Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 748 Goodwill
"Hey, hey, little brat, have you lost your mind because of Jacques?"

In the dungeon, the person who spoke these words to Thales was not the sarcastic and laughing King Lausanne II, but Lady Hilaire, who stood to the side with her hands on her hips and a furrowed brow.

She raised her hand, incredulous:
"Being old-fashioned is one thing, but what else do you want to do now? Rehabilitate a murderer?"

Thales politely pursed his lips and exhaled amidst Lausanne II's almost choked laughter.

“Of course not,” he said thoughtfully, looking at the vampire assassin whose laughter was fading. “No one in this world can be reformed; only self-awakening is possible.”

“Tsk tsk,” Hillay responded with a disdainful snort, “It’s a real shame you don’t go to church and be a preacher.”

Thales didn't answer; he simply turned and smiled slightly at Hilly.

"Who do you think you are, you little brat?"

The prisoner's voice rang out at just the right moment:

"The prophet Mohassa, who saves us from suffering?"

Having finished laughing, King Lausanne II struggled to raise his head, his face hardening:
"Whether I'm beyond redemption, whether I can be reformed, whether I'm awakened or not, what the hell is it to you?"

The locked-up vampire assassin seemed to have suffered the greatest insult of his life, and unusually, he uttered disrespectful words:
"Or do you think that as a prince, you should not only save people from suffering, but even have your chamber pot used every night, with everyone thanking you profusely?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Miss Kevin Deer raised an eyebrow, showing a look of disgust, and even deliberately fanned her nose with her hand.

Thales frowned.

Well, things didn't go very well from the start.

Thales sighed and brushed his hair aside.

Ignoring Hilaire's disdainful expression and Losang II's cold gaze, he sat down on the ground without a care for the dirt, staring thoughtfully at the assassin.

"You broke into the house on the day the late High Inquisitor Brennan, who was presiding over the Duke's assassination case, died."

King Lausanne II snorted coldly.

Thales's gaze was complicated:
“But that night, you didn’t hurt anyone else—the gardener, the cook, the housekeeper, the servants, or even the neighbor’s dog.”

“Because they’re smart enough to know they can’t get in my way,” the assassin said coldly. “Guess what happened to their employer?”

Hilaire chuckled, made a face in a direction she couldn't see, and shook her head repeatedly.

But Thales remained serious, staring intently at Lausanne II:

"Grand Inquisitor Brennan died by poisoning himself."

King Lausanne II smiled maliciously.

"That old geezer originally intended to offer me a 'drink' of poisoned wine to outwit the suspect," the assassin said with a sinister expression. "But he didn't expect that I would drink the whole cup without any problems. Now that it's his turn, tell me, should he drink it or not?"

Thales stared at the other person, expressionless.

King Lausanne II's smile vanished, his eyes turning cold.
"Fortunately, he's smart enough: if he falls into my hands alive, I'll torture him to the point of wishing he were dead."

Hilly raised an eyebrow and rubbed his gloves, seemingly casually.

Thales didn't speak; he simply sighed.
"Based on tips from the public, we have discovered your and Federico's hiding place in the ancient cemetery these past few days."

Lausanne II remained unfazed:

"What, do I need to praise you again?"

“It was a building materials warehouse, with many chains in a secluded, locked room,” Thales ignored his sarcasm. “It’s said that when you’re thirsting for blood and lose your mind, you lock yourself there to avoid hurting others.”

Hilly frowned slightly as she looked at the barely recognizable prisoner before her.

There was a moment of silence in the dungeon.

“Avoid harm? Ha,” Losang II scoffed. “During that time, I drank a lot of blood to kill people.”

But Thales shook his head:
"Both Federico and the Corleone family offered to supply human blood to facilitate your actions, but you refused them both."

"What, is it strange that vampires don't drink blood? I've even seen northerners who don't drink alcohol!"

“Even if you have no choice but to go out and hunt for blood,” Thales continued, “you should specifically target lone scum from the Blood Bottle Gang and the Brotherhood, especially the most vicious and unattached types…”

A lone scumbag...

Upon hearing this phrase, King Lausanne II was momentarily stunned.

“Not necessarily without any ties,” he suddenly said. “Even the scum of the underworld has family and friends.”

There will be people willing to avenge them and face death without fear.

No matter how ridiculous or silly the scene may seem.

Hilla's expression changed slightly, and he began to look at the prisoner in front of him with a different gaze.

Thales squinted:
"During that period, the two major gangs were in a state of panic and tension. They would rather earn less money each day than not finish work early, which made things much easier for the guards."

The assassin snapped out of his daze and gave a sarcastic laugh:

"Then why didn't you give me the Honorary Citizen Award?"

Hilaire, who had been observing Lausanne II, turned his head away, shrugged, and shook his head.

But Thales refused to give up:
"And each time you hunt, you deliberately avoid places and occasions where women, children and the poor gather."

Hilly's eyes flickered.

King Lausanne II paused for a moment.

Thales tentatively asked:
"I guess—chivalry?"

The next second, the assassin's expression changed drastically, and he spat angrily:
"What a load of rubbish!"

He gritted his teeth, twisting his neck with all his might under the weight of the shackles, and roared ferociously:

"Women and children...didn't Little Knife tell you? A woman's menstrual blood is smelly and filthy, utterly unlucky, even blood slaves wouldn't dare to eat it!"

Hilly frowned.

King Lausanne II remained agitated, the chains binding him rattling incessantly.
"As for you poor old devils... what, haven't you, this precious prince, had enough of the stench of decay and urine, the filth and excrement in the ditch under the North Gate Bridge?"

Thales waited quietly for him to finish venting his inexplicable anger.

"But long ago, you were one of the poor bastards here too."

The prince's words were calm, yet they sent a shiver down the spine of the assassin.

"It is said that at that time, Emerald City was still under development. Outside the North Gate Bridge, there were still large areas of barren fields, dotted with countless tents and wooden houses, and full of ditches and pits. When it rained, the land became muddy and filthy."

Hilaire sensed something, and her gaze toward Lausanne II became complicated.

Losang II breathed heavily, but he recovered in just a few seconds and yanked the chains, making a clanging sound.

"So I've fucking had enough! Wanting to get ahead and live a life of luxury, is that enough?"

Thales observed him silently, smiled slightly, and without arguing, continued to change the subject.

“When you were hunting blood, you raided the Blood Bottle Gang’s kennel in the suburbs and killed all his men,” the boy added, “those former human traffickers who have now turned to selling cats and dogs.”

Lausanne II's breathing calmed down.

“More than that,” for the first time, Lausanne II’s expression was both gleeful and cruel, revealing a hint of his killer and murderer nature, “I also hung them upside down and drained their blood—all of them listened to their wails until the eve of dawn.”

Thales frowned slightly, then nodded:

"But his dogs, Sangarai's cats and dogs locked in cages, traded and awaiting slaughter, wild puppies, and even the vicious guard dogs he kept..."

Thales' eyes flickered:
"But they were all released from their cages, their ropes cut."

The prince said in a deep voice:
"why?"

The assassin prisoner remained silent for a moment.

“Dogs have a keen sense of smell; they might be able to smell me,” he turned his head and sneered. “Besides, dog blood is nowhere near as good as human blood.”

Thales frowned.

“Look, Lord Lausanne II, I’m trying my best to understand you,” the boy said, looking at the prisoner with a headache, wondering if he should just let Morgan and the others in and be “civilized and polite”. “But you seem to be quite resistant to the kindness of others.”

King Lausanne II gave a cold laugh.

“Kindness is poison,” he said ruthlessly, “a hypocritical excuse that leads people into the abyss.”

Hilay sighed helplessly as he looked at the prisoners who were completely unresponsive.

"I already told you."

She gave Thales a "You saw that?" look:

"It's utterly hopeless."

"Yes."

Thales crossed his arms and nodded seriously:

"It was precisely because he was desperate that he deliberately provoked me."

He only wanted to die quickly.

King Lausanne II remained silent.

"Please."

Hilly rolled her eyes:
"I wasn't talking about him."

Thales' expression froze, but he quickly coughed to cover up the embarrassment.

“Alright, since you refuse to accept kindness and help, that’s fine too,” Thales pulled a crumpled roll of documents from his bulging pocket. “Would you mind giving some out?”

Hilly asked in confusion:
"what?"

Thales unfolded the crumpled documents, pulled out several pages, and showed them to the assassin one by one:

It was a set of sketches, seemingly depicting the interior of a mansion, with the guardhouse stamp faintly visible beneath the documents.

King Lausanne II frowned until he saw the last one:
"what is this?"

"This is the crime scene where the wool merchant Diop and his mistress both died."

Thales retrieved the sketch depicting two corpses bound to the bed:

"In fact, this was a private residence that he rented to his mistress so that they could meet secretly."

King Lausanne II understood and couldn't help but scoff.

"Like the wine merchant Moss, the defense attorney Slimani, and many others on your list, Diop was once humble but became wealthy after the Duke's assassination and became the black account manager of the Empty Palace."

Thales stacked the files, then changed the subject:
"However, after that, he indulged in a life of pleasure and debauchery, for example, keeping a stage actress as his mistress."

King Lausanne II remained unmoved.

"Diop's wife was well aware of this. But like many wives of successful men, for the sake of her children and appearances, Mrs. Diop had to pretend not to know, swallow her anger when her wealthy husband was 'away on business,' and maintain a facade of ladylike dignity in front of others, smiling and feigning happiness."

Thales sighed:

"She, who had been suffering greatly, actually felt much more relaxed after Diop's incident."

Hilly raised an eyebrow.

“One of my subordinates noticed this during the investigation. Through patient conversation and persuasion, he successfully got Mrs. Diop to lower her guard and tell the truth, giving the address of her mistress’s house—yes, she had always known where her husband was ‘on business.’”

Thales sighed:

"But ever since she was 'taught a lesson' by the latter with a stick, she has never questioned him again, let alone gone to catch him in the act."

Lausanne II remained silent.

"It was in that mansion that my two men found Mr. Diop and his mistress, who were already dead and tied to the bed."

Thales straightened his face and got to the point:

"And this is the first time I've met you."

Hearing this, the assassin finally let out a cold laugh:
"I committed the crime, do you have a problem with that?"

“Yes, you did it,” Thales nodded slowly. “My men, including the police department investigating the case, think so too—a ruthless killer who leaves no survivors or witnesses.”

King Lausanne II scoffed dismissively.

Thales observed his expression, paused slightly, and spoke softly:
"Until Judge Brennan refused to sign the case during the review process, and ordered it dismissed."

King Lausanne II was slightly taken aback.

"Brennan?"

"Yes, it's that old judge who invited you to 'have a drink'."

Thales sighed, pulled out another sheet of paper, on which Brennan's signature was clearly visible:
"In fact, this was the last case he handled before his death—According to Emerald City law, all cases of unnatural death within the jurisdiction must be reviewed by the court before they can be closed and the body buried."

Hilly, who was listening in, sensed something and her eyes flickered.

"And it was the meticulous Grand Inquisitor Brennan who, during the review, noticed that the closing report on Diop's death was too simplistic, hasty, and incomplete."

The assassin froze.

Thales sighed softly and pulled out another report from the files:
"Until this morning, Brennan's student and successor, Acting Judge Ibonning, finally received the latest and most complete autopsy report after a frantic rush."

Thales cleared his throat:

"Based on the accounts and recollections of the coroner and security officer at the scene, and after repeated cross-checking by the three coroners, the security department confirmed that the two deceased, a man and a woman, died at different times."

what?
Hilaire looked slightly surprised upon hearing this and turned to look at King Losang II.

But the latter remained motionless, staring intently at the darkness above.

Thales continued:

"Women die earlier and men later, with a difference of up to twelve hours. Even the causes of death are different: the male victim's wrist artery was precisely and cleanly severed, ultimately leading to death from excessive blood loss."

“But the other female victim died from multiple blunt force trauma to the head,” Thales read the report, his voice slightly somber. “The rope marks on her hands indicate that she had struggled violently before her death.”

At that moment, the assassin's gaze was incredibly complex.

"Even the knots tied around the hands and feet of the two deceased were completely different. The knots binding the male victim were simple and tight, indicating that the person binding him was skilled and experienced; the knots binding the female victim were messy and complicated, with many ineffective and repetitive knots, possibly indicating that the person binding her was flustered and nervous."

Thales put down the report and sighed softly.

"My two subordinates, firstly, the incident happened suddenly and there wasn't enough time; secondly, they were neither professionals nor had enough relevant experience; and thirdly, they only focused on the target and didn't observe the other deceased at the scene carefully enough..."

Thinking of Glov and DD, Thales's tone was heavy, his feelings complex:
"As for the guard post that later took over the scene... a big shot in Kongming Palace said: minimize the impact, close the case as soon as possible, and if necessary, predetermine the 'murderer'."

"Secondly, the officers assigned to this case are all shrewd and capable. Especially since this case involves many people, it's easy to imagine that no one wants to cause trouble. They just want to close the case quickly and get it over with as little as possible."

Or perhaps people are more concerned with the power struggle behind the scenes, and no one is paying attention to the details of the case itself.

That's why they kept the complete autopsy report from being released.

For the sake of overall stability and for the benefit of all parties.

This leads to the disregard for human life.

The voice in his heart was calm and cold:
This was a conspiracy, intentional or unintentional, involving everyone from top to bottom.

The reasons are sufficient and the motives are reasonable.

The price is the loss of the truth.

It wasn't until the very old and frail Judge Brennan, with his last breath, insisted on tearing the shroud that covered everything.

King Lausanne II stared blankly at the dark ceiling.

Hilly understood something, and she stared incredulously at the assassin before her:
"So, you...you didn't..."

Thales's cold and serious voice rang out at the opportune moment:

“Lossan II, there is no doubt that you killed Diop and drained his blood.”

However, he paused, then changed the subject:
"But his mistress was not, at least not killed by you—a professional killer who even avoids women and children when hunting."

Losang II snapped out of his daze and spat viciously:

"Pooh."

Hilly frowned deeply, but Thales seemed unconcerned. He slowly opened his mouth and asked earnestly:

"Tell me, assassin, what happened?"

“I’m tired of killing people, so I’m trying a different method sometimes,” this time, King Losang II was straightforward, though still full of hostility and relentless sarcasm. “What’s wrong? Surprised?”

Thales shook his head.

"You were swift and decisive in your previous killings, but at Diop's mistress's house, you lingered, seemingly searching for something, which led you to run into my men. Why?"

King Lausanne II turned his head to the other side, sneering disdainfully.

“Killers all have their quirks,” he said coldly. “After killing two people, they always have to leave some souvenirs.”

Thales frowned slightly.

"He's helping you, you bastard!"

Hilly was enraged by the other party's attitude. She finally couldn't hold back and pointed at Thales, who was standing there with his arms crossed and looking serious, and said angrily:

"Can't you see that this stupid, idiotic, and hopelessly stupid brat is your only hope right now?"

Upon hearing these words, whether they were in support of him or a derogatory remark, Thales' expression turned strange.

Actually... the term "little kid" is already quite harsh.

"I don't need help."

King Lausanne II's face was cold, and his eyes were lifeless.

There is no need for hope.

That thing disappeared many years ago.

Hilly laughed in exasperation.

Her eyebrows furrowed, and she rolled up her sleeves, ready to tear off her gloves:

"Is that so? Then you must need another kind of help. I promise you won't regret it..."

King Lausanne II's eyes turned cold.

Thales sighed, stood up to comfort the young lady, and spoke softly:
That's not poison.

In her anger, Hillary blurted out without thinking:

"what?"

Thales gestured for her to calm down, then turned to Lausanne II and said:
“Judge Brennan, on the night you went to kill him according to the list, he took out his treasured old wine and invited you to drink with him.”

Lausanne II remained unfazed.

"But what he put in the bottle wasn't poison."

Thales’s calm tone stunned the other two.

"It was a rare and powerful painkiller that his wife often used before she died—Brennan didn't intend to kill you or poison you; he just wanted to paralyze you."

Thales looked at Lausanne II and sighed:
"Clearly, he was unaware of your background and misjudged the drug's effectiveness."

At that moment, King Lausanne II was stunned.

It's not...poison?
“But, but Brennan himself…” Hilley understood, but was still puzzled.

"Brennan's real cause of death was an overdose of painkillers that led to heart abnormalities and organ failure."

Thales turned to another page, his tone heavy:
"Or perhaps he was old and died peacefully in his sleep—if that would comfort you."

My departure is inevitable, regardless of the circumstances... there's no need for relentless pursuit, let alone revenge. My destiny has brought me here, and my return is ordained.

Thales recalled the words in Brennan's suicide note, and his expression darkened.

What Lausanne II understood.

You're just trying to comfort me.

He stared blankly at the boundless darkness above him.

fart.

“Then why…” Hilly frowned.

Thales knew what she was wondering about and handed her the later-added drug identification report:
"Under the pressure of public opinion and the urgent need to solve the case, the police department may have intentionally or unintentionally mistaken painkillers for poison—after all, the mechanism of many deadly poisons is to cause nerve paralysis, leading to cardiopulmonary failure."

Of course, it's hard to say whether Brennan's long-standing bad relationship with the Guard Bureau and other government agencies played any role in this, given that he was a proud and stubborn old judge who often questioned or even rejected case reports without giving anyone face.

Besides...

Thales sighed inwardly:
When Brennan died, the nominal head of the Skylight Palace had changed from Jann Kevindir to the Duke of Starlake, who came from the capital.

The chains on King Lobsang II rattled softly, attracting the attention of the two men.

"I...I don't understand."

The assassin finally spoke.

He clenched his teeth, his breathing became rapid, and his gaze froze.

Why……

Why did that old man want to...?

Thales knew what he didn't understand.

"I have an old document here."

The prince was silent for a while, flipped through the crumpled papers in his hand, and then took out a few more yellowed old papers.

"The record above is of the Emerald Festival from long ago: the late King Edd led his family to the Emerald City to comfort his allies and celebrate with the people."

Thales observed the other person's expression:
"Until the royal procession, along with its entourage, began to bully the people in the marketplace and vandalize the stalls."

Sure enough, the assassin's expression changed slightly.

"After the incident, public discontent was high and the people were outraged. Fortunately, the Royal Family of Shining Star acted impartially and refused to cover up the crime. They took the initiative to hand over the culprit to the Emerald City authorities: a poor and penniless servant from the South Bank Territory who had no background and was not sociable. He had only temporarily joined the royal family."

At that moment, King Losang II's eyes flickered.

Hilly's gaze shifted between Thales and the prisoners, his expression complex and subtle.

"Originally, it was just an ordinary case of privilege. The main culprit confessed and was punished in public, the public vented their anger and applauded, Emerald City handled things efficiently and promptly, the kingdom's politics were clean, equal and fair, the royal family's reputation remained intact and even improved, and the guards were exonerated, proving that 'the team is generally upright.' Everyone was satisfied, everyone was happy, and that was how it ended..."

From an angle unseen by anyone, King Lausanne II gritted his teeth.

"However, Assistant Judge Brennan—who was not yet Grand Judge at the time—refused to accept the outcome and refused to punish the poor little squire in a muddled manner."

Thales sighed and put away the young Brennan's letter to the Duke of Leinster, a letter filled with strong, harsh, and uncompromising words:

"He disregarded the Duke of Leinster's advice, risked offending the royal family, and withstood pressure from all sides and obstruction from above and below..."

"Unable to find the perpetrator, he insisted that King Eddy II personally attend the trial, as the primary person responsible, to take responsibility for his subordinates' misdeeds of bullying the people, and to order him to personally apologize."

"Finally, Brennan, in accordance with the laws of the city, listed seven crimes and, in front of the entire Emerald City, fined my grandfather a total of three thousand seven hundred and twenty-eight gold coins before closing the case."

Hilaire frowned as he listened, while Lausanne II remained motionless.

Does that sound familiar?

Thales looked at the prisoner, his eyes sharp:

"Especially that little servant who was pushed out to take the blame, a nobody, a temporary worker?"

The chains binding King Lausanne II trembled.

"Then have a drink with me, kid."

The image of that night not long ago flashed before his eyes: when he, alone with his sword, confronted that old judge, and saw the relief, understanding, and even... sympathy on the judge's face.

Let me tell you everything, and you will understand.

At this point, King Lausanne II finally understood what was going on.

But he remained silent, his expression frozen, like a stone statue.

Thales was somewhat discouraged; he waved the documents in his hand:
"Please, say something, even for Brennan's sake..."

"not only that."

King Lausanne II spoke up.

"They do more than just bully ordinary people."

His tone was hollow, almost an admission, which surprised Thales.

The assassin stared blankly at the sky above, at the endless darkness that seemed to stretch on forever, whether in the past or present, in dreams or in reality.

Back then, what kind of royal guards would be so stupid, or rather, so despicable, to oppress the common people? Or the local people of Emerald City?
But this happened precisely when the king was on a royal tour of the south bank.
“They just wanted to frame that innocent servant,” Losang II said blankly.

It wasn't because of the commoner servant himself.

Rather, it was because the knight teacher behind the young attendant was a renowned swordsman with many students and a distinguished reputation, and also a former attendant who had a close relationship with the late king despite their brief acquaintance.

However, he insisted on remaining neutral and impartial, and refused to take up important positions. As a result, he was valued by the king, and his words and actions carried great weight, even influencing the selection of the crown prince.

That person not only gave the servants a chance to change their fate and endowed them with skills, but also showed them profound kindness...

It also imposed political shackles on them for life, causing them endless suffering and leading them to kill each other...

Grand Knight Joaquin.

King Lausanne II had a vacant look in his eyes and seemed dazed.

Thales and Hilly exchanged a glance.

Perhaps it's not just that.

Perhaps that case of bullying the common people also involved the political maneuvering between the royal central government and the South Bank Territory during the king's tour—both in terms of reputation and practical benefits.

Thales thought silently.

A knight squire from the south bank, serving in the royal court, oppresses the people of Emerald City, incurring the resentment of the locals, damaging the king's reputation, and causing headaches and a dilemma for all parties involved...

From the identity of the parties involved to the impact of the events, every aspect, from today's perspective, is filled with a complex sense of calculation and tug-of-war.

Thales thought to himself:
Just like now, as a royal envoy, I am experiencing the same thing in the Emerald City.

"As for that foolish servant, he was just passing by, or rather, he was tricked into passing by and stepped in to stop the injustice," Losang II said blankly. "Otherwise, they would have beaten the peddler to death."

Of course, the reward he received for standing up for justice back then...

It was that oppressed street vendor, terrified and cowering in the judge's dock, who, in front of everyone, unanimously identified the perpetrators:

That little servant was the one who bullied him.

Hilly turned her head away and let out a long sigh.

When the prisoner finally spoke, the conversation turned to the past, but for some reason, Thales felt no sense of victory whatsoever.

Instead, a strange sadness welled up in my heart.

Every time I put down the gavel and take off my official robes, I still can't help but ponder repeatedly:

Do I thoroughly investigate every case I review, leaving no room for oversight?

In every trial, have I remained detached, neutral, and impartial?
In every speech, do I think things through clearly and express myself appropriately?
With each swing of the gavel, have I lived up to my oath and original aspiration, protecting the interests of the weak while restraining the arrogance of the strong, upholding fairness while not failing the law?

Over the years, have I ever made a wrong judgment? Wrongfully convicted an innocent person? Encouraged oppression and exploitation?

Have I ever allowed friendship and loyalty, hatred and anger, self-interest and gain to cloud my judgment without my knowledge, or feigned ignorance?

Thales couldn't help but recall the self-doubt in Brennan's suicide note, which deepened his feelings.

"Therefore, Brennan's insistence was correct."

Thales exhaled, forcing himself to stay alert, and said to the dazed prisoner:
"Whatever the reason—justice, truth, duty, or conscience—or perhaps he finally recognized an old friend..."

It was still the guilt over the Duke's assassination attempt. "Whether in the past or now, when the entire Emerald City wanted you dead, amidst all the shrewd, opportunistic people..."

The boy closed his eyes, unable to suppress the sadness in his heart:
"He's the one who really wants to help."

Jingle Bell……

At that moment, the chains binding the prisoners began to rattle incessantly.

I understand, child. I've seen people like you before...

The old judge's last words echoed in my ears, gentle yet wistful.

King Lausanne II suddenly opened his mouth!

He was breathing heavily, as if he would drown in the air if he didn't breathe a single breath.

The wounds on his body erupted in excruciating pain, but it did nothing to affect him, and the bloodthirsty monster inside him had vanished without a trace.

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

King Lausanne II suddenly realized that he was trembling uncontrollably.

But he knew that this trembling was completely different from the trembling he felt when facing fire and sunlight.

Those were instinctive tremors, the fear of the beast.

And now...

The fear now is...

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...

King Lausanne II bit his lower lip hard, even drawing blood.

That foolish old man.

He clenched his fists and forced himself to repeat the action.

All I did was pointless...

help?

madness.

madness……

Stupid!

It's okay, child. I've been there too. It's okay. In the end, you'll understand. It will all pass.

As the old man finished speaking, he clutched his heart and slowly collapsed.

She still smiled at him.

"Ahhhhh!!!"

The next moment, unable to bear it any longer, King Losang II roared at the darkness.

hoarse and desperate.

“I don’t need it,” the assassin said emotionally. “I don’t need his help at all! That old geezer!”

unnecessary!

why?
why!
madness!

madness!!!

Thales and Hillay were initially startled by the assassin's sudden move, but after regaining their senses, the prince understood what was happening.

"You? You don't need it?"

Thales simply snorted coldly.

"Who do you think you are, an assassin? The suffering prophet Juranz?"

The roar of King Lausanne II weakened.

"Do you really think that your misfortunes and past setbacks are that important, that crucial, that unique, that incomparable?"

Thales's gaze was icy, and his voice was stern, which greatly surprised Hilly, who was standing next to him.

"Does everyone in the world, regardless of height, weight, social status, or wealth, have to be deeply moved and eager to sympathize with you, pity you, save you, and help you? So that you can still pretend to be high-minded and self-righteous, picking and choosing, 'Oh, I need this help, I don't need that help'?"

Whether he didn't understand or was genuinely moved, the assassin turned his head blankly and stared at Thales.

"And what makes you think that, as the chief inquisitor of the entire Emerald City, Brennan is the only one who can help, should help, wants to help, and must help?"

Thales took a deep breath and quickly flipped through the documents in his hand.

"Especially those who lack your skills and strength, who are stubborn and obstinate, but who also yearn for fairness and truth in this world..."

Thales threw the documents of the Diop case in front of Lausanne II:

"Ordinary people."

King Lausanne II's gaze shifted:

The paper stopped right on Diop's mistress's autopsy report, with the words "multiple blunt force traumas" highlighted.

The assassin's breath hitched.

The prince said in a cold voice:
"For example, in the Emerald City back then, there was that powerless little servant who was framed and pushed out to take responsibility."

The assassin trembled slightly.

King Lausanne II's breathing quickened, his expression turned fierce, and he turned his head, gritting his teeth:

"You know shit!"

Thales, not to be outdone, scoffed and spat.

"Yeah, I know nothing, but what about you?"

Thales looked at a letter in the documents in his hand, recalling the solemn and dignified Grand Inquisitor in court, who repeatedly reflected on himself in the letter, filled with longing for his deceased wife, and devoted himself to his work. Then he looked at the unmoved, unyielding, self-proclaimed cold-blooded and self-righteous vampire killer in front of him, and couldn't help but feel angry and sorry for the former.

Even if you knew, it wouldn't matter.

The next second, Thales slammed the documents in his hand onto the ground in front of Lausanne II:
“You may not care, Lord Lausanne II, but the fact is…”

Still not satisfied, he gave the prisoner the middle finger in a fierce gesture:
Even when you, in your cowardice and incompetence, have given up, surrendered to reality, closed yourself off and abandoned your conscience, and boasted that you have seen through the world and know the truth, and your thin life is now nothing but pretense of profundity and empty sarcasm...

Thales gritted his teeth and said:

"In this world, every moment, there are still countless people who spare no effort and strive forward in the darkness."

All for that light that may never come at the end of the darkness.

After he finished speaking, the dungeon fell silent.

King Lausanne II stared blankly at the paper in front of him, remaining silent.

Thales clenched his fists, his chest heaving, trying his best to control his emotions.

On the other side, Hilly Kevindeer, who witnessed the whole process, let out a long sigh.

She slowly walked forward, bent down, and picked up the papers scattered on the ground.

"Okay, it's alright, calm down."

The young lady's voice was unusually gentle, as if she were comforting a child.

But it seemed to work surprisingly well; Thales took a deep breath and calmed himself.

She flipped through the documents page by page, tidied them up, and looked up to ask:
"what's next?"

Thales closed his eyes, then opened them again, gritting his teeth as he said:

"That's all. We can go now."

Hilaire paused, glancing at the documents in his hand, then at the seemingly soulless and motionless King Lausanne II.

"What? That's it?"

Thales turned his head away from the prisoner and nodded with all his might:

"that's it."

Hilly frowned, glanced at her gloves, then at Thales, wanting to say something, but ultimately sighed:
"Okay, I'll listen to you this time."

She stood up and walked towards the small door of the dungeon first.

The chains jingled.

"She's dead."

A hoarse voice rang out, barely audible.

The two of them stopped in their tracks simultaneously.

Hilly turned around and asked in confusion:
"what?"

King Losang II, still staring at the darkness above, spoke in a low voice:
"When I arrived, the wool merchant's mistress was already dead."

Thales and Hilly exchanged a glance, then turned back around.

"How did you die?"

Thales pressed on.

King Lausanne II slowly turned his head, his gaze, which had shifted from the darkness, now calm:
“I tied the wool merchant to her body and interrogated him—I even used my powers.”

Federico's plan was to simply kill them, but...

"After I killed the wine merchant, the wool merchant began to worry. He was worried that someone would reopen the case of the Duke's assassination, and he was even more worried that someone—whoever it was—would kill him to silence him or make him testify. Therefore, he planned to flee the city to avoid trouble."

King Lobsang II slowly began to speak:

"But he didn't have enough cash on hand, and he didn't dare go home to get more money. That's when he suddenly remembered that he had spent a lot of money on his mistress in the past, and he wanted to get some of it back as running expenses..."

Thales' eyelids twitched.

Hilly frowned and asked:

"So, when his mistress refused to pay, Diop killed her?"

Losang II shook his head listlessly, causing the chains to rustle.

"On the contrary, she was happy to, and more than that—all her savings from when she started acting."

At this point, King Losang II snorted coldly and said sarcastically:
"For this man, the 'true love' she had gone through so much trouble to find."

Hilly couldn't help but wonder:

"What? Then why is Diop still..."

“Because she has no cash on her, only bank drafts, which she needs to go out to sign for and collect the money,” Lausanne II said coldly. “Obviously, Diop doesn’t believe her and thinks it’s just an excuse for her to get rid of herself.”

Love.

"He was also paranoid, thinking that since he was involved in such a big case, she might betray him later..."

Love.

"I even felt that if he just left like that, sooner or later someone would find out his whereabouts from her..."

Love.

"He questioned again, 'Given her looks and qualifications, why would she be interested in me, an old and ugly woman, if not for his wealth? Now that he's no longer successful, she'll definitely leave him...'"

Love.

King Lausanne II's sarcastic expression grew increasingly pronounced:
"The more he thought about it, the more frightened and resentful he became. He started cursing, saying that she used to be an actress on stage and that she was a prostitute who knew how to play along, and that she must be hiding a lot of cash behind the scenes..."

Love.

As Lausanne II recounted the events of that time, Thales grew increasingly somber, his brow furrowed.

"She felt wronged, angry, and argued back, becoming emotionally agitated. The wool merchant then took action, tying her up, torturing her, threatening her, and interrogating her..."

Hilai spat out angrily:

"coward."

King Losang II snorted coldly and continued:
"At that point, the woman seemed to finally realize what 'true love' truly meant, and thus unexpectedly became resolute..."

He's at least more assertive than her lover.

"He also said something about his health in bed, which upset the wool merchant, so he picked up the sculpture from the headboard..."

Thales couldn't bear to listen any longer and concluded his speech:

"And so she died."

King Lausanne II gave a cold laugh.

"Or to use what that guy said when he begged for mercy," the assassin's eyes flashed with disdain and hatred, "'I just wanted to teach her a lesson and scare her, I didn't expect her to die.'"

“Coward,” Hilly repeated, her voice icy.

After he finished speaking, the dungeon fell silent again.

The atmosphere was oppressive.

After a long while, Thales finally let out a sigh of relief.

“So now,” he said, looking sadly at the report in Hilly’s hand, “this case is finally complete.”

At least, for the actress who left the stage for true love.

This also applies to the conscientious Judge Brennan.

May they rest in peace.

“It may sound strange,” Thales said, trying to get back on track, “but whether it’s the Diop case or… you seem to be a killer with principles.”

King Lausanne II suddenly opened his eyes!

"Principles my ass."

He seemed to have reverted to being that cold-blooded killer:
"I hate cowards. I want to torture them to death whenever I see one, that's all."

Moreover, over the years, the number of innocent people who have died at his hands is not small at all.

He had long ago...

They abandoned their principles.

But Thales just looked at him calmly.

"Theresa."

"Hmm?" Hilly turned her head.

"That woman, Diop's mistress, her name is Theresa."

Thales sighed:
"After the bloody year, she was trafficked to the town of Havistown. She had two children before she was fourteen. Several years later, she finally found a chance to escape and was taken in by the Emerald City theater troupe. She started as a backstage helper and eventually went on stage."

King Lausanne II paused in his breath.

"Unfortunately……"

King Lausanne II closed his eyes.

"if……"

Thales paused for a moment, then couldn't continue, only sighing:
"She deserves a better life."

Regardless of whether we are human beings.

She's still a woman.

“I could have saved her,” Losang II said hoarsely.

Thales looked up in confusion:
"what?"

The vampire assassin stared into the darkness before him, as if gazing into the past, and spoke softly:
"She was critically injured and on the verge of death at the time, but I still had the ability to save her."

Thales and Hilly exchanged a glance.

King Lausanne II appeared dazed.

"But she said..."

In the murmured, eerie dream, the woman, the dying Theresa, desperately spoke to him…

"Her life was too bitter."

King Lausanne II stared blankly.

Whether ignored, trafficked, enslaved, kept as a mistress, betrayed, or murdered...

Whether in his hometown, in the human trafficking market of Sangare, in the town of Havist, or in Emerald City...

Whether gritting your teeth and enduring the pain, or forcing a smile, whether crying every night or offering a smile at the door...

It's all too bitter, too bitter.

Whether it's love or family, there's still hope for the future...

None of them are effective remedies.

But she was too deeply involved, struggling to break free, and attempted suicide several times, but lacked the final courage.

So now, she finally...

fed up.

It was then that he suddenly understood...

“I can’t save her.” Losang II’s eyes were lifeless.

It could save her from death, but not from life.

It was destined to be beyond saving from the very beginning.

For a moment, no one spoke in the dungeon, and the atmosphere became incredibly oppressive.

until……

“That’s enough, you’ve done enough,” unexpectedly, it was Hillary who spoke, and she let out a long sigh, “for her.”

Thales looked somber.

Upon hearing this, King Losang II's eyes flickered.

No, that's not enough.

The assassin seemed to remember something, and his breathing quickened:

"She, that Theresa, she did indeed hide a sum of money."

"Money?" Hilla asked, puzzled.

King Lausanne II's tone was slightly anxious:
"It's in the mezzanine of the next guest room. Your people arrived too quickly; I didn't have time to find it."

Thales was equally surprised:
"The room next door?"

King Lausanne II snapped out of his reverie and took a deep breath:

"After she got rich, she hired mercenaries to go to Havistown and rescued her two children, but she dared not let anyone know and could only hide them in the theater troupe doing odd jobs. She, she..."

His words faltered, and his expression twisted sharply with the intense pain he was experiencing.

Thales and Hilly exchanged a glance.

"I understand."

The prince realized what was happening and spoke in a heavy tone:
“I will send someone to take care of it: her money will be properly distributed to them.”

"Thank you."

Losang II endured the pain, exhaled, and pressed the back of his head back against the cold ground.

"For her."

He was numb and indifferent.

Another long silence followed.

Thales, who had been observing him for a long time, shook his head and sighed.

What exactly changed you?

He couldn't bear to look at the battered and bruised killer before him, and called out a strange name:

"Joe Boyle?"

What kind of past shaped his present and his destiny?
King Lausanne II trembled slightly.

Hilly looked at Thales, her expression full of questions.

“If you don’t intend to kill me,” Losang II seemed not to hear the name. He continued to stare into the darkness above, swallowed hard, and said numbly and mechanically, “you may leave, Your Highness.”

Thales remained silent, his gaze fixed on the cold-blooded killer before him, the former knight's squire, with a complex expression.

Finally, he closed his eyes:
“Let’s go, Hilla.”

On the other side, Hilly sighed and put away the documents in her hand:

"I told you, it was no use."

Her eyes sharpened:
"The only one that works is Jacques."

But Thales shook his head:

"Jacques isn't the one who works."

The prince turned and walked toward the dungeon entrance, leaving the prisoners behind.

“It’s what Jacques made him see,” Thales said in a deep voice, “or rather, what he didn’t want to see.”

"Humph, pretending."

Hilly curled her lip, glanced at the numb prisoners on the ground, and quickly walked away alongside Thales:

"I'm telling you, how much more time are you going to waste before you're willing to use my method?"

Thales' tone was steady, just like his footsteps:
"Please, Hilla, give me another chance."

The young lady snorted coldly, about to offer her usual refusal and sarcasm, but glancing at Thales' pale profile, she hesitated, then reluctantly changed her mind:
"Okay, fine—this is the last time."

"Thank you."

Thales exhaled and stopped as he gripped the doorknob.

“I’m sorry, King Losang II, but I’m afraid you won’t like what I’m about to do to you,” he said, bowing his head.

The assassin's indifferent, chilling laugh came from behind:

"Haven't you done enough?"

Thales was silent for a moment:

"But I do think you still need it."

King Lausanne II sneered again, accompanied by rude sarcasm:

"What, are you going to take your pants off in front of me now?"

The door opened, and Thales and Hillay disappeared outside.

A chorus of greetings and salutations came from outside the door.

And the noisy footsteps of all sizes, coming and going.

But for Lausanne II, none of that mattered.

The seemingly terrifying but actually cowardly, bloodthirsty monster within him, which always deserted at crucial moments, secretly emerged, craving blood, but he ignored it all.

King Lausanne II simply stared blankly at the darkness above him.

when……

It's only sunrise yet!
A great commotion came from outside the dungeon door, including shouts, clamor, the prince's unmistakable reprimands, and the young lady's unique and annoying sarcasm.

But none of that mattered to him.

He was simply trapped in darkness, single-mindedly...

Waiting for the sunrise.

Waiting, for that light that, from some unknown time, no longer shines upon him...

Intense light.

Snapped.

The wooden door was opened again.

This time, a strange footstep entered his ears.

His steps were light, but steady and powerful, clearly indicating that he had practiced his lower body.

as well as……

Lausanne II twitched his nose.

It has a light perfume scent.

It's just right, neither too strong nor too weak, and even has an indescribable sense of freshness.

It's relaxing.

who is it?

New guards?

The person slowly approached and finally appeared in his field of vision by the dim candlelight.

It's a woman.

But the moment he saw who it was, King Losang II, who had been numb for so long, felt a tremor in his eyes!
"Huh, even his hands are gone?"

The new woman covered her mouth and nose, turned away, and let out a sneer that was hard to tell whether it was sarcastic or relieved:
"I really didn't expect that someone as capable as you would end up in such a miserable state."

Lausanne II's breathing stopped.

The boy was right.

He won't like this.

The assassin stared blankly at the person in front of him, suppressing countless complex and subtle emotions.

But perhaps what the boy didn't know was that, in some ways...

He was more powerful than that girl Kevin Deer, who possessed bizarre magic, could summon the dead, and create illusions…

It's even more cruel.

Much crueler.

"Hey."

The next second, King Lausanne II spoke with difficulty, uttering that name he hadn't heard for many years:
"Belicia".

Words will outlive life.

R.I.P.