An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2294

“No way! That priest looked ordinary and didn’t seem like a threat,” Aurora said, confused.

Fenley, known for his skills in Dragonmarsh, felt confident. He thought he had no reason to fear the three Strequans.

“You can’t judge a book by its cover,” Fenley replied seriously. “The priest is the strongest among them. If you ever see him, stay away.”

If Fenley had been by himself earlier, he wouldn’t have worried. But with Aurora and Alicia with him, he needed to be careful and couldn’t fight as freely.

He knew that if they fought, Jeremiah could distract him while Bill and George captured the Marshall sisters. With the sisters in danger, the situation could quickly turn against them.

So, Fenley decided to drop the issue to protect the sisters.

“Okay, I understand.” Aurora nodded, seeing how serious he was.

“Fenley, those people mentioned competing in the Combat Tournament tomorrow. You might face them, so be careful,” Alicia reminded him.

She knew Bill was strong, but they didn’t know how strong Jeremiah was. Until they had a better idea of their opponents, it was best to be cautious.

“These people aren’t here with good intentions, so we should stay alert,” Fenley said, nodding.

“But don’t worry. Our nation has many hidden talents. If we face them in the battle ring, we won’t lose to those Strequans. The only worry is that they might use dirty tricks.”

“We’ll handle whatever comes our way,” Aurora said confidently. “Once we’re in the battle ring, those guys from the Strequan underworld won’t stand a chance!”

Over the years, the Strequan forces, led by the Hall of Gods, had always used underhanded tactics—manipulating, bribing, and even assassinating behind the scenes.

They never dared to face the Dragonmarsh directly. By entering the Combat Tournament openly, they were just inviting trouble.

“Let’s stop talking about them and enjoy our meal,” Alicia said, trying to change the subject as they began to eat. She trusted that the elders would handle the Hall of Gods, so they didn’t need to worry.

Outside the tavern, Jeremiah walked down the busy street, enjoying the night like a tourist. George followed him quietly, acting like a bodyguard.

Meanwhile, Bill was feeling frustrated. Not only had he failed to attract any women, but he had also been beaten up, which really hurt his pride. If Jeremiah hadn’t stopped him, Bill would have confronted Fenley and challenged him to a fight.

“Father, I don’t understand. He’s just a martial artist from Dragonmarsh. Why are we so scared of him?” Bill finally spoke up, his anger bubbling over.

“Sir Hudson from the Celestial Alliance is ranked fifth on the Legendary List. He’s not someone we can underestimate. We’re on a mission, and now isn’t the right time to create more problems,” Jeremiah replied calmly.

“What’s so special about being fifth on the Legendary List? If I had transformed, I could have taken him down,” Bill said bitterly.

Powerful vampires usually have three forms. He had lost earlier because he only used his second form. If he could unleash his third form, his strength would double, and he could take down Fenley to release his frustration.

“If you transform, you’ll be weak for days and won’t be able to compete in the tournament,” Jeremiah said.

He continued, “Also, even if you did transform, it might not change the outcome. You weren’t fighting at your best, and Fenley might have been holding back too. In a life-or-death situation, you might not be his equal.”

“Even if I can’t beat him alone, we still…”

“Mr. Burroughs is on our side, right?” Bill said, a bit defiantly. “If he’s ready to act, we can take down Fenley.”

“I don’t need help. I can handle this myself,” George cut in.

Bill was taken aback by George’s response. His frustration was barely hidden as he looked at George beside him. He would have snapped at George, but he knew he couldn’t win that argument.

“Did you really think Fenley was the only threat?” Jeremiah suddenly stopped walking.

Bill, lost in thought, bumped into Jeremiah and stumbled back. “What do you mean? Are you saying there’s someone else?” he asked, surprised.

“Didn’t you notice the young man sitting with Fenley?” Jeremiah inquired.

Bill thought for a moment before replying, “The guy next to him? He seemed pretty ordinary. He didn’t say anything, even when we provoked him. He must be weak.”

Jeremiah scoffed and turned to face Bill, a cold smile on his lips. “I think he’s more like a werewolf than a vampire.”

“What do you mean by that?” Bill asked, confused.

“Just muscle with no brains,” Jeremiah said bluntly.

Bill’s eye twitched at the insult. In Strequan, strength mattered above all, and if someone didn’t measure up, they had to stay quiet.

“That man is just as strong as Fenley. He had a powerful presence,” Jeremiah remarked.

Jeremiah’s smile faded as he added thoughtfully, “If you had faced him earlier, you might already be dead.”