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An Understated Dominance Chapter 1308
Even though Harper was talented, it didn't mean she could outshine everyone. After all, Oakvale was a place where elites gathered. It was a city with an abundance of talent. "Grandpa, I was renowned as a prodigy back in school. That title belongs to me, and no one can dispute it. I'm better off dead if I can't even win today's literary event," Harper said confidently."Why would you even say that?" Brooke frowned slightly."Master Busch, Harper is exceptionally talented and highly skilled in this regard. I believe she will do well," Cody said with a smile."Did you hear that? Even Cody thinks so. I'm going to be the standout performer today!" Harper added, her confidence reaching new heights. Brooke shook his head in resignation. Harper's arrogance would get her into trouble sooner or later. "It's almost time. Let's head upstairs," Cody said, leading the group to the second floor. Compared to the extravagance on the first floor, the second floor exuded an air of elegance an
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1309
"Ms. Camron, that's a bit too much," Cody finally spoke up. "Harper is my junior. It's not exactly appropriate for you to make that comment with me here, don't you think?" "Oh? Mr. Ostrower is here as well? My apologies." Lana feigned astonishment.She then continued with a sly smile, "It's no wonder Harper was able to get in. It turns out you were the one backing her. "I'm just curious, as the scion of a noble and respected family, how come you have such bad taste? You're actually attracted to this bland woman?""Hey! Who are you calling bland?" Harper was enraged at her words. She was about to act out but was quickly held back by those around her. The Camron family's influence was slightly stronger than the Ostrower family's. If Harper were to lay her hand on Lana, not even Cody would be able to get her out of trouble. "If you reacted, I guess I must be talking about you then. What about it? Do you have an issue with it?" Lana smirked, her gaze provocative. She thorou
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1310
Harmony Healers didn't earn much. They either treated the poor for free or only charged them the cost price of the medications. Despite their reputation, they struggled financially. One billion was an amount Harmony Healers would never earn in a lifetime. That was why Harper thought there was no harm in betting on it. It could change their fortune dramatically. "There are no absolutes in life. I will never allow you to risk Harmony Healers like that!" Brooke refused to give in. "Grandpa, why won't you trust me?" Harper was getting frustrated. "When those thugs were causing trouble, didn't you stake Harmony Healers too? You even did it on behalf of Dustin! Why are you willing to trust an outsider but not me? Why?" Harper was practically yelling by the end of it. "Kid, I had no choice back then. But you're just being willful now. You need to understand the difference," Brooke explained with a frown. "I don't care!" Harper wasn't listening to reason and was getting agitated.
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1311
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen." As the literary event commenced, a fair, stout, middle-aged man went up on stage. Flashing a welcoming smile, he greeted the audience respectfully. "My name is Keanu Jankow, and I'm the manager at Regal Court. Thank you for gracing us with your presence tonight." Keanu continued with a smile, "It is once again the night of our quarterly literary exchange. Regal Court has selected a precious treasure from Treasure Pavilion to serve as the highlight of our evening and liven the crowd. "Of course, our primary goal is for everyone to engage in friendly literature discussions, not competition." "Mr. Jankow, what marvelous treasure has Regal Court prepared for us? Could you grant us a glimpse?" a man asked loudly."Yeah, we came here for the treasure. I hope it's worth it," many others echoed the sentiment. "Dear guests, please, be patient. I'll have it brought forth shortly for all to admire."Keanu nodded and signaled to the two men stand
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1312
Once the artwork's origin was revealed, the entire place buzzed with excitement.Most of the attendees present had a mild appreciation for the refined arts. And a legend like Andrei Walser was especially loved.Poetry and painting were two different categories of art. Mastering one was already an incredible accomplishment. It was rare to find someone who excelled in both.Those who had mastered both the art of poetry and painting, like Andrei Walser, were virtually unheard of.Most importantly, he was an unconventional artist. He had a complete disregard for wealth and seldom created poems or paintings.That was the reason every one of his pieces was highly sought-after. Many VIPswith a penchant for art saw owning one of Andrei Walser's authentic pieces as a matter of great pride.Naturally, they were overwhelmed to witness his work in person in Regal Court."Dear guests, I believe all of you are aware of how rare it is to obtain Andrei Walser's authentic work. This is only poss
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1313
"Riddles?" The attendees were taken aback, exchanging glances in confusion.In the past, the competitions often revolved around poetry, chess, calligraphy or painting. Why did they suddenly shift to riddles?They had spent a considerable amount of money on poetry and literary talents. It was all to help them come out on top in today's competition. How could they suddenly change it to solving riddles? They had wasted all their efforts in ensuring they had an advantage. "Mr. Jankow, wouldn't it be better to have a poetry battle? You're making it difficult for us by changing the theme at the last minute," someone expressed their dissatisfaction. "Dear guests, please don't misunderstand. Regal Court decides on the theme of the night through a random selection. We weren't trying to make things difficult for anyone. "Please accept our apologies if you feel this has inconvenienced you." "Alright, enough with the complaints. We'll solve word riddles then. It shouldn't be any proble
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1314
"It's a grandmaster!" Harper declared confidently. "Only a grandmaster has the power to do everything that the poem mentioned.""A grandmaster? Are you sure?" Cody asked."Of course! How can a simple riddle stump me? I just needed to warm up my brain to get the answer easily." Harper was extremely confident."Harper is amazing, as usual. She solved the riddle in such a short time. As expected of the renowned prodigy!" Caldwell praised her. "That's right! With Harper here, we'll not only get our hands on Enchanting Elegance, we'll even earn a billion dollars!" The students of Harmony Healers were ecstatic. "Hah … It's just a riddle. It's hardly a challenge. I can't even showcase my talents in this," Harper said arrogantly. Dustin could only shake his head and snigger lightly. Harper was so overconfident that she didn't even listen to the riddle carefully and misinterpreted the riddle. It was quite amusing. "Hey! What's so funny? Did I say anything wrong?" Harper had noti
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1315
"Hey! What makes you think my answer is wrong? How could I be wrong? It's a simple word riddle!" Harper shot up in anger.She was defiant. As a prodigy, she was prideful. It was impossible for her to be defeated by a simple word riddle."Dear guest, please calm down. The answer has been set beforehand, and your answer is indeed wrong," Keanu tried to explain."Fine! Since you said my answer is wrong, reveal the correct answer now! I want to see what can be a better answer than mine," Harper demanded indignantly."Dear guest, since the other guests have yet to make a guess, it's against the rules for us to reveal the answer at this time."If no one is able to answer this riddle, I will reveal the answer afterward. Please, calm down for now," Keanu replied humbly. "Oh, Harper, just admit you were wrong. A prodigy like you shouldn't be a sore loser, don't you think?" A sarcastic voice rang out beside them. It was Lana who spoke out, holding a wine glass."Who said I'm a sore lose
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Chapter 2530
The next morning, Nathaniel was inside a lavish mansion. He was in his study, flipping through an ancient manuscript. One of his most trusted aides hurried in and lowered his voice, "Your Royal Highness, word just came in. Another trace of Dracan essence has been found."Nathaniel raised an eyebrow and closed the manuscript. "Where?""Our investigation shows it ended up in the hands of Logan Rhys," the aide replied."Logan Rhys?" Nathaniel narrowed his eyes slightly and was surprised by the name.He had tried to win Logan over before and spared no expense, but never received a response. Later, he discovered that Tristan and Matthias had done the same.Fortunately, Logan still hadn't picked a side. He might be holding out for the best offer, but at least he hadn't shut the door on Nathaniel.With the Dracan essence in his hands, Logan had become an even more valuable target. In addition to the West Lucozian monarchy, Logan was an ultimate grandmaster, which made him worth recrui
Chapter 2529
"Give me a moment to think," Dustin said.Grace's words sent him into deep thought.After all, carrying the fate of Dragonmarsh was no small burden. First, he had to be tough enough to handle it. Then, he needed the resolve to accept what came with it. Once he carried that burden, it meant taking on a heavyweight.He used to act on his own terms and do things as he pleased without worrying too much about the consequences. But once the nation's fate was involved, everything changed.Not that he had many options.Dustin could either hide in Sacred Wrym Summit and hope Arion would protect him, or take a risk and absorb the Dragonmarsh's fate to push through his cultivation's bottleneck. Between the two, he was leaning toward the latter."I can give your plan a shot," Dustin said suddenly. "But we're still missing a piece of the Dracan essence. If we're doing this, we need to find that last one first."Only once all five pieces of Dracan essence were united could he truly wield the
Chapter 2528
"Royal gods? And two of them?" Dustin frowned at the news.His battle with Poseidon in West Lucozia had shown him firsthand that the Hall of Gods didn't send weaklings into the field.One royal god had already pushed him to his limit. If two came at him together, winning wasn't even the question. He'd be lucky just to make it out alive."That's right," Grace said solemnly. "The royal gods, Zeus and Hera, have crossed the border. They're even stronger than Poseidon. If they ambush you together, your chances are slim."She knew Dustin was strong, but he was still young. Moreover, Zeus and Hera weren't just anyone. They were world-class powerhouses. Surviving a fight with them would be next to impossible.The Hall of Gods had probably figured out how dangerous Dustin could become. If they had given him a few more years to grow, they might not have been able to stop him."Well, that complicates things." Dustin rested his chin in one hand with a thoughtful expression.Two royal god
Chapter 2527
Soluna Hall had one rule—they wouldn't accept unfamiliar customers. They only served those they knew well or people introduced by someone they trusted. Every transaction required an appointment. Exceptions were made for urgent matters, but those came with an additional fee.When Dustin reached the entrance, two security guards stopped him. After stating his name and being verified by the guards, they let him through.Inside, a female attendant with a pleasant smile greeted him and led him across the main hall straight into the back garden. They passed a small fish pond and stopped in front of a secluded private room."This is Ms. Linsor's private reception area. Mr. Rhys, please come in," the female attendant said with a smile."She's not here?" Dustin asked curiously."She had something come up, but she'll be here soon. Please make yourself comfortable," the attendant said, still smiling."Alright then." He nodded and walked into the room.The room was spacious, with a vintag
Chapter 2526
"You're wrong, Tristan," Matthias said with a meaningful look.He continued, "Sure, I've got the Moseys to back me, but I'm still far from securing the throne. Nathaniel's got strong backing too, and this won't be an easy win. But if you were to support me, I'd say my chances shoot up to 80%."In his eyes, Tristan's support was worth more than the Ballard family.If he could win Tristan over, his odds would jump from 60% to nearly 80%. The only question now was whether Tristan would be willing to shelve his own ambitions and place his bet on Matthias."You know me, Matthias. I've never been one for ambition or glory. This kind of power struggle just isn't for me. I hope you can understand that," Tristan said.After thinking about it thoroughly, he finally turned his brother down. He knew his chances of winning were slim, yet he couldn't let go.Tristan was the eldest legitimate son, the rightful and undisputed heir to the throne. Aside from his poor health, he had no real shortco
Chapter 2525
Tristan, Matthias, and Nathaniel weren't fools. They understood the unspoken message loud and clear.Their purpose for this trip was to take advantage of the opportunity to offer their condolences and win the Ballard family's support. Should it work, all the better. If not, they'd at least make a good impression. The key was that as long as the Ballard family didn't pick a side or turn against them, there was still room to make things work. No need to rush into anything.Tristan spoke first. "You're being too kind, Duke of Lachshire. We've always admired Mr. Jovian's loyalty and courage. We're simply here to pay our respects—nothing more."Matthias added, "That's right. Your family has a lot to deal with right now. Plus, you're not as young as you used to be, so don't wear yourself out over this. We won't take up more of your time today."He gave a respectful nod, then turned to leave."Duke—"Nathaniel opened his mouth to speak, but Tristan interrupted. "That's enough, Nathani
Chapter 2524
"Oh? I didn't expect both of you to be here," Nathaniel said.He was just about to pay his respects when he spotted Tristan and Matthias inside the mourning hall. He gave a respectful nod and said, "Hello, Tristan, Matthias."Truthfully, he wasn't surprised. He had already guessed they would show up.The four ancient houses and the eight great families were all key players he needed on his side. And with the Ballard family still undecided, he wasn't about to miss the chance to make an impression."I heard you left Oakvale on official business. Funny how quickly you came back," Tristan said, his tone laced with meaning."It wasn't anything important. When I heard about Mr. Jovian's passing, I returned immediately. I wanted to pay my respects in person," Nathaniel answered smoothly, without missing a beat.He brushed off Tristan's subtle jab and used the moment to show the Ballard family he was genuinely there to pay his respects."Don't just stand there, Nathaniel. Go pay your re
Chapter 2523
"Your Royal Highness, it's an honor to have you here," Jonathan said.Upon seeing the distinguished guest arrive, he quickly pulled himself together and aside his grief. He led his family to greet Tristan, and they bowed in respect.Before they could finish the gesture, Tristan raised a hand to stop them. "No need for such formalities," he said. "The deceased deserves our respect."He turned to Jovian's portrait, which was displayed in the mourning hall, and sighed deeply.Tristan continued, "Mr. Jovian's untimely passing is truly a great loss to Dragonmarsh. May his soul rest in peace. My condolences to your family during this difficult time."Jonathan's eyes were filled with tears as he bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your kind words. My family is heartbroken over my brother's tragic death."Tristan nodded slightly. His gaze quickly swept across the hall before asking, "I've heard that Duke Lachshire fainted from grief. How is he doing now?"Jonathan
Chapter 2522
The unrest in West Lucozia finally ended with the capture of Warrick.Every official who was his accomplice was thoroughly investigated. Those who needed to be arrested were taken into custody, and those who deserved to be punished were executed.After the purge, more than 300 officials in West Lucozia were removed from their posts. Those guilty were arrested, and those whose crimes were severe were executed.Under Austin's iron-fisted reforms, West Lucozia's government underwent a complete overhaul. Corruption, bribery, and the tangled web of illegal deals were swept away like dust in the wind.The citizens quickly noticed the difference. When they visited government offices, they no longer faced delays, refusals, or demands for bribes.Long-neglected public issues began to move forward, thanks to the organized efforts of newly appointed officials. Things were improving across the board.Instead of fearing the crackdown, the citizens welcomed it. The corrupt officials who had dr
