Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 454 More than half

Thales stared intently at Naki, beginning to scrutinize this man he hadn't previously paid much attention to.

Naki clutched the key to the Bone Prison tightly, looking flustered and distressed.

In fact, when Ricky and his Blade of Calamity found the cell, Naki was the first to speak, his voice always carrying a lazy, indifferent air.

But Thales also couldn't recall when Naki's voice began to lose its languidness and become short, tense, and uneasy.

Looking back now, it must have been when Sacel appeared before them.

But what made him react so strongly to the appearance of the Punisher Knight?
Is it simply fear and panic, or something else?
"The key, Naki."

Barney wavered for only a second before decisively pulling his thoughts away from Naki's seemingly meaningful words and speaking in a commanding tone.

Unfortunately, Naki is no longer as obedient as before.

“We had already escaped, the prince was safe, and Saxeel was free…”

Naki managed a weak smile, the tip of his sword pointing at the crowd trembling, seemingly oblivious to Barney's orders.

"Then we can simply live out our lives in anonymity, while Sacel can do whatever he wants, and the young prince can return to the Palace of Restoration as his heir to the throne, one day reigning supreme and becoming a great ruler..."

"Is not it good?"

Naki looked at Thales, his voice pleading, which only made the latter more confused:
"Isn't it a win-win situation to bury the unbearable past?"

Naki now looks like a desperate wife questioning her heartless husband.

He finally turned to Barney, his eyes filled with resentment and hatred:

"But why are you so stubborn, Barney?"

Nati asked Barney, whose unusual behavior was making many people uneasy.

Belletti's face was so serious it looked like it was about to crack. Tardin looked at him with suspicion as if he were seeing him for the first time. Naze lowered his head in deep thought. Samir looked even more surprised than when he found out that Sacel was a traitor. Brie shook his head, unable to speak. Cannon began to mutter incomprehensible words again.

Not to mention Barney Jr.

Judging from the vanguard officer's trembling hand gripping his sword, Thales guessed that he had used immense willpower to suppress the urge to stab his former comrade.

"Why do you have to go back to the capital and bring up the past again?"

Naki's tone was weary and sorrowful, like that of a sinner suffering greatly before execution.

"Why are you so determined to push Sacel to the brink and make things spiral out of control?"

At this moment, Naki, who had transformed into a pacifist, looked bewildered. He turned his head, his pleading gaze shifting among the crowd.

The next second, Barney seemed to have run out of patience.

His sword was aimed straight at Naki's left hand, intending to seize the key while he was off guard.

Until another sword slashed out from the side, its cold light gleaming as it was pressed against Barney's throat!
Quick rope exclaimed in surprise.

Almost instantly, several members of the royal guard instinctively raised their weapons and faced each other in the wind!
When Thales came to his senses, he was shocked to find that the situation on the field had become quite abnormal:
Barney's sword was pointed at Naki's left hand, while Samir's sword was pressed against his own throat.

Belletti and Tardin responded faithfully, using their axes and swords to block Samir's sudden defection.

Cannon seemed terrified, holding his weapon for no apparent reason, while Brie made a hurried sound, and Nai stood to the side, clutching his dart tightly in his hand.

Faced with the sudden split of the guard, a bewildered Thales was somewhat confused about the situation and could only exchange a glance with the equally bewildered Quick Rope.

“What does this mean, Samir?” Barney stared at the key in Naki’s hand, feeling the deep chill in his throat, his face turning ashen.

"So, you're finally going to show your true colors?"

Samir, his face icy, held the incredulous Barney at bay with his sword, completely ignoring the fact that his vitals were covered by three weapons, and glanced at Naki, whose eyes were lifeless:

"Let him finish speaking."

Tardin held Samir's back to a vital spot with his sword and dagger, seemingly incomprehensible:
"Wait, Samir, do you realize we're on the run?"

Samir snorted coldly, tilting the blade of his sword slightly, forcing Barney to step aside.

Do you think I still care about running for my life?

"After being on the run for a full eighteen years?"

His emotionless and reckless words left the rest of the guards looking at each other in dismay, while the veins on Barney's neck seemed to bulge out of his flesh.

Quick Rope looked behind him at the wall that was supposed to be the exit but was empty, scratched his head in anguish, and whispered to Thales:
"You Star People have so many fuss-making issues..."

Thales frowned as he watched the royal guards clashing again.

Yes.

unless……

That's not some simple "no-brainer".

Having said that, Samir didn't even glance at the enraged vanguard officer, but instead turned to the person holding the only chance of survival in the field:

“Tell us, Naki, besides that song, besides what Sakel said, what else do you know about the Year of Blood?”

Despite the unfavorable situation, this topic has still aroused the interest of many people.

No one lowered their weapons, but Barney Jr., Samir, Belletti, and Tardin all turned their gazes toward Naki at that moment.

“You’ve got it backwards, Samir.”

Seeing the brothers fighting amongst themselves, Naki chuckled softly, as if he had come to terms with something.

"What you should be asking is: what are some things you don't know about back then?"

What we don't know?

Questions simultaneously crept onto the faces of Barney and Samir: this was probably the only thing they could find in common at that moment.

Barney looked at Belletti with a puzzled expression.

But Belletti shook her head at Barney Jr., indicating that she did not know.

Naki noticed their interaction and gave a nervous laugh.

"Didn't you guys notice?"

Thales stared in astonishment at Naki's face, which was now tinged with madness and ecstasy, yet his eyes reflected despair and gloom.

"Didn't you all notice how terrible his acting was when Saxeel was exaggerating his dissatisfaction with the late king and expressing his hatred for the disaster? His explanations were far-fetched, and his words were weak and unconvincing?"

Terrible acting...

Words are pale...

Barney paused for a moment.

Naki laughed again, pointing at Samir with tears in his eyes: "Haven't you noticed that Samir is still full of concerns, questioning and doubting every word our renowned Watchmen say?"

Thales was filled with doubt, and he carefully considered "every word" that Sacel had said.

What do you mean?
Sacel...is he lying?

He wasn't the only one with this question; Barney and Belletti exchanged a glance, completely puzzled.

Until Samir took over Naki's words.

"So his betrayal wasn't because of those bullshit reasons he gave..."

Samir shook his head slightly, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes:

"It's because back then, Sacel had no choice in that matter; he was caught in a dilemma and could only go with the flow, right?"

Naki turned his head and glanced wearily at Samir, remaining silent, but his tense face relaxed.

Thales noticed that many people's expressions had changed.

Samir still held his sword, but his full attention had shifted to Naki, and he tentatively asked with some skepticism:

"And today, as the truth of what happened back then is about to be revealed, he is also caught in a dilemma, unable to move forward or backward, and would rather bear all of this himself."

At this point, Samir slowly became emotional:

“I still remember how most of them reacted when Sakel gave that strange order to the main force of the royal guard to lure them away and weaken their defenses…” Naki laughed again.

This time he smiled especially happily:
"Samir, you son of a bitch, you truly deserve to be the leader of the Flag Wing."

Samir's expression changed completely.

Barney, who was being held in the middle of the field, could no longer bear it and shouted:
"What on earth are you talking about?"

Naki, seemingly only then noticing Barney, gave a soft scoff:
"Hahaha, Barney..."

He glanced at the indignant little Barney and shook his head dismissively.
"I'm wondering, just how stupid and obsessed must you be to believe that the aloof, self-disciplined, and self-restrained knights of punishment are the root of all evil, the mastermind behind it all?"

"Only then would you believe that he was the one who betrayed his loyalty and killed the late king simply out of righteous indignation, delusion, resentment, and anger? And then deceive yourself by searching for your so-called justice in him?"

Naki gripped the key, pounded his chest, and swept a mocking look across everyone.

"Do you really think that he can make dozens of high-born, highly skilled, and shrewd royal guards, including us, obey his orders without hesitation, easily dismantle the defenses of the entire Restoration Palace, and allow a despicable assassination to take place, simply by using the name of the Watchmen?"

Many people frowned more and more deeply.

Wait, what he means is...

Thales's expression slowly changed.

Samir hesitated, while Barney's expression remained unchanged, but the meaning in his eyes slowly shifted.

"You really think that the betrayal and assassination that shook the Western Continent back in Yongxing City back then," Naki gasped, the brand on his face growing increasingly unsightly.

"Can it be accomplished by Sacel alone, with just a single order?"

Everyone was stunned, silently watching Naki, who was on the verge of collapse.

Several seconds later.

"What do you mean?" Barney struggled to his senses.

Naki took a few deep breaths, paused for a second, seemingly savoring the complex feelings of the moment.

Everyone unconsciously held their breath.

“That’s right,” Naki finally spoke under everyone’s gaze, his voice low and somber, carrying a hint of resigned relief:
“Not just Sacel.”

"Back then, the royal guards knew about the conspiracy beforehand, but they pretended to be deaf and dumb, cooperating with the brothers who were carrying out the assassination..."

Naki lowered his head and whispered:
"More than half..."

Clearly, the power of these words was second only to the alchemical orb that Thales had just thrown.

For a full ten seconds, no one came to their senses.

Everyone just stared at Naki in disbelief, deeply shocked.

Unbeknownst to him, Barney's sword lowered gently, its blade softening as its master's heart wavered, no longer gleaming with cold light and exuding murderous intent.

Almost simultaneously, Samir also laid down his weapon, and Belletti and Tardin no longer threatened his defensive midfield position—but at this moment, no one wanted to care about the unpleasantness that had just occurred.

Thales just blinked frantically, trying to clear his jumbled thoughts.

and many more.

and many more……

More than half of the entire Royal Guard...

Did you know beforehand, or are you pretending to be deaf and dumb?
So, the plot to assassinate Eddie II during the Bloody Year was...

Thinking of this, Thales suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, as if he were suffocating.

"what?"

In the quiet atmosphere, Barney asked in a low voice.

His tone was so soft, so indifferent, like a little boy hiding under the bed, trying to escape the monster in his nightmare.

But he eventually awakened the monster.

Or everyone in the room.

"Beforehand?" Belletti stared incredulously.

“More than... half?” Samir uttered with difficulty.

Almost everyone was stunned.

As the focus of attention, Naki scoffed again, raising his head, a clear light shining through his dark eyes.

Like a prisoner who calmly accepts execution.

“Perhaps more,” his tone was indistinguishable between laughter and tears:

"When Sakel gave the order, some members of the guard may have sensed something was amiss, but although they were not involved, they remained silent and did not ask any questions... but it made no difference."

No one answered him.

But he doesn't need to answer.

Naki closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling utterly relieved.

“But just now, when Sakel claimed that he did all of this, I knew that he was just putting on a brave face, stubbornly clinging to his own strength, and overestimating his own abilities.”

Naki said in a daze:

"He wanted to bear the sins of everyone on his own, in front of our witnesses, to cover up the shame and scandal, and to be that tragic and silent lone hero."

Showing off? Holding on stubbornly?
Should we take the blame?

A lone hero?

Thales blinked, struggling to shake off the shocking truth he had just witnessed.

He recalled a long-faced man with a blank expression, trying to understand Naki's description of the fierce and murderous executioner knight.

“But I can’t let him do that.”

Naki's voice lowered, and the hand holding the key fell limp along with his weapon, like a helpless traveler falling into an abyss.

"I can't...do that..."

"cannot……"

Naki reopened his eyes, his gaze vacant, and murmured:
"Never again..."

"I can't."

So, Sacel's recent act of taking all the blame was...

It's in...

Thales thought to himself in surprise.

On the other side, he could only hear the rising and falling breaths of the guards.

"Therefore, King Kessel was right to throw us into the prison of bones."

Everyone stiffly turned their heads away.

In the suffocating darkness, Samir's voice came through with difficulty and hesitation:

"Because through some means, he knew for certain that the shortcomings and dereliction of duty of the royal guards behind the late king's misfortune were not accidental."

Samir looked helplessly at everyone, at their equally disbelief and disbelief:
"Because it was a conspiracy involving more than a hundred people, both inside and outside, a sordid and dirty affair..."

"A collective defection."

Samir blankly stated his conclusion:

"This is the truth about how our royal guards 'colluded with the enemy' back then."

(End of this chapter)