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 392 - Technical Skill
Chapter 392: Technical Skill
Translator:
EndlessFantasy Translation
Editor:
EndlessFantasy Translation
Both of them stared at each other in the quiet and remote little house.
Thales said worried, “About you… what’s your next step going to be?”
Quick Rope thought about it for a moment.
“I’ll find a good explanation for this.” Quick Rope shrugged and gestured at Dean who was on the ground, covered by a rough cloth. “Louisa and the rest should be coming back tomorrow morning, and I don’t want to be caught red-handed by them.”
“Aren’t you leaving immediately?”
“Dean is dead, and Quick Rope from the same team disappeared,” Quick Rope refuted impolitely. “Do you think the people from the Secret Room are idiots? I need to find a cover, Thales, one that won’t arouse suspicion.”
“But a lie always needs to be covered by more lies,” Thales said, deep in thought as he stared at Dean. “Unless we can make sure that this man disappears mysteriously, the kind where no one knows where he went and never appears again.”
Quick Rope’s gaze flickered and he revealed an obsequious expression. “Hmm… If you no longer plan to kill me or capture me to do something shady, my esteemed Prince Thales…” Quick Rope rubbed his hands together. He looked like he was promoting an insurance plan. “Can you look for Constellation’s officials in the camp and ask them to secretly dispose of the body? I will be innocent, and you will go home. Everybody will be happy.”
“Quoting your original words.” Thales snorted softly. “Do you think the people from the Secret Intelligence Department are idiots?”
Quick Rope winked. “But you’re a prince.”
Thales scowled.
“I mean…” Quick Rope extended his hands and tapped himself before gesturing politely at Thales. He said with an awkward smile, “The type who can stand in public and declare himself a prince.”
‘The type… Who can stand in public and declare himself a prince?’
Thales sighed and refused, “The army of Constellation in the camp right now is composed of a complex array of forces. The main forces are searching for me in the desert, and the ones staying here are the forces of the local nobles and the royal family, both of whom decided not to relent to each other. They give me a very bad feeling. It’s better not to count on them to keep their mouths shut for me.”
Quick Rope arched an eyebrow.
“In the name of the Bright Moon Goddess… Do you see this? These are the shackles of power.” He wagged his finger and clicked his tongue. “Watch out, Thales. You’re starting to get trapped in it.”
Thales rolled his eyes at Moriah without bothering with an attempt to conceal it.
“How about this? You can tell your people half-truths to cover me.” Quick Rope scratched his head. “For example, this spy from the Secret Room came to capture you—”
Thales shook his head. “You’ve been outside for too long, Quick Rope, and you’re underestimating how paranoid those people are.
“The Secret Room sent a spy to lurk here for a whole five years. The people he came in contact with, the places he went, the news he was usually concerned about, any unusual behavior of his, and his intentional disguise when it comes to appearances…
“I don’t think that the Secret Intelligence Department would miss these. Are you staking your life on the Black Prophet being careless, or on him being naive and kind-hearted?”
Quick Rope’s face fell. “Uhh… maybe I shouldn’t have appeared at all.” He leaned against the wall in agony.
“You indeed shouldn’t,” Thales muttered.
Quick Rope protested as he heard that. “Hey, I saved your a*s just now!”
Thales pouted. “How did you know that I would definitely meet my end?” Thales stared at Dean who was on the floor, and thought hard for a solution. He also did not forget to refute, “I’m the best at fighting back in desperate situations.”
Quick Rope gave him a look of disbelief and said sternly, “Then, we can only get rid of him ourselves.”
Thales sighed in resignation. “Alright.” The teenage boy stood up and shouldered his luggage. “Where are we digging the hole?”
“Digging a hole with just us unskilled people in this field?” Quick Rope tapped Thales in all earnestness and wagged his finger. “No, no, no, we’ll definitely be discovered.”
“What do you mean?”
Quick Rope looked like someone who had done this before. He spoke mysteriously and with a smile, “We’re at Blade Fangs Camp; we’ll do things according to the rules here.”
Thales put on a show like he was all ears.
“We need to find a professional, the type who cares for nothing but money and won’t ask too many questions.” Quick Rope swayed his head, his eyes then grew brighter and brighter. “He is experienced, has a lot of social connections, and knows how to quietly dispose of a corpse.”
Thales thought of something. “Professional? Are you talking about…”
Quick Rope snapped his fingers. “Yes, him.”
Thales suddenly had an ominous premonition as he looked at Quick Rope’s smiling face.
About ten minutes later…
“We’ll be there after we turn a corner… Wait, let’s be on the lookout first… Alright, we can move now… Haih, gently, gently, this man is so heavy…”
Under the dim moonlight, Thales and Quick Rope walked, one behind the other, while they laboriously carried a sack the size of a person. They took a turn at the corner, bent their waists, and tiptoed as they walked discreetly through the alley.
Thales panted and said, “Visiting him at this hour… are you sure that this is a good idea?”
They reached an inconspicuous wooden door.
Quick Rope gritted his teeth and nodded. “Don’t worry, Tampa is definitely home—alright, put him down first—After all, ‘My Home’ is fully booked for tonight.”
But Quick Rope’s hand—which was about to knock on the door—stopped in the air.
“Strange…” Quick Rope stared at the lock on the wooden door. “The lock is outside… Tampa didn’t come home?”
Thales arduously put down the sack and said sarcastically as he thumped his numb shoulder, “Hah, you’re truly ‘dependable’. Next, we can only-What are you doing?”
He was struck dumb by Quick Rope’s actions.
At some point of time, Quick Rope had three iron picks between his teeth. He was clutching two more in his hands and was violently fiddling with the lock on the door.
“Opening the lock,” Quick Rope murmured. “We can’t just stay outside like this, let’s just go in and wait for him…”
“This is not what I meant!” Thales lowered his voice and said anxiously, “Are you sure that people won’t take us for thieves and attack straight away—”
“Take it easy, take it easy.” Quick Rope was calm and composed. “You don’t know the rules of the trade. There is a way to go about this kind of deal. As long as you have enough money, don’t worry so much about other details…”
When he saw that the lock in his hand did not budge at all, he switched to another iron pick without batting an eyelid.
Thales frowned. “Wait, where did you learn how to pick locks?”
“You know, when I first arrived in Camus Union, life wasn’t easy.” Quick Rope snorted softly and switched to a second iron pick. “I had no choice but to learn a new skill.”
Thales widened his eyes. He said in disbelief, “Skill? If your father knew that his son was a thief in Camus Union…”
“I’m sorry for bringing disgrace to Raikaru and Chara by being a thief. Oh, woe is me,” Quick Rope mocked without sounding apologetic at all, he then impatiently switched to the third iron pick. “But seriously… damn it, Tampa must have gotten a new lock. This thing is tighter than a virgin… What was I saying?”
Vexed, he shook the lock clumsily. It was so secure that not even thunder could break it. In the end, he had no choice but to switch back to the first iron pick.
“Do you really know how to do it?” Thales looked at him, doubtful.
“You don’t know this, but I’ve lived in the slums before,” Quick Rope said nonchalantly. His hands were still moving, and sweat dripped down his forehead. “You know, not any random person can become a thief…”
Thales sighed. He could not take it anymore.
The next moment, the Prince of Constellation suddenly snatched the lock and iron picks from Quick Rope’s hands and pushed him aside.
“Hey! Stop butting in.” Quick Rope widened his eyes and protested in dissatisfaction, “Lock-picking is a technical skill. Not everyone knows how to—”
While he was talking…
*Click.*
A barely audible sound of something clicking was heard. Quick Rope froze for a moment.
Pleased, Thales exhaled. He turned and simply tossed the object in his hand to Quick Rope. In a flurry, Quick Rope caught what Thales tossed him. He was then startled…
*Cling, clang.*
The iron picks in his mouth fell to the ground. Quick Rope looked dazedly at the thing in his hands. His mouth hung open so wide that an egg could fit inside.
“Impossible…” He said, grievous and tearful.
It was a lock… with two iron picks inserted… and which was already open.
Three seconds later.
“Why…” Quick Rope held the lock with a sad and angry expression, as if he was cheated. With a trembling voice, he said, “Why are you so skilled?!”
The Prince of Constellation shrugged nonchalantly and pulled open the wooden door with a relaxed expression.
“Come on.” Thales pointed at the lock in a carefree manner. “Lock-picking is a trick everyone knows.”
Quick Rope froze.
After saying that, the prince—who was desperately keeping a straight face and holding back his laughter—bent down and started worrying about the sack, leaving Quick Rope alone to stare incredulously at the lock in his hand. The mercenary felt like weeping but had no tears, and his mood was complicated.
He stared at the lock, and then at Thales’ back.
“Maybe… No, it must be… It must be because I picked the lock until it became loose,” he said dully.
‘Yes, it must be that. It must be.’ When he thought of this, Quick Rope’s mood became a lot better. He flashed a smile and thought in satisfaction, ‘If that’s the case… my skills have improved! In the past, I’ve never been able to open this kind of lock.’
But just when the two princes lowered their bodies and prepared to carry the sack…
Two smallswords shot out from the darkness behind the door without a sound, and were placed against Thales and Quick Rope’s necks. They were shocked.
“Look, what guests do we have here?”
A face appeared from inside the house, but it did not belong to Tampa. lt was an unfamiliar, young woman who was wearing a dull red leather armor. Her hair was braided and twirled around her forehead.
She wielded two swords at the same time, one in her left hand and one in her right. She was smiling slightly.
“Two tiptoeing thieves.”
As she spoke, the woman turned the blades in her hands a little.
Thales’ neck felt cold. He exchanged a panicked and alarmed look with Quick Rope. They rushed to put their hands up, both trying to be the first to do so.
“Are you sure that we are in the right… picked the right lock?” Thales gritted his teeth and asked Quick Rope who was beside him.
“It was correct the last time I came—”
“Hey, stop talking to each other.” The woman shook the swords in her hands and said scornfully, “Thieves, mama didn’t allow either of you to open your mouths—”
The next moment, while the woman’s attention was diverted, Thales and Quick Rope moved in synchrony and swayed to the left and right respectively. They took advantage of the narrow angle of the door and dodged the blades by moving to the sides.
“Wow.” The woman was slightly surprised that her swords missed their targets. “Pretty skilled thieves, aren’t you?”
But the danger had yet to be eliminated.
Through Thales’ hell’s senses, he heard footsteps echoing from both sides. He froze again.
At some point of time, two unfamiliar men stood expressionlessly behind them.
One was tall and strong, and the other was lean. But both of them held their own swords and pointed them at the small of Thales and Quick Rope’s backs.
Thales and Quick Rope had no choice but to put their hands up again.
‘These three people…’ Thales’ forehead was sweating a little.
Through his hell’s senses, Thales could see that these three people bore ill-will towards them, one that caused a chill to run down his spine. Their sword-hands were steady and powerful, their control over the tightening and relaxation of their muscles was great, their breathing was uniform and not at all erratic, and the Power of Eradication inside their bodies surged constantly. They were obviously skilled elites.
Thales stared indignantly at Quick Rope. ‘What’s going on?’
Quick Rope’s gaze flickered around in resignation. ‘I don’t know, either.’
Behind them, one of the unfamiliar sword-wielders said coldly, “It’s just two thieves. Tampa’s really good at exaggerating things.”
The woman clad in dull red clothes smiled a little and raised her twin swords. “Then, let’s end it quickly.”
Thales and Quick Rope trembled in unison!
“Wait!” In a moment of desperation, Quick Rope blurted out. “All of you must be bodyguards hired by Tampa, right? We, we’re here to, here to…
“Here to talk about a business deal with him!” Thales stiffly finished his sentence.
The woman stopped moving her twin swords. “Talk about a business deal with Tampa?” She scowled. “By picking his lock?”
“It’s a shady business deal, heh heh. Forgive us?” Quick Rope forced a smile.
The woman clad in red exchanged a look with the two swordsmen.
One of the swordsmen kicked the sack on the floor. He then frowned and said, “There’s someone inside?”
“To be precise, it’s a corpse.” Thales nodded in embarrassment. “So, we had no choice but to pick the lock… Please understand?”
The woman raised her head in suspicion. “Both of you know Tampa?”
“Yes, we have a very good relationship. I’m his business partner,” said Quick Rope animatedly. At the same time, he did not forget to give Thales a look.
“Extremely good!” Thales nodded vigorously like a woodpecker. “We even drank together today…”
The woman in red and the swordsmen stared at each other again and nodded.
“Alright.” The young woman snorted softly as she walked out of the door. “Come with us. Tampa isn’t staying here tonight.”
Thales and Quick Rope heaved a sigh of relief.
But the swordsmen behind them were not civil; they still had the tips of their swords poking the smalls of their backs.
“Carry your goods,” one of the swordsmen said coldly. “Go slow, and don’t pull any tricks. Neither of you want to alarm the patrols, right?”
Thales and Quick Rope stared at each other in resignation. They could sense the sword blades pointing at the small of their backs, so they had no choice but to obediently do as they were told.
With four sword blades trained on them, both of them trembled in fear as they carried the sack. All of them deliberately chose secluded and small alleys as they wandered through the streets once more.
After taking many twists and turns, they arrived at their new destination—My Home.
This made Thales and Quick Rope heave a sigh of relief. At least this was still Tampa’s turf.
“It seems that they really are Tampa’s people,” Quick Rope uttered in dissatisfaction. “That miserly guy is really becoming more and more paranoid.”
The swordswoman clad in red knocked on the tavern door four times in a rhythmic manner.
“Listen up, let me do the negotiating later,” Quick Rope said in a soft voice.
[Humans will perish, orcs will fall, the queen will die, but we will never close our door. Open since Year 462 of the Calendar of Eradication: Queen Erica’s Last Wine Goblet.]
As he stared at the familiar signboard, the Prince of Constellation suddenly thought of something.
‘If these people are bodyguards hired by Tampa and were guarding his house, why was Tampa’s house… locked from the outside? And tonight, isn’t My Home—’
The tavern door opened.
Before they could think about it too much, both Thales and Quick Rope were pushed into the tavern by the swordsmen behind them. The moment Quick Rope and Thales walked into the tavern, a couple dozen people stared at them in unison.
Both of them froze with the sack they carried.
There were a lot of people in the tavern, and they were all armed, seemingly ready for battle. The atmosphere was suffocating and murderous.
“They…” Quick Rope muttered. Thales recognized those people without Quick Rope needing to remind him.
They were Blood Whistle. The mercenary team that claimed to have a hundred people… and they indeed were the ones who had booked the tavern for the night.
However, they were not drunk or partying wildly like Thales had imagined them to be. Quite the contrary, there was a frightening silence in the tavern. Even these mercenaries’ murmurs were low and soft, making it clear that they were well-trained.
Thales felt uneasy. ‘What… is happening? What in the world is going on in the tavern? Where’s Tampa?”
The swordswoman in red turned and said, “Go inside. Tampa is negotiating with our boss.”
The mercenaries of Blood Whistle were either sitting or standing. Some were leaning with their backs against the wall, some were leaning against the pillar, and some propped themselves up by placing their hands on the table. There were even some who sat on the stairs, leaned against the first floor railings, or hung around the corners. Most of them had relaxed postures, but their eyes shone bright.
‘They’re like soldiers protecting a fort… No.’ Thales shook his head internally. ‘Based on the atmosphere, they’re like army ants guarding their nest.’
When they saw the two princes enter, these people’s expressions changed; their gazes became fierce and malicious. Thales felt panic in his heart, and he cast a look at the equally surprised and bewildered Quick Rope.
‘Something… looks really off here.’
Quick Rope glanced anxiously at him in return. ‘Don’t worry. Everything is under control.’
While they endured more than a dozen pairs of cold, terrifying, and scrutinizing gazes, Thales summoned his courage and followed the swordswoman forward while he carried the sack, ignoring the malicious smile of the fierce and tough man to his left.
A mercenary who had his hand on his sword hilt and carried a shield behind his back came in front of them and raised his hand to stop them. He narrowed his eyes slightly and sized up Thales and Quick Rope.
“Marina,” the mercenary said coldly, “they have weapons.”
The swordswoman in red called Marina turned to glance at Thales, at their daggers, machete, and crossbow. She then laughed in spite of herself. “Come now, Shawn. Do you think that the boss and the rest would be afraid of this?”
As Marina laughed, many of the mercenaries who were sizing Thales up laughed out loud, too. But compared to the cordial and carefree atmosphere he sensed while he was with Dante’s Greatsword, Thales could only feel a murderous and cold vibe coming from the people from Blood Whistle.
‘These people…’ Thales gauged his surroundings with an unpleasant expression. He felt as though he had fallen into another trap… one that was filled with mud.
Shawn the mercenary laughed while he still blocked their way, as if he was also entertained by the joke. He tapped Marina’s shoulder and cleared the way.
Thales and Quick Rope walked to the middle of the tavern with anxious hearts while they carried the sack. The mercenaries in this spot kept a distance from one another, and were fewer and more scattered from each other.
There was a table in the middle, and seated around it were four people. Thales recognized the man who had a scar on his neck the moment he saw him.
“Tampa!”
Quick Rope’s expression relaxed, and the sack rolled down from his shoulder. He endured the strange atmosphere around him. “Hey, I was wondering why we couldn’t find you—”
However, Thales noticed that Tampa’s expression was extremely unpleasant at that moment, and his posture as he sat was stiff.
“Quick Rope? And you?” The owner of the tavern stared in disbelief at the both of them. He even furrowed his eyebrows.
“Of course it’s us! I mean, you’re really…” Quick Rope’s expression was stiff and he slowly lowered his voice. “Am I interrupting something?”
Tampa did not answer, but his expression grew even more unpleasant. The other three people sitting at the empty table turned around.
A thought came to Thales. He recognized these people in front of him: Ricky who was full of smiles; the middle-aged Northlander with the cold expression; and the worn-out swordsman who covered his face.
It was them, the three people who arrived in the tavern, the earliest out of all the other members of Blood Whistle, to book the place.
“We only saw these two just now.” Marina placed her twin swords back into their sheaths at her waist and pouted at Ricky. “They were picking the lock, but said that they’re here to talk about a business deal with him.”
Ricky nodded. His gaze alternated between Thales and Quick Rope. His gaze gave Thales a frightening feeling, as if he was being seen through.
“Thank you, Marina,” he said politely. “You did me a huge favor.”
Marina nodded, understanding what he meant, and moved back.
“I recognize the both of you.” Ricky evaluated them and chuckled. “Dante’s Greatsword. Novices, too.”
Thales and Quick Rope forced gloomy smiles.
“Listen up, Tampa.” Quick Rope was the first to speak. He looked like an absent-minded fool.
“We’ve already completed the business you asked me to do. We’re here to give you a report…” He kicked the sack beside his feet.
Tampa’s expression was strange as he sat by the table. Ricky turned to Tampa.
The tavern owner’s face was contorted. He let out a cough. “Alright, I know. Listen up, Quick Rope, go back first and I’ll find time to negotiate with you tomorrow.”
“Ah, I can see that…” A thought appeared in Quick Rope’s head. “You’re a little busy now. It’s alright, we can talk tomorrow—”
Beside him, Marina burst out laughing. Ricky seemed deep in thought. Thales nudged Quick Rope gently. Both of them moved together and bent down, preparing to carry the sack.
Thales only bent his waist halfway when a boot rested on the sack, stopping right in front of his chest.
“Listen to mommy. Stand by the side obediently, thieves.” Marina was seated on a chair beside them. She lifted her long leg and nudged Thales’ chest with a smile.
Thales and Quick Rope shot a glance at the twin swords at Marina’s waist, then saw the mercenaries through the corners of their eyes on both their sides. They had no choice but to awkwardly straighten their bodies.
‘This is really bad. It seems like it won’t be so easy for us to free ourselves.’
Ricky, the leader of the mercenaries, said, “Oh, so, they are the ‘back-up’ you spoke about? Your reliable ‘health and safety advisors’?”
Thales furrowed his brow. Ricky sighed and put down his arm. “You’re really funny, Tampa.”
Tampa covered his face in agony, like a maiden who married the wrong husband.
Quick Rope revealed a baffled expression. He then forced a smile. “Actually—”
Thales let out a cough and stopped Quick Rope from talking.
“Alright, alright.” The teenager spoke slowly. He looked at Tampa, and then at Ricky. He put up his hands to show that he was harmless and said carefully, “I know, gentlemen, that we might have come at the wrong time, but really, I don’t understand and don’t want to know what is going on between all of you right now. So, whether all of you are—”
Tampa’s face became more and more dejected. He let out a loud cough and said unpleasantly, “Then get the hell out of here!”
Thales and Quick Rope readily accepted the good advice and bent down a second time to pick up the sack, which was so near but so far away from their reach… because they were stopped halfway again.
At some point of time, Marina’s blade was placed horizontally in front of their chests.
“Ah, ah, ah.”
The delicate and pretty woman opened her mouth playfully and shook the sword in her hand while clicking her tongue maliciously. “Your butts will get spanked if you don’t listen to mommy.”
Thales and Quick Rope straightened their bodies again with unpleasant expressions.
Ricky sighed, lifted his head, and flashed a smile. “Indeed, all of you don’t understand the situation… But it’s alright, let me tell you about it.
“The situation is very simple.” Ricky flashed a friendly smile at them, pointed at Tampa, and said softly, “Blood Whistle, which is us, are abducting Tampa…
“…right from his tavern itself.”
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)
______