An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2484

“Are you even qualified to sit while speaking to me?”

Austin’s words hit hard, like a hammer. They were sharp and left no room for a comeback.

Langdon sat there, frozen and speechless. He hadn’t expected a brat like Austin to be so sharp-tongued.

If he admitted he was there for personal reasons, he could save his pride, but he would lose control of the conversation. All the accusations he had planned would fall flat.

On the other hand, if he insisted it was official business, he would have to show respect and offer a formal greeting. No matter how he answered, he would be giving up some ground.

“I’ll ask you again. Are you here for official or personal matters?” Austin asked coldly.

“Um, official matters,” Langdon finally managed to say, feeling cornered.

“Is this how an official conducts himself?” Austin pressed further.

With no other choice, Langdon stood up and gave a deep bow. “Your Highness, it’s an honor to stand before you.”

The other royal advisors quickly followed his lead, their earlier arrogance fading as they stood to show their respect.

Axel watched the scene unfold, unable to hide his admiration.

Austin truly lived up to his reputation. He was sharp and strategic. With just a few words, he had completely outmaneuvered the clever officials.

“Uncle Langdon, there’s no need to be so serious. I was just having a bit of fun,” Austin said.

In an instant, he shifted from cold and distant to warm and friendly.

“Come on, everyone, have a seat. Don’t be so formal.”

Langdon and the other advisors exchanged uncertain glances, surprised by how quickly Austin changed his attitude.

“I wouldn’t dare, Your Highness. I’ll just stand,” Langdon replied, his face grim and his voice tense.

He had spent years in government

For years, Langdon had been confident in his abilities, but the thought of being outplayed by Austin bothered him deeply.

“As you wish, Uncle Langdon,” Austin said without pressing further.

He settled into a chair, a sly smile on his face. “So, why are you here?”

“I…” Langdon started, but he struggled to find the right words.

He had barged in, ready to confront Austin. But now, all his anger seemed to fade away, leaving him unable to speak firmly.

“What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue, Uncle Langdon?” Austin teased, raising an eyebrow.

Langdon took a deep breath and tried to organize his thoughts. “Your Highness, the city is in lockdown, and people are panicking. I need to know—what has happened to cause this?”

“To catch a traitor, of course,” Austin replied calmly. “I issued an official notice this morning. Everything is explained there. Didn’t you read it?”

“An official notice?” Langdon frowned. “What notice? Why haven’t we heard about this?”

“You’ve all been busy with your own matters, so it’s understandable if you missed it,” Austin said evenly. “I’ll have copies sent to your homes later so no one is left uninformed.”

Wanting to steer the conversation back on track, Langdon quickly spoke up. “Forget the notice. Just tell me what crime Sir Prescott committed that justifies all this chaos. Did you really need to turn the entire city upside down?”

“Exactly! Sir Prescott has done so much for West Lucozia. Even if he made a mistake, does that mean you should take his property and sentence him to death?” one royal advisor chimed in.

“If Prince Rufus were here, he wouldn’t allow this recklessness, nor would he let you throw Celestria into turmoil,” another advisor added.

With Langdon leading the charge, the other royal advisors rallied behind him.

The advisors quickly joined in to voice their objections. They weren’t just standing up for Warrick; they were also looking out for themselves. After all, who among them hadn’t bent the rules at some point? If even a small mistake could lead to execution and losing everything they owned, what chance did they have?

“Everyone, please be quiet,” Austin said, raising his hand. The room fell silent.

Once the noise died down, he spoke again. “Let me be clear—Warrick didn’t just make a mistake; he has committed terrible crimes.”

He continued, “Over the years, he has done awful things—looting, killing, and actions so vile they are hard to describe. The blood on his hands could condemn him many times over, and no punishment would be enough to make up for what he has done. Are you really saying a man like that should not be arrested and executed?”

“That’s absurd!” Langdon shouted. “If Your Highness has any proof, show it. Otherwise, we won’t believe such accusations.”

“Exactly. Sir Prescott is a loyal and honorable man. There’s no way he could be guilty of these crimes.”

“You are being misled by false rumors, Your Highness. Sir Prescott is innocent.”

“To execute a loyal servant without evidence is a grave injustice. Your Highness must cancel the arrest order and clear Sir Prescott’s name.”

The advisors erupted in protest, their voices filled with righteous anger.

To anyone watching, it seemed like Austin had made a serious mistake.