Dragonslayer’s Class Regression Chapter 166

Chapter 166

Zeke headed to Mycenae with Jeffrik’s group after finishing his work at Duke Graham’s estate.

Despite Duke Graham and Catherine’s requests to stay longer, Zeke left the estate saying he had to go for his mission.

While he needed to track the Abyss by following the Nostra Family’s trail, the biggest reason was that Lady Angelina’s daily visits requesting tea time with sparkling eyes had become burdensome.

Unlike before, they could now travel by train to Mycenae as railroad tracks had been laid from Panstas.

Jeffrik’s group, riding in the luxurious first-class car for the first time, looked around curiously at everything.

“My lord, may we order room service?”

When Zeke nodded, Jason and Claire excitedly ordered all the food and drinks on the menu.

Jeffrik and Arin fidgeted watching Jason and Claire.

“Jeffrik, Arin. Don’t worry too much. Make yourselves comfortable.”

At Zeke’s words, Jeffrik and Arin reluctantly added menu items they wanted to try.

Luxurious dishes that one would expect from a high-end restaurant started coming out, and Jason and Claire devoured the food and drinks ravenously.

Jeffrik and Arin ate their portions well while being mindful of their manners.

While chewing on tender steak, Jason asked Zeke.

“My lord, what kind of relationship do you have with Lady Angelina? She even gave you her handkerchief when we were leaving.”

At Jason’s sudden question, Jeffrik almost spat out the wine he was drinking.

Zeke, who had been looking out the window, answered Jason’s question with an indifferent expression.

“Lady Angelina and I are nothing.”

“Come on, the way Lady Angelina looks at you… ACK!”

Jeffrik, who couldn’t stand it anymore, kicked Jason in the shin.

Zeke gave a bitter smile looking at Jeffrik and Jason.

Then, suddenly remembering something, he asked Jason.

“By the way Jason, you called me the ‘Curse-Breaking Knight’. What’s that about?”

At Zeke’s words, Jason nodded excitedly.

“Yes! These days there are many articles about you in the newsletters. Among them, there was a headline that said ‘Genius of the Dragon Slayer Family! Even Conquers Curses!’ and after that, many places started calling you the Curse-Breaking Knight.”

Usually, knights get epithets when they advance to blue knight rank or higher.

That’s why Kali Draker had the epithet ‘Silver Knight’ and Abel Draker was known as ‘Lion Sword’.

“Curse-Breaking Knight. Seems breaking the curse was quite impressive.”

“In myths and legends, there are always scenes where outstanding knights drive away spirits or curses with their fighting spirit. They used that kind of feeling for the headline to increase sales.”

Zeke felt Jason’s words made some sense.

‘Curse-Breaking Knight. Might come in handy someday.’

Zeke’s group enjoyed their noisy train journey and arrived in Mycenae.

Mycenae was changing day by day after the Agamemnon family’s curse was lifted.

With the railroad being built and more people traveling to and from the city, it was developing into a hub connecting Midland, the Central Kingdom, and the Northern Continent.

‘They said they’ll install a portal terminal soon too. It’ll be expensive, but it should be worth it.’

The one who provided the largest funding for Mycenae’s development was none other than Zeke.

He used the assets he obtained from selling ancient items found in the Dragon Slayer’s tomb and the astronomical wealth gained from successful mithril mine investments as investment funds for Mycenae’s development.

As Mycenae developed more and more, both Zeke’s influence and assets would grow.

Zeke watched the developing scenery of Mycenae as he headed to Agamemnon Castle with Jeffrik’s group.

* * *

“You bastards! What are you doing?! Run faster ! Faster!”

The first thing they heard upon entering was Sister Clonne’s shouting.

Currently, joint training between the Black Sword Knights and Rose Knights was taking place at Agamemnon Castle.

Farrell and Clonne had become the main trainers and were working the executive candidates hard.

Liam, Felix, Diego, and Aster were crawling around the training ground looking like they were about to die.

Zeke smiled contentedly seeing the half-dead trainees while Jeffrik’s group watched them in shock.

“Jason, s-surely we won’t have to train like that…?”

“Nah, we won’t. We’re all knights. Only Jeffrik will have to.”

While Jason and Claire were whispering, Clonne and Farrell approached with bright expressions after seeing Zeke arrive.

“Sir Zeke!”

“Hey! Zeke! Long time no see. You’re looking even more radiant.”

The combination of proper-looking Farrell and tattoo-covered Clonne was certainly unfamiliar.

Zeke smiled looking at the two.

“You both must be working hard.”

Then Clonne laughed heartily and waved her hand.

“Nah, it’s fun working these bastards to death.”

“That’s good. They’re new trainees. Work them well.”

At Zeke’s words, Jeffrik’s group’s faces turned pale.

Among them, Jason gathered his courage and said to Zeke.

“M-my lord. W-we’re mages, so that’s knight training, right?”

Then Zeke shook his head.

“No. That’s the common training. After the common training, knights get additional aura training under Sir Farrell’s guidance. Mages have separate training too, so don’t worry. Claire will join the knight training.”

At Zeke’s words, Claire, Jason, and Arin’s faces turned deathly pale.

Zeke planned to entrust the mages’ training to Princess Arina.

The children they rescued from Lubern would also receive magic training, and he thought they could learn from each other.

Looking at Clonne and Farrell who were excited about training new recruits, Jeffrik’s group realized they had boarded an express train to hell.

* * *

Zeke entered the Round Table conference room in Agamemnon Castle.

Those already seated in the conference room stood up when Zeke entered.

The attendees included Boris who handled Southern Cartel affairs, Kei from the Syndicate, Feinan who was the representative of the pharmaceutical company, and Arina Lubern from the Rose Knights.

When Zeke took his seat, the other executives sat down as well.

“It’s been a while everyone, how have you been?”

Though he asked how they were, everyone except Arina looked tired.

Kei complained to Zeke in a grumbling voice.

“You really! There’s too much work these days!”

Kei, who had to manage both the Syndicate’s operations and handle the soma supply coming from the South, was stretched too thin even if she had multiple bodies.

Zeke brushed off Kei’s complaints with a smile and began the meeting. After hearing about the situation of each organization from the executives, Zeke handled only the urgent matters verbally.

Then he got to the main point.

“We need to hit the Nostra Family.”

Kei was the first to react to those words.

She exclaimed in shock.

“The Nostra Family? Do you know what kind of organization that is?”

Zeke nodded.

Kei sighed.

“The Nostra Family is different from the Cartel. They’ve been around since the Holy Empire era, with a longer history than most kingdoms. That means it’s impossible to accurately grasp their roots and true nature.”

Zeke agreed with Kei’s words.

Among the Central Continent mafias, the Nostra Family had particularly little known information.

It was because of the ‘Oath of Silence’ taken by mafia members.

While the leaders of Red Eye, an armed group of vampires from the Northern Continent, and Crosstel, a beastfolk gangster organization based in the Western and Southern border regions, were known, the supreme boss of the Nostra Family remained unidentified.

Boris, who had been listening nearby, added to Kei’s words.

“Boss, the Nostra Family is an organization that has long had its roots in the Empire. And even those proud Imperial knights can’t touch their organization. It’s because of the Nostra Family’s unique bloodline abilities.”

“So the Nostra Family is a bloodline with bloodline abilities.”

“Yes. I heard they take in strong bloodline ability users from outside to strengthen their bloodline abilities and create even stronger abilities.”

The power of bloodline abilities accumulated over dozens of generations was beyond imagination.

Actually, Zeke had experience clashing with the Nostra Family in his previous life.

It was when he carried out a mission to assassinate a mid-level boss of the Family on Don Juan’s orders.

Since Zeke was the only hitman in the Mekein Cartel capable of assassinating someone of Blue Knight rank, he had no choice but to infiltrate the Empire and attempt the assassination.

While the assassination ultimately succeeded, it was a mission where Zeke himself almost died too.

‘So those guys who used strange abilities back then must have been bloodline ability users. I thought it was just bad luck.’

If the Nostra Family had many bloodline ability users, he definitely needed to refine his tactics carefully.

Zeke nodded in understanding and looked around. He could see the worried looks in the executives’ eyes.

As someone who knew the Nostra Family’s overwhelming power and influence better than anyone, Zeke understood the executives’ concerns.

However, he needed to dig into the connection with the Abyss through the Nostra Family.

Without saying much, Zeke handed the executives a file he had prepared.

The file contained details of a mission he had requested and received by contacting the Draker family in advance.

Kei looked at Zeke and said.

“A human trafficking organization? You’re saying you’ll dig into the Nostra Family through them?”

As someone who ran a criminal organization, Kei immediately caught onto Zeke’s thinking.

Zeke nodded and spoke.

“Yes. The final target is Dario Tortolino, famous as the Steel King of the Empire. He’s been revealed as one of the Nostra Family’s bosses. Since it’s difficult to strike at him directly, I plan to work my way up from the lower organizations step by step.”

The base of the human trafficking organization was in Heli, one of the major cities of Midland.

Heli was a midpoint connecting Atlas and the Rom Empire, and was a city managed by the Jiemens family.

If Zeke took on a Draker mission to eliminate the human trafficking organization, even the Jiemens family would have no justification to stop him from operating in Heli.

As everyone understood and nodded at Zeke’s plan, he turned to Princess Arina and said.

“And Your Highness, I would like the Rose Knights’ assistance for this mission.”

At those words, Arina gave a beautiful smile and said.

“Of course. I’m delighted to be able to help Sir Zeke.”

Nodding at her acceptance, Zeke thought for a moment before speaking to Princess Arina.

“Your Highness, I learned something while investigating Dario Tortolino.”

He continued slowly.

“It seems the organization that finds Lubern bloodline members and hands them over to the Holy Kingdom is connected to Dario Tortolino.”

Upon hearing Zeke’s words, Princess Arina’s expression instantly changed.

Her spring-like smile disappeared and her face turned cold.

WOONG!

White light flashed from her hand.

At the ominous power, the mages Kei and Feinan’s faces turned pale.

Arina calmed her excitement and smiled brightly again.

“Oh my, I acted childish and rudely. I’m sorry, everyone.”

Kei and Feinan, both 5th Circle mages, realized that despite her delicate appearance, Arina was an incredibly skilled mage.

Zeke observed Arina and assessed her abilities.

‘Seems she’s mastered all advanced light magic. At least 6th Circle, maybe even 7th Circle.’

Considering that the current Archmage was an 8th Circle mage, one could guess how powerful Arina was.

Arina looked at Zeke and said.

“Sir Zeke. We’ve dealt with the Nostra Family before due to territory disputes. Our Rose Knights will help with this mission with all our might.”

Though she appeared to be an innocent young lady on the outside, Arina had led an underground organization against the Holy Kingdom and Empire for decades.

Since she understood the nature of underground organizations better than anyone, it seemed they could receive great help.

The meeting continued for a while after that.

After finishing discussion about all organizations, Zeke said he would organize and deliver the details, then dismissed the meeting.

Returning to his room, Zeke sensed someone’s presence.

“Shadia.”

At his call, Shadia, the disciple of the Mountain Elder and Salmak’s dispatched assassin, emerged from the darkness.

Shadia appeared with a completely different racial appearance than when first met.

“I noticed before, but your cloaking skills are excellent.”

Without responding to the compliment, Shadia bowed to Zeke and spoke.

“I’ve conducted an investigation into the matter you mentioned, Boss.”

Through Boris, Zeke had assigned Shadia to investigate traitors within the organization.

It was to examine the situation objectively from an outsider’s perspective rather than from within the organization.

Zeke asked her.

“Did you find out who the traitor is?”

Shadia approached Zeke and whispered the name of the suspected traitor.

After hearing the investigation results, Zeke nodded. Afterwards, he remained silent for a long while.

Waiting for his response, Shadia said to Zeke.

“Would you like us to handle the traitor’s disposal? We can take care of it cleanly without leaving any traces.”

After contemplating, Zeke shook his head.

“No, leave them be for now. I’ve thought of a way to use this to our advantage. I’d like to give Salmak a different mission.”

“Please speak.”

“Find out information about the Grand Duke of North Himonas.”