During the meal, Nathaniel arranged for two women to accompany Dustin.
Throughout history, even the greatest heroes couldn’t resist the allure of beautiful women. Sometimes, a woman of extraordinary beauty could be far more enticing than rare treasures or high status. 2
Dustin remained composed. He neither showed any enthusiasm nor did he deliberately reject it.
As for the women seated on either side of him, he treated them with polite respect. He enjoyed a drink and the easy conversation with them, but nothing beyond that.
However, Nathaniel saw it differently. To him, it seemed that Dustin was unimpressed by the women at his side.
Considering Dustin’s background, it made sense. A woman of ordinary beauty would never catch his attention.
Nathaniel realized he would need to pull out all the stops. Perhaps, it was time to bring out his most prized companion and see how Dustin responded.
After the meal, he led Dustin to his mansion’s training ground.
The midday sun blazed overhead as over a hundred soldiers, clad in full armor, practiced combat on the open training ground. Their physiques were formidable, and their skills were honed to perfection.
Their presence was commanding, and it was clear they had been handpicked and rigorously trained to be the best. Any one of them could easily be a mid-ranking officer in any army.
Dustin observed them and noticed that the strength of these elite units was on par with West Lucozia’s enforcement team.
Even the lowest-ranking among them had achieved divinity, and the two leading officers were grandmaster martial artists.
However, they weren’t any ordinary grandmasters.
With this kind of combat strength, they’d be unstoppable no matter where they were stationed. They could easily wipe out a powerful family.
Dustin figured this was likely Nathaniel’s underlying strength.
What was visible on the surface was just the tip of the iceberg. Who knew how many more experts were hidden behind the shadow?
It was clear now why he had stood out among the other princes and become one of the top contenders for the throne.
Nathaniel was not someone to take lightly.
“What do you think of my men?” Nathaniel asked with a smile. “Do they meet your standards?”
He intentionally took Dustin to the training grounds to show off his strength and let him know he had a solid foundation of power. This was a subtle way of winning Dustin’s support.
“Not bad. Each one of them looks like they could take on a dozen men. Their combat strength is impressive,” Dustin praised.
He nodded and added, “‘I didn’t expect Your Highness to command such a powerful force. It’s truly impressive.”
Nathaniel chuckled. “Well, this is just something I threw together. A team assembled like that would never make it to the big leagues.”
“You’re being modest, Your Highness,” Dustin replied. “Even if you casually assembled them, it still rivals the strength of a guild with over a hundred years of history.”
He wasn’t just saying that to flatter Nathaniel.
Leading the team were two powerful grandmaster martial artists, along with over a dozen halfway to becoming a grandmaster, and over a hundred experts who had achieved divinity. Their combat strength easily rivaled many major guilds.
What stood out most was that Nathaniel’s soldiers had undergone special training. They follow orders and work together seamlessly to amplify their combat effectiveness. This force was beyond what any regular martial world forces could handle.
“Logan, my soldiers still have room for improvement. Since you’re here, why don’t you help me train them? Show them what real skill looks like-remind them there’s always someone better,” Nathaniel said.
He took the initiative to extend an invitation. It was a chance to show off his strength and put his troops through their paces.
Though his men were experienced in battle, they had never faced top experts from the martial world. With someone like Logan to test them, Nathaniel wasn’t about to let the opportunity go to waste.
“Your Highness, I don’t think this is appropriate.” Dustin looked a little hesitant.
These soldiers were Nathaniel’s pride and joy. If Dustin hurt any of them, his plan could backfire.
Nathaniel laughed. “Come on. It’s just a friendly spar-no weapons. Just give them a few pointers. My soldiers have gotten a little too full of themselves lately. It wouldn’t hurt for them to take a few hits and get knocked down a peg.”
“In that case, I’ll spar with them.” Dustin didn’t turn him down this time.
With his sharp instincts, he could easily see through Nathaniel’s intentions. He had to admit that the prince was shrewd and calculating. Even now, he wasn’t going to let an opportunity slip to make use of Dustin.
“Excellent,” Nathaniel replied.
He smiled faintly, then stepped forward and clapped his hands lightly.
The soldiers, who had been engaged in intense combat drills earlier, immediately stopped sparring.
“Get in position!” a burly, bearded general bellowed.
Within seconds, the previously scattered soldiers instantly formed a perfect line. Each one stood tall, and their eyes were sharp and focused. They radiated a sense of raw power and unshakable confidence.
“The one leading them is General Lycas Derin,” Nathaniel said, gesturing toward the burly, bearded man. Then, to the slender, spear-wielding man beside him. ” And the one next to him is his second-in-command, Lieutenant General Bryce Gantz.
11
Lycas stepped forward with a firm stride and saluted. “At your service, Your Highness. What are your orders?”
“This is Mr. Rhys,” Nathaniel introduced. ” He’s one of the best in his field. Pick a few of your top men and let them spar with him.”
“Huh?”
Lycas raised an eyebrow. His gaze narrowed as he turned to Dustin. There was a hint of skepticism in his eyes.
He didn’t take Nathaniel’s description of Dustin seriously. How could a kid who looked like they couldn’t even lift a sword possibly be a match for his elite soldiers?
