Saintess's Worthless Husband Turned Dragon Commander novel Chapter 231

CHAPTER 166 PART 2

“You’re missing the point,” Maurice said patiently. “These weren’t street thugs or amateur killers. These were professionals-people with decades of experience, military training, successful track records. And they disappeared like smoke. Either Marcus Steel is the most lethal combatant any of us have ever encountered, or he has backing powerful enough to make elite assassins vanish without a trace.”

“What are you suggesting?” Stanislaus demanded.

“I’m suggesting caution,” Maurice replied. “Before we commit to all-out war, we should understand exactly what we’re dealing with. Who is Marcus Steel really? Where does his power come from? What organization backs him?”

“He’s connected to the Abbott Family,” Elijah Lancaster offered. “Miguel Abbott treats him with unusual deference.”

“The Abbott Family is wealthy but not militarily powerful,” Bridger countered. “They can’t make Shadow Warriors disappear. They can’t give someone the kind of combat capabilities Marcus has demonstrated. There’s something else-something we’re not seeing.”

“Then we investigate,” Richard said firmly. “But we don’t let investigation paralyze us into inaction. The Lancaster Family will move against Marcus Steel regardless of what you discover. The only question is whether you stand with us or against us.”

The ultimatum hung in the air-stark and unavoidable.

“We’re not against you,” Maurice clarified carefully. “We’re simply not ready to commit without more information.”

“That sounds like neutrality,” Thomas observed coldly.

“It is neutrality,” Bridger confirmed. “Which means we won’t interfere with your actions, but we won’t support them either. Three Blade Group will observe and reassess as the situation develops.”

Several other magnates shifted uncomfortably. Three Blade Group’s neutrality was a crack in the unified front Richard was trying to build-and cracks invited doubt.

“Anyone else want to declare neutrality?” Richard asked, his voice dangerously soft.

Silence. Nobody wanted to openly oppose the Lancaster Family when their patriarch was this angry.

“Good,” Richard said. “Then here’s what’s going to happen. We give Miguel Abbott twenty-four hours to hand over Marcus Steel. If he complies, the Abbott Family escapes retaliation. If he refuses, we treat him as an accomplice and enemy.”

“And after we have Marcus?” Cesar asked eagerly.

“We make an example,” Richard replied. “Public. Brutal. Something that ensures nobody ever thinks about challenging the established order again.”

Plans began forming-detailed strategies for capturing or killing Marcus, for pressuring the Abbott Family, for controlling the narrative once the Dragon King fell.

But just as momentum was building, just as the alliance seemed solidified, a voice cut through the discussion like a knife.

“I object.”

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Every head turned.

At the far end of the table, in a seat that had been empty when the meeting started, sat a figure none of them had noticed arriving. Middle-aged, unremarkable features, wearing an expensive but understated suit.

But his eyes-his eyes held the kind of cold authority that made even Richard Lancaster pause.

“Who the hell are you?” Stanislaus demanded. “This is a private meeting! Security!”

The guards at the door didn’t move. Didn’t even acknowledge the shouting.

The stranger smiled thinly. “My name is irrelevant. What matters is who I represent. I’m here on behalf of the Ten Thousand Mountain Alliance.”

The room froze.

Ten Thousand Mountain Alliance. The name was whispered in certain circles-a shadowy organization that operated above provincial politics, above family hierarchies. An entity so powerful that even the Four Great Families treated it with cautious respect.

“The Alliance sent you?” Richard’s voice was carefully neutral now. “Why?”

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