Episode 270
Thud, thud, thud!
Zeke sailed from the Southern Archipelago straight to the Southern Continent.
Disembarking at Golpa Port, under the rule of the Cusco Kingdom, Zeke headed directly towards the lawless zone.
The border area connecting the Southern and Central Continents was a haven for outlaws.
Among these, Black Market City was a melting pot for all sorts of criminals from the North, South, Central, and even the Eastern Continent.
As a result, rare and hard-to-find items from the outside world gathered there, forming the largest black market within the lawless zone.
Zeke was now on his way to the heart of this black market, Black Market City.
It was the very place he had once entered to rescue Karus, only to be ambushed and forced to flee to Ishtar’s domain.
Just like before, Zeke arrived at the entrance of the lawless zone, fenced off and guarded, and approached the checkpoint.
Men with rough faces aimed crossbows at Zeke from all directions.
One of them, chewing on a toothpick, approached Zeke.
Zeke showed him a pass he had received in advance from Simon. The man examined the pass and spat out his toothpick.
“You say you’re here on Vito’s recommendation? How do you know him?”
Zeke calmly gave the prepared response.
“I helped with some smuggling in Golpa, and we got acquainted.”
The man clicked his tongue as if something was stuck in his teeth and said, “Golpa, huh? I hear it’s risky business there now that it’s under Cusco’s rule. Get caught smuggling, and you might lose a hand.”
Zeke nodded knowingly. “That’s why people like me have a job. If you need anything brought into Golpa, let me know. I can make the connections.”
Corrupt officials were as common as stones on the road in the Southern Continent.
The man seemed to relax at Zeke’s words, assuming that even in the newly reformed Cusco Kingdom, there would still be corrupt officials.
The idea of an honest official seemed almost unimaginable to him.
The man nodded at Zeke and signaled to the others, who opened the gate.
Zeke quietly entered the lawless zone.
He made his way to a small village he had visited before while rescuing Karus.
Entering a pre-arranged inn, he climbed the stairs to his room, where a shadowy figure appeared before him.
“Long time no see, boss.”
It was Shadia, the first disciple of the Silent Order.
Her face was different from the last time he saw her.
Zeke addressed her, “What’s the situation in the Southern Continent?”
Shadia replied, “Though not visible on the surface, cultists are extending their reach to small, isolated villages.”
“Do you think they’re connected to the Abyss?”
“It’s hard to be certain, but the evidence we’ve gathered suggests so.”
As Zeke suspected, the cultists in the Southern Continent were linked to the remnants of the Abyss in the southern coffee regions of the Central Continent.
‘The Abyss is the thread connecting the Empire, Siemens, and Abel. Capturing them could turn the tide.’
Zeke considered the possibility that the cultists were taking many children to Black Market City for dark magic rituals.
‘Dark magic requires sacrifices, and children are the most valuable. If they’re connected to the Abyss, they might be offering children as sacrifices to make pacts with demons.’
If he could find out where the children taken from the South were going, he could strike at the heart of the Abyss.
Zeke asked Shadia, “Is there a way to find out where the children are going in Black Market City?”
Shadia nodded. “I know someone who might have that information.”
“Who is it?”
“The guild master of the Thieves’ Guild.”
Zeke was taken aback. “The guild master of the Thieves’ Guild is in Black Market City?”
“There’s no better place for thieves to hide.”
Zeke nodded at Shadia’s words.
‘That makes sense. Any stolen goods that can’t be dealt with in the Central Continent would end up here.’
Zeke stood up. “No point in delaying. Let’s go meet them right away.”
The history of the Thieves’ Guild was long and deep.
It was older than even the prestigious Nostra family.
Whenever a group gathered, there was bound to be at least one thief among them.
The urge to covet and steal from others was almost instinctual.
These thieves lived in the shadows of the city, communicating in their own language and creating their own rules to ensure their survival.
The guild master of the Thieves’ Guild was often called the “King of Thieves.”
The guild focused solely on stealing and selling stolen goods for profit.
Accepting a murder contract would result in permanent expulsion from the guild, their first rule.
Thus, guild members prided themselves on their gentlemanly conduct and despised being lumped in with reckless outlaws.
The man known as the guild master, or the King of Thieves, was Ankel Lombardi, a man with immense pride in his thievery.
He was a typical Southern Empire man, with his shirt unbuttoned to reveal a hairy chest and a meticulously groomed beard he cherished.
Ankel, with rings on all ten fingers, clasped his hands and gazed at Shadia, who sat before him.
“To think I’d meet the famed ‘Desert Flower’ in person. Truly, I’m amazed.”
With a flourish, he produced a red rose from behind his ear and offered it to Shadia.
“Shadia, this rose may pale in comparison to your beauty, but I offer it with all my passion.”
Shadia took the rose without expression, placed it on the table, and turned her gaze away.
Ankel, who had been admiring her, followed her gaze to Zeke and frowned.
“So, who exactly are you, accompanying the Desert Flower?”
Zeke, his face altered by a transformation cloak, replied, “I want to know where the children taken from the Southern Continent are going.”
Ankel’s eyebrow twitched at Zeke’s words.
He turned to Shadia with a charming smile. “Signorita, instead of staying here, how about a lovely dinner? There’s a place with exquisite veal you won’t find elsewhere, cooked to perfection. I have some fine wine, and we could enjoy a delightful evening…”
Suddenly, Shadia drew a dagger and stabbed the rose Ankel had given her.
The dagger pierced the table deeply, leaving only the handle visible.
Ankel waved his hands in protest. “Signorita! I meant no harm. Don’t be angry! Beauty is art, and we are connoisseurs of art! We respect it!”
Zeke, standing beside them, spoke up. “Fascinating.”
Ankel, still displeased, asked, “What’s fascinating?”
“The sight of a Red Knight playing the fool as a thief.”
Ankel’s demeanor shifted at Zeke’s words.
Despite his lighthearted manner, Ankel was the King of Thieves and the guild master.
Most were deceived by his facade, failing to recognize his true skill. That was Ankel’s strategy.
But the man from the Central Continent before him seemed to have seen through it immediately.
‘The man the Desert Flower brought isn’t ordinary.’
Zeke addressed Ankel. “I was just going to take the information, but I’ve changed my mind.”
He removed his transformation cloak, revealing his true face.
Ankel’s expression twisted as he recognized Zeke.
He quickly gestured to his men, who left the room, leaving only Ankel, Zeke, and Shadia.
Zeke looked at Ankel. “Seems you know who I am.”
Ankel swallowed hard. “Zeke Draker, direct descendant of the Draker family, pureblood awakener, the youngest Red Knight on the continent, and so on.”
“Good, you know well.”
Zeke continued, “I want to make a formal request.”
Ankel replied in a low voice, “As Zeke Draker?”
“That’s right. Does the Thieves’ Guild refuse requests from the Draker family?”
Ankel leaned forward slowly.
“I’m not particularly inclined to get involved… but I’m afraid I have to this time. I don’t want to get caught up in something messy and end up bleeding for it.”
“A messy situation, you say. Are you referring to the issue of the Draker heir?”
At Zeke’s words, Ankel fell silent.
The Draker family, a force that could sway the entire central continent.
And one of the candidates to inherit that family’s legacy was standing right in front of him—Zeke Draker.
If word got out that he had allied with Zeke Draker, there was no telling what kind of retaliation might come from the other factions.
Maintaining neutrality at all costs.
That was the second rule of the Thieves’ Guild.
Zeke looked at Ankel and shook his head.
“I know what you’re thinking, but this has nothing to do with the succession.”
“That doesn’t matter. The moment I accept your request, regardless of its purpose, the other factions won’t see it that way.”
“Are you worried Abel’s side might retaliate against the Thieves’ Guild?”
At the mention of Abel, Ankel clammed up again.
The reason the Thieves’ Guild had survived for so long was their constant caution.
Zeke smiled and spoke to Ankel.
“Good, I like you even more now. Shadia, show him the documents.”
Shadia handed over the documents to Ankel.
“And what is this?”
“It’s what I’m asking you to do.”
Ankel quickly skimmed through the report, his expression gradually changing as he absorbed the contents.
“This is…”
“Evidence suggesting they’re capturing children to use as sacrifices for dark magic. Those dark mages are linked to the Empire, Siemens, and Abel Draker.”
Ankel glared at Zeke and said, “Then it’s even more connected to Abel Draker’s side.”
“Ultimately, yes.”
Ankel closed his eyes, deliberating, then slowly stood up, shaking his head.
”…Leave. I won’t take the job.”
Zeke looked at Ankel and spoke.
“The third rule of the Thieves’ Guild: never trade in children.”
Ankel’s eyes wavered at Zeke’s words.
Zeke continued, “The Thieves’ Guild moves goods, not people. Especially not children. Isn’t that right?”
”…How do you know the guild’s rules?”
“That’s not important. What’s important is that if we don’t stop them, more children will suffer.”
Most members of the Thieves’ Guild were orphans.
Abandoned by parents due to war, poverty, or for no reason at all, many ended up stealing to survive.
The guild took in those with nimble fingers and used part of their stolen earnings to buy bread for street children.
As a result, at least in cities where the Thieves’ Guild operated, no child starved to death on the streets.
Ankel himself was an orphan who had roamed the back alleys of a southern imperial city.
Zeke looked at Ankel and said, “I ask you to help stop them.”
Ankel met Zeke’s determined gaze.
After a long moment of contemplation, he sighed, his body trembling slightly. Then he spoke slowly.
“The salt mines.”
Ankel locked eyes with Zeke.
“They’ve taken the children to the salt mines.”