Whoooosh!
The sound of the sword slicing through the air echoed across the entire training ground.
"Chaha!"
A woman stomped her foot and thrust her sword forward.
The immense force emanating from her seemingly slender frame made the very air tremble.
"Whoo."
Sheathing her sword, the woman caught her breath. It was none other than Kali Draker, guardian knight of the Draker family and a direct pureblood descendant.
Kali Draker peered into her white-silver sword with a complicated gaze, as if something weighed on her.
Just as she raised it again to swing, applause suddenly rang out from behind. Startled, Kali turned around.
She was shocked to see an unexpected figure standing there.
"Zeke?"
Her youngest brother had appeared at her castle in Iason without any prior notice. For a moment, Kali couldnʼt believe the situation.
Zeke approached the somewhat dazed Kali.
"Sister, have you been well?" He embraced her warmly.
Zeke placed his hands on Kaliʼs shoulders and said.
"I heard about Father."
Kaliʼs expression darkened at his words.
Everything Arthur Draker had done to maintain the familyʼs power deserved condemnation, but she had never wished for his death or imagined he would go so meaninglessly.
For Kali, who harbored complex feelings about Arthur Drakerʼs passing, she didnʼt know how to respond to Zeke.
At that moment, Zeke said to her.
"Sister, do you really believe Arthur Draker died of illness?" Kaliʼs head snapped up in surprise at his words.
"You mean... Father didnʼt actually pass away?" Zeke shook his head at her question.
"I donʼt know for sure yet. But the Arthur Draker I know wouldnʼt die so suddenly from something like an illness."
Kali interpreted his words differently.
'Zeke must also find Fatherʼs death hard to accept.ʼ
Given how strong Arthur Draker had been above all others, such a reaction was understandable.
Kali looked up again and said to Zeke.
"Letʼs think about Father later. For now, come inside and have a meal first. Helen will be thrilled to know youʼre here."
Zeke shook his head at her words.
"Sister, no one must know Iʼve come here."
"What? What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
Zeke looked at Kali with a serious expression and said.
"Is there a place no one else can enter, with thorough security?" Kali pondered his question for a moment before nodding.
"The memorial room at the top of the tower—no one can enter there."
"That would be perfect. Bring Helen Sister there. Absolutely no one else should come in." With that, Zekeʼs form blurred and vanished without a trace.
Kali blinked several times at the spot where he had been.
'Zeke... Iʼm not hallucinating, am I?ʼ
At that moment, a voice echoed in her ear.
—Please hurry, Sister. We donʼt have much time.
Receiving Zekeʼs telepathy, Kali left the training ground and moved quickly.
*
Kali brought Helen to the memorial room.
The memorial room was a space dedicated to honoring her mother, Tali Prana.
As Kaliʼs private area, no one dared approach it carelessly, making it ideal for a secret meeting.
As Kali and Helen entered, Zeke materialized from the empty space.
"Zeke!"
Helen rushed toward him and embraced him.
He felt a momentary comfort in the warm embrace of his kin, something he hadnʼt experienced in a long time.
Zeke looked at Helen and said.
"Have you been well, Sister?"
Outwardly known as the renowned Knight of Steel, in front of Zeke, she was just an ordinary, doting older sister.
He sat at the table in the memorial room, serving tea to Kali and Helen as he began to speak.
"Howard Draker and the council of elders plan to appoint me as supreme commander and order me to seize Jupiter."
Kali was startled by Zekeʼs words and asked.
"Jupiter? That place is guarded by Siemens and Castro Pollock—it wonʼt be easy to breach."
Zeke nodded.
"Thatʼs exactly why theyʼre doing it. To create a pretext to send me out of the Four Seasons Star."
Kali realized what was happening upon hearing his words.
"...So youʼre pushing for me to become family head instead of you."
"Yes. Howard Draker is leading this."
Kali understood the council of eldersʼ situation.
'With Zeke already reaching the level of a black knight, they must fear that if he becomes family head, a new overlord surpassing Arthur Draker could emerge.ʼ
Kali wasnʼt an easy opponent either, but they likely saw her as the lesser threat compared to Zeke.
Kali looked at Zeke and said.
"Thereʼs no need to follow the councilʼs forced decision. The next family head should be you, Zeke."
She had already resolved to yield the position to him.
Arthur Draker had led the Draker family to become the continentʼs strongest, but he had committed too many wrongs in the process.
If Zeke became family head, she believed he could correct the mistakes Arthur Draker had made.
But then Zeke shook his head. "The next family head wonʼt be me." He met Kaliʼs eyes and said.
"You must become family head, Sister."
Kali and Helen were both shocked by Zekeʼs words.
Kali said in a trembling voice.
"What do you mean, Zeke?"
"If I become family head, Iʼll just turn into a second Arthur Draker, ruling the family through fear. Once you take the position, Sister, please build a new Draker family. Iʼll support you from behind."
A new Draker, not defined by fear.
Zeke believed the one who could create such a family was Kali, not himself.
Moreover, there was another intention behind this.
'The Narak bastards are trying to resurrect the Demon King—I canʼt be tied down to the family in this situation.ʼ
To counter Narak, who was summoning new demons moment by moment to revive the Demon King, he needed to use the Draker familyʼs power without being bound by it.
Zeke planned to entrust the familyʼs operations to Kali and request the necessary military resources.
For that, the Draker internals needed to be sorted out, and with the chaos from Arthur Drakerʼs death, now was the perfect time.
'Arthur Draker might have faked his death. If so, I need to handle things as quickly as possible before he reappears.ʼ
Howard was sharp; he couldnʼt be given time to think deeply.
This was why Zeke was pushing forward so rapidly.
Kali couldnʼt help but fall into deep thought upon hearing Zekeʼs request to become family head.
Finally, she slowly nodded. "If thatʼs your will, then so be it." Even as she agreed, she added. "But once things stabilize, Iʼll hand over the position. At that time, you must lead the
Draker family as family head, Zeke."
"Understood, Sister."
Zeke replied and turned to Helen beside him.
"I have a request for you too, Helen Sister." Helen nodded as if to say, go ahead.
Zeke looked at her steadily and said.
"Please take command of the Grand Jupiter Army as supreme commander in my place." Helen was startled by Zekeʼs request to assume the role of supreme commander.
"What are you saying? Iʼm not yet qualified for that."
"If Kali Sister becomes family head, she can grant you guardian knight status. If we negotiate that as a condition with the council of elders, it should be possible." Kali nodded at his words.
"That doesnʼt seem too difficult. But Zeke, why are you going this far? Yielding both the family head position and the supreme commander role to us." Kali and Helen were curious about Zekeʼs true intentions.
Zeke looked at them and said.
"I plan to root out the rats hiding in the family." Their eyes widened at his words.
Kali looked at Zeke and said.
"Rats... You mean thereʼs a mole in the Four Seasons Star? With whom?"
"I donʼt know exactly. But thereʼs someone using the Draker family for personal gain. Howard Draker, leading the council of elders. Heʼs a petty schemer hiding behind the facade of a war hero, acting only for his own benefit." Zekeʼs gaze sharpened.
"Please help me, Sisters. Letʼs set a trap to catch him."
*
Howard Draker received a sudden message from Kali Draker and hurriedly entered the Four Seasons Star.
Kali Draker, who had been holed up in Iason, was finally making a move.
As he headed to Kaliʼs office in the Four Seasons Star, Howardʼs mind raced.
'With Zeke Draker stirring things up, Kali must be getting anxious.ʼ
As a power-hungry follower, Howard couldnʼt even imagine that Zeke had yielded the family head position to Kali and they had joined forces.
He opened the office door and entered.
"Councilor Howard."
Kali Draker rose from her seat and greeted him warmly.
"Thank you for coming in person."
Howard inwardly smiled with satisfaction at Kali Drakerʼs courteous attitude toward him.
'As I thought. Kali Draker is definitely aiming for the family head position through me and the council of elders.ʼ
If Kali reached out first, it would be easier for Howard to seize the initiative.
Pretending to be dignified, he nodded to Kali.
"Of course I had to come when you, Lady Kali, reached out."
Howard noted that Kali was seated at the head of the table, and soon attendants brought tea.
"Please have some. I prepared rare Ishtar tea for you, Councilor." Howard was startled by Kaliʼs words.
"Ishtar tea? I didnʼt know you had connections with them, Lady Kali." At Howardʼs words, Kali gave a faint smile.
"I first made acquaintance with Ishtar through Zeke." Howard clamped his mouth shut at Kaliʼs words.
He was aware, through the Black Stage, that Zeke had some sort of relationship with Ishtar.
But it was unexpected that Kali Draker also had ties to Ishtar.
She looked at Howard Draker and said.
"What I want to discuss with you is related to them..."
Kali hesitated, and upon Howardʼs prompting glance, she continued.
"If I become family head, Iʼve received word from Ishtar that they would formally proceed with an alliance with Draker."
Howardʼs eyes shook greatly.
'Ishtar, one of the transcendent families, allying with Draker?ʼ
Ishtar, one of the continentʼs pillar transcendent families, was essentially the lord of the south.
If Ishtar declared an alliance, it could pressure Jupiter entrenched in the southern region.
Moreover, if Kali Draker could secure an alliance with Ishtar, it would provide ample justification to install her as family head over Zeke Draker.
Howardʼs mind raced.
'Ishtar chose Kali over Zeke Draker...ʼ
True to his seasoned politician nature, Howard masked his thoughts and said with a grave expression.
"An alliance with Ishtar... Those ruthless killers are a double-edged sword."
He planned to downplay Kaliʼs advantageous offer, suggesting complications to make her rely on him.
But upon hearing Howardʼs words, Kali nodded as if understanding, and said as if it couldnʼt be helped.
"Youʼre right. If you think so, Councilor, then itʼs best to forget about the alliance with Ishtar."
Howard was caught off guard by Kaliʼs unexpected response.
He cleared his throat and spoke again.
"However, in the current situation, allying with Ishtar would greatly help in checking
Siemens, so it seems it would aid Lady Kali in ascending to family head." Howard had taken a step back for now.
Kali slowly nodded at his words and said.
"Youʼre right. But even with an alliance with Ishtar, one problem remains."
"What problem, Lady Kali?"
"Zeke Draker."
She looked at Howard with cold eyes and said.
"To become family head, that one must be eliminated."