An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori

"I..."

Abigail's words left Ruby speechless, and she blushed. Ruby suddenly realized she was too naive.

Grudges and alliances often defied reason in the martial world—either kill or be killed.

If Luke intended to kill Abigail, then it was only natural for her to defend herself by retaliating against him. Her actions were justified.

Furthermore, as Abigail pointed out, those who acted solely for profit were hardly virtuous. Therefore, it was not worthwhile to advocate for justice on their behalf.

"Ruby, judging by your demeanor, you're likely new to the martial world," Abigail began. "Holding onto your good intentions is commendable, but you must choose your allies wisely. Blindly playing the role of a saint will only bring harm to yourself and others."

She offered a knowing smile. "Let's let bygones be bygones. There's no need to let tension brew between us over strangers' affairs. Come, let's continue with our drinks."

Then, she lifted her glass and nodded toward Ruby.

Ruby hesitated briefly before raising her glass and downing its contents.

As the tension dissipated after the brief commotion, the atmosphere in the tavern returned to its former merriment as if nothing had happened. Laughter and chatter resumed, accompanied by the clinking of glasses.

Meanwhile, members of the Mystic Arts Order swiftly cleaned up the aftermath outside the tavern.

With the streets littered with bodies and blood, they worked diligently to erase any traces of the night's violence. Even if their actions were in self-defense, they had to ensure no lingering consequences.

preserving their reputation and ensuring their gambling activities

progressed to morning, the atmosphere at Sacred Wrym

hour, the venue buzzed with anticipation as crowds filled every

Abigail invested a significant sum to secure a prime spot. She had set up ten gambling tables to accommodate

available, covering everything from match

of celestial stones to be delivered

the trivial disputes on the previous day, Abigail appeared resolute

spectators, including elite members from various major sects,

untold wealth. She

turned a blind eye to the

the perfect environment to make a profit. Thus, her new round of

in the

the crowd at Sacred Wrym Summit, he ventured alone

found slipped under his door that morning. The letter's content was simple. It was a request

dismissed such a request without much thought.

bore a peculiar mark—a distinct emblem of

relentless in their efforts to sow

assassinate Rufus in Swinton, where they had even deployed the Four Gods and a

Hall of Gods persisted in their clandestine machinations. But their sudden appearance near Sacred Wrym Summit hinted at hidden

members sought him out before he had

instructions in the letter, he arrived at a private