An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori (official version)

Dustin glanced at the vial of poison. He hesitated briefly before nodding. Since Mr. Styles thinks highly of me, | should show my commitment.” 11 He picked up the vial, twisted off the cap, and downed the poison in one go without leaving a drop behind. To make sure Hank could see clearly, Dustin tipped the bottle upside down to show it was empty.

Dustin’s body was immune to most toxins, so this tiny dose didn’t concern him.

Hank laughed heartily at the sight. ” You're really bold!” Drinking the poison would prove Dustin's commitment to joining the Hall of Gods, and it was the only way to earn their trust. No matter how convincing his words were, they would mean nothing without that act of loyalty.

While the Hall of Gods valued talent, loyalty was their top priority. Only those who proved their unwavering commitment would be granted special training.

Hence, the most effective way was to put one’s life in their hands. This was a reality that everyone faced, including Hank. When a mission was assigned, they all had to take the poison first as a testament to their allegiance.

“Mr. Styles, I've shown my sincerity. What do you need me to do next?” Dustin asked again.

He surmised that the Hall of Gods had something up their sleeve, but the details remained murky. He needed to understand their detailed strategy to prepare himself properly. Otherwise, what he had done earlier would be for nothing.

“You don’t need to do anything for now. Just concentrate on honing your skills for tomorrow’s match,” Hank said with a smile.

He continued, “Given your talent and the enhanced serum, you have a solid chance of winning. I'll reveal our full plan once you defeat the other contestants and claim the championship. Then, you'll see just how great the Hall of Gods truly is.” “Mr. Styles, do you not trust me?” Dustin frowned and looked displeased.

“Dustin, don’t get the wrong idea. It's not that | don't trust you. Frankly, | also don’t know the plan,” Hank said helplessly.

He continued, “The God King is in charge of this operation and won't share the details before we act. It's a precaution to prevent leaks and ensure we can adapt as needed.” “Oh? “Is it that important to keep everything so secret? Even someone of your status also didn’t know the details?” Dustin was surprised.

“That's just how things have always been. | hope you can understand,” Hank said with a wry smile.

It might sound absurd, but that was the reality. Regular members of the Hall of Gods had a bit more leeway, but anyone with a title or being groomed for something special faced stricter supervision. They had plenty of resources at their disposal, but their freedom was quite limited.

“Okay, I'll go along with it. | won't press further if this is how the Hall of Gods operates. Just let me know if you need anything.” Dustin decided not to press further to avoid raising any suspicions.

“Great. I'll take my leave now. I'm looking forward to your impressive performance tomorrow.” Hank nodded as he stood up and left hastily.

The tavern bustled with patrons, and every eye seemingly fixed on him. The longer he lingered, the greater the risk of drawing unwanted attention. He had to stay vigilant until his plan was in motion.

After confirming Hank had left, Dustin stashed away the two vials of enhanced serum. He then leaped out of the back window and disappeared from view.

Ten minutes later, he silently appeared in a secluded courtyard. It was small but tastefully adorned, which showcased the owner’s refined style.

Dustin approached the bedroom door and knocked.

Moments later, the door swung open to reveal a young woman. She wasn’t conventionally beautiful, but there was something quietly captivating about her.

Her most striking feature was her bright, shining eyes, which sparkled like stars. The woman was Grace Linsor, who had disguised herself using Face-Changing Art.

“You're here. Please come in.” She smiled and gestured with one hand. oo i Only a select few knew where she lived. When Dustin stepped into the courtyard, she sensed his familiar presence, so his visit was entirely expected.

He walked in and sat down on the couch.

“Can | get you something to drink?” she asked casually.

“Water,” he replied, not bothering with formalities...

“Sure.” Grace grabbed a bottle of water and set it down in front of him. Then, she asked, “Is there a pressing matter that brought you here at this hour?” “Take a guess.” Dustin uncapped the bottle and took a sip of water, deliberately creating suspense.

“Guess?” She smiled. “It's probably related to the Hall of Gods, right? They've sent someone to recruit you?” “Oh? How did you know?” He raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. He hadn't said anything, yet she had figured it out with uncanny accuracy. Her perceptiveness was remarkable.

“Your performance in the battle ring today was incredible. If | were in their shoes, I'd be eager to recruit you. It makes perfect sense.” Grace's smile was unwavering.

“You're as sharp as ever. Now, care to guess what's inside this box?” Dustin placed the box Hank had given him on the table.

She studied the box carefully and said, ” If the Hall of Gods wants to recruit you, offering you something as common as gold or jewels won't cut it.

“Given their style, whatever they send now has to be something that directly enhances your strength and helps you win the tournament.

“It's likely something unique to them and something outsiders can’t get their hands on. If I'm not mistaken, that box probably contains an enhanced serum or something similar.” Dustin was taken aback.

No way could she have guessed that. Was she psychic or something?