Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83 - Cry-Baby And Ugly-Faced Woman
Chapter 84 - The Situation Took A Turn For The Worst
Chapter 85 - The Blood Clan’S True Form (One)
Chapter 86 - Blood Clan'S True Form (Two)
Chapter 87 - Your Blood Is Quite Nutritious
Chapter 88 - Awakening (One)
Chapter 89 - Awakening (Two)
Chapter 90 - Awakening (Three)
Chapter 91 - Return
Chapter 92 - Sin Of Hell’S River
Chapter 93 - Don’T Do It, It’Ll Hurt
Chapter 94 - All The Blood In This World Belongs To Me
Chapter 95 - The Charm Of That Shield
Chapter 96 - I Definitely Will Not Let You Suffer
Chapter 97 - Our Inland Sea
Chapter 98 - Arracca Murkh
Chapter 99 - Uncertain Fate
Chapter 100 - Ramon (One)
Chapter 101 - Ramon (Two)
Chapter 102 - Eckstedt’S Welcoming Ceremony
Chapter 103 - Gamble (One)
Chapter 104 - Gamble (Two)
Chapter 105 - The Kingdom’S Wrath
Chapter 106 - The Failed Bet
Chapter 107 - Mystic Gun
Chapter 108 - Chapman Lampard
Chapter 109 - Remnants Of Magic
Chapter 110 - Paid Homage
Chapter 111 - Kaslan’S Tavern
Chapter 112
Chapter 113 - The Intersection Of Fate
Chapter 114 - The People In Hell (One)
Chapter 115 - The People In Hell (Two)
Chapter 116
Chapter 117 - Star Killer
Chapter 118 - The Unexpected Guests
Chapter 119 - A Marquis From Camus
Chapter 120 - Bait
Chapter 121 - Clue
Chapter 122 - Until Dawn Came (One)
Chapter 123 - Until Dawn Came (Two)
Chapter 124 - Queen Of The Sky
Chapter 125 - The Female Warrior
Chapter 126 - Heroic Spirit Palace
Chapter 127 - The Born King (One)
Chapter 128 - The Born King (Two)
Chapter 129 - A Duel
Chapter 130 - The King And His Archdukes
Chapter 131 - The Strange Swordsman
Chapter 132 - Who Are You?
Chapter 133 - Hunt And Chase
Chapter 134 - Little Rascal And Alex (One)
Chapter 135 - Little Rascal And Alex (Two)
Chapter 136 - Stabs
Chapter 137 - Kidnapping The Archduke?
Chapter 138 - Numb Hands
Chapter 139 - A Unique Welcome Banquet
Chapter 140 - The Red Witch
Chapter 141 - Reunion
Chapter 142 - Who’S There (One)
Chapter 143 - Who’S There (Two)
Chapter 144 - The Sword Of Baptism’S Death
Chapter 145 - The Wait
Chapter 146 - The Culprit
Chapter 147 - The Northland Road
Chapter 148
Chapter 149 - Not Even Worth Half A Penny!
Chapter 150 - The Beloved Former King, Nuven
Chapter 151 - Veteran
Chapter 152 - Shadow
Chapter 153 - Have A Drink
Chapter 154 - The Secret Of ‘Triumph’
Chapter 155 - A Bargaining Chip You Cannot Refuse
Chapter 156 - Horrifying
Chapter 157 - The Death Of Soria
Chapter 158 - Betrayal
Chapter 159 - The Fateful Night
Chapter 160 - The Invitation
Chapter 161 - The First Mystic Declaration
Chapter 162 - Letting Go Of A Suspicion
Chapter 163 - Monster And Monster
Chapter 164 - Chaos Begins
Chapter 165 - Just Speak
Chapter 166 - Surprise
Chapter 167 - Flee
Chapter 168 - The Tragic End Of Weaklings
Chapter 169 - Air And Blood
Chapter 170 - The Desperate Dash
Chapter 171 - The Outcome Of The Civil War
Chapter 172 - Elimination
Chapter 173 - The Blade Of Purification
Chapter 174 - The Truth About Elimination
Chapter 175 - Same Kind (One)
Chapter 176 - Same Kind (Two)
Chapter 177 - Sudden Entrance Into The Battlefield!
Chapter 178 - True Form
Chapter 179 - Silence And Darkness
Chapter 180 - Knocking On The Door
Chapter 181 - Phantom
Chapter 182 - A Gentle Kiss
Chapter 183 - The Cost Of Victory
Chapter 184 - The Paradoxical Assassin
Chapter 185 - Thunder Rumbles In Winter
Chapter 186 - End Of Arc: A Good Name
Chapter 187 - The Night Ends, The Day Breaks
Chapter 188 - It Is You
Chapter 189 - Symphony Of Blood (One)
Chapter 190 - Symphony Of Blood (Part Two)
Chapter 191 - Stop Meddling Into The Matters Of Elders
Chapter 192 - Six-Fifty
Chapter 193 - Choose Who You Want To Become
Chapter 194 - Ice-Cold
Chapter 195 - Spirit Of The Contract
Chapter 196 - The Manipulator (One)
Chapter 197 - The Manipulator (Two)
Chapter 198 - Price
Chapter 199
Chapter 200 - Encounter
Chapter 201 - The Prince’S End
Chapter 202 - Really Bad Luck (One)
Chapter 203 - Really Bad Luck (Two)
Chapter 204 - Understanding
Chapter 205 - Execute On The Spot
Chapter 206 - Guest From Barren Bone
Chapter 207 - The Prince’S Doubts
Chapter 208 - The Black Prophet From The Other Side
Chapter 209 - Code Name: Dragon’S Blood
Chapter 210 - The Importance Of Dragon’S Blood
Chapter 211 - A Gamble In The Dark (One)
Chapter 212 - A Gamble In The Dark (Two)
Chapter 213 - The Curse Of The Witch
Chapter 214 - The Scorching Blade
Chapter 215 - Stall
Chapter 216 - The Latecomer
Chapter 217 - A Very Big Problem
Chapter 218 - The Blade And The Wing
Chapter 219 - Trust And Loyalty
Chapter 220 - Nicholas’ Bargaining Chip
Chapter 221 - Shelter
Chapter 222 - A Critical Decision
Chapter 223 - Failure
Chapter 224 - Little Rascal’S ‘Consolation’
Chapter 225 - Save This Country
Chapter 226 - King Slayer
Chapter 227 - Creating Trouble For Ourselves
Chapter 228 - The Strongest Chess Piece (One)
Chapter 229 - The Strongest Chess Piece (Two)
Chapter 230 - The Strongest Chess Piece. (Three)
Chapter 231 - Lampard’S Plan
Chapter 232 - The Archduke’S Fight
Chapter 233 - It Has Been A Long Time
Chapter 234 - A Great Threat
Chapter 235 - Contention
Chapter 236 - The Inextinguishable Starlight
Chapter 237 - The Virtuous King
Chapter 238 - Centuries Of Strategic Planning (One)
Chapter 239 - Centuries Of Strategic Planning (Two)
Chapter 240 - Centuries Of Strategic Planning (Three)
Chapter 241 - Genuine Patrols
Chapter 242
Chapter 243 - Seize Control
Chapter 244 - Chad Vlad
Chapter 245 - Severing Souls With A Slash!
Chapter 246 - A Game Of Chess
Chapter 247 - A Chance Encounter
Chapter 248 - I Am Very Honored
Chapter 249 - When Swords Cross (One)
Chapter 250 - When Swords Cross (Two)
Chapter 251 - Arduous
Chapter 252 - I Am So Relieved
Chapter 253 - I Can Help You
Chapter 254 - The Black Knight’S Death
Chapter 255 - Changing Hands
Chapter 256 - Counter-Attack
Chapter 257 - Check
Chapter 258 - Checkmate
Chapter 259 - A Speculation
Chapter 260 - The Reason For Battle (One)
Chapter 261 - The Reason For Battle (Two)
Chapter 262 - Twist Of Fate
Chapter 263 - A Child Who’S Not Able To Drink Alcohol
Chapter 264 - You Northland Barbarians!
Chapter 265 - Two Minutes
Chapter 266 - What A Shame (One)
Chapter 267 - What A Shame (Two)
Chapter 268 - We Won
Chapter 269 - The Archduchess
Chapter 270 - The Blood-Stained Crown
Chapter 271 - The Day Before The Bitter Cold Winter
Chapter 272 - Yc
Chapter 273 - End Of Arc: The Destiny They Missed
Chapter 274 - The Quiet Prince
Chapter 275 - A Game Of Chess (One)
Chapter 276 - A Game Of Chess (Two)
Chapter 277 - First Lesson
Chapter 278 - The Truth Brothers
Chapter 279 - Traitors
Chapter 280 - Target
Chapter 281 - An Awkward Dinner
Chapter 282 - Upset
Chapter 283 - Riot
Chapter 284 - The Familiar Guest
Chapter 285 - The Honor And Humiliation Of The Great Dragon (One)
Chapter 286
Chapter 287 - The Mystery About Putray
Chapter 288 - The Dragon’S Blood Has Yet To Dry
Chapter 289 - Dragon Breaker (One)
Chapter 290 - Dragon Breaker (Two)
Chapter 291 - Meryl Hicks
Chapter 292 - The Boundaries Of Governance (One)
Chapter 293 - The Boundaries Of Governance (Two)
Chapter 294 - What Is Magic?
Chapter 295 - An Unforeseen Invitation
Chapter 296 - The Game In The Carriage
Chapter 297 - The Former King’S “Present”
Chapter 298 - The Prince’S Shackles
Chapter 299 - Friend And Foe
Chapter 300 - Victory And Defeat
Chapter 301 - A Duel
Chapter 302 - Not Too Bad?
Chapter 303 - Leave
Chapter 304 - A Storm Is Coming
Chapter 305 - The Creation Of The Two Empresses
Chapter 306 - Raven Of Death
Chapter 307 - Ian The Nuisance
Chapter 308 - Collusion
Chapter 309 - The Writers Of Legend (One)
Chapter 310 - The Writers Of Legend (Two)
Chapter 311 - The Day Of The State Affairs Hearing
Chapter 312 - The Hatred For Stealing His Sister
Chapter 313 - The Beginning
Chapter 314 - For Dragon Clouds City
Chapter 315 - The Archduchess And Her Vassals
Chapter 316 - Plan
Chapter 317 - A Romantic Story
Chapter 318 - Are All Of You Coming?
Chapter 319 - Not According To Plan
Chapter 320 - Releasing In “Installments”
Chapter 321 - The Price Of Saying “No”
Chapter 322 - The Moral Of The Story
Chapter 323 - Good Morning
Chapter 324 - Returning The Favor
Chapter 325 - Send Reinforcements
Chapter 326 - Five Archdukes
Chapter 327 - The Prince’S Whereabouts
Chapter 328 - Just Like Chapman Lampard
Chapter 329 - The Final Journey
Chapter 330 - Assassinating Lampard?
Chapter 331 - Bumping Into A Ghost
Chapter 332 - Headquarters
Chapter 333 - Smooth-Sailing
Chapter 334
Chapter 335 - The Confusion While Going Back Home
Chapter 336 - The Veteran On The Wheelchair
Chapter 337 - Double The Amount?
Chapter 338 - The Point Of Contact
Chapter 339 - His/Her Eyes
Chapter 340 - The Magical Therren
Chapter 341 - You Son Of A *Censored*
Chapter 342 - Which Will You Choose?
Chapter 343 - Exterminate Them All
Chapter 344 - Black Track
Chapter 345 - Join Us
Chapter 346 - Silver Shadow
Chapter 347 - You Will Fail In The End
Chapter 348 - You Fell Into The Trap, Eh?
Chapter 349 - The War Of The Deceased Souls
Chapter 350 - Never Lost
Chapter 351 - The Pulse Of The Ground
Chapter 352 - God Knows
Chapter 353 - The First Rule
Chapter 354 - Pursuers
Chapter 355 - The Hardest Fight
Chapter 356 - Unique Only To One
Chapter 357 - Just Die Here
Chapter 358 - The Three-Second Fight
Chapter 359 - Surpassed Kaslan
Chapter 360 - The Raven And The Snow Blade (One)
Chapter 361 - The Raven And The Snow Blade (Two)
Chapter 362 - The Black Raven’S Eyes
Chapter 363 - Who Does Your Loyalty Belong To?
Chapter 364 - Turning Against One Another
Chapter 365 - Saber Or Crossbow?
Chapter 366 - Prince In The Desert
Chapter 367 - Sellsword
Chapter 368 - Dante’S Greatsword
Chapter 369 - Desert Threat
Chapter 370 - There’S Someone
Chapter 371 - Barren Bone People
Chapter 372 - Bloody Thorn Lizard
Chapter 373 - Young Cub
Chapter 374 - Foreign Blood
Chapter 375 - Coming-Of-Age Ceremony
Chapter 376 - Flag
Chapter 377 - The Destructive Army
Chapter 378 - Freaks
Chapter 379 - Welcome To Constellation (One)
Chapter 380 - Welcome To Constellation (Two)
Chapter 381 - Ghost Prince
Chapter 382 - My Home (One)
Chapter 383 - My Home (Two)
Chapter 384 - Age Of Mercenaries
Chapter 385 - Confrontation And Stalemate
Chapter 386 - Prince Versus Prince
Chapter 387 - So Many Tricks
Chapter 388 - You Have To Laugh
Chapter 389 - Shackles Of Power
Chapter 390 - Perhaps I Have
Chapter 391 - Happily Ever After
Chapter 392 - Technical Skill
Chapter 393 - Intention
Chapter 394 - New Guest
Chapter 395 - Shadows And Swords
Chapter 396 - The Dark Side
Chapter 397 - Emergency Mission
Chapter 398 - Alliance Of Traitors
Chapter 399 - The Mole
Chapter 400 - As Bad As Can Be
Chapter 401 - Affectionate And United
Chapter 402 - F*Ck You
Chapter 403 - H.N. Jadestar
Chapter 404 - Stupid Idea
Chapter 405 - Sinner
Chapter 406 - The Intruders
Chapter 407 - Head Towards Omniscience
Chapter 408 - Black Prison
Chapter 409 - Behind The Iron Curtain
Chapter 410 - Hallucination
Chapter 411 - Seven
Chapter 412 - People Whom History Has Forgotten
Chapter 413 - The Mourning Of The Guards
Chapter 414 - Where Is He?
Chapter 415 - Fall Out
Chapter 416 - Disaster Sword’S Battle
Chapter 417 - The Knight Of Judgment
Chapter 418 - A Different World
Chapter 419 - The Queen’S Dowry
Chapter 420 - The Greatest King
Chapter 421 - Knew Clearly
Chapter 422 - Nameless
Chapter 423 - Awaken
Chapter 424 - Loyalty
Chapter 425 - Peer
Chapter 426 - He Was Probably Old
Chapter 427 - A Stalemate
Chapter 428 - Dusk
Chapter 429 - The Man At The Proximal World
Chapter 430 - The Second Declaration Among Mystics
Chapter 431 - The Anchor Point
Chapter 432 - Taurus Mill
Chapter 433 - Decision
Chapter 434 - Correcting The Mistake
Chapter 435 - Malicious Flower, Malicious Fruit
Chapter 436 - Moriah Returns
Chapter 437 - Old Self
Chapter 438 - The Prince Is Not Here
Chapter 439 - Scheme Between The Thief And Bandit
Chapter 440 - Seven To Three
Chapter 441 - Missing One
Chapter 442 - Quick Wit
Chapter 443 - Not Just You
Chapter 444 - Someone Needs An Answer
Chapter 445 - A Forbidden Name
Chapter 446 - Three Calamity Allies
Chapter 447 - Enemy Of The World
Chapter 448 - 1 Vs 8
Chapter 449 - Chaos Of Armies
Chapter 450 - Two Hands
Chapter 451 - Xx Films
Chapter 452 - Fratricide
Chapter 453 - It Was Not A Coincidence
Chapter 454 - More Than Half
Chapter 455 - I Hated Him
Chapter 456 - Nothing At All
Chapter 457 - The Person Who Supported Him
Chapter 458 - Where The Sun Does Not Shine (One)
Chapter 459 - Where The Sun Does Not Shine (Two)
Chapter 460 - Rebirth (One)
Chapter 461 - Rebirth (Two)
Chapter 462 - Rebirth (Three)
Chapter 463 - Rebirth (Four)
Chapter 464 - Rebirth (Five)
Chapter 465 - Truth Swords
Chapter 466 - Beheaded
Chapter 467 - Revealed In Flames
Chapter 468 - The Silent Demon
Chapter 469 - So Naïve That You Are Adorable
Chapter 470 - The Fate Twins
Chapter 471 - The True Essence Of The Power Of Eradication
Chapter 472 - Leaving The Prison
Chapter 473 - I Am Not A Devil, After All
Chapter 474 - Much… Higher
Chapter 475 - The Warden
Chapter 476 - Life, Safety And Freedom
Chapter 477 - Something Lighter
Chapter 478 - Get Me Something To Eat And Drink
Chapter 479 - Exclusive Possession
Chapter 480 - Kill Them
Chapter 481 - A Different Way Of Living
Chapter 482 - Get Yourself A Girlfriend
Chapter 483 - Make Me Even More… Excited
Chapter 484 - You Are Good-Looking
Chapter 485 - Too High
Chapter 486 - You Are Good-Looking
Chapter 487 - Too High
Chapter 488 - That Night
Chapter 489 - Usurp Power
Chapter 490 - Do Something
Chapter 491 - Power Comes From Violence (One)
Chapter 492 - Power Comes From Violence (Two)
Chapter 493 - The Third Party
Chapter 494 - Destiny Is Like A Poem
Chapter 495 - Raven Leader
Chapter 496 - Never
Chapter 497 - His Majesty’S Blessing
Chapter 498 - Black Lion
Chapter 499 - I Have Come In Peace
Chapter 500 - End Of Arc: Duke
Chapter 501 - Everything Will Be Better
Chapter 502 - Six Divisions And Seven Attendants
Chapter 503 - Divided Western Desert
Chapter 504 - Only One Day Left
Chapter 505 - Protection
Chapter 506 - This Is Just The Beginning
Chapter 507 - Hometown
Chapter 508 - A Small Spark
Chapter 509 - Anxious
Chapter 510 - Fifteen Minutes
Chapter 511 - King In The Mist
Chapter 512 - Crazy
Chapter 513 - A Small Favor
Chapter 514 - Like A Fleeting Cloud
Chapter 515 - Timetable
Chapter 516 - Coincidence?
Chapter 517 - Went To High School
Chapter 518 - Discovered?
Chapter 519 - Let’S Fight
Chapter 520 - Not Just The Power Of Eradication
Chapter 521 - World Class Battle Worthy Of Being Written In Historical Poems
Chapter 522 - Continuous Fights
Chapter 523 - Mutant
Chapter 524 - Self-Reliant
Chapter 525 - Lustful Woman
Chapter 526 - Knowledge Of People
Chapter 527 - Holiness Exorcism
Chapter 528 - Fight Between The Eldest And Youngest
Chapter 529 - Privacy
Chapter 530 - Alien Star
Chapter 531 - Guest
Chapter 532 - The Young Kingdom
Chapter 533 - Calm On Iron Spikes
Chapter 534 - Sorry To Keep You Waiting
Chapter 535 - Polaris
Chapter 536 - Times Have Changed
Chapter 537 - Pretty Boy
Chapter 538 - Magnificent Scene Of Hell
Chapter 539 - Side Story 7: Joint Council
Chapter 540 - Never Kneel
Chapter 541 - A Piece Of Cake
Chapter 542 - Merciless
Chapter 543 - That Gaze
Chapter 544 - Watchmen’S Code
Chapter 545 - The End Of It
Chapter 546 - To Not Perish As Foes (One)
Chapter 547 - To Not Perish As Foes (Two)
Chapter 548 - To Not Perish As Foes (Three)
Chapter 549 - To Duke Thales
Chapter 550 - What Rationality
Chapter 551 - Better
Chapter 552 - Sacrificing A Pawn (One)
Chapter 553 - Sacrificing A Pawn (Two)
Chapter 554 - Sacrificing A Pawn (Three)
Chapter 555 - Unfulfilled
Chapter 556 - Chess Player
Chapter 557 - Relieved
Chapter 558 - Punishment
Chapter 559 - Eight Arteries
Chapter 560 - Imperial Style
Chapter 561 - Cannot Escape The Sheath
Chapter 562 - Want Everything
Chapter 563 - Cause And Effect
Chapter 564 - Blazing Blood
Chapter 565 - Of Course—Not
Chapter 566 - Crown Jewel Of The Kingdom
Chapter 567 - Head Over Heels
Chapter 568 - As Truthful As Possible
Chapter 569 - Hand In Marriage
Chapter 570 - What Do I Need You For
Chapter 571 - Defects
Chapter 572 - Heart Of The Guards
Chapter 573 - You’Re A Real Dog
Chapter 574 - Antecessors
Chapter 575 - The Years Have Caught On To Me
Chapter 576 - Shooting Yourself In The Foot
Chapter 577 - Lie
Chapter 578 - The Wine Merchant
Chapter 579 - Damn The Prince
Chapter 580 - The Prince Likes Them
Categories Genre: Action, All, Drama, Fantasy, Mature, Ongoing, Psychological, Seinen, Tragedy Status: Ongoing Alternative names: Wang Guo Xue Mai, 王国血脉, ______
Total Chapters in book: 580
Estimated words: 2362673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 11813(@200wpm)___ 9451(@250wpm)___ 7876(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 2362673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 11813(@200wpm)___ 9451(@250wpm)___ 7876(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 580 Page No. 579 Page No. 578 Page No. 577 Page No. 576 Page No. 575 Page No. 574 Page No. 573 Page No. 572 Page No. 571 Page No. 570 Chapter 286
Chapter 286: The Honor and Humiliation of the Great Dragon (Two)
Translator:
EndlessFantasy Translation
Editor:
EndlessFantasy Translation
“Information from the west.”
Kentvida stuck his chest up. His expression was solemn.
“Three days ago, our ‘little friends’ in the west held a secret meeting behind closed doors. At least three elders suggested that it was time to discuss and adjust the number of items, or offerings to Eckstedt as tribute every year.
“The west…” At that moment, Lisban’s pupils contracted. “Are you talking about… the Alliance of Freedom, which is part of the Golden Passage, southwest of the City of Faraway Prayers?”
Next to him, Nicholas suddenly raised his head when he heard that term. His expression was dark.
Kentvida nodded expressionlessly.
“The Alliance of Freedom has not made a final decision yet, and the elders’ standpoint keeps swaying. Nonetheless, there’s no doubt that the moment they dared harbor this thought in their idiotic and cowardly minds, raising the bill at the round table where Prince Soria once tested his sword… They have already trampled upon Eckstedt’s dignity,” Kentvida said grimly. His words were formidably cold.
The moment Kentvida finished speaking, he shut his mouth and quietly waited for a reply.
Thales noticed that all the Northlanders held their breaths for a moment, whether they were personal guards like Nicholas and Justin, or high-ranking nobles like Lisban.
It was as though the air in the hall had solidified for a moment because of those words.
‘But…
‘The Alliance of Freedom.
‘Not Constellation.’
Thales exhaled. He felt relieved that what he was most worried about did not happen.
He cast the archduchess a questioning glance, but Saroma only shook her head quietly with a hint of worry on her face. It was obvious that she knew the significance of the term.
A few seconds later.
Count Lisban raised his head slowly and cast his gaze into the distance while he reminisced the glorious times of the past. However, there was an unassailable influence in his words. “Twenty years ago, we generously ‘taught’ these little friends of ours in the Golden Passage to fulfill their duties.
“Under the fury of the Great Dragon, even the White Elves who regarded themselves as a higher class of beings could not protect them… Has the Alliance of Freedom not learned a lesson from this?
Kentvida snorted. His gaze was profound.
“It is obvious that compared to twenty years ago, our little friends seem to be under the illusion that without the Born King, Eckstedt has become kinder.”
Viscount Kentvida’s eyes flashed with cold light. “Then, it is time to teach them another lesson.”
Behind him, Kroesch chuckled.
The hall descended into silence.
‘What’s going on?
‘Eckstedt and… the Alliance of Freedom?’
While he maintained his composure, Thales recalled the geographical knowledge he obtained from six years of education for Northland nobles. Of course, his lessons on geography were centered on Eckstedt… The prince once jokingly referred to it as “Little Rascal’s Exploration of the World”, causing Saroma to roll her eyes at him for a whole three days.
After the Battle of Eradication, a safe haven was formed in the western part of the Western Peninsula’s Great Desert in the beginning of the Calendar of Eradication. This was due to its distance away from the two new powers, Constellation and the Dragon. Many kingdoms and states of various sizes were established, forming a very long area, which spanned from the north to the south, and crossed many powers of the Western Peninsula. To the east, it reached the inland of the desert and Rock Valley. To the north, it was connected to the Northern Sea Kingdom and Northland. To the west, it reached the Demon Sea and the Sea of Despair with their many ports. It neighbored Dragon-Kissed Land and Thornland, which were located on the shore of the Sea of Long Corridors in the south. To the southeast, it was connected to the Two Misty Seas and even Constellation.
This passage mainly comprised of small kingdoms along the road, and all the powers exercised their own autonomous rule. They were renowned for being free from the influence of powerful kingdoms. That was until Camus Union gradually rose during the peninsular wars. When people of the states farther down east—later known as Camians—started trading within the peninsula, they called this complicated and confusing overland passage the “Golden Passage” as it was connected to various countries and filled with trade items
The Alliance of Freedom that Kentvida and Lisban talked about was situated on the northeastern end of the Golden Passage. It neighbored the City of Faraway Prayers, which was situated in the western part of Eckstedt in the east. It was also connected to Camus Union’s Good Flow City in the west. For those who were braver, they could even reach the Western Desert Hill of Constellation by going southeast and crossing a patch of desert.
For quite a long time, this piece of land, which served as the Golden Passage, was in constant chaos. After the Fourth Peninsular War, many forces of power reached a compromise and agreed to form a joint rulership to create a political state. It was known as the Alliance of Freedom. It had managed to exist for more than a hundred years, despite being in a complicated situation where many internal and external powers were entangled.
It was obvious from Lisban’s words that the Alliance of Freedom had fallen into Eckstedt’s hand in the most recent conflict. With their then flourishing power and influence, as well as their terrifying war achievements of forcing Constellation and Camus Union into submission, they seized influence and dominance over the Alliance of Freedom. They were hence able to possess plenty of benefits from the northernmost part of the Golden Passage.
‘So, if the Alliance of Freedom is trying to break away from Eckstedt’s control,’ Thales thought, ‘does Lampard want to go to war with the west?
‘But the people led by Archduke Roknee are all criticizing his rule. Lampard should be extremely busy dealing with his problems at this time, and he’s also probably in an incredibly anxious state. It can’t be that the king expects to clear his name with this war that is fated to be arduous?
‘It has been impossible to resolve the conflict between the king and the archdukes since that incident six years ago, right?’
Viscount Kentvida raised his head and looked expressionlessly at Saroma, who was deep in thought. “Archduchess Walton, this is the important information King Chapman asked me to convey to you.
“The Northlander’s dignity… can only be defended with blood.”
Kentvida focused his gaze. There was a hint of aggressiveness in his eyes. “What is Dragon Clouds City’s view on this?”
Facing Kentvida’s seemingly polite question, which was in reality, a very overbearing one, Saroma furrowed her eyebrows.
In that moment, Thales saw a fleeting hint of helplessness and fear in her eyes.
But the young girl quickly coughed softly and looked habitually at Regent Lisban.
“Ciel, what do you think?”
Count Lisban pondered for a pretty long while.
“Thank you very much for your information.” The regent finally raised those profound eyes of his, which seemed to be greatly burdened. “Even though Black Sand Region is far away from the desert and the Golden Passage…
“But you actually reacted to the situation far quicker than the City of Faraway Prayers, which neighbors the Alliance of Freedom, despite the gravity of the situation. You even sent people to notify us of this earlier than the City of Faraway Prayers.
“Is it an oversight on Archduke Roknee’s part, or are all of you too mindful?”
Lisban deliberately emphasized his pronunciation on the word “mindful”.
The moment Lisban said that, Thales could not help but arch his eyebrows up a little.
Viscount Kentvida could not refrain from slightly changing his expression either. He sized up Count Lisban once again.
‘I see.’ The Prince of Constellation realized what was suspicious about Black Sand Region sending their envoys over. ‘This isn’t something they should notify us about. Additionally, they shouldn’t have been so passionate about it.’
Behind Kentvida, Kroesch snorted softly, and coldly said, “We are in service of a king who is ready to realize his aspirations all over the kingdom. Surely, we have to be able to live up to his ambitions and plans.”
Kentvida curled up the corners of his lips and nodded slightly at Kroesch. But the female fighter did not even spare a glance at him. Instead, she fixed her gaze on the archduchess.
Lisban snorted flatly.
“Forget about Eckstedt’s influence on the Golden Passage…” Count Lisban straightened his body a little. His tone was solemn, “Plenty of the goods and profit we enjoy comes with Eckstedt being connected to the Alliance of Freedom. Besides, the Alliance of Freedom is neighbor to the City of Faraway Prayers. Once it breaks away from our control, the one who would suffer the most losses and be the most worried should be Archduke Roknee, correct?
“All of you are very generous indeed to worry about his affairs as well.”
Amid the increasingly stifling atmosphere of the meeting, the count directly pointed out his suspicion.
Kentvida smiled slightly. “The Roknee Family and the City of Faraway Prayers’ losses are also Eckstedt’s losses—”
But Lisban cut him off loudly. “Even though Archduke Roknee is tirelessly and clearly criticizing King Chapman’s rule? Even though he calls for us to refuse to pay taxes to the king, who is a rebel with no respect for tradition?”
Kentvida seemed to be infuriated too. His smile disappeared, and his expression became cold. “Eckstedtians are one and the same. If one of us stands in glory, the others will bask in glory as well. If one of us is injured, all of us will also be injured!
“This is the future our king has envisioned and worked hard for… Of course, we hope that Archduke Roknee would understand the trouble the king has taken. We hope that you would understand it too.”
“Ha! This is news to me.” Count Lisban looked like he was prepared to bear all the pressure Kentvida gave, allowing the archduchess, who was flustered, to relax. “The king slayer is actually a patriotic man!”
The moment Count Lisban mentioned that nickname without hesitation, Kentvida and Kroesch’s expression became cold.
Thales sighed internally. ‘King slayer. This will probably be a dark mark in Lampard’s life and sully his reputation forever.
‘But…’ Thales remembered Chapman Lampard’s expression while he was illuminated by the fire. ‘Compared to other people’s opinions, the biggest mark should be the one in his mind.
‘This could be considered a sear that King Nuven has left Lampard with. It will be with him for the rest of his life.’
“Trust me, King Chapman bears Eckstedt’s dignity and interest in his heart at all times.” Kentvida’s expression was cold.
“I don’t know how to tell you just how much His Majesty wanted to gather Eckstedt’s entire military force to dismantle the Alliance of Freedom’s city walls, then use those bricks to build their gravestones the moment he received the news…”
However, Lisban snorted angrily and curtly.
“Enough with the flowery words,” the old regent’s tone was very flat, but it harbored a tenseness that made it hard for others to breathe. “At a time when Archduke Roknee of the City of Faraway Prayers enjoys popular confidence and leads all the heroic men to call for the entire kingdom to criticize the king’s act of injustice…
“The Alliance of Freedom, west of the City of Faraway Prayers suddenly becomes internally unstable for some reason, and is bringing trouble to Roknee?”
Thales could not help but furrow his eyebrows at Lisban’s straightforward attitude.
That aside, the prince could not fathom the reason for Kentvida’s visit. ‘This is a fight between the king and Roknee; why do they have to intentionally notify Dragon Clouds City?
‘Is King Chapman really counting on Dragon Clouds City to stand on his side?’
“Roknee will have to make a choice, right?” Lisban brought his arms out from behind and crossed it tightly in front of his chest. He took a step forward and stared at Kentvida with an extremely pressuring gaze.
“By principle of right and wrong, if he wants to solve the problem at hand without leaving any worries, and defend his prestige as the Archduke of the City of Faraway Prayers, he must stop fighting against the king, or even consider working together with the king. This is so that he can free his hands to handle the internal rife of the Alliance of Freedom with all his might, and recapture the profit that belongs to the City of Faraway Prayers.”
Kentvida was silent for a few seconds. “I don’t understand what you mean, Your Grace.”
Lisban snorted coldly. “We are all Northlanders. Let us not engage in the Empire’s political trickery like the Constellatiates.
‘Constellatiates?
‘The Empire’s political trickery?’
Thales could not help but arch an eyebrow. The prince swore that he saw Saroma curl up the corners of her lips a little.
“Tell me,” Lisban said solemnly, “If Roknee does not make the choice that all of you anticipate, how will King Chapman react?”
Kentvida stared at Lisban for a few seconds.
Eventually, the envoy from Black Sand Region smiled.
“I reckon that His Majesty will still have to respect the Joint Ruling Pledge. After all, the City of Faraway Prayers is the nearest to the Alliance of Freedom. So, he respects Archduke Roknee’s opinions and the City of Faraway Prayer’s interests as well as autonomous rule when it comes to settling this issue… It is one thing to condemn those little friends of ours, but it is undoubtedly unwise to hastily stick his nose into another archduke’s internal affairs.”
“Hey!” Lisban yelled mockingly. “Right now, our king actually remembers the Joint Ruling Pledge and the fact that this is ‘another archduke’s internal affairs’?”
Kentvida did not reply. He only bowed slightly. The regent stopped talking as well.
The hall was strangely silent once again. Thales saw that Nicholas’ eyebrows were tightly furrowed, and Saroma seemed to be deep in thought.
‘Weird.’
In this strange meeting, Thales quickly found a few questionable points, which he could not fathom.
‘Black Sand Region raised the issue with the Alliance of Freedom… But according to Lisban, this is just part of King Chapman’s game with Archduke Roknee and his other opposers.
‘But what does this have to do with Dragon Clouds City? Why did Lampard send someone to notify Saroma of this?
‘More importantly, what does this have to do with me?
‘If what Gilbert said about ‘there being no meaningless words in foreign affairs’ and ‘testing waters and gauging our actual strength’ applies…’
Thales furrowed his eyebrows. He had too little information.
A few seconds later, Count Lisban thought of something. He raised his gaze.
“I know why all of you came to Dragon Clouds City.” The count became stiff. “The incident yesterday…”
Lisban narrowed his eyes. “All of you… sent Dragon Clouds City into the eye of the storm.”
‘What?
‘Sent… Dragon Clouds City into… the eye of the storm?’
Thales was momentarily startled. He could not really keep up with their thoughts.
Obviously, he was not the only one who did not understand Lisban’s words. Saroma’s eyes widened. This was the young girl’s usual behavior when she was confused.
The boy and girl exchanged glances, and they saw the bewilderment as well as confusion in each other’s eyes.
“The ‘Eye of the Dragon’, Ciel Lisban. Very well.” Kentvida’s expression became completely serious. He met his opponent’s eyes once again. “Now, our conversation has truly begun.”
Lisban snorted coldly in reply.
At that moment, Thales had a feeling that the meeting that day was a battle between Lisban and Kentvida. It was a chess game only both of them understood.
“The meeting shall end here, My Lady,” Lisban said coldly.
Saroma stared at Lisban in a daze, but she nodded obediently.
“Are you sure?” Kentvida snorted coldly. “This concerns the Great Dragon’s honor and humiliation. And His Majesty is waiting for the archduchess’ answer.”
The viscount added rather profoundly, “He’s not waiting for the regent’s answer.”
Thales sighed a little internally.
“Enough. You know better than anyone how this would proceed.”
Lisban stared at Kentvida with an extremely cold expression, not even bothering to maintain a friendly facade. “The archduchess will give you an answer, but not now.”
The count said coldly, “At least, not before the City of Faraway Prayers sends their envoys over.”
Kentvida inhaled. His expression became calm once again, and he bowed slightly.
“Then, we will excuse ourselves first, Your Grace,” the Viscount of Black Sand Region said softly. “By the way…”
Kentvida glanced meaningfully at the rather puzzled Saroma and said, “…Your new spectacles are very beautiful.”
Saroma could not help but change her expression.
Thales felt a chill run down his spine—the regent’s gaze on him was extremely aggressive.
Count Lisban snorted coldly. “You have said enough, Your Grace.”
Kentvida smiled. He bowed slightly and deliberately at the Prince of Constellation, then turned to leave.
At this moment…
“Star Killer, my commander sends you his regards.” Kroesch, who had been silent the entire time suddenly raised her head and looked at the warrior next to Lisban. “‘That blade is seriously hard to use’. Those were his original words.”
Nicholas snorted as he stood on the flight of stairs.
“Then, you may as well tell him that this blade is quite easy to use.” The Star Killer shook his head and stared at his old friend’s daughter. “What a pity.”
Kroesch nodded and turned towards the archduchess’ seat.
“Your Grace, please take care of yourself.”
She stared at Saroma, and her gaze was gentle as well as hopeful. It made Thales a little stunned.
“Ah, thank you for your goodwill,” Saroma answered subconsciously.
“Please believe me that you are far more important, and far worthier than what you imagine yourself to be.” The female warrior seemed like she only wanted to finish what she intended to say. She continued softly, “No matter what, your existence is a rare miracle in Northland, and a good example for us in taking a step forward.
“Please seize control of your power, be self-reliant, and be a true Archduchess of Eckstedt.
“Because you are not inferior to anyone else.”
Once she said this, Kroesch took a deep bow and turned to leave with firm resolution, paying no heed to Saroma, who did not manage to react in time. She caught up with Kentvida, leaving behind a hall full of startled and solemn-looking people.
Total Chapters in book: 580
Estimated words: 2362673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 11813(@200wpm)___ 9451(@250wpm)___ 7876(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 2362673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 11813(@200wpm)___ 9451(@250wpm)___ 7876(@300wpm)
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