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An Understated Dominance Chapter 1377
With Welch Senior's condition now stable, Alistair grew cautious with Dustin. He kept a close eye on Dustin, ensuring that someone was constantly monitoring his every move.At that moment, Dustin was following Eleanor as they ventured out to explore the streets near the Welch residence.The Welch family owned many businesses in the area, from bars and clubs to hotels and casinos. They were the undisputed rulers of the local entertainment scene, amassing incredible wealth through their diverse ventures.After a tiring day of exploration, Eleanor and Dustin went to a fancy restaurant nearby to grab a meal. But, as they settled into their seats, they heard footsteps approaching their table. Ezra walked over carrying a big bouquet, his eyes filled with affection."What are you doing here?" Eleanor's face immediately stiffened upon seeing him.Without wasting a moment, Ezra dropped to his knee. He looked sincere as he said, "Eleanor, I'm sorry. I know I was wrong. Please, forgive me.
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1378
"Yeah, in this day and age, finding a guy who genuinely cares isn't a walk in the park. Look at the dedication this guy's showing to win you back. "If my boyfriend had an ounce of that commitment, I'd be over the moon." The diners in the restaurant began chiming in with their advice.For a man to publicly apologize was a display of remorse. It was enough to melt a woman's heart."Eleanor, please forgive me," Ezra implored."I swear, I will wholeheartedly devote myself to you from now on. If I should I ever stray, may lighting remind me of my promise to you!" Ezra promised solemnly with his arm raised, and three fingers stretched. His unwavering resolve touched Eleanor despite her tough exterior. Still, she feigned anger and responded, "Ezra, it's too late now. I gave you a chance, and you didn't treasure it. Dustin is my boyfriend now." She linked her arm with Dustin's, making her stance clear. Though Ezra had apologized, she was uncertain if she should forgive him. She in
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1379
"Dustin, don't be hasty. You can't take him in a fight!" Eleanor urged, recognizing the danger of the situation.Ezra, with his martial arts background, exuded an intimidating presence. He could take on ten opponents without breaking a sweat. On the other hand, Dustin was just a doctor. Someone like Ezra would obviously defeat him."Don't worry, I don't see him as much of a threat," Dustin said calmly.Ezra, though skilled, was a lower-level martial artist. He could win against average opponents but would struggle against a true martial arts expert."You've got some nerve, bastard," Ezra sneered. He casually unbuttoned his suit jacket, unveiling a chiseled, powerful physique concealed beneath his white shirt. His muscles were a testament to his martial arts background."Ezra, don't do anything foolish!" Eleanor stood between the two men, attempting to defuse the situation."Eleanor, this is a battle between men. Don't interfere. I'll prove my love for you," Ezra declared seri
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1380
Ezra's scream pierced the air, only to be silenced abruptly by Dustin's unyielding steel grip. He squeezed Ezra's throat, forcing the scream back down. Ezra's face turned crimson as he flailed helplessly.The terror of imminent death filled Ezra, who managed to croak, "Let go ... please ..."Dustin dryly remarked, "Fighting with a knife because your fists aren't enough, huh? Aren't you ashamed?' His fingers tightened, making Ezra's eyes roll back."Stop hurting him!" Suddenly, a scream cut through the tension between them. It was followed by a loud crash as a bottle struck the back of Dustin's head. Glass fragments erupted into the air like fireworks, and the scent of spilled alcohol flooded the room.Dustin scowled, turning to face Eleanor. She stood there, still holding the shattered bottle. Fear and guilt painted on her face.After a moment, Eleanor realized what she had done. She tossed the remaining bottle fragment aside and tried to explain herself. "Dustin, I'm sorry!
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1381
"Dustin, don't you think you went overboard just now?" Eleanor said with concern etched across her face. "What if you'd actually hurt Ezra?"She winced as she inspected the red marks on Ezra's neck, then turned to Dustin, demanding an explanation."Overboard?" Dustin chuckled with a wry smile. "Ms. Welch, let's get the facts straight. Ezra was brandishing a knife at me, and I only defended myself. So, who crossed the line here?"Eleanor's expression froze as she tried to clarify, "Well, Ezra wasn't really planning to harm you. He was just trying to intimidate you, so why did you overreact?"Dustin's eyes remained cool and distant as he replied with a touch of sarcasm, "So, it's all my fault? I overstepped, played your bodyguard, instigated this brawl, and took a bottle to the head?""I-That's not what I mean!" With guilt written all over her face, she admitted, "I know smashing a bottle on your head was a mistake, but I freaked out! I was worried you might hurt Ezra, and I j
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1382
Ezra smirked as he watched Dustin leave the restaurant. "Did that sore loser really think he stood a chance with Eleanor? He thought too highly of himself!"He pondered, his thoughts flowing naturally. "No matter how hard he tried to get closer to Eleanor, it only took a bit of my sweet words to win her back. That's the difference between us."Eleanor gazed at Dustin's retreating figure, her expression a mix of confusion and disappointment. She'd always believed Dustin liked her, which is why he'd gone to such great lengths to help her. But his nonchalant exit without even a backward glance left her wondering. "Is he heartbroken or just playing hard to get?"She mused, "Dustin, I thought you were a good person, so I wanted to bring you into my world and help you achieve great things. I never expected you to be so oblivious to what you're missing." You've missed out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a beautiful life. It was your choice, and I gave you the chance, but you di
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1383
The next morning, Dustin sat cross-legged in a guest room at the Welch residence, deep in meditation. A brisk knock on the door abruptly shattered his peaceful moment."Who's there?" Dustin asked as he slowly opened his eyes."Dr. Rhys, it's me, Feiver. I've brought your breakfast," a familiar voice from the other side replied."Alright," Dustin replied, getting up to answer the door.Fifteen-year-old Feiver, a humble orphan and a housekeeper in the Welch family, stood outside with a finely crafted food container. He had been taking care of Dustin since his arrival the day before. He was always ready with a cup of tea and a friendly word."Thank you for your hard work," Dustin said, stepping aside to welcome Feiver inside."No trouble at all," Feiver responded with a respectful nod. He placed the food container on the table and unveiled the morning meal. "Dr. Rhys, today's breakfast is quite a feast," he explained as he revealed each dish."The first dish is a Spicy Shrimp C
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1384
Dustin smiled and encouraged, "Go on, don't be shy."Feiver hesitated, holding onto his plate and avoiding eye contact."You're still growing, and you're way too skinny, bud. You've got to eat more," Dustin said, adding food to Feiver's plate.Feiver mumbled a reluctant "thanks". His smile was strained, revealing his nervousness."'Not hungry? Maybe it's not to your liking? No worries, try the shrimp or the beef stew." Dustin added more food to his plate, playing the role of a doting father. "Okay, Dr. Rhys, you shouldn't worry about me. You should eat, too!" Feiver trembled with the plate in his hand as he tried to avoid eating. "I'm not hungry; you go ahead," Dustin smiled."I-I'm not hungry either," Feiver stammered, trembling occasionally. "That's fine; think of it as a tasting session. Go ahead, dig in." Dustin nodded. As Feiver refused to eat, Dustin suddenly joked, "Why? Do you think I've poisoned the food?" "Wha—?" Feiver paled, and he managed a forced smile, bea
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Chapter 2532
During the meal, Nathaniel arranged for two women to accompany Dustin.Throughout history, even the greatest heroes couldn't resist the allure of beautiful women. Sometimes, a woman of extraordinary beauty could be far more enticing than rare treasures or high status.Dustin remained composed. He neither showed any enthusiasm nor did he deliberately reject it.As for the women seated on either side of him, he treated them with polite respect. He enjoyed a drink and the easy conversation with them, but nothing beyond that.However, Nathaniel saw it differently. To him, it seemed that Dustin was unimpressed by the women at his side.Considering Dustin's background, it made sense. A woman of ordinary beauty would never catch his attention. Nathaniel realized he would need to pull out all the stops. Perhaps, it was time to bring out his most prized companion and see how Dustin responded.After the meal, he led Dustin to his mansion's training ground.The midday sun blazed overhead
Chapter 2531
"This…" Dustin began.He hesitated on purpose and didn't give an immediate answer.Upon seeing him deep in thought, Nathaniel was convinced that Dustin was weighing the pros and cons. He leaned in slightly, his smile widening with anticipation. "You should know how much the Dracan essence means to me," he said. "If I can gather all the essences, it’d be like fate is on my side. My path to the throne would be unstoppable—and when that time comes, your reward will be waiting."As he spoke, his gaze stayed on Dustin as he searched for any sign of hesitation in his expression.Dustin looked up and met his eyes. For a moment, something unreadable flickered in his gaze.He pressed his lips together and spoke slowly. "You're right, Your Highness. But it wasn't easy to find the Dracan essence. I went through quite a few twists and turns. Besides, if I give it to you, it might put me at odds with the other two princes."He paused deliberately and left the rest unsaid. Still, the concern
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
