Chapter 179

"H-how was this possible?!" Nigel gasped, his mouth wide and his face full of disbelief. He had finally witnessed firsthand the formidability of the Four Scoundrels. Any one of them could easily kill him.

It seemed fated that an expert like himself had been crippled by a doctor they despised. Such a thing was practically unheard of!

"How is this guy so powerful?" Claudia's eyes widened in shock and bewilderment. Initially, she had assumed Dustin was an unsavory character who only used dirty tricks, so she hadn't expected him to be so skilled in martial arts. He was far superior to her. His strength at such a young age was astonishing. The revelation that she was no longer a "goddess among men" left her frozen.

"Dustin's way too cool!" Sheila cheered, her eyes sparkling. After exchanging glances, the other girls also began to see him in a new light.

Unaccustomed to the starstruck gazes, Dustin approached Brent and asked, "Tell me, who sent you here?"

"Today's my day of reckoning anyway, so kill me if you want!" Brent screamed through gritted teeth.

"Killing you won't help me. As long as you talk, you all live to see another day," Dustin said.

"I'll die either way if I reveal anything!" Brent replied solemnly.

"You're referring to the spider venom in your stomach, right?" Dustin asked, raising his eyebrows. He produced a golden needle and stabbed it directly into Brent's abdomen.

Immediately, a bulge appeared on Brent's abdomen. It moved violently, as if something inside was fighting for survival. After a few breaths, the writhing stopped, and the bulge was still. When Dustin withdrew the golden needle, it was stained with a sliver of blackish liquid.

"The venom is gone. You should be able to speak now," Dustin said flatly.

"H-how did you do that?" Brent gasped, his expression immediately turning fearful and horrified. The Four Scoundrels had been controlled by someone who had been poisoning them. The mere thought of resistance inflicted pain worse than death. They had tried various ways to get rid of the venom, but not only were their attempts ineffective, they even aggravated the pain. Yet, the man before him had removed the spider venom with a single needle—a miraculous feat!

"I'm skilled in the art of poisons and venom. If you wish to regain your freedom, be honest and tell me everything," Dustin stated indifferently.

After hesitating, Brent finally compromised: "Fine, I'll tell you the truth, but you must promise to spare us both." Who would choose death over life?

"Done," Dustin nodded.

"To be honest, the person who ordered us to kidnap you was—" Before Brent could finish, the door burst open.

Xavier rushed in with a group of elite guards. He quickly located Brent.

"It's the Four Scoundrels again! Prepare to die!" Without waiting for a reaction, Xavier bashed Brent's skull in with his fists. He was swift and brutal, his hands now drenched in blood.

"Huh?" Dustin narrowed his eyes. Did Xavier just kill him to silence him?

"Sheila! Claudia! Are you alright?" Immediately after killing Brent, Xavier turned to Sheila and Claudia, wiping the blood from his hands.

"We're fine. It was a good thing Dustin came to our aid," Sheila forced a smile.

"Dustin?" Xavier turned to him. "What are you doing here?" he asked with a condescending gaze.

"What a coincidence," Dustin replied indifferently.

"Coincidence? You were there when Sheila was ambushed last time, and you're here again! How can that be a coincidence?" Xavier scoffed, glaring at Dustin.

"Your point?" Dustin retorted.

"I suspect you colluded with the Four Scoundrels to get close to Sheila!" Xavier accused.

"I assure you, it's not like that—" Sheila began, but Xavier interrupted.

"Don't be fooled, Sheila! We don't know this guy's background or intentions. He must be thoroughly interrogated for your safety. Apprehend him immediately!"

At his command, the guards raised their guns.

Chapter 179 (continued)

"Stop! I brought Dustin here, so I guarantee he's not a bad guy!" Ruth stepped forward, attempting to mediate.

"Whether he's good or bad, we'll know once we catch him!" Xavier retorted.

"Do you have any sense left? You're being cruel by apprehending an innocent person!" Ruth's annoyance grew with Xavier's stubbornness.

"Who are you to talk to me? Get lost!" Xavier screamed, slapping Ruth hard across the face, causing her to stagger and fall. Five bright red fingerprints were visible on her face.

"Huh?" Dustin gasped, his expression darkening. His eyes flashed with anger.

"Are you crazy, Xavier? Why did you hit my friend?!" Sheila scolded Xavier while helping Ruth up.

"I was thinking of your safety, Sheila. I refuse to spare anyone remotely suspicious! Even if I have to be a villain, I'll eliminate every threat to you! Arrest that punk! Kill him if he resists!"

At Xavier's order, the guards attacked Dustin.

Dustin merely snorted and gestured with his hands. "Phew! Phew! Phew!"

Golden needles shot from his hands, accurately striking acupuncture points on the guards' bodies. Instantly, the guards froze, unable to move.

"Do you want to die?!" Xavier shrieked, pulling out his gun and firing at Dustin's chest.

With a flick of his finger, Dustin sent two needles flying. One landed on Xavier's shoulder, the other on his neck. His body instantly stiffened, his limbs paralyzed.

"W-what kind of sorcery is this?" Xavier cried, shocked. He was a top martial artist, yet immobilized by two tiny needles.

"Not only are you unskilled and weak, you have the audacity to insult and beat people?" Dustin asked with an icy stare as he slowly approached.

"Rhys! Let me go, or I'll make sure you never leave here alive!" Xavier sneered.

"You dare threaten me? This is for talking out of turn!" Dustin scoffed, slapping Xavier's face. He slapped him again. "This is for cursing me!" Then a third slap. "And this is for laying a hand on a woman!"

The slapping continued relentlessly. Dustin showed no mercy, delivering blow after blow with each sentence. The tension in the room mounted.

"And this is for your stupid fucking face!" Dustin roared, delivering the most powerful slap, smashing Xavier to the ground. Silence fell over the room.