An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2527

Soluna Hall operated under one strict rule—they never served unfamiliar clients. Only those personally known or introduced by trusted contacts were allowed through their doors.

Every transaction required an appointment. Urgent matters could bypass this, but only for an additional fee.

When Dustin arrived at the entrance, two security guards stopped him. After he gave his name and they confirmed his identity, they allowed him to enter.

Inside, a female attendant greeted him with a pleasant smile and guided him across the main hall into the back garden. They passed a small fish pond and stopped in front of a secluded private room.

“This is Ms. Linsor’s private reception area. Mr. Rhys, please go in,” she said with a courteous smile.

“She’s not here yet?” Dustin asked, slightly puzzled.

“She had something urgent come up, but she’ll arrive shortly. Please make yourself comfortable,” the attendant replied, still smiling.

“Alright then.” He nodded and stepped inside.

The room was spacious, blending vintage style with elegant touches, giving it a refined charm. A light fragrance hung in the air—fresh and soothing.

The table was already set with cut fruit, snacks, and warm tea.

As Dustin glanced around, his eyes landed on a bookshelf against the wall.

It held a collection of rare and unique books, covering a wide range of subjects. He browsed the titles and eventually picked one: The Legends of Extraordinary People.

As the name implied, the book chronicled figures of legend throughout history. Some had ruled vast regions, others had performed feats of unimaginable power, and a few had become unbeatable icons of their time.

One tale told of a swordsman who, a thousand years ago, stood alone to defend a city—so formidable that even an army of 100,000 dared not challenge him.

Other stories described people who could move mountains, calm rivers, subdue monsters, or halt natural disasters.

There was even a tale of a beggar who laughed three times, took a single step through heaven’s gate, and vanished into the clouds at high noon.

Every character in the book was a living legend in their own right.

As Dustin flipped toward more recent timelines, one name caught his eye—Arion Foyer, the sage of Sacred Wyrm Summit. His name stood at the very top of the Champ-Tier List.

Years ago, during the Era of Demon Banishment, shockwaves rippled through the martial world. The three great demon sects, once at their peak, were wiped out overnight. Since then, not a trace of them had been found.

Arion had claimed the top spot in the Champ-Tier List ever since, and no one had been able to challenge his dominance.

The book held far more about Arion and his extraordinary legacy.
Before the Era of Demon Banishment, Arion was virtually unknown. He spent his days idly, wasting time with no interest in cultivation. He either slept or wandered aimlessly, never once committing himself to training.

Yet this seemingly unremarkable man went berserk after learning his mentor had been killed by the demon sect. In a fit of rage, he single-handedly annihilated the entire sect with nothing but a sword, leaving no survivors.

Dustin sat down, flipping through the pages with growing interest. Each legendary tale read like a myth, stirring something deep within him. He wondered if, someday, his name might appear in a book like this.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

At that moment, Grace entered, still veiled. She glanced briefly at the book in his hands but said nothing. Instead, she sat across from him and poured two cups of tea.

“I just got here too,” Dustin replied. He returned the book to the shelf, then smiled and asked, “So, why the urgent invitation? What’s going on?”

“I just received some news that concerns your safety. I had to pay a hefty price to confirm it,” she said meaningfully.

“You’re not seriously planning to charge me for this, are you?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Of course I am. And double the usual rate,” Grace replied with confidence.

“Seriously? After everything we’ve been through—life-and-death situations—you’re still charging me? That feels a bit cold,” Dustin said, clearly exasperated.

“Business is business,” she said with a smile. “Out there, we’re friends. But here at Soluna Hall, everything follows the rules. No personal favors allowed.”

“So you called me here just to do business?” Dustin sighed, clearly regretting his choice of friends.

“Well, that’s how the business runs.” Grace shrugged. “But since we’re friends, I’ll give you a discount.”

“I don’t care about discounts—I’ve got nothing to give,” Dustin said, raising his hands in surrender.

“No problem. You can owe me. Pay it back when you can,” she replied bluntly.

“Didn’t know you were such a money-grubber,” he muttered, rolling his eyes.

“It’s not easy keeping a large operation like this afloat without income. Besides, money doesn’t mean much to someone like you,” Grace teased with a playful smile.

“Alright, alright—I’ll owe you. Now, tell me what this news is,” Dustin said, giving in with a resigned sigh.

“What you did recently in West Lucozia has already caught the attention of the higher-ups in the Hall of Gods,” Grace said, her smile fading as her tone turned serious.

She continued, “From what I’ve learned, they see your potential as a threat. They’ve already sent two royal gods to eliminate you—they’ll arrive in Oakvale soon.”