Kingdom's Bloodline, page 75
"What are you even saying? Anyway, I am also a postgraduate with a great ability to resist stress… ahem… I mean, I am the second prince with great mental fortitude…" Thales patted the dirt off himself indifferently and walked towards the study room, preparing to have lunch then practice writing.
"Alright, when I heard him say that he wanted to kill me in order to make up to Eckstedt, I was indeed frightened.
"But I spent an entire night rummaging through documents—Mindis Hall has too little resources, and the order is not logical too. Nonetheless, at least I understand some of His Majesty's intentions now."
Gilbert noticed that Thales either used 'king' or 'His Majesty' to address Kessel the Fifth whenever Thales talked about him. He silently sighed to himself. 'As expected, His Highness still harbors a grudge towards His Majesty in terms of how he acknowledged His Highness the last time.'
"Do you want to listen to my own opinions regarding my diplomatic mission to Eckstedt?" Thales asked as he kneaded his sore nape and grimaced.
Gilbert slightly bowed respectfully. "I am all ears."
…
In the dark.
Morat's unique but hoarse and old voice echoed deeply. "He managed to run away?"
The person who replied him was Raphael, who had a brisk and bright voice, "Our people also feel strange about this. It was almost like the Strange Doctor had already seen through the trap and returned without any hesitation. The assassination team missed him. These past few days, we had been constantly moving back and forth between Eckstedt and Constellation's Eastern Border, which is between Friess Family's Lonely Old Tower and Trentida Family's Reformation Tower. However, they can no longer find any traces of Ramon."
Morat placed his chin on his palms as he quietly muttered, "Even if the legacy has already been extinct for more than six hundred years, a wizard will always be a wizard. No matter how greatly we view his power, it will never be enough. But it was obvious that he came prepared…"
The Black Prophet slightly lifted his head up. "It is impossible for our trap to miss him. He must have had a helper… Let us temporarily set aside the Black Sword for now. What about the other two main Assassins of the Brotherhood? Reversed Machete and Prison Lock Sickle? Or Cenza and Roda, who are close to supreme class?"
Raphael shook his head helplessly. "From the beginning till the end, we did not obtain any news of Reversed Machete and Prison Lock Sickle appearing anywhere nearby, or find any other reinforcements from the Brotherhood. However…"
Raphael furrowed his brows a little.
On the other hand, Morat's gaze became cold and stern.
Raphael continued, "Actually, within this past week, Anton and Roda of the Six Powerhouses have returned to Eternal Star City. Apart from 'Alpha Wolf' Lazans Fischer, who is still away in the South, Cenza, Roda, Lance, Anton and Morris, five out of the Six Powerhouses are already gathered in the capital—"
Morat raised his hand abruptly and stopped Raphael's report.
His expression kept changing. After he paused for a few seconds, the Black Prophet exhaled deeply.
"All five of them are gathered together? Hmph."
Morat closed his eyes as he shook his head. "I know who Ramon's helper is, and he is not someone from the Brotherhood."
Raphael's eyes showed his confusion.
Morat gently opened his eyes, revealing his penetrating gaze. "The one who first disclosed information to us was Secret Room, but the Secret Intelligence Department's elite assassination team found nothing at the border of the two countries. Is that not obvious?"
Raphael lifted his head in realization.
Morat stayed silent for a long while.
"Haha," the Black Prophet laughed briskly and said, "It seems like Ramon is not some sort of wizard after all. That old woman from the north has once again played her tricks on us.
"But it is not without reason that she used fake news to attract our attention… She was helping the Brotherhood. As for the latter… what were they trying to hide?
"Withdraw half of the manpower back from the north, and focus on inspecting the Brotherhood's activities during the next few days… There must be a reason for the gathering of the five people…" Morat could not help but laugh. "How dare he make a deal with Eckstedt's Secret Room? Lance, that brat. As expected of my most outstanding disciple apart from Novork…"
Right at this moment, next to Raphael's hand, a violent, loud noise suddenly came from a cage, which was covered with a piece of black cloth. Raphael opened the cage without any expression on his face.
A skull resembling that of a bird and rat, which was roughly the size of a fist, protruded from the cage. It was stained with a bright red, sticky liquid, and its opened mouth was filled with sharp teeth. A piece of paper was passed out before it immediately retreated back into the cage.
Morat did not look at the sinister, strange and creepy creature. He just focused his gaze on Raphael.
The latter was staring at the small piece of paper as his expression became increasingly sour.
Raphael put down the piece of paper, and his face became unprecedentedly serious.
"We received a report, that the two main leaders of Blood Bottle Gang's eight Psionic Warriors, 'Fantasy Blade Edge' Catherine and 'Red Viper' Nikolay, appeared at Revol City one after another.
"And two days ago, our informant at the neighboring Steel City... discovered a trace of the Blood Mystic," Raphael spoke in a solemn tone.
Morat's pupils contracted abruptly!
"It seems like we have caught a big fish…" Morat smiled.
Raphael muttered to himself, "But… surprisingly, he is hidden in Steel City… It has been so many years… Did the dwarfs of the Hall of King's Chronicles not have a clue about this?"
Morat closed his eyes as he shook his head. "Over the past three hundred years, the relationship between the Hall of King's Chronicles and Empress Hellen worsened because of the Sunset Goddess. Even more so, when the Blazing Wind Cannon oddly fell into cooling mode. They did not have any usable legendary anti-mystic equipment on their hands. Even if they knew, they could only pretend to be ignorant about it."
Raphael raised his eyebrows and snorted lightly in response.
"Are you certain that it is the Blood Mystic? What is the specific report?" the Black Prophet held onto his staff in his hands a little tighter as he replied gravely.
However, he immediately noticed Raphael's sorrowful expression as Raphael sighed.
The young man dressed in white lowered his gaze and opened the piece of paper.
"There is no report," he said solemnly.
Morat lifted his head abruptly and his sharp gaze was directed straight at Raphael, waiting for his explanation.
The young man dressed in white exhaled as he replied faintly, "The reason why we were able to discover the Blood Mystic… was because… all thirty-four informants along the way from Steel City to Revol City…
"Died," Raphael said quietly.
"Furthermore… their flesh was scattered in all directions… and none of their bodies were fully intact.
"It matches the Blood Mystic's style in our records…"
He did not continue.
After a while, Morat sighed deeply.
"It is putting up a show to the Secret Intelligence Department, that outside the capital, it can find every single one of us whenever it wants," he spoke with his hoarse voice.
"Indeed, it is that damned… homicidal maniac."
Chapter 75: The Union of Two Kings |
Renaissance Palace.
*Thud, thud, thud—*
An urgent sound of footsteps came from beyond the door.
It was the noise made by high-heeled leather boots, stepping on stone ground.
*Boom!*
The thick door to the bedroom was abruptly pushed open!
"What exactly is wrong with you?"
An angry, agitated, but crisp female voice could be heard loud and clear.
The maid who was sweeping the floor at the side was so frightened that she immediately lowered her head as she rushed out from the bedroom door. From her peripheral vision, she saw His Majesty's lover, the first-grade female official, the once influential lady of the capital, the legendary police officer, whose exciting life story, filled with ups and downs could be written into a collection of poems by a bard—Jines Bajkovic.
At this very moment, this formidable-looking female official was in a rage as she walked into the room. She was yelling angrily at Kessel the Fifth, who was standing by the window sill.
"Do you really want to murder your own son?!"
In front of the window, the king was looking down at the mass of people below Renaissance Palace. Kessel the Fifth slowly turned around.
"As a king, I have to do this.
"That is all," the dignified voice replied.
*Slap!*
A resounding sound of a slap could be heard behind the maid.
The maid did not dare dawdle around any longer and she exited the room, drenched in cold sweat.
"He is not only a prince, but is also your flesh and blood! He is not the one who destroyed the Jadestar Royal Family, or the person behind the scheme to harm Constellation!" Jines was extremely furious, and did not show any sign of being aware that she had just ferociously slapped the Supreme King of Constellation.
In a daze, Kessel the Fifth stroked the cheek where he was struck.
An image of the dashing 'Timely Police Officer' with an amazing presence in the past appeared before his eyes.
As well as the first time they met.
She had also greeted him with a slap in the face, did she not?
But the supreme king came back to his senses and said nonchalantly, "Such a coincidence, Yodel also made a similar comment about that boy."
"That boy?" Jines stared in disbelief at the king. "That is your only son!"
"Yes, my only son." Kessel's eyes were flickering with complicated emotions. He took in a deep breath before slowly exhaling. "That is why I have already chosen the best path for him, the trials that a kingdom heir must endure and tolerate."
Trials?
Jines' furrowed brows reflected her struggles as she stared at this robust man in front of her.
Kessel the Fifth inhaled deeply, his eyes were cold like frost. "How can he qualify to be a true king if he has not experience real hell?"
Jines' heart trembled.
Hell?
Hell.
Jines sighed deeply. "Kay, we have to learn to get used to or even… forget some matters…"
The king sneered with an expressionless face. "Is that so?"
He took a step forward and stared directly at Jines. "I have heard the news from Gilbert, that you encountered the assassins on the way to Renaissance Palace.
"Can you truly get used to or even forget those matters?"
Jines' entire frame trembled as she stared at Kessel with a complicated look. Jines raised her trembling hand and placed it upon Kessel's shoulder. She caressed his red, swollen face and said painfully as well as miserably, "Kay, you cannot live in the past forever."
She clenched her teeth lightly and said, "Please."
Kessel the Fifth trembled from head to toe as he looked into Jines' watery eyes and pleading gaze. Grief emerged in his heart.
He quietly replied, "The past is already history. What I see now is only the future."
'Past.
'Future.
'Really?'
Jines gently clenched her teeth as a young and adorable boy appeared before her eyes.
A sting appeared at the back of her eyes, and she almost cried.
The king unconsciously clenched his fist tight when he saw Jines' reaction.
Then he clenched his teeth tightly and closed his eyes resolutely. "As for that boy… Thales… You do not have to worry about him. I will prepare everything for him, everything that a Jadestar needs.
"He will never… never become the next Lydia or Luther…"
Jines' hand trembled slightly.
She lowered her head and put on a miserable smile.
"You know, in this past twenty years, I have gone through numerous interrogations and seen countless meaningful gazes." She gently wrapped her arms around Kessel's waist and leaned into the king's wide embrace.
The female official miserably said, "All of the Jadestars, whether it was Midier or Horace, or even King Aydi, their eyes were always filled with vigilance, apathy and struggles, regardless of whether those emotions were directed to this world or to themselves. And now…"
She leaned against the king's chest and continued with a pained expression on her face. "After that year, your eyes... became the same as theirs."
Kessel's eyes were filled with sorrow when he heard the names of his two elder brothers and the former king.
"But his eyes are different. I can feel that he is different from each and every one of you…
"It is also a gaze that is not usually seen on a seven-year-old boy…"
The king sighed. 'That is because that boy has yet to go through what I have experienced…'
Jines quietly said, "Even if his mother... was that kind of existence."
In that moment, Jines could feel the strong body she was leaning against become momentarily rigid.
The king suddenly wrapped his arms tightly around Jines as he replied with his teeth clenched and his expression full of pain, "You can BE rest assured, Jines, that he will be alright…
"He will be safe. He will survive.
"Since he is a Jadestar and also the descendant of the Royal Family, more so, the son of that woman—he will be able to survive even in hell. Not to mention, this is merely Eckstedt!"
…
"Kill me in order to take revenge on behalf of Prince Moriah and eliminate King Nuven's hatred. That is what His Majesty said so, right?"
Thales walked into the hall at the ground floor and looked at Gilbert, signalling to the staff in the scullery as he continued. "It seems like Eckstedt is a very dangerous place. After all, we have an old grudge over the 'Fortress Treaty' and after that, their diplomatic group was attacked by the assassins, in which their common-elected king's only son and heir was killed. King Nuven is extremely angry right now, and Eckstedt's suzerains are also thirsting after our territory. Under such circumstances, the Prince of Constellation is practically a sheep among a pack of wolves."
Thales let out a long sigh. "But is my current condition any better than going on a diplomatic mission to Eckstedt in the future?"
Gilbert was slightly stunned.
"As the only heir of Jadestar, since birth, I am already standing on the opposite side against all major suzerains. Look at Nanchester, look at Covendier, not to mention the newly imprisoned Arunde. After all, if I ever run into any accidents, they will have a chance to seize the throne."
Thales walked onto a flight of stairs and walked passed the portrait of the three Kings of Constellation. His eyes reflected his absent-minded state. "Before I appeared, their focus was on His Majesty, but after I appeared, I was destined to be the new target. Even with Renaissance Palace's strength and power, my safety as well as security can never be ensured. There is a proverb from the Far East that says, 'A longspear from the front is easy to evade, but a cold arrow from the shadows is hard to fend against'.
"Comparatively, the suzerains of Eckstedt may want to take advantage of Constellation. Perhaps, they are not happy to see me, but it is not a must for them to kill me. On the contrary, no matter who stains his hands with the blood of Constellation's prince will be destined to become the public's target for attack. The whole of Constellation will become his enemy. The devoted ones will want to take revenge on behalf of the royal family, and the ambitious ones will want to gain a righteous reputation.
"Eckstedt adopts the king selection system. After the demise of the last elected king, the ten archdukes will choose the next common-elected king during the King Selection Congress to rule for the rest of his life. Every single archduke has a chance and every one of them are competing for it. Eckstedt is even worse than Constellation when it comes to their internal divide.
"Maybe Constellation's power has not yet fully recovered and it does not have enough strength to overtake Eckstedt. But under the temptation of the crown, working together to crush an Eckstedt suzerain will still be more than possible. Also, the other suzerains of Eckstedt will probably gleefully watch by the side and do nothing to see the downfall of their competitor in the King Selection Congress.
"As people from the Far East will say, I am just like 'a can of worms'. No matter which Eckstedt suzerain has me in their territory, not only are they unable to harm me, for their own benefits, they even have to do their best in protecting me."
Gilbert raised his eyebrows.
It seemed like he had been worrying too much. After all, he could tell that His Highness was mature and sensible after many days spent together with him. He was not the type of person who needed other people to worry over him.
"And so, the only person left that I have to worry about in Eckstedt is King Nuven."
Thales walked into the study room and watched the guards bring in his lunch. He smiled at Gilbert, whose eyebrows had smoothened out in obvious relief. "However, this is something that many people may overlook. When Prince Moriah died in Constellation…
"King Nuven was already destined to be an ally of Jadestar Royal Family and myself."
Gilbert finally had a smile on his face.
Thales yawned and sat down on the chair in his study room. He pushed away the messy books and notes on his desk, which he spent the last night reading through, and said confidently, "Under a situation where there is no direct male heir, Constellation allows female heirs to inherit the father's title, territory and assets. Our Duchess of Blade Edge Hill is someone who is like that.
"But in Eckstedt, females have no right of inheritance… Since the old King Nuven has lost his only male heir, it means that the inheritance in Dragon Clouds City will become a problem. The Walton Family already has no chance in the next selection of the king. They are destined to head into decline.
