Kingdom Bloodline

Choose one from Chapter 710

The rest of the team were all taken aback by Miranda's words.

Ahead, Thales stood beside Jenn, staring intently at Federico, who appeared desperate and self-destructive, still puzzled.

“That’s right, cousin, well said… Everyone has to pay the price for their actions…”

Federico gasped for breath under the guards' brutal restraint:

"So you, all of you bystanders, you must understand: if you don't stand up, if you really let him, let Jenn get his way..."

The surrounding vassals and guests exchanged glances.

The prisoner struggled to lift his head and, coincidentally, looked at Thales.

"Then he wins! Jann Kevin Deere, he wins in every way, flawlessly and without any weakness! As for me, I'm doomed, with no chance of recovery, having lost everything, everything! Ha ha ha ha ha ha..."

Federico let out a nasty laugh, and whispers arose among the vassals and guests, many of whom began to doubt his mental state.

Thales met Federico's gaze and frowned involuntarily.

strangeness.

Unlike Anker Bailar at the royal banquet, the former was filled with despair and gloom...

But Federico's smile, besides its somber tone, also gave Thales a vague sense of unease.

It was as if behind his deep, desperate, and all-knowing smile lay an even more terrifying power.

Watch out, Thales.

A voice faintly echoed from the depths of the boy's heart:

This is someone who is willing, even happy, to become a pawn.

Be careful.

"Then the game is completely over, and there's no going back."

Federico stared intently at Thales with a sinister smile.

“Enough, stop talking nonsense. Take him away and let the relevant departments handle it,” Jann replied calmly, turning around. “The election will continue—by the way, do the bets from the last round still count?”

Seychelles gave a snort and waved his hand, at which point soldiers immediately stepped forward and roughly dragged Federico away.

“In this way, justice will be trampled, the law will be tainted, the kingdom’s hopes will be dashed, and we will all be doomed,” Federico roared as he struggled, “all because of certain people’s—last-minute decisions, discretionary decisions!”

At that moment, Thales trembled slightly.

Hilly realized what was happening and her expression changed as well!
what?
what did he say?
Thales instinctively looked at Federico, but the latter had already been turned away by the soldiers, leaving only his back view.

Wait a moment……

strangeness……

"Wait a moment!"

Thales instinctively shouted out.

The second prince, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up, immediately attracting a lot of attention.

Jenn's expression shifted slightly, but his smile remained unchanged as he asked in a low voice:
"Thales?"

Hilly looked at him with equal concern:
“Thales…”

"Your Highness..."

Wyatt hurriedly stepped forward and asked before Rolf could, "What are your orders?"

But Thales ignored them, staring blankly at Federico's retreating figure.

boom!
The next second, the Sin of the River of Hell ignited and struck his eardrums.

In Thales's senses, time seemed to have slowed down.

The world was completely silent.

Thales watched quietly as Federico was dragged away, his mind racing.

why?
Why did Federico do that?
Why did he go on stage to accuse Jenner?

Why did he take such a risk and then foolishly turn himself in?
Why was he so confident, yet had no backup plan?

Why did he surrender and then ramble incoherently?

Why would King Kessel and the Secret Society expect such a man, a fugitive, a desperate exiled nobleman, to shake the seemingly impregnable and flawless Emerald City?

why?
why!
boom!
With a soft thud, the Sin of the Prison River burned ever brighter.

Thales had a sudden inspiration and began to recall the other person's previous words in fits and starts.

And that eerie smile.

A power structure that can control everything... has plenty of... methods...

I walked right into their trap, with no chance of winning...a complete defeat...

As long as Jenn... is the city lord... a fair trial... is impossible...

[You... stood by... didn't step forward... Jenn succeeded... and won... a resounding victory...]

Thus... the kingdom... has fallen... we... are finished... all because of certain people... making hasty decisions and exercising discretion!

In that instant, Thales was jolted awake, his whole body trembling!
That means... no, no, no...

Boom!

The River of Hell crackled and popped.

He got it.

In that instant, he suddenly understood.

Thales steadied himself and stared incredulously at Federico's retreating figure.

The next second, the sin of the River of Hell was incredibly hot, overwhelming all of Thales's senses.

"What's wrong, Prince Thales?"

Time resumed its normal flow, and the noise of the surrounding crowd instantly returned to my ears.

Jenn's voice rang out as he grabbed Thales, who was swaying and suffering from the aftereffects of the Ending Force:

"If you have no further questions, then let us return to our seats..."

“It’s me,” Thales said in a daze.

"what?"

"It's me, it's all me."

“What are you?” Jann asked, startled.

“It’s me! Jenn,” Thales grabbed Jenn’s shoulders, his expression complicated and his words incoherent. “You’re right. You should be worried about me. It’s always been me, from beginning to end! Only me!”

Yes, it was him.

Thales thought blankly.

Federico, or rather, the Secret Society or even King Kessel, their trump card...

It's him.

Yes—Tails Shining Star.

It's always been him.

It was his choice.

Or rather, it's about "he had to make a choice" in the face of Federico's defeat.

Thales stared blankly at Jenn.

Jenn was still completely confused, but Hilly came closer, looking worried.

“Thales? Don’t rush, I know what you’ve discovered, but calm down, we’ll find the answer, just not now…”

Thales took a deep breath, about to explain, but seeing Federico's escort receding into the distance, he shouted to stop them:

"No...no, don't let him go! Bring Federico back!"

Jenn's expression changed:
"Thales?"

The surrounding vassals began to whisper among themselves.

Thales trembled slightly.

Yes, it may be surprising to many, but Federico Kevin-Deer has run out of tricks up his sleeve.

From a bizarre murder case to a shocking public appearance, that's all Federico's methods have to offer.

When the exiled Kevin Deer stepped onto the platform, raised the battle flag to Jann Kevin Deer, announced his return to the entire Emerald City, and incidentally exposed his whereabouts and weaknesses to Jann, Federico had no way out.

There were no other backup plans.

Because he had already chosen his next move.

Because everyone has to pay the price for their actions.

Thales breathed in a daze.

"I'm sorry, Jen."

sorry?
Jann looked at Federico, then at Thales, still puzzled, but with a premonition of something ominous.

"Thales, please, whatever it is, not now."

The Duke's words carried an uncertain warning.

“No, I finally understand,” Thales shook his head, his voice bitter. “It’s now, it can only be now.”

“Please, Thales!” Hilly whispered, glancing at the crowd around him, “Whatever the problem, wait a few more seconds until we can resolve this…”

No.

No.

If we wait a few more seconds...

Thales thought bitterly.

If this problem is "solved" as they expect...

"Your Highness?" Wyatt asked cautiously, but was quickly interrupted by the Duke of South Bank.

"Can't you see?"

Jenn frowned:
"The outcome is decided; Fede's power has waned, and he can no longer cause any trouble! He misjudged the situation, thinking that some in the audience would support him and request a revival of the old case. However, neither the foreign guests nor the vassals were foolish enough to..."

Jann paused at this point.

The next second, he looked at Thales in disbelief.

"you?"

Jenn looked astonished:

"It's you?"

Thales nodded with difficulty, finally managing to catch his breath.

“That’s why, Jenn, because he’s finished,” Thales said, avoiding eye contact. “Jenn, I’m sorry.”

That's right.

Because Federico chose to surrender, he was destined for a crushing defeat; because Jenn was about to sweep away his losing streak and achieve a great victory…

The real choice then fell to Thales.

A person who stands at the center of the scales right now, the only one who can prevent Janne from winning a great victory, save Federico from defeat, and influence the king's chess game.

He had to make a choice.

"Federico!"

Thinking of this, Thales rushed out of the encirclement and shouted:

"Bring him back!"

"Let me hear... his accusations!"

The guards escorting Federico were taken aback; they slowed their pace and instinctively looked back.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the prince's sudden action caused chaos among the surrounding people, and when they heard the prince's command, they were in an uproar.

Wyatt and the Star Lake Guards, who hurriedly caught up with the prince, looked at each other in surprise, and then were shocked!
Thales rushed toward the escort team, his voice strained and bitter:
"Release him, now! In the name of Duke Starlake—no, in the name of His Majesty Kingsel!"

The prince's voice was not loud, but the king's name was even more prestigious. The guards in the escorting procession were equally astonished. Hesitant and wary, they looked at each other, unconsciously loosening their grip and stopping in their tracks.

Federico broke free of his restraints and fell to his knees with a thud.

But he looked up at the sky and smiled.

"Wh-Your Highness, what did you say?" Wyatt grabbed Thales, who was staggering.

Thales shook his head, slowly but decisively pushing Wyatt away. He stood up amidst the pain of the River of Sin and looked at Federico kneeling on the ground.

The Star Lake Guards were completely bewildered, but the Emerald Soldiers, led by Seychelles, glared at them with their hands on their weapons, full of hostility.

“It seems,” only Miranda sighed, drawing her sword, “that the ace has found himself.”

"Thales, what are you trying to do?" Hilly caught up with Thales from behind, utterly shocked.

Before Thales could answer, Jann caught up from the other side. The Duke glanced around, lowered his voice, and angrily warned Thales:
"Don't forget, we talked, we have an agreement!"

"Yes, I know, I know, I'm sorry."

Thales said, stunned.

“But he, Federico, wasn’t targeting you, Janne, not just you… but me too.” He.

Jann's tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed.

A second later, he understood, his expression shifting from anger and dissatisfaction to shock and astonishment: "No..."

Thales nodded and said with difficulty:
“That’s right. I just realized that the reason Federico surrendered so decisively and gave up everything was because his trump card was not anyone else, not a riot, not an assassination, not evidence from an old case, and not the support of his vassals, but, and only—me.”

“Ace? You?” Hilly’s eyes widened.

“Yes, Hilla, he…”

Thales took a deep breath: "Just like you used your own hands to coerce Jenn into submission, Federico, he forced me to choose between bad and worse."

Hilly looked at her gloves,
“Bad, and worse?” Jann looked at Federico kneeling in the center of the escort team and slowly repeated.

"Yes, he staked his own life, tied himself to the outcome, and created the most extreme conditions to force me to take action, to compel me to make a choice."

Hilly's eyes widened.

"At this moment, if I choose not to stand up and help Federico, he will surely fail and never recover, while you will surely win, irreversibly!"

“But you…” Jann said instinctively.

Yes, but...

Thales instinctively clutched the grotesque bone ring in his pocket.

But if he did that...

If the second prince had kept his promise to Jann and chosen to secretly help at this moment, to remain silent and allow Federico to be taken away, imprisoned, jailed, forgotten, and sent into Jann's power structure, thrown into the bottomless abyss of the Emerald City...

Then the matter will proceed smoothly and disappear without a trace.

In this game of chess that began at the Palace of Restoration and ended at the Palace of Emptiness, Janne had won decisively.

Winner takes all.

Big win.

His rule remains as secure as ever, and his position remains unshaken.

Emerald City remains aloof and independent, as solid as a rock.

But that also means that the king has completely lost.

Therefore, Thales' purpose, process, and efforts in coming here are all meaningless.

After the celebration ended, he could only slink away from Emerald City and return to Starlake Castle to face the king's wrath.

Thales' journey to the Emerald City, in which he attempted to find a balance between the King and the South Bank, ended in utter failure.

There wasn't even the slightest chance to salvage the situation.

but……

Thales stroked the Gurtaksa in his hand, feeling it grow heavier and more prickly.

But what if his first mission, his first diplomatic envoy, failed like this, and he returned empty-handed to report back...

So what would King Catherine V think of him?

How should we treat him?

How can I trust you?

The king's voice echoed in my mind:
How do I know what you're saying is true?

How do I know that you truly intend to be used by me, rather than secretly strengthening yourself, building reputation, and gathering support?

How do I know that this isn't like raising a tiger to cause future trouble, making you an unprecedented threat?

“I’m sorry, Jen,” ​​Thales stared blankly at Federico, “but I can’t let you win, I can’t let you win like this, at least not so decisively…”

And what's even worse is...

Thales swallowed hard.

If he returns empty-handed, and Janne remains unmoved, Emerald City will be as secure as Mount Sighs, and South Bank will be as impregnable as a fortress…

Then next time, and the time after that, and the time after that…

What would the king do?
Will the Wrath of the Kingdom come to Emerald City next?
Or is it the legendary Wings?

Will someone like your father accept reality and give up, or will he change his opinion of me and the strength and attitude of the Western Wilderness...?

Falkenhausen's words upon his return home still echoed in my ears:

Go all out, and you'll get a hundredfold return?

"What you're afraid of isn't me winning, nor is it that Federico is losing."

Jenn's voice rang in his ears, pulling Thales back to reality:
"What you're really worried about is... your father?"

Thales opened his eyes in a daze, and the chaotic shouts of the crowd around him seemed to be thousands of miles away.

He nodded slowly.

"Worried about his father?" Hilly looked at Jenn, puzzled. "No, brother, I don't understand..."

“The other one, Anker Bailar?” Jann asked softly, looking at Federico’s disheveled appearance.

“Not only that,” Thales said bitterly, “this time, he didn’t give me—didn’t give us a choice.”

Jann shuddered.

“What are you going to do?” Hilly’s gaze darted between Thales and Federico. “Don’t tell me you’re going to—”

“Believe me, Janne, Hilly,” Thales took several deep breaths to calm himself and bolster his voice, “I must, I have to, I have to do this! But believe me, I will turn things around! This is just a temporary measure, just to gain the upper hand, otherwise my father, my father, he will not forgive or tolerate this…”

The escorts surrounding Federico watched the two dukes, who were clearly negotiating with each other, in a dilemma. The Star Lake Guard and the Emerald Legion stood on opposite sides, wary of each other, while the murmurs of the surrounding crowd grew louder.

Everyone is waiting for the outcome of the negotiations.

Jenn snapped out of his daze and took a deep breath:

"No, wait. As for your father, we will find a way. You and I, Emerald City and Starlake Fortress, we will fight him together..."

“In the future, elsewhere, perhaps,” Thales shook his head helplessly, “but at this time, it’s difficult…”

“We can! We can give him a little something to start,” Jenn gripped Thales’ sleeve tightly, his voice low and rapid. “What does he want? Finance? Taxes? Maritime trade? Even defense. In short, tell him, tell him your work here is paying off…”

No, it's impossible.

Federico's choice was too decisive.

The king's mind was also too cold.

“We can mislead him,” Hilla realized, and she tried to suggest, “You and Jann, you can still pretend to be enemies. We can lie to His Majesty and say that you have successfully threatened the Kevin Deer family. And His Majesty is far away in the capital, unaware of the details, and can only rely on reports from his subordinates…”

"What if he knew?"

Thales answered softly, startling both of them.

The prince raised his head, his gaze blank.

As the River of Hell burned, time seemed to slow down once more.

Only in this way could he feel a little relaxed.

That's right.

A voice quietly rose from the depths of Thales's heart, causing him to freeze in thought:
What if the king already knew?
Thales's heart skipped a beat.

A voice deep within him seemed to possess a magical power, compelling him to voice his most venomous suspicions to the Kevin Deer siblings before him:

"What if His Majesty Kessel, what if he already knew that Federico would use such methods to force me to take action and provoke me into the game?"

Jann and Hilly were both stunned.

"What if my father had foreseen all of this from the beginning, anticipated what Federico would do, and anticipated what choices I would face? Or even deliberately allowed Federico to do this, forcing me to make a choice?"

The bitterness in Thales's voice surprised even himself, but then he was incredulous at his own surprise.

Thales, you shouldn't be surprised, right?
The voice deep within my heart slowly said:
You should have expected this.

"why?"

Hilly looked terrified and asked cautiously.

"Forcing you to choose? Why would he treat you like this, and his own...son?"

why?
Oh, you know why, Thales.

son.

prince.

The voice in his heart answered.

“Because he doubts me,” Thales said blankly. “He doesn’t believe me.”

Hilly's eyes widened.

"why?"

This time, it was Jenn who asked the question, and the Duke was unusually calm, and also unusually somber:

"If that's the case, why didn't he just have Federico come to you from the start? Why didn't he use you as a card from the beginning? Why go through all this trouble? Wasn't he afraid that Federico's plan would fail?"

why?
“Because King Kessel guessed it,” Thales’ voice was weak. “He guessed that I would try to secretly collude with you, even to reach a deal—even though he knew that I had a grudge against you.”

Jann's expression changed slightly.

That's right.

A voice silently echoed in Thales' heart:

He knows, he knows you'll try to be clever, you'll maneuver in the middle, and try to find room to maneuver.

His orders were largely disregarded.

Thales felt the bone ring in his hand growing heavier and colder.

His Majesty knows you too well.

So he set a trap, using Federico to force you to choose:

Either abandon illusions and become utter enemies with the Duke of the South Bank.

Alternatively, they could waver and ruin King Kessel's grand plan.

He pushes the conditions to the extreme, leaving you in a dilemma, without giving you any room for maneuver or middle ground, forcing you to choose between "acting decisively" and "losing everything".

Thinking of this, Thales raised his head, staring blankly at the almost slow-motion scene before him, observing the expressions and movements of everyone:
Jenn glared at her, Hilly was incredulous, DD was panicked, Wyatt was anxious, Miranda was on guard, and Federico was all smiles...

In his daze, Thales seemed to see King Kessel sitting in the Ballard Room of the Palace of Restoration, the lamplight casting shadows on him, sometimes black, sometimes white, sometimes bright.

“Because he wanted to test me,” Thales said wearily, while the Kevin Deer siblings had complicated expressions.

That's right.

A voice deep inside him told him:
The king wants to test you, to see if this sword can truly cut through hair and slicing through iron like mud, and if you are willing to serve as his vanguard.

Or is it that their rebellious intentions are hidden, their rebellious nature is already forged, and they will ultimately turn their blade against their master?
just now……

Either you take a gamble and join him, then he'll trust you to work with him from then on.
Either you lose everything and are eliminated, he will decisively abandon you.

It turned out to be the case.

Thales thought to himself in a daze.

[Make decisions on the spot, exercise discretion.]

So, that's what that sentence really means.

The time has come.

The king will grant himself freedom.

The freedom to make decisions.

Either go all in.

It's either a complete failure.

There is no middle road.

There was no compromise or easing of tensions.

Zero, or one.

Left, or right.

After, or before.

To retreat or to advance.

To die, or to live.

Darkness, or light.

Legend, or throne?
Thinking of this, Thales suddenly remembered the story he had heard in the tavern in Caslan many years ago.

The empire's servants then devised a plan: to find the most renowned man in the North—Quesor, the commander of the Northern Legion who was on leave and recuperating at home—and have him persuade his people... But Quesor did not agree...

Quesso said, "I am loyal to the Empire, but I am a Northman."

The emperor eventually learned of this and issued an edict containing only two words...

"select……"

In the near-frozen state of time and amidst the chaos of the outside world, Thales blankly recites the emperor's edict, revealing the final outcome of this story:

“...Choose one.”

(End of this chapter)