Kingdom's Bloodline, page 13
Sven panted harshly with fear rife on his face as he shouted in disbelief, "I've only ever seen the Blood Chant Lordan Charleton use this Swift Killing Blade before! You… You are a member of the Charleton Family, who are known as the Assassin's Flower!"
Jala was kneeling on one knee, not saying a single word. This seemed to be the posture she favored to gain leverage. At that moment, she was only looking at that big man coldly.
"This is impossible!" Sven seemed to have experienced some sort of blow. His face was pale and his lips were quivering. "The members of the Charleton Family have already fled Constellation and disappeared into another country when Kessel the Fifth inherited the throne! Why would one of them appear here and side with the Brotherhood?!"
In his disbelief, he continued, "The order of arrest and rewards have spread throughout the entire western continent! With the crime of killing a member of the royal family on your backs, how dare you still come to Eternal Star City?! Aren't you afraid of being surrounded by the army and the Royal Guards?!
"It doesn't matter how strong the Charleton Family or Black Street Brotherhood are. Did you think they would be able to bear the wrath of 'Iron Fist King' and all of Constellation?"
However, the bald Sven's angry words immediately turned gentle within the next second.
"If I die here, your identity will definitely be exposed! The Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department will receive news about the return of the family that killed our king to Constellation tomorrow morning!
"Kessel the Fifth will definitely not let you go! He will get rid of every single descendant and blood kin of the Charleton Family!
"You can let me go," he whispered softly, and his voice had gained a pleading edge. "I don't care about the Blood Bottle Gang's mission any more. Just go, as long as you spare me, I promise you that tomorrow… No, I will leave Constellation tonight itself!
"I won't tell anyone your secret either! I know about your capabilities!
"I don't want to provoke the Charleton Family!"
But in the next instant, Jala once again pressed forward and arrived before him!
*Cling… Ching!*
This time, Sven blocked the first strike, but that sword seemed to possess life and changed its direction in a bizarre fashion. Once it struck his mace, it moved around it without using even a single ounce of strength!
Jala's head and chest also spun and changed directions, just like a lithe ribbon, and she moved around the spiked mace before her.
'Like a human body driven by the current,' Thales thought in his heart.
'What's going on?' Sven thought in shock. 'Why can't I block this blade's trajectory?'
The blade in the female bartender's right hand did not stop. Once it changed direction, it returned to its original trajectory once again and headed for Sven's throat with even more lethality!
Until it cut into his throat.
Blood poured onto the ground.
Sven watched Jala wiping off the blood on her blades on his clothes while completely uninjured herself before she quietly tucked away her blades.
The spiked mace from the bald Sven's hand fell gently on the ground.
"What is this… sword technique..?"
Sven struggled, wanting to finish that sentence before his body fell to the ground.
But Sven had no energy to finish the sentence.
During that instant, Thales seemed to have returned to four years ago. The unconcerned woman before him in the garbage dumps behind Sunset Pub had been swinging the blades in her hands and asking him a question while he stared in shock.
"Using Ceaseless Killing Blade to slaughter a dog is a waste. Hey, brat, do you want to eat dog meat? If you call me big sister, I'll let you eat dog meat!"
Ceaseless Killing Blade. Thales knew that this was Ceaseless Killing Blade.
The last being to have suffered this sword technique had been a huge Angry Wolfhound that had run into some conflict with Thales ("We were just having an intense debate of whether humans should be added to the Angry Wolfhounds' list of consumable things. I'm very grateful for you supporting my opinion, big sister. So, dog meat?"–Thales).
Jala's skills shocked him once again.
However, what sent Thales into an even greater state of shock was the truth about the Assasin's Flower, the Charleton Family, which the bald Sven had spoken about.
They killed a member of the royal family?
Assassin's Flower?
The family that killed… killed the king?
"He talks too much."
Jala stated coldly as looked at Sven's corpse.
"So much for the so-called Strongest Twelve."
Once she finished speaking, she called out to Thales, who was hiding in the dark.
"Let's go, brat."
Thales moved past the bald Sven's corpse and looked at his eyes, which were left open in his death. Even up to now, he still did not understand how Sven, who was only physically strong, big, and was missing a nose, could be the most mysterious existence in the Strongest Twelve.
Was it because Jala was too strong?
He shook his head and walked towards Jala.
The two of them continued towards the battlefield between the Blood Bottle Gang and the Brotherhood.
He sneaked a glance at the side of the female bartender's face, and Thales decided very intelligently not to ask her about the Charleton Family.
'Well, I also have my secrets,' The boy thought.
'And my secret is bigger than yours.'
…..
At the same time, in Sunset Temple's inner altar.
A middle-aged noble with grayish white hair was waiting while he sat on a stone chair in the lower section of the inner altar. He seemed calm, but was in truth, scared in his heart.
His gaze never left a small offering lamp that was burning continuously on the altar.
It was as if he was afraid that there would be a sudden change to the flames in the lamp.
There was an elderly priest completely devoted to prayer beside him. He was quiet and pious.
This made the middle-aged noble remember Yodel. He was a terrifying man who was as quiet as this priest was. In fact, he was overly quiet.
Even His Majesty was confident of Yodel and believed that he would never hesitate when he made a move.
However, that man, who always hid behind that Purple Drop Crystal mask, had worked with him once when he was younger, and it was not a happy memory.
He should have long since found his target with his efficiency.
That man was someone who had his own creed.
After all, while he had served under His Majesty's will, that Yodel Cato, that mysterious man, was only serving under His Majesty for the benefit of the king.
It was the difference between the sky and the earth.
Yodel… did he really know or understand when His Majesty hoped he would attack?
…..
Before long.
The bald Sven's corpse suddenly twitched.
Then, the area around his neck, as well as the wounds around it, started rapidly recovering.
It continued until the man got up on his feet with much difficulty.
"Damn it!"
Sven cursed and touched his spiked mace.
"A member of the Charleton Family has appeared in Eternal Star City. This news alone can get me ten gold coins from the Town Hall, but…"
Sven touched the wound on his neck that just healed.
His life was more important.
Fortunately, that woman was in a hurry and did not bother to turn back and check.
There was naturally no need to go into detail about his battle prowess and skills, it was one of the reasons why Sven was one of the Strongest Twelve in Blood Bottle Gang, but more importantly, he had a self-healing ability that no one knew about. It usually helped him turn the tables against his enemy at the instant they relaxed their guard and allowed him to win.
"As long as your head… well, more accurately speaking, as long as your brain isn't damaged, then you can return from the dead." These were the words spoken to Sven by the true Powerhouse within the Blood Bottle Gang—the Blood Mystic.
"Congratulations, Undead Sven."
'There's that boy, too,' The Undead Sven thought. When he was in that state of fake death, he saw a thin and frail boy appear from the corner of the street and walk away with that woman from the Charleton Family.
This was also something strange. A child that could follow a woman from the Charleton Family was definitely not an ordinary child.
Was he some sort of genius? Did he have an ability that could turn the tides of battle?
Was he some sort of biological weapon? Could he attack and kill in large areas?
Was he some sort of immortal non-human specimen? The boy looked young, but could he actually already be hundreds of years old, and maybe near a thousand years old?
Sven hefted the spiked mace onto his shoulders and frowned.
'Once I send the news to the Air Mystic, I'll…'
But his thoughts were interrupted.
By a strange person in a strange mask who suddenly appeared before him.
His apparition before Sven was unexpected.
"You saw that boy," The strange masked person said. His hoarse voice made it difficult to discern who he was, and the words he said was not a question, but a statement.
'Who is he?'
He did not even notice.
He hid his tracks, could he also be from the Charleton Family?
That strange mask seemed to be made from a dark purplish hard metal. The edges were clear and there were two holes drilled into the spot where the eyes should be. It was covered by a circular lens made from crystal drops, and there also seemed to be a yellow-bronze machine set up behind the lens.
The reason why Sven could think so much was simply because he had nothing else to do.
That person with the dark purple mask was holding onto a short sword where the part connecting to the hilt was crafted in a criss-cross manner.
Under its master's control, this short sword reopened the wound that had just healed on Sven's neck.
The instinct to dodge did not even register in Sven's head before his throat was slit open.
*Twang!*
Sven fell down once again with his spiked mace.
'How unfortunate.' Sven thought, fully prepared to welcome his next death and subsequent resurrection.
However, in his state of pseudo-death, Sven discovered to his shock that the masked person did not leave.
That strange masked person had a barely noticeable crease between his brows behind the mask.
He slowly crouched down and stared at Sven's wound intently.
After a moment, the strange masked person nodded, as he had understood something.
In Sven's perceptions, he discovered to his despair that the masked man was brandishing the sword short in his right hand lightly to make a beautiful sword stroke.
No.
No!
Sven roared fearfully in his heart!
Then, Sven "watched" the strange person plunge that short sword lithely through his temple and straight into his brain with one fatal strike.
He pulled the sword out.
There was not even a drop of blood on the smooth surface of the blade.
"Only the head… More accurately speaking, as long as the brain isn't damaged, you can return from death…"
In his daze, Sven seemed to hear the Blood Mystic's words again.
From then on, the bald Sven, one of the Strongest Twelve in Blood Bottle Gang, the man who was known as the Undead Sven among the inner circle of the Blood Bottle Gang, did not wake again.
The strange masked person crouched down and swept his right hand through a sword mark on the ground.
It was a mark left behind by Wolf Limb Blade when it stabbed the ground.
He stood up.
And then he vanished.
Just like a ghost.
Chapter 11: The Mystic |
There was a clear and melodious crash.
The glass on the door was smashed by the figure.
Lilian, dressed in a thin, silk pajamas, lifted the candlestick in surprise as she looked at the figure that fell in from outside. It was a handsome man with short, blonde hair. He was wearing a sky blue color... 'Is he wearing a police uniform?'
'The police...' Lilian looked at the clock. 'The police came at four fifty in the morning by breaking through the window of the third floor of a private residence?'
It would not be fair to call it a private residence. After all, the Laya Club was one of the very best 'clubs' in Red Street Market. It was located between the Red Street Market and popular areas of Linhe Street (a famous business street in the Western District.). Lilian was a famous beauty in the club. Even nobles at the rank of an Earl or a high official of the court would need to pay Lilian twenty gold coins an hour for her to entertain them.
That was why, when the young and promising Captain Kohen Karabeyan crashed the private bedroom in Laya Club from the third floor, Lilian woke up with a fright and came to investigate with a candlestick.
"Young Miss, I apologize for disturbing your sleep."
Kohen got up awkwardly from the ground. He held his saber behind him and bowed to the astonished Lilian. When he wanted to take off his hat to bow, he found that his officer hat had dropped in the battle earlier.
"Shit," Kohen mumbled.
'That queer old man threw away my nightgown. I can't even go out to buy them in the middle of the night.'
Lilian boldly looked at the polite and handsome (this is very important, otherwise Lilian would have already smashed him with the candlestick) police officer. Her big beautiful eyes lowered. She stretched out her hand to tease her beautiful soft hair, her fingers seemed to slide past her proud chest. She then laughed. "Dear police officer, we are not open tonight."
Kohen knew what this place was naturally. On regular days, the Laya Club would be lively during these hours. However, Kohen simply smiled at the beauty and was not moved by Lilian's seductive mien.
"In other words, you have received a prior warning, and hence the shop is closed tonight?"
"Of course. The Blood Bottle Gang had bribed the officers and also promised to make up for the loss of business. Otherwise... do you know our hard-working and stressed bosses would suffer huge losses when Red Street Market has to close for a night. What would happen to the ten million people in Constellation if they were too tired, exhausted, or spiritually spent to contribute to the second largest power in the western part of the continent?"
Lilian blinked and smiled cunningly.
Kohen' brows tightened as he looked at the mature and seductive beauty.
'Looks like the intelligence obtained from the informant was not complete. At first, it was thought that the Black Street Brotherhood is launching a surprise attack on the Blood Bottle Gang's Red Street Market section. Now, it seems like the Blood Bottle Gang has a trap set up in Red Street Market in an earlier countermeasure.
'I came here tonight to probe the main clashing point of the two big gangs. The Brotherhood had moved out. After all, we are talking about the Blood Bottle Gang which is almost a hundred years old.'
"Hey. That blond officer!" A female voice outside the building interrupted the conversation.
"Come down quickly to meet your death! According to the rules, you are not supposed to enter any houses!"
Lilian curiously walked to the broken window. She saw a woman in leather armor, carrying a whip and covered in blood. She looked up the building angrily.
Kohen bowed to Lilian. "Thank you for your notification, beautiful lady, please excuse me. I must go and attend an appointment with another lady."
The blond captain of the police turned around and gently leaped to the street below.
"Dearest Miss Vynis, don't be so impatient."
Kohen's smile then suddenly turned cold and killing intent appeared in his eyes.
"By order of the King, in the name of the Holy Constellation Constitution, as a Class Two police officer, I have the authority to immediately kill suspects that may endanger the interest of the kingdom and the life of the citizens. Do not worry, I will send you to reunite with your brother."
Upstairs, Lilian covered her mouth. She could recognize that this person was one of Blood Bottle Gang's Strongest Twelve. She was the younger sister of the notorious Leighton Siblings, 'Scorpion Whip' Vynis Leighton.
Her brother, 'Venomous Sting' Primo Leighton, came to the Laya Club the previous day. He loved peculiar things and had almost used the oil from the Everlasting Lamp to scald a new girl to death.
Based on the officer's words, he had already killed the Venomous Sting.
"Blue-skinned dog! Even your superior doesn't dare to not give face to the Blood Bottle Gang! You… How dare you!" Vynis shouted indignantly. As one of the Strongest Twelve's more unconventional people, she had shaved her hair on the left side and combed down the hair on the right side. This made her look more hale and hearty.
"I will whip you until all the flesh on your body turns into mash!"
After saying that, her whip flicked in a circle and towards Kohen. The barbs on the whip were like living creatures, flying out and attacking in unison!
"So it was like this!"
Kohen's figure suddenly became indistinguishable. Only a veteran would be able to see him; an ordinary person cannot see the speed of his movements as he rapidly changed positions.
*Ding! Ding ding!*
The unreal image of the saber flashed and cut off the barbs of the whip.
"If your brother was still alive, with his ability to control the whip, the both of you may even cause trouble if you were to work together."
Vynis' whip was agile like a snake. The whip barbs and tip formed an all-out attack leaving no quarters uncovered.
"If I was ten seconds earlier, Primo would not have died." Vynis was full of hatred.
"A blue-skinned dog like you would have been shredded to pieces by us!"
Kohen's expression did not change. With lightning speed, he cut at the five whiplashes trained on him but they have already reached the front of his eyes.
At this moment, Kohen suddenly gave a solemn look. He rushed forward without bothering to look at the lashes approaching him.
