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An Understated Dominance Chapter 1766
Dustin walked out angrily as he emerged from the underground chamber. He noticed that the profligates in the meeting hall were sprawled on the floor, writhing in agony.Meanwhile, Grace stood silently near the entrance. "These guys never learn. They were just about to ambush me, so I gave them a little lesson," she said."Too lenient," he remarked, scanning the room. All the profligates had only lost a leg. It was a trivial consequence compared to the atrocities they committed."How about Lisa? Have you found her?" she asked."I found her in the basement. But she's not alone. There are dozens of innocent girls," he responded with a grim expression."Huh? What's going on?" Grace asked, puzzled."You'll know when you see it for yourself," Dustin replied without further explanation.Grace nodded and headed into the basement.Dustin then pulled out his phone and dialed a number. After a moment, Rodrigo entered with several female undercover agents, each carrying two suitcases.
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1767
Dustin's voice rang out, filled with an unyielding determination, "Bring out the leaders, Aster and Russo. The rest can be killed.""Understood," Rodrigo responded promptly.His blade rose to cleanse the room of its corrupt occupants.Chaos erupted in the meeting hall. Cries, pleas, and threats filled the air as the entitled profligates faced their impending demise."Please, spare my life! I'm wealthy, incredibly wealthy! Name your price, and I'll pay whatever you want!""You punk! My dad is a deputy general with a vast army. If you harm me, he'll shred you into pieces!""Good sir, spare my life! It's a mistake. As long as you let me go today, I promise unimaginable wealth and prosperity!"Faced with the imminent threat of life and death, the once arrogant profligates now wore expressions of fear and panic. At that moment, their former audacity had been completely stripped away.However, Dustin remained unmoved. He observed silently.Rodrigo and the undercover agents showed no
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1768
Dustin closed the door quietly, allowing Lucas and Lisa the time and space they needed for their heartfelt reunion. For most people, the aftermath of such an experience would take a considerable amount of time to erase the haunting memories."Logan, what are your thoughts on what happened today?" Grace asked, breaking the silence as she studied the man beside her."I'd eradicate every last scum like them if I could." His tone held an icy determination.She said solemnly, "West Lucozia is larger than Oakvale. What occurred today is likely not an isolated incident. In places beyond our view, there may be more people suffering oppression and hardship."She went on, "With your current abilities, you can save one or two, maybe even ten or a hundred. But you can't save thousands or tens of thousands.""What do you mean?" Dustin raised an eyebrow."I know you don't like authority and that you lean more toward the martial world, but some things require a high position. Vermin like th
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1769
Under the shroud of midnight, a sleek black SUV screeched to a sudden stop at the Vern residence. The car door swung open, tossing out a weighty burlap sack saturated in blood, potentially containing a person."Hey! What the heck are you doing?" The guards stationed at the Vern residence entrance swiftly detected the anomaly and shouted at the vehicle.The black SUV roared to life, swiftly departing from the scene.The guards cautiously approached, nudging the sack with their feet. The burlap sack quivered, revealing a face stained with blood. It was Russo who was severely injured and hovering on the brink of death."H-Help ... S-Save me ... P-Please save me ..." Russo groaned, his life hanging by a thread.Upon closer scrutiny, the guards' expressions underwent a dramatic shift. "It's Mr. Russo! Quick, get him to the hospital!" Without hesitation, the guards rushed the critically injured Russo to the hospital for immediate attention.Soon, the entire Vern family was plunged
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1770
Russo's countenance reflected weakness as he explained, "I don't know ... I'm not familiar with that person."But he's connected to the Ashen family. He came after me to rescue a woman named Lisa Ashen.""Ashen family? Lisa Ashen?" Reuben's face darkened, prompting him to issue a swift command. "You've got an hour. Fetch Lisa and her family immediately. We need to extract the truth from them!""Yes, sir!" Acknowledging the order, the Vern family members dispersed promptly. In the heart of Celestria in West Lucozia, the Vern family commanded substantial influence. Beyond their wealth and prosperity, Reuben, as the family patriarch, held the dual roles of city general and commander of a formidable army numbering over ten thousand. His authority, which entailed control over the lives and deaths of ordinary citizens, was unquestionable.Seeing Russo battered and bruised, Reuben was resolute. He was determined to capture the assailant and ensure severe consequences for anyone as
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1771
"Sir, it's Mr. Aster!" The butler conveyed the report through the closed door."Aster?" Ambrose's brow furrowed. "What trouble has that boy stirred up now?"Among his sons, Aster posed the greatest challenge when it came to keeping him in line."It's not another trouble. Mr. Aster has been assaulted!" the butler hastily clarified."Assaulted?" Ambrose leaped out of bed upon hearing the alarming revelation. He swung open the door and demanded, "What happened? Who dared to assault my son?"Ambrose could wrap his head around his son getting into trouble. But if his son was physically harmed, that was a line he couldn't bear."The details are unclear, sir. We found Mr. Aster at the doorstep, injured. The assailant had already fled," the butler explained."Take me to him!" Concern etched Ambrose's face as he rushed out without even donning his coat.Upon entering the estate's infirmary with the butler, he was confronted with a grim scene. Aster lay on the sickbed, pale and blood
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1772
At the crack of dawn, within the grandeur of West Lucozia Castle's central hall, Rufus draped himself in a robe adorned with the sinuous coils of a serpent. The stoic captain of the royal guard was seated at the epicenter with his left guarded by Jaxon. And on his right stood Albert, a figure more known as the Executioner than by his given name. The harsh brilliance of overhead lights illuminated Rufus as he meticulously sifted through the abundance of letters strewn across the table.Each missive held revelations from the covert efforts of the castle's undercover agents.These written accounts unfolded tales of bloodshed, and the table groaned under the weight of hundreds of letters.The damning dossier was evidence exposing both the Vern and Linden families, even their shared history of criminal exploits.As Rufus delved deeper into these missives, concern etched lines on his forehead. The unveiled misdeeds within his jurisdiction pointed to corrupt officials who had ruthle
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1773
Rufus's resolute warning cleaved through the air. "I'm well aware of your ties with Ambrose, but today's events won't find an effortless path to absolution."Standing unwaveringly beside Rufus, Eloise spoke with resolute conviction, "When both the powerful and the humble defy the law, consequences must be confronted. "The Vern and Linden families have perpetrated numerous wrongs and should face severe punishment."Visibly angered, Rufus hinted that pleading wouldn't sway him at this moment. Eloise, astute to the gravity of the situation, chose her words judiciously."You know precisely what actions are necessary," she stated firmly.Rufus nodded and chose to remain in contemplative silence.At that very moment, a guard entered, bowing respectfully. "Your Highness, Mr. Vern has arrived.""Hmph! Bring him in!" Rufus ordered with an icy demeanor.The guard promptly responded with a curt "yes" and left.Shortly after that, the guard silently escorted the compliant Reuben into the
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Chapter 2533
"Your Highness, the soldiers under me are trained solely in killing techniques. If they hurt your guest, things could get ugly," Lycas said.He didn't say it outright, but the message was clear. If Dustin wasn't strong enough, he'd better stay out of the way, or he was just asking for trouble.Bryce didn't say anything, but the look he gave Dustin was full of contempt. How could a pampered young man like Dustin measure up to soldiers who've been through the grind? He figured Dustin was probably some heir from a prominent family who knew Nathaniel and was trying to assert his relevance."You guys are blind to greatness when it's standing right in front of you." Nathaniel chuckled and shook his head. He added, "If any of you manage to land a hit on Mr. Rhys, I'll pay out a thousand gold. But honestly, I doubt any of you have what it takes."At the mention of rewards, the soldiers perked up. Their eyes lit up with excitement. They were practically itching to charge at Dustin and g
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