Chapter 484
Chapter 484
Chapter 484
Yelin's shock didn't end with meeting Ignis.
"My name is Silaion. I have come hearing the wish of summoning."
The high-ranking wind spirit appeared.
"I am Noess. Who is the one who called me?"
Then the high-ranking earth spirit appeared.
"Who might be the one who called me?"
Even the high-ranking water spirit showed itself.
'This is impossible.'
Even Yelin, who was born with High Elf abilities through ancestral regression, was limited to contracting with spirits of only two attributes.
But Zeke summoned high-ranking spirits of four attributes, and even contracted with all of them.
Yelin felt awe at Zeke's astounding spirit affinity that was worthy of astonishment.
After finishing the contracts with the spirits, Zeke undid his polymorph and returned to his human form.
'After returning to human form, my spirit affinity has clearly decreased.'
Trying in human form, he could only summon lower-ranking spirits.
Still, with the power of the Great dragon's heart and his titles, he was able to complete contracts with all four high-ranking spirits.
As he was proudly reflecting on the contracts with the spirits, Zeke had one question.
'Come to think of it, the shadow spirits I've handled are spirits too.'
Although Zeke had been handling spirits already, he hadn't been conscious of it because their summoning method was different from regular spirits.
Zeke approached Yelin, who still hadn't regained her composure, and asked:
"Lady Yelin, have you ever heard of shadow spirits?"
Finally coming to her senses at Zeke's words, Yelin tilted her head.
"This is the first I've heard of shadow spirits."
Zeke found it surprising that Yelin, a High Elf, didn't know of the existence of shadow spirits.
'Does this mean the shadow summons I control, including the dragon warriors, are on a different level from regular spirits?'
Most spirits, including the four elemental spirits, were beings formed by the materialization of natural energy.
But shadow spirits became spirits when wraiths or corrupted souls were bound to shadow power.
Although they bore the name spirits, strictly speaking, they were different from regular spirits from their very creation process.
'Come to think of it, shadow power is related to the chaos god sealed under the name of Goddess Theia. Perhaps shadow spirits were created by the chaos god.'
The Chaos God, Shadow Dragon Bahamut, Authority of Shadow King, Dark Sword Leviathan.
The shadow power that was a massive pillar of Zeke's abilities was ultimately all connected.
He thought this power too might be part of a device prepared by the sealed chaos god to create cracks in the world.
As Zeke's thoughts deepened, Himel came to the garden.
"Sir Zeke, someone bringing a message from the Four Seasons Castle has arrived."
Behind Himel, a small-built man with his face covered approached Zeke.
He threw off the cloak he was wearing.
Surprisingly, when the cloak came off, Helen Draker appeared wearing steel armor.
Zeke had lent Helen a shape-shifting cloak and asked her to secretly deliver messages to Kali's side.
Helen looked at Zeke and said:
"Zeke, Howard took the bait."
Zeke's eyes flashed at Helen's words.
He nodded and opened his mouth.
"It's time to begin the hunt."
* * *
A few days later, Howard received contact from Kali and secretly moved to the location she indicated.
He headed towards a mansion prepared on the outskirts of Atlas, pulling a carriage.
When he got out of the carriage, people with unusual auras greeted Howard and his knights.
Howard instinctively realized these were Ishtar's mystic artists.
He followed their guidance into the mansion.
Entering the reception room, Howard found Kali who had arrived earlier.
"Lady Kali."
Kali nodded while seated to greet Howard.
Then she pointed to the person sitting opposite and said:
"This is Lady Yelin Ishtar, heir to the Ishtar family. Vice Chairman, this is Congressman Howard I mentioned before."
The person wearing Ishtar-style clothing and a mask on their face slowly looked at Howard.
Through the gaze felt beyond the mask, Howard could sense the power possessed by the heir of Ishtar, a transcendent family.
When Kali gestured, Howard approached the Ishtar heir and greeted them.
"Greetings to the Young Master of Ishtar. I am Howard Draker, holding the position of congressman in the Draker Cross Society."
Even after Howard's introduction, the Young Master said nothing.
That's when Kali said to Howard:
"Please understand that the Young Master is not familiar with the Central Continent language. However, there is no problem with listening and understanding, so feel free to speak. Please sit."
Howard sat down at Kali's words.
Although he had said he wanted to see Ishtar's people directly as proof of Kali's words, now that he actually met them, he was overwhelmed by their presence.
That's when the Young Master whispered something to Kali.
After listening, Kali nodded and relayed the message to Howard.
"She says to remember that if you mention anything about this elsewhere, Ishtar's Raven Brigade may pay you a visit."
Howard's face turned pale at the mention of Ishtar's Raven Brigade.
Even as a Draker, he never wanted to become a target of Ishtar's mystic arts.
Howard tried to maintain a calm expression as he nodded.
Then the Young Master removed their mask.
Brown skin with a long scar across the eyes.
It was none other than Himel, the commander of the Raven brigade.
Through Black Corp’s intelligence, Howard only knew the Ishtar heir's name and gender.
'It seems Kali Draker's claim about joining hands with Ishtar is true.'
Therefore, Howard had no choice but to believe that Himel was the Ishtar heir.
Then Himel spoke in an unfamiliar Central Continent language.
"Kill. Zeke Draker. Help. Kali Draker. We."
Howard's expression changed as he understood Himel's words.
"You mean you'll help kill Zeke Draker?"
Himel nodded.
This was another confirmation that what Kali had said was true.
Himel spoke again.
"Price. Venus. Need."
Venus, one of the Empire's major cities, was adjacent to Ishtar's territory in the border region.
Howard's face hardened at Ishtar's audacity in demanding an entire city as payment for assassination.
But then Kali spoke to Howard:
"Venus alone isn't too high a price for eliminating Zeke Draker. If he escapes and prepares to strike us from behind, things will get much worse."
Howard nodded, changing his mind at Kali's words.
Zeke Draker was not an opponent to be taken lightly.
Howard soon opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.
"Very well. Let's do that."
Himel showed a satisfied expression at Howard's words.
Kali looked at Howard and said:
"Now we just need to set a trap for Zeke Draker. Do you have anything in mind, Congressman?"
Howard nodded at Kali's words.
"If Ishtar's mystics help, I have a good method."
He lowered his voice and continued.
"Soon we'll hold a simplified funeral for the former head. The direct bloodline will have time to pay respects in front of the coffin placed underground, and that would be the best time to strike."
Kali nodded as if she understood.
"Indeed, at that time, even Zeke's guard knights will be waiting outside."
"Yes, since Ishtar's mystic poisons are famous for working even on Black Knights, if we subdue Zeke Draker with poison and quietly dispose of him, then frame it as an ambush by Jiemens rebels, there should be no problems."
Kali showed a satisfied expression upon hearing Howard's scheme.
"Good. Is there anything I can help with?"
"Lady Kali, please prevent Zeke Draker's knights from entering the underground space. And after it's done, take the lead with the Silver Knight Order and be the first to declare that Zeke Draker was ambushed to set the tone. I'll prepare everything else."
"Understood. Let's prepare."
Satisfied as the situation was settled, Howard stood up and said:
"We'll execute the plan after the funeral proceedings end in three days."
* * *
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The funeral procession carrying Arthur Draker's coffin passed through Atlas's main street.
A priest holding a bell led the funeral procession, followed by Draker knights in black uniforms lined up behind.
At the very front of the procession were Kali, Zeke, and Helen, the direct bloodline of the family head.
Originally, a more grand and larger funeral procession should have been held, but it was greatly simplified for various reasons including the Jiemens issue and current political situation.
After the funeral procession ended, Arthur Draker's coffin was moved to the underground of Winterkeep, located in the innermost part of the Four Seasons Castle.
In the deepest underground of Winterkeep was the family shrine where past heads of the Draker family were buried.
Arthur Draker too was scheduled to be laid to rest in that sacred space.
It was one of Draker's traditions to place the coffin in a memorial space before moving it to the shrine, allowing relatives to spend their final moments with the deceased.
Kali and Helen took turns entering the memorial space to commemorate Arthur Draker.
And it became Zeke's turn.
Zeke had Duke and the other Black Specter members wait outside.
Just as he was about to enter, Liam spoke to Zeke.
"My lord, given the unsettling atmosphere in the Four Seasons Castle, it would be better to have at least one guard accompany you down."
When Liam tried to go underground with Zeke, the Silver Knights guarding the front blocked Liam with their swords.
"Mourning is only allowed one at a time, and only for direct blood relatives."
At the Silver Knights' somewhat rude behavior, the Black Specter members behind grabbed their swords and stepped forward.
Though they had once fought together as comrades, the current situation of opposing each other over the next family head position made them react sensitively.
That's when Zeke raised his hand.
"Enough. Don't cause unnecessary disturbance."
Only at Zeke's words did the Black Specter members release their sword hilts.
He passed by Kali and the Silver Knights with an indifferent expression and went underground.
The Black Sword Knights, including the Black Specter members, glared at the Silver Knights, emanating a sharp energy as if ready to spring into action at any moment.
While the two knight orders engaged in a battle of presence, Zeke went down to Winterkeep's underground and entered the memorial space where Arthur Draker's coffin was placed.
The coffin placed in the center of the memorial space was decorated almost excessively, and Zeke slightly frowned seeing it.
But he showed no further reaction and picked up incense, lit it, and placed it in the incense burner in front of the coffin.
Zeke watched the endlessly burning incense in front of the coffin.
As time passed and the incense was about to fall as ash, Zeke slowly turned his body.
But that's when it happened.
Zeke's body staggered.
"This is..."
He turned his head to look at the incense stuck in the burner.
"P-poison...?"
Just as he tried to grab the wall due to dizziness, the door leading out of the memorial space closed.
WOOOONG!
Zeke desperately knocked on the closed door and shouted.
"Ambush! Is anyone outside! An ambush..."
That's when magic circles appeared on all walls of the memorial room and a gravity field spread toward Zeke, repelling him.
"URGH!"
Zeke quickly tried to remove his gloves to deflect the magical power, but it was useless due to the magic circle's overwhelming output.
THUD!
Then the lid of the placed coffin opened and black-robed figures who had been hiding inside jumped out.
WHEEEEEE!
The black-robed figures deployed blood arts abilities to suppress Zeke's body and prevent him from moving.
WOOOONG!
"Urrrgh!"
With poison, gravity field, and blood art users joining in, even Zeke as a Black Knight couldn't resist.
Already struggling, Ishtar's mystic artists jumped out from the floor with twisted swords and instantly surrounded Zeke.
They held their swords in reverse grip and pressured him, and at some point stabbed Zeke's back and sides as he leaned against the door.
STAB! STAB! STAB!
Everything happened so suddenly that Zeke couldn't properly respond.
"Urgh!"
Zeke collapsed against the door while bleeding.
Himel looked down at Zeke and immediately drove a sword into his heart.
THUD!
Zeke died bleeding with his eyes open without even being able to leave proper last words.
As the situation ended, the back door of the memorial room opened and Howard, who had been hiding there, revealed himself.
Howard approached the fallen Zeke to confirm his death and then spoke to his subordinates behind him.
"Collect Zeke Draker's body and move it to the laboratory. And send a signal to Kali. Tell her the plan was successful."