“We set the criteria, and they can be changed at any time. Considering Dr. Rhys’ exceptional talent, we should give him special attention,” Alicia asserted firmly.
“Exactly!” Aurora chimed in. “Dr. Rhys not only has remarkable medical skills but also saved Alicia’s life. Offering him a consultancy position is the least we can do.”
At first, she had reservations about Dustin and doubted his abilities due to his age. However, her perspective changed after he cured Alicia.
A young doctor with skills surpassing even Kenan’s was a valuable asset anywhere.
“Alicia, Aurora! Rules are in place for a reason. If we start bending them for one person, how can our faction maintain its credibility?” Brian argued.
He added, “Moreover, only the elders and the guildmaster have the authority to appoint a consultant. Neither you nor I have the power to make that decision.”
“My dad values talent. If he knew about Dr. Rhys’ abilities, he would certainly support us,” Alicia insisted.
Though the Celestial Alliance had many martial artists, they lacked people with exceptional talents like Dustin’s. A skilled doctor capable of miraculous feats was precisely the type of recruit they sought.
“Alicia! You…” Brian’s agitation propelled him to his feet. Before he could speak, shouts and chaos erupted from outside.
Everyone exchanged puzzled glances.
“What’s happening outside?” Brian shouted furiously.
Then, a disciple of the Celestial Alliance clad in blue hurried in. “Brian, we have a problem! We’re suddenly surrounded by a group of assassins.”
“Assassins?” Brian’s frown deepened, and he growled, “Who are these people? How dare they challenge us? Do they have a death wish?”
“They’re all dressed in black, and they’re masked. We can’t identify them, but they’re clearly well-prepared and powerful,” the disciple reported promptly.
Upon hearing that, Dustin and Grace exchanged glances, silently acknowledging their shared concern.
“Fools! How dare they cause trouble in our territory! I’ll teach them a lesson they won’t forget!” Brian’s anger flared.
He was already in a bad mood, and these intruders provided him with an opportunity to vent his frustration.
“There are too many of them, and we’re outnumbered. It might not be wise to confront them directly. Shouldn’t we consider retreating?” the disciple suggested.
The Celestial Alliance’s elite fighters have all been deployed to pursue the mystic artist. Given the villa’s weakened defenses, engaging the assassins head-on wouldn’t be advisable.
“Retreat?” Brian’s expression turned icy.
He slapped the disciple and seethed, ” Pathetic! We’ve ruled the martial world for years. We’ve never backed down. Are you afraid of a few assassins? You disgrace the Celestial Alliance!”
“I… I was just worried about the safety of Ms. Alicia and Ms. Aurora,” the disciple mumbled. His head was lowered, and he tried to explain.
“Ha! With me here, Alicia and the others are perfectly safe. After all, it’s just a group of assassins. I can easily crush them. Lead the way!” Brian shouted.
“Okay.” The disciple refrained from further comments and promptly escorted Brian outside to face the threat.
“Alicia, should we call for reinforcements?” Aurora asked tentatively.
“No. Brian can easily handle any regular assassins. Let’s just sit back and watch,” Alicia shook her head.
It was the first time someone had dared to attack the Celestial Alliance’s territory, and she couldn’t help but feel curious.
“Faith, Dr. Rhys, it’s dangerous out there. Perhaps you should consider taking refuge in the secret room?”
Aurora suggested to Grace and Dustin.
There was a secret room beneath the villa. It was impenetrable, and even a grandmaster martial artist would struggle to breach it. Therefore, it served as an ideal place to seek shelter.
“That won’t be necessary. We’re also curious about what’s going on.” Grace
smiled faintly.
Aurora glanced at Alicia as she silently sought her sister’s input.
“Don’t worry. Faith has the skills to defend herself. If things get out of hand, she can take care of herself,” Alicia reassured with a smile.
While others may not have been aware, Alicia knew that beneath Grace’s gentle exterior lay a skilled martial artist. Grace was anything but the fragile figure she appeared to be.
“Alright then.” Aurora nodded and chose not to dwell further on the matter.
Soon, they exited the dining room and followed Brian’s lead toward the source of the commotion.
Beyond the villa gates, Celestial Alliance disciples clashed with a group of black-clad assassins, who quickly gained the upper hand in numbers and strength.
Forced into a defensive stance, the Celestial Alliance disciples could only withdraw.
In that critical moment, the assassins pushed forward and intensified their assault as they penetrated the villa’s defenses.
“Stand aside! Let me handle this!”
Suddenly, a thunderous roar reverberated. Brian emerged with a massive halberd and stepped forward boldly.
