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An Understated Dominance Chapter 601
As Dustin watched James run his mouth, his face became darker than a storm cloud.He never expected that James would shift the blame to the victim instead. Not only did he feel no remorse for his wrongdoing, he even dumped all the blame on Dustin. His actions made Dustin's blood boil!"How dare you, Dustin! I never thought you could sink to such lows. You couldn't woo my daughter, so you decided to resort to such abominable actions? You're a demon wearing a human's face!" Florence screamed hatefully."Hmph, I saw through your faux gentlemanly demeanor a long time ago! Not only did you try to steal our money, you've even tried to harm my cousin. You're an animal!" Julie roared, her eyes wide with rage."After all that happened, are you still not repentant?" Dustin frowned."What do I have to repent for? This is clearly your fault! You're the one who tried to hurt my sister!" James said indignantly. With his mother backing him, he had nothing to fear."You animal, don't touch my da
An Understated Dominance Chapter 602
Dahlia thought about it long and hard before finally recalling what happened in the casino last night. She had drank two glasses and passed out with no recollection of what happened afterward, but it seemed like she was safe. "This is all that bastard's fault! If Dustin didn't harbor any ill intentions toward you and your brother, none of this would have happened to the both of you!" Florence exploded. "Dustin? What does any of this have to do with him?" Dahlia was puzzled. "I bet you still have no idea that he conspired with the owner of the casino to drug you. He was going to take advantage of you. Fortunately, James fought back and managed to save you," Florence replied."Mom, there must be some kind of mistake." Dahlia smiled. "Dustin would never hurt me, much less use such dirty tactics. You've got it all wrong.""Oh, Dahlia. You get tricked all the time because of how naive you are." Florence retorted, her face serious. "You should never judge a book by its cover. Dustin may l
An Understated Dominance Chapter 603
James' death shocked everyone. They couldn't believe that the man who had been so full of life last night was now dead. "N—no! It can't be! How could my brother be dead?" Dahlia shook her head repeatedly, her face full of disbelief. "Please try and save my brother again! I'm willing to pay any price!""I'm sorry, but there's nothing we can do. Our deepest condolences." The doctor shook his head. "But how could this be?" Tears streamed down Dahlia's face, and she staggered backward. She couldn't believe that her brother had died just like that."Oh, James! My son!" Florence wailed in anguish as James' body was wheeled out. She burst into tears at the sight of the lifeless body. She couldn't believe that her only son, whom she babied endlessly, had died so suddenly. What a tragic outcome! "Doctor, my nephew was fine yesterday, so why did he die? Did you guys make a mistake during surgery?" Victoria questioned. "The patient suffered a severe head injury that resulted in intracranial
An Understated Dominance Chapter 604
Meanwhile, Dahlia sat alone on the hospital bed with a dull gaze and a haggard face. All the crying had tired her out, and her head was so hazy she felt like a zombie. Today's blow had completely overwhelmed her. "Dahlia …" Dustin suddenly walked into the room. His tone was concerned as he asked, "I heard you were admitted to the hospital. Which part of your body is the discomfort coming from? Do you want me to take a look at it?"Unresponsive, Dahlia sat still like a statue. "What's wrong, Dahlia?" Dustin waved a hand in front of Dahlia's face, whose expression remained as emotionless as a lifeless doll. Usually, only devastated people who had lost all hope showed such an expression. Dustin frowned and immediately felt her pulse, only to realize that it was irregular and extremely weak, like a candle that was going to blow out at any moment. "How did this happen?" Dustin was shocked. He quickly took out his silver needles and began treating Dahlia. A stream of true energy started
An Understated Dominance Chapter 605
"Don't make excuses! Your palm prints are all over my brother's face, and the doctors said he suffered severe head trauma. If you weren't the one who caused it, who else could it be? Why? Why did you have to hit him so hard? Even if he did something wrong, you shouldn't have killed him!" Dahlia bawled, her fist pounding on Dustin's chest. Although Dustin should be the one in pain, the person who ended up with tears streaking down their face was Dahlia. "Dahlia, I think that there's something fishy with James' sudden death. Please believe me. I would never kill him!" Dustin responded gravely. "Believe you? How am I supposed to do that when all evidence is pointing at you?" Dahlia roared. It has been proven that Dustin was the person who hit James, causing the latter to be hospitalized. Doctors have also confirmed that the cause of James' death was head trauma. These answers were concrete evidence that pointed to Dustin as the murderer. So even if Dahlia was willing to believe that t
An Understated Dominance Chapter 606
It was obvious that someone was trying to frame Dustin for James' death, but who? Was it the Doyle family or the Grant family? Or perhaps someone he had never met before. And why would they do this? Were they trying to turn Dahlia against him?Dustin stared at the black needle he was holding. He wanted to explain everything to Dahlia but stopped himself. He knew that in her current state, she would never believe him.Besides, all he had was the needle, which wasn't enough to prove anything. He would only be able to prove his innocence when he found the real killer. Just then, the sound of the phone ringing tore through the air. Dustin fished out his phone and saw that it was Nelson. "Hello? Great timing, Nelson. There's something I need you to—" Before Dustin could finish what he wanted to say, a panicked voice rang out. "We're in trouble, Sir!""What's happening?" Dustin frowned. "A bunch of martial artists just randomly barged into our dojo and began beating our men up. They are
An Understated Dominance Chapter 607
"Hey, motherfucker. I bet you didn't expect me to come for you so soon." Maggie sneered. "I've warned you not to cross me, or you'd be dead meat. I bet you're shaking in fear now, aren't you?"As soon as she went home, she ordered her men to look into Dustin and discovered that he was the leader of the Flame Dragon Gang. Her cousin Terry had been the one who was controlling that gang, so how dare Dustin touch that gang!She immediately went to report her findings to Terry, secretly exaggerating the story, which led to the current situation. "Wasn't yesterday's lesson memorable enough? Why would you ask for another beating?" Dustin asked nonchalantly."A beating? Haha! Look around you. You're surrounded by martial artists who work under my family!" Maggie yelled. As the only martial arts family among the Fabulous Five, the Doyle family focused more on security and provided martial arts assistance, which was why despite being the weakest of the five families in terms of wealth, their p
An Understated Dominance Chapter 608
"Hey, kid. You should've listened when they told you to run, but unfortunately, it's too late now." Bennet stepped closer to Dustin. Soon, Bennet was less than 20 feet away from Dustin, which was the best range for an attack. There was no way Dustin could escape from him. "When did I ever say that I wanted to run?" Dustin retorted calmly. "Do you still plan to resist after hearing my nickname?" Bennet sneered. "Resist? No, you misunderstand me. I'm merely going to knock you out." Dustin corrected. "Knock me out? Pfft!" Bennet sniggered. "Fine. I'll give you a chance. I won't move from this spot. You have three chances to strike me. I'll let you go if you can make me take even a single step backward."His words put a smirk on Maggie's and the others' faces, who were all aware that Bennet's body was impenetrable. Even those of the same rank as him couldn't break through his defenses. So everyone was confident that even if Bennet let Dustin attack him thirty times without protecting h
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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
