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Chapter 90
Kaugnay na kabanata
An Understated Dominance Chapter 91
The Cobra was more brutal than they had expected.He even dared to slap an elite from Millsburg over a minor misunderstanding. There was no doubt that he was the mighty Cobra!"How dare you hit me?" Matt cried as he cradled his burning cheek in disbelief. How dare some random thug hit him? He was from the Laney family!"So what if I hit you? Don't you deserve it for causing trouble on my turf?" The Cobra shot him a cold smile."Do you know that I'm from the Laney family?!" Matt thundered. He had always been a prideful person, so getting slapped in public was the greatest humiliation of his life! "The Laney family? So what?" snorted the Cobra. “Don’t you know how to show respect on someone else’s turf? I don’t care if you’re the king. When you’re on my turf, you bow to me. You understand?!”The Laney family had been glorious once. Even his boss had to show them his respect in the past. Now, they were no different from anyone else. Even if they were famous, the Laney family had fa
An Understated Dominance Chapter 92
The Cobra's expression darkened, and he swept his piercing gaze around the room. He was greeted by the sight of beer bottle after beer bottle."Smash, smash, smash, smash!"The bottles shot out like cannonballs and sent each man sprawling. Each bottle met its target with deadly accuracy!"Who's being such a fucking coward? Come out and face me if you have the balls!" roared the Cobra furiously. No ordinary man could send a dozen men flying with just beer bottles. "Sir Draco, forgiveness is a virtue. Why won't you show mercy?" a voice replied. Dustin strolled out from amongst the crowd, attracting stares across the room."Who is that? How dare he attack Sir Draco's men? Does he have a death wish?" "He's quite handsome, but he's not very smart to offend Sir Draco.""If it were me, I would have run away after hurling the bottles. Why would he fucking show his face? Isn't he courting death?!"The crowd gossiped. Some were surprised, some showed admiration, and some enjoyed the
An Understated Dominance Chapter 93
“How… how dare you hit me?!"The Cobra rubbed his head in disbelief. His hand was covered in blood. In the years since he had taken over South City, no one had dared disrespect him, much less hit him with a bottle.“This fool must have a death wish!” he thought."Sir Draco, take my advice. Let it go," said Dustin calmly."Fuck you! I'm telling you, you're dead meat! I'm going to rip you apart!" the Cobra cursed and swore as he returned to his senses.As the threat left his mouth, a knife was held to his neck. The sharp blade pierced his skin, and drops of blood trickled from the fresh wound. An inch deeper, and the knife would have pierced his artery. Silence. The entire bar fell into complete silence. The Cobra's roars stopped, along with the crowd's prattling.Everyone was utterly shocked as they turned to look at Dustin, who was wielding the knife. Hitting Sir Draco with a bottle could still be excused as an accident. Unfortunately, holding a knife to his neck was undeniably
An Understated Dominance Chapter 94
When Sir Anderson showed up, everyone thought Dustin was done for.To their surprise, nothing dramatic happened when Sir Anderson saw Dustin. Instead, they chatted amicably like they were old friends.The Cobra was appalled by this turn of events. Even Florence and the others were stunned."This can't be for real, right? Could he really know Sir Anderson?""My goodness, who is that man? How could he and Sir Anderson be talking like buddies?"The crowd gossiped in hushed voices, obviously taken aback."S—Sir Anderson…you know him?" The Cobra gulped. He was slightly panicked and at a loss."Dustin is Natasha's friend. What gave you the nerve to offend him?" Duane's expression grew colder by the second."Huh? Ms. Harmon's friend?" The Cobra got the fright of his life.Natasha Harmon wasn't just one of Swinton's big guns, she had the support of Millburg's aristocrats. She was as prominent a figure as Sir Anderson himself. What's more, Natasha was a very protective person. Anyone w
An Understated Dominance Chapter 95
“Duane, let's not beat around the bush, shall we?" Dustin sipped his tea and said, “You said you've found the Panax root. Where is it?""Since you're so anxious, I won't tease you any longer." Duane smiled and clapped his hands.A bodyguard entered the room carrying a wooden box. Placing the box on the table between him and Dustin, Duane opened it slowly. A dark yellow root no bigger than a palm sat inside. It was a Panax root with unusually long roots."This really is good stuff!" Dustin exclaimed upon examining the root closely. He looked delighted.A 500-year-old Panax root was an extremely rare treasure! Now that he had another herb, he was another step closer to his goal!"How is it, Dustin? Are you satisfied?" Duane smiled expectantly."Of course, I'm satisfied. Thank you so much." Dustin smiled, reaching out to take the root.Suddenly, the lid of the box snapped shut."Dustin, what's the hurry? Let's talk more," Duane asserted. One hand remained wrapped around the box. E
An Understated Dominance Chapter 96
Duane was still smiling confidently at the start of the battle.But it was not long before he noticed something was very wrong. Dustin was much stronger than he had expected. He could feel terrifying surges of energy rushing at him like waves in the ocean. They made the bones in his hand tremble. They would break any minute!Duane's expression darkened, and he couldn't take it anymore. He threw a hard punch at Dustin, trying to make him fall back. However, Dustin did not dodge and faced it head-on instead.Their fists collided, and Duane's chair was smashed into pieces! The force of the punch shoved Duane backward until he hit the wall to catch his balance.Even so, Dustin remained seated calmly. They both knew who was more powerful!"Damn! I never knew you had tricks up your sleeve. I underestimated you!" Duane's eyes narrowed as a complex mix of expressions clouded his face. With how young Dustin was, Duane had never expected him to be so powerful. Considering how young he was,
An Understated Dominance Chapter 97
“I’m just trying to remind you to think twice before you act. Just because you have support from the higher-ups doesn’t mean you can run amok.” With a solemn look, Dahlia added, “Dustin, you must realize that your worth has to be backed by ability. Currying favors with powerful people can propel you to greater heights, but it won’t last unless you can prove you’re a person of high caliber. So don’t think you’re all high and mighty—consider this a lesson from me.”Dustin snickered upon hearing this. “How can you be sure that I’m currying favors with the powerful?”“Is that not the case? If it weren’t for Ms. Harmon’s reputation, would the Cobra have let you go so easily?” Dahlia didn’t hold back with her remark.“Whatever you say. I know that, whatever I do, I’m nothing but a useless prick in your eyes,” Dustin sneered as he shook his head.First impressions truly were tough to change. Even with the evidence in front of their eyes, some people would simply refuse to believe it. They
An Understated Dominance Chapter 98
Nighttime, in the interrogation room of the police station.Dustin and Dahlia sat with their backs against each other, bound to the chairs in the middle of the room.The air in the room was cool and damp, and darkness shrouded them completely. They could feel an invisible weight on their shoulders.“My bad, I didn’t mean to drag you into this mess,” Dustin spoke first.“They claimed you stole some valuables. Is that true?” Dahlia asked, cutting to the chase.“What do you think?”“You don’t look that bold to me, so my guess is someone is trying to frame you. Does this have anything to do with the Cobra?”“The Cobra is merely a pawn. The mastermind is none other than Duane Welch.”“Duane Welch? Are you talking about Sir Anderson?” Dahlia was dumbstruck. “Weren’t you on fairly good terms with him before? Did you strike a nerve? How?”“I punched him,” Dustin admitted flatly.“What?” Dahlia choked, struggling to keep her calm, “You…You dared hit Sir Anderson! Are you out of your m
Pinakabagong kabanata
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2537
The crowd murmured among themselves as they looked at the broken broadsword and the stunned expression on Lycas' face."That strike was insanely fast and dead-on too," someone commented."I never expected General Derin's secret move to be defeated like that. It's unbelievable," another said."I thought General Derin could turn things around for us, but he still lost," a third added.Everyone knew how strong Lycas was. As a fully developed grandmaster with a broadsword, he was supposed to be unstoppable. However, at the critical moment, Dustin's strike shattered his broadsword.Lycas' loss was sudden and almost unbelievable. Some blamed bad luck and thought he could have won if things had gone differently. But those who truly understood what happened knew better.Even with Dustin's movement restricted and Lycas unleashing his strongest technique, he still pierced through the opening with near-impossible timing. That strike wasn't just lucky but masterful. It was a brutal display
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2536
Lycas gripped his broadsword with both hands and roared. The sound cracked through the air like a thunderclap.He sidestepped sharply and charged straight at Dustin like a raging bull.The heavy broadsword moved like it weighed nothing in his hands. He swung it with brutal speed. Each arc cut through the air with a sharp, whistling howl, as if it could slice through anything in its path.The broadsword came crashing down on Dustin with bone-crushing force, like a mountain falling from the sky.Lycas threw his full weight into the swing. As the sword descended, the force of the strike stirred up dust from the ground. It sent plumes of dirt in every direction.He knew Dustin was no ordinary opponent. If he wanted a chance to win, he had to make the first move and seize the initiative."Nice form," Dustin said.As Lycas launched a powerful, aggressive attack, Dustin remained calm and unruffled. With effortless grace, he sidestepped without the slightest rush. The broadsword whizz
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2535
Bryce knew Dustin was strong, but this was beyond anything he anticipated. Though he had gained the upper hand early on, Bryce still believed his skills matched Dustin's.From his observation, Dustin relied on martial arts techniques and hit-and-run tactics. Plus, he didn't dare to confront Bryce head-on.He had assumed that as long as he found an opening, he could exploit Dustin's weaknesses and defeat him. But when Dustin finally stopped holding back, Bryce realized how wrong he'd been.It turned out Dustin wasn't just playing hit-and-run tactics. Instead, he'd held back the entire time to spare Bryce from an embarrassing defeat.The moment Dustin stopped holding back, Bryce didn't stand a chance. Even without special techniques, Dustin's raw power, speed, and reflexes were enough to crush him.The difference in their abilities was staggering, so much so that no amount of skill could close the gap.And it wasn't just Bryce who was shocked. Except for Nathaniel, who had already
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2534
Bryce's request for a fight heated up the atmosphere.Soldiers around the training ground started murmuring among themselves."Lieutenant General Gantz is a legend in our ranks. His combat skills are no joke—he's taken down countless enemies on the battlefield. I haven't seen him in action in years," one young soldier said with awe."Yeah," a veteran agreed. "Lieutenant General Gantz has been through countless battles, and his strength is unmatched. If he steps in, Mr. Rhys might be in for a rough time."After the fight earlier, the soldiers knew firsthand that Dustin was no slouch. Otherwise, he wouldn't have easily defeated the five elite soldiers.But in their minds, no matter how skilled Dustin was, he stood no chance against Bryce.Bryce was a grandmaster not just in rank but in skill, physical strength, and battlefield experience. He was stronger than any expert from the martial world.Nathaniel had once recruited several grandmaster martial artists to spar with them, but
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2533
"Your Highness, the soldiers under me are trained solely in killing techniques. If they hurt your guest, things could get ugly," Lycas said.He didn't say it outright, but the message was clear. If Dustin wasn't strong enough, he'd better stay out of the way, or he was just asking for trouble.Bryce didn't say anything, but the look he gave Dustin was full of contempt. How could a pampered young man like Dustin measure up to soldiers who've been through the grind? He figured Dustin was probably some heir from a prominent family who knew Nathaniel and was trying to assert his relevance."You guys are blind to greatness when it's standing right in front of you." Nathaniel chuckled and shook his head. He added, "If any of you manage to land a hit on Mr. Rhys, I'll pay out a thousand gold. But honestly, I doubt any of you have what it takes."At the mention of rewards, the soldiers perked up. Their eyes lit up with excitement. They were practically itching to charge at Dustin and g
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2532
During the meal, Nathaniel arranged for two women to accompany Dustin.Throughout history, even the greatest heroes couldn't resist the allure of beautiful women. Sometimes, a woman of extraordinary beauty could be far more enticing than rare treasures or high status.Dustin remained composed. He neither showed any enthusiasm nor did he deliberately reject it.As for the women seated on either side of him, he treated them with polite respect. He enjoyed a drink and the easy conversation with them, but nothing beyond that.However, Nathaniel saw it differently. To him, it seemed that Dustin was unimpressed by the women at his side.Considering Dustin's background, it made sense. A woman of ordinary beauty would never catch his attention. Nathaniel realized he would need to pull out all the stops. Perhaps, it was time to bring out his most prized companion and see how Dustin responded.After the meal, he led Dustin to his mansion's training ground.The midday sun blazed overhead
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2531
"This…" Dustin began.He hesitated on purpose and didn't give an immediate answer.Upon seeing him deep in thought, Nathaniel was convinced that Dustin was weighing the pros and cons. He leaned in slightly, his smile widening with anticipation. "You should know how much the Dracan essence means to me," he said. "If I can gather all the essences, it’d be like fate is on my side. My path to the throne would be unstoppable—and when that time comes, your reward will be waiting."As he spoke, his gaze stayed on Dustin as he searched for any sign of hesitation in his expression.Dustin looked up and met his eyes. For a moment, something unreadable flickered in his gaze.He pressed his lips together and spoke slowly. "You're right, Your Highness. But it wasn't easy to find the Dracan essence. I went through quite a few twists and turns. Besides, if I give it to you, it might put me at odds with the other two princes."He paused deliberately and left the rest unsaid. Still, the concern
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
