An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori (official version)

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“Alright!” Dustin cut to the chase, his gaze unwavering. “Lumen, let’s get straight to it. Who was the puppet master

pulling the strings behind the plot to wipe us out all those years ago?”

“As expected.” Donovan nodded, already anticipating the question. Instead of a direct response, he posed a

question of his own, “Mr. Rhys, have you ever come across the Dragon Guard?”

“The Dragon Guard?” Dustin narrowed his eyes. “Rufus mentioned it briefly, but the details escape me.”

“In that case, allow me to shed some light,” Donovan said, his demeanor serious.

“The Dragon Guard, established in the early days of our nation, is a formidable institution that surpasses imperial

authority. Its members are elite warriors, each a force to be reckoned with.”

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He added, “Take their Chief Guildmaster, Alaric Drakon, for instance. His strength is immeasurable. In the entire

realm, only the reclusive sage of Sacred Wyrm Summit could rival him.

“Most importantly, the current king owes his position to Alaric. In essence, the King is a puppet manipulated by

Alaric. Imperial power and the throne itself are all controlled by his whims.

“That’s Alaric, and that’s the Dragon Guard.”

As Donovan spoke, a mix of bitterness and resignation flashed in his eyes. As a member of the royal lineage and

the King’s younger brother, he understood the deep fear instilled by the Dragon Guard.

Even an ordinary member of the Dragon Guard could exercise unchecked influence over imperial matters, let alone

Alaric.

Unfortunately, those who voiced dissent found themselves with no room for resistance and faced dire

consequences.

Despite the organization’s apparent role as a protector, it had transformed into an unrestrained entity, committing

numerous heinous acts.

The situation became even more intricate as there was no supervision, and nobody dared to step in and intervene.

“Abbot Lumen, are you suggesting that the events of that year were linked to the Dragon Guard?” Dustin quickly

connected the dots.

“Precisely.” Donovan nodded. “At that time, Alaric, wielding imperial power, set a deadly trap with the intent of

burying you and your mother outside Aylka. Many formidable members of the Dragon Guard were enlisted for this

purpose.”

He went on, “I heard of your peril and wanted to lead reinforcements, but the forces of the Dragon Guard blocked

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my path. I was too weak and too afraid to defy their orders, so I could only watch from my residence.

“Logan, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. If I had summoned the courage to lead the troops, your mother might have

survived. I failed you, and I am a sinner.

Donovan’s frame quivered, tears pooling in his eyes. These words had lingered within him for a long time. He had

thought that adopting a monastic life and engaging in annual repentance would serve as redemption.

However, it turned out that he was just in deep denial.

“Abbot Lumen, there’s no need to blame yourself. We all have to weather the storm in life,” Dustin comforted him,

showing empathy.

He continued, “Even if you had commanded troops that day, it wouldn’t have made much difference. You could

have ended up sacrificing yourself. I would’ve made the same decision if I was in your shoes.”