Saintess's Worthless Husband Turned Dragon Commander novel Chapter 240

CHAPTER 171 PART 1

The conference room at the Domenico Building remained frozen in tableau-armed bodyguards with weapons drawn, magnates pressed back in their chairs, Miguel Abbott standing calm with his hand on the dead man’s switch, and Marcus Steel at the center of it all, radiating dragon authority that made the air feel thick and dangerous.

What struck the assembled elite more than the explosives or the threats was Miguel Abbott’s behavior toward Marcus. The chairman of Moonlight Group-a man whose wealth exceeded most small nations’ GDP, whose business empire spanned six provinces, whose political connections reached the highest levels of government- stood slightly behind Marcus Steel like a subordinate awaiting instructions.

The deference was unmistakable and utterly bewildering.

“I don’t understand,” Douglas Reed whispered to the man beside him. “Miguel Abbott is one of the most powerful figures in Five-River Province. Why is he treating this young man like… like…”

“Like the Dragon King,” Maurice Yarrow finished quietly. “Because that’s exactly what Marcus Steel is.”

Marcus’s dragon eyes swept the room one final time, cataloging every face, every expression of fear and uncertainty. When he spoke, his voice carried absolute confidence.

“You all came here tonight planning to destroy me,” Marcus said calmly. “Planning to unite your resources, your connections, your power to crush someone you saw as a threat to the established order. But here’s what you failed to understand-I’m not threatened by any of you. Not individually. Not collectively.”

He paused, letting that sink in.

“So let me make this simple. If you want revenge-if you want to try eliminating the Dragon King-come at me with everything you have. Better yet, do it all at once, so I can deal with you in one go instead of wasting time picking you off individually.”

“You’re declaring war on all of us?” Cesar Pendleton asked, his voice cracking slightly.

“I’m declaring that war already exists,” Marcus corrected. “You started it when you formed this alliance. I’m simply clarifying the rules. Once you make your move against me, there’s no negotiation. No surrender. No backing down. You commit fully, or you don’t commit at all. Because half-measures get people killed.”

Stanislaus Potter, still clutching his bleeding jaw where Marcus had struck him, managed to speak through his pain. “You think you can survive the combined resources of Five-River Province’s elite families? You’re one man!”

“I’m the Dragon King,” Marcus replied. “And I’ve survived worse than anything you can throw at me. The question isn’t whether I’ll survive-it’s how many of you will.”

The silence that followed was profound.

“We’re leaving,” Miguel Abbott announced, his thumb still on the trigger mechanism. “My bodyguards will exit first, maintaining their positions until we’re safely away from the building. Anyone who tries to follow or interfere will discover exactly how committed I am to protecting Mr. Steel.”

He gestured to his security team. They moved in practiced coordination-three exiting first to secure the corridor, two flanking Miguel and Marcus as they walked toward the door, one remaining behind as rear guard.

Marcus paused at the doorway, looking back at the assembled magnates one final time. “Twenty-four hours. That’s how long you have to decide whether you’re brave enough to actually attack me or smart enough to walk away. Choose wisely.”

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125 Rus

Then he was gone, Miguel Abbott following close behind, the remaining bodyguards backing out white maintaining defensive positions.

The conference room door closed with a soft click.

For approximately five seconds, nobody moved.

Then the exodus began.

Maurice Yarrow was first out of his seat. “I have urgent business matters requiring immediate attention. Gentlemen, I wish you all the best in resolving your various conflicts,”

He practically ran for the exit, Bridger Davis and Vincent Cross right behind him.

“My company’s facing a liquidity crisis,” Douglas Reed announced, not even bothering to make his lie convincing “I need to be back at headquarters immediately.”

“My daughter’s sick,” another magnate claimed. “Very sick. Possibly dying. I should go.”

“Market volatility

“Legal emergency

“Family crisis”

One by one, the carefully assembled alliance dissolved like smoke. Within three minutes, only Stanislaus Potter and the remaining Lancaster Family members were left in the conference room, staring at each other across a table littered with damning photographs.

Stanislaus touched the blood on his forehead where Marcus’s elbow had connected. His fingers came away red. The pain was sharp, immediate, real a physical reminder of exactly how outmatched they all were.

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