Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 610 Code Name: Sand King

Chapter 610 Code Name: Sand King (Part 1)
Damn.

That was Thales' first thought, while half of his face was pressed against the cold stone ground, feeling the dust and pain.

From the moment the prince stormed the palace and held a sword to his neck, to his carelessness and capture, the situation changed in the blink of an eye, beyond imagination.

The entire Ballard Chamber was stunned, and there wasn't even time to react.

The focus of the arena—Marico tightened his grip on Thales's twisted arm, took a deep breath, and reported to King Kessel with an excited expression:
"Your Majesty, the invaders have been captured!"

King Kessel did not answer immediately.

He simply stared intently at Thales on the ground.

His face was as deep as the sea.

I don't know what they're thinking.

The royal guards tried to rush forward, but Captain Adrian, with a furrowed brow, raised his hand at the opportune moment, firmly blocking them five steps away.

Many people then realized what was happening and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Is it over?" Sodor stared blankly at the prince, who was firmly restrained and unable to move.

Gilbert remained silent, his face pale and his eyes red.

Prime Minister Kulun also remained silent, deep in thought.

"My God, thank goodness for Sunset, I knew it..." Steward Qiu Ke broke free from Sodor's hand covering his mouth, still shaken and clearly quite frightened.

The noise, chaos, and commotion inside Ballard's room finally subsided, and the atmosphere was no longer so oppressive.

But Maric keenly noticed that his superior, Adrian, who was by His Majesty's side, had a serious expression and shook his head at him.

The king's voice rang out, bringing silence to the room once more.

“It seems,” Kessel stared thoughtfully at Thales, who had been captured after failing to capture him.
"It's not that easy for you to commit suicide."

"child."

Everyone had different feelings, but their eyes all turned to the young prisoner on the ground.

"nonsense."

Thales struggled against Maric's oppressive force, gasping for air between the dust and the ground, gritting his teeth:

Stop wasting your time.

Maric, the vanguard officer riding on his back, gave a disdainful snort.

Seeing that even in defeat, Duke Starlake remained arrogant and defiant, whispers arose in Ballard's Chamber.

King Kessel narrowed his eyes, his fierce gaze almost tearing Thales apart.

Gilbert, who had witnessed the entire event, sighed deeply and slowly rose from the conference table.

"Your Majesty, it is as you said."

The Foreign Minister was so distraught that he didn't even look at Thales on the ground.
"Prince Thales is overworked and definitely needs... rest."

Qiu Ke's eyes darted around:
"Your Majesty, perhaps we should conclude the meeting here today..."

“If necessary, Your Majesty,” sighed Vicar Stiliendes.

"The Sunset Church can preside over confessions for lost princes, helping them to redeem themselves..."

“No,” Viscount Connie frowned, glancing at his colleagues:
"Gentlemen, today's matter concerns the stability of the kingdom, so please keep quiet..."

The ministers chattered amongst themselves, and the meeting room became lively again.

"quiet!"

At that moment, Prime Minister Kulun suddenly spoke up and shouted.

The entire Ballard Room fell silent.

"It is a matter of royal family affairs."

Contrary to his usual demeanor, the Duke of Donghai turned to the King with a calm and unwavering expression:

"Your Majesty will make the decision."

So everyone's eyes turned back to the end of the long table.

But King Kessel did not react.

Half of his body was in the shadow of the throne, with only his head and chest exposed to the firelight, making his eyes appear to flicker between light and shadow.

The king's silence seemed to have a magical power, gradually spreading throughout the conference room. From ministers to guards, everyone fell silent, not daring to utter a sound.

Except for one person.

"Please, Father!"

Even though the rebellion failed, Thales' laughter remained unrestrained, particularly jarring in Ballard's Chamber:
"When faced with a major crisis, would you choose to be a foolish idiot or a cowardly suicide?"

King Kessel's gaze grew increasingly sharp.

Vanguard Marico's expression turned cold, and he slammed his knee down, cutting off Thales's words in a painful groan.

Just now.

"Marico".

King Kessel's voice rang out softly:
"Let him go."

For a moment, everyone was stunned.

"Yes—" Marico initially accepted the order excitedly, but then realized what he was doing and looked up in shock:
"His Majesty?"

"You, you said...what?"

He wasn't the only one with this question, but Prime Minister Kulen's expression was thoughtful, hope ignited in Gilbert's eyes, and doubts and apprehensions arose in the hearts of many others.

Only one person was not surprised:

On the ground, from an angle where he couldn't see, Thales endured the pain and managed a smirk.

"I said……"

King Kessel snorted, his voice not loud, but it made everyone unconsciously quiet down.

"Canxing has made a commitment."

The iron-fisted king stared intently at his rebellious son:

"As you wish, child."

"let's talk."

As the king's voice faded, the entire Ballard Chamber fell silent, and many people exchanged surprised glances.

Maric took a deep breath, roughly pulled Thales up from the ground, and slammed him heavily onto the table, causing the latter to groan in pain.
"Your Majesty, Prince Thales intends to rebel. Once he escapes, he may be detrimental to you..."

He wasn't the only one worried; the courtiers in front of him chimed in with their own opinions.

"Alone?" The advisor Sodor looked at the Heavybearer's sword, which had already been seized and confiscated by the royal guards. "But Your Majesty, at least have Adrian present to protect you..."

“Well, if we need to interrogate someone, we can find a cell, the kind with bars on…” said Steward Qiu Ke, still shaken.

"Where are the secret service personnel? They should handle this..."

"No, not a single word of what happened today is to be revealed..."

boom!
With a muffled thud, King Kessel slammed his fist heavily onto the table!

The teacups on the table rattled and clattered, startling everyone.

The courtiers and guards realized what was happening, fell silent, and bowed their heads, anxiously awaiting the king's reprimand.

The room fell completely silent.

However, Iron Fist King said nothing.

He simply lowered his eyes and remained as silent and composed as ever, like a hunter patiently waiting for its prey.

A full ten seconds.

During this time, everyone kept their heads down and didn't dare to utter a sound.

Thales remained pinned to the table.

He gasped for breath, enduring this oppressive silence.

Finally, Lord Adrian, who was closest to the king, sighed and stepped forward: "His Majesty has made his decision."

"Royal Guard, everyone, evacuate outdoors immediately!"

The guards, who were on high alert, looked at each other in bewilderment upon hearing this order.

"Sir!" Maric looked up urgently, "We can't take the risk..."

"The Emperor's Guard!"

Captain Adrian's expression changed, and he shouted sternly:

Why are you brandishing your sword?

Upon hearing this, the royal guards, including Maricco, were all taken aback.

The king remained silent, coldly observing the scene.

Maric glanced at Thales, whom he was holding captive, and swallowed hard.
"This sword is wielded only by the Emperor's command."

"It has no other use."

Adrian nodded expressionlessly and said nothing more.

Seeing this, the ministers whispered among themselves, while the guards remained solemn.

The next moment, Thales felt his arm loosen, and the pain, restraint, and weight pressing on him all disappeared.

“By order of His Majesty, Your Highness Thales,” Vanguard Commander Maric took a step back, staring warily and resentfully at the boy slumped over the table, his teeth clenched yet his manners impeccable:
"Please get up!"

Thales groaned and painfully propped himself up from the table.

Grass.

He spat out a mouthful of blood, gasped for breath, kicked aside a chair, and sat down heavily.

Seeing Thales freed, the ministers' expressions changed slightly, and the guards instinctively put their hands on their weapons, but under Adrian's stern gaze, no one dared to act rashly.

Maric, with a cold expression, bowed towards the King and the commander, then turned and ordered the royal guards to leave the room in an orderly manner.

"My lords, dinner is ready in the kitchen," Lord Adrian announced again, drawing the attention of the courtiers.

"please?"

The captain of the guard raised his hand toward the door, beaming with a smile and displaying utmost respect.

It was just like a regular court meal.

From Gilbert to Sodor, from Joachim to Connie, the ministers looked at each other, some with troubled expressions, some with doubts and confusion, and some with deep worry, but none of them moved.

King Kessel's gaze gradually turned cold.

"Perfect timing! I've been starving! Let's eat!"

Duke Cullen's cheerful voice broke the tension and awkwardness.

The Prime Minister stood up excitedly, sticking out his belly. At that moment, he seemed to have transformed back into the lovable, pot-bellied duke.

"Although the dishes at Fuxing Palace are notoriously meager, rigid, and unchanging..."

As he approached the door, Prime Minister Cullen paused, turned back, and gave Thales a deep look:
"But I think this meal might hold a surprise?"

There was an unspoken message, but no one dared to respond.

Only Iron Fist King gave a cold snort.

The Prime Minister chuckled, pushed past the guards' line of defense, and disappeared out the door.

Qiu Ke, who had been restless for a while, looked around, shrugged awkwardly, and quickly followed the Prime Minister.

Seeing that Qiu Ke and Kulun had set precedents, and that the king was resolute, the other ministers, though doubtful and worried, did not delay and filed out one after another.

“Your Majesty, if there is any need, any,” Sodor said solemnly before leaving.

"I'm right next door, waiting to be summoned."

King Kessel seemed to come alive at this moment, giving his military advisor a barely perceptible nod.

“Don’t worry, Lord Sodor,” Thales tapped the arm of his chair lightly, looking wearily at King Kessel at the other end. “I will take good care of him for you.”

"This will be a frank, sincere, and friendly conversation."

The boy squinted.

"Father and son."

The King and the Prince.

Shining star, to Shining star.

Thales scoffed lightly:
"Is not it?"

King Kessel did not respond, only his gaze grew increasingly profound.

Sodor frowned and turned away decisively.

Gilbert was the last minister to leave. His face was hesitant, and after much deliberation, he couldn't help but turn back:
"Your Majesty, even if the knot in your heart is hard to untie, please consider our blood ties and His Highness's young age..."

King Kessel's gaze, sharp as a sword, shifted and landed on the Foreign Minister.

Gilbert paused.

But Thales' voice rang out again from the side:
"Thank you, Gilbert."

With his back to Gilbert, Thales smiled and spoke in an undeniable tone: "But by the standards of the Imperial era, I am already an adult."

Gilbert was taken aback.

Thales turned around and gave him a bright smile:

"I am now able to fight with a sword, and to marry and have children."

King Kessel remained motionless, while Gilbert's gaze was complex.

The Foreign Minister sighed, said nothing more, and limped away with his colleagues.

Seeing that the important figures had all left, Adrian breathed a sigh of relief, though no one else noticed.

Meanwhile, Maric, with the last few royal guards, retreated from Ballard's Chamber while keeping an eye on Thales.

"Watch out, vanguard officer."

Thales's sudden voice made Marico, who was carrying the weight, pause in his steps.

“That sword is the Kalabyan family heirloom,” the prince said, turning his head.

"It's very heavy."

Maric took a deep breath.

Before he could reply, Adrian spoke up.

"Though the sword is heavy," the captain of the guard stepped forward to straighten Thales' disheveled clothes, and even tore off some garments to bandage the cuts on Thales' shoulder and neck.
"But it is our duty to bear the burden for the royal family."

Seeing Adrian bandaging his wounds, Thales' tone softened considerably:

"Thank you, Lord Adrian. Please apologize to my brothers in the guards at the palace gates on my behalf..."

"They don't need to apologize."

Adrian interrupted the prince, his tone still gentle, but his eyes held a different look:
"What awaits them is the standard-bearer's review, the penal officer's sentencing, and a record of dereliction of duty that will accompany them throughout their lives."

Thales paused for a moment upon hearing this.

His tone lowered:
"I am sorry."

Lord Adrian smiled slightly, treated the prince's wound, and patted him on the shoulder.

“I have already said so, Your Highness,” the captain of the guard nodded slightly.

"It is our duty to bear the burden for the royal family."

Maric behind him snorted angrily, slammed the person bearing the weight heavily onto the ground, and turned to leave.

As Adrian was the last to leave, the doors to Ballard's Chamber slammed shut.

Only the king and the prince remained, facing each other on either side of the council table, bathed in the glow of the setting sun.

The Ballard Room was not large, but it felt crowded and lively when the royal council was held.

But now that only two people remain, a chilling desolation permeates the scene.

“Speak,” King Kessel wasted no time, his cold words echoing from the other end of the council table, seemingly from afar:

"How will you 'be born for the stars'?"

Thales did not answer immediately.

He first touched his increasingly swollen lips, cursing Maric's old fist in his heart, patted the seat under his buttocks, and felt a sense of emotion.

He finally sat down.

After all, he fought tooth and nail to get this position.

It wasn't that Gilbert gave it up for him.

And now, his battle is just beginning.

If you're going to fight, be fully armed.

Thinking of this, Thales raised his head and gave his opponent the most sincere smile.

"Oh, I thought you didn't understand..."

The second prince grabbed a teacup from the table, and without caring who had used it, drank the remaining tea in one gulp.

"Or they might understand but pretend not to."

"Brilliant Star?"

Upon hearing this surname, King Kessel stirred slightly.

After finishing his tea, Thales casually tossed the expensive teacup behind him.
Clap!

The king's eyes turned slightly cold as he looked at the prince's rude and undisguised actions.

Seeing his father's look, Thales wiped the tea stains from his lips and chuckled.

Well, Baron Quentin will surely criticize him again, albeit sarcastically, because of this teacup.

But... whatever.

"I say, why don't you step down too?"

Thales suddenly turned his head and looked around at the void:

"Yordl?"

Upon hearing this name, King Kessel narrowed his eyes.

But the Barard Chamber was silent, with no response except for the flickering firelight.

King Kessel, however, gave a cold snort and looked at his son with a meaningful gaze.

When Thales received no reply, he could only scratch his forehead and chuckle to himself.
"I... thought he was there."

King Kessel gave a cold snort without any mercy.

"Following the tradition of the stars, if a member of the royal family makes a mistake..."

Iron-Fisted King's eyes were like blades, pinning him firmly to his seat:
"Their punishments will be carried out personally by the chief executioner of the Royal Guard—ranging from flogging to hanging."

Punishment officer.

He carried it out personally.

Recalling the scene of Marius whipping Golov and DD, Thales remained silent.

"Therefore, this position often favors candidates who are law-abiding, impartial, and unafraid of powerful figures."

King Kessel showed no intention of waiting for Thales' reply; his gaze held a hidden threat.
"Judging from today's situation, Marico, the second-in-command, is a good candidate."

Maric.

Candidate for penal officer.

Thales recalled the glare Maric gave him as he left, and felt the pain in his chin and lower abdomen, his lips twitching slightly.

He said with a headache, "Yeah, Vanguard Maric is pretty good. Cohen and Grover together couldn't take him down—of course, those two big guys don't coordinate at all, they just get in each other's way..."

"Whatever you're going to say next."

King Kessel coldly interrupted him:
"Your foolishness tonight has made the situation extremely ugly: the worst consequences have already occurred."

"Irreversible."

King Kessel's gaze swept across like a sharp sword:

"The same applies to punishment."

"Including you, and everyone who follows you in making stupid mistakes."

punishment.

he.

And
Those who follow him.

Wyatt, Rolf, Cohen, Glov, DD... Thinking of these people who had followed him into the Palace of Restoration in a daze, Thales curled the corners of his mouth.

Just like six years ago, when they followed him into Valhalla, didn't they?

The boy exhaled and leaned back in his chair.

"Well, I admit it now, the operation was somewhat hasty, rushed, and risky."

Thales shrugged, accidentally aggravating his injury, and couldn't help but grimace again.
"I...I'll be more careful next time?"

Unfortunately, his father remained indifferent and showed no intention of supporting his joke.

"It seems you haven't learned anything in the Secret Service."

"Still impulsive, foolish, ridiculous, and clumsy."

King Kessel used four adjectives to complete this sentence.

Thales pursed his lips and nodded politely.

Impulsive, foolish, ridiculous, clumsy.

"And do you know how many important things you've delayed at this time and in this setting?"

"I know."

Thales answered quickly. “But I also know,” he composed himself, returning to his battlefield, and looked up at the king, “that as we speak, throughout the kingdom, some are waiting anxiously, some are dying in despair.”

Thales' expression turned serious:

"There are many more people who don't know what fate awaits them."

He met his father's gaze:

"That's why I had to come."

"You absolutely have to come?"

Iron Fist King let out a cold laugh, but there was no smile in his eyes:

“I brought no crown, but my head.”

The king's voice turned cold:
"What, are you here to get it?"

The setting sun cast its light just outside the window, and King Catherine V's figure appeared dark and indistinct in the crimson backlight.

Thales smiled.

He wasn't wearing a crown.

But it came with a head.

After King Nuen died, the dragon scale crown stained with blood flashed before his eyes.

The next instant, the sin of the River of Hell surged through his veins.

The prince's face turned cold, and he lunged at the king in a flash!
Swish!
As the chair scraped against the floor, Thales, with a resolute expression, leaned forward and suddenly reached out his hand towards King Kessel opposite him!
Iron Fist King remained unmoved, showing no surprise, and simply watched Thales approaching indifferently.

Snapped!
With a muffled thud, Ballard Chamber returned to silence.

The setting sun and firelight cast a crimson, bloody glow on Thales's figure.

His hand, which was resting above the council table, was firmly restrained and could not move an inch.

They were only a few feet away from King Kessel.

The lights flickered, causing the light and shadow to vibrate, as if feeling the belated strong wind.

"I knew it, you were here."

Thales remained expressionless, not even glancing at the mysterious figure that had suddenly appeared before him:
"Yordal".

Yodel Gato—his familiar masked bodyguard—knelt on one knee at the council table, gripping Thales's wrist tightly, protecting the king behind him.

Yodl did not answer.

His mask was thick and rigid.

His gloves were as cold as ice.

His movements were steady and normal.

Thales looked at where his palm was pointing and sighed:
"What a pity, it was just a little short."

The masked guard lowered his head slightly: on the table in front of the king, beneath Thales's fingers, lay a crumpled letter.

The iris-shaped sealing wax on the cover is beautiful and exquisite.

Jordend was taken aback.

He looked up, and the deep holes in the purple mask met Thales' eyes.

"Release him," the king's voice rang out coldly.

Thales curled his lips into a smile, looked at the masked guard, and raised an eyebrow:

"I think he was talking about you?"

Yodl was silent for a moment.

The next second, ripples appeared in the air in front of Thales.

Yodl's figure blurred.

Faced with this familiar scene, Thales simply stared intently at the mask, as if he could see through it and pierce the other pair of eyes behind it.

Soon, Thales felt his wrist loosen.

The ripples disappeared completely.

Thales felt the lingering pain in his wrist, sighed, and banished a trace of melancholy from his heart.

Having made his decision, he had no energy left to dwell on the past or grieve for what was lost.

The boy reached out and grabbed the letter, stepped back from the council table, and returned to his seat.

"So, this is the letter that 'Butthead' was talking about."

Butt head.

King Kessel frowned.

Thales read the letter while explaining absentmindedly:

"Oh, you know, there's a group in the Secret Service called 'The Prince's Butt'... Never mind, it's not important."

Seeing that the Iron-Fisted King didn't care, Thales shrugged, quickly glanced at the elegant and composed handwriting on the letter, and extracted the key points.

"Tsk tsk, paying taxes to replace military service, and still having to support the standing army budget?"

Thales put down the letter, his eyes gleaming:

"Congratulations! Lord Sodor must be very happy, and Lord Joker must be very satisfied. Your wish to expand the standing army has been fulfilled, and everyone is delighted."

King Kessel remained silent for a moment.

"You dared to break the rules and storm the palace," the king said quietly after a few seconds.

"You're saying something treasonous and acting like a traitor, is that all you're trying to say?"

Thales laughed, and his laughter was loud enough to echo throughout Ballard Chamber.

But the king remained expressionless, merely staring at him coldly.

Until Thales' smile vanished, and he said solemnly:
"So, where's the pit?"

Iron Fist King narrowed his eyes.

His silhouette became brighter and clearer under the light, no longer a blurry shadow against the light.

"Where is the pit?"

Thales took a deep breath, leaned forward onto the table, and held up the letter in his hand.

"I say, this petition is full of self-praise and self-defense. It demands tax payments, the abolition of military service, and even the tarnishing of its own reputation, all to publicly advocate for you and encourage the nobles of the whole country to follow suit..."

"besides……"

The boy narrowed his eyes slightly:

"How many traps has Jann Kevin Deer left for you?"

At that moment, King Kessel's pupils flickered slightly.

"How many traps? How many problems? How many obstacles? How many empty and pretentious words?"

"How many times has he smiled with malicious intent, while you gritted your teeth and were helpless against his tricks?"

King Kessel did not answer, but the atmosphere around him grew increasingly cold.

Seeing the other person's reaction, Thales scoffed and shook his head, not pressing for answers, but simply leaning back in his chair.

“I know that ever since he hired a vampire to assassinate me six years ago, which forced him to compensate you with several crystal deposits, your relationship with him has been good. You two have worked together harmoniously.”

Or... a transaction?
“But believe me, Father, Jen and I are old acquaintances.”

Thales stared at the letter in his hand, his eyes growing cold:

"I would rather die for a friend than for an enemy."

"Enemies know each other better than allies."

The king scrutinized him closely, remained silent for a few seconds, and then snorted.

"Interesting. You know Emerald City?"

Thales raised his eyes and decisively shook his head:

No, I know nothing about it.

King Kessel frowned.

“But I know that Jenn is not a lamb to the slaughter.”

Jenn's image appeared before him, leaving Thales momentarily lost in thought:
"He prides himself on being noble but is actually very calculating. He never does anything that doesn't benefit him. He's all talk and no action in public, but he's vengeful and vindictive behind people's backs. He's a sophisticated and difficult-to-deal-with selfish bastard."

Thales snapped out of his reverie and looked intently at the king:

"He won't be willing to serve you like a slave or dedicate himself to you for a trivial matter like 'accidentally losing' a weapon at a banquet, or rather, for the sake of murdering Prince Star."

The boy finished speaking, but King Kessel's expression remained unchanged, as indifferent as ever.

He seemed not to notice his sarcasm.

"that's it?"

The king said calmly, "Nothing else?"

Thales smiled.

He observed King Kessel's reaction and found that, as always, he could not sense the subtle changes in the other's expression and movements. Even with his hellish senses, he could only see an iron wall and a fog.

But so what.

“Of course, you know all this very well, you know him, you understand him,” Thales said confidently.

"You knew that already."

"Despite anticipating all the disadvantages, knowing that Jenn is not easy to deal with, and knowing that he won't do as you wish..."

The prince said firmly:

"But you still chose him."

“You continue to use this opportunity to blackmail him, to threaten Emerald City and South Bank, and to coerce him into addressing the budget shortfall for the expansion of your standing army.”

Thales stared intently at King Kessel, when suddenly a realization dawned on him.

Nunn, Chaman, Calamity... or the current Kessel.

Approach the enemy, observe the enemy, and subdue the enemy.

But it's yet another battle.

King Kessel looked at him, and after a very long time, he let out a faint, cold laugh.

"You're wasting my time..."

"why?"

Thales suddenly spoke, interrupting the king.

Why does it have to be the south bank?

Thales leaned forward slowly, pushing the iris-patterned letter towards the other person, and whispered the words:

"Why does it have to be Jenn who provides you with the budget for expanding the army? Who advocates for reducing conscripts? Who opens the door for military reform? Who pulls the kingdom's war machine for you?"

The king's eyes flickered.

"Humph."

King Kessel sneered:
"Because he just happened to walk right into the door, because he was stupid enough to reach out to the Palace of Reconstruction."

Thales closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Do not."

He gently opened his eyes.

"The reason it's the South Shore is because of Jenn."

"It's because you had no other choice."

Thales stared intently at the Iron Fist King.

"And the reason you had no other choice..."

But Thales didn't finish his sentence.

"Before you and your companions suffer together."

King Kessel's face showed annoyance, and he gradually lost patience:

"Don't you have anything else to say...?"

With a loud thud, Thales stood up, gritted his teeth, and slammed his fist heavily on the table.
boom!
"Because of the Western Wilderness!"

Thales roared, interrupting the king.

At that moment, the sins of the River of Hell surged forth, aiding Thales in his furious roar, which shook the Barard Chamber:
"The Western Wilderness!"

As the prince finished speaking, the sound was so loud that the candlelight flickered and the light and shadow trembled.

Western wilderness.

Upon hearing the name of the place, King Kessel's sharp gaze froze in mid-air.

"His Majesty?"

Anxious knocking and inquiries came from outside the door:

"Your Majesty? What has happened? Please answer me!"

But at this moment, neither Thales nor King Kessel had the time or the inclination to pay attention to the sounds outside the door.

Their eyes met in mid-air, like two swords intertwining, sparks flying as they rubbed together.

"Because of your first choice, your best choice, the horse you reserved to pull your chariot," Thales said, emphasizing each word with all his might amidst the urgent knocking on the door.
"It should have been the Western Wilderness."

"Not the south bank."

In that instant, his gaze transformed into the sharpest blade, piercing straight into Kessel's eyes.

With a bang, the door was flung open!
A squad of royal guards, led by the second-in-command Maric, rushed in:

"I knew something unexpected would happen! Protect His Majesty, and defeat the rebels—"

However, just a second later, King Kael'thas on the throne suddenly turned his head and roared:
"Get out!"

Maric's words came to an abrupt end.

He stared at the unharmed but furious King Kessel, utterly bewildered.
"Your Majesty, I...I thought..."

But the Iron Fist King no longer paid attention to Maric; he simply frowned and stared intently at Thales.

But Thales laughed.

“Father,” the prince took a deep breath, becoming increasingly certain of his guess, and couldn’t help but smile:
"Why are you angry?"

King Kessel's anger subsided, his breathing gradually became steady, but his gaze grew colder and colder.

"Step back, Vanguard Commander Maric." Thales sat back down, even taking the time to straighten his collar.

At this moment, although his face was covered in dust, he appeared surprisingly elegant, dignified, and composed.
“We are all respectable people, not the barbarians of the north who would kill their brothers, seize the throne, or rebel against the emperor at the slightest disagreement.”

Marico gritted his teeth, furious.

"By the way, Your Excellency the Vanguard Commander..."

Thales' smile was bright and gentle. He playfully made a shooting gesture to Marico by forming a right angle between his right thumb and forefinger:

"His Majesty thinks highly of you."

Maric was immediately taken aback.

Captain Adrian reached out from behind, placed his hand on his shoulder, and pulled him away without room for argument.

The dutiful Marico then realized that the Stars' conversations could not be judged by common sense.

The gate closed again.

Thales then noticed that, without him noticing, the sunset outside the window had completely disappeared.

Only the chill of the night remains.

"why?"

The king's voice rang out coldly.

Although it was just a question word, just like before, Thales knew what he was going to ask.

“A few months ago, when I was still in the Secret Service headquarters in Dragon City, racking my brains about how to escape back to the kingdom, Putilai told me that behind the rescue plan was the hard work of countless people on Star City day and night.”

Thales' thoughts drifted back to Dragon Sky City, and he murmured:

"So I asked him."

"Is it worth it?"

“Putilay,” King Kessel murmured the name, his eyes shining.
"Putila Niemann, did he tell you?"

But Thales ignored him.

He was simply lost in his past:
"The entire Star Kingdom was mobilized from top to bottom. Tens of thousands of soldiers went deep into the desert, and countless officials followed one after another. You even handed over the Royal Fang Camp, which was directly under the royal family, and loosened your control over the western front for many years."

"Such a grand scale and sacrifice, just to welcome back a hostage prince who had been languishing in obscurity in a foreign land for six years and was of no importance."

Thales sighed, returning to the present moment, and looked directly at the Iron-Fisted King: "Was it worth it?"

“Good question.”

King Catherine V stared at Thales with cold indifference and disdain:
"But there was a terrible answer."

Terrible answer.

Thales chuckled, looked up at the ceiling, and shook his head self-deprecatingly:

"Of course it's not worth it."

King Kessel did not speak; his silhouette flickered in the light of the ever-burning lamp.

Thales held up the letter in his hand.

"In six years, from vampires to banquets, I was twice murdered by Kevin Deer."

At that moment, his eyes were filled with complex emotions.

"Both before and after, you never forgot to demand compensation from the irises, making a fortune."

"You are so meticulous, so calculating, so shrewd, Father."

"And how could they possibly be willing to mobilize the entire nation's resources, squander countless funds, and lose a crucial military stronghold, just to make a losing deal in exchange for an impulsive, foolish, ridiculous, and clumsy..." Thiels paused, then uttered the last word with sarcasm:

"son?"

Hearing the other person use his own words to retort, Kessel scoffed indifferently:

"What, have you come here to cry to me?"

"son."

Thales scoffed and laughed self-deprecatingly.

"No, in fact, I had a vague idea when I was in the Western Wilderness that you must have had other purposes for sending troops here."

Thales' thoughts returned to the distant Ghost Prince's Tower:
"After the chaotic night at Baki Camp and witnessing the unruly behavior of the Wings of Legend, I thought you wanted to take advantage of my return home to teach those Western Wilderness lords who dared to use me as a bargaining chip to demand Baki Camp and the Western Front and to negotiate with you."

"To demonstrate the authority and dignity of the king and to strike at local forces."

The next moment, Thales' smile vanished.

"But I was still too naive and too immature."

The boy stared intently at the king:

"Until today, until this imperial council meeting."

"Until this letter."

The firelight flickered dimly, and King Catherine V remained silent.

But the way he looked at Thales gradually changed.

“A few months ago, Father, the reason you assembled an unprecedented royal standing army and entered the Western Wilderness to join forces with the local lords was because of this.”

Thales' eyes dimmed:

"It is not for the so-called intimidation of the North or to welcome back the prince, nor is it for the so-called recapture of the Baki camp or to put pressure on the lords of the Western Wilderness."

"But it is for a grander, larger, and more awe-inspiring goal that will influence the future of the kingdom and even the world."

In that instant, King Kessel's gaze sharpened like never before.

"Yes, I underestimated you."

Thales took a deep breath, his expression serious, and addressed him by his first name:

"Kaiser Star".

"I have forgotten that you are not a common merchant, but the ruler of a country. Your thoughts and desires are not concerned with a single object or even a single city or place."

The lights flickered, and the light and shadow trembled.

The Iron-Fisted King gazed at his son from afar, like a falcon eyeing its prey.

Thales frowned, feeling an unprecedented heaviness and pressure:

"You shouldn't be described as calculating, meticulous, or shrewd; rather, you should be described as—"

Thales gritted his teeth, staring at the Iron-Fisted King before him as if he were facing the most terrifying enemy in the world:

"Going against one's own will".

"Excessive greed."

"To extract the marrow from the bones."

Kessel did not speak.

Thales stared intently at his father, just as the father's gaze was fixed firmly on him.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

"Now, Yodl."