Saintess's Worthless Husband Turned Dragon Commander novel Chapter 254

CHAPTER 177 PART 1

Miguel Abbott’s phone hadn’t stopped buzzing since Marcus ended his call with Amadeus Fairbanks. Text messages flooded in from across Five-River Province-informants reporting positions, surveillance teams. confirming coverage, contacts inside rival families updating their intelligence networks.

“Airport security is ours,” Miguel reported, scrolling through updates with practiced efficiency. “Three teams positioned at different terminals. Private jet landing pads monitored. Every vehicle leaving the airport will be tracked.”

Marcus nodded but said nothing, his dragon eyes focused on the nighttime skyline beyond Pearl on the Water’s

windows.

“I’ve activated our people inside the Potter Family, the remaining Lancaster contacts, even some of Three Blade Group’s lower-level operators,” Miguel continued. “If Maurice Springs brings reinforcements into the city, we’ll know before they clear customs.”

The scope of Miguel’s intelligence network was becoming visible for the first time-not just a hotel magnate’s resources, but a provincial operator’s carefully cultivated web of influence. Information brokers, corrupt officials, paid informants scattered throughout every major family and organization in Five-River Province.

This was power that transcended wealth. This was the infrastructure of control.

Yet despite commanding this network, despite possessing resources that could topple governments, Miguel Abbott still deferred completely to Marcus Steel.

“Boss,” Miguel said carefully, “with your permission, I’d like to mobilize additional security. We have contractors in the region-former military, professional bodyguards. I can have fifty armed men here within three hours. A hundred by morning.”

“No,” Marcus replied simply.

“But if Maurice brings forces-”

“He won’t,” Marcus interrupted, his dragon certainty absolute. “Maurice Springs is a branch manager. Pride runs deeper than strategy in men like that. He’ll come alone because bringing an army would suggest he needs one. And admitting he needs help to kill one man? That would be worse than the humiliation his son already suffered.”

Miguel absorbed this logic, recognizing the truth in it. “And if you’re wrong?”

“I’m not,” Marcus said flatly.

“Boss, I respect your judgment, but Willson Pavilion-”

“Miguel.” Marcus turned from the window, his dragon eyes meeting Miguel’s directly. “Stop. This conversation ends now.”

The command wasn’t harsh, but it carried weight that made argument impossible. Miguel felt it-the pressure of dealing with forces beyond provincial understanding, hierarchies that operated on principles his worldview couldn’t quite encompass.

“Understood,” Miguel said quietly, recognizing the boundary he’d just hit.

Marcus’s expression softened slightly. “You’ve been invaluable. Your network, your resources, your loyalty—all of it matters. But what’s coming next operates on a different level. Trust that I know what I’m doing.”

“I do trust you,” Miguel confirmed. “I just… I worry.”

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“Don’t,” Marcus replied with something close to kindness. “Worry is wasted energy. Preparation is useful. Fear is paralyzing. Stay focused on what you can control-intelligence gathering, security protocols, exit strategies if things go wrong. Leave Maurice Springs to me.”

Miguel nodded and returned to his phone, coordinating movements across the city while Marcus stood alone by the window, the Dragon King waiting for his next challenger.

Twelve miles away, at Bright Hospital’s exclusive trauma wing, Quantez Springs lay unconscious in intensive care. Machines beeped rhythmically, monitoring vitals that remained dangerously unstable despite three hours of

emergency surgery.

The lead surgeon-Dr. Raymond Park, one of Five-River Province’s most respected trauma specialists-emerged from the operating room looking exhausted and grim.

“Well?” Miles Cooper demanded immediately, stepping forward with barely controlled anxiety.

“He’ll live,” Dr. Park said carefully. “But the damage is extensive. Multiple fractured ribs, ruptured spleen, severe internal bleeding. We’ve stabilized the immediate threats, but recovery will take months. Maybe longer.”

“Months?” Miles’s voice rose. “The branch manager arrives in hours! You need to have Quantez conscious and coherent to explain what happened!”

Dr. Park’s expression hardened. “Mr. Springs is lucky to be alive. Pushing him to consciousness now could cause complications that—”

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