529
Chapter 529
The command of Kali Draker, who became the true head of the Draker family.
Baron raised his head and spoke to Kali.
"I have come here with sincere loyalty, my lord."
"I'm not sure what kind of loyalty you mean. What I know is that you threatened and persuaded the elders to delay my approval as head of the family, and in that gap, you annihilated the Valdek, one of Draker's largest blood alliances. Don't give me half-hearted excuses about loyalty. Speak properly."
After a moment of silence at Kali's sharp words, Baron slowly opened his mouth.
"I rushed here quickly to help when I heard that Mycenae was being attacked by demons."
Kali snorted at Baron's answer.
"I don't know since when the Black Corps took on the mission of supporting siege warfare. Have you forgotten what role intelligence units play, Baron Draker?"
Baron replied again.
"It was the last head's dying wish."
At his words, not only Kali and Helen, but all the Draker knights present flinched.
Baron continued.
"The previous head's dying wish was to protect and guard Lord Zeke Draker, so I acted to fulfill that."
There had been no official will revealed from the previous head, Arthur Draker.
There was only speculation that Baron, his confidant, might know about the will.
But Baron hadn't said a word about the will for months after Arthur's death.
Then suddenly, Arthur Draker's will was mentioned from Baron's mouth.
Moreover, the content was to protect Zeke Draker, so they couldn't help but be surprised.
This could be used to claim that Arthur Draker had decided on Zeke, not Kali, as his official successor.
If this fact became known, it was obvious that there would be ripples within the family again.
Kali was momentarily speechless at Baron's words.
But then…..
"Having quite an interesting conversation here."
Duke appeared beside them, staggering with a bottle of alcohol.
Kali bowed to Duke.
"Greetings to Sir Duke."
Duke also bowed to her greeting.
"Greetings to the head of the family. Please excuse my rough manner of greeting, as I'm just an uncivilized barbarian who doesn't know proper etiquette."
Kali nodded to Duke as if it was fine.
Then Duke turned his head to look at Baron and said.
"Arthur's will, huh. I'm curious too. Why don't you tell us more about what it is?"
At Duke's words, Baron closed his mouth, then spoke in an emotionless voice and expression.
"I apologize. I cannot say more as I must maintain confidentiality."
Duke clicked his tongue while looking at Baron who firmly sealed his lips.
'Well, he was always this inflexible. That's why the unpredictable Arthur kept him around for decades.'
Knowing Baron wouldn't open his mouth even if asked further, he turned his head towards Kali.
"But what brings the head of the family all the way here?"
To Duke's question, Kali opened her mouth.
"I came personally to assess Mycenae's situation... and I also have matters to discuss with Zeke."
She glanced at Baron and said to Duke.
"The continent's situation is becoming more chaotic by the day. Monster waves are occurring everywhere, and demons summoned by dark mages are attacking each kingdom, causing kingdom citizens and civilians to tremble in anxiety."
She paused briefly before speaking again.
"I wish to hold a Continental Assembly in Mycenae."
Duke's expression hardened at Kali's words.
"Are you saying you will host the Continental Assembly, my lord?"
The Continental Assembly meant a meeting where all major kingdoms and families of the continent gathered.
There hadn't been a Continental Assembly since the Muruk Empire attacked the Central Continent 25 years ago.
Just then.
"Continental Assembly. I agree with that opinion, my lord."
A familiar voice was heard from behind.
Kali and Helen's expressions relaxed at that voice.
"Zeke!"
Zeke had arrived in Mycenae.
* * *
After returning to Mycenae, Zeke sat in the conference room with Kali and Duke.
He first explained the current situation to the two.
"The reason Abyss is trying to summon the Demon King is to summon the demon realm itself to the physical world."
Kali and Duke's expressions hardened at Zeke's words.
If the demon realm was summoned to the physical world, it would clearly become a living hell.
Zeke transmitted Karma data to the magic projector in the conference room to show the scenery of the demon realm.
The split screen showed Abyss, Abaddon, Gehenna, and Pandemonium.
Duke sighed while looking at the screen.
"Hah, where did you get something like this?"
Zeke answered in a calm voice.
"It's data found in Abyss's base."
Kali frowned and said.
"So it's evidence they communicate directly with the demon realm."
Seeing the actual images of the demon realm that they had only heard about through storybooks and legends made Kali and Duke understand Zeke's words more vividly.
"If we fail to stop Abyss, humans will become slaves to demons and human cities will turn into breeding grounds for fallen constellations."
Duke gritted his teeth while watching the footage.
"Damn dark mages..."
"Given that high-ranking demons invaded Mycenae, we can see the demon realm's interference is gradually growing stronger."
Kali responded with a stern face.
"Monsters are already running rampant across the continent. Monsters that normally don't form colonies are acting organizedly like an army."
Zeke nodded at Kali's words.
"Mutant specimens have started appearing among monsters. This indicates the demon realm's interference is strengthening and the Demon King's descent is approaching."
Normally, monsters exist as independent entities the stronger they are, unless in special cases.
Moreover, they attack indiscriminately even their own kind due to having clearer territories than beasts.
Such monsters forming organizations meant mutants capable of leading them had appeared.
When monsters, already individually powerful, formed organizations to attack cities, the damage would inevitably be much greater than before.
Zeke looked at Kali and Duke and said.
"Before their power grows stronger, I plan to strike Abyss's base."
Zeke changed the magic projector screen to show a continental map.
Then he pointed to one location on the map.
Jupiter, one of the Rom Empire's major cities.
"Imperial legions led by Castro Pollock are gathered in Jupiter. And..."
Zeke pointed to a spot between Jupiter and Heli.
"Between Heli and Jupiter, which was formerly Jiemens' territory, lies Jiemens' underground labyrinth. Abyss's forces are gathered here."
This was information obtained from Elizabeth, the princess.
Elizabeth, proficient in magic enough to establish the demon realm's magic system, traced back Abyss's summoning array that summoned them to determine where the ritual was performed.
Through this, Zeke discovered that Abyss's base was located in Jiemens' underground labyrinth.
Zeke looked at Kali and Duke and said.
"Please advance to Jupiter with the Central Continent's allied forces formed through the Continental Assembly. Meanwhile, I'll enter the underground labyrinth and wipe out Abyss."
Duke nodded at Zeke's words.
"If we eliminate Abyss, there won't be anyone left to summon demons or the Demon King, so we can put an end to this damned chaos."
"Yes, they're like cockroaches so we must wipe them out at once. For that, we need to draw their attention."
Kali also understood what Zeke meant and responded.
"So that's why we need the continental allied forces. For a feint operation to draw their attention and strike their base."
"That's right, my lord. After you host the assembly, you must establish the formation of allied forces."
Kali slowly nodded at Zeke's words.
"Understood. I'll summon the continent's key figures to discuss related matters. I'll wrap up the talks as quickly as possible and relay the results."
"Thank you, my lord."
* * *
After the meeting with Kali and Duke ended, Zeke returned to his room.
And through the mirror, he contacted the Hermit of Stories.
―Hmm, if things go as you say, we can certainly end this chaos.
"I plan to completely finish off the Abyss this time. By the way, did you find the intruder who invaded the demon beast territory you mentioned last time?"
―I've been watching but there's no trace. Hah... whoever it is, they're incredibly cunning.
After pondering briefly at his words, Zeke asked the Hermit.
"Is there any possibility that intruder could be Arthur Draker?"
The Hermit's eyes widened in surprise at Zeke's words.
―Arthur Draker? You mean your father? I thought he was dead.
"When I interrogated the Nostra Family's boss, they said Arthur Draker wasn't dead."
―Oh? The Tyrant didn't die but is alive and invaded the demon beast territory?
The Hermit of Stories pondered briefly before continuing with a sigh.
―If Arthur Draker is truly alive, that's certainly possible. But if your suspicion is right and he is the intruder, the Tyrant would be stronger than what's known to the public. Perhaps... even stronger than Nigel.
Zeke knew very well how strong Nigel was, having attained transcendent status long ago.
If someone was stronger than Nigel, Arthur Draker's power would clearly be beyond Zeke's imagination.
There was one more thing Zeke worried about.
'What if Arthur Draker stole and absorbed the Black Star that was there?'
Zeke himself had absorbed the Black Star, a fragment of the Elder Dragon's heart, which was possible due to his Immortal class and Dragon's blessing.
While Arthur Draker wasn't in the same situation, he was still a Draker bloodline member possessing immortal power.
If he succeeded in absorbing the Black Star, he could become something beyond a transcendent.
'He might obtain divinity like me.'
While Zeke was lost in thought, the Hermit of Stories spoke.
―I'll look into that matter further.
"Yes, understood. Ah, and..."
Zeke transmitted Karma data through the mirror.
"This is an image of the person who killed Abel Draker and stole his heart. Though only the silhouette is visible due to incomplete restoration, please let me know if you discover anything."
The Hermit examined the image and nodded.
―The data is quite damaged. Alright. I'll try to restore it further.
"Thank you, Hermit."
After ending the communication, Zeke sat in his chair to organize his thoughts.
Many matters had come up at once, making Zeke's mind quite complicated.
Among these various issues, the most concerning was the ‘Arrogant Savior's’ seal vessel.
'So the Abyss High Priest has the Arrogant Savior's seal vessel.'
Coming from Arataso, who was the Arrogant Savior's retainer, it must be true.
Thinking of the High Priest, Zeke fell into contemplation.
To complete the final chapter scenario, he needed to absorb the Arrogant Savior's seal vessel that the High Priest possessed.
Absorbing the seal vessel would allow Zeke to attain complete divinity and qualify as the sixth demon realm lord, enabling him to prevent demons from interfering with the physical world alongside the Demon Archduke.
This would make the Demon King's descent to the physical world impossible, preventing further chaos.
'In the end, I must capture the Abyss High Priest.'
When Kali forms the Continental Allied Forces through the Continental Assembly, Zeke planned to enter Jiemens' labyrinth and attack Abyss's base.
Then he would capture the High Priest and absorb the Arrogant Savior's seal vessel to elevate his divinity.
If everything went according to his plan, he could finally end this chaos that had continued since his previous life.
After organizing his thoughts while drinking tea, Zeke stood up.
"Whew, now that I've sorted out my thoughts somewhat, I should finish the crafting I've been putting off."
Zeke took out all the non-standard random boxes and special random boxes he had collected.
This was to attempt a new crafting method he had developed.
It involved combining two non-standard random boxes to create a random box of a new grade.
'The non-standard random boxes produced legendary-grade items. What would come from something beyond that?'
Zeke opened the system crafting window with expectant eyes.