Kingdom’s Bloodline

Thales carried his own luggage, dragged his body recovering from a serious illness, and walked behind the camels of the caravan panting.

Even though the sand under his feet was still difficult to walk on, even though the skin wrapped in the sackcloth was still damp and uncomfortable, and even though the scorching sun was still merciless, the young man's heart was much calmer.

without him.

"I'm telling you, Kanzer, I'm really telling you," said the rookie mercenary, fast rope walking next to the front camel, facing the burly man from the North, who was also in "Dant's Great Sword" Kanze said something excitedly:

"What I'm talking about is definitely a matter of making money without losing money... Think about it, how dangerous the work we do is that it's equivalent to tying our lives to the waistband of our trousers. Worrying about shaking your head, maybe one day you encounter a hard idea and can't go back, then your wife and daughter will cry to death, and then you will be poor..."

"Fuck you, Kuaisheng," Kanze, who was already impatient, stepped over a piece of gravel with a two-handed sword, and gave the chattering Kuaisheng a blank stare in disgust: "Your mother never taught you not to curse others ?"

Thales raised his head, looked at the camel caravan snaking in a line in front of him, the merchants talking back and forth in the caravan, and the mercenaries prowling around on horseback in the distance, and couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth.

Solitary confinement is like a painful trek in the desert compared to being hopeless alone.

You can see people, you can meet people, you can hear their happy or frustrated conversations with each other...

That's great.

Quick Rope shook his head desperately.

"I'm just making an analogy...but think about it, you take out this money and bet it in Tampa. If you go back alive, he will return 99% of the money to you. If you die, Tanpa Pa will pay ten times the money to your family, then your death will be very meaningful—oh, don’t, good Kanze, good Kanze, great Kanze, handsome Kanze, don’t do it! Let me make an analogy, hey, don't, oh..."

Thales shook his head, stepped forward, and looked away from Kuaisheng who had been beaten violently.

"It seems to be recovering well," a mercenary who came back from a patrol wore a thick hood, kicked off his horse beside Thales, and switched to walking to rest the horse that was running around in the scorching sun: "But after all, you You've just recovered, don't force yourself, you might as well stay on the camel's back."

Big Dean took off his hood, revealing his smooth head, and strapped a fighting ax back to his shoulder.

Thales smiled at the bald-headed mercenary: "I think it's still good to do some recovery exercises."

"I think what he means is," McGee with the double knives on his back rode behind Big Dean expressionlessly, without looking at Thales, "If you fall down again, we don't have time to worry about the burden waste time."

Thales watched in embarrassment as McGee, with his face full of tattoos, rode past them to take over from his companions.

"I don't think he likes me."

He looked at McGee's back and couldn't help frowning.

"Obviously, you can't turn everyone into your fan," Dean looked thoughtfully at his companions who were walking away, "especially McGee."

"Given his past experience, McGee is very wary."

"He suspects every stranger until he gets to know each other."

Thales forced a smile.

This is the third day since he was rescued by the caravan.

"Dante's Great Sword" is not a big or small mercenary team: the small warrior "Breeze" who was in charge of exploring the road fell asleep as soon as he came back, Hubert, a former blacksmith from the City of Steel, smiled shyly, Harken, the pregnant Allenbian, asked Thales kindly if he was married (if not, he would like to introduce one of his seven unmarried younger sisters to Thales), Kanze from the North had a rough voice He is angry, always likes to slap people on the shoulder vigorously, Pangja, a whistle-blowing shooter who has nothing to do, glanced at Thales and ran to pee, plus fast rope, old hammer, McGee, fire, and Big Dean and The leader, Luisa Dante - at least during this journey, they had eleven professional mercenaries working in shifts day and night, protecting this small caravan with twenty people and twenty-three camels across the desert safely,

Go to the famous Tower of the End.

Thales is sometimes very strange: Is such a small number of people really enough to protect the caravan?

"Of course, facing some sand bandits with dozens of people, we are tight in numbers," this is what Dean said to him: "But the armed caravan itself shows a lot of problems: whether the sand bandits are willing to risk Risk, come and kill our eleven fully armed professional killers?"

"Maybe they can win, but the price must be heavy, and there are not many people left. The next robbery may be their end."

"This is what we mean, and it's also the way of survival for mercenaries. Deterrence is more important than desperation. After all, we are not death squads—except of course for the Centuries who are dedicated to fighting wars." Dean shook his head at that time.

Thales is grateful for their rescue and shelter, especially after the terrible sandstorm encountered the day before yesterday—in the gray field of vision where he could not see his fingers, the shrill wind in his ears was breathtaking, Thales even said the words in his mouth They couldn't hear clearly, so they could only dodge with their heads in their arms. Howling and howling sand was more terrifying than blades. They desperately hit all targets exposed in the air, and penetrated into all gaps that could be drilled. After scraping Thales's flesh and blood, thanks to the experienced caravan hiding in a sheltered place, they survived the crisis with a group of camel teams - he knew that he could walk in the terrifying desert It took four full days to faint, and when rescue came again, the side effects were only a little dehydration, mania, and desert hallucinations.

Thinking of this, Thales smiled at Dean: "Thank you, Dean, you saved my life—even if I am a stranger, I may still be a spy of Sand Pirates."

Dean paused for a moment, then smiled slightly.

He hung the horse on the hook of a camel in front of him, and deliberately stretched a length of rope to prevent the smell of the camel from affecting the horse:

"Take care of each other—this is us, the creed of the merchants and mercenaries who depend on the desert for their livelihood."

Dean let out a breath and sighed with emotion: "Many years ago, Wyah, I was just like you—of course, I was much older than you now—at the end of my life, I fell alone in the desert, lingering on my last breath, desperately waiting for you. die."

He shook his head. "It was Dante, I mean Louisa's father, old Dante, who, with his devotion and persistence, redeemed me from the Ferrymen, even though they were bad themselves."

"People are always leaning on each other, leaning on each other—Wyer, that's what Dante told me."

"One cannot survive alone in the great desert."

Thales nodded thoughtfully.

I see.

"That's why you entered the 'Dante's Great Sword' and relied on them," Thales said silently, "That's why you saved my life—even if it was very risky."

Dean looked at the sand dunes in the distance and nodded slowly.

"In the great desert, if we don't help each other, we will only be swallowed by the desert," the bald-headed mercenary patted his mount:

"You have seen sandstorms before, and in the face of the most terrifying black storm, even enemies who are fighting for life and death have to find opportunities to coexist and escape—don't worry, Huaiya, we can get along well during this journey, and you will definitely I can go home and be with my loved ones, let go of my worries."

Thales sighed: "Thank you."

Dean smiled and said nothing.

Yes, Thales said silently: He has no choice.

Drought, heat, wind, sand, and cold, if he left the team alone, he would die in this ruthless desert in just a few days. In contrast, this caravan has experience, supplies, protection, and a clear route. Follow them Undoubtedly the right choice.

We can only make plans after arriving at their destination.

Thales sighed secretly in his heart.

They have to go back to Saber Sand Dunes, back to West Wilderness, right?

In a daze, Thales paused, almost bumping into the camel in front of him.

Only then did the boy realize in surprise: the caravan stopped.

"What's wrong?" Thales looked at the line of camels in front of him, but couldn't see clearly, so he could only ask Dean beside him strangely.

But Dean just frowned and didn't answer.

"Dean!"

"You have to see this!"

With the special muffled sound of horseshoes stepping on the sand, the mercenary pathfinder, the small "Breeze", galloped past many confused businessmen, and stopped the horse anxiously in front of Dean.

He anxiously said: "Luisa found something in front!"

Dean's expression changed.

The bald-headed warrior picked up his single-edged fighting axe, and stepped onto the horse with a solemn expression.

"McGee, fast rope, grab your weapon, get on your horse and follow me!"

"Kanzer, you and Hubert stay where you are and stay vigilant, especially pay attention to the back slopes of the dunes on both sides!"

His orders were decisive and swift, and the mercenaries obeyed without hesitation.

What's wrong?

Thales grasped the time crossbow nervously, watching the serious-looking mercenaries ride past the caravan and headed in another direction.

He was not the only one who had this doubt. Others in the caravan whispered in surprise. Thales even saw someone unloading the goods with a pale face and riding a camel, as if preparing to run away if something went wrong.

Ten minutes later, McGee and Kuaisheng came back, but their faces were a little heavy.

The caravan continued on.

"Dean and Luisa went to the head of the caravan, and they have to discuss it."

Under Thales' insinuations, Kuaisheng sullenly whispered to the young man: "Not far away, we found a small camp."

"But everyone inside is dead."

Thales was startled.

"How did you die?"

Kuaisheng sullenly led his mount and followed the caravan: "Killed."

Thales frowned, looking suspiciously at the uncomfortable fast rope: "What?"

"Who did it?"

"I don't know, that's bad."

But Kuaisheng immediately rolled his eyes, looking at Thales with a look of pride.

"This is your first time in the desert, lucky Huaia," Kuaisheng sighed and coughed pretentiously: "Besides temperature and drought, and of course sand, the most famous threat in the desert is , there are two kinds."

He moved his head closer, and said mysteriously: "Beastman, and bone man."

Thales looked serious.

"They often gather in their own tribes, have their own herds and territories, move around in different seasons, and come out in groups when they encounter threats."

Thales subconsciously clenched the time crossbow under his arm: "You mean, the one who killed those people was..."

"No no no."

Quick Rope shook his head, looking very experienced: "Even if you are unlucky and fall into the hands of a larger tribe, you may not necessarily die. According to experience, the barren people will estimate your price, and the orcs will say Weigh your weight, and then decide if you want to get on or sell you—or sell after you get on."

According to experience?

Thales looked at the serious fast rope with a strange expression.

"Sell?"

Thales coughed and repeated, "Where are you going to sell it?"

Quick Rope smiled happily.

"Do you know Caligri?"

"Caligre?" Thales was slightly taken aback, as if he had heard of this place somewhere.

"Yes."

Speaking of this, Kuaisheng's eyes lit up: "Caligeli, the famous desert city in legend... Some people say that it is an impregnable fortress deep in the desert, while others say that it is formed by several tribes. A large camp that migrates with the seasons, and some say that it is an ancient underground city that lasted thousands of years, occupied by people in the desert. Some even say that Caligri is the playground of an evil dragon in the desert. Watching people kill each other there."

Thales was stunned for a moment.

"There are... giant dragons in the desert?"

But Kuai Rope just waved his hand impatiently: "Don't interrupt me... In short, Caligri, that is the most mysterious, lively and dangerous place in the desert, where the skeletons and orcs are frequent visitors , it is said that there is a good relationship with several large desert tribes."

"Once you're captured, whether it's a bone man or an orc, they'll sell you there, turn you into a slave, become someone else's property, and before you can move, they'll make you fight, Prostitution, doing anything to make a profit, pleasing the greats of the desert..."

"but."

Kuaisheng's eyes were serious, and the topic changed suddenly: "Whether it's organized orcs or desolate bone men, it's not the biggest worry of desert caravans - they at least have order and their own rules, no matter how incredible those rules seem. , Sometimes, some tribes welcome caravan visits."

Kuaisheng narrowed his eyes and raised his index finger: "But just in case you meet sand robbers..."

"The outlaws who fled into the desert from outside, those scum and lunatics who have nothing to lose."

Kuai Sheng's expression became horrifying: "Then you should pray to Mo Shen or Sun Haoyue—they don't know what it means to be soft, what it means to be a prisoner, and what it means to be lenient."

Thales looked at him apprehensively.

But the fast rope didn't end there: "Even worse, you've run into an outcast..."

"Exile?"

Kuaisheng narrowed his eyes and nodded: "The most dangerous existence in the desert is the skeleton man and the orc."

"They were exiled by their tribe because they made a mistake, and they walked alone - but don't forget, these people are trained in the big tribe, powerful, experienced and terrible fighters, walking in the desert is like walking in their own home The same. After losing the shelter of the tribe, they also gradually lost their principles and rules, lost their honor and affiliation, suffered from the scorching sun and wind and sand all year round, and became cruel, vicious, and tyrannical. The threat is far beyond the average sand bandit."

Kuaisheng's expression and tone of voice rose and fell with his words, looking lifelike and lively.

His voice darkened: "They often have no bottom line. In order to survive, they even do some things beyond imagination."

"Things beyond imagination..." Thales pondered, "For example?"

Kuaisheng's face tightened.

He took a deep breath, tightened his neck, and mysteriously burst out a few words in front of Thales: "Cannibalism."

Thales caught his breath.

"So, everyone has been rumoring that people cannibalize people in the desert, and even children will be sold to the desert to be eaten by bone men or orcs..."

"It's true," Kuai Sheng looked at him coldly: "Or it's partly true."

Thales didn't speak.

"Huaiya, the desert is very dangerous. Good people may not breathe tomorrow." Kuaisheng's voice is full of melancholy: "The fear of death and the impermanence of fate occupy our body and mind all the time."

"So, in order to overcome this fear, Wyah, we have a way..."

Thales stared at him blankly, and suddenly felt that something was wrong.

Kuaisheng coughed: "Let me tell you, there is a tavern owner named Tampa in Saber Dune. He promises that as long as you deposit a sum of money with him, if you go back alive, he will return it to you." Ninety-nine percent of you, if you fail to go back alive..."

at this moment.

Snapped!

A woman in full armor suddenly appeared behind them and slapped the back of the fast rope hard!

"Ahhh - Louisa!"

"Quick rope, brat!"

The captain of the mercenaries, Luisa Dante, slapped Quick Rope on the head in a fit of rage, sending him running away.

"It's rare to see people tinkering with your crooked money-making business!"

"besides!"

"Stop bluffing people with your hearsay knowledge of three-legged cats!"