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An Understated Dominance Chapter 740
"Who's Julian Nicholson?" Abigail asked, watching the car drive away. "Just an asshole. You don't need to overthink it," Dustin answered nonchalantly. Abigail sighed helplessly. She couldn't help but pity Julian, who was an innocent person. Soon after the three of them reached Flame Dragon Dojo, Roderick bid them goodbye and left. Dustin safely stored the thousand-year green lotus and began teaching Abigail how to fight with a staff. Abigail had finally built a solid foundation. She was also powerful, which made her a perfect fighter. However, her attacks were too simple, so anyone with some skills could easily beat her. Fortunately, Abigail's choice of weapon was a baton, so Dustin decided to make good use of this and teach her a staff combat technique. Dustin has been practicing all sorts of combat techniques since he was a child and has read various types of martial arts books of different levels. Dustin knew them all by heart, whether it was basic or advanced techniques
An Understated Dominance Chapter 741
"Dahlia, what happened?" Dustin frowned. "Yesterday, I went to Glenstead to visit the Nicholsons and check in on Grandpa Regulus. I was on my way home this morning when someone ambushed me. Fortunately, a general was passing by and saved us," Dahlia explained. "Why didn't you tell me you were going to Glenstead? I would have sent someone to protect you." Dustin demanded, displeased. "I brought my own bodyguards. I just didn't expect something like this to happen," Dahlia replied helplessly. If it had just been a regular fight, her bodyguards could have dealt with it easily. However, they were no match for someone who wanted her dead."Do you have any idea who's planned the attack?" Dustin asked. "Not yet." Dahlia shook her head. "You were attacked as soon as you visited Sir Regulus. It's too much of a coincidence. If my guess is right, your family must have something to do with this." Dustin narrowed his eyes. "Our family? That can't be right." Dahlia's brows furrowed.
An Understated Dominance Chapter 742
"Stop throwing a tantrum, Dahlia." Dustin frowned. Dustin said, "I wouldn't mind giving you anything else, even if it costs millions. But I just can't give you my Panax root.""You're right. I am throwing a tantrum! If you don't want to give it to me, I'll think of something else!" Dahlia turned her head away furiously. In the past, Dustin would get it done no matter what request she made. Now, all she was asking for was a Panax root, yet he turned her down firmly. He obviously didn't care about her anymore. It seemed like she wasn't that important to him anymore after he got a new girlfriend. "Dahlia is giving you a chance to prove yourself, Rhys! You better not ignore her kindness!" Florence exclaimed. "Exactly! With Dahlia's looks and influence, many other men would be clambering to gift her Panax roots! You better appreciate this chance!" Julie jeered."If you need a Panax root, I can use my connections to help you get one. However, I can't give you the one I have becau
An Understated Dominance Chapter 743
"I had just finished reporting back to the military base, so I decided to drop by." Gavin Killian smiled. "Greetings, Mr. Killian." Dahlia tried to stand up. "No need for formalities." Gavin placed a hand on her shoulder to keep her seated. "You need to rest, Ms. Nicholson. You're hurt.""It's nothing." Dahlia smiled. "And this is?" Dustin looked at Gavin, puzzled.He could tell from the badge on Gavin's arm that he was a major general. For someone to be a general in his thirties, he must either be from an influential family or be incredibly talented."This is Mr. Killian. He was the one who saved me this morning," Dahlia introduced.This morning's incident was still fresh in her mind. Without Gavin's help, she'd be dead by now."I see. Thank you, Mr. Killian." Dustin thanked. "It was nothing," Gavin answered with a smile. "And you are?""Oh, he's my friend, Dustin Rhys." Dahlia blurted."Friend?" Dustin frowned, unhappy with her answer. Still, he regained his composure
An Understated Dominance Chapter 744
"Thank you for the offer, Mr. Killian, but I can't accept such a precious gift." Dahlia got over her surprise and became upset again. She hadn't even repaid Gavin for his earlier kindness, so how could she accept his Panax root?"Ms. Nicholson, a Panax root is meant to cure sickness anyway. I don't need it for now. So you might as well use it to save someone's life. Think of it as an act of kindness." Gavin smiled. "But—" Florence cut Dahlia off before she could refuse again. "Dahlia, you should accept it. You can always repay the favor later."Florence kept looking at Gavin eagerly. "She's right, Dahlia. Saving a life is much more important. Without this Panax root, what are we going to do about Sir Regulus?" Julie advised. "But …" Dahlia was at a loss for words. It would be difficult to repay the favor, but she had no choice but to accept the gift since Regulus' life was at stake. "Ms. Nicholson, if you want to thank me, I do have a favor to ask," Gavin suddenly said. "
An Understated Dominance Chapter 745
"I'm just stating the truth. It's always better to be careful," Dustin replied calmly."Dustin, Mr. Killian isn't that kind of person," Dahlia retorted firmly, unhappy to hear Dustin talking bad about her savior. "Do you really know him well enough? Besides his name, what else do you know about him?" Dustin asked back. "I—" Dahlia was taken aback. When she came to her senses, she immediately declared. "Anyway, Mr. Killian isn't a bad person. You better not judge him with a petty mindset!""Petty?" Dustin chuckled unhumorously. "You're right. I am petty. And since you seem to believe him so much, this petty man will take his leave now. Goodbye." Dustin turned around."Dustin, stop right—" He left before Dahlia could stop him. "Let him leave! What the hell is wrong with him? We just said a few words!" Florence scoffed."Yeah. Mr. Killian is a thousand times better than a petty man like him!" Julie snorted. "That's enough! He's gone now, so stop talking about this!" Dahlia
An Understated Dominance Chapter 746
Dustin didn't resist as he was dragged into the car. He was blindfolded, and a hood was placed over his head to ensure he couldn't see anything. That was the start of a long, shaky drive. Dustin could tell that they had driven out of the city, so these enforcers were definitely not from the investigation bureau. After some time, when Dustin began to feel sleepy, the car finally stopped. The doors opened, and the metallic stench of blood pierced his nose. He could also smell the disgusting scent of rotting flesh."Where are we, sir?" Dustin asked curiously. "Shut your mouth and get in!" The man beside him snapped as he dragged Dustin forward. They passed through several checkpoints and heavy iron gates before riding an elevator that kept going deeper underground. After a while, the elevator came to a halt with a clang. Different noises instantly surrounded Dustin—cries, wails, shouts, and laughter. There was also a nasty, damp stench. The man took the hood off Dustin's he
An Understated Dominance Chapter 747
The same went for everyone else. At first, their eyes had been filled with hostility. However, after hearing Dustin's answer, they smiled welcomingly at him. "If you had done an evil deed, you'd be dead by now. Fortunately, you were just avenging your wife, so you're a real man!""It seems like Shadow Gang will have a new member!"Everyone in the cell studied Dustin carefully. Although they didn't seem happy to see him, they didn't seem as hostile anymore. "What are you guys talking about?" Dustin was confused. "Over here, there are all sorts of guilds and gangs. Ours is Shadow Gang. Our rule is simple: settle scores fairly. You can kill your enemies, but you can't hurt innocent people. If you're caught, you'll be heavily punished." The bald man grinned. "He's right. We might not be good people, but at least we're honorable men who won't allow others to hurt innocent people!" The other men agreed.Dustin was surprised. It seemed like not everyone here was evil. "You're one
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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
