Baron looked up at Kali and said, "I came here out of loyalty, Family Head."
"I don't quite understand what kind of loyalty that is. What I know is that you, Baron, threatened and coerced the elders to delay approval of my ascension to the Family Head seat, and in that gap, you wiped out Valdek, one of Draker's greatest blood oath families. Half-hearted excuses about loyalty won't cut it, so explain yourself properly."
At Kali's sharp words, Baron fell silent for a moment before he slowly opened his mouth.
"I heard that Mycenae was under attack by demonkind and rushed here to help." Kali snorted at Baron's response.
"I wonder when the Black Stage started taking on missions to support sieges. Have you forgotten what an intelligence unit's role is, Baron Draker?" Baron replied again.
"It was the previous Family Head's dying wish."
At his words, not only Kali and Helen but all the Draker knights present flinched.
Baron continued.
"It was the previous Family Head's dying wish to protect Sir Zeke Draker and guard him, so I was trying to fulfill that."
There had been no official revelation of Arthur Draker's dying words as the previous Family Head.
There had only been speculation that his confidant, Baron, might have known something about it.
But Baron had not uttered a single word about the dying wish for months after Arthur's death.
And now, out of nowhere, Baron mentioned Arthur Draker's dying wish.
Moreover, the content was to protect Zeke Draker, which was hardly surprising.
This could have been interpreted as Arthur Draker deciding his official heir was not Kali, but Zeke.
If this fact became known, it was obvious that it would have caused another uproar within the family.
Kali was momentarily speechless at Baron's words.
But then.
"That's quite the interesting conversation you're having."
Duke had appeared beside them, sauntering over with a bottle of liquor in hand.
Kali bowed to Duke.
"Greetings, Sir Duke."
Duke returned the bow at her greeting.
"My greetings to you, Family Head. As a savage who knows nothing of etiquette, please forgive my casual bow."
Kali nodded to Duke as if it was fine.
Duke then turned his head and looked at Baron.
"Arthur's dying wish, huh. I'm curious too. Why don't you tell me the details."
At Duke's words, Baron clamped his mouth shut before he spoke in an emotionless voice and expression.
"I'm sorry. I cannot say more due to security concerns."
Duke smacked his lips as he watched Baron seal his lips.
'Well, he had always been that inflexible. That was why the capricious Arthur kept him around for decades.'
Knowing that pressing further would not get Baron to open up, he turned to Kali.
"But what brings you all the way here, Family Head?" At Duke's question, Kali opened her mouth.
"I came personally to assess the situation in Mycenae... and there's something I need to discuss with Zeke."
She glanced at Baron before she spoke to Duke.
"The situation on the continent is growing more chaotic by the day. Monster Waves are breaking out everywhere, and the demonkind summoned by dark mages are raiding kingdoms, leaving the subjects and citizens trembling in fear." She paused for a moment before she continued.
"I intend to hold the Continental Grand Council here in Mycenae." At Kali's words, Duke's expression hardened.
"Are you saying you will host the Continental Grand Council, Family Head?"
The Continental Grand Council was a meeting where all the major kingdoms and families of the continent gathered.
It had not been held since the Murk Empire's invasion of the central continent twentyfive years ago.
It was then.
"The Continental Grand Council. I agree with that, Family Head."
A familiar voice came from behind.
Kali and Helen's faces relaxed with relief at the voice.
"Zeke!"
Zeke had reappeared in Mycenae.
*
After returning to Mycenae, Zeke sat in the conference room with Kali and Duke.
He first explained the current situation to the two of them.
"The reason Narak is trying to bring about the descent of the Demon King is to summon the entire Demon Realm into the Phenomenal World."
At Zeke's words, Kali and Duke's expressions hardened.
If the Demon Realm were summoned into the Phenomenal World, it would undoubtedly have unfolded into a living hell.
Zeke transmitted Karma Data to the conference room's magic projector, which displayed a panoramic view of the Demon Realm.
The divided screen showed the Abyss, Abaddon, Gehenna, and Pandemonium.
Duke sighed as he looked at the screen.
"Huh, where did you even get something like this?" Zeke replied in a calm voice.
"I found it in Narak's stronghold."
Kali frowned and said, "So this is proof that they're communicating directly with the Demon Realm."
Having seen actual footage of the Demon Realm—something they had only heard about in storybooks or ancient legends—made Zeke's words hit home more vividly for Kali and Duke.
"If we fail to stop Narak, humanity will be reduced to slaves of demonkind, and human cities will become pens for the fallen constellations."
Duke ground his teeth as he listened to Zeke while he watched the footage.
"Damn those dark mages..."
"Given that top-tier demonkind invaded Mycenae, we can see that the Demon Realm's interference is growing stronger."
At Zeke's words, Kali said with a grim face, "Monster outbreaks are rampant across the continent. Monsters that don't normally form groups are acting in organized formations like an army."
Zeke nodded at Kali's words and said, "Mutant specimens have started appearing among the monsters. This is a sign that the Demon Realm's interference is intensifying and the Demon King's descent is approaching."
Monsters typically existed as independent individuals the stronger they were, unless in special circumstances.
Moreover, their territorial instincts were stronger than those of beasts, so they would have attacked even their own kind indiscriminately.
The fact that such monsters were forming organizations meant that mutants capable of leading them had emerged.
When individually powerful monsters organized to attack cities, the damage would inevitably have been far greater than before.
Zeke looked at Kali and Duke and said, "Before their power grows any stronger, I plan to strike Narak's stronghold."
Zeke changed the screen on the magic projector to display a continental map.
He then pointed to one of the locations on the map.
Jupiter, one of the major cities of the Rom Empire.
"The imperial legions led by Castro Pollock are gathered in Jupiter. And..."
Zeke pointed to a spot between Jupiter and Heli.
"Between Heli, the former Siemens territory, and Jupiter lies the hidden underground labyrinth of Siemens. That's where Narak's forces are assembled." It was information obtained from the First Princess, Elizaveta.
Elizaveta, who was proficient enough in magic to grasp the Demon Realm's magical framework, had reverse-tracked the summoning circle that called them and pinpointed where the ritual had taken place.
Through this, Zeke had discovered that Narak's stronghold was located in the underground labyrinth of Siemens.
Zeke looked at Kali and Duke and said, "Hold the Continental Grand Council to form a united army of the central continent, then advance on Jupiter. In the meantime, I'll enter the underground labyrinth and wipe out Narak." Duke nodded at Zeke's words.
"If we take out Narak, there'll be no one left to summon demonkind or bring down the
Demon King, so we can put an end to this damn chaos."
"Yes, they're like cockroaches, so we need to exterminate them all at once. To do that, we need to draw their attention."
Kali, understanding what Zeke meant, replied as if in agreement.
"So that's why we need a continental united army. To draw their eyes and launch a feint on their stronghold."
"Yes, Family Head. After you host the council, please ensure the formation of the united army."
Kali slowly nodded at Zeke's words.
"I understand. I'll summon the continent's key figures and discuss the matter. I'll wrap up the talks as quickly as possible and report the results."
"Thank you, Family Head."
*
After the meeting with Kali and Duke, Zeke returned to his room.
He then contacted the Hermit of Stories through the mirror.
—"Hmm, if things go as you say, we could certainly end this chaos."
"I intend to completely eradicate Narak this time. By the way, have you found the intruder who entered the beast region you mentioned last time?"
—"I've been looking, but there are no traces. Ha... Whoever it is, they're incredibly cunning."
Zeke pondered for a moment before he said to the hermit, "Could that intruder possibly be Arthur Draker?"
At Zeke's words, the hermit widened his eyes in surprise and asked.
—"Arthur Draker? You're talking about your father? I thought he was dead."
"I interrogated the Nostra Family's don, and he said Arthur Draker isn't dead."
—"What? The Overlord is alive and infiltrated the beast region?"
The Hermit of Stories pondered for a moment before he sighed and continued.
—"If Arthur Draker is truly alive, then it's entirely possible. But if your suspicions are correct and he is the intruder, then the Overlord is stronger than the world knows. Perhaps... even stronger than Nigel."
Zeke knew very well just how strong Nigel was, having attained the rank of transcendent long ago.
If Arthur Draker was stronger than Nigel, his power would surely have exceeded Zeke's imagination.
And there was one more thing Zeke was worried about.
'If Arthur Draker stole and absorbed the black star that was there?'
Zeke himself had absorbed the black star, a fragment of an elder dragon's heart, and that had been possible thanks to his Immortal class and the ancient dragon's blessing.
Arthur Draker was not in the same situation, but he was still of the Draker bloodline, which harbored the power of immortality.
If by any chance he succeeded in absorbing the black star, he could have become something beyond a transcendent.
'He might even have attained divinity like me.'
As Zeke continued his thoughts, the Hermit of Stories said,
—"For now, I'll look into that matter further."
"Yes, understood. Ah, and..."
Zeke transmitted Karma Data through the mirror.
"This is an image of the person who killed Abel Draker and took his heart. The reconstruction isn't perfect, so it's just a silhouette, but just in case. Please take a look and let me know if you recognize anything."
On the other side of the mirror, the Hermit of Stories checked the image Zeke sent and nodded.
—"The data is quite damaged. Alright, I'll try to restore it further."
"Thank you, Hermit."
With that, Zeke ended the communication with the Hermit of Stories and sat in his chair, organizing his thoughts.
With so many things happening at once, Zeke's mind was quite cluttered.
Among the many issues, the one that concerned him most was the sealed body of the Arrogant Savior.
'Narak's high priest had the sealed body of the Arrogant Savior.'
It was information from Arataso, a vassal of the Arrogant Savior, so it was undoubtedly true.
Zeke pondered as he thought of the high priest.
To complete the final arc scenario, he needed to absorb the sealed body of the Arrogant Savior that the high priest possessed.
Absorbing the sealed body would have allowed Zeke to attain complete divinity, qualify as the Sixth Lord of the Demon Realm, and join the Demon Archlords in preventing demons from the Demon Realm from interfering in the Phenomenal World.
That would have made the Demon King's descent into the Phenomenal World impossible in the first place, ending the chaos once and for all.
'In the end, I needed to capture Narak's high priest.'
Once Kali formed the continental united army through the Continental Grand Council, Zeke planned to enter the Siemens underground labyrinth and attack Narak's stronghold.
And at that time, he intended to capture the high priest and absorb the sealed body of the Arrogant Savior to elevate his divinity.
If things proceeded according to his plan, he could finally end the chaos that had persisted since his previous life.
Zeke finished organizing his thoughts while sipping his tea and stood up.
"Whew, I've sorted out my thoughts to some extent, so I should finish the crafting I've been putting off."
Zeke pulled out all the extra-grade random boxes and the special random boxes he had collected.
He was going to try a new crafting method he had devised.
Specifically, combining two extra-grade random boxes to create a new grade of random box.
'An extra-grade random box had yielded a legendary-grade item. I wondered what something beyond that would produce.'
Zeke opened the system crafting window with eyes full of anticipation.