An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori

When Garrett slammed his hand on the table, the other martial artists stood up and expressed frustration.

"Mr. Styles, you know there's a code in the martial world. We can tolerate waiting, but leaving Elder Mason waiting like this? That's downright disrespectful." "You're right! It doesn't matter who they are since nobody should keep us waiting like this!" "Mr. Styles, this guest's behavior is completely unacceptable. We should just show him the door!" The room was filled with frustration and anger.

Garrett's remarks ignited a spark while they had shown patience out of deference to the Hall of Gods. The other martial artists wasted no tin releasing their bottled-up frustration.

"It's not about disrespecting you, but it's evident that this guest lacks respect for the Hall of Gods," Garret said.

He emphasized, "He has kept us waiting well beyond the agreed-upon time. Such arrogance shouldn't be tolerated." "Elder Mason and esteemed guests, I apologize for mishandling this matter. As a token of apology, I've prepared a gift for everyone." Hank knew explanations were futile, so he ordered his subordinates to present the prepared gifts.

A stunning array of treasures and rare artifacts were unveiled before the eager crowd.

Their eyes lit up with excitement as they gazed upon the dazzling display. Surprisingly, their earlier frustration seemed to vanish in an instant.

Driven by the desire for wealth, the prospect of acquiring a valuable treasure after just a brief wait was incredibly enticing.

"Looks like the Hall of Gods knows how to impress. I could live off this treasure alone for years!" "And check out this crimson opal bracelet—it's one-of-a-kind! You won't find anything like it anywhere else," another added with awe.

"No doubt about it. Today's trip was totally worth it, even with the wait." They whispered excitedly among themselves.

Rumor had it that the Hall of Gods was a place of immense wealth, akin to a kingdom in its luxury. After experiencing it firsthand, it was evident that the tales weren't mere exaggerations.

Contemplating the prospect of working for such an institution in the future, one couldn't help but imagine the abundance of wealth that could await.

Garrett couldn't help but clear his throat when he sensed soverexcitement among the group. It was important to remind them that while the treasure mattered, maintaining their dignity was crucial.

After all, swinging from righteous indignation to cheerful smiles in the blink of an eye would be quite the spectacle if word got out.

Garrett's cough sobered the group, and their expressions turned serious again. However, the greed in their eyes as they eyed the treasure betrayed their intentions.

"Mr. Styles, we're grateful for your offer, but I must emphasize the importance of maintaining boundaries. Welcoming someone who lacks a sense of punctuality into our group purely for short-term gains would only invite chaos." Garrett maintained his serious tone despite his softened demeanor.

"Your advice is duly noted. Allow us another half an hour. If our tardy guest fails to appear by then, we'll proceed with our plans as intended. Is that acceptable?" Hank smiled politely.

"Okay. We'll wait another half hour out of respect for you," Garrett asserted firmly. Considering Hank's generosity with the treasure, he felt it was only fair to extend courtesy.

A lazy voice drifted in from outside as the room fell into a tense silence.

"Here's to life's fleeting moments amidst yesterday's abundant troubles. How to find peace? With nothing but the comforting touch of classic wine." Accompanying the voice was a disheveled figure. He reeked of alcohol as he stumbled into the room with a bottle of wine.

"Who let this drunkard in? Kick him out!" The foul odor from the drunkard wrinkled noses across the room. It prompted Lucian to voice his disdain with a sharp command.

The drunkard hesitated briefly upon hearing that. Then, he staggered toward Lucian and took a swig from his bottle.

With a mouthful of yellowed teeth, he let out a thunderous belch. He sprayed a toxic mixture of alcohol and saliva directly at Lucian.

In an instant, the overwhelming stench filled the room.

Lucian inadvertently took a breath just as the foul odor engulfed him His face turned an unsettling shade of green, and he nearly keeled over from the sheer revulsion. His revulsion overwhelmed him as he gagged uncontrollably and doubled over in disgust.

With a boisterous laugh, the drunkard found the situation highly amusing.

"Fuck you! Go to hell!" Unable to contain his rage, Lucian unleashed a furious punch straight at the drunkard's face.

He threw his punch with unbridled force, and its intensity wasunmatched. The sheer power behind his fist created a thunderous roar as it tore through the air, infused with Divine Aura. "Wait!" Hank tried to step in, but it was too late.

Lucian's blow landed squarely on the drunkard's face with a resounding thud.

The room exploded into pandemonium as the drunkard, seemingly unaffected, stood his ground.

Lucian was sent flying several yards backward, propelled by an unseen force before crashing heavily into the wall! Blood poured from his mouth as he writhed in agony. Everyone watched in shocked silence as the events unfolded.