Episode 481
Whoosh!
The sound of a sword slicing through the air echoed across the training grounds.
“Haah!”
A woman lunged forward, thrusting her sword with a force that belied her seemingly delicate frame, causing the very air around her to tremble.
“Hoo…”
The woman, catching her breath as she lowered her sword, was none other than Kali Draker, the guardian knight and direct descendant of the Draker lineage.
Kali gazed at her silver sword with a complex expression, as if something was weighing heavily on her mind. Just as she was about to raise her sword again—
Clap, clap, clap.
The sudden sound of applause from behind startled her, and she turned around quickly.
To her surprise, it was someone she hadn’t expected to see.
“Zeke?”
Her youngest brother had appeared at her castle in Iason without any prior notice. Kali could hardly believe the situation unfolding before her.
Zeke approached his somewhat bewildered sister.
“Sister, how have you been?”
He embraced her warmly.
Zeke, holding her shoulders, spoke softly.
“I heard about Father.”
Kali’s face darkened at his words.
Arthur Draker had done many things to maintain the family’s power, things that deserved criticism. Yet, she had never wished for his death or imagined he would leave so suddenly.
Caught in her own conflicting emotions about Arthur’s death, Kali was unsure how to respond to Zeke.
Then Zeke asked her, “Do you really believe Father died of illness?”
Kali’s eyes widened in shock.
“Are you saying… Father didn’t die?”
Zeke shook his head.
“I don’t know for sure. But the Arthur Draker I knew wouldn’t have succumbed to illness so suddenly.”
Kali interpreted Zeke’s words in her own way.
‘Zeke, too, finds Father’s death hard to believe.’
Arthur Draker had been a formidable figure, so such reactions were understandable.
Kali looked up at Zeke and said, “Let’s think about Father later. For now, let’s have a meal. Helen will be thrilled to see you.”
Zeke shook his head.
“Sister, no one must know I’m here.”
“What? What do you mean?”
Zeke looked at her seriously.
“Is there a place where no one else can enter, a place with strict security?”
Kali thought for a moment before nodding.
“The memorial room at the top of the tower is secure. No one can enter.”
“Then that will do. Bring Helen to the memorial room. No one else must come.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Zeke’s form shimmered and vanished without a trace.
Kali blinked at the spot where Zeke had stood.
‘Zeke… I hope I’m not imagining things.’
Then, a voice echoed in her mind.
—Please hurry, Sister. We don’t have much time.
Receiving Zeke’s telepathic message, Kali quickly left the training grounds.
Kali led Helen to the memorial room.
The room was dedicated to her mother, Tali Prana, and was a private space where no one dared to intrude, making it perfect for a secret meeting.
As Kali and Helen entered, Zeke appeared in the previously empty room.
“Zeke!”
Helen rushed to him, embracing him tightly.
In the warmth of his sister’s embrace, Zeke felt a momentary comfort.
“Have you been well, Sister?” he asked Helen.
Though known as a renowned knight outside, in front of Zeke, she was just a doting sister.
He sat at the table in the memorial room, serving tea to Kali and Helen as he began to speak.
“The council, led by Howard Draker, plans to appoint me as the commander-in-chief to seize Jupiter.”
Kali was taken aback.
“Jupiter? That’s guarded by Siemens and Castro Pollock. It’s not an easy target.”
Zeke nodded.
“They know that. It’s a pretext to send me away from the family stronghold.”
Kali understood the situation.
”…They want to make you the head of the family instead of me.”
“Exactly. Howard Draker is leading this.”
Kali grasped the council’s intentions.
‘They fear that if Zeke, who has reached the pinnacle of the Black Knight, becomes the head, a new tyrant might emerge, surpassing Arthur Draker.’
Though Kali was formidable, they likely saw her as a lesser threat compared to Zeke.
Kali looked at Zeke and said, “You don’t have to follow the council’s absurd decision. You should be the next head, Zeke.”
She had already resolved to pass the leadership to Zeke.
Arthur Draker had led the family to become the strongest on the continent, but he had committed many wrongs in the process.
If Zeke became the head, she hoped he could rectify the past mistakes.
But then Zeke shook his head.
“I won’t be the next head.”
He met Kali’s eyes.
“You should be the head, Sister.”
Both Kali and Helen were shocked by his words.
Kali spoke with a trembling voice.
“What do you mean, Zeke?”
“If I become the head, I’ll only lead the family through fear, like a second Arthur Draker. Please, create a new Draker family as the head. I’ll support you from behind.”
A new Draker, not defined by fear.
Zeke believed that Kali was the one who could create such a family.
Moreover, he had another reason.
‘With the demons trying to resurrect the Dark Lord, I can’t be tied down by the family.’
To counter the demons summoning new forces to revive the Dark Lord, he needed the Draker family’s power but couldn’t be bound by it.
Zeke planned to entrust the family’s management to Kali and request the necessary military resources.
The current chaos following Arthur Draker’s death was the perfect time to reorganize the family.
‘Arthur Draker might have faked his death. If so, we must act swiftly before he reappears.’
Howard was a shrewd man, so they couldn’t afford to give him time to think.
Zeke’s urgency stemmed from this need for swift action.
Kali pondered deeply over Zeke’s request for her to take the leadership.
Finally, she nodded slowly.
“If that’s your wish, so be it.”
Even as she agreed, she added, “But once things stabilize, I’ll pass the leadership to you. Then, you must lead the Draker family, Zeke.”
“Understood, Sister.”
Zeke agreed and turned to Helen.
“I have a favor to ask of you as well, Sister.”
Helen nodded, indicating for him to continue.
Zeke looked at her intently.
“Please take my place as the commander-in-chief of the Jupiter forces.”
Helen was startled by his request.
“What do you mean? I’m not qualified to be the commander-in-chief.”
“When Kali becomes the head, she can grant you the title of guardian knight. If you negotiate with the council on the condition of taking the leadership, it’s possible.”
Kali nodded in agreement.
“That shouldn’t be too difficult. But Zeke, why are you doing all this? Giving up both the leadership and the commander-in-chief position to us?”
Kali and Helen were curious about Zeke’s intentions.
Zeke looked at them both.
“I’m going to root out the rats hiding within the family.”
His words widened Kali and Helen’s eyes.
Kali asked, “Rats… Do you mean there’s a traitor in the stronghold? With whom?”
“I don’t know exactly. But someone is using the Draker family for personal gain. Howard Draker, who leads the council, hides behind the facade of a war hero, but he’s a petty man driven by self-interest.”
Zeke’s eyes sharpened.
“Help me, Sister. I’ll set a trap for him.”
Howard Draker hurried to the stronghold after receiving an unexpected message from Kali Draker.
Kali, who had been secluded in Iason, was finally making a move.
As Howard made his way to Kali’s office, his mind was racing.
‘Zeke Draker’s actions must have made Kali anxious.’
A follower of power, Howard couldn’t fathom that Zeke had ceded the leadership to Kali and joined forces with her.
He opened the door to the office and stepped inside.
“Councilor Howard.”
Kali Draker rose to greet him warmly.
“Thank you for coming in person.”
Howard was inwardly pleased with Kali’s courteous demeanor.
‘As I thought, Kali Draker must be seeking the leadership through me and the council.’
If Kali was reaching out first, it would be easier for Howard to seize control.
Feigning a composed demeanor, he nodded toward Kali.
“Of course, when Sir Kali calls, one must answer.”
Howard watched as Kali took the seat of honor, and soon the attendants brought out tea.
“Please, have some. We’ve prepared Ishtar’s finest tea for you, Senator.”
Howard was taken aback by Kali’s words.
“Ishtar’s tea? I had no idea you had connections with them, Sir Kali.”
Kali offered a faint smile in response.
“Initially, I was able to establish a connection with Ishtar through Zeke.”
Howard pressed his lips together, remaining silent.
He was aware that Zeke and Ishtar had some sort of relationship through the Black Stage. However, he hadn’t anticipated that Kali Draker herself would also have ties with Ishtar.
She turned to Howard Draker and spoke.
“What I wish to discuss with you is somewhat related to this matter…”
Kali paused, and when Howard gestured for her to continue, she spoke again.
“If I become the head of the family, I’ve received word that Ishtar is willing to officially pursue an alliance with the Drakers.”
Howard’s eyes widened in shock.
“An alliance between Ishtar, one of the transcendent families, and the Drakers?”
Ishtar, a key player among the continent’s transcendent families, was practically the ruler of the South. If they declared an alliance, it could put pressure on Jupiter, who had established a foothold in the southern region.
Moreover, if Kali Draker could secure an alliance with Ishtar, it would provide ample justification to appoint her as the head of the family instead of Zeke Draker.
Howard’s mind raced with possibilities.
“Ishtar chose Kali over Zeke Draker…”
Maintaining the facade of a seasoned politician, Howard spoke with a grave expression.
“An alliance with Ishtar… Those ruthless killers are like a double-edged sword.”
He intended to downplay Kali’s advantageous position, suggesting that the situation could become complicated, thereby making her reliant on him.
However, Kali nodded in understanding and replied as if resigned.
“True, if that’s your perspective, perhaps it’s best to forget about the alliance with Ishtar.”
Kali’s unexpected response caught Howard off guard.
Clearing his throat, he spoke again.
“Yet, if we can join forces with Ishtar in the current situation, it would greatly aid in countering Siemens, and it might also support your ascent to the head of the family, Sir Kali.”
Howard decided to take a step back for now.
Kali slowly nodded at his words and said,
“Indeed. But even if we form an alliance with Ishtar, one issue remains.”
“What issue is that, Sir Kali?”
“Zeke Draker.”
She looked at Howard with a steely gaze.
“To become the head of the family, I must eliminate him.”