Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 194 Icy Cold
In his long-awaited dream, he seemed to return to that bizarre and wondrous world.

There, the girl, whose face was indistinct but whose voice was gentle, unusually embraced him from behind and whispered:

"What's wrong? Are you sad?"

He closed his laptop and gave a bitter smile: "No, this result was expected...maybe I'm not good enough."

He lowered his head, somewhat dejected: "You know, their requirements are very high..."

“It’s okay,” a gentle voice breathed in his ear, “I have a way to make this less upsetting.”

He raised an eyebrow and shrugged: "Oh?"

"Because something even more heartbreaking is waiting for you."

He blinked, somewhat confused.

She said gently:
"let's break up."

He shuddered all over.

The girl behind him didn't say anything.

He turned his head stiffly: "What?"

"Yes, you heard me right. Because you're a failure right now," she said calmly, "so I'm breaking up with you."

His mind went blank; he just stared at her blurry face, utterly lost and bewildered.

"Why... why?"

The voice behind him sighed, "Alright, it's settled then."

He was breathing heavily, somewhat unable to accept it, and wanted to explain himself, but felt it was pointless.

she……

Just now.

"it is good!"

The voice chuckled, a cheerful sound ringing out.

"It's been ten seconds since we broke up—I'm announcing that we're back together!"

"Ta-da! Let me introduce my new boyfriend: Wu Qiren!"

His mind was a little stuck.

what?
But a few seconds later, his heart started beating again.

He was panting, looking at her with surprise and disbelief: "You..."

"How's it going? Compared to the pain of being dumped, are you feeling less heartbroken now?"

"When you encounter setbacks, cherish your 'crotch'!" The voice chuckled and breathed in his ear, making him feel a little ticklish: "You're welcome."

He was a little speechless.

The voice said cheerfully, "Great! If you ever have another tragedy, I'll continue to comfort you like this!"

He took a deep breath and shouted angrily, "You damned woman!"

"Can you please stop making such a serious breakup and reconciliation thing? This is a joke, isn't it?!"

"I'll take it seriously, okay!"

I felt a thud from behind, like my chin hitting my back.

“Oh my, that’s nothing,” the voice said, poking his back with his chin as he exclaimed, “You don’t know, there’s a serialized author online who, whenever the plot reaches its climax, idiots write ‘The End’ all the time, saying he’s finished, and then silently updates the next chapter, insisting it’s a new book—that’s what you call the pinnacle!”

"Then don't be like him, okay..."

In my memory, that voice was laughing happily.

His voice was filled with exasperated anger and a sense of relief.

Finally, the noise stopped.

She lay lazily on his back, her arms wrapped around his chest.

“Hey, Qiren, don’t be afraid,” she said in a low voice, “no matter what happens.”

"I've got your back."

He lowered his head and closed his eyes.

"Ah, I know."

"You've got my back."

The voice didn't speak, but simply tightened its embrace around him.

But in the very next second, everything in the dream was like a reflection on the water, shattered inch by inch by a sudden wave!
The girl disappeared before his eyes.

As he pondered this, a cold and displeased female voice reached his ear. The tone was low and deep, carrying an inexplicable emotion that sent chills down his spine.

“I am watching you.”

I warned you!

The next moment, Thales woke up with a start!
He was breathing heavily, and that sound...

That sound!

Just then, a hand landed on his shoulder.

Thales turned his head, still shaken.

It is Gu.

The man who had just shaken him awake.

The Far Eastern man squatted down beside him, looking at him with displeasure, while a sleepy-looking little rascal stood next to him.

"Wake up, Prince of the Stars," the butcher said calmly, "The person you're looking for has arrived."

"So fast?" Thales forced himself to stay awake, suppressing the scene from his dream for the time being. He rubbed his eyes and got up from the cold ground.

“He has many connections, so it didn’t take much time,” Gu stood up and shook his head. “Besides, he came to pick you up.”

Thales was stunned.

He shook his head, snapping out of his daze.

"He came to pick me up?"

At Gu's signal, Thales and Little Sly followed him out of the butcher shop.

On the deserted street, a two-wheeled carriage with a box was parked, the box made of cheap, transparent glass.

The driver of the carriage bowed respectfully, while a middle-aged nobleman with a golden ponytail stood beside the carriage, exhaling a breath.

"Your Highness, thank God!"

“Thank you for your help.” Thales nodded.

“Time is of the essence, please get in the carriage immediately,” the middle-aged nobleman visibly relaxed upon seeing him. He removed his hat and bowed to Thales. “After entering the Armored District, we were questioned by a patrol. Although they acted it out convincingly, I swear they were definitely not a city patrol. They weren’t even locals…”

Thales nodded, his expression grave: "Of course, they come from Black Sand Territory—the Rumba Project has been in place for a long time."

While the middle-aged nobleman was still in a daze, Thales looked at the carriage.

“Too conspicuous,” Thales frowned. “A carriage? Transparent glass? How can we get out? And we have to get back to Valhalla…”

The middle-aged nobleman took a moment to process Thales's message, then looked up to answer the prince's question.

"I used the name of the Shanliu City caravan to urgently unload important goods from the Armor District, in addition to the special permission granted to me by His Majesty..."

The nobleman tapped the carriage wheel with his cane: "And I happen to know a corrupt official who takes bribes. I've pulled some strings, and if I get out through his blockade, he'll turn a blind eye, and no word will get out..."

"As for the glass, please rest assured, this is a specially made carriage. You can only see me through the outside glass, not behind you. If necessary, you can also hide in the dark compartment."

Thales looked at the carriage and exhaled.

“Then let’s go.” He looked up at the blond nobleman from Cornwall.

"Marquis Slade Bemula".

Smiley nodded, opened the car door, and his gaze lingered on the little rascal hiding behind Thales.

"And who is this?" he asked, squinting.

The little rascal shrank back slightly in fear. "My maid saved my life on the way; I can't abandon her," Thales said calmly.

“Very well, then we’ll talk on the way,” Srace said, not asking any more questions. “I also need your explanation of what exactly happened.”

Thales and the little rascal boarded Shrews' carriage. Shrews sat in front, while they hid in the space behind him, completely invisible from the outside.

Just as the car door was closing, Thales poked his head out: "Thank you anyway, Mr. Gu."

The Far Eastern man tilted his head, looked at him with a strange expression, and revealed an inexplicable smile.

“No need to thank me,” Gu rubbed his hands together and smiled mysteriously, “Go thank Caslan, thank him for those six and a half loaves of bread he gave me back then…”

"enough."

Gu turned around and walked towards his butcher shop.

Six and a half dollars.

It turned out to be the case.

Thales smiled.

The carriage doors closed, and the carriage started moving.

As Srace watched Gu's figure disappear behind the door, he frowned and asked, "How did you get involved with that notorious information broker in Dragon City?"

"Accident."

Thales simply said, "A lucky accident."

Now, it's time to get down to business.

The carriage drove along the streets.

He raised his head and looked at Marquis Slade in front of him:

"Please tell me, are the Palace of Heroes, and the other districts, still in Dragonsky City, still under the control of the Walton family?"

Marquis Slays frowned: "Before I entered the Armored District, everything was normal, from the White Blade Guards and the palace guards to the patrols and even the officials."

"Of course, the King's departure from the palace, the rampant disasters, and the return of the dragons unsettled some guests—including the Grand Dukes—but the Prime Minister of Lisbon managed to calm them down."

“But,” he changed the subject, lowering his voice, “my informants in the Order Hall, and the channels my colleagues have through, all tell me: His Majesty has not shown himself, nor have any orders been issued. Only a few scattered White Blade Guards appeared after repelling the disaster, but they gained nothing…”

"From the Commander-in-Chief to the General Order Office, everyone is anxious. Not long ago, His Majesty the Prime Minister was discussing whether to ignore the King's decree and send a large number of patrols into the Shield Zone."

Thales breathed a sigh of relief.

"So, Valhalla and Dragonsky City are generally safe?"

“Safety? After encountering those patrols that questioned us, I have my doubts,” Srace shook his head, looking worried. “First, you must tell me, what exactly happened to the Shield District after the calamity? Where is His Majesty?”

"And how did you end up here?"

Thales took a deep breath, looked at Marquis Slayth who had turned around, and said, word by word:
"King Nuen has been assassinated; he is dead."

Srace stood frozen in place, his expression shifting subtly with the bobbing of the carriage.

“The killer is a man named Surridon, and he was hired by Rumba,” Thales said quietly.

The little rascal looked at them timidly.

“So, it seems it’s true,” Slays said after a long pause, stroking his gloves and cane, “The king is dead.”

"Ext... this is going to be a mess."

"The crystal ore contract..." Marquis Slays stared intently at his cane, seemingly calculating the gains and losses in an urgent manner.

Thales remained silent.

Soon, the carriage left the Armored District and entered a roadblock made up of patrol soldiers and barricades in the winding streets of Dragon Sky City—the martial law blockade had arrived.

Thales watched nervously as the charioteer spoke with the leading order officer and slipped a letter and a money pouch into his hand.

The officer glanced at the carriage window, and Marquis Slay waved to him in a friendly manner.

The carriage was allowed to pass without incident.

Thales, who had been lying face down on the ground with the little rascal, finally let out a breath.

“Don’t worry,” Srace gave a stiff smile. “Merchants have many connections, and they’re very effective—it won’t be a problem to deal with these low-level guys.”

A crowd began to gather around the carriage.

Everywhere, the residents of the capital were whispering among themselves, some looking disheveled, others dressed in rags, while many kind-hearted families offered food and supplies to these poor souls who had been left to wander the streets.

“These are evacuated residents, homeless for hours—at least until the King’s decree expires,” Marquis Slays looked out the window and shook his head. “Of course, I’ve heard about it, compared to the people in the Shield District…”

But at that moment, a huge commotion suddenly broke out outside the window!

A man came running anxiously down the street, shouting as he ran.

Thales and Srace both frowned and exchanged a surprised glance.

The crowd began to gather in one place, following the man's figure.

The surrounding chatter grew louder and louder, soon turning into a cacophony of noise.

Immediately, the crowd's emotions began to spiral out of control. Some people roared in grief and indignation, some were hysterical, and some were angrily cursing.

Their carriage had to slow down as well.

Soon, the man disappeared into the crowd.

But the people did not disperse; they still gathered in small circles, discussing animatedly in twos and threes with their loud voices, some even getting excited and shouting, and some even fighting.

The character of the northerners is on full display.

"What's wrong?" An ominous premonition crept into Thales's heart.

“I don’t know,” Marquis Slays replied solemnly, “but we will find out.”

So, at the next street corner, Marquis Slays deliberately stopped his carriage.

At his signal, a patrol soldier who was maintaining order but was arguing emotionally with his colleague was invited to the side of the carriage.

Marquis Slade opened the car door halfway and leaned out.

“I come from Cornmas and am a partner of His Majesty Nunn,” the blond, ponytailed nobleman said, handing over a silver coin and offering a friendly smile. “May I ask what just happened?”

The soldier seemed to have just been through a heated argument; he was panting and staring at the silver coin in his hand, slightly taken aback.

He looked up again and saw the golden ears of wheat and the dagger markings on the carriage.

"My lord, such a serious matter," the soldier stammered, trying to calm himself down. He seemed somewhat flustered after regaining his composure, "You...you don't know yet..."

“So I need your clarification,” Marquis Slay said gently, pulling out another silver coin. “Just say what you know.”

The soldier glanced at the silver coin in his hand again and instinctively put it into his pocket.

“That’s right,” the soldier straightened his armor, shook his head, exhaled, and his face turned grim. “Your Majesty, His Majesty Nuen has been assassinated!”

Srace's expression changed at just the right moment.

"What happened? How did you know?"

Thales hid behind the Marquis, gritting his teeth and listening silently.

“I heard it from someone,” the soldier said, seemingly encouraged by the marquis’s reaction, his words becoming more fluent: “The whole of Dragon Sky City is talking about it, the murderer, the murderer…”

Thales was startled.

Marquis Slade frowned: "Who is the murderer?"

"It's those Imperials!" the soldier shouted, looking up. "They want to start a civil war in Exter!"

The soldier's words grew increasingly indignant, his tone filled with anger and hatred: "Damn imperial remnants, that Star Prince from the south... They colluded with the Calamity, and secretly planted agents and assassins in the Shield Zone..."

"Those star-born bastards!"

"They murdered His Majesty the King of Gongju!"

Smiley sighed silently.

Behind him, under the terrified gaze of the little rascal, Thales leaned against the carriage, panting in a daze.

My heart is filled with icy coldness.

(End of this chapter)