Chapter 157

In the Aquila family villa in Lannopolis, Brennan Aquila’s face darkened. The servant kneeling before him was the one Dustin had spared to deliver a message. Brennan trembled with rage. All three of his sons were dead, killed by Dustin.

"Did he say he was a surviving member of the Fox family?" Brennan asked coldly.

"I swear I heard him clearly! He said he was the surviving descendant of the Fox family, here for revenge!" the servant affirmed.

Brennan’s eyes narrowed. The Aquila family had once relied on the Fox family of Grayvale for support, a fact that gnawed at him. His past betrayal weighed heavily as he considered this surviving descendant's threat.

"The Aquila family isn't what it once was. How could a single Fox descendant pose a threat?" Brennan thought furiously. His sons were dead; Dustin aimed to extinguish his entire bloodline.

"Dustin Fox, I will grind your bones to dust!" Brennan vowed fiercely. "Spread the word! Use all the Aquila family's resources to crush the West family! Tell Blake Torell to bring Dustin Fox here alive—crippled if necessary!"

The servant started to leave, but Brennan stopped him.

"Hold on!"

A woman entered.

"Miss Winter!" Brennan rose and greeted her respectfully. Bianca Winter, daughter of one of the Seven Clans of Central Harbor, demanded deference.

"Mr. Aquila, this descendant may prove more challenging than you anticipate," Bianca said with a smile.

Brennan frowned. "The Grayvale Fox family was destroyed twenty years ago. What resources could he possibly have? The Aquila family is no pushover!"

Bianca shook her head. "Don't underestimate Dustin. His abilities are beyond your imagination." (She omitted Dustin's killing of Lord Barbenheim to avoid implicating the Wyatt sisters.)

Brennan frowned, unsure of what abilities Bianca alluded to. However, he wasn’t foolish.

"Miss Winter, how should we proceed?" He bowed to her.

Bianca smiled. "To deal with Dustin, use strategy, not brute force. Your family lacks the strength to directly overpower him; his martial arts skills are exceptional." She gestured to an attendant carrying a box. "If you possess something Dustin values, controlling him will be easier."

Brennan examined the box curiously. "Miss Winter, what is this?"

Bianca smiled and instructed the attendant to open it. Brennan gasped. Inside lay a skull.

"This is…"

"Dustin's father's skull!"

Brennan was stunned. He knew the Fox patriarch had been decapitated during the family's destruction, but he hadn't known what became of the remains. Bianca's resourcefulness impressed him.

"Dustin is sentimentally attached to his adoptive father. When his ashes were desecrated, he sought revenge. With this skull, making him obey will be simple," Bianca stated confidently. "This is my gift to you. I trust you understand its use?"

Brennan, overjoyed, profusely thanked her.