He could only hold on to her tightly, feeling her warmth and savoring her scent. It was only at thatmoment that his anxious heart finally calmed down.


    “I’m happy you’re alive,” Dustin whispered softly after a long pause.“Alright, stop hugging me. I’m starting to run out of breath,” Natasha smiled knowingly. Shepatted Dustingentlyontheback.


    Althoughsheenjoyedthemoment,hewashuggingherabittootightly.


    “Ahem…I’msorry,Iwasoutofline.”Dustinsnappedbacktorealityandreleasedherimmediately.


    Hehadlethisemotionstakeoverearlier.Hedidn’tevenrealizewhathehaddone


    “I’mhappyyoudidthat.Atleastitshowsthatyoucareaboutme,”Natashasmiledsweetly.She


    washappy.


    Theyhadghroughlifeanddeathtogether.Itwasanexperiencethatcedherwaybeyond


    whathehadwithDahlia.


    Sowhatifthey’dbeenmarriedbefore?They’devenriskedtheirlivesforeachother!


    P


    “Dear,restup.I’llgocheckifyourmedicineis ready.”


    NatashatiptoedtogiveDustinakissonthecheekbeforeturningtoleave.


    AgentlesmileformedonDustin’slipsashewatchedherleave.He felt thesamesenseof


    happiness.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    Finally,theyhadoveethiscrisis!


    “Mr.Adler.”Oncehe regainedhiposure,DustinsummonedCornelius.Themanhadbeen


    stationedatthedoor.


    Heasked,“Didanythinghappenduringthesepastfewdays?


    NatashaandDustinhadbeenunconsciousforthreedayseach,soaweekhadpassed.


    “SirRhys,Millsburghasbeenrtivelypeacefutely.Nothingmuchhashappened,”Cornelius


    replied.


    Then,hechangedthetopicabruptly,“Oh,butweshouldkeepawatchfuleyeontheHarmon


    family.


    “EversinceTrenttookover,heandhisdaughterhavekickedoutsomeoutstandingmembersand


    eldersfromthefamily.The currentsituationwithintheHarmonsisratherdelicate.


    “Trentseems tobegettingridofdissenters.Hekickedoutanyonewhodidn’tobeyhimands.Suchfoolishactionswillonlyleadtohisdestruction.”Dustinshookhishead.


    TheHarmonsmaybepowerful,butitwouldn’st,withTrentactingthewayhewas.


    “SirRhys,IbelievetheHarmonfamilyislikeatickingtimebomb.”


    Corneliuscontinued,“Youinstructed metohavepeopleprotectMr.Hectorbefore.


    “Injustafewdays,hehasfacedthreekidnappingattemptsandtwoassassinationplots.Luckily,wemanagedtothwartthemall.”


    “What?”Dustinfrowned.


    “WeretheyallcarriedoutbytheHarmons?


    “Theassassinswerecontracted.Butthere’snodoubtTrentandhisdaughterareinvolvedinit,”


    Corneliussaid.Hesoundedcertain.


    “Itseemsliketheirtruecolorsarefinallyabouttobeexposed.”


    Dustinstrokedhischin.Hewasdeepinthoughtwhenhesaid,“Let’sdothis.Continuetokeepan


    eyeonthem.


    “IfyounoticeanymovementsfromTrent’sside,letmeknowrightaway.I’mgoingtofindan


    opportunitytodealwithallofthemonceandforall.”


    “Yes,sir.”Corneliusnodded.


    “Oh,bytheway,hastherebeenanyactivityonRonald’sandthemartirtsalliance’sside


    recently?”Dustinsuddenlyasked.


    “SinceRonaldreturnedfromtheckForest,heimmediatelywentintoseclusion.Herefusedto


    meetanyone.


    “Thedeputy leaderisnowmanagingthemartirtsallianceentirely,”Corneliusreplied.


    “He’sinseclusion?”Dustinsnortedcoldly.


    “HeintendstousetheCelestialPearltobreakthroughtotheultimategrandmasterrealm.


    Unfortunatelyforhim,Iwon’tallowit.”


    “SirRhys,whatdoyounondoing?”Corneliusaskedcautiously.


    “I’mgoingtotendtomyinjuriesfirst.AfterI’verecovered,I’mgoingtochallengehim!”Dustin


    dered,makingashockingannouncement.


    “What?You’regoingtochallengetheleaderofthemartirtsalliance?”


    Cornelius‘eyesnearlypoppedoutoftheirsockets.“SirRhys!Areyoujoking?Ronaldisthemost


    “Won’tyouendupdeadbychallengingsomeonesopowerful?”


    “Westilldon’tknowwhowillbedying.”Dustinnarrowedhiseyes.Heexudedamurderousgaze.


    “We’llhavetobattleitoutsooneroter.TherewasnowinnerduringourbattlebackintheckForest.We’llhavetosettlethescoreattheallianceheadquarters.


    “Ifhewantstoreachthelevelofanultimategrandmaster,he’llhave togothroughmefirst!”


    UnlessRonalddied,DustinwouldneverbeabletomakeituptoMr.Robinson.


    Someonehypocritical likeRonaldcouldn’tcontinuetobethemartirtsalliance leader.Ifso,thenthemartialworldistrulyfinished.