Chapter 166
After finishing his work at the Graham Duchy, Zeke set off for Mycenae with Rick and the others.
Despite the Duke and Lady Catherine’s insistence that he stay longer, Zeke declined, citing his mission as the reason for his departure. While he did need to track down the Nostra family and their connection to the Abyss, the real reason for his haste was Lady Angelina’s persistent invitations to tea, which he found increasingly burdensome.
Unlike before, a railway now connected Mycenae, allowing them to travel by train from Pansthas.
Rick and his companions, experiencing the luxury of a first-class carriage for the first time, looked around with wide-eyed curiosity.
“Master, can we order room service?”
When Zeke nodded, Jason and Claire excitedly ordered everything on the menu, both food and drink.
Rick and Arin watched them with a mix of anxiety and amusement.
“Rick, Arin. Relax and enjoy yourselves,” Zeke reassured them.
Encouraged by Zeke’s words, Rick and Arin added a few dishes they wanted to try.
Soon, a feast of gourmet dishes, the kind usually reserved for high-end restaurants, was laid out before them. Jason and Claire devoured the food and drink with gusto.
Rick and Arin, though more reserved, made sure to enjoy their share.
As Jason savored a tender steak, he turned to Zeke with a question.
“Master, what’s the deal with Lady Angelina? She even gave you a handkerchief when we left.”
Rick nearly choked on his wine at Jason’s sudden inquiry.
Zeke, who had been gazing out the window, replied with a calm expression.
“There’s nothing between Lady Angelina and me.”
“But the way she looks at you, Master… Ouch!”
Unable to bear it any longer, Rick kicked Jason under the table.
Zeke chuckled at their antics.
Then, as if remembering something, he asked Jason, “By the way, Jason, you called me the ‘Knight of Disenchantment’ earlier. What does that mean?”
Jason’s eyes lit up with excitement.
“Yes! There have been a lot of articles about you lately, Master. One headline read, ‘Genius of the Dragonslayer Family Conquers Curses!’ Since then, many have started calling you the Knight of Disenchantment.”
It was customary for knights of a certain rank to earn a moniker. For instance, Carly Draker was known as the Silver Knight, and Abel Draker as the Lion Sword.
“The Knight of Disenchantment, huh. I guess breaking curses left quite an impression.”
“In myths and legends, there’s always a scene where a great knight banishes ghosts or curses with sheer willpower. They probably used that angle to boost sales.”
Zeke found Jason’s explanation plausible.
“The Knight of Disenchantment… I might find a use for that title someday.”
The group continued their lively train journey until they arrived in Mycenae.
Since the curse on the Agamemnon family had been lifted, Mycenae was rapidly transforming.
With the new railway and increased traffic, it was becoming a hub connecting the Midlands, the Central Kingdom, and the Northern Continent.
“They mentioned installing a portal terminal soon. It’ll be costly, but worth the investment.”
Zeke had been the primary financier behind Mycenae’s development, using the wealth he amassed from selling ancient items found in the Dragonslayer’s Tomb and his successful investment in a mithril mine.
As Mycenae prospered, so too would Zeke’s influence and wealth.
Admiring the bustling scene, Zeke and his companions made their way to Agamemnon Castle.
“Move it, you brats! Faster!”
The first thing they heard upon entering was Sister Cloné’s booming voice.
The Black Sword Knights and the Rose Knights were conducting joint training at Agamemnon Castle.
Under the strict supervision of Farrell and Cloné, the cadets were being pushed to their limits.
Liam, Felix, Diego, and Aster looked like they were on the brink of collapse as they crawled across the training grounds.
Zeke watched the exhausted trainees with a satisfied smile, while Rick and the others looked on in shock.
“Jason, we’re not going to be trained like that, are we?”
“Nah, that’s for the knights. Only Rick will have to do it.”
As Jason and Claire whispered to each other, Cloné and Farrell noticed Zeke’s arrival and approached him with bright smiles.
“Sir Zeke!”
“Hey, Zeke! Long time no see. You look even more dashing.”
The combination of the clean-cut Farrell and the tattooed Cloné was certainly an unusual sight.
Zeke greeted them with a smile.
“Thank you both for your hard work.”
Cloné laughed heartily and waved her hand dismissively.
“No worries. It’s fun putting these brats through their paces.”
“That’s good to hear. They’re new trainees, so feel free to push them hard.”
At Zeke’s words, Rick and his companions turned pale.
Jason mustered the courage to speak up.
“Master, we’re mages. That’s knight training, right?”
Zeke shook his head.
“No, that’s common training. Knights undergo additional aura training with Sir Farrell after the common training. Mages have their own separate training, so don’t worry. Claire will join the knight training.”
Hearing this, Claire, Jason, and Arin looked as if they were facing a death sentence.
Zeke planned to entrust the mages’ training to Princess Arina.
The children rescued from Luvern would also undergo magic training, and he believed they could learn a lot from each other.
Watching Cloné and Farrell eagerly anticipate training the new recruits, Rick and his companions realized they had boarded an express train to hell.
Zeke entered the round table conference room at Agamemnon Castle.
As he stepped in, those already seated rose to greet him.
Present were Boris, in charge of the Southern Cartel, Kay from the Syndicate, Feynan representing the pharmaceutical company, and Arina Luvern of the Rose Knights.
Once Zeke took his seat, the others followed suit.
“It’s been a while, everyone. How have you been?”
Though he asked, everyone except Arina looked exhausted.
Kay voiced her frustration.
“You know, you’re really piling on the work!”
Running the Syndicate and managing the influx of soma from the south was stretching Kay thin.
Zeke brushed off her complaints with a smile and began the meeting. After hearing reports from each organization, he addressed the urgent matters verbally.
Then he got to the main point.
“We need to target the Nostra family.”
Kay was the first to react, her voice rising in alarm.
“The Nostra family? Do you even know what you’re getting into?”
Zeke nodded.
Kay sighed deeply.
“The Nostra family isn’t like the Cartel. They’ve been around since the Holy Empire days, with a history longer than most kingdoms. That means their roots and true nature are hard to pin down.”
Zeke agreed with Kay’s assessment.
The Nostra family was one of the most enigmatic mafia groups on the central continent, largely due to the ‘Oath of Silence’ their members swore.
While the leaders of the Red Eye, a vampire militia from the Northern Continent, and the Cross Tail, a beastman gang on the western and southern borders, were known, the Nostra family’s boss remained a mystery.
Boris, who had been listening, added to Kay’s explanation.
“Boss, the Nostra family has deep roots in the Empire. Even the proud imperial knights don’t dare touch them, thanks to their unique bloodline abilities.”
“So, the Nostra family is a bloodline clan with special abilities.”
“Yes. I’ve heard they strengthen their bloodline by incorporating powerful outsiders, enhancing their abilities.”
The power of a bloodline honed over generations was formidable.
In his past life, Zeke had crossed paths with the Nostra family.
He had been tasked by Don Juan to assassinate one of their mid-level bosses, a mission only Zeke, with his skills, could undertake.
Though the assassination was successful, it had nearly cost Zeke his life.
“So those strange abilities I encountered were bloodline powers. I thought it was just bad luck.”
If the Nostra family had many bloodline users, their strategy would need careful planning.
Zeke nodded, understanding the concern in his subordinates’ eyes.
He knew better than anyone the Nostra family’s formidable power and influence.
But he needed to explore their connection to the Abyss.
Without further comment, Zeke handed out prepared files to the leaders.
The files contained details of a mission he had arranged through the Draker family.
Kay glanced at Zeke and asked, “Human trafficking ring? You’re planning to use them to get to the Nostra family?”
As someone who ran a criminal organization, Kay quickly grasped Zeke’s plan.
Zeke nodded thoughtfully before speaking.
“Yes, our ultimate target is Dario Totlino, the man known as the Steel King of the Empire. He’s been identified as one of the bosses of the Nostra family. We can’t strike directly at him just yet, so we’ll start by dismantling his organization from the ground up.”
The human trafficking ring was based in Helly, one of the major cities in Midland.
Helly served as a crucial link between Atlas and the Rom Empire and was under the jurisdiction of the Siemens family.
If Zeke took on the mission to dismantle the trafficking ring under Draker’s orders, even the Siemens family would have no grounds to stop him from causing a stir in Helly.
As everyone nodded in understanding of Zeke’s plan, he turned to Princess Arina.
“And, Your Highness, I would like the assistance of the Rose Knights for this mission.”
Princess Arina responded with a radiant smile. “Of course, Sir Zeke. I’m delighted to help.”
Zeke nodded at her agreement, then paused, considering his next words carefully before addressing her again.
“Your Highness, during my investigation into Dario Totlino, I discovered something significant.”
He continued slowly, “It seems there’s a connection between him and an organization that captures the bloodline of Luvern and hands them over to the Holy Kingdom.”
At this revelation, Princess Arina’s expression shifted dramatically. Her warm smile vanished, replaced by a cold, steely gaze.
A sudden flash of white light emanated from her hand, its intensity causing the wizards Kay and Fainan to blanch.
Arina quickly composed herself, her smile returning as if nothing had happened. “Oh dear, I apologize for my outburst. That was unbecoming of me.”
Kay and Fainan, both fifth-circle wizards, realized that despite her delicate appearance, Arina was an exceptionally powerful mage.
Zeke assessed her capabilities, thinking, “She must have mastered the latter stages of light magic. At least sixth-circle, possibly even seventh.”
Considering the current Tower Master was an eighth-circle mage, Arina’s strength was indeed formidable.
Arina looked at Zeke with determination. “Sir Zeke, we’ve had our own encounters with the Nostra family due to territorial disputes. The Rose Knights will fully support your mission.”
Despite her youthful appearance, Arina had led underground operations against both the Holy Kingdom and the Empire for decades. Her expertise in the underworld would be invaluable.
The meeting continued for some time, covering all aspects of the various organizations. Once everything was discussed, Zeke agreed to compile the information and adjourned the gathering.
Back in his room, Zeke sensed someone nearby.
“Shadia.”
At his call, Shadia, the disciple of the Mountain Sage and an assassin from Salmak, emerged from the shadows, her appearance completely transformed from when he first met her.
“Your disguise skills are impressive,” Zeke remarked, though Shadia merely nodded in acknowledgment.
“I’ve investigated the matter you mentioned,” she said, bowing slightly.
Zeke had tasked Shadia, through Boris, with identifying a traitor within the organization, relying on her outsider’s perspective for an objective view.
“Did you find out who the traitor is?” Zeke asked.
Shadia leaned in and whispered the suspect’s name into his ear. Zeke nodded, absorbing the information, and fell silent for a while.
After a long pause, Shadia spoke again. “Shall we handle the traitor for you? We can ensure it’s done cleanly, without a trace.”
Zeke shook his head after a moment of contemplation. “No, leave it for now. I have a plan to use them to our advantage. I have another task for Salmak.”
“Please, tell me.”
“Gather intelligence on the northern duke of Himonas.”