Chapter 615

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on April 8, 2025

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615.

“We’ve received a letter from LeWalyn offering assistance to help resolve this case.”

Eggerson’s eyes twitched upon hearing the report.

His face darkened with displeasure.

“I’m unsure how LeWalyn views the Zerdinger family. Isn’t that right? Lord of the house?”

In response to Eggerson’s question, Selde Zerdinger, the head of the Zerdinger family, turned his cold gaze toward Eggerson.

The moment their eyes met, Eggerson’s body trembled slightly.

‘This guy?’

Eggerson Zerdinger.

A hero renowned for his ability to reduce anyone cut by his sword to ashes, earning him the nickname the ‘Sword of Ashes.’

Despite his great achievements, even Eggerson was considered inferior compared to Selde Zerdinger, the head of the Zerdinger clan.

Selde Zerdinger, known as the ‘Eternal Flame.’

Among the heads of the Zerdinger family, known as the most prestigious family of knights, Selde stood out as one of the strongest. Even when discussing who was the strongest knight after the legendary Sword Saint passed away, Selde’s name was always mentioned.

Undoubtedly, he was considered the strongest knight in the empire. He wielded flames that surpassed even his predecessor.

“LeWalyn’s head says he is concerned about my brother and wishes to offer help.”

Selde tilted his head to one side.

“Is that so unpleasant for you?”

Goaaaaaa-

The temperature around them soared dramatically.

Everyone present had trained in swordsmanship under the Zerdinger style. They were all users of Flame Aura, yet even they could feel the overwhelming power emanating from Selde in that moment.

“Brother.”

Jis, Selde’s brother and fellow elder, called out to him, causing the heat to dissipate instantly.

Silence filled the conference room.

Amidst the tension, one of the elders cautiously spoke up.

“The mages are much better at tracking the culprit’s trail. Perhaps accepting help in that area could be beneficial?”

The important figures of the Zerdinger family nodded in agreement with Jis’ words.

Meanwhile, Eggerson suppressed his anger at having been pressured by Selde.

‘How dare this arrogant fellow! Even if he is the head, treating me, the de facto power behind the Elder Council, like this!’

Eggerson inwardly seethed at having been embarrassed in front of the family’s important members.

But now was not the time for anger.

No matter how powerful the Elder Council was, it could not compare to the head of the family.

Moreover, the security matters had been under the Council’s jurisdiction, making this partially Eggerson’s fault.

Although it was deliberately handled loosely, if the head became furious about it, the Council would surely be suppressed.

‘It must not be this way.’

Eggerson had never considered becoming the master of the Zerdinger family.

Nor could his son, Reid, achieve this.

Selde Zerdinger was simply too powerful.

However…

‘My grandson can become the head.’

If an unforeseen accident should befall the current successor Ris, Celia would take the next place as the heir.

After Celia, Leo would come next.

At first glance, it seemed like many options were available.

But…

‘If these three are gone, there will be no one left to take the position.’

The head’s younger brother, Jis Zerdinger, had only one daughter.

A usual noble girl far from the world of knighthood.

‘This is the time of great upheaval. Tartarus is causing chaos, and the world has fallen into confusion.’

The Zerdinger family was a house of heroes.

Having held swords during countless crises of the empire and the world for a long time, they had earned their current reputation.

Heirs to the headship could not be kept safe.

‘No matter how strong they are, they’re still incomplete youngsters. Foreseeable accidents could still occur.’

Hence, he had unleashed the finest hunter for exactly this purpose.

‘Even if the head were to figure out the Elder Council was behind this incident, it’s impossible.’

Most of the family’s knights follow Selde Zerdinger.

However, the shadows of the Zerdinger family were mostly led by the Elder Council.

Over many years, the knights of the battlefield couldn’t easily uncover the secrets of these hidden shadows.

‘That guy must be God’s chosen one for me.’

Eggerson smiled inwardly as he thought about the Hero Slayer.

How he had reappeared in this world was unknown.

But the Hero Slayer, who had long massacred heroes in the past, was truly the perfect hunter for this task.

After the meeting ended, Eggerson, arriving at the Elder Corridor, soon headed to his office.

The elders followed behind him.

“Do you think the head will discover the truth behind this?”

One elder asked anxiously.

At this, another elder smirked.

“The Zerdinger shadows are under the control of the Elder Council. No matter how great Selde might be, as long as he doesn’t control the shadows, he won’t be able to discover that we were behind it.”

Another elder responded to this.

“What if we involve LeWalyn’s shadows?”

Eggerson chuckled.

“Where there’s great light, there are also great shadows. There’s no force in the Western Continent that can swallow the shadows of the Zerdinger family.”

Even if LeWalyn’s shadows dig into the matter, they would inevitably hit a wall within the Zerdinger territory.

As Eggerson opened the door to the Elder Corridor,

“Nobody will reach the secret. Nobody,”

his face stiffened the moment the door opened.

Not just Eggerson — upon seeing the inside of the Elder Corridor, everyone present was shocked to the core.

Shadows of the Zerdinger family were sprawled out everywhere.

As if the Elder Corridor itself had been ransacked, countless documents were scattered all over the floor.

“What… What is this?!”

As the elders shouted in shock, Eggerson, his face grim, quickly walked toward one of the still-breathing shadows and grabbed his collar.

“What is the meaning of this? Who did this?!”

To this, the shadow wheezed and said,

“They… They came. Cough!”

“Who?!”

Pressing further as the shadow coughed up bl**d, he finally spoke,

“The Shadows… The Shadow Lord… The one who rules the world’s darkness… has come…”

Eggerson’s eyes widened.

The Shadow Lord.

He had heard rumors about their existence.

The Shadow Empire, led by the Shan Empire, was a ruling force over the darkness of various races.

“Why would they target Zerdinger!? What is their aim!?”

“Our target isn’t Zerdinger.”

A voice emerged from the darkness.

Ssww-

At this statement, all the elders drew their swords simultaneously.

All of them were either heroes or comparable to heroes, and the killing intent they emitted could slice through anything in its path.

But the woman who emerged from the shadows showed no reaction to the deadly auras.

“Beastman?”

Eggerson frowned.

The southern Shadow Lord, Kirin, spoke in a lazy tone.

“Our target is the traitor to the world who colluded with the Hero Slayer.”

Opening her half-lidded eyes, Kirin declared,

“The Zerdinger Elder Council.”

Hearing this, Eggerson snorted.

“What nonsense!”

“Oh my? It’s not nonsense.”

From the side, Anyas, with a hood pulled over her head, stepped forward.

Placing her hands together, a crystal orb was floating above them.

Seeing it, Eggerson’s face stiffened momentarily but quickly composed itself.

The crystal orb appeared ordinary at first glance.

“This Crystal of Secrecy. Ages ago, it could only be created by the great Elven hero and master alchemist using pure magical power.”

“What of it?”

Eggerson asked, and Anyas smiled.

“Most of the artifacts created by the Master Alchemist could function thanks to his magical power. After his d*ath, when the artifacts lost their magic, they became useless trinkets.

The Master Alchemist was killed when the Hero Slayer stole his magic. The fact that artifacts from the Hero’s World were destroyed or missing was officially confirmed, making it impossible to create something like this orb without the Master Alchemist’s magic.”

“…”

“Yet, this crystal orb—it’s clearly a recent creation.”

Anyas tapped the crystal orb.

With a magical trigger, clear bloodstains appeared on the surface of the orb.

The material to activate the crystal was the registered user’s bl**d.

“I specialize in bl**d magic, so I can regenerate such bloodstains.”

“What of it?”

Anyas smiled.

“All magical artifacts leave magical residue. And magical communication devices leave traces of the voice.”

Eggerson’s face tightened.

“No matter how complex the artifact created by a great mage may be, it will always eventually be decoded by future generations. Even if we can’t replicate it, understanding its structure allows for various manipulations, including this.”

“What of Ris Zerdinger?”

“He’s still alive.”

“Didn’t you promise to eliminate Ris if given the chance?”

From the crystal, unknown voices and Eggerson’s voice flowed out.

The moment Eggerson tried to shout, Anyas interrupted,

“Don’t claim it’s been tampered with. Any competent mage can easily verify it. If you’re skeptical, we can send it to Lewalyn or the Magic Tower for appraisal.”

Eggerson’s face twisted at this.

Watching this, Anyas snickered.

“Checkmate. For someone who betrayed the world, you left quite a mess.”

It wasn’t messy.

It was simply an unimaginable catastrophe.

No matter how deep and dark the shadows of the Zerdinger family were, they couldn’t compare to the shadows of the world.

And just as the world’s forces were fragmented in various forms, so were the shadows.

Would anyone have imagined?

That the entirety of the world’s darkness follows solely one person.

And that the one who controls this darkness is someone trying to take their lives.

And within half a day, a force would ascend to near-unthinkable levels.

Nobody could have imagined it.

Eggerson spoke.

“The Zerdingers are not weak. I could just k*ll you all here.”

“Lord of the South. About killing us all?”

“Your measly shadows can’t possibly withstand the swords of the Zerdinger family.”

Eggerson’s body emitted a fiery aura.

Kirin looked uninterested at this and said,

“I’d love to cut your tongue out right now for your insolence, but unfortunately, His Excellency has decreed that He will personally deal with your punishment.”

“His Excellency?”

At this moment, a sudden flash of light erupted.

Bang- The corridor was consumed in flames.

Seeing the flames, Eggerson stiffened.

“Zerdinger’s flames?”

*

Whoosh-!

The Elder Corridor entrance engulfed in flames.

Leo was making his way through this fiery sea.

Thud- Thud-

The knights who had tried to block his way groaned around him.

“The evidence was found faster than I expected.”