Dragonslayer’s Class Regression 180

Chapter 180

Kali’s question caused another stir in the courtroom.

William maintained a calm expression as he looked at Dario.

If this were outside, he would have found a way, but this was the Draker Court, boasting the strictest security even within the Draker family.

Any hasty movement could cast suspicion on the Jiemens family and cause backlash.

Everyone in the courtroom waited for Dario’s answer.

Dario slowly opened his mouth.

“I cannot speak of that.”

To his answer, Kali asked again.

“Does your inability to speak mean there is indeed a Draker allied family in communication with the Nostra Family?”

“I cannot speak of that either. What I can testify to are only the various crimes committed as the boss of the Nostra Family.”

Kali nodded and returned to her seat.

Though Dario didn’t confirm it, she had managed to convey her intended message.

Through Dario, William clearly understood what Kali meant to say.

‘Is this a threat to expose the relationship between the Nostra Family and Jiemens if they touch them?’

Kali was not only an excellent knight but also a shrewd politician capable of turning unfavorable situations around.

By bringing Dario to trial, she had gained another card to check the Jiemens family.

William tried hard not to reveal his emotions.

It was somewhat comforting to think that Abel wasn’t present due to his baptism.

If he had lost his composure and used power that shouldn’t be shown here, the plans Jiemens had prepared for so long would have been ruined.

Dario began testifying in detail about his crimes as a witness.

An enormous list of crimes poured out, from human trafficking to investment fraud, illegal employment and brokerage, threats, illegal curse instruction, contract killing, murder, and more.

The judge accepted Dario’s testimony and found him guilty.

While these crimes would normally warrant death, his direct testimony was considered as a mitigating factor, resulting in a life sentence.

Due to the severity and quantity of his crimes, rather than being handed over to the Empire, he was sentenced to imprisonment in Draker’s special facility ‘Manma Prison,’ from which no one has ever escaped.

The Empire would be notified of this immediately.

After the trial ended, Kali approached Zeke and patted his shoulder.

“Zeke, well done. Getting testimony from a Nostra Family executive – truly remarkable achievement.”

It was indeed an amazing feat to bring a mafia organization’s boss to trial while working alone without a knights order.

“No, sister. I’m sorry it took so long.”

“It’s fine since you’re safe. But Zeke, what I’m worried about is what comes next.”

Kali continued slowly.

“Along with Dario Nostra’s testimony, the fact that Zeke Draker brought him to trial will soon spread across the continent. Will you be alright alone when you might become a target of the Nostra Family?”

Being a Draker knight didn’t guarantee constant protection from the family.

Unlike Kali who had her own forces and knights order, it wouldn’t be easy for Zeke who moved alone to defend against the mafia’s targeting.

Zeke shook his head at Kali as if telling her not to worry.

“It’s fine, sister. I plan to stay in Mycenae for a while under House Agamemnon’s protection. If I need help, I’ll let you know right away.”

Kali nodded at Zeke’s words.

“Alright. If you’re ok with it, you can stay in my territory. Prince Carus often asks about your wellbeing.”

The Empire’s 4th Prince Carus was currently under Kali’s protection.

Zeke grinned as he thought of Carus, who called himself an artist and man of leisure.

“Please send my regards to Carus. I’ll visit the territory soon.”

“I’ll be waiting, come anytime.”

After greeting Zeke, Kali left the courtroom to handle the aftermath of Dario’s case.

Zeke slowly walked out of the courthouse.

Then William Jiemens, who had been waiting in front of the courthouse doors, approached him.

“Zeke Draker.”

William glared at Zeke with sharp eyes.

“Lord William.”

Zeke also glared back at William without avoiding his gaze.

William spoke to him.

“I don’t know what tricks you used, but you’d better be careful. Jiemens is not to be taken lightly.”

To those words, Zeke grinned and retorted.

“Looking forward to it.”

It was an expression of confidence, daring them to try.

Watching Zeke leave Autumnfel, William clenched his jaw.

‘We need to eliminate him before it’s too late.’

William, known for his cold personality, instinctively felt a kind of fear toward Zeke.

His instincts signaled that Zeke would become harder to handle as time passed.

When William gestured, an agent from the Strategy Headquarters who had been waiting nearby revealed himself.

“Did you call?”

“Prepare the carriage. I’m going to the main house.”

“To the main house?”

“Yes, now that permission has been granted, I should see the head of the family as soon as possible.”

William Jiemens’ eyes gleamed as he looked in the direction where Zeke had disappeared.

“PHEW.”

In the carriage, Zeke recalled William Jiemens’ gaze.

‘William, first time I’ve seen that cold-hearted guy trembling like that. Must have really stung him.’

Provoking opponents to break their balance was one of Zeke’s specialties.

The more Abel and William lose their composure and attack him, the more openings they create.

Zeke planned to use those gaps to expose their connection to Narak.

Narak is where they make deals with devils and use demon powers.

If he could just prove the direct relationship between Narak, Jiemens, and the Empire, he could not only bring down Abel but also expel the Jiemens faction within Draker.

‘When Abel falls, succession rights will naturally go to Sister Kali. Until then, I’ll focus on breaking through the Black Knight wall to become the continent’s strongest. Taking over Draker can wait until after that.’

Then there was a strange sound from under the opposite carriage seat.

“MMPH!”

When Zeke kicked the seat, the panel opened upward revealing a hidden space.

Inside was Zion, bound and restrained in chains.

Having just regained consciousness, Zion twisted violently trying to break free.

Zeke spoke while watching Zion.

“I’ve seal your abilities, so you won’t be able to use your blood powers no matter how much you struggle.”

It was a soul-binding technique that bound even the demon Arataso’s soul to the physical realm.

No matter how powerful Zion’s blood abilities were, he could do nothing while sealed by the soul-binding chains.

Zeke clicked his tongue watching Zion still squirming.

‘Could have been really bad if I hadn’t prepared in advance.’

He recalled when he transported Dario.

Actually, the person he was transporting in the special carriage wasn’t Dario but Richmond wearing a perception-altering cloak.

Zion, a Six ability user, beheaded Richmond disguised as Dario and quickly left thinking he had dealt with him.

But Richmond didn’t die from decapitation since he was a lich.

After saying he would transport Dario, Zeke actually entrusted the real Dario to Arina’s side.

With Boris supporting Arina, they safely transported Dario through a different route and entered Atlas before Zeke.

After being ambushed, Zeke quickly traveled alone to Atlas, joined Arina’s group, and appeared in court with the hidden Dario.

The dramatic situation unfolded because he didn’t even tell Kali’s side, fearing information might leak.

Zeke rested his chin on the window with a bitter expression.

“It was troublesome, but I found the traitor in the end.”

The reason Zeke used fake Dario as bait was to identify the traitor.

As he suspected, the attackers knew the inn’s location he had set and had deployed knight killers, mercenaries, and Six blood ability users there in advance.

Zeke’s expression grew cold as he recalled the attackers.

‘Could have been in big trouble if I hadn’t prepared beforehand.’

Zeke had split the detour information into pieces and spread them among those suspected of being traitors.

Only one person knew the information about the inn.

Zeke looked out the window with a hardened face.

His carriage was speeding somewhere.

* * *

“Welcome. From your expression, the trial must have gone well.”

Kei set aside the documents she was handling and rose to sit in front of Zeke.

At her gesture, servants brought tea. Zeke savored the aroma before slowly drinking it.

Kei asked while watching him.

“What brings you here suddenly? Without notice.”

Zeke opened his mouth looking at her.

“Where’s Sir Feinan?”

“Those alchemist twins needed something again, so he went to check directly after grinding his teeth over the budget proposal.”

“I see.”

Zeke set down his teacup.

He asked Kei.

“Kei, is the security here okay?”

“Why suddenly ask about security? Don’t worry about eavesdropping. Senior Feinan installed layers of defensive and security magic himself.”

“Sir Feinan installed it…”

Kei’s expression changed at Zeke’s ominous voice.

“What’s wrong with you? Did something happen?”

Zeke said looking at Kei.

“I found the traitor.”

Kei’s expression hardened at his words.

“T-traitor? What do you mean?”

“Information leaked. It’s been happening for a while. I thought it was strange how Abel’s side was tracking my location and information too quickly.”

Kei composed herself and asked Zeke calmly.

“Good heavens, a traitor? Really?”

Zeke nodded.

“Finally found out through this transport operation.”

“Transport? You mean Dario’s transport?”

“Yes. I was especially careful with security for Dario’s transport. As you know, Kei.”

“Right, that’s true. But how… impossible. The information couldn’t have leaked.”

Zeke slowly stood up.

“Kei, remember? What Don Juan said before about how he deals with traitors?”

“What? Why bring that up suddenly?”

Zeke spoke while slowly walking behind Kei.

“Shark Dragon. Don Juan always bragged about that. He would paralyze suspected traitors with nerve poison, then throw them into its cage. Despite its size, the Shark Dragon doesn’t eat its prey whole. It cuts and eats them slowly, bit by bit.”

“I… didn’t know that.”

“Don Juan’s sick hobby. At some point, he stopped throwing in real traitors and started throwing in anyone he disliked just to enjoy watching. Looking back, he was truly insane.”

Zeke, who had moved behind Kei, grabbed her shoulders.

Kei, wondering how Zeke knew such things, was startled by his touch.

He brought his face close to her ear and spoke.

“Finding traitors is really annoying work. Ironically, it’s what I’m best at despite being what I hate most.”

As Zeke’s voice echoed in her ear, Kei sensed the grave situation.

“W-why are you…?”

“Kei, when I transported Dario, I gave you several security protocols. Remember?”

Kei slowly nodded.

Zeke asked her again.

“Then you must remember the information about the inn I designated in Atlas’ outskirts.”

“Yes, I remember.”

“Did you share that information with anyone else?”

“No, I didn’t. You emphasized it so much that I even went there myself to prepare in advance.”

At those words, Zeke’s grip on Kei’s shoulders tightened slightly.

“Kei, the Nostra Family was waiting in ambush at that inn. Dario almost died because of it.”

Kei’s face turned pale at Zeke’s words. She turned her head sharply and opened her mouth.

“Zeke, I…!”

Suddenly, chains burst from Zeke’s hands.

CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!

The soul-binding technique wrapped tightly around Kei.

Her magic was sealed simultaneously.

“Mmph!”

Kei, completely restrained, twisted her body.

Zeke spoke in a cold voice by her ear.

“Why did you betray me, Kei?.”