Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 324 Repayment
Thales never imagined that a king could receive such an interesting response when he appeared before his vassals.

At that moment, all eyes were on the king.

In the solemn atmosphere, Chaman Lumba stood with his hands behind his back, expressionless, yet he seemed to exude an invisible, heavy pressure unique to a king.

Behind the king, Viscount Kambida and Chloe stood calmly to his left and right.

Not everyone recognized King Chaman, so apart from Thales, only two expressions remained in the hall:

His face was solemn, and he was completely bewildered.

Some people possess both qualities: such as Risban and Nazar, and the Grand Duchess.

"The Exter people."

Viscount Cambida strode forward solemnly, and in a high-pitched voice with the short, forceful, and heavy tone characteristic of northerners, he solemnly announced to the entire hall:

"Pay homage to your king!"

Kambida's voice echoed in the hall.

The next second, it was as if a torrential rain had suddenly poured down, and the nobles who were still in doubt suddenly burst into uncontrollable discussions and clamor!
"what happened?"

"The patricide is actually in Dragon Sky City?"

"How did he get in?"

"Was it pre-arranged?"

"No, that prince..."

Some questioned, some were shocked, some felt heavy-hearted, some were apprehensive, and some gritted their teeth in anger.

But the Grand Duchess and the six counts fell into an eerie silence:

Selma was pale, and Risban kept his eyes closed and remained silent.

Nazel glanced at the king with barely concealed surprise, then frowned at the indifferent Thales.

Kerkegaard's gaze was intense, his breathing quickened; Hearst seemed to be seeing King Chaman for the first time, his solemn and scrutinizing gaze fixed on the king.

Earl Linna and Earl Curtson were so shocked they didn't even have time to exchange glances.

Ian from Qiyuan City stared in disbelief, blinking rapidly as he looked at the King of Gongju in the center of the hall, occasionally casting questioning glances at Thales.

That's the Black Sand Grand Duke that Father was talking about... the ambitious and ruthless one?

Who was the instigator of the disaster in Dragon City six years ago?
how come?
Thales, you and him...

Ian's expression grew increasingly grim.

At the eye of the storm, King Chaman remained calm and composed, behaving casually.

His left hand rested lightly on the sword at his waist, completely oblivious to the atmosphere around him.

The nobles' discussions grew louder and louder.

Until the king gently raised his head and surveyed the surroundings.

King Chaman's gaze was filled with coldness and death, and wherever it fell, those who were swept over felt a chill run down their spines.

The nobles couldn't help but hold their breath.

A few seconds later, the king finally grinned, looking at the nobles in Dragon Sky City, and chuckled mockingly:
"Humph."

Thales took a deep breath and calmly looked at Wyatt and Rolf—behind Cambida and Chloeshi, the Star Prince's two attendants, heads bowed and close to the wall, approached the prince discreetly.

In the end, it still came to this.

The prince calmly thought: The worst possible outcome.

The final trump card.

trump card.

He nodded to the two returning individuals.

Just then, Thales suddenly felt a chill down his back!
A malicious gaze was shot at him.

It is a meteorite.

Nikolai stared intently at Rumba, as if he were staring at a mortal enemy, his eyes filled with pain and hatred that seemed to burst forth in flames.

He then looked at Thales, his eyes filled with anger and dissatisfaction.

Even the Fallen One himself probably couldn't say for sure whether he hated King Chaman or Thales more at that moment.

Thales sighed softly, turning his head away as if he hadn't seen the Meteorite's terrifying expression.

"Dragon Sky City, are you all deaf?"

In the hall, Viscount Cambida was very dissatisfied with the nobles' behavior. He raised his arm and shouted angrily, "In the name of the co-governance oath..."

"To His Majesty Chaman Lombard, the forty-sixth co-ruler of the Kingdom of Exter and the Quegur Glacier, the supreme ruler of the northern peoples of the western continent—"

"salute!"

He glared angrily across the hall.

The room fell silent again, and the vassals frowned, many turning their gazes toward the Grand Duchess.

Selma took a deep breath and turned her head with difficulty to look at King Chaman.

Just then, the king turned around and glared sharply at Selma.

The girl's face paled as memories of the past resurfaced in her mind.

The Earl of Lisbon looked solemnly at the Grand Duchess, then at King Chaman, before sighing and nodding.

“He is the king, and this is an obligation under the sworn oath of shared rule,” the regent whispered to the girl.

Following Lisban's suggestion, Selma swallowed hard, took a few deep breaths, then lifted her skirt, got up from her seat, and slowly walked down the steps.

Heading toward the supreme ruler of Exter.

“Your Majesty Chaman,” she approached King Chaman, pressed her hand to her heart, bowed slightly, and respectfully said, “Welcome to Dragonrise City.”

"Your arrival is quite unexpected."

As the Grand Duchess made her move, countless sighs echoed through the hall.

King Chaman looked down at Selma, noticing the dragon spear emblem on her clothes, a fleeting, almost imperceptible look of bewilderment in his eyes.

"Yeah, I didn't expect that either."

“But life is always full of surprises,” he hummed meaningfully.

"The ruler of Dragon Sky City".

The king turned his gaze and looked around.

The next second, a rustling sound filled the hall—all the people of Exter, whether noble vassals or soldiers and servants, whether high-ranking earls or Viscount Ian of Qiyuan City, whether uneasy or resentful, all rose from their seats.

Get down on one knee.

Bow to King Exte in the center of the hall.

Thales watched all this silently, as if he had returned to the day six years ago when King Chaman was crowned.

Seeing the actions of the courtiers, Kambida and Kroesi exchanged a glance, then nodded in satisfaction and knelt down as well.

But Kambida immediately frowned: not everyone knelt down.

“Dumb guy, step back a bit,” Wyatt pulled Rolf back, muttering in dissatisfaction, “It’s a bit too conspicuous of us to be the only ones standing here…”

Rolf shrugged, pointed to someone in the arena, frowned, and gestured: "It's not just us."

Before Wyatt could react, Viscount Cambida's displeased voice rang out again:
"Earl Curtson".

"You're still standing there, without bowing?"

All eyes turned to him: Solon Corterson, Earl of Ferrenburg, one of the six highest earls in Dragoncity, stood there with a resentful expression, looking quite out of place compared to the vassals kneeling around him.

“I still remember when we were young, doing silly things together in Dragon City—you both respected and feared His Majesty Nuen back then.”

Earl Curtson said coldly, "Now, you've come back to Dragonsky City to show off your power, Charman?"

King Chaman's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he hummed a sound through his nose.

It seemed like they found it quite amusing.

“Listen up, Charman, we are vassals of the Grand Duchess of Dragonstreet,” Kurtson said gruffly, meeting the king’s gaze without flinching. “We are merely her vassals, and we bow only to her.”

Selma looked at Curtson, who had previously been at odds with her, with surprise.

It felt like I was meeting this sharp-tongued count for the first time.

Everyone in the hall watched silently as Curtson and King Chaman confronted each other.

But the king ignored him and simply looked away.

They seem indifferent.

“In this hall, only the Prince of Stars is exempt from bowing to the King, Earl Corterson,” Cambida said calmly.

A malicious glint appeared in the eyes of the Viscount of Menton:
"What, are you a Starman too?"

Upon hearing this, Earl Curtson's face immediately turned ashen.

Many people frowned.

“Kneel down and show your loyalty to the king,” Kambida said coldly.

Earl Curtson took a deep breath, looked at the King with disdain, then at Cambida, and was about to retort.

But someone grabbed his shoulder.

Curtson turned around in surprise: Count Linna gripped his shoulder, his face grim.

"Kneel down, he is, after all, the king."

"Etiquette is secondary, but if you don't want to be branded a 'disloyalist' the next day for violating the co-governance oath, and if you don't want to become the enemy of Dragoncity and the King..."

Earl Linna's tone carried a hint of warning: "Kneel down, and don't cause trouble."

Curtson raised his head indignantly, looking at the king. He seemed to realize something, and his face showed a struggle.

King Chaman, however, remained expressionless as he stared back at him.

A few seconds later, Curtson gritted his teeth and finally closed his eyes.

Get down on one knee.

Kurtson's hands, gripping his knees, trembled slightly, as if it were a profound humiliation.

A cold laugh, belonging to the king, echoed through the hall.

“If you don’t want to kneel,” King Chaman’s expression came to life as if he had suddenly stepped out of the portrait:
"Then don't kneel."

“A true Northman doesn’t put on a show,” he said, glancing at Courterson with disdain. “What do you think, Courterson, my old acquaintance?”

Earl Curtson, who had already knelt down, suddenly looked extremely ugly.

"Rise and return to your seats, everyone, especially you, young lady," King Chaman gave Selma a cold look, causing her to grit her teeth, before glancing around at the others.
"Don't let me ruin the mood."

The vassals in the hall slowly rose to their feet, accompanied by the sound of many clenching their fists.

Beneath the Grand Duke's seat, Count Nazel said in a low, heavy voice, "When did he arrive in Dragonsky City? You didn't know beforehand?"

Across from him, Lisban sighed.

"At this point, does it matter?"

Nazel glanced at the king, who seemed oblivious to his surroundings, and scoffed, "I thought you would have stopped him, whether outside the city or outside the palace—instead of letting him roam freely, my Regent."

“I would like to,” the Regent of Lisbon replied bluntly, “and perhaps we could add a bit of entertainment with the ‘Dragon City slays the palace assassin’ story.”

But Lisban's gaze immediately sharpened:
"If it weren't for the fact that the news of the King's grand visit to the Palace of Heroes had already spread throughout the entire Dragon Sky City at the same time as his arrival."

Nazel's gaze sharpened: "It's spread throughout Dragon Sky City?"

“Everyone knows he’s here with us,” Lisban nodded cautiously and solemnly. “In another morning, I estimate the whole of Exeter will know.”

Nazel frowned and looked away from the king's head.

"So, it means we can no longer take advantage of this opportunity to attack him?"

Lisban nodded.

“They came prepared, so they were fearless,” the former prime minister said stiffly.

"We have no choice but to engage in direct combat."

Nazel snorted and turned his gaze to the unusual young man: "It seems that we, the entire Dragon Sky City, are all controlled by that little prince..."

"They really pulled off a great stunt."

Lisban remained silent.

But like his old colleagues, he also fixed his gaze on Thales.

Thales simply stood there silently, motionless.

He seemed completely indifferent to King Chaman, who was not far away.

Beside him, Ian from Qiyuan City looked hesitantly at Thales, then at the suddenly appearing King Chaman, and subconsciously shook his head.

In the hall, Selma, who had returned to her seat, took a deep breath and glanced worriedly at Thales, who was as expressionless as the king.

She then asked hesitantly, "May I ask the purpose of your visit, Your Majesty?"
"After all, this is the day of the Dragon Sky City's court session... If you don't mind, we can do it later..."

But the king interrupted her.

“Of course,” King Chaman said without hesitation, striding forward to scrutinize the six counts, each with a different expression, before getting straight to the point:

"I'm here to help."

The king's powerful voice echoed in the hall.

The vassals all frowned.

"Help?" Selma repeated, puzzled.

“Yes,” King Chaman turned and sighed as he listened to Kambida’s whisper, “but before that…”

Following the king's gaze, the vassals' suspicious eyes also began to dart around.

Ultimately, the prize landed precisely on the heir of Qiyuan City, who was standing to the side.

"Ah, people from Qiyuan City?" King Chaman spoke slowly and deliberately, his gaze towards Ian like that of a wild beast that had been lurking for a long time.

“What a surprise.”

Ian was startled, his body stiffened, and a strange sense of unease rose in his heart.

He never imagined that during his journey to Dragon City, he would face the most formidable opponent he had anticipated so early, so quickly, and in such an embarrassing manner.

Faced with the king's imposing gaze, Ian instinctively said:

"Your Majesty, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am..."

“I’ve heard of you, Ronnie’s son,” the king waved his hand, stopping him from continuing, “that you’ve come to propose to the Grand Duchess of Dragonsreach?”

Ian was speechless for a moment: he had considered the other party's possible opening remarks: small talk, attacks, condemnations, probing...

but……

It’s actually this?
“That’s a bad idea,” King Chaman scoffed.
“You’re not worthy. Your father should propose to you himself—isn’t that what he loves to do most?” Ian’s face turned pale instantly.

Behind the king, Chloeshi chuckled softly, as if sensing something.

Viscount Cambida, standing beside her, smiled.

Two seconds later, Ian regained his composure.

He feigned composure and replied in his usual relaxed tone, "That's not quite appropriate. After all, I am also a member of the Ronnie family and an heir to Qiyuan City."

Ian deliberately emphasized, "Before you inherited the title of Grand Duke, you were of equal status to me, weren't you?"

The vassals of Longxiao City all frowned.

Hearing the barbed words in Ian's voice, King Chaman snorted and said nonchalantly, "Is that so, the heir? Someone of equal status to me?"

"Then why didn't you kill your sister?"

At that moment, the entire room fell silent.

This time, Ian was completely speechless.

Thales looked at Ian and sighed.

Yes, he knows that feeling.

Everyone who has clashed with Chaman Rumba will experience that immense pressure: the suffocating feeling of being eroded by his icy gaze and chilling words.

and……

Rumba's attack is always one of inaction...

The king's voice rang out again.

"If your sister is still alive..." The king began to pace slowly, speaking calmly:
"Then what kind of heir are you?"

In that instant, Thales felt as if a heavy hammer had struck Ian’s heart along with King Chaman’s words.

Conversely, it seemed as if a layer of ice was cracking inch by inch in Ian's heart.

His Excellency the Viscount of Fengcheng remained silent for a long time.

The hall was silent as everyone listened attentively to the king's words—Ian's previous methods had made him many enemies in Dragon City, to the point that no one wanted to offer him any help.

No.

Still there.

“Your Majesty,” Selma said indignantly, “perhaps you should get back to the point.”

King Chaman raised an eyebrow: "Oh, of course..."

"For example, Qiyuan City, which rules the western part of Exter, disrespectfully sent a viscount who didn't even have priority in inheritance to ask Longxiao City for a marriage alliance?"

These words made many people's faces turn stern.

“Ian,” Monty the Death Raven whispered, reminding the distracted Ian, “do something.”

Upon being reminded, Ian shuddered. He suddenly realized that King Chaman was after Qiyuan City.

He cannot back down.

The young heir to Qiyuan City forced a smile and said, "You may not understand or care about Qiyuan City, but according to the traditions of the Northern people, I am the only one with the right to inherit..."

Hearing this, Thales sighed and closed his eyes.

Chaman Rumba and Ian Ronnie are like the Star Prince and the Meteorite.

Whether it was a sword fight or a verbal exchange, neither side was truly...

They're not in the same league.

The king snorted coldly, while casting a warning glance at Selma, who had just interrupted him.

"Sole right of inheritance?"

"how."

“Are you implying something?” King Chaman spoke slowly and deliberately, his tone casual, but his words caused every vassal of Dragonsreach to change color drastically: “Women like your sister, and the Grand Duchess of Dragonsreach, whom your father and I, along with the other grand dukes, all acknowledge as women, Selma Walton…”

"Neither of them have the right of inheritance?"

Selmah, sitting on the grand duke's throne, breathed heavily as she stared blankly at King Chaman.

Ian was stunned again.

Faced with the king's gaze and words, he was speechless, his chin trembling, but he couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

Ian, who is usually known for his carefree attitude, was speechless at this moment.

Without a moment's rest, the king spoke again, breaking the uncomfortable silence in the arena.

"Hmph, don't take it seriously, it's just a joke."

“Even if your father came to propose marriage…” King Chaman glanced coldly at Ian, “Fortunately, you’re not that stupid—if your two families really became in-laws, then I wouldn’t be here to help.”

"It's for Exter's future..."

The king glanced around at everyone in the hall, his tone carrying a deep chill:

"They've come to declare war."

The atmosphere in the hall froze, and the vassals became increasingly wary.

Ian, who is usually quick-witted, was speechless, as if his tongue had been cut off.

Ian turned to Thales, unwilling to give up.

Damn.

Damn!

He knew the situation in Qiyuan City inside and out, and had made preparations long ago, giving me no chance to retaliate or even catch my breath...

Thales.

You and your father, six years ago, in the desperate city of Longxiao.

How exactly does one compete against an opponent like Chaman Rumba...?

Not at a disadvantage yet?

Lisban and Nazar exchanged a knowing glance, each seeing the unease and tension in the other's eyes.

"correct."

King Chaman raised his head again, surveying the hall's decor, but remained relentless in his questioning of Ian: "I've heard that Grand Duke Ronnie has been getting quite close to some of my restless vassals lately?"

The vassals in the hall all changed their expressions.

“It’s not about getting very close,” Ian took a deep breath, trying to shake off the discomfort and loss of composure brought on by the king’s pressure, and forced a smile: “but rather, under the co-governance oath, we care about every noble in the kingdom, especially ensuring that their natural and legitimate rights are not violated.”

"I beg your pardon."

Thales gently closed his eyes.

It's definitely not a matter of "getting very close".

Rather, Qi Yuancheng was the mastermind behind it all.

The king's gaze was focused on the Soul-Slaying Spear behind the Grand Duchess, seemingly distracted by reminiscing about the past. He gave a soft hum in response, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

But Thales knew that King Chaman was not distracted.

"Is it."

King Chaman I seemed to have just come to his senses, and said calmly, "Yes, I almost forgot, your father, Kulikun, was such a kind and upright man."

Ian frowned.

King Chaman sighed: "So when I heard that Qiyuan City was in trouble, I abandoned my own troubles and traveled a long way to help."

The vassals of Longxiao City became alert: the battle of Qiyuan City was crucial to Longxiao City's ability to send reinforcements.

It also concerns the power struggle between the grand dukes and the king.

"Everything is fine in Qiyuan City," Ian said cautiously, his guard up.

"No need for you... You don't need to worry."

Ian stared intently at King Chaman.

Previously, Ian's imagination of the Grand Duke of Lombardy and even the King of Chaman...

My expectations of him, and my preconceived notions about him, have all been shattered by what I saw of him today and the few words he spoke.

This king is an extremely formidable opponent.

But Ian still underestimated the king who had been crowned for six years.

"Really? No need to worry?"

King Chaman raised his voice slightly as he turned to the person he had never paid attention to since his arrival.

"how do you say--"

He was also the person who was temporarily overlooked because of the king's arrival.

"Prince Thales?"

Everyone in the hall was startled!
what?
That means……

Lisban and Nazar's eyes were fixed intently on the prince, especially sharp.

Under the gaze of many people, Thales took a deep breath and opened his eyes.

It's his turn.

Now that things have come to this...

His gaze swept over the assembled officials of Dragonfall City, finally settling on Selma at the highest point.

Selma stared at him incredulously, her gaze seemingly questioning him: "What happened?"

Thales smiled.

Remember my words, Selma.

No matter what happens...

They must choose the path that best suits the Grand Duchess.

The next second, Thales turned around smoothly and decisively, facing the strange looks from everyone in the hall, and facing King Chaman who seemed calm and collected, and said softly: "This question..."

"It seems that the Star Kingdom's army has been discovered in the Great Desert of Qiyuan City," Thales shared the intelligence with the newly arrived King Chaman in the most concise and appropriate language: "That's it."

After Thales finished speaking, he pursed his lips tightly.

"Thales!"

Ian from Qiyuan City opened his mouth in surprise, but could only utter half a sentence: "Tails, you, you really are with him...?"

When confronted with Ian's questioning, Thales remained calm, as if he hadn't heard a word.

Selma stared blankly at Thales, her confusion deepening.

Faced with Selma's question, Thales remained expressionless and did not respond.

On the other side, Nikolai the Meteorite's gaze toward Thales grew increasingly gloomy.

It even carried a hint of hatred.

Faced with the angry glare of the meteorite, Thales's eyes remained fixed and unmoved.

The Lisbon regent stared at Thales in astonishment, his brow furrowing as he recalled the prince's past deeds.

Thales' words reignited the anger of the vassals of Dragonsreach, and a tidal wave of condemnation engulfed him.

"Hey," Earl Curtisson of Dragonsky City gritted his teeth, "you little rascal—"

But he was interrupted—Count Nazel pressed him down with a serious expression and shook his head.

"Your Highness, is this your plan?"

When Wyatt, who was attending the council meeting for the first time, saw this scene, he immediately whispered nervously in the prince's ear, "It seems... not good."

Rolf glanced at the attendant with disdain.

Is this bad enough?

You didn't see it, but when the people of the North were discussing how to dismember the prince...

Despite the stares and comments from these people, Thales remained silent, as if it had nothing to do with him.

He simply waited quietly for King Chaman's response.

King Chaman frowned slightly and paused for several seconds, seemingly processing the news.

A few seconds later, his brow relaxed again, and his deep voice rang out in the hall, silencing the vassals' protests.

"Look!"

The king turned around leisurely, facing the entire Hall of Heroes: "This is what I meant by the trouble in Qiyuan City."

Faced with the king's pressure, the hall immediately fell silent.

King Chaman sighed, seemingly regretful.

"If Xingchen really gets involved, it won't be so easy for Qiyuan City to deal with the Freedom Alliance."

He pondered for a moment and said, "That is indeed a problem."

Under the gazes of everyone in the hall, King Chaman curled up the corners of his mouth, revealing a rare smile.

“Prince Thales,” he began in a deep, resonant voice:
"Why don't you... come and visit Black Sand City?"

The vassals and envoys were all taken aback!
Thales frowned deeply.

Selma was the first to react, exclaiming, "Your Majesty, what did you say?"

Lisban, Nazel, and the others all paled.

Facing countless shocked or bewildered gazes, King Chaman gave a cold smile.

“I say, for the sake of Qiyuan City’s interests in the Free Alliance,” he glanced at Ian, who was still in a daze, and curled his lips in disdain, “I will reluctantly entertain Prince Thales in the name of the King, and also negotiate with King Kessel.”

Ian was stunned.

"Prince, to the Black Sand Territory?" he murmured.

But soon, Ian, having figured out the key point, was suddenly shocked!
“No,” he stood up abruptly, his face pale.
"No! Prince Thales cannot go to the Black Sands..."

“No need to be so polite, Lord Ian,” Viscount Cambida chuckled. “After all, as His Majesty said, we are here to help.”

King Chaman gave a strange look, like a cat that had caught a mouse.

"Yes."

“Since Kulikun Ronni is so enthusiastic, even from the far reaches of the border, he hasn’t forgotten to care for our Black Sand Territory’s vassals,” Chaman Lumba stared at the distraught Ian, his eyes flashing with a chilling light, and said through gritted teeth, each word distinct:
"Then of course we should reciprocate."

This update at this hour is truly something else.

This chapter is quite long...

P.S.: This book has gained a Silver Grand Alliance?
(Waving a handkerchief in a fangirl manner) Thank you, tycoon "Gray Night Sky"! Please come again, sir!
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(End of this chapter)