Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 507 Hometown

Chapter 507 Hometown
Blue sky, white clouds, sunny day, gentle breeze.

Under the high-flying double cross flag, the standing army belonging to the central territory marched in orderly fashion around the city walls toward the military camp in the southern suburbs of the capital.

Dozens of riders, cloaked and surrounding a carriage, left the group early and headed for Yongxing City.

At the city gate, the city defense team, having been notified, acted early, restricting the flow of people and clearing the way. In accordance with the regulations for clearing the way for special messengers, they drove the ordinary people to the other side of the main road. After seeing the leader's warrant and badge, the city defense officer respectfully and discreetly welcomed the dozens of knights with concealed identities into the city.

From the leisurely coachmen to the hurried merchants, many passersby pointed and whispered curiously at the group—especially at the carriage—but no one seemed particularly surprised.

Compared to the locals, the residents of the capital are much more knowledgeable and calm in the face of adversity. They are naturally superior to others and have even experienced major events such as the Star Kingdom's recognition of the second prince. What rare thing could possibly alarm them?

Thus, the carriage, surrounded by knights, passed smoothly through the city gate, entered the main road, and continued forward under the curious gazes of the people on the roadside.

In the group, a figure that appeared thinner than the others poked its head out from the saddle.

“Your Highness,” Gilbert slowly caught up, nodding understandingly:

"Welcome back to Eternal Star City."

"Welcome home."

The slender figure did not answer, but only trembled slightly.

Yongxing City.

Family.

He stared blankly at the city watchtowers passing overhead, and sighed under his cloak.

A few seconds later, Thales turned his head and forced a slightly dazed smile:

"Thank you."

The knights' procession moved on quickly, the prince under the cloak remained silent, and the sensible Gilbert also kept quiet.

Family.

Thales felt the vibrations of the horses' hooves on the road, and through the gaps in the royal guards, he silently observed everything around him:
The main street connects to countless alleyways, rows of houses are cut like pastries, and various shops open under signs that sway in the wind...

The chattering citizens gathered around the municipal bulletin board, the woman carrying a wooden basin in one hand heading to the Muhe River to wash clothes, and the bewildered out-of-towners standing in the middle of the road...

A furious coachman whipping his worn-out horse to hurry to his destination; a red-faced priest standing on a wooden crate in the corner, earnestly preaching; and a neatly arranged procession of security guards and sentries...

Like a series of still images.

but……

"strangeness……"

Thales spoke instinctively, feeling his eyebrows grow heavy and his lips tighten unconsciously.

A strange and indescribable feeling welled up in my heart, but was abruptly cut off just before it was about to burst forth.

It's like a bucket drawing water to the edge of a well suddenly bumping against something, losing its rope, and falling back into the well.

Only countless water droplets were splashed up, and the echoes reverberated in vain.

It made him feel a sense of loss.

After the "sword delivery" scene, the royal guards around him—including the glib-tongued Doyle and the expressionless Golover—became more alert and upright, keeping a considerable distance from Thales, no longer stealing glances at the Duke of Starlake as they had on the road.

Only Gilbert remained by his side, speaking softly:
"Your Grace, it's normal that your memories of Yongxing City have faded somewhat due to your long-term residence in the north..."

Thales snapped out of his tangled thoughts.

Gilbert remained calm and continued:
“For example, the road we’re taking into the city is a section of Grace Avenue, and it’s a bit chaotic because it’s closer to…”

Just now.

"West Gate".

His Highness's voice drifted over:
"I know."

Gilbert paused.

Thales slowly raised his head, gazing into the distance with emotions he himself couldn't understand:

"This place is near the west gate..."

West gate.

Duke Xinghu's voice was like an echo in an empty valley, or a clear stream gurgling over rocks.

A sense of inexplicable melancholy lingered in my mind.

Gilbert was slightly taken aback.

To his surprise, the Duke only paused for a moment before letting out a light sneer.

"It's probably the most interesting place in Yongxing City—farmers, peddlers, messengers, officials, police officers, soldiers, priests, beggars, brave adventurers, curious tourists, and despicable outsiders..."

“You can find everyone in the capital here.”

Thales stared at the crowds of knights coming and going along both sides of the road, avoiding them, as if he were looking at the most interesting storybook, a slight smile playing on his lips:
"But be careful not to accidentally squeeze onto the clean and tidy main road and then linger there."

"Otherwise, the dedicated city defense and security teams will show you what the king's authority is."

"Because on this, even a single hair from a fine horse can be more valuable than the life of a homeless child."

Or more than one life.

Thales stared blankly at the paving stones beneath the horse's hooves, lost in thought.

At that moment, Gilbert looked at Thales with a complicated expression.

"there……"

With a barely perceptible smile, Thales pointed to a fork in the road in the distance:
“I remember that direction leads to the lower city area.”

The Duke's voice echoed softly:
“If you take that road, you will reach the big market first.”

Gilbert frowned slightly, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

But Thales just stared blankly in that direction:

"The prices are cheap and the goods are diverse, making it a paradise for the local poor to make a living, but it also has its own rules and deep secrets, making it a hell for outsiders who are new to the area."

"The roads in the big market are difficult to walk on, the geography is messy and the layout is complicated. Many vendors' stalls have taken root and become like nails. But on the other hand, it is also easier to hide and conceal oneself, including street fights."

"Half of the regular vendors have dealings with the Black Street Brotherhood, while others are secretly colluding with the Blood Bottle Gang. Because the sources of goods are complex and difficult to trace, the big market is the best channel for dealing with illegal goods and laundering and selling stolen goods."

It's also the place with the most tourists and the most fat sheep.

Thales thought to himself.

“Your Highness…” Gilbert was about to say something, but Thales interrupted him again.

"If you continue north, after the big market, there is a dirt road leading down to a stinking ditch and sewer."

A melancholic look of reminiscence welled up in Thales' eyes:
“That territory belonged to the Iron Bat Society. Its earliest members came from the lowest levels of sanitation workers and canal diggers. They made a living in the city’s network of sewers and took advantage of their location to do all sorts of dirty work, such as human trafficking, smuggling, and drug distribution.”

Thales said blankly:

"But they were pragmatic and were one of the first gangs to surrender to the Black Street Brotherhood, which is why they've managed to survive until now—if you have some illicit goods and aren't afraid to die, you might be able to get a good price from them."

Or deep regret.

The procession turned a corner and onto another main road. The hustle and bustle ahead grew louder and louder, accompanied by rhythmic music and enthusiastic shouts.

"Run! Ignorant northerners! Run! For you will all perish here! For I have come, bringing calamity!" A loud voice rang out, piercing through the crowd.

Before the royal guards came a row of tall stone buildings. In front of the buildings, a stage was set up in the square, and many people were gathered around the stage, pointing and commenting on the actors.

“The Temple of the Underworld,” Thales looked past the backs of several knights, watching the actors’ energetic performance on stage, listening to the stirring music in his ears, and once again looking nostalgically at this temple that didn’t even have idols and was only used for funerals and rites:

"The only temple outside of the Morning Star District in Eternal Star City."

This time, Gilbert listened quietly.

"Their plays are never cheap and are renovated every year. From stage sound effects to props and actors, everything is excellent, and there is no shortage of audiences—there are too many people in the capital who like to watch the excitement."

But Thales scoffed:
"Unfortunately, they've been using terrible scripts. Either Mingye inexplicably descends to earth to save humanity, or Mingye will eventually rule the world—perhaps the Mingye Church thinks that if they repeat it too many times, people will take it as the truth."

Of course, maybe they are right.

and many more.

At this point, Thales looked at the fat actor on stage, who was wearing a huge stack of red tentacle costumes, looked like an octopus, and was sweating profusely but still straining to shout. He realized something was wrong:
What's being performed today?

At this moment, a calm and composed male voice broke into their conversation:

"Nightfall in the Dragon Sky"

Thales and Gilbert turned around simultaneously, and saw the leader of the group, Lord Marius the Watchman, riding up to their side:

"Today is Monday, and they're going to put on some big scenes."

Marius calmly observed the packed theater stage:

"It's about a little-known continent where disaster strikes, ravaging the north and even killing a king."

Disaster.

north.

King.

Thales' expression changed slightly.

Marius looked at the clown dressed as a giant octopus and continued:

"At the last moment, the God of Night descended, displaying his power and summoning dragons. Thus, as night ended, the calamity was defeated and vanished without a trace."

Thales raised an eyebrow.

dragon.

The night is ending.

"Really?" the prince asked, frowning.

Marius gave a soft snort, and Gilbert picked up where he left off:
"A few years ago, when news of the upheaval in Longxiao City reached the capital, all sorts of rumors circulated."

The former foreign minister shook his head helplessly:
“Since then, disaster and apocalyptic dramas have become popular again.”

Disaster.

end times.

Thales watched the giant red octopus "carrying havoc" on the stage:
"So they, the Temple of the Night, believe the calamity is that monster, the multi-headed serpent?"

Marius remained silent.

The stage was left behind them, out of sight.

A second later, the Watcher nodded, glancing sideways at the prince:
"if not?"

Thales had to avert his suddenly sharp gaze and nod:
"Right."

Marius remained as calm as ever.

"And if you don't mind, Your Highness, Your Grace."

Thales slowly raised his head.

"Six years later, you shouldn't know so much about Everstar City, especially the lower district," Marius said expressionlessly, but his words carried a deeper meaning:

"After all, everyone knows you were raised by Lord Mann."

After saying this, Marius reined in his horse and rode away, leaving them only with his back turned.

I shouldn't know so much about Yongxing City...

Looking at the Watcher ahead, Thales's gaze turned serious:

"He knows?"

"my past?"

Gilbert seemed a little embarrassed, and he coughed:
"Lord Marius has been assigned to be your personal bodyguard and to lead your personal guard. His Majesty... naturally trusts him."

Lead my personal guard.

Yes.

His Majesty trusts him.

His Majesty.

Thales continued to stare intently at Marius's retreating figure, and after a long while, he slowly spoke:
"Is it."

Thales tightened the reins.

"so……"

"He is Thales's bodyguard."

"Or perhaps the prince's or duke's...personal guards?"

Upon hearing this, Gilbert was speechless.

His face turned ugly.

But the former foreign minister simply lowered his head and said nothing.

The royal guard continued their march, crossed a hill, and arrived at another street.

Strangely, the street was wide, but it was deserted during the day, with only a few people hurrying by.

It inevitably brings to mind the Ghost Prince Tower.

but……

This place is so...

This time, Thales was stunned.

In that instant, countless memories flooded his mind.

“I know this place, Gilbert.”

The boy looked around and said with a touch of emotion:
"Go in through that opening, and inside is..."

Thales said in a daze:
"that is……"

Gilbert looked in the direction Thales was pointing and immediately blushed.
"Your Highness, you may not know..."

Thales shook his head.

“I know,” the Duke withdrew his finger, calmly gazing at the indistinct cluster of houses deep in the street, “that is…”

"Red Town Street".

Thales felt as if his blood had stopped flowing for a moment.

"It shares the banks of the Muhe River with Linhe Street and is the southernmost street in the West Ring District. Although its location is not ideal, it is the place where dignitaries and nobles often come late at night."

He said blankly:
"The Blood Bottle Gang used to almost monopolize the business here."

"Until six years ago."

Gilbert took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled:
"Your Highness, Lord Marius just reminded me..."

But Thales completely ignored him.

The young duke stared at the ever-receding opening, unconsciously pressing his hand to his chest, his eyes glazed over.

“In the past, if they were lucky, beggars could get unexpected rewards here.”

such as……

One that could change your destiny...

silver.

Gilbert sighed again in exasperation, no longer trying to persuade the still-emotional prince, but instead composed himself and listened quietly.

The knights continued their advance without pause, and soon, more and more things stirred Thales' emotions.

"You know, if you keep going in this direction, after passing three neighborhoods filled with lower-class residents, you'll reach the Lower City."

Thales gestured towards a dilapidated doorway in the distance:

"Then you'll see the Black Street."

The legendary underworld.

Faced with the silent Gilbert, Thales slowly shook his head, his voice low and somber:

"Those who want to settle down there must be either ruthless or brave enough."

Or... enough despair.

"Not far from it is a low-lying street, which everyone calls the underground street."

Underground street.

Thales breathed heavily, unaware that the person he was talking about had already moved away from his sight:

“Every time it rains, it floods, so the houses and shops there, including the Grove Pharmacy on the corner, always have a musty smell.”

Grove Pharmacy.
The more Thales spoke, the more confused and complicated his feelings became.

“Except for Sunset Bar – which has the best location and rarely floods except for a back alley that is often piled with garbage, but even better, few people dare to cause trouble there. You just have to be careful about who you target and don’t mess with the wrong person.”

Sunset Bar.

The boy paused for a moment, then choked up.

Before a beautiful figure could enter his mind, he quickly controlled his emotions:
"And next to the underground shopping mall..."

Thales took a deep breath and looked at the streets of Everstar City, feeling his right hand tremble slightly.

Gilbert, standing next to him, pursed his lips tightly.

"beside……"

Thales swallowed.

"It was an abandoned stone house."

His voice trembled slightly.

"They've gathered half the city's homeless..."

"A homeless child".

The sound of hooves continued, and the guards remained vigilant. But the Duke of Starlake, standing in the ranks, slowly lowered his head.

Even Gilbert looked serious.

A few seconds later.

“Gilbert, I didn’t have a chance to ask before.”

The boy's voice echoed softly from the horse:

"But regarding the things I asked you to do over these past six years..."

Gilbert's expression changed slightly:

“Oh, of course, your collection of certain books, including the gift for the Grand Duchess…”

But Thales interrupted him:
"No, Gilbert."

The prince raised his head, his gaze slightly unfocused, but cleared after a few seconds:

"You know what I'm talking about."

Thales stared intently at Gilbert, as if that were the way out for the lost.

Gilbert sighed.

"Lord Marius just said..."

But the Duke interrupted him again.

“Gilbert”.

“I’m begging you,” Thales said, his eyes filled with a hint of urgency.

"please."

The group continued onward, and before they knew it, they had left the western part of Yongxing City. The messy paths and side roads were gone, replaced by wide, flat, and straight main roads.

"No, Your Highness."

Finally, Gilbert let out a sigh of relief, his exhaustion barely concealed.
"I'm very sorry."

Thales did not speak.

He simply waited quietly.

"I asked around at the city hall and even the police station several times, and they launched several sweeps targeting the lower city and western districts under the guise of city clearing and street cleaning..."

Sure enough, Gilbert spoke, his words tinged with shame:

"But as you know, every time that happens, besides catching a few 'gangsters' to appease the public and make people continue to praise the social stability and better life..."

Gilbert paused for a moment:
"Overnight, those ugly and filthy people and things mysteriously disappeared without a trace, leaving no way to investigate."

Thales stared intently at the ground.

Looking at the boy's expression, Gilbert felt somewhat hesitant to face him.
“My friends, they specifically cleaned up the underground streets and abandoned houses you mentioned, leaving them completely exposed.”

Gilbert shook his head in disappointment:

"Of course, as is customary..."

"That day, the underground street was transformed into a uniform collection of antique shops and funeral parlors, along with stinking garbage dumps. The eyes of the gravediggers and corpse carriers were filled with a mixture of ignorance, sincerity, innocence, and helplessness. No matter how meticulous the guards were in their nitpicking and interrogation, they could only catch a few petty thieves at most, which in turn drew out a large number of impoverished people struggling to make ends meet. Their complaints were overwhelming, forcing the authorities to back down."

"And the abandoned house, just like the dozens of inspections the city hall had conducted before, had once again become an empty garbage dump and an ominous place for dumping corpses, with only a dozen or so homeless people and a madman who could not speak clearly remaining."

"We haven't found anyone."

Thales clenched his fist.

At that moment, he felt a dull pain in his chest.

It seems that the wound from six years ago is still burning.

As the procession passed a crowd that seemed to be watching a variety show, the prince's mount neighed, causing the surrounding horses to stir restlessly.

The royal guards quickly quelled the commotion among the mounts, changed formation, and moved away from the circus troupe.

But Thales didn't care about any of that.

He was thinking about other things.

When it comes to power, both the Black Street Brotherhood and the Blood Bottle Gang have their own ways of dealing with it.

Break it down into smaller parts and cut your losses to survive.

They will leave the nest once the storm has passed.

Everything remained the same.

Thales struggled to breathe:

"So... Red Town Street?"

Gilbert ate another meal.

“My lord, I’m afraid,” Count Cassel shook his head:

“My friend’s position of power is not high enough to allow him to openly investigate Hongfang Street… It’s involved with…”

Thales closed his eyes and lowered his head.

“I understand, Gilbert.”

The boy opened his eyes:
“You need knowledgeable people, people who truly understand the realities of life, not high-ranking government officials who are oblivious to the hardships of ordinary people.”

Gilbert did not answer immediately, seemingly considering something.

But a few seconds later, he spoke:

“My friend did suggest that, Your Highness, if you put a bounty on the black market for something that they would dream of—but which is of course insignificant to us—useful clues would spring up on your desk like mushrooms after rain within a few months.”

But Gilbert's expression changed slightly:
"And that also means that it will leave traces that cannot be covered up for those who are paying attention to us."

Thales frowned:
“We discussed this six years ago.”

Gilbert nodded decisively, his gaze serious:

"And the conclusions drawn then are equally applicable today."

Thales sighed.

Gilbert's words continued in a low voice:
"Given your current status, having any connection with you is not a good thing for your friends—the best outcome for them is to fade into obscurity and be forgotten by everyone, forgetting everything about you."

As he finished speaking, Gilbert's tone became increasingly serious.

But Thales was so confused that he couldn't hear anything.

"Where is the secret service?"

Ignoring the other person's words, Thales pressed on:

"Have you contacted them? They are the most suitable people to do this."

Gilbert frowned.

“Gilbert?”

Thales urged.

A few seconds later, the former foreign minister finally sighed and replied:
“A few years ago, when your return to the country was still uncertain and there was little news about it, I tried to seek help from Lord Hansen.”

Lord Hansen.

Upon hearing this name, Thales felt an inexplicable sense of unease.

"But in recent years, his already few public appearances have decreased significantly, and he has almost never shown up—not even to the imperial council."

Thales' brow furrowed even more deeply:

"Then let's try the one from the secret service..."

Before he could finish his question, Gilbert interrupted him:
"Young, undead man, your old friend from the same time?"

Thales glanced at him and nodded.

“I tried.”

Gilbert shook his head expressionlessly:

"But everyone in the secret service, from top to bottom, who could be contacted, unanimously denied that they had an officer named Raphael Lindbergh."

Thales paused for a moment.

"deny?"

"Even if he made a public appearance in the Hall of Stars six years ago?"

Faced with the prince's incredulous question, Gilbert still shook his head:

"At least in Yongxing City, this person does not exist."

"Or it may not be allowed to exist."

Thales understood what he meant.

The boy asked incredulously:
"The secret service rejected you?"

Gilbert sighed softly:

"Inaccurate."

"What do you mean?"

Gilbert patted the horse beneath him, seemingly trying to find a way to start a conversation:
“You know, Your Highness, intelligence gathering and planning are Putila’s specialties, but my specialty is observing the people who do these things… and I can tell from their attitudes and actions that the Royal Secret Service seems to be interested in…”

Gilbert half-raised his head and glanced at Thales:
"I have a deep... prejudice against you."

Thales was stunned.

"I?"

"prejudice?"

The prince realized what was happening, and for a moment, he felt a strange sense of absurdity, as if he were laughing in anger.

"Are you kidding me?"

"I'm the poor soul who was forced to leave home for six years because of them!"

But Gilbert just shook his head worriedly:

“I don’t know what they’re thinking, but Your Highness…”

"Forgive my bluntness once again, but throughout the history of the stars, every capable monarch has maintained a good relationship with his chief intelligence officer and the Kingdom's secret service..."

The procession continued, but Gilbert's words had already reached Thales' ears.

The duke scratched his neck in annoyance, looking indignant:
"But all I want is to find a few people..."

Gilbert shook his head:

"Are you referring to a few homeless children who disappeared six years ago during the infamous chaotic night in the downtown area, left unnoticed and nameless?"

In that instant, Thales suddenly looked up!

"Yes."

He looked intently at Gilbert, his eyes serious, which startled the former foreign minister slightly.
"And... a female bartender."

Gilbert raised an eyebrow and nodded readily:
"And a female bartender."

There was a few seconds of silence between them.

He has been missing for six years.

No one pays attention.

Nameless and without surname.

Thales silently repeated Gilbert's words in his heart.

“And they are not unnoticed,” Thales whispered.
"It's not that they're nameless or faceless."

Several small figures appeared before his eyes.

Gilbert looked at him, his eyes filled with both relief and sorrow:

“Your Highness, if I may be frank, finding their whereabouts is quite simple—as long as we make a big enough move.”

Thales looked up.

"But what happens after you find it?"

Gilbert's expression turned serious:
Have you ever considered the potential impact your rewards, acts of gratitude, or even just your covert observation might have on them?

"Doing one thing is easy, but handling the countless consequences it brings perfectly is incredibly difficult."

Thales wanted to say something, but was momentarily speechless.

Gilbert said solemnly:

“Especially after your highly anticipated return, if this continues, sooner or later someone will notice your actions—and we cannot rely on their kindness and principles.”

"This is not a good thing for either side."

Thales closed his eyes in pain.

“Perhaps the day you find them,” the former foreign minister said, his tone tense.
"The day you killed them."

find them.

They will be killed.

Gilbert said with great sorrow:

"Therefore, I sincerely suggest that you, Your Highness, for your own sake and for theirs, give it up."

"Don't investigate any further."

give up?

give up.

It took Thales quite a while to open his eyes.

He stared blankly as the ground beneath the horse's hooves slowly receded.

“Gilbert”.

Thales spoke slowly, his voice hoarse:

"You knew it from the beginning, didn't you?"

Gilbert wondered:

"what do you know?"

Thales sighed.

"Six years ago, in the Mindis Hall... you told me that once the access control was lifted, I could go find my friends..."

Gilbert's expression changed slightly.

"And after I became a prince, you said that I had to wait until the storm had passed before I could go and find my friends..."

The former foreign minister remained silent.

"When I arrived in the North, you wrote to me, saying you had found some useful clues and were investigating them..."

Thales took a deep breath.

"Back then, I believed you, but now..."

Duke Starlake raised his head, looking directly at the silent Gilbert, and affirmed:
"You knew that already."

With emotions that even Thales himself didn't understand, the prince spoke in a hoarse but calm voice:
“From the very beginning, from the moment I arrived at Mindis Hall, you knew I could no longer go to them.”

Never.

"So at that time, you were just... just..."

Thales was speechless for a moment and did not continue.

But in that instant, everything in the Mindis Hall, which had been there six years ago, suddenly became unfamiliar.

All the scenes disappeared from his sight, one by one.

Gilbert closed his eyes and turned his head away.

No answer.

Thales lowered his head and didn't ask any more questions.

But he knew.

Yongxing City.

Abandoned house.

Mindis Hall.