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An Understated Dominance Chapter 1756
Half an hour later, an SUV pulled up outside Russo Lounge. Dustin and Grace, adeptly disguised, emerged confidently. They were indifferent to the risk of their covers being blown.Russo Lounge, boasting a substantial size, had a line forming outside. Fortunately, Dustin and Grace navigated smoothly with the assistance of the undercover agents. They gained entrance without a hitch. Inside, the ambiance was raucous. It was illuminated by dazzling lights. A crowd of people danced enthusiastically to the music, unleashing their fervor. Dustin's expression soured. He wasn't one to relish in such a raucous setting."Why? Is the bar scene not your usual haunt?" Grace teased."I can only say that this place isn't my preference," Dustin replied. He'd prefer the serenity of home with a good book over the ordeal of such a locale."You should give it a shot sometime. Look at how joyously they dance," she suggested with a smile."The vibrant nightlife is but a fleeting spectacle. If ever
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1757
Dustin wordlessly ascended the stairs. Then, he sat across from Russo with his legs casually crossed. Russo's irritation flared at this unabashed display. "Hey! Kid! Who do you think you are? Did I invite you to sit?" He glared at Dustin, visibly annoyed."Are you Russo?" Dustin inquired straightforwardly, pouring himself a drink."Outrageous!""Bold!""How dare you address Mr. Vern directly? Are you out of your mind?" The entourage erupted in protest before Russo could respond. There were the sons of officials. They formed their own Hero Alliance. They often acted recklessly with a reputation that discouraged any challenges."I'm asking you, are you Russo?" Dustin was unfazed. He took a sip and repeated the question."You little ..."Anticipating a reaction, Russo raised his hand to halt his companion.He then sneered, "Kid, do you know who you're talking to? Calling me by my name—do you have a death wish?""It seems that you are Russo." Dustin nodded, placing his
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1758
The room echoed with a thunderous crash as Dustin forcefully drove Russo's head beneath the shattered remnants of the glass table. Blood adorned Russo's face, and his cries of pain reverberated through the room.A wave of surprise seized everyone. They were taken aback by the audacious assault on Russo. They tried to process the events. They wondered if Dustin possessed a death wish by taking on Russo.Russo, a scion of the great family with immense influence, commanded utmost respect. Even a slight disrespect risked catastrophic consequences. They thought that this kid was undoubtedly audacious."I'll ask again, where is Lisa?" Dustin demanded. His grip on Russo was unwavering. An ominous air enveloped him. Russo's face was adorned with glass shards. He winced in pain, rendering his ordinary features even more grotesque. "Damn it! How dare you touch me? Do you know who I am? Do you know who my dad is?" he bellowed. His voice was strained and furious. "Bastard! I warn you.
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1759
A crash echoed through the air. In a swift motion, Dustin's hand propelled the noble scion several feet away. He crashed heavily into the wall with an uncertain fate. The remaining nobles wore expressions of shock but refrained from expressing their anger.Dustin's martial prowess was apparent. They had no choice but to bide their time and suppress their indignation when faced with such a formidable opponent. Some astute individuals had already discreetly summoned reinforcements, anticipating Dustin's imminent demise."You wretch! How dare you break my hand? You're dead! Your whole family is dead!" Russo's face contorted as he roared furiously."I won't just break your hand. I'm going to break your leg too." Dustin showed no mercy. He raised his foot and stomped forcefully on Russo's knee. A resounding snap followed. Russo's knee bent in an unnatural direction. He let out a louder scream and writhed on the ground in pain."Where's Lisa? Hand her over," Dustin demanded, gripping
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1760
"Rowan! Quick, save me!" Russo yelled as reinforcements arrived."Huh?" Rowan squinted, visibly surprised. "Mr. Vern? How did you get into this mess?""Damn it! It's all this guy's doing!" Russo pointed at Dustin with resentment. "This audacious punk dared to break my limbs. Today, you must help me seek revenge!""Rest assured, Mr. Vern. Anyone who harms you won't leave this place today," Rowan said solemnly."You wretch! The Vern family's reinforcements are here. Even if you have supernatural abilities, you won't escape death today!" Russo grinned menacingly. "Of course, I can give you a chance if you don't want to die. Just kneel. Bow to me, and maybe I'll spare your life."Dustin's actions had sealed his fate. However, before killing him, Russo intended to humiliate his opponent to vent his pent-up anger."Where's the girl?" Dustin asked coldly. He ignored Russo and looked at Rowan."The girl?" Rowan suddenly laughed. "Kid, you're struggling with your own surv
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1761
"You knew object manipulation arts? Who the heck are you?" Rowan furrowed his brow. He assumed a stance that indicated that he was confronting a formidable adversary.The art of object manipulation was one of the Eight Miraculous Arts. It was an exceptionally rare skill beyond the reach of ordinary martial artists. Typically, those proficient in this art controlled one or two weapons at most. However, Dustin's ability to manipulate dozens of blades simultaneously was unheard of, making it evident that he was no ordinary opponent."You don't even qualify to ask for my name," Dustin retorted coldly. "Being a former captain of the Black Dragon Army and now working as a lackey here, you've truly brought shame to the Black Dragon Army.""Shut up! Who do you think you are? How dare you dictate to me? Even if you're skilled in object manipulation arts, so what? Countless extraordinary individuals have died under my blade, and today will be no exception. Prepare to die!" Rowan was fur
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1762
In the northern part of Millsburg, the headquarters of the Hero Alliance stood prominently. This alliance consisted of affluent and profligate young noble scions from West Lucozia who had come together. Their interactions were characterized by shared interests. In times of trouble, they offered mutual assistance. They possessed considerable influence that deterred most from challenging them. In their social circle, their call resonated with a resounding response.Within the assembly hall of the Hero Alliance, a group of extravagant profligates embraced their companions. They were immersed in a combination of drinks and dance. Various tables were adorned with unmentionable substances.As the festivities continued, some of them even leaned down, inhaling the mysterious white powder on the tables. Their bodies trembled instantly. Their pupils dilated. Their faces were filled with ecstasy as their mouths adorned with foolish smiles. It was as though they had entered a hallucinatory rea
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1763
With severed hands and feet, a face marred by glass shards, and blood flowing freely, Russo looked downright miserable."Mr. Linden! This matter is complicated. You must take this guy down right away!" Russo yelled."Release Mr. Vern, or I'll blow you to bits!" warned Aster with a fierce edge to his voice."Where's Lisa?" Dustin spoke coldly.His expression remained unchanged."Who the heck is Lisa? I've never heard of her. I command you to release him, or I'll spray you!" Aster pressed back on the gun, the bullets loading with a metallic click."Mr. Linden! This thing has serious firepower. Be careful not to hit me accidentally." Russo's eyes widened in fear.It was a shotgun, commonly known as a "sprayer" or the great equalizer. One shot unleashed hundreds of steel balls with immense power and caused wide-ranging destruction. If Aster fired, there was a high chance of collateral damage."Mr. Vern, rest assured. My marksmanship is precise. I guarantee you won't get hurt."
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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
