Kingdom’s Bloodline

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Gilbert's especially stern and serious gaze caused a light shudder to run through Thales' body.

At that moment, Thales suddenly thought of something.

“Gilbert, just how…” Thales dipped his head down.
He hesitated for a moment, but after that, he lifted his head and asked, “Just how did my uncle die? You only mentioned that he wielded a sword and died fighting alongside the guards at the palace gate.”

Silence.

“Ha…” Gilbert closed his eyes and sighed heavily before he spoke, “During the Bloody Year, he ordered the guards and soldiers to withdraw and walked into crowd alone.
Without even sacrificing a single soldier, without even injuring a single person or taking a single life, he appeased the mob and resolved the danger of them rushing into the palace gate.

“Alas! Even though his guards had reacted in time, the assassins that had hidden themselves among the mob and had plotted for this for a long time prepared six hidden swords and sharp blades that had venom spread on the blades.
At that time, I was terribly busy with my foreign affairs assignments, which were progressing from bad to worse.
When I learned that the royal family had been assassinated… Ha…”

Thales looked into Gilbert's eyes.
For a long while, the child did not say a single word.

The boy recalled how Jines had told him about Prince Midier a few weeks ago, in a manner that was completely uncharacteristic of her, and her last few sentences had been especially unlike her.

“Thales, I know what Gilbert told you today, but I don't know what you think about it.
Still… I still remember that Prince Midier had handed me a letter in the past.
I only wish to tell you the contents of the letter in its original words.

“'Madam, I spared you because I admire you, not because I am merciful towards you.

“'I admire your courage, which allowed you to break free of your shackles and chains.

“'However, since you have made the decision, please do not hesitate.
Do not be weak and return to the cage that once suffocated you.
Do not let the cage in your mind chain the wings that will lead you to freedom, much less let those illusory rules make you sacrifice your true self.

“'I sincerely give you my blessings and wish that your life will now belong to you from now onwards.

“'I hope that you will pass the police qualification test.'”

Thales was absorbed in his thoughts of thinking about the meaning behind these words.
What sort of state of mind would a prince, who was born into this 'cage' he spoke of, have when he said these words?

When Gilbert regained Thales' attention from his memories and his absent-minded state, they began their afternoon lesson.

As Thales listened to Gilbert use ancient proverbs and poems as examples to explain the four different voices in the lingua franca the humans used, he stole a glance at the pile of books by his hand.

He did not tell Gilbert the truth just now.
He was not searching for the Jadestar Family history, neither did he want to understand his uncle, who was like a saint.

Thales wanted to search for information regarding the Mystics.

From the first day he arrived in Mindis Hall, Thales had already been planning to research 'Mystics'.
Once he went through the matter in Vine Manor and triggered the unstable but effective explosion, he became even more desperate to examine his secrets.

And once Gilbert was talking about the history of the Battle of Eradication while also showing his attitude towards those 'calamities'—'Mystics' like Asda—Thales became even more terrified.

Thales whispered to himself softly, “Even though… Yodel might have heard my conversation with Asda.”

'Battle of Eradication Chronicles: The World's Destruction', 'From the Final Empire to Constellation', and 'Cahill Yarrow's Travel Notes: Supplementary Information before the Great Crack and Sink'.
These three books were his true targets hidden among all the other history books used as a diversion.
They were about the Battle of Eradication and the truth behind Mystics—the 'calamity'.

No matter what, before he could be certain of his own safety, it would be best if he did not reveal the strange 'mystic ability' within himself.
Once he has learned how to read and write, then he would start searching through the books.
That was the safest method.

However, now, Thales had to start copying the different voices used by nobles in their choice of words.

Compared to the relaxed attitude and the carefree air he set up, he was mumbling in his heart, hoping that Gilbert would not personally look through these books, that he would leave right after he finished conducting the class, and that he would not help Thales bring those books back to his room.

If everything went smoothly, then these peaceful and quiet days would continue.
Perhaps he would be able to gain some progress in regards to understanding his secrets.

However, Thales soon discovered that a quiet life would forever be just an illusion to people like him.

For example, Thales did not know that there was a meeting about him, regarding the secret he was trying to hide, being held in a spot not too far away from Mindis Hall.

And his secret was in danger of being exposed.

Yodel stood quietly under the shade of a tree, as if he was waiting respectfully for the person in the pitch-black carriage in front of him.
However, all those who had fought against Yodel before would know that Yodel was incredibly tense at that instant and was in a state where he would attack at any moment.

“It's been a while, young Yodel.”

As an old and hoarse voice travelled into the air, an old figure walked with faltering footsteps out of the door to the carriage, which had been pushed open by the king himself.

Although the intuition of those in supreme class already allowed Yodel to know just who the other person in the carriage other than the king was, when Yodel saw him with his own eyes, his brows still furrowed against his will behind his mask.

It was an old man dressed by a plain, black, long robe.
He held a wooden black cane in his hand.
His hair was thinning and white.
There were a lot of wrinkles on his face.
He had average looks and did not stand out.
In fact, he would not even be able to leave behind an impression to even the sharpest person. 

“Aren't you going to say hello to your father?” An aged and hoarse voice rose from the old man's throat languidly.
It was a voice that seemed to have been born from the nurturing care of darkness, causing it to be emotionless and monotonous.

Yodel chose to remain silent in the face of the old man's question.

The man grinned, revealing gums that had very few teeth left, “Alright, I almost forgot.
Even if you have my blood flowing through your veins, your family name is Cato, not Hansen.”

Yodel still provided him with no reaction.

“I just returned.” The old man seemed to be long-since used to Yodel's attitude.
He was completely unbothered by it and continued speaking, “There is also something interesting in the results of the investigation about Red Street Market brought to me by my children.”

Yodel still did not answer him.

The old man chuckled softly, then said, “The Air Mystic, Asda Sakern, whom the Secret Intelligence Department had been searching for twelve years but to no avail, has been verified to have returned to the capital, and appeared in Red Street Market.”

The gears on Yodel's mask began turning inconspicuously.

“Blood Bottle Gang may be the gang he built with that homicidal maniac, but the famous Air Mystic had clearly not personally gone to the place to destroy the Brotherhood and cripple their forces.”

Yodel did not speak, but the gears behind his mask were turning even faster.

The old man let out a bark of laughter that was unpleasant to the ears using that hoarse voice of his.
“Don't be nervous, Sir Cato.
I only listened to His Majesty's orders and investigated how you managed to seal a Mystic even though you had the royal family's kin with you.”

Yodel's head shot up!

The pair of Crystal Drop glass lenses on the mask instantly turned from a dark color to a bright yellow as Yodel stared at the old man.

“That mask is still as annoying as ever, even though I've suggested to His Majesty since a long time ago to make you throw it away…”

The old man leaned against his cane, as if he did not notice the eyes that were staring at him behind the glass lenses.
He staggered forward and stood before Yodel before he laughed in a manner that was unpleasant to the ears.

“Now then… Sir Yodel Cato, as one of the bearers of the legendary anti-mystic equipment, the Supreme Sword and Shield, can you explain clearly to me what exactly happened to the Air Mystic on that night?”