Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 581 Hero saves beauty
In the dimly lit interrogation room, Thales leaned against the wall, oblivious to everything around him, his face completely hidden in the darkness.

The Black Prophet stroked the armrest of his wheelchair, observing the black veins undulating on his knees as if breathing, without even glancing at the prince.

At that moment, they seemed to have reached a tacit understanding.

Only Raphael's voice still came from the other side of the glass:
"Our people have basically confirmed that this was just an accident, but we still need to ensure that this news is not spread or used by malicious individuals to manipulate public opinion."

"Hopefully this is the only murder case caused by this."

Murder case.

Thales slowly raised his head.

This is why it happened.

Because of his... dietary preferences.

Thales remained expressionless, his gaze fixed.

He could certainly argue:
This has nothing to do with him.

The so-called prince's love of lettuce was just a trigger; the whole thing, in essence, was the result of the greed of one person and the impulsiveness of another.

He shouldn't be held responsible.

Including... other things.

Thales' fist trembled slightly.

Correct.

Many people, many people will not be bothered by it.

Faced with the same situation, King Nun would surely laugh it off, King Chaman would only scoff indifferently, and King Kessel would remain firmly seated on his throne, unmoved.

but……

They are a different kind of being. Ordinary people live on food and air, but they live on power.

This is Putila's reflection on the snowy plains of Weilan.

You need a heart that is hard, cold, and unwavering enough... It's best to get used to it as soon as possible, for your own good.

This was advice given to him by King Nuen.

Thinking of this, Thales felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

“Of course, the guys are still chasing a few other cases,” Raphael continued, his tone no longer as relaxed as usual:

"Some of these things might affect your reputation, some might cause financial losses, and many others might not be immediately apparent, but we must plan ahead and address these issues in order to fill any gaps..."

He paused knowingly, though he hadn't said everything he wanted to say.

Thales remained silent for a long while before replying:
"Okay, I understand."

Raphael's expression shifted slightly; he sensed something from Thales's dejected tone.

"Very good, continue." Morat spoke softly amidst the rustling of the black vein vines.

"Your Highness, Lord," the Bone Man suddenly said at that moment:

"Actually, the remaining cases are all pretty much the same, so why don't we stop here for today?"

Thales, lost in his distress, silently looked up.

But then he turned his head and looked at the old man in the wheelchair.

Through the glass, the Black Prophet stared at Raphael for a long time, but the latter's gaze was steady and his expression calm.

Morat gave a soft snort.

"of course."

The intelligence chief gave Thales a smile:
"Except for that one."

"the last one."

Raphael remained silent for a moment, then nodded respectfully and obeyed the order.

Thales frowned, but he quickly understood.

The last person interrogated was a woman. Even though she was brought in with a hood over her head, she still appeared graceful and moved with light steps.

The hood was removed, revealing a beautiful woman with delicate features and a captivating charm. Her first reaction was to reach out and smooth her hair to tidy her appearance, showing no sign of panic or fear.

Her light makeup was elegant yet alluring, and her composed demeanor was incredibly captivating.

"Your name?"

Faced with such a beautiful woman, Raphael's tone softened considerably, no longer displaying his previous aggressiveness.

The beautiful woman slowly raised her head, her slightly disheveled appearance now almost perfectly tidied.

"Belicia".

She answered calmly, her voice captivating, her eyes alluring.

But the moment Thales saw the woman's face clearly, his eyes widened in shock!

"Full name," Raphael politely reminded him.

The beautiful woman named Belicia chuckled, her radiance dazzling.

She slowed her speech, staring intently at Raphael's handsome face:

"Then Dorothy? Amy? Undine? Anyway, the guests have called me by many names..."

Belicia placed her left hand on the table, leaned forward, and her eyes seemed to glisten with tears.

"But if it's you..."

Her words shifted, becoming incredibly seductive:

"Why don't you call me... Little Baby, Sweetie, Darling, or Little Bitch?"

Raphael frowned slightly.

Belica inadvertently pressed one of her breasts against the edge of the table, making her graceful and alluring figure even more apparent.

"Which one do you like?"

Belicia winked seductively, a perfect smile curving her lips:

"Handsome young man."

Raphael's face hardened:
"Belicia is fine."

Belicia stared at him and suddenly burst out laughing.

She leaned against the table, seductively resting her chin on her hand, her expression provocative, completely oblivious to being interrogated.

“They’re not thugs from the West District, right? They’re not so clueless as to dare to rob people on Red Town Street.”

Belicia scrutinized Raphael, her tone becoming serious.

"As for the Blood Bottle Gang, Catherine is too cowardly, Fogg is too shameless, and Nekra lacks the strength. None of them could break the ceasefire agreement," she said, listing the names one by one, her eyes never leaving the man in front of her.

"Recently, there haven't been any newcomers risking their lives to stand out."

Thales stared at the woman, observing her appearance, mannerisms, demeanor, and even the content of her words.

His memory became increasingly certain.

That's right.

It's her.

An old friend.

Belica's bright eyes sparkled, yet her words carried a threatening undertone:

"So, are you a green-skinned outsider? Or a blue-skinned employee from another department?"

Raphael looked at the beautiful woman before him and smiled.

“Whether I am a watchman or not,” the skeleton said calmly, “you are already here.”

“If necessary, I can lock you up for several nights.”

Belicia turned her head and glanced at the other person sideways.

"Several nights? Heh."

The woman bit her lower lip, exuding a captivating charm:

"My nights aren't cheap, handsome."

"Besides, even though you're handsome, you're also quite thin."

The beautiful woman leaned forward, looking at Raphael with a seductive and appreciative gaze.

"I have serious doubts that you can really stick with it..."

Belica displayed her beautiful figure on the table, gently biting her lip, exuding irresistible allure:

"Several nights?"

Raphael's expression tightened.

Seeing the other person's reaction, Belicia chuckled.

"And for several nights..."

Belicia revealed her long, slender, white neck, her smile profound: "Are you sure that just 'locking' me up is enough?"

"Don't you want to do any more... weird things?"

Belica shifted her legs as she sat, revealing glimpses of her underwear beneath her skirt.

Raphael coughed.

Under the other person's smug gaze, he opened the documents at hand and stopped arguing.

"Belicia, nicknamed 'Heartbreaker'."

"You were born a slum prostitute, and you worked your way up by marrying the powerful, climbing the social ladder until you joined the newly rising forces after the bloody year..."

Raphael paused briefly, then raised his eyes:
"Black Street Brotherhood".

Belica's expression changed slightly, and she tightened her posture.

“Not only that, you also work for Blacksword’s confidant, one of the Brotherhood’s six leaders, Fat Morris. You’re highly capable and trusted, and you even train prostitutes for the Brotherhood and act as a go-between,” Raphael said, observing the other man’s expression.

"So much so that even 'Sleepless Eye' Lancer has to rely on your brothel's 'Little Flowers' as his source of information."

"So, it seems you're not cheap after all, Miss 'Heartbreaker'."

"Or should I call you—a mafia madam?"

Having his background and origins exposed so clearly, along with a great deal of secret information, Belisia was clearly caught off guard, his face turning ugly: "You..."

The Bone Man smiled confidently:

"Six years ago, the Black Street Brotherhood defeated the Blood Bottle Gang in the 'One Night War,' and you came to Red Street—together with your little flowers—to take over the void left by the Blood Bottle Gang, operating behind the scenes and expanding the Brotherhood's own prostitution business."

Belica looked grim.

“Now you have two choices: the first is to cooperate with me, and everything will go smoothly; as for the second… that’s much more brutal.” Raphael closed the file, speaking casually.

On the other side of the glass, Thales sighed inwardly.

Belica.

He remembered her.

Long ago, during her life as a beggar, this woman appeared countless times in places familiar to Thales, such as the Black Street, the Underground Street, the Sunset Bar, and the abandoned houses. She even frequently came and went from Maurice's headquarters mansion. She was indifferent to Rick and full of contempt for Quaid, but when she occasionally encountered beggars, she would wave her hand with a charming smile and generously scatter a lot of copper coins.

She was stylishly dressed, clean and smart, with a bright and confident smile.

She was unrestrained, passionate, and uninhibited, and the men around her were always changing.

On one occasion, while she and her lover Lyok were doing their business in the room, she accidentally discovered Thales squatting outside the window, taking advantage of this safe corner to rest and count his money.

But when their eyes met, the woman showed no panic, no embarrassment, no displeasure, and didn't even remind the Brotherhood assassin, Rayok, who was working hard beneath her.

At that moment, with her hair disheveled, Belicia simply pulled up the blanket to cover her beautiful breasts and bare shoulders.

She pressed her index finger to her red lips and gave a meaningful smile to the disheveled, filthy, and terrified little beggar under the window.

Then, the beautiful woman laughed loudly, tilting her head back and letting her long hair fly freely as she continued her suggestive moans.

This terrified the beggar Thales, who was first scared out of his wits, then blushed with embarrassment, and finally had no choice but to flee in panic.

Thinking back on the past, Thales felt a pang of melancholy.

In the interrogation room, the Bone Man's gaze was piercing, determined not to give up until he achieved his goal.

Belicia looked back at Raphael, somewhat bewildered.

But she was soon defeated by the sharp-eyed, ruthless interrogators of the secret service.

"Brotherhood, subservience to the strong, climbing the social ladder, and even being a brothel owner... It seems you've found out everything, Officer..."

Belicia's eyes were slightly red, and her lips trembled slightly.

Her former charm and eloquence crumbled like an avalanche, never to return.

"Of course you can be righteous and stern, criticizing my profession and affiliation, accusing me of being a dirty and depraved madam and a prostitute leader."

"But what do you think..."

The woman forced herself to turn her head away, bit her lip, and wiped away the tears that welled up in her eyes.

"Do you think I've chosen this path willingly, to do dirty work for the Brotherhood?"

Having broken through the target's mental defenses, Raphael, who was about to press his advantage, suddenly paused.

Against the backdrop of her slender neck and graceful figure, Belicia stood like a lone flower on a cliff, stubborn yet tragically beautiful.
“From childhood to adulthood, men have only ever looked at me and my body with dirty, lewd eyes, especially after I reached the age where I could wear skirts, they looked even more…”

Raphael was clearly uncomfortable listening to what the other person was saying, and he frowned deeply.

“Those people, those scum with knives, when they forced me…”

Belicia gave a bitter smile.

“If I resist, they beat me even harder; if I don’t resist, they assume I like it, that I enjoy it, that I’m offering myself willingly, that I’m trying to climb the social ladder, that I’m cheap, that I’m promiscuous…”

"But I'm just a weak woman, what can I do? What can I do? Commit suicide to prove my point?"

Belicia roughly wiped away her tears. Despite trembling all over, she bravely stared at the Bone Man.

Like a plum blossom standing proudly against frost and snow.

Seeing that he had ignited the other party's emotions, Raphael cleared his throat, momentarily at a loss for words.

“I just want to live, but they won’t let me unless I willingly spread my legs—even a scoundrel like you only wants to reach into my bodice and skirt and strip them naked!” Raphael paused again.

Belica realized something, and with tears streaming down her face, she shrank back, trying her best to pull up her sleeves and dress so that no more skin was exposed.

At the same time, he glared fiercely at Raphael.

Feeling even more awkward under her gaze, Raphael could only awkwardly turn his eyes away.

Belisia clutched her chest and thighs, staring intently at the skeletal man, tears streaming down her face.

"And of course, I had no choice but to do as they said..."

"I just want to live!"

"In the hands of you men!"

Through her teary eyes, she spat out a sound:
"Threatening me with 'rudeness'? Don't be ridiculous! There are plenty of people in this world who are rude to me, you're just one more!"

Belica was breathing heavily, tears streaming down her face.

Stubborn as she was, she had to raise her sleeve to cover her tears, but it didn't work well, and soon a large area of ​​her clothes was soaked.

Raphael sighed deeply.

He stared at the documents in his hand, unsure how to proceed.

The interrogation room was filled only with the woman's sobs and gasps.

On the other side of the glass, Thales was filled with mixed emotions, while the Black Prophet beside him seemed quite interested and whispered:

“Very good, I like this girl.”

Morat lowered his head and whispered to the demonic vines on his knees:

“Tell Raphael that it is her.”

The black veins on his wheelchair surged in response.

In the interrogation room, Belicia's weeping showed no signs of stopping.

Raphael, however, sensed something and glanced at the glass.

Although he had seen this back and forth through the vines before, Thales still felt uncomfortable watching it.

Raphael took a deep breath, hesitated for a long time, and finally took out a handkerchief and handed it over.

The woman was taken aback at first, but then tentatively took the handkerchief at the other person's prompting.

"Thank you, thank you,"

Her makeup faded, her eyes were red, and she wiped away her tears with a handkerchief. She glanced timidly at Raphael, overwhelmed with shame.

"I...I didn't want to cry, I'm just...I'm sorry."

Raphael sighed again, his expression bitter.

“It’s alright,” the Bone Man frowned as he looked at his documents. “You’re safe here. No one will force you, and no one can hurt you.”

"No!"

"The Brotherhood is very powerful, especially since I was kidnapped in Red Street and have been missing for so long..." Belicia realized what was happening, and her expression changed slightly as she said this:
"No, they don't like traitors and informers..."

She panicked, but Raphael interrupted her.

"Hey, listen up!"

Raphael grasped her hand and said solemnly:
"I will protect you."

Belica took a break.

"protect me?"

Belicia forcefully broke free from Raphael's grasp, making the latter somewhat embarrassed.

With a low sob and her makeup ruined by tears, Belicia gave a sarcastic smile.

“Yes, you are indeed very handsome, and you don’t look like a bad person, at least not the scum of the fraternity,” the sarcasm on her face slowly disappeared, leaving behind deep fear and sorrow:

"But you're not enough, you can't protect me... You don't know how terrifying they are..."

Just then, Raphael smiled.

"Hehehehehe..."

He laughed unrestrainedly and recklessly, with a cynical attitude.

The sound of Belicia's sobs and cries fell silent.

"Is this how you treat them too?" Raphael's bitterness and pity vanished without a trace.

It was as if the man who had offered gentle words of comfort had never existed.

Belicia looked up, trembling, and saw Raphael lean back in his chair, raising his arm to gesture to her:
"This whole set?"

"what?"

Belicia stared at him blankly.

Until Raphael chuckled.

The Bone Man calmly flipped through the files on the table and released a page:

Gary, the "big shot" of the Iron Bat Society, mysteriously disappeared more than a decade ago, and to this day, neither he has been seen alive nor dead.

Belicia was stunned when she saw the image in the sketch.

Raphael introduces the second page:
"Dogtooth" Bot, the drug kingpin of the Blood Bottle Gang, was betrayed and killed by his henchman, now known as Phantom Blade Catherine, on his birthday."

"Mudu Taren, the corrupt guard of the West City Guard Bureau, was exposed and imprisoned in the Bone Prison. He failed to escape several months ago and was killed on the spot."

"Polly Gato, a spice merchant and one of the honorary directors of the Fragrance Merchants Association, encountered bandits while on an outing. He was extorted for a large sum of money but was still brutally murdered."

Raphael methodically laid out the pages of the file before Belicia:

"As for the once-renowned Blood Bottle Gang's top expert, the ultimate wandering knight 'Lossan II'..."

Raphael narrowed his eyes, his expression wary:

"Even twelve years ago, when the ambush to kill Black Sword failed, he was killed in the street by the latter, who fought two against one."

Upon hearing the familiar nickname, Thales looked up alertly.

Belicia didn't speak; she just stared blankly at the files, like an innocent bystander caught up in a major case, her tears still wet on her face.

“As a ‘weak woman,’ Miss Belicia,” Raphael’s gaze turned cold, tearing away his last pretense:

"It seems like every important person you've associated with since you were twelve—or, as you put it, every terrifying 'bad guy' who threatened you with a knife—didn't end up well?"

Belicia sat there blankly, seemingly forgetting even to cry.

The next moment, the woman slowly raised her head.

Raphael frowned.

Unbeknownst to her, the vulnerability and pain on Belicia's face vanished without a trace; she stopped panting, stopped sobbing, and stopped wiping away tears.

The woman threw down her handkerchief and slowly stood up.

She began to smile, a strange and chilling smile curving her lips.

It was aimed directly at Raphael on the other side.

"Handsome young man, you know me so well."

Belica's voice was sweet and soft.

She sat sideways on the table, leaning forward, her movements alluring and provocative.
"Then, do you want to know..."

"Go a little deeper?"

She was naturally beautiful, and even though her makeup was ruined by tears, with the powder smudged on her cheeks, Belicia's smile didn't look bad. Instead, it had a unique, eerie, and deadly allure that made her even more captivating.

On the other side of the glass, Thales sensed a surge of irritation from the River of Hell.

Raphael's expression tightened, and he did not answer.

But Belisia on the table had a hazy look in her eyes. She had a finger in her mouth and almost half of her body was over the table, enticingly approaching the Bone Man.

"Or perhaps, you actually want to be like them, wielding a hard knife..."

She breathed softly and pressed her ear against his, sending the warmth of her breath into Raphael's earlobe:

"Stab me?"

Belica's voice was so provocative that it was captivating and thrilling.

Raphael's breathing began to quicken.

Thales couldn't help but recall the eye contact he had with this woman when he was a child and discovered her doing something intimate, and he couldn't help but blush slightly.

But right now.

Click!
A soft sound.

Belicia's expression changed drastically!

She looked down and was shocked to see that her left hand, which was supporting her on the table, was handcuffed tightly to the table leg.

So now she was lying awkwardly on the table, one hand handcuffed, struggling to no avail, unable to sit or stand, looking disheveled and embarrassed.

The woman turned her head angrily to the side:
"you--"

But Raphael calmly picked up the document, walked around the table, and sat down in the seat that originally belonged to Belicia.

Belicia had to turn around awkwardly to catch up with Raphael.

But as soon as she rolled her eyes, the resentment on her face vanished without a trace.

"So you like this kind of thing, oh my."

Belicia flashed a mysterious smile.

Feeling awkward, she simply kicked off her shoes, wrapped herself up on the table, and lay down seductively in front of Raphael.

The woman's long legs were crossed, revealing a seductive view beneath her skirt.

"Actually, I quite like... doing it handcuffed."

But she was disappointed.

Raphael simply looked at her with a half-smile, showing no interest whatsoever.

A few seconds later, Belicia's smile vanished. She tugged at the handcuffs and spat out a harsh "Pah!"

"There's still no reaction."

The woman glared fiercely at Raphael.

Raphael couldn't help but glance at him.

Thales frowned from behind the glass.

"How about... you take it off and let me see?"

Belicia chuckled, once again exuding her innate allure. She made a clenched fist in the air, then brought it to her lips, her tongue darting outwards, causing her cheeks to bulge back and forth.

"How can I help it?"

Raphael was speechless as he watched the other person demonstrate the movements skillfully.

The Bone Man coughed, trying his best to ignore the woman's ingrained acting skills.

"Don't you have anything to say about these lists, about these unfortunate men?"

Raphael looked at the files on the table, or rather, at each file representing a dead person.

Belicia's expression turned cold as she scanned each file on the table, her eyes filled with disdain.

"Humph."

"You know what? Everyone who forced me started with the same thing."

“‘I’m here to help you,’ ‘You’re safe with me,’ ‘No one can hurt you,’ ‘I will protect you…”

Belicia lay on her side on her handcuffed arm, coldly staring at Raphael:
"Just like you did just now."

Raphael hummed in agreement.

“Every man thinks he’s better than ‘other men’ and wants to prove to me that they are different from ‘other men’ and that they truly respect and love me, unlike ‘other men’ who hurt me.”

At this moment, Belicia was unsmiling and had a cold look in her eyes, as if this was her true face.

"But what happens in the end? They still can't wait to pull down their pants or wait for me to take off my skirt as a way of repaying them."

"And if I don't want to... haha. They still feel like they're protecting me, taking care of me, saying things like, 'I know you want this too,' or 'I've done so much for you,' or even 'You don't know how beautiful you are.'"

Belicia's eyes flashed with a sharp look, and with a clatter, he swept all the files off the table.

"Handsome young man..."

"The reason why the 'hero saves the damsel in distress' trope is so popular is because men anticipate and naturally assume what will happen next..."

Belicia looked at the files on the ground and each sketch on them, and something seemed to come to mind, revealing an unprecedented cruelty and hatred:

"Heroic deeds are beautiful."

Raphael frowned.

"And if you are unwilling, unwilling to repay the one who 'saved' you with your body, then naturally you will be his, or at least a worthy hero..."

Belicia raised her head, gritting her teeth:

"Then let's wait for the next hero to save the damsel in distress."

"Then, the next hero will say that classic line again, 'I'm not like the person who forced you, I'm here to protect you.'"

Belica raised her sleeve and vigorously wiped the powder off her face:
"Dog R's heroic rescue of the damsel in distress."

"And I simply proved them wrong."

Belicia glared at Raphael, his gaze sharp.

"Beauties don't belong to heroes," the fraternity's head prostitute said bitterly at that moment.

"Just as I do not belong to them."

"No matter what the hero did."

Never.

Never.