An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori (official version)

ITT ew a “Dustin, | didn’t realize you had such hidden talent. It's surprising that you could defeat our elites.” Hank studied Dustin for a moment before breaking into a smile.

He continued, “But | can’t blame you. The fault lies with Bill and Jeremiah for not being strong enough. As the saying goes, the victor takes all.

It's only natural they met such an end due to their lack of skill. I'm not here tonight to point fingers or hold you accountable.” “Well, that's reassuring.” Dustin breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. ” Since you're not here to cause trouble, what's this visit about?” “Honestly, your performance has caught the attention of the God King. He wants to formally invite you to join the Hall of Gods and help us accomplish our grand vision.” Hank smiled as he extended the invitation.

“Join the Hall of Gods?” Dustin was taken aback. He said hesitatingly, “Mr. Styles, that doesn’t seem right. I'm just a nobody from the mountains. How could | possibly be worthy of joining the Hall of Gods?” “You're being too modest, Dustin,” Hank said, sipping his tea. He smiled and continued, “A genius like you would be more than welcome in the Hall of Gods. | can promise you that if you join us, you'll receive focused training and access to endless resources.” The Hall of Gods had members from all over the globe. When it came to wealth and resources, they were unmatched, with a seemingly inexhaustible supply. So, Hank came to Dustin brimming with confidence.

“Mr. Styles, | appreciate the offer, but I'm used to my freedom. | don't like being tied down, so | think I'll have to pass.” Dustin shook his head and declined.

“Dustin, don’t be so quick to turn me down.” Hank set his teacup down.

He said earnestly, “I can guarantee that if you join the Hall of Gods, | won't restrict your actions. You'll be free to do whatever you want without reporting to me. On top of that, I'll ensure you get the kind of authority and resources that come with being an Oracle Defender.” “Oracle Defender? How esteemed is that position?” Dustin asked curiously.

“It's a unique position,” Hank explained. “In Dragonmarsh terms, it’s like being an honored guild elder. Their authority is just a step below the God King. Within the Hall of Gods, they're held in high regard by everyone.” “That sounds pretty good.” Dustin nodded and smiled. “So, you mean | don’t have to do anything? Just by joining the Hall of Gods, | can gain access to all those treasures and resources?” “You could look at it that way, but...” Hank paused before continuing, “While being Oracle Defender gives you freedom and authority, there will be moments when you'll need to do * something’ for the Hall of Gods. Otherwise, it's hard to keep respect if you take without giving.” The Hall of Gods wouldn't keep those who didn’t contribute. They wanted benefits and expected everything to run smoothly. What kind of deal was that? “What's this ‘something’ you're talking about? You might as well just say it,” Dustin said impassively. He knew Hank was about to get to the point.

“You're probably aware that once this Combat Tournament is over, the Hall of Gods has an important operation lined up. For security reasons, we haven't yet finalized the target or timing of the mission,” Hank said.

He continued, “| wasn’t aware of your abilities before, so my arrangements weren't as thorough as they should have been. If possible, I'd like you to lead this operation.

“If you succeed, | won't just make you an Oracle Defender. | could even promote you to the rank of a god and put you on the same level as me.” “I didn’t expect the Hall of Gods to take this operation so seriously. What exactly do you need me to do?” Dustin asked tentatively.

“If you want to know the details of the operation, you'll need to take this first. “Hank took a vial from his pocket and placed it on the table.

“This is...” Dustin looked a bit confused.

“Poison,” Hank answered bluntly.

Seeing Dustin's frown, he quickly added, “It's not that | don’t trust you. But the Hall of Gods has its own rules. To prevent any secrets from leaking and jeopardizing the mission, everyone has to take the poison, myself included. No exceptions.” “That ruthless?” Dustin frowned.

“Yes, but don’t worry. Once you complete the mission, the God King will give you the antidote,” Hank reassured with a smile.

“And if | don’t?” Dustin suddenly countered.

That question caused Hank to pause briefly, but quickly regained his composure. He smiled and said, “Don’t worry. The Hall of Gods has planned everything down to the smallest detail. If you follow the steps, there won't be a problem.” Dustin considered his options for a moment before shaking his head. “Mr. Styles, while the offer from the Hall of Gods is certainly tempting, my own safety matters more. | won't let my life be held in someone else’s hands, so I'll have to decline your offer.” He wasn't afraid of the poison. In fact, this was his tactic to build trust with the Hall of Gods. After all, a reasonable person would likely hesitate at such a proposition. It might raise suspicions if he showed too much eagerness to risk his life.

As expected, Hank wasn’t upset by Sebastian’s response. Instead, he smiled even brighter. Hank would have questioned his intentions if Dustin had jumped at the offer. Now, he found himself trusting Dustin even more.