Kingdom’s Bloodline

hales was quiet.
”…That ’s it? ”

Quick Rope raised his eyebrows.
”That ’s it. ”

He raised the Crossbow of Time in his hand and inspected it for a few seconds before he put it down slowly.
Quick Rope sighed softly.

”F*ck myths.
To f*cking hell with calamities. ”

Quick Rope raised his arm and punched Thales ’ chest!

*Bang!*

Thales felt a numb ache on his chest.
He bent down in pain.

”You are Thales.
I am Quick Rope.
I saved your life, and you saved me once. ” Quick Rope smiled stiffly.
”And now, we ’re even. ”

When he saw how pathetic Thales looked, he laughed loudly.
Thales had difficulty breathing, and it took him some time before he could finally catch his breath.
He looked up in pain and glared at Quick Rope through gritted teeth.

’Even, my *ss! I saved you once from Stake, and then another time just now.
I saved you TWICE.
It ’s two to one! You still owe me one favor!

’Who taught this person arithmetic? Nicholas? ’

”By the way… ” Quick Rope ’s expression became cold at once.
He grabbed Thales ’ shoulders and hissed through gritted teeth, ”Stay away from her! I ’m serious! ”

Thales ’ face went stiff.

At that moment…

”Hey, lovebirds, you finished sweet talking with each other yet? ”

Thales and Quick Rope were surprised.
They instinctively looked up.

The hall had fallen silent a long time ago.
The seven prisoners cum former Royal Guards had easily destroyed the dozens of Disaster Swords, making a mess in the hall during the process.

They were staring at Thales and Quick Rope with curious eyes.
Thales and Quick Rope subconsciously let go of each other and flashed a smile together.

The looks of the prisoners returned to normal.
They began cleaning up the battlefield.
The expressions on their faces varied.
Canon still trembled in the corner while he talked to himself from time to time.
Beldin did not speak, and quietly wiped his weapon with an indifferent look on his face.

However, the others were far from being as quiet as the former two.

”Don ’t move, Bruley, otherwise I can ’t bandage your wounds…
Hey, I said don ’t move! I didn ’t touch that place! Even if I did, it wasn ’t intentional! ” This was from Nalgi, who was binding a wound on Bruley ’s buttocks while the latter grimaced in pain.
But the both of them looked like they were having an intense wrestling match.

”Come here.
Let ’s distribute the supplies and weapons…
or do you really want to wear a pair of underwear to fight? ” The Second Logistics Officer Naer searched through the corpses as he threw all the suitable weapons and armor to his companions, fulfilling his duty.
While he did this, he spat out aggressively, ”Their skills aren ’t much, but their equipment is pretty good.
Hey, Tardin, why are you eating that? Don ’t you know that everything we seized must be declared?! ”

”Awesome! ” Tardin sat on the ground with a dumb look on his face, and he clutched an enemy ’s waterskin to his chest.
He chewed on some dried food he had found from some unknown place, and began laughing wildly as he said, ”We ’re out, we ’re out! I don ’t have to f*ck the wall anymore! ”

As the person with the highest rank, Vanguard Barney kept his arms folded over his chest while he stared at Thales with a frown.
He appeared to be pondering over what they were to do next.

In this disorderly and strange atmosphere, Thales and Quick Rope looked at each other, and saw the wariness in each other ’s eyes.

This group of former guards who had slaughtered the Disaster Swords right after they got out of jail seemed as dangerous as they were before they were sent to prison.
Were they reliable?

The most important thing was: What was their next step?

Thales avoided Barney Junior ’s gaze, lowered his head, and whispered into Quick Rope ’s ear, ”What did you say when you let them out? ”

”What else? ” Anxiety appeared on Quick Rope ’s face.
He whispered back, ”Naturally, I took up the status as your attendant, Wya Caso, and asked them for help, for the prince who was in danger…

”By the way, the man who ’s laughing madly right now even went on his tiptoes to touch my head.
He said, ’Wow, Wya, you grew so tall! How are your parents? ’ I could only chuckle at that… ”

Thales did not listen to the second half of his sentence…

…because in the next second, all the guards fell silent as if a cold gust of wind had suddenly attacked them!

Canon no longer trembled, but widened his eyes and opened his mouth.
Tardin spat out the dry food in his mouth and touched the sword beside him.
Bruley let out an uneasy, low growl.
Nalgi threw away the bandage in his hand.
Naer coldly distributed the last piece of leather armor to Beldin, who narrowed his eyes while he exuded a murderous air.
Barney Junior ’s expression did not change.
He slowly picked up a torch from the ground.

They all stopped whatever they were doing and stood up in tacit agreement.
Their gazes were solemn as they faced one direction:

The stone steps of Black Prison.

*Thud, thud, thud…*

The heavy footsteps echoed slowly.
Every step sounded as though the person walking was stomping on their hearts.

*Thud, thud, thud…*

Finally, a figure they had not seen for a long time appeared on the stairs.
He walked up the steps towards them, and into the firelight.

After he identified the person, Thales and Quick Rope cast each other a glance.
They sucked in a sharp breath simultaneously in their hearts.
The Royal Guards ’ breaths quickened in unison.

The person who came carried something heavy.
He stood before the light, and his face was turned towards everyone in the hall.

Silence…

The person slowly shifted his gaze to look at the slovenly group in front of him.
He spoke softly, ”Chief Vanguard Barney, Chief Penal Officer Beldin, Second Logistics Officer Naer… ”

No matter how many years had passed and how many changes he had experienced, he still recognized everyone as if he was calculating his own valuables and examining his weapons.

Barney ’s face was tense, Beldin ’s expression was complex, but Naer ’s face was full of hostility.

”Canon, Tardin, Bruley…
Oh, and you, the idler Nalgi? ”

The person who came called out their names one by one, his tone was calm, but for some reason there was an oppressive force in his voice that made them hold their breaths.
Thales swore that he clearly heard Nalgi gulp subconsciously.

Strangely enough, the prisoners did not speak right then.
They just nervously watched the person approach them, like animals that saw their natural enemies.

The person who came smiled, and threw the weight on his shoulders down on the ground.

*Thud!*

Thales and Quick Rope ’s pupils shrank!

It was a corpse.

The true leader of Dante ’s Greatsword and the secret agent of the Secret Room, the mercenary Dean, was laid on the ground.
His body was drenched in fresh blood.

His soulless eyes were wide open under the firelight.
His mouth was agape, but he was not breathing.
He stared at the empty ceiling…
and did not move.
His expression of surprise and horror before he died was frozen on his face.

”You missed one. ” The person grinned and shook his head, revealing the brand of criminals on his forehead.
He reached out and gestured to the body on the ground.
”You ’re welcome. ”

His tone was soft, as if he was making the most casual greeting.
Everyone frowned.

”And… ”

The former Watchman of the Royal Guards, the Knight of Judgment Zakriel, showed a gentle smile.
His gaze shot through the crowd and landed on Thales, whose heart was in turmoil.

”…I missed one, too. ”