cross, the best doctor in the
world, was apologizing to Dustin? How unbelievable! “Could it be that
Dustin’s Hexanavir really was a gift from Dr. Cross?” Dahlia was also
shocked to her core. To be honest, ever since the divorce, she noticed
that Dustin had become more discreet. “What a nuisance!” Matt muttered to
himself, looking gloomy. Dr Cross” appearance had disrupted his plan. “S–
sir… You really know this guy?” Ross asked in disbelief, cradling his
face. “Know him? Mr. Rhys is my savior. You’ve got some nerve. How dare
you disrespect Mr. Rhys? Hurry up and kneel! Apologize to him!” Rowan
roared, slapping Ross twice more. “I–I’m sorry. I was the one who didn’t
recognise master’s savior. Please forgive me!” Ross gave in and hurriedly
kneeled before Dustin. He was no longer as arrogant as he was before.
“Mr. Rhys, this failure of an apprentice made a grave mistake not
recognizing someone incredible like you. Please don’t pay any mind to
what he says. Of course, if you need to vent your dissatisfaction, you
may punish him as you see fit. I’ll take responsibility even if you hit
him to death!” Rowan’s words shocked the injured doctor as he trembled in
fear. From the look on his master’s face, he realised he had messed with
the wrong person. If Rowan did not go easy on him, he’s dead! “I don’t
need to punish him. I just hope you will be stricter with apprentices so
they don’t ruin your reputation, Dr. Cross,” Dustin said in a gentle
voice. “Of course, of course,” Rowan agreed, nodding. “I will make this
one reflect on his behavior. If he doesn’t change his ways, I’ll kick him
out!” “That’s your decision to make,” Dustin added. “Failure! Hurry up
and thank Mr. Rhys for being so forgiving!” Rowan roared. “Thank you, Mr.
Rhys, for your kindness!” the doctor kneeled before him. “That’s enough.
Get up.” Dustin waved him away. “Mr. Rhys, it’s been so long since we
last saw each other after we parted ways. Do you have some time to have a
meal with me?” Rowan asked. Upon hearing the invitation,
everyone in the room was fired up. What an honor it was to share a meal
with Dr. Cross. Even the great elites from Millsburg had to make
reservations to meet him. “Dammit! This Dustin guy really hit the
jackpot!” “I know, right? To get on Dr. Cross‘ good side, he must have a
great life ahead of him.” They were jealous and filled with envy. The
words that left of Dustin’s lips in reply to the esteemed doctor shocked
everyone even further. “I don’t have the time right now. I’ll let you
know when I’m free,” Dustin replied. “H–he rejected Dr. Cross? The guy
who got kicked out of the Nicholson family rejected an invitation from
the great Dr. Cross? Did I hear that correctly?” everyone questioned.
“Oh, okay. I can always make time for Mr. Rhys.” No one expected Rowan’s
response. Not only was he not angry, but he was even happier than before.
Dustin had not explicitly rejected him. That meant Rowan still stood a
chance. “Mr. Rhys, you’re busy. I won’t waste more of your time.
Goodbye,” Rowan said tactfully, shaking Dustin’s, hand. He dragged his
apprentice by his ear and left the room. After they had left, the ward
was in an uproar again. They looked at Dustin in surprise. “Dustin, how
do you know Dr. Cross?” It was Dahlia who spoke up first. “I helped him
once, so he owes me a favor.” Dustin said bluntly. “Just like that?”
Dahlia was shocked. “What else is there?” Dustin replied. “So that’s how
it is. I thought.” Dahlia trailed off. Everyone else let out a sigh of
relief at his reply. They thought that Dustin had curried Rowan’s favor
using other mysterious means. It turned out that he was just lucky.
“Humph! So what if you helped him once? You just got lucky! What’s so
special about that!” “He only owes you a favor. He already gifted you a
bottle of Hexanavir. And now he’s saved your reputation. The next time
you ask him for help, he won’t comply!” “We should stand on our own two
feet. You shouldn’t keep seeking out others for help. After all, it won’t
last forever.” Now that they knew the truth, the crowd started making
sarcastic comments. After all, they still couldn’t accept that a nobody
like Dustin could be better than them. “Dustin, thank you for what you
did earlier,” Dahlia mumbled awkwardly. She never thought that Dustin
would know Dr. Cross. He even cured her grandfather’s illness. Reflecting
on her actions, she couldn’t help but feel guilty. “You don’t have to say
anything. Saving Granddad was my decision. It had nothing to do with
you,” Dustin replied. Dahlia’s gratitude
vanished with Dustin’s cold words. She frowned and thought to herself, “I
already expressed my gratitude. What else does he want? Should I
apologize to him in front of everyone? Does he need to be so particular?”

Chapter 88.

“Rhys! What is your problem? So you got lucky and saved
the old man! You don’t have to be so rude about it!” Florence cried,
clearly upset. How dare he treat her daughter that way? Did he think he
was all that? “At least I saved him. What about all of you? He almost
lost his life because of you!” Dustin retorted coldly. “You… What is this
attitude?!” Florence sputtered. She had almost reached her limit.
“Enough! Stop yelling at each other! What a disgrace!” Henry then
demanded, “Florence, all of you, go outside. I need to speak to Dustin
for a while.” “Humph!” Although Florence was not happy about it, there
was no other option but to leave. “As soon as they left the room, the
group started muttering. “Say, do you think Old Mr. Nicholson wanted to
talk to Dustin about his will or something?” “I’m not sure. That guy is
great at getting on Old Mr. Nicholson’s good side. No matter what, we
need to be careful!” “Ha! I don’t understand. James is his biological
grandson, and yet Old Mr. Nicholson favors that guy more. I really don’t
know what’s wrong with him!” They murmured to each other, expressing
their dissatisfaction. “Oh, that’s right. Where’s James? Why isn’t he
here while Old Mr. Nicholson is sick?” Dahlia scanned the room and
realised her brother was not present. “He went drinking with his friends.
We couldn’t get through to his phone. He probably left it on silent
mode,” Florence said, shaking her head. “Humph! He only knows how to go
to bars and drink. No sense of responsibility at all!” Dahlia’s
expression darkened. With behavior like that, it was no surprise that her
grandfather favored this other guy more than his biological grandson.
“Ms. Nicholson! Something’s wrong!” Lyra cried as she arrived in her work
attire. She looked like she was in a rush. “What happened?” Dahlia asked,
confused. “I was notified that your brother started a commotion and got
into a conflict with some people. They started a fight.” Everyone was
shocked to hear Lyra’s words. “What? Who’s got the guts to bully my
son?!” Florence demanded as her blood started to boil upon hearing the
news. She had evidently missed the fact that her son was the one who had
started the fight. 1 “I don’t know the details, but I heard that the
other party had many more people. If we don’t get there in time to stop
it, James might be in trouble,” Lyra added. “Then what are we waiting
for? Let’s go help him!” Florence rolled up her sleeves, looking like she
was ready to fight. “He only knows how to
get into trouble. How annoying! Lyra, hurry and get more people to the
bar!” Dahlia instructed. She led the group to the pub. After all, James
was her brother. If he got into trouble, she had to clean up his mess.
Meanwhile, in the other hospital ward, Dustin received a phone call from
Duane. “Hey, Dustin. I found the incredibly rare Panax root that you
asked for. Are you free now? We should meet up and have a chat.” 1 “Oh?
Where are you?” “I’m at Enchanted Tavern. I’ll wait for you to get here!”
“Alright. I’ll be there.” Dustin hung up the call, said his goodbyes to
Henry, and headed to his destination. 500- year–old Panax root was
invaluable. Now that Duane had gotten his hands on it, Dustin could not
miss the opportunity. Half an hour later, as Dustin arrived at Enchanted
Tavern, he noticed Dahlia waiting next to her car. “Why are they here?”
Dustin wondered. He was confused, but he did not reach out to them. He
followed a group of people inside.

Chapter 89.

There were a lot of people gathered in the bar. Some of
them were spectators. Others were involved in the fight. The group that
the onlookers were most interested in was a small group led by James. A
few of them had bruises covering their faces and blood rushing from their
faces. They were forced to kneel on the ground, looking hopeless. “James,
how did you end up like this?” Dahlia could not help but frown when she
noticed James‘ injuries. “Sis! You’re finally here!” James staggered as
he stood up. It was almost as if he had met an angel. “Oh! My poor son!
Who did this to you? Tell me. I’ll give them what they deserve!” Florence
shrieked at James, heartbroken. Even when her son made a mistake, she
could not bring herself to life a finger against him. There was no way
she would allow others beat him up like this. “Mom! That’s the bastard
who hit me!” James pointed behind him, looking vicious. Florence followed
his gesture, and her eyes fell on a beautiful woman in a revealing dress
sitting calmly at a table. Behind her stood a few burly, strong–looking
men. “B*tch! You are all dead meat! My sister is the president of the
Quine Group! You will pay for hitting me!” James roared. They would pay
twice the price of what he had gone through! “The Quine Group? Is it
powerful?” The woman in the red dress swirled her glass of wine, unfazed
by his words. “Humph! You don’t even know the Quine Group! I knew you
guys looked uncultured! Let me warn you. Hurry up and apologize to my son
and settle for his medical fees. Otherwise, you’ll all pay the price!”
Florence warned. “Old B*tch! You dare disrespect our boss? I’ll rip your
tongue apart!” shouted one of the men standing behind the woman in red.
He pulled out a switchblade. “What? Are you threatening me? You think you
scare me?” Florence scoffed as she stumbled two steps backward with fear.
She was stubborn. “What happened?” Dahlia had always been the rational
one. She started asking about the situation. “What happened? You should
ask your brother about that.” The woman in the red dress stood up slowly
and pointed at James. “He started making a commotion at my place. He even
started hitting my men. I was just teaching him a lesson. I’m not
crossing the line, right?” “I’ll pay for the damage done. But why did you
have to be so cruel to him?” Dahlia asked, frowning. “Cruel? Haha! I
already went easy on him. Otherwise, he would’ve lost more limbs!” The
woman sneered. Enough! I won’t waste another second with you. If you want
to settle this peacefully, hand over 700 thousand dollars! If you don’t,
none of you will leave this room!” “700 thousand dollars? Why not go rob
someone?!” James roared. “That’s right! I haven’t dealt with you for
hurting my son! How dare you ask us for money? Where did you get your
guts?!” Florence glared at her. “You guys
better come to your senses while I’m still being nice. After my man gets
here, it won’t be as simple as handing over money,” the woman replied
calmly. “So what if you have a man? Tell him to come here this instant if
you dare! I want to see how capable he really is!” Florence pushed,
unafraid. “You’re messing with the wrong guy! Do you know who our lady’s
man is? He’s Sir Draco! Our leader of South City, the Cobra!” boasted one
of the men. “The Cobra?!” The Nicholson family immediately turned pale.
Swinton had four main territories: the North, South, East, and West
Cities. East City was ruled by the King of the Underworld, Trevor
Spanner. Meanwhile, South City was ruled by the infamous Cobra! Compared
to the King of the Underworld, the Cobra was said to be even more
relentless and vile. According to legend, the Cobra loved raising
alligators. Anyone who dared cross him was fed to his gators. People from
West City could not afford to offend the Cobra. They really were in
trouble this time!

Chapter 90.

“No wonder nobody dares to cause trouble here. Who knew
Rosaline was Lord Draco’s woman?” “It’s not that nobody dares to cause
trouble; it’s just that anybody who caused trouble is dead! A tycoon with
a net worth of billions flirted with Rosaline, and Lord Draco ordered
that his limbs be chopped off. After the incident, the tycoon didn’t dare
lift a finger and even apologized personally.” “F*ck! That’s brutal!” “No
shit. Lord Draco is South City’s biggest bully. No one dares disrespect
him!” After finding out who the woman, Rosaline, was, the bar erupted in
a furor. Some were shocked, some were in awe, and some sat back to watch
the show. “We’re in trouble this time!” James gulped as cold sweat
dripped down his forehead. If he had known that Sir Draco ruled this
place, he would not have dared to cause trouble, even if someone had put
a gun to his head. “How did I end up offending the devil himself?”
Florence shrugged, her face filled with fear. She wasn’t as fiery as
before. She could bully some small fry, but when it came to a brutal thug
like the Cobra, she knew her place. “Why so quiet? Weren’t you great at
speaking your mind earlier? Why don’t you show us again what you’ve got?
*smirked the muscular man. Was there anyone in South City who didn’t know
of Sir Draco’s reputation? Almost nobody dared to offend Sir Draco!
“Don’t panic. I’m here. They wouldn’t dare touch you,” Matt spoke up next
to them. Florence and James were surprised at his words. They had nearly
forgotten they had someone backing them up! Matt was from the Laney
family in Millsburg. What did he have to fear in this territory? No
matter how mighty the Cobra was, he wouldn’t dare go against the Laney
family, would he?! With that realization, Florence and James
straightened. “Matt, the Cobra rules over this place. Is this really
okay?” James asked tentatively. “Don’t worry. He’s just some snake in the
grass. He’s nothing to me.” Matt gave a small smile. He finally had a
chance to flaunt his influence, so he had to show them all he had. “I’m
glad then.” James grinned. He thought he was done for, but now he had
another shot. “Hey! What are you mumbling about? Are you going to pay up
or not?!” Rosaline barked, getting impatient. “What are you going to do
if we don’t pay up? You think we’re scared of you?” Florence mocked,
placing her hands on her hips. With Matt backing her up, she feared
nothing. “You won’t pay?” Rosaline laughed coldly. “If you don’t pay up,
we’ll do it Sir Draco’s way. Anyone who causes trouble here will have
their limbs chopped off!” She raised her
hands and made a sign. The muscular men behind her unsheathed their
machetes and strode forward. “Wait!” Matt hissed and stepped up from
behind. His good looks and classy aura always made women swoon. “And who
are you? How dare you meddle in my business?” Rosaline looked him up and
down. “I’m Matt Laney from the Laney family in Millsburg.” “The Laneys
from Millsburg?” The room was in an uproar. “Even an elite from Millsburg
is here. We’re in for a good show!” “No wonder those two are so bold.
They have Mr. Laney backing them up!” “Mr. Laney is so handsome. I wonder
if he has a girlfriend.” The crowd pointed fingers and gossiped. Their
awe made Florence and James feel proud. The Laney family’s reputation was
valuable indeed. With the Laney family backing them up, who would dare go
against them? “So you’re Mr. Laney. Nice to meet you,” Rosaline rasped,
forcing a smile. Of course, she had heard of the Laneys. There was a time
when they were the aristocrats who led everything in Millsburg. Although
they weren’t as glorious anymore, she did not dare provoke them. “Since
you know who I am, that makes settling things easier. Tell me, how do you
intend to deal with this?” Matt asked as he clasped his hands behind his
back arrogantly. “Since you’ve spoken up, Mr. Laney, I naturally have to
show you some respect. I’ll treat what happened here today as a
misunderstanding. It’s over.” Rosaline conceded. They had a business to
run, and she did not want to cause problems for Sir Draco. “It’s over?”
Matt snorted, “You hit a friend of mine, and you think two words can
smooth things over? There are no free lunches here.” “What else do you
want?” Rosaline asked, frowning. “Pay up and apologize, of course!”
“Apologize?” A dark shadow fell across Rosaline’s face. If she was
dealing with this herself, she was okay apologizing. However, she was
representing Sir Draco. If she apologized to them, wasn’t that an insult
to Sir Draco? “Are you deaf? Hurry up and apologize, or I’ll trash this
place!” With her hands on her hips, Florence’s arrogant air returned.
“You don’t only have to apologize. You have to pay up. Damn it, you’ll
have to pay me five million for beating me up like this! James shouted.
With Matt backing him up, he had all the confidence in the world. He was
milking Matt’s influence as much as he could. “Mr. Laney, this is Sir
Draco’s territory. Save me some face. Let’s not make enemies.” Rosaline
pleaded, feeling awkward. “You want me to save you some face?
Who do you think you are?” Matt smirked. “Even if the Cobra were here,
I’d demand an apology. Much less one from you!” “Who thinks he has what
it takes to make me apologize?” A thundering voice rang out across the
bar. A bald man wearing sunglasses, with a cigar between his lips, walked
in menacingly. His fierce demeanor and intimidating aura frightened the
crowd as they stepped aside. A path opened for him. “Sir Draco, what
brings you here?” Rosaline’s eyes lit up as she rushed to greet him.
“Just showing one of the gentlemen around.” The Cobra put an arm around
her waist and asked, “What’s going on? I thought I heard someone
demanding an apology from me.” “It’s like this…” Rosaline began,
recounting everything that had happened with no details spared. “Mr.
Laney from Millsburg, is it? So you’re the one who wants me to
apologize?” The Cobra stepped forward and looked Matt up and down. His
expression wasn’t friendly at all. “That’s right. Your people beat my
friend up. Apologizing is the natural thing to do,” Matt quipped. With
his hands behind his back, he was as arrogant as ever. “Apologize? F*ck
you!” The Cobra was furious. He slapped Matt across the face. Matt
stumbled and nearly fell over. “F*ck!” he yelled. The onlookers in the
bar were stunned. 3/3

Chapter 91.

The Cobra was more brutal than they had expected. He even
dared to slap an elite from Millsburg over a minor misunderstanding.
There was no doubt that he was the mighty Cobra! “How dare you hit me?”
Matt cried as he cradled his burning cheek in disbelief. How dare some
random thug hit him? He was from the Laney family! “So what if I hit you?
Don’t you deserve it for causing trouble on my turf?” The Cobra shot him
a cold smile. “Do you know that I’m from the Laney family?!” Matt
thundered. He had always been a prideful person, so getting slapped in
public was the greatest humiliation of his life! “The Laney family? So
what?” snorted the Cobra. “Don’t you know how to show respect on someone
else’s turf? I don’t care if you’re the king. When you’re on my turf, you
bow to me. You understand?!” The Laney family had been glorious once.
Even his boss had to show them his respect in the past. Now, they were no
different from anyone else. Even if they were famous, the Laney family
had fallen a few social classes long ago. “Cobra! Are you provoking the
Laney family so openly?” Matt challenged, with an unkind look on his
face. He had thought that using his family name would scare the Cobra. To
his surprise, his trick was ineffective. “Stop F*cking making a fool of
yourself here! What’s so grand about being a Laney? I’ll be honest with
you. I’ve got someone backing me up, and it’s Sir Anderson!” shouted the
Cobra, his eyes bulging. “Sir Anderosn?!” Matt looked taken aback. All
his rage dissipated instantly. Sir Anderson wasn’t just an aristocrat but
one of the Five Big Guns of the Anderson family. He was the true face of
the business world and a powerful figure in this city! Even when the
Laney family was still in their prime, they had had to bow to Sir
Anderson! He never expected a puny thug like the Cobra would have the
Anderson family backing him. “Hey, Laney! If you don’t want to get a damn
beating, then get lost. Or else, I’m going to beat all of you up
together!” growled the Cobra fiercely. “You—* Matt trailed off. He was
outraged but helpless. He couldn’t afford to offend Sir Anderson. Seeing
Matt fall silent, Florence and James‘ confidence wavered. They had
thought that they could do anything they wanted with the Laney family
backing them up. They never expected the Cobra to be so brutal. He hadn’t
just embarrassed the Laney family. He had even slapped Matt. If the Laney
family wasn’t enough to scare the Cobra, did this mean certain death for
them?! “Who were the ones causing trouble just now? Come out and face
me!” the Cobra bellowed furiously. James was terrified, and he nearly
peed his pants. “Sir Draco! Let’s talk things out. My brother is young
and ignorant. I’ll apologize on his behalf. I’ll pay double for all the
losses incurred!” Dahlia spoke up hastily as she watched the situation go
awry. The Cobra was ruthless, and he meant
what he said. In this situation, they had no choice but to sacrifice.
“Pay double? Do I look like I need the money? If I don’t make an example
of you today, won’t any Tom, Dick, or Harry dare cause trouble on my turf
next time? Men, chop their hands off!” he ordered. The muscular men
behind him strode forward, brandishing their machetes. “Dahlia! Help me!
Help me!” James exclaimed, scared out of his wits, as he hid behind
Dahlia. Just as he was about to get caught, a beer bottle flew through
the air and smashed into the heads of one of the burly men. With a smash,
the man collapsed dead on the spot. The crowd was stunned. “Who’s there?
Who did that?!”

Chapter 92.

The Cobra’s expression darkened, and he swept his piercing
gaze around the room. He was greeted by the sight of beer bottle after
beer bottle. “Smash, smash, smash, smash!” The bottles shot out like
cannonballs and sent each man sprawling. Each bottle met its target with
deadly accuracy! “Who’s being such a F*cking coward? Come out and face me
if you have the balls!” roared the Cobra furiously. No ordinary man could
send a dozen men flying with just beer bottles. “Sir Draco, forgiveness
is a virtue. Why won’t you show mercy?” a voice replied. Dustin strolled
out from amongst the crowd, attracting stares across the room. “Who is
that? How dare he attack Sir Draco’s men? Does he have a death wish?”
“He’s quite handsome, but he’s not very smart to offend Sir Draco.” “If
it were me, I would have run away after hurling the bottles. Why would he
F*cking show his face? Isn’t he courting death?!” The crowd gossiped.
Some were surprised, some showed admiration, and some enjoyed the drama.
“Why are you here?” Dahlia questioned, confused. She never assumed Dustin
would show up. “What is this idiot doing here?” Florence and James
exchanged looks of confusion. “Who are you, boy? How dare you attack my
men?” the Cobra asked, with a menacing expression that suggested he
wanted to bite Dustin’s head off. “Who I am is not important. For the
sake of your safety, Let’s just let this incident slide,” Dustin replied
curtly. “Let it slide? Who the F*ck do you think you are? I’ll just let
it slide just because you said so? — Just as he was about to curse, a
beer bottle smashed into his head. 1 Blood and beer trickled down his
face. Everyone was appalled! The onlookers‘ eyes bulged with looks of
utter disbelief. No one had expected Dustin to be so bold. He had hit the
Cobra just because of a disagreement. He showed no hesitation. He must be
out of his mind! After a brief moment of silence, the whole bar exploded
in an uproar. “He’s done for! This young man is dead! No one can save
him!” “I must say I admire his courage. He even dares to hit Sir Draco!
He has the courage of a lion!” “He really is a hero. He has my respect!”
“He sure looks cool, but who can survive Sir Draco’s fury?” The crowd tattled on, but their gazes as they
looked toward Dustin was like looking at a prisoner facing the
guillotine. The crowd muttered on, but their expressions turned to worry
as they watched Dustin, a prisoner facing the guillotine. – “Dustin! Are
you crazy?! You you actually…” Dahlia sputtered. She was so shocked that
she couldn’t complete her sentences. That was Sir Draco! He lorded over
South City and the head honcho of the underground! He did not give a damn
about the Laney family! How how dare he?! “This idiot must have hit his
head. How could Dustin be brave enough to hit Sir Draco?” James was
dumbfounded. Although Dustin was standing up for them, what he did was
just too crazy! James would never dream of doing something like this.
“You like fooling around so much, don’t you? I’m going to watch your last
moments!” As the shock passed, Matt couldn’t help but smile coldly. He
had felt uneasy since Dustin had shown off at the hospital. He had even
dared to fool around on the Cobra’s turf this time. He really didn’t
value his life!

Chapter 93.

“How… how dare you hit me?!” The Cobra rubbed
his head in disbelief. His hand was covered in blood. In the years since
he had taken over South City, no one had dared disrespect him, much less
hit him with a bottle. “This fool must have a death wish!” he thought.
“Sir Draco, take my advice. Let it go,” said Dustin calmly. “F*ck you!
I’m telling you, you’re dead meat! I’m going to rip you apart!” the Cobra
cursed and swore as he returned to his senses. ‘As the threat left his
mouth, a knife was held to his neck. The sharp blade pierced his skin,
and drops of blood trickled from the fresh wound. An inch deeper, and the
knife would have pierced his artery. Silence. The entire bar fell into
complete silence. The Cobra’s roars stopped, along with the crowd’s
prattling. Everyone was utterly shocked as they turned to look at Dustin,
who was wielding the knife. Hitting Sir Draco with a bottle could still
be excused as an accident. Unfortunately, holding a knife to his neck was
undeniably an act of provocation and humiliation. Dustin’s boldness
surprised everyone again as he shouted, “You idiot! Do you know what
you’re doing right now?” The Cobra went stiff and said fiercely. “If you
dare touch a hair on my head, I swear you won’t walk out this door
alive!” “Sir Draco, don’t frighten me. I’m a scaredy cat. You can’t blame
me if my hand trembles and I slit your neck,” Dustin teased. The blade
went deeper. More blood started flowing from the exposed flesh. The
Cobra’s facial muscles twitched in fear. “Stop!” Rosaline shouted. “I
don’t care who you are, but let Sir Draco go. Otherwise, your friends
will die with you!” “Dustin! Don’t be a fool! Put down the knife!” Dahlia
yelled. She was petrified that Dustin would kill the Cobra in a moment of
impulse. If that happened, then they were all done for! “Dustin! Are you
crazy? Let Lord Draco go! Don’t drag us down with you!” Florence shouted,
panicked. Of course, she could not care less if Dustin died, but she
didn’t want to be next. If Sir Draco died, they would have to face the
consequences. “Young man, I admire your courage. So I’m giving you a
chance right now. Put down the knife, and I’ll spare your life!” said the
Cobra icily. “Sir Draco, it seems like you’re still missing the picture.
Right now, I hold the power,” Dustin stated. “What? You have the guts to
kill me? Do you know what will happen if you touch a hair on my head?”
“I’m not afraid of you. If it comes down to it, I’ll just give my life
for taking yours.” Dustin responded, an unbothered look on his face. “You“..” The Cobra was a little speechless.
He was fearless, but he feared those who did not fear death. To his
dismay, Dustin did not fear death. “Dustin, know your limits. It’s not
too late if you stop now!” Dahlia persuaded. No matter what, she didn’t
want to see Dustin get killed over this. “Young man, I advise you to stop
while it’s not too late. Sir Draco already promised to let you off the
hook. You’d better not push things too far.” That’s right! Sir Draco is finally showing mercy. Don’t play with fire, or you’ll get burned.” People shot him advice from the crowd. They recognised Dustin’s courage, but if he was stupid, he was just a typical fool. “Young man! You have no idea who you’ve offended. I work for Sir Anderson. You’re spitting right in Sir Anderson’s face if you dare hurt me! If that happens, not just you, but your friends and family will all die!” threatened the Cobra. “Sir Anderson? Is he oh–so–great?” Dustin retorted. “He’s not just great, but the whole of Swinton respects him. I’m sure you’ve heard of Mr. Anderson of Swinton Group. He is Sir Anderson’s kin! You should know how to weigh the odds!” said the Cobra. “After hearing this, I want to meet Sir Anderson,” Dustin exclaimed, looking interested. “Hmph! I’m afraid you’ll pee your pants if you meet Sir Anderson!” The Cobra smiled wryly. A hubbub arose near the door. A fit, middle–aged man wearing a suit walked in with bodyguards flanking him. He looked charismatic and intimidating without even trying. “Sir Anderson?!” The moment the man appeared, the Cobra’s spirits lifted dramatically. The bar went into an uproar, and the crowd retreated in respect. They knew that the man they were looking at was someone even the Cobra bowed to! “Shit! Sir Anderson’s here!” Dahlia’s expression changed. She could only imagine how the magnitude of the influence and background of someone in Mr. Anderson’s league. “How foolish! If he had let Sir Draco go earlier. Too bad now that Sir Anderson is here. He dug his own grave!” “I don’t care if he djes, but he’s dragging us down with him. What bad luck!” Florence and the others were shocked and terrified at the same time. They couldn’t even afford to offend the Cobra, much less the man behind him, who was none other than Sir Anderson. “You fool! Sir Anderson is here. Aren’t you going to surrender?” shouted the Cobra. Sir Anderson did not only have a strong family background, but he was also extremely powerful. He had seen Sir Anderson get away with killing dozens of men with his own eyes. “Sir Anderson! You came at the perfect time. Someone caused trouble here and is even holding Sir Draco hostage!” Rosaline complained without hesitation. “Oh? Who is brave enough to touch my men?” The middle–aged man cocked an eyebrow and looked toward the commotion. However, when he saw Dustin, his expression went blank. He was clearly taken aback. In fact, Dustin was also stunned. He never imagined that Sir Anderson was also Duane Welch! “Boy, you’d better put the knife down before Sir Anderson gets mad. Or else you’re never going to walk out of here alive!” threatened the Cobra nastily. Dustin obeyed at once and dropped the knife with a clang. “Hmph! You’re scared now, aren’t you? But it’s too late!” The Cobra distanced himself and stood with a threatening stance, ready to enact his revenge. Before he could give the order, Duane asked, “Dustin, what happened? Did my men offend you?” “It’s just a small misunderstanding. I never thought they were your men, Uncle Duane.
Dustin smiled. “Uncle Duane?” The Cobra was dumbfounded as he watched the
two men talk amicably.

Chapter 94.

When Sir Anderson showed up, everyone thought Dustin was
done for. To their surprise, nothing dramatic happened when Sir Anderson
saw Dustin. Instead, they chatted amicably like they were old friends.
The Cobra was appalled by this turn of events. Even Florence and the
others were stunned. “This can’t be for real, right? Could he really know
Sir Anderson?” “My goodness, who is that man? How could he and Sir
Anderson be talking like buddies?” The crowd gossiped in hushed voices,
obviously taken aback. *S–Sir Anderson–you know him?” The Cobra gulped.
He was slightly panicked and at a loss. ‘Dustin is Natasha’s friend. What
gave you the nerve to offend him?” Duane’s expression grew colder by the
second. “Huh? Ms. Harmon’s friend?” The Cobra got the fright of his life.
Natasha Harmon wasn’t just one of Swinton’s big guns, she had the support
of Millburg’s aristocrats. She was as prominent a figure as Sir Anderson
himself. What’s more, Natasha was a very protective person. Anyone who
dared to offend her friends was doomed to face ruthless revenge! “Sir
Anderson, I–1- the Cobra stuttered. “Pack it up and stop being a baby.
Apologize to Dustin, and whatever happened will be forgotten.” Duane
waved his hand. “Okay, okay…” The Cobra nodded repeatedly and bowed to
Dustin. “Mr. Rhys, I’m terribly sorry. I didn’t know who you were and
offended you. I hope you’ll let this slide and forgive me this once.”
“You’re exaggerating. As long as you won’t take revenge,” said Dustin
plainly. “I wouldn’t dare…” The Cobra kept wiping away his sweat as he
said, “From now on, you and your friends will be treated as our VIPs.
Everything will be on the house!” His humble response shocked the crowd.
Who would have thought that the Cobra, who was so villainous just a
moment before, would apologize so humbly the next? “Dustin, let’s have a
chat. This way.” Duane wasn’t joking. He stretched out a hand in
invitation and led the way to the office on the second floor. The moment
they left, the entire bar erupted! *I… I wasn’t just seeing things, was
I? Did that fool just talk to Sir Anderson like the best of pals?” James
asked in disbelief. After all, Sir Anderson was the Cobra’s backer. He
could turn Swinton upside down with a lift of his finger. “If I’m
guessing right, Ms. Harmon must have something to do with their
acquaintance.” Dahlia suggested, her senses returning quickly. She had heard Sir Anderson mention Natasha Harmon. It was
undeniable that he had spared Dustin for the sake of the Harmon family’s
reputation. “You must be right! It has to be! How else can a small fry
like him know such a big shot?” James nodded fervently. I “Hmph! I
thought he had some real potential, but it turns out that he was just
putting on a show by relying on someone else’s influence!” Florence
huffed, displeased. “A man should have a spine. How can a man always
count on a woman to back him up?” Dahlia shook her head in
disappointment. Climbing the ranks by kissing up to someone looked grand
on the surface, but it was just a quick taste of heaven. It would never
last long. “What a lucky bastard!” Matt’s expression was stormy, and his
gaze stung with disdain. It was already shameful enough getting slapped
by the Cobra earlier, but now, Dustin’s glory had made him look even more
pathetic in comparison. He could not accept that a good–for–nothing like
Dustin had outshone him! Meanwhile, in the office on the second floor,
Dustin sat across from Duane while the Cobra served them.

Chapter 95.

“Duane, let’s not beat around the bush, shall we?” Dustin
sipped his tea and said, “You said you’ve found the Panax root. Where is
it?” “Since you’re so anxious, I won’t tease you any longer.” Duane
smiled and clapped his hands. A bodyguard entered the room carrying a
wooden box. Placing the box on the table between him and Dustin, Duane
opened it slowly. A dark yellow root no bigger than a palm sat inside. It
was a Panax root with unusually long roots. *This really is good stuff!”
Dustin exclaimed upon examining the root closely. He looked delighted. A
500–year–old Panax root was an extremely rare treasure! Now that he had
another herb, he was another step closer to his goal! “How is it, Dustin?
Are you satisfied?” Duane smiled expectantly. “Of course, I’m satisfied.
Thank you so much.” Dustin smiled, reaching out to take the root.
Suddenly, the lid of the box snapped shut. “Dustin, what’s the hurry?
Let’s talk more,” Duane asserted. One hand remained wrapped around the
box. Evidently, he was not planning on giving its contents to Dustin that
easily. “Duane, what’s this about?” Dustin narrowed his eyes. “I’m very
interested in your Gemiphen formula. Can you sell it to me?‘ Duane smiled
faintly. “Duane, this wasn’t what we agreed on. As per our agreement, I
cure your ailment, and you give me a 500–year -old Panax root in return,”
Dustin reminded him. “Are you sure you remember correctly? Yes, you cured
me, but I gave you the Hillview Hotel in return. As for the Panax root,
you’ll have to exchange it for your Gemiphen formula!” “You sound like
you want to go back on your word,” Dustin warned, his expression
gradually growing colder. He had thought that Duane had come to give him
the Panax root, but to his surprise, Duane had been eyeing his Gemiphen
formula all along. “Dustin, don’t put it that way. We just want mutual
benefits. If you’re unsatisfied, I can give you another thirty million in
cash!” Duane stuck out three fingers. “I’ve said this before. My Gemiphen
formula is not for sale. You can only give me herbs in exchange for it,”
stressed Dustin. “Haha… am I not doing an exchange with you right now?”
Duane hinted, tapping on the box between them. “Duane, if people find out
you’re not a man of your word, won’t you become a laughing stock?”
Dustin’s expression was as cold as ice. If he negotiated politely, Dustin
didn’t mind selling him two packets of Gemiphen. However, Duane’s way of
obtaining the formula was foolish. *So what
if people find out? Who would believe you?” Duane challenged. His nervous
smile did not reach his eyes. The Gemiphen formula was priceless. If he
could get his hands on it, he could take over the entire Anderson family!
“Duane, for Ms. Harmon’s sake, I won’t burn bridges between us. So now,
you’d best give me the Panax root.” Dustin said calmly, suppressing his
anger. “And what if I don’t?” Duane retorted. “Then don’t blame me for
snatching it away.” Dustin was very blunt. “Snatch? Haha. If you can take
this box from me, I’ll let you have it for free!” Duane laughed. He had
trained in martial arts for years and had long since reached the highest
level of mastery. How dare an amateur like Dustin snatch something out of
the hands of a master like him? “Okay! You said it yourself!” Dustin
wasted no time and reached for the wooden box. Duane was fully prepared.
His hand bent into a claw and grabbed Dustin’s forcefully. The battle had
begun.

Chapter 96.

Duane was still smiling confidently at the start of the
battle. But it was not long before he noticed something was very wrong.
Dustin was much stronger than he had expected. He could feel terrifying
surges of energy rushing at him like waves in the ocean. They made the
bones in his hand tremble. They would break any minute! Duane’s
expression darkened, and he couldn’t take it anymore. He threw a hard
punch at Dustin, trying to make him fall back. However, Dustin did not
dodge and faced it head–on instead. Their fists collided, and Duane’s
chair was smashed into pieces! The force of the punch shoved Duane
backward until he hit the wall to catch his balance. Even so, Dustin
remained seated calmly. They both knew who was more powerful! “Damn! I
never knew you had tricks up your sleeve. I underestimated you!” Duane’s
eyes narrowed as a complex mix of expressions clouded his face. With how
young Dustin was, Duane had never expected him to be so powerful.
Considering how young he was, he never expected Dustin to be so powerful.
Just one punch had thrown him off his feet. Although strength couldn’t
completely represent his fighting skills, it was enough to prove his
physical strength. “Thanks for the Panax root, Duane.” Dustin didn’t
waste any time. He picked up the box and got up to leave. Duane was
already on his blacklist for being untrustworthy. This was the last time
they would do business together. *Sir Anderson, do you want me to send
some men after him to get it back?” asked the Cobra hesitantly. He could
tell that Duane and Dustin weren’t actually friends. If so, he had
nothing to fear anymore. “He is quite strong. I’m afraid your men won’t
be able to take him on.” Duane cautiously moved his numb arm. “Are… are
you going to let him go just like that?” The Cobra was a little
disgruntled. After losing face earlier, he was eager to redeem it. “Let
him go? Hmph. Not so easily!” Duane laughed coldly. “I’ll get my hands on
the Gemiphen formula. Just wait and see. I have many ways to make him
surrender to me!” Meanwhile, outside the bar, Lyra arrived with the
company’s bodyguards. When she saw that Dahlia and the others were safe
and sound, she breathed a sigh of relief. “Ms. Nicholson, is everything
resolved?” “I guess you could say that.” Dahlia nodded. “I heard this is
the Cobra’s turf and thought there might be trouble. I didn’t think it
would be so easy. I’m sure Mr. Laney is to thank for this?” Lyra smiled.
The suggestion caused Matt’s expression to
sour immediately. This woman just had to annoy him! “Hmm? Why is he
here?” Lyra wondered as she spotted Dustin leaving the bar. He
questioned, “What are you guys still doing here? Waiting for someone to
take revenge on you? I don’t have the energy to save you again.” He spoke
with a calm voice, grasping the wooden box in his hand. “Who needs
saving? You’re so nosy!” Florence snapped rudely. “Hpmh! Stop showing
off. If it wasn’t for Ms. Harmon, could you have walked out of there
alive?” James mocked brashly. “That’s enough!” Dahlia waved her hands to
stop their bickering. She turned to Dustin and said, “Dustin. thanks for
saving us, but I don’t condone your behavior.” “Oh? Do you have any
advice, Ms. Nicholson?” Dustin cocked an eyebrow. “You’re too impulsive!
You don’t think before you act. Did you ever consider the consequences
your actions might bring?” Dahlia asked. “I don’t know what consequences
my actions would have caused, but I’m certain that your brother’s hands
would have been chopped off,” Dustin retorted matter–of–factly.

Chapter 97.

“I’m just trying to remind you to think twice before you
act. Just because you have support from the higher- ups doesn’t mean you
can run amok.” With a solemn look, Dahlia added, “Dustin, you must
realize that your worth has to be backed by ability. Currying favors with
powerful people can propel you to greater heights, but it won’t last
unless you can prove you’re a person of high caliber. So don’t think
you’re all high and mighty- consider this a lesson from me.” Dustin
snickered upon hearing this. “How can you be sure that I’m currying
favors with the powerful?” “Is that not the case? If it weren’t for Ms.
Harmon’s reputation, would the Cobra have let you go so easily?” Dahlia
didn’t hold back with her remark. “Whatever you say. I know that,
whatever I do, I’m nothing but a useless prick in your eyes,” Dustin
sneered as he shook his head. First impressions truly were tough to
change. Even with the evidence in front of their eyes, some people would
simply refuse to believe it. They preferred scouring for excuses in an
attempt to consolidate their prejudices. “Oh, Dustin, don’t be
disheartened. Keep your dignity and utilize your capabilities to carve
out your own career and legacy instead of being a lazy bum who leeches
off others,” Dahlia urged in a deep voice. “So what if I’m a bum?
Catching easy fish is also a skill. It just means I work smart,” Dustin
shrugged. “You…” Dahlia was starting to get annoyed. She had put sincere
effort into trying to talk sense into him, but her advice seemed to fall
on deaf ears. Not to mention the fact that he did not appear ashamed of
his behavior at all. It was apparent that there was no saving some people
from their stubbornness. As the two went back and forth, a few patrol
cars pulled up and blocked the intersection. The doors of the patrol cars
swung open, and several uniformed police officers stepped out and
approached them swiftly. “We’re looking for Dustin Rhys,” said one of the
police officers. “That’s me.” Dustin responded, “Is something wrong,
officer?” “We just received a report that you’ve stolen some valuable
objects. Please come with us!” shouted the officer. “Stolen? Officer,
there must be a misunderstanding.” Dustin declared, squinting his eyes.
“Alright, may I ask what’s inside this box?” “Panax root.” “Then that
proves it! Come with us immediately for further investigation!” The
officer said little more as he handcuffed Dustin. “Officer! What exactly
is going on?” exclaimed Dahlia, as she rushed forward, the color drained
from her face. “Who are you?” asked the patrol officer. “I’m his friend,”
she replied. “Hmph, suspicious! You could be an
accomplice. Take her away as well!” In one swift movement, the officer
clicked a pair of handcuffs around Dahlia’s wrists. This incident left
everyone at the scene stunned. “Officer, this has nothing to do with her.
It’s all me,” said Dustin with a frown. “He’s right, he’s right! This is
all Dustin’s doing. It has nothing to do with my daughter! If you want to
arrest him, then do that! My daughter has done nothing wrong. She’s
innocent!” pleaded Florence. “That’s right, officer! My sister is
innocent. She’s a kind soul!” James exclaimed, panicked. “We’ll find out
if she’s innocent once the investigation is over. Take her away!” barked
the police officer. With a single command from the squad leader, Dustin
and Dahlia were escorted into the police cars. ““Wait!” Matt stepped out
from the crowd and began, “I’m of the Laney family of Millsburg. Please
cut us some slack and let…” “Any more nonsense, and you’ll all be coming
along!” snapped the officer. His cold glare silenced Matt instantly.
There was nothing anyone could do as they watched Dahlia leave with them.
“It’s over! Goddamn good–for–nothing Dustin, getting my daughter in
trouble!” cried Florence as she stomped the ground in distress. 1 “I
don’t give a damn if he digs his own grave, but to drag Dahlia with him?
What a bastard!” James scowled with resentment. “Now’s not the time for
this. Quick, we need to think of a way to save Ms. Nicholson!” said Lyra.
“You’re right! We have to find a way. I know a friend who works at the
police station. I’ll give him a call at once!” “I know a relative who has
connections with some police officers of higher ranks. I’ll find out if
he can offer us any help.” Suddenly, the air was filled with the excited
chattering of everyone in the group, gathering assistance from anyone
they could think of.

Chapter 98.

Nighttime, in the interrogation room of the police
station. Dustin and Dahlia sat with their backs against each other, bound
to the chairs in the middle of the room. The air in the room was cool and
damp, and darkness shrouded them completely. They could feel an invisible
weight on their shoulders. “My bad, I didn’t mean to drag you into this
mess,” Dustin spoke first. “They claimed you stole some valuables. Is
that true?” Dahlia asked, cutting to the chase. “What do you think?” “You
don’t look that bold to me, so my guess is someone is trying to frame
you. Does this have anything to do with the Cobra?” “The Cobra is merely
a pawn. The mastermind is none other than Duane Welch.” “Duane Welch? Are
you talking about Sir Anderson?” Dahlia was dumbstruck. “Weren’t you on
fairly good terms with him before? Did you strike a nerve? How?” “I
punched him,” Dustin admitted flatly. “What?” Dahlia choked, struggling
to keep her calm, “You You dared hit Sir Anderson! Are you out of your
mind?!” Sir Anderson wasn’t just anyone–he was like a brother to Mr.
Anderson. Not to mention being of the prominent Welch family of
Millsburg! He was someone even the vicious, unyielding Cobra would kneel
to. Yet Dustin dared place a hand on him, the epitome of digging one’s
own grave! “He hit me first. I only hit back in self–defense.” Dustin
didn’t seem bothered in the slightest. “Y–you act too rashly!” Dahlia
fumed, “Who do you think Sir Anderson is? Do you think he’s someone you
can afford to offend? One order from him is all it takes to wipe you off
the face of the earth!” “Since I’ve already offended him, there’s nothing
else we can do than go with the flow,” Dustin said with a shrug. “Easy
for you to say, but do you think you can handle this?” Dahlia’s patience
was running thin. She asserted, You better find an opening to call
Natasha later. She’s the only one who can save you now!” As the words
left her tongue, she felt an acrid taste at the back of her throat.
Although she wouldn’t admit it if she didn’t have to, there was no
denying that there was no comparing herself to Natasha when it came to
family background. Suddenly, the metal door to the dark room creaked
open, Interrupting their conversation. A man with a rotund beer belly
appeared in the doorway and stepped into the room. He sat down on a chair
and flicked the switch of the bright lamp on the desk. The glare from the
lamp made the two detainees squeeze their eyes shut Instinctively. “So, you’re Dustin Rhys or something.” hissed the
fat man maliciously. “Yes.” Dustin continued squinting until his eyes
grew accustomed to the intense light. I “Do either of you know who I am?”
the man asked. “No clue.” “Then, allow me to introduce myself. I go by
Gardner, the inspector here. I am nicknamed Heinous Hades by many!” The
fat man lifted his chin with pride. 1 Dahlia’s heart dropped. Having
spent a good chunk of her life mingling in this field, it was not her
first time hearing that nickname. He was a man of barbarian cruelty,
always baying for the blood of his next victim. Any offenders who fell
into his hands could only pray for an outcome less than horrific. They
were in grave trouble this time around! “Nice to meet you, Mr. Gardner.
We’ve heard a lot about you.” While Dahlia anticipated the worst, Dustin
seemed relatively calm and breezy. “Great! Given that you’ve heard of my
name, I assume you’re familiar with my habits. I recommend that you learn
your place and cooperate. That is your only hope of leaving here alive!”
The inspector lit a cigar, slid it between his teeth, and took a deep
breath. “Mr. Gardner, what do you need my cooperation for?” Dustin asked
with a calm voice. “The lot of you stole some valuable items, and the law
can sentence you to prison. However, I am giving you the chance to
straighten out the issue with the original owner. If we reach a mutual
agreement, no charges will be pressed.” “Mr. Gardner, you must be
mistaken. I didn’t steal anything. The Panax root belongs to me,” Dustin
rebutted politely. “Hey! Kid! Are you sure you know what’s happening?”
The fat man snorted. “Does it matter whether you stole it or not? Once
you step foot in my territory, I make the rules. If I say you stole it,
it means you stole it. Do you understand me?” “Mr. Gardner, isn’t the way
you’re approaching this case a little unreasonable?” Dustin’s eyebrows
creased into a frown. “Unreasonable? Haha. My words could not be more
reasonable!” snarled the fat man. A sinister smirk stretched across his
face. “Now, you both have two options. One, to reach a deal with Sir
Anderson. Or two, spend the rest of your lives in jail!” “Can I choose
neither?” Dustin asked.” “Hey! I’m trying to engage in a peaceful
discussion with you. You’d better be sensible and take the option, or
else you won’t have it easy if you cross me!” Hostility flashed in his
eyes. “Are you trying to threaten me?” “What if I am?” the inspector
sneered. The cigar hung from his teeth as he continued with disdain, “I
know you have some punch in you, but even superpowers won’t be
useful in my territory! Besides, need I remind you that your gorgeous
girlfriend will be very popular if she ends up in prison! Even if you
could not care less about yourself, you should keep her in mind! That is,
if you can bear watching as the other prisoners ravage such a delicate
beauty!” Dustin’s expression hardened. Murderous intent seeped from his
eyes. “If you dare touch her, rest assured that nothing but death will
await you!” While his aggressive remark stunned Dahlia, she couldn’t help
the warmth that filled her chest. “Haha! You can barely stand up for
yourself. And to think, you’re trying to threaten me! If you have brains
in that head of yours, just hand over the Panax root and call it quits.
Otherwise, you can’t blame me if I throw your beloved in prison! Give it
some thought. You’ll have thirty minutes to think it through. I’ll be
back with hopes of an affirmative answer.” With a grotesque grin, Gardner
turned to leave, leaving nothing but a loud, resonating bang in his wake.
The room plunged back into darkness.

Chapter 99

The night progressed slowly. Florence. James, and the
others waited anxiously outside the police station. Dahlia was the
backbone of the Nicholson family. If something were to happen to her, the
Nicholsons would undoubtedly fall apart. Therefore, to save themselves,
they did everything they could to arrange for her release. which meant
pulling every string possible. A policeman appeared out of nowhere. James
immediately stepped forward and asked, “Mr. Clarke, how’s it looking? Can
you let my sister go?” “James, I dug around and discovered that Gardner
is the inspector in charge of this case. A mere policeman like myself
won’t be able to do much to help,” the man said with a shake of his head.
“What else can we do? Do you have any other ideas?” James lamented with
panic. “Mr. Clarke, we would be eternally grateful for whatever you can
do to help us!” Florence pleaded. “I’ll try my best, but I can’t promise
anything. Plus, don’t forget the sum of money.” “Sir, I’ve just forked
out two million dollars. Take it for now, and I’ll get more if it doesn’t
suffice. Please help us out. We can talk about further payment later!”
James cried as he pulled out a card and handed it to the policeman.
“Alright then, I’ll give it another shot.” The policeman slid the card
into his pocket discreetly, turned around, and walked back into the
station. “James, two million isn’t a small amount. Are you sure we can
trust your friend?” Florence asked, her voice uncertain. “No matter what,
we still have to give it a go.” James muttered through gritted teeth. “By
the way, has anyone seen Mr. Laney?” someone in the crowd quipped. “Matt
said he went to meet a friend who may be able to help get Dahlia out of
this pickle,” Florence replied. “So that’s where he’s gone. With Mr.
Laney’s help, we have double the reassurance. I’m sure it’ll be alright.”
With that, the group let out a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, in a luxurious
villa, Matt was having the time of his life with a gorgeous woman in a
hot tub. His body intertwined with hers as they blissfully made love to
each other. “I doubt you’re here simply to visit. You must have a favor
to ask of me, am I right?” the woman smirked. “Nothing ever gets past
you, does it?” he conceded with a slight smile. He began, “I have a
friend who’s being held at the police station, and I need your help
bailing her out. I’m sure you know that Swinton is not my home ground.”
“A friend? What’s the name?” she asked. “Dahlia Nicholson.”
“Oh? A woman? Is there something going on between you and
her?” The beauty raised an eyebrow suspiciously. “Hehe… she’s just a
friend. She helped me out awhile back, so I’m merely returning the
favor.” Matt maintained a nonchalant expression. “Is that so?” Dubious,
the woman pressed on. “Matt, don’t claim I’ve never reminded you that you
are mine and mine only. You best believe you’ll regret being promiscuous
out there. If a vixen dares to try to seduce you, I will make her life a
living hell!” “What are you even talking about, baby girl? You are the
one I love most in life. How could I possibly have eyes for other women?”
Matt quickly pulled her into a tight embrace. “Since you say you love me
so much, you shall attend my birthday party in two days and meet my
father as “my boyfriend,” the lady said with a smile stretching from ear
to ear. “Are you introducing me to your family already?” “Why? Are you
afraid?” “Your father is the one and only Sir Hummer. I bet you won’t be
able to name me someone who isn’t afraid of the prospect of meeting him!
However, it goes without saying that I would cross the highest mountains
and the deepest seas for you!” “Aw, aren’t you the sweetest! Alright
then, it’s a deal!” At the same time, at Java Joys. Natasha was seated on
the couch, reading silently, when Ruth barged in. *Sis! Bad news!
Dustin’s been arrested!” she blurted as soon as her lips parted.
“Arrested?” Natasha was taken aback. “What happened?” “I just received
news that Dustin was arrested and escorted to the police station for the
theft of valuable items!” Ruth managed between pants. “Theft? Is that
it?” Natasha’s confusion grew. “The theft is nothing but a coverup. In
reality, Dustin is being framed. However, things don’t look good given
that he’s fallen into the hands of that fat man Gardner,” Ruth continued.
A string of protests rang from Natasha’s mouth immediately. “That fat
bastard! Such audacity–how dare he touch my man? Gather your men at once
and follow me to the police station to get our people back!” Meanwhile,
in Hunter Anderson’s mansion. “Dad! Bad news! Something major happened!”
Jeff Anderson rushed into the study with large beads of sweat covering
his forehead, startling Hunter as he practiced his brush strokes. “You idiot! How many times have I told you that you must stay
calm when facing problems instead of overreacting? Why don’t you ever
heed my advice?!” “Dad! I’m not overreacting this time. Something big
really did happen!” Jeff wiped the sweat from his face. “Pahl You better
remember: no matter how big a situation, you must stay calm! That is how
a real man should act!” After relaying his teachings, he finally asked,
“Now tell me, what’s going on?” “It’s about Mr. Rhys. He’s been arrested
by Gardner!” Jeff exploded. “What?” Hunter started trembling in fear.
Even the brush in his hand broke in two. “Quick… call someone! We have to
go to the police station,” he instructed his son. He roared, “That fat
F*ck “Gardner. If he dares touch a hair on Mr. Rhys‘ head, I’ll skin him
alive!” “Dad, shouldn’t you remain calm?” Jeff’s lips twitched with
irony. “To hell with calm!” The news struck him like a lightning bolt, so
shocking that Hunter broke into a cold sweat. “If Mr. Laney emerges
unscathed, all will be well. But if something were to happen to him,
everyone in Swinton would suffer. Not to mention Garnder, you, and even
myself!” “Huh! Is the situation so grave?” Jeff winced. He still had zero
clue about Dustin’s true identity. “What are you doing still lingering
around? We have to get him out of there!” ordered Hunter. After slapping
his son awake, Hunter darted out the door. Deep in his heart, he prayed,
“Gardner, Gardner, you fat motherF*cker better not mess around! If you
do, Swinton will be soaked in blood!”

Chapter 100.

As the chaos unfolded in the outside world, nothing but
peace and calm hung in the air of the inspector’s office at the police
station. “What’s the situation, Mr. Gardner? Has the kid confessed yet?”
asked the Cobra impatiently as soon as he sat down. “It doesn’t matter
whether he has or not. Any prisoner who falls into my hands is sure to
give in eventually.” The fat inspector took another drag of his cigar
with a smug expression. “It’s not a problem if you’re on–site, but you
can’t guarantee that things won’t take a turn for the worse. I think you
ought to get it out of the way while you can,” the Cobra suggested. “Why
do you say that? Are you trying to teach me how to do my job?” Gardner
cast a cold glare at him. “Of course not. I wouldn’t even dream of it.
It’s just that the kid has someone backing him up. If this isn’t resolved
soon, trouble may arise,” the Cobra explained with a quick apology. “What
trouble could possibly arise? I’m just doing my job. Plus, this is my
territory. Who would dare disobey me?” he reminded the man with
certainty. “Well, that’s true, Mr. Gardner. You are Mr. Granville’s son–
in–law after all–who would dare disrespect you?” agreed the Cobra
flatteringly. “Hmph! At least you’re smart enough to know that!” the
inspector guffawed. He was perhaps prouder of having the mayor as his
father–in–law than of his identity as an inspector. The title of mayor
denoted the highest position of power in the whole of Swinton. “Mr.
Gardner, this is a gift from Sir Anderson. Please accept it,” said the
Cobra as he held out a gift box with both hands. Gardner opened the box,
and the shimmer of the gold accessory put a smile on his face. “Hehe… Sir
Anderson is simply too generous. Send him my thanks! Also, reassure him
that I will handle this with extra care and ensure nothing goes wrong!”
“Thank you, Mr. Gardner!” The Cobra bowed in gratitude. While the two
spoke, the squad leader who had made the arrest entered the room
unannounced. “Is something the matter?” Gardner instantly slammed the
gift box shut. “Sir, the Nicholson family has just sent someone to
intercede, and they’ve offered to pay a hefty amount to release Dahlia
Nicholson on bail,” the officer reported. “Pah! That woman is a wanted
criminal. There’s no way she can be released on ball. Send them away!”
commanded Gardner with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Yes, sir.” The
squad leader turned and left. However, he knocked on the door again in
less than a minute. “What is it this time?!”
barked the inspector, clearly losing his patience. “Sir, Ms. Harmon
called in earlier, claiming that we’ve arrested the wrong person. She has
asked us to release Dustin Rhys immediately.” the officer said. “Ms.
Harmon? Do you mean Natasha Harmon?” Gardner’s expression froze. “That’s
her.” The officer nodded. “Cobra, what’s going on? You failed to mention
that this kid had anything to do with Natasha!” The inspector’s eyes
turned feral Natasha was a lady of superiority in all aspects; money,
power, and influence. Under normal circumstances, she was not someone he
would offend for no reason. “Mr. Gardner, he’s just a good–for–nothing
Natasha dotes on. In fact, he has no proper background. With your status,
you need not pay him much attention,” the Cobra assured the inspector.
“Hmph! That better be the case!” Slightly flustered, Gardner instructed
the squad leader, “Tell Natasha Harmon that we are holding no such person
in our patrol room.” Since he had already given his word to Duane, there
was no going back. For now, the best course of action would be to sweep
it under the carpet. However, as soon as the squad leader left, Gardner’s
phone started ringing. “Mr. Anderson?” He was baffled by the caller ID
displayed on the screen. For Mr. Anderson to call at this hour.. could it
be for the kid as well? Wasn’t this too much of a coincidence?! Brushing
the thought from his mind, he decided to pick up the call, still feeling
apprehensive. “Hello, Mr. Anderson! Is there anything I can do for you?”
“Mr. Gardner! Tell me, did you arrest a young man named Dustin Rhys?”
Hunter cut right to the chase without wasting a second. “Oh? Did I? Why
is it that I’m not aware of this?” Mr. Gardner questioned. His heart
skipped a beat, but he didn’t let it show. He asked, “Mr. Anderson, did
something happen?” “Gardner! Don’t you dare pull tricks on me! Heed my
order and release Dustin right this instant! Or else, don’t blame me for
cutting you off for good!” Hunter yelled into the phone. “Mr. Anderson,
there must have been a misunderstanding! I don’t know a Dustin at all.
How about I look into it for you?” The officer desperately put on an act.
There was no way he would spill the beans on the plan. “Alright then, you
fat bastard. You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into! Mark my
words–if anything happens to Dustin, you and your whole family will go
down with him!” Hunter hung up the phone with a threatening growl: “Did
that old man get up on the wrong side of the bed today?” grumbled
Gardner, his displeasure written all over his face. “Sir, what’s wrong?”
the Cobra asked cautiously. “What’s wrong? Where did you get the guts to
ask me that?” Gardner slapped a palm onto the table. “Didn’t you say the kid had no background?

Mr. Anderson just called to speak to me about the fellow! Does that sound like someone
with no background to you? Are you deliberately trying to set me up, you
motherF*cker?!” Natasha Harmon was already a handful. Now that Hunter
Anderson was also in the picture, this was equivalent to stripping him
down and tying him to a skewer over an open fire. “No way! There’s no way
that he has relations with Mr. Anderson! I–I really didn’t know about
this,” the Cobra stuttered as the color drained from his face. “Quick,
call Duane now. This situation is getting way out of hand. He’ll have to
pay me more if he wants this matter settled smoothly,” Gardner ordered.
“Alright, alright. I will call Sir Anderson immediately!” The Cobra did
not hesitate as he dialed Duane’s number. Over the phone, he briefly
explained Gardner’s request. After confirming an affirmative answer, he
reported, “Sir, Sir Anderson has agreed to double the price as long as
you can get the job done!” Hearing this, the tense muscles on the
inspector’s face finally eased. *Sir Anderson is truly generous! In that
case, I’ll do my very best!” he declared with a smile of contentment.
Well, money did do wonders, after all. A middle ground is always more
easily reached with a good payout.

Chapter List