Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 726 Under the Night
Legend has it that five hundred years ago, on the night Prince Hyman married Miss Regina, the people of Emerald City, spared from the ravages of war, wept with joy and spontaneously organized a city-wide, all-night celebration:

People paraded with torches, danced wildly, sang, and drank heartily. Hyman and Regina, the newlyweds, wearing their wedding wreaths, walked hand in hand out of the palace and joined the people in their dancing. They received cheers from the crowd and blessings from the entire city, bringing that joyous night to its climax.

This is the origin of the "Never-ending Feast" in the later "Queen's Day" and Jade Festival.

On this night every year, Emerald City has no curfew, no locked doors, and no restrictions on gatherings. Streets and alleys are lit up all night long, allowing people to sing, dance, hold banquets, set off fireworks, and celebrate all the beauty and happiness worth praising.

Although the Duke of Jann has lost power and the Kongming Palace has changed hands in the past few days, causing panic throughout the city, with many people either closing their doors or fleeing the city, tonight, for the sake of livelihood, many shopkeepers, vendors, and merchants who had prepared for a long time and planned to make a fortune from the celebration still gritted their teeth and continued to work and welcome customers, hoping to recoup some of their losses during the night of the banquet. In addition, there were patrolling soldiers and guards, market and road officials with long faces, craftsmen and porters working silently, and some tourists from afar who enjoyed watching the excitement. Although this year's all-night banquet was not as bustling and crowded as in the past, it was still passable and lived up to its name.

Except for one place.

As night fell, King Lausanne II walked silently through the streets and alleys outside the North Gate Bridge—or rather, through the ditches and dirt roads separated by crooked bungalows—his figure blending perfectly into the darkness.

Compared to the bright lights and bustling crowds in other parts of the city, the area outside the North Gate Bridge was dimly lit and deserted, whether it was houses, streets, or squares.

Only the bright moon in the sky shines equally on all people, illuminating the entire world.

In the air thick with a faint, fishy stench, homeless stray cats chase mice in the gutter, while wild crows in the tree branches cackle at the moon.

In the distance, from a dilapidated house where the lights had long been extinguished, came the sounds of a couple arguing ("What's wrong with picking some herbs? Who the hell am I earning money for? Who! You think it's not enough? If you think it's not enough, then don't bother!") and a child crying in fear. Heavy objects slammed to the ground, cups and plates shattered, and the dog chained outside barked incessantly, attracting even more barking from afar...

Such scenes are common in the poor streets and alleys of the new suburbs outside Beimen Bridge, giving people a drowsy, gloomy, and numb feeling.

Just like his past.

Under the moonlight, Losang II felt the weight and warmth of the longsword on his back, expressionless as he stepped across a filthy ditch and then swept past a row of crooked fences.

A large dog tied to the fence sensed the stranger and growled menacingly, but the moment he approached, it trembled, lowered its tail, and scurried back into a corner, shivering.

Intelligent, perceptive, good at assessing situations, and a bully who preys on the weak.

King Lausanne II kept his gaze fixed on the road and continued walking.

But that's why you'll always just be a dog with its head on a leash.

You can only see the view as far as the dog leash can reach.

The next moment, King Losang II's steps faltered, and his face contorted in pain!

Not good.

Again!
In an instant, all the muscles in his body involuntarily tightened, twitched, and contorted...

Starting from his heart, every organ and tissue in his body began to roar, struggle, and tremble, yearning for killing and plunder, and repeatedly transmitting this impulse to his brain, like a raging storm crashing against the shore.

Yes, the brain.

His fragile, empty, dazed brain, after enduring endless torment, had long since lost much of its rationality.

Thinking of this, King Losang II's face hardened, he clenched his fist and swung his arm, striking his chest with tremendous force!
boom!
"Quiet," he said to them.

His heart, nestled beneath his ribs, trembled slightly, contracting violently under the weight of injury and pain.

But King Losang II, his face contorted with rage, threw another punch without hesitation!
boom!
Quiet, quiet, quiet!

Lausanne II's eyes trembled as he roared and warned his uncontrollable organs and tissues.

Listen to me.

mine!

I!
But this time, every part of his body was desperately resisting him, struggling wildly, yearning to overwhelm his will, drown his reason, and seize his spirit.

King Lausanne II gritted his teeth.

Of course, he was injured and poisoned.

They were greatly affected and certainly not satisfied—although they were relieved and recovered, the rare and deadly poison that the old judge had put in the wine had far-reaching consequences, and it took him a whole day to recover.

But he knew he couldn't back down or compromise.

Because they will never be satisfied.

Then the evil spirits began to murmur.

"Then have a drink with me, kid."

In my memory, the old judge, on his deathbed, raised his glass, took a small sip, and showed an expression of enjoyment:
"Let me tell you everything, and you will understand."

This scene caused Lausanne II to tremble slightly, becoming a part of his indelible memory.

He remembered that he had already seen through everything, so he confidently reached out and raised the glass under the old judge's slightly nervous gaze.

"I know you poisoned it."

Through the glass, he saw with satisfaction that the old man's eyes flickered and his expression changed drastically.

It was a feeling of shock and regret, resentment and disappointment.

“But out of respect, I’d like to share a drink with you, Mr. Brennan,” he said, a grin spreading across his face, “for your courage and boldness.”

And the will to endure pain.

He smiled, tilted his head back with a flourish, and drank the poisoned wine in one gulp.

Not bad.

It is a fine wine.

It was worth the price he paid for the poison in the alcohol.

I wonder which high-ranking nobleman was qualified to enjoy this before?

He put down his glass again, and unsurprisingly, he saw the old judge's confusion, bewilderment, and bewilderment.

And the unbelievable things he did were beyond expectation.

"Why, why?"

The old man stood up tremblingly, his face showing the pain of the poison taking effect—how could the other party, an ordinary old man who was powerless, endure it?
why?
But he just chuckled and didn't reply.

why?
You wouldn't understand anyway.

Until the alcohol poisoning in his body also began to take effect.

But at that moment, he met the old judge's gaze.

The old man was stunned, then suddenly understood something.

“I understand, child. I’ve seen people like you before…”

Despite his agonizing expression due to the deadly poison, the old man's words became incredibly gentle, even tinged with a hint of melancholy:

"You want to let go of something, but the pain is unbearable; you want to hold onto something, but you feel lost and empty..."

Perhaps the poison was taking effect, for he shuddered and instinctively stood up!
"You understand too little, and you don't understand too much... You don't know what to be loyal to, so you can only grit your teeth, bow your head, numb your surroundings, and slightly alleviate the pain and depression..."

Perhaps due to the effects of the poisoned wine, he was struck as if by a heavy blow, and took a step back in shock, accidentally knocking over his chair.

The elderly man could not hold on any longer and collapsed to the ground in pain.

“It’s alright, child, I’ve been there too,” the judge on the ground forced a smile, making a trembling, sunset-like dying prayer for him. “It’s alright, in the end you’ll understand, it will pass, it will all pass…”

The old man's words came to an abrupt halt, and the light in his eyes gradually faded.

But a sense of inexplicable fear welled up inside him, and he retreated in a daze until he fell to the ground.

why?
Perhaps as a result of the poisoned wine, his muscles began to tremble and his blood began to roar.

A long-lost fear suddenly struck, leaving him nowhere to escape.

Why, why did that old man's last look...

With pity and...

pity?

No.

Why sympathy?

He was in a daze, staggered and struggled to his feet, smashing through the window.

Pounce into the deep darkness.

They rushed toward his last refuge.

Do not!
On the path near the North Gate Bridge, King Losang II suddenly opened his eyes!

roll.

roll!
Get out of my brain!

roll!
He trembled all over, fighting desperately against this unruly and powerful body while trying to pull himself back from his past memories.

Listen to me!

Amidst the pain and numbness, he tried his best to focus his attention on the sword behind him, recalling and dissecting various sword moves and styles from simple to complex, from basic to advanced, and mentally simulating and practicing them time and time again, forgetting reality in the midst of martial arts and the wind of the sword.

Silent Cicada Sword... Forged Blade Weapon Technique... Fearful Kill... Divine Instruction... Sea of ​​Fire and Gale... Legion Ten Styles... Thorn Rapier... Heavenly Music Dance...

Finally, when the young Joaquin Knight appeared in his mind for the twenty-eighth time, ordering the even younger Joaquin to slow down and concentrate to maximize the effect of the "Triumphal March," he successfully suppressed the tremors and struggles throughout his body, regained his shaky sanity, and the riots in various parts of his body gradually subsided.

The evil spirits unwillingly fell silent.

Perhaps it was only a fraction of a second, but without a doubt, he won another dangerous duel and survived the ordeal.

Ever since his battle with the ever-changing, bizarre monster in the sewers, which caused him to suddenly lose control, similar struggles have only become more dangerous, pushing his sanity to the brink of collapse.

Will he be so lucky next time?

Losang II regained control of his body, felt the weight of the sword again, exhaled, and continued forward.

The moonlight was desolate, and the surrounding bungalows and huts became even quieter.

The sounds of breathing in each house grew fainter, and even the crowing of roosters and barking of dogs became much less frequent.

Born and raised here, Lausanne II knew that as the cheapest and shortest-established administrative district in Emerald City (he even doubted whether there were any dedicated government officials outside the North Gate Bridge), the new suburbs housed mostly low-level workers and servants from all walks of life in the city.

At this moment, they either carry their tools into the city to work diligently in shops, workshops, warehouses, docks, or even the mansions of wealthy families, where they can only go home after dawn (especially on nights of feasting and celebration), or they have no work to do and nothing to do. It's better to turn off the lights early and go to sleep, saving firewood, oil, and food, and then get up early the next day to find work in or even outside the city that can earn them cash.

It seems that just across the bridge, the bright and warm lights of Emerald City, with its exciting and alluring scenery, have nothing to do with their lives.

The renowned Jade Festival, a place of unbridled pleasure, was nothing more than another opportunity to earn money through manual labor in their eyes. At most, the boss would pay wages a little more on these days, and the guests would give slightly more tips.

As for the Kongming Palace, which stands atop a high slope and giant rock in the city, with its iris banner fluttering high, welcoming and sending off countless dignitaries, representing the highest power on the south bank, it is merely a colossal god that inspires awe and reverence, yet is always far away and unattainable.

They are detached from worldly affairs and have no involvement in worldly matters.

Thinking of this, King Lausanne II clenched his fist.

The bottle doesn't contain wine, Lausanne.

Turnbull once said that to him.

"You once thought there was wine in the bottle, which is why you've ended up like this..."

King Lausanne II suddenly raised his head and stared at the brightly lit palace in the distance.

"So, do you want to know what's in the bottle?"

No.

He shouldn't have needed to know or care about these things.

He should have lived the same life as everyone else, living in a daze, repeating the life of the previous generation under the constant admonitions and well-intentioned advice of his elders: "Oh, living in Emerald City is pretty good," "Working is better than farming or fishing outside," and "At least we have the rules of the officials to protect us."

As long as he doesn't run into Handro Joaquin.

As long as he doesn't become a knight's squire.

As long as he doesn't grip the hilt of the sword tightly.

As long as he doesn't look up.

As long as he doesn't...

and many more.

Sensing something, King Lausanne II looked around in the alley.

so quiet.

It's so quiet.

It's too quiet.

Even if this is the North Gate Bridge in the Never-Sleeping Banquet Tour.

King Lausanne II slowly raised his head.

In the distance, a long-abandoned watchtower stands silently in the moonlight.

Like an old man who is very old.

In the darkness, he stared at the watchtower for a very long time.

Having experienced countless battles and narrowly escaped death, King Lobsang II was all too familiar with such scenes.

He knows what it is.

A trap.

A dangerous trap intended to hunt him down.

Everything is clear in my mind.

King Lausanne II took a deep breath and suddenly felt a long-lost sense of exhilaration.

His body began to stir with excitement again.

Yes, did they say "yes," "okay," or "go"?
King Lausanne II sensed it.

This is a rare instance of tacit understanding between them.

It was the moment when they, as eternal enemies, were united in purpose and reached a compromise.

Then go for it.

The next second, he became one with his mind and body, took a step and leaped onto the open roof.

Under the cover of night and the moonlight, the assassin revealed an almost morbid smile.

He made no attempt to conceal himself and strode toward the watchtower.

----

Thales put down his binoculars.

At this moment, he stood atop a five-story abandoned watchtower, overlooking a small part of the new suburbs—or, as the locals would say, beyond the bridge—countless bungalows and shacks under the desolate moonlight.

Compared to the ever-burning lights and dazzling colors of other parts of the city, the entire new suburbs appeared dim, desolate, and pitch black.

Pitch black...

Under the moonlight, Thales felt something and looked up at the brightly lit Kongming Palace in the distance, as bright as day, and then at the dim streets below the tower.

"What I see with my own eyes..."

Thales murmured, uttering his ancestor's cold and indifferent saying: "Nothing but darkness."

But no sooner had the prince finished speaking than another steady voice echoed from the air, continuing Thales's words:
"The flame of civilization is urgently needed to illuminate the wilderness."

Thales frowned upon hearing this:

Suddenly, a strange figure appeared beside him, standing shoulder to shoulder with him on the tower, looking down at the countless houses tangled together.

The sudden appearance of the uninvited guest caused a small commotion among the Star Lake Guards who were guarding the top and bottom of the tower. Many of them were about to rush to the top floor to protect the emperor, until Marius, who was standing at the other end of the tower, heard this and ordered his men to remain calm.

"If I remember correctly, this should be John Blackeye's reply to Prime Minister Halva before his expedition to Exter."

The unexpected visitor spoke softly, as if afraid of disturbing the pitch-black silence before them:

"It's just that the first half is catchy, so it spreads more widely and became his nickname."

Thales scoffed softly.

The flame of civilization.

“That black-eyed man wasn’t wrong,” the boy shook his head at the cluster of houses below, “if war can be considered the ‘fire of civilization’.”

The guest next to him remained silent for a while.

“That’s true,” the guest said, speaking in the Western Common Language with perfect pronunciation, even carrying a touch of the ancient imperial language, but lacking any emotion. “You should know that in the past, wherever the Black Eyes army’s iron hooves trod, the villages, towns, fortresses, and palaces of the North were all set ablaze with raging fires, spreading like wildfire across the land. It can only be said that they ‘illuminated the wilderness.’”

Thales laughed, a sarcastic laugh.

He turned around and gave his guest a proper look.

"You're really hard to invite, Earl Li. I heard that Butler Ashford went through several middlemen, going through seven or eight roundabouts, and only managed to get the invitation to you at night?"

From the land of night across the ocean, Le Corleone, with a Far Eastern appearance, bowed slightly:

"Your Highness, please forgive us. For reasons that are well known, the place where our clan chooses to rest when we go out is of utmost importance and must be handled with utmost care and absolute secrecy."

Thales observed the vampire envoy's meticulous etiquette and felt the other's deathly aura. He remained silent for a while before finally smiling.

"I understand. I guess the other one is having the same problem?"

Another fresh and confident voice rang out to Thales' left:

"Not necessarily."

Upon hearing that voice, Li remained motionless, while Thales turned his head to look in the other direction.

“If you want to find me, two ravens will suffice,” a handsome young man dressed in fine clothes appeared silently to Thales’ left. “Even if someone follows their flight path to find my hiding place, I will have time to react.”

He looked down at the layers of rooftops below the tower and clicked his tongue in disapproval.
"After all, times have changed."

Li remained motionless, his gaze as hard as stone.

It was as if they didn't hear it, or disdained to hear the other party's sarcasm.

"Good night, Yannick." Thales smiled and nodded.

Yannick Fraser Hollier, acting master of the Renewal Court and member of the Immortal Council of Feastland, laughed heartily and bowed to Thales.

And so, Thales stood in the middle, flanked by two vampires from the East and West. One remained silent, while the other smiled faintly, but there was a strange pressure in the air that made everyone nervous.

“I won’t waste any more words,” Thales said after standing for a while, too lazy to deal with the past grudges between the two vampires, and went straight to the point. “I believe you all know that Emerald City has encountered some minor trouble these past few days.”

A minor inconvenience.

Yannick smiled.

"It's just a minor obstacle. I'm sure that with Prince Thales' abilities..."

But Thales didn't let him continue.

"A killer."

The prince's expression was serious, and his tone was stern:
"To be precise, he was a ruthless assassin whose strength had reached its peak. He indiscriminately killed, took lives, and sought revenge in Emerald City, disrupting order and arousing public outrage."

Yannick's expression turned serious, but Li's expression remained unchanged.

"therefore……"

Thales paused for a moment, then turned around with his hands behind his back. Bathed in moonlight, he appeared even more radiant and righteous.
"I invited you two here tonight precisely to ask for your help in capturing the culprit and restoring order to the city." There was a long silence on the watchtower.

Both guests remained motionless, seemingly digesting Thales' meaning.

"what?"

Several seconds later, Li from the Night Kingdom spoke softly: "We? Capture the assassin?"

Thales smiled politely.

"Forgive my bluntness, Your Highness," Yannick scrutinized Thales with a meaningful look in his eyes, "You currently rule the Sky Palace and command the Emerald Legion, with a wealth of talented individuals under your command. Moreover, the royal family is wealthy, and a reward of a thousand pieces of gold will surely attract brave men. Why then do you seek out our vampires? Just say it: are you looking for universally despised vampires as henchmen?"

Thales took a deep breath, turned around, and looked out of the watchtower.

“Because,” he said playfully in the moonlight, “it’s nighttime now.”

For the first time, the two vampires from the East and West exchanged a glance.

"So what do you think?"

No one spoke, but Thales was very patient.

“Your Highness, please forgive me,” Li finally responded, but what she said made Thales’ smile fade, “I am here on behalf of Corleone and the Kingdom of Night, and I am on a mission to the stars. It is inconvenient for me to take sides—especially between the Starry Sky Royal Family and the Kevindir Family.”

“I see…” Thales said thoughtfully.

“I would be happy to help, Your Highness.”

Thales' eyes lit up, and he turned to the other side.

“Thank you, Yannick,” the prince said, his tone sharpening, his wariness undiminished, “but?”

Yannick smiled broadly.

"However—as a member of the Immortal Council, my every move affects the diplomacy of two countries. If I arbitrarily intervene in the internal affairs of another country and make a mistake that offends the superior nation, then when I return to Feast Territory, the other members of the council, well, whether they are allies, political enemies, peers, or elders, will probably not let me off easily."

Thales narrowed his eyes, sensing something amiss:

"unless?"

Yannick smiled, but didn't use the words Thales had given him:

"Of course, the other councilors have not set foot on the stars for a long time and are unaware of the current situation. But if they knew that Your Highness, as the heir to the kingdom, is magnanimous, trustworthy, and has no prejudice against the Feast Territory, but is friendly and warm, and thus regard you as an ally, they would probably not object to my helping you?"

Heir to the Kingdom...

Treating each other as allies...

"What do you mean?" Thales asked softly.

Li, standing to the side, sneered.

Yannick ignored his kinsman, only bowing slightly:

"Perhaps then I can confidently and wholeheartedly provide support for you in governing Emerald City—and perhaps other matters as well?"

Thales pondered for a moment.

"I thought we were friends?"

“Yes,” Yannick said without any pretense, “so friendships need to be maintained—you help me, I help you?”

Thales did not speak.

“The relatives of the Feast Territory are close to Commas, and they are used to being shrewd and calculating, even more cunning than before their reincarnation,” Li said, gazing at the bright moon in the sky without changing his expression. “Your Highness must have been prepared to suffer losses by associating with them.”

Yannick laughed heartily.

“Speaking of which, a friend of mine, the sixth member of the Immortal Council, Damian Mercid, once said something,” the handsome vampire glanced at Li, “that a shrewd merchant is always better than a robber?”

Li remained silent.

"In that case, forget it."

Thales sighed.

The two vampires bowed in unison, their expressions remaining unchanged, revealing neither their attitude nor reaction.

Then Thales' eyes lit up, and he pulled a letter from his pocket.

“Oh, right, Yang, I almost forgot,” he said apologetically, as if he had just remembered, “I’ve written a reply to Serena. Would you please take it to her?”

Upon hearing this, Yannick's smile froze.

Li slowly shifted his gaze to his clansman, speaking to him for the first time tonight.

"So, the younger generation of the Hollier family are you and your family sheltering Corleone's wanted criminals?"

Yannick tightened the muscles in his cheeks and fell silent between Thales's burning gaze and Li's icy stare.

He sighed, but ultimately ignored the latter's murderous intent and gracefully accepted Thales's envelope.

"Your Highness, you are truly magnanimous."

Thales raised an eyebrow, about to say something to smooth things over.

"Did you make this decision, or did your mother make it?"

Li refused to let the other party go:
"Is it only the Holliell family that's provoking Corleone, or the entire Dark Council of cowards?"

This time, however, Yannick seemed determined to ignore this elder from the Eastern Continent, only giving Thales a helpless, wry smile:

“If I were you, Your Highness, facing the cunning and treacherous Corleone, and especially that Ms. Serena, I would simply not reply.”

Yannick put the envelope away and sighed.

"And I don't have to see her again—to be honest, this family isn't very promising."

Li's gaze grew even colder.

"Where is she?"

This vampire with a Far Eastern appearance spoke in a voice barely audible, yet it was menacing and chilling to the bone:

"A sinner, Serena Corleone?"

The atmosphere was tense, and Thales, caught in the middle, couldn't help but frown.

"Why, Count Li of the Night Kingdom?"

Finally, after a few seconds of silence, Yannick Hollier stopped backing down. His eyes flashed with a sharp light:

"Why would a high-ranking official like yourself send an envoy to the stars at this time?"

Li did not answer, but continued to stare at Yannick with an unfriendly gaze.

Koyanick continued:
"Was it the Night Queen, whose throne is teetering on the brink of collapse, who made this decision, or the Nightwing King, who is said to have disappeared after abdicating the throne and will 'return soon'?"

Li's aura grew even colder.

Thales stood in the middle, feeling the tense atmosphere between the two sides.

Well, no wonder when facing the vampire forces, Jenn either doesn't invite them at all, or he insists on inviting both sides.

“It actually worked,” he murmured.

Without warning, as soon as Thales finished speaking, the two vampires turned their heads at the same time, their cold gazes piercing the prince!
Like two long swords, they forced the boy to his death on the spot.

Even someone as battle-hardened as Thales couldn't help but feel a lump in his throat.

It seems they are fully aware of their own intentions.

Moreover, the visitor is not well-intentioned.

He had to cough forcefully to change the subject:
"Well, the moonlight is just right, let's not talk about these unpleasant things..."

Under the increasingly tense atmosphere and two unfriendly gazes that felt like sharp blades, Thales steeled himself and reached into his pocket again, pulling out the next letter and handing it over with trembling hands:

"Let's talk about something happier—I've finished writing a reply to Her Majesty Cortina, and I'm just about to ask you, Earl Li, to take it back to the Kingdom of Night. What do you say?"

The two vampires remained silent for a moment before simultaneously shifting their gaze.

The aggressive atmosphere eased slightly.

"I'll do my best." Li's voice was hollow as he slowly reached out and took the envelope.

"A letter from the Queen of the Night?"

On the other hand, Yannick's gaze was intriguing.

Thales, having caught his breath, quickly clapped his hands:

"Speaking of which, do you know how I met the sisters Cortrina and Serena?"

The two vampires exchanged a glance.

Before they could react, Thales took a deep breath, forcing them to listen:
"Simply put, Jann Kevindeer deceived Cortlina and wanted to use her to assassinate me."

Thales could sense that both vampires paused for a moment, looking at each other warily.

Li's gaze grew increasingly cold, while Yannick seemed to understand upon hearing this:

"I see. No wonder the Iris Duke suffered this fate and is now imprisoned."

“Unfortunately, Ugly-faced woman, cough cough, I mean Serena also wants to force Cortlina to kill me,” Thales said without any restraint, revealing these kingdom secrets that would be shocking anywhere, “so that the Stars can seek revenge on the Night Kingdom, and she can return home to reclaim her throne.”

Li's expression remained unchanged, but Yannick frowned slightly.

Thales sighed helplessly.

"I know that no matter which side's scheme I'm in, I'm going to die anyway. I'm incredibly unlucky, absolutely miserable, right?"

Yannick narrowed his eyes but offered no comment.

“But you still stand firm,” Li suddenly spoke, “just like Her Majesty Cortina.”

Thales gave an awkward smile.

"You might not believe it, but back then, that crybaby... I mean, Queen Cortrina also considered killing me to silence me and draining my blood..."

In other words, in the eyes of all three parties, I'm just a piece of meat...

“I believe you,” Yannick said with a sarcastic smile. “The Corleone clan has always been ruthless and dangerous, so it’s not surprising.”

“But Your Highness, you are still as lively and energetic as ever,” Li said without changing his expression, “you are full of vigor.”

Full of vigor and vitality.

Hearing that word made Thales' neck itch.

“So I remembered, no wonder, no wonder Cortrina said in her letter that she wanted to repay my favor and give me a big gift, haha,” he abruptly changed the subject, “a big gift!”

Thales paused for a moment, then looked at Li seriously:

"Count Li, I wonder if what your Queen said in her letter still stands?"

Yannick seemed thoughtful upon hearing this.

“Her Majesty always keeps her promises, and I also believe that you and Her Majesty have a very close personal relationship,” Li replied without any hesitation. “However, if I were to take action to capture the culprit and interfere in the internal affairs of another country, it would be to confuse national and foreign affairs with personal feelings, which would be disloyal to Her Majesty and the Kingdom of Night.”

Yannick, standing nearby, sneered again.

Thales observed Leon Corleone closely for a while, but couldn't think of any flaws, so he nodded reluctantly.

"Fine, since you're unwilling..."

Yannick's eyes lit up:
"Your Highness, actually the Grand Banquet Palace could..."

But the next second, Thales raised his voice, drowning out Yannick:

"But I'm really curious..."

The prince narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Li:
"If this isn't a 'big gift,' then what exactly is this gift that Cortrina, who always keeps her promises, is going to give me?"

Yannick's eyes flickered as he was interrupted.

“That falls within the scope of His Majesty and His Highness’s private relationship. As a servant, it is not appropriate for me to inquire…” Li’s expression remained calm and unmoved.

“On the contrary,” Thales continued, “you crossed the End Sea on behalf of Cortrina to mend relations and restore our alliance with our common enemy—Jann Kevin Deer, with whom we have a blood feud from eight years ago that almost killed both of us.”

Thales sighed.

"She says she'll give me a gift, but she's actually just trying to cause me trouble and embarrass me," the prince said dismissively. "Cortrina, do you think she's done right by me, by the friendship we shared back then?"

Li did not speak.

So Thales continued:

"I have to say, this really confuses me."

“It’s quite perplexing.” Yannick, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke up and smiled at Thales.

Thales glanced at him.

This cold-blooded type really knows how to seize opportunities and fish in troubled waters.

“It is better to resolve enmity than to perpetuate it. This is for the benefit of the nation, and we have no choice but to do so,” Li replied in a deep voice. “Your Highness is wise and will surely understand.”

"I understand, of course I understand, after all, I am now a Grand Duke."

Thales sighed:

"There were also times when I feigned compliance with James and made concessions against my will..."

But the prince changed the subject:
"But not long ago, at the rivalry banquet, you told Janne that before the two families could resume their relations, they had to settle their past debts first?"

Upon hearing this, Yannick's eyes flickered slightly.

Li remained unmoved.

"You should know that eight years ago, in order to kill me, Janne betrayed his friendship with Bloodfang, not only deceiving Her Majesty the Queen, but also almost implicated the Corleone family in injustice and ignited a war between the two countries."

Under the moonlight, Thales' words were incredibly sharp:

"And Her Majesty's former right-hand men, Simon, Hesta and Chris Corleone—I guess you should recognize these men—all died in that battle, leaving Cortrina isolated and helpless upon her return home."

Li's eyes were lifeless.

Yannick's eyes darted around.

"Not to mention that Jenn has been protecting Serena for the past few years, helping her escape your pursuit."

Thales chuckled softly:
"Excuse me for speaking frankly, but the debts you have with Janne, Bloodfang, and Iris are not just ordinary 'past debts,' but a blood feud that has lasted for generations."

Thales stopped looking at Li, who remained motionless like a statue, and turned to the other guest.

“Yang, you know them. Tell me, as far as you know, how would the Corleone family, according to tradition, ‘settle’ this ‘past debt’?”

Yannick smiled.

"I see."

The young—relatively speaking—vampire councilor shook his head slightly, his gaze toward Thales intriguing.

“Your Highness, I believe that given the Corleone family’s vengeful nature and their belief in the eternal nature of their bloodline, no matter how long they lie low or how deep their forbearance, they will not hesitate to take revenge once the opportunity arises…”

Li remained silent.

“For example?” Thales raised an eyebrow.

Yannick chuckled softly:
"For example, they will stop at nothing to bring down their enemies from their positions of power, plunge them into the abyss, and strip them of everything..."

This vampire was handsome, but his words were cold and sharp:
"That's not enough. We must destroy his family, city, and territory, crippling them and making them never recover..."

"Ideally, I could also make a profit from it, benefiting myself while harming others..."

Yannick's eyes sharpened:
"Only in this way can Corleone exhaust all means of humiliation and torture before finally killing his enemy; otherwise..."

Snapped!
Thales clapped his hands, his tone one of regret for not having met sooner:

"If it weren't for this, it wouldn't be nearly enough to vent our anger!"

Yannick glanced at him, smiled slightly, and bowed, saying:
"Exactly."

Thales gazed at the North Gate Bridge under the moonlight and sighed softly.

“But all of this sounds somewhat familiar,” Thales clicked his tongue. “What do you think, Count Li?”

silence.

A deathly silence.

Finally, Li, who had been as still as a stone statue, slowly softened and spoke in a low voice:
"Please forgive my dullness..."

Upon hearing the first few words, Thales immediately raised his index finger to interrupt him.

"Yang, do you know?"

Yannick responded quite cooperatively, looking curious and listening intently.

"In the letter Serena wrote to me, she said that her sister, Her Majesty Cortina, was in a terrible predicament in the Kingdom of Night, busy suppressing her ambitious subjects. She relied entirely on Count Li as her right-hand man to stabilize the situation and could not be separated from him for even a moment."

Thales stared intently at Li:
"But now he is thousands of miles away from his country, on a diplomatic mission to Emerald City..."

Yannick's perfectly timed click of the tongue:

"That's it..."

Thales sneered:
"So I think, either the situation in the Kingdom of Night has stabilized, and Earl Li has no more worries, so he can come out to travel, enjoy the scenery, and conduct business with peace of mind, or..."

Yannick nodded, staring at Li without any hesitation.
"Or perhaps Earl Li's visit to Emerald City is not for any other reason than to carry out a crucial mission for the fate of the Night Kingdom?"

Li did not answer immediately.

But this time, he slowly raised his head and glanced at Thales.

“Listen, Earl Li.”

Thales looked serious and solemn:
"With Yannick here as a witness, and for Kotalina's sake, I won't beat around the bush with you anymore."

The next second, Thales sneered:

“Tell me, Royal Secret Service—no, I should say my father—what exactly did His Majesty Kessel promise you? Like trade privileges, ceding Haley, helping Her Majesty the Queen consolidate her rule, saving the nation's fate, and so on…”

At that moment, Yannick Hollier, who was listening in, had a sharp look in his eyes, as if he had calculated countless things in an instant.

"That's why your Corleone family was willing to gamble everything, risk crossing the sea, and act as the mastermind behind the scenes, stirring up trouble, overthrowing the Duke of Iris, and destroying Emerald City..."

Under the moonlight, under the cover of night, Thales's eyes were like sharp blades, his voice like frost:

"...Destroy Kevin Deer?"

silence.

There was a long silence.

After an unknown amount of time, Count Le Corleone, the "Red Wing" under the Nightwing King, slowly turned his head toward the prince like a mechanical puppet.

This time, perhaps for the first time ever, he was serious and earnest...

Face Thales squarely.

(End of this chapter)