Chapter 76: Who Comes (Part 1)

"Charmain Rumba?"

In the corridor outside the banquet hall of the Palace of Heroes, Grand Duke Aurelius chewed on the name delicately, but he turned his eyes to look at little Thales with disgust on his face.

"Exeter's next co-king?"

The Grand Duke sneered.

"I've heard it, kid," said the bearded Grand Duke coldly, "They say you're a precocious genius... Well, you're indeed a little smarter than ordinary kids, but that's what annoys me the most. place……"

Thales was taken aback.

Seems like a bad first impression.

"Using sensational gimmicks to bluff people, isn't it? A duel with the king, Rumba, what else?" Olsio's eyes were cold, and his tone was fierce: "A kid like you who has been good at these things since he was a child must grow up to be A poisonous snake full of intrigue."

"Maybe I should grab the sword and stab it into your chest today." Olesiu spat hard: "For the sake of the stars, we have already had enough troubles, and we don't need you to add fire... Imp of the Empire."

Oops.

Thales's heart tightened, and he found that there was a tendency to collapse the conversation.

"Then why do you still come to Dragon Clouds City?" Thales quickly organized his words so that the conversation could continue without being interrupted by the other party's dislike for him: "If you really say what you say, I Your arrival is a trouble, so why do you come here to cause trouble?"

He looked calm on the outside, but he looked up nervously at the ruler of the Welland Land in front of him.

Will it work?

"Causing trouble? You may be trouble, but you are far from being feared, brat," Olsio sneered. What can be gained from a prince, let's see if our king is old and blind."

"Then what's your conclusion?" Thales said with a smile: "Has your king let you down?"

Olsio gave an ugly smile, but it looked a bit vicious under his beard.

"You should be thankful...he still retains his sanity and hasn't been dazzled by anger, so you are safe." The Grand Duke looked at the kid in front of him: "This is the only way to speak nonsense here."

"Safe?" Thales shifted his gaze to Olsio's heavy saber, and laughed mockingly: "I think the sword on your waist may have different opinions... It almost got it" The honor of 'Prince Buster'."

Grand Duke Olsio tilted his head and smiled.

"Stop pretending, boy, I know you are very clear." He turned his head, eyes seeping sternness: "Forcing you to commit suicide...it's just a farce."

Taylor's heart tightened.

he……

"Don't look at His Majesty's appearance today, he won't go to war easily," Olesiu said sharply, "You have your father's oath to protect you, and the princes will not support him in going to war."

"As for his attitude towards you, hmph, he's probably just pretending to show us." Grand Duke Weilan sneered slightly, shook his head and tongue and said, "Testing loyalty or something, it's an old trick."

"As for you and him..." Olesiu looked at Thales delicately, raised his eyebrows, and showed a strange smile:

"Actually, they are acting on the same stage."

At this moment, Thales finally changed color.

he knows?

Did he see it?

Thales was stunned.

"He insisted on killing you, and then we'll see how we react, right?" Grand Duke Aurelius said with disdain on his face, "At a time when his family is about to die, he's really planning everything."

From the moment he entered Dragon Clouds City, King Nuen's strong aura, the eunuchs' chatter, Nicolai and Shiles' singing in harmony, and Putilei's relaxed attitude trying to make him feel at ease, all of them The prince who more or less captivated the stars.

And the ever-increasing and returning memories of the traversers in his mind also made Thales feel complacent, always feeling that even in this dangerous world of cannibalism, he should be the smarter type.

So much so that he had an illusion: the five princes of Exeter, like flat paper dolls, can be folded and kneaded with a little force, and like laboratory mice, they will respond appropriately to a little stimulation .

But until now, after uttering evil words, and the seemingly rude Grand Duke Aurelius unabashedly exposed his self-righteous tricks with King Nun, Thales suddenly realized: standing in front of him was a person .

A real person.

Even in the abandoned house, facing children of only a few years old, he couldn't clearly grasp their behavior and psychology.

What's more...

The person in front of me is a nobleman with a long history, noble status, and high reputation. He is a strong man who has been in the ruling position for many years. In the harsh and brutal cold wind of the Northland, it has stood for many years.

How could such a person have poor skills and scheming?

Thales lowered his head, and gritted his teeth lightly under the slightly mocking eyes of Olesiu.

No.

I haven't lost yet.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them.

"You know him well?" This time, the voice of the second prince of Xingchen seemed to have lost the previous ease, but with a trace of dignity and calmness: "Your Majesty Nuen?"

Olsho looked at Thales who quickly recovered from the shock, his eyes flashed.

"Yes, I know him from the first time my father brought me to Dragon Clouds City to meet him."

"But I know better what it feels like to sit in this position to control, maintain, and protect a family, a city, a territory, and a group of subjects," the Grand Duke said quietly: "After Walton's tragedy, for the continuation of the family and the dragon In Xiaocheng's future, Nunn has a lot of things to sort out, make up for, and arrange."

"Going to war will only make it cheaper for the Heisha collar, people like Lunba, the territory, resources and population near the stars... The enemy will benefit, this is something he never wants to see."

"So, the person who also doesn't want to start a war and really agrees with his interests," Olesiu grinned and shook his head, "It's actually you, the bastard of the empire."

"Why does he want to be your enemy?"

"Whatever drama you're playing with him . . . is just that."

"You stand on the same front, Walton and Canxing." The Grand Duke snorted through his nose with a cold expression.

Thales sighed slightly.

That's right, how can someone who was able to sit on the position of Grand Duke more than ten years ago and rule until now be an idiot?

What Thales can think of, these grand dukes can naturally think of too.

At least, they also have think tank subordinates similar to Cambida's to the Grand Duke of Heisha.

Where did he get his self-confidence? He thought that relying on the memory of the so-called traveler who was incomplete for more than 20 years, the background of the times did not match at all, the civilized society was completely different, and the status and class were far apart...

Just like countless predecessors who traveled through the world, relying on superb interpersonal skills, outstanding memory, and all-time aura and aura, these people can survive in the social competition that is countless times fiercer and crueler than in the previous life, The elite people from another world who stood out obediently obeyed and manipulated them as they wished?

He can't even face Quaid Rhoda, who manages beggars in an abandoned house, and his deputy Nar Rick, isn't he?

Thales lowered his head dejectedly.

Human will and behavior are always elusive and mysterious.

And thousands of unpredictable human hearts make up society.

And society is by no means a precision machine that can operate perfectly after setting the parameters.

He must be like a purest social science researcher, facing a world that is completely different from the past, and always maintain the most humble, open-minded, and most cautious attitude, instead of complacently immersed in the self-consciousness of "progress".

After all, he has no system, no chip, and no technology tree that can be climbed step by step with the click of a button like Civilization VI.

He also didn't transmigrated into Shuangwen's world.

Not to mention, there is also an author who likes to abuse the master.

"That's the end of your gimmick...Charmain Rumba becomes the king?" Olsio seemed to be very happy to see the confident seven-year-old kid speechless to himself: "Your Majesty Nun's sanity is still there, Charmain That guy can't profit by going to war, and he can never be king."

"And...don't forget the enmity between them."

"Next time, find a better reason, think of a reasonable gimmick, and then sow discord."

After Olsio finished speaking, he was about to leave.

Behind him, Thales slowly clenched his fists.

Maybe.

I really.

Not fit to be a prince, or even a king.

but……

Under Huai Ya's surprised gaze, Thales laughed softly.

At least, I want to be a survivor.

stay alive.

The next moment, Thales raised his head abruptly and looked at Grand Duke Olesi who hadn't gone far.

"you are wrong!"

Olsie stopped.

"Because His Majesty Nun's sanity is still there..." Thales' voice came from behind him:

"Charmain Rumba is destined to be the next king."

"And I myself am not as safe as you say, so we have this conversation."

"Another old trick?" Olsio sighed, "My dislike for you is only..."

The second prince did not give him a chance to speak.

"The key is not how good my words are, but whether it is related to your interests." Thales's eyes reappeared firmness and stability: "It is connected to the interests of Welland Land."

"Listen to me."

"Then make your own choice."

Olsio frowned.

"The next thing I'm going to say to you alone." Thales looked at Ole's two attendants who were strong, sharp-eyed, and obviously skilled.

Grand Duke Olsio narrowed his eyes, seemingly in deep thought.

"Why, are you still afraid that a child will assassinate you?" Thales sneered, "Or, do you want to go back early and have two more glasses of wine with your four good colleagues?"

Looking at the foreign prince who looked immature but spoke maturely, Grand Duke Olsio felt a strange sense of absurdity in his heart.

A few seconds later, the Grand Duke laughed and asked his followers to walk away.

Thales secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and under his signal, Prince Wyia's attendant nodded and left with a dignified expression.

The brazier in the corridor was burning fiercely, and two figures, one big and one small, faced each other quietly in the dark.

"Tell me, according to your theory, how would Lumbard become king?" Olsio didn't look at Thales, he reached out to the brazier indifferently, and roasted his frozen hands.

"I was assassinated in front of Broken Dragon Fortress," Thales said with a cold expression, straight to the point: "The murderer wants to blame Lumbah."

Grand Duke Olsio pouted and raised his eyebrows: "I've heard about it."

"It's a pity he didn't succeed," Olsio immediately said disdainfully, "Whether it's killing you or framing Lumbard."

Thales ignored Olesiu's hostility, and continued: "This made Lunba realize that there are enemies reaching out to him secretly, and his situation in the country is not good."

"Rumba is a strong man, this is nothing to him." Grand Duke Olsio said expressionlessly.

"For this reason, Rumba proposed to form an alliance with me to fight against our enemies together," Thales still didn't care about the other party's words, he was like a robot in his previous life, without any emotion, without any color, expounding the most real facts :

"He provides all the resources I need in Dragon Clouds City in exchange for the help of a future star king."

At this moment, Olsio curled the corners of his mouth and laughed out of composure.

"A promise from a seven-year-old kid who hasn't worn the crown yet, Luba will form an alliance with you only if he is stupid. He just changed his position temporarily because he saw that there was no hope of attacking the stars." The Grand Duke changed his hand warming the fire to the back of his hand: "And that Can't make him king."

"Of course." Thales said coldly.

"That's all?" Olsio snorted softly, "How are you going to help him become king? Send a circular to support him?"

At this moment, Thales' face changed: "But this is not Lumbard's plan!"

In the flat tone of ten seconds, he suddenly raised the volume:

"I'm not the one to help him become king either."

Olsio's eyes moved, and he shifted his gaze from the brazier to Thales.

"Of course he knows that my value is not so great! I am nothing but branded with a logo called 'Star'!" Thales sighed: "But believe me... I was in his barracks with him I've seen him once, and he's definitely not an idiot."

"Hmph, I know him better than you." Olsius clenched his fists on the brazier and said indifferently: "Twelve years ago, he ruthlessly nailed his brother to the ground in the duel field. When I was there, I witnessed it with my own eyes.”

Thales took a deep breath and nodded: "He just pretended to form an alliance with me. In fact, I guess he has other plans."

"And he's about to implement it."

Olsio locked his thoughts between his brows, and carefully looked at Thales in front of him.

"Say it, brat," Olsio sighed and said impatiently, "Very good, you have successfully caught my attention."

Thales was taken aback.

This line... I seem to have heard it somewhere?

Forget it, it doesn't matter.

Thales took a deep breath.

"Nuen," he heard himself say slowly in the calmest and most careful tone, "Charmain Rumba, we want to cooperate with King Nuen."

"Form an alliance with Walton, the Dragonlance family, and Dragon Clouds City."

A few seconds passed.

"Hahahahaha!" Olsio burst into a burst of wanton laughter.

He turned his head with a nonchalant expression.

Thales just watched him quietly.

Olsio put down his hands warming the fire, and clasped them together, his eyes were cold: "Is this your guess? I thought you were just good at using gimmicks, but I didn't expect you to be good at making gimmicks!"

"I saw with my own eyes that Rumba was trying to contact Dragon Clouds City!" Thales replied coldly.

"Impossible!" Olesiu put away his smile and said firmly: "Rumba is suspected of murdering Prince Moral. It's a blood feud. His Majesty Nun will not cooperate with him."

"Why should we avenge our blood relatives?"

Thales quickly caught up with him, and retorted with cold eyes: "For justice to be done? No."

"It is for the sake of our family not to be subjected to similar violations, for the sternest warning to the enemy, and for the ultimate continuation and prosperity of the family."

Olsio frowned.

"For this goal, everything can be abandoned." Thales nodded slowly: "Including hatred and honor."

"King Nunn hasn't lost his mind...you said that." Looking at the Grand Duke's deeply suspicious expression, the second prince said indifferently: "Walton has lost its last direct heir, but it hasn't perished yet, Nunn The king will not let it perish."

"It was Rumba who made the first move, targeting Dragon Clouds City, and killed the other party's only heir. The trust has disappeared." Olsio was still shaking his head, "It's impossible to find an ally, Nuen His Majesty Rumba will not seek trouble on his own."

"You just said that you know Lombard better than I do. Do you know if he has the courage to reconcile with the enemy for the sake of profit?" Thales calmly countered the Grand Duke's words: "Don't forget, several years ago, the north of the stars The Duke of the Border, Val Arend wears a hood, and has reached a covenant with Lombard... and Arend and Lombard are blood feuds."

Grand Duke Olsio took a deep breath.

"Also, you can see that we are acting, can't you?" Thales saw the wavering in the other party's eyes, and continued to throw the bait he had prepared:

"Why do you think that Luba sent an army to escort me to Dragon Clouds City in such a solemn way! Do you think His Majesty Nun's white blade guards set off early to 'tie' me to Dragon Clouds out of anger and anger? Are you from Xiaocheng?"

Olsio was slightly taken aback.

"That's indeed a play!" Thales tightened his face, sped up his speech, and made his voice sound more urgent and excited: "Do it for all of you! See how His Majesty's anger burns got up."

"Thereby confusing you and concealing his deepest purpose."

"But it's not to prevent the war between the stars and the dragon, to prevent the Black Sand Territory or the Southern Grand Dukes from gaining benefits in the war."

"It's for the covenant between Dragon Clouds City and Black Sand Territory."

Grand Duke Olsio closed his mouth and let out a deep breath, as if he was thinking.

"During those few days, God knows what Nicolai from Dragon Clouds City and Cambida from Heisha collar talked about in the tent!" Thales sighed, "We only saw them talking outside the tent." Swords are on the verge."

"But I can probably guess it." Thales heard his tone regain his stability, and saw Olesiu's eyes gradually become deeper.

"The Walton family is doomed to decline," the second prince sighed lightly. "After His Majesty Nun passes away, and after the next king election, Walton will even face extinction."

"So, he must bet on a powerful grand duke, a future king, even if this person is suspected of murdering his son."

Olsio turned around and looked at the moonlight outside the window.

Thales slowly closed his mouth.

He was waiting for Olsio's response.

This is the Grand Duke's own battle.

He can only go so far.