Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 251 Difficult
After listening to his subordinate's report, Viscount Cambida took a deep breath.

He turned his head and looked at Putila again.

"What is this?" Kambida asked coldly.

Putilae raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"What exactly are you thinking?"

Kambida's face was grim. He strode up to the other man, his height advantage of being half a head taller making him look imposing. "After doing so much, all you've done is..."

"Just to send a seven-year-old brat to see the Grand Duke?" Kambida frowned, his eyes sharp and cold.

Putila slowly exhaled.

He longed for the pipe and tobacco in his arms, but unfortunately, his bound hands meant he could only sigh longingly at the sight of the smoke.

The deputy envoy had no choice but to grind his teeth and try to satisfy his craving for cigarettes.

"So, in your opinion, what should we do at this time?"

Putila raised his head, looking at his opponent without any tension: "Charge at all costs? Take the risk of an assassination? Run around the city seeking help? Try to escape danger? Or try to shake hands and make peace with you?"

He shrugged, as if it were just a lighthearted conversation between old friends.

Kambida took a deep breath, calmed himself, and suppressed his shock and anger at the unexpected event.

With his meticulous planning and far-sighted vision, he rose through the ranks from a mere lord to his current position among the local vassals of Black Sand Territory, becoming the Grand Duke's chief strategist.

In the Grand Duke's plan, an unexpected event occurred, and anyone could panic, become angry, or go crazy—like an ordinary and typical Northerner.

Only he cannot.

No.

For the great future they envision.

That future, freed from heavy shackles, with infinite possibilities.

Thinking of this, the chill on Kambida's face eased slightly.

"Impossible." The Viscount slowly uttered the word.

Putila raised an eyebrow slightly: "Hmm?"

Kambida shook his head.

“You can’t put your hopes on a child—this isn’t a fantasy novel.”

"What tricks are you playing? What are you hoping to achieve?" Viscount Cambida sneered, a strange smile appearing on his face. "Or is there something on that boy? King Kessel's letter? A promise from some Grand Duke? Powerful legendary anti-magic weaponry? A special alchemical orb? Or even Queen Black Orchid's decree? Or is he simply a decoy used to distract us?"

Putila lowered one eyebrow and gave him a playful look: "You seem unwilling to believe it."

Kambida slowly shook his head.

"To put it another way, Your Excellency," the deputy envoy shrugged, "what does this game between us look like?"

"Troop deployments on the battlefield? Political maneuvering involving the exchange of bargaining chips? Or even the simplest and most direct conspiracy of assassination?"

Kambida stared intently into Putila's eyes, but could only find endless depth and serene tranquility within them.

Like the most seasoned politicians, the most experienced spies.

The Viscount spoke softly: "Anything is better than sending Nicolai or yourself over there, rather than sending a child to the five grand dukes."

Putila seemed amused: "He's no ordinary person."

Cambida took a step back, tilting his head to stare at Putila.

“Perhaps in your Palace of Restoration, that child can follow the script the king has given him, cooperate with your performance, and earn a reputation for precocity,” Kambida clicked his tongue. “But here—facing the Northmen, you will regret it.”

Putila raised her head and met Kambida's mocking gaze.

"Perhaps in your opinion, the extraordinary skills of the Meteorite can break through enemy lines and even turn the tide of battle, but my few strategies are enough to keep you busy and flustered."

“But we all know perfectly well,” the deputy envoy of the Star People said slowly, “that the key to this game has never been these edges and corners, these trivial details.”

"The decisive battle has only just begun."

well.

The deputy envoy of the Stars rubbed his fingers together behind his back.

He thought to himself: At least, this viscount was caught off guard by our actions.

In other words, in terms of intelligence, Black Sand Territory and we are back to square one...

They can no longer gain an irreversible advantage step by step through prior preparation and covert operations.

From this moment on.

Putila closed her eyes, then slowly opened them.

Thales Star, you are about to face the fairest, yet most brutal, duel.

What would you do?

Kambida's face darkened.

He stared coldly at the Star People, and after a long while, he finally spoke in a low voice: "The battle that will decide the outcome?"

"And what bargaining chips does that boy have?"

The Viscount said softly, "You don't know what kind of person the Grand Duke is, what kind of power he possesses, or where he stands, looking down upon the world from his lofty position."

Kambida narrowed his eyes, his tone solemn: "In the face of overwhelming power, all schemes and tricks are futile."

Putila didn't speak, but after hearing those words, he looked at Kambida with a strange expression and a slight upturn of his lips.

He slowly revealed a smile, followed by a continuous burst of laughter.

Viscount Cambida's pupils constricted slightly.

Putila's laughter continued.

“You’re laughing,” Kambida said calmly, “You don’t agree?”

The laughter lasted for several seconds before Putila took a deep breath, stopped the muscle twitching, and revealed a strange expression.

“I thought that even when it comes to scheming for others, people at our level should have some level of awareness,” he said, looking at Kambida’s face and nodding slightly.
"Overwhelming power?"

Putila scoffed dismissively: "Most people who say that are either weaklings who know nothing about power, or pitiful people who have pursued power but have failed to obtain it."

Kambida's expression slowly stiffened.

Putila raised an eyebrow and continued, “Because they have never understood power, they can only use their meager imagination and self-deceptive assumptions to describe what they have never obtained, infinitely exaggerating the omnipotence of power to fill the emptiness in their hearts and exonerate themselves from their failures.”

"Just like weak mortals, who are used to describing gods they have never seen as omnipotent beings."

Kambida stared at him expressionlessly.

“However, only those who truly possess power and have experienced it know this.” Putile blinked and looked up at the ceiling.

“The so-called overwhelming power,” Putila sighed slowly, a rare look of remembrance and regret in his eyes:
"It never existed."

Kambida remained motionless, lost in thought.

After a few seconds.

"As expected of someone who once studied at Dragon Kiss Academy," the Viscount said softly, "Your sophistry is truly remarkable."

Putila smiled slightly: "Thank you."

“He’s just a child,” Kambida slowly shook his head, a playful smile on his face. “With His Excellency the Grand Duke around, there’s nothing he can do.”

“He is not just a child,” Putila quickly replied, his eyes shining with boundless brilliance: “He is Thales the Star.”

Kambida chuckled mockingly, "That's the fairest battlefield. Neither the imperial family nor the bloodline of Radiant Star can offer him any help."

Putila gave a soft hum.

“Yes, the fairest battlefield,” Putila narrowed his eyes and nodded slightly, “with LS Kambida.”

Why do you follow the Black Sand Duke?

Kambida was slightly taken aback.

"Is it because of the Lumba family's authentic bloodline? Is it because of the Black Sand Territory's powerful foundation? Is it because of the Grand Duke's status? Or is it simply because you happened to be born in the Black Sand Territory?"

Putila shook his head and closed his eyes: "The same applies to Your Excellency, Viscount."

“A true king is not defined by bloodline,” Putila took a deep breath and slowly opened her eyes:
“That child’s biggest asset has never been his bloodline or his background.”

silence.

Their eyes met, like swords clashing.

Kambida frowned.

Damn.

This guy……

You can't get a single clue out of them.

Kambida quietly clenched his fist.

How much do they actually know about our plans and methods?
No.

A slight thought suddenly crossed Kambida's mind—not entirely.

At least, judging from his appearance...

They don't care about the Grand Duke's power at all—that's terrible.

But what's even more terrifying is that they don't even care about their own power.

because……

Kambida's eyes lit up.

He turned his head sharply and said urgently to his subordinates behind him, "Pass on the message to His Excellency the Grand Duke!"

Putila frowned slightly.

“They’re not targeting us,” Kambida said, taking a deep breath and trying to remain calm.
"Instead, they exploit the fears of the other grand dukes..."

"Turn them into our enemies!"

Putila's expression changed slightly.

"Also, send two squads to the top-floor chimney—I won't allow even a single fly to be stationed there!"

Kambida's men accepted the order and left.

“Truly impressive,” Putila raised an eyebrow slightly, his words revealing barely suppressed surprise: “Viscount Cambida.”

Cambida turned around, his face grim as he looked at his opponent: "Likewise." "Lord Neman."

----

The five dukes stared intently at him.

Until he cleaned the soot off his face, leaving a clear area where his features were visible.

awkward.

This is the only adjective Thales can find to describe this moment.

Can someone explain this?

Grand Duke Trudida whistled, looking at Thales with a subtle expression, then turned to the other grand dukes as if seeking help: "The story of a Star Prince who inexplicably emerged from the fireplace of Valhalla?"

“As I said,” Archduke Ronnie tilted his head and sneered at Rumba, “surprises are never too late.”

Rumba stared blankly at the disheveled Thales, his eyes filled with an endless chill that seemed to overflow.

Under the gaze of the five dukes, Thales, who was struggling to breathe, whether from the chimney or from nervousness, couldn't help but take a deep breath.

Calm down, calm down, Thales.

He clenched his fists.

I have arrived here.

The final battlefield.

He remembered all the people who had gone out to distract him and create space for him.

If I win, they can survive... as many as possible.

Thales raised his head with a heavy heart, his gaze sweeping over each of the grand dukes.

First of all.

To open a conversation.

“Believe me, if it weren’t for our Grand Duke of Lombard, who heavily fortified almost every road from the city gate to here, locking you all in a small cage isolated from the outside world,” Thales tried his best to control his voice, making it sound relaxed and comfortable, while also trying to remind each of the Grand Dukes of their predicament:

"Actually, I would prefer to meet you all in the reception room, properly dressed."

Grand Duke Ronnie narrowed his eyes and gave a lukewarm laugh, while Aurelius looked at him with a solemn expression.

“I admire your courage, son,” Ronnie said softly, “but you’ve come to the wrong place.”

“You have entered the Hall of Heroes, the solemn place where the five Grand Dukes of Exeter hold their meetings.”

His face hardened: "You have violated the dignity of the people of the North."

Thales' heart skipped a beat.

The atmosphere is not right.

He frowned, carefully recalling what the little rascal, Nicolai, and Putila had told him.

"Violation of dignity?" Thales took a deep breath. "Is it more serious than a Duke of Exeter murdering his monarch and trampling on the oath of shared rule?"

The five dukes all turned solemn.

Several people looked at each other.

“Be careful, child,” Aurelius sneered, glaring at him angrily. “Sometimes, saying the wrong thing can be fatal.”

Thales chuckled softly, stiffening his neck.

The gazes of the five dukes were unbearable—especially those from Rumba and Ronnie.

"I don't know if you all know this, but His Majesty Nunn has indeed passed away." Thales clenched his fists tightly to prevent his breathing from exceeding its limit and causing his voice to tremble.

“But I was there, I saw it with my own eyes,” Thales said firmly.

Trudida let out a long sigh.

Thales carefully observed their expressions.

"And the mastermind who arrived mysteriously after the incident, who orchestrated everything from the invasion of disaster to the assassination of the monarch," the second prince gritted his teeth and threw out the next sentence: "is standing right among you, trying to persuade you to cover up his crimes, clean up the mess, and join him in his evil deeds."

Thales stepped forward, looking at Rumba with a serious expression.

“Chaman Lumba,” he said gravely, “do you really want to associate with this kingslayer?”

"Even if he broke your ironclad rules?"

"Will it become the most unstable factor in the long-distance transportation network?"

A second passed.

two seconds.

three seconds.

To Thales' surprise, the dukes merely gave Rumba a strange look.

It was as if something funny had happened.

Thales' heart skipped a beat.

He instinctively felt that something was wrong.

Grand Duke Leko coughed loudly, then frowned and turned to Rumba: "Is this part of your performance, Chaman?"

Rumba still had that cold, unsmiling expression.

“No, this was an accident,” he said coldly, his gaze never leaving Thales.

With a nervous look in his heart, Thales glanced at Rumba, revealing a set of white teeth.

what happened?
No.

Thales told himself: He had to be more proactive and probe his opponent.

“Hey, Charman, I’ve come all this way,” the second prince forced a smile and said in a tone of greeting an old friend, “Won’t you buy me a drink, old friend?”

Thales raised an eyebrow: "Didn't you owe me a glass of rye when you proposed an alliance with me in front of the fortress?"

The four dukes glanced at Rumba, some openly, some subtly.

Rumba snorted coldly.

“Of course, I have prepared a wine glass for you,” the Grand Duke of Black Sands said calmly in a low voice.

Thales looked puzzled.

The next moment, Rumba's eyes sharpened, and then he suddenly raised his voice: "Guards, bring in two people."

The words fell.

Thales's expression hardened.

A voice came from outside the hall asking, "Grand Duke Leco?"

“Do as Charman says,” the bald old duke exhaled, shook his head, and looked at Thales with a mocking gaze: “Send one of our guests out.”

Thales's expression changed drastically!
What are you doing?
I can't even open the chat window?

Why don't you follow the routine?

"Wait a minute!"

The second prince hurriedly raised his hands towards the other four dukes:
"At least let me finish what I have to say, about the Kingslayer, about his attempt to use Exter to strengthen himself..."

However, to his surprise, he was interrupted.

“Oh, Chaman Lumba the Kingslayer,” Trudida said with a malicious smile. “I’ve heard of him. King Nuen’s death was rather unfortunate.”

"Thank you, we understand."

"Your Highness, the Stars."

At that moment, Thales felt a chill in his heart.

what happened?
Why did they—the grand dukes—do this?
Thales breathed in a daze.

The other dukes all had subtle expressions, as if they were not surprised at all.

Aurelius stared at him coldly, his gaze piercing.

Grand Duke Lecce stared blankly at the floor tiles, seemingly indifferent.

Trudida's smile was like poison, chilling to the bone.

Even Ronnie, who spoke up for them on their first meeting, remained expressionless.

Only Rumba gave him a chilling smirk, like a gambler who had his victory in the bag.

The sound of guards' footsteps could be heard outside the hall.

In that instant, Thales swallowed hard, his face pale.

No.

No, they shouldn't react this way.

In an instant, he suddenly understood.

Their words just now, something about "for Exter," were not ordinary words.

The dukes and Lombard have reached an agreement.

What exactly did Lumba say to the Grand Dukes?
Bribery? Promises? Threats? Conspiracy?
Could they even disregard the heinous crime of regicide and the traditions and stability of Exter?

Why should they turn a blind eye to Lumba's military coup and choose to conspire with a dangerous murderer?

The footsteps outside the hall grew closer—those were the people who came to escort him out.

Thales stared incredulously at the grand dukes—who were still giving him a faint, cold laugh.

At this moment, it was as if the dumbfounded Thales was just a clown.

At that moment, Thales, standing in the Hall of Heroes, suddenly realized just how daunting the task he was about to face was.

This chapter, as its title suggests, was very tiring and difficult to write. I revised it three times over the weekend.

Let's come back and correct the typos later.

Tomorrow is Mother's Day. For those of you who are away from home, don't forget to call your mom.

By Wujian, who looked completely serious.

PS fan titles are already available, everyone hurry up and claim them... anyway, they're super cheap... (sad face)

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(End of this chapter)