Episode 427

Azmun Barrios, despite his reputation as a cunning strategist, appeared outwardly as a boisterous warrior. In truth, Azmun was a formidable knight, possessing skills surpassing even those of the Red Knights.

Dismounting from his horse, he greeted Zeke with utmost respect. “I am Azmun Barrios, leader of the Magal Palace Knights. It is an honor to meet the Savior Knight in person.”

Though his true feelings were unknown, it was no small feat for Azmun, a knight of an enemy nation, to bow to someone much younger like Zeke. Yet, for Azmun, such formalities were trivial. This was a stark contrast to Castro, who hailed from a noble family.

Despite Azmun’s warm welcome, Zeke remained on his horse. Traditionally, he should have dismounted to reciprocate Azmun’s greeting, but he simply looked down at him with an unwavering gaze. The knights of Magal Palace, standing behind Azmun, frowned at Zeke’s demeanor. However, the aura emanating from Zeke was so overwhelming that they dared not act rashly.

Zeke spoke to Azmun, “Do you intend to negotiate here?”

His voice was devoid of emotion, yet carried an overwhelming charisma that even made the shrewd Azmun tense. ‘A monster greater than the dead emperor,’ he thought. Emperor Nero had maintained his power despite his madness because he was strong, and no one in Rome dared defy him. Azmun sensed in Zeke a presence even more commanding than the deceased emperor—a natural-born ruler who could make thousands of knights kneel with a single word.

Regaining his composure, Azmun bowed his head to Zeke. “Of course not, Sir Zeke Draker. Allow me to guide you to the negotiation site.”

Azmun mounted his horse again and led Zeke and his entourage through the desolate city of Rome. Not a single soul was in sight. ‘Rome is as good as dead,’ Zeke mused. Without its citizens, a city could not function. Under Abel’s rule, Rome was merely an empty shell. Yet, as the capital of the Roman Empire, it still held significant symbolic value. Zeke couldn’t help but wonder about Ramon Jimenez’s true intentions. ‘What does he hope to achieve by seizing an empty Rome using Abel’s shadow?’

As they followed Azmun, a grand temple came into view—the Great Temple of the Sun. It was the main sanctuary of the Sun Cult, the largest temple on the continent, and Azmun had chosen it as the negotiation site. ‘A temple…,’ Zeke thought. If any place in Rome was ripe for clandestine plots, it was here. He suspected Azmun had a reason for choosing this location.

Inside the temple, priests of the Sun Cult lined the path. Azmun turned to Zeke and said, “During the negotiations, no one will enter the temple.” Whether this was true would only be known once the negotiations concluded.

Azmun and Zeke, each with their entourage, entered the grand temple. In the central hall, a negotiation table awaited them. As they sat across from each other, ten pre-selected individuals stood behind them. Azmun removed his helmet and sighed with relief. “Phew, I can finally breathe. My subordinates insisted I wear the helmet to soften my harsh appearance, but it’s suffocating.”

Felix couldn’t help but chuckle, earning a nudge from Reina to mind his manners. Azmun waved it off. “No need to be so formal. This is a chance for open dialogue. Why don’t the knights relax in the lounge with some refreshments? Our knights are eager to meet the famed Black Sword Knights.”

Despite his rugged appearance, Azmun was a master of words, quickly diffusing the tension. But then, Zeke spoke, “Do you think we’re here to relax?”

The atmosphere instantly tensed again, the relaxed mood Azmun had created vanishing like a taut bowstring. Azmun adjusted his posture and changed the subject. “Savior Knight, would you care to see this?”

He smoothly presented something to Zeke, unveiling a book bound in red leather from a luxurious velvet cloth. “This is the memoir of the legendary dragonslayer, Terracan Draker, which we discovered.”

The mention of Terracan Draker, a legendary figure, surprised the Black Sword Knights behind Zeke. Yet, Zeke, a direct descendant of the Draker lineage, remained expressionless as he gazed at the memoir. He addressed Azmun, “If you intend to use Terracan Draker’s memoir to threaten the Draker family, you’re mistaken.”

Zeke preemptively countered any potential threats before Azmun could even propose them. Azmun shook his head, smiling. “Ha, I wouldn’t dream of it. Terracan Draker is a hero revered across the continent. Yet, aside from the myths of the Liberation War, little is known about him.”

Azmun continued, “This memoir contains truths about Terracan Draker that have never been revealed. I wish to present it to the Draker family as a gesture of friendship.”

Zeke listened quietly before speaking slowly, “You claim you won’t publicize that Terracan Draker was an illegitimate child of the Draker family and intend to gift the book to us. That’s hard to believe.”

Zeke’s blunt revelation of Terracan’s secret startled the knights behind him, both the Black Sword Knights and the Magal Palace Knights. The revelation that the legendary dragonslayer was an illegitimate child could tarnish the family’s honor. Yet, Zeke seemed unfazed, speaking without hesitation.

Azmun, caught off guard by Zeke’s reaction, hesitated before responding. “You’ve certainly surprised me, Sir Zeke Draker.”

“I didn’t come here to surprise you, Commander.”

Zeke reached for the memoir in front of him, quickly flipping through its pages. In an instant, he scanned the entire book, verifying its authenticity through his system. ’…It appears genuine. Terracan Draker’s memoir.’

Zeke had inherited Terracan’s secure archives, yet this memoir was absent from them. The archives contained only official records like supply logs and basic dragon-slaying manuals. Zeke addressed Azmun, “Commander, let’s not waste time probing each other. What is it you truly wish to discuss?”

Azmun hesitated, then sighed, nodding. “Phew, I can’t outmatch the Savior Knight.”

Leaning closer, Azmun spoke softly, “Sir Zeke, perhaps you should dismiss your men first.”

Zeke, resting his chin on his hand, gestured to the Black Sword Knights. Azmun did the same, and the Magal Palace Knights moved to another room with the Black Sword Knights. Azmun, looking slightly embarrassed, said, “Ha, I tried to create a natural opportunity for us to talk alone, but it seems I fumbled the first step.”

Azmun attempted to restore a relaxed atmosphere. Zeke looked at him and asked, “What is it you want to say?”

Azmun appeared tense. “What I want to say is…”

At that moment, Azmun used a message spell to communicate with Zeke. ―The memoir of Terracan is merely bait.

Zeke’s eyebrow twitched at Azmun’s candid admission of using the memoir to lure him to Rome. ―Sir Zeke, how about we join forces?

When Zeke remained silent, Azmun sent another message. ―Don’t you want to capture Abel Jimenez?

Azmun’s words momentarily shook Zeke. If true, it meant Azmun had used the memoir as bait to bring Zeke to Rome to confront Abel. Azmun’s message continued. ―I held a grudge against Emperor Nero. I rose to the rank of commander, bearing the dishonorable title of a schemer, to seize an opportunity to kill the emperor.

Zeke listened silently to Azmun’s message.

“That’s why, when Siemens proposed overthrowing the emperor, I was the first to join the revolution. As you know, the emperor was killed, and Abel Siemens took the throne… I never imagined there could be someone more insane than Emperor Nero.”

He had resolved to kill Abel before he could fully secure his place on the throne, as Abel was even more deranged than the mad Emperor Nero.

“Abel Siemens is holed up in the palace, killing dozens every day and drinking their blood just to maintain a semblance of sanity. The palace floors are never dry from the bloodshed.”

Azmun’s hands were clenched tightly, trembling with anger.

He turned to Zeke and spoke.

“I request the withdrawal of the Black Sword Knights stationed in Helie.”

Zeke looked up at Azmun, meeting his gaze.

He responded in kind to Azmun’s rhythm.

“If we withdraw from Helie, you’ll hand over the memoirs?”

“It’s merely a request. As I mentioned earlier, the memoirs are a gesture of friendship to the Draker family.”

“Hmm… a gesture of friendship, you say.”

At that moment, Zeke communicated telepathically with Azmun.

“Who do you plan to place on the throne after killing Abel? Or perhaps you intend to crown yourself?”

Azmun was momentarily taken aback by Zeke’s telepathy but quickly shook his head.

“Not at all. I’ve never aspired to be emperor. Currently, Abel provides Siemens with a pretext to control Rom, but if we can eliminate Abel and expel Siemens from Rom, I wish to bring in Consul Julius and rebuild the Rom Empire together.”

Zeke’s eyes deepened at Azmun’s words.

“Azmun Barrios bringing Julius into Rom himself?”

In a past life, it was Julius who had executed Azmun. The two were as incompatible as fire and water. Although circumstances had changed significantly since then, Zeke found it hard to trust Azmun’s words, knowing their natures hadn’t changed.

Moreover, if Azmun was sincere, it was still possible to switch allegiance to Julius.

Just then, Azmun sent another message to Zeke.

“Currently, a dark sorcerer, acting as a proxy for the consul, is manipulating Abel Siemens and controlling the palace from the shadows.”

He gritted his teeth and sent another message to Zeke.

“Sir Zeke, I can no longer stand by and watch my homeland, the Rom Empire, be toyed with by a madman and a dark sorcerer.”

Though conveyed through magic, Azmun’s sincerity was palpable.

Zeke, who had been silently listening, finally spoke.

“I will see to it that the troops withdraw from Helie. However…”

Suddenly, blue flames erupted from the memoirs of Terracan Draker in front of Zeke, consuming them in an instant.

Through the flames, Zeke looked at Azmun and said, “Make sure to keep your promise. If not, the consequences will be yours to bear, Commander.”