Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 49 A Strong Wind is Coming
Thales snapped his fingers silently in his mind.

Start.

“Lord Hansen,” Thales said hesitantly, “that night I ran to Red Street and ended up in a card room where I met a strange man in blue.”

Mora nodded and smiled, encouraging him to continue.

Partially true.

You must not lie.

Thales repeated it to himself.

“He said that he had no one left to talk to and asked me to come and see his ‘chessboard’.”

"After watching it, he suddenly started talking nonsense, saying that they had fought a war with humans, but lost." Thales looked frightened.

Connect the partial truth with the truth that Morat knew.

That way you can avoid this "human lie detector".

“Then he went crazy, he wanted to crush me into a ball!” Thales trembled and shuddered.

“Child, it’s alright, you’re safe now—and then?” Morat looked at him reassuringly, encouraging the boy to continue.

"I felt so scared and uncomfortable, I couldn't breathe." Thales' memory returned to Red Street that night, and the suffocating feeling was as real as if he were experiencing it again.

So far, he hadn't lied—Morat sensed Thales' emotions.

Having gone through such a thing and survived such a disaster, this child has truly had a remarkable life.

Thales flinched and hugged himself.

"Finally, I vaguely heard him say that he had found a 'out-of-control' person—and that there were fewer and fewer of them after the final battle."

Morat's expression finally turned solemn.

out of control?

It seems that the newly minted mage is only in the first stage and hasn't...

"Who?" the Black Prophet asked gravely. "Child, did he say? Who is that 'out of control' person?"

Thales shook his head, trembling. "That strange man didn't say—he just said smugly that he would guide that person, and that person wouldn't be able to refuse him!"

"Then Yordle appeared and stabbed him."

Morat exhaled, and an image of a smug madman appeared before his eyes, muttering to himself insanely before committing murder.

It seems Yodl wasn't hiding anything.

Morat exhaled through his nose, and his wrinkled, ugly face twitched slightly.

Thales let out a soft breath.

Partially true—it seems I've gotten away with it. No, the act has to go on.

"—But Yodl said he wouldn't die, and that he'd come back in a decade or so," Thales added, his voice trembling.

"Lord Hansen, they say you know the most, is that true? Will the strange man return?"

Morat was preoccupied, and he nodded perfunctorily: "Yes, the Supreme Sword is not complete; it can only seal a magic master for a short period of time."

"But please rest assured, the Kingdom's Secret Service will not allow him to approach you." The Black Prophet frowned, his thoughts already drifting outside the Hall of Mindis.

Our objective for tonight has been achieved.

First, they confirmed the information about the Air Magisters from the Yordles and also received an additional reward—the existence of new Air Magisters.

Second, I personally witnessed the future successor of Starry Sky.

Third, it left him with a deep impression that he will never forget at his age.

“Thank you for your honesty and cooperation,” Morat bowed deeply, and when he looked up, his eyes were serious and earnest. “Please be prepared.”

be prepared?

Thales was somewhat puzzled.

Morat gave him a deep look and nodded: "The timing is a bit hard to predict, but I have a feeling it will happen soon."

His cold, hoarse, yet aged and solemn voice echoed throughout the noble banquet hall:

"Your Highness Thales."

At that moment, the boy's mouth dropped open, and his whole body trembled!
Your Majesty...Your Majesty?
so……

But Morat showed no intention of explaining; he simply flicked his black robe and turned to leave.

"Thump—thump—thump!" The sound of the cane hitting the ground rang out rhythmically.

Thales finally came to his senses.

"Wait! Lord Hansen!" He stood up from his chair and roared at the Black Prophet's retreating figure, "The three kids from the XC district, and news of that bartender..."

“They’re still alive, and it seems someone in the Brotherhood is protecting them,” Morat said without turning his head, his feet still on the ground.

He has more important things to do.

“But could you tell me—” Thales took two steps forward and spoke anxiously, wanting to know more details.

"They are all my friends—"

"Child!" Morat's voice suddenly rose, startling Thales into stopping in his tracks.

"You are not a king, not even a prince! You are of the bloodline of the Star!"

"Wait until you become the heir to the stars, until you are powerful enough, then we can talk about protecting them—otherwise, this past will one day become your weakness." The Black Prophet approached the door, his aged voice ringing out, seemingly filled with—resentment?
“And my sixty years of experience in the secret service have taught me—the only way to avoid letting the enemy detect your weaknesses.” Morat stopped and turned back, revealing a sinister smile.

Thales felt a chill run down his spine.

“It’s about completely eliminating every weakness,” Morat slowly raised his hand, his wrinkled smile masking a gentle clenched fist. “Do you understand? And yet, it’s still His Highness… His Highness Thales?”

Thales stared at him blankly.

Morat turned around again and patted the door.

The guards outside opened the door in an orderly fashion, revealing Gilbert and Ginny's anxious figures, while the masked guard Yordle stood alone on the other side.

Both of them looked over anxiously, and Ginny even ignored Morat and rudely strode across the hall toward Thales.

“Don’t worry, the three of you,” Morat chuckled, tapping the ground, “Starry Sky has an excellent successor.”

“One day, the Kingdom’s secret service will become his arm and be used by him.”

Gilbert frowned as he watched the Black Prophet limp past him.

Lord Hansen!

Just then, Thales, who was inside the hall, suddenly spoke up!
"And you? Have you eliminated your weaknesses?"

Morat paused, then looked up at the little boy on the other side of the hall.

At that moment, Thales suddenly felt a strange emotion flowing through the seemingly cold and unapproachable Black Prophet.

“Of course,” under everyone’s gaze, the Black Prophet, Morat Hansen, said decisively:

"Completely, without leaving a single one behind."

Then he left the Mindis Hall.

Only Yodl, standing to the side, clenched his fists silently.

“Ms. Ginny, Mr. Gilbert, I’m fine!” Saying this with a smile, Thales shook his head at the anxiously asking Ginny and Gilbert, then turned to Yodl and said seriously, “Speaking of which, there’s something I need to do first.”

Under Gilbert's furrowed brow and Ginny's surprised gaze, the seven-year-old boy stretched out his right hand toward the masked guard who had just returned.

“Yordal! I need your protection,” Thales said firmly.

"Please escort me to Ms. Serena Corleone's room."

--------------------------

"No heir?"

"It's quite fitting for someone like you, who only has one daughter, to say that," His Majesty Kessel said, resting his arms on the table and letting out a soft breath.

“I traveled for two days and two nights—almost only a few minutes slower than the raven—not to exchange barbs with you, Kay.” Val also spoke in an unfriendly tone, full of the straightforwardness and roughness unique to warriors: “Although I would love to see you roll off that damned throne.”

"If things come to the worst, how are you prepared in the north?" Kaiser ignored Val's tone, lowered his head, and moved his finger across the map of the western continent on the long table.

“Dragon Keep is under a state of emergency,” Duke Arend said, taking off his chainmail gloves and tossing them onto the table. “But Sonia has repeatedly stressed that the royal three hundred standing troops and the five hundred militia recruited locally are simply not enough to deal with the dragon’s wrath… She needs reinforcements.”

"How many?"

"Given the war potential of the three Grand Dukes of Southern Exeter, she still needs at least eight thousand well-equipped and well-trained soldiers to ensure the fortress remains intact. If she also needs to secure the road from the North to the Central Territory, she will need fifteen thousand men. In addition, she will need one thousand skilled cavalrymen, light cavalry is acceptable, but heavy cavalry is preferred, to ensure her ability to respond to any situation beyond the defense of the fortified city."

As Val spoke, Kessel frowned.

“I know it’s a bit of an exorbitant demand, but you have to admit she has a point—Dragon Fortress has already been breached once. And Exter is better at winter warfare than we are, and the three dukes bordering us have been recruiting soldiers for the past few years.”

“I summoned my vassals the night before I set off. Within ten days, they will lead soldiers to reinforce the fortress in a steady stream. Together with my own troops, there will be at least five thousand men, including three hundred cavalrymen—though their quality is not guaranteed.” Val took off his other glove and warmed his hands on the everlasting lamp.

“It’s not just those three dukes.” Kessel silently stood up, walked to the window, and looked down from the towering Restoration Palace, where the lights of the capital city shone brightly in the night: “From the eternal oil in the North Port to the crystal mines in the three counties of the South Bank, they have waited too long for this day since the Treaty of the Fortress, not to mention… it also involves the successor of the Dragon Spear in the Clouds.”

“So this is inevitable, Kai. Send out your messenger, and sharpen your longsword.” Val, the lord of Coldhold, who was more like a warrior than a nobleman, rubbed his hands, which were red from the cold, and said through gritted teeth.

"So, that phrase really was left at the scene?" King Kessel V's gaze was deep, his sky-blue pupils reflecting the night view of the capital: "As long as the stars remain, the empire will endure?"

“Yes, it’s your damned, hot-blooded family motto—though I’ve kept it under wraps, you know what the secret chambers can do. I suspect that as soon as King Nunn gets the news, he’ll at least begin mobilizing his vassals and army, otherwise he won’t be able to appease his lords. Considering the war potential of the entire Exter kingdom—” Duke Val Arend scoffed, withdrawing his hands from the lamp, his face displeased:
"I still suggest that you first summon the direct vassals of the Central Territory, then prepare to summon all the major lords, even the Schocadel family in the South Sea Islands. Once war breaks out, mobilize all our allies, from the Kingdom of the Holy Tree to the Duchy of Sera, the Steel City and the Free Alliance, and even the Eastern Continent's Su Ye."

“But things are far from over,” Kessel said, looking out at the night view of the capital city, his fist clenching slightly. “King Nunn is not a hot-headed youth.”

"Do you think there's still a chance for a peaceful resolution? You know, it's far more than just that statement!" The Duke of the North slammed his fist on the table in a rage. "Both sides wanted it to happen, so this damn thing just happened!"

The two were silent for a while.

“Hmph,” Kessel snorted, lowering his head and inhaling the winter air. “Tell me, if Midil were still here, what would he do?”

"How can I not communicate with you?" Val stood up angrily without any politeness. "Or have you become stupid since you sat on that throne? Now is not the time to mourn your saintly brother, Kai! Our country, our land, our people are facing the threat of war!"

"Why do you think I rushed back! You know how much I hate you! But when you, when the stars are in trouble, because of our oaths and our honor, the entire North will stand behind you—this time, before you!"

Kessel stared at Val, at his childhood friend, without moving.

“I’m back now, right here in front of you! I heard that Old Sword of Kulun is recuperating in Yongxing City, and the young man from the Kevin Dier family lives not far away. The one-eyed dragon from Nanchuist can arrive from Junlin City within a day. Only Falkenhaus and Tebak are far away from the Wasteland and Blade Tomb, so I need to issue an urgent order to summon them. Once we six are dealt with, all thirteen noble families will arrive without exception.”

Val glared angrily at the High King.

“It’s time, Kay.”

"Issue the General Edict of the Stars."

"Nineteen noble families will once again gather in the capital to fight for you."

"Fight for the stars."

The mini-climax is about to begin.

To——1 book drought 1 and cm4.15:

Thank you for your votes and your tireless book reviews urging me to update!

The readers' request for more chapters is a testament to their love for the work and their recognition of the author, which makes Wu Jian very happy.

But Wu Jian scratched his head and still felt that quality came first, and making money second.

Wu Jian's writing style is not used to padding too much (destined to be poor for life T_T). In fact, Wu Jian feels that the last few chapters are too padded, and he is a little annoyed with himself, so he can only reluctantly refuse the request for more chapters.

By the way, (drooling) Thank you to Broken String and Iris Pattern Glory for your generous donations!
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(End of this chapter)