Chapter 199 Fencing

Chapter 695 Fencing

"When I said 'watch her carefully' before, Your Highness," Duke Jenn's voice sounded in the reception room, with deliberate mockery and suppressed anger, as well as the ominous meaning of a storm, "I definitely didn't mean that. Kidnapping my sister in public..."

However, opposite the Duke, Prince Thales, who was sitting in a luxurious armchair, had a dull expression and was absent-minded.

Kidnapping?

The morning light filled the room, and Thales looked at the cup of exotic scented tea on the small table, exhausted.

Yes, kidnapping.

But, kidnapped by what?

Killed? By the enemy? By power? By the environment? Kidnapped by a strange and unspeakable evil?

The face of the defense attorney appeared in front of him. At one moment he lost his temper and howled in agony, and at another he smiled foolishly and innocently.

Thales' eyes were fixed on the indistinguishable reflection in the cup that seemed both real and illusory.

Or is it a fate that everyone has their own destiny that they cannot escape for the rest of their lives?

Zhan En's merciless accusations continued: "As a prince of a king, with the dignity of a duke, you irresponsibly deviated from the planned itinerary, self-righteously ditched the escort crowd, just to go to the bottom of the market to hunt for novels. 'Have fun with the people'..."

Break away from the plan.

Ditch the crowd.

Thales took a deep breath.

The monster's crazy laughter in the ominous white smoke rang in his ears, making him more and more irritable.

Really?

He, Thales Bright Star.

What can he really get away with?

What can you really get rid of?

"I dressed up as a clown and a flower girl, and went to places where people of all religions and religions mixed together to have fun. I performed on the street, got into fights in the back alleys, and broke into private houses. I left countless messes along the way and came back with scars..." Zhan En was still chattering.

covered in wounds.

Thales lowered his gaze: his neck, arms, and legs were all wrapped in thick bandages, most of which were hidden under his sleeves. They exuded a faint medicinal smell, and they were all wounds and scrapes left yesterday. , abrasions, scratches, bruises, the pain is hard to go away...

Yes, he has been scarred for a long time.

Long before today.

But these are nothing.

Compared to Marius, who was bedridden with a high fever after being carried back last night, and far beyond his expectation, many of his subordinates were injured during the spying on the Blood Bottle Gang and the hunt for Lausanne II: Mira, Zombie, Rolf , Fu Laten, Nexi...

Even compared to Slimani’s final fate…

Compared to the casualties that occurred in this struggle…

"...even a whole truckload of celebratory fireworks were lit in the north of the city, triggering the largest crowd gathering in recent years and almost collapsing the North Gate Bridge..." Zhan En's words were as sonorous and powerful as ever, as if he was sitting in the trial hall. on the highest seat.

But to Thales's ears at this moment, the sense of nobility and authority that he deliberately created had long since dissipated in the false statements repeated over and over again, like a rag with the water squeezed out, and it became wrinkled and dry. Phew, it looks ugly and smells bad.

"The Security Department and the Emerald Legion had to mobilize a large number of manpower to maintain order because His Excellency the Duke of Star Lake, who was visiting privately incognito, felt bored while shopping and wanted to hear a louder noise..."

Why?

Thales touched the armrest of the luxurious seat. Zhan's words felt like the buzzing of mosquitoes in his ears, which was extremely annoying.

Obviously outside the palace gate, on the street separated by a wall, some people were dead, some were injured, some were wielding swords, guns and sticks in the back alleys, cutting you to death until blood flowed everywhere. Some were crazy, some were worried, and some were tortured into disfigurement by the abominable life. The abominable appearance makes other people's lives look abominable. Some people are poor, some are miserable, and some are hiding in the small darkness without seeing the light and struggling to survive by rummaging through the scraps thrown away by the upper class.

Why?

Thales only felt his knuckles gradually tightening.

"And the most important thing is that what you did neither respected the Iris family nor your father's vassals, the etiquette of aristocrats, and the rules of the kingdom. If I hadn't taken measures early, I would have suppressed Have a negative impact..."

But why, why is the leader who should be responsible for these things still sitting here contentedly, calmly talking about nonsense like "adverse social impact", as if he just turns a deaf ear, never mentions it, and covers his mouth If you cover your eyes, those things don't exist?

Just like those murder cases that he covered up as accidents and vendettas one by one in order to "reduce the impact" and "take the overall situation into consideration"?

Because Zhan was sitting in that position - a voice sounded in his heart - just like you had figured it out a long time ago.

Thales stared numbly at Zhan sitting on his seat, watching his lips constantly opening and closing, his expression solemn and solemn.

You know, sitting there, he's not Jenn anymore.

He is not even Kevin Dill, or even the Lord of Emerald City and the Duke of South Shore.

He is just an empty shell.

A walking corpse.

A puppet.

Like a noble crown that is jeweled but lifeless on the head, like a family emblem that is vivid but motionless on paper.

Repeating the same pattern over and over again, obeying the established norms, and doing ridiculous things that he didn't even know he was doing.

"...It's even more insulting to the Bright Star royal family, and it's also damaging to my sister's dignity and reputation..."

"Your sister, is she okay?" Thales' voice sounded faintly, "I mean, mentally and healthy?"

Zhan En's face turned cold when he heard this:

"If you really cared about this, then you shouldn't have--"

"Slimani is dead."

Thales' sudden words made Zhan paused.

"who?"

"That defender," the young man raised his head and looked at Zhan, who was slightly surprised, "he is dead."

"You mean, Advocate Slimani, is dead?"

"Don't act deaf and dumb!"

Thales raised his voice and his eyes suddenly turned cold: "Yesterday, Slimani came to the theater to find the Kaguire security officer, and then he was chased by someone, saying that he would help him open a 'long-term leave request' - wasn't it your order? of?"

Zhan En frowned slightly, showing appropriate thoughts and pauses:

"I don't know about this matter. But then you rudely abducted my sister and disappeared with the defense lawyer..."

Thales raised a hand.

"Listen, Jenn, I'm tired."

Zhan En smiled politely and looked like he was listening.

The young man took a deep breath, his eyes burning like the swordsman who was the first to draw his sword:

"You don't know or want to know what happened to me yesterday, but I've had enough, no matter whose trick it is - yours, mine, your sister's, my father's, your father's, the Secret Service's , those from the dark room, those from the Kingdom, those from the Exeter, those from the living, those from the dead, those from the Water Ghoul, or any other evil existence - I have had enough."

His last words made Zhan En's smile gradually disappear.

"So, Master Zhan En, when you speak again, please save your words and stop talking nonsense."

A straight sword strike.

But the timing is right.

Zhan was silent for a while.

"Well, you do seem to be in bad condition." When he spoke again, Duke Iris' tone was much more cautious, like a conservative but safe retreat in fencing, "You and my sister, what on earth did you encounter yesterday? How did Srimani get..."

Thales stood up suddenly.

"Too much nonsense." Thales left the cup of flower tea, not wanting to waste a second. "The conversation is over."

Zhan frowned: "Tiles, please listen to me..."

"I wish you good luck." Thales ignored him and turned around to leave.

Until a long sigh came from behind:

"All right!"

Score with a straight sword.

Thales stopped and looked at Zhan expressionlessly.

"Yesterday morning, the special security officer Caguire who was responsible for receiving you came to report to me." The Lord of Emerald City looked a little ugly, but he sheathed his sword and defended appropriately. "He said that the defense attorney in charge of the murder of the wool merchant had doubts and asked him It hinted at some disturbing suspicions. So as an old acquaintance, the Kaguire security officer sent someone to invite Mr. Slimani to the security hall to clarify some... misunderstandings."

Thales stared at Zhan for a while, then returned to his seat and sat down again.

"See," said the prince, "it's not that hard to talk nonsense."

A moment of gloom passed over Zhan's face, but he quickly returned to the topic:

"That was Caguire's own decision. I neither had nor nor did I need to send someone to kill the defender."

Thales did not speak immediately, but stared at Zhan for a long time.

Yes, he really doesn't need to, the young man's inner voice whispered to him.

Because he, Jann Kelvindir, holds the title of Duke, he can influence the entire Emerald City with just a single move.

It is enough to create an environment that can crush Slimani - whether he was once a cowardly and honest man, or the cold-blooded and snobbish man he became later - and force him to make unimaginable deals and pay more than his life. cost.

Let the devil behind this world rejoice.

"The person who killed Slimani was not just an unknown person," Thales said. "The killer's name was Lausanne II. He was once an extreme master of the Blood Bottle Gang. Do you have any impression of this?"

Zhan En thought for a moment, and his brows gradually tightened.

"Yes. Lausanne II, old Turnbull's executioner, but I remember him years ago—"

"died?"

Thales turned his sword and pointed with a sneer:

"But are you sure he is dead, instead of being saved, hidden, and tied up by some big figure behind the scenes of the Blood Bottle Gang to sharpen his claws and teeth, nourish his ferocity, and then release him at the critical moment? Some dirty work that is inconvenient for the Police Department and the Emerald Legion to do? "

Zhan En’s face also turned cold.

"I don't like the implications of your words, Your Highness."

"Speaking of which, aren't the Blood Bottle Gang your lackeys," Thales said. "When was the last time you disciplined them?"

"In order to maintain order and stability and minimize the harm of organized crime, Your Highness, the Emerald City and even the South Coast Territory do maintain strict and systematic control over civil society forces from all walks of life and from all walks of life, but that does not mean that the official and street gangs The relationship is just as conspiracy theorists think..."

Thales interrupted his official tone rudely:

"By the way, last time, it was you who instigated them to cover up information, forge clues, and tamper with murder cases - such as Dagory Moss, the wine merchant who used to be your money-making white glove, and Wool, who managed the secret accounts for Kong Ming Palace. Shandiop, and in the future, perhaps the famous advocate Srimani..."

Zhan's face darkened.

"We have had similar conversations, and all these measures are for the sake of the overall situation, for stability, and to prevent the rise of secret science -"

But Thales kept to himself: "And the former director of security, Jeff Rene, was killed at home, but was dragged into their casino by the Blood Bottle Gang and faked an accidental death?"

Jenn paused.

An unexpected sword move.

After a few seconds, he took a deep breath:

"Rene...this is what the defense lawyer told you, right? The report said that Rene was once his boss and was kind to him. What did he tell you?"

Thales's face turned cold.

"Why? Moss, Diop, Slimani, Rene, and maybe others... Jenn, why did you kill them?"

"Since you don't have to talk nonsense, I will only say it once," Zhan En's tone also dropped, "I did not kill them."

"Then why them? What did they do to deserve death?"

"We have also communicated this," Zhan En said calmly and clearly, "The secret department sent people to commit these murders in order to attract your attention and provoke you to deal with me, and we -"

"You know there's something funny about that?"

Thales interrupted him again:

"This statement of yours, this so-called statement that 'the kingdom's secret department wants to provoke us to fight against each other', was something I told you on the first day I came to Emerald City."

Zhan looked at him quietly.

"Yes, and I appreciate your honesty."

"But that's all nonsense on my part: in fact, I don't know what provocation is, and I don't believe it at all. I just said that just to make a statement so that I can stay in the Emerald City."

The reception room was quiet for a few seconds.

Zhan frowned and looked at Thales in front of him, who had a calm expression and no shame at all.

A clever sword move.

Finally, the Duke of Nan'an raised his lips, and the once perfect and polite smile showed a hint of weirdness.

"I think, Thales, this is probably the most honest thing you have said to me since arriving in Emerald City."

"Since I'm so honest," Thales ignored his sarcasm, "Why don't you hide it?"

Their eyes locked in the air for a few seconds.

"Yes, I knew you were talking nonsense from the beginning," Zhan En's tone no longer had the official tone, but was replaced by an unsettling coldness, "bluffing, pretending to be powerful, from state meetings to royal banquets, you come This is the only way to go back and forth."

"So you never believed in me, or any of this nonsense about 'the king sent me here to provoke us into a fight.'"

"You said it too, that's all your nonsense." Zhan En retorted.

Thales stopped insisting and changed the subject:

"In this case, when the wine merchant Moss was murdered and we had a showdown in the confessional, you turned around and catered to my nonsense, telling me that the Moss case was just a 'misleading' and a secret method to provoke us... This That’s fun.”

"Ha, is that why you doubt me?"

"Not only that, you are uncharacteristically willing to 'entrust' your sister to me and ask me to 'keep an eye on her'. You even reiterated the conditions given to me by 'Xinxing', as if you want to help me get crowned?"

Zhan's eyes moved.

"But as far as I know, since the failed attempt to force the palace at the Imperial Conference eight years ago," Thales tightened his tone, "'New Star' has become the biggest stain on Duke Iris's political performance in this life. A scar that hurts when touched.”

Zhan was silent for a while.

Look at the sword that hurts the old.

When he spoke again, his voice was soft and slow:

"That's all thanks to you, Your Highness."

Thales snorted coldly.

"I know you so well, Jenn, as when you handed Jernard back to me on the way to the North, as when you suddenly became talkative and courted me at the royal banquet: when you in turn agreed with me He told me nonsense and even tried to use it to convince me that there must be something wrong here.

"Dagory Moss is by no means just a pawn to provoke our opposition, and his death is not insignificant. On the contrary, he is of vital importance. So important that you want to give me wrong guidance and don't want me to pay attention to him. Bar."

Thales drew his sharp blade out of its sheath and attacked one after another:

"Tell me, why did you kill him?"

Zhan looked at Thales for a long time before taking a deep breath.

"This is the last time: I, did not, kill him."

He also spoke carefully, obviously restraining something, but Thales refused to let go:

"Later, when the wool merchant was killed, you repeated the same trick and told me: Diop was killed by the kingdom's secret department, but he himself was not important. He was just to expose the illegal accounts of Kongming Palace, to lure me into action, to provoke me. Attack your weaknesses..."

"enough!"

Zhan snorted and interrupted him:

"I don't want to get into this with you-"

But Thales ignored him at all:

"So I mentioned Lausanne II in black, and I said it's a pity that my people didn't catch the secret killer in white."

"Black clothes, white clothes, killer," Zhan En said for a moment first, then muttered something with a confused expression, "Are you deliberately testing me to see if that Lausanne II was sent by me?"

Thales observed the other person's expression, nodded, and smiled.

"And you replied that your people didn't catch the killer in white, and you said that it was the secret department of the kingdom, and it was normal that he couldn't be caught."

"Because the killer is not mine," Zhan said firmly and with great disdain, "Whether his clothes are black or white, I don't know any more than you do."

Thales still stared at the Duke's face, while Zhan looked back at him without fear.

This sword has no tricks at all, but it jams the edge of Thales's sword.

"Yes, you passed the test. At least judging from the words, your answer was natural, fluent, and flawless. Maybe you really don't know the color of Lausanne II's clothes."

Duke Xinghu changed his subject:

"But the key to the problem is not the color of his clothes, but your attitude."

Zhan En's eyes became focused.

Thales' tone became colder and colder:

"Whether Lausanne II is yours or not, when I specifically said 'Killer in White', as cunning and sophisticated as you are, how could I not see that this was my temptation?"

Zhan no longer looked at Thales. He turned to stare at the table, his pupils slowly shrinking.

"If that wool merchant really doesn't matter, if that killer really isn't yours, then when faced with my deliberate and lame low-level temptation of 'white or black', with your character and attitude, you should just sneer and say 'shabi'" It's just 'boring' and 'too lazy to pay attention to you'. The most you can say is 'this temptation is too low-level' and 'go home and ask your dad' etc..."

Thales snorted coldly:

"Why do you need to be prepared, carefully choose every word, and respond positively without missing a beat? Why do you need to carefully pass through language traps? Every word in your words is no more, no less, and you are trying your best to show that 'you don't know more than I do'?"

Zhan didn't answer, but his eyes were fixed on the table.

"Yes, your response to this question was too caring and too smart, so smart that you were mistaken for being smart."

After Thales finished speaking, the reception room fell silent.

"Your cunning, Thales," Zhan finally spoke softly, "is always hidden in your stupidity, making it difficult to distinguish."

The angle of the sword was tricky and strange, but it scored again.

"Like Dagory Moss, this wool merchant Diop is by no means insignificant." Thales ignored the other party's sarcasm. "What did he do? Why do you have to kill him to silence others?"

Zhan En suddenly raised his head!

"I didn't kill him." He said slowly.

"Is that the same sentence again?"

Thales sneered in response: "I thought the last sentence was the last one."

Zhan En's eyes became colder and colder.

The eyes of the two dukes met in the air, one was sharp and cold, the other was strange and shadowy, and there was a silent confrontation.

But just when the confrontation reached its climax and the atmosphere became increasingly tense, one of the parties suddenly laughed.

"I believe you." Thales put away his sword and smiled lightly.

"I don't care if you believe—what did you say?"

Zhan's conversation changed sharply. He was caught off guard and looked at Thales in disbelief.

"I said, Jenn, I believe you."

Thales took a deep breath:

"I believe that Lausanne II is not your person. I believe that from Moss and Diop to Rene and Slimani, although it is indeed you who is covering up the news, you did not kill them all."

What?

Zhan was stunned.

This is not a fencing rule.

"Why?" he asked subconsciously.

Thales leaned back in his chair and his expression became tense.

"Because just yesterday, when I was busy chasing Slimani, my people were busy chasing me, and your people were busy chasing my people..."

"The Blood Bottle Gang had a serious internal strife, and 'Phantom Blade' Kathleen and her supporters lost power and fell." Thales finally caught the opponent's fatal flaw, "'Red Viper' Nekra and 'Wanderer' Fergie took over."

Zhan's expression remained motionless, but Thales saw the gaze in the other person's eyes gradually tighten.

This relieved him.

"And behind them is no one else," Thales easily delivered the last sword blow, "it is the former killer of the Blood Bottle Gang - Lausanne II."

There was dead silence in the reception room.

The next second, Zhan En raised his head and raised his voice to summon the butler:

"Ashford!"

Thales picked up the scented tea and watched calmly as the Duke ignored the presence of the prince and hurriedly ordered the trustee to send someone to secretly investigate the situation of the Blood Bottle Gang. Ashford glanced at Thales strangely and followed the order. go.

The butler left, and the two dukes looked at each other indifferently.

"You just asked me when was the last time I disciplined the Blood Bottle Gang," Zhan's breathing calmed down after a few seconds, "Are you testing me to see if I know about it?"

Well, after the winner has been decided, an accurate review.

It's a pity it's just a review.

"It seems you just found out about this. You're welcome, you're welcome," Thales said in a calm voice, "Don't worry, I killed Lausanne yesterday. They had to go through chaos for a while before they could figure it out."

Jenn took a deep breath.

"You killed the executioner who came back from the dead?"

"Do you think my guards are vegetarians? Do you think that when I came back yesterday, why were all of them injured and unlucky? Do you think I really went on a date with your sister yesterday? Do you think Slimani's death was in vain? ?”

Thales chuckled:

"You might as well take a look and see if you can still find 'Phantom Blade' Kathleen, or any local boss who can be summoned and run errands for you?"

Zhan stared at Thales.

"Yesterday, the Midian District Police Department received a report of a riot at the pier, but in the end it was said to be a false alarm and nothing was done. Is this the case?"

"Maybe."

Taylor said calmly:

"To be honest, because of what I said before, I had doubts that Luosang was yours, and the internal strife in the Blood Bottle Gang was just him executing your will, cleaning up the house for you, and shuffling the chips."

"Then why do you suddenly believe me again?"

Thales exhaled and remembered what Glover had reported to him about the Blood Bottle Gang:

"The trigger for the Blood Bottle Gang's internal strife was the strange casualties and losses they had experienced in these days; and the reason Red Viper and the Wanderers used to incite the internal strife was to blame the Black Street Brotherhood for the debt. He promised to take them to revenge; as for those bosses who were purged in the internal strife, they were the original vested interests of the gang. "

Zhan's expression became more and more serious:

"Every move here is pushing the inherent order into chaos and chaos, cutting off Kongming Palace's connection with the Blood Bottle Gang, and weakening my control over the bottom layer of Emerald City."

Thales nodded:

"This is not in your interest, and it is not in the interest of Emerald City."

Zhan said nothing.

"Do you understand now, Duke Iris?"

Thales leaned forward:

"Yes, you used the Blood Bottle Gang to cover up the death of Moss and others, and prevented their first wave of attacks, so they then attacked the Blood Bottle Gang and your minions at the bottom and on the streets. Maybe you still You control most of the Emerald City, but after yesterday, at least in the streets, you are blind and deaf, and you are no longer as alert as before."

Thales ended his words coldly:

"You and the Emerald City are under unprecedented attack - if you continue to stand still, you will be alone."

There was a long silence in the reception room.

Finally, just when Thales suspected that the cup of scented tea was about to get cold, Zhan slowly spoke:

"what do you want?"

Thales smiled.

"In the murder case of Moss and others, I know that you are not the main messenger, and you did not kill them to silence them, but as I said, even if you are not the murderer behind the scenes, you must know the inside story."

"You know who killed them, or in other words, you know why they were killed," Thales tried to sound sincere, "That's why you attach so much importance to those murder cases and the dead, and you will do whatever it takes to cover them up and prevent them from appearing. In front of everyone in the world, including me.”

Zhan frowned.

"Tell me, these people, what are they involved in?" Thales' tone became urgent, "So that the secret department can't let them go?"

Zhan was silent.

"Please, Jenn," the prince urged, "you once asked me, what price do I need to pay to help you at a critical moment?"

He approached Zhan:

"Now, I can help you, but you have to tell me more: more details, more truth, more inside stories."

Thales stretched out his palm:

"Despite everything in the past, this is your last chance - your last chance to make an offer to me."

Please.

Zhan's eyes were fixed on his palm.

"If I told you, Thales..."

After a few seconds, the Duke of Nan'an slowly raised his head.

"Then when will you attack me?"

Take action?

At that moment, Thales suddenly felt something bad.

"What's the meaning?"

Like an opponent who was losing the battle, he suddenly made a desperate counterattack, unexpectedly.

Zhan En chuckled:

"Have you ever looked in the mirror?"

"What?"

"People can't see themselves clearly. The self in the eyes of others and in the eyes of oneself are completely different," Zhan En stared at him silently, his eyes as calm as an ancient well, "So people need mirrors."

Thales frowned: "Zhan..."

"Tiles Brightstar, you said you believe me and believe that I am not the murderer," Zhan interrupted decisively, "But have you ever thought about whether I believe that you are not the murderer?"

Thales's heart tightened.

"You claimed that you did not come to the Emerald City voluntarily, and that you and your father were incompatible with each other, so you wanted to put aside the old grudges with me and work together. And you also tried hard to win my trust in the confrontations again and again - but you know, winning What’s the best way to gain trust?”

Zhan spoke softly:

"It's actually very simple, simpler than you think."

At this second, Thales felt his breathing stagnant.

Like a sword swung empty.

"When I covered up Moss's death, I told you that it was for the sake of the overall situation," the Duke said slowly. "What you should do is not to accuse anyone, but to make a tacit understanding and turn a blind eye. Then I will know your attitude."

"When Diop's murder happened, I warned you overtly and secretly not to dig too deep. What you should do is not dig deep until you find out who the secret accountant is. Instead, you should smile calmly and retreat quietly. I will It will make it clear where you stand.”

Thales stared at him with a numb expression.

"When what happened yesterday, whether it was Slimani, Lausanne II, or the Blood Bottle Gang," Zhan continued, his tone became more and more indifferent, "What you should do is not go out with all your strength and hold on to all these bargaining chips. You just come to me to negotiate and take credit from me, but you should come to me from the beginning and tell the truth, and we will decide the direction together, and I will understand your signal. "

Zhan raised his head, his eyes misty, and happened to miss Thales's gaze.

"Then at a certain moment, maybe I will believe that you really want to cooperate with me: at least you have shown sincerity with your actions."

Thales swallowed his throat.

"But the fact is, every move you made after arriving in the Emerald City, every reaction you encountered, every confrontation with me, every excuse 'we have to act for the king'," Zhan En shook his head, "It's all In order to work hard to participate in the game, to fully control the chess game, and to finally seize the chips that cost me my life.”

The blade penetrated layers of defenses and pointed directly at the vital point.

"Remember, you once proposed that Emerald City and I should take a step back," Zhan En said in a daze, "Yes, as my father said, as long as there are still people willing to take the initiative to step back, there will always be room."

Thales took a deep breath with difficulty: "My proposal is sincere..."

"But he said it to me," Zhan said calmly, "My uncle said that my father's words only apply to the strong - because they never have to retreat."

The prince's eyes trembled.

"Tiles, maybe you don't think so, but these days, when you faced me in the Emerald City, you were so aggressive and hostile, but you never took the initiative to take even half a step back. In other words, you were the only one who thought you were Backing off - this is why people need mirrors - this is exactly what those who are confident because they have enough chips, and those who think they are the strong ones in the game, will do and be conscious of it, because you can no longer see Instead of taking the initiative to retreat, I am more accustomed to watching others retreat.”

Thales stared blankly at the cup of scented tea.

"I made such a mistake during the state meeting eight years ago and during Operation Nova," Zhan En looked at him indifferently, "Now, it's your turn, Your Highness."

Thales said nothing.

He suddenly found that his sword moves were weak and weak.

It has been seen through layer by layer and cracked in every way.

"Yes, you may indeed have nothing to do with the kingdom's secret science, but that's not because you are not on the same side as them, but because..."

Zhan's eyes became sharp:

"Because even if you are on the same side, you think you are the chess player and think your position is higher than them - second only to His Majesty the King."

Thales' eyes moved:

What?

"Maybe others will be confused by the contradiction between you and Fuxing Palace, but I won't, it's impossible, because I know you too well, Thales."

Jenn smiled.

"Look in the mirror, don't you think, every word and deed you have done since you came to the Emerald City - whether you cooperate with me, show kindness to me, participate in politics against your will, clumsily grab... Regardless of the bargaining chips, are all these actions incompatible with, or even contradictory to, you, yourself, and your consistent internal logic as Thales Brightstar?"

Out of place.

Contradictory?

Thales listened to Zhan's words in a daze.

Why?

"Where is the boy who shouted at the corrupt nobles at the state meeting?"

Zhan is approaching step by step.

"Where is that prince who stood up for his subjects at the royal banquet?"

The opponent's sword blade was as cold as ice.

"Where did the North Star, the heroic and powerful North Star in folklore, go?"

And he was helpless.

"From the first day, I knew that this was not the you you once were, the real you," the Duke of Nan'an said calmly, "but just the you who had to smile when the king held a sharp knife against your back."

At that moment, Thales resisted the urge to touch the bone ring in his pocket.

You can make all kinds of strange and strange sword moves, and your sword style will be a hundred times more ingenious.

But any sword.

It must eventually be sheathed.

"Goodbye, Thales," Zhan said softly, "The king's ship is not easy to board, and what he wants you to do is even more malicious."

The king's ship...

What he wants you to do...

"Be careful - you will be shattered into pieces." The Duke finished his words.

The reception room is silent.

It's so ugly, Thales.

The voice in the young man's heart rang out, complaining against him in a low voice.

Fortunately, you still think that your performance is perfect and there are no flaws.

As a result, in front of real experts, it will be broken at the first poke.

And you can't even fight back.

How embarrassing.

You self-righteous idiot.

It's hard to tell whether he's cunning or stupid.

Is that all you want?

Surrendered?

"You seem to have mentioned to me before, a ghost story called Jacques the Soul Bone," Thales heard his own voice ringing out with a sneer, "Did you say it was... a legend of cannibal ghosts spread around the East China Sea?"

Zhan En was slightly startled.

"I went back to check last night," Thales sighed. "It is said that cannibal ghosts can take the appearance of others. After deceiving and deceiving, they will peel off their faces, reveal their true appearance, open their hearts, and eat their hearts." spleen."

Zhan frowned and snorted coldly:

"Whose heart?"

Thales studied the expression of the Duke of South Bank, trying to find clues.

"Did you know that your sister is special and charming?"

Thales shook his head slowly:

"It's absolutely stunning."

Zhan En looked back at the prince lightly.

"I retract my words," the expression on the Duke's face disappeared. "From now on, you are not allowed to meet her, talk to her, send letters to her, let alone go out together..."

"Do you think Heeley will listen to you?"

"She has to listen, and so do you."

Zhan's tone increased, leaving no room for doubt: "As long as I sit in this seat, I will rule the Emerald City for one day."

Thales snorted softly.

"As you know, the Blood Bottle Gang was not completely successful in seizing power yesterday," the prince said. "The 'Phantom Blade' escaped capture and the roots were not eradicated."

Zhan En was startled when he heard this:

"What? Where is Kathleen?"

"you do not need to know."

Thales shook his head:

"You just need to know: they will be very nervous, because they will be worried that the 'Phantom Blade' will come to you, making you alert and discovering their actions."

Zhan frowned.

Thales turned his eyes:

"In fact, they are right, because they will notice that you have just sent people impatiently to contact or test the Blood Bottle Gang."

At that second, Zhan En's eyes changed!

"You did it on purpose." Zhan figured something out, and he couldn't believe it. "You hid the information, waited for me to make the first move, and watched me push myself into a corner."

Thales smiled.

This time, his blade was ruthless and cold.

Still bloody.

"The nights are long and the dreams are long, and they will not tolerate changes. So no matter what they want to do, they will not wait any longer," Thales said softly, "They are here."

Zhan stared at him.

"I dare say that this time it is no longer a small fight and clipping of wings," Thales said with a gloomy look, "but a fatal blow."

Until he couldn't turn over.

The prince stood up slowly.

"Without my help, Zhan, do you think you can stop it?"

Zhan said nothing.

His eyes looked at the door, first in a daze, then firmly, and finally with a fierce look.

"Kevin Dill, don't kill the enemy." He said with difficulty.

No fencer wanted to retreat.

So there is no winner in this fencing.

There were only casualties.

"Then I can only wish you good luck," Thales stretched out his hand and adjusted his collar, as if preparing, but also as a salute, "May the empire last forever."

Jenn didn't answer.

At this moment, the door to the reception room was pushed open.

"Great, Ashford is finally no longer guarding the door."

Wearing a nightgown and disheveled hair, Hilley walked into the Duke's reception room. She was sleepy-eyed and even barefoot.

Zhan frowned slightly, and Thales turned his head in time to avoid looking at her disheveled appearance.

"I'm sorry, I overslept, I was too tired yesterday," Heeley yawned, touched the bruise left on his arm yesterday, and rubbed the bandage on his neck, "Oh, you two haven't eaten each other yet. , it seems I’m still early.”

Very strange.

In the past, every time Heilai broke in, the atmosphere between them would change.

But this time...

"Go back, Xi Lai," Zhan En only maintained the anger in his eyes for a moment, and then said calmly, "You are not allowed to disturb His Highness the Prince again from now on."

Xi Lai opened his eyes and raised his eyebrows:

"Hey, why don't you care about yourself?"

"Your brother is right, Ms. Cecilia," Thales answered softly, "Your overstep will embarrass us."

Xi Lai blinked and said suspiciously:

"Hey, why are you so brave-"

"The celebration is not over yet, we still have electors to attend today," Zhan's voice was not loud and not harsh, but his calm words made Shilai unconsciously shut up, "Be prepared, don't You've lost your etiquette - I'm not ordering you as a brother, but as a duke."

Xi Lai finally felt something was wrong in the atmosphere and frowned as he looked at his brother.

Both Zhan and Thales were silent.

A few seconds later, Miss Kevin Dill took a deep breath, strode to Thales' side, and grabbed the prince's arm out of habit:

"Okay, ignore him. As for you, come with me, we have something to discuss..."

But the next second, Thales retracted his arm like an electric shock and avoided Shilai's touch.

Hilley was stunned.

She stared blankly at Thales's movements, her gloved hands hanging in the air.

Thales was breathing rapidly. He tilted his head, clenched his fists, and did not look at Xi Lai.

【What on earth is it! 】

[Evil, it is evil. 】

"Master Zhan is right, Ms. Cecilia, the Emerald Celebration is not over yet," Thales took a deep breath, "We all need to prepare well and don't lose etiquette."

Maybe this is a good thing, Tails.

The voice in his heart sneered:

Maybe the posture is ugly...

But from now on, you are ready.

Under the look of disbelief from Hilley and the icy cold gaze of Zhan, Thales stood up and left his seat, leaving the reception room without looking back.