[Trantor - Peptobismal]


    [Proofreader - Max]


    Chapter 21


    The entire academy was abuzz with the news of the sudden visit of Arthur Drakerr, the head of the Draker n.


    Led by Headmaster Howard Draker, the academy''s instructors and cadets lined up from the main gate to the za, awaiting Arthur Draker''s arrival.


    When the appointed time arrived, a thunderous sound echoed down the main road.


    Thud thud thud thud!


    Six massive ck horses pulled arge, heavy, ck carriage, far grander than any ordinary carriage.


    Emzoned on the side of the carriage was a Dragon yer''s emblem made of gold.


    It was the personal carriage of Arthur Draker, the head of the Draker n.


    And hundreds of knights followed behind the carriage.


    The procession, which gave off an overwhelming sense of pressure, made not only the cadets but also the instructors tense..


    Finally, the carriage stopped in the center of the za.


    The giant ck horses snorted and pawed the ground, their breathing out in ragged gasps.


    Headmaster Howard Draker approached the carriage.


    The door opened, and a man stepped out.


    “Howard. It''s been a while.”


    A middle-aged man with an air of profound charisma, his gray hair slicked back.


    This man was Arthur Draker, the head of the Draker n, which stood at the pinnacle of the continent''s three transcendent ns, and one of the eight strongest individuals on the continent.


    Howard Draker, along with everyone gathered in the za, knelt before him.


    “Greetings to the Lord of Draker!”


    Arthur Draker raised his hand in acknowledgment of their greetings.


    Then he ced a hand on Howard''s shoulder.


    “You''ve been working hard.”


    “It''s nothingpared to your efforts, Lord Draker.”


    “You''re a great help.”


    Arthur Draker raised his head and looked at the young cadets lined up in the za.


    He slowly began to speak.


    “Cadets. Rise.”


    He spoke normally, but his voice carried to every corner of the academy.


    The cadets, tense, rose to their feet.


    It was as if Arthur Draker''s voice was ringing right next to their ears.


    “Young Dragon yers. You are the hope of our Draker n, the new seeds.”


    Everyone focused on the head of the n''s gentle yet powerful voice.


    They strained their ears, determined not to miss a single word.


    “Devote yourselves to your training! Your growth will be the growth of our family.”


    When his short but impactful speech ended, the cadets saluted the head of the n.


    “Sir!”


    Arthur smiled and returned their salute.


    “You all have great spirit. Now, let''s go inside.”


    The Headmaster and Arthur Draker entered the main academy building.


    The cadets moved to their respective buildings to resume their sses.


    As they walked, the cadets were excited to have seen the head of the n in person.


    “To see the head of the n in person… The other siblings in the family will be so jealous!”


    “I will definitely enter Valha and go to the Four Seasons Castle.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    “With your skills? In your dreams.”


    Amidst the excited cadets, Zeke tilted his head and headed towards the training ground.


    ''The head of the n never visited the academy before I regressed. What''s going on?''


    He already knew that the future was changing little by little due to his regression.


    But he didn''t think that the change would extend to the head of the n, who resided in the Four Seasons Castle.


    Zeke tilted his head and returned to the tinum Floor.


    But soon, he had to go back outside.


    The head of the n had summoned him.


    * * *


    Zeke headed to the Headmaster''s office located in the main building.


    He hadn''t been fazed by much since his regression, but now, even his strong mental defenses weren''t much help.


    Thump thump thump!


    Standing in front of the Headmaster''s office door, he barely managed to calm his pounding heart.


    The door opened, and he took a deep breath and entered.


    There he was, inside the opulent Headmaster''s office.


    “Come in.”


    Arthur Draker, who had changed into casual clothes instead of his uniform, greeted him warmly, sipping whiskey from a ss.


    Zeke immediately knelt and greeted him ording to the family''s etiquette.


    “To Arthur Draker, the master of all knights and guardian of the honorable name of Dragon yer, Zeke Draker, a member of the n, offers his respects.”


    Seeing Zeke''s old-fashioned greeting, Arthur Drakerughed heartily.


    “I haven''t seen anyone greet me in such an old-fashioned way, even in the Four Seasons Castle. Don''t make a fuss and have a seat.”


    Zeke couldn''t get used to Arthur Draker''s friendly demeanor.


    Thest time he remembered seeing the head of the n was when he was seven years old, before entering the cradle, when he was called in, briefly nced at, and then dismissed.


    Until he was expelled from the academy, Arthur had never contacted him or offered any help.


    In his previous life, he had barely seen his father, Arthur Draker, a few times, so he couldn''t even grasp what kind of person he was.


    As Zeke took a seat, Arthur ced a pre-prepared cup of tea in front of him.


    “I hear you enjoy tea.”


    Zeke was startled by his words.


    It meant that even the information that he always ordered tea in the tinum Floor was reported to the head of the n.


    The saying that there was nothing the Emperor didn''t know, but even more so, nothing that the head of the Draker n didn''t know, hit home.


    Wary of the head of the n''s unreadable intentions, Zeke drank his tea.


    Then Arthur spoke first.


    “So, I hear you''ve be Duke''s disciple.”


    Hearing those words, Zeke realized why he  was here and why he had been summoned.


    ''In my previous life, the Gale Force Technique was not properly passed down and practically disappeared. Now that there''s a sessor to the ck Knight''s signature technique, it makes sense that he would take notice.''


    Zeke looked at Arthur and nodded.


    “The Gale Knight has shown me favor.”


    “Duke said you were quite reluctant, which annoyed him.”


    “…….”


    He didn''t know that the esteemed ck Knight had such a loose tongue.


    Arthur said with a smile.


    “Honestly, I didn''t think there would be a talent that could catch the eye of that picky fellow, Duke. Moreover, I certainly didn''t expect it to be my youngest son.”


    Zeke''s heart pounded at the words ''youngest son''.


    Arthur looked at Zeke and said.


    “So, I''m curious about your goal. If you keep working hard like this, you can definitely enter Valha…”


    “To be the strongest on the continent.”


    Arthur was momentarily speechless at Zeke''s words.


    Seeing Arthur''s reaction, he said once more.


    “My goal is to be the strongest on the continent.”


    Arthur''s eyes changed in an instant.


    Then he burst intoughter.


    “Bwahahahahahaha!”


    Wooong!


    An intangible energy emanated from Arthur''s body.


    Zeke gritted his teeth against the energy enveloping him.


    Wherever this energy reached was under Arthur''s control.


    It meant that he held the power of life and death over anyone within that range.


    ''He''s a monster, as expected.''


    Despite his amiable face, the man in front of him was undeniably the strongest on the continent.


    Therefore, to be the strongest, Zeke had to ovee this mountain.


    Arthur Draker abruptly stoppedughing.


    He looked at Zeke and said.


    “That''s the most interesting thing I''ve heardtely.”


    The energy that enveloped Zeke vanished instantly.


    Zeke''s entire body was drenched in cold sweat.


    Arthur Draker looked at Zeke with a satisfied expression.


    Then he took something out of his pocket.


    “Originally, I was going to give you a gift to celebrate bing the sessor of the Gale Force… but now I see that gift is not enough.”


    What Arthur took out was a palm-sized metal card.


    The Draker n''s Dragon yer emblem was delicately engraved on the surface of the card.


    Zeke was surprised to see the card.


    “Do you know what this is?”


    “……I believe it''s a ck Card, issued only to the top VVIPs across the continent.”


    “If you know, then there''s no need for exnation.”


    Arthur handed the ck Card to Zeke.


    “It''s issued in my name, but I''ll transfer the ownership, so use it freely.”


    A ck Card, especially one used by the head of the Draker n, must have unimaginable benefits.


    Before his regression, Zeke had never received any attention.


    Now that he was a Pure-blooded Awakener and the sessor of the Gale Force, the situation waspletely different.


    If Zeke were an ordinary thirteen-year-old, he would have been overjoyed to receive the card.


    But Zeke immediately grasped Arthur''s intention hidden within the ck Card.


    ''It''s a card with enormous benefits, but it can be rendered useless at any moment with a single word from the head of the n.''


    Moreover, every time the card was used, a record would remain, so his every move would be ryed to the head of the n.


    Zeke once again realized that the person in front of him was an omnipotent ruler who controlled the entire continent.


    Arthur Draker spoke again.


    “I''d like to have a nice meal with you since we''ve met after so long, but I have another appointment and need to leave soon.”


    “It was an honor just to see you.”


    “You''ve certainly changed.”


    “Pardon?”


    “It''s nothing. You may go now. I can''t take up any more of the precious time of the future strongest on the continent.”


    With a gesture from Arthur, Zeke rose from his seat, bowed, and left the room.


    Arthur, left alone in the Headmaster''s office, downed the rest of his whiskey.


    Just then, someone emerged from the shadows in a corner of the room.


    “Putting on a good show as a loving father, aren''t you?”


    It was none other than Duke Draker.


    Duke, casting aside any respect or formality towards the head of the n, plopped down in front of Arthur.


    Arthur grinned at Duke.


    “Why are you so angry again?”


    “Because it''s sickening to see you act like a caring father now, after neglecting him all his life in the cradle.”


    “I could arrest you for insulting the head of the n, you know.”


    “Go ahead, arrest me then.”


    Duke acted defiantly, and Arthur, watching him, stroked his neatly trimmed beard.


    “So, do you think Zeke can inherit the legacy of the Gale Force?”


    “How would I know? I need to teach him more to find out.”


    “Hmm… I was wondering why you took that trash, who couldn''t even awaken his aura, as your disciple.”


    Arthur''s eyes shed.


    “After seeing him today, I think I understand. It''s been a while since I''ve seen someone withstand the Astral Sword''s energy, even if it was faint.”


    “Your twisted hobbies are truly annoying.”


    “I missed your harsh words. No one in the Four Seasons Castle talks to me like that.”


    “My condolences to the knights who have to suffer because of their ill-tempered lord.”


    Arthur chuckled and reached into his pocket, pulling out a whiskey bottle from his subspace pocket.


    As he stretched out his hand, a ss from the cupboard slid towards him and was sucked into his hand.


    Arthur poured whiskey into the empty ss.


    As he swirled the ss of whiskey, ice formed within it.


    “Let''s have a drink.”


    He handed the whiskey to Duke and poured himself a ss as well.


    They downed the whiskey in one gulp.


    “Whew… What is this? Dragon''s Breath, isn''t it? And Red, at that. Where did you get this precious stuff?”


    “I brought it because I thought you''d like it.”


    “Your personality is truly the worst, but it''s things like this that keep me from cutting ties with you. You annoying bastard.”


    Duke grumbled and then savored the whiskey.


    Then Arthur spoke again.


    “Are you aware that the situation on the continent has been strangetely?”


    “How would I know, wasting my time stuck in the backwater of Troy?”


    “I know your eyes and ears are still active all over the continent.”


    “If you know, why are you fishing for information? You sly fox.”


    Arthur swirled his whiskey ss and said,


    “It seems something unusual is happening in the Rom Empire.”


    “That crazy Emperor has been a troublemaker ever since he was the Crown Prince. What is it this time?”


    “Duke, do you think immortality is possible?”


    “Are you joking with me right now?”


    “The Emperor seems to believe it''s possible.”


    “Ha, he''spletely lost his mind.”


    “The problem is that that madman is the Emperor , who upies half of the Central Continent. He even created an imperial unit called the Hounds.”


    “The Hounds? The name itself is ominous.”


    “The Emperor is using that unit to search for something.”


    “What is he searching for?”


    “An ancient artifact.”


    “Surely he''s not looking for an artifact that grants immortality, is he?”


    “Bad premonitions alwayse true, don''t they?”


    “That''s… not just a bad premonition.”


    Duke clicked his tongue as he finished his whiskey.


    He knew that the Emperor of the Rom Empire was superstitious and surrounded by suspicious individuals, but he didn''t expect him to go astray like this.


    “Shouldn''t we put some pressure on him as a family?”


    “It''s difficult to act strongly because we''re in an alliance to keep the Eastern Empire in check together.”


    “Ha, you''ve really mellowed out. In the past, you would have just picked a fight.”


    “Being the head of the n isn''t all sunshine and rainbows.”


    “So what''s the main point? Why are you beating around the bush like this?”


    Arthur looked at Duke and said,


    “I''m nning to leave the Four Seasons Castle for a while.”


    “Why are you leaving the Four Seasons Castle when the Emperor of the Rom Empire has gone mad?”


    “I''m going to the Ice Mountains to find the ancient artifact that the Emperor is looking for.”


    “What? Are you crazy? Don''t tell me it''s because of that immortality…”


    “There''s a possibility that the artifact is a trace of an Elder Dragon.”


    [Trantor - Peptobismal]


    [Proofreader - Max]