Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
An Understated Dominance Chapter 401
"Hmph!" Dahlia refused to talk to him. Before leaving, she made sure to stomp hard on his foot. Thus, the brutal and unfortunate episode came to an end. The authorities arrived soon after the explosion. The fire brigade helped to clear the scene and put out the fire. At the end of the day, the authorities publicly announced the cause of the explosion, blaming it on a gas explosion. …Three days went by in the blink of an eye. During this time, Dahlia and her family returned to the Nicholson family home to keep Henry Nicholson company. The Glenstead Nicholsons, meanwhile, sent a team to investigate Gloria and Dakota's deaths, but after learning that the murderer, Edwin Hummer, had died in a suicide bombing, they had no choice but to close the case. Notably, Regulus Nicholson made the decision to confirm Dahlia's role as the chairman of the Cardinal Group. It was only time before she was officially acting in the chairman's capacity. During the three days, Dustin received surpr
An Understated Dominance Chapter 402
"Hey, how can you be so stubborn?" Dustin's one-track mind made Ruth blow her top. "My sister didn't tell you for your own sake. Otherwise, you'd always be at risk of a fatal disaster!" "Hmph, I've been through rain and fire for years. Is there anything I haven't encountered before? I stand by my words—if you don't say it, I'll go ask myself!" Dustin said resolutely. "You …" Ruth stamped her feet in fury, but she didn't know how to rebut. After a moment, she shook her head helplessly. "It seems like my sister was right; you won't give it a rest. I really don't know if this is a blessing or a curse. Didn't you say you want to go to Millsburg to see my sister? Fine … I can take you there, but you have to listen to me. You can't act rashly! Or else my sister and I will also get dragged down with you. Got it?" "Alright!" Dustin agreed. Right now, he only wanted to see for himself that Natasha was fine. "Tidy up. I'll wait for you in the car," Ruth said, then went straight to the ca
An Understated Dominance Chapter 403
Dustin accepted the cup with both hands and said, "Mr. Robinson, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you for the next few days." "It's no trouble. It's what I should do." Edmund Robinson smiled. "Ms. Harmon saved me before, and my family is hugely grateful for her. Any opportunity to repay Ms. Harmon is my honor." "Really? I didn't know Natasha was so beloved," Dustin said with a chuckle. "Why, of course!" Edmund said, his voice tinged with pride. "I watched Ms. Harmon grow up. No one can say anything about her character—no one in Millsburg can measure up to her!" "I can tell." Dustin nodded, smiling. "Mr. Rhys, look at me. I was all focused on chatting that I almost forgot to do my job. Have you eaten? Please wait a moment while I whip something up," Edmund said, hurrying into the kitchen and getting to work. He looked like a proper househusband. Dustin smiled softly. Sipping at the tea in his hand, he surveyed his surroundings. The villa consisted of two floors, complete
An Understated Dominance Chapter 404
"Something happened? What happened?" Edmund was stunned, unable to react. "My daughter just called to tell me that Abigail got into a conflict at the karaoke bar, and both sides got into a fight! You should hurry over and check on her!" the neighbor urged. "What? A fight?!" Edmund was startled. He immediately threw down his cutlery and ran to the door, but then, he turned around suddenly and said, "Mr. Rhys, I truly apologize, but something happened to my daughter, and I need to go handle it." "I'll go with you." Dustin stood. It wasn't good to just mooch off someone in their house. If he could lend a hand in any way, he naturally wouldn't be stingy. "Well …" Edmund was a bit conflicted. "Don't worry. I won't make things worse." Dustin smiled. "Edmund, don't dawdle any longer. More people means more power. Hurry!" the neighbor prompted again."Alright …" Edmund nodded. Without another word, he got in his Mazda and drove off. He couldn't care about anything else right now.
An Understated Dominance Chapter 405
"How dare you hit my father?" Abigail flew into a rage. She picked up a beer bottle, about to swing it, but Edmund stopped her. "Abigail, don't be impulsive!" "What, are you going to hit me again? Why don't you try? If you as much as harm a hair on my head, not a single person in this room will walk out of here tonight!" The man in the suit laughed icily. "Young man, it's just a misunderstanding. Once you cool down, we can talk nicely," Edmund said, smiling apologetically. "Talk? Hmph, what right do you have to talk to me?" The man lifted his broken watch and said disdainfully, "Do you know what watch this is? It's a limited edition Patek watch that costs eight hundred thousand dollars! Now, your daughter broke it. Tell me, how will you handle it?" "Eight hundred thousand dollars? That expensive?" Edmund was thunderstruck. He only earned a few thousand dollars a month. He didn't know how many years it'd take to save up eight hundred thousand dollars. "What, didn't you want
An Understated Dominance Chapter 406
Mike assumed an aggressive stance, his eyes sharp. With his tall, buff body, he did look rather threatening. The girls standing behind him stared at him with sparkling eyes, their hearts pounding. What young woman wasn't a romantic at heart? They had fantasized about being a damsel in distress saved by prince charming more than once. "Punk, do you know who the fuck I am? How dare you stick your nose in my business?!" The man in the suit cupped his bleeding head, his eyes dark. "I don't care who you are. If you don't kneel and apologize today, don't blame me if I shatter your legs!" Mike waved his bat. "That's right, apologize!" his group of buddies crowed. Boys at their age naturally had no fear. "Great! A group of prepubescent boys dares behave so arrogantly in front of me? Just you wait!" the man spat harshly as he attempted to slip away. "Fuck, who said you could go?" Furious, Mike swung the bat at the man's legs. The latter stumbled and almost crashed to the floor. "Boy
An Understated Dominance Chapter 407
Mike turned his attention to Dustin, who was standing next to Mr. Robinson. He couldn't help feeling threatened by Dustin's calm demeanor and good looks. "This is Mr. Rhys, our family's honored guest. He came over to help out." Mr. Robinson explained. "Help out?" Abigail humphed disdainfully. "He hasn't said a single thing since he arrived. You call that helping out?" "She's right! Although he has good looks, it's embarrassing how much of a scaredy-cat he is." The short-haired girl shook her head. While none of the other girls spoke, it was clear that they were all secretly looking down on Dustin. What was the point of being so handsome if he was going to run at the first sign of trouble? He was nothing but an utterly unreliable man. "A man should act like one, buddy. You shouldn't try to break up a fight if you're scared, or you might get hurt." Mike sniggered and patted Dustin's shoulder. Dustin smiled without saying anything, unbothered by those measly words. "Well, si
An Understated Dominance Chapter 408
"Lord Horst's brother?" Everyone was aghast to hear that, especially Mike, whose face had gone as white as a sheet. He never expected the man to have that identity. Although his father and Lord Horst knew each other, they were merely acquaintances. However, the man before them was Lord Horst's brother, so it was clear who mattered more. He was doomed! "Weren't you showing off just now? Why don't you do it one more time?" The man in a suit planted his foot into Mike's chest, kicking him to the floor. "How dare you meddle with what I do! You must have a death wish!" With that, he gave Mike another two more blows. Mike gritted his teeth from the pain but couldn't say anything. "You bunch of stupid cunts! What makes you think you can boss me around? Get on your fucking knees. All of you! Break the legs of anyone who disobeys!" the man yelled, brandishing his blade. "On your knees!" His lackeys spat, their blades instantly resting on the students' necks. Shaking in terror, the s
Latest Chapter
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
