Episode 172
The Oath of Silence had been the blood-bound chain that upheld the secrets of the Nostra family for centuries.
Dario turned to Zeke.
“Murray, prove your loyalty.”
Dario pricked his finger with the needle attached to the pen. Blood trickled down to the nib. He signed his name, Dario Nostra, on the contract, then handed the pen to Zeke.
“Sign here.”
Once signed, there was no escaping the grip of the Nostra family.
With trembling hands, Zeke slowly wrote his name. As he did, their names appeared on each other’s wrists.
Dario checked the name etched on his wrist. Something was off.
“Zeke… Draker?”
Dario quickly looked up and activated his bloodline ability, “Paralysis,” on Zeke.
A low hum resonated.
[Skill Curse Reflection reflects the curse of ‘Paralysis.’]
Just like with Visco, Zeke’s curse reflection skill activated, sending the curse back to Dario, paralyzing him instead.
Thud!
Dario fell to the floor, frozen.
With a swift motion, Zeke used soul-binding magic to wrap Dario’s body tightly.
Zeke looked down at Dario and said, “Nice to meet you, Dario Nostra.”
Dario’s eyes darted around, unable to comprehend the situation unfolding before him.
Zeke folded the signed Oath of Silence and tucked it into his coat. He dragged the paralyzed Dario to the safe, using Dario’s eyes to unlock it just as before. Rifling through the documents, he found the secret ledger and whistled.
“Jackpot.”
This ledger alone was enough to complete Draker’s mission. Zeke stuffed all the documents from the safe into his inventory, planning to examine them later.
With everything secured, Zeke turned to the immobilized Dario.
“Do you remember Lady Angelina?”
Dario’s eyes flickered with recognition.
“I recently caught a sorcerer named Dusk. You might know him, Dario.”
Dario realized Zeke had set a trap, knowing everything. Bound by paralysis and soul-binding magic, Dario trembled with rage.
“Don’t be too upset. You tried to devour me whole, after all.”
Thinking he had found easy prey, Dario had instead become the prey himself.
Zeke tapped Dario’s cheek lightly and spoke into his communicator.
“We’re ready here. Begin.”
―“Understood, boss.”
Zeke dragged Dario under the sofa and lay flat.
Minutes later, a massive explosion shook the entire hotel.
As the tremors subsided, Zeke hurled a magic bomb at the wall.
Boom!
The bomb blasted a hole in one side of the room.
Bang!
Guards and knights burst through the door, startled by the explosion.
“Find the boss! Quickly!”
From beneath the sofa, Zeke raised a trembling hand.
“Here! Please, help…!”
The knights found Zeke and the fallen Dario. Though Dario was bound by chains, the guards and knights failed to grasp the situation.
Then, suddenly—
Whoosh!
Zeke’s pre-summoned dragon soldiers appeared, firing arrows at the knights and guards.
“Enemies! Defend!”
The dragon soldiers drew swords and spears, engaging the knights and guards.
A knight stepped forward, unleashing an aura blade, pushing back the dragon soldiers.
Crack!
The dragon soldiers, unable to withstand the aura blade, crumbled into smoke.
The knights shouted in alarm.
“Damn it! It’s magic! Find the mage, now!”
The blue knight carried Zeke and Dario out of the room.
Zeke asked the knight, “What’s happening?”
“An unknown group is bombing the hotel and parts of the city.”
Following the plan, Boris and the Rose Knights had attacked the Nostra family’s front companies, stealing documents before blowing them up.
Feigning panic, Zeke stammered, “Dario said we should head to the roof.”
The knight agreed it was best to retreat to the roof until the situation calmed.
“Follow me! Escort Dario to the roof!”
The knight led the guards, Zeke, and Dario up the emergency stairs to the roof, securing the door behind them.
The knight bent down to check on Dario, who, contrary to appearances, was wide awake, his eyes darting frantically.
Sensing something amiss, the knight felt a strange presence.
Suddenly, grotesque skeletons appeared on the rooftop.
The blue knight drew his sword and shouted, “Mage! Find the mage!”
Bloodline users and knights fought off the advancing skeletons. The blue knight’s aura blade cut through them, but the shattered skeletons rose again, enveloped in dark red smoke.
“Damn it…”
Then, from behind the skeletons, skeletal dragoons emerged.
Clad in purple armor, each of the ten dragoons was stronger than a purple knight.
Sensing danger, the bloodline users and knights charged at the dragoons.
Crack!
But some couldn’t withstand the dragoons’ swords and were cut down.
The blue knight, determined to protect Dario, charged at the dragoons with his aura blade.
“Haah!”
At that moment, an archlich appeared in the sky.
The lich swung its staff, casting spells wildly.
“Damn it! Kill the lich first!”
The lich suddenly turned, flying toward the knight, and swung its staff.
A dark red aura enveloped the knight, slowing him down drastically.
“No, no!”
The dragoons closed in on the slowed knight.
He swung his aura blade, trying to fend off their attacks.
“Ugh!”
But under the curse, his movements were limited.
Soon, the dragoons’ swords pierced the knight’s body.
The enhanced skeletons also took down the guards.
Once the rooftop was cleared, Richmond approached Zeke, who was hiding in a corner.
“Master, it’s done.”
Zeke stood, surveying the rooftop. No one was left alive.
If all of Dario’s guards had been concentrated here, it might have been difficult, but the divided forces made it easier than expected.
Dario, freed from paralysis, shouted at Zeke.
“Damn it! Release me now! Or the Nostra family’s wrath will fall upon you, your family, and everyone you know!”
Zeke replied calmly, “Go ahead. Arthur Draker would love that. If the Nostra family strikes first.”
Dario was momentarily speechless. Despite the Nostra family’s influence in the underworld, they couldn’t compare to the continent-shaking Draker family.
Especially if they provoked Arthur Draker, the black knight and head of the Draker family, the Nostra name would be erased from the continent.
Zeke sent a jolt of electricity through the chains binding Dario.
Crackle!
“Argh!”
Watching Dario writhe in pain, Zeke said, “This is nothing compared to the suffering Lady Angelina endured. Brace yourself. You’ll feel every bit of it.”
Dario, trying to mask his fear, rolled his eyes.
“Richmond, transform into a beast.”
At Zeke’s command, Richmond shifted form.
Crack!
He grew much larger than his demi-lich form, with two imposing horns on his head.
Zeke loaded Dario onto Richmond’s back and climbed up.
“Let’s clean up before we go.”
Understanding the command, Richmond unleashed flames across the rooftop.
Whoosh!
In an instant, the entire rooftop was engulfed in flames.
Watching the burning bodies, Zeke mused, “I guess I can’t use the name Zeke Murray anymore.”
Having posed as a wealthy individual, too many people might have taken notice. Zeke decided to let the world believe Zeke Murray had died here and planned to create a new alias and identity.
Using a transformation cloak, Zeke changed into Richmond’s appearance.
To any observer, it looked like a lich riding a beast, abducting Dario.
With a flap of wings, Zeke and Richmond soared away from the Siemens Hotel, disappearing into the sky.
Boom!
William Siemens slammed his fist on the desk.
“An undead army appeared in the middle of the city and attacked the hotel? Are you even listening to yourself?”
Unable to contain his anger after receiving the report about the incident at the Siemens Hotel, William shouted furiously.
Edward, standing nearby, flinched at William’s outburst.
William turned his gaze sharply toward Edward.
“Edward, explain why you were at the hotel with Dario Nostra at that time.”
Edward hesitated, struggling to find his words.
“Bro, it’s just that…”
“Cut the crap and speak clearly. I’m tired of your pathetic attempts to weasel your way out of things.”
Eventually, Edward confessed the truth to William.
After hearing everything, William clenched his fists, trembling with rage.
“You were trying to get involved in an investment set up by the Nostra family? To pay off gambling debts?”
“I didn’t know they were with the Nostra family. But if that black ore mine hits, it’s a goldmine…”
Thud!
Unable to hold back any longer, William hurled a paperweight from the desk.
Knowing he’d get in more trouble if he used his aura to block it, Edward took the hit directly.
Blood trickled down from where the paperweight struck his head.
Edward collapsed to the floor.
“Bro, I swear I didn’t know! I was just trying to help the family…”
“The fact that someone like you carries the Siemens name is a disgrace. You’re a fool.”
Edward pressed his forehead to the floor, pleading.
“It’s not just me! Zeke Murray! He said he was putting a million gold into it!”
William’s head snapped up at Edward’s words.
“Say that again. Who?”
Edward stammered, caught off guard.
“W-what?”
“Who put in a million gold? Say it again.”
“It was… Zeke Murray. That young guy who got rich from the mithril mine.”
“The mithril mine? The one Graham Bank invested in?”
“Y-yeah, that’s right.”
“Zeke Murray, Zeke… wait.”
William Siemens recalled the information a spy had recently sent him.
Zeke Draker was reportedly heading to Argos to dismantle a human trafficking ring.
‘The trafficking ring is managed by the same people who kidnapped Dario Nostra.’
The pieces fell into place in William’s mind. He finally realized Zeke Murray’s true identity.
“Damn it. Zeke Draker. It’s him again.”
Edward looked at William, bewildered by the sudden mention of Zeke Draker.
William tossed a handkerchief to Edward, his voice icy.
“Stay put and reflect until the ceremony. If you cause any more trouble, I’ll tell Father to erase your name from Siemens.”
Edward wiped the blood from his face, nodding frantically.
“I-I promise! I’ll behave. Really, bro. Trust me.”
With a nod from William, Edward hurriedly left the room.
William pressed his temples, deep in thought.
‘Of all times, this had to happen while Abel is away preparing for the ceremony.’
After a moment of contemplation, William addressed the man standing like a statue beside him.
At first glance, he seemed like an ordinary office worker. In reality, he was one of the elite agents from the Siemens family’s strategic headquarters.
“I need to see Father.”
“The master has said he won’t meet anyone until after the ceremony.”
“I know. But the situation has changed. Tell him Zeke Draker seems to have uncovered the secret of the Abyss.”
William Siemens’ eyes gleamed with determination.
“It’s time to take decisive action.”