The next morning, Nathaniel was inside a lavish mansion. He was in his study, flipping through an ancient manuscript.
One of his most trusted aides hurried in and lowered his voice, “Your Royal Highness, word just came in. Another trace of Dracan essence has been found.”
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow and closed the manuscript. “Where?”
“Our investigation shows it ended up in the hands of Logan Rhys,” the aide replied.
“Logan Rhys?” Nathaniel narrowed his eyes slightly and was surprised by the name.
He had tried to win Logan over before and spared no expense, but never received a response. Later, he discovered that Tristan and Matthias had done the same.
Fortunately, Logan still hadn’t picked a side. He might be holding out for the best offer, but at least he hadn’t shut the door on Nathaniel.
With the Dracan essence in his hands, Logan had become an even more valuable target. In addition to the West Lucozian monarchy, Logan was an ultimate grandmaster, which made him worth recruiting.
If Nathaniel could get him on his side, it would be a game-changer.
“Where is he now?” Nathaniel asked.
“According to our investigation, he’s checked into the Delight Hotel,” the aide replied.
“Go there right away. And make sure you invite him over. I don’t want any rough tactics.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The aide quickly bowed and was about to leave when Nathaniel stopped him again.
“I said to invite him. Don’t forget that.”
“Understood.”
With another respectful nod, the aide turned and headed out.
Around noon, a luxury car pulled up at the front gate of the mansion. The door opened, and Dustin stepped out. He was soon led inside by Nathaniel’s personal guards.
Nathaniel’s mansion was understated yet luxurious. It was heavily guarded and appeared ordinary at first glance. But beneath that facade, it hid something much more secretive.
As they entered, Dustin casually surveyed the surroundings while mentally noting every detail. Even though Grace had already managed to get the mansion’s blueprints for him to study, he preferred to verify things for himself. At least the layout matched the blueprints.
The only issue was that Nathaniel had set up several hidden lookout points. The moment Dustin stepped inside, he could feel the weight of at least a dozen pairs of eyes scanning him.
It was clear that navigating the mansion freely wasn’t an option without someone leading the way. Given Nathaniel’s resources, it was a given that there were skilled fighters stationed within, and any slip-up could give him away.
With a sharp awareness of the situation, Dustin followed the guards. They walked through a carefully manicured garden filled with artificial rocks. Finally, they reached the reception room.
Nathaniel was already waiting at the door. When he spotted Dustin, his face lit up with a welcoming smile.
“Logan, it’s been a while. I’ve missed you, ” he said. “Come in, come in.”
Nathaniel was full of warmth. He grabbed Dustin’s hand and led him into the room. Once inside, he ushered Dustin to sit beside him and said, “Bring the tea out!”
Soon, several young and pretty maids entered, carrying tea and pastries.
“This is a special tea I’ve been saving. You’ve got to try it.” Nathaniel gestured for Dustin to take a sip.
Dustin nodded, picked up his cup, and took a drink. “Sweet and smooth, with a lasting aftertaste. It really is fine tea.”
Nathaniel chuckled and complimented, ” You’ve got great taste.”
He gave him a thumbs up and continued, ” This tea’s reserved for special guests like you. If you like it, feel free to take some home with you.”
“Your Highness is too kind. Then, I won’t hold back.” Dustin smiled and didn’t hesitate.
Since he was here, he might as well get something out of it. Otherwise, it would look suspicious.
“We’re like brothers, so no need to be formal. If you need anything, just let me know. I’ll make sure to handle it for you,” Nathaniel said with a broad smile.
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Dustin gave a slight bow and then changed the conversation. “But I’m guessing you didn’t bring me here just to catch up. What’s really going on?”
Nathaniel chuckled. “Nothing gets past you, does it?” He finally got to the point. ” I’ve heard you had a Dracan essence. Is that true?”
“Oh? And where did you hear that?” Dustin didn’t answer directly.
He knew that admitting it right away would only make Nathaniel suspicious. Given the man’s paranoid nature, it was best to keep the conversation going and see where it led.
“I’ll be honest,” Nathaniel said with a smile. “I’ve been searching for Dracan essence for a while now. I’ve put a lot of resources into it, so I keep close tabs on any developments. Nothing slips past my network.”
“I see,” Dustin responded, looking thoughtful.
He was quietly amused. Nathaniel had spent so many resources, yet it was Grace’s intel network that had gotten the information. It was clear where Nathaniel was lacking. 1
“I understand you have your concerns,” Nathaniel said. “But don’t worry. I’m not here to waste your time. If you hand over the Dracan essence, I’ll ensure you’re well compensated.”
Nathaniel’s smile was loaded with meaning. In his eyes, Dustin’s hesitation was just a way to negotiate for a better deal.
He had money, power, and beauty. He could give Dustin whatever he wanted as long as the price was right.
