A Dragonslayer’s Peerless Regression – 269



Episode 269

“Jek brother!”

A girl with brown skin and pigtails ran towards Zeke.

She fell into Zeke’s arms.

Simon who had followed behind in a hurry looked embarrassed and was sweating profusely.

“Your Majesty you must keep your composure.”

The girl in Zeke’s arms was Vivian Kuzco the last of the Kuzco Kingdom’s bloodline.

Zeke greeted Vivian warmly patting her on the shoulder.

“It’s been a while Vivian.”

Zeke previously rescued Vivian who had been held hostage by Don Juan and protected her from falling into the hands of the rebels.

Afterwards with Zeke’s help Simone was able to absorb all of the McCain Cartel forces and drive out the rebels and she was able to regain her throne and become queen.

Vivian who is now fourteen years old follows Zeke who saved her when she was young as if he were her own older brother.

Zeke nodded as if it was okay looking at Simon who looked embarrassed.

Zeke carried Vivian who was clinging to him and talked to Simon.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you Simon.”

“I’ve been so focused on the kingdom’s affairs that I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed. I’ve heard news from Kay here and there but seeing you in person shows that you’ve made a lot of progress.”

Simon sensed the energy radiating from Zeke and realized that he had grown several levels further.

Zeke responded with a smile and then led Simon and Vivian inside the camp.

Executives were sitting at a makeshift round table.

“K! Boris!”

Vivian who had been hanging on to Zeke ran to Kay and Boris.

Boris knew Vivian because he had originally worked under Simon to clean up the cartel and Kay had also spent a lot of time with her while staying in the Kingdom of Cuzco.

Kay also welcomed Vivian warmly.

“Vivian how did you get here? Did you tease Simon again?”

Then Vivian shook her head and said.

“No! I came here because I wanted to see it with my own eyes since this island is now going to be a very important place for our kingdom.”

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Vivian may look younger than her age but she is very intelligent and sensible.

When Simon took back her throne after clearing out the cartels and rebels everyone assumed he would rule as regent in place of young Vivian.

But contrary to everyone’s expectations Vivian quickly demonstrated her wisdom as a queen and stabilized the kingdom.

Even Kay was impressed by her firearms.

This time Kay smiled and nodded at Vivian’s straightforward words.

Zeke sat down and introduced Nerissa to Vivian.

“Vivian I am Nerissa the representative of the fish race who will become the new citizens of the Kingdom of Cusco.”

Then Vivian turned her head and looked at Nerissa with curiosity.

Her expression which had been like that of an innocent child changed in an instant.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Vivian Cusco. I am the queen of the Kingdom of Cusco.”

Nerissa was momentarily taken aback by Vivian’s sudden change and lowered her head.

“My name is… no my name is Nerissa. Yes I used to be called Peter Pan… no!”

Vivian smiled as she looked at the nervous Nerissa.

“Welcome Nerissa. The Kingdom of Kuzco welcomes you. As the Queen of Kuzco I swear to protect the fish race and defend the rights and interests of the Kingdom’s citizens.”

Nerissa smiled brightly at Vivian’s words.

“Please take good care of me too!”

After the two people finished greeting each other Zeke sat down and started the meeting.

“With the elimination of the evil spirit Gung-gi who commands the demons of the Southern Archipelago the threat to this island can now be considered almost resolved.”

Zeke said pointing to the islands of the Southern Archipelago drawn on the map spread out on the round table.

“This archipelago is quite large. In terms of area alone it is comparable to the Republic of Dorta. We will first focus on developing the three largest islands in the archipelago.”

Zeke pointed to the center of the three islands with his finger.

“And we will build a city here that will be a transit point for trade. Since the sea route through the Dead Sea is the only way to get here the number of visitors here will explode every year.”

Everyone nodded at Zeke’s words.

He moved his finger again and pointed to the island on the left.

“We plan to designate this area as a fish-people residential area and build various facilities to ensure that the fish-people who are being persecuted on the continent can live in stability.”

Not only in Nerissa’s village but also throughout the islands of the South Sea fish-people were living scattered here and there.

Many of them were captured by pirates and sold into slavery or killed for no reason.

Zik planned to support settlement by having as many of these fish-people as possible migrate to the island.

And Zeke touched the last island.

“This is the island we are on.”

Zig looked up and said.

“This island will be developed into a mine.”

Others tilted their heads at those words.

Kay said to Zeke.

“Are there enough resources to develop the entire Boss Island into a mine?”

At those words Zeke took out a black ore from his pocket.

No one else could tell what the dark ore was.

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But only Kay the wizard noticed it and was shocked.

“You guys are you sure this isn’t black ore?”

I was so surprised that I spoke in my usual tone instead of formal speech.

Only when the word black ore was mentioned did others become surprised as well.

Simon asked Zeke incredulously.

“Sir Zeek are you saying that there is black ore buried here?”

Zeke nodded.

“After having the dwarves investigate they said that it is estimated to have the largest reserves of any known black ore mine.”

Everyone’s mouths dropped open at his words.

Black ore a rare mineral was more valuable than the highest grade magic stone.

If there was a mine containing such black ore its added value would be unimaginable.

Zeke opened his mouth again.

“We plan to call more dwarves than the ones currently there and have them move here. We will also build a mine and a military factory here to produce weapons.”

Then Boris said with a worried expression.

“Building a Boss Arms factory is a different matter. It could be an international problem.”

Zeke nodded at those words.

“Good idea Boris. So today I have a favor to ask of you Queen.”

At Zeke’s words Vivian spoke with the face of a queen not her usual younger sister.

“Please speak Sir Zeke.”

“Give me the title of the Kingdom of Cuzco. And if you designate this land as the Kingdom of Cuzco we can avoid the sensitive issue that Boris mentioned.”

Boris’s mouth opened wide at Zeke’s words.

Currently this place is the one that Zig took over from Kali and is his personal territory.

However since Zeke belongs to the Draker family strictly speaking it could be seen as a territory belonging to the Draker family.

However if Zeke were to change this territory into the Kingdom of Cusco after receiving a title from Vivian the families and empires in the central continent would inevitably lose their justification for intervention.

Vivian smiled and approached Zeke even though it seemed like she was trying to use the Kingdom of Cusco.

Then he put his hand on Zeke’s shoulder and said.

“I Vivian Cuzco Queen of Cuzco hereby bestow upon Sir Zeke Draker the title of Duke.”

Vivian bestowed upon Zeke the title of Duke in a formal manner.

Zeke said kissing the back of Vivian’s hand in response.

“I swear allegiance to the Queen and the kingdom.”

Vivian smiled at those words.

“Since it’s urgent I’ll do this first and then when you come to the palace I’ll formally award you the title of Duke.”

Zeke nodded to Vivian’s words.

Even though it was an abbreviated title Zigg was awarded a title anyway.

He became a duke of the Kingdom of Cuzco and the Southern Islands became a duchy within the kingdom.

Zeke gave Kay the authority to develop the archipelago.

The archipelago’s defenses were centered around Nerissa and members of the former Syndicate of the Eoin Youth Corps.

In addition a garrison force from the Kingdom of Cuzco was soon to be stationed in the archipelago to strengthen its security.

Zeke said as he looked at the people gathered around the round table.

“It is an island with nothing on it now but in a few years it will become an important bridgehead connecting the Central Continent and the Southern Continent. To do this we need your help. Please join us in our efforts to create our new home.”

Those gathered around the round table were filled with admiration and enthusiasm as they listened to Zeke’s words.

The newly acquired power and charisma seemed to be subtly influencing Zeke’s words and actions.

‘I wasn’t confident in what I was saying but I received help from an unexpected place.’

It was Zeke who smiled inwardly with satisfaction.

After the meeting was completely over Zeke called Simon aside.

He said to Simon as he offered him the car.

“Simon there’s one part of the report you uploaded a while ago that’s bothering me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The part where it is said that the cultists are gradually expanding their influence in the southern continent.”

At those words Simon furrowed his brow and squirmed.

“As written in the report the cultists are rapidly filling the void left by the cartels in the southern continent.”

“What do you mean they are filling the cartel’s void?”

“You probably know that the economy of the Southern Continent revolves largely around Soma farms.”

Zeke nodded to Simon’s words.

Simon continued his explanation.

“The cultists are attacking cartels that have set up shop in various areas liberating villages burning down soma plantations and planting coffee trees on top of them.”

“It’s a coffee tree.”

Zeke furrowed his brows at the unexpected words.

While interrogating Dario the boss of the Nostra Family we learned that the Abyss’ base was in a coffee producing area.

So he asked Shadia the killer of the Salmak to investigate this and surprisingly Shadia found that the traces extended not only to the southern part of the Central Continent but also to the southern continent.

In that situation when I learned through Simon’s report that the power of the cult in the South was gradually growing I had a feeling that something was strange.

Zeke asked Simon.

“What do you do with a coffee tree?”

“We literally plant coffee trees and let the villagers grow them. We let them produce and sell coffee not soma and make money.”

Zeke tilted his head at those words.

“Isn’t that… a good thing?”

Simon also nodded.

“That in itself is a good thing. In fact there are places where the cartel farms are gone and coffee trees are grown and the villages are more active than before. But…”

Simon continued his explanation trailing off.

“The problem is that after the cultists have won over the townspeople in this way they gradually infiltrate the town and turn the entire town into a cult.”

Zeke’s expression also changed at Simon’s words.

“The townspeople are becoming assimilated into that cult.”

“That’s right. They start out by helping you set up your coffee plantation and then they cleverly make you depend on them by providing you with food and lending you money.”

It was a bad way to use welfare to benefit those who are struggling pretending to have good intentions.

Zeke asked Simon with a frown.

“What do they hope to gain from the villagers by doing so?”

Simon paused for a moment at those words then slowly opened his mouth.

“I’m taking the children.”

“what?”

Zeke looked blank for a moment at Simon’s words.

And then in that moment he let out a terrifying murderous aura.

Kugugugugugu―

A surge of energy poured out of him that shook the entire tent then slowly subsided.

“Zeke said barely suppressing his anger.

“…After activating the village you persuade the parents to take the children?”

Simon nodded and answered.

“That’s right. The problem is that the townspeople have already been assimilated into them and are resisting the kingdom’s efforts to stop them.”

It was a typical example of a fanatic.

As southerners who had suffered under the cartels their hearts were bound to be empty.

It was clear that they had cleverly dug into it and brainwashed it.

Zeke gritted his teeth.

“Did you find out where they are taking the children?”

At those words Simon slowly opened his mouth.

“We caught you taking us to the lawless Black Market City.”