The following day, a shocking rumor swept through the streets of Dewsbury, igniting a wave of whispers and disbelief among its residents.
Glaucus, the head of the city's leading family, along with dozens of other influential family heads, had been apprehended overnight by the Martial League.
The prominent families found themselves in a state of turmoil, grappling with the unexpected news. They could hardly fathom that such a powerful figure could be captured so swiftly.
As the reality of Glaucus' arrest settled in, many quietly rejoiced, grateful that they had chosen not to stand against Matthew, the rising force of the city.
Yet, alongside this news, another startling revelation emerged: Pontus, the head of the Mirren Family, had recently broken through to the grandmaster level after emerging from seclusion.
On this day, the air in Dewsbury felt unusually sweet, as if the very essence of the city celebrated the upheaval.
Within the training grounds of the Martial League's courtyard, two figures were engaged in a fierce sparring match. Matthew, clad in pristine white, appeared untouched by the dust and sweat of battle. In stark contrast, Pontus, his bronzed muscles glistening with perspiration, radiated vigor and determination.
With effortless precision, Matthew countered Pontus' relentless attacks, employing twelve techniques of mixed martial arts that flowed seamlessly from one to the next.
Frustration etched itself across Pontus' face as he exclaimed, "No more! This feels like hitting cotton. It's pointless!"
His words drew laughter from the Martial League members gathered around, who had expected their leader to be an imposing and unrivaled warrior, only to find him resembling a well-meaning oaf focused solely on brute strength.
A smile spread across Matthew's face as he recognized that if he did not skillfully counter Pontus' strikes, his opponent would continue to push himself to exhaustion before finally conceding. Just the day before, Pontus had been overcome by poison and believed himself on the brink of death.
Pontus was a martial enthusiast, not a fool. Upon witnessing Glaucus in such a pitiful state, an instinct to end his brother's suffering surged within him.
He believed that if Glaucus knew of his current condition, he would prefer death over enduring such torment. That, it seemed, was the only thing Pontus could offer him. Yet, as he gazed into Glaucus' terrified eyes, he hesitated.
With no obstruction to their progress, the Martial Arts Academy began to expand rapidly. In pursuit of development, they hired several construction teams to expedite renovations, and the academy's foundation took shape before their eyes.
Meanwhile, Matthew had reached out to the chambers of commerce in Concordia and Hulwin, arranging for representatives to convene in Dewsbury. This collaboration aimed to foster development and stability across the three cities.
As Matthew embarked on this final phase of reforming Dewsbury, Clara, the Countess of Dornia, quietly set her plans into motion once more. The undercurrents of change surged again, and this time, Clara had shifted her focus away from Matthew.
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