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An Understated Dominance Chapter 178
There was pin-drop silence in the private room. At a loss for words, everyone was aghast at what had happened. No one expected the twist of events. Just a minute ago, Nigel was their hero, flaunting his strength and skills, but now he was lying helplessly on the ground like a dead dog. How could this bald guy be so powerful? "H—how dare you hurt me? Do you know who I am? I'm Nigel Lin…""Shut the hell up!" With a crack, the bald man stepped on Nigel’s leg and broke it. Nigel wailed in pain, with cold sweat appearing on his forehead. "If you’ve got the nerve, tell me your names!" Nigel gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with rage."Listen up! My name is Brent Garcia, and this is my brother, Wade Garcia!" The bald man in green announced loudly."Brent Garcia, Wade Garcia? Could it be...are you guys the Four Scoundrels?" Nigel's pupils shrank in fear."The Four Scoundrels!" Everyone was shocked at the revelation. The Four Scoundrels was a notorious group of merciless a
An Understated Dominance Chapter 179
"H—how was this possible?!" Nigel gasped, his mouth wide and his face full of disbelief.He finally witnessed how formidable the Four Scoundrels were in person. Either one of them could quickly snuff him out.It was perhaps fate that an expert like himself had been crippled by a doctor they looked down upon.Such a thing was practically unheard of!"How is this guy so powerful?" Claudia's eyes widened in shock and bewilderment.Initially, she had assumed that Dustin was an unsavory character who only knew how to resort to using dirty tricks up his sleeve, so she hadn’t expected him to be so skilled in martial arts.He was miles better than her!He wielded such strength at such a young age, too. She was frozen on the spot once the revelation hit her that she was no longer a goddess among men."Dustin’s way too cool!" Sheila cheered as her eyes sparkled.After exchanging glances with one another, the rest of the girls also started looking at him in a different light. Not used
An Understated Dominance Chapter 180
Everyone in the room was flabbergasted as they stared at Xavier, who’d been mercilessly battered and bruised.No one had expected Dustin to be so bold as to slap Xavier. Everyone knew that the Horst family was among the five most powerful families in the Southern province. They were the top of the top! They were essentially untouchable!As an immediate heir, he was the rising star of the Horst family.So, no matter where he went, he’d have the stars laid out at his feet.No one had ever dared to humiliate him in public like this, much less slap him like a maniac so many times.Was this guy batshit crazy?"Y—you dare hit me?" Xavier asked rhetorically. The corners of his eyes started twitching as he tried to put on a fierce expression."I'm not just going to beat you, I'm going to make sure you can never use your hands ever again!" Dustin snorted and proceeded to stomp on his wrist, breaking it."Argh!" Xavier wailed in pain as he broke out in a cold sweat, his expression twis
An Understated Dominance Chapter 181
"S—so that was a charm after all?"Everyone at the scene was frozen in place as they stared at the red snake that Xavier vomited. One by one, their faces showed looks of disbelief. No one could’ve ever imagined that the esteemed heir of the Horst family, who had a bright and promising future ahead of him, had stooped this low just to court someone."Xavier, I never thought you’d be like this!" Claudia yelled angrily in shock.Who knew that she’d be the one who would be deceived by trusting him too much in the end? She almost became an accomplice in his schemes too!"I—" Xavier was at a loss for words as his face turned pale. The truth was already laid bare for all to see, so even if he still insisted on denying it, his attempts would be absolutely futile. "Hmph, It’s a good thing Dustin has a good eye to see through your evil schemes. Otherwise, Sheila would’ve fallen right into your trap!" Ruth spat, her expression full of contempt.She hated despicable and shameless men li
An Understated Dominance Chapter 182
Even though she said that, she secretly knew that her father would take Xavier’s side out of his great fondness for him.When one was born into a wealthy family, joy wasn’t as much of a significant consideration as the family's interests."Alright. We all know how much Uncle Caden adores you, so he definitely wouldn’t let you suffer," Ruth replied, and she no longer pressed her for answers. "Let’s go back home and take a nice nap, Ruth," Dustin yawned. After retrieving all of his golden needles, he spun around and was about to leave when a voice piped up again. "Running away already?" Xavier taunted, his expression now full of furious rage and his gaze scorching.He immediately pounced on Dustin while he wasn’t paying attention and stabbed him with a knife!"Just die already!" Xavier roared as he pushed the tip of the blade into Dustin’s back. "Behind you!" Ruth and Sheila shrieked in horror. Everyone else at the scene was also stunned by Xavier’s sudden attack. No one expe
An Understated Dominance Chapter 183
"Why don’t you get a better brain in your next life." Dustin spat as he looked at Xavier’s corpse. And with one swift motion, he threw his dead body to the side with one hand, as if it were trash.Xavier's body landed with a "thump" near Claudia and the other's feet.Xavier's face was riddled with fear and disbelief. Even up to his death, he didn’t understand why Dustin dared to make a move on him.Everyone gasped, petrified, as they stared at the corpse beneath their feet. Every single one of them was frozen in place and was at a loss for how to respond to the scenario in front of them.To think that an heir from an affluent family, who was also the pride of an entire city, had his life taken from him just like that?How was this remotely possible?After a brief silence, everyone at the scene erupted into a frenzy of chatter."Are you out of your mind, Dustin?! D—d—did you actually just kill Xavier?" Claudia shouted with a face full of shock, looking at Dustin as if he were a m
An Understated Dominance Chapter 184
After sending Ruth home, Dustin returned to the Peaceful Medical Center.However, he couldn’t help but frown the moment he opened the doors to the building. The place looked as if it had been ransacked. It was a mess.Boxes of medicine were scattered all over the place, and Dahlia, who had been rushing here and there the whole time, had on a face that was drenched in sweat."Diarhica. Where did he put the Diarhica?" Dahlia mumbled to herself with a prescription in hand. After looking around for a while, she finally saw a box of Diarhica that had been stored in a medicine cabinet high above the ground. Since it was out of her reach, she could only retrieve it by stepping on a stool."What are you doing?" Dustin asked coldly.Dahlia was startled by his question and lost her balance on the stool. Seeing as she was about to fall to the ground, Dustin instinctively grabbed hold of her before that could happen.It felt as if he was carrying something precious in his arms, as a nice s
An Understated Dominance Chapter 185
At Fallridge Haven. "Father! Please help Dustin; otherwise, he'll die!" Sheila begged on her knees."Hmph! You have the audacity to request assistance for him?! He is responsible for Xavier's death! That is the gravest of offenses! The Horst army has already assembled all of Swinton's finest warriors! No one can save him now!" Caden spoke with a frigid tone."Father! Dustin has rescued me on numerous occasions. Please help him, for my sake!" Sheila pleaded, tears streaming down her face.Ever since she returned to Fallridge Haven, she hadn't stopped begging his father for his help. That was because only her father could go against the Horst army."It is exactly because he's saved you that I refrained from taking his life!" Caden retorted coldly."Father! I will do whatever you say, as long as you save Dustin!" Sheila begged on all fours.Soon, her knees started to bruise."You fool! You have no idea what you're doing!"Caden slammed the table as he stood up. "Do you want me t
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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
