Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 34 Eternal Cure for Bloodlines

Moonlight shone on the open ground of Mangcao Manor, and everyone stared blankly at the two children lying on the ground, and for a moment there was no sound.

Thales lay panting on the ground, his bare upper body covered only by bandages from his wounds; he felt only cold and pain.

The silver-haired little girl in his arms, expressionless, propped herself up on his shoulders, saw the bandage on his chest—beneath which was a burn wound the size of a silver coin—smelled the blood on it, and revealed an expectant and intoxicated expression.

The expression startled Thales, who quickly sat up and pushed the dangerous vampire girl away from his embrace before she could reveal her fangs—a monster Thales had already imagined as a boss that could turn into a blood-sucking corpse at any moment.

Yodl and Chris appeared instantly in front of the two children.

“I’m fine, Yordle, don’t worry.” Thales saw the wound on the secret guard’s chest and gave him a tired smile. The latter took off his cloak from under his bodysuit and draped it over Thales.

Thales nodded: "There was an urgent matter that needed to be dealt with earlier."

He turned in another direction, where there was a large pit, and lying there was a person without legs, half-dead.

Midila Rolf, the Wind-Walking Ghost, a struggler breaking free from her shackles.

A survivor who does not wish to die in order to be free from suffering.

“Mr. Gilbert, please save that man,” Thales said firmly to Gilbert in the distance, his eyes dimming. “If it weren’t for him, I probably wouldn’t have made it to your place.”

And, Thales thought to himself: He was the first person I had ever truly saved in this damned world.

Gilbert nodded and directed the Terminator beside him to help Rolf.

"Your Highness!" Chris's usually deathly expression was now filled with excitement. He knelt on one knee in front of the silver-haired little girl, a blanket already in his hand, which he trembled as he draped it over her.

Thales' shirt was too small and torn in many places, barely covering the little girl's knees, leaving her two white legs exposed below the knees—Chris glared at Thales with a fierce look at the thought.

Although Her Highness is of noble status and doesn't care about the opinions of ants, Chris, as the Corleone family's loyal butler for over six hundred years, naturally has to consider everything for his mistress.

"Your Highness, you've finally woken up!"

The cute little red-eyed girl nodded expressionlessly, habitually took the hand Chris offered, and said, in a tone typical of someone in a superior position, enunciating each word clearly, "Chris, you did a good job."

The little girl, with her chubby, round face, spoke in a childish and adorable voice, her words mumbled and unclear:

"Loyalty will surely be rewarded."

It took Thales, who was standing next to him, two seconds to understand what the sentence meant.

Loyalty will be rewarded.

Then he burst out laughing.

Such serious words coming from the mouth of a little girl with a lisp are truly a sight to behold.

Chris, who was nodding gratefully, glared at him angrily.

"You are—Your Highness?" Lorana and Istrom appeared before the little girl, their faces filled with surprise and uncertainty. The former looked at her short, stocky figure and cautiously asked, "How...how has your appearance changed?"

The little girl raised her crimson eyes, looked at Thales with a complicated expression, and then said nonchalantly:

"As long as I can make it again, I will return to my original state."

After speaking, the little girl looked at Thales's expression as he tried to suppress his laughter, seemingly unaware of her pronunciation problem.

So, with an icy expression and a hint of doubt, she asked again:
"What's so interesting to show off?"

Thales couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Now, all three vampires looked at him with hostility, and Estron's gaze was filled with even more vigilance and awe.

"No, haha—cough cough," Thales quickly covered it up with an unprofessional cough: "Nothing to show off—haha—cough cough—sorry."

Gilbert, having finished gathering his swordsmanship, approached with Ginny. The former, leaning on his cane, respectfully removed his hat and bowed, saying, "Honorable Mr. Thales, and this lovely vampire lady, perhaps you wouldn't mind explaining the current situation to us?"

Thales stopped smiling and gave Gilbert a grateful look.

"Mr. Gilbert, thank you for your rescue and sacrifice."

But he suddenly sensed that behind Gilbert, the charming woman in her forties was looking at him with a complex expression, her eyes holding a deep and unfathomable meaning.

Is this the boy?

He and—that man's son.

Ginny's eyes immediately dimmed.

Thales didn't think too much about it and turned to continue, "Let's postpone the self-introductions for now; enough blood has been shed tonight. For this, I and this..." He paused, glancing at the adorable little girl who was putting on a serious face.

"Little sister Serena Corleone—uh, madam!" Seeing the red-eyed loli's unfriendly expression, he quickly corrected himself.

"After friendly and pleasant consultations..."

Little Serena suddenly felt an itch on her neck and subtly pursed her lips.

"We have decided to put aside our grudges, end our hostility, and forge an alliance. I will regularly supply Her Highness Serena with my blood, and Her Highness Serena and her followers will serve me until..."

Before Thales could finish speaking, he felt Yodl's grip on his hand tighten suddenly, and then he was anxiously interrupted by the two of them:
"Why should we serve you? We can exchange other benefits, or at worst, just leave..." These were the words of the red-haired vampire, Lorana, whose expression was unfriendly.

“Mr. Thales! Your blood? It’s too dangerous, how can you…” This was Gilbert, who was desperate to protect his master.

But Thales simply raised his right hand suddenly and then clenched his fist.

This was a gesture he often used in his previous life when teaching university students discussion classes to calm increasingly heated and out-of-focus discussions.

Both of them paused, speechless.

The boy took a deep breath.

Thales broke free from Yodl's support and, ignoring Gilbert's attempts to stop him, slowly walked towards the vampires, saying softly, "You serve me in exchange for my protection."

"And I will provide you—a group of homeless political refugees who can only swindle food and drink under the banner of Corleone and the mark of the Iris—with refuge in the Kingdom of Stars, a refuge better than that of the owner of this manor."

Chris, Eastren, and Lorana's expressions all changed, and they looked at Serena.

But the silver-haired, red-eyed little girl just coldly snorted: "I didn't tell him anything, he found it himself."

Guess?

He's at odds with the Blood Bottle Gang, and not on the same page as the manor owner. There's Eastren's comment, "Given our current situation," and the coffin on the third floor that looks like a swimming pool but is actually a large nursing home.

The boy thought to himself, "Isn't it obvious when you put all these factors and signs together?"

He knew that the vampires on the other side were extremely wary of him, but it didn't matter; at least the current situation was resolved.

Thales turned and looked sincerely at Gilbert and Yodl.

“Gilbert, Yodl, trust me. I will provide blood to help Princess Liselina recover—cough cough—while remaining healthy.”

“I exchanged this promise for my safety just now, and for Her Highness Serena’s friendship.” Gilbert stared at Thales for a long time.

But Ginny, with a complicated expression, stepped forward and said softly, "Gilbert, this is a promise he made—and a promise his family made as well."

Just like he did back then.

She silently added a sentence in her heart.

Gilbert sighed deeply and nodded to Thales, saying, "We certainly believe you—but I will report to...

Thales smiled softly.

He turned around, bringing the vampires into the view of the others, and said softly:
"Then, let me formally introduce myself..."

But before he could finish speaking, Chris stepped forward solemnly and said seriously:

"No trouble."

"In front of everyone..." He gently supported the little girl beside him, who walked forward unsteadily.

"She is the true heir of the Corleone family, the head of the seven great families of the Eastern Continent's Night Kingdom, the legitimate and orthodox ruler of the Hill of Pain, the Archduchess, Her Highness Serena L.A. van Corleone."

Chris looked down at the humans with an arrogant gaze, while behind him, Lorana and Eastren wore expressions of pride.

Serena, with the appearance of a five or six-year-old little girl, lowered her round face, pinched her non-existent skirt, bowed, and then raised her head expressionlessly.

Thales inwardly scoffed—that's pretty impressive.

Gilbert and Ginny exchanged a glance, and saw shock in each other's eyes.

More than six hundred years ago, after the cataclysmic final war, like many ancient races, the vampires split into two branches, east and west, heading in two directions towards the End Sea. The thirteen noblest clans went their separate ways to different continents.

The five clans of the Western Continent formed a family alliance and the Night Council, occupying the Feast Territory (more precisely, they occupied a region called the Feast Territory), while the eight clans of the Eastern Continent established a kingdom-like rule, taking root on the eastern shore of the End Sea under the name "Night Kingdom".

For over six hundred years, compared to their relatives in the Western Continent's Feast Territory who were fragmented and even forced to sign the "Convention Between Human Nations and Long-Lived Species," the vampires of the Night Kingdom, under the infamous rule of the "Nightwing King" Lanley Corleone, were more cohesive and powerful, even widely involved in continental affairs—in both the Second and Third Continental Wars, they dispatched the "Holy Blood Legion," composed of elite vampire warriors, to participate in the war. In the latter, the Nightwing King even personally led his army to the capital of the Kingdom of Exter, the "Blade of the Western Continent," Dragonsky City.

But just two hundred years ago, the Night Kingdom underwent a political upheaval. Nightwing King Lanley Corleone mysteriously disappeared, the eight great houses were severely weakened, and the Holler family even rebelled as a whole, crossing the sea to join the Night Council of Feast Territory.

From then on, the Kingdom of Night was left with only seven ruling clans, and it lost its only expert who was expected to break through to the "True Realm" level. Under the attacks of the Church of the Sun, it gradually declined.

As one side rises and the other falls, the Night Council of the Feast Territory in the Western Continent, with its six major clans working diligently to reform the corrupt and outdated system, extensively engage in diplomacy, and even rise to become one of the allies of the Fortress Treaty, calling themselves the "Upper Six Blood Clans".

And this little girl in front of me actually claims to be the mistress of the Hill of Pain in the Night Kingdom—the lair of the Corleone clan, from which the Nightwing King originated.

Gilbert raised his head and spoke respectfully:

"Forgive my boldness, but as far as I know, the current head of the Corleone family, the actual ruler of the Hill of Pain, is the Queen of Night, who is also the current sovereign of the Night Kingdom..."

“‘The Weeper,’ Your Majesty Cortrina L.A. van Corleon.”

Gilbert deliberately emphasized the titles "Queen of the Night" and "Your Majesty" to highlight the difference between them and "Your Highness" for Serena.

Thales yawned, which made Chris, who was already annoyed, glare at him again.

Serena's crimson eyes narrowed slightly, and she stepped forward with a pout: "My crybaby sister, Cortrina, illegally seized the ship's prize that I inherited from my father, His Majesty Nightwing, and usurped the Blood Sea Throne. But one day, I will reclaim the throne."

Her chubby cheeks tilted slightly, her little hands clenched tightly on her chest, she closed her eyes, and recited the Corleone family motto:

"Eternal cure for bloodline ailments".

Eastron and Lorana's expressions immediately turned solemn. They humbly bowed their chests, clenched their fists at their hearts, and took a step back with Chris, bowing their heads and chanting:
"Eternal cure for bloodline ailments".

"This...this..." Thales' face was filled with black lines.

Why don't you shout "Unify the martial arts world"?

"I will surely repay your help and support." Serena opened her eyes, stared intently at Thales, and subconsciously licked her lips.

For example, biting open my neck?

Thales glanced around, avoiding the little girl's eager gaze, and said perfunctorily, "Wow, I'd love to, it would be my honor."

Serena's little face puffed up, seemingly somewhat dissatisfied with Thales' attitude.

Looking at Thales' strange attitude, and remembering that he probably used this attitude to boss him around, Eastren felt inexplicably annoyed.

Seeing the prince's expression, he gave a cold smile and said to Thales:

“Little one, you probably don’t understand the Kingdom of Night across the sea.”

Let me put it this way.

“Even if your enemy is the supreme king of the stars, with the support and protection of our ‘Holy Blood Legion’, he would never dare to make things difficult for you.”

No sooner had he said that than Lorana, who was standing next to Eastren, sensed that something was amiss.

The expressions on the faces of the people opposite were strange—especially the middle-aged nobleman with the odd expression, and the black-haired woman with a displeased look.

Chris frowned, but he didn't have time to stop the blond vampire from speaking.

After all, he had fought the other party before and knew that the masked person was a master at the peak of the Extreme Realm.

Thales' face twitched slightly.

Showing off is a disease, and it needs to be cured!
“Well then, it’s my turn to introduce myself,” Thales said, scratching his head. “Um, I’m Thales, I’m about 7 years old, and before…”

Just then, a disgruntled Ginny walked up to them without any politeness.

But just as she was about to speak, Gilbert stopped her.

The gray-haired nobleman sighed: "I suspect our alliance won't last long, and Princess Serena needs time to prepare for her reinstatement, so let's be frank with each other."

Count Gilbert Cassel raised his head, his gaze sharpening, and uttered a few words succinctly:
"This is Thales."

"Star Kingdom".

"The next Supreme King."

a long time.

a long time.

Just when Thales felt as if even the air had been petrified, a gust of wind finally blew by.

"Hehe, that."

He gave an awkward, silly laugh and waved to the four petrified vampires opposite him:
"Thank you for the support and protection of your... Holy Blood Legion."

Ginny, who was behind her, burst out laughing.

(End of this chapter)