An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2543

Nathaniel anxiously urged the guards, “Hurry up! Move faster!”

In that moment, he couldn’t help but curse the mansion for being too large—getting to the scene was taking far too long.

“Your Highness, what’s going on?”

Just then, Lycas and Bryce arrived with a squad of elite guards. Most hadn’t even had time to throw on a shirt. After all, this was the first time the mansion’s alarm had ever gone off.

Nathaniel didn’t waste time explaining. “A thief broke into the mansion. Block every exit—don’t let him escape!”

“Hurry! Seal the entire compound!” Lycas barked, immediately taking charge as the team sprang into action.

They’d trained for this moment for years. Now it was time to prove their worth.

“This way! Quickly!” Nathaniel called out, leading the squad forward at full speed.

But then, a deafening boom erupted from the direction of the vault. The ground trembled violently, shaking the entire estate like an earthquake.

Roughly a hundred yards ahead, the earth split with a thunderous crash. An entire courtyard collapsed, tons of dirt and stone caving in as it swallowed the vault beneath a mountain of rubble.

Dust filled the air, rising in thick clouds like smoke from a battlefield.

Nathaniel came to a sudden stop, eyes wide in disbelief. He was stunned speechless.

This wasn’t what he’d expected. He had assumed a simple break-in—maybe a few valuables stolen from the vault. That would have been painful, but still recoverable.

Now, staring at the devastation, his heart twisted in anguish.

That vault held over ten years’ worth of his most prized possessions. All of it, buried under rubble. The loss was catastrophic. It felt like a blade had been driven straight through his chest.

“Damn it! That bastard!” Nathaniel cursed, his eyes blazing with fury as his body trembled.

“What do we do now, Your Highness?”

The guards behind him exchanged uneasy glances, completely at a loss.

They were supposed to protect the treasure and catch the intruder. Now, the vault was gone, the thief had vanished, and no one knew what to do next.

“Dig! I want those treasures uncovered—now!” Nathaniel roared.

He could stomach losing the other valuables—but not the Dracan essence. If that was lost, everything he had worked for would be ruined.

“Get more men down there. Start digging immediately!”
The guards didn’t dare hesitate. Some ran off to call for reinforcements while the others began digging frantically through the rubble.

Just then, Lycas and Bryce arrived, drawn by the noise. One glance at the devastation, and both men froze. They instantly realized how dire the situation had become.

This wasn’t just about catching a thief anymore—it was turning into a full-blown crisis.

The mansion had been calm for years. Now, disaster had struck out of nowhere. The most likely explanation? A traitor within their ranks.

Knowing Nathaniel’s suspicious nature, a full-scale investigation was inevitable. Anyone even slightly suspicious could easily end up dead.

At that moment, a dark thought crossed Nathaniel’s mind. His expression hardened, and he barked, “Lycas! Bryce! Bring your squads and follow me!”

Without waiting for a reply, he spun around and marched straight toward the guesthouse where Dustin was staying.

Lycas and Bryce exchanged a glance, then quickly signaled to their teams and followed close behind.

They already knew Nathaniel was wary of Dustin. Everything had been peaceful until Dustin’s arrival, and now, just one night later, chaos had erupted. It was hard not to suspect him.

“Logan, this better not be your doing,” Nathaniel muttered through clenched teeth, his eyes blazing with fury as he stormed toward the guesthouse at full speed.

Inside the guesthouse, the lights were still on.

Without hesitation, Nathaniel kicked open the gate and charged in with a group of guards close behind.

Startled by the noise, Dustin stepped out. He was dressed casually and looked at Nathaniel with a puzzled expression.

“Your Highness, what’s going on? Why do you look so tense?” he asked.

“Where were you just now? Answer me,” Nathaniel demanded coldly.

“I’ve been in my room the whole time. I haven’t stepped out. What’s the matter?” Dustin replied, feigning innocence.

Earlier, he had been forced to use brute force to escape the vault when trapped. The collapse had made enough noise to alert the entire estate, but at the time, he had no other choice.

“You’re sure you didn’t leave this room?” Nathaniel eyed him sharply.

If Dustin had really destroyed the vault, he couldn’t have covered his tracks so quickly. Nathaniel was sure some evidence had to be left behind.

“I’m sure,” Dustin said calmly, showing no signs of panic.

“Search him,” Nathaniel ordered with a wave of his hand.

Dustin’s clothes were spotless, and nothing looked out of place. But if he had taken something, there had to be evidence. Nathaniel believed a quick search would expose it.

“Wait!” Dustin raised his hand just as Lycas and Bryce stepped forward.

“Your Highness, what’s the meaning of this?” he asked with a scowl. “If I’m not welcome here, I’ll leave—but why humiliate me like this?”