Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 404 A Foolish Idea

At that moment, Thales's breath caught in his throat.

Eighteen years ago...

Hyman Knight Star...

Baki Camp...

Ricky's pupils constricted sharply!
"you?"

He stared at the chisel in shock and solemnity, glancing instinctively in one direction: "The Ghost Prince..."

"It's you?"

Qianzi straightened his robes, revealed a perfect smile, and nodded:

"I."

Soon, everyone's gaze toward the drill changed, even Russell's.

From vigilance and disgust... to fear and shock.

Thales stared blankly at the drill bit.

so.

he is the one……

"Look, everyone has a past."

"And the reason Teng promoted me to be one of his deputies and assigned me as the head of the Shadow Shield in Dragon Sky City," Qianzi laughed, spreading his hands and revealing a strange smile:

There's a reason for that.

He turned to Thales, still smiling.

But the prince felt that the man's smile suddenly became chilling.

Long ago, the Bloody Year was just a label, a backdrop, in Thales's mind.

Only when talking to others will the background of that era be brought up occasionally in a conversation filled with the vicissitudes of history.

He was startled by Gilbert's narration, moved by the Starry Chamber, lamented the fate of Willow, was surprised as he passed through the Lehman Pass, was angered by the story of King Nunn, puzzled by the old ravens' discussion, and felt melancholy as he passed the Tower of the Ghost Prince.

But Thales had never been up close and directly confronted the bloodshed of that era, which even gave him a misconception:
That's all in the past.

War, assassination, conspiracy, death, bloodshed—all these events that occurred in the final year 660 to 661 seemed to happen as if through a curtain.

Like history, like legend, like story.

Only now, as Thales looked at the chisel, at the curve of the lips of the real culprit from back then, and at the fanaticism emanating from his eyes, did he suddenly understand:

He lived under that blood-red shadow.

"Damn it..." Russell could no longer maintain his aristocratic demeanor, clenching his fists into his chest, staring in utter astonishment at his companion.

The masked man's eyes bulged out, bloodshot, as he stared at the drill bit, his gaze trembling slightly.

The mercenaries were in an uproar.

But Chisel didn't bother with them.

"Is this guarantee sufficient?" Chisel stared intently at Ricky, observing the latter's solemn expression.

"Do you still believe I would betray you to the Baki camp, or doubt my stance of fighting against the stars to the end, or question my integrity?"

“If the above happens,” Chisel sneered, pointing to the letter in Ricky’s hand:
"Use it."

"Put me on the list that Kael'thas and the Black Prophet missed, and send me into the endless search and hunt of the Secret Society."

The entire tavern fell silent.

It seemed like a century had passed.

Ricky took a deep breath to calm himself down.

"good."

He nodded with difficulty, as if a thousand-pound weight was hanging around his neck: "It is indeed a substantial guarantee."

“Let your men in,” Ricky seemed somewhat moved. He refolded the letter, carefully tucked it into his pocket, and said in a low voice, “After taking the prince away, we still have a lot to do.”

Thales felt a chill run down his spine.

Chisel smiled genuinely.

He bowed respectfully:
"Happy to oblige."

At that moment, Thales stared blankly as Ricky waved to his men and as Chisel smugly pulled out a whistle and blew it silently.

At Ricky's command, Marina and Sonny walked toward the three of them, frowning.

The prince's shock and fear lingered.

Hyman.

The fourth prince.

Ghost Prince...

He suddenly remembered Old Hammer's sigh: "...He landed face-first..."

But soon, the sins of the River of Hell surged through his body, and with a jolt, the distracted Thales immediately came to his senses.

No.

He raised his head blankly.

Ricky's seriousness, Zip's smile, and Russell's solemnity were all on full display at this moment.

Thales, panting, watched as the person wielding the Sword of Calamity handed over his ownership to the Shield of Shadows, and his heart tightened.

No.

It's not over yet.

Shadow Shield...

I absolutely must not go with them!
Thales thought to himself, clenching his teeth.

He turned his head and looked around.

Immediately, Thales, with a determined expression, whispered to Dean and Quick Rope behind him:
"cover me."

In the midst of the panic, Kaisen frowned:
"what?"

Dean, however, seeing the look in Thales' eyes, guessed his intention and exclaimed in shock, "Are you crazy?"

Thales clenched his fist!
He gazed at the chisel with a satisfied expression from afar.

“Trust me!” Thales said through gritted teeth.

Their secret conversation came to an end, as Marina had come up behind Thales.

The prince pushed aside Dean and Quick Rope, and took the lead to meet Marina and the mercenaries behind her.

"Put your hands behind your back, Your Highness, and it won't hurt so much."

Marina said coldly to Thales, her eyes filled with ill intent.

But Thales scoffed and slowly approached Marina.

“Marina, right? I think you must be very angry right now…”

The prince sighed, "Your whole family suffered injustice, dying with undeserved accusations, and today, your actions will confirm those accusations..."

Marina trembled slightly.

She clenched her fists and took a deep breath.

"Brilliant Star?"

Marina scoffed and stepped forward, looking Thales up close. She said disdainfully, "You look no different from an ordinary person, do you?"

Her gaze slowly turned cold:

"What makes you so important that even a single drop of your blood would cost countless innocent lives?" Thales took a step closer, winking playfully. "Perhaps it's because our blood glows?"

Marina frowned, sensing the provocation in the other person's words.

"Qiang!"

Thales felt a chill run down his spine.

The red-clad female swordsman drew her sword from her right hand, slowly raised it from her side, and brought it close to the prince's face.

Marina sneered, "Then let's see what you have..."

“I’m sorry!” Thales said abruptly, his face stern.

Marina was slightly taken aback, probably not expecting the other side to surrender so quickly.

"what?"

Thales sighed:

"Blame Krzyze, she's the one who taught me that."

Marina frowned in confusion:

"Kez?"

However, the next moment, Marina felt the prince grab her wrist that was holding the sword!
Marina's combat instincts, honed through years of training, made her instinctively want to slash back, but Thales unleashed a considerable force from his hand, pulling her forward!
Marina, who instantly lost her balance, felt a chill run down her spine: this power was far beyond what the frail boy in front of her could possibly possess.

Marina was about to raise her elbow in retaliation, but what happened next was far beyond her expectations!
Thales stepped forward as if dancing, and pulled the red-clad female swordsman into his arms.

In that instant, Marina felt the prince's bright eyes suddenly widen, and even his eyelashes became clearly visible.

So close I could see the pupils clearly.

This is……

grey.

his eyes.

In that instant, Marina looked closely into the prince's eyes and this thought popped into her head.

It is gray.

That's really rare.

At that moment, everyone who witnessed this scene was stunned.

But just 0.01 seconds later, poor Marina realized her predicament.

No.

Do not!
In an instant, Marina, both shocked and furious, pressed her hand against Thales' chest and shoved the prince's face away from her!
"Snapped!"

Amidst the astonished gazes of onlookers, Marina, consumed by anger, slapped Thales hard across the face with a backhand!

The poor prince staggered backward, managing to force a smile before turning and running away.

"Thanks--"

Marina felt the lingering sensation on her lips, and she also felt the gazes around her. Shame and anger surged into her heart at the same time.

She was...

She was...

She was actually...

Her face contorted, she raised the sword in her right hand, and roared angrily, "You bastard..."

Huh?
Marina, who was about to be lifted up on the other's back, was stunned when she looked at her empty right hand.

mine……

Where is my sword?

"Thank you!" The prince's words came with the sound of the wind as he turned around.

In that instant, Sonny, standing behind Marina, cried out in alarm: "Watch out!"

Marina was then jolted awake: she didn't know when, but one of her twin swords had appeared in Thales's hand.

As the prince charged forward with unwavering focus, unleashing an indescribable speed, he stabbed towards Ricky in the center of the tavern!
Before the mercenaries in the distance could react, Sonny and the others, who had witnessed the situation first, drew their swords in shock and anger and stepped forward, only to be blocked by Dean and Quick Rope, who were prepared in advance!

Oops.

Marina only had time to have the thought pop into her head.

And the other side.

"Whoosh-"

Thales gritted his teeth, held his longsword level, and swung his feet, feeling the fierce wind brought by the amplification of the Sin of the River of Hell during the charge. His eyes were only on that one person.

Ricky frowned and looked up at Thales, who had suddenly attacked.

The sudden turn of events startled everyone, but the battle-hardened warriors reacted swiftly. With a flick of his wrist, Clay unleashed a dark light that pierced the incoming Thales at an even faster speed from the side!
boom!
The sins of the River of Hell flowed down like a great river, filling Thales' legs.

The power of ending, which was imitated from the twist of fate, poured out and, in the intense friction of the joints, forcibly pried open Thales' trajectory!

Bypass Clay's interception!
Clay cried out in alarm, but could only watch as his sword grazed Thales's leg.

"what--"

Despite the excruciating pain in his knees and ankles, Thales roared and charged forward, breaking through the seemingly insurmountable barrier, and slashed at the unarmed Ricky with his sword.

There are too many of them.

Too much.

He only has this one chance.

He must seize this opportunity.

must!

A hint of surprise appeared in Ricky's eyes as he looked ahead.

"Nice move..." Ricky only managed to utter two words.

Thales's sword suddenly appeared right in front of him!
His sword pierced Ricky's chest.

"Pong!"

The next instant, Thales felt as if he had been plunged into a giant whirlpool.

The surging force came from all directions, squeezing his sword-wielding arm and causing the prince to fall forward involuntarily, unable to control the sword in his hand any longer.

Oops.

That was all he had time to think.

"boom!"

The next second, Thales' vision blurred, and he felt a sharp pain in his knees and elbows, and he was thrown to the ground!

Thales groaned and got up, but felt a chill on his neck.

He looked up in shock.

Sometime during the day, the sword he had taken from Marina was now in Ricky's hands.

Thales was stunned.

how come?
The leader of the Sword of Calamity remained calm, kneeling on one knee and holding the blade of his sword against Thales' neck from above.

On the other side, Quick Rope and Dean, who had been subdued by the mercenaries, sighed in unison.

“Beautiful move,” Ricky sneered, having defeated Thales in a single strike, before finishing his sentence:
"...That's a stupid idea."

Only Thales was left, lying on the ground, staring at the sword blade against his neck, breathing in a daze.

(End of this chapter)