A Dragonslayer's Peerless Regression

[Translator - Peptobismal]

[Proofreader - Max]

Chapter 40

Zeke was confused as to why the Ranger unit, also known as the protectors of the Northern Continent, had sought him out.

'Could it be that Abel hired them? To eliminate me from forming an alliance with Kali?'n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Zeke focused on the unique shape of the swords the black-clad figures were carrying.

They were kukri, swords used by the Rangers of the Gorka Kingdom, located at the northernmost tip of the Northern Continent. And these were the most skilled among the Northern Rangers.

Their skills were so exceptional that the Central Kingdoms often paid a high price to employ them as mercenaries for important missions.

Especially since Zeke had lived with the Gorka Rangers during his time in the Northern Continent, he knew very well how formidable they were.

Zeke confronted the Gorka Ranger who drew his kukri, trying to grasp the situation.

"Why are the Gorka Rangers monitoring me?" Zeke asked.

The figure in black didn't answer, simply pointing his kukri at Zeke and watching for an opportunity to escape towards the window.

Zeke moved to block his escape route, positioning himself with his back to the window.

Just then, something flew in from outside.

Thud!

A small ball rolled towards Zeke's feet.

Soon, a hazy smoke erupted from the ball.

[Mandrake root extract detected.]

[If poisoned, you will lose consciousness.]

[The effect of 'Poison Immunity' negates the poison's effect.]

Thanks to the Poison Immunity he gained from devouring the Hydra's head, the poisonous smoke couldn't harm Zeke.

However, Zeke pretended to collapse, feigning the effects of the poison.

A while later, when the smoke cleared, the two figures in black carried the unconscious Zeke somewhere.

***

The figures in black brought Zeke to a dark, narrow room, sat him in a chair, and bound him with handcuffs. After confirming that he was securely bound, they left, and Zeke subtly opened his eyes.

He checked his map and found that he was near a farm on the outskirts of Atlas. It seemed to be a safe house built by modifying a granary.

'The Northern Rangers have a safe house? It seems they have a separate employer.'

Even if he were imprisoned, Zeke could escape using a portal, so he had willingly pretended to be affected by the poisonous smoke.

He had entered the tiger's den to find out directly why the Gorka Kingdom Rangers were trying to monitor him.

Just then, someone entered the room.

He approached Zeke, who was pretending to be unconscious with his eyes closed, and held a bottle to his nose.

[Mandrake root extract neutralizer detected.]

It seemed to be an antidote for the poisonous smoke.

Zeke acted as if he was regaining consciousness.

"Ugh..."

The man spoke to Zeke, who had awakened.

"Zeke Draker."

Zeke slowly opened his eyes and looked up.

'Who is that?'

A middle-aged man with a stubborn impression and an eyepatch over one eye.

Zeke knew who he was.

'Cliff Reinhardt?'

The owner of the Reinhardt Trading Company, one of the future Top Ten Trading Companies of the continent.

The reason Zeke recognized him immediately was due to their connection in his past life.

In his past life, Abel, after taking over the Draker clan, had extended his influence to major trading companies for war supplies. At that time, the Reinhardt Trading Company tried to maintain a neutral stance, but Abel and the Empire wouldn't stand for it. They forcibly disbanded the company and confiscated its assets.

In response, Cliff Reinhardt risked his life to escape from the Central Continent and deliver information to the Northern Continent.

It was Zeke who had met with Cliff and relayed the information he had brought to the North.

'Zeke Murray, I believe you will deliver this information safely.'

Zeke had advised Cliff to seek asylum in the North, but he refused.

'I want to meet my final death in my hometown, Alencia.'

The future Cliff, who had accepted his death, overlapped with the present Cliff before him.

Cliff spoke to Zeke, who was staring intently at him.

"You look at me as if you know me."

Zeke deliberately changed his expression and said,

"I was just curious to see who was brazen enough to kidnap a member of the Draker bloodline."

Cliff's expression hardened at his words.

Seeing Cliff's reaction, Zeke realized that this kidnapping wasn't meticulously planned.

Zeke decided to probe Cliff.

"Why did you kidnap me?"

There had to be a reason for hiring expensive Gorka Rangers and infiltrating his residence.

If there was any connection to Abel, it would be beneficial to deal with Cliff Reinhardt here.

It would become even more troublesome if the Reinhardt Trading Company's funds fell into Abel's hands.

Zeke activated his minimap and identified the location and number of Rangers in the vicinity.

'One in the room, one right outside, and ten around the building. Judging by their presence, there are only those two Rangers.'

Even if they were Gorka Rangers, if Zeke displayed his true skills, he could eliminate them without leaving a trace.

Just then, Cliff gestured to the Ranger behind him.

The Ranger approached and released the handcuffs that were restraining Zeke's arms.

"Despite how things have turned out, I want to say that this wasn't my original intention."

Zeke spoke to Cliff, who was now using honorifics, unlike before.

"That's ridiculous. You trespassed and kidnapped me, and yet you say you had no such intention."

Even trapped in enemy territory, Zeke showed no fear, speaking his mind casually.

Cliff was slightly taken aback by Zeke's attitude.

Even a seasoned knight would likely show some anxiety in this situation, but the boy in front of him displayed no such thing.

'Even if he's young, a Draker is still a Draker.'

In truth, not all Drakers would remain so composed during an interrogation.

This was only possible because Zeke had undergone training to withstand all kinds of interrogation and torture during his time as a Southern Hitman.

He would have reacted differently if the Gorka Ranger had started a full-blown interrogation, but judging by Cliff's reaction, it didn't seem like he was hostile.

Just then, Cliff spoke.

"Since things have come to this, some explanation seems necessary. I don't know if you've heard of me. My name is Cliff Reinhardt. I run the Reinhardt Trading Company."

To Zeke's surprise, Cliff revealed his identity first.

To test Cliff, Zeke deliberately put on an indignant expression and said,

"Reinhardt Trading Company. I don't know how big your company is, but you have the guts to mess with a Draker. Even if you kill me here, the Drakes will hunt you down to the end, and even if you don't kill me here, they will still hunt you down. No matter what you do, you'll never escape the Drakes."

Cliff's expression hardened.

Even for the owner of a large trading company, the killing intent of a knight was not easy to brush off.

The Ranger standing behind him stepped forward, trying to restrain Zeke.

But Cliff raised his hand to stop the Ranger.

Cliff took out a document and presented it to Zeke.

"Please take a look at this for a moment."

Zeke shifted his gaze from Cliff and slowly examined the document.

But the document contained something completely unexpected.

'Elena Stone?'

Elena Stone was none other than the mother of Liam Stone, who had become his subordinate.

The document Cliff brought contained information about Elena Stone contracting and recovering from the Red Flower Plague.

Zeke wondered why Cliff had brought him information about Elena Stone's illness.

"It's a disease that started appearing in the southern region of the Central Continent. It's called the Red Flower Plague there," Cliff said, looking at Zeke.

"I learned that Elena Stone, the mother of Academy cadet Liam Stone, also contracted this Red Flower Plague and was in critical condition before recovering. Zeke Draker, do you know anything about this?"

Of course he knew.

Elena Stone had overcome the Red Flower Plague thanks to the cure Zeke had provided.

Zeke said to Cliff,

"I sent Elena Stone the cure. So what?"

Cliff's expression changed dramatically.

"So it was you, Zeke Draker, who sent the cure. How did you know the cure for this disease, which hasn't even been properly identified yet?"

"I remembered a medicine I used to take when I had a high fever, and I thought it might work, so I sent it, and it just happened to work. But I don't understand why the Reinhardt Trading Company is investigating this. Especially to the point of kidnapping me."

Cliff shook his head.

"Again, I never intended for things to go this far. All I needed was..."

Zeke interrupted Cliff.

"The cure I gave Elena Stone. You were trying to find out what it was?"

At Zeke's words, Cliff fell silent.

Looking at the speechless Cliff, Zeke deduced why he had resorted to such extreme measures.

"Do you have someone who urgently needs to be cured of the Red Flower Plague?"

It wasn't a question, but a statement filled with conviction.

Cliff realized that Zeke was no ordinary fifteen-year-old.

Now the situation was unfavorable for Cliff.

Even if he wanted to negotiate, he had to offer what the other party wanted from a much weaker position.

Then Zeke spoke first.

"Cliff Reinhardt. Let's make a deal."

As soon as he grasped the situation, Zeke sought to gain the upper hand.

At Zeke's words, Cliff calmly replied,

"What are your terms?"

Zeke held up three fingers.

"If you promise to grant me three requests in the future, I'll tell you about the cure."

Cliff looked at Zeke and said,

"I need to know what the requests are before I can agree to the deal."

"I'll ask for things within the Reinhardt Trading Company's capabilities."

After some contemplation, Cliff looked at Zeke and said,

"If you agree to draw up a contract that formalizes these terms, I'll accept the deal."

Zeke grinned and nodded.

"Alright. A contract is a must for a deal."

At Cliff's gesture, the Ranger went outside and brought paper and a pen.

Cliff took his time meticulously drafting the contract.

Zeke read through the contract Cliff had written.

"It looks fine. But one thing."

He said to Cliff,

"The person who needs to be cured of the Red Flower Plague. You have to tell me who that person is."

Cliff's expression hardened even more than before.

He looked at Zeke and said,

"I can't tell you that."

"Then there's no deal."

After some deliberation, Cliff realized he had no choice and slowly opened his mouth.

"I can only tell you that it's one of the Alencia royals."

Zeke clicked his tongue.

"If that's how it's going to be, then there's no deal."

Cliff clenched his teeth.

Then he finally spoke.

"Melissa Alencia."

At Cliff's words, Zeke's eyes changed.

"The first princess of Alencia."

Alencia was currently in a dispute with the Rom Empire over control of the Beastmen Ghetto in the border region.

The Alencia Kingdom was already in a state of internal instability, with the royal family and the nobility in sharp conflict. The Rom Empire, taking advantage of this opportunity, had built and deployed a large military base in the border region, coveting the Beastmen Ghetto, which was Alencia's territory.

Melissa Alencia was a popular figure among the people, thanks to her effective public policies, in contrast to the sickly and incompetent king.

Moreover, public opinion was growing that if she inherited the throne, the royal authority would be restored, and the internal power struggle with the nobles would end.

If Melissa Alencia, a major figure in the Central Continent's political landscape, were to fall ill and be unable to succeed to the throne, the chaotic situation in the Alencia Kingdom would undoubtedly worsen.

Zeke asked Cliff,

"Why is the Reinhardt Trading Company so eager to cure Melissa Alencia's illness?"

"We were in the midst of negotiating a major deal with Princess Melissa. If something were to happen to the princess before the deal is finalized, the entire company would suffer a significant loss, so we were trying to find a cure by any means."

In his past life, the Reinhardt Trading Company grew, centered around the Alencia Kingdom, eventually becoming one of the Top Ten Trading Companies on the continent.

Cliff Reinhardt had even said that he wanted to die in Alencia if he were to die, so it was understandable that he already had significant influence there, given his attachment to the kingdom.

However, even so, it was still puzzling why he would go so far as to hire Gorka Rangers and infiltrate the residence of a Draker bloodline member.

Although it wasn't fully developed yet, the current Reinhardt Trading Company had a certain amount of financial resources, so if it was really urgent, they could have just bought the cure.

'There must be something I don't know.'

Zeke looked into Cliff Reinhardt's eyes.

Having mastered the Elemental Sword, Zeke had become more proficient in handling mana and could now sense the emotions of others more keenly.

He tried to read the emotions he felt from Cliff.

'Desperation, anxiety, deep loyalty...'

It didn't seem like he was trying to save Princess Melissa simply for the sake of a deal.

Zeke realized that there was something more between Princess Melissa and the Reinhardt Trading Company.

At least with Cliff, it was clear that their relationship went beyond a simple business transaction.

He felt that he might be able to gain something bigger through this deal.

Zeke signed the contract that Cliff had presented.

Cliff breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Zeke's signature.

Then Zeke spoke.

"Alright, Cliff Reinhardt. First, I have a request."

He looked at Cliff and said,

"You need to get me a job."

[Translator - Peptobismal]

[Proofreader - Max]