Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 215 Drag

Really bad.

Thales sighed inwardly: Even the police didn't have time to pull out their weapons.

The little rascal sat dumbly on the ground, watching Thales have a blade pressed against his neck.

Everyone in the room looked grim.
From the moment Tuleha broke through the ceiling to invade, to the moment he repelled five people and took down Thales, it was only a fleeting moment.

Miranda stopped Cohen, who was in a fit of rage and wanted to charge forward.

The officer snapped out of his daze, wiping the blood from under his nose. He looked at the chaotic scene around him, then at the suddenly appearing enemy, and stared blankly at his teacher, Jedi's, words: "When one day you find yourself...able to end a battle in an extremely short moment...you've probably approached the pinnacle..."

Damn.

So this new guy...

Cohen clenched his fists, looking at the prince who was being held hostage, feeling utterly frustrated.

Raphael glanced at the Scarlet Witch at the door, then at the Fire Knight and Thales on the other side, his expression shifting between light and shadow.

“It actually came from above…” Wyman stared in astonishment at the broken ceiling, then looked at the rubble around him.

Cohen gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot: "Just one more shot..."

"What do we do now?" Miranda assessed the situation and sighed.

A round of applause came from the direction of the thick gate.

“Fire Knight, you truly live up to your reputation,” the Scarlet Witch reappeared before the thick door, smiling warmly and kindly. “What a beautiful display of skill.”

Tulehanu gestured with his lips, turning his gaze to Thales, looking at the blade he had placed before Thales' throat.

They seem quite dissatisfied with the current situation.

Thales chuckled at him, desperately trying to figure out a way to escape—though the chances seemed slim: the Extreme Tuleha, the mysterious Scarlet Witch, and the soldiers inside the city gate.

“It’s nothing…they’re not at their best,” Tuleha shook his head. “They’re injured, and their minds are wavering because of your words. They can’t even put together a decent team effort.”

Raphael and Miranda exchanged a glance, their breathing quickening.

“A circus kid with only superpowers,” the Fire Knight glanced at the indignant Rolf, then looked at Wyah leaning on his sword, “and a guy who’s impulsive and willing to risk his life.”

Tuleha then glanced at the other three: "These few... are only so-so."

"You, kid, nearing the pinnacle? Heh," Tuleha said disdainfully to Raphael, "Don't be ridiculous, with those powers that don't belong to you?"

Raphael's expression remained unchanged, but Miranda beside him had a flicker in her eyes.

Tuleha turned his gaze again and stared intently at Miranda: "Little girl, your sword skills are fine for showing off your stance in a one-on-one fight, but as for going all out in a real battle... humph."

Tuleha turned to Cohen.

The guard stared intently at him.

But Tuleha suddenly laughed.

“You’re not bad, tall guy,” the Fire Knight nodded slowly, his eyes showing approval. “Of all these people, only you know how to kill efficiently.”

Cohen was taken aback.

"Perhaps you will be the most successful among them," Tuleha said casually.

Cohen looked at Thales, whom he was holding hostage, and felt a surge of irritation.

Thales looked anxiously at each of his men, but could only see exhaustion and helplessness on their battered bodies.

Cassan stepped forward.

"The Scarlet Witch is a master liar. Isn't she?" Cassan raised an eyebrow, her eyes meaningful.

“However, a liar needs no tongue,” the Scarlet Witch said with a slight smile, looking at Raphael, whose expression was unreadable. “You’re not the only one stalling for time, little cleric.”

Tuleha glanced at the five people around him and frowned.

"But... is it really necessary to have just these few people?"

The Fiery Knight shook his head, his face showing disdain: "The soldiers can easily handle them all."

Cassan smiled, showing no impatience whatsoever.

“First,” the Scarlet Witch said kindly, “we need to be alive—accidents can easily happen in the chaos.”

“Secondly, let’s leave the others aside,” Cassan turned to Raphael, her eyes subtly shifting, “but this person…”

“He is close to the pinnacle after all, and you might not be able to control yourself and kill him,” the Scarlet Witch said calmly, meeting Raphael’s unfriendly gaze. “He is also a member of the Secret Society, so he may have other methods—such as alchemical orbs, or committing suicide before being captured.”

"After all, it wasn't easy to force him to show up."

Raphael said nothing.

“So,” Cassan smiled again, “now can you hand over the Staff of Stars, dear Raphael?”

Raphael seemed a little tired and stumbled.

Cohen tried to support him, but Raphael had already put his arm around Rolf's shoulder.

Raphael leaned on Rolf's shoulder to catch his breath, then steadied himself and stared at her intently.

His expression underwent a subtle change.

"The Staff of Stars is not with me," the young man from the Secret Department said slowly.

"No Star Staff?" The Scarlet Witch grinned, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes rippling slightly. "Without that weapon, how could Morat possibly put you in charge of the Blood Calamity?"

“We don’t need to rely on legendary anti-magic forces to incite calamity,” Raphael said coldly.

Ms. Cassan did not speak; she simply looked at Raphael quietly.

“Your prince is right before you,” the Scarlet Witch whispered. “You know that your choices will affect his safety, don’t you?”

Everyone turned to Thales.

Thales was taken aback.

what?
My safety?

But at that moment, Thales frowned: with his back to the Scarlet Witch, Rolf twitched his shoulder and broke free from Raphael's grasp.

The Ghost of the Wind quietly made a concealed hand gesture towards him.

【drag.】

Thales' heart skipped a beat.

拖？
Thales frowned: What is Raphael... waiting for?
Raphael looked up.

“I don’t have that thing.” Raphael’s pupils narrowed, but he still didn’t budge. “Even if I did, I wouldn’t give it to you.”

"Oh? Is that so?" The Scarlet Witch said calmly and naturally, as if she didn't care.

But the next moment, her words made everyone frown.

“Very well, Lord Tuleha,” the old woman in the red robe said softly, “please… cut off one of that prince’s fingers for me.”

Thales took a deep breath and his eyes widened.

what?
Raphael closed his eyes.

“Hey!” Cohen couldn’t hold back any longer and said with dissatisfaction, “He’s just a kid!”

Cassandra smiled and raised her arms to her stomach, revealing her wrinkled hands: "He's a star, a descendant of royalty."

"This is enough."

Tuleha frowned, his gaze sweeping over Thales's hand before turning to the Scarlet Witch, seemingly displeased: "Really? A little boy? A finger?"

Cassan looked at the Fiery Knight and suddenly chuckled:
"Of course I was just joking."

Thales breathed a sigh of relief.

“The Star Staff, capable of suppressing the vast majority of magic users,” Cassan shook her head helplessly, then a smile appeared in her eyes: “How could it be worth only a finger?”

"How about one eyeball?"

Thales jolted again, nearly getting cut by the blade. "Hey, wait a minute!"

Thales quickly raised his hands, but Tuleha immediately turned the blade, the blade touching his skin with a chill.

"Star...the Staff of Stars, right!"

This time, he successfully captured everyone's attention.

Cassan turned her gaze to Thales.

"It is said that you are renowned for your precocity, Your Highness." The Red Witch smiled kindly again.

But at that moment, Thales only wanted to get as far away from that smile as possible.

Cassan said calmly, "Perhaps you can persuade him to cooperate with us for the sake of your physical well-being?"

Thales swallowed hard, turned his gaze to Tuleha who was staring at him coldly, and gave an awkward smile.

The second prince looked at Raphael, but the latter only looked at his feet.

Cohen nudged Raphael, but he still didn't respond.

Thales took a deep breath, looked at the Scarlet Witch, and gave her a "I'm all in" look.

To stall for time.

Is that right?

“The Staff of Stars,” the second prince said, sweating profusely as he looked at the blade before him, “Well… actually, Raphael didn’t… didn’t bring it with him.”

Cassan stared at him without moving, her eyelids slightly twitching.

Thales felt uneasy under their gaze, but his face was practically frozen with laughter.

"Is that so?" the Scarlet Witch finally sighed. "Then you'll lose one of your eyes too."

Thales was startled.

Cassan looked at Tuleha and nodded slightly.

"Really?" Miranda asked, displeased.

Cohen clenched his fist, gathering the power to finish off his opponent.

Cassan smiled, narrowing her eyes, and shook her head at them.

“Hey, Ms. Cassan,” Tuleha, who held Thales’ life in his hands, sighed and looked at Cassan: “He’s just a child.”

Thales breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the Fire Knight with gratitude.

“Is that so?” Cassan raised an eyebrow, then smiled. “Then forget it…”

Thales didn't dare to move, watching the interaction between the Scarlet Witch and the Fire Knight.

"But I've heard that Lord Tuleha's swordsmanship is so exquisite and subtle that it can even cut down flies?" The old woman smiled slightly.

Tuleha squinted.

The Scarlet Witch said gently, "Then why don't you show us..."

How about severing his right eyelash with a single stroke?

Thales' heart tightened again!
Right...right eyelash?
Tuleha chuckled, glanced at Thales, and slowly began to move the knife in his hand: "That's not impossible..."

The golden blade grazed Thales' eyelashes and finally stopped on his forehead.

The blade lightly touched his right eye, as if measuring distance.

Tuleha snorted softly, his saber trembling slightly: "Boy, don't blink—or you'll regret it."

As Thales felt the coldness of the blade slowly grazing his face, his heart skipped a beat.

This……

Damn...

"Wait—I know!"

He could no longer bear it, and before Tuleha's blade could strike, he shouted, "I know... I know where the Staff of Stars is!"

Now, not only Cassandra and Tuleha, but everyone in Stardust looked at him.

Tuleha brought the blade back to rest on his neck.

"The secret society doesn't know, but you do?" the Scarlet Witch asked calmly, her tone filled with deep suspicion.

Thales exhaled and blinked his right eye hard.

“After all, it belongs to the Starry Sky Royal Family,” Thales chuckled awkwardly as he recovered. “And the Secret Society did bring it—for the Blood Calamity.”

Cassan narrowed her eyes: "Oh?"

Thales' eyes darted around as he racked his brains to figure out the current situation.

You need a plausible excuse to stall her...

“Last night, the Blood Calamity was sealed,” Thales said with a slight pant and a helpless smile. “But I’m sure it wasn’t made by the Soul-Slaying Spear or the Meteorite’s blade.”

The Scarlet Witch frowned.

That's right.

When the Soul-Slaying Spear, the Soul-Severing Blade, and their master were found, the Blood Calamity had been sealed away for a long time.

and so……

"How did you know?" Cassan asked slowly.

Raphael's expression changed subtly.

“Because I know,” Thales licked his lips, his mind racing, “there is…there is another person who has obtained the Staff of Stars!”

"He sealed away that calamity."

Cassandra's expression finally froze slightly.

Cohen and Miranda exchanged a glance, both surprised and uncertain.

"Who?" she whispered, "The one who seals away the calamity?"

Thales took a deep breath and slowly uttered the answer he had prepared.