Episode 340
“Aaaaargh!”
The orcs screamed as they were struck down by the thunderbolts raining from the sky.
The orc army, which had been on the verge of retreat, fell into disarray, their ranks breaking apart in confusion.
Next to Arina, Eiron took aim with his magical rifle, picking off the orc commanders trying to regroup their forces.
Bang!
As Eiron sniped the orcs with the enchanted bullets crafted by Zeke, he glanced at Arina and reported, “Lady Arina, the orcs are scattering.”
“Good. Let’s withdraw now.”
With their mission complete, Arina, Zion, and Eiron made their exit.
The orcs, reeling from Arina’s surprise attack, couldn’t regain their composure. As the paladins and the Silver and Black Sword Knights charged in, the orcs were left with no choice but to meet their end on the spears and swords of their enemies.
Hours later, the plains before the fortress of Vadoka were stained with the blood of fallen orcs.
Zeke surveyed the battlefield, his gaze sweeping over the piles of orc special forces’ corpses stacked like mountains. It was a decisive victory.
Nearby, Owl, wiping blood from his sword, looked at Zeke and remarked, “The Knight of Salvation has saved Vadoka as well.”
Zeke turned to Owl with a smile. “It’s thanks to the help of Sir Owl and Sir Andrei.”
Owl and Andrei had arrived in Vadoka a few days earlier with Zeke’s mentor, Duke, to lend their aid.
Duke had persuaded Baor, an old acquaintance, to rid the Holy Kingdom of its corrupt officials and defend the fortress. Though Baor was a man of integrity, he had been forced to endure the corruption alone. Duke’s words convinced him to join the plan and support the Pope.
With Baor’s participation, Zeke’s plan to gather the corrupt officials in one place and eliminate them in one fell swoop became possible.
Zeke and Baor moved so swiftly that by the time the other three Arch Paladins realized what was happening, it was too late for them to intervene. They chose to stay out of the matter, signaling their willingness to acknowledge the Pope’s authority and power as long as they were left alone.
Baor quickly absorbed the paladins under the corrupt officials and urged them to fight the orcs in a holy war. To atone for their sins, the paladins fought the orcs with all their might, leading to today’s great victory.
Zeke had resolved the seemingly insurmountable issues of the Holy Kingdom in one stroke, turning the situation around.
After tidying up the battlefield, Zeke returned to the guest room prepared by the Pope, enjoying a rare moment of rest. Across from him sat Duke.
“What a whirlwind,” Duke said, shaking his head at the rapid developments in Vadoka.
Zeke retrieved a bottle of liquor for Duke and a cup of tea for himself from his inventory. Pouring the amber liquid into a glass, he handed it to Duke. “We’ve just cut out the rot, so things will be noisy for a while.”
Duke nodded, sipping the drink. “For now, they’re lying low, but we’ve captured all the cardinals and bishops who held power. There will surely be backlash.”
The Holy Kingdom was a coalition of dozens of cities centered around Vadoka. While they had managed to corner the officials of Vadoka, the clergy holding power in other cities remained untouched. Once the situation in Vadoka calmed, any of them could conspire with the Arch Paladins to dethrone the current Pope and install another.
Duke, well-versed in the workings of the Holy Kingdom, wore a worried expression, uncertain how long the current papal authority could endure.
Zeke, however, smiled reassuringly. “I doubt the cardinals and bishops from other cities will act rashly.”
“They’d invite that greedy emperor into their cities if it meant preserving their power. How can you be so sure?”
“To challenge His Holiness, they need the cooperation of the Arch Paladins. Without them, they can’t even dream of taking on Sir Baor’s paladin forces.”
“True, but that also means just two Arch Paladins working together could overturn the current situation.”
Zeke shook his head. “That won’t happen.”
Duke raised an eyebrow. “Have you set some plan in motion to prevent their cooperation?”
“Yes, the Golden Dawn under the Pope has been preparing for this for a long time.”
“What kind of preparations?”
“They’ve gathered information on the corrupt relationships and misconduct of the Arch Paladins with fallen priests.”
“Really? Blackmailing the Arch Paladins? They’re untouchable within the Holy Kingdom, even if they break the law.”
“That’s true. But it’s possible to pressure them in other ways.”
“What do you mean?”
“If an Arch Paladin betrays the Pope, we can publicize the corruption and offer the right of succession to any paladin who captures them. We’ve already communicated this.”
An Arch Paladin can pass their power to a successor, maintaining their influence for a long time. If this right of succession is nullified, their power base would be shaken.
Duke’s jaw dropped at Zeke’s explanation. “Is that even possible?”
“Not for a regular paladin. But if one Arch Paladin captures another and forces a transfer, it can be done, albeit with some loss.”
This setup ensured that any Arch Paladin betraying the Pope would become a target for the others. In such a scenario, even if cardinals or bishops approached them for an alliance, the Arch Paladins would have to think twice.
Duke shook his head in disbelief. “At times like this, I’m reminded that you’re Arthur’s son.”
“Most of it was already prepared by the Golden Dawn. I just created the opportunity for them to act.”
“Be that as it may. Anyway.”
Duke paused before speaking again. “It’s time to decide.”
“Decide what?”
“About you. You remember Arthur named you as a potential successor.”
“Yes, I remember.”
“One of the leading candidates, Abel, is missing, and the House of Seasons is in turmoil. Officially, he’s presumed dead.”
Abel had been killed by Zeke, but without a body, he remained officially missing. Meanwhile, William Siemens, though rescued by the Black Sword Knights, was in critical condition and effectively held as a hostage, with his return to the Siemens family indefinitely postponed.
Duke looked at Zeke. “You’re currently allied with Kali. But your reputation on the continent is surpassing hers.”
Kali Draker had gained fame by defeating the pirates of the Southern Sea. Meanwhile, Zeke, having resolved the crisis in the Ghetto region, was celebrated as the Knight of Salvation across the continent. With the resolution of the Vadoka situation, his renown had indeed surpassed Kali’s, as Duke suggested.
Within the House of Seasons, there was a growing movement to support Zeke as the successor instead of Kali. Those who had aligned with Abel and found it difficult to side with Kali were quietly approaching Duke.
Duke, unsure of Zeke’s intentions, had refrained from taking any action. He had assisted Zeke in resolving the Vadoka crisis to gauge his plans.
“You’ve stabilized Vadoka and indebted the Pope—a feat no one in the Draker family has achieved.”
Zeke quickly understood what Duke was implying. “Are you suggesting I break my alliance with Sister Kali and step forward as a successor candidate?”
“I’m curious about your intentions.”
Zeke’s actions, too grand and influential to be mere knightly endeavors, had left Duke wondering. The Black Sword Knights, though small and newly established, were under Zeke’s command, and he was the de facto heir of the Agamemnon family, the dominant force in the central region. If he wished, he could rally thousands of knights from the central nobility.
Moreover, as a duke in the Kingdom of Cusco, located in the southern continent, and with the potential profits from developing the southern trade islands, his potential was limitless. Though his current power was smaller than Kali’s, his reputation as the continent’s greatest genius suggested he might surpass Abel and reach the rank of Black Knight within a decade, attracting many followers.
Zeke, aware of the shifting dynamics within the House of Seasons, asked Duke, “What would you have me do, Master?”
“Step forward as a successor.”
Zeke was surprised by Duke’s immediate response. “I thought you’d leave the choice to me.”
“You asked for my opinion first. If my disciple becomes the head, it’s more convenient than having a friend as the head. For my retirement, step forward and become the head.”
Zeke pondered Duke’s words carefully before speaking.
“It seems like something’s brewing within the family, judging by what Master just said.”
Duke clicked his tongue, impressed by his student’s quick perception.
“Even if you hadn’t become a knight, you could’ve made a living just by being so perceptive.”
Sensing the sensitivity of the topic, Duke summoned his aura to create a barrier around them. Though he couldn’t wield the full power of a Black Knight due to battlefield trauma, his ability to control his strength remained intact.
Once he confirmed they were completely isolated, Duke began to speak slowly to Zeke.
“You’re right. There’s been some unusual activity around the Four Seasons Castle lately.”
“Is it because of Siemens?”
Duke shook his head.
“Siemens has always been like that, so it’s not surprising. I’m talking about the head of the family.”
Zeke was taken aback when Duke mentioned Arthur Draker.
“I thought you were on the head’s side, Master. Was I wrong?”
Duke gave a wry smile.
“I’m probably Arthur’s only real friend, but that doesn’t mean I support everything he does. Just because we’re friends doesn’t mean I agree with all his actions.”
Duke was a man of integrity, almost to a fault, which was rare in the Draker family. Arthur valued Duke as a friend but never as a confidant.
Duke’s gaze sharpened.
“There’s something suspicious about Baron’s movements.”
“Baron? You mean the Black Captain?”
“Yes, ever since Bacchus Draker’s defection, it seems something’s been stirring within the Black Guard.”
The mention of the Black Guard and Bacchus made Zeke’s expression harden.
‘The Black Captain is making a move? Have they realized Bacchus isn’t dead?’
Duke spoke again.
“Arthur is a greedy one. His ambition knows no bounds.”
He shook his head.
“He’s been searching for the Elder Dragon’s relic for a long time.”
Zeke held his breath at the mention of the Elder Dragon’s relic. He knew Arthur was after it, but hearing it from Duke felt different. Zeke had already claimed the power of the Elder Dragon for himself. He imagined what Arthur might do if he discovered this.
‘He might try to kill me and take this power for himself.’
Duke continued.
“Arthur wants to use the Elder Dragon’s power to restore the lost strength of the Draker family.”
‘The lost strength of the Draker family?’
Though Arthur sought the Elder Dragon’s relic, Zeke thought of the Absolute Sword and the Draker’s signet ring stored in his inventory. It was said that the essence of Shaton Draker and the power of the Absolute Sword lay dormant within.
Duke looked at Zeke and said, “Zeke, I hope you become the head of the family and put an end to Arthur’s insatiable greed.”