"The Ruins of the First Holy King?"
Zeke had never heard this information, even in his previous life. Given that the emperor had ransacked every ruin on the continent, it wasn't surprising that he coveted the Ruins of the First Holy King.
Souma said to Zeke,
"According to intelligence, the emperorʼs health has deteriorated significantly. He believes thereʼs a relic in the Ruins of the First Holy King that can cure his illness, so heʼs personally leading the army under the pretext of aiding the Holy Kingdom in the search."
Hearing Soumaʼs words, Zeke realized why the emperor had personally mobilized the army and marched on the Holy Kingdom.
"The Ork Legion must have been sent by the emperor as well. He needed an excuse to enter the Holy Kingdom."
What surprised Zeke was that Siemens had accommodated the emperorʼs mad request.
To utilize the monster legion, the power of both Siemens and Narak was necessary.
Whether the emperor had truly grown desperate to cure his illness and mobilized the Ork Legion in a frenzy, or whether Siemens and Narak harbored other intentions, Zeke couldn't know. But it was clear that this situation would plunge not only the Holy Kingdom but the entire empire into great chaos.
"With the Second Prince, his heir, in my hands, and the emperor lashing out, Julius must be tearing his hair out."
The empireʼs turmoil created plenty of openings to exploit.
In his previous life, Zeke had lost his life to the emperorʼs hunting dogs.
He couldn't say he harbored no grudge against the emperor.
"In my previous life, we never crossed paths. But in this one... I can seize the opportunity for revenge."
At that moment, Souma spoke again.
"The Family Head wishes for you to capture the traitor Bacchus."
Though he had circled around it, what the Black Stage ultimately wanted was Bacchus.
"Because of the Papal Successor?"
Souma shook his head at Zekeʼs question.
"Thatʼs part of it, but Bacchus himself is a bigger problem. As a former Black Stage operative and a direct descendant of Draker, he knows too much. If such a man strikes a deal with the emperor and defects to the empire, Draker will suffer a massive blow." As Zeke listened to Souma, various questions arose in his mind.
"It canʼt be just that—they wouldnʼt send me after Bacchus for such a simple reason." Zeke suspected this was another of Arthurʼs twisted tests.
It could have been a trial to see how he would capture and deal with a direct blood relative like Bacchus.
"Or perhaps Bacchus truly knows some secret, one that must not leak to the empire or even the Black Stage, so theyʼre entrusting it to me." Various complicated circumstances seemed hidden within.
Souma said to Zeke, who was pondering.
"The Family Head said he would grant a great reward if you resolve this mission."
Zekeʼs suspicions gained some weight from Soumaʼs words.
"For the Family Head to go this far... There must be something to Bacchus."
But even if it wasnʼt Arthurʼs test, as Souma said, if Bacchus handed the Papal Successor to the emperor and helped him find the ruins of the First Holy King, things could get messy.
"First, Iʼll retrieve the Papal Successor from Bacchus and wait for the emperor at the
Ruins of the First Holy King, then deal with him."
Zeke knew that Gio Rubern, the Holy King, was the child of Claudia Rubern—who was Bahamut in polymorph form—and Terakan Draker.
"The Ruins of Gio Rubern are likely linked to the system as well."
In that case, setting a trap there and capturing the emperor would be most advantageous.
Having grasped the situation, Zeke asked Souma again.
"Have you confirmed Bacchusʼs location?"
"Weʼve determined heʼs hiding in an old monastery not far from the Principality of Vadoka."
"Good. One more thing Iʼm curious about."
"Please speak."
"Must I capture Bacchus alive?"
Though they had different mothers, Bacchus and Zeke were brothers sharing the same father.
Seeing Zeke casually ask if he could kill his brother to complete the mission, Souma was reminded anew that he was a direct descendant of Draker.
Souma slowly nodded.
"As long as you leave no traces, it should be fine. But weʼll need proof that Bacchus is dead."
"Understood. Tell the Family Head Iʼll undertake the mission."
At Zekeʼs response, Souma smiled in satisfaction and extended his hand.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Sir Zeke. If you need anything in the future, contact the
Black Stage. Weʼll repay your assistance."
When Zeke released Soumaʼs hand, a black business card suddenly appeared in his grasp.
"A direct communication frequency to the Black Stageʼs intelligence chief? Giving me something like this—they must be in a hurry."
Souma departed for headquarters immediately after achieving his goal.
Left alone, Zeke pondered before summoning Boris and Decker.
As soon as Decker entered the room, he bowed with knightly precision.
"You called for me, my lord?"
Zeke said to Decker,
"Decker, once preparations are complete, advance to the Principality of Vadoka with the White Silver Knight Order."
"You wonʼt lead us personally, my lord?"
"I have something to handle first. Weʼll enter the Holy Kingdom together, but weʼll part ways midway. Complete your mission and rendezvous with me at the Principality of Vadoka."
Decker, aware of Zekeʼs meeting with the Black Stage, surmised the mission was a confidential Draker family matter.
Decker nodded immediately.
"Understood."
"And contact Master Duke in Atlas. He was active in the Holy Kingdom during his youth, so he should know the Principality of Vadoka well. Letʼs ask for his help." Deckerʼs expression brightened at the words.
"With Sir Dukeʼs assistance, weʼll be much stronger."
Zeke ordered Decker to prepare in earnest, then turned to Boris, now alone.
"You seem much more at ease these days."
"No way, boss."
"I hear youʼve gotten close to the Salmak assassins. Howʼs that going?"
"Our work is similar, so we do get along somewhat. Are you thinking of winning them over?"
"If possible, that wouldnʼt be bad."
Borisʼs expression grew complicated at Zekeʼs words.
"Hmm, the Salmak assassins are certainly skilled. But as you know, if they learn of it, the treaty you set will become meaningless, and assassins will come endlessly."
"The Old Man of the Mountain isnʼt one to honor that treaty to the end anyway. Heʼs probably already instructed his assassins to kill me if the chance arises."
"What? No way..."
"That man is capable of it."
Borisʼs eyes sharpened at the words.
"Then should we deal with them now?"
"I thought youʼd grown fond of them. Apparently not."
"Thatʼs separate—business is business."
In Boris, Zeke glimpsed his old hitman self.
He shook his head.
"No need. Salmak... weʼll clean them up soon enough."
For a moment, Boris felt a chill down his spine at Zekeʼs words.
His lord was not one to leave threats at his throat alone.
"He plans to swallow Salmak whole when the opportunity arises."
Salmak had steadfastly held its position for centuries without bowing to any kingdom.
But if Zeke decided to eliminate them, could they endure?
Boris couldnʼt imagine Zeke failing.
"A bloodbath in the desert is coming."
As he wryly smiled inwardly, Zeke said to Boris,
"Boris, weʼre heading into the Holy Kingdom to capture Bacchus Draker."
At Zekeʼs sudden words, Boris asked in confusion,
"The Draker traitor? Why him all of a sudden..."
"Iʼll explain the details later. Only you and Shadia will accompany me." Boris nodded with a resigned expression.
"I had a feeling when you called me separately... Iʼll prepare right away."
"Good. Any news on Lord Hades and the Ishtar mystics?"
"We just received word from Mycenae. Lord Hades is rounding up the Ishtar folks like rats and ordering them to gather all sorts of materials. Strange things are piling up daily in Agamemnon Castle because of it."
"Let Lord Hades do as he wishes. Howʼs Lady Yellin?"
At Zekeʼs question about Yellin, Boris made a peculiar face.
It was the first time Zeke had inquired after a womanʼs well-being.
"Lady Yellin left for a journey to the northern forest to trace her ancestorsʼ footsteps." "The northern forest..."
As Zeke pondered deeply, Boris cautiously asked,
"Boss, surely... youʼre not really planning to marry Ishtarʼs heir?" In Borisʼs eyes, Yellinʼs beauty was the epitome of perfection.
Even Angelina, said to be the continentʼs most beautiful, was lovely, but Yellin embodied mystery and elegance like a goddess of beauty.
Setting aside her terrifying background as Ishtarʼs heir, her allure was enough to make one offer their soul to claim her.
At the words, Zeke looked at Boris with a pitying expression.
"Do I seem like Iʼm in a position to think about marriage right now?"
"N-No, but just in case."
"Enough nonsense. Howʼs her escort?"
"The Ishtar mystics are handling it themselves. We assigned a few of ours to report immediately if anything happens."
"Good. Let me know right away if something does."
If anything happened to Yellin, Jamila, the head of Ishtar, would surely come for his head.
Then Boris said to Zeke,
"Boss, one more thing."
"What?"
"Lady Arina contacted us. She says sheʼs trained the Sixʼs assassins who tried to kill you quite obediently."
"...I canʼt fathom what Lady Arina did to make those mafia thugs change their minds."
"Iʼm quite curious myself but didnʼt dare ask."
"Did she say they need treatment too?"
"Yes, like Sion. She said their abilities were boosted with drugs. That sand ability user seems to be in pretty bad shape."
"The mafiaʼs methods are predictable. Understood. When we visit Agamemnon Castle later, treatment comes first."
Zeke ended the conversation there and instructed Boris to prepare.
A few days later, dozens of warships departed from Iason.
Aboard them were the Black Sword Knight Order led by Zeke and the White Silver Knight Order led by Luno.
The warships carrying them raced toward the Holy Kingdom.
*
Grrrrrr— Kikikikik— Crunch! Crunch!
Dreadful sounds leaked from behind dozens of thick iron doors.
Ramon Siemens walked down the corridor of solid natural stone, flanked by the doors, with a grave expression.
Behind him followed mages from the Siemens Secret Magic Corps.
When Ramon raised his hand, the iron door at the corridorʼs end opened on its own.
As soon as it did, a foul stench poured out from the stone chamber.
A poisonous blood mist filled the chamber so thick it was visible to the eye.
"Ugh."
Even the Siemens mages, accustomed to blood, felt their stomachs churn at the acrid blood scent.
Ramon advanced with a hardened expression.
Passing through the arched entrance into the interior, he saw a figure in a black robe examining Abelʼs corpse on the stone dais.
Ramon opened his mouth upon seeing him.
"High Priest."
The robed figure turned at Ramonʼs words.
A black mask appeared beneath the hood.
At the sight, Ramon furrowed his brow.
"Even in this situation, you hide your face and play with puppets?"
Rumble—
The entire chamber shook under Ramonʼs aura.
The masked High Priest showed no reaction to the intense vibration.
Soon, Ramon calmed his emotions and reined in his power.
He then glared at the High Priest and said,
"Iʼll ask directly. Abel—can you save him?" A red gleam flashed from within the black mask.
A low voice emanated from him.
"Reviving Abel Draker is impossible."