Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 588 I Know the Way
In Yongxing City, West Ring District, a simple yet expensive horse-drawn carriage travels along the stone road and turns into the next intersection on the bustling street.

"This is Linhe Street. Hongfang Street is on the next street. Look, it's right there."

Through the small window at the front of the carriage, Komuto's voice came from the driver's seat.

But Thales was completely unaffected.

"Your Highness..."

Little Rascal, Imperial Conference, Secret Service, Anke, Gu...

In the bumpy carriage, the prince, unable to return home, pondered sullenly, with no interest in appreciating the street scene of Yongxing City outside the window.

Whether it's the Palace of Restoration or the Secret Society, whether he's facing the King or the Black Prophet, repression and setbacks are the themes of his day.

But what bothered the boy most was what Anke Bailar said before he fainted.

Hold tight to your sword.

Thales instinctively clenched his fist, only to find himself unarmed and empty-handed.

He lowered his head and stared blankly at his left hand.

But only the scar on the palm is visible.

"Your Highness?"

Thales was suddenly jolted back to his senses by a sudden weight on his shoulder.

Inside the carriage, Golov nodded to him and released the prince's shoulder.

"Are you sure we really want to do this? Red Street?" Komuto turned back from the window outside the carriage.

"If Commander Marius finds out..."

He looked troubled.

Golov's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes conveyed the same concern.

Thales straightened the collar of his newly changed clothes and sighed.

these people.

Even with the titles of Royal Guard or Star Lake Guard, even as the second prince and Duke of Star Lake, the second most honored person in the country...

But whether it's Komuto or Golov, even DD, who is currently closest to him, they still have doubts about themselves, right?
As for Marius...

“You’re right, then…”

Thales hesitated for a second, then turned and shouted out the empty window:

"Do you have any objections, Marius?"

Golov and Kommuto were both taken aback.

"Marius? What's your opinion?"

Thales repeated himself, knocked on the side of the car, and pretended to listen for a while.

"It seems..."

The prince turned around, looked at the stiff Golov and the helpless Commuto, and shrugged regretfully:

"He has no objection."

Golov twitched his eyebrows but said nothing.

Kommut could only manage an unnatural smile as he turned and drove away.

Their carriage slowly drove into the main road of Red Town Street, merging into the ranks of other carriages and pedestrians.

The area outside the window immediately became lively: greetings, hawking, soliciting customers, cursing, and so on.

Draw Thales' attention back to the present from the past.

If you ignore everything else, Hongfang Street is probably no different from other affluent parts of the West Ring District: wide main roads, neat houses, interconnected alleys, and crowds of people.

But the number of entertainment venues here is unmatched by other places: taverns, hotels, gambling dens, theaters, street stalls and roadside shops specializing in "good stuff", and of course, the various "clubs" that are indispensable on Red Town Street.

Gazing at the familiar yet drastically changed street scene outside the window, Thales was mesmerized.

When he was still a beggar, Thales would sneak into Red Street more than once to "find business," always in the relatively lively and safe evenings—it should be noted that beggars are just as sensitive to fixed territories as cats, dogs, gangs, or even the state, even if they are just making a living under different gangs.

But back then, the beggar Thales mingled among the crowds, either enduring shoving and bullying or being constantly scorned and ignored.

This was the first time he had ever sat in a carriage, visiting this pleasure-seeking paradise of Yongxing City as an ordinary citizen, or even a noble guest.

Kommuto reined in his horse—his experience protecting VIPs had given him expert driving skills—weaving through the streets, ignoring the small-time thugs and even prostitutes on the outskirts, heading straight for his destination.

Along the way, they met many men: some were enthusiastic in welcoming and seeing off others, some were bewildered and at a loss when they first arrived, some were eager to call out to their friends, some were shy and awkward, some were dressed simply and furtively, some were fashionable and elegant, some were busy with important matters and came and went in a hurry, and some strolled leisurely and laughed happily.

There were also many women on the street: madams with fake smiles, busy women washing clothes, dusty and dirty factory workers, maids hurrying along, poor girls dressed like boys running errands all over the street, noblewomen rushing to take their husbands home in anger, and even a noble lady who looked like she had secretly run away in a carriage, peeking out with a red face from behind a handkerchief and fan...

Meanwhile, Thales and his carriage blended in unnoticed, continuing their journey without stopping, and soon entered the central district, where they came to a cluster of luxuriously decorated houses with brightly lit signs.

"Oh my, ladies, we have guests! Look at that carriage, it's made of the finest materials!"

The sins of the River of Hell surged forth, and a soft, seductive voice instantly invaded Thales' ears:

"Oh my god, what kind of awful perfume is this? Go wash it off!"

"Be more assertive. Delicate beauties aren't fashionable anymore; everyone likes someone tough..."

In an instant, the three people in the carriage were like bees that had strayed into a flower garden, stumbling upon the most unmissable and eye-catching sight on the entire Red Street—all kinds of beautiful women.

Thales swallowed instinctively.

"This carriage must belong to some young master who secretly ran away..."

"It's too early, it's not even evening yet. He seems to be in a hurry, hehehe..."

They are everywhere—in the houses, under the porches, on the balconies, in the alleys, and behind the windows on both sides of the main road, hidden in every corner you can't notice but that is truly there.

Most of them were in the prime of their youth, beautiful and charming, graceful and elegant.

Some of them are elegant and noble, some are alluring and sexy, some have captivating eyes that are enchanting, some are pitiful and delicate, some are charming and alluring, and some are dignified, elegant and aloof.

They would sometimes reveal their true faces in a fleeting glimpse, drawing the attention and exclamations of the guests; other times they would chuckle and cover their faces as they retreated, evoking sighs mixed with anticipation and disappointment; still others would beckon with a carefree and unrestrained gesture, stirring up the men's fervent madness.

"Maybe it's your lover? The one who left you his family crest, saying he's coming to marry you?"

"You're so annoying..."

"Hmph, just another heartless scoundrel who's after his lover..."

"Or a foolish old man blinded by love?"

They are like enchanting fairies in a fairy tale, peeking out mischievously from the forest, sometimes hiding, sometimes appearing, sometimes mysterious, sometimes passionate, sometimes cold, sometimes tender, sometimes indifferent, sometimes innocent and pure, sometimes coquettish, making the viewers' hearts itch.

It makes one wish they could drop everything and go there, to get to the bottom of things, to see its true face, to enter its hall, and to kiss its beauty...

Snapped!
Golov reached out from the driver's seat and slapped Commut, who was lost in thought and had forgotten his business, back to reality (and also snapped Thales, who was wide-eyed with amazement, back to reality).

"Sorry, cough cough," Komuto said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his aching head.
"I've been here before—on business, of course—a few times. This afternoon is just the beginning; it gets much livelier in the evening..."

“Second-class guard officer, Commuto,” Golov said coldly, casually shifting his position to the car window to block a pretty young woman on the second floor who was giving Thales a gentle wink.

"Your Highness has other matters to attend to."

"Of course, of course..."

Kommut apologized sheepishly, glancing sideways at the few "locals" who had shamelessly surrounded him as soon as the carriage slowed down:
"No, we don't need a guide, we don't need an introduction, and we certainly don't need... Hey! Don't pull my reins! Okay, here's the money, and stop bothering us!"

The guards, exasperated, sent these hospitable "local guides" away.

Clearly, Kompato wasn't lying about this; he really wasn't good at such situations.

The carriage continued on for a while, turning several corners, and passed a group of spirited young nobles who were commenting on different beautiful girls.

Look at them, so confident, arrogant, and complacent.

Thales said to himself silently.

Not like myself.

Despite her young age, she already carries heavy burdens on her shoulders and feels bound all over.

A sense of gloom lingers.

The boy gave a self-deprecating bitter smile.

They drove out of the bustling area, and Komtou then pulled over and stopped the carriage, pointing to the other end of the street:
"Look, that's 'One Night Stand,' located at the front of the core area of ​​Hongfang Street, a good location."

Thales poked his head out.

In the distance, in the distance, appeared a magnificent and bustling building.

The brokers outside were obsequious and enthusiastic, while the brothel women on the steps waved handkerchiefs and smiled broadly.

Not to mention the beautiful women by the windows and on the balconies, a scene of exquisite beauty and vibrant colors.

That's the club that Belisia owns...?

A one-night stand?
But for some reason, the boy felt it looked strangely familiar, yet also somewhat unfamiliar.

“It’s a bit new,” Golov frowned as he observed the exterior of the “One Night Stand” building, voicing his doubts.
"Out of place with his surroundings."

Komuto dismissed another broker who tried to approach him to offer business, and his eyes lit up upon hearing this:
"Of course, it was rebuilt on the ruins of an old card room."

The former guard officer was in high spirits:

"Six years ago, one night, two gangs fought over the protection of Red Street and went berserk—those sons of bitches even brought out Eternal Oil, and the explosions alerted the chief garrison commander of the capital."

Thales' heart skipped a beat.

He looked at the newly built clubhouse and compared it to the surrounding intersections, slowly confirming his memory.

No.

Six years ago, what allowed this building to be rebuilt was not the explosion caused by the perpetual oil spill.

He braced himself against the side of the car and silently told himself.

No.

Kommut noticed the prince's unusual expression and hesitated before speaking:

"Before we get off the carriage, may I ask what brings us here, Your Highness?"

"You can't really be here... to find a woman, can you?"

Golov cautiously surveyed his surroundings, but his ears instinctively turned toward Thales, clearly wanting to know the answer as well.

"of course not."

Thales smiled mysteriously:
"I just need to confirm some things, some things that don't need to be shared."

Even for Marius.

"Do you understand?"

The prince looked intently at Golov in the carriage and Commuto in the driver's seat.

Perhaps it was due to their status, or perhaps it was their piercing gazes, but after exchanging a glance, they both nodded in the end.

“Alright, you're the host, I have no right to interfere. But if people find out we came to Red Town Street…”

“Gian, believe me,” Thales said helplessly to Komuto.

"You're not the first person to have this concern."

"And I've been lectured about this all day."

After much hesitation, Kommuto finally managed to keep the question, "So you didn't learn your lesson?" to himself.

He jumped out of the driver's seat, opened the car door for Thales, and devoted himself to the promising task of "accompanying the prince on his runaway adventures."

"Do not."

Glov reached out in time and stopped Thales, who was about to get off the bus.

"We can't go directly like that; it's too obvious, both in terms of His Highness's age and our demeanor."

The zombie warily watched the crowds coming and going on the street:
"People will recognize us..."

Komuto raised an eyebrow, his "I'm the guard" expression disappearing:

"Oh, they've already recognized me."

Thales looked puzzled, while Golov looked at the other person.

The former security officer pointed to the street with an air of nonchalance:

“I’m not talking about Your Highness’s identity… but this is Red Street. Everyone we’ve met here, whether they’re beggars on the street, doormen at clubs, carriage drivers, or pastry shop helpers, has been making a living here on Red Street for a long time. They have a keen eye and have long recognized that this is a carriage belonging to a wealthy family.”

Golov's expression was solemn as he pondered silently.

But Komtso changed the subject, speaking with ease and ease:

"But there's no need to worry too much. Many nobles and officials' sons come here to seek pleasure, and it's certainly more lively at night... In fact, I bet Officer Doyle is more familiar with this place."

Thales sighed: If only Doyle hadn't been whipped.

Komuto tried his best to dispel their worries, but Golov remained vigilant and did not relax at all.

It seems that after he entered Red Town Street, he turned into a suspicious beast.

Thales looked at their expressions, raised an eyebrow and nodded:

"Okay, but we might as well keep a low profile."

The prince poked his head out of the carriage and pointed to the "One Night Stand" sign diagonally across the street:
“When we go in, could we avoid crossing the main road and going through the front entrance, for example,” Thales said, looking out at the bustling, crowded street.

"Take the back door?"

Kommuto scratched his chin:
“In theory, we could go around to the Lower City District, enter Hongfang Street from another direction, and then go through the back door to avoid the crowds, but I strongly suggest not doing so.”

Downtown area.

Thales frowned, while Golov looked on with suspicion.

"Although the security of the West Ring District and the Lower District is the responsibility of the West City Police Department, I must say that their jurisdiction only extends to Hongfang Street. Of the five police departments in Yongxing City, West City has always been the worst, with scum everywhere and colluding with each other. Every year, several corrupt police officers and patrol members are exposed."

Koumto showed disgust and disdain:

“Especially the lower city—I don’t doubt our ability to protect His Highness, but that place is unsafe and prone to trouble.”

Just then, Golov suddenly looked up, his eyes gleaming, and stared straight out of the car.

"alert."

The zombie tensed up as if facing a formidable enemy, startling both Thales and Komuto.

"what happened?"

Following Golov's gaze, the two looked toward the clubhouse across the street.

A one-night stand.

Thales then realized that, without realizing it, there were many more people around him who had "one-night stands".

Most of them were dressed simply, with cold eyes, and they were looking around as they lingered.

"Somewhat something is wrong."

Thales' brow furrowed slowly.

Komuto also sensed something was wrong; he instinctively closed the car door from the outside, leaving only the window open.
"These people, they are not guests..."

Golov's face was grim as he succinctly and clearly stated the truth:

"They're thugs."

"People in gangs who specialize in violence."

Before Kombut could even marvel at his colleague's keen observation, he heard the prince add, equally seriously:

"It's the Black Street Brotherhood."

"They were their henchmen."

A thug stopped a guest who was about to enter the club. Amid the guest's protests, the thug roughly searched the guest's entire body while questioning him in detail.

Something happened.

Thales cautiously stared at the crowd outside the clubhouse, the people he once knew so well, and muttered to himself.

There was a moment of silence inside and outside the carriage.

Kommut swallowed hard.
"Um, maybe they're here to oversee the business? To be honest, that's normal..."

“Not only that,” Thales’ voice rang out.

Golov and Kommuto both turned to him.

Thales's gaze shifted to the surroundings of the clubhouse, scrutinizing a street cobbler who occasionally looked up warily, his expression becoming increasingly serious:
"It's not just thugs; look around: the helpers and apprentices in all sorts of shops, the errand runners and beggars on the street, even the roadside vendors and peddlers..."

"Their condition is not normal."

At Thales's prompting, Golov and Commuto got to their jobs and carefully observed the situation at the street corner, their expressions gradually changing.

"Are they... terrified by the gang?" Commuto asked uncertainly as he returned to the driver's seat.

"Do not."

Thales shook his head, becoming even more certain of his idea:
"They are also doing things for the Brotherhood."

Koumto turned around in confusion:
"what?"

Thales searched through his past street experiences and guessed:
"Out of self-interest or habit, these people are actually the Brotherhood's eyes and ears or helpers, happy to pass on messages and do errands for them."

"Clearly, they were also instructed and reminded to pay attention to any disturbances around them."

Kommuto said solemnly:

"Were they... deliberately trained like this by the Brotherhood?"

“No.” Thales shook his head:

"Because this is what they are really like."

“The Black Street Brotherhood was not born out of thin air, but originated from desperate people who had nowhere else to turn—from day one, they have been deeply rooted in the communities of the underprivileged.”

Under the questioning gazes of Commuto and Golov, Thales said quietly:
"In the worst places, if you are struggling to survive, destitute and miserable, the Brotherhood is one of your ways out."

"No need for pretense or concealment. Everyone lives their own life normally, but when needed, you will consciously and tacitly inform and facilitate those members with black silk armbands."

Thales became slightly lost in thought as he reminisced about the past.

Golov and Commuto exchanged surprised glances, quite taken aback by the prince's insight.

"Jian, you just said that 'One Night Stand' was rebuilt after a gang war?"

Thales said cautiously.

“Yes, six years ago, the Brotherhood and the Blood Bottle Gang scum fought like dogs, wreaking havoc on Red Street and preventing the big shots from visiting brothels,” Komuto suppressed his questions, cautiously observing the increasing number of thugs.

"I heard that the West City Police Department intervened and forced them to stop fighting."

six years ago.

Hongfang Street.

The Brotherhood and the Blood Bottle Gang.

Cease fighting.

Thales' brow furrowed more and more.

"Your Highness, what should we do? Should we still go?"

Thales raised a finger to signal them to be quiet:

"We'll see."

Amid their confusion, the boy took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and invoked the Sin of the Prison River.

He instantly entered a state of hellish senses, focusing particularly on his ears and hearing.

Soon, footsteps, collisions, friction, groans, giggles, curses... a chaotic cacophony of sounds came from across the street, assaulting Thales' senses.

Having experienced the trials of the desert journey, Thales, having grown considerably, skillfully adjusted the intensity of the River of Sin, much like calming an untamed beast, preventing overly sensitive senses from hindering him, while filtering out useless sounds.

Only the most crucial conversations were kept.

"Was it the Blood Bottle Gang who did it?"

A brotherhood thug's voice rang out, filled with resentment and eager excitement.

"I don't know, but what if Leyok finds out..."

"I really want to see his expression..." "I heard that all the 'Sleepless Ones' have been transferred here..."

Thales turned his head slightly, looking for another point of focus.

He quickly found out the truth.

"Who dares to kidnap people on our turf..."

"Is it green skin?"

"Possibly, but I heard that the big thugs in the west of the city have an agreement with us..."

"Boss Maurice is back..."

"I heard he was furious and personally led a group to 'Phantom Blade' and 'Red Viper' to demand the release of the person..."

"No, the Blood Bottle Gang is denying everything; the situation is very ugly..."

"Damn it, is it about to start fighting again? It's only been a ceasefire for a short time..."

Thales slowly grasped the key information.

"It could also have been done by some uninformed outsider, you know, notorious thieves and such..."

"After the prince returned to his country, many outsiders came to the city, from all walks of life..."

"Damn prince, why didn't you just stay in the north? All you brought back was trouble..."

Thales's mood grew increasingly heavy.

Just then, another voice entered his senses:
"They've found her!"

"Belicia, she's still alive!"

Thales' eyelids twitched.

"She came back on her own; it was a false alarm."

"My brother said she looked unwell, and as soon as she got back, she kept insisting on seeing Lord Lancer..."

"Whoever did this doesn't want us to have an easy time."

Kidnapping.

Belica.

Thales opened his eyes.

"I think I know what's going on."

"They got pissed off."

Faced with the strange looks from his two subordinates, Thales gazed at the "One Night Stand" sign and sighed inwardly.

“Then Your Highness, we…” Kongmutuo asked tentatively.

Thales looked at the group of thugs protecting his "one-night stand" and shook his head in disappointment.

No, clearly, the Kingdom's Secret Service didn't consider keeping a low profile at all when they kidnapped Belisia from here.

The fraternity has stirred up a hornet's nest.

At least for today, don't even think about getting close.

At least it's impossible to approach discreetly.

Disappointed, Thales leaned against the carriage, listening to more conversations around him:
“I am Redmore. By order of Boss Morris: For the next few days, the Red Street area will be guarded by us Sleepless Ones.”

"Reduce the number of visitors by half and strengthen security measures."

"Keep an eye out and see if anyone's been watching us these past few days—wait, how long has that carriage across the street been parked there?"

"Go, have a look."

Thales wanted to hear more, until he suddenly realized:
The other party was referring to them.

"Oops."

Seeing several thugs approaching suspiciously, Golov's expression changed, and he knocked on the driver's seat:

“Officer Komuto, I think they’ve noticed us.”

"Prepare to flee."

Komuto was taken aback. He calmly reached into his pocket as the Brotherhood thugs drew closer.

"It's alright, I brought my old guard badge, as long as..."

“No,” but Golov interrupted him, his tone resolute and serious:

"That's the Brotherhood, not the Blood Bottle Gang. They don't care... and it's not convenient for us to reveal our identities."

Kommuto frowned.

As the thugs drew closer, many eyes turned to Komto, who was hiding in a cloak in the driver's seat.

“Golof is right, we can’t stay here, let’s go now.”

Thales made the final decision:
"Let's talk another day."

Just now.

"Hey!"

At the other end of the street, among the approaching thugs, the leader, named Redmore, called out to their carriage:
"Hey guests over there, won't you come over and have some fun?"

Komuto and Thales' expressions changed slightly.

"You know, one-night stands are on sale today..."

As Redmore spoke, he gestured, and the thugs around him quietly dispersed and surrounded them.

“Oh no…” Thales muttered.

The next second, Golov decisively smashed open the other side door, climbed out of the car, and moved to the driver's seat without touching the ground, pushing Komuto aside.

"let me."

Kompato was still hesitating:
"but……"

Without warning, Kolov pulled on the reins and roared:
"Sit tight!"

With the neighing of the horses, the carriage started moving instantly!
Clang clang clang...

Before Thales could react, he stumbled and bumped against the wall behind him, quickly reaching out to steady himself.

"Hey!"

Outside the carriage came the sounds of thugs chasing after them and Redmore's furious shouts:

"Stop!"

"Damn it, I knew there was something wrong with it!"

The driver, Grover, had a cold expression. He quickly spurred the horse, and the carriage sped out of the street corner, continuing to accelerate!
"Grofor Vanguard... Ouch, my nose... Slow down, His Highness is still in the car!" Commuto's cry of pain came from the driver's seat, clearly indicating that he had hit his nose while speeding along.

The wheels rolled over the stone road, bouncing back and forth. Thales was shaken up and down in the carriage, feeling as if his soul was about to ascend to heaven.

Clack-clack-clack-clack... The sounds of horses' hooves and wheels grew more frequent and rapid.

The street scene outside the window receded rapidly, like a revolving lantern reflecting the astonished faces of passersby.

It was afternoon, and there weren't many people on Red Town Street, but their carriages were driving recklessly and without any regard for safety, startling passersby who screamed and backed away. Along the way, they even knocked over a vendor's stall, drawing curses from the crowd.

"Stop it! Stop it! The Brotherhood will reward you handsomely!" Redmore and his gang of thugs' voices came from behind, growing increasingly urgent!

Snapped!
"Get out of the way!" Golov roared, drawing his whip to shoo away the passersby.

"What kind of reward would you get for killing someone in a car accident!"

Clatter, clatter, clatter...

The car sped up, taking any route it could find.

"No, no, no, watch where you're going!" Kommuto screamed in alarm.

The train carriage had no choice but to crash into and break a clothesline pole, sending several pieces of clothing flying through the windows.

The unfortunate Thales struggled to maintain his balance, but was unable to dodge in time and was covered by a woman's bra.

My day!

The prince angrily ripped the bra off his face.

As the sun set, this was both the fastest and the worst carriage he had ever ridden in!
The carriage sped along relentlessly in pursuit, leaving the streets of Red Town in a state of chaos and disarray.

"Take the shortcut and intercept them! You sons of bitches!" Redmore roared, and a group of pursuers immediately split off and disappeared into the alley.

"Damn it, they're locals, they know the way..." Kong Mutuo said anxiously, having finally managed to steady himself in the driver's seat.
"Have you decided where you're going? Are you going to go back the way you came?"

Glov remained calm and seemingly oblivious, focusing intently on urging the horse on, making the carriage go faster and faster.

But the next second, the zombie's arm flexed its muscles and tightened sharply!
Cluck, thud.

Amid the mournful cries of the horses and the sound of their hooves stopping, the entire carriage came to an abrupt stop and spun around, with one side of its wheels being thrown into the air, leaving the carriage suspended in mid-air!
In that instant, time seemed to slow down, and Thales' eyes slowly widened.

Inside the carriage, his body also rose into the air.

The scenery outside the car window moved upwards, revealing a girl hanging underwear to dry on a second-floor balcony. She exchanged a surprised glance with Thales in the carriage before disappearing from sight.

"Damn it—" Kommuto's grief-stricken cry outside the carriage was drowned out by the howling wind.

In this dangerous position, the carriage, with one side empty, was forced sideways into a small alley by its powerful inertia.

Komtou wasn't the only one who suffered misfortune.

boom!
Thales spun 180 degrees in the air and crashed hard into the back of the truck.

"Giddy up!" Golov roared again!

Boom!

The half of the wheel that was in the air touched the ground again and accelerated again amidst the tremors.

Damn.

The carriage regained its footing, and the prince painfully scrambled to his feet from the sofa in the carriage, cursing under his breath.

This isn't even a carriage to the club...

He actually accelerated through the corner?
Before Thales could even settle in, he was horrified to discover that the walls outside the windows on both sides were getting closer and closer!
Thumb, thump, thump—

Amidst the extreme tremors, the prince unleashed the Sin of the River of Hell, gripping the carriage wall tightly and pressing himself against the small window behind the driver's seat:
"Where are we going—?"

Thales' words were choked off.

Through Golov's shoulder, he saw in despair:
Ahead of the carriage was only a narrow, increasingly dim, and increasingly pitch-black alleyway with no way out.

A dead end.

"Over there! Stay close!"

Although they couldn't see it, the pursuers' shouts grew more urgent, as if they were right next to them.

Looking at the narrow alleyway ahead, as narrow as a grain of rice, Thales felt a chill in his heart.

They can't get through it.

The horses neighed helplessly.

The walls on both sides are getting closer and closer.

Thales swallowed hard.

Or should we ask Golov to stop the car?

The Brotherhood is not easy to deal with.

But if he reveals his identity, they might not dare to do anything.

The news that "Duke of Xinghu wreaks havoc on Red Town Street, driving around in a car full of underwear" is likely to spread throughout the kingdom...

Recalling the king's expression and the black prophet's smile, Thales felt a headache coming on.

But reality always exceeds his expectations.

"Hurry up!"

Instead of slowing down, Golov whipped the horse even more fiercely and violently, forcing it to accelerate forward and rush into the dark and narrow space ahead!
Seeing that the car was about to crash and people were about to die, Thales was shocked and was about to speak up to stop him.

"No, zombies, it's too narrow, we can't get through!"

Kommuto's panicked voice rang out again, and he even blurted out the other person's nickname.

"Believe me!"

But Golov grabbed his colleague and shouted angrily:
"I know the dimensions here!"

"We can get in!"

The next second, the carriage rushed into the narrow alley without stopping!
The tarpaulin overhead blocked out the sunlight, and the surroundings suddenly became dark.

"Trust me!" Golov's voice was slightly distorted.

Both car windows dimmed simultaneously.

Swish!
A heart-pounding scraping sound rang in my ears.

Thales struggled to sit in the middle, closed his eyes, and stretched out his legs to brace himself against the carriage.

He swore:
If he survives, you must issue an order:
For the rest of his life, Golov would never touch the carriage reins again.

however.

Click, click, click…

After a period of unsettling up-and-down jolting, the prince was surprised to find that the carriage gradually became stable.

The next second, my eyes lit up and the sun shone through the car window again.

The horses were panting heavily as they painfully pulled the carriage out of the alley and onto the main road.

It let out a mournful cry to its abusive owner.

But all they get in return is another merciless beating.

“Alright, we’re safe now.” Golov’s tone calmed down, while Komuto next to him was still panting heavily.

Looking out the window at the street scene that had become clearer, Thales breathed a sigh of relief, his shock subsiding.

The carriage began to slow down.

But behind them, the sound of chasing footsteps first quickly approached, then disappeared all at once.

"Damn it—" Redmore's curse rang out, but it quickly faded away with the wind.

The sounds of pursuit grew fainter and fainter, fading into the distance.

Kommut clung to the carriage, looking back in bewilderment: "Why...have they stopped chasing us?"

“This is the Blood Bottle Gang’s territory,” Golov said without turning his head, calmly gripping the reins. “As you said, the Brotherhood has an agreement with them to divide Red Street.”

"No one dares to cross the line easily."

The carriage returned to its normal speed and traveled smoothly for a while, and the passersby no longer looked at them with surprise.

A few minutes later, they finally realized that they had escaped the pursuit.

After giving a final, wary look behind him, Golov returned the reins to Commuto.

With different feelings, the three of them exhaled in unison.

“But, Vanguard General Golov.”

Having regained his normal thinking ability, Komuto was the first to raise a question:
"I remember DD telling me that you always refused whenever he tried to bring people to Hongfang Street..."

The former guard drove carefully, glancing at Golov with a puzzled look.

"But how do you know this place so well...?"

And he moves through the alleys with ease?

Just like—Kumto kept those words to himself—going home?
Thales remained silent, but he also leaned closer to the small window and looked towards Golov.

Golov remained unfazed.

But the boy keenly sensed through his hellish perception that the zombie's arms were slowly tightening.

"because……"

Golov stared blankly at the street, his words trailing off.

A few seconds later, the zombie closed its eyes, let out a sigh of relief, as if it had given up on something.

"Because I grew up here."

At that moment, Thales and Kommuto were both stunned!
"right here."

Faced with their questioning gazes, Golov opened his eyes, his tone dejected, and his expression listless:

"Red Town Street".

For a fleeting moment, Golov gazed wistfully at the main road of Red Street, his expression subtle and the meaning behind it unfathomable.

The sound of horses' hooves continued, and the wheels of the carriages never stopped.

It took Thales and Kommuto several seconds to recover from the news.

“I…they didn’t tell me.” Kommut coughed, looking rather embarrassed.

"Because nobody knows—my file was partially sealed when I joined the Guard."

Golov's voice was hoarse and dull, like a poor student opening a book on his worst subject:

"In Mindis Hall, only Lord Marius knew about this."

Inside the carriage, Thales silently watched his retreating figure.

Amidst the cacophony of voices and the monotonous sounds of carriages, Komto, who had inadvertently learned of his colleague's secret, nodded sheepishly.
"Is that so...?"

"Yes."

Golov spoke slowly, admitting directly amidst complex emotions:
“A long, long time ago, I lived here, on Red Town Street, and was a member of the Blood Bottle Gang…”

He exuded an aura of decay and darkness, and said hoarsely:
"A beggar."

At that moment, Thales was jolted.

A beggar.

Golov...

A beggar?

Inside the carriage, the prince remained silent, seemingly lost in thought.

"A beggar?"

Commut was filled with doubt and uncertainty, his gaze shifting back and forth between the surrounding streets and the shadowy figure of Golov.

"But, Vanguard Commander, aren't you from the Seven Star Servant, the 'Wind Knight' Golov family...?"

Thales coughed loudly, interrupting Komuto.

The two people outside the carriage turned around at the same time.

“I think we’ve alerted some people,” Thales said earnestly, forcing himself to avoid looking at Golover with eyes that weren’t fixed on his subordinates. He tried to maintain a normal tone.

"We need to lay low for a while."

The three remained silent for a while.

"of course."

Kommuto understood immediately; he turned his gaze away and stopped staring at his colleague with a strange look.

The zombie glanced at Thales, then nodded slightly and looked ahead.

"Come with me."

The high-born first-class vanguard officer, Garen Grover, chuckled softly, his words carrying a mockery he believed only he understood:

"I know the way."

I'm back.

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(End of this chapter)