Kingdom’s Bloodline

I don't know how long it took until an oil lamp on the wall began to flicker, and the suffocating silence in the tavern dissipated a little.

"Damn it, prince..." Tampa sighed in pain: "This...how can I be so unlucky today..."

"Oops, uh, this is not a good sign..." Kuai Sheng lowered his head and muttered.

"You..." This is Marina who is staring at Thales with wide eyes and pressing her palm tightly on the hilt of her sword.

The mercenaries also began to whisper.

"Quiet."

Clay ordered lightly, his eyes never leaving Thales, but the long sword was still on Dean's chest.

Thales let go of all his scruples, leaned back on the chair with relief, and faced everyone's eyes calmly.

Things have come to this, what else can be done.

Why don't you think about it, next...

"You really think you can smuggle loot right under our noses, Dean?"

The former special envoy of the Extremists, Russell Veda, who is no longer a baron, snorted from his nose, glanced at Thales, and said to Dean coldly: "Especially such a large portion?"

Dean curled his lips in disdain: "You are just lucky, the king's lackey."

Russell gave him a contemptuous smile back.

Ricky walked forward slowly, stood in front of Thales, and looked straight into Thales' eyes.

"Thals star?"

Ricky raised the corner of his mouth, looked at Thales with slightly divergent eyes: "You are beyond my expectation."

At that moment, his eyes became cold:

"Just like the other stars."

Thales was a little taken aback.

Whether it's Nicolai, Monty, Dean, or the brazen and Russell just now, when they look at Thales, they often look at a prey or a valuable treasure.

But the strange thing is that the way Ricky looked at him didn't have any such meaning, but was slightly confused.

It was like seeing another person through Thales.

But Thales, who was in danger, couldn't think so much. He thought carefully about his chance.

Thales coughed first, then took a deep breath: "The same goes for you, Sword of Disaster."

"Choosing the hardest path was beyond my expectations."

Ricky closed his gaze, pursed his lips and smiled, turned around, and the figure cast on the wall was swaying in the light.

"It seems that your task has been completed ahead of time, son," Ricky squinted at the son in the distance: "It's easier than expected, maybe too easy?"

Qianzi saluted from a distance, smiling all over his face.

"Thanks to everyone."

"Don't waste any more time," Russell interrupted them decisively: "This is the enemy's territory, and we have to arrange for evacuation."

"You guys are intercepting the dark room..." Dean wanted to say something, but Clay turned his wrist slightly, and the threatening sword edge blocked all the words of the dark room spy in his throat.

Ricky, who was walking back, waved, and Clay and the masked man nodded to him.

Thales observed their interaction, saw Ricky's hand gestures, and knew that he could no longer be silent.

"I don't understand, Ricky," Thales cleared his throat, and said loudly to Ricky's back: "I heard about you from an attendant, a group of swordsmen who aim to overthrow the Tower of Terminator, right? "

Ricky paused.

"Of course, you've heard of it," sneered from "Krasu" of the Sword of Disaster:

"But you don't know."

Thales snorted softly.

"does it worth?"

The prince stood up from his seat, and the mercenaries beside him shifted unconsciously into combat stance until Ricky swung them back.

"The Prison of Bones...is it worth giving up everything to fight against the entire Kingdom of Stars? Even reduced to the point where you want to cooperate with these people to kidnap me and make yourself the mortal enemy of Stars?" Thales said in a deep voice.

Russell frowned in the distance.

"Stop talking nonsense with him, this prince is used to instigating..."

But Ricky held up a hand,

Suppress the words of the Exeter.

The leader of the Sword of Disaster turned around and approached Thales step by step.

Compared with other people who are either murderous or keep away from strangers, the leader of Disaster Sword's eyes are relaxed, his demeanor is calm, and he is not very aggressive, but for some reason, there seems to be a slowly accumulating vortex around him. As the steps slowly accumulated, Thales' breathing stagnated unconsciously.

"As I said, you don't know."

He bent down and looked straight into Thales' eyes: "You don't know what we want."

Thales gritted his teeth and raised his finger.

"Listen, no matter what you want, or whoever you want to save in the prison of bones, I can satisfy it, as long as a small order..."

The prince took a step forward and said firmly: "Don't forget, I am the prince of the stars and the heir to the kingdom. This is your best and safest chance, as long as..."

But Ricky just smiled mysteriously and shook his head.

Instead, the masked man behind him said softly, "You can't."

His tone is cold:

"Unless you're the king."

The masked man's tone contained negative emotions that could not be dispelled, as if Thales was his enemy, which stunned the prince for a moment.

"But I will be in the end," Thales came back to his senses and tried his best to win the opportunity:

"And you're ruining this opportunity..."

Ricky spoke suddenly, cutting him off.

"I heard another Canxing say that I will become a king," Ricky said lightly, "Guess what will happen to him?"

Thales was stunned for a second by these words.

"Even if you really become the king, Thales is shining," Ricky straightened up and looked down at Thales: "At that time, everything will be over, whether it's us..."

His eyes dimmed slightly:

"still you."

"In contrast, I prefer to choose the present."

The melancholy in his tone made Thales think deeply.

Ricky shook his head.

"Tie it up, pack it up and take it away." The leader of the Sword of Disaster returned to his previous calmness and ruthlessness.

This made Thales nervous for a while!

Oops.

what to do?

Ricky swept the fast rope beside Thales and frowned, "As for the other person..."

Quick Rope immediately sat up straight, and pointed at Thales with a terrified and innocent face: "No, no, no..."

"I swear, he paid me to do this, I really have nothing to do with this person"

What? Thales raised his eyebrows.

Ricky snorted softly: "Very well, then kill him."

What? Kuaisheng's throat seemed to be choked instantly, and together with his unbelievable expression, he froze in place.

The two mercenaries behind Quick Rope drew their weapons and prepared to step forward.

Dean couldn't help frowning.

"Really, there really isn't any..." Kuaisheng looked at this, then at that, bit the word "relationship" to death, and repeated mechanically in shock: "No, no, no any……"

In the next second, the sluggish Kuaisheng seemed to have made up his mind. He gritted his teeth bitterly, raised the volume, and finished the words he was still stammering in an instant: "There is really no possibility of separation!"

In the strange eyes of everyone, Kuaisheng threw away his arm, looking righteous and awe-inspiring.

"I, Wyacasto, must be by His Highness Thales' side!" He stopped in front of Thales, and roared firmly under the latter's stunned eyes.

Kuaisheng bravely raised his arms and pointed at the people around him, with a heroic and fearless tone, looking death at home:

"I swear in the name of my father Gilbert Castle, you don't want to separate me from the prince!"

Dean looked at him incredulously, as if meeting someone new to the squad for the first time.

Thales' face twitched.

"Caso?"

Russell's expression moved, and he said suspiciously:

"Are you the son of Xingchen Fox?"

Originally, there was still a panicked fast rope, but he was very happy when he heard this.

But he still kept a straight face, ignoring the weird eyes of Thales and Dean, facing everyone's doubts, and finished speaking:

"Exactly!"

Kuaisheng said solemnly with a righteous face: "Do you miss him, or do you miss him? People from the North who don't have a long memory?"

Thales on the side could only hold his forehead tightly and sigh deeply.

Russell stared at the fast rope for a long time before grinning.

"very good."

"Then let's tie up this young master Caso," Exeter's former diplomatic envoy sneered:

"It will be useful."

Thales felt that the fast rope beside him was secretly relieved.

"Good job, dear Wiacastle, I can't help but applaud you," Thales sneered without moving his lips, "What's next?"

Marina and Sonny gave a signal, and several mercenaries followed immediately. Clay withdrew his sword and stepped back, allowing these people to approach the three of Thales.

"Next step?"

Quick Rope raised his eyebrows: "We... Dean, do you have any secret weapons?"

"No matter what weapon I have," Dean held back his anger, watched the enemies around him getting closer, and said sarcastically in a low voice: "After being strangled once and put in a sack, it's useless .”

Kuaisheng bent the corners of his mouth with a serious expression to show his understanding.

Listening to their question and answer, Thales sighed.

Then, all that's left is...

"Wait a moment."

Thales raised his palm and stopped in front of the mercenaries.

"If I'm really that important, Ricky," Star Prince raised his head, took a step forward, and said loudly to Ricky, "Then are you going to hand me over to Shadow Shield or King Charman?"

Thales glanced at the brazier, then at Russell:

"In order for your next actions to go smoothly, maybe you should please the Shadow Shield right now, right?"

"To keep them from tripping you up?"

Ricky frowned at him.

Russell snorted angrily, but the brat next to him smiled and shook his head, pressing the former's words.

"Your Highness, don't worry, we have an agreement," Qianzi spread his hands far away, as if he had seen through Thales' sinister intentions: "You will come to our branch as a guest for a while under our careful care." Time, after we clear up some misunderstandings, we will safely send you back to Exeter..."

Thales' nerves slowly tightened.

But right now.

"No," Ricky raised his eyes, interrupted the drill, and said coldly: "This prince, he will be guarded by us."

These words seemed to freeze the atmosphere of the audience.

Thales exhaled.

He achieved his goal.

The brazener's eyes narrowed.

"What?"

Ricky remained motionless, and calmly faced Qianzi's rhetorical question, as if the other party hadn't spoken.

Qianzi showed a confused smile: "I don't, I don't understand?"

Russell also looked surprised.

"He made it clear enough," the masked man behind Ricky said unceremoniously to them: "Until the goal is accomplished, the prince must remain in our hands."

Qianzi raised his eyebrows, as if a little surprised.

"But this prince is our target." He pointed to Thales, still smiling.

Ricky shook his head: "But it's not ours."

Qianzi and Russell looked at each other, and their expressions changed at the same time.

"That prince is the condition we negotiated, mercenary." Russell maintained his restraint, but even the fast rope could hear him trying to suppress his emotions: "We get him, and we will help you break into the prison of bones .”

Ricky exchanged glances with Clay and the masked man, and Qiqi smiled.

"But he's here now."

"Your goal is close at hand, but our mission has yet to be completed," Ricky said steadily, his eyes flashing solemnly: "How do I know that you and the people you arrange outside will keep their promises and fulfill the agreement? "

He glanced at Qianzi and Russell:

"How do I know that you won't cross the river and tear down the bridge, turn your face ruthlessly, and use us as bait to lure the enemy away and sell us to the entire camp of star people after you get out?"

Russell, no longer concerned about his image, strode forward, glaring at Ricky.

"You shouldn't doubt Exeter's promise." Exeter said coldly.

But as if it was prepared for him, the masked man took a step forward at the right time and stopped in front of Russell.

The mercenaries became nervous again, they moved secretly, blocking the way of the two guests.

"Only based on the character of the kinslayer king?" The masked man replied hostilely: "Don't overestimate yourselves, Exeters."

Russell looked around, his eyes turned cold: "Aha, I smell the stench of the stars."

Ricky clapped his hands lightly, stopping the little confrontation.

"I don't doubt your commitment, Baron Vader," Ricky said indifferently, but looked directly at the brat with a complicated expression: "But I don't believe him."

"Don't trust Teng's deputy, Teng's student."

"I don't even trust people who dare to betray even Teng."

The brazener's expression froze slightly.

"So this prince will stay in our hands and be guarded by us until you complete the agreed part of the cooperation."

"Until we get what we want."

Russell turned his head and frowned at the silent brat.

The brazener took a breath, and parted the corners of his mouth.

"You know……"

"Tonight, I temporarily summoned so many people, ventured back to the camp, met with you at any cost, and proposed cooperation. I didn't want to do bad things, or hurt both of you."

Qianzi spread his hands, smiled but said meaningfully: "I came here to prevent your plan from conflicting with our goal...and cause the two conflicts. Both lose and lose."

Ricky snorted slightly.

"so?"

"So, respected Crassus," Qianzi lowered his head, his tone slowly tightened, and his eyes gradually became colder: "When you hold on to our goal but don't let it go, you are wasting my hard work today , to destroy the bridges of our cooperation."

"And bringing us into conflict with each other's goals."

"You know, we still have a lot of resources, can we help you, such as the defense of the Prison of Bones?"

Ricky's smile faded slowly.

"Threat?" Clay on the side sneered, showing his sword hilt: "Very well, this is what you should look like, Phantom."

The atmosphere in the arena became tense again.

"Really? You?" Russell gritted his teeth and slapped his thigh unwillingly as he watched the situation gradually go wrong: "Oh, please!"

Thales gritted his teeth and observed the situation, thinking about how to add another fire.

The alliance between Shadow Shield and Disaster Sword is not so stable. As Qianzi said, they have their own desires and are afraid of each other, so they temporarily shake hands and make peace.

In fact, the former is planning to use the latter's power, and the latter is always on guard against the former's backlash.

Just tear down the basis of their cooperation...

Ricky shook his head.

"A bridge of cooperation?"

"On the contrary, brazier, I'm strengthening it," Ricky looked at him fixedly:

"Just waiting for your next brick."

"To make sure our cooperation doesn't collapse due to the weight on one side of the bridge."

He tapped the table.

In the next second, all the mercenaries around, including the fence on the second floor, stood up and looked at Qianzi with cold eyes.

The brazener frowned.

His hand reached into his robe, and he clenched a signal whistle.

He knew that as long as he blew it, the assassins of the Shadow Shield would invade from the weak points around the tavern.

but……

Qianzi looked at the mercenaries standing full around him, his face getting worse and worse.

Damn.

The air became more and more oppressive, and the two principals of Shadow Shield and Disaster Sword had countless eye contact.

Finally, amid unspeakable tension, Qianzi let out a breath.

"You always like to take the initiative in your hands, don't you?" He put on a friendly smile again, facing Ricky.

Ricky snorted softly, but didn't answer.

Qianzi blinked and raised his hands helplessly.

"I see, my dear Crassus, if this is the case..."

He lowered his head and seemed to hesitate for a second.

In the next second, under everyone's worried or vigilant, doubtful or fearful gazes, Qianzi raised his head with a sunny smile.

"I can vouch for you."

Ricky narrowed his eyes: "Guarantee?"

Qianzi nodded with a smile, and stretched his hands to his chest: "I guarantee that my people will not spoil your business after they are lucky enough to invite Prince Thales."

He took out a short knife!

Seeing Qianzi's movement, the mercenaries nervously held down their weapons to prevent a surprise attack.

At that moment, Thales, who thought there was still a turning point, sank in his heart.

A bad feeling came to mind.

But Ricky raised his hand lightly, restraining his nervous subordinates.

"What am I talking about," Clay said coldly, holding a dark light in his hand, "Even if they are in the cave, they can hide a weapon."

I saw Jianzi smiled, swung his backhand, the blade turned inward, and cut a gap in the robe.

Thales frowned slightly: Mezzanine?

Perhaps to prevent misunderstanding, Jianzi used two fingers to very slowly draw out a neatly folded, yellowed page from the interlayer of his robe.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, with a smile on his face, he walked forward slowly, put the knife back into his robe with one hand, gently sent it out with the other hand, and handed the paper he was holding to Ricky.

Ricky watched the movements of Qianzi solemnly, and also took the paper from Qianzi's hand with several slow movements.

"What's this?" he frowned.

The brazener smiled.

"An old letter."

"A letter to my sweetheart, expressing my heartfelt feelings, sincere and moving," Qianzi's eyes glowed with a rare light: "Unfortunately, it will never reach the recipient."

Almost everyone was stunned.

What?

Rich pursed his lips and turned his attention to the letter.

"Be careful," the masked man reminded coldly, "They are also good at using poison."

Ricky nodded, carefully grasping the corner of the letter, shaking the letter open.

From Thales' point of view, it can be seen that it is a rather old piece of paper made of animal skin, which is obviously not cheap.

As for the content of the letter, because the distance is too far, Thales can barely see from the side when he entered the senses of hell. It is a neat and beautiful line of black cursive characters. Just be attentive and serious.

letter?

Thales became puzzled.

Ricky glanced roughly, then raised his head and frowned: "Why?"

Jianzi seemed to have anticipated the other party's reaction, with the same smile, and bowed patiently:

"Look at the signature."

Ricky took a deep look at Qianzi, apparently dissatisfied with the other party's mystification.

But he still aimed at the letter:

"hn..."

Ricky's expression changed.

He raised his head, waiting for the other party's answer.

In response to the other party's question, Qianzi showed a satisfied and mysterious smile.

"That's right."

"Hn Canxing." He repeated letters one by one, with an ethereal tone, as if evoking a long-ago memory.

The brazener took a deep breath and said softly:

"That's the writer of the letter."

"Hymanette Brilliant Star."

"The former fourth prince of the Star Kingdom."

At that moment, only two people reacted: Thales took a deep breath, and the masked man's eyes widened.

But after a few seconds, many people changed their faces.

I only heard Qianzi say in a low voice: "On that night eighteen years ago, I got this unsent posthumous letter from him."

The assassin of the Shadow Shield narrowed his eyes, as if savoring a delicacy he hadn't tasted for a long time:

"Just when I lifted that Prince Hayman from the tallest tower in the Saber camp..."

"Before I pushed it down with my own hands."