Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 60: The picture shows the dagger
The commoners and minor nobles in the Hall of Stars immediately began to stir in fear, and the guards had to shout at them.

“You really dare to say that, Cyril.” Duke Val of the North gave Cyril a deep look. “Thanks to you, no one should be talking about going back to those closed, small meeting rooms anymore, right?”

The earls seated on the stone thrones remained silent in response.

“It was bound to happen sooner or later,” Duke Falkenhaus said, his eyes darkening, his sharp voice still ringing out even amidst his laughter. “Heh heh, I’ve just removed your hopes and fears.”

“The ‘unwelcome guest’ at the banquet,” Duke Cullen sighed, “truly deserving of the title.”

Like most of the earls of the thirteen noble families, Jann remained silent with a gloomy face.

A dozen seconds later, what came from Star Gathering Square to the Hall of Stars was a chaotic buzzing of panic from the crowd, which grew louder and louder.

The news that Exter and Stars were about to clash was now completely public.

Count Sorel's eyes were unfriendly as he looked directly at the king: "Your Majesty, you have achieved your desired effect by announcing this impending calamity to the people—the question is, how do we end this?"

King Catherine V, his face as cold as ice, remained silent, only glancing briefly at Sorel, who stubbornly persisted.

“That’s simple,” Earl Talen stared at Sorel without any politeness. “Want to fight or want to talk? If it’s fighting, then everyone should return to their respective territories and sound the call to arms.”

"We still have the opportunity to negotiate. We have allies, just like twelve years ago, who can mediate." Jann slowly raised his head, looking at the lords and princes: "War may not necessarily break out, as long as a certain price is paid..."

“The one who died in the mission was a prince—King Nunn’s only son, the sole heir of the Walton family.” Falkenhaus interrupted the young duke, saying sarcastically, “Pay a price? That makes sense. Ceding some northern territory to Exter would probably settle things.”

“Not an inch of the North will be ceded,” Count Zemuto said coldly. “That is the land our family has protected for generations.”

“But that prince did die within your territory, didn’t he?” Count Dastan scoffed. “That’s your responsibility, and of course you have to pay the price.”

“If you’re not joking, Dastan,” Count Fores raised his head, his eyes flashing with malice, “then we can go up to the final arena and duel now.”

"Alright, alright, then how about giving them 20% of the supply of eternal oil in the East China Sea?" Duke Falkenhaus pretended to be deep in thought, first looking at Duke Cullen, then at Jann, and then revealing a nonchalant smile: "Or how about the asphalt mine in the south?"

“There’s a limit to jokes, Cyril,” Duke Cullen said, unusually serious.

Jenn gave him a friendly smile and shook his head slightly.

At that moment, King Catherine V tapped his scepter lightly.

All the nobles quieted down and looked at him.

Under the king's gaze, Gilbert nodded and stepped forward:
“According to the secret channels, Dragon City learned of the prince’s death in the stars yesterday,” he frowned. “And the Grand Duke of Black Sand was even faster than their king, having already begun conscripting soldiers and mobilizing the army two days ago—the other two Grand Dukes in southern Exter were half a day slower, but essentially the same.”

An uproar erupted in the hall!
"Silence!" Gilbert shouted sternly.

Amidst the complex emotions filling the hall, the High King spoke in a deep and resonant voice: "If the two countries go to war, the royal family and the Tarren family will do everything in their power to support the North."

Earl Talen nodded resolutely.

The king looked calmly at the Duke of the North: "Val, how many troops and supplies can you provide?"

"How many troops? Are you kidding me?" Val Arend replied seriously, "I have summoned all my vassals, 15,000 infantry and 1,000 archers, 500 heavy cavalry, and even a small number of magic lancers! They will reinforce Dragonbreaker Fortress in the shortest possible time and be under the command of Lord Sonia Satherley."

"That's our territory! If war breaks out, even women and children will take up arms!"

"As for supplies, that depends on how much land we can hold."

Counts Zemuto and Fores nodded firmly in agreement:

"The three thousand five hundred men of Watchtower will fight to the death."

"The Lonely Tower only has two thousand infantrymen, but we will fight to the last man."

“We can withstand the pressure from the three Dukes of Exter, but if it’s the entire Exter…” The Duke of the North straightened up, his piercing gaze sweeping over every noble: “We need the power of the entire star system.”

Standing behind old Earl Kalabyan, Cohen scratched his head and whispered in confusion:
"Isn't this a national affairs conference open to the entire population? How could they just announce troop deployments like that?"

Count Kalabyan closed his eyes gently and let out a barely perceptible sigh.

"Didn't you notice?" he asked his son in a low voice, looking exhausted.
"The attitude of the northern nobles is meant for Exter."

"Do you believe Duke Aarond can muster ten thousand men? Stars haven't recovered from the Blood Year—I doubt that the forces the lords claim to have are even a third of what they claim."

Cohen was taken aback.

He looked incredulously at the top of the hall, at the pattern of two stars the size of a silver cross.

As descendants of the Empire and the Shield of the Western Continent, has the Star Kingdom become so weak?
King Catherine V nodded slightly, then turned to the intimidating-looking Cyril: "Where are the lords of the Western Wilderness?"

Cyril Falkenhaus leaned back, closed his eyes, and said, "The Wasteland can only send out a thousand infantrymen—the Bone Tribe has started to stir again recently, and as for magic guns, we don't even have enough for ourselves."

“Wing Fortress is not known for its military prowess,” the young Earl Deler Cloma mused, “but we can send out our best hundred Crowwhistle light cavalry.”

Bozdorf frowned deeply: "The area around Heroes' Fortress has been unsettled recently. An orc has been hailed as a leader and is gathering the power of various clans—the Black Lion family can only send two hundred people."

The stingy decision of the Western Wilderness nobles caused the nobles present to begin whispering among themselves.

Cohen frowned. He had served on the Western Front in the cleanup campaign following the Desert Wars, but as far as he knew, the Western Front was far more sparsely populated.

“You were quite eager to expose the secret just now,” Val said coldly, looking at Falkenhausen. “When it comes to conscripting troops… humph.”

Another wave of cheers echoed from Star Gathering Square to the Hall of Stars, this time a burst of excited applause, some of it even bordering on fervent.

“Alas,” Earl Taren sighed, touching his pentagram brooch. “I bet the guards just passed on the news about the Northern forces and haven’t had time to relay it to the Western Wilderness yet.”

King Kessel V remained unmoved. He turned to Cullen and asked, "What is the attitude of the Sun Sword and Shield family, and the entire East Sea Territory?"

“Your Majesty, most of the people of the East Sea rely on the sea for their livelihood. We do not have enough troops, but we can pay to recruit mercenaries to fight,” the fat duke said with a smile. “If a full-scale war breaks out, as long as winter does not come and the coastal waters do not freeze, our fleet can still harass the east coast of Extt.”

On the stone seat beside the Duke of the East Sea, Count Noah Harvia and Count Clark Armand exchanged a glance and nodded in unison.

Duke Falkenhaus said in a somber tone, "Thank you so much for reminding us. It's December now, winter is coming."

King Catherine V tapped his stone seat and asked meaningfully, "So there's no one, only money? I remember during the Desert War, the Prime Minister told me that we had no money, but we could have people—it's just that transporting troops from the East Sea to the Western Wilderness is a bit far?"

"Five years ago, people didn't go out to make money, so there were people with money but no money. But now everyone goes out to make money, so there are no people with money," Duke Cullen replied with a smile, without batting an eye.

The king scoffed, while the Duke of the North's face turned extremely ugly.

King Kessel turned his head toward the nobles in the south.

“There are no usable cavalry in the entire South Bank Territory. The Kevindir family can gather two thousand infantrymen from the area around Emerald City, and they also have some magic guns,” Jann replied worriedly before His Majesty asked him. “But a long march north would be problematic, as the troops would not be able to adapt to the climate and water. My vassals would certainly not be happy either—we cannot guarantee the quality of our troops.”

Count Kalabyan also spoke up with a serious expression: "The same goes for the Vora territory. Even with the addition of vassals, I have no confidence in even being able to recruit three hundred soldiers."

Cohen, standing behind the Count, lowered his head and sighed softly.

He also remembered that the last time his two younger sisters went out to visit friends, his father directly sent 500 soldiers to escort them.

Count Lacia was even more blunt: "The soldiers of the marshland are simply not suited for fighting in the north."

King Kessel V did not speak again, but simply exhaled softly: "The Duke of Cliffland and the Duke of Blade's Edge have not yet arrived, but I estimate that they, as well as the remaining four families, probably share the same attitude?"

As nobles of the Cliff Territory, Count Sorel and Count Dastan both turned their heads away and remained silent.

Instead, the guild leaders and merchants who were listening in began to whisper among themselves—they were more worried about the impending war.

Is this how you repay the stars?

The Duke of the North's face turned ashen. He stood up abruptly, pointed at the double cross above his head, and roared, "This is the nation you swore allegiance to, and it was once the greatest nation in human history! Even though the North is not your territory, the double cross flag still flies over it! Just like your land!"

“Your Grace, I also fought for the stars five years ago,” Count Dastan said coldly, “and in the Western Wilderness, I lost my eldest son forever—I suppose you, without a son, cannot understand…”

"Bullshit!" Val's eyes widened in anger as he abruptly turned his head. "My only daughter, the heir of the White Eagles, is currently at Dragonslayer Fortress on the border between the two countries, under the command of the Fortress Flower—Lord Sonia Satherley! Her life or death depends on the outcome of the battle between the dragons and the stars!"

Upon hearing this, Cohen lowered his head, sighed, and looked at Raphael behind the Black Prophet.

“Perhaps we don’t need to go to war. We can choose to negotiate—even if Exter sends troops, it’s only for his own benefit.” Duke Cullen shook his head and sighed.

"And then force the North to hand over its territory?" Val, like a predatory eagle, stared intently at everyone who answered.

“Now we know our resources and the size of our army.” At this moment, Jann raised his head with a resolute look and looked at the king: “Whether to fight or make peace depends on Your Majesty’s will.”

All eyes immediately turned to Kesser.

Val's gaze was urgent and piercing, Cullen's gaze held a complex smile, Cyril's was playful, while Jann's gaze was as calm as still water.

"So, this is my country?" Kessel slowly raised his head, his gaze sharp as a knife, slicing through each lord. "The king can only lead his standing army and direct vassals against the entire army of another nation?"

"Otherwise, should I represent the stars and humiliatingly accept their possible conditions?"

Cyril Falkenhausen chuckled sinisterly, "Heh heh, without military strength, we can't fight; and regarding royal dignity, we can't negotiate..."

“It seems that what Su Ye said is indeed true,” King Catherine V sighed. “Kings are all lonely men.”

At that moment, a loud and furious voice came from the door of the Hall of Stars!

"Your Majesty, please take back those words!"

"With us here, you will never be alone!"

"As nobles of the stars, descendants of the empire, how can we retreat even an inch?"

Amidst the commotion in the hall, a robust middle-aged nobleman, whose left eye was covered by a horrific scar, wearing a yellow and black cloak embroidered with a man-standing antlered deer, stepped onto the six stone thrones with a cold and arrogant air.

The nobles and commoners in the room, some began to applaud enthusiastically, while others either scoffed or shook their heads and sighed.

Duke Cullen gave a helpless smile, while Val and Jann both looked on with serious expressions.

“The one-eyed dragon of Southrest,” Cyril Falkenhaus laughed, “I thought you wouldn’t arrive until tonight!”

Lord of Junlin City, Duke Guardian of the Clifflands, Kusder Nanthurst, said with a stern expression:
"Compared to this... look at what you've all done?"

He kissed Kessel's ring, but instead of sitting down on the stone seat, he turned to Val and said:
"Lord Aarond, please do not worry!"

"Junlin City will send out its entire army! Head north to Duanlong Fortress!"

But under Val's surprised and complicated gaze, he immediately changed the subject and looked at Kessel V:
"Faced with this war that will affect the entire nation! As long as Your Majesty can reassure your followers—I cannot think of any reason to back down!"

Almost all the nobles in the room frowned.

How to reassure followers?
“Köst,” King Kessel V began slowly, “what do you mean by this?”

“Your Majesty, don’t you understand?” Kusder said sternly, “All-out war is imminent, yet the nobles are filled with anxiety and make excuses!”

"In this situation, you alone, as our lord, are suffering the torment of whether to fight or make peace!"

"This is not fair to you!"

"But why do you think that is?"

Kusder closed his single eye tightly, took a deep breath, and then said firmly:

"The Iron-Fisted King, His Majesty Kessel!"

"The lords and nobles dare not follow you!"

"The entire world is filled with fear and unease... Twelve years have passed since that tragedy, and the late king's remains have been buried! But we still don't know what you are thinking!"

"We don't know what kind of king we are following!"

In an instant, the nobles fell silent.

Gilbert and Ginny both frowned.

Kessel gripped his scepter tightly, looking at Gosd with a complicated expression.

But Kusder remained undeterred and said, "We are all afraid of you—no one knows what a king who lives alone and has no scruples, the last man of the Star, will do!"

"Moreover, this is war!"

Kusder turned around, his sharp single eye sweeping over each lord, and said, word by word:
"Your Majesty! The blood has faded, but the stars remain."

"But why must you endure the suspicion of the nobles even for an obvious decision like going to war?"

King Catherine V's gaze grew increasingly cold.

The four dukes, without prior agreement, avoided his gaze.

Kusder pointed to the double cross on the ceiling and said loudly:
"Your Majesty, for the sake of the stars' interests and the dignity of the Starry Sky Royal Family, we cannot hesitate in the face of this crisis!"

"Therefore, Your Majesty, please share the burden of the stars with us!"

"Whether it's war or peace, let us all bear the cost of this decision."

"If the stars are at peace, the future is bright, and the royal family will not be extinguished—I think no one will back down in the face of such a national war!"

At this point, many people had already sensed something was amiss.

Morat Hansen lowered his head and silently curled the corners of his mouth.

coming.

so fast.

Jann pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes.

coming.

I hope it goes well.

Kulen watched Kosd's performance with a smile.

coming.

interesting.

Val stared blankly at the Duke who guarded the cliffs, clenching his teeth.

Is that what they're after?

Are Kai and I both prey?

The counts whispered amongst themselves on the stone seats, some looking worried, others nodding in agreement.

Only many ordinary people who were listening in remained confused and whispered among themselves.

But everything in the Hall of Stars continues.

"Your Majesty, you will soon be forty-eight years old!"

"On the eve of the war between dragons and stars!"

Before everyone's eyes, Kushder flung off his cloak, his face cold and stern, and swung his arm toward the nobles in the hall:
"Please choose the heir to the kingdom from among us nobles!"

"Show the nobles through your actions that you still care about the stability and survival of this kingdom, and that you still trust these lords who are your allies!"

"At that time, we will fight for the dignity of the stars! We will fight for the glory of the brilliance of the stars!"

"No complaints whatsoever!"

"Never back down!"

Dead silence.

Absolute silence.

A suffocating, deathly silence.

No one dared to be the first to speak after these words.

The deathly silence was shattered by a sharp, unrestrained laugh.

"Hahaha……"

Duke Falkenhausen opened his mouth wide and, under the astonished gazes of everyone, burst into uncontrollable laughter, his scattered teeth appearing particularly terrifying.
"What's that saying from the Far East again?"

"If you unfold the map, the dagger will be revealed?"

"Your Majesty? You want to fight a war with dignity? Trade the throne for it! Hahahaha..."

(End of this chapter)