An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2553

That night, the moonlight was obscured by heavy clouds.

After returning to his mansion, Nathaniel began plotting how to saddle Matthias with the explosive threat posed by Zeus and Hera.

He chose Matthias over Tristan because Matthias held the largest power base. With his military background and formidable followers, he was the ideal candidate to face off against the two royal gods from the Hall of Gods.

Nathaniel hoped they would clash in a deadly confrontation, destroying each other—and leaving him free to swoop in and reap the rewards.

After mulling it over, he stood and issued a command. “Tell Bamon Niles, Wane Brutson, and Cronus Liam to meet me in the study in one hour.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” the guard at the door replied before quickly departing.

An hour later, the three men arrived one after another. They were Nathaniel’s most trusted advisors—sharp, reliable, and always ready with a strategy.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

The trio entered and greeted Nathaniel with practiced respect.

“Please, be seated,” Nathaniel said, gesturing toward the chairs.

He continued, “This is a serious matter, so I’ll get straight to the point. I summoned you to discuss something critical.”

Nathaniel laid everything out—from Cynthia’s plan to pin the blame on someone else, to his decision to use Matthias as the target. He left nothing out.

When he finished, a heavy silence filled the room.

“Your Highness, the plan is sound, but dangerous. If anything goes wrong, we could lose far more than we expect,” Bamon said, stroking his white beard with a thoughtful expression.

“Only those who walk through fire can grasp the flame,” Nathaniel replied. “The royal gods are a grave threat, but if we play it right, they’ll become the sharpest weapons in our arsenal.”

At that moment, the flickering candlelight cast warped shadows across his face.

“I plan to let the royal gods do the dirty work and destroy everything Matthias has built,” he continued.

Wane’s face went pale at the words. His body trembled slightly beneath his official uniform.

“Your Highness, Zeus and Hera are no ordinary beings,” he said. “Prince Matthias also commands powerful allies. If they trace the scheme back to you—”

“That’s why we can’t leave any loose ends,” Nathaniel interrupted. “I’ll have someone arrange a meeting with Zeus and Hera at the Helvetica Club. Then I’ll dispatch three teams of death warriors to blend into the crowd.”
“The first team will pose as wandering mercenaries. After a few drinks, they’ll casually mention a mysterious wounded man hidden in the castle’s private chamber—just loud enough for the next table to overhear.

“The second team will impersonate Matthias’s men. After a few rounds, they’ll let Logan’s name slip during a heated argument—just enough to plant a seed of suspicion.

“The third team’s job is to cause a scene. They’ll knock over drinks, bump into guests, and stir up enough chaos to keep Zeus and Hera too distracted to think clearly.

“Once everything is in motion, and knowing how the royal gods operate, they’ll definitely grab someone for questioning. That’s when our death warriors step in and shift the blame onto Matthias.”

Cronus’s eyes lit up. “Your Highness, that’s an excellent plan. With so much misdirection, even the truth will start to sound like a lie.”

“If I may—how can we earn their trust with just a few words?” Bamon asked respectfully, voicing his concern.

Nathaniel smiled faintly. He walked over to the wall and slid open a hidden compartment. From within, he retrieved an emerald badge engraved with an ornate ‘M’—the exact emblem used by Matthias’s estate guards.

The badge gleamed softly under the candlelight, looking more like a poisoned dagger than a piece of identification.

“This badge belongs to one of Matthias’s guards. With this in play, he won’t be able to deny a thing,” Nathaniel said.

He tossed the badge to Cronus. “You’ll lead the team tomorrow night. Give this to the death warriors as proof of identity. Forge a few secret letters implicating Logan and Matthias—seal them with Matthias’s private wax. Everything must be flawless.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Cronus replied with a respectful nod.

Nathaniel then turned to Bamon and Wane. “The two of you will handle the cleanup. Every detail must withstand scrutiny. The more believable the lie, the easier it is to sell.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” they responded in unison.

They had no choice but to follow Nathaniel’s lead.

For now, the plan was airtight. If they could weaponize the Hall of Gods to eliminate key threats, the road ahead could be cleared.

And if they managed to dismantle Matthias’s power base, Nathaniel—their chosen heir—would have a far better shot at claiming the throne.

If he succeeded, Cronus, Bamon, and Wane would rise as his loyal ministers. Their status and influence would skyrocket in an instant.

Despite the risks and possible flaws, they had to take the gamble. If they won, they’d soar. If they lost, they still had options. Either way, the cards were in their hands.