Natasha smiled and took Dustin by the elbow. "Let's go. I'll show you around, and we'll drop by Dash Corporation."…In South City, the Swanson family room was bright and spacious. Ezra sat across Eleanor at the table, talking and eating dessert."Ezra, why is Sir Crane still not here? Do you think he stood us up?" Eleanor looked at the time, appearing upset. She'd been waiting for an hour, but no one showed up."Eleanor, be patient. Sir Crane is a very busy man. Let's wait for a little longer. He should be here soon." Ezra flashed her a charming smile.As soon as he was done talking, someone opened the door. Soon, an old man dressed in an all-black suit with a stern and cold expression strode in. The old man had his hands behind him. His facial expression was icy, and his gaze haughty. He had this mysterious air around him."Sir Crane, you've finally arrived." Ezra's eyes lit up, and he stood up to welcome him."Have you prepared what I requested?" Theodore sat down slowly. H

"Y'see," Theodore began."The critters I keep need to feed on my blood to forge a bond. Over time, it forms a connection. Once that connection's solid, I'll know it in a heartbeat," he explained.Eleanor raised a curious eyebrow. "Sounds pretty otherworldly.""It's occult, something a high-society girl like you might not grasp," he said with an air of secrecy."But what if it doesn't work?" she prodded."Hmm?" Theodore furrowed his brow. Was she trying to test his patience?"Don't worry, Eleanor, you don't need to worry about that," Ezra chimed in, flashing a reassuring smile. "Sir Crane's mastery of the occult is legendary. There's no room for failure.""But I'm talking about the 'what if,'" Eleanor insisted."Hmph! There's no room for 'what ifs'!" Theodore's expression grew cold. "Unless that kid has the skin of steel and a spirit beyond, disaster is certain.""I don't get all this magic stuff. I just want to know, will there be a sign if it fails?" She kept pushing.Theo

Usually, a mere backfire might leave you dizzy and disoriented. At worst, you'd feel a little under the weather for a few days. But the sheer force of the backfire Theodore had just experienced was enough to cost him his life!That could only mean one thing—the person he had crossed paths with was not to be trifled with. If they came knocking for revenge, there would be nowhere to hide!"Sir Crane, did you maybe take a knock to the head just now? What else could explain these nonsensical words of yours?"Eleanor chimed in, her voice dripping with skepticism, "Dustin is just a doctor. What could he possibly do to reduce you to this quivering mess? You look like you've seen a ghost, for goodness' sake. Is it really that terrible?""Yeah, Sir Crane," Ezra added, puzzled. He'd done a bit of digging into Dustin's background. Dustin was nothing more than a rustic, real small-town guy. He had some fighting skills, some medical know-how, and a few tricks up his sleeve. Even so, those c

Lana's lips curled into a sly smile. "Among the Eight Great Families, the Langfords, Dawsons, Killians, and Sawyers stand as equals. Meanwhile, the Welches, Swansons, Carmens, and Forrests closely trail behind. "If we secure an alliance with the Dawson family, it'll make dealing with the Swansons and Welches much easier."Dustin nodded approvingly. "Excellent choice to go with the Dawsons. It seems you've done your homework well. Have you already established contact with them?"Lana cooed in a playful tone, her smile enchanting. "You're quite clever, Handsome. You've guessed right. I've identified a target within the Dawson family. Convincing him to cooperate won't be a problem."Dustin's curiosity got the better of him. "So, who's this person?""He's the youngest son of the Dawson family's patriarch, Bo Dawson," Lana revealed."Bo Dawson?" Dustin raised an eyebrow. "A rather unique name, isn't it?"Lana's smile held a hint of mischief as she replied, "Handsome, don't underes

"Whatever it is, you have to follow the rules!" the bodyguard sternly refused."Well, I'll just speak directly with Mr. Dawson," Dustin said."Sorry, guys," he added apologetically. Then, with a swift motion of his hand, a row of silver needles shot out, precisely hitting the necks of several guards. The bodyguards instantly froze, unable to move or even make a sound. Only their eyes were darting around in surprise."This is an unavoidable action. Please forgive me," Dustin said with a nod. With that, he continued into the room.As he entered the room, a sharp gaze immediately swept over him. It was accompanied by a chilling air that sent shivers down his spine. In the next moment, a black steel blade with a fierce blade aura swung viciously at Dustin's neck.Dustin raised his eyebrows and instinctively stepped back. He narrowly avoided the blade as it grazed his throat, sending a shiver down his spine.The room's door, upon being struck by the blade, shattered into pieces. I