<w:bottom w:space="0" w:sz="0" w:val="nil"><w:right w:space="0" w:sz="0" w:val="nil"><w:between w:space="0" w:sz="0" w:val="nil"><w:shd w:fill="auto" w:val="clear"><w:spacing w:after="0" w:before="0" w:line="360" w:linerule="auto"><w:ind w:left="0" w:right="0" w:firstline="0"><w:jc w:val="left"><w:rpr><w:rfonts w:ascii="Calibri" w:cs="Calibri" w:eastasia="Calibri" w:hansi="Calibri"><w:b w:val="0"><w:i w:val="0"><w:smallcaps w:val="0"><w:strike w:val="0"><w:color w:val="333333"><w:sz w:val="22"><w:szcs w:val="22"><w:u w:val="none"><w:shd w:fill="auto" w:val="clear"><w:vertalign w:val="baseline"><w:r w:rsiddel="00000000" w:rsidr="00000000" w:rsidrpr="00000000"><w:rpr><w:rfonts w:ascii="Calibri" w:cs="Calibri" w:eastasia="Calibri" w:hansi="Calibri"><w:b w:val="1"><w:i w:val="0"><w:smallcaps w:val="0"><w:strike w:val="0"><w:color w:val="333333"><w:sz w:val="22"><w:szcs w:val="22"><w:u w:val="none"><w:shd w:fill="auto" w:val="clear"><w:vertalign w:val="baseline"><w:rtl w:val="0"><w:t xml:space="preserve">Chapter 353 "You're returning to Atlas right away?"Beatrice was surprised while having tea with Zeke in the garden.It was shocking from her perspective, since she hadn't properly hosted Zeke, who was essentially a benefactor to the Holy Kingdom, and now he said he needed to return immediately.Zeke nodded while drinking his tea."Yes, the head of the family sent word for me to enter the Four Seasons Castle, so I need to prepare right away."At those words, Roban, who was sitting beside them, hung his head low."I thought I'd finally get to spend time with Sir Zeke... Can't you stay in the Holy Kingdom a bit longer?"Zeke smiled and ruffled Roban's hair."I'll come visit again anytime once work is done. Until then, listen well to Her Holiness and focus on your training."Roban nodded while holding back his disappointment at Zeke's words.Beatrice, who had been watching with a gentle smile, suggested taking a separate walk in the garden with Zeke.Following her wishes, the two began strolling through the garden without Anthony, the guard knight.After walking in silence, Beatrice spoke first."I don't know how to properly thank you, Sir Zeke."Zeke shook his head at Beatrice's words."I only did what was natural as a knight. Please don't say such things, Your Holiness."Beatrice had never regretted her noble position as Pope more than now.If she weren't the Pope, she would have wanted to become Zeke's companion and support him.But as the Pope and leader of the Golden Dawn Society, she had a duty to revive the corrupt Holy Kingdom.She forced a smile and said to Zeke: ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠"The Holy Kingdom will be Sir Zeke's eternal friend and steadfast companion. If you ever need anything... please let me know."This was all she could do right now.Zeke nodded at Beatrice's words."Thank you for your consideration, Your Holiness."Then Zeke looked at her and spoke:"Come to think of it, there is one thing I'd like to request of Your Holiness."Beatrice brightened at Zeke's words and said:"Please tell me anything."Zeke looked at Beatrice and slowly opened his mouth."Please reinstate Sir Fab Valencia, who was excommunicated fifty years ago."Fab Valencia, who gave up his position as Arch Paladin and left the Holy Kingdom in opposition to the corrupt Holy Nation.Zeke wanted to protect his honor.Beatrice smiled and nodded at his words."Of course, Sir Zeke. That's what I wanted as well. I will withdraw Sir Fab's excommunication and restore his honor as Arch Paladin."Zeke heard her words and smiled back."Felix will be happy to hear Your Holiness's decision."He felt he had completed everything he needed to do in the Holy Kingdom. With a relieved heart, Zeke prepared to return straight to Atlas.* * *In the carriage returning to Atlas, Zeke listened to all of Shadia's reports and said to her sitting across from him."You're saying Calito handed over all the information?"Shadia nodded."Yes, Boss. No separate interrogation was needed. When cross-checked, all the information was credible."Calito had completely turned to Zeke's side.Beyond the restraints Zeke had placed, with the Emperor dead who was his last hope, Zeke was the only lifeline who could preserve his life.Carlito had firmly decided to cling to Zeke, hoping to carve out a new future for himself within the Draker family.That's why he readily spilled the Empire's secrets to Shadia without holding anything back.Zeke smirked as he recalled the Calito he had seen."Compared to Daria, his conversion was almost suspiciously quick. Well, I suppose it can't be helped since their burdens are different."Daria Calvi, the commander of the Knight Order of the Horse Palace, was still very resistant to betraying the Empire since she led a knight order composed of commoners and had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even learned the Wise King Spear techniques from Duke Craven.So Zeke decided that once Gillian, the commander of the Knight Order of the Thousand Scorpion, woke up, he would first bring him to his side and slowly persuade Daria through him.Even though the report was finished, Shadia remained sitting across from Zeke quietly.Zeke looked at Shadia and said."Do you have something to say, Shadia?"After hesitating briefly, Shadia slowly opened her mouth towards Zeke."There's something I'd like to say to you, Boss."Zeke nodded at Shadia's words."When have I ever stopped you from saying what you wanted? Speak freely."Shadia's face seemed to relax a bit at Zeke's words as she carefully began:"Do you remember what you said to me before about contract extension?""Contract extension... I believe I told you to think about what it is you want."Hearing Zeke's words, Shadia spoke again:"I want to break free from the Mountain Elder."For the first time, Shadia honestly told Zeke what she wanted.She revealed her desire for freedom and sought his help.Zeke looked at her and said:"Took longer than I expected."Shadia was taken aback by his words."What do you mean…?""For you to ask me for help."Shadia realized that Zeke had already understood her feelings but waited for her to ask for help herself.Zeke looked at her and said:"How would you like me to help?"Shadia couldn't answer right away.She slowly began:"The Mountain Elder takes orphans and puts them through brutal assassin training. The training is so harsh that barely two out of a hundred children survive. The survivors are made to compete further. Only the most exceptional become his disciples."She was openly revealing how the most secretive desert group, the Salmak assassins, were created.After listening silently, Zeke said:"What are you trying to say, Shadia?""...The Mountain Elder is not our master but our enemy."She looked at Zeke as she continued:"He fed me poison that requires regular medication to survive. All Salmak assassins are in similar situations. Through research, we've made medicine to temporarily halt the poison's effects, but complete removal is impossible."Zeke already knew about the Salmak poison from his past life, when he extracted key information during a mission.There was also a mission to rescue the Mountain Elder, but he ultimately met a miserable death betrayed by his disciples.'In my past life, Shadia eventually found a way to solve the poison through persistent research.'Thanks to developing medicine to suspend the poison's activity, she had bought time to ask Zeke for help like this.Zeke had waited for her to sort out her feelings, believing she would truly become his person only when she showed trust and sincerely asked for help."So the poison makes it difficult to break free from the Mountain Elder.""I'm developing an effective antidote, but it only works briefly."The poison was so severe that just thinking of betrayal could stop her heart.Shadia recalled how Zeke had remained unaffected after drinking her formless poison.Uncharacteristically emotional, she had blind faith that Zeke could somehow save her from this poison.That's why after long deliberation, she finally shared her feelings with him."The poison..."At that moment, Zeke grabbed Shadia's wrist.WHOOSH!Golden aura burst from Zeke's hand and flowed into Shadia's body.She was slightly startled by the warm energy enveloping her body.But soon she opened herself to receive Zeke's energy throughout her body.It felt like his energy was purely cleansing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her body.WHOOSH!The golden aura completely absorbed into Shadia's body.Zeke released her wrist and said:"It's done.""What?"Shadia asked in surprise."The poison is removed, so don't worry.""That's..."Shadia wore an expression of disbelief that the poison that had tormented her for over twenty years could be removed so easily.She tested to see if the poison was really gone.Previously, just thinking about betraying the Mountain Elder would make the poison eat away at her body with hellish pain.'I will kill the Mountain Elder.'But now there was no reaction when she had negative thoughts about him.The foreign sensation that was always present in her body could no longer be felt.In that moment, Shadia's face lit up with ecstasy.She was finally free from the curse of the poison.Shadia unknowingly shed tears at her sudden complete freedom.The Desert Flower, known as Salmak's most fearsome assassin, wept uncontrollably.Zeke silently watched, waiting for her to calm down.After a while, Shadia stopped ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠crying and raised her head."Master."Shadia prostrated herself on the carriage floor before Zeke.She slowly raised her head and wiped her face.Her appearance instantly changed.Her true face, hidden beneath the human-skin mask.A cold beauty with sharp eyes looked at Zeke."This is my real face. You have saved me. Please accept me. I will serve you with lifelong loyalty."Only the Mountain Elder knew Shadia's true face until now.She showed her real face to convey her sincerity to Zeke.But Zeke's response was unexpected."What foolish words."Shadia was taken aback."What do you mean?""If you'll serve me as master for life, what was the point of breaking free from the Mountain Elder?""That's different. I was forced to be his disciple and live as a Salmak assassin, but serving you is my free will.""I have no need for slaves. If you need a master to bind you, find someone else."Tears welled up in Shadia's eyes again."I cannot. You saved my life. Please don't tell me to find someone else."Long bound to the Mountain Elder, Shadia wasn't mentally prepared for true freedom despite gaining it.Zeke looked at her and said:"I need capable subordinates, not slaves."Finally understanding, Shadia changed her words."I'm sorry. I'll serve you as Boss, not master. Please accept me as your subordinate."Zeke finally nodded."Good. We'll write a new contract after the mission. I'll tell Boris to share Level 1 classified information with you."Shadia nodded."Understood, Boss. But I have one question."When Zeke nodded for her to continue, Shadia carefully asked:"I'm curious about your plans for Salmak and the other assassins."Zeke's eyes changed.Shadia held her breath waiting for his answer.Slowly, Zeke spoke."It's simple. I'll help those who ask for help, and meet force with force."At Zeke's cold words, Shadia swallowed and said:"Boss, please give me a chance."