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An Understated Dominance Chapter 856
"Excuse me, miss. Please get your facts straight. This is my territory. I'm the one giving out orders here." Dustin pushed Brittany's sword away with a finger. He demanded stoically, "You can only stay if I say so. If I don't allow it, then you need to leave. Understand?""How dare you? You dare refuse us?" Brittany glared at Dustin."I'm the Jade Maiden Sisterhood's lead disciple. I'm a goddess everyone looks up to! Do you know how many outstanding men line up to impress me every day? I'm giving you a chance. Don't be ungrateful."Because of her status, men fawned over her everywhere she went. Nobody dared to go against her will. "I'm sorry, I'm not like your fanboys. I'm not interested in you at all. Please don't think so highly of yourself," Dustin responded impassively."You—!" Brittany seethed in anger. It was the first time a man was not fawning over her beauty. How dare he ignore her?"Hey, I'm warning you! Nobody has ever rejected Brittany's request! You better not m
An Understated Dominance Chapter 857
"Please leave if you don't believe me." Dustin's patience had run thin, and he drove them out. This woman's narcissism was beyond his tolerance. "Still playing hard to get? You're so childish." Brittany scoffed, shaking her head. "Fine, I'll play with you since you want to play. Hopefully, you won't regret it. Let's go!" Brittany walked out while she spoke. "Hmph, Brittany gave you a chance, but you didn't appreciate it. She's angry now, and it's too late to do anything!""If you had any sense, you'd apologize to her immediately. She still might consider forgiving you."The Jade Maiden Sisterhood disciples observed the situation as if watching a melodrama. They were expecting Dustin to be sobbing regretfully soon. However, the more they laughed, the more they sensed something was amiss. Dustin remained unusually calm. Even when Brittany had left the meeting room, he still hadn't shown any reaction. It was as if he didn't care. "Hey! I'm really leaving!" Brittany stopped b
An Understated Dominance Chapter 858
"What?" Dustin's words left the Jade Maiden Sisterhood disciples dumbfounded. They had expected Dustin to be begging them to stay and crying regretfully. But, goodbye? That shouldn't be a part of his script!"Dustin, what are you doing? Are you provoking Brittany on purpose?" Nikki glared at him. She had asked him to make her stay, not send her out!"Y—you're too much!" Brittany was livid after coming to her senses. Right now, she couldn't care less about maintaining her goddess-like demeanor. She took out her sword instantly, ready to kill. When has she ever been treated like this? It was humiliating!"What are you guys doing?" Just then, an authoritative voice rang out. Everyone saw a 30 to 40-year-old woman dressed like royalty walk in. An elderly woman accompanied her. The middle-aged woman had a curvy figure and exuded charm. Her gaze was sharp and full of pride. She appeared like someone who kept people at a distance. On the other hand, the elderly woman behin
An Understated Dominance Chapter 859
Brittany snorted and followed the group inside."What a bunch of lunatics." Dustin shook his head as he mumbled to himself. He finally realized where Brittany's confidence came from. How could their disciples be any better if they had such an arrogant leader? "Well, my teacher has a cold personality. Please don't take it to heart." Brittany was feeling awkward."Forget about it. I'd rather not argue with women." Dustin waved his hand dismissively. He would have driven them out much earlier if it wasn't for Nikki. He was indebted to Nelson and could only repay him by helping his family. "Thank god." Nikki breathed a sigh of relief before changing the subject. She asked, "By the way, I want to ask you something. Since you're the boss here, have you ever heard of the Jade Maiden Scripture?""Jade Maiden Scripture? What's that?" Dustin's brows furrowed."The Jade Maiden Scripture is the Jade Maiden Sisterhood's long-lost treasure. "Madam Edith hasn't been able to break thro
An Understated Dominance Chapter 860
It was 8:00 pm. Inside Rose Cafe, Dahlia was seated by the window. She had both hands wrapped around her cup of coffee. Her mood was heavy as she watched the rain fall outside. She looked exhausted.Since last night, she had been in a trance and felt dispirited. All she could think of was Dustin and their memories. She had tried so hard to mend their relationship. But whatever she did, it seemed to pull them further apart. She slowly realized that Dustin seemed to care less about her now. He no longer put her first and considered her feelings either. She was terrified at the thought that they had turned into enemies, especially after the decisive look he gave her last night.Just then, Dahlia heard the sound bell hanging at the door. She turned her head instinctively and saw a familiar figure enter. It was none other than Dustin."You're here." Dahlia's eyes lit up, and she appeared more animated as she stood up."What did you call me here for?" Dustin took a seat stoic
An Understated Dominance Chapter 861
"Stop right there!" Dahlia caught up to him and grabbed his arm. "Do you have to be like this? Can't we have a decent talk?""I don't think that's necessary. I'm wasting my breath. Not to mention, I'm busy. Let's not waste each other's time any longer," Dustin said with little interest and headed straight for the door."You're not allowed to leave!" Dahlia suddenly hugged him from behind, holding him tightly. It was an extremely bold move coming from her, especially when she was usually aloof. "I'm not letting you go!" Still maintaining her tight grip, she rested her cheek on his back.She mumbled softly, "Consider me wrong this time, okay? I know I'm difficult sometimes, but I'll do my best to change. "If you say Gavin is the bad guy, then he's the bad guy. I won't see him ever again, alright? I'm terrified of losing you. Let's get back together, please. "I won't be stubborn anymore and won't hit you again. I swear. As long as you stay, I'll do anything you tell me to. "
An Understated Dominance Chapter 862
Early the next morning, at Zephyr Lodge, Dustin sat on the rooftop and watched the sunrise. His expression was devoid of emotion. Since bidding farewell to Dahlia last night, he had been on the rooftop since midnight till the sun rose in the sky. His emotions gradually shifted from turmoil to calmness. After a night of deep contemplation, he found a newfound sense of acceptance and detachment. He would no longer be stuck in the past."Sir Rhys …"At that moment, Cornelius leaped onto the rooftop and reported, "I've received news that the Jade Maiden Scripture you are looking for has been located.""Oh? Where is it?" Dustin raised his eyebrow."A group of foreign merchants have it. We've contacted them, but they're unwilling to sell to us directly. They insist on meeting face-to-face," Cornelius replied. "A face-to-face meeting?" Dustin nodded. "Alright, go get Nikki. We'll go and have a look together.""Yes, sir." After Cornelius replied, he jumped down the roof again.
An Understated Dominance Chapter 863
Nikki frowned, "What do you mean? You're not selling it directly to us?""Recently, I've received many inquiries about the Jade Maiden Scripture. I was in a difficult position and was unable to make a decision. "That was why I gathered everyone here to discuss the price collectively. It would be fairer this way," Samuel explained."Fair?" Dustin shook his head with a smile. "Mr. Franklin, you have a gift for words. You're raising the price without reason yet making it sound sophisticated."Gathering all the buyers to discuss the price collectively was an obvious attempt to start a bidding war. That way, the price of the Jade Maiden Scripture would surge dramatically. It was a cunning strategy indeed."You flatter me, mister. I'm a humble merchant who hopes to earn a little extra profit." Samuel continued to smile even when his plan was exposed. He was good at maintaining his composure. "Hmph! I hate people like you the most" Nikki looked at him contemptuously.Why couldn't
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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
