Yellin's shock didn't end with meeting Ignis.
"My name is Silalion. I have come in response to the call of summoning." A high wind spirit appeared.
"I am Noes. Who is it that has called me?"
Following that, a high earth spirit manifested.
"Who is it that has summoned me?"
Even a high water spirit revealed itself.
"This can't be real."
Even Yellin, who had inherited the abilities of a high elf through atavism, could only form contracts with spirits of two attributes at most.
Yet Zeke had summoned high spirits of all four attributes and even formed contracts with every one of them.
Yellin felt awe at Zeke's astonishing affinity for spirits.
Once the contracts with the spirits were complete, Zeke released his polymorph and returned to his human form.
"Switching back to human definitely lowers my affinity with the spirits."
When he tried in his human form, he could only summon low-grade spirits.
Still, thanks to the heart of the ancient dragon and the power of his titles, he managed to contract with all four high spirits.
As he proudly reflected on his contracts with the spirits, a sudden question occurred to Zeke.
"Now that I think about it, the shadow spirits I've been handling are spirits too."
He had already been dealing with spirits, but since the summoning method differed from the norm, he hadn't realized it.
Zeke approached Yellin, who was still dazed, and asked.
"Lady Yellin, have you ever heard of shadow spirits?"
At Zeke's words, Yellin finally snapped out of it and tilted her head.
"I've never heard of shadow spirits before."
Zeke was surprised that even Yellin, a high elf, was unaware of their existence.
"Does that mean the shadow summons I handle, including the dragon warriors, operate on a different principle from regular spirits?"
Most spirits, including the four great elementals, were manifestations of natural energies.
But shadow spirits formed when vengeful or corrupted souls became bound to the power of shadows and spiritualized.
Though called spirits, their creation process differed fundamentally from regular ones.
"Come to think of it, the power of shadows is linked to the god of chaos sealed under the name Goddess Theia. Perhaps shadow spirits are creations of the god of chaos."
The god of chaos, the shadow dragon Bahamut, the authority Shadow King, the black darkness sword Laevatein.
The immense pillar of power that Zeke possessed—the power of shadows—was ultimately all connected.
He suspected this power might also be part of the devices the sealed god of chaos had set up to tear cracks in the world.
As Zeke's contemplation deepened, Himmel entered the garden.
"Sir Zeke, a messenger from the Four Seasons Star has arrived with a message."
A small-statured man with his face concealed followed behind Himmel and approached Zeke.
He cast off his cloak.
Surprisingly, it revealed Helen Draker in steel armor.
Zeke had lent her the transformation cloak and asked her to secretly deliver Kali's message.
Helen looked at Zeke and said.
"Zeke, Howard has taken the bait." Zeke's eyes flashed at Helen's words.
He nodded and spoke.
"It's time to start the hunt."
*
A few days later, Howard received a message from Kali and secretly headed to the location she had indicated.
He rode in a carriage to a mansion on the outskirts of Atlas.
As he stepped out, individuals with extraordinary presence greeted Howard and his knights.
Howard instinctively realized they were Ishtar mystics.
He followed their guidance into the mansion.
Entering the reception room, Howard spotted Kali, who had arrived ahead of him. "Lady Kali."
Kali nodded while seated, welcoming Howard.
She then pointed to the person sitting opposite her.
"This is Yellin Ishtar, heir to the Ishtar family. Young family head, this is the councilor Howard I mentioned before."
The figure dressed in Ishtari attire, wearing a mask over their face, slowly regarded Howard.
From the gaze beyond the mask, Howard could sense the power inherent to the heir of the transcendent family Ishtar.
At Kali's gesture, Howard approached the Ishtar heir and bowed.
"Greetings to the young family head of Ishtar. I am Howard Draker, serving as councilor in the Draker Cross Council."
Even after Howard's introduction, the young family head said nothing.
Then Kali spoke to Howard.
"The young family head is not yet fluent in the central continent tongue, so please understand. They can listen and comprehend without issue, so speak freely. Have a seat."
Howard sat at Kali's words.
Though he had demanded proof and insisted on seeing an Ishtar representative in person, now that it was happening, he felt overwhelmed by the atmosphere.
At that moment, the young family head whispered something to Kali.
Kali listened, nodded, and relayed it to Howard.
"If Councilor Howard mentions this meeting elsewhere, the Black Ravens of Ishtar may come calling—keep that in mind."
Howard's face paled at the mention of Ishtar's Black Ravens.
Even as a Draker, he had no desire to become a target of Ishtar mystics.
Howard forced a calm expression and nodded.
The young family head then removed the mask, revealing tanned skin crossed by a long scar over the eye.
It was none other than Himmel, captain of the Black Ravens unit.
Howard had learned only the heir's name and gender from Black Stage intelligence.
"It seems Kali Draker's claim of allying with Ishtar is true." Thus, he had no choice but to believe Himmel was the Ishtar heir.
Then Himmel spoke in halting central continent tongue.
"Kill. Zeke Draker. Help. Kali Draker. Us."
Howard's expression changed as he understood Himmel's words.
"You mean you'll help kill Zeke Draker?" Himmel nodded.
This confirmed Kali's words once more.
Himmel spoke again.
"Price. Venus. Needed."
Venus, one of the empire's key cities, bordered Ishtar territory.
Howard's face hardened at Ishtar demanding an entire city as payment for the assassination.
But then Kali said to Howard.
"Removing Zeke Draker makes one city like Venus a fair price. If he escapes and prepares to strike from behind, things will escalate." At Kali's words, Howard reconsidered and nodded.
Zeke Draker was no opponent to underestimate.
Howard spoke as if resolved.
"Very well. We'll proceed that way."
Himmel looked satisfied with Howard's response.
Kali regarded Howard.
"Now we just need to set the trap for Zeke Draker. Councilor, do you have any ideas?" Howard nodded at Kali's question.
"If Ishtar mystics assist, I have a good plan." He lowered his voice and continued.
"Soon we'll hold a simplified funeral for the family head. Direct lineage members pay respects before the coffin in the underground memorial—that's the time to strike." Kali nodded in understanding.
"That makes sense. Zeke's guard knights would wait outside then."
"Yes. Ishtar mystics' poisons are renowned for affecting even black knights, so subdue Zeke Draker with poison, dispose of him quietly, and frame it as an ambush by Siemens remnants. No issues there."
Kali looked pleased with Howard's scheme.
"Good. What do you need from me?"
"Lady Kali, prevent Zeke Draker's knights from entering the underground. After, have the White Silver Knight Order declare he was ambushed first, to control the narrative. I'll handle the rest."
"Understood. I'll prepare."
With the plan settled, a satisfied Howard rose.
"Three days from now, after funeral rites, we'll execute."
*
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The funeral procession carrying Arthur Draker's coffin passed through Atlas's grand avenue.
A priest with a bell led the procession, followed by Draker knights in black uniforms marching in line.
At the forefront were Kali, Zeke, and Helen, the direct bloodline.
Though a more grand procession was traditional, it had been simplified due to Siemens issues and the current situation.
Once the procession ended, Arthur Draker's coffin was moved underground to Winterkeep, the innermost of the Four Seasons Star.
Deep beneath Winterkeep lay the family mausoleum where successive Draker family heads were interred.
Arthur would join that sacred space.
Before placement in the mausoleum, the coffin would rest in the memorial chamber, allowing kin final moments with the deceased—a Draker tradition.
Kali and Helen entered the memorial chamber in turn to pay respects.
Then it was Zeke's turn.
Zeke ordered Duke and the Black Spirit Unit members to wait outside.
As he prepared to enter, Liam said to Zeke.
"My lord, the atmosphere in the Four Seasons Star feels off. It might be best to have at least one guard accompany you."
As Liam moved to descend with Zeke, the White Silver Knight Order guarding the entrance drew swords to block him.
"Memorials allow only one direct bloodline member at a time."
At the White Silver Knight Order's somewhat rude action, the Black Spirit Unit behind drew weapons and stepped forward.
Though once comrades in arms, they now opposed each other over the successor seat, reacting tensely.
Zeke raised a hand.
"Enough. Don't cause a needless commotion."
Only then did the Black Spirit Unit members release their sword hilts.
With a composed expression, Zeke passed Kali and the White Silver Knight Order and descended underground.
The Black Sword Knight Order, including the Black Spirit Unit, glared at the White Silver Knight Order, their sharp aura ready to spring into action at any sign of trouble.
While the two orders clashed in tension, Zeke descended into Winterkeep's depths and entered the memorial chamber where Arthur Draker's coffin rested.
The coffin in the chamber's center was adorned almost excessively, and Zeke frowned slightly at the sight.
But he showed no further reaction, taking incense, lighting it, and placing it in the censer before the coffin.
Zeke gazed at the steadily burning incense before the coffin.
When it had burned to ash and fallen, Zeke slowly turned.
But then Zeke staggered.
"This is..."
He turned to the incense in the censer.
"Pois... on...?"
His head spun as he reached for the wall; the door to the memorial chamber slammed shut.
Whoooong!
Zeke pounded the closed door urgently and shouted.
"Ambush! Is anyone out there? Ambush—"
Then a magic circle lit up across the entire wall of the memorial chamber, unleashing a gravity field that repelled Zeke.
"Ugh!"
Zeke hastily removed his gauntlets to deflect the mana, but the circle's output was too high to counter.
Thud!
Then the coffin's lid opened, and men in black leaped out from within.
Swoosh—
The men in black unleashed bloodline abilities to suppress Zeke's body, immobilizing him.
Whoooong!
"Ughhh!"
With poison, gravity field, and bloodline ability users joining in, even a black knight like Zeke couldn't endure.
Already struggling, Ishtar mystics wielding aberrant swords burst from the floor, surrounding him in an instant.
They gripped swords in reverse grip, pressing in, and at some point stabbed Zeke's back and side as he leaned against the door.
Stab! Stab! Stab!
It happened so swiftly Zeke couldn't properly respond.
"Ugh!"
Zeke collapsed against the door, bleeding.
Himmel looked down at him and thrust her sword into his heart.
Thud!
Zeke died without a final word, eyes wide open, blood pooling.
With the situation resolved, the back door of the memorial chamber opened, revealing Howard who had hidden there.
Howard approached the fallen Zeke, confirmed his death, and ordered his subordinates behind him.
"Collect Zeke Draker's body and move it to the lab. Send the signal to Kali. Tell her the plan succeeded."