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An Understated Dominance Chapter 1911
The main reason was that Dustin detested traitors, and backstabbing individuals deserved harsh punishment. After dealing with the five rebels, the remaining generals who had sided with the rebellion faced various consequences. Depending on whether they had voluntarily participated or were coerced, they were either demoted, assimilated into the monarchy's forces, or sent to prison. In the course of addressing the rebellion, Dustin also tasked Albert with leading a unit of the Draken Guardians to the Dragon Guard's hidden treasure vault based on directions from the treasure map. The entire process went smoothly. Despite the presence of the Dragon Guard's elite fighters, they proved no match for the ultimate grandmaster, Albert. With ease, he wiped out the remnants of the Dragon Guard and brought back all the treasures from the vault.Cinna had told the truth. The treasures inside the vault were piled up like mountains. It took the monarchy over a hundred large trucks and tens of
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1912
After lunch, Dustin received an unexpected call from Grace. She had something important to discuss, and they were to meet at the old house in the western city. Dustin had acquired this particular residence specifically for the training of undercover agents. These women, once victims of Russo's abuses, willingly joined the West Lucozia undercover agent camp.They were prepared to sacrifice their lives to make sure no one else would go through the same experiences they did. Dustin admired their sense of justice and honored their wishes. Under Rodrigo's training, these women had been inducted as official agents. However, they still required at least three years of further development before they could take on missions. Dustin fervently hoped that he would never have to deploy them as it would signify peace in the region. Undercover agents were only deployed in the face of potential threats and only had a 10% survival rate. Half an hour later, Dustin arrived at the old house in th
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1913
After Dustin returned to the castle, he avoided alerting anyone and wrote two letters instead. He left one letter in Rufus' study and the other in Austin's bedroom. Dustin considered it his unspoken farewell. He wasn't great at expressing sentimentalities, and at times, leaving in silence was the better choice.As dusk settled, Dustin headed straight for the southwestern desert, riding in Grace's car. The largest desert was known as the Deadlands. It had earned its name due to its harsh and dangerous environment. Survival seemed nearly impossible for those who mistakenly ventured within. In spite of its dangers, the Deadlands were home to a wealth of hidden treasures, including gold mines. Hence, there were frequent expeditions from teams that risked their lives to tempt fate. If lucky, one might stumble upon valuable treasures and become wealthy overnight. However, if luck was not on their side, the consequences could be fatal.It wasn't a stretch to claim that more than a h
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1914
Their vehicle cruised steadily, maintaining a consistent speed. Eventually, by noon the next day, they reached the outskirts of the Deadlands.There was a large village with around five to six hundred households on the outskirts. The village boasted amenities like an inn, a gas station, a supermarket, and the like. Though not sprawling, it had the essentials.It also served as a supply station for the exploration teams and a lifeline in critical moments. Whether it was entering or exiting the desert, people would stop there to rest and gather information.It was worth mentioning that, given the challenges in transporting goods, the prices within the village were several times higher than in the city. Upon entering the village, Grace's convoy finally came to a halt in front of a rural inn named House of Hope. The inn had once been a primary school, with enough rooms to accommodate over a hundred people."Ms. Linsor, we've arrived." After the convoy stopped, a man appearing to be a
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1915
Dustin was taken aback and slightly puzzled at Garrett's sudden hostility. Considering that it was their first meeting, Dustin couldn't fathom the reason for his animosity. Why did the guy before him have such a lofty attitude?"Captain Wilder, have we met before?" Dustin slowly lowered his hand that had been left hanging. "No," Garrett said with an icy expression."Since we've never met, what makes you say that?" Dustin countered. "I'm just concerned about Ms. Linsor."Garrett asserted with a self-righteous tone, "The Deadlands is extremely dangerous, and those who enter face almost certain death. "Without considerable strength, professional knowledge, and extensive experience, ordinary people wouldn't last a day inside. "Ms. Linsor has paid a considerable sum to bring me here, and it's my responsibility to ensure her safety. "Judging by your physique and behavior, it's evident that you're not a professional bodyguard. So, I have serious doubts about your abilities."I
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1916
"I've never been through anything quite like this before. It feels different this time," Garrett admitted, taking the teasing in stride. After having been through life-and-death situations together, there was nothing they couldn't talk about."Ms. Linsor is truly unique. Although I haven't seen her in person, the vibe she gives off suggests she's an extraordinary beauty," the bald, burly man said excitedly."Dozer, Captain has his eye on Ms. Linsor. Don't even think about going down any inappropriate rabbit holes, okay?" the short-haired girl cautioned."Oh, come on, I was just throwing it out there casually. I wouldn't dream of competing with the captain for a woman." Dozer chuckled sheepishly.She gave Garrett confidence and said, "Captain, finding someone who really gets to you doesn't happen daily. Don't overthink it, and just go for it. Your charm is bound to do the trick!" "I'm afraid it could be too late." Garrett sighed, shaking his head. He added, "Ms. Linsor has her o
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1917
In the inn, Dustin changed into clean clothes and sneezed. "I wonder who's talking about me," he mumbled, rubbing his nose.Then, he left the room and headed to the dining hall. The dining area, originally a school cafeteria, was quite spacious. It covered around 600 to 700 square feet and easily fit over a hundred people."Over here."Grace waved at him as he walked in. He made his way over, noticing a table adorned with more than a dozen mouth-watering dishes."Our chef whipped up these dishes, so feel free to dig. They're not just tasty but also safe," she assured."You're playing it safe and all." Dustin chuckled, sliding into a seat before diving into the food without a second thought."It's always a good call to be careful when you're out and about, especially in the outskirts of the Deadlands. You never know what kind of dangers lurk around, and a single misstep could be fatal," Grace explained as she enjoyed her meal.Suddenly, a group of young men and women dressed in g
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1918
Dustin and Grace were just watching the scene unfold when, suddenly, the ponytailed girl turned her focus on them. It took them a moment to shake off the surprise."Exactly! Just look at their dishes. Each is a culinary masterpiece. Compare that to what we've got on our table—it's just garbage!""I don't care! Swap our food right now, or we'll cause a scene!" the group shouted. In the middle of their protest, they angrily tossed the food from their table onto the floor, making a mess."I'm afraid our small establishment has a few constraints when it comes to swapping these exquisite dishes," the waiter explained, wearing a regretful and apologetic expression."You can't swap them? Are you suggesting that we can't afford it?" Bran frowned."Damn! Are you seriously discriminating against us? Do you even know who we are?" the ponytailed girl shouted. "We are disciples of the renowned Frostwing Sect. If you piss us off, we might just have to give your inn a bit of a makeover, you kn
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Chapter 2455
Austin smiled brightly as he ushered Jovian into the meeting room with surprising enthusiasm.Jovian looked confused and somewhat unprepared. Before entering, he had already imagined many possible scenarios for their meeting. He had mentally prepared for a range of reactions from Austin—whether he would be ignored, faced with cold indifference, or dealt with arrogance. He was ready for any of those. After all, the rumors about Austin painted him as a "hellraiser" who did whatever he pleased.But, to his surprise, Austin didn't give him any trouble at all. Instead, he was giving him a warm reception, which left him utterly confused.Something felt off. He couldn't make sense of Austin's sudden warmth, and he had no idea what game he was playing."Bring the tea!" After inviting Jovian to sit, Austin gestured for the attendant to serve the tea. The drink was a rare specialty from West Lucozia, a premium elixir tea not sold to the public but reserved for high-ranking officials. Its
Chapter 2454
After stepping into the castle, Boston felt a knot in his stomach. He had been here before, but only for official matters.He was always escorted by guards or attendants, but this time, Austin himself had led him inside. Boston felt both honored and somewhat overwhelmed. Since when had he earned such treatment?Austin had brushed off higher-ranking officials, so why was he showing him so much attention? Was it because his shiny bald head made him stand out? He had no answers, only a growing curiosity as he followed Austin into the meeting room. "Sit." After Austin sat at the head of the table, he raised his hand and gestured for Boston to do the same."No… no need. I'll just stand." Boston smiled awkwardly."Just sit down. Why are you so nervous? I won't bite," Austin said in a dismissive tone. "Y-Yes, Your Highness." Boston didn't dare refuse again and obediently took a seat. He was six feet three inches tall, yet he looked like a startled rabbit. He sat up straight and didn't
Chapter 2453
When the castle's gate swung open, every eye turned toward the entrance. Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, Austin strode out with his two guards. His posture exuded confidence and authority."Your Highness!"The gathered officials instantly rushed forward to greet him. Grins spread across their faces as if they couldn't wait to please him. Whether it was Huxley, Percival, or Warrick, all wore the same ingratiating expression.After all, Austin was the infamous hellraiser. Though he had reined himself over the past two years, his past reputation still loomed over them.At least Rufus could be reasoned with. But Austin? He was a wild card—utterly unpredictable, like a ticking time bomb. Every last one of them had suffered his wrath before.Percival approached with a flattering smile. "Your Highness, you finally come out. I have something important to discuss with you. If you'd be so kind as to listen—"Before he could finish his sentence, he was dismissed by Austin, who found h
Chapter 2452
"Get lost! I'm not in the mood for anything right now. If you want to eat, go on your own." Warrick snapped, looking annoyed."I'm not going either," Percival refused flatly. "I'm on a health regimen these days—only tea, no alcohol.""Fine. If you're going to wait, then keep waiting. I won't be sticking around." Huxley forced a smile and acted like he was about to leave.But as he turned, he almost bumped into Boston, who was approaching from the other direction."Sorry, Sir Thatcher! I hope I didn't startle you." Since he was surrounded by so many high-ranking officials, Boston was already on edge. He had momentarily spaced out and almost caused a mishap by running into Huxley, which left him flustered and a bit tongue-tied.Unlike the other generals, Boston didn't come from an influential background or have any powerful connections. He had worked his way up from the bottom, and the last thing he wanted was to offend Huxley and risk losing everything he had fought so hard for.
Chapter 2451
After parting ways with Boston, Jovian checked into a nearby hotel to await the good news. Boston wasted no time. After changing into a fresh set of clothes, he headed to the castle to deliver a letter of introduction. But when he arrived, he was stunned by what he saw.The gates of the West Lucozian monarchy had already gathered quite a few people, and among them were several figures he immediately recognized. These included Huxley Thatcher, the Commander of the Militia; Warrick Prescott, the Major General of the State Guard; and Percival Wentworth, the Chancellor of the National Academy.These three were first-ranking officials. In West Lucozia, they were nothing short of kingmakers who wielded immense power and influence. Warrick, in particular, was two ranks above Boston. Hence, he felt the need to be cautious in his presence and was eager not to make a bad impression.Alongside these three prominent figures, several second- and third-ranking officials also stood in line at
Chapter 2450
The following morning, Jovian stood at the entrance of West Lucozia Airport, wearing a sharp suit.Before the trip, he had contacted his comrade with whom he had fought side by side in the military. After earning military merit and with the Ballard family's influence, he was fortunate enough to stay in Oakvale and secure a decent position.His comrade, on the other hand, had moved to West Lucozia to carve out a life for himself. Years of hard work had paid off—he was now a third-rank general with considerable power, influence, and a strong network of connections. Jovian's meeting with the Prince of West Lucozia would depend entirely on his comrade's connections.Just then, the roar of an engine cut through the air as a military jeep pulled up beside him. The window rolled down, and the first thing that came into view was a bald head gleaming in the sunlight like a lightbulb. The glare nearly blinded him.Under that shiny dome was a face that looked ordinary at first glance. But w
Chapter 2449
"Grandfather, I understand why you sent Uncle Jonathan and Uncle Jensen to the Spanner and Fallon families to gather information," Natasha began. "But West Lucozia is thousands of miles away."She shook her head slightly. "They've always stayed out of the government's political matters. Sending Uncle Jovian there wouldn't achieve anything. He'd likely just be turned away." Oakvale and West Lucozia were worlds apart. The fight for the Oakvale throne didn't really affect the West Lucozian monarchy. Both sides had long adhered to an unspoken agreement to avoid meddling in each other's affairs."I know, but it'll be different this time. The royal throne is at stake, and every faction will do whatever it takes to secure West Lucozia's support. If the West Lucozian monarchy picks a side, the balance we've maintained for years will collapse. That's why I need to be ready for whatever happens," Simon replied.It would be best if the West Lucozian monarchy stayed out of the political strug
Chapter 2448
At the Ballard estate, Dustin was warmly welcomed to stay after dinner. This was the first time Natasha had brought her boyfriend home, so the Ballards made a big deal of it.Simon personally accompanied the young couple and invited them to the study to chat over tea. With his sharp eye, Simon could tell Dustin was no ordinary martial artist. His manners, speech, and broad knowledge set him apart from most people."Dustin, I fully support your relationship with Natasha. Your background or status doesn't matter. What matters most is that you two are happy together." Simon paused and said earnestly, "I want you to understand that she's been pampered all her life and hasn't faced much hardship. Now that she's with you, I hope you'll take good care of her.""Don't worry, Mr. Ballard. I would never let her down," Dustin replied sincerely.Though they had known each other for some time and hadn't yet taken their relationship to the next level, they had already made their feelings clear
Chapter 2447
After hearing Nathaniel's words, Tristan's expression darkened. His brow furrowed as he sank into deep thought.It seemed he had underestimated the situation. He had assumed it was just a simple rivalry between brothers; he hadn't anticipated Seamus seizing the chance to further his own agenda.Seamus already wielded considerable influence. Under the guise of supporting Matthias' ascension to the throne, he had been forming alliances and recruiting talents. His influence had grown to rival the royal family's.If Seamus really supported Matthias' ascension, he'd overshadow the king, and no one would be able to stop him. The worst-case scenario would be Seamus using Matthias as a puppet to overthrow the House of Linsor."Nathaniel, is everything you said true?" Tristan frowned."Absolutely. Every word," Nathaniel replied solemnly. "Of course, if you don't believe me, you can send someone to investigate.""I believe you. But… taking down Seamus won't be easy. Do you have a plan?" Tr
