Episode 455

“A royal consort?”

Zeke’s eyes flickered with surprise at the Sultan’s sudden proposal.

The Sultan of the Murk Empire was offering Zeke the position of consort, a role that had been vacant for decades.

Serazad, observing Zeke’s reaction, spoke up.

“It’s not a bad offer for you. To be second only to me, above all others in this world.”

How many people could speak to Zeke, the esteemed knight of the Draker family, the dominant force of the central continent, and the renowned Knight of Salvation, in such a manner?

Yet Serazad, the Sultan of the Murk Empire, was indeed a ruler who looked down upon the world. She was more than qualified to make such an offer.

Though Zeke was momentarily taken aback by Serazad’s proposal, he quickly regained his composure. However, it was Yellin, standing beside him, who was visibly more shocked.

“Zeke, a royal consort to the Sultan?”

Yellin was understandably bewildered by the unexpected turn of events.

She, too, hailed from a prestigious background as the heir to the Ishtar family, one of the three great transcendent families of the central continent.

But the opponent was the Sultan of the Murk Empire, the ruler of the eastern continent.

Moreover, even Yellin had to admit that Sultan Serazad possessed an extraordinary allure and charisma.

Despite Serazad being twice Zeke’s age and already having five concubines, Yellin couldn’t help but feel anxious.

She recalled what Zeke had said when she had previously asked him about the possibility of their marriage.

“If Lady Yellin and I were to marry, it would be the first union between the direct lines of Draker and Ishtar, causing quite a stir.”

A marriage with the Sultan of the Murk Empire would undoubtedly create an even greater sensation than a union with the Ishtar family.

Thus, Yellin watched with bated breath, wondering what choice Zeke would make.

Even Hades, who hovered nearby, observed the situation with interest.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for Zeke’s response to Sultan Serazad’s bombshell proposal.

After a moment of silence, Zeke finally spoke.

“Thank you for the generous offer, Your Majesty. However, there are several challenges that make it difficult for me to become a consort of the Murk Empire.”

Serazad’s expression shifted to one of surprise at Zeke’s response.

“Oh? Challenges, you say? Do tell.”

Zeke spoke with calm and clarity.

“First, there’s the reaction from the Draker family and the central continent. Although relations have improved, many still remember the Murk Empire’s invasions and the knights who fell in those battles. I anticipate resistance if I were to become a consort.”

Serazad waved her hand dismissively, as if the concern was trivial.

“I fail to see how that’s a problem. A few lavish feasts and gifts of gold and silver will quickly quell any discontent. That’s not your concern.”

It was a solution only a ruler of the eastern continent could propose—grand yet effective in quelling dissent.

Zeke continued.

“The second issue is the potential backlash within the Murk Empire.”

Serazad chuckled softly.

“That hardly seems a problem. Who would dare oppose my choice of consort?”

Zeke met her gaze steadily.

“I trust that your warriors and the long-standing noble families will not object. But what about the concubines you’ve taken and the caliphs backing them, especially the Talas tribe? Do you believe they will all support this unconditionally?”

Serazad’s expression hardened slightly at Zeke’s words.

Zeke knew he had struck a nerve.

“I never thought I’d use the power of foresight granted by the Great Sage in this way.”

Before meeting the Sultan, Zeke had used his foresight to access the Akashic Records, gaining insight into the current state of the Murk Empire.

While he couldn’t know every detail, he had a good grasp of the overall situation.

“The five concubines of the Sultan are all heirs representing their tribes.”

The Murk Empire was a coalition of numerous vassal tribes.

Among them, six particularly powerful tribes supported the Murk Empire, with the Anatolia tribe, to which Serazad belonged, being the strongest.

The second was the Talas tribe, who believed Serazad would have a child with the Talas concubine.

The Talas tribe wielded significant power, and Serazad’s first concubine was the heir of the Talas tribe.

They were confident that Serazad would bear a child of Talas blood, who would ascend as the next Sultan.

In such a scenario, if Serazad were to take a knight from the central continent, especially one from the infamous Draker family, as a consort, the reaction was predictable.

Serazad looked at Zeke with curiosity.

“It’s fascinating how a knight from the western continent knows such things.”

She leapt onto the back of a golden fox, her smile returning to its usual arrogance.

“The Talas tribe, you say. Their complaints are indeed tiresome, but that’s all. They cannot defy my will.”

“I don’t believe the caliphs of the five tribes can thwart the great Sultan’s will. However, if the final issue I mention combines with these internal factors, it could pose a significant threat to the entire Murk Empire.”

Zeke continued, meeting Serazad’s gaze.

“When the beasts beyond the Eternal Wall threaten the empire, what will you do if the caliphs strike from behind?”

To the north of the eastern continent lay a massive mountain range stretching from the western to the eastern ends.

Taller and more treacherous than the Giant Mountains of the central continent, it was known as the Eternal Mountains in the east.

Beyond these mountains, beasts periodically emerged, prompting the Murk Empire to erect a colossal wall for defense.

This was the Eternal Wall.

Serazad dismissed the notion with a skeptical look.

“That’s quite a leap. The beasts cannot breach the Eternal Wall. Moreover, the caliphs, including the Talas tribe, lack the audacity to challenge me.”

Currently, Serazad held all the power in the Murk Empire.

Any tribe showing even a hint of defiance against the Sultan’s authority would face swift and brutal retribution.

Serazad was not a tyrant who ruled with reckless cruelty, but neither was she a lenient ruler who tolerated threats to her power.

Zeke spoke in a calm voice.

“Are you truly certain of that?”

He turned to Omar.

“Lord Omar, you fought alongside us against the beasts that invaded the Dortha Republic. Do you believe they couldn’t breach the Eternal Wall under similar circumstances?”

Caught off guard by Zeke’s question, Omar, standing beside the Sultan, tensed.

Serazad turned to Omar.

“Omar, speak honestly about what you saw and felt.”

At her command, Omar bowed his head and began to speak slowly.

“Your Majesty, based on my experience in battle… if faced with a similar situation, the Eternal Wall might indeed prove ineffective.”

The eunuchs nearby gasped and whispered among themselves.

Serazad raised a hand, her expression indifferent.

“Silence. Omar, I respect your bravery and wisdom gained from the battlefield. Explain why you think so.”

Omar lifted his head and answered.

“The beasts that invaded the Dortha Republic did not appear through normal means. A massive portal opened, and thousands of beasts and monsters emerged right in front of the walls.”

The Eternal Wall had long held back the beasts primarily because of the formidable Eternal Mountains.

If a portal opened directly before the wall, bypassing the mountains, even the sturdiest fortifications would struggle to hold.

Serazad pondered Omar’s words, then asked him again.

“If you thought that, why didn’t you report it to me?”

Omar replied calmly.

“I heard from the divine Hades that creating such a portal requires a special power. The invaders of the Dortha Republic were said to have ties to the central continent, so I concluded it wouldn’t affect the Eternal Wall.”

Serazad nodded, seemingly satisfied with Omar’s explanation.

She turned to Zeke.

“So it seems. If Omar’s words are true, then the appearance of beasts is impossible, is it not?”

Zeke nodded in agreement.

“That may be the case for now, but it’s incorrect to assume those who control the beasts are only targeting the central continent.”

Serazad’s expression sharpened, her eyes glinting with intensity.

“Are you saying they intend to invade our empire as well?”

Zeke met her gaze and continued.

“They call themselves the Abyss. Their goal is… none other than the resurrection of the Demon King.”

As the word “Demon King” left Zeke’s lips, Serazad’s expression went blank for a moment.

It wasn’t just Serazad; Omar and the surrounding eunuchs were equally stunned.

Serazad was the first to regain her composure and questioned Zeke.

“Did I hear you correctly? The Demon King… as in the one from the legends?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. They aim to resurrect the Demon King and have already begun summoning demonic forces through forbidden means, forming an army to invade various parts of the central continent.”

Serazad looked at Zeke with disbelief.

“To think I’d hear the term ‘Demon King’ in this era. It’s astonishing.”

“It may sound strange, but it’s the truth. Moreover, I heard about the signs of the end directly from the Fairy King.”

The mention of the Fairy King shifted the atmosphere instantly.

The eunuchs whispered among themselves about the Fairy King.

Zeke found it curious that they were skeptical about the Demon King but reacted differently to the Fairy King. However, since it worked in his favor, he remained silent and observed.

After quieting the eunuchs, Serazad asked Zeke, “Did the Fairy King prophesy about the end?”

“Indeed. He foretold that the Demon King would rise again and drench all continents in blood. When he said all continents, he included not just the central continent but the eastern one as well.”

Zeke took the liberty of embellishing the story, using the Fairy King’s name as leverage.

Serazad’s expression hardened, a stark contrast to before.

After a moment of contemplation, she looked Zeke straight in the eye and asked, “Are you suggesting we need to prepare for when the Abyss crosses the Great Wall and invades with their monstrous forces?”

“Exactly. If I become the envoy of Murk, there could be internal discord when preparing for this threat. The greatest danger when facing these monsters is the enemy within.”

This was a lesson Zeke had learned painfully in his past life.

During his time as a Highlander, the most challenging aspect was dealing with humans who used the monster threat for their own gain.

With sincerity in his eyes, Zeke addressed Serazad.

“Therefore, I have a proposal for Your Majesty.”

Serazad, reclining against the back of a golden fox, nodded for him to continue.

“What is your proposal?”

Zeke met her gaze and revealed his true purpose for being there.

“Your Majesty, how about forming a ‘Covenant of Faith’ with me, Zeke Draker, the guide of the divine beast and knight of salvation?”