Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 62 You Owe Me a Thank You

The suppressed commotion in the Hall of Stars officially turned into an uproar throughout the hall!
Whether commoners, officials, or nobles, everyone rushed forward, eager to catch a glimpse of the descendants of the Radiant Star, who had not appeared for twelve years.

At Gilbert's command, squads of guards who were already prepared rushed into the area, forming a human wall. They held up riot shields and batons that had been urgently borrowed from the security office, and struggled to hold back the crowd and maintain order.

"Step back! Otherwise you will be punished for disrespecting the royal family!" many guards shouted.

Although the guards would occasionally turn around to look at the boy with a special identity who was only six or seven years old.

Thales stood there calmly and composedly, facing the gazes of everyone in the hall.

This is what I have to face, everything I have no choice in.

He was somewhat listless, so much so that despite the countless gazes upon him, he remained remarkably calm.

The gazes of the dozen or so dukes and earls, in particular, were a mixture of doubt, surprise, anger, resentment, deep thought, and obscurity, before unanimously turning into scrutiny and vigilance, cutting like swords.

And—that complicated look from Jann Kevin Deer.

Jenn felt as if all the blood in his body was flowing backwards, surging against his brain.

He slowly stood up, trembling slightly, and looked at Thales in disbelief.

It's that boy.

how come?
The so-called illegitimate son of Lord Mann.

he?
Ironically, he had just saved the assassin's life yesterday.

If I had insisted yesterday... or simply not intervened and let him die by the assassin's sword...

He clenched his fists tightly and gritted his teeth.

No, they haven't lost yet.

still have a chance!

However, even louder, more deafening cheers came from Xingju Square.

The news of the descendants of the Radiant Star was finally announced to the entire kingdom.

“Please return to your seats, gentlemen,” Gilbert said coldly. “I believe His Majesty will humbly accept your suggestions on appointing an heir.”

“Why does this boy have a nine-pointed star… It’s been twelve years… Your Majesty…” Count Sorel couldn’t shake off his astonishment and sat back down on the stone seat in a daze.

“We have never heard of Queen Koya having a third child… Who exactly is this child of unknown identity…” Count Dastan murmured, sitting back on his stone seat, frowning as he pondered deeply.

“Your Majesty, we still need an explanation!” Duke Kusder, the one-eyed lord of Southrest, lowered his head, making it impossible to see his expression in the shadows, but his clenched fists never loosened.

He suddenly looked up, his single eye, filled with rage, fixed on King Kessel V: "At this time, a boy wearing a nine-pointed star emblem appears... Are you fooling us?!"

King Catherine V didn't even glance at him, his gaze fixed on the other side.

“Kay, I understand, so this is your purpose.” Val frowned, exhaled softly, and said in a low voice, “Just like these disgusting people, you had planned this all along. Today’s national conference was not about dealing with Exter at all… but about this child.”

The Duke of the North leaned back, glanced at the expressionless Thales, then at the silent King, and said dejectedly, "You all think I'm a fool, don't you?"

“Ha, so after all this time, nobody cares about Exter and the war except the North itself,” he laughed sarcastically. “Look, this is the glory of the stars, the twilight of the Empire.”

King Catherine V ignored him, and the lords also avoided his gaze.

The obese Duke of Cullen frowned unusually, deep in thought, without uttering a word.

"Don't be surprised, this is the Starry Sky Royal Family and the nineteen nobles," Duke Falkenhaus chuckled dryly, completely disregarding whether he had included himself in the insult, and mocked, "The pillars of the stars!"

Once he calmed down, Jann Kevindir exchanged a glance with Gosd. They tried to communicate with Duke Cullen on another stone seat, but the latter just lowered his head in thought, as if nothing in the outside world concerned him.

Damn old man.

The young Duke of the South Bank and the one-eyed Duke of the Cliff both cursed inwardly.

Despite being the initiator and approver of the "new star" project, he always retreated the fastest when the unexpected happened.

“You have all heard His Majesty’s words,” Gilbert said coldly, watching the counts and dukes return to their seats. “His Majesty will recognize this boy as his bloodline today, at the State Council.”

The middle-aged nobleman stepped forward, struggling to suppress his excitement: "The Radiant Star Royal Lineage is here to be renewed..."

"Wait!" Duke of Cliffland, the one-eyed dragon Köst, seemed to have just recovered from his shock and interrupted Gilbert loudly: "We all know that His Majesty had two children who died tragically twelve years ago, but we still don't know the origins of this boy!"

It may have little effect, but we must stop it no matter what.

Otherwise, why would they have planned this for so long...?

Thales sighed and looked at Kosd.

They are the people Gilbert described, hoping to seize power and profit by changing the kingdom's situation through a sudden crisis.
He swept over Gosd, over Jann, over the counts.

Thales lowered his gaze and shook his head slightly.

It was like a farce at a vegetable market.

But it determines war and peace, and the future of countless people in this kingdom.

"To question his son's identity before His Majesty, at the State Council," Earl Godwin, a royalist, exclaimed indignantly, "who gave you such power?"

“This concerns the succession to the throne and the future of the Star Kingdom. Every noble of the Star Kingdom has the right to do so,” Count Lacia said slowly, after receiving a look from Duke Jann. “It cannot be taken lightly.”

Falkenhaus clapped his hands and sneered, "Well, just a moment ago the Starry Sky Royal Family was a historical relic that was about to be swept into the dustbin, but now everyone is concerned about the future of the kingdom."

Kusder and Jann both gave Falkenhausen a disapproving look.

“Let this damn farce end quickly,” Val said, rubbing his forehead and suppressing his anger. “Whatever the outcome, the North is facing the threat of war.”

"Although I know you don't care, not even about this crisis... Anyway, let's end this quickly." At the end, the Duke of the North, his eyes blazing with anger, shook his head slightly and said sarcastically, "Whether you are a king or a lord... the North should never have relied on you."

The lords looked at each other and remained silent for a long while.

The noise from Star Gathering Plaza grew louder again, reaching all the way to the Hall of Stars, but this time, the reason was unknown.

King Catherine V tapped his scepter lightly, drawing everyone's attention. The Iron-Fisted King's expression remained calm and unconcerned.

“Thales, let everyone see who you are.” The king’s tone was calm, but his words caused everyone’s faces to change drastically: “Sooner or later, they will all kneel before you, swear allegiance, and become your arms and pillars of the kingdom.”

Several earls turned their heads without batting an eye, completely abandoning their intention to speak.

Yes.

If this boy truly becomes the supreme king of the stars someday...

Jann calmly clasped his hands together, quickly assessing the situation.

If the high council composed of nineteen nobles does not recognize this child's identity... then...

Even if it damages our public image... this damn state affairs conference...

Footsteps sounded.

Everyone on the stone throne turned their heads and watched as the boy walked to King Kessel's side.

The boy who was under the spotlight, looked thin and pitiful, but remained calm and even somewhat absent-minded.

He sighed.

"I am Thales."

Amidst the noisy background, the neatly dressed boy spoke softly.

So the people in the hall quickly quieted down in order to hear him clearly.

This was a skill he learned from giving speeches in his previous life: when speaking in a noisy setting, the way to quiet others down is not to speak louder than them.

Instead, it forces others to shut up and listen to what you have to say.

“I am a descendant of the Starry Sky. My father is the supreme king of this country, His Majesty King Kessel Starry Sky, and my grandfather is the former king of this country, the King of Changzhi, His Majesty Eddie Starry Sky.”

He scanned each lord before him.

He saw the Duke of the North sitting alone to one side, his expression somber, head bowed and silent.

Val Aarond.

And the two Earls of the North sitting behind him.

He saw again the aggressive one-eyed Southrest, Janne staring at him and shaking his head slightly, Falkenhausen with a playful look in his eyes, and Duke Cullen with his head bowed and smiling.

The counts, each with a different expression, all harbored the same ulterior motives.

Even King Catherine V, holding his scepter, remained calm.

Thales suddenly realized something.

His own identity, the succession of the royal family, even the impending war, and the safety of the stars.

It's probably never been in the considerations of this group of people.

As for the casualties in the war...

The boy's sense of powerlessness and boredom intensified. Logically, he should have followed instructions, finished recounting his "background" at Mann Manor, and then waited for the King and the royalists to finish what they needed to do.

But Thales felt somewhat disheartened; he didn't want to follow the routine anymore, he was fed up with it all.

The boy's brain began to work.

The formation of the feudal state... lords and vassals... strong personal feelings and private interests... the struggle for power... and gradual corruption...

He slowly opened his eyes, looked at the lords, and a smile appeared on his lips.

Then everyone saw the boy close his eyes, open them a second later, and chuckle softly.

Gilbert saw Thales's cold smile and the pause in his speech, and a chill ran through him.

Could it be?

Although this little gentleman often gives him quite a scare—it's best to have fewer surprises on such an important occasion.

Thales blinked and spoke slowly.

“I can prove that I am of the bloodline of Canxing, but…”

“Fine,” Thales glanced at the menacing nobles and muttered, “Anyway, even if I can prove that I am a descendant of the Star of Brilliance, you will still have reasons to object.”

“Child,” Kusder said coldly, “do you know what you’re saying? If you can’t prove you are…”

“Duke of the Clifflands, Kusder Nantrest,” Thales said coldly, “doesn’t everyone know perfectly well why you oppose this so vehemently—is it for the sake of the stars and the royal family, or so that your people can wear that crown?”

"This is a national conference, and the entire capital is listening. Who do you think you can fool with your righteous and awe-inspiring demeanor, saying, 'I'm doing this for the stars'?"

The crowd in the hall immediately erupted in an uproar.

Gilbert started to get anxious; this wasn't how things were going. He was about to speak when Ginny tugged at him from behind.

“Let him finish,” Ginny said, watching Thales. “He doesn’t seem to be without a plan.”

Seated on the stone seat, Kusder stared intently at him with his one eye, but Thales could sense that the Duke of Cliffland was beginning to breathe faster.

Thales strode up to Kosd and stared fearlessly into his single eye: "You entered the Hall of Stars with the slogan of supporting the North and uniting the kingdom, yet you demand a successor to your own kingdom as a prerequisite, otherwise you refuse to send troops and would rather watch the North fall—of course, perhaps the decline of the North would be good for you."

Val, who had been keeping his head down, raised his eyes and looked at the boy.

Kusd's single eye remained fixed on Thales, like a mamba snake observing before launching an attack.

But before Thales could finish speaking, his eyes blazed with fury, as if harboring the deepest rage within them.

"But everyone knows—this isn't about righteousness, it's a transaction! What you care about isn't the stars, the royal family, or the people, it's yourself! You're not some lone hero willing to endure criticism for the sake of the kingdom! What you want is a worthy heir to the kingdom, yet you insist on using righteousness to cover up your desires and interests!"

Thales coldly concluded with what he had learned in the past twenty days: "In the Far East—they call it 'saying one's desires but making excuses for them,' which translates to: 'One-eyed man, you're a hypocrite, and you disgust me.'"

All that remained in Kusder's single eye was coldness.

The lords looked at each other, their eyes filled with shock.

Although this is an inside story that smart people already know, to say it out loud in public... that's just too much...

“Wow,” Falkenhausen clapped his hands, as if he wanted to stir up trouble, and said with a sly smile, “At least you have a good way with words, kid.”

King Catherine V gently stroked his scepter, his gaze deep.

After a few seconds.

The crowd began to stir, and even among the commoners and minor nobles, some were shouting.

"Are you finished speaking?!"

Kusder gritted his teeth and stood up abruptly!
He stepped an inch in front of Thales, looking down at him with an intimidating gaze, and said, "Damn kid, you think you can get away with talking nonsense..."

“Shut up, you hypocrite,” Thales suddenly raised his head and coldly interrupted him, “I haven’t finished speaking!”

“Standing before you is the bloodline of the Radiant Star, a descendant of Tormund I, a bloodline to which you and every one of your ancestors swore an oath of loyalty to the death!” Thales stared directly at the Duke of Cliffland, showing no weakness, and said without reservation:
"Even if you want to usurp the throne, show me some respect for the sake of your ancestors."

Kusder stared wide-eyed at the six or seven-year-old child in front of him, humiliating him with the identity of the Star he had not yet obtained. For a moment, he even forgot to refute him.

A loud cheer came from the square again, and words such as "Brilliant Star" and "Prince" could be faintly heard.

“Damn it, it seems the message has been passed on,” Thales sneered, repeating without hesitation, “Hypocrite Duke.”

Before Kusder could react, he turned around abruptly, his eyes sweeping over the various lords.

"You two have a secret deal, don't you?" Thales asked calmly and loudly.

“A noble group targeting the next king intercepted the Exte envoy, instigated war, and caused the North to fall. Some gained land and resources, some gained promises and benefits, and others…” Thales slowly turned to look at the young duke of the South Bank, and said calmly, word by word:
"Perhaps we'll get that crown."

"Is that so, Duke Iris?"

Many people turned their heads at the same time, following Thales's gaze, and looked at Duke Jann Kevindir.

Jan felt extremely uncomfortable under the gaze of Thales and the others.

He was furious that he had unintentionally saved and let the boy go yesterday, which ruined his plan.

However, his long-standing strict upbringing and aristocratic manners enabled him to maintain the best demeanor by not showing his emotions.

“Child, wild guesses won’t help confirm your identity,” Jann said calmly with a friendly smile. “If you’re not going to explain your background and provide proof, then we’ll need to send in an investigation team and spend some time thoroughly investigating your past before we…”

Thales suddenly changed the subject, interrupting him!

“I was attacked by assassins on my way to the Palace of Restoration yesterday,” Thales said calmly, looking at the assembled lords and observing the changes in their eyes. “Thanks to you, Lord Guardian of the South Bank, Jann Kevindir, I escaped unharmed.”

Gilbert and Ginny exchanged a glance, both seeing worry in each other's eyes.

Upon hearing news of the assassin, the crowd began to whisper again.

Thales nodded to him, his expression calm:
"A life was saved, but someone is missing a word of thanks."

Jann suppressed his anger.

This guy knows I let you, the big fish, get away, so...

So you came here specifically to annoy me?
“No need to be so polite,” Jann said with a smile, nodding politely. “Every nobleman who passes by has an obligation to lend a helping hand, and besides, you already thanked me yesterday—but even if you were assassinated, it doesn’t prove that you…”

But Thales didn't let him continue.

“No, Lord Kevin Deer,” Thales said coldly, raising his head. “You’ve misunderstood me.”

Thales walked towards Jenn step by step, speaking slowly and deliberately—this way of speaking exerted the greatest pressure and persuasiveness.
“I remember it very clearly. The moment those assassins saw me, the leader was extremely surprised and even shouted ‘No!’” Thales walked to Kevin Deer’s stone seat and said slowly:

“Gilbert may have always wondered why I would run into an assassin when my whereabouts were clearly not exposed?”

Jan looked at Thales in front of him with a puzzled expression.

What exactly is he going to do?
"As their target, it's strange that almost no one knew who I was back then. Even if you were promised that crown or had related interests, you wouldn't have attacked me without saying a word."

“Until just now, when I saw Lord Kevin Deer and your cronies unanimously declaring their intention to appoint an heir, I finally understood,” Thales lowered his head and sighed deeply.

"They didn't come to kill me."

"But it's about killing someone else."

Jenn finally changed his expression.

Seeing the doubt and then shock in Jenn's eyes, Thales spoke the rest of his words, word by word:

"Their target is another important person who is also heading to the Palace of Rejuvenation, destined to pass through that street corner, and who is also keeping a low profile due to his secret trip, with few guards."

Jenn was so shocked that he couldn't speak.

"Yes, Duke Kevin Deer."

Thales' gaze was steady, his words chilling, and he grinned as he looked at Jenn, who was still frozen in his seat.

“Yesterday, my passing by alerted them to the assassination attempt.”

In a corner where no one was watching, Ginny lowered her head and closed her eyes tightly.

"Your Grace, it was me. I was one of a dozen highly skilled, well-trained, and perfectly coordinated professional assassins who were deeply hidden, equipped with superhuman abilities and military-grade crossbows, capable of accurately assassinating their targets even under the protection of top-tier experts..."

Thales narrowed his gray eyes and spoke softly:
"...I saved your life."

He placed his last piece:
"So, you owe me a thank you, Duke Kevin Deer."

General.

Jann seemed to understand something, and his face gradually turned pale as he unconsciously leaned against the stone seat.

The two men behind him, the counts of the South Coast Territory, Calabian and Lacia, stared at each other in shock.

Over 300,000 words!

To commemorate and celebrate this historic moment, I decided to play a few rounds of Dota 2.

PS: It seems I can smell the fragrance of fresh grass in the book review section.

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(End of this chapter)