An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2556

Neville leapt into action the moment he received the order. He swiftly rallied his troops and headed for Matthias’ estate to provide backup and initiate a rescue.

Matthias had no interest in continuing the conversation. His expression was grim as he strode toward the exit.

“Your Highness, please wait,” Seamus suddenly called out.

“Uncle Seamus, something urgent is happening back home. Whatever this is, it’ll have to wait,” Matthias said, his tone impatient.

Whoever had the audacity to unleash a massacre at his estate wasn’t going to get away with it.

“Calm down. You don’t want to walk right into a trap,” Seamus warned.

“A trap?” Matthias frowned. “What are you getting at?”

“Think it through. You have no feud with the Hall of Gods. So why would they send their royal god to wreak havoc at your estate? Doesn’t that strike you as suspicious?” Seamus asked evenly.

“I’ll find out once I capture Zeus,” Matthias snapped, gritting his teeth.

“Your Highness, I must remind you—apart from the elusive Supreme leader, Zeus is the top powerhouse in all of Strequa. With all due respect, your troops alone can’t take him down,” Seamus cautioned.

“Zeus may be powerful, but he’s just one man. I command thousands. I can crush him with sheer numbers,” Matthias insisted, unwilling to retreat.

His army was filled with elite warriors, including grandmaster martial artists. If they launched a joint assault, he believed even Zeus couldn’t withstand them.

And with 30,000 elite soldiers as backup, what did he have to fear?

“Even if your forces could defeat him, the cost would be enormous. Are you prepared to accept that price?” Seamus asked.

“Then what do you expect me to do?” Matthias scowled. “Stand by and let Zeus walk all over me? If I keep hiding like a coward, who’s going to respect me?”

Seamus shook his head. “I don’t know the full picture, but something’s not right. It feels like someone’s trying to provoke a conflict. I advise against confronting Zeus head-on. You’d just be sacrificing your elite troops for nothing.”

“I understand what’s at stake. But I’m trapped—I can’t ignore this,” Matthias said, his voice hardening.

If his estate was attacked and he did nothing, it would deal a serious blow to his pride as a prince.

Suddenly, Seamus said, “I have a plan that might get you out of this mess—but it all depends on how you handle it.”

“Uncle Seamus, tell me what to do,” Matthias said, instantly alert.

“Instead of confronting Zeus and losing your troops, let someone stronger deal with him,” Seamus said, calmly sipping his tea.

“What do you mean?” Matthias asked, puzzled.

“A powerhouse like Zeus needs someone even mightier to stop him. I’ve heard the chief overseer of the Regal Observatory, Ezekiel Hawke, possesses near-immortal strength. If you can persuade him to intervene, your crisis might be over,” Seamus explained, his tone deliberate.

Ezekiel might not appear on the Astonishing World List, but those who knew him claimed his strength rivaled the living god Arion. He was also one of the pillars behind Dragonmarsh’s lasting stability.

“Ezekiel Hawke of the Regal Observatory?” Matthias’ frown deepened. “Father mentioned him before. He’s incredibly strong, but he’s been in seclusion for years and avoids worldly affairs. If even Father couldn’t move him, what chance do I have?”

“There’s no such thing as impossible if your resolve is firm,” Seamus replied.

He took out a round pendant and handed it to Matthias.

“Years ago, I saved Ezekiel’s son. This pendant was given to me as a token of gratitude. Take it to the Gilded Chamber. His son will understand its meaning. But I can’t guarantee it will work.”

Matthias’ face lit up with hope. “Thank you, Uncle Seamus.”

The pendant felt like a promise—more valuable than gold or jewels.

While it didn’t guarantee Ezekiel’s help, it offered a chance.

If used at the right moment, it could be a lifesaving trump card. Still, Matthias already felt hesitant to use it.

He considered saving it for a future turning point, like seizing the throne by force. With Ezekiel by his side, no rival could stop him, and no throne would be out of reach.

“Your Highness, don’t get ahead of yourself,” Seamus warned, as if reading his thoughts.

He added, “Ezekiel doesn’t meddle in politics. He might save your life, but helping you claim the throne is unlikely.”

Ezekiel only acted when the fate of the nation was at stake. Political conflicts and power struggles were, to him, just nature’s way of restoring balance.

“Fine. Let’s focus on surviving this crisis,” Matthias said.

Though disappointed, he pushed aside his ambition—for now. Clutching the pendant tightly, he turned and made his way toward the Gilded Chamber.

If he could persuade Ezekiel to join him, Matthias planned to use that momentum to crush the Hall of Gods’ influence and elevate his own standing. A victory like that would surely attract more allies.