Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 596 The Tenth Giant
After a moment of silence, Maurice scratched his chin and looked at Thales with a strange expression.

"So, you came all this way just to give me a political lesson?"

“You want an answer,” Thales lowered his fist and replied confidently, “and I’m giving it to you.”

Morris surveyed the surrounding furnishings, pondered for a moment, and then looked up again:
"If so, then that answer is too far removed from our reality."

Thales smiled.

On the other side of the pharmacy, Jenny and Grove whispered to each other, trembling, while Grove tried to calm Cohen, who was about to rush up and take down Lyok.

But it was as if an invisible wall stood in the middle, and everyone adhered to the tacit understanding, not daring to cross it and intrude on the conversation between the Star Prince and one of the Brotherhood leaders.

"Yes, 'politics is too far removed from me,' 'politics is too unrealistic for me,' these are the most common misconceptions in our lives."

Thales's expression changed:
"Whether it's a fastidious gentleman who thinks it's too far away and therefore disdains it, considering himself superior and avoiding public politics like a deadly plague; or a cynical scholar who thinks it's too far away and therefore becomes cynical, spending his life studying books and believing that everything is contained in knowledge; or a cynical person who thinks it's too far away and therefore gives up and becomes numb, thinking that daily life is the only way to return to reality; or a keyboard warrior who thinks it's too far away and therefore has no scruples, talking big and pointing fingers at the world's affairs."

"You're still the same carefree, lazy bum who lives life to the fullest, just getting by day by day."

Morris curled one side of his lip, revealing his clenched teeth.

But Thales ignored him completely:
"Whether intentionally or unintentionally, consciously or unconsciously, they are all expressing the attitude that 'politics is too far away'."

"But if I may be so bold, they either misunderstand 'politics' or they misunderstand 'far.'"

Morris remained silent.

"Look at me now, standing right in front of you." Thales' voice turned icy as he said this.
"And do you really think that the relevant authorities were indifferent to you and let things slide throughout the rise of the Brotherhood?"

Morris squinted:
"Relevant departments?"

"Ha, you mean those most mysterious 'relevant departments' that are nowhere to be seen when it comes to benefiting the people, but only fulfill their duties when it comes to serving the country?"

Morris snorted, his face showing disdain, his words laced with sarcasm:
“We have our own way of dealing with them—they’re like a pile of shit. Every time I’ve finished squatting in the pit and I have to stand up to wipe my butt, I can still see them in the latrine, still hot and smelly, baring their teeth and claws.”

But Thales shook his head, ignoring his emotions:

"Then why did you order a retreat just now? Why didn't you listen to that guy named Oschu and follow the original plan to gather your men and kill the Blood Bottle Gang to collect the debt? Who cares who the mastermind behind the kidnapping is? The Brotherhood only needs to kill to establish its authority."

Morris rolled his eyes but remained silent.

Thales turned around and walked to the next shelf, occasionally picking up a medicine bottle and fiddling with it.

"Politics is not far from you, Mr. Morris. Even someone like you who disregards the kingdom and tramples on the boundaries of the law—the high walls and iron ramparts not only imprison those who are content to be in the cage, but also limit those who consider themselves to be outside the cage."

"It is an invisible and formless net that blocks every inch of color in our vision and seals every gap in the air. Our every move, word, and breath is caught in it, and we cannot escape."

Thales stared at the medicine bottle in his hand, feeling its hard walls, lost in thought.

Morris remained silent for several seconds before letting out a low hum.

“Perhaps I should let Lancer hear it,” the fat leader of the Brotherhood said, squinting.
"He knows this best."

But Thales gave a cold laugh.

"You too, Maurice."

The prince raised his head and met Maurice's gaze:
"After all, you're the one who keeps the accounts and manages the money."

In that instant, a fierce glint flashed in Maurice's eyes.

But in just a few seconds, the fraternity leader chuckled and nonchalantly tossed his hand away:
"Come on, all this nonsense you're spouting is beyond our understanding and interest, even for us roughnecks who hang out on the streets."

But Thales suddenly raised his voice, interrupting him:
"If you're really not interested, Maurice!"

“Then you guys back then—you and Black Sword, and the mercenary group that was called the ‘Nine Giants’—wouldn’t have traveled all the way to the capital.”

His voice gradually softened and his speech slowed, but the power within it made Maurice frown.

"And if you're not interested..."

Thales took a step forward.

“I will not accept Prince Horace’s offer of employment.”

In that instant, Morris's expression changed drastically!

"Furthermore, they wouldn't remain rooted in Yongxing City, lying in wait and making advances after his failure and death," Thales said slowly, gently turning the medicine bottle in his hand.
"He has ulterior motives."

Silence enveloped the two people having their conversation.

Until Maurice recovered from his shock, adjusted his expression, and exhaled:
"Who did you just say?"

Having achieved his goal, Thales smiled nonchalantly, turned around, and put down the medicine bottle.

"Miss Jenny!"

The prince suddenly raised his voice, breaking down the barrier between the two conversations, drawing the attention of everyone else in the apothecary:
"Have you decided yet?"

Jenny trembled violently when her name was called.

She looked up, bewildered, and mechanically gazed in Thales' direction:

"Wha, what?"

The boss, Grove, looked on with a mournful face, anxiously glancing at his wife and then nervously looking at Maurice.

Thales remained calm and composed, offering a gentle smile:
"a chance."

“I said, I want to give you a chance to find a new way out and have a new life.”

Thales glanced at Grove beside her, the chill in his eyes almost making the latter's legs buckle:
"At least it's better than now."

Jenny stood there, stunned, unconsciously wiping her hands on her apron.

Cohen frowned, wanting to speak, but after a few exchanges, Golov had clearly figured out how to stall him.

Leyok cast a questioning glance at Morris, but the fat man remained lost in thought and did not respond.

Only Grove showed a pained and pleading expression, shaking his wife's arm desperately.

Jenny was in a daze for a long time. She turned her head blankly, her gaze sweeping over the pharmacy where she had worked for more than ten years, and then over Grove, who was the owner and is now her husband.

Then, she slowly turned her head and met the gaze of the handsome and gentle nobleman.

Thales didn't urge him; he just waited quietly.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Jenny took a deep breath and, slowly but decisively, pulled her arm out of her husband's fingers.

She wiped her hands, took two steps forward, and stood in front of Thales.

Thales responded with a smile.

Grove was immediately struck by a blow; he swayed and turned deathly pale.

Morris frowned deeply, his thoughts in disarray; Cohen stared in disbelief; Golov remained motionless and expressionless; and Lyok continued to lean against the corner of the wall, observing coldly.

Jenny cleared her throat and spoke seriously:
“Young Master, I am very grateful for your favor.”

"But I've thought it through."

Thales raised an eyebrow.

Jenny said firmly:

"Do not."

"I don't need your offer of a new life."

Upon hearing this, the entire pharmacy fell silent.

Even Grove was visibly surprised.

Thales frowned slightly:
"what?"

Jenny forced a smile:

"I mean, my current life is the best choice I can make."

"The best option?"

Thales pondered for a moment, then nodded towards the trembling, cowardly Grove:
"it's him?"

Grove shuddered again.

But Jenny glanced back at her husband, then said firmly to Thales:

Yes, him.

Thales remained silent for a long while.

He lowered his head and chuckled softly.

"Tell me, will your old husband, Mr. Grove, beat you up?"

Jenny trembled slightly.

Morris snorted from the other side, and Grove turned pale as if struck by lightning.

Thales raised his eyes, trying to look into Jenny's heart:
"Tell me, Miss Jenny, or Mrs. Grove, are you happy here?"

Jenny frowned, pondering the question amidst pain and hesitation.

Perhaps it was because the boy's two bodyguards were too burly, perhaps it was because of the imposing aura he exuded, or perhaps it was because Maurice's presence was of extraordinary significance, but at this moment, the entire apothecary was completely silent, and everyone was waiting quietly.

Finally, half a minute later, Jenny's brows relaxed.

She slowly raised her head, smoothed her hair, and gave Thales a beautiful smile, revealing a hint of weariness and vicissitude that seemed out of place for someone her age.

"I am truly grateful to you, young master."

"But you may not know this."

Jenny looked intently at Thales, her words revealing a rare sense of relief and weariness.

“I come from Likenan Town in the western wilderness. More than ten years ago, the war took away my father and brothers. My mother and I had no choice but to leave our hometown and find a way to make a living.”

Thales's eyes dimmed.

"While Yongxing City is rumored to be the wealthiest and most prosperous capital, this big city is actually not that welcoming to outsiders."

Jenny took a deep breath and scanned the shop where she had spent most of her life.

"This street looks chaotic, savage, and unsafe; this shop looks shabby, old-fashioned, and dilapidated..."

"But this is the place in the capital that feels most like home to me."

The place that feels most like home.

Thales clenched his fist.

On the other side, Golov frowned, Morris scoffed, and Leyok buried his face even deeper in the shadows.

Jenny sighed and gave a bitter smile:
“And Mr. Grove… I mean, my husband.”

Jenny turned to look at Grove, her expression complex, while he looked at her anxiously.

"Yes, he is older than me, a bit overweight, and a bit impatient."

"He is usually a bit stingy and mercenary, petty, impatient, selfish and short-sighted, and he snores loudly at night."

Jenny took a deep breath and said with difficulty:
"Also, yes, if I try to pull him away when he's drunk, he'll hit me."

Thales gave Grove a cold look, who was initially terrified, but then showed a fawning and repentant expression.

Cohen frowned, raised his index finger and was about to speak, but for the third time he was forced back by Golov's fierce gaze and firm grip, which said, "If you dare to interrupt the prince, I'll kill you."

Jenny slowly turned her head and said softly:
"But he took me in, took care of me, gave me a job, and provided me with a place to get medicine to treat my mother who had typhoid fever."

"Just when I was at my lowest point, with nowhere else to turn, and almost ready to risk everything to find work on Hongfang Street."

Grove's eyes lit up with delight.

"His intentions were not good, nor was it love."

Thales sneered:

"Just for your looks and youth."

Jenny trembled slightly, then suddenly looked up:

"Yes!"

Thales was taken aback.

Before anyone knew it, Jenny's eyes were already red, and she spoke with a mixture of grievance and excitement:
"Of course I know! He was after me because I'm pretty, young, hardworking, and capable, so that's why..."

Tears streamed down her face, and her voice choked with rage:

"But who isn't?"

Jenny's sudden outburst startled everyone.

The young woman took a breath and wiped her eyes.

"You are young, young master, born into a wealthy family and living a carefree life. You may not know what it is like when a person is so hungry that they lose their mind and don't even care if a man tries to take off their skirt for a piece of bread."

Thales stared at her, stunned.

"But I know."

Jenny clenched her fists on her apron.

"I know."

She glanced back at Grove, a look filled with a desolate smile.

"Yes, my husband has many flaws and shortcomings, and some aspects of him are unbearably annoying—he is certainly not the ideal man in every young girl's heart."

Grove gave his wife an extremely awkward smile.

Jenny chuckled, but her laughter was bitter and her voice was low:

"But the reality is, what woman in the world has a husband as good as the one in the story?"

"Especially here."

Thales remained silent in response.

"That's right. I may have some looks, and I'm younger than him, so he, who is wealthy and successful, took a liking to me and made me work for him. Whether I was willing or not, I married him half-heartedly and confusedly."

Jenny sniffed and said sadly:
"But isn't the idea that a handsome man and a beautiful woman are a universally acknowledged truth for a perfect match and a happy marriage?"

The young woman turned her head in alarm, looking at the other people in the pharmacy: Cohen, Grover, Morris, Lyok...

But no one responded to her question.

Under immense pressure, Jenny lost control of her emotions and let out a sob:
"Just like the song 'Isabel's Search for Her Husband' goes: Men only exchange merit and wealth for women's youth and beauty, but the beautiful women are gone with tears in their eyes. How can they expect love and affection? From commoners to nobles, isn't this the case for everyone?"

"Whose family isn't like that?"

Jenny rubbed her red nose, smoothed her hair which had become dry and dull after marriage, chuckled, and said indifferently:
"As long as a man has fame and fortune, he can overlook everything else, regardless of his flaws, shortcomings, or his own character."

"For young women, youth, beauty, virtue, and competence are the only values; who cares whether you are happy or not?"

Thales sensed the other person's intense emotions and couldn't help but feel remorse:

“Jenny…”

But Jenny ignored his warning.

"In the play, Princess Isabella's criteria for choosing a husband are always the same few things: fame, reputation, and outstanding talent. And the things she can use to attract candidates are also just a few things: beauty, virtue, and intelligence... That's the only match."

Jenny said absentmindedly:
"As for the specific husband she chooses, whether it is the handsome and dashing Light Knight Needham, the ethereal and graceful elf Cahill, the general with unparalleled military exploits, the powerful and influential Chancellor Moral, the devoted Duke Medall, the noble-born Imperial Prince Jules, or the treacherous and ruthless Maester Vita, or the evil and extreme Black Knight Yuther, does it really matter?"

"I took off my skirt in exchange for his bread."

Jenny's eyes were blank:

"This is the most widely accepted type of trade and pairing."

Thales gazed at her intently, and suddenly realized that the person before him was no longer the familiar, kind-hearted Jenny.

Six years later, that reserved and shy girl had experienced and seen too much in this ruthless neighborhood.

He suddenly felt heavy-hearted.

They began to doubt their choice to come to the lower city.

“Like this medicine scale,” Jenny smiled sadly, reaching for a medicine scale and adjusting its weights:

"Everyone only recognizes the left side as the object and the right side as the weight, with the medicine on one side and the weight on the other."

"Left and right cannot be confused, and the content cannot be changed."

Jenny stared blankly at Grove, who was also in a daze.

"My husband and I are just following the rules of the medicine scale."

On the other side, Maurice was caught off guard by this scene. With other matters on his mind, he didn't listen carefully, only waving his hand impatiently: "That Grove, your family matters..."

But Thales suddenly raised his hand and gestured for him to be quiet!

Morris choked for a moment.

Thales sighed and, trying his best to speak in the gentlest tone, said to Jenny:

"But Jenny, I just wanted to..."

Jenny snapped out of her daze, gave a cold laugh, and completely forgot about the possible status and power of the mysterious young man who was calling Morris his brother.

"And what makes you any different?"

"Whether it's coercion or seduction, you use—presumably the status and power, wealth and achievements of a noble family—on the scales of medicine that everyone recognizes, in exchange for my body and appearance, my obedience and service, and perhaps even the glory of bearing your descendants. Then everyone will see it as a good deal, as if it's the most normal thing, as if it's the only fair transaction in the world."

Thales' breathing suddenly became erratic.

"Yes, you may be better, more handsome, richer, younger, and even kinder than my husband, young master,"

"But even if you were the king..."

"For me, it's just a matter of taking off my skirt and getting some bread instead."

Jenny shook her head indifferently, her tears already dried, revealing the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes from years of hard work and toil.
"The skirt is still made of cloth, the bread is still made of flour... When weighing, it's still the same medicine scale, nothing has changed."

Thales felt his heart skip a beat.

Nothing has changed.

"This is the tragedy of being a woman: throughout our lives, we must and can only strive to weave and dye our own skirts so that we can barely choose between bad and not-so-bad bread—even if you think a certain bread is absolutely delicious, practically the king of breads—by taking off our skirts."

Jenny glanced at Thales and sneered:
“In this respect, you are not as good as my husband, even though he is old and ugly.”

Grove was initially delighted, but upon seeing Thales's expression, he felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.

“At least, I’ve lived with him for many years, I know him, and I know how to deal with him.”

"At least I know that I can be a pharmacy owner here, living an ordinary life without worries. Even if things don't go well, I won't be destitute and starving, forced to do manual labor, laundry, or even sell myself to make a living."

"And this is better than hooking up with a powerful and wealthy young nobleman, living a life of luxury for a while, and then being abandoned without any explanation."

Thales was speechless and could only clench his fists.

All his eloquence paled in comparison at the moment Jenny poured out her heart in despair.

"Because the scales of medicine in this world only allow me to exchange my skirt for bread; the dividing line is strict and cannot be crossed."

"So it doesn't matter which man you're with, they're just bread to fill your stomach."

Jenny shook her head blankly, then gave a bitter, cold laugh:
There is never a better choice, a better life.

Thales remained silent, and the only sound in the air was Jenny's soft sobbing.

Morris sighed softly, Lyok's eyes sharpened, Golover lowered his head in thought, and even Cohen looked sorrowful.

“It’s not your fault, Jenny,” Thales said after a long while, shaking his head. “It’s just that this medicine scale is too old and doesn’t suit you.”

"But you definitely deserve better."

But Jenny remained unmoved, staring warily at Thales, her stubbornness undiminished.

Looking at her now, Thales was overwhelmed with mixed feelings as he recalled the past.

He forced a weak smile, a fragile one appearing on his lips:

"Good girl Yanni."

Good girl Jenny.

For a moment, Jenny was stunned.

She stared blankly into Thales's pained eyes, stunned for a long time.

Good girl Jenny.

This name...

A memory from a long, long time ago—when she was still a girl—suddenly flooded back. [Here you go, black-haired boy, this is typhoid medicine. Remember, children should only take half the dose…]

Thank you, now Coria will get better. Here, is this enough money?

"Oh dear, it's not enough, the price of the medicine has gone up... No problem, I'll add some more and fill in the bill. I hope Mr. Grove won't find out."

Don't worry, you said there are lots of rich people on Red Town Street, right? I'll go there and try my luck, maybe I can get my money back... If the boss hits you, I'll smash his precious signboard!

But that's Blood Bottle Gang territory... Okay, you'd better hurry up and leave, or he might really find out—wait a minute, these are the remaining clothes, take them, it's going to be cold this winter...

"Thank you, Cindy and the others will be very happy. I'm off now—hey, good girl Jenny!"

I told you not to call me that! Is there anything else?

Do you know that a wonderful girl like you is destined for happiness?

[Pfft—That's all the stuff we have; no matter how much you try to please us, there's nothing more!]

No, I mean it. I'll let everyone in the lower town know that there's a wonderful girl named Jenny here! Good men will be fighting over you to marry her!

[Pfft, hahaha, alright, get lost, you smooth-talking brat!]

“Believe me, a girl like you,” Thales turned his head and said with admiration:

Good men will fight over who will marry you.

Jenny stared blankly at the boy in front of her.

Thales took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly:
"But... I'm sorry, maybe they're just trading bread for a skirt."

Jenny and the boy stood silently facing each other in the pharmacy.

Finally, after an unknown amount of time, Jenny's eyes softened.

“Perhaps,” Jenny smiled brightly, “but I understood long ago.”

"That's good enough."

She whispered:

"A smooth-talking brat."

A glib-tongued brat.

Thales took a deep breath and pressed his nose against his forehead.

"Really."

Thales rubbed the bridge of his nose, awkwardly turned his head, and walked into the aisle:

"Then forget my suggestion."

"Good girl."

Jenny stared blankly at Thales's retreating figure as he turned away.

Grove, standing behind her, breathed a sigh of relief, only to be startled by the assassin Lyok, who was glaring coldly at him.

After this farce, Cohen lowered his head in thought, while Golov looked around warily, fearing that the Brotherhood might suddenly turn their backs on him, or that the warden might act out of a sense of justice and cause trouble again.

Only Maurice frowned and followed the prince into the shelf.

"What exactly do you want to do?"

Hearing the voice behind him, Thales looked up.

What do you want to do?
When Thales turned around and met Maurice's gaze again, he had already returned to normal, becoming the natural and aloof prince once more.

"As you can see, harassing women," the young man chuckled.

But his heart was not at peace.

I felt a surge of resentment rising and churning in my chest.

"No, I don't care which attractive married woman you've taken a fancy to, whether you want to flirt with her or simply force yourself on her—what I want to ask is..."

Morris snorted angrily, moved closer to Thales, and said through gritted teeth:
What exactly do you want from us?

"what would you like?"

"Would a dignified heir to a nation really use an encounter with Black Sword in Exter as a pretext to persuade us to pay attention to the kingdom's politics?"

Thales' gaze was deep and unfathomable.

What do I want?
"As I said, winter is here, and it's going to snow again," the prince said, raising his eyes and channeling his resentment into thoughtful consideration.

"Get ready to keep warm."

Morris was puzzled:
"I don't understand—"

But Thales' voice turned serious:
"Horace."

Morris paused.

"Former Second Prince, Sword of Light, Horace Star."

The boy suddenly looked up and stared coldly at Maurice:
"What did he ask of you during that bloody year?"

Morris's eyes widened.

In one second, two seconds, the fat man's eyes shifted, revealing a mixture of coldness and treachery, decisiveness and ferocity.

But Thales remained unmoved, simply meeting his gaze silently.

A moment later, Maurice, standing between the shelves, his expression contorted with rage, lowered his voice:

"Then what you're asking for is a bit too much."

It's too dangerous.

The fat man was cold-hearted.

Looking at Maurice's expression, Thales already knew the answer.

"Then let's not rush, let's take it slow," the boy said calmly and confidently.

"First, I'd like to know what you know."

Morris frowned:
"We know?"

Thales nodded, trying to forget the disappointment of having found Jenny but failing to repay her kindness:

"Although politics is ubiquitous and affects all aspects of life."

"But I don't think every party is self-aware, especially given the gap between Horace and you. I don't think, nor do I expect, that he would tell you the whole plan."

"Especially the bloody years."

At this point, Thales's gaze sharpened:

"So all I want to know is how you came to know Horace."

"I want to know, what is his relationship with the Black Sword?"

Every time the prince spoke, Maurice's eyelids twitched.

Until Thales' voice turned completely cold,

"And what else did you do for him besides infiltrating the Palace of Restoration, carrying out a coup, and assassinating the Crown Prince?"

At that moment, Maurice almost turned into a statue, rooted in place like an ancient tree.

He stared intently at Thales, his expression shifting rapidly.

The store became quiet again, with only the sounds of Jenny cleaning the shop and Cohen angrily rebuking Lyok coming from outside.

A moment later, the fat man from the fraternity, his expression grim, looked down at Thales like a falcon:

“I understand… yet another ambitious star has discovered our secrets and capabilities through the secret operations of the secret department…”

Thales frowned slightly.

Morris smiled slyly:
"Then what can you give us, Your Highness?"

Hearing this, Thales sneered:
"Survive."

While Morris was still in shock, Thales suddenly turned around.

"Jenny?"

The prince raised his voice, drawing everyone's attention back (Grove was so frightened that he collapsed onto the counter again).

"I need some typhoid medication."

Jenny turned around. Although her eyes were still red, she was no longer afraid or in pain.

The young woman smiled slightly, her tone gentle.

"Okay, young master, I'll pack it up for you right away. How much would you like?"

"Here you go, black-haired boy, this is typhoid medicine..."

Memories from the past slowly resurfaced before my eyes.

“All of it,” Thales said, rubbing his nose to hide his eyes.

"I'll take all the typhoid medicine in the store today."

Grove on the counter was taken aback.

Do you want everything?
He was first startled, then overjoyed, and hurriedly opened the ledger to begin calculating the numbers.

Cohen and Grover were both taken aback.

Thales turned back to his conversation with Maurice.

"After your successive victories over the past decade, the situation has now changed again."

"The setbacks you've encountered with the Blood Bottle Gang are just the tip of the iceberg of the Secret Service's next plan."

Morris, like a fierce and agile hunting dog, asked urgently:
"What changes? What plans?"

Thales slightly curled the corners of his lips:
"I."

“I’m back,” he said softly.

Morris was slightly puzzled, but after a few seconds, his eyes cleared again.

"Because... you returned to the capital from the north?"

Thales' eyes lit up.

He nodded.

"Everyone says that under the Black Sword, the most powerful fighter in the Brotherhood is Qincha, the most difficult to deal with is Feisuo, the most mysterious is Lancer, the most domineering is Rhoda, and the most ruthless is Anton."

“But they missed it,” the prince exclaimed sincerely.
"The person in charge of the accounts is Maurice."

Morris gave a malicious smile.

"Yes."

Thales stopped beating around the bush and spoke frankly:
"Just like six years ago, when I descended from the sky and changed the political landscape of the stars—now, I'm back."

"The balance of power will shift once again throughout the kingdom."

Morris, puzzled, pressed on:

"How do you say it? How do you change the situation?"

Thales smiled slightly.

In that instant, he saw Falkenhausen, Prime Minister Cullen, the young Duke of Iris, the one-eyed Köst, and the weathered and gaunt Duke of the North, Val Arend...

The scene before my eyes finally settled on the council chamber, at the other end of that deep corridor, on that supreme throne.

Thales' smile vanished instantly.

You don't need to know the details.

The prince composed himself and looked directly at Maurice:

"All you need to know is..."

"The Kingdom's Secret Service is directly under the Supreme Throne. It is known for its deep thinking and ambitious plans, and it never does anything futile."

Thales frowned as he recalled what he had seen and heard in the Secret Service, and Maurice also looked grave.

"All their actions are based on one set of thoughts, one set of words, one set of actions, one set of reports, one set of secrets, and perhaps even another set locked tightly in a safe... But they are definitely not trying to intimidate any individual or group by threatening, kidnapping, arresting, and cracking down on so many seemingly unrelated things between two gangs that influence the bottom of the kingdom."

Morris listened attentively.

“According to my assessment, they are preparing for a major operation,” Thales said coldly.
"The encounters with the Blood Bottle Gang and the Brotherhood are just the prelude; they are sharpening their swords."

Morris looked puzzled:
"Us? What, do they want to start another 'One Night War'? Make us fight the Red Turbans again?"

“I don’t know,” Thales shook his head, pondering the information he knew:
"But if you ask me, the secret service might be focusing on three directions."

Morris raised an eyebrow:
"Which three?"

But this time, Thales did not answer as readily as before; instead, he stared coldly at Maurice.

As if waiting for something.

"What's wrong?" Maurice urged, puzzled. "Tell me."

Thales stared at him silently, then suddenly smiled broadly: "Yes."

He stared into Maurice's small eyes:
"talk?"

Morris was taken aback for a moment, but as a long-time leader of a territory, he quickly understood and looked back at Thales with a gloomy expression.

“Your choice,” Thales shrugged, as calmly as a seasoned businessman:

"Anyway, they're not messing with my business, and they're not kidnapping my people."

Maurice stared at him intently, seemingly unable to believe it.

Thales blinked, friendly and obedient.

After a long pause, Morris sighed resignedly and snorted unhappily.

"A mission."

Thales frowned: "What?"

Morris looked up at the muddy and chaotic street outside the window and murmured:

"The answer you seek comes from one of our missions."

“A long time ago, not long after our ‘Nine Giants’ was established, we took on a mission with an astronomical bounty.”

Thales pressed on:

"What mission?"

Morris scoffed softly, crossed his arms, and a look of nostalgia appeared in his eyes:
"Looking for someone."

Thales was puzzled and urged him to continue with his eyes.

Morris clicked his tongue and shook his head, seemingly reverting to his former stingy, money-grubbing mercenary self.

"The bounty hunters operate under assumed names but are incredibly generous; anyone willing to participate receives a reward, and the final bounty is enough for us to expand into a hundred-person group..."

"To be honest, we were just one of the hired hands. To get the bounty, we had to compete with countless others along the way, many of whom were famous mercenary groups, bounty hunters, and even private soldiers of nobles. But what could we do when we were young and didn't care about anything? Leh was greedy for money, Giles was arrogant and conceited, and Kur only cared about having meat to eat. Even Black Sword wasn't much better than that stupid guard back then."

Morris, engrossed in his speech, shook his head and sighed:
"Of course, the biggest trouble isn't anything else..."

He first clicked his tongue in disdain, then broke into a smile, as if turning the page to the most interesting story.

"In short, from the Central Territory to the Western Wilderness, from the Great Desert to the Dragon's Kiss Land, from the Misty Three Kingdoms to the Southern Coast Territory, we have almost covered half of the Western Continent. We chased and fled, fought and killed, and were attacked and killed all the way. In short, it was a chaotic and chaotic mess."

"If I were to turn my experiences into a bard's poem, I could sing it in my tavern for twenty years without ever getting tired of it."

As Thales listened to his enthusiastic narration, his thoughts drifted back to the former Baki camp, recalling the "golden age of mercenaries" described by his boss, Tampa, and he gradually became lost in thought.

"But when we finally completed the mission and went back to report and collect our rewards, we discovered that it was no ordinary mission."

Thales' eyes flickered:
"You mean..."

Morris sighed:
"In keeping with its exorbitant bounty, we were ordered to report back to the military camp at Broken Dragon Fortress."

"Because the person who offered the bounty for this mission is of extremely high status."

Thales's eyes flickered.

Military camp...

Incredibly valuable...

Maurice gazed out the window at the street, his words a strange mixture of fear, disdain, and regret.

"Yes."

"That was the first time we met Prince Horace."

Morris said with disdain and indignation:
"Just as that bastard raised his glass and generously handed us boxes of bounty..."

"When they carelessly give the order to kill us all."

Thales was startled.

Horace...

He suddenly remembered the nickname the northerners had given him.

Star Butcher.

“Silenced? Then,” Thales frowned, “how did you…”

“The Black Sword,” Maurice sighed.
"He and Horace were old acquaintances—their relationship was even stronger when he put his sword to the prince's neck."

Thales silently savored this long-forgotten story.

So this is how the Nine Giants met Horace.

A thrilling and dramatic story.

Thales suddenly remembered something:
"So, the mission."

"What mission did you receive from Horace?"

Morris's eyes trembled slightly.

In that instant, he broke free from his solemnity and apprehension, and a smile returned to his face:
"That trip was also the first time we got to know her."

“Her?” Thales’ heart skipped a beat.

Morris nodded:

“A noble lady has been kidnapped. Her reputation is at stake. We must rescue her discreetly and secretly, and bring her back unharmed.”

Morris patted his arm and grinned:

"But then we found out, damn it, there was no kidnapping at all!"

He groaned helplessly:

"To escape an arranged marriage, that girl will do anything—from disguising herself as a prostitute to crawling into a toilet—she's our biggest problem!"

"Runaway bride?" Thales suddenly remembered something.

"Yes."

Morris exhaled, gazed into the distance, and gave a half-smile:

"The beautiful and sexy, intelligent but domineering Princess Constance—nicknamed 'Little Calamity'."

He spoke softly, as if afraid of waking someone.

Constance.

Little jinx...

Suddenly, a small stone urn containing ashes appeared before Thales' eyes.

At that moment, his emotions were in turmoil.

"But you know, after spending so much time together, we 'Nine Giants' have given her another nickname."

At that moment, a look of remembrance and sadness appeared in Maurice's eyes:
"The Tenth Giant".

I've updated, you can do as you please. (Seriously, there's not a single drop left...)
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(End of this chapter)