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 455 - I Hated Him
Chapter 455: I Hated Him
Translator:
EndlessFantasy Translation
Editor:
EndlessFantasy Translation
‘A mutiny.’
Thales stared at Nalgi while he breathed unsteadily.
‘Royal Guards? Mutiny?’
No one responded to Samel’s words which struck their hearts.
Time seemed to have become still for a moment. Everything was stuck in the past and refused to move forward.
Then, Barney Junior inhaled before he let out a derisive snort. The sound awakened everyone from their shock.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Barney Junior. He sounded rather miserable, like he was thrown off-kilter. “Nalgi, your shameless lies are like—”
“Lies?”
Like an irritated animal, Nalgi retorted loudly, and Barney’s stick question was stuck in his throat.
“Lies?” In Nalgi’s voice was a cold tone filled with despair. It caused everyone to shudder, even though it was not cold.
He swept his gaze over the guards. All of them had different expressions. He spoke to Barney Junior with the ghost of a smile on his face, “Take a guess, Barney. You declared that you wanted to seek revenge and justice for our thirty-seven brothers who passed away during our years in prison. Why did they die?”
‘Thirty-seven…’
Barney Junior trembled violently without any warning. He was not the only one who had this reaction. Samel, Beldin, Tardin, Canon, and many of them had different looks.
Thales was still immersed in the shocking news of the guards’ mutiny. With a pale face, he re-evaluated everyone.
According to Nalgi, in the past, half of the Royal Guards knew about the plot to assassinate the king. While they might not have been participants, they were people who had stood on the side and watched the events unfold.
If that was the case, what was the relationship between the deceased Royal Guards who participated in the assassination and knew about the plot, and the mastermind of the plot behind the royal family’s tragedy during the Bloody Year?
Even those who were still alive here, those who swore the Praetorian’s Oath to be eternally loyal to the throne; Beldin, Tardin, Canon, Bruley…
Subconsciously, Thales turned even paler and took a small step back.
Nalgi’s quiet and pained voice continued to rise into the air.
“Remember Walker? He died in an internal conflict during the first year. I guess he found the truth later on, and brought things to light…”
‘Swift Knife Walker.’ Barney’s eyes became unfocused for a moment. A cunning, thin man’s image appeared in his mind.
“Morion and Bed Bug were innocent, until they learned of the truth as well. They couldn’t accept it, whether it was the truth that there was a possibility that the companions who lived together with them day and night could be traitors, or whether they had indirectly killed the late king because they had obeyed orders…”
Nalgi’s voice was weak, but the words he spoke had frightening implications. They caused the guards’ faces to change drastically. Samel even let out a pained sigh.
“Kamil knew what was going on, but he was too proud, so proud that he wasn’t able to continue living like this was nothing to him while both loyalty to the throne and his guilt weighed down on his shoulders, and while he had to face your ruthless rebukes…”
‘Morion, Bed Bug, Kamil…’ Barney Junior’s breathing slowly stilled. Beldin’s breathing quivered, and Tardin’s eyes showed terror.
“There’s big Laure, too. I wasn’t close to him… I don’t know if he discovered the truth and thus wanted to kill, or if it was because someone else discovered the truth and wanted to kill him…”
Names were mentioned one by one. Nalgi’s voice was filled with misery and he sobbed bitterly.
“Gold and Skull may not be involved, but they felt immense guilt towards the incident, and they couldn’t shake off that guilt. Then the two bastards decided to drop everything… Rogo was very determined at the beginning, but I guess the dark days of prison life dampened his will. Cox was very calm and quiet, but in the end, he couldn’t acknowledge the fact that so many of our brothers died; he couldn’t accept that his own selfishness had dragged them into this mess…”
As Nalgi continued providing an account of the deceased guards’ thoughts, the surviving guards lost their composure. Samel’s bloodshot eyes showed exhaustion, Naer was frozen in place with a dumbstruck look on his face, Bruley clenched his fists in agony, and Canon covered his forehead while he trembled. By the end, Nalgi was almost shouting, tears streaming down his face.
“Among those who died, how many perished because they could not stand the pain caused by the disaster of imprisonment? How many passed away with their hearts filled with indignation and aggrievance? And how many of us left the world in guilt and depression? O arrogant and resolute Quill Barney, do you really not know?”
Thales listened to these words that struck the heart, and he felt himself become more and more upset.
‘When the forty-six Royal Guards of Constellation were imprisoned after they were accused of treason, and they came to this place with a truth they could not speak… how did they manage to live through the years while carrying that shame, guilt, and pain with them?’
“I…” Barney Junior opened his mouth helplessly, but he had no words to answer Nalgi. He could only inhale deep breaths.
Nalgi’s words became sharper. “And you, you extremist, you obstinate freak. For over a decade, you complained about the injustice you suffered before them, you cursed the damn traitors, spat on their shameless plots endlessly, day in and day out…” Nalgi gnashed his teeth as he spoke.
Barney Junior seemed to have thought of something. He looked dazed, confused, and surprised. After a few seconds, the emotions on his face turned into the deepest fear and panic.
“When you stood before the thirty-seven of us, made a solemn oath that you would never turn back until you discovered the truth, exposed everything, and made the criminal pay the price so that our brothers could remove the stigma placed on them, and even forced them to support you…”
Nalgi’s tears flowed uncontrollably. “Do you know how your seemingly just and loyal accusations and resolve appeared to them—the disheartened ones who couldn’t free themselves from their own nightmares?”
At that moment, Barney Junior’s body swayed! He only managed to prevent himself from collapsing by plunging his sword heavily into the ground.
However, the vanguard’s face was so panicked and nervous that cold sweat covered his entire body.
“No…” Barney Junior’s mind was almost blank. He looked like a timid and helpless child at that moment. “No! You don’t f*cking know what you’re talking about, Nalgi.”
Barney took a staggering step back and shook his head madly. He was filled with panic. “Over the years, I watched them die, I buried them, I prepared eulogies for them. I was doing this for them in order to one day clear the injustice they suffered. This is the only reason I managed to survive until now.”
Barney Junior’s mental state had almost plunged rock bottom. He talked to himself like a madman, and he acted almost the same way Zakriel had at the beginning.
The guards looked at each other in low spirits. They could see pain from each other’s faces, along with an inability to bear the pain brought on by the thought of their companions—whether dead or alive—going through such suffering.
But Nalgi, whose mental condition was no better than Barney’s, was obviously not prepared to let the vanguard off the hook.
“Hahaha, are you saying that they were the only reason that kept you living?” Nalgi was crying and laughing as he mocked Barney.
“But you didn’t know… Most of them, after being imprisoned, were burdened by their shame, regret, guilt, self-condemnation, pain and torment. They had to face their ugliest selves, drag out their meager existences, and live, feeling that the days were going so slowly, that it felt like years…
“And you, Quill Barney!” Nalgi pointed at Barney Junior with a face full of resentment and hatred. “You thought you were encouraging them, saving them, and exacting vengeance for them, when in fact, you were whipping their hearts every day. You reminded them of that year, made them recall what they did, deepened the shame they felt, and added to their impression of that night. You used your noble character, loyalty, moral integrity, fearlessness towards death because of your righteousness, and your determination to make them suffer even in prison.
“You forced them into a corner, and they tortured themselves over it…”
As he listened to Nalgi’s words, Barney Junior looked like an unfortunate traveler who fell into an abyss. He trembled in fear, and even his breathing was no longer smooth.
“It was you!” Nalgi’s vicious accusations were engraved into their bones. “It was you who pushed them to a dead end, and in the end forced them to escape through death with your seemingly motivating words as curses, and you did it day by day, never once stopping!”
Nalgi’s words were full of grief. They echoed in the dungeon. All the expressions on the listeners had changed.
“You are the murderer who killed our thirty-seven brothers, Quill Barney!”
*Clang!*
As everyone’s spirits were shaken, the sword and shield in Barney’s hands fell to the ground simultaneously. They shook continuously.
“No!” Barney Junior buried his face in his hands in misery. His entire body trembled. “No… it wasn’t, it wasn’t me…”
His voice was timid and filled with fear. Nalgi laughed out loud when he saw Barney behave like this. “And you still want to return to the kingdom with all your righteousness and enthusiasm, saying that you want to uncover the truth for them and seek justice, you soldier of noble birth?”
His smile slowly faded away.
“Stop kidding, you son of a b*tch Barney. You have no idea how much your words made me sick when you stood there just now and accused Zakriel with all your presumptuousness.”
Barney Junior’s moans became more and more pained. Thales looked at this unusually cruel confrontation with complicated emotions. His mind was also torturing him with doubts and gloominess.
He remembered the brutal and merciless confrontation between the Star Killer and the Raven of Death at the Land of Barren Rocks in the City of Faraway Prayers. They, too, were once brothers. But even then, their confrontation could not hope to compare with the present situation.
The rest of the guards stared at this scene blankly, and even Samel was silent.
For some time, only Barney Junior’s low, pained moans were heard in the prison. He bent over and pressed his hands against his knees. He took deep breaths, as if he could only get nourishment to keep on living by doing so.
“But… all of you didn’t know, did you?” Barney Junior shiveringly turned to the others. He no longer possessed the calm dignity of a vanguard. “That’s right… it was such a huge thing, it’s impossible that all of us did not know… Tell me that he made this up…”
His tone sounded like he was almost pleading, hoping to get an answer… But the answers were often not what the person wished for.
“I once suspected it before,” a low voice arose. Naer lowered his head under everyone’s gazes. He looked defeated. “The order that day was too strange, too rare, but no one stood up against it, so I… I did suspect it when I was in prison after that, but…”
He did not say anymore. Barney Junior looked shocked first, before it changed into despair.
Beldin stared at Naer incredulously.
Another calm, weak, and unnerving voice interrupted their conversation,
“It’s true.”
Everyone turned their eyes to another person.
“It’s true… I know everything that Nalgi said,” the speaker answered in a manner like he had lost all joy in living.
Barney Junior’s voice was trembling as he looked at the person who spoke.
“Tardin? You?”
Thales raised his eyebrows. Tardin dropped his sword and blade, and started to speak in a desolate and still tone, “If they told me there will be such an ending, if I knew that Constance will… then I wouldn’t have, I wouldn’t have…” As he spoke, tears streamed down his eyes. “I wouldn’t have…”
Tardin’s words seemed to be stuck in his throat. They faded into nothingness as he lowered his head. He did not continue speaking.
Samel looked at him in extreme shock.
“No.” Barney Junior was baffled.
The third trembling voice came, “It shouldn’t be like this…”
Thales turned his head and saw Canon shivering in the corner.
“I served to hold back our enemies. I summoned the sentries back and left the door open… But according to the plan, everything should be done in a straightforward manner. It should be over before they were even aware of it, then I should have died with the assassins, and not have lived until now.”
Canon’s eyes were soulless as he muttered to himself, “I’m sorry…”
The light in Barney Junior’s eyes gradually dimmed, as though his last shred of hope had been wiped off. “Canon?”
Canon laughed laboriously. “Nalgi is right, and Samel is also right. This is our fault, we can’t escape it.” He shook his head neurotically and muttered to himself, “We can’t let Zakriel do this alone… he is already carrying too much on his shoulders…”
Right when Canon finished speaking, the prison was quiet for a long time.
Then, Barney Junior’s hoarse and numb voice rose again, “Is there anyone else?”
After a few seconds, Bruley sobbed in pain, fell to his knees, and began to make agonized grunts.
“Bruley?” Barney looked at him, dumbfounded.
Nalgi chuckled. His gaze was unfocused. “That’s why he can’t talk anymore,” Nalgi whispered. “He didn’t have the courage to face it.”
The last expression on Barney Junior’s face disappeared.
“Tardin, Canon, Bruley, Nalgi…” The vanguard looked numbly at the four people who all showed different facial expressions. “For more than a decade, thirty-seven people… Why… why didn’t you tell me the truth?”
His voice echoed off the four walls. No one spoke. Thales watched them while he felt incredibly depressed.
At that moment, it seemed that everything else was not important anymore.
“The truth?”
The one who spoke was still Nalgi. He stared at Barney with a mocking look. “Barney, do you know who was the leader of the event that year?”
As soon as these words came out, almost everyone’s countenances changed… including Barney, his numb and lifeless face twitched again.
Thales suddenly had a realisation, and seemed to have understood something.
Nalgi bent down and laughed in his anguish.
“Barney… you are a tragic fool. He really loved you, didn’t he?” There was a deep hatred in Nalgi’s words. “So he protected you too well. You didn’t know anything… Maybe he was just betting on both sides, and was counting on you to escape from this matter afterwards, while remaining innocent and ignorant. He hoped that you could continue living in the palace… perhaps even take his place?”
Barney Junior’s eyes widened all of a sudden!
“No, no,” the vanguard muttered. Great sadness and despair washed over him.
“That’s right.” Nalgi’s said coldly, “That year, the person who led our group, conspired us to turn a blind eye to the turmoil in the palace, threw us all into this endless abyss while he escaped the final judgment alone, was none other than that person.”
Nalgi clenched his teeth. The emotions in his eyes were indescribable.
“I hated him, I cursed him,” he said hatefully. “That’s right. It was the vice captain of the Royal Guards, Quill Barney Senior… Your damned father.”
*Thud!*
Barney Junior’s sword and shield fell from his grasp, and his knees fell to the ground. He knelt on the ground with a dumbfounded look. He might still be breathing, but his eyes were hollow.
From that moment on, his face was devoid of all expression, as if he had lost his soul.
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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