Thud thud thud thud!
A carriage raced into the Four Seasons Star.
The passenger inside was none other than Howard Draker, a councilor of the Cross Order.
He spoke to the man sitting across from him, his expression anxious.
"Souma, that information is reliable, right?"
The man sitting opposite him was Souma, the right-wing commander who handled intelligence for the Black Stage.
With his brown hair and gentle features, Souma hardly looked like someone who managed Draker's espionage operations.
He nodded at Howard's question.
"Yes, Zeke Draker has entered the Four Seasons Star."
At Souma's words, Howard Draker's expression darkened further.
Howard, who had been Arthur Draker's trusted confidant, already knew that the family head had designated Zeke as his successor before his death.
If Arthur Draker hadn't died of illness, Zeke would likely have inherited the position of family head.
But with Arthur Draker's sudden death from illness, the Four Seasons Star had become chaotic.
The elders who had tentatively supported Zeke now had second thoughts.
They intended to elevate the eldest daughter, Kali Draker, to the position of family head instead of Zeke.
Arthur Draker had been the most powerful family head in Draker history, unmatched before or since.
Under his iron rule, the Council of Elders had been forced to stay silent and subdued.
Now that the overlord Arthur Draker had died unexpectedly from illness, the elders saw this as their chance to seize control.
In the turmoil, elevating Zeke—the renowned Knight of Salvation across the continent —could lead to an even more formidable family head than Arthur, which filled them with unease.
They planned to install the more manageable Kali Draker as family head and manipulate her from behind the scenes.
And at the center of this scheme was Howard Draker himself.
'Baron hasn't made any statements about the succession yet. I need to strike now.'
Rumors swirled that Arthur Draker had left a will, but since Baron Draker—his most loyal retainer—had said nothing so far, it seemed likely he hadn't finalized one naming a successor.
Even if a will existed, Howard believed that rallying the elders to back Kali Draker first would make overturning it feasible.
Moreover, with Zeke away on a mission, Howard had been moving quickly to contact the elders.
He had planned to sound out Kali Draker's side soon, but Zeke had returned to the Four Seasons Star sooner than expected.
'I need to wrap this up before Zeke Draker meets with the other elders.' Upon entering the Four Seasons Star, Howard hurried to the chairman's office.
The moment he flung open the door, Howard's face paled.
"Ah, Councilor Howard has arrived as well."
Zeke Draker sat there, holding a teacup and smiling at him.
Howard realized he was one step too late.
'Stay calm. He just arrived at the Four Seasons Star, so he won't know the situation yet.' Masking his shock, Howard approached Zeke with a somber expression.
"Sir Zeke."
He placed a hand on Zeke's shoulder and said,
"You must be heartbroken after hearing the news."
Zeke set down his teacup after hearing Howard's words and spoke.
"I was shocked at first... but the important thing is the stability of the Draker family, so I need to pull myself together quickly."
Hearing Zeke's words, Howard inwardly cursed.
'Look at this guy. He's already talking like he's the next family head.'
The chairman, sitting on the sofa nearby and listening to Zeke, also nodded with a somber expression.
"Sir Zeke's words touch my heart. He truly seems like a genuine knight of Draker."
At the chairman's words, Howard had to work hard to keep the muscles in his cheek from twitching.
'That chairman. He promised to back Kali Draker with me... He couldn't have changed his mind, could he?'
It was hard to tell if he was just hiding his true feelings in front of Zeke Draker or if he had actually switched sides.
Zeke gestured to the seat across from him for Howard, who stood awkwardly.
Looking at Howard, Zeke said,
"The family head held you in high regard during his life. Did he leave any final words before passing?"
Zeke's sudden question about a will caught Howard off guard and seized the initiative.
Howard shook his head while forcing a calm expression.
"It happened so suddenly... It seems the family head didn't have time to prepare." The chairman nodded at Howard's words.
"The family head was still young, so he probably never imagined this would happen. Who would have thought such a great star of the continent would fade so suddenly."
Unlike his true feelings, the chairman mourned Arthur Draker's death in a somber tone.
Zeke nodded and asked the chairman,
"Then, what are the plans for the family head's funeral?" It was the funeral of the Draker family head, no less.
With the continent's de facto overlord gone, it was standard to hold a state funeral on a grand scale.
The chairman pondered before slowly replying. "Hmm, it would probably follow the previous customs..." But then Howard spoke up.
"Chairman, I have something to say about that." The chairman and Zeke turned to Howard.
Seizing control of the conversation, Howard continued.
"Draker is currently at war with Siemens."
Jupiter was one of the major cities in the southern Rom Empire.
Siemens had joined forces with Castro Pollock's legion and was stationed in Jupiter, reorganizing his troops.
Reminding them of the situation, Howard cautiously addressed the chairman.
"According to intelligence, the Breaker Mercenary Company joined Jupiter just a few days ago."
At the mention of the Breaker Mercenary Company, the chairman's expression darkened. "Is that true?"
Howard nodded.
The Breaker Mercenary Company was one of the three great mercenary companies of the Central Continent.
Known as the advancing Breaker Mercenary Company, the enduring Kallam Mercenary Company, and the valiant Brothers Mercenary Company, these three boasted the largest forces on the Central Continent.
Zeke was also well aware of the Breaker Mercenary Company.
'In my previous life, Liam absorbed them along with smaller companies to form the Stone Mercenary Group.'
Later, he would take Kallam and Brothers as well, earning the unprecedented title of Mercenary King.
But that was the previous life. At that time, the Breaker Mercenary Company alone could crush a mid-sized kingdom's regular knight order.
Their joining the Jupiter forces meant Rom, facing them, would face even greater pressure than before.
Though Leo and Carus had rallied some imperial electors with Duke Crevan's support, the situation remained precarious.
As Draker supported Rom in confronting the Jupiter side, they couldn't help but be sensitive to this development.
If Rom fell to Siemens then, the enemy could exploit the vacancy left by Family Head Arthur Draker.
Howard continued.
"If the Breaker Mercenary Company has joined Jupiter, the other companies might make similar choices. In this urgent situation, holding a large-scale funeral would only give the enemy time to reinforce their troops."
The chairman nodded gravely at Howard's words.
Zeke guessed Howard's intent in bringing this up.
'I figured Howard would pull some scheme in this gap. But he's making too much sense— it's suspicious.'
Then Howard spoke again.
"As a councilor and knight of Draker, what I want to say to you, Chairman, is that considering the wartime circumstances, we should minimize the family head's funeral and strike Jupiter as soon as possible to sweep away the Siemens rabble threatening Draker's rear."
The chairman looked slightly surprised at Howard's sudden proposal.
Until just moments ago, he had argued for maintaining the existing balance while reorganizing Draker internally.
Then Howard's eyes gleamed as he got to the point.
"I propose that Sir Zeke Draker, the Guardian Knight of Draker and the renowned Knight of Salvation, take on that mission."
Zeke set down his teacup at Howard's words. "You want me to lead the knights and attack Jupiter?" Howard shook his head at that.
"Not attack—liberate. Just as you've saved other cities." He turned to the chairman this time.
"Chairman, grant Sir Zeke the position of supreme commander and prepare for all-out war against Siemens and Castro Pollock's remnants. That's the only way to show that Draker remains strong even after the overlord's death." Zeke finally understood Howard's intent.
'He's scheming to send me away from here.'
If Zeke became supreme commander and marched on Jupiter then, he wouldn't be able to participate in Four Seasons Star matters.
Moreover, Jupiter was the Empire's largest and most fortified city outside Rom.
Even leading Draker's knights, overwhelming the imperial forces defending inside would be nearly impossible in one strike.
'At least a year or more of attrition and standoff would be the norm.' For an impromptu plan from Howard, it was remarkably well thought out.
The chairman pondered deeply after hearing Howard.
Having served as chairman of Draker for over a decade, he immediately saw through Howard's aim and thus hesitated.
Granting Zeke the supreme commander role would mean choosing Kali over him, while the opposite would pit him against Howard.
As the chairman struggled to decide, Zeke spoke first.
"I'll do it."
Surprisingly, Zeke answered.
The chairman, startled by Zeke's response, asked again.
"S-Sir Zeke. You're really saying you'll take supreme commander and... no, liberate Jupiter?" Zeke nodded.
"The citizens of Jupiter are suffering like those of Rom. As a knight, I believe it's my duty to save them as soon as possible. The late family head would have wanted that too."
Zeke, crossing himself for the family head, embodied the ideal knight without a single flaw.
Howard, unprepared for Zeke's straightforward acceptance, felt uneasy instead.
'Zeke Draker must realize my intent, yet he's going along with it.'
Zeke rose slowly from his seat and said,
"Thank you for trusting me with this great responsibility for the family. Of course, it requires the other councilors' input and the assembly's approval, but if entrusted to me, I'll do my utmost. I'll take my leave now."
Zeke bowed politely and left the chairman's office.
The stunned chairman and Howard remained silent for a long while after Zeke departed.
Finally, the chairman spoke first.
"Councilor Howard. Sending Zeke Draker to Jupiter so suddenly—what are you thinking?" Rubbing his chin at the chairman's question, Howard racked his brain.
He turned to the chairman and said in a low voice,
"First, we need to get Zeke Draker out of Atlas. The longer he stays, the more councilors will waver."
The overwhelmingly famous Knight of Salvation, Zeke Draker.
They needed to guard against shortsighted councilors increasingly supporting him.
Looking at the chairman, Howard said,
"I have a plan. Tell the other councilors and approve the matter." After some thought, the chairman nodded.
"Understood. Sigh, this time, we must prevent a dictator like Arthur Draker from becoming family head, no matter what."
*
'Hmm, so that's how it is. Not much different from what I expected.'
Once outside, Zeke employed his full-power technique to eavesdrop on the conversation between Howard and the chairman.
Having fully grasped Howard's intent, Zeke planned to turn it against him.
'Howard Draker. Time to set the stage to deal with this traitor.' A cold smile crept across his lips.