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Chapter 638
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An Understated Dominance Chapter 639
That night, in the second-floor office of the Flame Dragon Dojo."Sir Rhys, you were so cool today! Not only did you show the Doyle family who's boss, but you also made the Flame Dragon Gang famous all across Balerno! We have around a thousand members now, and they all admire you greatly!" Nelson poured Dustin a cup of coffee while he showered him with compliments; his excitement and elation were evident. He'd been worried that the Doyles would seize the opportunity and take revenge on them if Dustin lost. He didn't expect their gang leader to be so incredible. Against all odds, Dustin turned the tide and achieved a resounding victory over Terry. He had become famous through a single battle. "That's enough, you've said that a million times now. Can't you say something new?" Dustin was speechless. Ever since Dustin's return, Nelson had been flattering him in various ways, singing all sorts of praises that Dustin could think of. If people didn't know any better, they would think Nel
An Understated Dominance Chapter 640
"Evidence? Where is it?" Dahlia was taken aback."It's with me now." It appeared that Dustin came prepared, as he took out two pieces of evidence. "These are the autopsy results. This can prove that James was poisoned to death. While this black needle is the murder weapon.""What?" Dahlia examined it curiously. Dustin added, saying, "If you don't believe me, you can get it tested personally." Although he had the evidence, it would be hard to convince her without finding the murderer. "No need for that. I believe you." Dahlia's expression was solemn. "To be honest, I know that you're not the murderer and that this has all been a misunderstanding."Dustin smiled. "I'm happy that you think that way.""I'm sorry for misunderstanding you. But please understand, I had no other choice. My brother's death has left me in pain. I feel so lost, and I don't know what to do. I'm scared … I'm scared that I will lose you too. I'm scared that we will become enemies. I'm scared of being alone,
An Understated Dominance Chapter 641
"Wha—what are you doing?" Dahlia's expression changed as she struggled to free herself. She looked more alluring as she struggled desperately."Don't you like playing games? I'll play with you until you're satisfied!" Dustin's expression was cold."You're a lunatic! Stop this at once!" Dahlia cried out angrily.Dustin commented, "You're still pretending? The skin on your face has peeled off. Haven't you noticed?""What?" Dahlia's eyes widened, and she touched her face instinctively. However, she quickly came back to her senses. It didn't matter if her face was disfigured; her actions had already given her away. "I thought my acting skills were pretty good. I didn't expect you to see through it that quickly." Once she found out she was exposed, "Dahlia" stopped the act and pulled forcefully near her ear. Soon, a human mask was peeled off. "Dahlia" was gone, and she was replaced by an unfamiliar woman. The woman looked decent, but her complexion was ghastly pale. Her gaze was
An Understated Dominance Chapter 642
The group of masked women brandished a knife and held it dangerously close to Dahlia's neck; a thin line of blood could be seen on her skin. It was a warning that Dahlia would be killed on the spot if Dustin made any sudden movements.Dustin furrowed his brow and ultimately released his grip. He wasn't going to risk Dahlia's life with the numbers they had."That's more like it." Astrid stretched her neck. She looked triumphant as she said, "Dustin, you should feel honored that my mentor has taken an interest in you. As long as you agree, we will be a family going forward. And if you refuse, you and everyone else around you will die!" "Do you have to go to such extremes?" Dustin's expression was frosty. "This is how we do things. If we can't get our hands on a talented genius like you, you must be destroyed," Astrid responded. "Do you really think you can kill me?" Dustin retorted. Astrid chuckled as she said, "I know you're talented, but we came prepared. I added Tranqurin to
An Understated Dominance Chapter 643
"Ugh—!'' Astrid froze. Astrid looked at Azalea, who had a smile on her face, and then down at the sword in her chest. She was filled with shock and disbelief. She never imagined that Azalea would kill her without hesitation when she was smiling cheerfully just a second ago. There weren't any signs throughout the entire situation. "What?" Dustin was also bewildered at the sudden turn of events. He had casually mentioned it without expecting anything to happen. He would never imagine that Azalea would not only take it seriously but also act without hesitation and plunged her sword straight into her senior's chest. He wondered if this woman was ruthless or just truly insane."W—why?" Astrid spat out the words with difficulty, glaring at Azalea with wide eyes. Mixed emotions flashed across her face—disbelief, fury, resentment, and defiance. But above all, confusion clouded her face. She couldn't understand why Azalea would kill her. Was it solely based on Dustin's words? "Don't
An Understated Dominance Chapter 644
"Doctor, not only did I betray my guild for you, but I also killed my senior. You're so mean for calling me that." Azalea pouted with a bitter expression."What exactly are you trying to do?" Dustin questioned her."Don't overthink it. I just want to be friends with you, nothing more," Azalea said with a grin."I don't think I can afford to be your friend. There might come a day where you'd thrust a knife into my back," Dustin responded bluntly."Hey, I can't bear to do that. Besides, if anyone is thrusting anything, it'd be you." She smiled charmingly.The corners of Dustin's mouth twitched upon hearing her words. Did this woman just make a dirty joke? "If there's nothing else, I'm leaving." Unwilling to stay any longer, Dustin prepared to leave and picked up the unconscious Dahlia. "Hold on." Azalea suddenly took out a small vial and passed it to Dustin. "This is the antidote for Tranqurin. You should take it. Otherwise, you'll have serious long-term effects.""There's no n
An Understated Dominance Chapter 645
The next morning, at Nicholson Corp., Dahlia woke up groggily and found herself lying on the sofa of her office. She was covered with a thick blanket, and there was even a steaming glass of milk on the table beside her. Last night's events were still fuzzy to her, and she rubbed her head, which was throbbing slightly in pain. Feeling parched, she picked up the glass of milk and finished it in one go. It made her feel warm inside, giving her a slight relief from the discomfort she was feeling. "Dahlia, you're awake." At that moment, Dustin walked in with the breakfast that he had just bought."Why are you here?" Dahlia's brows creased into a frown, and her expression turned cold."I didn't know where you lived, so I brought you back to your office for the night." As he was talking, he took out a takeaway container with a full English breakfast inside as well as a bowl of chicken soup."I'm asking why you are here?" Dahlia asked in exasperation."Have you forgotten about what hap
An Understated Dominance Chapter 646
Since they were on the 30th floor, anyone who jumped down from that height would not be able to survive. Dahlia was trying to get Dustin to back down and leave."Alright, I'll jump." Dustin nodded. Without hesitation, he turned and crashed through the full-length glass window, hurtling down from the 30th floor.Dahlia stood frozen on the spot, her mind blank with disbelief. The words had only escaped her lips in a fit of anger. She never would have imagined that Dustin would follow through with her demand. "Dustin!" Dahlia screamed after returning to her senses. She rushed toward the shattered window and looked down. Dustin had vanished from sight. She knew that no ordinary person would survive such a bone-shattering fall. Her legs gave away, and she collapsed to the ground with a thud. While she sat on the ground, she could not hold back her tears. "Why? Why did it turn out like this? Dustin, why did you jump? How can you be so foolish? What am I supposed to do now that you're g
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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
