Episode 426
Castro’s sudden words only deepened Zeke’s suspicions.
“What kind of game is he playing?”
Sensing the doubt in Zeke’s gaze, Castro waved his hand dismissively.
“Sir Zeke, I understand it’s hard to trust words from someone like me, coming from the enemy’s side.”
Leaning forward, Castro spoke with a solemn tone.
“But I assure you, this is out of respect for you, the Knight of Salvation. There’s not a shred of deceit in my words, so please believe me.”
Zeke studied Castro’s eyes, which seemed to convey sincerity.
“Castro Pollock of the Twin Flames.”
Castro Pollock was an extreme purist, known for his disdain and contempt for other races, and even among humans, he judged based on a strict hierarchy.
As a pureblooded member of the Draker family, Zeke fit Castro’s criteria for an exceptional human.
Recalling Castro from his past life, Zeke knew that as a legion commander of the Rom Empire, Castro was indeed someone who might offer such advice.
“Though he currently follows Azmun Barrios, Azmun doesn’t exactly fit Castro’s purist ideals.”
The Barrios family wasn’t particularly prestigious within the empire, and Azmun himself had climbed to his position through cunning, which didn’t sit well with Castro’s values.
Zeke responded to Castro’s words with measured gratitude.
“Sir Castro, your heartfelt advice has moved me.”
For now, Zeke decided to interpret Castro’s gesture as a goodwill born from his extreme purist views.
Castro, visibly pleased, exclaimed, “To hear that I’ve moved you, Sir Zeke, is an honor! Allow me to recite a ballad befitting this moment!”
With that, he stood up and began to recite a ballad by the bard Reyes, celebrating the heroic king who allied with barbarian tribes to drive out their enemies.
After finishing the lengthy ballad, Castro sat down, his eyes gleaming as he awaited Zeke’s reaction.
”…A truly splendid recital. I’m impressed, Sir Castro.”
Though Zeke knew little about ballads, he offered praise, watching Castro’s satisfaction before shifting the conversation.
“However, given the circumstances, it’s hard to fully trust your words. Why do you believe Commander Azmun Barrios has set a trap under the guise of negotiations?”
Castro, buoyed by his earlier performance, replied, “Commander Azmun is indeed a skilled warrior and strategist, but his reputation isn’t the best. His actions often resemble those of the sly naga.”
He referred to the naga, known for their cunning, who were sometimes employed as strategists.
As a noble from a prestigious family and an elite knight, Castro clearly disapproved of Azmun’s underhanded tactics.
He continued, “I don’t know what excuse he’s using to lure you to Rom, but I assure you, his intentions are far from noble.”
Castro openly criticized Azmun, who held the role of supreme commander.
Zeke pondered Castro’s words.
“It seems he doesn’t know the specifics of the trap. He just doesn’t trust Azmun Barrios.”
It was possible Castro hadn’t informed Azmun of his visit today.
In his past life, Castro Pollock often made impulsive decisions based on his feelings, and this visit seemed to be another such instance.
Zeke addressed Castro, “I will take your advice to heart. But won’t this put you in a difficult position?”
Castro exhaled sharply, “Helping the Knight of Salvation is reward enough for me. Though the situation is as it is… I personally have no desire to cross swords with you, Sir Zeke.”
In that moment, Zeke sensed an underlying emotion in Castro’s words.
“Castro is dissatisfied with following Azmun Barrios’ orders.”
As a noble from a long-standing family in the Rom Empire, Castro took great pride in his lineage, being an extreme purist.
It was likely he felt a strong aversion to taking orders from Azmun, who came from a less distinguished family and relied on underhanded tactics.
Zeke realized Castro’s true intention for coming here.
“He’s warning me not to go to Rom, yet hoping I’ll take down Azmun for him.”
With Siemens holding sway over Rom, even Castro would find it burdensome to directly confront Azmun Barrios.
However, if Zeke were to take down Azmun, creating a power vacuum, Castro could seize the opportunity.
Zeke understood that Castro’s visit wasn’t merely impulsive.
“He intends not to interfere when I clash with Azmun Barrios.”
It was a roundabout way of asking Zeke to deal with Azmun, without offering direct assistance but also not betraying him.
After some thought, Zeke looked up at Castro and said, “I understand the meaning behind your words. I anticipated the trap set by Azmun Barrios. But if I were to shy away from danger, wouldn’t that be a disgrace to the name of the Knight of Salvation?”
Castro quickly grasped Zeke’s intent.
He stood up with a serious expression.
“As expected of the Knight of Salvation. I shall pray to the Sun God for your success. May peace and light be with you, Sir Zeke.”
With a farewell befitting a devotee of the Sun God, Castro departed.
After Castro left, Zeke summoned Felix to his office.
“You called for me, my lord.”
Zeke addressed Felix, “Prepare a team of fewer than ten from the Black Shadow unit.”
“Fewer than ten?”
Zeke nodded. “Yes, we’ll head to Rom with that team.”
“Excuse me?”
Felix looked taken aback by Zeke’s words.
But he knew his lord well.
“He must have a plan.”
Felix, accepting the situation, bowed to Zeke.
“Understood, my lord. By the way… should we include Lady Reina?”
“Reina isn’t part of the Black Shadow unit, is she?”
“True, but she expressed a desire to join the advance.”
After a moment’s thought, Zeke nodded.
“If she wishes, include her.”
“Understood, my lord.”
Once Felix left, Zeke was left alone in the reception room, lost in thought.
“Azmun Barrios. Whatever trap you’ve set, it won’t go as you planned.”
Zeke’s eyes gleamed with the intensity of a predator eyeing its prey.
Thud, thud, thud!
With ten members of the Black Shadow unit, Zeke rode from Helly towards Rom.
Alongside Felix and Liam, Diego, Rick, Aster, and Reina—four of the Five Star Knights from his past life—accompanied him.
They were joined by the mages Zeros and Jason, Arin, and the archer Claire.
Though a small group of ten, they possessed the skill to rival an entire knight order.
Zeke led this select team to the negotiation site in Rom, where he was to meet Azmun Barrios.
Arthur Draker, the head of the Draker family, had tasked Zeke with retrieving a forbidden tome containing the secrets of Terracan Draker from Azmun Barrios.
In the Draker family, a command from the head was to be fulfilled without fail.
As they passed the road leading from Helly to Rom, they encountered a gate guarded by the Rom Empire’s forces.
Liam, carrying the banner of the Black Sword Knights, stepped forward.
A knight from the empire rode out to meet them.
“Identify yourselves!”
Liam responded with a booming voice, “This is Sir Zeke Draker, the Guardian Knight of the Draker family! A pureblooded awakener! The Knight of Salvation, renowned across the continent! We seek passage to Rom at the invitation of Commander Azmun Barrios, leader of the 13th Legion!”
Liam’s voice, imbued with aura, resonated powerfully, unsettling the imperial knight.
The young knight seemed incredulous that someone as youthful as Liam could exude such presence.
The imperial knight cleared his throat and turned his gaze to Zeke, then signaled towards the gate.
Slowly, the massive gate began to open.
Rumble!
As the gate parted, Zeke, mounted on his steed Buque Palos, led the way.
Behind him, the ten members of the Black Shadow unit followed.
Zeke entered the gate, undaunted by the hundreds of imperial soldiers and knights stationed there.
The sheer ‘presence’ emanating from Zeke left the imperial forces in awe.
As Zeke passed through the gate and exited the other side, the imperial knights and soldiers remained frozen in place.
The knight overseeing the gate could only swallow dryly, witnessing Zeke’s imposing figure.
“The Knight of Salvation, Zeke Draker. Even more formidable than the rumors suggest.”
Just then, someone approached Zeke and the Black Shadow unit, kicking up dust as they rode towards them.
Whoosh!
A knight clad in gleaming armor dismounted with agile grace, landing before Zeke and immediately dropping to one knee.
“Greetings, Sir Zeke Draker, the Knight of Salvation. I am a messenger sent by Commander Azmun.”
Zeke halted his steed, Bucephalus, and looked down at the kneeling messenger.
The messenger raised his head and addressed Zeke directly.
“The commander awaits your presence, Sir Zeke Draker. Allow me to guide you.”
Zeke remained silent, contemplating the messenger before turning to Liam, who stood behind him.
“What do you think, Liam, Felix?”
Liam, holding the banner, scrutinized the messenger with a serious gaze and spoke.
“It’s suspicious to send a messenger so suddenly. It could be a trap. We should detain him and uncover the truth.”
Felix, standing nearby, interjected.
“We’re in the midst of negotiations. Perhaps Azmun sent the messenger as a gesture of respect. We should follow him, but if anything seems amiss, I’ll deal with him swiftly.”
The messenger’s face turned pale at their words.
Zeke nodded thoughtfully, then returned his gaze to the messenger.
The messenger bowed deeply, his voice trembling.
“Sir Zeke! I assure you, there’s no deception! I’ve come solely under Commander Azmun’s orders to escort you!”
Zeke studied the messenger in silence before finally speaking.
“Rise.”
The authority in Zeke’s voice was undeniable, and the messenger, trembling slightly, stood up.
Without further instruction, the messenger, as if entranced, mounted his horse again and began leading Zeke and his party toward Azmun Barrios.
Thud, thud, thud!
Following the messenger, Zeke and his entourage soon arrived at Rom, the empire’s capital and one of the largest cities on the central continent.
The entrance to Rom was guarded by knights and soldiers.
As the messenger gestured to them, the guards, visibly tense, prepared to receive Zeke.
Boom!
Zeke and his Black Legion confidently strode through the ranks of knights and soldiers guarding Rom.
Among the imperial forces, some gazed at Zeke Draker with awe, his reputation preceding him.
Zeke accepted their reverent stares as he entered Rom.
But it wasn’t long before he frowned.
‘The smell of blood.’
The air was thick with the scent, unsettling Zeke’s senses.
Rom’s landscape was as he remembered, yet devoid of people, with the pervasive smell of blood lingering everywhere.
It felt eerier than Helly, which had turned into a ghost town.
At that moment, someone approached Zeke.
“Welcome, Knight of Salvation!”
A towering figure sat astride a horse, his presence commanding.
Zeke immediately recognized the face.
‘Azmun Barrios.’
At last, he was face to face with the cunning strategist.