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An Understated Dominance Chapter 1394
Dustin shook his head as he chuckled. Instead of explaining, he took out a red card. The front side of the red card featured a golden dragon that appeared powerful and intimidating. On the back of the card were two words in gold: Royal Empire. "This is the Royal Empire Card from Langford Bank. Only those with assets exceeding a billion are worthy of this card. "With this card alone, I can withdraw 50 million of cash from any bank in Dragonmarsh. So why don't you tell me? Am I able to afford Harmony Healers? Am I able to produce 30 million?"Dustin displayed the red card in his hands clearly, looking at them mockingly. "What? The Royal Empire Card from Langford Bank?" Everyone widened their eyes in disbelief. Langford Bank was Dragonmarsh's largest bank backed by the national treasury. It had multiple tiers of clients. They had executive-tiered clients, gold-tiered clients, platinum-tiered clients, black-tiered clients, diamond-tiered clients, and the highest-tiered, royal
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1395
"What? Prisoned for life?" Brooke's face paled, and he broke out in a cold sweat.Eleanor's threat had made him panic since he also doubted the card's authenticity. He didn't want Dustin to get into trouble because of him!"Dustin, you need to put that away before it gets you into trouble!" Brooke said in a hushed voice as he tugged at his sleeve. Destroying the fake card in time should help avoid any potential problems. "Rhys! You've got some nerve! You must be tired of living if you dared forge a Royal Empire Card!" Ezra's hostile gaze was fixed on Dustin. "Dustin, I'm giving you a chance to make amends. As long as you admit to your mistake, destroy that card, and leave this place, I'll pretend like nothing ever happened." Eleanor held her head high, and her tone was condescending."Why should I admit to a mistake? You're the ones too blind to recognize an authentic card. If you don't believe me, we can always take a trip to Langford Bank." Dustin was unfazed. Austin had giv
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1396
"Eleanor, don't think too highly of yourself. I couldn't care less about your so-called opportunity," Dustin responded coldly. From the moment Eleanor took advantage of him, and when Alistair and Joanne repaid his kindness with hostility, the relationship between the two sides had become irreconcilable. "Fine, since you're so stubborn, don't blame me for moving on from our past friendship!" Elearnor's expression darkened. "The same goes for you. If both your families continue harboring ill intentions, you'll bear the consequences!" Dustin retorted. "How stupid!" With a disdainful snort, Eleanor turned around and walked away. She was about to get into her car when a thought struck her. She turned back to jeer, "Oh, I forgot to mention. The Welch family and the Swanson family will be collaborating on the development and production of Dew Balm. "It won't be long before Dew Balm gains fame in Oakvale and the rest of the world, bringing us a continuous stream of wealth! "Of
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1397
"Dustin, you shouldn't have acted impulsively earlier. "I'm afraid it'll be difficult for you to remain in South City after provoking both the Swanson and Welch families." Brooke expressed his concerns with a soft sigh. "Dr. Busch, don't worry. I have someone backing me. It won't be easy for them to mess with me," Dustin smiled faintly."Backing? From who?" Brooke perked up immediately.He wondered where Dustin got the courage to challenge powerful and influential families. It turned out that he had someone behind him. It made sense when he thought about it carefully. How could he have acted the way he did without support? "That's a secret for now. You'll find out when the time comes," Dustin teased. He never took the Swansons or Welchs seriously. His intention was just to avoid any unnecessary attention and keep his identity concealed. He wanted to avoid catching the attention of certain forces and preferred maintaining a low profile whenever possible. After a strenuou
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1398
"Ms. Camron, I have a business proposal I'd like to discuss with you, one that's sure to be absolutely profitable." Dustin got straight to the point."Oh? What kind of business?" Lana was interested. "I can't explain it over the phone. Let's meet face-to-face at Regal Court in an hour," Dustin suggested."Alright, see you there."After hanging up, Dustin got into his car and left the house. With Maximus keeping guard at home, he didn't need to worry about what the Swansons and Welchs were up to. It was noon when Dustin arrived at Regal Court. He walked through the front doors and was led straight to the second floor by a waiter. He eventually ended up in a private room.Inside, Lana was sipping her tea leisurely in her tight-fitting red dress. She had put on light makeup and had a paper fan in her hand. Her long hair was tied behind her back, and her red dress accentuated her voluptuous figure, making her exceptionally alluring. Her long, pale legs that were crossed were pa
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1399
When Dustin noticed Lana's concerned look, he was momentarily stunned, and his thoughts drifted. It was as though he saw Natasha in her. He wondered about her well-being and whether she might resent him for taking so long before getting in touch. Shaking himself back to reality, Dustin withdrew his hand. Stopping Lana from tending to his wound, he explained, "It's alright, Ms. Camron. It's just a minor cut. It'll heal soon after I apply some Dew Balm." With that, Dustin took out the Dew Balm he had prepared earlier and applied it to his wound. Unlike the previous versions, which were black in color, the Dew Balm he used this time was a clear emerald green. This was the improved, authentic version. It had no side effects and had a remarkable healing effect."Hey, handsome. Even if you wanted to test the medicine, you didn't have to harm yourself. Look at how painful it looks." Lana said with a hint of resentment. "This was the fastest and most convincing way," Dustin repl
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1400
"Ms. Camron, since this is a collaboration, I won't let you fight alone. I'll shoulder most of the pressure. "Your role would be to manufacture and market the product, using the Camron family connections to build up the reputation of Dew Balm," Dustin explained earnestly. Lana fell silent upon hearing this. While Dew Balm was indeed a valuable product, was it worth offending the Swansons and the Welchs over it? "Of course, if you have your reservations, I won't force you. Consider this jar of Dew Balm a gift from me to you," Dustin said with a faint smile. Placing the medicine on the table, he pushed it toward Lana. The Camrons held significant influence in South City, but even then, they only ranked third. The first and second were the Welchs and the Swansons, respectively. To take on both of those major families simultaneously would be a tremendous challenge. It now only depended on whether Lana was willing to take the risk. "Handsome, why did you choose to partner up wit
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1401
Back at the villa, Dustin appeared hesitant as he held up his phone. While he was discussing business with Lana earlier, thoughts of Natasha had surged through his mind. It consumed his every thought and left no room for anything else. He had learned from Maximus that Natasha had accompanied her grandfather back to Oakvale. She wanted to extend her influence there. It would take just one call for them to reunite. However, Dustin was worried. Oakvale was a different world from Southern Province. It was filled with brilliant individuals and lurking threats. His objectives in Oakvale were extremely dangerous, and he couldn't bear to have Natasha involved. "Maybe I can just meet her briefly and say hello," Dustin murmured. After pacing back and forth on the balcony, he took a deep breath and dialed her number. The call rang for about five seconds before it connected, and he soon heard a familiar voice. "Hmph! You jerk, you finally call me. Tell me honestly, where have y
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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
