Dragonslayer’s Class Regression Chapter 128

Chapter 128

Al and Jeff were startled as they watched the bubbling flask.

“Gasp! Hey, Jeff, is that…?”

“Oh my god! Bro! Yes! It’s the fermentation reaction we wanted! Quick, get ready!”

Al and Jeff snatched the flask from Zeke’s hand, placed it on the lab bench, and quickly put on safety goggles and masks.

Then they gestured for Zeke to step back. Though he was immune to all poisons anyway, he stood up and moved back as he watched the suddenly busy twins.

The twins began mixing various chemicals with the Soma that Zeke had fermented.

The raw Soma in the flask mixed with all sorts of chemicals, repeatedly going in and out of the distiller.

About an hour later, Al carefully removed a blue-glowing test tube from the culture vessel.

He put a small amount into a test beaker and ran reaction experiments.

Al and Jeff created a sample and looked inside it under the magnifier.

Suddenly their faces became rigid.

Watching this, Zeke tilted his head.

‘Did they fail?’

Al and Jeff looked at each other and said.

“Did you see it?”

“Yeah. You saw it too, right?”

Then the two suddenly started screaming and jumping around.

“Success! We did it!”

“Damn! We really are geniuses! We succeeded!”

Al and Jeff had succeeded in developing an antibiotic using the Soma that Zeke fermented.

Al and Jeff shouted at Zeke.

“Sir Zeke! How exactly did you ferment the Soma earlier?”

“That’s right! We tried everything but it never worked!”

Zeke pondered how to explain his power of decay before speaking.

“It’s classified information so I can’t tell you.”

The two didn’t have the courage to investigate something a pure-blooded Draker called ‘classified’ to the end.

Zeke asked Al and Jeff.

“Will you need continuous fermentation of raw materials to commercialize this antibiotic?”

Al shook his head.

“With this sample, we can culture it to ferment the raw materials.”

Jeff beside him added.

“It might take longer than what Sir Zeke did, since culturing takes time.”

While fermentation succeeded by luck this time, it was uncertain what would happen with larger quantities, so Zeke was relieved to hear their words.

Even if it took longer, producing antibiotics by safely fermenting was more stable.

Zeke said while looking at Al and Jeff.

“But if you’ve made the antibiotic sample, don’t you not need additional budget?”

The twins’ faces turned pale as they sputtered.

“S-Sir Zeke! Right now we’ve literally just made a sample! Just a sample!”

“Th-that’s right! There’s still so much we need to experiment! Clinical trials too, and…”

Zeke grinned at the two.

“I’m joking. I’ll continue supporting the budget.”

Al and Jeff had bewildered expressions at Zeke’s words.

After a lifetime of only pranking others, they’d properly been pranked by Zeke.

Anyway, having achieved results, Al and Jeff carefully stored the antibiotic sample and packed up their tool box.

Zeke said while seeing them off.

“Next time I’ll come visit your lab.”

Al and Jeff hiccupped at those words.

“Y-you really don’t have to…”

“I-I think just staying in contact from afar would be fine.”

When the carriage arrived, Al and Jeff quickly loaded their tool box and fled in a hurry.

Decker behind them was startled to see the twins fleeing in such panic.

“My, to subdue those troublemakers in one go is impressive, young master.”

Zeke gave a bitter smile at Decker’s words and said.

“They’re actually harder to handle if you think of them as children. More importantly Decker, I have something to discuss with you.”

* * *

“You want me to take charge as the Knight Commander?”

Decker had a surprised expression at Zeke’s words.

Zeke nodded while drinking fragrant tea.

“You must have heard that I didn’t choose a knight order at the initiation ceremony.”

Decker nodded at Zeke’s words and said.

“Do you know how surprised I was when I heard that news from Duke? When you stopped by the mansion before leaving for your mission, you said it was nothing. But then you took on an A-rank mission alone…”

“I’m sorry if I worried you. But if I join a knight order, I’ll be bound to it and lose my freedom.”

From Zeke’s perspective, training alone was the faster way to become stronger.

There was no need to be tied down to a knight order.

Decker spoke to Zeke with a worried expression.

“Young master, running a knight order is no ordinary task. Above all, it’s difficult to maintain without financial backing.”

“You don’t need to worry about that. There’s enough money.”

“If you’re counting on the family head’s black card and territory taxes, that’s a mistake. With just those, running a knight order would be…”

“Do you know Linehart Trading Company?”

As it was the fastest growing trading company in Allensia, even Decker had heard of it.

“I know of it.”

“I’m the major shareholder there.”

“What?”

And Zeke continued.

“Have you heard the news that the mithril mine Graham Bank invested in hit it big?”

“I’ve heard about it but…”

“I’m the major shareholder there too.”

Decker was left speechless with his mouth agape.

It was quite surprising to see such an expression from someone who always maintained a composed and dignified demeanor.

‘I better keep hidden that I also run the Syndicate. At this rate, Decker might pass out.’

What he had just revealed was already among the top-tier assets on the continent.

Decker wiped his cold sweat and said to Zeke,

“Whew, I knew young master was extraordinary compared to your peers… but I understand for now. However, running a knights’ order is no simple task, even with sufficient funding.”

“I’ve already found someone to manage the operations.”

“Who might that be?”

“The elders of Agamemnon have gladly agreed to help. The houses Achilles, Hector, and Aegis have also agreed to provide any support. The Graham family as well.”

“Good heavens…”

The elders of Agamemnon, who once ran the largest knights’ order in Midland, would have no issues managing a knights’ order.

With the support of the prestigious noble houses of Achilles, Hector, Aegis, and Graham – the leading families in the central region – there was nothing more to be said.

Finally, Decker completely surrendered to Zeke’s thorough preparation.

“I really can’t win against you, young master.”

“It’s your fault for thinking you could stay comfortable while being by my side. I’m not the type to let talented people idle away.”

His previous life was literally a war of talent.

Outstanding individuals were sacrificed every other day because of the war.

In the end, when the war was over, no one remained by Zeke’s side.

So he had to wander alone through the continent that had turned to ashes.

‘Compared to then, this is truly a paradise of talent.’

Decker asked Zeke,

“How do you plan to organize the knights’ order? Though Liam and Felix are promising talents, they lack experience to be proper knights yet.”

“Those two will be squires. Don’t worry, you’ll soon meet the ones who will become proper knights.”

And a week later, as Zeke said, two knights visited the mansion.

“Whew! Zeke, you’re loaded yo!”

“Ugh, Diego, lower your voice. My head’s ringing from not sleeping for a week.”

It was Diego and Aster, who had completed all their graduation exams at Valhalla.

After graduating from Valhalla, the two rejected all recruitment offers from other knights’ orders and came straight to where Zeke was.

Zeke greeted them at the mansion.

“Diego, Aster. It’s been a while.”

As soon as they arrived, Zeke put them in a carriage.

“Bro Zeke! Where are we going yo?!”

“Just follow me without questions.”

Zeke took them to the Troy Principality.

After arriving at the northern region of Troy Principality that came with his knighthood, Diego and Aster were greatly impressed by the lord’s castle owned by Zeke.

“Wow, is this castle yours master?”

“Yes, though it’s not very large, it’s comfortable enough to live in.”

It was only small by Zeke’s standards, but it was by no means actually small.

While Diego and Aster were looking around the castle in amazement, Decker approached from afar.

“Welcome back, young master.”

Formally dressed in armor, Decker was every inch a knight rather than a servant.

Diego and Aster immediately realized that Decker was no ordinary knight.

Zeke introduced the two to Decker.

“Diego and Aster. Both are Valhalla graduates.”

Decker looked at the two with a satisfied expression.

“You’ve brought excellent raw gems.”

As an experienced knight, Decker immediately grasped the two’s talent.

Zeke took the two along with Decker towards the training grounds.

“Wow.”

Diego and Aster couldn’t help but be surprised.

Unlike the old castle built in classical style, the training grounds were completely renovated with the latest equipment.

At the training grounds, Farrell of House Achilles was busily drilling Liam, Felix, and dozens of men.

Diego and Aster also knew these people.

The men were none other than the Delpoa 8th Knights that Zeke had hired in Delpoa and sent south.

The Delpoa Knights members, tanned bronze by the southern continent’s sun, seemed much more solid than before.

After clashing with rough cartels and rebels in the south, their eyes gleamed with intensity and scars were etched across their faces and bodies.

Farrell, who was conducting the training, noticed Zeke and Decker and approached them.

“Sir, Commander. Welcome.”

Farrell had completely transferred his allegiance from the Achilles Knights to Zeke’s side.

Zeke appointed him as vice commander of the knights’ order.

Farrell looked at Diego and Aster with a satisfied expression.

“These must be the knights master mentioned.”

Seeing Farrell, a league champion and famous knight of the central region, Diego and Aster tensed up once again.

Zeke said to Decker and Farrell,

“We’ll stay here for a while to organize the knights’ order. Let me know if you need anything for training.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Receiving Farrell’s burning gaze, Diego and Aster wondered if they had made the wrong choice.

This was the true beginning of the ‘Black Sword Knights’ Order’ established by Zeke.

* * *

For a month, Zeke focused on laying the foundation for the Black Sword Knights’ Order in his Troy Principality.

And when things were somewhat established, he called Felix separately.

“Ughh. You called for me, Master.”

“I told you to call me lord.”

“Ugh. It’s hard to fix that habit. Why did you call me, lord?”

Zeke spoke while looking at Felix.

“Felix, you were from Troy Principality, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. That’s why I was selected to guide you here in the first place.”

“Is the place where you lived with your grandfather far from here?”

Felix spoke while picking up snacks from the table.

“No. It’s not very far from here. It takes half a day by horse.”

Zeke stood up from his seat.

“Let’s go.”

“Huh? Where?”

“Your hometown.”

Felix asked with a bewildered expression.

“W-why do you want to go there?”

“When I met Golin, I heard about a Paladin who is presumably your grandfather.”

“About my grandfather?”

“Yes. Golin said there was a Paladin who brought him a hammer made of orichalcon and asked him to make it into a sword. Does that ring any bells?”

Felix shook his head at those words.

“No. I’ve never seen an orichalcon sword… My sword was made at the village blacksmith. It’s not great, but I’ve grown attached to it and keep using it.”

Zeke stroked his chin and said,

“Perhaps your grandfather left some traces. If an Arch Paladin defected and escaped from the Holy Kingdom at the risk of his life, there must be something.”

“Hmm. So you’re saying it wasn’t just because of a power struggle?”

“That’s highly likely. The Holy Kingdom appears peaceful and wealthy on the outside, but it’s completely rotten on the inside.”

The Holy Kingdom had the worst wealth gap in the entire central continent.

While the privileged class lived in wealth rivaling any royalty, common people lived harder lives than the poor in any other place.

The corruption of the religious order was already a well-known fact, but since this situation had continued for over a hundred years, there was nothing that could be done about it now.

Felix stood up with unusually clear eyes.

“If it’s for grandfather’s honor, of course we should go. Let’s go, lord.”

“Your enthusiasm is good, but wipe the cookie crumbs from your mouth before speaking, Felix.”

“Hmm. Yes, haha.”