An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2288

Hank felt a shiver when he looked at Jeremiah, the man who killed without mercy. Even the powerful Dusk Titan and Shadow Prince were cautious around him. It was easy to see why. If those two were beasts, Jeremiah, known as The Dust of Angel, was the fiercest beast of all.

With someone like Jeremiah involved, the martial artists of Dragonmarsh were likely heading for a disaster.

“Are you happy with these three allies, Hank?” Bailey asked with a grin.

“Happy? I’m more than happy! With their help, winning the Combat Tournament is almost guaranteed!” Hank replied confidently.

He had once doubted his chances because he knew the fighters from Dragonmarsh were incredibly skilled. But now, he felt more assured. The Hall of Gods, the Coven of Blood Eclipse, and the Holy Sovereign Church had sent their best warriors. They had combined forces from many nations to take on Dragonmarsh. With this kind of backing, victory felt almost certain.

“Great! Your confidence makes me feel better,” Bailey said, nodding.

He continued, “I’m putting you in charge of the tournament. Our secret plans need to go smoothly. Make sure everyone stays alert and avoids trouble in the next few days. When the time is right, we’ll launch our full-scale attack.”

“Understood,” Hank replied firmly.

“Now, why don’t you all get back to work? Don’t disturb my meal,” Bailey said, waving them away. He then dug into his food with enthusiasm.

Before long, the entire spread of meat was gone.

At the same time, Schola Hub, the largest tavern within a hundred miles, was buzzing with energy. It was filled with elites from various major guilds, including many who had made it to the top 32.

Unlike modern taverns, Schola Hub was an old three-story building with plenty of space.

Inside the restaurant, the staff called themselves servers.

Right at the entrance, a stage featured a lively performance of the Moby Dick musical. The actors were fully engaged in their roles, while the audience enjoyed their meals and drinks, clapping loudly in appreciation.

The scene near Sacred Wrym Summit was truly special.

“Welcome, esteemed guests! Please come in,” said a server at the door as Dustin and his group from the Celestial Alliance arrived. He greeted them warmly and led them upstairs.

For the past few days, Schola Hub had hosted many high-status and wealthy visitors. The server noticed Dustin and his friends were dressed well and carried themselves with confidence, so he knew they were important guests. Good service might earn him a generous tip.

“Server, bring us your finest drinks and dishes,” Aurora called out as soon as they sat down.

“Yes, ma’am,” the server replied.

Just before he could leave, Alicia stopped him. “Wait! Don’t forget to bring some really good wine!”

With a quick flick of her finger, she tossed a gold bead, about the size of a fingernail, into his hand.

The server’s eyes lit up with joy as he examined the bead. “Thank you for your generosity! Just a moment, I’ll get everything right away!” he said eagerly.

With a spring in his step, the server hurried downstairs. Soon, he returned with the best wine and dishes, along with some appetizers.

“This ten-year-old wine is excellent,” Alicia said as she opened the bottle and took a slow sip. A faint smile appeared on her face.

As a wine expert, she couldn’t resist enjoying a few drinks each day.

“Alright, enough talking. Let’s toast!” she declared, pouring herself a generous glass. Just as she was about to drink, Dustin’s hand reached out to stop her.

“You just got better, so no drinking for you,” he said gently.

“What? No drinks?” Alicia replied, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

“Dr. Rhys, I feel great now. A couple of drinks should be okay, right?” Alicia asked eagerly.

“Recovering from a serious illness isn’t easy. It’s best to skip alcohol for now,” he replied, shaking his head.

Dustin felt a sense of responsibility. If anything went wrong after she drank, he would be the one to deal with it. He wanted to avoid any trouble, so he decided to intervene.

“How about just three drinks? Can I?” Alicia pleaded, holding up three fingers with a hopeful smile.

“Absolutely not,” Dustin said firmly, shaking his head.

“Just one! I’ll have one to satisfy my craving. That should be fine, right?” She raised one finger, trying to look pitiful.

“If you want to risk your life, go ahead,” he replied, lowering his hand.

“Oh, come on…” Her face twisted in frustration, and she raised her eyebrows. Turning to Grace, she asked for help. “Faith, can you talk some sense into your guy? He’s so strict and won’t even let me have a drink.”

“What are you saying? We are just friends. You can’t ruin his reputation like that,” Grace shot back, rolling her eyes.

“Really?” Alicia said, sounding doubtful. “I thought you two were a couple with all those glances you keep exchanging.”