Kingdom Bloodline

On the altar, Janne knelt beneath the magnificent statue of the goddess of the setting sun, utterly dejected. Captain Seychelles tried several times to help him up, but to no avail.

Federico watched his cousin's retreating figure with a complicated expression, remaining silent.

“So, this was a revenge born of personal grudges,” Wyatt recalled his encounter in the birch forest in the North, looking at the assassin’s last will and testament that Thales handed him with a mixture of emotion and satisfaction. “The mistakes that the Duke of the South Bank made back then have ultimately come back to haunt him.”

Thales stood with his hands behind his back at the very front of the altar, looking up at the enigmatic goddess of the setting sun.

Perry Bot's body, covered with a white sheet, lay quietly between the two Kevin Deer, humble and insignificant.

“If it were just him, that would be fine,” Marius said softly, calmly. “Unfortunately, the debts a gambler incurs are often repaid by those around him.”

The people around me...

Jenn's back trembled slightly.

“By the way, Hilla, no, Hilla…she…she is now…their adversaries have targeted Chadwi because of her…”

But these words seemed to remind Jenn of something, and he snapped out of his daze, turning anxiously to Thales:
“You! Thales! Go find her, now! Send men! Send the army to protect her! And you, Cassandra! How could you be here! Go back immediately, go back to her—”

Everyone looked at each other.

"Calm down, Jen!"

Thales had to interrupt him loudly.

"Don't worry, I've made arrangements," the prince said as he approached Jann. Looking at the rude and disgruntled Duke of the South Bank, he felt no joy. "The guards are sufficient, and she's well hidden. She'll be fine—and if all else fails, we have an escape plan."

Of course, the biggest variable is still Hila's personality.

She's not the type to stay put, hide quietly, and cooperate with the operation.

Jann stared blankly at Thales, taking a few deep breaths.

Federico watched with a complicated expression as Thales comforted Jenn.

"According to the current investigation, the assassin was reckless and didn't have time to get any clues from Chadwi, let alone find Miss Kevin Deer," Marius added.

Thales nodded: "Furthermore, if the mastermind's target is indeed Hilly... then we should be even less likely to go looking for Hilly in a big way—that could very well be their goal, to see us panic and expose our weaknesses."

Jann's gaze gradually focused, and he regained his wavering sanity.

"As for her safety, if I may be so bold," Cassie sighed, looking at the Duke of South Shore's disheveled appearance, "Miss Hillay's ability to protect herself independently may far exceed most people's imagination."

You should know that many years ago, outside the Half Tower, in the Evil Forest, it was she who saved my life.

More than once.

Cassandra thought to himself:
He was even more grateful that she spared his life.

“I agree.” Thales recalled Hillay’s series of mysterious abilities, from pretending to be a shaman to summoning spirits and ghosts. While agreeing, he was also still a little scared.

“That’s our top priority,” Federico suddenly said, looking at the body of little Bot on the ground. “Only by finding the truth and the mastermind behind it can we protect Hilly.”

The initiator of the Crimson Iris flower glanced, intentionally or unintentionally, at Janne, who was kneeling on the ground:
Only then can we know who is deliberately creating a false impression and who is trying to take advantage of the situation—after all, what we see is not necessarily the truth.

Thales frowned and walked back to the latter's body.

“There must be someone orchestrating this behind the scenes,” the Seychelles knight said, looking at Jann’s distraught state with resentment. “As for this little Bot, he’s just a tool being manipulated. All this talk of personal grudges is just an excuse. Whether he’s here or not, they’ll still be targeting Lord Jann…”

“And if my cousin weren’t so ruthless and hypocritical, less scheming and cunning,” Federico stared at Jann’s back and said coldly, “I think the person behind the scenes wouldn’t have such a convenient excuse, such a useful tool.”

Jenn closed his eyes.

However—a sneer rose in Thales' heart—"Thales, you have experienced the Emerald City's predicament, witnessed the wolves and tigers eyeing it, and tested the depths of the South Bank Territory."

If, as Federico claims, the Emerald City underwent a dramatic upheaval more than a decade ago, and when Jann Kevin Deer hastily ascended to the throne, he wasn't so ruthless and hypocritical...

Can the Emerald City, which everyone envies and is incredibly wealthy, truly remain stable and prosperous to this day?

Thales took a deep breath.

Of course, the truth could also be the opposite:
If Jann hadn't been so ruthless, hypocritical, and cold-blooded, he might not have been able to secure his newly acquired dukedom, or even survive the political catastrophe of the old duke's assassination and the family's internal strife.

Thinking of this, and gazing at Jann's lifeless, dazed figure, Thales suddenly recalled Quickrope's assessment of his brother and the former Prince Suliel of Exter at the Baki camp:
[Suriel was destined to meet his end... not because of any particular person, conspiracy, or accident, but because he sat in this position, and more so because Suriel was born for this path. His decisiveness, ruthlessness, and ambition were all signs of this. As he grew accustomed to navigating the darkness, maneuvering through intrigue, navigating politics, wielding his sword on the battlefield, and climbing snow-capped peaks amidst the harsh winds of the Dragon Kingdom...]

He will die here one day, sooner or later, if not this time, then next time. His way of life will one day come crashing back and devouring his life...

This has nothing to do with your strength, Thales. On the contrary, the greater your strength and power, the tighter and deeper these chains bind you, making it increasingly difficult to break free...

In that instant, Thales looked at Janne kneeling before the statue of the goddess and felt that he understood him a little better.

The more Jenn tried to grasp power, the more power turned back to grasp him.

This left him with nowhere to escape.

But don't misunderstand, and don't be sentimental—the voice in his heart hardened at the right moment, dispelling Thales's current melancholy:
As things stand, regardless of whether Jenn has as many schemes and cunning tricks as possible...

Without your persistence and help, Thales, the Emerald City's stability and prosperity...

That's about it for now.

Thales snapped out of his daze.

"So, while Little Bot sought revenge on the Duke, others were the innocent victims."

Gazing at the bodies of his former classmates on the ground, Knight Cassien, emerging from his grief, turned to Thales, his eyes sharp:

"How is the priest? Is he alright?"

Thales felt a chill run down his spine. He looked up and exchanged a glance with Marius and Wyatt.

Indeed, Chadwi's safety is what Hilla is most concerned about.

“Do not worry, Priest Chadvi is well,” Wyatt, as the prince’s attendant, had to say sternly, “He is recuperating under the strict protection of us and the temple…”

But Cassandra bypassed the attendant's pleasantries and went straight to the point:
"Take me to see him."

Wyatt paused, resisting the urge to turn and look at Thales, and offered a polite smile:
“I understand your concern for the injured. But I’m sorry, the priest has been quite frightened by what happened and is currently unable to receive guests for his safety…”

“So,” Cassien’s tone tightened, “he’s dead?”

Wyman was taken aback, then hurriedly said, "Of course not! I swear on my honor that the priest is still alive..."

still alive.

Marius frowned upon hearing this, and Thales' heart sank as well.

As a prince's attendant, Wyatt was still too inexperienced.

“I understand,” Cassien gave him a deep look. “Chadwi’s life is in danger, isn’t it?”

Wyatt paused, realizing his mistake.

Cassandra remained silent for a while. He glanced at Thales and Marius, who both had serious expressions, as if he had seen through something.

He glanced at the two completely different Kevin Deer, a smirk playing on his lips, as if about to let out a mocking laugh.

But he finally looked at the body of his old acquaintance on the ground and sighed deeply.

“I didn’t spend much time with that priest, but even from that limited time and what I saw… he shouldn’t have died, or at least he shouldn’t have died because of it.”

Cassandra gazed at Thales:
"And someone should do something about this."

Thales nodded solemnly:
"of course."

Cassandra nodded in response, then turned and left.

"Excuse me, someone needs to know this."

Someone needs to know...

As Thales watched Cassandra's departing figure, a chill ran through him.

If Hilay knew about Chadwi's assassination...

Seeing Thales's troubled expression, Wyman sensed something and instinctively said, "Please wait a moment..."

But before he could finish speaking, and before he could figure out what to do, someone else beat him to it.

“Stop, old friend,” Captain Seychelles of the Emerald Legion, a former colleague of Cassandra's, said coldly, blocking his path. “We’re not done yet.”

Cassandra paused, frowning.

"All done?"

“You know,” Seychelles said, his eyes sharp, as he gripped the hilt of his sword at his waist, “I haven’t settled the score with you for obstructing law enforcement at the North Gate Bridge and kidnapping the vampire thugs yet.”

well.

Wyman felt a sense of relief.

Finally, someone stopped him, and the reason they gave was at least respectable...

But he immediately realized:

Why Seychelles?
Wyatt was puzzled for a moment, then exchanged a glance with Marius, who gave him a playful look.

That's why it's said that even an Extreme Knight, a commoner who started as a mercenary in the Eastern Continent, Seychelles, who was just a duke's errand boy and bodyguard a few years ago, now holds a military rank and is a pillar of the Emerald Legion.

Marius narrowed his eyes as he recalled his dealings with the legionary captain:

This person is highly skilled, but his skill extends far beyond just his physical abilities.

"Does our score really have to be settled now?" Cassie observed the surroundings, his expression gradually turning cold.

Now is the perfect time for Seychelles to settle accounts.

Marius nodded to himself:
Otherwise, if you close the door, no matter how clear or perfect the accounts are, who will be able to see them?
"You can leave if you want."

Seychelles glanced quickly at Thales and said coldly to Cassandra:

"Then I'll trouble you to lead the way and come with me to the place where you and Miss Hilla are hiding and protecting the bloodsucking thug, and to arrest him and bring him to justice?"

Cassandra's expression changed.

Wyatt remained puzzled, but Marius had to look at the Seychelles knight with new respect:
After saying this, it became inconvenient for Cassandra to go back to see Lady Kevin Deer, at least not openly.

“No wonder, old friend,” Cassandra said, his eyes menacing and his tone cold, “no wonder you’ve had such a successful career, rising through the ranks step by step.”

“It’s all thanks to your resignation and stepping down,” Seychelles scoffed disdainfully, “that I am where I am today.”

The two former colleagues faced off coldly.

Interesting.

Marius pondered:
During the night of the capture of Lausanne II at the North Gate Bridge, Cassienne rescued prisoners from the Seychelles.

However, Regent Thales instructed that no further investigation was necessary, and as the person ultimately responsible, Seychelles immediately forgot about the matter and turned a blind eye.

Now, when they don't want Cassandra to go back and deliver the message, but can't say it outright...

Seychelles, however, seemed to have a change of heart, suddenly remembering the case and preparing to settle scores.

It can be soft when it needs to be soft, hard when it needs to be hard, straight or bent at will, flexible and adaptable.

Marius could only sigh once more:
Is this the Emerald City's signature Extreme Knight?

In contrast, some people in the royal guard, especially in the capital, would probably be devoured without a trace if they were in Emerald City... well, without the protection of their family background.

"Lord Cassien, please hear me out."

Thinking of this, Marius, who had been silently observing, finally spoke up and explained gently:

"One reason why Priest Chadwi has been befallen today is that the mastermind cannot find the elusive Miss Kevindir. But you know that girl's character; if she herself learns of this and becomes enraged, acts impulsively, or even deliberately shows herself and walks right into their trap, then she will fall right into their hands..."

“That was her decision,” but Cassie responded coldly and unyieldingly, “It shouldn’t be anyone else’s decision.”

Marius frowned slightly.

"Since you are so loyal, old friend..."

Seychelles sneered:

"Why bother pretending to be so noble in the first place, abandoning everything and just walking away?"

Cassandra frowned, looking at his former colleague with a puzzled expression.

not only that.

Seychelles stared coldly at the other party:

Cassandra, how dashing and aloof he was back then, resigned resolutely simply because he couldn't stand the gloom of the world, discarding the titles and ranks that countless people envied, were jealous of, and coveted without a second thought.

It truly has the air of an ancient knight.

only……

Seychelles gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, trying to suppress the discomfort in his heart.

He was so carefree and morally upright. After expressing his lofty thoughts, he drifted away. But where did he leave the others who stayed behind, those of them who were just trying to earn a living and had to live a miserable life, covered in mud and struggling to survive?

Even when Seychelles filled his vacant position, it seemed like he was just copying someone else's work and accepting charity, which made him appear even more vulgar and unworthy of the position.

But does Cassandra really not know how much of his position and title he earned through family background and how much through hard work and achievements?
Why is it that he appears to be virtuous and upright, while I am vulgar and despicable?
What's even more incomprehensible is that they left...

"And why did you come back now?"

Seychelles' words carried a hint of disgust and disdain:

"Just to climb to a higher branch?"

DD is correct.

As Thales watched their standoff, he felt a pang of unease: these two old friends had a complicated past, with grudges and grievances that were hard to discern.

I don't know how Doyle figured it out.

“I do what I want to do,” Cassandra said after a moment of silence, “and at this moment, being loyal to Miss Hilla happens to be one of them.”

Seychelles scoffed dismissively.

“Unlike you, old friend, you’ve always been ‘loyal’ from the past to the present,” Cassandra said, looking at Seychelles and glancing at Thales and Jann, “whether you like it or not.”

Seychelles' pupils focused instantly.

He gripped the sword hilt tightly and took two deep breaths.

Yes.

He stared intently at his old colleague, grinning, but the voice emanating from his heart was filled with growing pain and resentment:

It's because, in Cassandra's eyes, some things—things that most ordinary people can only dream of in their entire lives—come too easily and effortlessly, or are even born with, so they are dispensable, need not be cared for, let alone cherished.

That's why they can be so detached from worldly affairs and remain pure and aloof.

Perhaps it's not just pretense, because these lucky ones, these people favored by heaven, genuinely think this way, and maybe they even feel that they are noble and transcendent.

Swish!
Seychelles drew his longsword, estimated the distance and angle of his strike, and sneered.

People like Cassián can never understand why someone like him, who has lived in poverty for three generations in the Seychelles, would go to such lengths to scheme, strive so hard to improve himself, be so meticulous, and be so ambitious and restless.
Why can't they just look up at the sun, moon, stars, wind, flowers, snow, and the magnificent beauty of heaven and earth?

Why do they have to live so forcefully, so hard, so difficult, so pretentiously, bowing their heads, backs, and even knees so low?
Why struggle until you're covered in mud, filthy, and utterly devoid of dignity for such a despicable, vulgar, and insignificant trifle?

Is the title of Knight Lord special? Is the position of Captain of a Legion really that impressive? Is being born into a noble family really that great? Is it important to be born with land, property, family background, and connections? Is it difficult to get along and work with people from different social classes? Is it really a matter of life and death if you eat an extra bowl of meat or a meal less each day, resulting in a difference of ten silver coins in your monthly salary?
In this life, do what you want to do and don't do what you don't want to do. Is that so difficult?
Shouldn't people be born relaxed and happy, free and independent, happy and self-sufficient, unconstrained by external things and unrestrained by others?
Swish!
Cassandra also drew his sword, turning his body to the side and surveying the temple's defenses, planning his breakout.

"I do not wish to be your enemy, Seychelles."

"You're wrong, Cassandra."

But Seychelles was menacing, and his answer left Cassie bewildered:

"You think you don't want to?"

The atmosphere in front of the altar suddenly became tense.

Marius frowned, and Wyatt instinctively stepped in front of Thales, ready for action.

Federico seemed lost in thought, while Janne remained absent-minded, seemingly oblivious to what was happening around him.

The guards in the distance noticed the unusual situation, but no one dared to approach.

“Even if you keep me here,” Cassandra said with a snort, looking around at the obstacles in his path, including those of different social standing, “she will eventually get the news.”

Thales's heart sank.

He is right.

A voice inside Thales cautiously reminded him:
The girl's supernatural powers were not exactly vast, but they were certainly quite wicked.

Hillary will find out.

And that's when the trust between you will crumble.

"enough."

Thinking of this, Thales sighed and interrupted the increasingly dangerous standoff:

"I'll go with you."

Wyman turned around in confusion:
"Your Highness?"

Thales pushed aside Wyatt, who was shielding him, and walked step by step toward the tense Seychelles and Cassien, forcing them to lower their swords and take a half step back. "I said, I will go with you to see Hilly, Knight Cassien."

Cassandra was somewhat surprised, and everyone else present was also taken aback.

“I don’t intend to hide it from her. In fact, I want to tell her about Chadwi myself—before she finds out from elsewhere.”

Thales was deeply troubled:
"And all I hope for is that before that, you can give me a little more time to organize the clues and formulate a strategy—I hope that when I see her, I will have more comprehensive information so that I can give valuable advice and help, instead of being completely in the dark and leaving her alone to digest her anger and grief."

Thales looked at him firmly:
"I swear."

Cassandra stared at the boy.

“Your vow,” he scoffed, showing no politeness to the prince, “is not my vow.”

Most of the people present frowned.

“I know, and I respect that,” Thales said as sincerely as possible. “So if you insist, I have no choice but to compromise, leave everything here, and go with you to see her—to avoid any misunderstandings or misjudgments between us.”

Jann snapped out of his daze and slowly turned around, while Federico's expression was subtle.

Cassandra fell silent. He looked at Seychelles, whose face was grim and who was not giving an inch, still not understanding where the other party’s inexplicable hostility came from.

Finally, he gave a soft hum, sheathed his sword, and stepped aside.

"Ok."

Thales' eyes flickered: "Oh?"

“I can wait,” Cassandra said cautiously, “but not for long.”

Thales was somewhat surprised.

Does this mean he... agreed?

“She instructed,” Cassie said softly, “that in any event that changes in the city, Your Highness’s opinion shall prevail.”

Thales was taken aback:
"Based on my opinion... she... Hilla really said that?"

"You doubt this?"

"No, no, no, I just..."

Wow.

Thales was somewhat flattered.

Does she really trust me that much?
Seychelles stood aside, forced to put away his weapon, watching Thales patiently explain to Cassie with mixed feelings.

Yes.

He forcibly suppressed the resentment in his heart and shook his head with self-mockery.

Some people are born to be favored by others.

Some people are born effortless.

She's different from him.

Just now.

"What exactly do you want?" a hoarse and tired voice asked.

Everyone turned their heads at the same time.

Beneath the statue, Jenn spoke softly:
"what do you want?"

"Of course, we should stabilize the situation and minimize losses."

Thales took a deep breath and turned around:
"And hopefully we can find..."

“Not you,” Jann said coldly, rising from the ground with a chilling look in his eyes. “I’m talking about him.”

Everyone followed his gaze and looked at another iris.

"you."

The Duke of the South Bank said coldly:
Federico Kevindir.

Federer frowned: "What?"

“This was your doing, your planning, or at least your instruction,” Jann said coldly, pointing to the body on the ground. “You had far more than just Lausanne II running errands for you, didn’t you? And this happened of all times, right after you were released from house arrest and regained your freedom to contact them.”

"absurd."

Federico's face was ashen.

"We were placed under house arrest together, and we were released together. How can it not be you who did it, and you who contacted them, cousin?"

“Hilay is my younger sister!”

"She's also my cousin!"

Of course, they are both suspects.

Thales closed his eyes in exasperation: If only he had kept them locked up until he left.

No, that's not possible.

Another part of his inner self spoke up in time, cautiously and rationally reminding His Highness:
You know very well, Thales:

The old arbitration case is a good reason to temporarily grant you the power to restrain Kevin Deer and the qualification to control the Emerald City.

Conversely, it is not a good excuse: until you have a trial and a conclusion, until you have given an explanation, until you have at least cleared the name of one Kevin Deer and released him, you will not be able to gain the trust of the Emerald City, balance the situation, or stabilize the scales.

Therefore, they would not be able to leave Emerald City as they wished.

You use this to restrain Kevin Deer and control Emerald City.

Emerald City, however, uses this to restrain you and control the royal family.

Thales suddenly opened his eyes.

“This assassin, like you, escaped from international waters and has returned to seek revenge,” Janne sneered. “You two didn’t even share the same ship to smuggle yourselves back to Emerald City, did you?”

“I am also sorry for what happened to the priests of Chadvi,” Federico vehemently denied, “but this has nothing to do with me, it’s not true, it’s not true.”

Thales frowned.

“And you know, Fed,” Jann pressed, “you know Hilla was educated in the temple, you know she was on good terms with that priest, you know she sometimes hides here to avoid trouble, you even know about her childhood illness…”

Thales's brow twitched.

“Jane,” Federico interrupted him, frowning, “you’ve lost your composure.”

But Jenn ignored him, and he continued to speak through gritted teeth:
"...And who knows how much more about Hilai your father told you: the good, the bad, the strange, the bizarre, including our family's history with the Half Tower, the Temple, the Secret Society, and even the royal family, all the grudges and grievances..."

Thales' expression shifted.

"Cousin!"

Federico had to interrupt him loudly, glancing at the people around him:

"Calm down, consider the occasion. It's not appropriate to air family dirty laundry in public."

"You've already spread it around!"

Jenn let out a cold laugh:

"Look at the present. Thanks to you, the name of the iris has become a laughing stock. Descendants kill each other, enemies are eyeing them covetously, and Hillay has become their target..."

"fart!"

Federico, unable to bear it any longer, raised his voice and retorted:
"This is clearly all your fault!"

Jenn paused, then laughed in fury:

"My fault?"

The cousins' quarrel became increasingly unrestrained, causing onlookers to frown.

Wyatt winked at Thales, but the latter just shook his head and continued to watch their argument.

"Of course! Didn't you hear me just now?"

Federico snorted coldly and waved at the corpse on the ground:

"Look at this, a coup and the ambush of the delegation. If you hadn't caused so much trouble during your administration, would this drug dealer's son have suffered such a devastating loss of his family and be blaming Kevin Deer? How would the people behind him have had the opportunity to exploit the situation, slap our family in the face, and destroy the foundation of Emerald City?"

Jann was breathing heavily, staring intently at his cousin.

"And you, Jann Kevin Deer, you sit on the throne of the Duke but can't even clean up your own mess, you're not even good at silencing him, and you even gave him a chance to escape and come back for revenge!"

Jann choked on his words, clenching his teeth:

"If it weren't for the trouble you brought back..."

"Stop with this nonsense about me plotting against you and having paranoia!"

Federico spat out a contemptuous rebuke, pointing a finger directly at Jann's nose:
"This is all your fault, the mess you left behind, the enemies you made, the grudges you incurred! And you know it better than anyone else! You dragged her down, you dragged Hillary down with you!"

Jenn's chest heaved and his expression twisted as he was rebuked.

"So please, stop putting on this act of brotherly and sisterly affection! If something really happens to Hilly, then you'll be the one who brought this tragedy upon your sister—"

Before anyone could react, Jenn was enraged and threw a punch!
"You motherfucker!"

boom!
To everyone's astonishment, Federico, who had been punched, collapsed to the ground.

He shook his head, touched the blood flowing from his nose, and was initially incredulous, but then became furious and got up to rush towards Jann!

"Fuck you, you son of a bitch—"

boom!
“Your Highness—” Wyatt was shocked and looked at Thales first.

Without time to ask for permission, the two furious cousins ​​rammed into each other almost simultaneously!

And so, in full view of everyone, the two noble and politically embroiled young masters of Kevin Deer began to fight in the temple in such an uncouth and even vulgar manner, their mouths hurling insults without ceasing, some of which clearly stemmed from childhood grudges:
"You fishing bastard..."

"Fuck you, you corpse carrier..."

Thales sighed in despair.

Ignoring Wyatt's anxious request for instructions, he sat down on the steps next to Little Bot's body, closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead, not even glancing at the fiercely contested and incredibly valuable "battle".

But perhaps due to their pampered lifestyle or long-standing peace, the fight between the two was far less entertaining than the selection of generals, and quickly turned from rapid back-and-forth punches into an ugly tearing and pulling, and was abruptly stopped three seconds later at Marius's prompting.

"Lord Janne! Calm down! We're still in the temple..." Seychelles grabbed the enraged Duke of the South Bank from the front, pushing and pulling him.

“Please step back, Mr. Federico. I may not like your father, but I have no intention of settling personal scores…” Cassandra grabbed the equally enraged Federico without any politeness, pulling him backward by his right arm.

The two Kevin Deer were quickly separated, both glaring at each other with hatred, their faces bruised and their clothes disheveled.

Marius stood in the middle, frowning as he watched two experts of the highest level blocking the two nobles on his left and right.

“If you have no objections, Your Highness,” Wyatt clenched his fists, especially eyeing Jenn, “I’ll let them calm down and then lock them up again…”

"open."

"Huh?" Wyman was taken aback.

“I said, you two, let them go,” Thales said, still rubbing his forehead with his eyes closed, but what he said was unexpected, “Let them fight.”

what?
Cassien and Seychelles, who were in charge of breaking up the fight, looked at each other in disbelief.

Even Jann and Federico, who were gritting their teeth and exchanging harsh words, were stunned.

Only Marius's eyes flickered, and he automatically and consciously stepped aside.

“But Your Highness…” Wyman still wanted to try to get something.

In that instant, Thales suddenly opened his eyes, looked up, and roared:
"open!!"

Everyone was startled!
Seychelles and Cassienne released their grip almost simultaneously and stepped back.

Only Janne and Federico remained on the steps, facing each other without any obstruction.

Still catching their breath, the two were stunned and stared blankly at Thales.

“Keep going, keep fighting,” Thales said, sitting on the steps with his elbows on his knees, staring blankly at the countless empty seats below the altar, thinking about where everyone in Emerald City should sit. “Don’t let me stop you.”

Jan and Federico were both bewildered, staring blankly at each other.

The moment their eyes met, old and new grudges surged into their hearts, their faces contorted with rage, and they instinctively grabbed each other's collars!

But then Thales's cold, calm voice came through:
"Just kill one of them and consider him the mastermind behind this case."

The two Iris flowers, who had just raised their fists and elbows, stopped simultaneously.

"In this way, the case is solved, the political problem is resolved, and I guess no more people will die in Emerald City."

However, it caused endless troubles and couldn't be resolved smoothly as expected.

Of course, you, Thales, will still use every means and every trick in the book to maintain the balance.

Thales coldly watched the two Kevin Deer who had begun to ponder, and a voice deep within his heart revealed his true meaning:
But what does that have to do with the dead who were eliminated?
"Isn't this your wish and your goal?"

Thales casually brushed away non-existent dust from his knees:

"Use me to eliminate each other? So that one of you can monopolize the throne?"

Jann and Federico continued to grapple with each other.

The two men, gritting their teeth, looked at Thales, then at each other. The anger and hatred on their faces gradually disappeared, replaced by confusion.

"So I'm giving you the opportunity now, isn't that great? It's simpler than all that political infighting you've been racking your brains for, isn't it? Here, get started."

Thales didn't even look at them, and raised his hand to urge them on:

"Come on, let's do it?"

The two Kevin Deer, still clutching each other's collars, remained motionless despite their lingering hatred.

The four people around remained silent.

"Right here, right now, with the sunset as our witness, shall you duel?"

Thales, however, continued with his words, which were neither entirely sarcastic nor entirely serious:
"No matter who it is, just kill one. Really, just one, I'm telling you."

Jann's eyes were filled with anger, but he remained silent for a long time.

"Fight."

Federico's gaze was cold, but he remained unmoved.

"Fight?"

The next second, Thales stood up impatiently and urged in a cold voice:

"Attack!!!"

Under the influence of the River of Hell's sins, his voice echoed in the empty temple, drawing the attention of the guards on duty and the investigating officers. They quickly lowered their heads at the low reprimands of their superiors, busily carrying out their work and pretending nothing had happened.

Jan and Federico faced each other coldly.

"Go ahead and do it, Jenn. You were pretty strong when you hit me, weren't you?"

Thales composed himself and stepped forward, slowly circling the two of them as if observing a monkey show:

"As for you, Fede, haven't you been dreaming of sitting in that position?"

Seychelles and Cassienne hastily backed down.

“Your Highness, people are watching…” Sensing something was wrong, Wyatt tried to speak up to warn them, but Marius stopped him with a gesture.

Thales stood in front of the two irises, expressionless.

Under the prince's watchful eye, the cousins ​​gradually calmed down.

Jenn scoffed dismissively, released Fede's collar, and shoved him backward.

"brutal."

The latter, without backing down, swung his arm away, swatting his cousin's arm aside.
"absurd."

Wyman breathed a sigh of relief without realizing it.

Federico took a step back, and Janne turned his head away. The two bruised and battered Kevin Deer tidied themselves up.

"Looks like we're not going to fight?"

Thales crossed his arms, his gaze cold and menacing.
"What, were you faking it all just now, throwing a fight, putting on a show for me?"

Neither Janne nor Federico spoke in response to the prince's mockery.

"Now, can you shift your focus away from attacking and framing each other? If none of you are willing to be the 'mastermind' behind it all."

Thales walked past them, slowly stepping forward, staring intently at the sunset statue overhead, and coldly snorted:
"You know, whether it's Anker Bailar, who went to assassinate someone in the Mindis Hall, or one of my personal guards who sleeps with a little teddy bear..."

His Highness turned back and gave Janine a disdainful look:
"...They're all much braver than you." (End of Chapter)