Kingdom’s Bloodline

Palace of Heroes, Hall of Heroes.

"Do you know, I have a guess," Thales said absentmindedly: "The Bloody Year is a disaster that almost destroyed the stars. The entire kingdom is precarious and precarious amidst civil strife and conflicts."

He raised his eyes, his voice trembling slightly:

"Until you go south."

At that moment, Thales glimpsed a strange and puzzled light in the eyes of the several grand dukes.

"What do you mean?" Olsio asked coldly.

very good.

Thales said to himself silently in his heart.

Benefits and threats - the two major weapons that Lombard used to persuade other Grand Dukes have now lost one of the two: the Grand Dukes probably understand that, to a certain extent, Lombard's threat is higher than that of the stars.

And now.

Thales glanced at Thelma, the girl shook her fist slightly, nodded slowly to him, her eyes were full of forced firmness.

Now he has to convince the grand dukes that the benefits promised to them by Rumba are not as delicious as imagined.

Thales raised his head.

"I have never seen the tragedy twelve years ago," Thales said seriously, remembering Gilbert's narration of the Bloody Year, "but I can imagine from the stories of the old people: the Canxing Royal Family The calamity brought the disaster to its peak: the nineteen vassals were all in danger, rumors spread among the nobles, the army was leaderless, the kingdom’s people were furious, Yongxing City entered the most urgent state, and perhaps the Star Kingdom was on the verge of extinction.”

Having said that, Thales sighed.

"Mindis III probably didn't expect that the chess game he set up would usher in such a storm more than a hundred years later."

The Grand Dukes exchanged a few worried glances, and Rumba clenched his saber tightly.

"But in the autumn and winter twelve years ago, when Exeter's army - for whatever reason - went south, especially when the news of the fall of Broken Dragon Fortress came, the entire planet was probably stunned," Thales continued:

"I guess the new war broke the original situation and injected new excitement into the dying stars."

Grand Duke Lecco's turbid eyes lit up slightly,

His expression became more serious.

Olsio and Trudida looked at each other suspiciously.

"Extreme, the Xeon of the Western Continent, has invaded in an all-round way. This is nothing compared to the rebel civil strife and the assassination of the royal family."

"While trembling in fear, most people in the stars had to choose to compromise—big vassals, minor nobles, officials, merchants, troops, peasants, etc.," according to known information and ideas approved by the grand dukes, Thales deduced the logic step by step, thinking hard about the next sentence, so that it would sound more credible and convincing:

"Under the shadow of the giant dragon, they quickly reached a consensus: end the current chaos as soon as possible, welcome the last prince back to the capital, and crown him in blood and death. Resist the greed of the dragons of the north."

Grand Duke Lecco's eyes shrank: "What do you mean?"

Thales took a deep breath, tried his best to look neutral, and didn't care so much about the stars:

"It's ironic, but it's also very possible—it was Exeter's menacing invasion that forced us to bridge internal contradictions and conflicts, and saved the Star Kingdom from division and decline."

As soon as these words came out, the breathing of all the grand dukes changed.

Even though their faces were not changed by the cultivation of the superiors for a long time, Thales still felt the strangeness in the air.

"You are older and wiser than me, and you have experienced the past more personally. You might as well think again: If you hadn't gone south twelve years ago, what would have happened to the Star Kingdom, which had just lost its king and was in chaos without a leader?" Tai Erles said lightly.

"And just now, when Luba persuaded you to blame Xingchen and send troops with him, did he also tell you by coincidence: Xingchen is in the most embarrassing and most incompatible stage, and the northern border is isolated and helpless, which is convenient for you to take it?"

"When you send troops to the stars, can you really get the effect you imagined?"

"It's different from some grand duke who can't wait to tell you the answer and direct you to do things." Thales nodded slightly to the grand dukes: "I asked the question, but I stopped here. Please think for yourself and decide for yourself .”

A strange and complex expression appeared on Rumba's face.

The princes looked at him one after another.

Thales let out a sigh of relief from the bottom of his heart, but there was a lingering haze: regarding Exeter's invasion, what he said just now was of course just speculation, just to make the princes think again about the cost of invading the stars.

But—Thales has been trying to convince himself that this is just a conjecture—what if it is true?

What if Exeter's invasion did temporarily force the Starmen back together?

He couldn't help but think of the words of the Born King when King Nun told him about Suriel's death last night:

【Thals, twelve years ago... It was not without reason that we sent troops south to the stars...】

【It's an assassin from your stars...】

When Xingchen was most in danger, the strange assassination from Xingchen detonated Exeter's southward invasion.

King Nunn brought up the assassination...

Prince Suriel died in that assassination...

In the negotiation between Nicolai and the Scarlet Witch, the assassination was mentioned...

Even Puttilai hinted that he had something to do with the assassination when he parted with the prince just now...

What secret is hidden behind that assassination?

Thales clenched his fist lightly.

Rumba stared closely at the prince.

If his eyes could kill, then Thales would probably have no bones left.

But Taylor ignored him.

"So, I, a descendant of the Revival King Tormund, Thales Serangelana Kessel Canxing from the Kingdom of Stars..." Thales raised his chest, with a solemn face, thinking in his head I imagined the scene in the Hall of Stars facing the vassals, and tried my best to show the aura of a prince:

"I am standing here, with the most humble wishes and the most peaceful expectations, and I implore you: Reconsider the war between our two countries, and consider the cost and meaning behind it."

At that moment, the four Grand Dukes Lecco, Ronnie, Trudida, and Olesio looked back at him equally seriously, with serious expressions.

It was as if in front of him was not a frail child, but a ruler who was on an equal footing with them.

"You can't guarantee that it will bring the most desired result—whether it's for you or for us." At that moment, Thales thought of many people whose fate had been changed by the war, and said desolately:

"No one can be sure."

The hall fell silent again.

The brazier went out one more time.

The grand dukes cherished words like gold and thought about each other. This time, they didn't even make eye contact.

Rumba didn't speak either.

But the back of his hand holding the sword had pale knuckles and bulging veins.

After a few seconds.

"Okay."

Grand Duke Lecco closed his eyes and sighed softly: "Please don't go on, Prince Thales, I think we all understand what you mean."

Thales felt relieved, his feet softened, and he swayed slightly.

Thelma supported his waist from behind, so that he would not make a fool of himself on the spot.

Thales turned his head back in pain, and gave her a forced smile.

"What do you say?" Grand Duke Lecco's voice echoed in the hall.

It seemed empty and tired.

"Obviously, isn't it?" Grand Duke Ronnie was the first to raise his head, his tone vague but decisive: "It's better to fight a lion than to be in the same boat as a jackal."

Rumba's brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

these people……

"You know, Charmain, although your terms are very attractive," Trudida shrugged slightly, with a complicated look on his face: "But I don't want my children and grandchildren to wake up one day and find themselves lying in a In the ruins, so..."

Rumba snorted expressionlessly.

these people……

Grand Duke Olsio's expression froze for a long time. After a while, he opened his mouth and uttered bitterly:

"We shouldn't be here today, let alone attend this damn ecumenical meeting."

Rumba lowered his head slowly.

These are the people...

Grand Duke Lecco tapped on the table.

"I see."

"No matter what we plan to do," the old man's old face seemed to be even more vicissitudes, "Let's postpone the matter of blaming the stars and sending troops to the northern border for a while-of course, today's matter must be handled properly."

"Especially, regarding His Majesty Nunn's death."

His eyes refocused and turned to Luba: "If we don't plan to blame Xingchen, we have to have a good reason."

Indifferent eyes.

At that moment, even Selma felt the atmosphere in the air freeze.

In the hall, everyone's positions have changed.

The four princes stood together unknowingly, with Ronnie and Olesiu leading the way, and Thales standing beside them.

Opposite them, Rumba stood alone in front of the brazier.

The firelight and shadow divided his face into two parts, one light and one dark, strange and unsettling.

Rumba raised his head slowly.

These people... are the obstacles to Exeter's progress.

He glanced at the several Grand Dukes one by one, and the latter responded to him with different expressions.

"You've all made up your mind, haven't you?" Rumba said in the most indifferent tone: "The four old and wise Grand Dukes of Exeter have turned the situation around with a few words from a star kid, and you have wavered your positions with one mouthful." .”

He snorted softly and glanced at Thales: "It's pathetic."

Thales held Thelma's hand tightly, silently watching the interaction of the Grand Dukes.

He gritted his teeth, knowing that the situation was irreversible.

"He can't turn the situation around with just one mouth," Grand Duke Lecco's tone became colder:

"Nobody can."

The bald old man narrowed his eyes: "But it was you, Charmain Rumba, who helped him convince us with actions and facts?"

Rumba sarcastically said, "So that's your answer?"

"First, for the sake of Exeter, you decided to cover up the death of the king together. After a few minutes of making an oath, you rediscovered your conscience and decided to send me back to the execution platform of the kingslayer again?"

"We can still talk about this..." Trudida said gently.

Rumba's razor-sharp eyes gouged out to him.

Choked the pot-headed lord.

Rumba turned his head again, scanning the lords with extra seriousness over and over again.

As if to see through their souls.

These people, Exter relied on these people to come to the present?

ridiculous.

sad.

Finally, after a while, Rumba lowered his head and let out a chilling laugh.

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Thales felt uneasy, he knew that the matter was far from being resolved.

"Charmain," Olsio frowned, and only said one word: "No."

Rumba jerked his head up.

"Do you really know what you are doing?" Facing the Grand Dukes, the tone of the Grand Duke Heisha has never been so terrifying: "Your hesitation and retreat are allowing a golden opportunity to slip through your fingers."

"You also heard what he said, the current situation of the stars," Grand Duke Lecco responded lightly: "Your plan may not be the best choice for Exeter."

"Boom!" Rumba's scabbard hit the ground again.

"Then do you believe him?" Rumba said coldly.

"Don't you understand? As long as we work together, power, wealth, status, all problems can be made up for by the interests plundered from the old enemy." His eyes seemed to be burning: "For Exeter, we must ..."

Grand Duke Ronnie's face suddenly changed, and he spoke loudly, interrupting Rumba: "Listen up, Kingslayer!"

"I am also the master of this country, and I also own Exeter," the long-haired duke stood in front of all the dukes like an iron warrior: "And you have neither the right nor the ability to tell me: for my country, what do I have to do."

"Don't force the rest of the people to follow your method and serve 'your' Exeter with allegiance."

Rumba clenched his fists.

"With ten of us, there are ten Exters," Grand Duke Heisha gritted his teeth, "That's the problem!"

Grand Duke Ronnie sneered: "So you still admitted it—wanted to kick the rest of us down?"

Rumba's expression was as cold as ice, and he almost scratched the hilt of his sword.

Trudida sighed and interjected like a peacemaker: "You have to understand us, Charmain: imagine a day when a son or grandson of the Lombard family lives on the streets like the meanest..."

"so what?"

Rumba snapped, interrupting him like a raging lion: "Will it be worse than now?"

Trudida was at a loss for words for a moment, and looked at Luba with an even weirder expression.

The other Grand Dukes frowned and stared at Rumba.

At that moment, the four Grand Dukes had a clear awareness: this Grand Duke Heisha might not be of the same kind as them, but a completely different existence from them.

Ronnie took it grimly: "For those who benefit from it, of course it's better - unfortunately I'm not one of them."

silence.

Rumba took a deep breath, as if trying to suppress the rising anger.

"Hmph..." He let out an uneasy laugh from his nose:

"Six hundred years."

He glanced at everyone coldly, even Thelma:

"From the first second of our birth, we are like hounds on a collar, racking our brains to intrigue with vassals and do everything possible to fight openly and secretly with the king."

"Even if we become kings ourselves, it's nothing more than repeating the same fate in this sad shackle."

"Six hundred years, generation after generation, we have been spinning around like headless ants," Lumba twisted his face: "Don't you feel bored?"

"Co-governance pledge? To break this sad cycle, for the future of this country," Grand Duke Heisha gritted his teeth, his hands trembling:

"I bet everything on it."

"In the end, you can only sit back and watch your selfishness and short-sightedness ruin Exeter's future."

The Grand Dukes looked at each other one after another, with an inexplicable feeling in their hearts.

at this moment.

"Your Excellency," Thales said softly, "Please don't make excuses for yourself, as if you are so noble, selfless and great."

Rumba turned his head abruptly, and shot the prince with frozen eyes.

"If you can save Exeter, why does it have to be you?" Thales said calmly, "Why can't it be someone else? For example...King Nunn?"

Rumba's breath stopped.

The other princes also paused slightly.

"Yes, I figured it out later - you are not the only one who sees the current state of the stars clearly," the prince sighed, remembering the scene where he mentioned the Xianjun to himself a few minutes before King Nuen's death: "There is also the supreme commander who led the army across the fortress back then, the born king, Nun Walton VII."

"If you really only have the Kingdom of Exeter in your heart and nothing else, why don't you hand over your authority to King Nun?"

Thales looked at Rumba with a distorted face, and said word by word: "In the struggle between vassals and royal power, you can accept the king's officials, accept the king's orders, accept the royal power's penetration of the Black Sand Territory, and willingly become the next Beacon illuminates the city."

"Let the entire Exeter gather more closely under the flag of the Cloud Dragon Spear in Dragon Clouds City," the prince suddenly raised his hand, pointing to the stone carving of the Cloud Dragon Spear on the ceiling: "The most powerful King Born , come to be the sole ruler of Exeter!"

The hall fell silent again.

Rumba's expression became colder and colder.

"But you don't want to, your family doesn't want to," Thales replied softly, "That's why today's tragedy happened."

"You think that your past, the death of your brother and mother gave you a reason to hate the co-governance oath-this would make your actions different, become exceptionally prominent, become particularly tragic, and become Does it have to be heroic?"

Rumba paused and turned to him abruptly.

The eyes are terrible, and the face is hideous.

my past?

How dare he.

How dare!

For the first time, Thales unreservedly and directly endured the almost suffocating aura of the Grand Duke of Black Sand.

But he just took a deep breath, gritted his teeth and raised his head.

At that moment, Thales thought of everything before Broken Dragon Fortress, and the sacrifice of Alaka and the Fury Guards.

He also thought of the tragedy in Longxiao City, the destroyed shield area, the fallen White Blade Guards one by one, and their unhesitating appearance.

"No, Rumba, peel off the outer shell, you are no different from anyone else."

"They are all creatures who serve their own interests under the banner of 'for Exeter' and struggle for power."

"I don't even care about the lives around me, I don't even care about the land I belong to, but I talk about the country and the people in the future," the prince said coldly:

"No noble qualifications."

The prince closed his mouth and ended his words.

At that moment, the gazes of Grand Duke Heisha and Prince Xingchen met in the air, one was full of murderous intent, the other was unyielding.

Rumba stood where he was, and the temperature around him seemed to be dropping sharply.

"you."

Rumba stared at Thales, and slowly opened his mouth, biting the word out of his teeth with hatred and coldness in his heart:

"you!"

Selma shrank behind Thales in fear.

But she failed, because Thales grabbed her hand firmly, dragged it back to his side, and forced her to look directly into Rumba's eyes.

"I don't call you 'you'," Thales responded coldly without showing any weakness:

"Listen, Charmain Rumba."

"My name is Thales Canxing."

Rumba's pupils shrunk.

"He's a child who can't drink," the prince stepped forward with a firm expression on his face:

"And your nemesis."