233 Matou Zouken

Fuyuki City, modeled after Kobe City in Hyogo Prefecture, Kansai region, Japan, was divided into two distinct parts by the meandering Mion River that traversed the entire city.

The eastern side was a highly modernized town of Shinto, while the western side was a deep mountain town of Miyama, mostly consisting of the residential areas of the old city.

Miyama carried a distinct old-world charm with predominantly traditional Japanese architecture. Nestled against the mountains, its pace was noticeably more relaxed compared to the bustling Shinto. Therefore, many prominent families of Fuyuki chose to settle in Miyama.

As the evening approached, the sunset cast a warm glow over the land, draping everything in a fiery red hue.

People, tired from a day's hard work in the challenging economic times, trudged wearily toward their homes. To avoid layoffs, they had to put in several times more effort than before just to barely hold onto their livelihoods.

Amidst the bustling crowd, a figure stood out conspicuously—a young man in a hoodie and jeans.

His black eyes revealed an indescribable depth, and his handsome appearance could rival the current hottest celebrities. He exuded a unique sense of nobility, enough to make him instantly recognizable in the crowd, yet strangely, no one seemed to notice his existence.

The young man strolled leisurely as if he were a tourist, eventually stopping in front of an imposing mansion when the sun had completely set and the night enveloped the land.

Unlike other buildings in Miyama, this mansion had a distinct Western influence, easily recognizable to those familiar with it as a Nordic-style structure.

Despite the poor visibility, the young man clearly saw the engraved name of 'Matou' on the mansion's fence. He pondered while stroking his chin, and with a simple gesture of his hand, the heavy iron gate slowly opened to the sides.

Hands in his pockets, the young man entered without any regard for the privacy of the residence, as if he owned the place.

"I never expected the legendary King Arthur to grace my humble abode. I'm truly honored."

A rough and raspy voice, like sandpaper scraping, echoed as a figure slowly emerged from the darkness.

The hunched old man stood bald, with limbs as thin as a mummy's. His sunken eye sockets revealed a glint of sharpness. Holding a wooden cane and dressed in a combination of deep gray and navy blue kimono, he brought with him a nauseating scent reminiscent of decaying wood.

"As an uninvited guest, I didn't want to trouble you to personally welcome me."

Arkhan removed the mental disguise of Fenghuang Down and gazed at Matou Zouken with an indifferent expression.

"Don't you think so, Makiri Zolgen?"

*Buzz—!*

In an instant, countless insect noises filled the air from all directions, a chaotic symphony that could terrify ordinary people. Arkhan, however, remained nonchalant.

After a moment, the insect noises gradually subsided, and Zouken let out a burst of grating laughter, like the sound of grinding stones.

"It's been a while since I've heard that name... Indeed, a legendary figure like you, who effortlessly defeated even a tyrant like Gilgamesh, can easily uncover this old man's secrets is not strange. But I don't quite understand; I've never met you nor had any dealings with you. Why would King Arthur suddenly appear in my place, and for what purpose?"

Although Zouken appeared calm on the surface, in reality, his mind was highly focused, constantly observing every move of the man before him.

The fact that Arthur could easily reveal his true name indicated that the other party likely possessed abilities such as clairvoyance or omniscience. Regardless of which, it meant that his secrets were completely exposed before this man.

Zouken was well aware of the immensity of the sins he had committed over the years. Even describing them as countless wouldn't be an exaggeration. If these deeds were exposed, he would have no place to hide, neither in the visible nor invisible realms.

Therefore, he went to great lengths to conceal himself, living a low-key life, and minimizing his interactions with the outside world.

He had no connection whatsoever with this Arthur as they hadn't even crossed paths. In such a situation, if the other party sought him out, the only possibility he could think of was that this man disapproved of his actions and intended to rid the world of his menace.

It wasn't surprising, considering the legend described Arthur as a heroic and noble king, intolerant of the evil deeds committed by someone like him.

He was well aware that he was no match for a Heroic Spirit like Arthur, who could defeat even the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh. Therefore, the body he presented now was a mere puppet made of insects. If Arthur showed any intention of attacking, he would flee with his true body immediately.

Even if it meant abandoning the entire Matou family, it didn't matter. As long as he could survive, sacrificing everything was of no concern to him.

Immortality was his only obsession. Even if he had to live like a slug in the damp darkness underground or parasitize others like a parasite, he didn't mind.

A man known as Makiri Zolgen died two hundred years ago and was no more. Only a monster known as Matou Zouken roamed the world.

Watching the old man who had completely lost himself on the path of obsession, Arkhan's emotions were indescribably complex.

'Would I lose my way like him if I couldn't upgrade Savior to EX in fifty years?'

In a fleeting moment, Arkhan couldn't help but think that way. However, he quickly shook his head to dispel this useless thought and came back to his senses.

"I came here to make a deal with you."

"Oh? This is truly unexpected... Is there truly something worthy that catches Your Majesty's eye in my desolate family?" Zouken was indeed surprised, but his underlying caution remained unchanged. After all, no one could be certain if this was just a diversion.

"The worth is judged based on necessity." Arkhan replied in an indifferent tone.

"Well said." Zouken grinned sinisterly akin to an evil spirit lingering in the mortal realm. "Since that's the case, please come in and have a chat in my humble abode, Your Majesty."

Despite knowing that Zouken intended to bring him into his territory, Arkhan remained unconcerned. Any feeble tricks of this old man were utterly powerless before him.

To exaggerate a bit, even if Makiri Zolgen of two hundred years ago reappeared, Arkhan could still defeat him without a problem.