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An Understated Dominance Chapter 821
Zephyr Lodge, on the outskirts of town, was now the base for Kirin Gang.Dustin had gone there to lay low after he left the Hill family residence. The Hills were upset. So, there was no point in trying to explain himself to them. The best course of action was to uncover the truth to prove his innocence. Who was the one who murdered Paul? Why did the murderer set him up? With those questions in mind, Dustin ordered everyone in Kirin Gang to uncover the truth. Everyone available was sent out to gather information. Time was of the essence. They had to stabilize the situation before things got worse. "Sir Rhys!" Nelson barged into the meeting room with sweat running down his face. "Sir Rhys! We've got trouble! The Hills and their men are headed for Zephyr Lodge!""So soon?" Dustin frowned.They had just started using Zephyr Lodge as their base. Only a handful of people knew its location. He never thought they would be able to track him down within mere hours. It was obvious
An Understated Dominance Chapter 822
Dustin was surprised by the dagger that clattered noisily by his feet.The dagger was indeed the one that Ronald gave him. But after a few drinks last night, he had put it in his room.He hadn't paid the dagger much attention this morning when he left for the Hill family residence. He hadn't expected it would be the weapon that killed Paul! And because of that, he was now the prime suspect! "Well? Do you have anything else to say? Are you going to tell me that the dagger had been stolen?" Spring asked darkly. Dustin furrowed his brow. He swallowed back the words on the tip of his tongue. It was true. He indeed wanted to say that the dagger had been stolen. But at this point, no one was going to believe that. "Rascal, we've got solid evidence now. Let's see how you get out of this!" Autumn roared. "Dad! Don't waste your breath on him. Just kill him right now to avenge Granddad!" Torben egged him on from behind. "Dustin! Did you really kill Sir Paul?" Ronald, who had been
An Understated Dominance Chapter 823
There were just slightly more than a thousand people from the alliances. However, the disciples of the Kirin Gang added up to over five thousand people.Skills aside, just their numbers alone were enough to scare their opponents. Those clamoring to kill Dustin earlier on now kept their mouths shut. The people from Kirin Gang not only had knives with them. Some of the elites even had firearms. Unless one was a grandmaster, they could not hold up against those weapons."Sir Rhys, are you alright?" Cornelius and a group of elites from Kirin Gang rushed up to Dustin. They formed a circle around him, protecting him from the crowd. "I'm fine." Dustin shook his head. If he wished to leave, no one could stop him. But he might have to live with the label of a murderer and be hated by everyone for the rest of his life. "Dustin! Do you honestly think your underlings can fend off the Hill family's hidden guards?" Spring took a step forward aggressively. Though the Kirin Gang had the
An Understated Dominance Chapter 824
"Septemortis?"Everyone looked wary of the black pill.It was an extremely poisonous substance. Once consumed, death was certain if one didn't have the antidote. No one could resist the poison's effect, regardless of their cultivation. It was something that struck fear in everyone's hearts. "Dustin! If your conscience is clear, then take the pill!" Spring shouted at him."That's right! If you don't take the pill to show you're innocent, we won't let you go!" the Hills clamored. They weren't happy to let Dustin go. But now that they had the Septemortis, things were different. No matter what tricks Dustin had up his sleeves, he couldn't escape death unless he gave them a satisfactory explanation. "Fine. I'll take it." Dustin nodded and placed the pill in his mouth."Sir Rhys! No!" Nelson immediately stopped Dustin when he saw what he had done. "This is highly poisonous! You'll die!""If he doesn't take it, he'll die too!" Autumn yelled."Damn it! I'll fight it out with yo
An Understated Dominance Chapter 825
If Ronald hadn't calmed the crowd and bought Dustin some time to investigate, violence would've erupted. Things would be vastly different if that happened. "Dustin, I can't help you openly. But if you ever run into any problems, you may come to me in private," Ronald told him sincerely."Thank you, Sir Reeds." Dustin was thankful. "Now that things have come to this, you should watch your back." Ronald shook his head and sighed before walking away. The crowd came quickly and left just as quickly. Once they saw Dustin swallow the Septemortis, they knew he would die. It no longer mattered to them whether he was guilty. "Sir Rhys, you were too rash to take the poison! Why would you risk your life like that?" Cornelius sighed heavily. He really couldn't understand why Dustin would take the pill."All the elites from Balerno and Glenstead martial arts alliance were gathered here. Even with all of you here, you won't be able to stop them," Dustin answered calmly."Even if we ca
An Understated Dominance Chapter 826
When Dustin finally opened his eyes again, he was in the hospital.It seems that the toxin within him had finally stabilized. But things still weren't looking up for him."You're awake, dear?" a surprised voice sounded beside him.When Dustin turned around, he found Natasha sitting by his bedside. Worry was evident on her beautiful face."Natasha, why are you here?" Dustin was shocked."I heard from Nelson that you fainted. Of course, I had to come over to check on you. What's the matter? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?" Natasha asked, concerned. "I'm fine. I guess I was just exhausted, so I dozed off." Dustin pretended to be relaxed."Exhausted? Poisoned, more like," Nelson muttered."Shut up!" Dustin glared at him. "Poisoned? What happened?" Natasha asked, furrowing her brow. "It's just a little poison. It isn't serious. I'll be fine after taking some medications." Dustin chuckled."Are you sure?" Natasha was doubtful. "What? Don't you trust my medical skills?
An Understated Dominance Chapter 827
"Yay! We're going to the theme park tomorrow!" Haley cheered excitedly when she heard Dustin's reply. She didn't forget to thank him sincerely too. "Thank you, Uncle Dustin! I wish you the best of luck and happiness and that you can rest in peace." "Rest in peace?" Natasha was first taken aback for a moment before she burst into laughter.The child was too entertaining!"What nonsense are you spouting? I think you mean to wish him a good and peaceful rest!" Nelson shot her a look and quickly corrected her."I'm so sorry, Mr. Rhys! She didn't mean what she said. Please don't take it to heart," Cecilia immediately apologized.She worried he might be offended to hear something like that when he was hospitalized."That's alright. She means no harm." Dustin smiled warmly, not offended in the least. "Uncle Dustin, it's my birthday tomorrow. Will you join us to celebrate my birthday?" Haley cocked her head and asked innocently. "Sure! I'll be there!" Dustin ruffled her hair affe
An Understated Dominance Chapter 828
"Alright, Haley. Don't make things difficult for Uncle Dustin. Look, his forehead is already dripping with sweat." Natasha couldn't help but laugh, trying to save Dustin from embarrassment.Only he would get bullied by a child so badly."Uncle Dustin, you're sweating? Let me wipe your forehead." Haley took out a couple of tissues and began to dab at Dustin's forehead. "Haley, it's getting dark. You should head back with Mom," Nelson interjected. "But I still want to talk to Uncle Dustin." Haley seemed reluctant to go."It's your birthday tomorrow, right? We can talk more tomorrow," Dustin hurriedly added. "Really?" Haley's face lit up with joy."Of course." Dustin nodded seriously."Pinky promise," Haley said while sticking out her pinky finger."I promise." Dustin smiled and hooked his pinky with hers."Uncle Dustin, I want to tell you a secret." After linking pinkies, Haley leaned close to Dustin's ear.She whispered, "Dad keeps coughing a lot these days. He must be sic
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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
