Episode 69
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
Zeke was traveling with Felix by carriage, leaving Atlas behind and heading to another city.
Felix, sitting across from him, spoke with a hint of excitement in his voice.
“Master, this is my first time visiting Mycenae!”
But unlike Felix, Zeke couldn’t muster the enthusiasm of a tourist.
‘The Agamemnon family of Mycenae…’
Mycenae was one of the cities in Midland sponsored by the Draker family. Although it wasn’t one of the five major cities of Midland, it was said to have been larger than Atlas fifty years ago. Like the ancient kingdom of Thebea, Mycenae was a city steeped in history, with remnants of the Golden Age and the Holy Empire scattered throughout.
The Agamemnon family had been a noble lineage governing Mycenae and its surrounding territories for generations. Some even claimed they were descendants of an ancient kingdom from the same era as the Kingdom of Chronos. As the rulers of the land, the Agamemnon family wielded significant power within the Draker domain, thanks to their deep-rooted traditions and accumulated wealth.
However, a curse befell the family fifty years ago, leading to the untimely deaths of their children. Rumors of the cursed family spread, and no one wanted to associate with them. As the Agamemnon family declined, so did Mycenae’s reputation, and the Draker family gradually erased their name from memory.
With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Zeke arrived in Mycenae.
“Wow, Master! Look over there. It’s like stepping back into the era of the Holy Empire.”
Unlike the modern city of Atlas, Mycenae retained the atmosphere of the Holy Empire from 500 years ago. The city was filled with Gothic-style architecture, a hallmark of the Holy Empire.
Zeke found the unfamiliar and exotic appearance of Mycenae fascinating.
‘Come to think of it, I never visited Mycenae in my past life.’
Back then, he only traveled to strategically important cities, so there was no reason to visit a place like Mycenae.
Zeke turned to Felix. “Felix, let’s find a place to stay first.”
“Understood, Master.”
As an official knight of the Draker family, Zeke could have used the family’s facilities scattered throughout Midland, but he chose to book a room at an inn instead. He wanted to experience the atmosphere of Mycenae firsthand.
Felix quickly scouted a decent-looking inn in the city.
Zeke followed Felix’s lead and entered the inn. It was like stepping into a scene from a storybook. As evening approached, people gathered in the dining area, drinking beer, while the innkeeper served up whole roasted meats to the patrons.
After securing a room, Zeke and Felix decided to have a simple meal. The burly innkeeper approached Zeke.
“What’ll you have for dinner?”
With their identities concealed, Zeke and Felix appeared to be mere tourists visiting Mycenae for the first time. Felix, with his characteristic friendly smile, asked the innkeeper, “What’s the most popular dish here?”
The innkeeper replied confidently, “If you don’t need a side dish, the special soup is the best. It’ll fill you right up.”
Zeke and Felix ordered the recommended soup, along with some bread and beer. The food arrived quicker than expected and was quite delicious.
As Zeke ate, he listened to the conversations around him. Most were ordinary stories from ordinary people.
‘The city seems fine.’
The fact that people were leisurely drinking and chatting in a tavern before sunset suggested that the city’s economy and security were in good shape. Zeke had expected a gloomy and somber atmosphere due to the cursed Agamemnon family, but he was surprised by the lively scene.
Just then, a man from a nearby group placed a plate of roasted meat next to Zeke and Felix.
“You look like tourists. You can’t leave Mycenae without trying our famous beef ribs.”
The man’s companions nodded in agreement.
Zeke, seizing the opportunity, responded warmly, “Thank you for your kindness. The people of Mycenae are truly hospitable.”
The man nodded proudly. “Of course, I’m a local. There’s no place like Mycenae.”
Another man chimed in, “That’s right! I visited Atlas once, and it was too crowded and chaotic. The buildings were all pale and packed together, with no charm at all.”
The others nodded in agreement.
Zeke instructed Felix to get more beer.
“Oh, you shouldn’t have.”
The free beer Zeke provided lifted the men’s spirits even more, and they began to boast about Mycenae.
Listening to them, Zeke grew more confused.
‘The security is good, the welfare policies are well-implemented, and the city is well-managed.’
There were many cities on the continent, but few were run well enough to satisfy their citizens. In the southern continent, for example, drug cartels had taken over cities, rendering the existence of kingdoms meaningless.
Compared to that, Mycenae was practically a paradise.
When the men were sufficiently tipsy, Zeke cautiously broached the subject.
“From what you’ve said, Mycenae sounds like a wonderful place. But who is the current mayor? I didn’t see a city hall building during the day.”
At that moment, the men, who had been laughing and chatting, fell silent. The sudden quiet was awkward enough to make Zeke feel embarrassed.
The man who had first approached Zeke drained his beer and stood up.
“I must have taken up too much of your time. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
The man returned to his table, and the others resumed their conversation, avoiding eye contact with Zeke and Felix.
Zeke realized that the men were reluctant to discuss the Agamemnon family.
‘Do they think even mentioning the cursed family will bring bad luck?’
Zeke decided he needed to investigate further.
After finishing their meal, Zeke spoke to Felix.
“I’m going to explore the area a bit more. You go ahead and rest.”
Felix, quick to catch on, understood Zeke’s intentions.
“Understood, Master. Be careful.”
Once Zeke left the inn alone, he wandered the city before heading toward the Syndicate’s branch.
Every city had its underbelly, and the Syndicate had a presence there.
Just like in Atlas, Zeke found a Syndicate-run establishment and entered.
The atmosphere was markedly different from the inn’s tavern. A rough-looking man blocked Zeke’s path.
“This isn’t a place for kids.”
Zeke quietly produced a card given to him by Kay. This magically crafted card was reserved for VIP clients within the Syndicate.
Recognizing the card, the man was taken aback and bowed.
“My apologies for not recognizing someone of your stature.”
“I’d like to meet the branch manager.”
The man promptly led Zeke inside, down a passageway to the basement.
‘This feels no different from a thieves’ guild.’
Thieves’ guilds often had secure passageways to store stolen goods. The Syndicate, being a security-conscious organization, was not much different.
Zeke was guided through several junctions to the branch manager’s location.
In a private room of an upscale tavern, someone awaited Zeke.
A young man in a sharp suit. He seemed too young to be a branch manager, but considering the Syndicate’s recent overhaul, it made some sense.
As soon as Zeke entered the room, the branch manager dropped to his knees.
“I apologize for my rudeness, not realizing someone of your importance was visiting.”
This was not the typical reaction to a regular client.
Zeke asked the branch manager, “Do you know who I am?”
“I don’t know the details. I’ve only been told you’re someone we must never offend.”
It seemed Kay’s card had some sort of mark on it.
Zeke nodded and gestured for the branch manager to sit.
The branch manager sat and offered Zeke a prepared cup of tea.
“I heard you enjoy tea.”
”…”
Zeke took a sip of the tea and began to speak.
“How long have you been in Mycenae?”
“I’ve been here for about 20 years.”
“That’s quite a while.”
“I’m a local, and I’ve been with the organization since I was young.”
“Good. Then you must know a lot about Mycenae.”
“Yes. Despite appearances, Mycenae has a thriving black market. Most of the contraband that comes through unofficial channels is dealt with here…”
“Unfortunately, I’m not interested in the black market.”
The branch manager looked slightly disappointed.
“What’s the atmosphere like in Mycenae?”
“It’s a good place to live. The security is decent, and resources are plentiful. The only downside is the lack of a railway, which makes travel to other cities inconvenient.”
It was odd to hear a crime syndicate member praise the security.
Zeke nodded and asked another question.
“Do you know anything about the ruler of Mycenae?”
At that moment, the branch manager’s face turned pale.
Zeke recalled the reactions of the men at the inn.
To drive the point home, he mentioned the name to the branch manager.
“The Agamemnon family.”
When Zeke mentioned the family name, the branch manager visibly trembled.
“What kind of rumors are going around for him to be this scared?”
The branch manager, trying hard to suppress his fear, spoke to Zeke.
“Wh-where did you hear that name?”
“That’s not something you need to know. It seems like mentioning that family name is taboo in Mycenae. Is there a reason for that?”
Suddenly, the branch manager crossed himself and began to recite a prayer.
The city still bore the heavy remnants of the Holy Empire.
He slowly began to speak.
“Sir, that family is cursed.”
“I know that much. They say it’s a curse where children die.”
The branch manager shook his head vigorously.
“N-no, that’s not it.”
“Not that? Then is there another curse?”
The branch manager spoke slowly.
“Who-whoever goes to the castle dies.”
“What?”
This was news to Decker.
Zeke asked the branch manager again.
“So you’re saying that anyone who goes to the Agamemnon family’s castle dies?”
“Y-yes. And if you say that name too often, you might die as well.”
Looking at the branch manager’s trembling lips, it didn’t seem like he was lying.
“There must be something to it.”
Superstitions often carried the power of belief, and if enough people believed, such curses or strange phenomena could indeed manifest.
“Have there been people who actually died after going to the castle?”
At this, the branch manager crossed himself again, offered a prayer, and then spoke slowly.
“Yes, yes. I heard that during my grandfather’s time, those who went to the castle were cursed and all died. Even one of my grandfather’s brothers died that way.”
“Has anything like that happened recently?”
The branch manager shook his head.
“The citizens of Mycenae don’t go near the castle. We’ve blocked all paths leading there to prevent any tourists from wandering in.”
“Hmm.”
After listening to the branch manager, Zeke came to his own conclusion.
“It doesn’t seem like the Agamemnon family is actually cursed.”
His eyes gleamed with realization.
“The Agamemnon family must have spread the rumors of the curse themselves.”