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Chapter 2253
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An Understated Dominance Chapter 2254
Fenley's recording captured every word between Brian and Hank, the god of the Hall of Gods, including their elaborate schemes, with remarkable clarity.Upon hearing that, Alicia and Aurora were stunned as their eyes widened in disbelief.Brian felt as if he had been hit by lightning, which left him rooted to the spot. He didn't expect his conversation with Hank from the previous night to be recorded.He briefly entertained the idea that Hank might have betrayed him. But he quickly dismissed it, considering their shared interests and Hank's lack of motive for betrayal.Brian's expression alternated between worry and panic. Alongside his confusion, he was flooded with alarm. With the proof of his betrayal revealed, he pondered his next course of action."So, what do you have to say now?" Fenley asked coldly.Celestial Alliance had been suspecting Brian's unusual behavior and had preemptively installed a bug on him, just in case. It turned out their suspicions were correct when they
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2255
"What more is there to discuss? Back off! Everyone, just back off!" Brian's voice boomed as he motioned for everyone to retreat.He decided not to return to the Celestial Alliance and confess his wrongdoing. His sole recourse now was to keep Alicia captive and seek sanctuary at the Hall of Gods."Brian, there's no escaping this. Release Alicia and I assure you, I'll find a solution." Fenley's expression grew solemn.He was confident that he could swiftly defeat Brian in a direct confrontation. However, with Alicia held captive, Fenley hesitated and was reluctant to take the risk. If anything were to happen to Alicia, he'd be the one to blame."Brian, it's not too late to repent. Stop making one mistake after another," Alicia pleaded, her voice strained with anguish. "If you stop now and confess willingly, I can plead with my dad to be lenient in his judgment.""Mistakes? Where have I gone wrong?" Brian snarled. "Survival of the fittest is the rule of nature. Everything I've undert
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2256
Just as Alicia was about to be struck down by Brian's deadly palm strike, a silver needle suddenly hit his wrist with precision.The force of the impact caused him to stagger backward several steps. Then, a wave of excruciating pain surged through his arm. His body trembled uncontrollably and left him momentarily incapacitated."Crap!" Brian cursed. He quickly yanked the silver needle out from his wrist, which eased his pain slightly."Alicia, run!" Aurora shouted.Freed from his grasp, Alicia snapped out of her daze and bolted at full speed."Where do you think you're going?" Brian, now recovered from the pain, refused to give up.With a sudden burst of speed, he transformed into a blur and lunged toward her. Even if he was going to die, he was determined to take her down with him."Bastard! How dare you!" Fenley's eyes widened in fury upon seeing that. He immediately propelled himself into the air, then delivered a palm strike toward Brian from above.The air erupted with a t
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2257
Brian was dead. The enforcement team stood indifferent to the scene before them and showed no sympathy for his fate. His headless body slumped to the ground, and blood started to pool around it.Brian was the elite disciple of the Celestia Alliance. But his fate was sealed when he colluded with the Hall of Gods and betrayed the guild. He had even tried to harm Alicia.Given his accumulated crimes, his death was inevitable. Even if Fenley hadn't killed him, the guild would have punished him."Brian got what was coming to him." Aurora grimaced as she looked at his lifeless body and spat on the ground.She had regarded him as a brother and a decent person. Yet, she never anticipated he would turn out to be such a hypocrite and involved in all sorts of misconduct for his own gain.He had even colluded with the Hall of Gods and betrayed the Celestial Alliance. When confronted, he showed no remorse and even tried to hold Alicia hostage.Aurora believed someone like him deserved to di
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2258
"Aurora, bring me the Novem Bloomadol," Alicia said with a knowing glance.Aurora couldn't resist asking, "If you give it to Dr. Rhys, how will you cultivate later?"While others might not know its value, she knew the rarity of the Novem Bloomadol. It was a precious treasure that martial artists could only dream of obtaining to break through to the grandmaster level. Aurora never expected Alicia to part with it willingly."I don't have any use for it anyway. I'm sure Dr. Rhys would put it to good use." Alicia smiled faintly.The higher one's martial aptitude, the better the effects of the Novem Bloomadol. With Dustin's exceptional talent and cultivation, she knew he would gain far more from it than her."Don't just stand there. Go get it," Alicia urged.Despite her reluctance, Aurora knew that the pill belonged to her sister. She couldn't decide for Alicia, so she simply nodded. Shortly afterward, she returned with an exquisite sandalwood box."Alicia, are you sure about givin
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2259
Besides the battle ring matches, Abigail's gambling business was thriving. She had set up two temporary betting rings to attract more patrons.One accepted cash, and the other VIP betting ring only accepted rare treasures and valuables. These betting rings catered to different gamblers and ensured everyone's preferences were accommodated.The spectators became Abigail's prime targets. Her strategy remained unchanged. First, lures the gamblers with small wins. When they grew complacent, Abigail would reclaim everything in one decisive move. Her tactic proved to be effective.Over the past few days, she had amassed a fortune and emerged as the biggest winner.Although some savvy individuals knew her schemes, they refrained from exposing her due to her stature. So, they simply turned a blind eye.Gamblers would still cling to their hopes even if her schemes were revealed. When they saw others hit the jackpot, this only fueled their urge to try their luck. They were convinced that the
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2260
Alicia, who rarely ventured outside, had only heard about betting rings without ever stepping into one. Seeing one today at the tournament was a new experience. With her curious nature, she couldn't resist diving into the excitement."She still can't change her reckless personality." Fenley shook his head in exasperation and followed closely behind.Since the incident involving Brian, Fenley had become the personal bodyguard for the Marshall sisters. He was constantly vigilant about their safety now.Abigail, the Grand Sorceress of the Mystic Arts Order, actively promoted her business and shouted enthusiastically, "Come on, everyone! Place your bets and pick your favorites!"No risk of getting ripped off here—bet as much as you want, win or lose fair and square! Our reputation speaks for itself!"She oversaw the VIP section where rare treasures could be exchanged for celestial stones used in gambling.They started by appraising the treasures bettors brought and exchanging them fo
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2261
"Dr. Rhys, don't worry. Even if Number 12 loses, no one's going to blame you," Alicia said with a reassuring smile."Yeah, we're just here for the fun of it. Winning or losing doesn't really matter," Aurora chimed in."That's a relief." Dustin nodded.Gambling could remain harmless if one didn't become too engrossed in it. However, once addicted, it was easy to lose one's rationality. Therefore, it was wise to clarify matters beforehand to prevent unnecessary complications."Fenley, do you want to join us?" Alicia suddenly turned to Fenley beside her."No thanks. You guys go ahead. I'm not into it." Fenley smiled and shook his head. He was passionate about martial arts. Aside from training and fighting, nothing else piqued his interest."What about you, Dr. Rhys?" Alicia asked Dustin."I'll just watch the match," he declined politely. He knew that Abigail's role as the dealer could manipulate the outcome. Plus, those who placed their bets would eventually lose everything."Come
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An Understated Dominance 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
An Understated Dominance 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
An Understated Dominance 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
An Understated Dominance 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
An Understated Dominance 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
An Understated Dominance 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
An Understated Dominance 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
An Understated Dominance 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
An Understated Dominance 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
