Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 320 "Installment" Release

After a brief silence, the Hall of Heroes erupted in an uproar!
"what?"

"That means……"

"But that boy clearly..."

But no matter whose emotions they are, none can compare to how Thales Shining feels at this moment.

Just a moment ago, the prince almost lost control of his body.

Until the sins of the River of Hell surged forth uninvited.

For him, the whole world seemed to have stopped at that moment.

Only my thoughts raced.

Star Kingdom.

The behind-the-scenes supporters of the Freedom Alliance?
With the help of the mysterious power of termination, Thales, drenched in cold sweat, did his best to control his breathing and barely managed to keep himself from losing control.

Countless questions arose in my mind.

what happened?

what happened!

"That is to say..."

At the head of the hall, Earl Hearst, with his golden beard, frowned deeply, glaring angrily at Monty, who had brought the message: "Cowards of the Freedom Alliance..."

"Is the reason they have the confidence to tear up the agreement because of the imperialists standing behind them?"

The Deathrattle shrugged, its tone somber: "Obviously."

The murmurs of discontent in the hall rose to another level.

"What are you doing?"

"Fuck the Imperials!"

"Are they crazy?"

"Their only heir is still..."

Is it a total war?

"So what's our next step? Are we still going to Qiyuan City?"

Thales took a deep breath, looking dazed.

Star Kingdom, Free Alliance, Exter...

Whether it was the little intelligence obtained under the strict surveillance of Valhalla, the news brought to him by Putilai whom he hadn't seen for years, or the information obtained from Dragonsreach, there was not a single clue pointing to this answer.

He received no instructions.

Just like the Dragon Blood six years ago.

For him, this was a true "accident".

“How amusing.” Count Linna, usually expressionless, made no attempt to hide his displeasure this time; his face contorted as he stared intently at Thales.
"Officially sending their son to Longxiao City, but secretly still relentlessly plotting against him?"

Linna sneered maliciously, "As expected of the heir to the empire."

"And we, we thought we held the safest bargaining chip, and thought the Star People would behave themselves, but in the end we were like fools, being played around by others."

"Just like the last war."

"Isn't that right, Little Prince?"

The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly heavy.

With a stiff expression, Thales raised his head with difficulty, responding to the various expressions of astonishment and anger in the hall: Risban's doubts, Nicolai's gritted teeth, Nazel's deep thought. Compared to them, even Monty's unsettling hunter's gaze seemed much gentler...

as well as……

And the Grand Duchess's incredulous and bewildered gaze.

"Hey, you, your surname is Canxing!"

Earl Curtson stood up abruptly, glaring resentfully at the prince, whose expression remained stiff in the corner.

"What the hell do you know about the Freedom Alliance, about your mad father's army?"

"Was this planned?"

Thales clenched his fist.

The beads of sweat on his forehead became increasingly dense.

No.

I do not know anything.

Everything...

But before he could utter those words, the prince clenched his teeth tightly.

No.

Now is not the time to panic, much less the time to cry foul.

As I suspected: an accident occurred.

What I need to do is deal with it and minimize the damage.

Calm down, Thales.

calm down!

"Hey!"

"Are you mute?" Kurtson snapped.

His voice, representing the anger in the hearts of the northerners at that moment, echoed in the hall.

The prince suddenly looked up, only to see a panicked and helpless look in Selma's eyes.

The Grand Duchess glanced instinctively at Thales, then at the equally somber Risban, her expression bewildered.

"Judging from his fearless demeanor, perhaps Longxiao City has been too lenient with him," Earl Linna murmured, cracking his knuckles in a startling sound.
"Perhaps we should return to the traditions of the Northern people."

"Want something tougher?"

Thales did not answer.

The people of the North looked at the Star Prince with growing ferocity, including even the Grand Duke's personal guards who were protecting him. In this atmosphere, even Rolf, who was equally shocked, unconsciously put his hand on his arm.

Under everyone's gaze, the second prince could only desperately try to remain calm and maintain the most basic thinking, ignoring even Ian, who was also sweating profusely and constantly tugging at his sleeve.

If you say so.

Something is not right.

Very wrong.

The Free Alliance's act of resistance, the war dilemmas of Qiyuan City, the power struggles in Longxiao City, and the Black Sand Territory's chance to breathe...

They all originated from, originated from...

These different objects, different motivations, and different actions converge in the same place...

Where is the connection between these things? Where do the clues point to the truth? And what is the key to this matter?

Faced with the prince's silence, Earl Curtson seemed to grow increasingly impatient, and he suddenly took a step forward!
Courterson revealed an unprecedentedly ferocious expression, gestured toward Thales with his lip, gritted his teeth, and said, word by word, "Very well, then tear him apart—until he speaks."

This statement seemed to ignite an already tense atmosphere.

"That's right!"

Many of the vassals of Longxiao City, filled with the same gnashing of anger, stood up one after another, their voices a tidal wave of agreement:
"Fuck him to death!"

"If you dare to mess with us, then pay the price!"

"Show the attitude of the North!"

Nikolai wanted to maintain order, but he was powerless to do so.

Rolf stood nervously behind Thales, facing the wrath of the Northmen, seemingly ready to gamble everything at any moment.

"What should I do?" This is his sign language.

But Thales, the main character in the story, remained motionless.

He seemed to have suppressed all his emotions and reactions, sitting stiffly in place like a stone statue, ignoring the raging curses and insults.

Like a stone statue.

"You son of a bitch, you Imperial!"

"Nail him to the city gate!"

"Let the Star People taste the torture rack, you hypocritical cowards!"

The noise continued.

Like a never-ending torrent, it crashes against the rocks again and again, merciless and cruel, shocking and terrifying.

Thales remained silent amidst the surging waves.

It was as if the world had nothing to do with him.

The chaotic hall was filled with anger and hatred.

Until a sharp, out-of-control female voice, like a rainbow piercing through dark clouds, tore through the cacophony of curses and insults...

A chilling sound echoed throughout the Hall of Heroes:

"enough--"

Thales was jolted awake!
Everyone was startled and instinctively turned around to look at the highest seat.

There, the young Grand Duchess had already risen from her seat at some point!

She clenched her fists and waved them at her sides, while clenching her teeth and contorting her face.

At this moment, Selma Walton, like a desperate lioness protecting her pride, roared hysterically: "This is the Hall of Heroes!"

"Shut the fuck up!"

"Shut up!"

The Grand Duchess's voice echoed among the beams and pillars.

The vassals' curses immediately subsided.

The hall fell silent again.

Only the girl's rapid, trembling breathing remained in front of the highest seat.

Everyone stared blankly at the Grand Duchess, who had lost control of her emotions, her fists clenched tightly, her eyes red, and her angry gaze sweeping across the room.

It was as if I had met their female lord all over again.

“Tsk tsk tsk,” Monty the Death Raven watched Selma’s mouth move up and down with great interest, unable to calm down for a long time, and muttered, “He really does look like Walton.”

Thales, his mouth slightly agape, gazed at the troubled girl from afar, his feelings a complex mix of emotions.

"What the hell is this?" Ian whispered angrily behind Thales, "Regarding the Freedom Alliance, you clearly said Starfall wouldn't—"

“Didn’t you hear what the Grand Duchess said?” However, this time, Thales simply shook his head coldly:
"Shut up."

Ian was stunned.

Finally, a steady cough broke the silence.

“Sit back, Curtson, and everyone else.”

The Regent's stern voice rang out.

“Whether it’s being capricious or bullying the weak, it’s all cowardly. The Northmen aren’t that despicable,” Count Lisbon said calmly, standing before Curtson. “We will decide how to handle this matter—after consulting with the lady.” “Now that it has happened, no amount of severe punishment will change his mind.”

“Until then, Prince Thales was still our guest.”

The regent's words made Curtson frown.

“He is right,” the elderly Earl Nazel coldly echoed, “It’s just a military intelligence report, look how panicked you all are—if His Majesty Nunn were still alive…”

The words of the two powerful vassals calmed the agitation and anger in the hall considerably.

The vassals returned to their seats, but the gazes cast upon Thales, both overt and covert, did not diminish in the slightest.

Thales closed his eyes, but his mind raced even faster.

“Madam,” Risban turned and gently gestured to Selma.

Selma took a deep breath, composed herself after her earlier outburst, and sat down with Nicolai's help, her face pale.

She glanced at Thales, her expression unreadable.

Lord Monty.

After restoring order to the hall, Count Lisbon turned to the indifferent-looking Deathrattle.

"Is Qiyuan City definitely part of the Starry Sky army?"

The Regent asked steadily, "Is it possible that someone else is impersonating him? For example, Commas?"

“You know what I used to do,” Monty scratched the back of his head and gestured toward Nicolai on the steps. “How likely do you think we’ve got the wrong target?”

The vassals all frowned.

“Five thousand light cavalrymen couldn’t possibly be local nobles, they could only be…” Count Linna looked at Monty with scrutiny and suspicion: “You two fought?”

Monty shook his head.

"For several days, those Star People didn't even get close to Freehold, they just watched from afar and kept sending out scouts to investigate," Deathraven said, looking at the letter in his hand. "The distance from Blade Fang Camp to Freehold—heaven knows how they resupply in the desert."

Upon hearing this, many nobles were slightly taken aback.

"Wandering, patrolling, circling, avoiding battle, and stabbing in the back at the crucial moment," said Count Nazel, rubbing his chin and glancing at him. "Does this tactic sound familiar?"

"For example, eighteen years ago?"

Silence fell over the hall again, and many people lowered their heads.

Earl Curtson closed his eyes and sighed, "Damn it."

Thales' heart skipped a beat.

"Is Sonia Sathere and her guard still in Dragonbreaker Fortress? And where did they get five thousand cavalry—even if they were all light cavalry—and crammed them into the desert?" The youngest Earl Hearst frowned, instinctively turning his head to search for that figure:

"Such a large-scale troop movement couldn't have happened without prior notice. What about the information from the secret room? Mrs. Cassan, your..."

Hearst realized he had said the wrong thing and quickly shut his mouth.

A few seconds later, Monty snorted: "Whether it's the fortress or the secret chamber, you should ask the King—Black Sand Territory knows best."

The assembled officials in the hall fell silent once more.

Yes.

The throne is no longer in Valhalla, nor in Dragonsreach.

The darkroom, which served only Exter, was naturally the same.

A sense of gloom settled over everyone.

This is Dragon City after King Nuen's death.

Things are not what they used to be.

Upon hearing this, Count Lisbon sighed deeply:
"It doesn't matter anymore."

"The important thing is, if the stars are involved," the Regent said gravely, looking at the desolate Grand Duchess, "then what about our upcoming western expedition..."

The vassals' discussions resumed in the hall.

Count Linna sneered: "Imagine this: while we're fighting and besieging the city, there are five thousand people leisurely watching from the southern desert, waiting to strike us at any moment, and behind them might be the entire Star Kingdom..."

"Twenty years ago, even with the combined efforts of our three grand dukes, the war dragged on for almost a year because of the intervention of the white elves and Cornmas," he narrowed his eyes, as if recalling that year: "Guess how long Starfall can hold us off, two years? Three years?"

"The king must be very pleased to see this."

The delegation members from Qiyuan City exchanged unpleasant glances.

The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly oppressive.

Ignoring the unfriendly glances that occasionally swept over him, Thales quickly rearranged the information he knew.

Things won't be that simple, nor will they be that complicated.

The game just needs to be raised a little. Originally, it was thought that this was a storm between Ext and the Free Alliance, or even within Ext itself.

The Free Alliance sought independence, Black Sand Territory sought to overcome its difficulties, Qiyuan City sought its own interests, Dragon Sky City sought to maintain its power balance, and the other dukes longed to watch the king weaken and Dragon Sky City split apart.

And now...

We need to include the stars.

So, in this storm, where does the greatest benefit lie for the stars?

“This is just the optimistic scenario,” Earl Curtson said, counting on his fingers as if talking to himself, “If the other side… the other side really is the Star Kingdom, which has come out in full force after the Bloodstained Year…”

"If things get even worse, consider the White Elves who suffered losses in the previous war, and the four northern cities of Cornmas who are betting on the situation..."

"And we, we only have Dragon Sky City and Qiyuan City..."

Count Nazel watched him calculate the chips, sighed deeply, and uttered the words that resonated with many in the North:
"When was the last time Exter suffered a defeat?"

No one speaks.

Boom!
The one-armed Count Kierkegaard slammed his fist into the arm of the chair, producing a dull thud.

His ashen face betrayed his current mood.

The vassals clenched their fists.

“The situation has become complicated,” Count Lisbon said calmly, his expression unchanged.

Nazel nodded.

It's rare to see two old friends and rivals agreeing on something.

Thales was still thinking rapidly.

One guess after another surfaced in his mind.

“We need to readjust our troop deployment, including the quality of recruits,” the old count said gravely. “The difference between fighting the Free Alliance and fighting the Star Kingdom is not small.”

"You mean, withdraw the troops?" Risban's voice came steadily.

“I didn’t say that, after all, the lady has made a promise, and it concerns the honor of Dragonstreet and Walton,” Earl Nazel said seriously. “But if we still have to send troops to fight, we can no longer deal with it hastily in the same way as before.”

"After all, the opponent we are facing is a nemesis of nearly seven hundred years."

"Shield of the Western Lands, Descendant of the Empire."

No one spoke anymore.

Only the Deathrattle Raven shook its head and exhaled.

Ian Ronnie, the heir to the city of Qiyuan, stared in disbelief at Thales and then at Selma on the steps.

how come……

Selma sat in the Grand Duke's seat, looking dazed.

Just now.

"Do not."

Count Linna raised his head, drawing the attention of the entire hall.

“The problem is actually quite simple,” the count, whose expression was cold and whose words were sharp as knives, looked at Thales again and said meaningfully, “We neither need to send reinforcements nor hesitate.”

Thales felt a chill run down his spine.

coming.

What worried him most after the incident was this.

Many people stirred slightly.

"An army from the stars has come to disrupt things."

“But we have their successors.”

Count Linna said coldly, "Prince Thales Star, is that right?"

“A name that has never appeared in the family tree of a brilliant star.”

In that instant, Thales felt the gazes coming from all around him grow increasingly cold.

Earl Hearst paused, startled: "You mean..."

Earl Linna sneered, "Chop off one of his hands and send it to Yongxing City."

“Tell his crazy old man: Retreat immediately.”

Problem solved.

At that moment, the Grand Duchess turned her head sharply and looked at Thales in disbelief.

But Thales remained unmoved.

The Grand Duchess then looked anxiously at her regent, but the Count of Lisbon simply shook his head slightly, indicating that she should remain calm.

The people of the North quieted down, and their gazes toward Thales grew increasingly strange.

Among them, the Raven Monty gave him a strange smile.

Still like a hunter, eyeing its prey.

Thales took a deep breath.

“Hey, that’s enough,” finally, Earl Hearst couldn’t help but say.
"This doesn't fit the way Northerners do things—the primitive era of the Iron-Blooded King digging out his heart to drink is over three thousand years ago!"

Count Linna shook his head: "That's his purpose. Thank the gods, after wasting six years of food, this precious hostage has finally come in handy."

Thales tensed up.

“Wait, that’s the Iron-Fisted King who executed three hundred nobles in one night—it’s said that the madman watched the entire execution without blinking,” Earl Curtson scoffed disrespectfully, “If he’s really as heartless as the rumors say, and still refuses to withdraw his troops after all this…”

Count Linna smiled.

“Enough,” Earl Hearst snorted impatiently. “Release him in exchange for the withdrawal of troops, or simply kill him to show our stance—we’re just venting our anger on children because we’re dissatisfied with the Starfolk? What kind of nonsense is this?”

Count Linna gave a cold laugh.

“This isn’t about venting our anger. Besides, we’re just releasing him,” a cold glint appeared in his eyes. “It’s just that we’re doing it in installments.”

Earl Hearst frowned.

Installments?

"If one letter isn't enough to be persuasive, then two, three, four..."

“Anyway, besides his hands, he also has arms, legs, feet, eyes, nose, ears…” Count Linna’s chilling words echoed in Thales’ ears: “With each letter we write, we release a part of this prince in installments.”

“Until King Kessel withdrew his troops.”

"Or have no descendants."

Upon hearing this, Thales closed his eyes.

Let's do the math: Was the last chapter updated on Tuesday? Is this chapter updated on Wednesday?
There will be updates from Tuesday to Wednesday... Hmm, no problem, I haven't missed any updates!

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(End of this chapter)