Kingdom’s Bloodline

er it has ended, he would come up to record the outcome of my chessboard—Justin suspects that it ’s a secret communication signal.
But fortunately, everything I do in the chess room is completely unrelated to this cellar.

”As for the others, I can ’t think of anything at the moment. ” Thales finished speaking and looked at the two men again.

Raphael and Putray glanced at one another.
They both seemed somewhat surprised.

’This boy… Just how did he manage to survive the past six years in Dragon Clouds City? ’

’In reality, ’ Thales said quietly to himself, ’There ’s even more than just all these.
Sigh.
I can most probably publish a book in the future, ”The Prince in Northland: My Days Engaging the Star Killer in a Battle of Wits and Courage ”. ’

Raphael coughed and said, somewhat unnaturally, ”Sounds alright. ”

Putray let out an almost imperceptible sigh and nodded.
”Very well.
I ’ve arranged your departure from the city.
Thanks to the leads from some friends, though not as dependable as my own people, you shouldn ’t encounter any issues. ”

Thales let out a hum, but immediately afterwards, he thought of something.
The prince frowned and said,

”What about after I ’ve left the city? I can guarantee that after such a large issue, the pathways south of Dragon Clouds City would already be filled with inspection posts.
They will be on the lookout for every thirteen- to fourteen-year-old boy.

”I suppose that it would be the same in Prestige Orchid Region and Black Sand Region.
In order to prevent me from returning to Constellation, there will be a blockade around the perimeter of Broken Dragon Fortress again.
Even birds cannot fly past it.
How am I to return to Constellation? ”

This time, Putray and Raphael exchanged a glance again.
They were both apparently smiling.

”Correct.
Lampard wouldn ’t simply allow you to pass through Black Sand Region. ” Putray smiled as he shook his head.
”So, no.
We won ’t go south. ”

”Won ’t go south? ”

Thales pondered for a moment, then said solemnly, ”Alright, so we ’ll be going in another direction.
North is already out of the question, unless I want to seek refuge with the orcs of Glacier Quiquer.
So, I will either head east, where I would trudge a thousand miles and go through Beacon Illumination City to arrive in Elaphure City, or I will take a boat south to Constellation— ”

However, while Thales was busy wracking his brain to think, Putray raised one finger.
He wagged it gently and interrupted the prince.

”No, we will also not go east, and definitely not by boat, ” he said resolutely, ”You go west. ”

Thales was momentarily stunned.
”Go west? ”

Raphael ’s expression did not change as he continued nodding.
”First, you enter the territory of the City of Faraway Prayers.
From there, go down south to the Great Desert, then head east from the desert until you arrive in Constellation ’s Western Desert Hill. ”

’Wait a minute. ’

Thales recalled the words Quide used to threaten him in the past when he was still a child-beggar in the Abandoned Houses.
It was something that happened in his memory a long, long time ago.

’ ”Son of a b*tch! Tomorrow! Tomorrow, I ’m going to sell you little brats to the Great Desert and let the Barren Bone people feast on you! ” ’

”South…
to the Great Desert? ” Thales furrowed his brow.
He was in disbelief.
”That chaotic Great Desert filled with desert bandits, rogues, criminals, and even the Barren Bone tribe and orcs?

”That terrible, awful, bloody and complicated, perilous Great Desert, filled with various strange legends that even the Ancient Empire could not vanquish? ”

Raphael did not say anything, but gazed at him firmly.

The prince clicked his tongue and repeated his adverbs thrice.
”That ’s much, much, much harder than going south to Black Sand Region.
Are you serious? ”

Putray snickered.
Then, the middle-aged man sighed.
”Yes, Your Highness.
You have to go through a part of what ’used to be ’ that chaotic Great Desert filled with desert bandits, rogues, criminals, and even the Barren Bone tribe and orcs… ”

Thales caught the keyword in an instant.
His brain seemed to have come to a halt momentarily before it restarted in a flash.

”Wait a minute. ” His mouth hung open in astoundment.
”You said ’used to ’? ”

’Used to? It can ’t be.
That means… ’

An incredible thought flashed in his brain like a bolt of lightning.
Thales ’ eyes became unfocused, his breathing began to accelerate, and he could do nothing to control it.
In that moment, his heart skipped a beat.

The prince raised his head abruptly.
He stared firmly at the smiling Putray and his tone was nervous.
”Putray.
Constellation ’s army, two thousand cavaliers and whatnot.
They crossed over Blade Fangs Dune Camp, something that had never happened before in Constellation ’s history.
They went over a small part of the desert to reach the shared border between the City of Faraway Prayers and the Alliance of Freedom… ”

When he heard the prince ’s words, Putray laughed once more.
Thales became more certain of his thoughts when he saw Putray ’s expression.
He finally asked a rhetorical question in astonishment, ”They did not go there to provide assistance to the Alliance of Freedom, did they? ”

Raphael snorted coldly and turned his head around. 

”Of course not. ” Putray took over the conversation.
His smile faded away, and he said plainly, ”The Alliance of Freedom? Hmph. ” He shook his head and said with disdain, ”If that group of people couldn ’t obtain the Great Dragon ’s friendship, then what right do they have to think they could get Constellation ’s? ”

Thales widened his eyes to their largest extent.
”So, Constellation ’s army.
Their purpose…
They were, they were… ”

Raphael shook his head and clicked his tongue.

Putray snorted lightly and sighed before he said, ”Correct. ”　

In that instant, Thales finally understood.
’Constellation ’s army… they were… they were…

”So that ’s why. ” The prince leaned limply against the wall and let out a relieved sigh.

At that moment, his emotions were incredibly complex.
They were mixed with the shock of having suddenly understood something, then sadness, and a delayed sense of relief.

”I even felt that something was off.
Why would Lady Jines, who had always been swift and decisive, actually warn me repeatedly to ’eat more sow thistles of the Western Desert ’ in Gilbert ’s letter? Heh, sow thistles of the Western Desert.
Heh, Western Desert.
She meant… ”

Thales let out a bitter laugh. He sounded like he was in agony and emotions surged in him.
For a time, he found himself unable to continue speaking.

Putray nodded slowly as he watched the prince ’s expression, then took over the conversation.
”Yes.
For the past few months, thousands of Constellatiate troops have departed from the Western Desert and marched all the way northwest.
As the most unrivaled force in the desert, they wiped out the northeastern part of the Great Desert, sparing no pains on their way to the Alliance of Freedom.
They have already cleared everything in the desert between Eckstedt and Constellation. ”

He let out a long sigh, ”As for the City of Faraway Prayers, since Roknee thought we wanted to interfere in his expedition to the west and subjugate the Alliance of Freedom, then all his heavy infantry will be placed at the western border.
He will focus entirely on defending against the Alliance of Freedom, and thus will be too busy to attend to matters in the east or to the internal affairs of the desert. ”

Thales closed his eyes gently.

Putray ’s voice continued to travel into his ears.
”And those Constellatiate troops… They were willing to head deep into the desert regardless of the costs and injuries they had to suffer, to chase away or eliminate all threats from the bandits, orcs, Barren Bone tribe, and even force the City of Faraway Prayers to draw their forces back…

”…Because of you, second prince, the heir to the kingdom south of Northland. ”

Right then, Thales felt an indescribable weight in his heart. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

’For me…
They marched west, headed deep into the desert… for me! ’ Nobody could understand his feelings in that moment.

”As long as you leave Dragon Clouds City… ” Putray ’s voice remained calm, but buried in his words was the pride towards the brilliance of Constellation ’s might, one that would intimidate other people ’s hearts, and it was the brilliance that belonged solely to the country—the Western Peninsula ’s Shield.

”Regardless of whether it is the very intimidating and valiant Northlanders, or the once impassable and chaotic Great Desert, an army, inspection posts, bandits or orcs, every hindrance has been equally cleared out from the City of Faraway Prayers to the Western Desert Hill.
Only Constellation ’s own army and flag remains in the desert, and they are awaiting your return. ”

At that moment, Thales gritted his teeth lightly.
His expression was tense.

Putray was heard speaking indifferently, but his words did not lack spirit.
”With the tens of thousands of advancing soldiers, the hard work done by countless officials who worked around the clock, and the might of the progressively recovering Constellation…

”Prince Thales, from now on, you will have a smooth-sail back to your country. ”