NOVEL NEXT Chapter 125 Plunder Everything!
Riding on Marcus's broad back, Michael flew toward the graveyard accompanied by Isper and Leonardo. With two individuals to resurrect today, their assistance was indispensable.
Marcus's powerful wingbeats made the air around them hum with weighty vibrations. Leonardo, consumed with excitement, had a manic gleam in his eyes that shimmered even in the darkness.
"To witness my master's divine power again! I must immortalize this moment in a mural someday!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with reverence and awe.
Michael, unfazed, paid him no mind, letting the words pass in one ear and out the other. Instead, his attention turned to Isper, whose stiff expression stood out against the night.
"Isper, why do you look so tense?" Michael asked.
Isper hesitated before replying in a quiet voice, "I suppose I've spent so much time in the shadows that being out in the open feels strange."
Michael didn't respond, but he silently acknowledged Isper's unwavering loyalty, appreciating the shadows in which his ally had faithfully protected him all this time.
By now, Marcus had grown accustomed to these nocturnal journeys to the graveyard. As they approached their destination, the great beast descended smoothly, his enormous wings casting shadows over the trees and rocks below.
"I'll rest here. Be quick," Marcus muttered, his eyes half-closed as he watched Michael dismount.
"Thank you, Marcus," Michael said before disappearing into the darkness with his companions.
Having done this several times before, Michael quickly located their targets. After guiding Isper and Leonardo to the sites they needed to excavate, he began digging as well. The soft black earth scattered under the thrust of his spade.
This particular grave revealed its coffin more quickly than others, likely because no one had bothered to conduct a proper burial. As Michael brushed the remaining dirt away, a decayed and corroded coffin lid came into view.
He paused briefly, looking down at the coffin. The air seemed to grow heavy with the anguish and resentment of the soul buried within. Taking a deep breath, Michael carefully opened the lid to reveal the charred remains of a corpse.
The sight was harrowing. Once a man who had wielded immense power over the entire financial system of the Rubel Continent, the body before him now lay reduced to ash and ruin, consumed by fire. This was Zark de Murray, the former Grand Commander of the Radiant Holy Kingdom's Paladin Order and financial administrator to Pope Clement, the 175th pontiff.
As Grand Commander, Zark had displayed unparalleled brilliance, transforming the paladin order into a force not only of military might but also of economic and political influence. Under his stewardship, the order's wealth and power grew exponentially, consolidating the Holy Kingdom's finances.
Yet his exceptional talents became his downfall. Despite devoting his life to the kingdom and the church, Zark fell victim to envy and betrayal, becoming a scapegoat for his adversaries. His death marked the beginning of the Holy Kingdom's decline—a bitter irony of history.
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Before being burned at the stake, Zark had declared to the crowd, "The true heresy lies within the Radiance itself!" His final words, drowned out by the roaring flames, became the stuff of legend.
Now, Michael sought to resurrect this tormented soul. With his deep hatred for the Holy Kingdom and his unparalleled financial acumen, Zark would be the perfect steward for the Crassus Bank.
Michael placed his hand on the fragile remains, chanting an incantation with practiced precision. A cold energy emanated from his fingertips, enveloping the surrounding air.
"Resurrectionis electio!"
The atmosphere around the grave began to vibrate, and the extraordinary scene unfolded before their eyes. Zark's charred body began to transform. Blood flowed through his veins again, his desiccated flesh regrew, and life returned to his lifeless form.
The bitterness and pain etched into Zark's face gradually faded, replaced by vitality. With a gasp, his eyes flew open, blazing with new life. For a moment, Zark appeared disoriented, but understanding soon dawned upon him.
Like the other resurrected souls, he knelt before Michael. "You have pulled me from the endless abyss, my true master. Thank you for granting me this chance for vengeance."
His voice carried a mixture of emotions—devotion to Michael, seething anger toward the Holy Kingdom and its pope, and above all, profound relief at escaping death's clutches.
Michael glanced toward Leonardo and Isper, who were calling out from another part of the graveyard. It seemed their excavation was taking longer, even with both of them working together. With a nod to the newly resurrected Zark, who was still unsteady on his feet, Michael walked toward his companions.
He found them digging through a pit filled with a chaotic jumble of skeletal remains. The grave had been neglected for years, causing the bones to become entangled. Thankfully, Leonardo and Isper's anatomical expertise allowed them to swiftly sort through the remains.
Once reassembled, they identified nine distinct skeletons—just as legend described. Michael carefully examined the remains, noting the ravages of time. He inspected each skeleton for distinguishing features, his methodical approach soon rewarded. Among the bones, he found a skull bearing an eyepatch.
A faint smile crossed Michael's face as he rested his hand on the skeleton with the eyepatch. This was none other than Drake "Billy" Kidd, the legendary pirate captain.
"Resurrectionis electio!"
In an instant, the air around them fell silent. Drake Billy Kidd, once the scourge of the seas, began to stir.
Michael envisioned using Drake and his crew to recreate the legendary privateering of old aboard an ancient ship. The idea had come to him when Miaomiao explained the family's treasure ship, which could conceal itself in mist and evade detection. Combining this unique characteristic with Drake's unparalleled skills promised the creation of the ultimate privateer vessel.
Drake approached Michael and knelt respectfully. "My lord, before I pledge my loyalty, I have a question."
Michael nodded, signaling him to proceed. "Ask anything."
A mix of emotions flickered in Drake's eyes as he prepared to unburden himself of a weight he had carried for centuries. "My beloved, Ariel de Celeste... Has she passed?"