Chapter 682: Rebellious Hearts

Nethergrass city

Sometime after the Desolate Crow Clan's group left the city, the Desolate Netherbird Second Prince's bellows could be heard resounding outside the Nethergrass Palace.

"What did you just say?! Say that again!" the Desolate Netherbird Second Prince thundered furiously at the group of servants.

The servants trembled with trepidation as the leading servant repeated fearfully, "T-The troublemakers are nowhere to be seen, but the prison guards were all killed, and the sentries at the eastern gate were all knocked out, Y-Your Highness!"

"What about the hostages?!" 

The Desolate Netherbird Second Prince glared at the leading servant intensely as if the servant would be immediately beheaded if he gave the wrong answer, causing the servant to tremble even more fearfully.

"T-T-The hostages are all gone, Your Highness! The troublemakers have most likely already e-escaped…! And if this servant was to make a bold assumption, they were also most likely to be people from the Desolate Crow Clan!" the servant answered truthfully. 

Bam!

The Desolate Netherbird Second Prince immediately stomped the ground furiously, causing it to shatter under his strength. 

"How dare that! What the hell is Balzacs doing over there?! And what the hell were the sentries doing over here?! How can they let some rats into my city without reporting the news to me?!" the Desolate Netherbird Second Prince barked. 

Just when the servant thought he was safe, the Desolate Netherbird Second Prince snorted, "Hmph! Men, take him out and behead him!" 

"Y-Yes, Your Highness!"

Transcendent-level guards on the side immediately came over and grabbed the servant before the servant pleaded with a startling cry, "Have mercy, Your Highness! What has this servant done wrong?!"

"Hmph, I didn't like what I hear," the Desolate Netherbird Second Prince stated irresponsibly and overbearingly.

"That's outrageous, Your Highness! This servant was only reporting the truth of the report! Your Highness, mercy! Have mercy, Your Highness—!"

The servant was eventually dragged out until his cries were no longer heard. 

Every time the servants and subordinates of the second prince witnessed such scenes, their loyal hearts would receive a blow each time. 

Even if they wanted to stay devoted to the Desolate Netherbird Second Prince, was such a person deserving of their loyalty?

Definitely not.

Sooner or later, they would also get beheaded for a ridiculous reason, simply because the Desolate Netherbird Second Prince did not like what he heard.

Havoc was silent for a moment before he said, "The Desolate Crow Clan must not have gotten far if they are escorting the hostages. This subordinate should be able to catch up if this subordinate departs now, Your Highness." 

"Then go, bring back their heads to me! I want to see the faces of the courageous fools who dare to light my city on fire and take people from right under my nose!" the Desolate Netherbird Second Prince commanded. 

"Yes, Your Highness!" Lord Havoc complied. 

Nevertheless, he silently lamented in his heart. 

The Desolate Netherbird Second Prince was far from ready to rule. As he is now, he would only bring ruination to the tribe and suffering to the people.

The Desolate Crow Clan would not have succeeded in their rescue so smoothly if the Desolate Netherbird Second Prince did not keep all his experts close.

Shortly after Lord Havoc departed the palace, the Desolate Netherbird Second Prince ordered his Transcendent-level guards, "Go behead all those sentries in charge of today's shift. I do not need such incompetent people."

"A-All of them, Your Highness?" one of the guards uttered failed to contain his shock and questioned the second prince, "But those are all Transcendents! If you keep executing your men like this, how many would you have left to fight your brother, Your Highness?"

The Desolate Netherbird Second Prince stared at the guard in silence for a moment before turning to the second guard next to him, "You. Go and behead him. To question my orders is a sign of a rebellious heart."

"Yes, Your Highness!" the second Transcendent-level guard complied with an ugly expression. 

At the same time, the first guard was stunned by the Desolate Netherbird Second Prince's orders. Even a person of his level, a Low-rank 2 Transcendent, was so readily tossed aside.

"Such a person… is simply not worth serving! Die!"

The Low-rank 2 Transcendent-level guard immediately made a sudden lunge for the Desolate Netherbird Second Prince's throats, causing the person to retreat with alarm. 

However, the other nearby Low-rank 2 Transcendent-level guards were not slow to react and immediately pressed the rebellious guard into the cracked ground, each person holding down one limb.

"How dare you make an attempt on this prince!" the Desolate Netherbird Second Prince said with a nasty expression before he barked, "Kill him now!"

"Let go of me! I must kill this profligate and ruthless prince!" the first guard roared furiously at the same time. 

Nevertheless, the other guards did not immediately execute him due to their close relationship. 

"Impossible! The second prince carries the bloodline of a past Paragon! For the prosperity of the tribe, we cannot allow you to do that!"

"Admit your wrongs and plead for forgiveness, brother. The second prince might show mercy if you do!"

After the guards tried to persuade him, the first guard snorted coldly, "Do you really believe the second prince will show mercy?! Him? You all know full well that he won't!"

"So what if he carries the bloodline of a Paragon? Does he deserve it?! With his nature, he will only bring disaster and ruination to the tribe! Not the other way around! It's better if we kill him and take his blood for ourselves!" 

"What are you all waiting for? Kill him already!" the Desolate Netherbird Second Prince thundered furiously at the guards for taking their time. 

However, the guards did not listen. 

Instead, their eyes flickered, seemingly interested in the first guard's idea before the second guard asked, "And how do you expect to survive after killing the second prince?" 

"The Desolate Crow Clan had shown their rebellious fangs when they broke into the city to rescue their clan leader and elders. So we can just pin the death of the second prince on them instead!" the first guard suggested. 

Shortly after that was said, the four Low-rank 2 Transcendent-level guards contemplated before they all short at a glance at the Desolate Netherbird Second Prince.

"What do you all want? I am your master, the second prince of the Desolate Netherbird Tribe! Cease your traitorous thoughts at once! I command you!" the Desolate Netherbird Second Prince barked nervously as he retreated.