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 479 - Exclusive Possession
Chapter 479: Exclusive Possession
Translator:
EndlessFantasy Translation
Editor:
EndlessFantasy Translation
The fire in Blade Fangs Camp grew weaker, but black smoke continued to rise from it.
The subordinates of the Legendary Wing stood in formation and bewilderment as they watched the prisoners next to them gobble down their food. The mercenaries, on the other hand, stood in a corner warily and kept their distance.
“What happened?” Tardin stuffed a piece of field ration into his mouth desperately. He did not even bother to wash it down with water. “Does this count as… our last meal?”
As he ate, he glanced at a remote spot below the sand dune. There were three figures there: two adults, and a teenager. The former two stood stiffly, while the smaller figure sat cross-legged on the ground. He was also gobbling up his food as well.
Next to Tardin, Beldin shook his head and continued to gorge on the field rations. “Does it matter?”
Barney Junior picked up a piece of hardened bread with a contemplative look in his eyes. “I can’t think of anything worse than what happened today.”
Zakriel sat a little further away from them, chewed on a mouthful of jerky, and watched the three figures in the distance warily.
“If I were to be… thrown… into the Prison of Bones…” Quick Rope devoured his food with tears all over his face. “I should at least leave no, sob… can I have a bite of your jerky? Thanks… sob, I mean I want to leave no…. f*ck, it tastes horrible… leave no regrets, sob…” His heartfelt crying made everyone frown.
At this moment, Barney Junior put down the bread in his hands and asked quietly, “Why did you come back?”
All the Royal Guards froze, only Quick Rope remained busy stuffing himself.
Barney Junior looked up at the Knight of Judgment. “Are you assuming that we will return to the way we used to be after taking down some enemies together?” There was a spark in the vanguard’s keen, fiery eyes. “You think everything will still be how it used to be? The brotherly bond? Our camaraderie?” Beldin patted Barney Junior on the shoulder with a troubled expression. The latter let out a bitter snort.
Zakriel did not speak. He merely gazed into the distance without moving. The wounds on his face and shoulders were discernible under the daylight.
“So, what are you up to?” Barney said sarcastically. “Do you still want to kill the prince?”
The Knight of Judgment jolted slightly.
“You still refuse to tell us anything, even though we already know his secret?”
Beside him, Beldin sighed. Intending to convince the former to stop asking question, he said, “Barney.”
Zakriel remained silent, as did every other Royal Guard. Meanwhile, Quick Rope had shamelessly finished his own food, and proceeded to sneakily reach for the other people’s food, but his hand got swatted by Tardin.
Eventually, the Knight of Judgment raised his head with a dazed look in his eyes. “Barney… stop asking questions.”
Barney was startled at first before he clenched his teeth immediately after. “You bastar—”
But he was interrupted.
“Do you know that there used to be a calamity with no physical form and had an everlasting existence? Because it lives in every single person’s thoughts.”
In that instant, everyone including Quick Rope was dumbfounded.
“Even one as wise as Prince Tormond and as valiant as the Hero Raikaru were powerless against it.” The Knight of Judgment stared into the empty sky. There was an undefiable chill in his voice. “When it comes to certain things, the fewer the people who know about them, the safer Constellation will be, ” he finished. All that was left was a lingering silence and the endless desert wind.
However, the atmosphere among the three people under the sand dune a distance away was drastically different.
When Thales laboriously ripped apart his fifth jerky, he could feel the sharp, blade-like coldness radiating from the two pairs of eyes above him. It forced him to chew the jerky hastily and wash it down with water.
The prince wiped his mouth clean with his sleeve, completely unconcerned with his own image. He winced when he accidentally touched the swell inflicted by Quick Rope.
The Legendary Wing, and the leader of the mercenaries watched him eat. One of them had his hands behind his back, while the other stood with his arms crossed. The two men exchanged glances. They were growing more and more impatient.
Thales gave a loud belch and began to speak before he was torn into shreds by their glares.
“The key.”
Once they heard that, both Roman and Ricky were startled.
“What?” Ricky asked, puzzled. What Thales said next made his expression change.
“The key that unlocked Black Prison and opened the exit. If I remember correctly, you told Stake earlier that you have coincidentally found another key outside the camp?”
The prince watched the gradually changing looks on their faces closely.
“But when you told me that fate is a bigger prison, and you have the only key to unlock it…” Thales narrowed his eyes and gestured to the Legendary Wing, whose expression darkened with every passing moment. “I could not help thinking: what if there is truly only one ‘key’?”
At that second, it felt as though someone had struck the air heavily with a hammer. Ricky furrowed his eyebrows tightly. The Legendary Wing stood still dazed.
Thales let out another belch. “Ah, I overate, sorry. So, I followed the clue, retraced our footsteps, and recalled everything that happened.”
The teenager slowly moved his finger to point at the exit of the Prison of Bones, which had already been closed a while ago. Thales’ eyes lit up.
“And guess what? Every strange detail and discrepancy became interrelated.”
The prince wore a smile on his face. There was a hint of lightness and dramatic flare in his tone of voice. Nonetheless, the other two men obviously did not have much sense for humor, because they did not find what he just said funny. They merely looked Thales coldly. As it appeared, they were not in a very good mood.
Thales glanced around, wiped the smile off his face awkwardly in front of his unresponsive audience, and gave a dry chuckle or two.
“Ricky, when you got out of the prison, instead of taking flight immediately, you stayed here and waited unhurriedly for the ‘right moment’?”
The mercenary leader’s face became increasingly grim.
“Meanwhile, Sir Williams, you were supposed to lead a group of light cavalry to find in the desert, but somehow, you arrived here out of sheer coincidence.”
The Legendary Wing’s face gradually darkened before him. But Thales went on, delivering one sentence after another, and he startled the two of them.
“After Williams arrived, he did not even bother with my presence. Instead, he discreetly yet anxiously pressed you for the result of your ‘mission’, and also asked about an ‘accident’.”
The teenager looked at Ricky, seemingly pleased with himself.
“Before the overwhelming presence of an army of cavaliers, you, without being conscious of your actions, used me as a your leverage, even though, technically, I am no longer your hostage. You used me to threaten the infamous Legendary Wing in a haughty manner. Perhaps because you were not threatening him at all, but you were reporting back to your employer?”
Thales inhaled deeply and narrowed his eyes.
“Just now, I deliberately mentioned the Prison of Bones to the both of you.”
Roman and Ricky were startled again as they recalled the incident earlier.
Thales sighed.
“Williams, you were indifferent to the strange fact that he appeared in the desert with prisoners from Black Prison, and disregarded the question of how Black Prison was infiltrated.
“Ricky, you were similarly completely unconcerned about Samel, who wears the same brand as the others, as if you were confident that he would be able to get out of this in one piece despite the fact that his identity has been exposed.
“Also, both of you seem to have forgotten about the damn exit of the Prison of Bones that we just came out from. See?” Thales waved the jerky in his hand and took a bite. “There are too many suspicious and strange things about this, and so, the truth became plain and clear.”
In the beginning of the their conversation, Roman and Ricky would still exchange glances, share their frustration and anger, and even intended to interrupt Thales. However, as Thales went on, his reasoning became more solid, and they stopped directing their gazes at each other. Instead, they stared at the ground in bewilderment.
Thales held the tip of the jerky he just bit into, and pointed at Ricky before he pointed at Roman.
“The two of you were in this together from the start, right from the moment you effortlessly obtained the key to Black Prison, to this moment when he stands here and watches Blade Fangs Camp burn.”
After finishing his long speech, Thales looked at the two men, who looked petrified, and nodded contentedly at last. He picked up a waterskin and took a mouthful of water.
The two men were silent. Time ticked by as though centuries had passed. Eventually, the Legendary Wing closed his eyes and heaved a long sigh. He extended a hand to Ricky, palm up.
Meanwhile, the leader of the Disaster Swords glared at the teenager resentfully with a grimace. He took out a green rectangular rod from his bosom, one that Thales recognized right away.
‘The key.’ Thales smirked.
“As expected of a product from Renaissance Palace.” Roman took the key to Black Prison from Ricky in a stone-cold manner. “You are born cunning.”
Thales raised his eyebrows and put what remained of the jerky into his mouth.
“No, this is just the most basic of all observations and deductions,” he mumbled as he chewed. “I think any ordinary person can see it.”
Roman’s expression became even more unpleasant when he heard these words. Beside them, Ricky heaved a long sigh.
“A key?” He began to laugh in resignation, he shook his head, and snorted. “Hahahahahahaha… All because of a goddamn key?”
Ricky stopped laughing. He clenched his teeth and huffed before he looked at Roman with frustration and resentment.
“That’s why I told you that you shouldn’t neglect this detail just because very few people know the truth about Black Prison. We should at least stage a theft, but because of your bloody pride…”
Roman gave a cold snort and retorted, “You’re the one who took a bunch of ‘tourists’ in for a free tour, waved the key around, and bragged about it for five minutes in front of everyone.”
Thales watched the two of them squabble from the corner of his eye.
‘They… actually know each other quite well. That’s unexpected.
While he was distracted by their squabble, the Legendary Wing turned to look at Thales. “So, you know the truth, ‘prince’,” Baron Williams said coldly, “We destroyed the Blade Fangs Camp.”
In that very instant, Thales felt a chill down his spine under Roman’s sharp, intense glare. The Legendary Wing looked up at his surroundings and signaled with a gesture to his subordinates—who were anxiously waiting for him—to stay put.
“Then, how did you gain the courage to recklessly expose our scheme?”
Roman lowered his head and kept an eye on their surroundings as he said threateningly, “Did you really think that Nameless can protect you?”
Ricky flashed a wicked smirk at the teenager while he stood next to Roman. Thales felt his heart freeze. He gulped.
“No, but I think that what you want could help my case.”
The Legendary Wing gave a cold snort. “What do I want, then?”
Thales endured his stare and raised his finger with difficulty. Roman and Ricky turned their heads at once and looked towards the direction Thales pointed at, they then immediately scowled.
The prince pointed at a cluster of distant fortresses across the desert, and said softly, “Blade Fangs Camp.”
Roman and Ricky became silent again. Thales took a deep breath.
“My past experience tells me that if a series of events occur one after another, then they must be interrelated. There must be a common thread among them that links them to one another.
“In the beginning, I assumed that I was the common thread, because the Secret Intelligence Department wanted to guarantee my return, the Shadow Shield wanted my secrets, and the Northlanders wanted the value of my identity.” Thales raised his head and looked at Ricky. “But then, all of you appeared one after another. You entered the scene for some unknown reason. Your presence jumbled everything up, and nothing made sense. It made me believe that it was coincidence that brought us here together.”
The leader of the Disaster Swords sank into deep thought.
“But what if… it was not a coincidence?” Thales changed the subject. There was a hint of wariness in his eyes. “What if your appearance was a result of my presence?”
Roman and Ricky exchanged glances. The teenager’s lips turned up.
“Then, I thought of you Disaster Swords, no, Blood Whistle, were a mercenary group first, and a support group for losers second.”
Ricky was immediately taken back. He protested at once, “Hey!”
But Thales ignored him and spoke as he pleased, “Right, you are just a bunch of ‘sellswords’.” With a serious expression, he struck his own palm with a fist. “What if your primary goal last night was to fulfill the wishes of your employer? And your second goal was the Sin of Hell’s River, followed by Black Sword, the secret in the Prison of Bones, and lastly, Zakriel?”
Thales raised his head. He had become rather stern. “So, who was most likely to hire you, a powerful group of one hundred men, able to fight through a series of battles nonstop, and are even capable of throwing Blade Fangs Camp into chaos?”
Ricky had already pursed his lips. The teenager was already thirsty after speaking for so long. He raised the waterskin only to find it empty, and could not help but frown slightly.
Unexpectedly, in the next second, a heavy waterskin was thrown into his arms.
Thales looked up just in time to see the Legendary Wing retract his arm. “Go on.”
The teenager raised an eyebrow. After taking a mouthful of water, he immediately continued,
“Ricky, you told Zakriel that a hundred years ago, your leader and the Red King of Constellation struck a deal, allowing the Disaster Swords to stay in the Western Desert as a mercenary group to hide their identities.
“You also told the tavern owner, Tampa, that you knew about the tavern’s origins. You knew that it was the base of the banished Queen Erica, Conqueror of the North, and what was left of her forces. The way you said it made it seem as though you witnessed all of it with your own eyes.”
Ricky’s expression changed slightly. Thales sighed.
“I guess they were not coincidences either, am I right?”
The look on Ricky’s face became more and more somber as he stared at Thales. Thales took a deep breath, and stood up after he felt that his sense of balance had recovered slightly.
He looked at Ricky with a serious expression. “So, I am guessing that a hundred years ago, the Disaster Swords came to the Western Desert solely because they were hired by the Red King to dismantle the remaining supporters of the Conqueror of the North?”
No one said a word. The sand stirred in the wind. The horses in the distance neighed uneasily.
All of a sudden, Ricky spoke, “Even simpler.”
“What?” Thales asked in puzzlement.
Ricky raised his head and stared at the rising sun above the desert. He felt the wind against his face, and lamented, “The Red King was a rather simple person. He sent Hill Crassus to the Western Desert to bring back his blood sister, Queen Erica’s head.” The mercenary’s gaze turned fierce.
Thales instantly felt a sense of grave terror. ‘To bring back his blood sister’s… head.’
The image of King Chapman’s old sword surfaced in his mind. Thales could not help but begin to contemplate the so-called origin of the ‘Red King’. He also remembered what Gilbert told him when he was young.
‘”There was never a lack of bloodshed in the history of Constellation.”‘
Roman did not say a word. There was a chilly look in his eyes. Thales fought back the urge to look at the skull on his shoulder and asked tentatively, “Then, did Crassus succeed?”
Ricky merely responded with a cryptic smile. It made Thales feel rather uncomfortable.
Thales let out a cough and tried his hardest to dispel all his other thoughts so that he could return to the main subject.
“In conclusion, since Blood Whistle was founded, it was always closely affiliated with Constellation, or more precisely, you are closely associated with the interests of the kingdom’s sovereigns when it comes to the border of the Western Desert.”
Under the increasingly solemn gaze of the two men, the teenager turned to face Roman. “A veteran who was also a ‘sellsword’ told me that since the Desert War and after the Bloody Year, Blade Fangs Camp answered directly to the Baron of Blade Fangs Dune under the jurisdiction of the royal family.” Thales stared at the Legendary Wing keenly. “For the past dozen years, with the royal family’s support and the threat at the borders, your regular army from the royal family has truly turned the camp into your private property. Blade Fangs Camp now belongs to… the Legendary Wing alone.”
Thales stared at Roman, who still maintained his composure. “This is also the sovereign of the kingdom placing a sharp blade in the weak spot of the Western Desert, and it dangles above and holds sway over the suzerains in the west in terms of military, political, and commercial affairs.”
The Legendary Wing did not speak. He merely stared at Thales with gleaming eyes. His angular, nearly blade-like facial features looked like the most marvelous sculpture carved by nature.
Thales sucked in a breath and breathed out in an instant. “However, within this month, on my journey from the desert to Blade Fangs Camp, I have noticed many curious details.” Thales stared into Roman’s amber eyes that resembled a vortex. “For example, the rescue party that entered the desert to escort the prince back to Constellation was made up of the regular army of the royal family, and recruits employed by suzerains in the Western Desert. They usually do not get along. Now, they work together by keeping each other in check.
“For example, the people who guarded the entrance to Blade Fangs Camp and are in charge of collecting tolls, are the soldiers under the command of the Fakenhaz Family, and they have overstayed their period of military service. The amount of supplies shipped by the army from the other regions of the Western Desert is ridiculously huge. It is more than enough for some dishonest merchants to smuggle goods out of the camp and sell them at much higher than the usual price. The men who are in charge of patrols and law enforcement in the camp, and are responsible for sending the criminals into White Prison, are the recruits of Blade Fangs Dune, but it has been a long time since they participated in the affairs in Blade Fangs Dune. They are not even familiar with the standard of punishment in the laws.”
With each sentence from the prince, Ricky and Roman’s expressions darkened a little.
Roman took a deep breath. “You have observed many things, and you looked into their details.
“So?” Thales smiled. He lowered his head and recalled the wicked old man with his smoking pipe. “When I was still held hostage in Dragon Clouds City, a subordinate of mine told me that, to ensure my safe return from Eckstedt to the desert, my father made a deal with the suzerains of the Western Desert, led and represented by three of the six great clans, and those people are definitely trustworthy.”
Roman furrowed his eyebrows tightly. Ricky breathed quietly. He seemed somewhat astonished. Thales exhaled.
“He said that Renaissance Palace paid a heavy price to gain the complete support of the nobility in the Western Desert, and they will all receive me upon my return to the kingdom.”
The air had seemingly frozen. The wind stopped moaning. But the thick smoke, being the only proof of the passing of time, still rose in the distance.
In the next second, Thales turned his head around. A sharp glint sparkled in his eyes. “Blade Fangs Camp, am I right?”
Roman did not speak at that moment, but a flicker of complex emotions never seen before in him flared up in the Legendary Wing’s eyes. This made Thales feel even more certain than before.
He observed the man’s facial expression as he slowly said, “King Kessel either handed over the royal family’s complete or partial control of Blade Fangs Camp, or gave up his authority over the Western Frontlines in exchange for support from the suzerains in the Western Desert.”
Thales pondered over everything he had been through since the day of the state affairs hearing in Dragon Clouds City. He was lost in thought.
“For this, he received the greatest military and logistics mobilization from the families of the Western Desert after the war. He formed an alliance between the forces of the Western Desert and the royal family, and that army ventured venture deep into the desert. He closed in on the Alliance of Freedom, and threatened Eckstedt. He received a chaotic region in the eastern portion of the desert. For two to three months, that area was barren of people and plants.”
Thales felt his heart sink. ‘And for that, he also… got me to return.’ The teenager was no longer distracted by unnecessary thoughts. He raised his head.
“But you, Roman Williams.” Thales directed his gaze at the Legendary Wing. “You are not happy with that, especially when the deal has been completed behind your back, and the suzerains in the Western Desert have marched in boisterously to set up their tents in Blade Fangs Camp.” Thales’ tone was firm and unwavering.
Roman returned his gaze slowly with a chilly look in his eyes.
“It’s because you see Blade Fangs Camp as your exclusive possession since a long time ago.”
Thales shifted his gaze to the orc skull on Roman’s left shoulder and paraphrased the words the latter had said to Stake earlier on.
“And whoever attempts to mess with it will pay the price.”
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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