Kingdom's Bloodline, page 593
Thales was shocked.
‘Broken Dragon Fortress?’
“It was also at that place where I met him for the first time over there.”
Thales frowned. “Who did you see?”
The Foreign Affairs Minister paused for a moment. “Him.”
There was a hint of charm and wariness in Gilbert’s voice at the same time.
“My negotiating opponent, the overlord of Eckstedt, the Born King, Nuven the Seventh.”
Thales was stunned when he heard this name.
‘Nuven.’
When he faced Gilbert’s gratified and respectful gaze, he glanced at the walking crowd and the scenery with a dazed look.
He did not respond even after a long time had passed.
Chapter 507: Hometown |
Blue sky, white clouds, bright sky, and a light breeze.
Under the Double Cross-Shaped Stars Flag that fluttered high in the sky, the regular soldiers that are under the command of Central Territory surrounded the city walls in an orderly fashion while they headed to the military camp located at the suburbs south of the capital.
Dozens of cavaliers among them had cloaks on while they surrounded a carriage. This group had left the team a long time ago to head to Eternal Star City.
The city defense team had received news a long time ago, and they had taken action earlier at the city gate to limit the flow of people. They cleared the tunnel and acted based on the rules to clear the path for unique messengers. They chased away the citizens to the other side of the street, and the citizens were already used to this. Once the city defense officer saw the warrant and emblem from the leader, he respectfully received the dozens of knights who kept their identities hidden in the city, and he did so while keeping a low profile.
Quite a number of passersby, from coachmen who leisurely drove their carriages to merchants who were in a hurry to go somewhere, gestured at the group with curiosity, especially at the carriage in the middle. However, no one showed extreme astonishment.
Compared to the people from the other places, the citizens in the capital could be considered to be people who have seen many things, and they could remain no matter what happened. They stood above others right from the moment they were born, and they had even witnessed the major event of Constellation’s National Conference acknowledging the second prince. What other rare event could shock them?
Hence, the carriage surrounded and protected by the knights got through the city gate smoothly. It entered the main street, and under the curious gazes of the citizens by the street, they continued forward.
A figure who seemed to be thinner that the rest in the group stretched his neck out while he sat on his saddle.
Gilbert rode forward slowly and nodded in a show of consideration. “Your Highness, welcome back to Eternal Star City. Welcome home.”
The thin figure did not answer. He only trembled slightly.
‘Eternal Star City. Home.’
In his daze, he stared at the sentry towers for the city defense team, which towered over his head, and sighed under his cloak.
A few seconds later, Thales turned his head and forced out a slightly absent-minded smile.
“Thank you.”
The knights in the group moved forward quickly. The cloaked prince no longer spoke, and Gilbert, who had always been a sensible person, stopped speaking as well.
‘Home.’
Thales sensed the tremors that came from the horses when they stomped their hooves against the ground. Through the gaps between the Royal Guards, he quietly watched everything around him.
The main street was connected to countless alleys and forks. The houses were in rows, and they were positioned in such a way that they looked like well-cut pastries. The various shops were also in business while their signs fluttered in the wind…
There were citizens who chattered with each other while they surrounded the municipal administration bulletin board. There were women who held wooden basins with one hand while they headed to Shepherd’s River to wash their clothes. There were also foreigners who stood at the middle of the streets and had wide eyes as well as confused looks on their faces…
There were exasperated coachmen who lashed on inferior horses so that their carriages could go faster. There were priests who stood on wooden boxes at the corners of the streets while they tried their best to spread their religion with red faces. There were police officers and public security teams who stood in orderly teams…
They were like a picture that had been frozen in time.
However…
“Strange…”
Thales said instinctively. He sensed that his eyebrows had furrowed, as if a weight had settled on it. He also instinctively pursed his lips.
A strange feeling that he could not quite describe surged into his heart without him being able to control it. But at the moment that emotion was about to surface, it came to a halt.
It was like a water bucket suddenly knocking against the wall of well when it reached the mouth of the well, the person who had been lifting bucket would then let go of the rope, and the bucket fell back into the well.
Countless splashes rose when it hit the water, and the echoes traveled into the air.
It made him feel as if something was missing.
After they witnessed the sword delivery scene, the Royal Guards around him, including the smooth-talking Doyle and the expressionless Glover became very high in spirits. Their backs were straight, and they kept a wide distance from Thales. They no longer acted as they did while they were on the roar. They no longer snuck glances at the Duke of Star Lake occasionally.
Only Gilbert remained by his side while he spoke softly, “Your Grace, you have been in the north for many years. It is only natural that your memories of Eternal Star City have become faint…”
Thales snapped awake from his complicated thoughts.
Gilbert’s expression remained calm. He continued speaking, “For example, this street in which we travel into the city is part of the Avenue of Blessings. It is rather chaotic, because this place is rather close to—”
At this moment…
“Western City Gate.” The prince’s voice rose airily. “I know.”
Gilbert stopped speaking.
Thales raised his head slowly, and with an emotion he could not understand, he stared into the distance.
“This place is close to Western City Gate…”
‘Western City Gate.’
The Duke of Star Lake’s voice was like a sound reverberating in an empty valley, like a clear stream washing over stones.
There was a strange melancholy in his voice.
Gilbert was stunned for a brief moment.
But against his expectation, the duke only paused for a moment before he snorted softly.
“It can be considered as Eternal Star City’s most interesting place. Farmers, vendors, messengers, government officials, police officers, soldiers, priests, beggars, brave adventurers, curious travelers, and despicable foreigners…
“You can find all the people in the capital here.”
Thales stared at the crowd who avoided them at the two sides of the street. He felt as if he was looking at the most interesting story book. His lips quirked slightly.
“But you must be careful. Do not linger around and refuse to leave after you force your way on this clean and tidy main street, or else the responsible city defense team and public security team will let you know what the might of the king is.
“Because even one strand of hair from a high class horse breed on this street might be so expensive that it could kill a vagabond.”
It might not be just one life.
Thales stared at the tiles under the horse hooves in an absent-minded state, and his thoughts wandered.
During that moment, Gilbert stared at Thales with a complicated expression.
“I remember that place.” There was a barely noticeable smile on Thales’ face. He pointed at a fork in the distance. “It leads to Lower City District.”
The duke’s voice rose airily. “If you take that path, you will first reach the grand bazaar.”
Gilbert frowned lightly. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but stopped. But Thales only continued staring in that direction with a dazed look.
“The prices of the goods there are cheap, and there are all sorts of items sold. It is the heaven of the poor citizens in the city when they wanted to earn a living. However, it has its own rules, and the things that go behind the scenes are rather deep. If a foreigner first enters that place, it will be hell for them.
“The streets in the grand bazaar are not easy to traverse. The terrain is a mess, and the layout is complicated. There are many vendors whose stalls are already designated to them, and they are spies in those areas. However, when you flip it around, it becomes very easy to hide and conceal yourself in those places. Of course, there are also street barricades and group fights in there.
“Half of the regular vendors there have connections with Black Street Brotherhood. There are also some who send messages to Blood Bottle Gang. After all, their supply of goods is complicated, and it is difficult to track them down. The grand bazaar is also the best channel to handle unlawful goods and also clear the name for something that is considered stolen goods.”
‘It is also the place with the most travelers and fat wallets.’ Thales thought in his heart.
“Your Highness…” Right when Gilbert wanted to say something, Thales interrupted him again.
“If you continue heading north and go past the grand bazaar, there is a dirt road that leads down to Stink Grove and Downstream Canal.”
The sorrow of remembering something rose in Thales’ eyes.
“That place belongs to Iron Bat Organization. Its earliest members are sewage cleaners and trench diggers. They earn a living in the sewage system spread all over the city. They do dirty private work such as human trafficking, smuggling goods, and distributing drugs using their geographical advantage,” Thales said while feeling disconcerted, “However, they are very aware of the current situation. They are one of the earliest groups that surrendered their territory to Black Street Brotherhood, and it is the reason why they have dragged out their feeble existence until now. If you have contraband goods and do not fear death, you might be able to get a good price from them.”
‘Or be deeply regretful.’
The group took a turn into another large street. The noise from the streams of people moving about ahead of them became louder. At the same time, rhythmic and melodious music as well as passionate and excited shouts could be heard.
“Run! Ignorant Northlanders! Run! Because all of you will be destroyed here! Because I have descended with a calamity!” A loud shout rose and shot through the crowd.
A row of tall houses made of stone appeared in front of the Royal Guards. Ahead of the tall houses was a square, and there was a stage there. Quite a number of citizens surrounded the stage, and they gestured at the actors on the stage.
“Dark Night Temple.” Thales moved past the knights and stared at the actors acting with all their had on the stage. He listened to the exciting music by his ears, and he watched this group of worshippers who specialized in handling funerals and who did not even have an idol to worship. There was nostalgia on his face.
“They are the only group of worshippers located beyond Morning Star Region.”
This time, Gilbert listened to him quietly.
“They never care about the cost and the price required for them to produce their plays. They write new scripts every year, and the props, stage set up, sound effects, and actors are all great. They never run out of an audience. There are far too many people who love watching something entertaining in the capital.”
But Thales snorted. “But a pity, the plays they put up are all really bad. It is either Dark Night descending to the face of earth personally to save humankind for some strange reason, or it is about how Dark Night will eventually rule over the world. Perhaps Dark Night Temple thinks that as long as they repeat it enough, the people in the world will treat it as the truth.”
‘Of course, they might actually be right. Wait.’
When he said this, Thales stared at the plump actor who was dressed in a costume with a lot of red tentacles that made him look like an octopus. He was drenched in sweat, but he still cried out at the top of his voice. Thales realized that something was off.
“What play are they putting up today?”
At that moment, a gentle and calm male voice butt into their conversation.
“Night Descends in Dragon Clouds City.”
Thales and Gilbert turned around at the same time. They saw the leader of the group, Watchman Mallos ride to their side.
“Today is Monday. They have to put up plays depicting something major.”
Mallos stared at the stage with an indifferent face. That place was now surrounded to the point where not a trickle of water could flow through even if it wanted to.
“They are putting up a play where the calamity showed up on a peninsula that no one knows about, rampages the north, and even killed a king.”
‘Calamity. North. King.’
Thales’ expression changed slightly.
Mallos stared at the ludicrous actor who was dressed like an octopus and continued speaking, “Finally, Dark Night God descended. It showed its might, summoned the great dragon, and when night almost came to an end, the calamity was defeated, and it disappeared without a trace.”
Thales raised his eyebrow.
‘Great dragon. Before night ended.’
“Really?” the prince asked with a frown.
Mallos snorted lightly. Gilbert took over the conversation.
“A few years ago, all sorts of rumors flew about when the news about the abnormality in Dragon Clouds City to the capital.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister shook his head in resignation.
“From then on, the show about the calamities and the apocalypse became popular.”
‘Calamity. Apocalypse.’
Thales stared at the red octopus that was “slaughtering the people without restraint”.
“So, Dark Night Temple thinks that the calamity is that monster, the hydra?”
Mallos fell silent.
They left the theater behind them, and in the end, it was far away from their sight.
One second later, the watchman nodded, and he cast the prince a sideways glance.
“What else?”
Thales had to avoid his gaze, which had suddenly become sharp, and nodded.
“You are right, too.”
Mallos still remained calm. “And if you do not mind, Your Highness, Your Grace.”
Thales raised his head slowly.
“You should not still have such a deep understanding of Eternal Star City six years later, especially in regards to Lower City District.” Mallos was expressionless, but his words were profound. “After all, everyone knows that you were raised by Lord Mahn.”
Once he finished saying this, Mallos raised his reins and rode ahead of them.
‘Should not still have such a deep understanding of Eternal Star City…’
As he stared at the watchman ahead of him, Thales’ gaze became solemn.
“He knows about my past?”
Gilbert seemed to be slightly awkward. He coughed.
“Lord Mallos has been sent to be your personal guard, and he is in charge of leading your other personal guards. It is only natural that His Majesty trusts him.”
‘Leading my other personal guards.
‘Of course His Majesty trusts him.
‘His Majesty.’
Thales continued staring at Mallos’ back. After some time, he said slowly, “Is it?”
Thales tightened his grip over the reins.
“So… is he Thales’ personal guard, or the prince and the duke’s personal guard?”
Right after he said those words, Gilbert was instantly rendered speechless.
His expression became incredibly sour, but the Foreign Affairs Minister only lowered his head. In the end, he said nothing.
The Royal Guards continued moving forward. They moved past a slope and arrived on another street.
Strangely, even though this street was wide and it was daytime, it was empty. There were only a few people who moved about hurriedly on the street.
Thales could not help but remember Ghost Prince Tower.
‘But why is this place so…’
This time, Thales was stunned.
During that instant, countless memories surged into his mind.
“I know this place, Gilbert.”
The teenager looked around himself and said in great sentiment, “If we enter through this entrance, we will reach…”
Thales spoke in a daze, “We will reach…”
Gilbert stared at the spot where Thales pointed, and he instantly blushed.
“Your Highness, perhaps you do not know…”
Thales shook his head.
“I know.” The duke withdrew his finger and stared at the indistinct houses further down the street. “That is Red Street Market.”
Thales felt as if his blood had stopped flowing for a moment.
“It occupies one side of Shepherd’s River, and the other side is occupied by Linhe Street. It is a place located at the southernmost part of Western District. Even though it’s not located in a good location, when night falls, it will become the place that officials and aristocrats will visit the most.”
He said absent-mindedly, “In the past, Blood Bottle Gang practically monopolized the business here, and this lasted until six years ago.”
Gilbert sucked in a deep breath before he exhaled slowly.
“Your Highness, Lord Mallos has just reminded—”
But Thales ignored him.
The teenage duke stared at the entrance that became further and further away from them. He subconsciously pressed against his chest, and there was a misty look in his eyes.
“In the past, if the child-beggars were lucky, they could get rewards that they could never dream of.”
‘Such as… a silver coin that can change your fate.’
Gilbert sighed in resignation again. He no longer tried to advise the prince, who could not quite control his emotions right then. Instead, he schooled his face and listened quietly.
