Episode 235

Zeke had a plan to use his blood manipulation ability to extract the stagnant, dead blood from Kali’s body.

If Zeke could control Kali’s blood with his ability, he could move it at will.

“If I fail here, Kali could end up completely incapacitated.”

Zeke took a deep breath, focusing his mind.

First, he used his shadow control to subdue Kali’s shadow.

A soft hum filled the air.

With her shadow under control, Kali had no choice but to submit to Zeke’s will.

In this state, Zeke activated his blood manipulation ability.

A resonant hum echoed as Zeke’s vision sharpened, revealing the true state of Kali’s body.

Clots of dead blood were blocking her aura circuits, and necrosis was spreading in several areas.

Even her lower energy center was hardening due to the clots.

“This is worse than I thought.”

Zeke examined Kali’s internal condition and drew a dagger from his belt.

He pressed the dagger against a bruise on Kali’s back, making a small incision.

Dark blood oozed out.

Zeke smeared the blood on the dagger and channeled his energy.

The blood responded to Zeke’s energy.

Slowly, Zeke expanded his influence over the blood.

The clots began to loosen, and the blocked aura circuits gradually eased.

“I’ll guide the clots out of her body.”

Just as Zeke was about to expel the clots, a hidden malevolent energy surged from within.

The energy wreaked havoc, pressing against Kali’s internal organs.

Kali’s body twitched.

If Zeke hadn’t been controlling her with his shadow ability, she might have collapsed, coughing up blood.

Zeke remained calm, loosening the clots while preparing a sacred flame.

The sacred flame traveled through Kali’s aura circuits, seeking the malevolent energy.

Sensing the flame, the energy fled towards Kali’s heart.

But Zeke had anticipated this, having already prepared another sacred flame near her heart.

The flame blocked the energy’s path, trapping it.

Zeke had been waiting for this moment.

He placed his palm on Kali’s back and unleashed a powerful shockwave.

With a thunderous sound, the malevolent energy and the disruptive vibrations vanished from Kali’s body.

Zeke immediately used his blood manipulation to draw out the remaining clots.

He struck Kali’s back again with another shockwave.

With a final release of his shadow control, Kali regained consciousness.

She coughed violently, expelling a mass of dark blood.

“Ahh.”

She took a deep breath, her complexion returning to normal as the bruises on her back faded.

Kali felt the oppressive energy that had been suffocating her dissipate, leaving her feeling liberated.

Zeke spoke to her.

“It’s not over yet. Follow my guidance as I direct your aura.”

He intended to burn away the remnants of the clots using a technique he learned from Shaton Draker.

Kali adjusted her posture, closed her eyes, and attuned herself to the flow of aura Zeke guided.

She inhaled mana through her breath, circulating it through her aura circuits and into her lower energy center.

Kali memorized this natural rhythm.

Soon, she was able to generate aura on her own, storing it in her energy center.

A gentle hum resonated as Kali’s aura circuits healed, and she reawakened her aura.

Feeling her recovery, Kali exhaled softly and opened her eyes.

“Phew.”

She stood up, moving her body experimentally, disbelief in her voice.

“I can’t believe it… I’ve really recovered.”

Zeke couldn’t bring himself to tell Kali that he had controlled her spirit and blood to heal her, so he simply smiled.

“All’s well that ends well.”

He retrieved a few healing potions from his inventory and handed them to her.

“You’re not fully recovered yet. Take these three times a day. They’ll help.”

Kali nodded at Zeke’s words.

“Understood. I owe you a debt I can never repay, Zeke.”

“Your safety is all that matters.”

Then, Kali knelt on one knee before Zeke.

Looking up at him, she spoke.

“Zeke, I don’t know how to repay you for saving my life and my order.”

Zeke replied, “I only did what needed to be done.”

“Many speak of a knight’s honor, but few act as you do, Zeke.”

Kali stood, addressing Zeke.

“Ask for anything you desire. If you want land, I’ll give you land. If you want weapons, I’ll give you weapons.”

Zeke sensed the sincerity in her eyes.

He spoke slowly.

“If you insist, I have two requests.”

He continued.

“I heard you own some islands in the Southern Sea.”

Kali nodded.

“Yes, I acquired them after dealing with pirates. They’re large islands, but they’re in treacherous waters, making development impossible.”

“I’d like ownership of those islands.”

Zeke knew that once the Sea God returned and the dangerous waters calmed, the islands’ strategic location would become invaluable.

Unaware of this, Kali was surprised by Zeke’s request, but she nodded.

“That’s not difficult to grant. What’s your other request?”

“I’d like a permanent exemption from port fees at Iason’s harbor.”

Kali smiled at Zeke’s practical request.

“That’s a sensible request. I’ll grant it. Your ships will be exempt from fees, and I’ll even provide a private dock.”

“That’s more than enough.”

Zeke planned to develop the islands to settle the merfolk and create a connection point with the southern continent’s Cusco Kingdom.

With his resources and manpower, developing the Southern Sea islands wouldn’t be difficult.

Having stated his requests, Zeke shifted the conversation to Bacchus Draker.

“Did you come to this island based on Bacchus’s intelligence, as Luno mentioned?”

Kali nodded.

“Yes, Bacchus and I have a symbiotic relationship. He provides me with information, and I provide him with what he needs.”

“You provide Bacchus with what he needs?”

Kali hesitated before speaking slowly.

“Zeke, I have nothing to hide from you. I’m protecting Bacchus’s mother.”

Kali’s unexpected revelation left Zeke stunned.

“What do you mean by protecting Bacchus’s mother?”

“Exactly that. I’m safeguarding her within my domain.”

“Why? Doesn’t she have her own family?”

Kali shook her head.

“No maternal family?”

For a Draker direct descendant, the maternal family played a crucial role.

Direct descendants had to endure fierce competition and earn the right to be the heir before they could truly wield the Draker family’s power.

Until then, they relied solely on their maternal or allied family’s support.

Zeke himself had suffered discrimination and scorn because his maternal family, the Agamemnon family, was cursed and sealed for fifty years.

He hadn’t realized Bacchus was in a similar situation.

“Does that mean… Bacchus is an illegitimate child?”

Kali nodded.

“Yes. His mother was a maid who served my father.”

Zeke was taken aback by Kali’s words.

As a family of dragon slayers, the Drakers placed great importance on their direct bloodline.

Thus, the Draker head had to be meticulous in planning their lineage.

Kali’s maternal family, the Prana family, wasn’t a major influence as a Draker ally, but it was a noble and knightly family with a long tradition dating back to the Holy Empire.

The Siemens family, not to mention Helen’s maternal family, the Millaris family, was also a prestigious knightly family in Thebea.

Arthur Draker, with his exceptional talent as a knight and political acumen, wouldn’t have fathered an illegitimate child without careful consideration.

“Considering he married my mother, the cursed heir of the Agamemnon family… perhaps the head has a reckless streak?”

The word “reckless” didn’t suit Arthur Draker’s cold demeanor, but it was the only conclusion Zeke could draw.

Kali continued her explanation.

“Her name was Carmilla. One day, she found out she was pregnant and gave birth to a son. The father named him Bacchus and sent him to the estate in the Duchy of Troy, where all our siblings grew up. When Bacchus turned seven, he too was sent to the Cradle.”

The fact that Arthur Draker named the child meant he acknowledged the boy as part of the direct bloodline, despite being born to a maid.

The elders likely disapproved of Arthur’s decision, but as one of the continent’s most powerful figures and the most influential head of the Draker family in history, they couldn’t oppose him.

“Still, Bacchus’s mother must have been in a tough spot.”

Zeke recalled that the Draker family matriarchs were never ordinary women. A mere maid would have struggled to hold her ground among them.

Then, a thought struck Zeke, and he asked, “Did Bacchus undergo a pureblood awakening?”

Kali shook her head. “No, Bacchus wasn’t a pureblood. Perhaps that’s why he volunteered for the Black Stage right after graduating from the academy.”

Zeke thought Bacchus’s choice was reasonable. He had once considered joining the Black Stage himself if he could graduate normally.

“Though I never got the chance, having been expelled before that.”

Zeke began to piece together the situation. “I understand how Bacchus relayed information to you from the Black Stage. But why are you protecting his mother?”

“The situation is complicated. Bacchus’s mother remained at the Four Seasons Castle as a maid even after his birth. But as she aged and could no longer fulfill her duties, she had to leave.”

“Are you saying the head of the family didn’t keep her close?”

“Yes, they were never formally married, so she couldn’t enjoy any privileges as his spouse.”

Zeke couldn’t quite grasp Arthur Draker’s actions. “If that’s the case, why acknowledge Bacchus as a direct descendant? There’s something off about Arthur Draker’s behavior.”

Kali continued, “One day, Bacchus approached me discreetly. He offered to provide me with information if I protected his mother once she left the castle.”

“Why did he need to entrust his mother’s safety to you? In the Black Stage, his identity would be concealed, and his family could live under new identities if they applied for protection.”

Kali paused, contemplating her words before speaking again. “Zeke, what I’m about to tell you is a secret. You must swear to keep it.”

Seeing the seriousness in Kali’s expression, Zeke realized this was a significant secret. He nodded solemnly. “I swear.”

Kali spoke slowly, “The truth is, Bacchus’s mother, Carmilla, is a vampire.”