Kingdom's Bloodline, page 74
"I call it the 'Wolf Limb Blade'," Jala said coldly, looking as if she wanted them to leave.
Roda laughed softly, "Why does it matter? There's no use in having a flashy weapon name. The key lies in the person using it. In your hands, this knife can only be used to cut flesh. On the other hand, in the hands of the 'Reversed Machete', it can be used to break through layers upon layers of defenses and slaughter the former Duke of Tricolor Iris Flowers of Constellation."
Jala furrowed her brows tightly and glared at the scar-faced middle-aged man in front of her.
"Get straight to the point," Jala said coldly, "The old man doesn't like people disrupting business."
Shanda Roda—the terrifying existence within the Six Powerhouses of the Brotherhood—laughed loudly, "Do you think that you can scare me with the 'Reversed Machete'?"
Jala did not answer, but a cold chill ran down her spine. The other party came prepared.
"You know, I usually don't really bother about my own son. A b*tch gave birth to him. I don't even know if he's mine. Besides, he's a good-for-nothing." Roda snorted softly. "So, I don't really care if he's alive, either."
Roda raised his head and exercised the joints in his neck. "But since he took on my family name, and even works in the Brotherhood… I cannot tolerate the fact that someone is challenging my authority with my son's life."
Roda's words were ruthless.
"I also cannot tolerate the fact that a person who owes a debt of blood to the Roda family has not received due punishment."
Jala furrowed her brows. She looked around once more. 'What should I do? When will Edmund come back? Where is the old man?'
"I only learned—after killing more than ten child beggars—that the four child beggars who could not be found all this while, and whom are the greatest suspects in the murder of my son, might be hiding in Sunset Pub."
Roda's gaze shot towards the three children.
Coria was so scared that she immediately burst into tears.
Jala gritted her teeth. Recalling Thales' words, she took a step forward and shouted loudly, "The three of them have nothing to do with your son's death! There is a missing boy. He is the culprit who killed Quide!"
Roda laughed loudly. The scars on his face twitched. "I know- This brat with a severed hand said that too. Thales, right? He has the same name as the new prince… Now, the problem is, where is he?"
Jala exhaled deeply and forced herself to forget that night in Red Street Market. "You shouldn't ask me that."
Roda narrowed his eyes. "Then, why are you providing such great protection to these three child beggars who escaped? Does Sunset Pub really need three child beggars who don't even have the energy to carry plates to operate?"
"This is my business," Jala said as she pursed her lips.
Surprisingly, Roda raised his brows and nodded. "True."
Amid Jala's puzzlement, Shanda Roda nonchalantly leaned backwards and waved at his followers.
"So, I suppose that you wouldn't mind… handing over these brats who escaped to me?"
Before Jala could react, Roda's followers went forward without hesitation.
Amid the three children's wails and kicks, the thugs coldly separated them from her and violently hoisted them onto their shoulders.
"Big sister Jala—" Coria cried. One of the thugs covered her mouth with his hand.
Sinti's arms were locked behind his back. He grunted from the intense pain.
Ryan just shivered as the thugs subdued him.
Jala's eyes widened in fury. "You—"
The raging female bartender abruptly pulled out the knife from the table!
As she moved, she firmly executed the Swift Killing Blade—which had made the bald Sven surrender and ask for mercy when they were in Red Street Market.
She aimed for Roda!
But her knife was unable to move more than one feet. Without moving, Roda's powerful arm shot out arm, and the iron glove-clad hand firmly seized her knife again!
Like a mamba snake who had its vital point seized, Jala's agile figure immediately froze.
Jala stared in shock at the calm looking Roda. She only felt as though there was a huge stone weighing ten thousand kilograms hanging from the knife in her hand. She had to grip onto it with all her might to keep it from slipping away from her hand. At that moment, the female bartender's expression turned extremely unpleasant.
'Impossible, the Swift Killing Blade, which excels in speed, subtlety, and nimbleness, is also…'
Roda said flatly, "Don't force my hand, little girl. We are both in supra class, but when it comes to combat, I have a hundred methods that I can use to defeat you effortlessly."
Jala watched in disbelief as the Wolf Limb Blade in her hand was bent by Roda, just like that!
He loosened his grip and let go of the deformed Wolf Limb Blade. However, the blade of an axe was then placed right in front of Jala's throat.
Aoschok's gaze was filled with fighting spirit. "This time, you don't stand a chance."
Jala bit her lip. Looking at the enemies around her, who showed the faint intention to surround and attack her, she furiously said, "This is Sunset Pub! You all are challenging the old man's authority!"
Roda stood up coldly. There was fury and hatred in his eyes.
"Listen up, little girl. I respect your family name and the owner of this pub, that is why I did not harm you at all. I have already displayed the highest level of friendship and kindness possible to you, along with respect towards the 'Reversed Machete'."
Jala indignantly raised her head. "But you can't—"
Roda roared and cut her off, "Enough with the nonsense!"
Jala was stunned for a moment.
The savage looking Roda went before her and stared her down from above. "Do you think I do not know that you have something to do with my son's death? A good few hundred people saw him come to your pub and had a hand maimed by you."
'He knew?' Under the intense tension, Jala's breathing quickened.
"I don't give a damn about how he fell into another person's trap. I am not concerned as to who killed him either, whether his name is Thales or Tyler." Roda exhaled, grinned hideously, and continued, "I only plan to get rid of all the people related to his death… Let the others see Rodas' tactics. This should be enough."
The three children were still struggling and kicking. However, their strength was gradually draining from their bodies.
Roda's scar-filled face twitched. He grimly said, "So you can see that I am already very lenient with you, little girl. You should go and take a look at Nayer Rick!
"Lance spoke about all the good things he could for him."
Jala's heart jolted. 'Rick?'
Roda straightened his clothes and flashed a hideous grin. "So, on behalf of my old friend, I only dug out one of his eyes, and destroyed one of his hands."
Roda's voice then became indifferent once again. "Don't worry. I'm not a murderous maniac, nor am I a sadist. It's just that I have to retain some of my authority."
Jala lowered her head. Her heart was filled with anguish. 'What should I do? I can't think of anything I can do at all. Clever brat, if you were here… what would you do?'
"Continue with your business, then. I will compensate for the losses here."
Roda indifferently turned and strode across the messy floor of the pub. He walked out the main door.
"Send my regards to the 'Reversed Machete'."
Looking at the tables and chairs that were scattered all over the floor, Aoschok nonchalantly threw down a bag of coins.
The Thunder Axe said with a cold expression, "You are truly amazing, but I will definitely become stronger than you."
The group left. Jala stared at their retreating figures in a trance. The only thing left in the air were the wails of the three children as they struggled.
Jala clenched her fists tightly and stared at the Wolf Limb Blade in her hand. Her expression showed that she was struggling. Her hand, which held the knife, began trembling.
The children's voices slowly became further away, softer, and finally faded away.
Jala lowered her head.
*Cling-clang!*
The Wolf Limb Blade dropped onto the floor powerlessly.
The knees of Sunset Pub's female bartender buckled under her. Just like that, she dropped to her knees amid the mess on the floor.
The bartender trembled and spoke helplessly to herself, "Jala Charleton, you are so pathetic."
Jala shut her eyes tight. She gritted her teeth so tightly that her teeth almost shattered from the force.
A few tears slid down her cheeks.
'Sorry… Sorry, brat.'
The tears dripped down onto the floor.
'I couldn't… Couldn't… Protect them well…'
Chapter 74: Homicidal Maniac |
Mindis Hall.
Snow was falling from the sky onto the training field, where a small figure could be seen holding onto a heavy, thick wooden sword and shield. With his alternating footsteps and defensive moves, he parried the royal guard's wooden sword.
Thales huffed and puffed as he straightened his back once more, leaning his weight against the wooden sword. He then yelled, "Again!"
His practice partner, Chora, the head of Mindis Hall's Jadestar Private Army, stared at him with a troubled look.
"How long has His Highness been behaving like this?" At the side of the training field was Count Gilbert Caso, and he looked worried as he asked a Jadestar private soldier standing beside him.
The guard replied worriedly too, "The training has been going on continuously for three hours since this morning until now, sir. As for last night, the light in His Highness' study room was on for the entire night… Sir Chora even made us stay up all night to guard the entrance to his room, so that we could rush in immediately should anything happened inside."
Gilbert sighed.
After that unusual meeting with the diplomats the day before, the second prince had returned to the Mindis Hall immediately.
Gilbert, on the other hand, received the most urgent command from His Majesty—to thoroughly prepare for the prince's diplomatic mission to the north.
A healthy and strong messenger crow would not take up more than a few days to travel between Eternal Star City and Dragon Clouds City… They could depart at any time.
For the entirety of the previous day, he busied himself along with many officials as well as nobles and suzerains of different classes on various matters; from His Highness' attendants and the schedule for his trip, to the wording on his letter of credentials. It was only until now that he finally had time to take a look at Mindis Hall.
However, what Gilbert was really worried about was Thales' mental condition. After all, not every child could face such a situation peacefully where his father decided to use him as a bargaining chip and send him to appease a war.
Currently, His Highness was probably upset over His Majesty's seemingly heartless decision…
Gilbert lifted his head up and to his surprise, he saw that Thales was panting and gesturing with his hand before tossing away the sword in his grasp.
"I am going to rest for a while and have lunch. I have been training for such a long time, why did you not remind me of it?" Thales waved his hands and asked tiredly.
Chora, who looked as if a great weight was lifted off his shoulders, immediately nodded in agreement whereas Thales started to unbuckle the shield on his arm.
Gilbert swiftly walked towards him, then the former Foreign Affairs Minister spoke cautiously to Thales.
"Your Highness... pardon me for being straightforward. Your old wounds are not fully recovered yet, so you should not exhaust your body in this manner."
"Gilbert, you do not have to worry about this. Look, my wounds are almost healed." Thales skillfully and swiftly took off the shield as he exercised his left arm. He bared his teeth and said, "In a mere three days… Maybe, I really am some sort of monster."
Gilbert was left speechless before he replied with a solemn expression, "Your Highness, please do not think of such nonsense—"
"Alright, alright… it is my own body after all. And I have already been living in this world for a few years…" Thales cut him off and laughed in a contemptuous manner. "Do you really think that I am not aware of the real reason?
"This peculiar physique I have is mostly due to my mother, who is even more mysterious than a Mystic, am I right?"
Thales laughed as he carefully observed Gilbert's expression.
He was hoping to see and understand something from Gilbert's reaction.
Yes.
Not long after he arrived in Mindis Hall, Thales had been skeptical ever since he saw the king's odd attitude whenever he spoke of his mother.
From his queer and mysterious mystic energy, to his strange cognitive abilities; from the flashbacks that appear without reason, to his ability to recover, which seemed inhuman…
There was something else that was the most questionable… Ever since he was found and retrieved by the Jadestar Royal Family, he could not seem to hide his abnormality as a 'transmigrator' even if he tried to. Even Thales was fully aware that his style of conversation, knowledge and experiences, reactions, and even his learning ability to become well-versed with the letters here within a short month were very uncommon.
However, other than the initial surprise, both Gilbert and his father in name had very few reactions to it, as if this was the way he was supposed to be.
It was as if Thales was born to be exactly like this.
The first and the last points, along with Liscia's and the king's attitudes especially made him almost a hundred percent certain that the traits he exhibited were indeed related to his mother, who he had yet to meet.
TherrenGirana, whom the king and God's spokesperson feared to the point where they were not even willing to mention her… who exactly was she?
Of course, Thales already formed a conclusion on this a long time ago.
He thought about what Yodel said in Mindis Hall, and what Arunde said in Renaissance Palace.
The family that was tangled with disaster.
Thales stared at his Nine-Pointed Star symbol and sighed.
His mother was very likely a…
He had always tried his best to not think in this direction before he got a confirmation.
However, he had to investigate and find the answer. Based on the king and Liscia's odd behavior as well as his middle name, he was unwilling to let go of any possible information.
Even if the outcome would not be good.
Gilbert furrowed his brows deeply.
'Indeed. His Highness had started becoming suspicious a long time ago.'
"Your Highness..." Gilbert exhaled while he shook his head and said, "I am not in the position to comment on your origins, but you must know, within your body flows the Jadestar blood, which you have inherited from His Majesty. Your bloodline also originated from the Ancient Empire, which continued on to the Final Empire. It is the most honorable lineage in the history of mankind—the Imperial Family's bloodline, Carlose Family… Maybe there are some unknown secrets that are hidden within this kind of ancient and noble bloodline…"
Thales sighed to himself. 'As expected of a foreign affairs officer. From his expression to his choices of words, he managed to not give anything away.
'I can only use another way to look for my own mother.'
"Alright, no need to worry too much about me." Thales sat down, still sweating and panting. He shook his own boot to get rid of the sand inside. "Anyway, it is not a bad thing for now."
There was no way there would be such a thing as distinctions of superiority and inferiority in terms of bloodlines and races.
So, the prince replied joyfully, "As for my mother… Anyway, inevitably I will know about her one day. But currently, my top priority is the nation with the dragon flag to the north."
Gilbert was stunned. He glanced at Chora, who was tidying up the training equipment, then looked towards Thales with a troubled gaze. "Your Highness, I think what His Majesty said when he sent you on a diplomatic mission yesterday was definitely not what he meant literally…"
"I know. The king has his own things to consider." Thales shook off the last of the sand from his boot and stood up.
Gilbert looked at him worriedly. "Exactly… therefore, you totally do not have to… er… be so dispirited…"
"What?"
Thales furrowed his brows.
Then he immediately understood what Gilbert meant.
"Why?"
The prince turned around and laughed as he said, "Did you assume my sword practice just now was a sign of despair or a way to vent out my anger?"
Gilbert raised his eyebrows.
"Oh my God…"
Thales slapped his forehead and laughed bitterly as he said, "Well, since I am about to visit an unfamiliar nation… I still have to prepare myself no matter what. Although a seven-year-old body can do nothing much, at least, I have to practice and familiarize myself with the Northland Military Sword Style and learn how to ride a horse. So, when I am in a dangerous situation, I will at least know how to protect my own life, correct?
"If I have good luck and I am able to develop the Power of Eradication—"
Gilbert could not help but to cut Thales off. "Your Highness, traditionally, in the Tower of Eradication, the record for the youngest age of those whose Power of Eradication was awakened early due to unique training and extraordinary luck was at least twelve years old. The usual time of awakening is sixteen years old… as for seven years old… er…"
Thales felt awkward and laughed dryly after he heard what Gilbert told him. He scratched his head in embarrassment as he replied in a low voice, "Is that so? I thought it was the same thing as brushing up the degree of proficiency."
Gilbert was still staring dubiously at him. "But… do you really… have no ill-feelings, and understand His Majesty's intention?"
