An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2366

“Dustin, I had no idea you were so talented. It’s impressive that you managed to beat our top fighters,” Hank said, looking at Dustin before breaking into a smile.

“But honestly, it’s not all your fault. Bill and Jeremiah just weren’t strong enough. As the saying goes, the winner takes all. They faced defeat because of their lack of skill. I’m not here to blame anyone tonight,” he added.

“That’s a relief,” Dustin replied, letting out a sigh of relief and smiling. “So if you’re not here to cause trouble, what’s this visit about?”

“Truthfully, your skills have caught the attention of the God King. He wants to invite you to join the Hall of Gods and help us achieve our grand vision,” Hank said with a smile as he extended the invitation.

“Join the Hall of Gods?” Dustin was shocked. “Mr. Styles, that doesn’t seem right. I’m just an ordinary guy from the mountains. How could I possibly be worthy of such an honor?”

“Stop being so modest, Dustin,” Hank replied while sipping his tea. “Someone with your talent would be a great addition to the Hall of Gods. If you join us, I promise you’ll get specialized training and access to endless resources.”

The Hall of Gods had members from all over the world, and they were unmatched when it came to wealth and resources. Hank felt confident as he presented the offer to Dustin.

“Mr. Styles, I appreciate the offer, but I value my freedom. I don’t like being tied down, so I think I’ll have to decline,” Dustin said, shaking his head.

“Dustin, please don’t be so quick to turn me down,” Hank said, placing his teacup down firmly.

Hank spoke earnestly, “I promise that if you join the Hall of Gods, you won’t have to answer to me. You’ll have the freedom to do whatever you want. Plus, I’ll make sure you receive the authority and resources that come with being an Oracle Defender.”

“Oracle Defender? How prestigious is that position?” Dustin asked, intrigued.

“It’s a special role,” Hank explained. “In Dragonmarsh, it’s like being a respected guild elder. Their authority is just below the God King, and everyone in the Hall of Gods respects them.”

“That sounds great,” Dustin said with a nod and a smile. “So, are you saying that by just joining the Hall of Gods, I can access all those treasures and resources without doing anything?”

“You could see it that way, but…” Hank paused before he continued, “While being an Oracle Defender gives you freedom and power, there will be times when you need to contribute to the Hall of Gods. It’s difficult to maintain respect if you only take and never give.”

The Hall of Gods wouldn’t keep anyone who didn’t help out. They wanted to see results and expected things to run smoothly. What kind of deal was that?

“What do you mean by ‘something’? Just tell me,” Dustin said, his expression calm. He knew Hank was about to get to the point.

“You probably know that after this Combat Tournament, the Hall of Gods has an important mission planned. For security reasons, we haven’t set the target or timing yet,” Hank said.

He continued, “I didn’t know about your skills before, so my plans weren’t as detailed as they should have been. If possible, I’d like you to lead this operation.”

“If you succeed, I won’t just make you an Oracle Defender. I could even promote you to the rank of a god and place you on the same level.”

“Level as me.”

“I didn’t expect the Hall of Gods to take this operation so seriously. What do you need me to do?” Dustin asked carefully.

“If you want to know the details, you’ll need to take this first.” Hank pulled out a vial from his pocket and set it on the table.

“This is…” Dustin said, looking puzzled.

“Poison,” Hank replied plainly.

Dustin frowned at the word, and Hank quickly added, “It’s not that I don’t trust you. But the Hall of Gods has strict rules. To keep secrets safe and protect the mission, everyone must take the poison, including me. No exceptions.”

“Is it really that harsh?” Dustin asked, still frowning.

“Yes, but don’t worry. After you finish the mission, the God King will give you the antidote,” Hank said, trying to reassure him with a smile.

“And what if I don’t complete the mission?” Dustin asked suddenly.

Hank paused for a moment but quickly regained his smile. “Don’t worry. The Hall of Gods has planned every detail. If you follow the steps, everything will be fine.”

Dustin thought for a moment before shaking his head. “Mr. Styles, while the Hall of Gods’ offer is interesting, my safety is more important. I won’t risk my life for someone else’s agenda, so I must decline.”

He wasn’t afraid of the poison. In fact, this was a strategy to build trust with the Hall of Gods. A reasonable person would hesitate at such a risky offer, and showing too much eagerness could raise suspicion.

As Dustin expected, Hank didn’t seem upset by his answer. Instead, he smiled even wider. Hank would have been concerned if Dustin had jumped at the offer, but now he felt he could trust Dustin even more.