Over the next few days, the crisis at Dash Corporation showed no signs of resolving, despite Dahlia’s attempts to clear things up.
Natasha had paused her direct attacks, but the market pressure hadn’t lifted. Most of the clients and suppliers who’d been swayed remained hesitant to return. It was as if someone were quietly steering events from behind the scenes.
She even mobilized the Ballard family’s full resources and launched a counter-investigation. Natasha didn’t believe in flawless conspiracies. If someone had impersonated the Moseys, they would have left traces behind.
At the same time, she also started sharing information with Dahlia more regularly. Though tension still existed between them, this uneasy alliance seemed necessary when facing an enemy hidden in the shadows.
As for Dustin, he’d begun living a relatively quiet life under Natasha’s insistence. Without his power, he now experienced the vulnerability and limits of mortality in ways he never had before.
But from another perspective, it was a rare opportunity. Stripped of his power, he could experience the world as an ordinary person and notice things he’d overlooked. He could also feel the rhythm of everyday life he’d been too elevated to see.
It was a sunny afternoon. Dustin went out alone to a large public park not far from the neighborhood. Tall trees lined the walking paths, an artificial lake reflected the blue sky, and people were scattered across the grounds, enjoying their weekend.
Parents pushed strollers while joggers in athletic gear passed by. College students sat on benches with their laptops, and food trucks lined the main pathway, creating a lively atmosphere.
Dressed in simple casual clothes, Dustin wandered along the lakeside path with his hands in his pockets. He felt the warmth of the sun on his skin, caught the scent of freshly cut grass mixed with grilled food from nearby vendors, and listened to the ordinary sounds of life around him.
The sense of being fully immersed in everyday life felt both unfamiliar and intriguing. His gaze moved calmly over the crowd, taking in their small joys and quiet frustrations. As he neared an open stretch of lawn, two figures caught his attention.
A man and a woman stood out sharply from the crowd around them. The man looked to be in his late 20s. He was good-looking, but he seemed out of sync with the modern world, like someone from an earlier era.
He wore what looked like a modified frock coat in deep navy blue. The fabric appeared exceptionally fine, catching the light with a subtle sheen. Strapped across his back was a long, narrow object wrapped in weathered cloth. Its shape suggested a sword.
The woman was younger, probably in her early 20s. Her striking beauty had an almost ethereal quality.
She wore a flowing ivory gown with wide sleeves, silver embroidery tracing delicate patterns along the hem. Her long hair was pinned up with a simple emerald hairpin, a few dark strands falling loose around her face.
In a park full of T-shirts, jeans, and athletic wear, the two of them looked like they’d stepped off a period drama set. But what made Dustin’s gaze sharpen wasn’t just their unusual clothing.
Without his divine sense or cultivation, he couldn’t detect any spiritual energy or special energy waves. But instinct honed through countless life-and-death battles told him these two were dangerous.
The man’s movements seemed casual, but each step held a precision and balance that was hard to define. He moved as if he were part of the environment, yet could detach from it at any moment.
The woman held a pink cloud of cotton candy that looked absurdly out of place with her refined elegance. She took small, delicate bites, her face lit with content.
Her cold aloofness had melted away, replaced by an almost childlike sweetness. But when her gaze drifted across the people around them, something shifted.
For just a moment, her eyes held the kind of indifference someone might have when looking at insects. These two were Evander and Elowen Quinton.
Elowen seemed fascinated by everything in the park, especially the street food vendors. After finishing her cotton candy, she wandered over to a stand where a vendor was making hand-pulled taffy. Her eyes lit up as the man expertly stretched and twisted the candy into colorful ribbons and shapes.
Evander followed his sister by half a step, quietly observing the park scenery. He seemed completely oblivious to the curious, surprised, and even pointed stares from passersby. It was as if all the noise and bustle were separated from him by an invisible barrier.
“Evander, this is amazing.” Elowen held up a ribbon of taffy twisted into the shape of a bird and turned to him with a smile. At that moment, she looked like any carefree young woman out enjoying the day.
His lips curved slightly, his eyes softening with affection. “I’m glad you like it. The mortal world may lack spiritual energy, but these little pleasures have their own appeal.”
As they continued walking, Elowen admired her candy while taking in the sights. When she rounded a corner, a group of breakdancers caught her attention, and she didn’t notice the couple heading straight toward her.
She let out a startled cry as the collision sent her stumbling backward. Her taffy figure and the stick from her cotton candy slipped from her hands and hit the ground. The candy figure landed with a splat, the delicate bird shape flattening and sticking to the pavement.
The one who’d bumped into her was a young man, dressed in designer streetwear with multiple ear piercings. His arm slung around a woman in elaborate makeup wearing a crop top. He frowned immediately after the impact. When he took in Elowen’s strange outfit, contempt flashed across his face.
“Hey! Watch where you’re going!”
His tone was aggressive, with no hint of an apology. His girlfriend looked down at the flattened taffy figure on the ground with disgust, curling her lip.
“Dressed like some weirdo. You scared the hell out of me!” she spat. “Do you have any manners? You ran right into us!”
