Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 198 Price
Rumba stepped off the carriage alone.

The carriage doors were closed again.

Clearly, he had no intention of letting Thales go down with him.

Still reeling from the news Rumba had just revealed, Thales steadied himself against the carriage, his shock and confusion unwavering. Under the worried gaze of the little rascal, he pressed his face against the carriage window.

Rumba said someone wanted him dead.

who is it?

Who would want to save his life?

Could it really be what I'm thinking...?

Thales' thoughts were interrupted by the scene before him.

This was a small alleyway, which had been cleared by Black Sand Territory soldiers dressed in patrol uniforms, creating a slightly larger open space.

Grand Duke Lombard resumed his stern, unsmiling expression, and, with his hand on his sword, walked steadily toward the center of the alleyway.

There, a fair-skinned man wearing a thick cotton-padded coat waited for the Grand Duke's arrival with a relaxed expression.

Thales frowned slightly: he didn't recognize this man who looked almost exactly like any other northerner.

The man smiled, raised his hand to his chest, bowed to Rumba, and his lips moved slightly.

Rumba nodded slightly and said something in return.

"Who is that?" The little rascal shoved his head close to Thales.

“I don’t know.” Thales frowned. The two men, Rumba and the others, were speaking softly, and could not be heard at all while sitting in the carriage.

But this was a matter of his survival, Thales told himself: he had to hear it.

must.

So Thales clenched his fist, gently closed his eyes, and repeatedly recalled that unique feeling between life and death.

According to Black Sword, he repeatedly gave himself suggestions, as if another person was residing inside him.

This is for survival.

help me.

One second, two seconds, three seconds, and finally, the familiar fluctuations returned.

The sins of the River of Hell surged into his head as if they were alive, and Thales focused them intently near his ears.

At that moment, he first felt that other parts of his body were heavy and weak.

But then a sound he wouldn't normally hear drifted into his ears.

The first thing Thales heard was the unsteady heartbeat of himself and the little rascal, followed by the little rascal's anxious hand-wringing.

But Thales quickly figured it out. He pressed his ear against the carriage and, amidst the cacophony of noise at the alley entrance, managed to make out the voices of two men talking.
“Yes, he expressed satisfaction and delight with our cooperation,” a strange male voice that Thales had never heard before slowly came through, the owner of the voice seemed confident and calm: “It seems to be progressing smoothly?”

But the person who answered him didn't seem to have much patience to talk to him.

"Let's get straight to the point," came the deep, gruff voice of the Grand Duke of Lombard.

"The boy is in the car."

Thales felt a chill run down his spine.

He opened his eyes, raised a hand, and gestured for the curious little rascal to quiet down.

"That boy?" The stranger's tone suddenly rose, as if he had found a long-lost treasure.

Thales looked up and gazed out the car window.

There, the strange man in the thick coat turned his head and glanced in the direction of the carriage.

That glance seemed to pierce through glass, sending chills down Thales' spine.

Those were eyes filled with greed and desire.

Like a venomous snake before it hunts.

The stranger's eyes lit up, and he looked back at Rumba: "Tails Star? Is that him?"

Rumba remained silent, continuing to stare at him coldly.

"So fast?" The man narrowed his eyes, and just two seconds later, he confirmed his answer.

He cupped his hands, a smile playing on his lips, and his previously lukewarm polite smile instantly became amiable: "The last city gate and the Palace of Heroes are still in the hands of Dragon Sky City—did you sneak in and kidnap him?"

Thales had a sudden thought: Valhalla was still in the hands of the Walton family.

Rumba snorted through his nose.

"I have my own way," the Black Sand Grand Duke said, his mood unchanged, showing no kindness to the man before him. "What do you say?"

The man stared intently at Grand Duke Lombard, as if a small-time merchant were looking at his biggest customer.

"Of course, that's wonderful!" The man clapped his hands and laughed heartily, "We are extremely grateful for your help, and you will gain our lasting friendship..."

But his words were rudely interrupted by Rumba.

"Enough with the nonsense." Chaman Lumba, dressed in military uniform, snorted coldly.

He stared at the man before him with an icy expression:
What are you planning to offer in exchange for him?

The unfamiliar man paused, seemingly confused: "Exchange?"

The man clasped his hands lightly, his expression shifting slightly as if he were slowly savoring the words. Then, he smiled broadly: "Please forgive my rambling, but from the very beginning, we have already..."

"Help?" Rumba spoke again, cutting off the man's words without any courtesy.

The Black Sand Grand Duke gave a disdainful snort:
"Aside from contacting a reliable hitman, you haven't done anything."

Rumba tilted his chin slightly, his eyes sharp: "Want that boy? You'd better change your price."

Thales, who was eavesdropping, felt a slight chill: Contact a reliable knife-wielder?
"A reliable knife-wielder?" The man quickly answered Thales's question, frowning slightly with a wronged smile that said, "How could this be?" as he explained:

“We’re talking about the flower of assassins, and I guarantee you won’t find a better killer in the world than them, especially since you’re targeting the most difficult targets.”

Rumba didn't speak.

"And if I may be so bold, due to your intelligence failures, the Locusts wasted far too much time searching for their target in Valhalla," the man shook his head and sighed. "If our men hadn't discovered the target's whereabouts in time, the Locusts would never have been able to complete their mission, and neither would you..."

The man stopped speaking, frowning as he saw Rumba slowly shaking his head.

“As far as I know, Baannet Sarridon is not one of you. He makes his living with his knife, so I will discuss payment with him separately.” Rumba’s voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable air of authority:

"As for you, don't use other people's bargaining chips to negotiate—if you still want to take that boy, that prince, away."

While listening to the two conversations featuring him in the train carriage, Thales suddenly realized something in his mind.

Baannet Saridon, he descended from the Skycliff and assassinated King Nun in the Shield Zone.

But according to that man...

In other words, the reason why Lumba appeared before him with an army was...

The man didn't speak again; he just looked at Rumba quietly, a complex expression in his eyes.

Rumba continued to stare at him expressionlessly.

In the end, the man succumbed to Rumba's gaze and sighed.

"You're really greedy."

“We are not having a conversation.” Rumba shook his head, coldly uttered a sentence, and turned to leave.

The man's expression suddenly changed.

What a stingy and petty duke! He thought impatiently to himself.

“Alright, alright, Your Excellency!” he called out to Rumba, somewhat annoyed.

The stranger shrugged, seemingly resigned, but a strange light shone in his eyes.

"As long as you hand that boy over to us..."

The man slowly exhaled, his expression returning to its previous sinister grin.

“We have extensive resources and manpower, from the Duchy of Anrenzo to the State of Valir, from the City of Crystal to the Devil’s Islands, and the same is true in Exter,” the man chuckled twice. “I bet the newly formed Exter will need us a lot. After all, not everyone will submit to a vicious lord suspected of regicide. We can help you quell the domestic situation. If there is any foolish vassal that you can’t easily deal with…”

Resources.

manpower.

It's hard to make a move...

Thales felt a chill run down his spine!
In that instant, he suddenly realized the identity of the man in front of him.

But Rumba's reply was only two cold words: "Not enough."

The man was slightly startled.

He frowned, seemingly deep in thought, and after a while, he relaxed his brow, unusually cautious, and said, "If this doesn't satisfy you..."

“We also possess a great deal of intelligence, whether it's political scandals or state secrets. With a little manipulation or adjustment, it's enough to cause a huge uproar in some small countries,” the man’s tone was no longer as relaxed as before, and in Thales’ ears, his speech was becoming increasingly rapid: “As far as I know, Exter has been paying close attention to the situation in the west, along the Golden Corridor. We can keep the Free Alliance embroiled in internal strife for several years, and we can also cause White Mountain a lot of trouble. If your ambitions are not limited to…”

Thales clenched his fist and swallowed hard.

Not good.

This sounds...

"Not enough." To Thales's surprise, Rumba's answer was still just those two cold words. This time, the man's expression finally stiffened like never before.

He stared at Grand Duke Lombard for several seconds.

The man closed his eyes, exhaled a breath of hot air from his nose, and when he opened them again, his eyes held not only seriousness but also a chilling, murderous intent.

"So what exactly do you want?"

A hint of impatience crept into the man's voice, and his previously light and cheerful tone began to cool: "Power? We can act as your eyes and ears, your sword and shield, serving your ambitions. Wealth? While our reserves may not rival those of a nation, some of our rare treasures are beyond the reach of even royal families. Beauty? We can... no, I believe you are not one for such low tastes—so, Your Excellency, what is your price?"

The man took a deep breath, and the smile on his face vanished completely.

“As long as you speak up, we can discuss it.”

Rumba stared at him intently, and before he knew it, a mocking smile had appeared on his lips.

"My price?"

The Grand Duke of Black Sands snorted coldly, which made a hint of displeasure flash in the man's eyes.

"As the organization's signature assassins, and even the intelligence secrets they rely on for their livelihood—you're willing to pay such a price without hesitation, just for that boy?" Rumba suddenly took a step, slowly approaching the unfamiliar man, his gaze burning like a beast that had been lurking for a long time.

"This only proves one thing."

The man felt a chill run down his spine as he felt Rumba's intensely oppressive gaze and unconsciously took a step back.

Inside the carriage, Thales heard Rumba say, word by word, "This boy is worth far more than all of the above combined."

With his extraordinary hearing, Thales heard his own breathing begin to quicken.

My value.

what is that?
What does it have to do with them?
The man's expression changed again.

He stared wide-eyed as Lumba slowly placed his hand on the sword at his waist, the Grand Duke's armor making a rustling sound.

“He has some secret I don’t know about,” Rumba said in a low voice, his gaze lingering on the man’s unpredictable face. “My request is simple: I want that secret.”

"That's why you've gone to such lengths to get him."

After Rumba finished speaking, neither of them said anything more.

Negotiations have returned to silence.

For a moment, only the faint voices coming from outside the alley could be heard in the arena.

The atmosphere of the conversation turned strange.

The two remained motionless, locked in a standoff.

Even Thales, who was anxious, couldn't help but want to get out of the car and urge them on.

"Your Excellency, you haven't even overcome the current difficulties, haven't you even conquered Dragonsky City and Exter, yet you're already thinking about other things?" Finally, the unfamiliar man slowly uttered his words, his voice carrying an unsettling calmness and coldness:
"With such a promising future as yours, why are you so ambitious?"

Thales unconsciously pursed his lips.

“I’ve already stated my price,” but Lumba had no interest in arguing with the other party. The Black Sand Grand Duke looked at the man coldly and asked, “Tell me, why is he so important to you?”

The man glanced at the carriage, then lowered his eyes and remained silent.

“I’m pressed for time,” Rumba added coldly, “You have ten seconds to make a decision.”

The man's eyebrows twitched and his Adam's apple bobbed.

He was hesitating.

Even Thales held his breath at that moment.

"You know, he is a prince..." The man exhaled and said slowly, "Princes are naturally very precious."

Rumba scoffed dismissively, "Don't tell me you're going to use him to exchange for ransom with Starry Sky."

"Why not?" The man revealed a long-lost smile, but his eyes were filled with gloom: "Everyone knows how wealthy the Starry Sky royal family is."

"Then why don't I just kidnap him myself and take him to get the ransom?" Rumba retorted quickly, his voice carrying an air of authority: "Why should I make a deal with you?"

The man gently clenched his teeth.

“Your Excellency, I thought we came here today…” the man replied with a grim expression, but Lumba interrupted him again, disregarding his feelings.

“Actually, I have a rough idea,” the Grand Duke said, raising his head slightly, his sword jingling softly. “When you arranged for spies in my army to assassinate him, you did so without hesitation.”

"But today they say they want him alive."

Thales gritted his teeth.

correct.

Rumba was referring to the assassination attempt with the magic gun at the Dragon Fortress.

If we also consider Perry's last words...

“You thought it was enough that he was dead, but now you want to keep the living prince in your hands,” Rumba said in a deep voice. “Your scheme is related to the succession to the throne of the stars, isn’t it?”

The man narrowed his eyes, and from a distance, he looked like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

But Rumba's next words made the man's expression change drastically:
"Is what you did in the Starry Sky twelve years ago also related to this?"

It wasn't just the men whose expressions changed drastically.

And there's Thales in the car.

A bloody year.

He never expected to come across this secret that had troubled him for so long under these circumstances.

"And the reason you changed your minds and no longer wanted to kill him..." Rumba had completely taken control of the conversation. He turned his head, his eyes seemingly containing the ice and snow of an entire winter:
"Is it some big shot from your organization who came and overturned all the plans of you lowly underlings?"

The man's expression grew increasingly grim.

Rumba simply said, "Is it 'him'?"

Thales raised his head slightly, a question arising in his mind: Him?

The man opened his mouth, took a deep breath, and then looked up.

“You don’t need to worry about that,” the man said, his expression cold and dismissive. “In short: we need that boy.”

“Of course,” Rumba said softly, raising his left hand slightly toward the carriage, “provided that you tell me exactly why you want this boy.”

The man looked at Rumba quietly, as if trying to find something in his weathered face.

“Yes, that’s right,” the stranger said slowly, “By controlling this boy, we control the Star Throne, don’t we? It will be of great help to you then…”

Rumba didn't let him continue.

“I’m tired of your nonsense, you errand boy,” the Grand Duke of Black Sands said calmly, with a hint of indifference. “Where is your important figure, the one who keeps his word?”

The man's expression changed again.

Rumba looked at him expressionlessly.

"Your Excellency, you are an ally we value and cherish greatly." He sighed deeply, as if he had made up his mind.

"For the sake of more, deeper, and more important cooperation in the future, why can't we show each other some sincerity and goodwill, and leave some room for each other?" the man said quietly.

Rumba looked at the man and took a long breath.

"The principle of cooperation is fairness," the Grand Duke said calmly, his expression unchanged. "You haven't done anything, yet you want to take such an important bargaining chip from me?"

The man slightly raised his eyelids, his pupils reflecting a different kind of coldness.

"did nothing?"

The unfamiliar man gave a soft, cold laugh: "Believe me, Your Excellency, if it really comes to the point where we want to do something..."

"You don't want to see that day."

A strange light flashed in Rumba's eyes.

"What do you mean by this?" Grand Duke Black Sands asked slowly, gently, and softly, enunciating each word clearly.

It was as if they were afraid of waking people who were sound asleep in the early morning.

Thales instinctively felt something was wrong.

But the man seemed oblivious to the Grand Duke's expression and tone, only slightly curving the corners of his mouth.

"What I mean is, no matter how confident a person is, they'd better think twice before they make an enemy of us."

The stranger raised his hand, straightened his robes, and spoke with a deep chill in his voice.

“Take a look at Eddie II of the Stars,” the man sneered, “and his terrifying eldest son, and see where they are now…”

Thales slowly frowned.

Rumba stared at him without moving, her expression completely calm, though a strange light flickered in her eyes.

The man lowered his hands, looked up and stared directly at Grand Duke Lomba, his tone filled with a strange emotion: "Aren't their examples enough to make you take them seriously?"

Rumba did not answer the man in front of her.

He responded with the most direct action.

In Thales' eyes, all he saw was Rumba suddenly raise his right arm and tightly choke the stranger's neck!
I've recently encountered some setbacks and am currently adjusting myself.

It's alright. Just looking at little Thales makes me feel that life is still full of hope.

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(End of this chapter)