Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 551 is better
"Anke Bailar!"

Amid the chaos, Thales' voice rang out clearly, echoing throughout the hall.

The Duke's words carried significant weight, and the entire banquet hall fell silent.

Anker's longsword stopped at old Doyle's neck, leaving only the baron's extremely tense panting.

Thales pushed aside Marius, who instinctively tried to stop him, and stepped forward to speak from the seat second only to the king:
“Your words, your story, your experiences have been heard throughout the entire Mindis Hall.”

His tone was stern:
"Isn't this enough?"

Anker raised his head and, for the first time without any interference or hindrance, looked directly into the eyes of the heir to the kingdom.

"So, Your Highness, are you going to use perfectly legitimate reasons and excuses to obstruct justice, just like everyone else?"

"So your past, your reputation, including your opening remarks just now, were all lies?"

Marius and Vogel exchanged a glance, their only concern and apprehension.

Thales felt that at this moment, all eyes in the room were focused on him without any concealment or restraint.

Whether it's a guardian duke like Jann, Kusder, or Val.

Or perhaps it was the likes of Viscount Adrian and Lady Eleanor, among the seven luminaries and central dignitaries.

Or perhaps royalists and new nobles like Earl Godwin and Viscount Connie.

And also various soldiers, officials, business leaders, and other distinguished guests from all walks of life.

Their gazes were like massive boulders, pressing down on his vocal cords.

It was as if he wanted to negate all the respect and deference he had received throughout the banquet.

Damn.

"I am not a judge and have no right to define justice."

Thales frowned as he looked into those eyes filled with resolute determination and a death wish.
"But your actions today have been shocking enough."

"But it only blocks its own way out."

Anke was breathing in a daze.

"Killing and taking lives might get people to listen."

Thales glanced around, struggling to steady his voice, which was still going through puberty:

"But if the audience comes only out of curiosity, there is no benefit in listening."

A buzzing sound arose from the crowd.

"And they willingly degenerate!"

Thales shouted:

Even if one can avoid the bitter consequences for the time being, the outcome will inevitably be miserable, and one will regret it deeply.

Anker turned his head and looked at old Doyle, who was trembling under his sword.

He smiled.

"Your Highness, as rumored, your words are sharp and incisive, and I find it difficult to refute them."

"No wonder they were able to uphold the dignity and interests of the stars in the barbaric and dangerous North."

Anker's eyes sharpened:
"But I didn't come here to listen to your lectures."

"What I seek is revenge."

“Then trust me, lay down your weapons, and await a fair judgment,” Thales said, striving to maintain the dignity of the Duke of Starlake.
"There is no point in resorting to vigilante justice again, which would only result in more deaths."

He said seriously:

“Revenge without justice is no different from despicable murder.”

Vogel and Marius were talking behind him, but Thales couldn't hear what they were saying.

Anke subconsciously looked around, slightly bewildered amidst the chatter of the banquet guests.

Until he looked at the Duke again, casting a resentful and questioning glance at the latter.

"murder."

Anker stared at Thales, his mind wandering for a moment.

Murder? Justice?

He gritted his teeth, his voice trembling:

"No, Your Highness Thales, no."

“My father died on his sickbed, clutching his weapon and feeling guilty towards his ancestors and bloodline. He died in the ancestral land, and I didn’t even have time to bury him. I had to travel thousands of miles to get here until today, when I can finally stand before you.”

He roared:

That's murder!

Where is his justice?

Baron Doyle, trembling, interjected under his sword:

"I didn't do anything. Your father died of illness..."

Anker abruptly turned his head, startling the Baron into swallowing his words:
"After you took everything from him!"

“You’re using despicable tactics by businessmen,” Anke shouted hoarsely.

"After cornering him!"

Thales reached down to stop Marius from sending someone to pull him back to the group.

Anker roared:
"Gentlemen, open your eyes and see! How is this trap and humiliation any different from murder!"

The crowd exploded.

The discussions grew increasingly chaotic, with each person focusing on a different issue.

Baron Doyle trembled, and seeing the unfavorable situation, he struggled to speak:

“Your father had no money, so I lent it to him; he mortgaged his land, and I took it…”

DD, tense and unblinking, watched his father defend himself, restrained by Golover:

“Your people have no work and no food, so I hire laborers and pay them wages. What’s wrong with that?”

"This is perfectly normal practice for lords. You should open your eyes and see how many years it's been going on..."

Old Doyle closed his eyes, trying hard not to look at the sword that terrified him:
"The entire kingdom, from the center to the Blade's Edge, whether in the East Sea or the South Coast..."

"Where isn't it like this?"

These words caused an uproar among the crowd.

Lord Godwin tried to maintain order, but with little success.

Thales frowned deeply.

Anke, who held the Baron's life in his hands, was even more enraged:

"Damn it, it's not the Western Wilderness!"

His roar shook the entire Mindis Hall:

"The town of Yati, where I was born and raised, is not it either!"

The noise from the guests grew louder and louder, forcing the guards to work even harder to separate those who were standing too close together.

Until, in the distance, in the Duke's seat, Kuusde Nanthurst opened his incredibly sharp single eye.

"It's not a cliff either."

He glanced at Val Arend, who, despite being shackled and under the watchful eyes of the royal guards, was still pouring himself a drink and seemed to be in good spirits:
"And the North."

The One-Eyed Duke sighed deeply, and his words reached everyone's ears:
"In the past, the entire kingdom was not like that."

The Seven Stars' expressions varied, but Duke Jann raised an eyebrow, looking amused.

Thales clenched his fists and glared angrily at the cliff ruler who was fanning the flames.

But Kusder just watched him from afar and shook his head slightly.

This aroused Thales's suspicion.

The guests' chatter gradually subsided, leaving behind an unspoken solemnity and caution.

Encouraged, hope rekindled in Anke's eyes.

"That's right!"

Young Barral gripped the Baron's shoulder, the blade pointing straight up to his head:
"Don't you all feel the same way about this trip and this action?"

Seeing that he had caused trouble, Baron Doyle had no choice but to shut up.

"Damn it, he came prepared."

Behind them, Vogel watched the changing expressions on the guests' faces, and he was furious.
"He turned this case into a confrontation between His Majesty and the Western Wilderness, between the central government and the local authorities."

But Marius simply shook his head.

Knowing he couldn't let the situation escalate, Thales's rebuke echoed throughout the hall:
"Then prove it!"

“Anke Bailar, if you think you’re doing the right thing, then prove it to me: you’re here for the sake of your father’s justice, not just for momentary pleasure and self-satisfaction.”

Anker looked at Duke Starlake again.

"Pleasure and satisfaction?"

The hostage-taker took a deep breath:

“I came here because I trust you, Prince Thales.”

Thales' heart skipped a beat, and he cautiously said:
"I?"

Anker adopted a respectful expression, kneeling on one knee, his left hand never leaving Baron Doyle's shoulder blade:
"Privately, Your Highness."

"Your adoptive father, Lord Mann, was born in the Western Wilderness and has served His Majesty faithfully for many years."

"My father was his classmate and served alongside him, fighting side by side in the desert war, and their friendship was profound."

Thales's breath hitched.

"And the Bailar family risked their lives for you, and raised an army to pave the way for your return home."

"You quelled the fighting at the Blade Fang Dunes, and your virtuous reputation spread throughout the western wilderness, becoming a celebrated story."

Anker's gaze was intense:

"The legendary Winged One will attend to you, the Four-Eyed Skull will bestow upon you a precious sword, the Clomar family's thousand-strong army will present you with a grand gift, and even the renowned Black Lion of Heroic Soul Fortress will travel a great distance to raise its banner and lead the way for you."

The guests began to chatter again, many of them hearing this "first-hand" experience for the first time.

Thales' expression remained unchanged, but he sighed inwardly.

He had just discovered that the weight of the sword Falkenhausen had given him was indeed unusual.

"Your Highness, sir."

"You left the country for six years to go north as a hostage, sacrificing yourself to protect your people."

"When you defend the dignity of the kingdom, none of the Yankees dare to challenge you."

As Thales listened to these words and felt the countless gazes going back and forth between him and Anker, he felt extremely uncomfortable.

"You personally experienced extraordinary dangers and witnessed the most legendary change of the throne in Exte."

"The Yankees see you as an enemy, but the Starmen regard you as a hero."

Anker became more and more excited as he spoke, and his voice eventually became hoarse:
"Your Highness, your glorious deeds in the North prove that you are a rare new spirit in the kingdom—you are the last vestige of passion in this great empire and this nation of succession."

"Everyone is looking forward to your return."

"including me."

"And my father."

These words sparked another round of discussion.

But wise people keep quiet and remain silent.

The only thing they all agreed on was that everyone looked at Duke Starlake.

Where no one could see, Thales clenched his fist.

In Exter, in Dragonhill, living under someone else's roof, the people of the North looked at him with either hatred and hostility or with wariness and disdain beneath the surface of perfect etiquette. The dead-faced Nicolai was the representative of the former, the Regent of Risban was the embodiment of the latter, and the courtiers of Dragonhill were even more unscrupulous.

That feeling is not pleasant.

For six years, Thales preferred to stay alone in the library or in some corner of Valhalla, reading, sleeping, or even just spacing out, sending Wyatt away to within twenty meters.

He had thought that was bad enough.

but.

At this moment, as Thales stood in the Hall of Mindis, on his own soil, facing his fellow countrymen, feeling the gazes of countless people filled with a mixture of expectation, admiration, caution, and even inquiry...

"Do not."

Vogel sensed the seriousness of the problem and whispered:
"Your Highness is the heir to the throne, belongs to the Shining Star Royal Family, and is the representative of the Restoration Palace."

"But he is not His Majesty, not the King, not the official ruler of the kingdom."

Marius first nodded, then shook his head:

"But he happens to be the head of the Mindis Hall and the Duke of Starlake, who has the power to assist in governing the country."

"He had just returned to the country, and while he was renowned, he had no real power base and was easily manipulated."

The watchman's vigilance was beyond measure:

"That's why they came to him."

The deputy captain of the guard turned his head:
"them?"

Marius remained silent.

Listening to their private conversation, Thales grew even more serious.

"Duke Thales!"

Anke's gaze sharpened, and he raised his voice:
"The man I'm about to kill, and his accomplice..."

He thrust his short sword forward, pinning the old baron who had just managed to catch his breath, and said angrily:
"They violated the Sacred Star Covenant signed by John the Black-Eyed in the 50th year of the End of the Calendar, and plotted to murder hereditary nobles with baronial titles!"

Thales's eyebrow twitched!
"They violated the 'Law of Non-Duality' established by Sumer the Jackal 340 years ago, and engaged in private dealings outside the legitimate royal family of the Bailar, with one subject serving multiple masters!"

Facing hundreds of people, Anke angrily said:

"They disregarded the King's Tax Law of 414 by the 'creditor' Hyman II, and concealed production to evade taxes behind the backs of the king and lords!"

The Sacred Star Covenant, The Unparalleled Law, The King's Tax Law...

Thales clenched his fist.

Damn it, he only knew the names of some of these laws, and Gilbert hadn't even had time to teach them yet.

Amidst the whispers of the crowd, Vogel's expression turned displeased:
"The situation is clear now; they really came prepared."

He stepped forward and whispered behind Thales:
“Your Highness, no matter what he says, you must now stand firm and align yourself with His Majesty and the Restoration Palace…”

Marius, expressionless, interrupted him directly:
"Do not."

Vogel looked back in surprise.

On the other side, Anker's voice continued to reverberate throughout the hall:
"They violated the General Rules for the Selection of Officials of 512 by the 'wise King' Mindis III, disrespected local customs, interfered with town autonomy, and engaged in bribery with the king's servants!"

He stared intently at the composed Duke of Starlake:
"They defied the Land Measurement Decree issued by your grandfather, 'King of Longevity' Eddy II, in 655, leasing land elsewhere and privately transferring and defiling their sacred fiefdoms!"

"They even openly defied the Emergency Control Order passed by your father eleven years ago for the Desert Wars, which is still in effect at the border, and illegally smuggled strategic grain supplies from the Western Wilderness out of the country and resold them to the Desert and Exter!"

Baron Doyle's expression grew increasingly grim, his face filled with disbelief.

General Rules for the Selection of Officials, Land Surveying Order, Emergency Control Order...

As the crowd grew increasingly noisy, Thales sensed something was wrong.

This far exceeds the knowledge he has crammed in the past few months.

Behind the prince, Marius's voice rang out softly.

"Doyle is one of the Seven Stars of the Palace of Restoration, and Bailar is a local vassal of Falkenhaus."

“Doyle is a deeply entrenched old noble family with a long history,” the Watcher said calmly, but his words carried a heavy weight.

"The Bailars are a newly emerging aristocracy that rose to power through war, and they are just over a century old."

Vogel's eyes flickered.

"Doyle, employing a merchant's approach and new methods such as market contracts, annexed land and changed ownership..." Marius continued:
“Bailar cited royal decrees such as the Land Survey to defend himself, only to preserve his old fiefdom and uphold the old legal system.”

Vogel realized what was happening and looked at Marius in disbelief.

Marius looked back at him and nodded:

“Doyle stayed away from the political center and only tried to curry favor with the royal family after His Highness Thales returned home.”

"Bailar, on the other hand, boldly bypassed the Duke of the Western Wilderness and went straight to Yongxing City to ask the central government of the kingdom to make a ruling on local affairs."

After the royal guards had thought it through, their expressions changed drastically, and Marius sighed softly:

"Can you imagine how many people, how many things, and how many stakes are involved in this?"

"Who truly represents the central government, and who represents the local authorities? Who represents the new order, and who represents the old legal system? Who is upholding the monarchy, and who is overthrowing the kingdom?"

Can anyone explain it clearly?

Marius looked at Anker, who stood in the center of the hall, loudly listing the crimes of his enemies.

"This is no longer a simple choice between two options."

“New and old, ruler and subject, father and son, central government and local government, finance, land and tax laws, methods of governance, countless factors are involved and intertwined, and cannot be resolved by simply choosing sides.” As Thales listened to his captain of the personal guard’s words, he felt his body grow increasingly stiff.

"Any choice and action has its pros and cons and is difficult to be perfect. It's like flour and sand mixed together; you can't keep one pure and pick it out alone."

"This is politics that is far more typical than typical."

The watchman's face was once again etched with solemnity, his composure gone.

“Whoever set this trap, whoever it may be,” Marius said softly.
"They're all ruthless characters."

In the center of the hall, amidst the mess, Anke slowly rose and stood tall.

It was as if, at that moment, he was the master of the entire hall.

"My friends, their evil intentions are unforgivable by the gods, their crimes are intolerable by the laws of heaven, and their actions shake the throne and the foundation of the kingdom!"

The hostage-taker paused for a moment, then turned to stare at Thales.

“But you are right, Your Highness.”

Anke suppressed the despair and dejection in his eyes, replacing them with determination and decisiveness.

“Rest assured, I will not commit murder at your banquet,” Anke said, withdrawing his sword from the old baron’s shoulder, which relieved the latter.
“That’s not the family motto of the Bailar family.”

Thales said solemnly:

"what are you doing then?"

"What else do you want?"

“I already said, Your Highness,” Anke said with a knowing smile.

"revenge."

"Or as you say, fairness."

Thales' heart skipped a beat.

Behind him, Marius turned his head quickly:
"Has the messenger sent to the Palace of Restoration reported back? What about Prime Minister Cullen? Count Cassel? Or Lord Juco Man? Any of the officials in the Imperial Council? In the current situation, only they can vouch for our decisions..."

The guards exchanged bewildered glances, except for Vogel, who shook his head grimly.
"Earl Cassel couldn't hold his liquor and left early, the Chancellor of the Exchequer followed him, and the Prime Minister was among the first to slip away."

"Besides..."

Even if His Majesty were here...

Vogel shut his mouth, keeping his next words to himself.

“I cannot make a hasty judgment here based solely on your side of the story.”

Thales spoke with difficulty, maintaining royal dignity and ducal decorum while also considering the other man's feelings, hoping he wouldn't kill him in a fit of anger:
"All I see is you..."

Anke suddenly looked up, interrupting him.

"No need, Your Highness, no need."

His smile became bright and open, like that of a lost traveler who had found a way out of the desert:
“I know, I understand. You are in a high position and have many concerns. You also bear the hopes of the entire kingdom. I cannot and will not force you to stand up for me, putting you in a dilemma and causing you to be blamed by all sides.”

Anker lowered his head, looking at the old baron who didn't dare to breathe, his eyes filled with hatred:

"But I also know that this person has deep connections and extensive influence, while I am just a lone swordsman, unable to make a difference on my own."

“Once you step out of this hall, all hope is lost,” he said with a bitter smile, his words filled with deep helplessness and profound understanding.

"When it comes to delving into legal provisions, weighing pros and cons, and political maneuvering, how could I possibly outmaneuver these cunning old foxes?"

Amidst the whispers and stares of the crowd, Thales gritted his teeth.

"Therefore, there is no need to trouble others, nor to involve all parties, nor to be caught in a dilemma, Your Highness."

Anke stared at the short sword in his hand, slightly lost in thought:

"Let's just keep it simple, clear, and straightforward to end our feud."

He looked up at Thales, his eyes filled with longing:

"Just like you did."

Thales reached for the arm of the chair, only to find it empty in surprise.

No.

But it was too late.

“Your Highness, I beg you. Please allow me, Anke Bailar from Ravenclaw Town.”

Anker spoke sharply and angrily, shouting:
"Allow me to follow in your footsteps, emulate your deeds, and recreate your legend!"

His footsteps, his deeds, his legend...

Thales stared incredulously at Anker, whose expression was now one of fervor.

No.

"Please allow me to awaken the ancient legal traditions of the imperial era, to follow the magnificent and heroic ancient customs of the Ludor people, and to recount your epic journey in the Kingdom of Exter..."

"Let me pay my respects to Doyle of Mirror River, to this despicable villain, this scum of the nobility, who has murdered my father and robbed my home..."

At that moment, Thales' palms felt ice-cold.

Anker threw off his cumbersome coat, pointed his sword at the dome, and his voice shook the beams and pillars, causing the eternal lamps to sway from side to side.

"Issue a challenge."

In an instant, the hall fell silent.

Anker's gaze was sharp, and he was more spirited than ever before:
"Let us, here, in the Mindis Hall, reopened after eighteen years, complete a grand and glorious, fair and just ceremony between nobles and between families..."

"A duel to the death."

Thales felt a void in his heart and remained expressionless.

"What the hell—" Before Vogel could even ask his incredulous question, a buzz of voices suddenly erupted from the crowd!

Within seconds, the discussion reached its peak.

Surprise and dissatisfaction intertwined, making it difficult to distinguish between them:

"It's too exaggerated..."

"The barbaric customs of the Yankees? Are you kidding me?"

"But I've heard that it originated from an imperial tradition..."

"So the rumors are true? Your Highness once challenged King Nuen?"

"Your Highness, as a witness, saw King Nuen take revenge on a certain Grand Duke, which should be true..."

"And what about King Nunn himself? Was he also killed in a duel by King Chaman? Did Prince Thales witness this?"

In the crowd, Jorge of Elk City, taking advantage of his size, pushed past two guests blocking his way, raised his arms and roared with fanaticism, stirring up the atmosphere:
"Alright, let's duel! If you've got the guts, let's do it! Long live the Empire!"

Completely disregarding the dissatisfaction and anger of the surrounding star people.

But the guests' discussions never stopped: "I think it actually makes sense... A successful revenge and gaining fame, I would have done the same..."

"What a joke! So, you bastard who seduced my daughter, does that mean I can challenge you to a duel for life and death?"

"How can you still remember this? Aren't we friends? Aren't our families old friends? What's there to be upset about..."

"Family ties? How can we be family ties? Are you going to befriend my daughter? Bah!"

"Hey, do you think I don't know that when my father passed away, you and my mother were in the study..."

"Shut up! You bastard! Come on, let's have a duel to the death, just like you said!"

"Oh no, this is too barbaric! I'm just a lady, I can't stand it. Dad, I have to go home now. And you two brothers, remember to tell me the result of the duel..."

"Okay, niece. At your age, you need to take good care of your health. I'll come visit you another day..."

"You bastard! You're not allowed to say another word to my daughter! We're sworn enemies now!"

Even though the Star Nobles are known for their restraint and deference, the Mindis Hall was still in chaos at this time.

The guards had to divert their attention, keeping a close watch on the hostage-takers while trying to persuade and suppress the noisy but still unwilling guests.

"Your Highness, please join the entire kingdom in bearing witness for me."

Anke let out a sigh of relief, looking relaxed, as if he had finally completed a difficult task:

"Witnessing heroism and passion is not a privilege exclusive to people from the North."

"Justice resides in the hearts of the people, and revenge is a matter of course."

On the steps, Thales struggled to catch his breath, his head throbbing.

He felt mentally exhausted and mentally drained.

The Duke's voice rang out with difficulty: "What you've asked is against the traditions of the stars..."

"But you have a precedent!"

"So Your Highness, this is not murder—as long as it is with your permission, approval, or even witness."

Anke's voice seemed to come from the horizon, full of hope and anticipation:
"But it was you who witnessed it firsthand in Exter, you who set an example before the born king, it was the courage and qualification that earned you your fame, it was the means you used to safeguard the dignity and security of the Star Kingdom, it is something that has existed since ancient times and is perfectly justified—"

Anke gritted his teeth and said:
"Blood revenge!"

"As you said, if there were a second way, I would not want to commit murder. Your Highness, please do not make me do that."

Thales mechanically turned his head to look at the old baron, who was no longer able to utter a word.

"No, Your Highness!"

Behind him, DD struggled to break free from Golov's restraints, knelt down beside Thales, and spoke in a panic:
"My father, he's old, he can't..."

“If you feel it’s unfair,” Anke said in a long voice, looking at DD with eager anticipation and full of provocation:
“Then let another Doyle—this old bastard’s son—fight me for his family and name. He’s skilled, and it will be a fair and exciting duel.”

He glared coldly and gritted his teeth:
"Until life and death are separated."

Anker took a deep breath and raised his short sword:
"After that, if I am still alive, I will surrender and accept all the punishment I deserve."

"Absolutely no objection."

Doyle was both shocked and furious, staring intently at the opponent who had driven his father and his family to the brink of ruin.

"Your Highness, I can..."

DD instinctively reached for his weapon, but Marius held him down firmly and pushed him back into his comrades.

“We were wrong again. This assassination attempt,” the Watchman said, his expression grim, “was indeed aimed at His Highness.”

"In another way."

Vogel's brow furrowed, and he stared intently at the troublemaker at the banquet, lost in thought.

The crowd's chatter grew louder.

Thales stood there alone and powerless, bearing the gazes of the crowd:

Among them, several dukes observed with either anticipation of a good show, deep thought in silence, or complete indifference.
There were also the gazes of the Seven Star Attendants, most of them waiting anxiously and expectantly for the prince's reaction, with both anticipation and vigilance.
There were also other people's gazes.

But Thales was no longer in the mood to distinguish.

At that moment, his mind was filled with his conversation with Ginny not long ago.

So? They can eat me?

【No. 】

But they will tear you apart.

Even if I am the king's son, the heir to the kingdom?

Thales pressed his forehead.

【Yes. 】

Therefore, they will be gentle and polite...

[Tear you apart.]

Tear me apart...

Amidst the endless noise, the prince took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and sighed.

"Therefore, please witness our duel, Your Highness."

Anke faced death with equanimity, yet his heart was filled with surging emotions:
"Just like what you experienced in Exter as the Prince of the Stars."

He was relieved and content:
"Whatever the outcome may be after that, I will have no regrets."

Anker Bailar, the man who single-handedly disrupted the Thales's return banquet, took a deep breath, his voice piercing through the crowd:
"Because I believe that you are the hope of this kingdom."

"If the present and the past cannot be changed, at least in the future, you will definitely be better than your father..."

Anke's eyes gleamed, and his distinctive voice stood out clearly amidst the continuous chatter of the crowd:
"better."

In that instant, it was as if the Mindis Hall was a well-trained orchestra, and a conductor had just made a gesture that silenced all the noise and chatter in the hall.

Marius closed his eyes tightly: Oh no.

"I believe, as many others believe, that you will be better than him..."

Anker stepped forward, looked at everyone, and raised his voice:

"King of the Stars".

Thales tensed up!
In a matter of seconds, from the Duke to the Earl, from the guest to the guard.

No one dared to speak, not even dared to breathe loudly.

Everyone fell silent.

The next second, the discussion started again.

But the previous arrogance and relaxed attitude of watching the show have completely disappeared.

They became restrained, tense, like a low, agonizing murmur.

It's heart-stopping.

The gazes that had previously nearly crushed Thales were now withdrawn, and instead looked elsewhere in the hall, as if even glancing at him would be a sin.

Thales took a deep breath and slowly sat down in his seat.

He didn't even look at the royal guards behind him—he knew without even guessing how they would react.

Discussions, glances, and emotions filled the Mindis Hall to the brim, leaving no space.

Only a tiny space was left for the owner of this hall to stand on.

Like a vacuum.

But Thales did not feel any relief at all.

On the contrary, in this tiny vacuum, he seemed to feel countless chains reaching out from the void, from top to bottom, from left to right, from front to back, locking him up tightly without leaving any gaps.

It's getting heavier and heavier.

It gets tighter and tighter.

The more it's locked up, the deeper it gets.

damn it.

Thales remained expressionless, maintaining an elegant posture, except that his nails dug fiercely into his palms.

"Your Highness?"

Ankara lifted the old baron, whose face was contorted with pain, and said with fervent anticipation:

"duel?"

For a fleeting moment, Thales longed for his time as a hostage in the North.

duel?

Fuck you!

Looking back now, those six years...

Even on days when the public was in uproar over the hearings, even in the Hall of Heroes where Yankees gathered, even in the Dragonstreet lords who were so furious they wanted to tear Thales to pieces, even in the ill-intentioned King Nunn VII and the aggressive Chaman Lumba…

They also seemed so kind, friendly, and lovely.

“Your Highness,” DD said, looking at his master with a pleading expression.
“Prince Thales? Your Grace? If… I wanted to… I could win… I could take down that son of a bitch…”

Thales sighed again.

Yes.

You can win.

and then?
Behind the distraught prince, in an atmosphere so intense it was almost unsettling, the royal guards stirred.

"Tormond?"

After a long period of contemplation, Vogel suddenly broke with his usual practice and called Marius by his first name, rather than his surname or title.

The watchman turned his head solemnly.

"Your sniper squad..."

The deputy captain of the guard looked ashen-faced. He stared intently at Anke Bailar, who was filled with anticipation, and spoke cautiously and with difficulty:
"still there?"

In the dark, secluded chamber, hidden beneath his cloak, Wujian stared menacingly at the crystal ball before him. He looked at the deathly pale-faced Thales within the crystal, a long, sinister grin spreading across his lips as he let out a terrifying, grotesque laugh. His long fingernails traced the surface of the ball like a spider's prey.

"Struggle, in the abyss of blood and darkness... Suffer, in the hell of hatred and resentment..."

A few seconds later, Wu Jian's expression changed. He turned his head and looked at a dog that was frantically typing on a keyboard.

"Hey! You damn dog! It's been three days! Have you finished writing yet?! Someone like you think you can get monthly votes for dog food?"

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(End of this chapter)