An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2368

Dustin looked at the vial of poison in front of him. He hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Mr. Styles believes in me, so I should show my commitment.”

He picked up the vial, removed the cap, and drank the poison all at once, making sure not to spill a single drop. To reassure Hank, he turned the bottle upside down to show it was empty.

Dustin knew his body could handle most toxins, so this small amount didn’t worry him.

Hank laughed loudly. “You’re really bold!”

Drinking the poison was a way for Dustin to prove he was serious about joining the Hall of Gods. It was the only way to earn their trust. No matter how convincing he was with his words, they wouldn’t mean anything without this act of loyalty.

The Hall of Gods valued talent, but loyalty was their top priority. Only those who showed true commitment would get special training.

This meant putting one’s life in their hands. Everyone, including Hank, faced this reality. When a mission was given, they all had to take the poison first to show their loyalty.

“Mr. Styles, I’ve shown my sincerity. What do you need me to do next?” Dustin asked.

He suspected that the Hall of Gods had a plan, but he didn’t know the details. He needed to understand their strategy to prepare himself. Otherwise, his actions would be meaningless.

“You don’t need to do anything right now. Just focus on improving your skills for tomorrow’s match,” Hank replied with a smile.

He added, “With your talent and the enhanced serum, you have a good chance of winning. I’ll share our full plan after you defeat the other contestants and claim the championship. Then, you’ll see how great the Hall of Gods really is.”

“Mr. Styles, do you not trust me?” Dustin frowned, feeling displeased.

“Dustin, don’t get the wrong idea. It’s not that I don’t trust you. Honestly, I don’t know the plan either,” Hank said, feeling frustrated.

He went on, “The God King is in charge of this operation and won’t share the details until we need to act. This is to keep things secure and to help us adjust if necessary.”

“Really? Is it that important to keep everything secret? Even someone like you doesn’t know the details?” Dustin asked, surprised.

“That’s just how it is,” Hank replied with a small smile. “I hope you can understand.”

It might seem strange, but that was the truth. Regular members of the Hall of Gods had a bit more freedom, but those with titles or special roles faced tighter controls. They had many resources, but their choices were limited.

“Alright, I’ll go along with it. I won’t ask more questions if this is how the Hall of Gods works. Just let me know if you need anything,” Dustin said, deciding not to push for more information.

“Great. I’ll leave now. I’m excited to see your performance tomorrow,” Hank said, nodding as he quickly stood up and walked away.

The tavern was busy, and it felt like everyone was watching him. The longer he stayed, the more likely he was to attract unwanted attention. He needed to be careful until his plan was set in motion.

Once he was sure Hank had gone, Dustin hid the two vials of enhanced serum. He then jumped out of the back window and vanished from sight.

Ten minutes later, he quietly arrived at a small, charming courtyard that showed the owner’s good taste.

Dustin walked up to the bedroom door and knocked.

A moment later, the door opened to reveal a young woman. She wasn’t traditionally beautiful, but there was something quietly captivating about her.

Her most striking feature was her bright, shining eyes that sparkled like stars. The woman was Grace Linsor, and she had disguised herself using Face-Changing Art.

“You’re here. Please come in,” she said with a smile, waving him in.

Only a few people knew where she lived. When Dustin entered the courtyard, she immediately recognized his familiar presence, so his visit didn’t surprise her.

He walked in and settled onto the couch.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Grace asked casually.

“Water,” he replied, skipping the small talk.

“Sure.” Grace grabbed a bottle of water and placed it in front of him. Then she asked, “Is there something urgent that brought you here at this hour?”

“Take a guess.” Dustin opened the bottle and took a sip, building suspense.

“Guess?” She smiled back. “It’s probably about the Hall of Gods, right? They’ve sent someone to recruit you?”

“Oh? How did you know?” He raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. He hadn’t said anything, yet she had figured it out with amazing accuracy. Her insight was impressive.

“Your performance in the battle ring today was incredible. If I were in their position, I’d want to recruit you too. It just makes sense,” Grace replied, her smile never fading.

“You’re as sharp as ever. Now, can you guess what’s in this box?” Dustin placed the box that Hank had given him on the table.

She examined the box closely and said, “If the Hall of Gods wants to recruit you, they wouldn’t offer you something as ordinary as gold or jewels.”

“Considering their style, whatever they send must be something that directly enhances your strength and helps you win the tournament. It’s likely something unique to them.”

“That box probably holds an enhanced serum or something like that,” she said.

Dustin was shocked.

No way could she have known that. Was she psychic?