Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 130 The King and the Grand Duke

"The place you're going to investigate isn't far, but..."

“Things haven’t been peaceful in Dragon City lately,” Big Belt said, shaking his head at Cohen and Miranda. “You know, Prince Moral disappeared for a month, then came the news of his death in the Stars, and then there were all sorts of rumors. The men are all eager to be conscripted and ready to go south to fight the Empire.”

"Then came the news that the game was canceled."

"And just today, the prince of Star City came to Dragon Sky City to apologize. I heard that the King of Star City swore an oath that if anyone dares to harm his son, the two countries will be locked in a life-or-death struggle?"

Cohen and Miranda exchanged a glance; the former looked worried, while the latter began to ponder.

"Hey, what are you talking about? If you're going to apologize, you should do it properly! Do you think you can threaten people from the North?"

"If I were His Majesty, I wouldn't care about all that. I'd hang that prince first, then gather the entire nation's army and march on Yongxing City to see what the imperial people have to say!" Big Leather pounded the table loudly, grumbling in dissatisfaction.

“But that prince is only seven years old… he won’t be eight until after the New Year,” Cohen stammered.

"Seven years old?" Big Belt scratched his head, seemingly a little confused: "Okay..."

"Anyway, all the bosses have instructed their subordinates to keep a low profile these days. Some people have heard rumors that His Majesty Nuen is very dissatisfied with Xingchen and will soon... uh, the seven-year-old prince... you know."

Miranda frowned deeply: Who is spreading these rumors?

Was it a deliberate attempt to harm the prince? Or was it to sow discord between King Nuen and the second prince?
"Moreover, His Majesty has lost his only heir. Anyone with a brain can imagine what his mindset is right now," the shrew sighed. "Leaving aside the next Grand Duke of Dragonsreach and the next election of kings, who knows, His Majesty Nuen might just get angry first. Sigh..."

"You just mentioned 'bosses'? Are you referring to local gangs?" Cohen asked curiously. "I heard from Caslan that he has connections with all the major powers in the city?"

“Yes, Kaslan has a lot of influence. He was quite bold back then, daring to contradict His Majesty Nuen in front of all the court officials, which led to his expulsion from the White Blade Guard,” Big Belt chuckled. “But from the officials in the Hall of Heroes to the big shots in Dragon City who make a living with their underlings, everyone still respects Kaslan… not to mention all the old subordinates he took care of and promoted. Whether they were promoted, made a fortune, or retired, they all owe him a debt of gratitude.”

“That’s why Kaslan sent you to me,” Big Belt nodded. “I have a lot of contact with the local powers, so I should be able to help you.”

“Before we set off, please tell us about the forces in Dragon Sky City,” Cohen said gravely. “This is very important.”

The man with the large belt glanced at Miranda, who nodded slightly.

So the man with the big belt spread his hands: "Alright, let's divide it into sections one by one..."

“First of all, there’s the area we’re in—the Shield District and the Hammer District—inhabited by the natives of Dragonsreach. They may be poor, but this is Griveor’s and his brothers’ territory, and you wouldn’t want to mess with them.”

"Greev... he's the gang leader? Controlling these two districts?" Officer Cohen, following his professional ethics, pressed further, "Even officers or guards can't interfere?"

“No, it’s different. I mean, he’s neither a lord nor a bureaucrat, so he’s not officially in charge of things here. Griveaux wouldn’t deliberately provoke the dignity of nobles or officials,” the man with the large belt explained, waving his hand.
"But Griveaux was a famous veteran before he retired, so he was highly respected here. Whenever something happened—you know, whether it was being cheated by outsiders, locals fighting, some nobleman taking a fancy to someone's daughter, or someone having a hard time getting through the winter—his people would step in and resolve all sorts of things."

"Because he was willing to stand up for the poor, many people in the Shield District and the Hammer District were willing to believe in him. And the Order Officers had publicly stated that Griveor's presence was helping to stabilize the two poorest districts, so they gave him a lot of face—although I think this was because of Griveor's service experience; he used to be a heavy sword infantryman, and many of his old colleagues are still there, even working in the Inner City and Valhalla."

“Grevo doesn’t have any specific gangs or subordinates, but if he stands on the street one morning and says, ‘Come on, get some men,’ I bet at least a dozen good men will drop what they’re doing to help, and another dozen will arrive from outside the city an hour later. If you wait until the afternoon, he can build a whole brigade—and half of these men have served in the army in Dragon Sky City. They’re strong, healthy, and can eat and fight.”

Miranda frowned, while Cohen, with his experience as a vigilante, nodded, digesting the local gang organization, which was completely different from that of Everstar City.

"As for the sword district, bow district, and armor district, they are crowded with merchants, have a wide variety of goods, a large population, and good profits, so they are somewhat complicated."

"The market in the Sword District is full of commoners from outside the city and even further afield, and even caravans from Star City selling their wares. The person who carries weight there is named Urad. He has an official position as the order officer managing the Dragon Sky City market, and he also has a number of people on the side, though not as many or as powerful as Griveo's," Big Leather shook his head.
"It's said that he has dealings with the underworld brotherhood of Starry Sky, doing some shady business and making a little extra money by exploiting the embargo between the two countries—he doesn't show his face much, but everyone is quite afraid of him."

“The Black Street Brotherhood?” Cohen’s interest was piqued by the name. “Their business has expanded to Exter?”

“Yeah, I’d never heard of that name before, even a few years ago. Back then, we had to go to the Blood Bottle Gang to deal with things in the south.” Big Belt shrugged, expressing his helplessness. “But one day, the Brotherhood suddenly appeared out of nowhere and swaggered into Dragonstreet, sitting down to negotiate with Urad and Griveo. At that time, we all thought these outsiders, Southerners, Imperials were coming in to fight for territory.”

"But in the end, neither of the two big shots said anything, and the Brotherhood did not settle down in Dragonsky City. It just started to have more of the Brotherhood's channels in local businesses."

"In my opinion, while their business expands rapidly, it's never very stable. Neither Urad nor Griveo really trust them. Like this time, as soon as there was any news of war between the two countries, Urad shut down his smuggling channels, and the Brotherhood and the merchants and businesses they protected all disappeared."

“Expanding so quickly…” Cohen narrowed his eyes: “Perhaps their goal isn’t steady development, or even doing business or seizing territory?”

"Hey, impossible," Big Belt laughed incredulously. "A gang that doesn't fight for territory, doesn't compete for profits, and doesn't do business—is that even a gang?"

"And in Dragonwing Square in the Sword District, it's a place where traveling merchants from Cornmas and some shrewd northerners gather from time to time—from noble lords to outlaws, everyone has a way to reach them. Plus, their goods are very popular with the locals, so the rhythm of these places revolves around them, which has also created many special shops and locations, you know," Big Leather grinned with a lewd smile that every man knows, stretching out his hands in parallel and grabbing at the air like he was grabbing an apple:

"Soft and moist..."

Cohen lowered his head and grinned mischievously, while Miranda snorted coldly.

"Anyway, some chambers of commerce composed of Comassians and Northerners have taken root in Dragon Wing Plaza."

"The Bow District, especially along West Chi Avenue, is more peculiar. Simply put, the Bow District has everything that other districts have, such as rough workshops and small shops. The Armor District, on the other hand, has a large number of workshops and local shops. The relationship between these two districts is very complicated, and it is hard to say which power is involved. But if anything happens, they will find a Far Easterner to mediate."

"A Far Easterner?" Cohen and Miranda both cast questioning glances at the large belt.

“Yes, a Far Easterner, a butcher named Gu, who has been based in Longxiao City for over a decade,” Big Belt shrugged, indicating that he was also unaware of the situation. “He doesn’t seem to have much power, but he has a wide network of connections. He can speak to everyone from the Commas merchants to the Northerners and even the Star People. He’s the first to know about any developments, so he’s both a middleman and an intelligence broker.”

"As for the Arrow District, Spear District, and Axe District, you have to walk up several miles. People who can live there are powerful and influential. They are always patrolled by guards when they go out and return. Even if we ordinary people become big shots in a certain area, we have to be very careful when we go to these districts."

"And the location Kaslan mentioned, which is your destination, is in the Armored District, where that Far East human flesh shop is located," the big belt said. "I've heard from acquaintances that some unfamiliar faces have recently arrived there. I think they might be the people you're looking for?"

That was the place where Kroesi was ambushed during her pursuit. Miranda tapped the hilt of her sword at her waist.

"Is there anything suspicious about that location?" Cohen asked nervously. "Like, was there a battle? A battle between dozens of swordsmen at night? Maybe even the Terminator?"

"Battle? The final swordsman?" Big Belt pondered for a moment: "Never heard of it. After all, it's not our territory, so we don't have enough information."

Big Belt let out a breath: "I suggest you ask Gu. In his territory, nothing can escape the notice of that Far Easterner—of course, you'll have to pay for the intelligence."

“Okay,” Miranda nodded, her expression serious. “We’ll leave immediately.”

At Big Belt's instruction, Cohen and Miranda left his house.

"The street and underground forces in Dragon Sky City are somewhat chaotic, unlike the two major forces in Eternal Star City, which are clear and distinct, and they are not as powerful as the Brotherhood and Blood Bottle Gang."

“But these are our most important sources of information. After all, the sword of calamity lurks in the shadows, and the chaotic situation gives us opportunities to exploit,” Cohen said, walking down the street and watching people talk about the Star Prince’s arrival in the city that day. He stroked his chin with concern.

"Big shots who stand up for the poor, smugglers who are half-black and half-white, profit-driven merchant guilds, and intelligence brokers and middlemen from the Far East—unfortunately, the arrival of Prince Thales has made the situation in the city even more tense. These locals will be more cautious and restrained, and more wary of outsiders. It will probably not be easy for us to find clues."

“We should still ask that Far Easterner,” Miranda said, her eyes darting around as she changed the subject. “Have you met him, our second prince?”

“Of course! In the Hall of Stars, the way that child behaved when facing the six dukes…” Cohen was speaking animatedly, but his voice suddenly faltered.

He realized the identity of his contemporary, Miranda Aarond, and her... father.

"Uh..." Cohen awkwardly scratched his head: "Anyway, he's not bad. It's a good thing that the Starry Sky royal family has a successor..."

“Yes,” Miranda said, her expression unchanged. She walked past a run-down tailor shop and nodded. “That boy was impressive, just like at Dragon Keep.”

Then the image of Thales Star appeared before my eyes.

He should be in Valhalla right now, negotiating with the ruler of Exter.

And one day, he will become our king.

Miranda frowned, and slowly clenched her right thumb and forefinger.

The king to whom the North is loyal.

Having known each other for many years and sharing similar experiences, they understood each other very well. Cohen looked at Miranda's situation and couldn't help but sigh.

“Miranda, things have been so rushed these past few days that I haven’t had a chance to ask you, but,” Cohen said in a low voice, “are you alright?”

Miranda suddenly looked up, her gaze fixed on Cohen.

Cohen glanced around, then led Miranda behind a large tavern sign. He hesitated, stammering, "I heard about your father from the old man. About him and those Exter people..."

“There’s nothing to say. People always have to pay the price for what they do.” Miranda’s reaction was so quick that even Cohen was taken aback. The female swordsman frowned and said decisively, “I haven’t seen him much in the past ten years, and I don’t have a deep impression of him, so this matter doesn’t affect me at all.”

Cohen didn't speak, he just looked at her quietly.

really?
Long ago, he had heard Raphael tell him what this girl had gone through during the Bloody Year.

They also knew that she had been sent to the Tower of the End by her father at a young age.

But she is now...

“So,” Cohen scratched his head sheepishly, deciding to move on, he asked, “what happens next… I mean, I know you have a whole bunch of distant cousins ​​who also have the surname Aaron, if your father gets stripped of his title…”

“The kingdom is not without precedents of duchesses or even queens,” a fierce glint flashed in Miranda’s eyes, “but I am the true Aarond, the most legitimate and only heir to the Duke of the North, just like that prince named Thales—even His Majesty Kessel cannot deny it.”

Although... this surname is too heavy.

Cohen pursed his lips, his face full of worry: "Miranda, you know you're not alone."

“I am a friend you can trust. Although Kroeshe and Misadun are from the North, that doesn’t change our friendship. You still have Teacher Shatil, and perhaps Lord Sonia in the fortress. And, that lad Raphael…”

Cohen's voice suddenly weakened.

He realized he had said the wrong thing again.

The guard's tone changed abruptly, and he said awkwardly, "Anyway, I know you're very strong, whether it's your swordsmanship or anything else, but you don't need to face so many alone..."

But Miranda's sharp gaze instantly fell upon him.

“Since you came back, you’ve been deliberately avoiding Raphael’s name—until now.” Miranda narrowed her eyes.

Cohen's expression froze, his heart pounding.

Why is this guy so sensitive?

“It’s not that I’m deliberately avoiding you… I’m just afraid of hurting your feelings. After all, you grew up together and trained together, and he left without saying goodbye…”

But before he could come up with an excuse, Miranda, with a serious expression, cut straight to the point: "He's back? He went to see you?"

"No way, he'll definitely come looking for you first when he gets back, after all, you two are a couple..." Cohen scratched his head and laughed, "By the way, speaking of which, I think I've been doing pretty well with the ladies lately! You know, I met a really cool girl in the capital, she wields two swords with lightning speed..."

“You have the same habit as Master Jedi,” Miranda sighed, interrupting Cohen, “you touch your head whenever you feel embarrassed.”

Cohen's hand, which was stroking his head, froze.

"Then they would unconsciously ramble on to change the subject."

The blond guard lowered his head in frustration.

“Cohen Karabyan, after we’ve dealt with these immediate issues, we need to talk.” Miranda’s expression was serious as she gripped her sword and tapped Cohen’s shoulder with the hilt.

"About Raphael—and what you're hiding."

Cohen grinned and slapped his forehead in pain.

This is what Master Shao meant when he said: "He wove a cocoon, but trapped himself inside."

“Let’s get back to our current task. Cohen, do you feel it?” Miranda said calmly, “From the Sword of Calamity to King Nunn, to the rumors in the city, and the plot to murder the Star Prince, something’s not right.”

"Huh?" Cohen, still feeling frustrated, looked up, puzzled.

Miranda tapped the hilt of her sword lightly, lost in thought:

"The second prince of the Stars went to Exter and was assassinated not far from the fortress. The matter is related to the Sword of Calamity."

"Therefore, Kaslan, the former leader of the White Blade Guard and an old acquaintance and colleague of Master Shao, sent a message to the Tower of the End, and we were ordered to come."

"The second prince is currently in Dragon City, facing King Nunn, who is also Kaslan's former employer."

"Coincidentally, Kaslan also tracked down clues about the Sword of Calamity in Dragon City."

In Cohen's eyes, the ever-sharp Miranda's gaze was sharp, and her tone was alert: "What a coincidence, everything has come together."

It was a mess.

Yet there seems to be a thread running through the center, connecting everything.

Cohen stared at her blankly.

Although he couldn't understand what Miranda was saying... Cohen thought.

The female swordsman suddenly looked up: "What do you think?"

A second later, the guard, realizing what had happened, coughed awkwardly twice: "Oh, right!"

But it seems really impressive...

"Me too... I have a feeling, something's not right!"

All I have to do is nod and agree...

“I truly sensed something behind this,” Cohen took a deep breath, his gaze sharpening and his face displaying the shrewdness and seriousness characteristic of a guard. He rhythmically tapped his hands together and spoke softly:
"There must be a huge conspiracy!"

Seeing Cohen's expression, Miranda sighed helplessly, closed her eyes, and shook her head.

No.

This idiot.

He couldn't possibly feel it.

----

The bearded man gritted his teeth and stared at Thales in disbelief.

The man with the pot lid looked at King Nuen in surprise, then at Thales.

The bald man and the long-haired man exchanged a glance and noticed that they both frowned.

The brown-haired youth stared at Thales with a strange expression, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

Bet right.

Thales breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't know the current situation, wasn't sure if Nunn's attitude towards him had changed, and didn't understand the personalities and characteristics of the various dukes...

but……

Thales smiled, raised his head, and swept his aggressive gaze over the five grand dukes.

None of them dared to bear the blood debt of killing Prince Star alone.

The shield that Kethel forged with the oath of the throne remains steadfast.

Previously, when King Nuen told him to commit suicide, the dukes all watched with amusement.

But what if this "honor" were to fall on their own...

For example, if a group of students want to do something bad, they often either do it secretly or openly cheer each other on to avoid the consequences.

But no one would dare to go it alone openly.

“You little brat from Starry Sky,” the bearded man said with a fierce look in his eyes, as if his grudge against Thales was irreconcilable, “we’ve heard your story before. You’re cunning and treacherous, and your scheming is so deep that you’re not like a child at all…it seems we were right.”

“Enough, let’s stop testing a seven-year-old,” the man with the bowl cut said with a playful expression. “I’d bet the six counties in the Rebuilding Tower territory that this kid will become a major threat to us in the future.”

A test? Thales frowned.

But the man with the bowl cut was immediately interrupted.

"Do not."

“That’s a really interesting idea,” King Nuen broke the silence under the astonished gazes of all the dukes, a cold glint in his eyes: “A duel.”

Where did you hear this claim from?

Thales slowly regained his sense of peace. He steadied his breathing and said to King Nunn, "Your election of kings, and the duel for the succession to the Black Sand Territory."

“Black Sand Territory, humph!” King Nuen VII made no attempt to hide the hatred on his face: “That bastard Lumba even asked me to provide a base and supplies for the Black Sand Territory’s escort team that came to escort you here.”

The dukes quickly exchanged a few glances.

This reminded Thales of the Black Sands Grand Duke's "collaborator".

“Hypocritical and laughable fellow,” King Nunn said grimly, “doesn’t he know that half of my blood debt lies with him?”

The five dukes remained expressionless.

King Nuen's face was solemn. He slammed his hand on the table, and the ring on his hand made a sharp sound.

"Boom!"

Everyone was shocked.

"A duel? Why not?"

Then, amidst the incredibly varied expressions on the faces of the grand dukes, King Nunn turned to them: "Among you, who is willing to fight in my place and prove your loyalty to the king?"

"Once you're stained with his blood, you should be able to set aside your inhibitions and stand with Long Xiaocheng, right?"

Thales gritted his teeth.

But he seemed to gradually grasp Nunn's rhythm.

The dukes' expressions became incredibly strange.

But King Nuen did not give them a chance to reply.

“Rebian Aurelius, my loyal Grand Duke of Weyland,” King Nunn turned to the bearded man who had always harbored malice towards Thales and said casually, “Go, and bring me victory and revenge in the duel.”

Welland... Thales kept him in his heart.

The site of the Battle of Dawn, three hundred years ago.

Grand Duke Aurelius glanced at King Nunn, then at Thales.

The prince watched as his expression changed repeatedly.

“I thought you were just testing him… Nunn,” Archduke Aurelius frowned deeply, “Our previous discussion was quite clear: everyone is willing to devour the flesh of the stars, but no one wants to see a total war that will never end… Do you really intend to kill this prince here?”

Thales felt a sense of relief.

Testing...

It really was a test.

My life... seems to have been saved.

But then he was taken aback again.

Judging from these words, these six people were just discussing sending troops to start a war?

“Wouldn’t that be better? I even sent Nikolai ahead of time to tie him up and parade him through the streets of Dragonstreet!” Nunn revealed a frightening and insane smile: “Anyway, Walton is destined to decline after losing its rightful heir. Wouldn’t it be better to do one last thing for Exter?”

The faces of the five dukes grew increasingly grim.

Thales tried to put himself in the grand dukes' shoes and understand their feelings.

The Star Kingdom, which previously had no heir, faced almost the same situation.

A king whose behavior is unpredictable.

“Olesh, he is holding your sword after all,” King Nunn continued in a low voice, “and more than six hundred years ago, wasn’t it Tormund Star with his army that drove your family, Olesh, from the ancient lands of Chaven that they had ruled for generations to the north, and established Everstar City on your family’s old lands?”

"Killing him would surely bring honor to your family, wouldn't it?"

Aurelius chuckled awkwardly.

“If you were to wage war—the territory of Weyland is willing to stand with Dragonshort City and pledge allegiance to the Dragonlance Banner, my King,” Aurelius slowly stroked his beard and shook his head, “but certainly not in this way… You cannot force me to bear this bloodshed for you.”

"Hmph, dear Grand Duke Aurelius, don't you want to bear the bloodshed?" Thales sneered, retorting to his previous words, "After all that talk, isn't it just that you're afraid of death?"

Aurelius paused, his expression growing increasingly hostile as he looked at Thales.

King Nuen sneered and turned to the bowl-cut man, who was mocking and ridiculing without mercy: "And you, Grand Duke of the Rebuilding Tower, Perseus Trudida? Kill him, and we'll stand together from now on."

Rebuilding the tower... Telston suddenly remembered the story of that rumba.

“I refuse,” Grand Duke Trudida, with his bowl-cut hair, reacted swiftly. “You cannot ask me to do that.”

He shook his head warily and said, "Trudida supports the war against the stars for only one reason: that rebuilding the tower can bring the greatest benefits in the war. But if I kill this kid with my own hands and am forced to bear the enemy's hatred, it will obviously be a loss for me."

"The cheapest party in a war caused by this would definitely be the Rumba, while the murderer would always bear the blood debt," Trudida raised his hand and laughed. "We will only send troops if there is profit and no risk; otherwise, why would we get involved in this mess?"

“You are truly the most honest man I have ever met, Trudida,” the bald Grand Duke sighed, and before King Nuen could speak, he replied, “Your words are both selfish and shameless, yet reasonable and true, and therefore, I cannot refute them.”

"For the same reason, I, Rogers Lyco from the City of Guardians..." the bald Grand Duke Lyco said calmly, turning his head so that a bright flash reflected off his head: "Anyway, let whoever wants to kill him go ahead—getting caught up in a total war for no reason is a small matter, and I don't want to get my hands dirty with the blood of the Stars."

Thales coldly observed these grand dukes, watching them argue in front of His Majesty and outsiders as if no one else was around... just like the gossiping aunties next door when they bumped into each other downstairs in his previous life.

Moreover, this scene...

Thales frowned: Why does this look so familiar?

“Well, I’ve experienced the weight of the North now,” Thales chuckled, glancing sarcastically at the bald Archduke Lyco, and retorting with the same words, before looking contemptuously at the bearded Archduke Aurelius: “And your Northward ways.”

Neither of the two dukes answered him; they simply turned their gazes away.

"Hmph, if this child hadn't come to apologize, we wouldn't be in this awkward situation, would we?" King Nunn VII sneered. "Would you have readily used the pretext of avenging my son to send troops south?"

The dukes did not reply.

But Thales already knew the answer.

“Kurikun Ronnie?” King Nuen looked at the long-haired man and said slowly, “Go and kill him, and Dragon Sky City will fully support the Ronnie family in any benefits they can gain in the war.”

“To do this to a child whose genitals haven’t even grown hair yet is an insult to my honor,” the long-haired man, Grand Duke Ronnie, snorted. “Although Qiyuan City is far from the threat of the stars, the Ronnie family also has its own pride.”

The more Thales listened, the clearer his senses became.

The tone of voice the grand dukes used when speaking to the king...

Through the most direct and intuitive contact, he quickly realized the fundamental difference between Exter and the Stars in their relationship as king and vassal.

The Grand Duke and the co-elected King were almost equals, and those who knew each other or had power even treated the King with no respect.

More than the stars… Thales recalled the Hall of Stars, where the vassals of the six great families and thirteen noble clans knelt and kissed Kessel’s ring.

It seems the Grand Dukes of Exeter truly are a state unto themselves, and the power they wield far exceeds our expectations. Thales recalled Putila's assessment.

They're probably the same in terms of strength.

"enough!"

The last brown-haired young man sighed.

“I am Conkry Pefit, the lord of Beacon City. Your Highness, I apologize for making you witness this.” The brown-haired young man turned around, gave Thales an apologetic smile, and then said to King Nunn with concern, “Your Majesty, I understand your anger, but please consider the future of the kingdom… The Prince of Stars is here, and we have lost our legitimate reason for sending troops. Killing him will only make things worse.”

Nunn did not answer.

He glanced around at the Grand Duke, then at Thales, before speaking in a deep, resonant voice.

“You are a bunch of cowards,” King Nunn VII said gravely. “Even with my approval, you still cower in fear of war, not even daring to spill the blood of a child.”

It's precisely because of your approval that it's suspicious.

Thales said quietly.

"The North has never taken pride in killing children," Grand Duke Ronnie of Qiyuan City replied calmly.

“Very well, then the meeting is adjourned,” King Nunn said coldly, bringing this bizarre meeting to a close. He looked at Thales, his eyes still filled with merciless indifference and hatred: “Put down that ridiculous sword, Prince of the Stars. You don’t need to use it tonight.”

"Huh?" Thales was taken aback: "An evening occasion? What occasion?"

"What else can we do?" King Exter glared coldly at the five grand dukes. "Since these cowards refuse to pay the price, what other choice do we have?"

"Go and get ready for your welcome dinner."

"Tales Shining Star".

The king left with his last words in the most obnoxious tone, then turned and left without looking back.

The dukes looked at each other, their expressions varied, and stood up.

Thales stared blankly at everything before him.

Is this... the end?

“I say,” said Aurelius, the bearded Grand Duke of Weyland, as he approached Thales, his expression still grim, “how long are you going to keep my sword?”

"Clang!"

The sword in Thales' hand then fell to the ground.

His palms were numb.

When Thales emerged unharmed from the stone hall and saw Lord Myrk waiting for him, he realized that he had unknowingly broken out in a cold sweat despite the freezing weather.

My legs are almost no longer my own.

Thales, as if he had just finished a cross-country run, pressed his knees and exhaled deeply.

damn it.

People from the North.

“Please follow me, Your Highness,” Lord Mailke said expressionlessly. “I will take you to your room to prepare for the evening banquet.”

"Your entourage will also be at the banquet."

Thales suddenly raised his hand, stopping Milek's movement.

“Before that, could you take me to see Lord Nicolai and Marquis Slay?” Under Mylk’s meaningful gaze, Thales gave a strange smile. “I have received a lot of help from them on the way to Dragonstreet.”

"Hmm?" Myrk uttered softly, expressing his confusion.

“For their profound kindness,” Thales’s expression turned grim. He raised his head and said firmly, “I must thank them both in person, sincerely, seriously, carefully, and with great effort.”

...the whole family.

It's been a long time since I've written a chapter of 9,000 words.

Taking advantage of the limited-time free offer, I'll write as much as I can for everyone.

Hurry up and watch it!

A certain genius in the book club's fan group made a bold statement, claiming that if the book reaches 100,000 recommendation votes upon completion, he will livestream himself wearing women's stockings in the group.

How could Wu Jian refuse such a request, which seemed to belittle Wu Jian but was actually meant to satisfy his own evil desires and fantasies?

Let's all work together to help him realize his dream of live-streaming himself wearing women's stockings!
After all, what's the difference between a person without dreams and a salted fish?


(End of this chapter)