Kingdom's Bloodline, page 561
Norb observed the Legendary Wing’s facial expression as he spoke. He was very careful with his choice of words, as though he was afraid to agitate the latter.
‘A tavern owner.’ Thales was worried again. Tampa and Quick Rope were rather close, if he revealed any information…
But Roman still replied with a faint hum. “Mhm.” He resembled a portrait on a canvas, one where the character had great posture, but did not move.
Norb furrowed his eyebrows slightly, but he quickly put on his usual expression. This time, he spoke seriously and cautiously. “But we did not catch ‘Stake’.”
‘Stake.’ Thales tightened his clenched fists.
“He is an important target whom we have been following closely lately. He is most likely in charge of a rather large part of Shadow Shield, including their operations at the border of Constellation and within Eckstedt.
“He also holds classified information about the top management within Shadow Shield.” Norb’s expression was somber. There was indignation in his eyes. “In addition, we did not encounter the mysterious mercenaries you hired either—the sect that had separated from the Tower of Eradication.”
As Norb spoke, he looked towards the armed mercenaries in the distance who were about to disappear from view.
“According to our plan, due to the large number of Disaster Swords in the mercenary group and their staggering combat abilities, we had to take them down at once when we wrapped up the operation. Moreover, they are just as valuable as Shadow Shield.”
Norb peered at Roman, he seemed to be expecting him to respond. But the Legendary Wing merely continued to stare at the camp and did not reply.
Gamus could not take it anymore. He picked up where his superior had left off. “Listen, neither of our two primary targets appeared! The plan and arrangement we had agreed upon were not executed either, so it could only mean that—” But he did not manage to finish.
“I am guessing!” Once again, Norb interrupted Gamus while casting a stern, warning glance at his subordinate. “Baron, you must have encountered an emergency that was totally unexpected and was unble to inform us in time. Therefore, you were forced to make changes to the original plan, is that correct?”
The Legendary Wing remained still, but the look in Norb’s eyes were keen and razor sharp. He took a glance at Thales.
“Perhaps for certain reasons, such as rescuing the prince, you opened a secret exit that can only be activated during emergencies, which led to our targets’ unexpected escape from our trap?”
He seemed to be trying to force information out of Roman.
‘Trap…’ Thales recalled that after Ricky and Samel entered the underground prison, they were determined to make sure neither the Disaster Swords nor Shadow Shield returned to the surface, whether it was during the time they faced off against each other, or when they faced Thales and the Royal Guards.
…He began to understand something.
This time, the Legendary Wing responded, “So you wrapped up your plan, exited the camp, and rushed all the way here.” He turned his head and glanced at the solemn Norb and the furious Gamus. “You’re not as dumb as you appear.”
Norb huffed. He seemed to have suppressed his emotions. “Fine, we will let the incident with the Disaster Swords slide… But what about Stake from Shadow Shield? I guess you got him?”
Roman suddenly snickered, and he looked like a sunbeam that melted an iceberg. “Worry not, I have already dealt with him.”
Norb narrowed his eyes. “‘Dealt’ with him?”
The Legendary turned around to face them. He gave the giant skull on his left shoulder a light tap. The exquisite earring that dangled from his left ear swayed slightly as he moved.
“Coincidentally, I found out that your man, Stake, was the main culprit behind Prince Herman’s assassination, and the fall of Blade Fangs Camp during the Bloody Year. So, I gave him… the punishment he deserved.”
Thales and Norb’s expressions changed at the same time.
“Punishment?” Norb furrowed his eyebrows and exchanged glances with Gamus.
The Legendary Wing turned to his side and gestured to an empty spot in the distance “If you want him, or at least most of him, be my guest.”
Norb and Gamus looked towards the direction he pointed and saw a headless corpse half-buried in the yellow sand in that spot.
“As for the rest, sorry about that, I’m adding it to my collection.”
At this point, Thales had seen plenty of dead bodies, but Stake’s corpse which was ‘processed’ by Roman simply left too much to the imagination.
The part above the corpse’s shoulder was a mess. It was stained with an unidentifiable red and white fluid, and slices of soft tissue—such as the eyeballs. It no longer looked like it belonged to a human. The sight of it made Thales wanted to retch.
The second they saw their target’s corpse, Norb and Games instantly turned pale. Norb even swayed a little.
‘No.’
“That is, that really is…” Gamus was in disbelief.
“He is dead?” Norb clenched his teeth. His emotional state was similar to Gamus’.
The Legendary Wing let out a cold snort and turned around to face Thales. “Tell your father when you go back; tell Kessel that his brother has been avenged. He is welcome.”
Thales rubbed his nose and looked away. The two members of the Secret Intelligence began breathing quickly, subconsciously neglecting the fact that Roman just addressed the king by his name. They merely gazed at Stake’s corpse blankly.
They stared at it for a few seconds. Thales almost felt sorry for them when he saw their indignant expressions. The wind blew, and the morning light illuminated the sandy ground.
The two members of the intelligence group turned around with livid expressions, as though the worst thing that could happen had just happened to them.
“I see…”
Thales could tell that Norb was suppressing the frustration and anger within him.
“How about the group of sellswords you hired to do the dirty work, Your Grace? Had they been dealt with as well?”
The Legendary Wing shot Thales a sarcastic glance. “They had the prince, so, yes, I could only let them go.”
Thales could only go along with Roman’s explanation and flashed the seemingly doubtful Norb a silly grin which he had learned from Quick Rope.
“The prince… You let them go?” Norb clenched his fists indignantly.
However, Gamus, who stood behind him, could not help but say out loud, “Impossible. You obviously have an overwhelming advantage in military—”
But Norb quickly held Gamus back again. Gamus shut up in anger, even though he was unable to suppress the look of disgust in his eyes.
“Your Grace!” Norb forced the words through his teeth with difficulty. “I know His Majesty trusts you, and he has given you immense power in this operation, but regarding this… incomplete capture mission…”
Norb peered at Stake’s corpse angrily, and he appeared to be in anguish.
“I think that perhaps you owe an explanation to the Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Department, and Lord Hansen.”
In that very instant, Thales felt the atmosphere in his surroundings turn slightly chillier.
“An explanation?” The Legendary Wing raised his head. There was a dangerous expression on his face. “Such as?”
Norb held Gamus back, the plump man was fuming with rage. He panted heavily as he said, “Your Grace, regardless of whether it is Shadow Shield or the Disaster Swords, they are extremely valuable and bear great significance. Some of them are even involved in the plans and operations that the Secret Intelligence has been executing for months, years, or even longer than that.
“Thus, you should not deal with them however you wish. Instead, you ought to contain them and leave the rest to us! For that is the right thing to do as the sign of your allegiance towards the kingdom and His Majesty!
Norb finished his speech. The Legendary Wing was unfazed. Gamus clenched his fists furiously.
“Certainly, Stake is dead, and his death is irreversible.” When Norb saw that Roman was unmoved by what he had said, his voice was filled with anxiety. He pointed at the distance.
“But I can see that the Disaster Swords are still in our field of vision.”
Thales exhaled. ‘If Ricky and his people end up in the clutches of the Secret Intelligence Department, then Samel and the Royal Guards who encountered them earlier…’
Norb clenched his teeth. His tone softened. “From what I know, your Stardust Unit is the best of the best among light cavaliers. No other forces in the entire Western Desert could rival them in manhunting operations and direct confrontation…” Norb spoke in an anxious and serious manner, “Your Grace, if we intercept them now, perhaps we have a chance… to fix this.”
The Legendary Wing raised his head and looked in the direction the Disaster Swords were headed. He saw them disappear into the distance.
He was quiet for a few seconds. It was only a few seconds, but it made Thales extremely nervous.
At last, Roman turned around, raised his feet, and sauntered forward. “Tell me, lad.” His gaze on Norb turned sharp. “Are you lecturing me?”
Norb was slightly startled.
“Lecturing me on how to do my job?” Roman said arrogantly.
‘Lecturing me.’
Norb realized something, and he turned pale instantly. In the next second, he sucked in a deep breath.
“Of course not. I am just—”
Roman snorted and interrupted him. “Good.” He then enunciated each word clearly. “And I am telling you now, to let. Them. Go.”
Norb froze, and his clenched fists began to tremble. He appeared to be suppressing his emotions. Gamus, too, bit his lower lip tightly. The Legendary Wing averted his gaze and turned to stare at Blade Fangs Camp, which had been plunged into chaos for a long time.
“Just do as I say.”
He turned around and left the two members of the Secret Intelligence Department behind as they trembled with rage. However, in the next second, just when Thales thought everything was coming to an end…
“Roman Williams! Are you sure you want to do this?”
When he heard his full name, Roman froze slightly. He maintained his domineering stance as he looked back slowly.
However, surprisingly, the person who spoke out this time was not the plump Gamus, who was already enraged. Instead, it was his superior.
It was Norb, the calm, composed, and polite man.
“Are you sure that you want to let them go?” Norb glared at him with a dark look on his face. It even scared Gamus, who stood behind him.
The Legendary Wing frowned as though he just saw something strange. “Are you deaf, or retarded?”
Norb closed his eyes and took three deep breaths. “No, I am just…”
Gamus, who stood behind him, seemed to realize something and grabbed his shoulder. “Norb, you…”
In the next second, Norb widened his eyes abruptly. “I’ve had enough of you!”
Thales realized that the composed and calm superintendent of the Secret Intelligence Department’s Western Desert division, Norb, was gone. What he saw instead was a trembling, furious man clenching his teeth.
“Do you really deserve the title of the Legendary Wing, one of the Three Commanders of Constellation? Just because you like to kill, indulge in bloodlust, and carve human skulls into decorative pieces?”
Thales drew his eyebrows together when he heard that.
The Legendary Wing seemed surprised by what Norb had just said. He remained silent for a second before he said slowly, “Oh.” The Legendary Wing appeared to be ruminating on the words he had just heard. “What do you mean?”
Norb strode forward, peered at extraordinarily handsome Roman, and said in a straightforward manner, “What I meant is, since the Bloody Year in the past decade, since I was assigned to Western Desert, Roman Williams, you sissy… Aside from relying on His Majesty’s tolerance and the lack of oversight to do whatever you want; acting unreasonably and in arbitrary fashion; occupying and dividing lands to claim as your own; disregarding orders; behaving arrogantly; abusing power and authority…”
Norb’s eyes seemed to be burning with rage. “Have you done a single good thing?”
Once he finished, everyone was startled.
‘Do whatever he wanted… occupying and dividing lands to claim as your own, disregarding orders… behaving arrogantly; abusing power and authority… Holy sh*t.’
The list of descriptions—or accusations—had been an eye-opener to Thales. He suppressed the shock within himself, furrowed his eyebrows as he looked at the Legendary Wing, who appeared motionless and indifferent, and recalled his impression of the latter. ‘Um, it sounds… somewhat accurate?
Gamus, who stood behind Norb, seemed to be terrified by his superior. He held on to Norb from behind, wanting to pull him back. “Norb, you’re crazy. Stop talking…”
But the Legendary Wing waved and stopped him. There was a rare look of interest in his eyes. “No, no, no. Let him continue.” Roman stared at the furious Norb closely and walked towards them slowly.
“I’d like to listen to different opinions. They are beneficial. They make me even more…” The Legendary licked his lips, and it made him appear particularly enigmatic and otherworldly because of his handsome looks.
“…excited.”
In that moment, Thales had a premonition of imminent disaster.
Chapter 484: You Are Good-Looking |
“Excited?” Norb pushed Gamus away, even though the latter tried to stop him.
“Don’t get me wrong. If it wasn’t necessary, we wouldn’t want to deal with a cold-blooded sissy who is as indifferent, selfish, and strange as you.”
The Legendary Wing curled his lips faintly, but Norb let out a cold snort.
“Anyway, you caused Blade Fangs Camp to be in a turmoil and had everyone feel imperiled. You offended all the officials and nobles, be it in from the Central Territory or Western Desert, and made our jobs a total mess; there wasn’t a day that went by peacefully. You completely brought chaos to the balance of the tribes in the desert, and it’s not the first time you have done so.”
The Legendary Wing stood still as he listened quietly. Thales’ gaze shifted continuously between Norb and the Legendary Wing. He felt that the conflict between them could be traced back to a long time ago.
Norb paused before he pointed slowly at Blade Fangs Camp—there was still smoke curling up from it—then at Stake’s body.
“But this time? It’s different.” Norb lowered his voice. “Do you know Stake’s value and how many things he’s involved in? Do you know how important this matter is to Lord Hansen and what this mission means to us? Do you know that His Majesty has personally taken an interest in this matter, which, need I remind you, concerns the entire kingdom, and asked the Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Department to ‘be sure to do their best’?”
Norb suddenly turned his head to look directly at the Legendary Wing. “Do you know how much effort we have put in before we got an opportunity, in this place that no one remembers?”
The Legendary Wing narrowed his eyes.
“Eighteen years.”
When he said this, Norb seemed to have recalled something. He fell silent for a short while and his breathing quickened. “This is different from the status you obtained through blood, Williams. My men and I were punished, demoted, and banished because of one mistake in the Bloody Year… Ever since then, we have guarded this remote and barren area, and have dealt with countless scum and criminals…”
Norb’s gaze was complicated while he appeared dazed. “For a total of eighteen years.”
Something appeared in Thales’ mind. Roman retained his grace and appeared unaffected by what he heard. Gamus, who stood behind Norb, let out a long sigh.
“Norb…”
But Norb ignored him and only glared at the Legendary Wing, whose expression was cold.
“In the past eighteen years, we have muddled along without any aim; we were confused; we had no future, no hope, and saw no way out of this situation. We could only witness young men in their prime lose their spirits and grow old. Do you have any idea what kind of torture this was?”
A thought came to Thales’ mind as he listened. ‘…Muddled along without any aim… confused… had no future, no hope… Dean, Duro, the Royal Guards, Disaster Swords, even that orc warchief… and now, Norb from the Secret Intelligence Department … It’s as if everyone on this land has found a reason to risk their lives because they felt like they didn’t want to give in to silence. Blade Fangs Camp, Western Desert, the Great Desert… Exactly what kind of place is this?’
Norb pointed at the smoke that rose from the camp before he glanced at Thales. “Finally, after eighteen years, after much difficulty… The prince is about to return to the kingdom from this place, Western Desert is about to reshuffle its cards, and His Majesty is about to succeed as he seizes this opportunity…” He took a deep breath, as if he was trying hard to suppress himself. “Finally, we, the forgotten, are remembered. I finally had the condition and reason to ask for this golden opportunity to reverse our situations completely by capturing Stake, Shadow Shield, Teng, and his lackeys.”
Norb glared at the headless dead body. “Have you any idea how much this matters to us, the ones not seen by His Grace and His Majesty, and who have lived in obscurity and oblivion, who saw this as our only hope for the last eighteen years?”
Norb’s face was red with rage. He pointed at Stake’s dead body and seemed unable to find better words. “After eighteen years, you ‘disposed’ of him just like that? Did you just ‘dispose’ our only chance to turn over our situation?” Norb gritted his teeth. “…I can’t accept this.”
Roman only stole a glance at Norb through the corner of his eyes, he seemed interested in what he heard.
