Chapter 340
“ARGHHHHHH!”
The Orcs who were struck by the lightning falling from the sky screamed and collapsed.
The retreating Orc legion began to panic as their formation was disrupted by a single lightning strike.
Aaron, who was next to Arina, shot and killed the commanders of the Orc legion who were trying to reorganize their ranks with his magic gun.
SWOOSH!
Aaron, who was sniping Orcs with magic bullets made by Zeke while observing the battlefield situation, looked up and said to Arina.
“Lady Arina. The Orcs are starting to scatter.”
“Good. Let’s withdraw now.”
Having completed her mission, Arina left with Sion and Aaron.
The Orcs, who had suffered heavy damage from Arina’s surprise magic, couldn’t regain their composure.
When the Paladins, Silver Knights, and Black Sword Knights charged, the Orcs had no choice but to meet their deaths by spears and swords.
Hours later, the plains in front of the Vadoka Holy Kingdom were stained with the blood of dead Orcs.
Zeke surveyed the battlefield while looking at the mountain-like pile of dead Orc special forces bodies around him.
It was truly a great victory.
Awl, who was cleaning blood off his sword nearby, looked at Zeke and said.
“The Knight of Salvation has saved the Vadoka Holy Kingdom as well.”
At those words, Zeke looked at Awl and smiled.
“It’s thanks to the help of Sir Aul and Sir Andrei.”
Aul and Andrei had arrived at the Vadoka Holy Kingdom a few days ago with Duke, Zeke’s master, to help.
Duke had met with Baord, with whom he had been acquainted previously, and persuaded him to fight against the corrupting council members and protect the Holy Kingdom.
Originally of strong character but unable to act alone and enduring the absurdities, Baord listened to Duke and agreed to become the Pope’s strength and participated in the plan.
With his participation, it became possible to eliminate all the council members at once when they gathered in one place, according to Zeke’s plan.
Because Baord and Zeke moved so quickly, by the time the other three Arch Paladins learned of the situation, it was already beyond their control.
They too read the trends and conveyed their message that they would not interfere in this matter.
It meant they would acknowledge the Pope’s authority and power if they weren’t touched.
Baord quickly absorbed the Paladins under the council members and urged them to wage holy war against the Orcs.
To atone for their sins, the Paladins fought the Orcs with all their might, and as a result, they were able to achieve today’s great victory.
It was Zeke who had solved the seemingly unsolvable problems of the Holy Kingdom in one breath and turned the situation around.
Zeke, who returned after handling the battlefield, enjoyed a rare rest in the guest room prepared by the Pope.
Duke was sitting across from him.
“It’s quite a mess, quite a mess indeed.”
Duke clicked his tongue at the rapidly unfolding situation in the Vadoka Holy Nation, which was moving fast enough to make one’s head spin.
Zeke took out alcohol for Duke and tea for himself from his inventory.
He poured amber-colored liquor into a glass and handed it to Duke, saying:
“We’ve just cut out the rotten parts, so things will be turbulent for a while.”
Duke nodded while drinking the alcohol Zeke had served.
“While they’re keeping quiet now due to the situation, there will surely be resistance since we’ve captured all the cardinals and bishops who held power.”
The Holy Kingdom was a country formed as a confederation system of dozens of cities united around the central Vadoka Holy Nation.
Although they forcefully pushed and confined the representatives of the central Vadoka Holy Nation, the clergy who held power in other cities still remained unchanged.
Once the situation in the Holy Nation calmed down, someone among them could potentially connect with other Arch Paladins to push out the current Pope and support someone else.
Duke, who knew the nature of the Holy Kingdom well, had a dark expression as if uncertain how long the current papal authority could hold out.
Then Zeke smiled as if to say not to worry and told Duke.
“The cardinals and bishops of other cities probably won’t move rashly either.”
“Those bastards would invite that greedy emperor to their cities right now if it meant preserving their power. How can you be so sure?”
“To strike against His Holiness the Pope, they must cooperate with Arch Paladins. With just their private armies, without Arch Paladins, it’s impossible to even challenge the Paladin forces under Lord Baord.”
“That’s true. But conversely, that means even just two Arch Paladins working together could overturn the current situation.”
Zeke shook his head.
“That won’t happen.”
Duke tilted his head at his words.
“Have you set up some plan to prevent the Arch Paladins from cooperating?”
“Yes, the Golden Dawn under the Pope has made many preparations long ago.”
“What kind of preparations?”
“They have gathered all information about what relationships the Arch Paladins have with corrupt priests who have committed wrongdoings.”
“Huh? Threatening Arch Paladins with such things? They’re transcendent beings within the Holy Kingdom. Even if they broke the law, they can’t be touched.”
“That’s right. But it’s possible to pressure them in another direction using this as leverage.”
“What do you mean?”
“If an Arch Paladin betrays the Pope, we gain justification to announce that after revealing the related corruption, we’ll transfer the succession rights to the Paladin who captures them. We’ve already communicated this as well.”
Arch Paladins can maintain their power for a long time because they can pass their power down to future generations.
Therefore, if these succession rights were invalidated, their power would inevitably be shaken.
Duke’s jaw dropped at Zeke’s words.
“Would that be possible?”
“It’s impossible for regular Paladins. But if an Arch Paladin captures another Arch Paladin and forcibly transfers the succession to someone else, although there would be losses, the transfer of power is possible.”
They had created a situation where any Arch Paladin who first betrays the Pope would inevitably become a target for other Arch Paladins.
In this framework, even if cardinals or bishops approached them to join forces, the Arch Paladins would have to think twice.
Duke clicked his tongue after hearing Zeke’s words.
“At times like this, I’m freshly reminded that you’re Arthur’s son.”
“Most of it was already prepared by the Golden Dawn. I just created an opening for them to squeeze out the pus.”
“Well, anyway. That aside.”
Duke paused for a moment before speaking to Zeke.
“It’s time to decide now.”
“About what?”
“About you. You remember that Arthur designated you as a successor candidate.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Abel, who was one of the strong candidates, is missing, and the Four Seasons Castle is currently in chaos. While they say missing, the family has tentatively concluded that he is dead.”
Although Abel had already died by Zeke’s hand, his body was never found, so he remained listed as missing until now.
And while William Jiemens was currently rescued by the Black Sword Knights, they were withholding his transfer to the Jiemens family, saying his condition was critical and needed protection, effectively making him a hostage.
Duke spoke while looking at Zeke.
“You are currently allied with Kali. However, your reputation in the continent is growing higher than Kali’s now.”
Kali Draker raised her reputation by defeating the pirates of the South Sea.
And now Zeke was spreading his fame across the continent as the Knight of Salvation by resolving the situation in the Ghetto region after becoming a knight of the Sea.
Moreover, as he resolved the issue of the Vadoka Holy Nation this time, his reputation surpassed Kali’s, just as Duke said.
Even within the Four Seasons Castle, movements were emerging to support Zeke as the successor rather than Kali.
Those who had been connected to Abel’s side but found it difficult to align with Kali were conducting underground operations and approaching Duke.
Duke couldn’t take any action yet because he couldn’t understand Zeke’s intentions.
He tried to understand Zeke’s intentions while helping him resolve the situation in the Vadoka Holy Nation.
“According to your plan, you stabilized the Vadoka Holy Nation and put the Pope in great debt. This is a great achievement that no one in Draker has accomplished.”
Zeke immediately understood what Duke was trying to say.
“You mean I should break the alliance with Sister Kali and step up as a successor candidate.”
“I’m curious about your intentions.”
Zeke’s movements were too large in scale and influence to be considered simply as the activities of a knight.
The Black Sword Knights that he established had a short history and few knights under his command, but Zeke was the de facto successor to the Agamemnon family, the ruler of the Central region.
If he wanted to, he could easily gather thousands of knights by recruiting from the Central nobles.
Considering his status as a duke who was practically a founding contributor to the Cusco Kingdom in the Southern continent and the profits to be gained from developing the Southern intermediate island, his potential was limitless.
Moreover, although his forces were currently smaller than Kali’s, given that he was considered the continent’s greatest genius, many would follow if he stepped up, expecting him to reach the level of Black Knight within ten years, surpassing Abel.
After hearing about the happenings in the Four Seasons Castle, Zeke asked Duke.
“Master, what would you like me to do?”
“Step up as the successor.”
When Duke answered immediately, Zeke showed a surprised expression.
“I thought you would leave it to my choice?”
“You asked for my opinion first. It would be more comfortable to have my disciple as the family head than having a friend as one. For my retirement, become the family head by stepping up as the successor.”
After hearing Duke’s words, Zeke thought for a while and opened his mouth.
“Seeing you speak like this, it seems something is happening within the family.”
Duke clicked his tongue at his disciple who immediately caught on.
“Even if you hadn’t become a knight, you would have lived well just with your sensitivity.”
As if it was really sensitive talk, Duke raised his aura to spread a veil around them.
Although he couldn’t use all the power of a Black Knight due to battlefield trauma, his ability to handle power hadn’t declined.
After confirming complete isolation from the outside, Duke slowly began to tell Zeke.
“As you said, the movements in the Four Seasons Castle lately are unusual.”
“Is it because of Jiemens?”
Duke shook his head.
“Jiemens has always been like that, so that’s expected. What I’m talking about is the family head’s side.”
Zeke was surprised when Arthur Draker came up in Duke’s words.
“I thought you were on the family head’s side, Master, but you weren’t?”
Duke smiled bitterly at those words.
“Although I’m almost Arthur’s only friend, it’s ambiguous to say I’m on his side. Just because we’re friends doesn’t mean I support everything he does.”
Duke was a person of upright character who appeared relaxed but was as straight as could be.
Within Draker, people with honest personalities like Duke were rather rare.
That’s why Arthur kept Duke as a friend but didn’t make him his confidant.
Duke’s eyes sharpened.
“Baron’s movements are suspicious.”
“By Baron, you mean the Black Corps Commander?”
“Yes, after Bacchus Draker’s escape, it seems something has happened in the Black Corps as well.”
Zeke’s expression hardened at the mention of Black Cotps and Bacchus.
‘The Black Fog Commander is moving directly? Did they notice that Bacchus isn’t dead?’
Then Duke spoke.
“Arthur is a greedy person. There’s no end to his greed.”
He shook his head and said.
“Arthur has been looking for the Elder Dragon’s relic for a very long time.”
Zeke momentarily held his breath at the mention of the Elder Dragon’s relic.
Although he knew that Arthur was searching for the Elder Dragon’s relic, hearing it from Duke felt different.
Zeke had already claimed the power of the Elder Dragon.
He imagined how Arthur would react if he knew that Zeke had claimed this power.
‘He might try to kill me and take this power.’
Duke continued.
“Arthur wants to reclaim the lost power of the Draker family using the Elder Dragon’s power.”
‘The lost power of the Draker family?’
Although Arthur was said to be searching for the Elder Dragon’s relic, Zeke thought of the Absolute Sword and the Draker’s Seal ring stored in his inventory.
It was said that the power of the Absolute Sword was sleeping together with Sethon Draker’s knowledge in the secret cave.
Duke spoke while looking at Zeke.
“Zeke, I would like you to become the family head and stop Arthur’s endless greed.”
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