Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 614 Flipping the Card

Chapter 614 Flipping the Card
"Trust you? The only way? No better choice?"

King Kessel pondered these words, lost in thought.

Thales controlled his breathing and stared intently at the king.

The king paused for a moment, then let out a cold laugh.

"Ha ha ha ha……"

The laughter was eerie, and the surrounding lights flickered in response.

Thales unconsciously clenched his fists, feeling a tightness in his chest and an oppressive weight in the air around him.

But he had nowhere to retreat.

The laughter gradually faded away.

"As far as I can see, Duke Thales of Starlake Castle," the Iron-Fisted King's tone returned to calm, yet became increasingly frightening:
"The crown is not on your head."

crown.

A strange palpitation washed over him, making Thales' breathing slightly erratic.

“Even if we don’t take this route,” the king said calmly.

"The wheels of the kingdom are destined never to stop."

The boy pressed his fist against the table, feeling the pressure and pain from his fist, as well as the eerie restlessness of the River of Hell.

He knew what the other person cared about.

he knows.

Or, does he think he knows?

Thales took a few deep breaths and looked up:
"Of course, you are the supreme king of the entire Star Realm."

Iron-fisted King remained expressionless.

"You are free to ignore me, scoff at the Western Wilderness, and veto this proposal."

Thales composed himself and changed the subject.

"Anyway, you're very confident, and you have more than just the Sand King in your hand."

He pointed to the letters on the table, maintaining a steady tone:

"It's like you can threaten Jann to replace the Western Wilderness, force the South Bank to pull your cart, and then do it again in a different place."

King Kessel scoffed dismissively.

"But what will be the price?"

The next second, Thales changed the subject:
"Father, how much have you invested and how much have you paid in order to carry out the 'Sand King' plan?"

King Kessel frowned slightly as he listened to Thales's words.

"Whether it's the lavish preparations, the staggering size of the royal standing army, or the western front that has been cultivated for over a decade..."

The prince, unhurried and composed, began to explain:
"The manpower, resources, finances, and energy involved, including the political maneuvering behind the scenes, are not easy to come by. Even the timing is extremely rare—it's not like there's an unfortunate prince wandering abroad every year, making it convenient for you to use as an excuse and bait."

The king snorted coldly.

"If your plan succeeds and you reap huge profits, then these costs won't matter. But now, right now..."

Thales paused for a moment and looked at the other person.

King Kessel pursed his lips, his face tense.

“I suspect that the reason Steward Joker complained about being broke at the Imperial Council, and that the Finance and Taxation Bureau had an insufficient budget,” Thales said, spreading his arms wide toward the council table.

"Ultimately, it's because you mobilized the standing army for the 'Sand King' on a distant expedition, exhausting the national treasury with your reckless military campaigns?"

In that instant, King Kessel suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze sharp and tangible, closing in on Thales inch by inch.

The atmosphere inside was incredibly oppressive.

"That bargaining chip, that orphan girl from the Amory family."

A few seconds later, the king spoke coldly:
"where is she?"

The boy exhaled and glanced at Jann's letter:
"So, Father, you are not willing to give up the efforts of the 'Sand King' in vain, deny yourself, and let all your previous efforts go to waste."

Iron Fist King's eyes grew colder and colder.

But Thales' tone grew increasingly stern, and he withstood the pressure, insisting on finishing his sentence:

“Otherwise, Father, your so-called ‘Sand King’ plan would be nothing more than a tyrannical act of willful will.”

"The gains will outweigh the losses, and will harm the kingdom."

"His sins will be remembered for a thousand years."

At that moment, the cold glint in King Kessel's eyes reached its peak, beyond compare.

The indoor lights, which never went out, seemed to sense something and flickered rapidly for a second, as if they were trembling.

"It seems that the sword Falkenhausen gave you is really useful."

The king spoke slowly and deliberately, his words carrying a profound and ominous meaning:
"To make you arrogant and fearless."

But the prince just gave a wry smile and ignored the king's hint.

"But that's not all."

Iron Fist King's gaze was fixed on Thales, almost piercing him through.

Thales said loudly:

"Following the Sand King's failed attempt..."

"The Royal Guard recaptured the Baki camp, laid down their arms, and ceased hostilities."

"The people of the Western Wilderness returned to their hometown dejectedly, looking ashamed and resigned to their misfortune."

"The second prince arrived safely in the capital, and father and son were reunited. He was granted the title of Duke and promoted to a higher rank."

"These seemingly calm appearances kept the vast majority of the kingdom in the dark: they slept soundly, unaware of the truth."

Thales squinted:
“But Father, you still have Falkenhausen—if he is the only one—you both know the undercurrents of the ‘Sand King,’ and you both know what happened a few months ago, and what didn’t happen.”

King Kessel remained silent, his gaze deep and unfathomable, reflecting the lamplight.

"As you passed each other, you both saw the sharp blade behind each other."

"It's only because both sides are highly skilled actors and restrained enough that they can pretend not to know, greet each other with smiles, and maintain the most hypocritical peace and the most fragile tacit understanding."

boom.

Thales slammed his palms heavily on the table, causing the surrounding lights to flicker.

"Believe me, Father, this is the last step between the Palace of Restoration and the Western Wilderness."

"Behind me is a bottomless abyss."

The prince stared intently at the king:

"Next time, I won't be so lucky."

King Kessel lowered his eyes, his thoughts unknown.

The ever-burning lamp behind him dimmed, plunging the king's profile into darkness.

Thales took a deep breath and said solemnly:

"When that time comes, if you want to strip the armies of the Western Wilderness lords and move in to expand the royal standing army, the cost will only be higher and the situation will only become more ugly."

King Kessel did not respond.

He simply turned his head away silently, burying his face in the darkness where there was no light.

"Admit it, Father."

"The defeat of the 'Sand King' left a huge mess, pushing you and the Western Wilderness to the brink of disaster, leaving you with no way out—unless you completely give up on reaching out to the Western Wilderness."

Thales paused, giving himself and the other person time to think.

Just now.

"Who?"

The king's voice echoed faintly, almost imperceptibly.

"what?"

Thales was puzzled:
"Who?"

King Kessel's expression was complicated.

"When you left this morning, all you could think about was women."

woman.

Thales frowned.

“You were in a daze back then, completely out of your mind,” the king said coldly, light and shadow appearing on his face at the same time. “You had none of the confidence and courage you have now.”

"The kingdom, politics, all these things, you, blinded by women, didn't care about any of them this morning, let alone risking your life to storm the palace and speak to the emperor."

King Kessel leaned forward slightly, staring intently at Thales:
"What changed you outside the palace?"

Thales was taken aback.

What changed me?
He came to his senses and gritted his teeth, saying:
“That’s not important,” Thales tried to sound more sincere.

"The important thing is the father."

"Now, when we have no other options, we have another choice."

King Kessel pursed his lips.

Thales suppressed his restless power of termination, softened his tone, and tentatively said:
“Falkenhausen took the first step back, offering his most powerful bargaining chip, enough to restrain the Western Wilderness people.”

King Kessel turned his head away and snorted in annoyance:

"Emore".

The prince nodded, staring intently at the king:

"Accepting it, even if it doesn't bring in huge profits, at least offers a chance to recoup the 'Sand King's' enormous losses."

"Accepting it may not be a permanent solution, but it can help avoid the worst possible consequences."

"Accept it, let me step forward to communicate, give us a chance, and give Xihuang a way out."

The king chuckled softly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

"Please believe me, whether from a realistic or long-term perspective, this is the only path, the most efficient, the easiest, the most peaceful, and the path closest to success."

Thales's words suddenly became urgent:

“If you still want to complete the ‘Sand King,’ Father, at least not let it become a mess, then this is not only the best option.”

"It is also the last resort."

Thales looked straight at the king:
“Father, for the sake of the kingdom, don’t act impulsively out of spite, and don’t let it drag on until you are terminally ill.”

"Let me do it, let's finish it now, right now."

"Before it's all too late."

After he finished speaking, King Kessel did not answer immediately.

He scrutinized Thales closely, as if trying to see every detail on his face.

This made Thales uneasy.

well.

Thales observed the king's reaction and silently encouraged himself.

This is indeed something he cares about.

At least, he still cares.

Fortunately, he still cares.

Hopefully, he still cares.

A dozen seconds later, the king let out a soft hum.

"His words were dazzling and his speech was eloquent."

King Kessel shifted his posture and spoke softly:

"But you've downplayed the important points and missed the most crucial one."

Thales felt a chill run down his spine.

The king tilted his head, his tone playful:
"That is: even if I accept this proposal, what need is there for you, the 'Sand King,' to carry it out?"

"Duke Thales?"

For a split second, Thales' eyelids twitched.

He instinctively pressed his knee.

"Because, because Falkenhausen gave me the chips."

Thales took a deep breath and met the king's gaze:

"And as the introducer, middleman, and guarantor, I should get some commission, right?"

King Kessel gave a soft snort.

"So, this is actually a transaction."

The king stared at Thales, his tone growing increasingly dangerous:
"A two-way deal between Falkenhausen and me."

transaction.

Thales clenched his fist.

"You can understand that."

"But my existence is one of the conditions under which Falkenhausen accepted the deal."

“From this deal, you will gain—I mean, gradually gain control of the Western Wilderness and become the ‘Sand King’,” the prince struggled to find the logic to persuade the king.
"The price is only..."

The next second, King Kessel suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing like lightning, choking Thales' words in his throat.

“No,” the king said softly, a voice that sent chills down one’s spine:

"You are not a guarantor or intermediary."

Kessel's eyes were like swords, piercing Thales:
"You, you are the real bargaining chip in this transaction."

"Tales Shining Star".

"Heir to the throne."

Thales's breath hitched.

"In this deal, I handed you over to him," the king said slowly, but every word was unsettling: "He then handed the Western Wilderness over to me."

"Isn't it?"

Thales frowned deeply.

Damn.

He won't let this go.

“Listen, Father.”

He had no choice but to start reorganizing his thoughts again:

"I know what you're worried about."

Thales racked his brains:
"But please rest assured, I will not interfere in specific matters, will not participate in the issuance of any decrees, and will not touch even a single soldier's file. I will only be responsible for negotiating with the Western Wilderness people—it won't be too complicated, it might even just be a letter, mentioning this bargaining chip, plus Falkenhausen's cooperation, and they will soon understand the pros and cons."

"You'll handle everything else—"

Just then, the king suddenly spoke up, interrupting the prince:

"And people will understand!"

Thales was taken aback. He saw that King Kessel had sat up straight at some point, his face a mixture of light and shadow.

"People will understand that there is another person in the Palace of Restoration besides the King."

The king emphasized "another person," making Thales gasp for breath.

"Whatever difficulties they encountered with the King, whatever."

"As long as we find this person..."

King Kessel stared intently at Thales, as if he had a stranglehold on him from afar:
"Then the cost wouldn't be so high, and the scene wouldn't be so ugly."

The king narrowed his eyes, his tone sending chills down one's spine:

"Because he has a sword in his hand."

"Can withstand the crown."

"Is this what you wanted?"

King Kessel continued speaking, each word seemingly carrying a deadly poison:

"The future...Thales I?"

At that moment, Thales's thoughts froze.

"So, this is something you care about too?"

A few seconds later, Thales took two breaths in a daze and spoke with difficulty.

"Whether it was sealing off the Mindis Hall, interrogating my guards, or summoning me to the palace to issue a warning, was it all for this reason?"

"Tell everyone—there is no 'other person' in the palace?"

King Kessel did not answer, but merely snorted and leaned back in his chair.

"Hand over that orphan girl, that bargaining chip."

The Iron-Fisted King's gaze sharpened, his words becoming stern and resolute:

"As for your crime of storming the palace and plotting rebellion, which deserves death,"

"The past will be disregarded."

Thales looked up at the king with mixed feelings.

“As you say,” King Kessel closed his eyes, looking serene, “before it’s all too late.”

"End it."

Thales suppressed his anger and gritted his teeth, saying:
"But the matter of me contacting the Western Wilderness people..."

But King Kessel simply raised one finger.

That stopped Thales from speaking.

"Forget about it."

The king remained expressionless and said softly:

"For your own good, after handing over that orphan girl, you don't need to do anything, you don't need to show your face, let alone interfere."

"Continue to be the Duke of Star Lake in peace and tranquility."

Thales felt a chill in his heart.

"that's it."

The king said coldly:
"Don't make demands."

"And don't block the way."

Block the way.

The next second, the king opened his eyes and changed the subject:
"Then what about those guards in the Mindis Hall...?"

"And those loyal fools who followed you in storming the palace to rebel..."

Hearing the implicit threat in the other party's words, Thales' eyelids twitched.

King Kessel said softly:
"Then you won't have to be 'replaced'."

Replace it.

The two fell silent, and Ballard's Chamber returned to quiet.

Thales suddenly understood.

He understood what the other party had cared about from the very beginning, from the moment he made the proposal.

This made him somewhat tired.

“I don’t understand,” Thales said, lowering his head and scoffing.
"Whether it's you or Falkenhausen, why is everyone's gaze fixed on—that crown?"

King Kessel glanced at him.

"Is it really that mysterious and precious, enough to capture everyone's soul?"

“We’re talking about the future of the kingdom,” Thales said, raising his eyebrows indignantly.
"And you, were you born for the stars, or do you live for the crown?"

Upon hearing this, King Kessel snorted indifferently and curled the corners of his lips.

"You don't understand, perhaps because..."

It's not on your head yet.

Thales gritted his teeth.

The next second, the king's expression turned stern.

"I'll ask one more time: Where is the orphanage girl of the Amory family?"

Thales gritted his teeth, ignoring the subtle threat in the other person's tone, and forced himself to calm down.

He couldn't persuade him.

At least not in this way.

This is not enough.

Far from enough.

Thales took a deep breath.

He has to... pay more.

Even himself.

Thinking of this, Thales closed his eyes, then opened them again.

"What if I say 'no'?"

The king raised his eyes, his tone playful:
"Do not?"

Thales stood tall and proud, his expression stern.

"Yes."

"If you don't accept my terms," the prince's tone hardened.

“Then there will be no deal, no bargaining chips, no orphan girl of Emory, no concessions from the Western Wilderness, and no proactive cooperation from Falkenhausen.”

Thales snorted angrily:
"Say goodbye to your Western Wilderness."

The king's pupils contracted slightly.

"Then you will no longer be eligible for a pardon for treason by storming the palace."

"Correct!"

Thales retorted without hesitation:

“But you, Father, will bear the immense blow and depletion of the 'Sand King's' defeat, be trapped in the predicament of the Western Wilderness where nothing can be accomplished, and drift further and further away from the desire in your heart.”

The king frowned.

Thales paused for a moment, then chuckled softly:
"Of course, given the Iron-Fisted King's personality and methods, you certainly won't let this go. You will definitely come up with new ways to deal with the Western Wilderness, cheating and swindling, seizing by trickery and force, and you won't give up until you achieve your goal."

At this point, Thales became serious:

"Then, in your next failed act of stubbornness, you will fall into the abyss and detonate the Western Wilderness."

"It's like detonating an eternal oil drum."

Thales lowered his head and glanced coldly at King Kessel:

"Believe me, I've seen it, and it's an unforgettable scene."

Iron Fist King's eyes turned cold:
"Are you threatening me?"

“No,” Thales chuckled and shook his head:
“I am simply showing you: the future reign of Kessel Shining V.”

Thales' smile vanished:
"The Western Wilderness is just the beginning. When the situation gets out of control and completely unmanageable..."

"You will eventually ignite—the entire kingdom."

King Kessel's expression grew increasingly grim.

“Tell me, Father, do you really want to live in your own time…”

I paused for a moment.

He gazed at the king, took a deep breath, and said, word by word, "See the next one—"

"A bloody year?"

A bloody year.

The words fell.

The room was silent.

King Kessel remained silent and motionless.

Only a pair of eyes gazed wistfully into the void, reflecting the lamplight.

He seemed completely unconcerned. But Thales stared at him intently.

Until the next second.

You've asked the wrong person.

The king's voice echoed softly.

"After all, you're the one who holds the chips."

The next instant, Thales felt a jolt, as if the Sin of the River of Hell was roaring angrily in his veins, bringing a piercing pain like thorns in his back.

It made him restless.

"You should ask yourself: if I don't accept your terms, if I'm unwilling to give you the weight of the crown," the king said slowly and chillingly.

"Then you'd rather hold onto your chips tightly and stand by and watch..."

"Watch helplessly as stars fall to earth and kingdoms burn?"

Thales desperately suppressed the power of termination, but couldn't help but be taken aback.

King Kessel lowered his head slightly, his gaze shooting towards him as if a sword were pressed against his body.

“Tell me, Thales Star.”

Thales forced himself to meet his gaze, but still unconsciously swallowed.

Do you want to witness a bloody year in your lifetime?

The king said casually:

"Believe me, I've seen it."

"That scene was unforgettable."

Thales' breath hitched, and he was about to retort, but then stopped himself from speaking.

The king sneered.

“Look, if you truly understand what it means to be ‘born for the stars,’ then you shouldn’t hesitate about this question.”

"As for whether you are the one to carry out the 'Sand King' command, you shouldn't care."

Thales was taken aback by what he said and didn't know how to respond.

“So this will be the last time I ask you,” the king’s voice gradually hardened, no longer calm, like a sharp blade being drawn, “and it will be your last chance.”

"That bargaining chip, that orphan girl from Emory."

"where is it?"

Thales lowered his head and bit his lip.

not enough.

King Kessel will not accept his terms.

He will not tolerate any "deals" that are beyond his control.

We will not allow even the slightest flaw to appear on the crown.

Kingdoms, interests, even the Bloody Year—none of these were enough to convince King Kessel.

Not enough to convince—the Iron-Fisted King.

Sweet talk, coercion, and enticement—none of them worked.

He wants to do more.

More.

More!

The sins of the River of Hell seemed to sense his emotions, surging forth and overflowing his entire body.

If you want to get into this circle, Thales, and even climb to the top.

The first thing you need to do is submit, open your mind and body, and let their world and ideas rule over you completely, transforming you into someone you can no longer recognize. Only then can you begin to play this game, and only then can you play it successfully.

Surrender.

Open your mind and body.

To become... a form that even I wouldn't recognize.

Therefore, he had to play this card no matter what.

Even if it means utter ruin.

Amidst the exhilarating roar of the River of Sin, Thales took a deep breath and raised his head:
“Father, listen…”

But the next second, his father snorted and shook his head, interrupting him:

"Okay, I get it, kid."

King Kessel's eyes flickered, and he uttered a name:
"Bailar".

Thales was taken aback:
"what?"

The king gently rubbed the back of his hand, pondering as he said:
"That assassin who stormed the banquet and engaged in the duel, is that his name?"

Thales clenched his fist.

Bailar.

what?
“I guess it’s because Falkenhausen gave you that sword, that bargaining chip, and that orphan girl that you became so emboldened and confident that you dared to use a palace raid to achieve your goal.”

King Kessel's tone softened, regaining its composure:

“But you weren’t like this from the beginning—at least not when you left here: you were a completely different person before and after leaving the palace.”

"Then this bargaining chip that makes you feel so proud can only be obtained during the time you are away from the palace."

At that moment, Thales felt a jolt in his heart.

"As for the assassin who stormed the banquet and engaged in the duel..."

King Kessel seemed completely unconcerned, intently rubbing the back of his hand:

"He happens to be one of the people you met in the secret department after you left the palace today."

"And coincidentally, he is one of the few people who can talk to you about kingdom politics, and he also happens to come from the Western Wilderness."

"The orphan girl from Amore, and the four-eyed skull, they also happened to come from the Western Wilderness."

"Mildijr once said: There are no coincidences in politics."

For a moment, Thales's mind went blank.

what……

King Kessel raised his head, looked at him, and sneered:
"That's why, at your homecoming banquet, the assassin, after his failure, didn't commit suicide but instead laid down his weapon."

The king stared at him like a hunter holding down his prey:
"Because he is counting on you."

"Hopefully, Prince Thales, who is known for his compassion, will go back to him afterwards."

"I'm handing over to you Falkenhausen's true sword, the bargaining chip that can overturn the Western Wilderness—the orphan of Emory."

Thales forced himself to maintain his composure, but before he knew it, he was drenched in cold sweat.

The king's eyes narrowed sharply:
"And it's only for you."

"They are launching an attack against me."

"A complete reversal of fortunes."

Upon hearing this, Thales' breathing became erratic.

impossible.

No.

His bargaining chip, the only card he could use to negotiate with King Kessel...

And just like that, it was easily flipped over by the opponent?
The king chuckled softly and looked away from Thales.

It seems the latter is no longer important.

“It’s alright, Morat will get everything out of him.”

King Kessel said leisurely:
"Including that orphan girl."

To pry everything out.

Thales' pupils slowly dilated.

Bailar.

Anker Bailar.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Thank you for coming here to listen to my voice—or my last words.

[It's not sunny here, but it's not that dark either, right?]

No.

Thinking of this, Thales took a breath and gritted his teeth:

“No, you’re wrong. Falkenhausen and I have a secret communication channel…”

“That’s the other people,” Kaiser V interrupted him without hesitation: “the other people you met after you left the palace.”

"It doesn't matter, it's enough to know that this orphan girl is alive."

The king didn't even look at him:
"Whether it's the people you meet outside the palace or the places you visit, the secret service will know what to do."

The people I met.

Places I've been.

Lillian, Jenny, the abandoned house...

No.

Thales was incredulous; his breathing gradually became stiff.

King Kessel raised an eyebrow, his tone relaxed:
"Don't worry, that orphan girl, with the support of the royal family, will soon regain her title and become Baroness Amory."

"Her surname is destined to be recorded in history."

The king savored the local flavor:

"If her father could know this after his death, perhaps he would be proud of it?"

His name will be remembered in history.

Thales was momentarily dazed.

"So, Your Highness, what is the price?"

The Bailar family will become traitors and the target of public condemnation.

Tina, she will never, ever, ever forgive me.

No.

Do not!
Thales suddenly looked up!
Driven by the sins of the River of Hell, an unprecedented surge of resentment welled up in his chest.

The boy no longer tried to hide his anger, but instead glared angrily at the king.

"You weren't even listening to me, were you?"

Thales gritted his teeth and spoke out angrily:

"You've been talking to me for so long just to figure out where I learned about the Amory orphanage."

King Kessel scoffed dismissively.

"Thank you, child, but your task is complete."

"By the way, whoever followed you in this farce," the king said calmly, yet his words were cutting, "they will all pay the price."

"For your foolishness."

Thales took a breath.

Wyatt, Rolf, DD, Grover, and Cohen, whom he tricked into coming...

No.

“You can’t do that,” the prince said with difficulty.

“Remember, I gave you chances—many chances.”

King Kessel didn't even look at him, responding coldly:
"You gave up on it yourself."

Iron Fist King gently reached out and cranked the handle on the table to notify the people outside.

"Now, get out of my conference room."

In a deep voice, he concluded the entire conversation:
“Go ask Maric, the vanguard commander: how many lashes should be given for trespassing and offending the king.”

At that moment, Thales felt a chill run to his very bones.

----

Western Wilderness Territory, Desolate Ruins, Floating Sand Palace.

"Hey, Scarface, come here, come here and play chess with me!"

Duke Falkenhaus, standing by the window, tightened his cloak and waved to the skeleton behind the pillar.

The tall, strong skeleton turned around and approached the duke, his little braid swinging back and forth.

A younger guard looked at the jagged tattoos on the skeleton's body and cautiously placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, but was stopped by an older guard.

The Bone Man walked past the young guard, who looked tense, without even glancing at him, as if it were commonplace.

He approached the Duke of the Western Wilderness, rudely slammed his backside onto the chair, and frowned as he looked at the chessboard between them.

Falkenhausen happily gestured with his hand.

The Bone Man shook his head, his words stiff and unpleasant:
"Gao He, no."

Falkenhaus sighed and quickly waved his hand:
"I know, I know, otherwise why would I be looking for you?"

Gao He paused for a moment, looked at the chessboard, then at the Duke, and gave him a look of disdain.

He pointed to the moon shining through the sandstorm outside the window:
"Little Crow Head, go! Chase after him!"

Goch’s words were difficult to understand, but Falkenhausen seemed unfazed; he shook his head.

"No, no, let Deler go. He needs to rush back to Wingburg to prepare for important matters," the Duke said, looking with anguish at the afternoon's record book.

"Besides, why bother chasing him back? I can't beat him anyway."

“Little Bone Cub, here, chase.”

“I taught my son to play chess, playing with him is... pointless.”

Falkenhaus slapped his hand:
"Come on, let's play chess!"

Gao He snorted angrily, stretched out his hand, and moved the chess piece haphazardly.

“Oh dear, Scarface, how could you touch the Queen first? That’s not how you do it. But it’s alright, look, I’ll eat her right now…”

"Humph."

"Tsk tsk tsk, that was a bad move of yours. It's like giving me a baby to eat, smack! Hahaha!"

"Gao He, I don't understand."

"It's okay if you don't understand, you'll understand after losing a lot..."

"Gao He, dinner."

"Don't go! We'll have the servants bring you whatever you want to eat or drink. Come here, watch me..."

"Gao He, kill him!"

"Hey, don't be angry, Scarface. It's just a game of chess, winning or losing isn't important..."

Back and forth they played, Falkenhausen was having a great time, and before long the board was full of pieces that had been captured by Gao He.

After completing the final step, the Duke, satisfied, grasped Gohe's hand, pushed the latter king aside, leaned back in his chair, and sighed deeply.

"Ah, it's been so long since I've had such a satisfying and exhilarating victory! Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!"

Falkenhausen leaned back in his chair, shaking his head.

But the Bone Man stared intently at the satisfied Falkenhausen and muttered:

"Bones, you're a murderer."

Upon hearing this, Falkenhausen's smile vanished instantly.

The Duke rose from his chair and looked coldly at the skeleton, his face disgusting and terrifying.

Gao He glared back at him without backing down.

A few seconds later, the Duke of the Western Wilderness chuckled and waved his hand, saying:
"Nonsense, I'm playing chess, why would I kill anyone for no reason?"

But Gao He shook his head, his eyes turning terrifying.

The surrounding guards sensed something and felt uneasy.

“Bones,” the Bone Man said solemnly.

"Murder, mass murder."

Falkenhausen's smile froze again.

He pointed at Gao He and shook his head, saying:
"you……"

"You little bastard, you're lying," Gao He gritted his teeth, his face instantly contorting into a ferocious expression.

"Gao He, murder! Murder!"

The strange behavior of the Bone Man made the Duke's guards around him nervous, until Falkenhaus raised his hand to indicate that everything was alright.

The lord of the desolate ruins sighed.

“Okay, I’ll tell you the truth,” Falkenhausen said, supporting himself on the chessboard with a deep gaze:

"I am a little irritable."

Only you could see that, Scarface.

The Duke, the guardian of the Western Wilderness, stared blankly out the window:

"You know, waiting is the most agonizing time."

Gao He revealed a cruel smile:
"kill?"

The Duke shook his head dismissively:

"Oh, killing doesn't bring me any joy!"

Gao He was clearly disappointed. He muttered something and got up to leave in a huff.

“Tell me, Scarface.”

As Goch turned around, Falkenhausen suddenly spoke:
"Have you ever gambled? You know... you put up money, say something, and if you say it right, you win money?"

The Bone Man frowned, pondered for a moment, and then shook his head:
"Gao He, no."

“At least you’ve seen other people gamble,” Falkenhaus sighed.

"I mean, before you opened the prisoner-of-war bar and carried me out of the Shalalun tribe?"

Gao He pondered carefully for a while, his brows furrowing.

Seeing his expression, Falkenhausen said helplessly, "Alright, I won't make things difficult for you..."

“Fifty-eight years before the migration period,” Goh suddenly interrupted him, “Caligri, the cage.”

"Luma, bet."

Falkenhausen's expression changed, and he patted the table in front of him with great interest.

Gao He sat down again.

"Alright, so when your tribe went to Kaligri, you played with the beast cages... Who did your brother gamble on? Tribal warriors? Slaves? Exiles? Sand bandits? Or wild beasts?"

The skeletal man's eyes flashed coldly:
"Gao He, kill him."

Falkenhausen's eyes lit up:
"Ha, your brother placed the bets, and you personally went in for a duel and killed him?"

Gao He nodded.

"Look at your markings, how many have you killed—you've won?"

Gao He stood up, pulled aside the clothes on his side, and pointed out several jagged tattoos as if they were his own treasures.

Eight? Wow!

Falkenhausen exclaimed, "I bet you guys struck it rich?"

But Gao He remained silent for a moment, then shook his head:
"Luma, you lose."

"what?"

Falkenhaus frowned, puzzled:

"But you're still alive! How did your brother lose? Did he place the wrong bet?"

Gao He's expression darkened.

"Noble, gambling, Bloodthorn Lizard."

Falkenhausen's smile gradually faded.

"Oh, your lord has ordered you brothers to fight each other hand to death."

The Duke sighed:
"This is the main event. I guess he wants to attract big bets and make a fortune."

Gao He gritted his teeth, his cheeks trembling:
"Luma, no."

"Gao He, no."

Falkenhausen nodded:
"Of course you refused, so you can only pay compensation?"

The skeleton stopped.

It took him a long time to finally lift his head:
“Tribal chief, murderer. Cage master, murderer. Holy chieftain, murderer. Tribe, mass murderer. Sand servant, mass murderer.”

The Duke shrugged:

"Yes, I guessed so. Everyone's unhappy, especially those who placed bets—I heard it from someone."

He gave a soft hum:
"Your nobleman set up a cage for the beasts, and perhaps even collected bets, but the duel didn't take place. He must have lost a lot of money."

Gao He did not speak.

The Bone Man simply shook his head, his gaze terrifying: "Department Lord, poor."

"Luma, pay with your life."

Falkenhausen paused.

Gao He gritted his teeth, trembling, and raised his head:

"Gao He, punish, live."

The Duke of the Western Wilderness remained silent.

He simply sighed, reached out, and patted the other person on the shoulder.

Gao He turned his head and revealed a ferocious expression towards the unseen void.

“Ah, I remember now, your damned old nobleman,” Falkenhausen raised an eyebrow and said in sudden realization:
"Is that the unlucky guy you later chopped from the bottom up, from the chicken handle to the ribs, and who screamed until dawn before finally dying?"

Gao He snorted but did not answer.

Falkenhaus chuckled softly:
"Well done, Scarface, you've avenged your brother."

Gao He remained silent for a long while before suddenly looking up.

"Boy, wanna bet?"

Falkenhausen paused for a moment, then understood and nodded.

“Yes, I’m betting too,” the Duke said with a grin, looking eastward.
"Let's bet on another one... the Bloodthorn Lizard."

Gao He frowned.

"Tsk tsk tsk," the Duke of the Western Wilderness shook his head and said:

"The betting, how should I put it, lasted for a full six years."

Falkenhausen gradually became lost in thought.

The skeletal man revealed a ruthless expression:
"Gao He, murderer, bone-crusher, gambler."

“Of course,” Falkenhausen laughed.
“If it’s murder, Scarface, I’ll definitely let you go. I’ll bet on you.”