Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 706 Error Guidance
"At that time, my uncle was still the honorary viscount of Gonghai City. This title was to Kongming Palace what the Duke of Xinghu Palace was to Fuxing Palace. It was a very important and prestigious title."

Amidst the cheers, Janne sat in the stands, clapping and nodding to a smug vassal in the next stand—whose sponsored warrior had just won.

"The Duke of Star Lake?"

Thales also applauded the winning player, and with a smile, he spoke as if he were having a casual conversation with the Duke of South Shore: "So special?"

Hilly glanced at him, seemingly finding him lacking in humility.

“My father relied on my uncle as his right-hand man, letting him manage government affairs. You can imagine the trust that Sona had received, as well as his status in the family, his power and influence,” Jann paused amid the cheers, “and his weight in the hearts of people in Emerald City and even the South Shore.”

And his importance in his father's heart.

Jan said quietly.

"Let's welcome Bischoff's opponent this round: the goddess of clay! May the warriors scatter blue! It's time to place your bets!"

Another duel began, and a strong female warrior named Duosalan—a rare sight indeed—stepped onto the field, drawing thunderous cheers from the audience.

So, Sona was once highly trusted and even held immense power—Tales pondered, until he was interrupted by the drums signaling the start of the battle.

After a series of fierce battles, the remaining contestants in the election gradually grew stronger, and the bloodshed and intensity increased dramatically. However, Thales had long been weary of it all—whether it was forcing himself to pretend to be engrossed, enduring certain bloody and cruel scenes that always elicited cheers, or worrying about the future of Emerald City.

In contrast, Janne, the focus of the entire audience, maintained a proper posture and a friendly smile throughout. He clapped and cheered from time to time, and even encouraged people to place bets. Depending on the course of the battle and the outcome, he appropriately expressed emotions such as anticipation, excitement, joy, regret, and surprise. He also interacted with vassals and guests in different stands. Whenever the host mentioned something ("Look, this backhand strike is earth-shattering! Even Duke Janne is full of praise!"), he had to stand up to respond to the audience. Every move he made showed the Duke of the South Bank's attention to the contestants and his great interest in them. This made many spectators who had come for the fierce battle even more relaxed and more unrestrained in indulging in their own interests.

Such refinement left Thales in awe.

“I remember Uncle Sona was very strict with outsiders, and many people were afraid of him,” Hilla suddenly spoke, his words filled with emotion. “But he never scolded me. On the contrary, he was very good to me, treating me like his own son, sometimes even better than my father—maybe because he didn’t have a daughter of his own.”

Thales glanced sideways instinctively, while Jann frowned deeply.

“When I got into trouble and offended the Karabyan sisters for ‘misbehavior’,” Hilla recalled, “it was my uncle who rushed back to stand up for me, confronted Mrs. Karabyan, and even had a big argument with my father over it.”

“But he couldn’t stop you from being sent to the temple for ‘education,’ nor could he persuade Father not to marry you off to the Pintors,” Jann glanced at her sister. “It was all just a show.”

“Of course, that’s… in the past.” Hilly noticed her brother’s gaze and returned a knowing smile.

Thales witnessed the entire interaction between the two.

“He also helped me a lot. When I was studying in the Eastern Continent, I often corresponded with him and relied on his connections,” Jann coughed and said in a serious voice, “So when my father was unfortunately murdered ten years ago—no, it was already the eleventh year—and the suspect turned out to be my uncle, the entire South Coast Territory and even the Star Kingdom were shocked.”

Jan and Hillary were both silent for a moment.

"Look! That was so close!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

On the arena, the female warrior was unstoppable, making the clumsy black-armored enemy in front of her flustered. Victory was in sight, and the cheers from the stands became more and more enthusiastic and rhythmic.

“If Viscount Sona is so close to your father and so trusted that he is practically the Duke’s second-in-command, then why would he…” Thales asked tentatively.

Jann snorted softly upon hearing this.

"If I told you, according to the official line, that your uncle was coveting the dukedom, you probably wouldn't believe me?"

“Not necessarily,” Thales said, choosing his words carefully, “but my experiences over the years have taught me that everyone is complex.”

“It’s a difference in political views,” Hilla sighed.

Thales's eyes flickered.

The Duke nodded, his gaze complex: "Even brothers who share the same bloodline and bear the same family crest will find everything different when the subjects standing behind them are different. Emotion will give way to reason, and blood ties cannot overcome interests."

While listening to their words, Thales drifted off into thought, recalling the words of Falkenhausen and King Kessel:
[You must understand that when your vassals and subordinates are filled with righteous indignation and their will is unwavering, you, standing before this tide, have little choice but to go with the flow.]

[If you act too well, remaining unassuming and convincing to everyone, successfully transforming yourself into a savior and hopeful vassal... those who supported you after being deceived will form a surging tide, using reputation, stance, camp, interests, relationships, and the situation to force you forward, allowing no room for argument, no room for control, and no room for regret—they will love you more than they hate me.]

“I was very young back then, I had a bad temper and didn’t like seeing outsiders, so I didn’t pay attention to these things and don’t remember some details very clearly,” the young lady shook her head, her expression tense. “But my father and Uncle Sona never brought outside affairs home, and they never argued or quarreled at the dinner table or in front of their family.”

“That’s the problem,” Jenn interrupted coldly.

Thales and Hilly both looked at the Duke, but the latter's gaze was different:
"My mother once said: Compared to family members, only guests never quarrel at the dinner table."

Hilly frowned upon hearing this.

"Then it seems that His Majesty and I are indeed father and son."

Jann and Hillary turned sharply toward the prince.

“Don’t mind me, it was just a casual remark,” Thales coughed. “So?”

“So then things happened,” Jann quickened his pace, as if reluctant to say more. “Although we couldn’t avoid the disaster, my father had foreseen it before his death and took precautions: as soon as the incident occurred, the Emerald Legion arrested Sona and his cronies. By the time I returned to Emerald City from afar, the case was almost solved.”

"In the end, Uncle Sona confessed to his crimes and committed suicide in prison, while his cronies were scattered and brought to justice one after another."

Hilly's expression was tense as he stared intently at the duel in the arena.

"So fast?" Thales' eyes darted around. "Even before you got back to Emerald City?"

“To be precise, it was before the central royal family sent envoys to the Emerald City,” Jann said calmly. “I think some things don’t need to be said too explicitly.”

Thales shuddered.

He suddenly remembered what the Duke of Cliffland, the one-eyed Gosstead, had said long ago before he left for Exter:
[He even wanted to interfere in the succession of the six powerful families and thirteen noble clans... He was involved in the internal power struggle within the Kevin Deer family two years ago.]

“Moreover, Emerald City has a well-established system and its own laws,” Jann said calmly. “Since it involves the Iris family, in order to avoid suspicion and to stabilize public sentiment, the case of Sona’s murder of his brother and treason was handed over to the city’s public office to handle. Jeff Rene was the Canal District’s security chief at the time, known for his impartiality and few oversights, and Slimani was his right-hand man. Back then, they were both involved in the case.”

Thales and Hilly exchanged a glance: "Ah, so that's the reason."

Jenn continued:
"And then there's the guard officer Caquere who was killed this morning. Eleven years ago, when my uncle was imprisoned, he was one of the prison guards—I guess the enemy has a revenge list, and they're crossing names off one by one."

"What about the others? The wine merchant? And the wool merchant?" Hillay pressed.

Jann shook his head: "Before his downfall, Uncle Sona held a high position. He was in charge of intelligence merchants and shady accounts in Emerald City and even the South Bank Territory, and even the monitoring of civilian organizations—such as the Blood Bottle Gang."

Hilla's expression changed:
"Dagri Moss, and Diop?"

“They all served Sona,” Jann nodded, “though they were nobody back then, and Uncle probably doesn’t even remember them.”

"Wait, they were all your uncle's men, yet you still trust them with your jobs, even now?" Thales asked incredulously.

“Uncle Sona has a deep-rooted network of connections in the South Bank Territory. Even Ashford has done things for him at my father’s behest. If I were to purge everyone who has bowed and reported to Sona, the entire Emerald City would be left without anyone to use.”

At this point, Jenn leaned forward, enthusiastically applauding an attack from one of the fighters in the arena, forcing Thales to lean forward in return, feigning excitement as he watched the match, trying to hear Jenn's words amidst the cheers:
"Moreover, among those who served my uncle back then, Morse and Diop were newly recruited and were already considered to be less involved. That's why they were able to be promoted after the major treason case and thus have their current positions."

Thales realized what was happening and picked up the conversation:

"So, they were the beneficiaries who were promoted only after Sona's downfall?"

“Or traitors,” Hilly asserted, “maybe that put them on the revenge list.”

Thales squinted.

So Wyatt's conjecture is correct: Rene, Slimani, Caquere, and even young Bolwin, who was implicated by his own father, were indeed targeted for the same thing—Sonner's old traitorous followers had returned to avenge their master.
"But it's much more than that."

Jann's expression was cold as he watched a contestant being brutally knocked down in the arena:
"Morse, the wine merchant, is one of our intelligence brokers stationed abroad. It would be fine if he died, but if news of his death in revenge for betraying the party spreads, his colleagues will inevitably be in danger. Diop manages the secret accounts, and he acts as the middleman for the dirty work that the city's powerful and wealthy entrust to gangs like the Blood Bottle Gang. If he dies a violent death, from the powerful and wealthy officials to the gangsters, they will inevitably become suspicious."

Thales' eyes flickered.

Jenn became increasingly serious as he spoke:
"As for Rene and Slimani, they both worked in the Guard Bureau. The latter was a defense attorney who had handled countless major cases and had a wider network of connections, involving many parties. Their suspicious murders would attract more attention and even cause concern. As for Caquere, it was even more obvious. He was a special-class guard sent by the Sky Palace to be responsible for the prince's security. If his body was left exposed in the streets during the Emerald Festival, the official prestige of the Emerald City would be severely damaged."

"In short, these targets are located in different parts of Emerald City, each with its own duties and responsibilities. If the enemy wants to incite people and create panic under the pretext of betrayal and revenge, targeting them is undoubtedly the easiest way."

Revenge for betrayal, incitement, and panic...

Thales fell into deep thought, feeling that something was amiss.

“Don’t forget, there’s also the Blood Vial Gang,” Hilly said, frowning.

“That’s right,” Jann said cautiously. “If they succeed, at best it will affect the city’s operation, and at worst it will shake the Iris’s rule.”

“The Emerald Festival welcomes guests from all directions, and they are spreading fear through revenge… You should have told us sooner.” Hillay said gravely.

“I should be the one saying this,” Jann said sternly, “and you, my dear sister, when did you get involved in this mess?”

“When I was born,” Hilly retorted, “my dear brother, why don’t you guess what my last name is?”

“Excuse me for interrupting,” Thales suddenly spoke up, cutting off the siblings’ argument, “but is it really necessary to disrupt the city’s operations and shake your rule for just a few targets?”

Jenn turned around, his gaze turning cold: "Mere mortals? What, you want a few more to die?"

Thales raised an eyebrow: "You know that's not what I meant."

Hilly coughed.

“Well, maybe not,” Jann glanced at his sister, then looked back at Thales, “but what if you’re included?”

Thales was taken aback by what he said:
"I?"

"Of course, you."

Jenn stared intently at the crucial moment of the fight, his tone gradually tightening:

"Imagine: the Sona rebels, determined to exact revenge, return with a vengeance, wreaking havoc. From foreign wine merchants to wool traders, from the Grand Defender to retired guards, and even the active guards of the Sky Palace, perhaps many more... In an instant, the Emerald City, which feeds millions, falls into chaos, with nine out of ten households closing down. The Emerald Festival, which circulates the wealth of the seven seas, is desolate and suffers heavy losses. The Guard Hall is overwhelmed, the Sky Palace is strapped for cash, and even the gangsters on the streets are in complete disarray and running rampant. As for the high and mighty Duke of Iris, he can only sit on his throne, lamenting his helplessness..."

Hilly frowned: "Brother..."

“In time,” Jann ignored her, his gaze toward Thales growing colder, “the city, in its panic, gradually lost patience and grew resentful: why should they bear the lingering poison of the Kevin Deer family’s past? The tormented officials, both inside and outside the city, must also be restless and growing weary: why drag the entire Emerald City into the family feud and blood feud created by the Iris tricolor?”

Thales listened to his words and looked around: the spectators in all the stands were focused, or at least appeared to be focused, on the competition. Among them were nobles and vassals, wealthy merchants, distinguished guests, and many local citizens. They were all waving their arms and shouting encouragement with fervor, immersed in the atmosphere of the selection. Even the DDs below were gathered together, seemingly having a heated discussion about the outcome of the match...

Apart from the three of them.

"And at this time, our wise and insightful Duke of Starlake will make a decisive move," Jann continued, "using the excuse of the Kevin Deer family's incompetence and poor governance, he can rightfully take over the reins, then implement policies to benefit the people, reward the good and punish the bad, and ultimately restore peace and prosperity to Emerald City. Isn't that the perfect time?"

Thales frowned.

The next second, in the arena, the female warrior, who had the upper hand, was about to win when an unexpected turn of events occurred: her opponent slipped and fell to the ground in her heavy armor, pinning the female warrior's thigh down. Caught off guard and unable to react in time, the female warrior collapsed to the ground with a cry of pain.

The tide turned in an instant, and the audience let out disappointed sighs and boos of dissatisfaction.

Amid cheers from the crowd, Jenn burst into laughter and stood up to applaud.

"Well done, Palacio! Bischoff is certainly lucky," the Duke shouted, waving loudly to a vassal in the next stand. "If I had known this would happen, I should have placed this big bet with you!"

"This bet is for you, Your Grace, for your many years of support for the development of Emerald City's deep-sea fishing industry! And of course, for His Highness Thales, your presence adds even more glory to the election!" The vassal stood up in the stands, removed his hat, and bowed in respect.

Thales had to stand up with Jenn and nod in response.

But His Highness's expression immediately turned sour: on that stand, Kasha and Qina were standing in a prominent position, second only to Count Lacia.

They giggled at Thales, then opened two folding fans specially chosen for the election:
The left side reads, "Seeing the hunt brings joy, victory is assured," while the right side reads, "Victory is assured from the start, success is certain."

Thales felt a wave of dizziness.

When Hilla also stood up and smiled radiantly beside Thales, the Karabyan sisters' expressions changed drastically, their eyes turning cold. They both sat down, hiding their faces behind their folding fans, and began to discuss something.

“Laugh, laugh again, laugh bigger, very good, then pretend to have a heated discussion—discuss with me, not with Hilly—about the match, including betting on the outcome,” Jann’s smile remained unchanged as he quietly instructed Thales on his public relations response. “So, have you decided on your offer?”

"What? Oh, I, uh, I don't bet..."

“That’s not what I’m talking about,” Jenn said, sitting back down, his voice suddenly turning cold. “I’m talking about our unfinished conversation at the Contest.”

Telston was taken aback.

"If it really comes to the last moment, what price would you be willing to pay to help stop your father, instead of standing idly by or even kicking him when he's down?"

"What's the price?" Hilly turned her head curiously.

But neither Thales nor Jann paid her any attention; they exchanged a glance.

A few seconds later, as the host began announcing the next match, Thales sighed:

"The problem isn't the price, and I don't think so..."

But Jenn turned his head away and interrupted him.

“Moss, Diop, Slimani, René, Caquere… including the key little Bolwin,” the Duke resumed his usual composed demeanor, “they use every murder as bait, not only to sow discord but also to attract your attention, to use our old grudges to make you investigate thoroughly and tear down the Emerald City’s defenses—just like you did in the Western Wilderness.”

The Duke, beaming with joy, clapped his hands in anticipation of the next duel:
"So, what price did the people of the Western Wilderness offer you in exchange for your help?"

Damn.

The last sentence made Thales' eyes flicker, and Hilly's expression also changed slightly.

“The story of the Western Wilderness is long and complicated,” Thales said after a moment of silence. “As for Emerald City, now that I’m sitting here, the kind of thing you’re talking about… won’t happen.”

“It hasn’t happened yet, not because you’re sitting here,” Jann said with a smile that lacked warmth, “but because I’m prescient and always manage to cut the line before you take the bait.”

Whether it was the sarcastic remarks of one of the guard captains that made him more sensitive, Thales felt that Jann was subtly insulting him.

“Otherwise, with so many violent deaths in the streets since before the celebration, the news of ‘traitors seeking revenge on Emerald City’ would have already spread like wildfire and shaken the entire city,” Jann said calmly.

“Boys…” Hilly sensed something was wrong.

“Ha, cut the line,” Thales sighed. “You mean distorting the facts, fabricating the truth, blocking information, and doing everything possible to prevent anyone, including me, from knowing about every murder?”

“And me too,” Hilla scoffed.

“I’m not proud of it,” Jann’s voice suddenly turned cold, “but I did what I could and had to do—for Emerald City.”

“Interesting, that’s what the defense attorney said too: he did what he could and had to do,” Thales stared intently at the two contestants entering the arena, “until the consequences of those actions inevitably came his way.”

"Did the defense attorney tell you what the consequences would be if he didn't do those things?"

"enough!"

Hilly interrupted them.

"I'm here to solve problems, not to watch you bicker and argue."

The young lady glared at the two men, until they awkwardly turned away.

Hillary sighed helplessly as she looked at the two of them, then turned to her brother:

"So, Jen, what are your plans next? How are you going to deal with this?"

Jann smiled slightly upon hearing this.

“Look around,” the Duke said politely, raising his hand to signal Ashford below to continue betting. “That’s my response.”

"What do you mean?"

“The election will be the most popular and anticipated event of the Emerald Festival,” Jann said casually. “But right now, the entire arena is under intense scrutiny, with a tight net already in place.”

Thales and Hillay were both taken aback.

“Jane?” Thales looked around, glancing at the “green-hatted” Emerald Sergeant on duty and the composed Seychelles Knights below. Suddenly, he sensed something was wrong. “You, what are you going to do?”

Hilaire also looked suspicious:
"elder brother?"

Jenn raised an eyebrow, his posture calm:
"Did you know that this year's election will be unusually lively? Many of the candidates have problems: some are trying to cover it up, some are hiding their true intentions, some are backing out at the last minute, some have unclear financial backers, and there are even quite a few imposters."

Thales's expression changed, while Hilly looked incredulously at the two competitors facing off, as well as the tents where the other contestants were resting.

"But you still let them in to compete... Did you do it on purpose?"

Jenn smiled again, pointing to the warriors fighting below the stage:

"I dare say that right now, someone down there is up to no good and is waiting to make a move."

"What operation?" Thales tensed up. "What are you going to do?"

“As you said, Thales, yesterday’s Blood Bottle Gang’s chaos was the last straw. They couldn’t wait any longer,” Jann said calmly. “The enemies of Emerald City, they’re coming.”

He glanced at Thales, his words carrying a deeper meaning:
"And here, this is the stage they have been longing for, or rather, the cemetery."

The fierce battle in the arena reached a crucial moment once again. A warrior from the desolate mountains, armed with a weapon, quickly drew blood from his opponent within minutes. With the cheers of the audience, he fought with increasing ferocity.

“Here?” Thales asked incredulously.

"You mean, you brought them to the election?"

“How did you do that?” Hilly was equally puzzled. “Why, Jenn? Why here? Why today? What do you know?”

Jenn gave a soft hum:
"Because this is their only and best opportunity."

Hilly frowned:

“Jan, explain.”

Jan listened patiently as the host began to introduce the eight finalists, clapping and waving enthusiastically.

“Simply put, from the Battle of the Peaks to now, from the Blood Bottle Gang’s inexplicable attack to the successive killings of key figures,” Jann’s eyes sharpened, his words laced with murderous intent, “I’m tired of waiting and being passively attacked, and even more tired of the enemy being in the dark while we are in the light.”

"So, in addition to ordering the Blood Bottle Gang to wrap up each murder case and eliminate its impact, I sent someone to secretly investigate these murders, including the background of each victim, in order to discover the connection between Little Bolwin and the other victims."

He paused for a moment, then gave Thales a cold snort:
"That's why you can get all this information and answers for free without doing anything, just by sitting here with your hands shrugged."

Thales frowned in displeasure.

Hilly coughed, forcing Jenn to continue:
“And with each of the enemy’s actions, each murder, Catherine’s investigation drew ever closer, until…”

"Wait, who did you send?"

Thales was startled by what he heard, and Hilly's eyes also flickered.

Jann looked at them and gave them a knowing smile.

"The person you sent to investigate was 'Phantom Blade' Catherine!" Hillay realized, and suddenly understood. "No wonder, she was perfectly fine as the boss in the capital, but she secretly sneaked back to Emerald City—she was summoned back by you specifically to investigate these murders!"

“She’s not an official, which makes things easier for her.”

Jenn nodded with a cold smile:

"Although she wasn't entirely willing."

So you don't feel bad about sacrificing yourself? Thales couldn't help but wonder.

“Damn it,” Thales realized as well, “Catherine didn’t mention this when we rescued her…”

“Not only that,” Hilly couldn’t help but say, “she even told us that the reason she was in such a sorry state was because you, Jenn, were using her and then discarding her to silence her?”

"That's what she told you? I'm the one who's going to get rid of her? Haha," Jann laughed, his confidence tinged with a hint of something intriguing. "No wonder she's called Knife Bitch, interesting."

“Ha, she’s really loyal to you!” Hilla sarcastically remarked. “We shouldn’t have saved her; we should have thrown her to that monster, cough cough, that monstrous killer.”

“You overestimate her. Loyalty alone isn’t enough to make a name for yourself on the streets,” Jann said dismissively. “I suspect she said that to protect herself. She was badly wounded and fell into your hands, and she knew you weren’t on Emerald City’s side, so she deliberately implied that she was an enemy of the Void Palace. That way, whether you took pity on her or saw an opportunity to turn her against you, Catherine had a chance to survive.”

"Damn," Thales's head was throbbing, "so many twists and turns?"

At the same time, he couldn't help but notice that as the host introduced the eight finalists one by one, and as the team battle warmed up, more and more members of his bodyguards gathered around DD in the stands—Wyatt, Miranda, Golover, Komuto…

But their expressions grew increasingly stiff.

Thales wanted to ask them, but found that no matter how much he waved, not a single member of the Star Lake Guard looked up.

It was as if she was deliberately avoiding the prince's gaze.

Are they... gambling together?
"Hidden and secretive, that's the true nature of the cunning bitch of Emerald City, and the reason she's been able to maintain her position," Jann remarked with a hint of emotion.

"And then? Did Catherine find anything?" Hilly asked, annoyed.

“Nothing,” Jann shook his head in denial, but smiled mysteriously. “Or rather, I never expected her to find anything.”

Thales was taken aback: "Not counting on her? What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, Catherine only needs to make an appearance in the Blood Vial Gang, and her purpose will be fulfilled," Jann smiled mysteriously. "The rest is up to our enemies."

"Wait, what about our enemies?" Hilla was equally puzzled. "Excuse me, do you really know? Yesterday, your enemies completely wrecked the Blood Vial Gang!"

Jenn nodded, his smile fading.

“That’s right, as you said, a bloodbath changed the Blood Bottle Gang,” Jenn’s gaze turned cold. “Catherine is missing, and at least half of the Blood Bottle Gang’s leaders and chiefs are nowhere to be found…”

“I already told you,” Thales shrugged.

"...The remaining half started fighting for territory and dividing the spoils, creating chaos. The lower-level gang members, including those in the businesses they protected, were all filled with fear and suspicion, making it difficult to find anyone who would listen to them, let alone get work or keep things running," Jann said calmly. "Yes, they crippled your informants and accomplices in the streets, good job—and you seem quite happy about it?" Hilly asked incredulously.

But Thales' eyes flickered, as if he were deep in thought.

Jenn smiled slightly:
"This at least proves one thing: everything I did with the Blood Bottle Gang and every murder case I suppressed was effective and useful. At least it successfully thwarted the enemy's intentions, which made them more and more impatient. Finally, they couldn't hold back and decided to set a trap to kill Phantom Blade and show up to 'crush' the Blood Bottle Gang."

Thales suddenly realized what was going on.

"Damn it!" he couldn't help but slap his thigh. "You did it on purpose! On purpose!"

The prince stared intently at Jan, who remained calm and composed.

"Thales, keep your voice down!"

Hilly glanced around worriedly, thankfully, the servants and guards had all been sent away early: "What are you talking about?"

“Don’t you understand, Hilly?” Thales ignored Hilly’s reminder, staring at Jann with disbelief and anger. “Catherine didn’t lie to us that day: she really was dumped! Dumped by this guy!”

Hilly frowned: "What?"

Jenn glanced around at the stands, smiled, waved, and coughed, "Listen up, our discussion about the 'selection event' has gotten a little too heated..."

But Thales ignored him and pressed on with more questions:
"Why, Janne? If it was a covert investigation, why was Catherine, who came from Emerald City and was the leader of the Blood Bottle Gang, so easily discovered by King Losang II and walked into a deadly trap intended to kill her and 'overthrow' the Blood Bottle Gang?"

Jenn remained silent, while Hilly's expression changed.

"Because this is your masterpiece! You betrayed Catherine!"

Thales gritted his teeth and said:

"No, you should say you always saw her as a pawn to be discarded. On the surface, you sent her to 'investigate' the truth, but in reality, you wanted to provoke the enemy into making a move! I bet you were the one who leaked the information, making them keep an eye on Catherine? You wanted to remind them that the Duke was on alert and was tracking them down!"

Jenn remained silent.

“No, it’s not just Catherine, it’s the entire Blood Vial Gang that’s your bait,” Hilly realized, her eyes widening. “The infighting and fighting in the warehouse that day, and the current chaotic situation, are all the result of your deliberate neglect. It’s part of a higher game, because you want the enemy to think that you’ve lost the Blood Vial Gang.”

Jenn finally smiled.

"You!" Thales suppressed his anger and said bitterly, "We had the worst luck that day, being chased by that ghost assassin from the Blood Bottle Gang all afternoon... In the end, it was all your doing? Sunset, how could you have the nerve to look so righteous that day and accuse me of causing the trouble?"

“That was supposed to be part of the plan,” Jann said dismissively. “You just had to get involved.”

“So you sent Catherine to her death,” Hilly frowned. “To her death?”

“Of course not: Catherine knows very well that every mission has its rewards, but also its risks,” Jenn coughed, facing his sister’s gaze. “Besides, she’s not dead, is she…”

Thales looked at Jenn with a complicated expression.

Send Catherine to her death...

Because the loyalty and affection of others are merely inherited possessions to someone like you, readily available and easily obtained.

They're different from us ants who grew up in stinking ditches and survive only by killing each other.

He suddenly remembered Catherine's heartfelt words and was overwhelmed with emotion.

Just as Rolf was betrayed, Catherine, the seemingly glamorous female boss, was ultimately betrayed in a higher game.

However, like Rolf, she struggled to survive, like a cockroach dodging a trampled ditch, tumbling into a stinking ditch to try and stay alive.

"Is it retribution," the prince murmured, "or destiny?"

“What?” Hilla asked.

“It’s nothing.” Thales snapped out of his reverie and shook his head.

“Wait, if the chaos within the Blood Bottle Gang wasn’t accidental, but something you expected, then what about Caquere’s murder this morning…” Hillay deduced step by step, his brows furrowed.

Jenn raised his head and sighed deeply:
“Yes, so when Caquere was murdered in the street this morning, I could no longer use the Blood Bottle Gang to cover up the news as I used to—they were out of sorts and too busy to deal with their own problems.”

Thales stared intently at him:
"And so this case became the talk of the town, known to everyone... All of this, these were traps you set, bait to lure the enemy in?"

“To be precise, it was misdirection,” Jann said without a hint of guilt. “You should know that all too well, dear sister.”

Hillay scoffed dismissively.

“Guide what?” Thales said sternly, trying to shed any unnecessary emotions. “From Catherine’s suicide, to the Blood Bottle Gang’s bloody battles, and then to the widely publicized death of Caquere, what are you trying to do to the enemy?”

Jann watched as he quickly recovered from his resentment and daze, and sneered.

“Think about it, Thales, if you were our enemy,” the Duke of Southbank said, his eyes gleaming, “you did so much, killed so many people, and yet it all ended silently and without incident because of my intervention. You failed to spread the news, to sow fear, or to guide public opinion. And as the Emerald Festival passed day by day, the prince’s investigation came to nothing, and Jann Kevin Deer remained as steadfast as Mount Sighing… So they became more and more anxious, more and more agitated, more and more… unbearable.”

“So…” Thales understood something, and his eyes changed slightly.

Jenn surveyed the roaring arena:
"So after so many days of waiting, one day they finally found a loophole, and Duke Iris finally made a mistake and exposed his weakness."

Hilly's eyes widened.

A dangerous glint appeared in the Duke's eyes:
"First of all, the Blood Bottle Gang is in chaos and has lost its effectiveness. At least in matters like suppressing murders on the streets, I am stretched thin and can no longer control the situation with one hand."

"Secondly, their murder had its first effect: Caquere was killed in the street, the whole city knew about it, and people were in a state of panic, which made Emerald City unable to turn a blind eye."

Jenn looked at Thales:
"Just like Anker Bairal, you have to kill to get people to listen."

Thales clenched his fist: "Can we please stop mentioning his name?"

Hilly couldn't help but glance at Thales.

Jann smiled, unconcerned.

"Third, since the Caquere case has already caused such a stir, even involving you, then theoretically we should strike while the iron is hot and create an even more sensational event before people get tired and numb, to intimidate people, shake the regime, and achieve the greatest effect."

"Then, as you said, Catherine's investigation has alerted the enemy, and they realize that I am relentlessly pursuing them. And Phantom Blade's escape is the final straw. They will have to speed up their actions to avoid any unforeseen complications—who knows what Catherine has actually found out?"

He turned to Thales:

"And you—if you're not lying—and your young master's guard, together you took down one of their elite assassins? You can imagine their shock, anger, and anxiety?"

“Jane, you…” Thales and Hilly exchanged a glance.

"So, under the above circumstances, in addition to their rare success, they finally had a rare opportunity: the Iris Election, which was eagerly anticipated by all and watched by the people—whether it was a murder or a rumor, a killing in the street or a purge of the gang, wasn't all they did just to declare revenge to the entire Emerald City and even the kingdom, and to spread terror?"

Thales swallowed hard.

“So, the environment, the situation, efficiency, deadline, and occasion, all five combined, make it even more important,” Jenn counted on his fingers, his tone becoming increasingly light. “The conditions for them to truly launch an attack and bring me down are now ripe.”

His eyes flickered.

Or rather, seemingly mature.

"So, if you were our enemy, Thales, would you let this opportunity pass you by?"

Thales's brow twitched.

Jenn turned his head and smiled slightly:
"Guess what? This time, we were desperate and cornered, but we ended up getting a taste of the bait, and the enemy, clinging to a sliver of hope, found a way out..."

He glanced at his sister:
"Wouldn't they be itching to bite the bait, like... the current election candidates?"

The next second, at the host's command, the highly anticipated multi-person team battle of the selection finally began.

In an instant, weapons clashed, shouts and cries of battle filled the air, and applause and cheers mingled together, engulfing the entire arena with a deafening roar.

“Fuck you, Janne,” Hilly said, his face filled with disbelief, “all of this…fuck you!”

baiting...

Biting the bait...

The bait has been taken...

Thales looked at Jenn in front of him, his expression growing increasingly serious.

Is this his opponent?

In the treacherous game of power struggles within the kingdom's upper echelons, the Iris Duke, who has been immersed in this game for many years...

"When did you recall Catherine from the capital?"

The prince said with difficulty:

"Or rather, Jan, when did you start planning all of this, planning your bait and trap?"

Faced with Hilly's resentful gaze and Thales' wary expression, Jann smiled.

Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!
The Duke turned around and clapped loudly in rhythm with the crowd. The applause blended with the deafening roar of the entire arena, yet it had a unique rhythm that Thales could never confuse.

"You guys really aren't betting? This is a good way to blend in and lull everyone into a false sense of security," Jenn asked, gesturing for Ashford to continue betting in the distance.

"Fuck you!" Hillary greeted him amicably.

“As the heir to the kingdom, I should act in a balanced and impartial manner,” Thales sighed, reciting his prepared statement. “Taking sides and betting on things is not in line with my position.”

“Oh, so it’s because of his stance,” Jann raised an eyebrow. “I thought it was because he was poor.”

Thales felt his expression become even more stiff.

“But that’s reality. Whether it’s the Blood Bottle Gang, Catherine, or poor Caquerey,” Jann smiled, his eyes filled with an unsettling light, “most of the time, it’s the person with more chips who wins the bet.”

People with more chips...

In the arena, a massive melee involving hundreds of people was taking place. Some fought alone, some teamed up to fight, some avoided the enemy's main force, and some defended against the wall...

Thales sat in the Duke's stands, his face grim as he watched the scene of countless people fighting so fiercely.

"And what about the chips themselves?"

The prince gritted his teeth and said:
"Besides, don't you get tired of moving the chips around like this every day?"

Jann scoffed softly.

"You are called Duke, Thales," the Duke said calmly, "but you have never ruled a single city, a single place, or even a single village or town, have you?"

“I... rule Starlake Castle.”

At least... Starlake Castle is now vibrant and full of wild charm.

"Domination? Just like Hilla said," Jann scoffed, "buying cats to catch mice, buying dogs to catch cats?"

“This…” Thales was speechless for a moment, and looked at Hilly with displeasure.

“Don’t look at me, it was someone named Wyman who said that to you.” Hilly shrugged unhappily.

Damn it, we bought the cat to clean up the mess Ashida left behind that night (killing a roof full of rats), as for buying the dog...

He didn't give any orders at all. It was all the stupid things that his subordinates did, trying to figure out what he meant and then applying it to other situations.

“When you get there, Thales, you’ll understand, you’ll know,” Jann said, slightly lost in thought, with a touch of emotion. “You have to do what you can do, and what you must do.”

All three were silent.

Okay, I guess I'm just not cut out for these underhanded tactics...

Thales sighed inwardly.

Perhaps I'm just not suited to be king...

"Then become the one who can be king," a small voice echoed in his heart.

Thales frowned.

Maybe on that day, you will win, Thales Star.

and……

Sometimes, those who aren't in the game win more than those who have chips.

Thales' brow twitched.

How do they take the bait?

The prince's words attracted the attention of the other two:

“Yes, Jenn, you set a trap, well done! But how will they make their move? With this shocking murder and this city-wide spectacle, how will they manage to get you…”

“I don’t know,” Jen interrupted him. “Maybe after the final match, when I walk down from the stands with a beaming smile to present the champion with the trophy, or maybe he rides his horse around the arena and comes up to me, or of course, it could be during the heat of battle…”

“My father wants Emerald City and South Bank, Janne, not your head.”

“You mean,” Jann said coldly, “not just my head?”

"Of course, if you stand between him and Emerald City, I don't think he'd mind taking your head first, but..."

"They can do whatever they want."

Duke Iris glanced at Thales:

"Perhaps we could go even further, create a crisis, and let His Majesty the King's most precious son suffer a minor injury. That way, you'd have even more reason to intervene in Emerald City, and the Wrath of the Kingdom would have even more reason to march south—like the Blade Fang Camp?"

Hilly paused for a moment.

"But anyway..."

Janne stared into Thales' eyes:

"Once they arrive, they will have no chance of escape."

Thales looked back at him.

“But I still don’t understand one thing,” the prince spoke again after a few seconds, “why did your uncle’s old men kill little Bolwin?”

Jenn frowned:

"What? Were you listening carefully? They want revenge, and Bolwin's father was the assassin who killed the former duke and also the one who confessed to betraying Sona..."

“Here, right here, I don’t understand,” Thales said thoughtfully. “How did you know the enemy was a former subordinate of Viscount Sona?”

Hilly's eyes flickered.

“Do I have to repeat everything?” Jenn asked impatiently. “Because I found out about Little Bolwin’s background, and then I connected the clues and discovered…”

Jenn paused abruptly.

Thales nodded.

"If, as you say, their killings were all intended to create panic and undermine the foundations of Emerald City's rule, then the murders of Moss, Diop, and Slimani would be understandable, given their key positions; their deaths one after another in the streets would be enough to cause panic. But..."

Thales took a deep breath:

"But young Bolwin is just a lowly guy who fights in underground boxing rings and makes a living by getting beaten up and betting. Killing him, besides alerting them and making you think of his father, old Bolwin, and thus becoming wary, will it help them in any way?"

Jenn frowned.

Hilly raised an eyebrow:
"Yes, isn't that a bit... obvious?"

“I told you, they want revenge, the more obvious the better,” Jann said through gritted teeth. “Besides disrupting Emerald City, they also want to vent their anger, they want everyone in Emerald City to know, so little Bolwin…”

"Is it what they think, or do you guess what they think?"

Jenn was taken aback:
"What do you want to say?"

Thales cleared his throat: "Well, so if I were them, I'd be your uncle's old men, your enemies and adversaries..."

"Then shouldn't the best method, the best strategy, and the most satisfying revenge be to let go of small fry like little Bolwin first—he wasn't even involved in what happened back then, he just had an unlucky father—and focus on other more valuable targets?"

The Kevin Deer siblings' expressions changed slightly.

"And so, I killed key figures one by one, leaving their bodies to rot in the streets..."

In the arena, even the deafening shouts of battle couldn't drown out Thales' words:
"While causing panic in Emerald City, it also leaves people confused, keeping you in the dark... Then, when the moment truly overthrows the Duke and buries Emerald City, it will suddenly jump out with little Bolwin and announce to the world, giving you a shock: 'Kevindil died in the '.'"

Thales stroked his chin, pondering:

"So that when you are powerless to reverse the situation, you will suddenly realize the truth, want to make amends but are powerless, regret your actions when you think of today's fate, and in the end you can only be filled with despair, roar with grief and anger, and die with endless resentment and injustice, forever regretting your fate in the River of Hell, never to be reincarnated?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jan looked at him with a complicated expression.

“Wow,” Hilly exclaimed incredulously, voicing the question Jenn hadn’t asked aloud, “How did you manage to say that last sentence so fluently and skillfully?”

Thales coughed and got back to the point:

"Ahem, I said, if, if I were them, then I would do the same."

Jenn's expression froze.

Thales continued:

"Instead of killing little Bolwin from the start, making you alert and retaliate, like you are now: you suppressed the murder, blocked the news, calmed the storm, and avoided chaos, wouldn't that backfire and hinder my own revenge?"

Jenn frowned and remained silent.

Hilly tentatively said:
"Is it possible that they were blinded by hatred when they killed young Bolwin?"

Thales nodded and said:

"It can't be ruled out, after all, people aren't always rational... But, is there another possibility? That they killed Little Bolwin not so that Emerald City would know, but rather..."

"Hold!"

Thales was interrupted, but he and Hillay were astonished: the one who spoke so rudely was none other than the Lord of Emerald City himself.

Jenn clenched his fists, his face contorted with rage.

"What's wrong? What the hell? They don't want Emerald City to know, then who do they want to know...?"

Hilly paused, and her expression changed.

“Misdirection,” she murmured.

Upon hearing this word, Thales' eyes widened: "No way?"

Jann's breathing quickened as he stared intently at the melee in the arena:
"No, no, I have to find Ashford and the Emerald Legion, something's wrong..."

Thales instinctively peeked out, only to suddenly discover:
He didn't know when it started, but the Star Lake Guard had disappeared from his sight.

Strange, where did they go? Did they desert their posts?
Thales felt a vague unease.

“Jane,” Thales swallowed, “who exactly are these remnants of your uncle’s old gang, those who escaped the net in that rebellion? I mean, are there specific names?”

But the next second, Thales felt a tightness on his wrist—Jan grabbed him.

“Jane?” Hilly asked in surprise.

Thales was startled to realize that Jenn was covered in sweat at that very moment.

“Tails,” Jann said with difficulty, “after the Battle of the Night, did that old man, Le Corleone of the Night Kingdom, come looking for you?”

"What? Why?" Thales was confused.

Jenn's hands trembled slightly, and he shook his head: "No, even if it were, it's too late now... The most important thing now is..."

"Brother? Are you alright?" Hillary asked worriedly.

But Jenn ignored her and continued to look at Thales, gritting his teeth as he asked:

"Thales, do you remember the price?"

Jenn stared intently at Thales, making the latter increasingly uneasy.
"What price would you ask for to make a decisive move and save Emerald City in this darkest hour of cataclysmic destruction?"

"What?" Thales was completely confused.

Just then, an accident occurred in the arena.

(End of this chapter)