Chapter 616: Ascension

Thales blinked in surprise.

He gazed at King Kessel’s face and, for the first time, saw a hint of something other than the usual stern and cold expression.

“Is that so?” ‘His… his father.’ “No, Your Majesty,” he said.

With that in mind, Thales calmly said, “What 1 want is still the same as before.”

But then he quickly changed his approach.

“Though not for things like ‘gentleness’, ‘compromise’, or ‘slow gait’,” Thales’ expression darkened.

“At least, not this time.”

King Kessel’s cut into his next bite made a crisp sound on his plate.

“What’s it for, then?” The King taunted.

“Could it be that this dinner actually changed something in you?”

Thales quietly observed the other, and in that moment, a whirlwind of emotions ran through him. “Don’t you see, Your Majesty?”

The Prince lowered his head, picked up his spoon, and sighed, “You can’t beat them.

“Not by yourself.”

Thales fixed his gaze on his own spoon, watching it scoop up a piece of food, “You need me.” you need me

King Kessel went quiet for a moment.

“So, seeking peace now, is it too little, too late?” he mused.

At this, Thales couldn’t help but smile, though there was a bitter edge to it.

“Peace? Who said anything about peace?” he retorted.

Thales raised his head, his expression growing stern.

“I’m here to declare war on you, Your Majesty.”

In that instant, the King’s dining knife made a solid clank against the plate.

Kessel slowly raised his head and looked at his son. “What?”

Thales’ face grew darker, and his words carried weight, “Starting today, Your Majesty, I’m offering you a weapon unlike any other.

“A real tool for your success.”

Across the table, King Kessel stared at him coldly, far from pleased.

“The Amos’ chip is no longer in your hands,” he pointed out.

Thales shook his head.

“No, it’s not the orphan girl from Amos,” the Prince said casually. “That’s at most a bonus.”

“A bonus?”

Thales nodded.

“Yes, it’s a bit like ‘The Sand King’—just a bumpy waggon that went off course but was eventually steered in the right direction by us.”

King Kessel stayed silent, fully aware there was more to Thales’ message.

And right on cue, Thales adopted a serious tone.

“To beat them, to outwit those slippery and unpredictable opponents of yours, Your Majesty, you need to change your approach. No more relying solely on sheer force; no more being aggressive and relentless; no more swinging your sword blindly; and no more living in constant fear.” Thales spoke in a hushed tone as he went on,

“You need them to step up, to reveal themselves, to show their hand.”

“You need them to relax, make mistakes, and become complacent.”

“You need to understand them, control them, and lull them into a false sense of security.”

At that moment, the King’s expression subtly changed.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Thales said, his tone open and straightforward, as if this were the most logical and reasonable course of action.

“In Constellation, in the wake of the Virtuous King’s clear but challenging legacy, what you truly need, what’s currently lacking…”

The next second, Thales’s expression turned stern, his voice suddenly icy,

“…is a worthy adversary.”

“An opponent strong enough to stand on equal ground with you.”2

In that instant, King Kessel the Fifth’s eyes suddenly widened!

Thales, looking at the King from afar, felt an odd sense of calm and relief.

‘That’s it.’

Since ancient limes, swords cannol escape the Sheath.1

What he aimed to be wasn’t the sword itself.

But rather the Sheath.

“And this opponent, just like you, must be powerful and noble enough to inspire the enemies suzerains and shake the Kingdom. With them around…”

Thales left the sentence unfinished; instead, he looked at King Kessel with a probing glance.

And the very Iron Hand King, known to stand firmly by his word, at last responded in a low voice, “I’m listening.”4

Thales sighed quietly to himself.

He had found it.

Engage, observe, adapt.

In this fast-paced and challenging battle, as he faced King Kessel in close combat:’’

He charged, stumbled, resisted, and faced defeat time and time again, only to rise once more…

Finally, he had reached the final step.

The Sin of the Hell’s River coursed wildly within him and, in the end, left with a sense of fulfilment.

In the next moment, Thales looked up with a sudden intensity.

“Logically speaking, this is the only way.

“With him, you can deceive your enemies: The Iron Hand King isn’t invincible, not unbeatable, not their destined nemesis.

“With him, you can confuse your enemies: The Renaissance Palace isn’t an impenetrable fortress, not without weaknesses, not without chinks in the armour.”6

King Kessel’s expression turned solemn, devoid of the earlier disdain or indifference.

Thales continued with a quieter tone.

“With him, you can weaken your enemies: False hope makes them lower their guard, revel in their complacency, and meet their downfall in comfort.7

“With him, you can single out your enemies: the Rebel banner soaring high, and all those who gather under it are caught in your trap, all in one fell swoop.

“He’ll provide you with unexpected, tremendous support to see through them, break them down, and ultimately—wipe them out.”

King Kessel unconsciously set his dining knife down.

He gazed at Thales with an expression filled with complexity.

The King raised his eyebrows.

“You…”

Thales didn’t give him a chance to respond. He raised his voice and went on.

“Practically speaking, it’s also the only way.”

“With him, your enemies won’t be in hiding; they won’t be scattered. They’ll come together like a pack of wolves, like a herd of horses. They’ll become more predictable, traceable to the source, and tangible for capture. He will clear the path for your chariot and guide your blade’s direction.” “Is there a simpler battlefield than this?”

King Kessel tightened his fist, a noticeable frown between his eyebrows as he wrestled with his thoughts.

Thales’ voice echoed through the Ballard Room, making the lights flicker and shadows dance. “With him, you’ll have the most effective undercover agent. He’ll infiltrate deep into enemy lines, posing as the enemy’s leader. No matter the chess player you face or the situation on the chessboard, you’ll firmly hold their king, manipulating the enemy as you see fit.”8 “Is there a chess match with better odds than this?”

At that moment, the King gritted his teeth, his face twisted, “You—”

“And in reality, it’s equally the only way to go!”

Thales abruptly rose from his seat.

“Today, I’ve done something quite bold—I drew my sword to push the King into a corner; my actions were out of the line and rebellious, to say the least!”

Thales glanced down at the astounded King seated across the long table, and it felt like, for once, the King was ‘hiding’ behind that table.

“At this very moment, no matter how much the Secret Department tries to fix the situation, the news has already spread throughout the capital and is about to go nationwide.”

“No matter how harmonious our father-son relationship may be in the days to come, there will always be those who will remember the rift between the King and his heir, the scene of our confrontation as a ruler and subject, and attempt to exploit it.’’9 Thales’ voice grew sombre.

“Our relationship has reached a point of no return; it can’t be fixed.”

“And all your efforts for the sake of ‘fatherly love and filial piety’ have been in vain, utterly pointless.”

King Kessel’s expression changed several times, and he reached out to grip the table tightly.

“In that case,” Thales remained impassive, his tone frosty, “why not make the most of it? Why not use this to the fullest?”

“Why not seize the opportunity and go with the flow?”111

“Why not ride the tide?”

The Iron Hand King struggled to catch his breath and squeezed out his words througli clenched teeth, “You…”

“So, for the sake of reason, for the sake of practicability, and for the sake of reality, Your Majesty,” Thales gazed at him with conviction and a touch of coldness, “I, Thales Jadestar…

“I’m bound to be your opponent.”

As the words fell, a calm and peaceful atmosphere settled in the Ballard Room.

Almost soothing.

After a moment, King Kessel, recovering from his initial shock, asked in disbelief, “Do you even understand what you’re saying?!”

Thales let out a long breath.

‘Odd.’

He grinned slightly.

“Pretty much, yes.”

“No.” The Iron Hand King cut in, his anger barely contained,

“Clearly you don’t.”

King Kessel took a deep breath, steadying himself, “So out in the open, are you planning to sever all ties with me, oppose and challenge my authority, stand as an equal with the Supreme King, walk right into the treacherous, greedy camp of our Kingdom’s enemies, and present yourself as their voice, their banner—their beacon of hope?”12

“Behind their back, are you willing to secretly conspire with me, acting as my spy against your own better judgment? Will you collude with a tyrannical ruler, compromise everything you once stood for, and sell your very soul to the monarchy? Will you be at the King’s beck and call, ready to stab them in the back time and time again?”13

Iron Hand King gritted his teeth, looking at Thales as if he were the most cunning bastard in the world, “Do you fully grasp the weight of this?” ‘Why?

‘Why is he so surprised?

‘After all, wasn’t this situation mostly his doing?’

Thales chuckled as he looked at King Kessel’s expression.

Strangely, at this moment, the range of emotions he expected to feel—anger, frustration, resentment, sadness, loss, and maybe more—were nowhere to be found.

Instead, in its place was a boundless stillness.

“You know, it’s funny,” Thales began with a wistful smile, recalling his ‘old friend’, “I once had a friend who taught me a valuable lesson.”

“Betrayal is the true essence of an alliance.”14

Equally strange, amidst his lingering grudges and indifference, he unexpectedly found himself missing that ugly-faced woman, maybe a little bit.

So, this is how she must have felt.

King Kessel’s expression changed once again.

But this time, he reined in his emotions and made an effort to return to his former calm and rational self.

“Do you realise what this proposal of yours might cost and the worst possible outcomes?” The Iron Hand King’s eyes blazed with intensity.

“If you’re thinking this is just a way to sidestep the issue and appease me, trying to gain advantages from both sides or changing loyalties for your own benefit,” he said firmly, “you’re way off the mark.”

Thales pressed his lips together, sensing the air in the Ballard Room finally beginning to flow.

“Let me make this crystal clear,” the King said with the utmost seriousness, a hint of a veiled threat in his words. “This isn’t some game or chess match. This is an all-out—war.” Thales blinked in response.

“And anyone, no matter who they are—how high their position or how powerful, how smart or brave, how ambitious or kind they may be—if they dare to stand in the middle of the battlefield…” King Kessel’s tone turned grim, “they will meet a brutal end.”15

“Let alone try to play both sides and profit from it.”16

At that moment, Thales felt an odd sense of emptiness.

‘Right, the sheath.’

Thales quietly said to himself:

‘It’s not just about braving the harsh elements outside the sheath.

‘It’s also about enduring the sharpness within the sheath.’

That was the way to handle the Iron Hand King.

No matter the cost, no matter how heavy,

“So is it wrong to seal a thousand blades? “I/

The Prince lowered his head and released a heavy sigh, struggling with his thoughts.

“Yes, I understand,” he finally said.

When he looked up again, his gaze held newfound determination.

“But, as you said: I live for Constellation.”

King Kessel’s stare turned frigid.

“Compared to the vastness of Constellation and the might of our Kingdom,” Thales continued calmly, “our father-son relationship, our grievances, and even our lives and fortunes…

“None of it carries the same weight.”

At that moment, King Kessel’s expression changed, and though he grappled internally with his thoughts, in the end, he chose to remain silent.

Watching the other’s reaction, Thales offered a soft smile.

“Just like five hundred years ago, the King of Ascension sacrificed his son to please the gods.” This statement appeared to take King Kessel by surprise.

Thales gazed up at the shadowy ceiling and sighed.

“For those who only heard of it, thought it a blatant breach of the natural order and a gruesome act,” he continued, “but for those who dig deeper, who came to know the inside story, see the tragic nobility behind it.”

Recalling the story he had unearthed, Thales spoke with growing passion.

“Alan the First, the ‘Ascension King’, carried the burden of infamy and saw his once-great reputation crumble.”

“Prince Herman, the ‘Alien Star’, shed his own blood and made the ultimate sacrifice.”

“The Jadestars joined forces—a father and son—in a daring conspiracy that ignited the fervour of the Kingdom, stirring the wrath of the people and leading to a crusade. Ultimately, they brought down the Sunset Temple, which had held sway over Constellation for two centuries, shattering it and leaving it in a decline beyond recovery.”18

In that moment, the room was bathed in bright light, and Thales’ words resonated with meaning.19 King Kessel’s expression went through a noticeable change.

“This version of the events has always been a well-guarded secret. How did you come to know?”

Thales gazed at King Kessel, and a smile of relief crossed his face, still without going into detail. “That’s right; outsiders may not know, but the Jadestar royal family does. This is the truth and meaning of‘The Ascension Sacrifice’.

“Through a son’s blood and a father’s grief, the ribbon of divine authority was stripped from the King’s Staff.”

In the next moment, Thales became solemn.

“Let me take the lead, Your Majesty. Let me be your opponent.

“Your spy, your chess piece, your chip.

“Your weapon.”

He leaned forward on the table, holding the King’s gaze.

“By doing so, I can help you achieve what you desire.

“Not just with the ‘Sand King’ or only in the Western Desert, but throughout the entire Kingdom.” At the far end of the long table, King Kessel stared blankly at the young man before him, swallowing hard now and then.

Perhaps the Captain of the Royal Guards’ comings and goings made the flames burn brighter, but in the Ballard Room, the cold slowly gave way to warmth.

“Father, as I said, when you found yourself gasping for breath under the weight of the crown,” the Prince’s eyes bore into the King,

“I’m here to save you.

“I’m willing to put everything on the line for this—my reputation, my life, and my future.” “All of it is to assist you in achieving an unmatched legacy for our Kingdom.”

Thales clenched his fist and struck it against his chest. The scar from years ago seemed to grow warm once more.

“This is my real trump card—my chip, today.”

He looked at the speechless King and spoke in a hushed tone.20

“It started to take shape when 1 openly stormed the palace and rebelled in front of the entire Kingdom. It solidified when I cut all ties with you during the Imperial Conference.”

“And you have no reason to say no.”

Thales thumped his chest, his gaze turning resolute, “Accept it, and you’ll reap unparalleled benefits.”

“No more dead ends, just a clear solution.’’21

“A wide-open path, a fresh start.”

Thales paused, took a deep breath, and spoke firmly.

“The Empire shall last, so long as the stars do.”22

In the next instant, Thales extended his hand towards the King!

King Kessel couldn’t help but shiver.

“But…” he faltered, his gaze fixed on Thales and at a loss for words, as if he were looking at a total stranger rather than his own son.

“For the sake of Constellation, Your Majesty,” the young man declared firmly, raising his hand, his eyes filled with cold resolve. “Let’s become each other’s enemies.”23 The chamber descended into deep silence.

Yet the King didn’t reply, his breathing unsteady.

“Kessel Jadestar…” Thales persisted, keeping his gaze locked on the man before him. “What is your answer?”

The flickering lamps cast an eerie glow in the room.

Kessel offered no answer, his gaze distant.

“Iron Hand King…” Thales’ voice grew deeper, and he drew out his words slowly and low, adding to the tension. “What is your answer?”

The Iron Hand King stayed still; his entire body grew rigid.

“Father!”

In that moment, Thales’ eyes gleamed with a sharp edge, and he yelled at the top of his lungs.24 “What is…

“… your answer?”

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