Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 717 Foreign Forces
After reading the letter from the Palace of Restoration, Thales took a deep breath, suppressing his anger and frustration.

But faced with the intense gazes of everyone present, the well-mannered Duke of Xinghu had no choice but to stare intently at the blank page of the letter, pretending to read this extremely short "letter" for a full three minutes. He even paused to drink a couple of sips of tea, sometimes frowning, sometimes nodding, muttering to himself as if enjoying a gentle breeze. After reading it, he closed the letter and pondered deeply, savoring His Majesty's teachings for a long time. Finally, he carefully put the letter away, folded it neatly, and hid it away, giving his subordinates a confident smile.

"Are things going smoothly in the capital?"

When will the relevant authorities take over?

"Is Your Majesty satisfied with the matter of Emerald City?"

"Will the Fuxing Palace send an official to provide support?"

When are we going home?

Will they send regular troops?

How will Emerald City repay its debts?

"What is His Majesty's decision regarding the old Kevin Deer case?"

Faced with the Star Lake Guard's hopeful yet restless questions, Thales confidently waved his hand and answered them one by one, saying that the King's brilliant plan to secure the South Bank had resulted in the loss of the prince and a financial ruin... cough cough, in short, His Majesty Kessel is wise and insightful, the court officials are all shrewd and resourceful, the Restoration Palace has a brilliant and far-reaching plan, and has a comprehensive grasp of the entire Starry Sky territory. He has foreseen the current situation in Emerald City and had made arrangements long ago. However, the true meaning behind this is a secret of the kingdom, decided by the Holy Heart alone, and cannot be easily revealed to the public.

As for where Emerald City will go next, how to handle the specific affairs, and how to solve the practical difficulties, well, Your Majesty knows. Those who understand will understand, and those who don't understand won't understand even if you explain. It's better not to understand than to understand. In short, the truth will come when the time comes. Do you understand?
Therefore, before that, everyone should not worry unnecessarily. Instead, everyone should do their best and stay in their positions. Your contributions to the country's stability and prosperity are immense, regardless of praise or criticism. The officials of the Fuxing Palace will surely see through your efforts and reward you accordingly. However, you must remember that success may not be mine, but your efforts will not be in vain.

This convoluted and bureaucratic explanation temporarily calmed everyone's doubts and restlessness. After everyone dispersed, some excited, some doubtful, and some thoughtful, and returned to their posts, Thales slumped back in his chair and sighed numbly.

I'll decide what to do.
What can I do?
What the hell should I do?

“I suspect that the support the Palace of Restoration can provide will always be limited, and it will take time to prepare,” Marius did not leave; he stayed and closed the door. “In the meantime, His Majesty hopes that you will step forward and shoulder the heavy responsibility, temporarily stabilizing the situation in Emerald City until they are ready to take over the Palace of Emerald, so that you can retire successfully?”

Thales gave a vague "humph" and uttered a rebellious remark:

"Have you ever considered becoming king, Thor?"

Marius frowned, but having served the Star for a long time and being experienced in matters of rebellion, he remained calm and composed, replying without flinching:
"Yes—when I was five years old, I was playing house until my great-uncle slapped me and crushed my rebellious ambitions."

“Your great-uncle has misjudged you,” Thales said sarcastically, looking at the letter in his hand. “You should know that you are far more eloquent than our king.”

“Perhaps he misjudged me, but at least I won’t be hanged for treason,” Marius retorted without changing his expression, “or worry about how to fill the hole of 1,178,653 gold coins.”

Duke Xinghu trembled upon hearing this, and ultimately succumbed to defeat after being struck in a vital spot by his opponent, collapsing onto the table.

"Your Highness?"

“It’s alright, Emerald City has a self-sustaining mechanism; at worst, it just can’t squeeze out the money,” Thales said, struggling to pull himself up from the table like a drowning man in his final struggle. “At least it hasn’t run into any major trouble—what’s going on?”

Thales paused, then suddenly stood up and walked to the window.

"Your Highness?" Marius was about to ask a question when he was interrupted by a series of urgent knocks on the door.

"Your Highness! Local officials have sent another urgent report!" DD practically burst into the study. "They say there's trouble in Emerald City, it happened right here—"

“On Ruhsan Street, right?” Thales asked without turning his head.

Doyle was taken aback:
"How do you know?"

Thales, his face grim, turned around and pointed out the window:

Within the bustling Emerald City, a thin yet solid column of black smoke broke through the obstruction of numerous buildings, accompanied by distant, faint flames, and shot straight into the sky.

Marius and DD both changed color.

A few minutes later, when Thales hurriedly left the palace surrounded by his entourage, and the guards and sentries struggled to push the crowds through to reach Ruhsan Street in the Glory District, his face had never looked so grim.

This normally bustling market street was now strictly sealed off by the Emerald Legion and its guards, with police tape erected to firmly block the crowds trying to get a glimpse of the spectacle. Thales and his group broke through the cordon and were shocked by what they saw:

Sometime during the day, the once gleaming streets were burned black and unrecognizable. Many stalls and shops were destroyed and left in ruins. Countless goods and debris were scattered all over the ground, unattended. Bright red blood splattered everywhere, mixed with the dirt and dust, making them indistinguishable. Not to mention the limbs, intestines, and broken iron bars and knives scattered everywhere...

Countless people lay on the ground, some lying, some sitting, some sprawled, some trembling in each other's arms, some struggling and groaning, some blankly motionless, some desperately calling for help. The healers and priests of the Sunset Temple and the church hurried in and out, rescuing the living and transporting the wounded, working tirelessly until they were covered in sweat without rest. The priests of the Night Temple chanted scriptures in hushed tones, directing believers to set up stretchers and, amidst the wailing and lamentation of the families, to carry away the confirmed dead, even the charred, blackened corpses...

The firefighters were all covered in soot, and the last team was still pulling hoses and cranking levers to extinguish the last few flames amidst billowing white smoke; the sentry officers were ashen-faced, never putting down their batons or swords and shields while on duty; the Emerald Legion's cavalry, in groups of three, rode tall horses, patrolling from one street to another, guarding the surroundings; further away in the dark alleys, several teams of sentry officers brandished their batons, forcing groups of people to line up, hands behind their heads, and stand against the wall, before proceeding to conduct brutal body searches...

The air was thick with the nauseating smell of burning and blood. Groans, wails, sobs, shouts, roars, accusations... a cacophony of noises mingled together with the horrifying scene of devastation, making Rukhsan Street seem like a living hell.

Thales and his party walked through the wounded and bloodied streets with disbelief to reach the center of the street, where the officials and representatives of the various government offices of Emerald City were waiting. They were quite uneasy and apprehensive about the prince's arrival.

The incident happened around noon today. It is said that two groups of idle thugs had a conflict at a nearby warehouse. It started with some verbal arguments, which then escalated into a fight.

The incident was initially minor, but both sides became quite angry and called on their friends and acquaintances to join the fight. Within an hour, the two groups had grown to over two hundred people, and the conflict quickly escalated from a standoff and provocation into a large-scale brawl. One side gained the upper hand due to its numerical advantage, while the other side was forced to retreat and flee. However, the problem was that they kept heading towards crowded places—Ruhsan Street.

The incident happened suddenly. A group of desperate men, armed and covered in blood, were coming menacingly into the market. The large number of travelers, tourists, and merchants were caught off guard. Many people fled in panic, and families were separated. In the midst of the panic, someone accidentally knocked over an oil lamp, causing a fire and making the scene even more chaotic.

As the fire spread, amidst countless screams, rumors, flames, and thick smoke, the densely packed crowd surged uncontrollably, fleeing desperately in one direction through the narrow streets and alleys, triggering even more severe crushing and stampedes. More innocent passersby were caught in the crossroads, ultimately escalating into a human tragedy with serious consequences and a terrible impact.

"Upon hearing the news, the Security Department and the Emerald Legion quickly deployed, prioritizing the safety of citizens' lives and property. They arrived promptly, took immediate action to stop the conflict, restore order, and successfully prevented the situation from escalating further. Meanwhile, the Fire Department quickly assembled ten teams, following their usual training procedures and the instructions of the leaders present..." the Emerald City Security Department Chief said awkwardly.

"What about casualties?" Thales interrupted him impatiently, not wanting to hear any more of that bureaucratic nonsense.

"The Temple of the Underworld is still taking stock, Your Highness, but the number of bodies carried away on the spot alone is more than thirty, and there are many more critically injured..." Another younger official, covered in sweat, soot, and blood, didn't bother with pretense or deception, "The priests of the Underworld have recalled all their manpower. They have to temporarily place the bodies in the shade outside the temple because the temple is under renovation, and there aren't many funeral parlors available. We have enough Crystal Rebirth Platforms, but we're still waiting for the high-purity Eternal Oil for cremation to be delivered, because..." "We haven't dealt with such large-scale casualties since the Bloody Years..." "The number of wounded is countless, ranging from the most severe burns, knife wounds, and fractures to blunt force injuries, trampling injuries, crush injuries, and bruises... We coordinated with the Sunset Temple and the church. The priests at Sunset Temple sent out all the physicians and nuns they could, and the clergy opened churches and monasteries to serve as wards. The Iris Academy even mobilized a large number of medical apprentices, and even used the medicine reserves stored for the war..."

"The businesses on Ruhsan Street have all suffered heavy losses, Your Highness. Every single one is demanding compensation, but that's not all," another market official said worriedly. "What's truly damaged is people's confidence in the order of the Emerald City. Now, citizens and tourists, especially those living near the Glory District, are very afraid. Ruhsan Street should be at its most bustling during the Emerald Festival, but now... and everyone is closing their doors and windows, and businesses are avoiding the area. How will they do business if this continues..."

Thales grew increasingly heavy-hearted as he listened.

"Many family members are still gathered outside the temple and guard post, crying and demanding to see their missing relatives... Of course, Your Highness, we will not show any leniency to those who are instigated by unknown forces and dare to cause trouble at the gate of Kongming Palace. We will arrest and deal with them one by one..."

"The alert department reacted too slowly and arrived too late. If they had intervened as soon as things started to escalate..."

"What are you saying? Isn't the market under your jurisdiction? How exactly are you managing the market and supervising the guild? You didn't receive any prior warning or take any precautions..."

"We're only responsible for managing the market and trading order, not maintaining order! It's clearly your poor planning and lack of manpower! If the reinforcements had arrived in time..."

"Then you can open fewer markets and earn a few less coins—it won't kill you! Do you know how late my people have to work every day during the celebrations?"

"Do you even know where your salary comes from? We can reduce the number of markets we operate, as long as you accept the pay cuts obediently and keep quiet..."

"They're all those damned troublemakers, barbaric, despicable, selfish, and vile. Why can't they resolve any conflicts or grievances through proper negotiation? Is the rule of law and civilization in Emerald City just for show? Don't they know how to call the police or the authorities when they have a problem? Why don't they go to court and file a lawsuit? All they do all day is cause trouble and create chaos..."

"Among them are many petty criminals, despicable by nature, and of low character. Many are audacious thugs who want to take advantage of the chaos to cause trouble and rob people..."

"In my opinion, we should learn from the capital and launch a cleanup operation to wipe out all the vagrants, beggars, outsiders, and cowardly thugs hiding in the city's corners and sewers, and all the parasites sucking blood from Emerald City—"

"enough!"

The prince roared, silencing the officials present.

Marius coughed softly:
"Please give your instructions, Your Highness?"

His Highness frowned, only then remembering his identity.

Looking at the timid and fearful officials before him, he had to sigh deeply, suppress his anger, and, imitating the calm and rational demeanor of Jenn in his memory, first gently comforted the officials, praising their handling of the situation and forgiving their mistakes. After this period of polite appeasement, amidst the officials' tearful gratitude and eulogies, he abruptly changed his tone and solemnly gave the order:

The Emerald Legion and the Security Bureau worked overtime to increase patrols in several busy areas to maintain order and ensure that such incidents would not happen again, assuring the public that Emerald City was still safe. The Government Office promptly posted notices to inform the public of the truth, appease the people, and do its utmost to treat the injured, give the deceased a dignified burial, and handle the aftermath. Market officials worked diligently to visit and comfort affected merchants and shops, compensate them for their losses, and restore their reputation and confidence.

As for Thales himself, on the advice of several officials, he went to the Temple of Sunset and the Temple of the Night under heavy guard to visit and comfort the wounded, mourn the dead amidst weeping and wailing, and at the same time tell the people present that the Emerald City authorities have taken measures to protect the safety of citizens and ensure that such incidents will not happen again.

Finally, the officials assured Thales that they would do their utmost to handle the aftermath, guide public opinion, and inform everyone that the tragedy was a natural disaster, an accident, and a coincidence, and had nothing to do with His Highness Thales, who had just taken power. They would ensure that no one doubted the Duke of Starlake's governing ability and competence...

Thales' face grew darker and darker as he listened, but due to various constraints, he couldn't lash out on the spot ("Why don't they just call me 'jinx' to my face?"—the prince complained to the teddy bear), so he could only hastily return to the palace.

“This is absolutely no coincidence,” Paul declared confidently on the way back to the palace.

“Of course not,” DD rarely agreed with him. “Such a thing happened on His Highness’s first day in power, and it was a casualty that ‘hasn’t happened since the Bloody Year.’ Who would believe that?”

“Kevindil, he must be the one directing all this from behind the scenes,” Neshi said indignantly. “Although he is imprisoned, there must be someone in the Empty Palace who is secretly in league with him, arranging all this to undermine His Highness’s rule and ruin our reputation…”

“Luckily, Emerald City has money,” Kommuto said, still shaken. “These things can be settled with money…”

Thales, sitting in the carriage, frowned slightly upon hearing this, his face grim.

Marius and Stoddard, who were in charge, exchanged a glance.

“Ha,” DD chuckled sarcastically, “Believe me, the only thing that can be solved with money is money itself.”

“Then what do we do?” Wyatt asked worriedly. “Before His Highness came here, Duke Janne was the supreme ruler of Emerald City. In the entire Emerald City, there were probably only a few people who did not secretly collude with him.”

"The primary task is to maintain stability and consolidate rule."

Paul pondered for a moment:

"Block all information about the scene, post notices to the public, blame the incident on foreigners causing trouble, arrest a few foreign criminals with criminal records, and tell the citizens that there are local traitors colluding with foreign forces to sabotage Emerald City, such as the barbarians of Exter or the pirates of Kase. If all else fails, say it's some great power across the sea..."

“Really? Foreign forces?” Morgan, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up, his words laced with sarcasm.

Paul seemed somewhat surprised, but still answered in a deep voice:

"This matter was deliberately orchestrated by someone; that is the truth. We merely altered our wording slightly to at least divert attention and quell any doubts the outside world may have about His Highness..."

“Before the Year of Blood,” Morgan interrupted him with a cold laugh, “those damned nobles of the Blade's Edge Territory posted proclamations and preached every day, saying that the rebels on the border were just a bunch of bandits, a small group of villains, funded by foreigners hostile to the kingdom, and instigated by demagogues. They claimed there was no extortion by the vassal lords, no exploitation by the noble lords, and no discontent or complaints from the people. They said, ‘Under King Eddy’s rule, the people live in peace, the court is enlightened, and the villains in the shadows have nowhere to hide.’”

Morgan looked at him with disdain:
"Hmph, back and forth, whatever the higher-ups say and teach, the lower-ups praise and flatter them accordingly. You tease me and I fawn over you, and they've even started to believe it themselves."

Paul was speechless and closed his mouth.

"Until one day, the big shots in the Blood Gate Palace, who were living a life of debauchery, turned around and found that there were rebel villains everywhere, all of them starving with bloodshot eyes, holding blood-dripping pitchforks, wishing they could skin the nobles alive."

The group was quite surprised to see Morgan so talkative, as it was the first time they had ever seen him so talkative.

“This excuse of foreign forces is useless. It’s fine to use it a few times in a critical moment,” Morgan stared at the distant sky, his eyes full of hatred. “If we use it too much and rely on it every time, it will lose its effectiveness.”

"Even if it were true, no one would believe it anymore."

After he finished speaking, the entire team fell silent.