Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 76 Together

Rolf, once the rising star of the Blood Bottle Gang and the only super-level expert among the twelve strongest, experienced hell and despair before finally reuniting with Thales a month later.

“Congratulations, you finally made it through,” Thales smiled and nodded. “You didn’t lose to this damn world.”

Rolf trembled slightly, then suddenly opened his mouth, his bulging throat quivering, but he could only utter a mumble that was difficult to understand.

He knew that he couldn't say anything right now.

Faced with this situation, Thales was momentarily at a loss for how to react.

“It’s okay, what do you want to say…” He scratched his head: “Just write it down.”

Rolf's eyes dimmed.

“We tried,” Gilbert sighed. “He’s illiterate—he can’t even write his own name except for numbers.”

Upon hearing this, Rolf closed his eyes in self-consciousness and lowered his head even further.

Thales was a little embarrassed.

He almost forgot that Rolf was a gangster. Thales, who had been a beggar, knew that most people who joined gangs had unfortunate experiences and made a living through illegal activities every day, so they naturally had little chance to receive a proper education.

But the next moment, under Thales's astonished gaze, Rolf gritted his teeth, laboriously leaning on his crutch, and lowered his crippled body towards the short and frail Thales...

Bow deeply.

Thales sighed:

"Okay, I truly appreciate your thanks."

Rolf raised his head, his body trembling, and looked at Thales.

"What are your plans after this? Is there anywhere else you can go? I don't really recommend you go back to the Blood Bottle Gang..."

Rolf trembled slightly.

Back to the Blood Bottle Gang? Back to the Big Sister... Back to Catherine's subordinates?

He looked at his legs and his face showed pain.

And there's also Nekra...

The thought of his enemy stabbing him in the back made Rolf's eyes flash with a fierce light.

A few seconds later, Rolf exhaled using his supernatural ability and shook his head sadly.

Thales stared at him intently.

“Alright,” the prince smiled, “then you can stay with me for now… I should be able to afford to support you.”

Rolf's eyes lit up.

This boy... besides being his savior, also has a very important background...

“Gilbert,” Thales turned to Earl Cassel, “how long until we depart for Exter?”

“It depends on the time it takes for the messenger raven to reach Dragonsky City, at least three days,” Gilbert said with a smile, “at most a week, Your Highness.”

"That should be enough."

Thales nodded, then looked at Rolf:
"These next few days, come to my study during the day."

Rolf looked surprised.

The boy, who had always been confident and optimistic, now smiled when faced with the choice of "liberation or struggle" in a desperate predicament.
“I’ll teach you to read, and while I’m at it, I’ll teach you how to speak with gestures.”

----------

Jenard, the 31-year-old captain of the city defense team under the DC District Security Bureau, lay panting heavily in the dungeon of the Wild Grass Manor.

He was covered in wounds and bound by heavy chains, unable to move.

But a voice inside him told him that he absolutely must not... he absolutely must not speak.

No matter how these noblemen's men tortured and beat him, no matter how they threatened and bribed him...

No matter how much they wanted to know, the identity of the cavalry that appeared outside the Wild Grass Manor in DC that night was...
He had to grit his teeth.

After the State Conference concluded, Jenard was relieved of his duties maintaining order at Starstreet. Just the next morning, his superior arrived in the DC District with a group of guards, at his post.

In front of him and all his soldiers, his superior read out the charges against Jenard: someone had reported him for accepting bribes while on duty in the DC area.

Jenard immediately sighed.

It wasn't because it was a false accusation, but because in the DC district, accepting tips from the nobles was already a well-known custom and practice. Every city guard soldier, and even the guards, would accept such tips, and the guard department was well aware of it—they would take a cut and make a profit every time—this was the only extra income that Jenard could get for his meagerly paid team members.

Why was he the only one reported? His soldiers were also shocked.

But how could Jenard, who had been in the DC area for almost twelve years, not know that he had probably offended a big shot?

With ten guards watching him intently, Jenard only had time to hand over his treasured sword, which he had kept for twelve years and never wanted to part with—a gift that Duke Starlake had casually handed him after the Great Escape through the Vora Corridor, seeing him unarmed (“Use this to exchange for the flour you have, because of you, at least we have a full meal.” —Duke John). The sword, bearing the insignia of a nine-pointed star, was then bound hand and foot, blindfolded, and led to a carriage to a manor.

The carriage wound its way through the streets, but Jenard had been patrolling the DC area for over a decade. He hadn't lost the habits of observation and route memorization he had developed in the Star Guardian Legion during his military service, so how could he not recognize it? This was the Weed Manor of the Kevin Deer family, which he passed by three times every day on patrol.
A group of men who looked like soldiers tormented Jenard for two whole days.

For nothing else.

All to find out about that group of cavalry, the group that broke into the DC district at night, and possibly even into Kevin Deer's Wisteria Manor...

What exactly is their background?

But Jenard couldn't say.

He can't say.

For nothing else.

All for that group of cavalrymen... who came from the Radiant Star Royal Family under the Nine-Pointed Star banner.

That was John's nine-pointed star, the Duke of Starlake's nine-pointed star, the Starlight Legion's nine-pointed star, the nine-pointed star under which the naive Jenard once fought with passion and relentlessly.

How many of his comrades were among them!
Twelve years ago, he wandered numbly across the war-torn land, witnessing murder, arson, rape, and robbery every day in the cold, hunger, pain, and torment.

It wasn't until Jenard foolishly entered the city, and, in a moment of dizziness from hunger, he walked aimlessly toward the conscription office.

Until he met the Duke, the witty, confident, optimistic, and approachable Duke of Starlake, and his Starlight Legion.

A nineteen-year-old farm boy, often bullied, simple-minded, and struggling to survive, learned teamwork for the first time, understood selfless sacrifice for the first time, received recognition and praise for the first time, was taught to read and write for the first time, raised his sword and shouted for victory for the first time, sang around the campfire for the first time, and made the decision to cover the retreat for his comrades for the first time.

Furthermore, he realized for the first time that there were things in the world more important than having enough to eat and surviving.

There, he felt more like a human being than a wild beast concerned only with finding food.

The Duke's Star Legion, the Duke's personal guard, was his home, his destiny, his everything, the place he thought he would fight for for the rest of his life.

Until the tragedy of Sodala, until that shameful and hateful betrayal, until that despicable and vile sneak attack, until that cowardly and base dagger.

Until the Duke lay peacefully among his guards, amidst the remorseful and angry weeping of the entire legion, admonishing them to "take care of themselves," then smiled through his tears and passed away peacefully.

It's all their fault, the fault of their personal guard, the sin of their personal guard.

If we had discovered it sooner... if I had reacted faster... then the Duke wouldn't have... our family wouldn't have been...

So when those noble soldiers disdainfully insulted, interrogated, beat, and threatened him, demanding that Jenard reveal the identities of those cavalrymen who also belonged to the Nine-Pointed Stars,

Jenard felt that his resilience, perseverance, silence, and even being covered in wounds and on the verge of death were all forms of atonement.

At least this way, it can make his guilty, remorseful, and self-reproachful heart feel a little better, and allow him to make up for some of his guilt and regret during those twelve years of lifelessness and numbness.

This is all for the sake of his former "home," and for the duty of the Duke's personal guard that he will always remember, even though he is no longer here.

“My master just wants to confirm a few things,” the gray-haired old man calmly asked him again outside the cell door.
"Regarding the identities of those cavalrymen—that's all—I swear on my master's honor that he has no intention of harming them."

Jenard gritted his teeth.

"Who will see your persistence? Just as no one will see your weakness. Give us a little information—even just a little—and no one will know."

Jenard continued to grit his teeth.

“We know you must know something—your soldiers all say they don’t have flags or insignia, so is it someone you know? A former comrade-in-arms? Someone you’ve been through thick and thin with?”

Jenard remained steadfast in his resolve.

The old man with gray hair sighed and left the dungeon.

Jenard loosened his teeth, panting, and collapsed to the ground.

He pulled through again.

But unbeknownst to him, Ashford, the old butler of the Kevin Deer family, arrived at the upper level of Wriggle Manor and bowed respectfully to his young master, the Duke of South Shore, Jann Kevin Deer:

"We've already found out; those cavalrymen are from the Canxing family."

Jenn turned away from the blood-stained window, his expression playful:
"I thought he would never speak?"

“Some things can be asked without the other person saying them,” Ashford said expressionlessly. “Jernar came from the Starshine Legion and was even a bodyguard of John Starshine, Duke of Starlake, who is also the Starshine War God himself. After Sonia Satherley disbanded the original Starshine Legion, he was one of those who did not want to go north to Dragonslayer Fortress and retired to the Guard Hall.”

Jann's gaze shifted, as if deep in thought.

Ashford nodded slightly: "It's clear he's an excellent and tough soldier—if there's anything about those cavalrymen that kept him from speaking even in death, it must be related to his service experience."

“I suspect that, with his extensive military and combat experience, he saw through the origins of those flagless cavalrymen—out of camaraderie with them from the same Starshine Legion, he insisted on keeping their secret.” Jann looked at his old butler for several seconds.

Finally, he sighed:

"Therefore, the only ones who fit the description should be the Starlight Private Army of Mindis Hall—and that new prince openly returned to Mindis Hall yesterday."

"The secret treasure of the Mindis Hall has gone missing?"

Jenn shook his head and chuckled softly:
"Hmph, I'm afraid the so-called treasure that disappeared in Mindis Hall before was that new prince! Nekra caught that brat and brought him to the Mangrove Manor... so they simply broke in and secretly kidnapped him."

“You know what, Ashford? We’ve had the fate of the kingdom in our hands twice, twice!” Jenn looked up and closed his eyes tightly. “And both times he got away.”

Ashford lowered his head calmly, remaining silent.

half an hour.

“Heal that Starshine Legion soldier,” Jann said coldly.

Ashford looked up, puzzled.

“You know that brat, I owe him one, no matter what…” Jenn clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with anger, and said, “I don’t want to hesitate when I’m going to take him down.”

Jann turned around and left the blood-soaked manor without hesitation.

"Do you know, sir?"

Behind him, Ashford gave a mysterious smile: "You're becoming more and more like an old man."

Without turning his head, Jenn replied dismissively:
"And then, like him, be betrayed by a relative, and have your throat slit in your own bedroom without anyone noticing?"

Ashford shook his head slightly and sighed deeply.

He lowered his head and reported another matter:

"My lord, news has come from Emerald City... Miss Hilley, she..."

Ashford glanced at his master's expression, then hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

Jann paused in his steps.

The young duke took a breath, as if preparing for something.

“Speak,” he said in an icy tone, “what inexplicable thing has my lovely, foolish twelve-year-old sister done this time?”

Upon hearing this, Ashford bowed deeply and said cautiously:

“Miss Hilla, under the protection of Lord Cassien, went to the Duchy of Sera five days ago—and none of her men dared to stop her.”

Jenn turned his head and looked at Ashford.

"Sera? The Duchy of Sera, which fell apart after the Grand Duke's assassination?" He looked puzzled and frowned. "Isn't that place currently experiencing a plague?"

"The official story is that she's going to help people suffering from the plague," Ashford said with a slight bow. "But I suspect she's found out about that organization."

Which organization?

Jann's face instantly turned as cold as frost, his face twitching as if he had thought of something unbearable.

Until he suddenly erupted.

"Wasn't it enough that she killed her own parents?!"

The Duke's voice was filled with anger and hatred: "What other disasters do you want to bring back to Kevin Deer, back to this home!"

Ashford remained silent.

A dozen seconds later, Jenn let out a deep breath.

In the end, he simply waved his sleeve.

"Send more men to ensure her safety." Jenn closed his eyes tightly, gritted his teeth, and said fiercely, "And... keep her identity a secret. Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely not..."

His voice trembled as he used three absolutes.

Ashford nodded gently and, understandingly, left the manor hall before the Duke.

After the butler's figure disappeared into the distance, Jann trembled and steadied himself against the pillar.

Boom!
He punched the pillar hard!

Then, the Duke of Iris leaned his head deeply against the pillar.

He exhaled a breath of air in pain.

The previous oversights and failures... cannot be allowed to happen a second time...

I cannot fall.

Can't fall!

I must become king.

must.

Only by becoming the supreme king...

Only by controlling the entire Star Kingdom...

Otherwise... Hilla...

In this world, who else can protect you?
Protect...that version of you?
-----------

Mindis Hall, cellar.

“Congratulations, my ally, Your Highness Thales, the Second Prince.” Serena, a vampire over four hundred years old, a refugee from the Kingdom of Night, a silver-haired, red-eyed loli, looked at Thales with a complicated expression.

"We can hear the cheers from Xingju Square very clearly from here."

"That's a bit of an exaggeration... the distance from Star Gathering Plaza to here..." Thales said helplessly, squinting his eyes.

"In short, our alliance is one step closer."

Serena interrupted him without blushing (Thales wondered: Does she really have the attribute of "blushing"?), and continued: "Now, we just wait for when Li can be crowned as king, and then he can help me take back the throne—don't worry, I will do my best to help Li."

Under the ever-burning light, Thales' face turned pale.

Will you do everything you can to help me?
That's as if I'm not the sole heir to the kingdom, and that if you don't help me, I can't inherit the kingdom.

On the contrary—her rival and adversary, that "Weeper" of the Night Kingdom, the Queen of Night…

Thales felt a headache coming on.

He cursed inwardly: "A cunning old hag who's always trying to take advantage of others."

I am crowned, you are restored to your former position?
Old hag, can we change the order?

But he ultimately didn't voice his complaints.

“So you’ve heard, haven’t you?” Thales coughed lightly. “I’m going to Exter soon.”

Serena nodded, a mysterious smile on her face.

That short-lived brat.

Do you think I don't know what you're up to?

“Before I leave, I will entrust you to… uh, Father…” Thales carefully chose his words.

“I’ll follow.”

Tyre continued nodding, considering his next words: "...You are at least a high-ranking official in a country; he certainly won't neglect you..."

"I'll just follow them."

Thales' voice gradually faded.

"What?" he asked, frowning in confusion.

“I said, I want to be with Li,” Serena smiled. This red-eyed girl, who looked to be six or seven years old (wait, wasn’t she only five or six when I last saw her? Has she grown up a bit? — Thales), said with a lisp, “We also have a monthly blood donation agreement, don’t we?”

Thales sighed inwardly.

"Moreover, allies certainly cannot be too far apart—I also need to ensure the safety of the region."

Prince Star rolled his eyes again.

Staying with me—is to ensure your own safety?
His worst fear happened.

But just then, Gilbert's voice came from outside the door:

“Good day, all three of you… Mr. Corleone, Mr. Corleone, and Miss Corleone… You’ve really done your job well—Jora, relax.”

Immediately, there was a knock on the cellar door.

“Excuse me for interrupting your discussion, Your Highness Thales, Your Highness Corleone,” Count Cassel’s voice came through the door.
"But... faster than expected... Ext's reply arrived."

P.S.: For readers unfamiliar with or who have forgotten Gerard's story, you might want to revisit Chapter 15, "Friendly Fire!", in Volume 2.



(End of this chapter)