Kingdom's Bloodline, page 101
"That fortress was built to accommodate ten thousand people. It has enough reserves by itself, and can help them last till the Day before the Bitter Cold Winter." Viscount Kentvida shook his head.
"Forgive me for being frank. As the side who will lay the siege, our pressure is much higher than theirs when it comes to supplies. Twelve years ago, the entire Eckstedt was behind us. And now, because that dead prince is coming to apologize… We are as isolated and helpless as the Northern Territory."
"The Day before the Bitter Cold Winter will be coming in less than two weeks." Tolja also nodded in agreement to the wise general's words. "If we do not get a good opportunity, I do not suggest that we forcefully attack.
"When that prince arrives, it would be even more impossible for us to dispatch troops!" Count Levan said indignantly, "And in another ten years, Constellation will slowly recover from its weakened state, and other kingdoms will also be free of their respective troubles. Besides…"
He paused for a moment.
'If Nuven the Seventh is not able to live till then… There will possibly be a king selection in Eckstedt.'
"How can we just give this opportunity up?" Count Levan spoke in a hateful tone.
The other three did not speak.
"No." Chapman Lampard slowly exhaled, creating a mouthful of mist and stared at the fortress in front of him. "We are Northlanders."
Lampard thought of his elder brother.
Of how he held his sword with hands full of blood, and his gaze when he died with a heroic laugh.
"Northlanders never wait for opportunities, nor do we give up on opportunities."
Archduke Lampard turned his head around. His stern face had a freezing look that was colder than the weather.
"We create opportunities."
…..
The moon had already appeared.
Broken Dragon Fortress was just in front. Its magnificent star-shaped contour could already be seen vaguely under the moonlight.
Watching Sonia and Aida, who were looking around vigilantly a distance away, Thales turned towards Katerina, who was surrounded by the elite warriors of Broken Dragon Fortress and the two Blood Clan warriors behind her who were only found after the battle.
"Are you sure that you want to leave now?" Furrowing his brows, Thales looked at Katerina, who was in front of him. "Perhaps the Blood Mystic is lying in wait on the path you will take to return."
Katerina expression was as indifferent as usual. She shook her head. "This is the best time to leave. At least, the Blood Mystic would not dare to lurk around in places that are too near to this place."
"This is too risky," Thales spoke earnestly, "You know that the Blood Mystic came for the black coffin…"
"Trust me, since the Blood Mystic had already showed herself and caused such a big trouble, there will be people keeping an eye on her whereabouts and intentions… For example, your Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department," Katerina spoke coldly, "Although Mystics are terrifying, there are still forces of power that can restrain them in this world."
"Are you talking about the legendary anti-mystic equipments?" Thales contemplated and spoke, "But they are after all, so rare. There are only a few…"
"You are still young, and have yet to know many secrets." Katerina's words made Thales scratch his head. "The only thing you need to know is that, every single time Mystics appear publicly, they are taking a risk. After that, they would be quiet and go into hiding for a very long time. The legendary anti-mystic equipments are not their only threat.
Their eyes met for a second.
"Alright, since you insist," Thales sighed, "You have to know that all the supreme classes by your side had died in battle. Serena might still be hiding in the darkness, waiting for a chance to strike, and you are after all, bringing along and protecting a legendary anti-mystic equipment."
Remembering Hestad and Simon, Katerina's gaze dimmed. However, she then raised her head.
"I yearn for Serena to appear." The Night Queen revealed a gaze full of hatred. "As for the Dark Night Black Coffin, perhaps it is a legendary anti-mystic equipment many powerful parties would like to have. But do not worry, as apart from the terrifying Mystics, there would be absolutely no one who would dare try to obtain it."
'No.'
Katerina thought, 'Perhaps with the exception of those relatives of mine in Grand Banquet Hill.
'After all, it is the entire Blood Clan's pledge to guard the Dark Night Black Coffin.'
Thales rolled his eyes. 'Is it a secret that I am not aware of again?'
He nodded.
"Although it can be said that our bad luck today is thanks to each other, with blood debts, enmity and favors involved, I still hope that we do not become enemies. Of course, I hope we don't meet again," Thales said with a serious look.
Katerina stared at him intently for a few seconds.
She did it for so long that Thales raised his brows.
"You know," Katerina said quietly, "Maybe we can really become allies."
Thales widened his eyes.
"I heard Serena's words," the Night Queen said flatly, "The situation in the peninsulas had changed. You all have relations with Mane et Nox Dynasty, and Eckstedt is in good terms with Hanbol. Since Constellation is fated to be enemies with Hanbol, we have a common enemy."
Thales furrowed his brows.
'I almost forgot that…
'She is a queen.'
"After forming an alliance, we can rope in the Misty Islands' merfolk leader. That way, we can chase away Hanbol and the Trade Federation's whalers. It would not be impossible for us to make the Southern Sea of Eradication our inland sea.
"Think of all those Eternal Oil that is swallowed up jointly by Hanbol and the Trade Federation…"
"Oh please, it's thanks to your dear older sister." Thales exhaled and shook his head, with fear still lingering in his heart. "Right now, I really have an extremely deep fear towards the word 'ally'.
"For your sake, and also for my sake, let's discuss this when I'm a little older, okay?"
Katerina, who was cut off in a baffling manner, was stupefied for a moment. Her parted lips could not close in time.
Looking at that pair of lips, for some reason, Thales thought of their taste.
'Ahem.'
Thales tapped his head, getting rid of those weird thoughts.
He had enough troubles, and he was already busy enough with them.
The Night Queen, who had always maintained a stern face, suddenly curled up the corners of her lips softly.
Thales was a little surprised. It was his first time seeing the stoic Katerina smile.
"Sorry."
Thales frowned. "What are you saying?"
Katerina spoke slowly, "When you extended your neck towards me… my original plan was to suck all your blood dry.
Thales shuddered violently. "What?"
"After all, there was already hatred between us because of the battle earlier," Katerina continued speaking with that ice-cold expression again.
"As long as I finish off Serena and wipe out all your other subordinates, then cleared off all traces. Apart from Covendier, no one would know the truth of the Prince of Constellation's death." Thales felt a chill running down his spine as he watched the queen talk about sucking him dry.
Thales had a look of disbelief on his face.
'This… is this the farmer and the viper, the one in Aesop's fables…'
"However, you have a tenacious vitality, and did not die from the loss of blood like I expected."
Katerina spoke coldly, "So, my attempt to kill you failed. I reckon that you have the right to know about this."
Thales' expression changed many times. He felt the weakness in his body and touched the two holes on his neck that had already healed. He then raised his head and looked at Katerina with a surprised and furious expression.
"You…" With furrowed brows, Thales spoke furiously, "And Serena… You two are indeed a pair of good sisters!"
However, Katerina only looked at him with a distant gaze and with a complicated expression.
"No, please take my honesty as a token of sincerity to form an alliance. I did not hide anything from you, and do not plan to hide anything from you either. This is something Serena, who puts on an act all her life, can never do."
The queen nodded slightly. "This should be able to remove your wariness and build the foundation of trust for our possible alliance in the future."
Thales was immediately stunned. He was rendered speechless for a moment.
"You were telling me that you wanted to kill me," he furrowed his brows and spoke, "And then you are saying that this is how you treat me with sincerity, hoping that I will trust you?
"Don't you think that something is wrong somewhere?" Thales spoke tauntingly.
"I believe that you are mature enough to differentiate whether I am sincere or not," Katerina spoke flatly, "You know, I do not treat you as a child."
Thales was tongue-tied for a moment.
However, recalling his experience of almost being sucked dry, he could not help but be peeved.
"Oh, speaking about that," Thales snorted and spoke vengefully, "Yo, was that your first kiss?"
Katerina's pupils suddenly narrowed.
Her expression became cold in the blink of an eye. She spoke chillingly, "What did you say?"
Her purple eyes shot towards Thales.
Under the queen's murderous gaze, Thales immediately felt a chill running down his spine.
He only felt slightly reassured when he saw the soldiers and the two supreme class elites around them.
Thales scratched his head awkwardly. "I was saying… there are readers who want to know, cough, cough, no… It's just that a lot of people in the Eastern Peninsula seem to care a lot about this. Therefore, I wanted to know if I offended you anywhere, so that I can apologize…"
"No, of course not," Katerina spoke coldly, "Did you think that I am some teenage girl who just reached puberty?
"First kiss? How childish!
"I have lived for a much longer period of time than all your ancestors added together!"
'These words sound a little familiar.'
Thales shrugged and scratched his head, a little embarrassed.
'Wow, even an ice queen like you had a first love?'
Watching Katerina's face, which was as cold as an ice cube, he stuck his tongue out.
'Your first love, haih, I can only say… that man sure had it rough, huh.'
"Okay then." Thales sighed. He then raised his head and spoke earnestly, "I wish you all the best."
'May we never meet again,' He added another sentence in his heart.
Katerina stared at him in silence. She suddenly extended her hand to him and passed him a bracelet that had two fangs strung on it.
The fangs looked ferocious and primitive, with thin, blood-colored patterns on it.
It looked like a keepsake from his past life.
Thales widened his eyes and looked at her with a puzzled gaze.
"This is Corleone Family's keepsake, the Blood Fangs…" Queen Katerina spoke with a serious expression, "If you come round to the idea one day… come and see me with it."
"However, to form an alliance with immortals is not exactly something that would give you a good reputation among humans… Before you make up your mind, please do keep it a secret from others. I suggest that you personally safeguard this keepsake."
Thales furrowed his brows. In the end, he sighed and simply grabbed that fanged bracelet.
'I will throw it away when I get back.'
Thales thought.
"Be careful on your way," he said quietly.
"Take care of yourself, little Prince Thales." Katerina nodded expressionlessly, turned and walked towards her subordinates and the black coffin.
"Don't forget our inland sea."
Thales rolled his eyes behind her.
The next moment, the Night Queen and her subordinates disappeared from his sight along with the black coffin.
Thales sighed with sentimentality welling up in him for a second and turned to leave.
At this moment, the secret telepathic voice exclusive to Blood Clansmen faintly rang inside his ears.
"But that was indeed… My first kiss with someone of the opposite sex."
Thales shuddered violently.
He then staggered!
It frightened Wya, who was beside him. Wya immediately ran forward to support him.
'I thought it was agreed that this world is not a novel with a simple plot!'
He sighed and looked at the darkness where Katerina disappeared.
'Hatred aside, perhaps this queen has more similarities to her elder sister than what she imagined.'
Chapter 98: Arracca Murkh |
Eternal Star City, Black Street Brotherhood's headquarters at XC Region.
"Are you saying that Roda and the Reversed Machete…?"
One of the Six Powerhouses of Black Street Brotherhood, Anton the 'Ripper' took a bite from his bread and spoke in a string of indistinct mumblings, "Because of what?"
"Seems like it is Roda's son." On the other end of the long table, the other one of the Six Powerhouses, Morris crossed his arms across his chest. He laid them on his fat tummy and spoke impatiently, "You know, I had to constantly take care of that piece of trash at my place so that he could manage those child-beggars, and it lasted until he died at Red Street Market… It was because of this that Roda's relationship with Lance and me apparently reached an impasse."
"In that case, the Reversed Machete is in an extremely bad mood? Has Sunset Pub already shut down?" Anton let out a chuckle and took a sip of ale. "What a shame, I did kind of like that little girl at the pub… Tsk, tsk, that figure."
"Her last name is Charleton, you won't be able to touch her." Morris' cold words made Anton choke.
"I have not returned for a long time, so I am not clear about this. The Charleton Brothers have not made their appearance even after the matter of Sera Dukedom?" Anton swallowed the bread.
Morris shook his head. "Prison Lock Sickle has been tracing them for a few years, and for that, he did not even hesitate to work with the Secret Intelligence Department. He did fight hand-to-hand with the younger Charleton twice, but he did not benefit from that."
"What about the older Charleton?" Anton asked immediately, "That person who killed Aydi the Second…"
"It is best not to mention him," Morris sighed, "You know, that year, he saved Black Sword's life in front of the palace gate. Regardless of whether it was intentional or otherwise… Black Sword took that to heart during all these years, and you could say that he was agonized by it.
"They would eventually need to fight each other."
Anton sighed.
At this very moment, a figure wearing a scarlet cloak pushed the door open and entered the room. The figure then sat at the table.
Morris and Anton's facial expression became solemn and serious.
Shortly after, the figure in the scarlet cloak spoke.
His speech made the other two people's faces change color due to agitation.
"You better explain this clearly to me!
"What do you mean by 'lost contact'?" Astonished, Anton slammed his fist onto the table and asked.
He stared in bewilderment at one of the Six Powerhouses—the 'Sleepless Eye', Kobryant Lance.
"What I mean is," Lance held his scarlet cloak as he furrowed his brows and said, "we have stopped receiving any news from Ramon for the past seven days. The last time he sent a message was when he was at the Eastern Border between Constellation and Eckstedt.
"There is only one explanation for this— he ran into enemies."
Morris hugged his arms tightly around himself and muttered, "His mission was only to use news of the 'reappearance of wizards' to avert the attention of the Secret Intelligence Department, so that we can safely acquire that equipment. When the Black Prophet discovered that he was not actually a wizard, he should have naturally given up on pursuing him, right?"
The fat one shook his head and his confusion showed on his face. "An ordinary gang doctor… Neither the Secret Room nor the Secret Intelligence Department have any reason to arrest him."
"No, of course they do not have a reason. Unless this is the opponents' move against the Brotherhood and our sponsor… A lot of people have doubts about our patron," Lance said sinisterly, "Also, you and I both know that Ramon is no ordinary gang doctor!"
"There are people targeting us and also our sponsor?" Anton was shocked. "Are you saying that the Blood Bottle Gang is the one targeting us? Even though the Air Mystic does not usually appear… but after the Red Street Market incident, they have been more silent than before. Catherine and Nikolay are both overseas!"
Lance shook his head. "I have learned something through the grapevine. They have found the Blood Mystic… I am afraid, they will soon launch a counterattack. I am also worried that they may have already discovered the importance of Ramon to us."
He lightly tapped against the table. "If the Blood Mystic becomes the one who attacks… haih."
"The key is our sponsor!" Morris considered this seriously. "If Ramon falls into their hands, it will certainly jeopardize the safety of the sponsor… Maybe we should warn the sponsor?"
"We cannot risk being exposed, and contacting the sponsor." Lance's eyes were shining brightly. "I suspect that this could be a trap. Morat likes to throw this sort of bait the most. Maybe the area surrounding Black Street is already filled with spies of the Secret Intelligence Department, and they are just waiting for us to make a wrong move."
'What's more terrifying is…
'If it is not Morat and his Secret Intelligence Department but the conspirators that year…'
Lance did not show his feelings or speak of his worries.
"No, without Ramon, our study on the Mystics' weakness will come to a standstill… We finally had a little progress after eleven or twelve years." Anton tightly clenched his fist. "And we still do not know anything about the origin and ability of that equipment. We have yet to explore anything."
Morris immediately lifted his head and his expression was serious. "Also, he knows too many secrets about us and our sponsor. Are our people at the border between Constellation and Eckstedt usable? For instance, the Crystal Drop Smuggling Team located at the border under your lead, Anton?"
