Palace of Heroes, Hall of Heroes.

"You know, I have a guess," Thales said absently: "The Year of Blood was a disaster that almost destroyed the stars. The entire kingdom was shaken by civil strife and contradictions, and was in danger."

He raised his eyes and his voice trembled slightly:

"Until you go south."

At that moment, Thales caught a glimpse of strange and doubtful light in the eyes of several grand dukes.

"What do you mean?" Olesiu asked coldly.

very good.

Thales said to himself silently in his heart.

Interests and Threats. The two main weapons used by Lomba to persuade other grand dukes are now gone. The grand dukes probably understand that to some extent, Lomba's threat is higher than the stars.

And now.

Thales glanced at Thelma. The girl held her slightly trembling fists and nodded slowly to him, with forced determination in her eyes.

Now he still has to convince the princes that the benefits promised to them by Lombard are not as good as imagined.

Thales raised his head.

"I have never seen the tragic situation twelve years ago," Thales said seriously, remembering Gilbert's narration of the Year of Blood, "But I can imagine from the old people's stories: The Bright Star Royal Family

The disaster has reached its peak: all nineteen vassals are in danger, rumors are spreading among the nobles, the army is leaderless, the people of the kingdom are furious, Yongxing City has entered the most urgent state, perhaps the Star Kingdom is on the verge of destruction."

Having said this, Thales sighed.

"Mindis III probably did not expect that the chess game he set would usher in such a storm more than a hundred years later."

The princes exchanged worried glances, and Lombard tightened his grip on his sword.

"But in the autumn and winter of twelve years ago, when Exeter's army went south for whatever reason, especially when the news of the fall of Broken Dragon Fortress came, the entire planet was probably shocked," Thales continued

:

"I guess the new war breaks the original situation and injects new excitement into the dying stars."

Grand Duke Lecco's cloudy eyes brightened slightly, and his expression became more serious.

Oratio and Trudida looked at each other in confusion.

"A full-scale invasion by Exeter, the most powerful person in the Western Continent, is nothing compared to the civil strife of the rebels and the assassination of the royal family."

"While trembling in fear, most people in the stars had to choose to compromise with the great vassals, small nobles, officials, merchants, armies, farmers, etc.," according to the known intelligence and the concepts recognized by the grand dukes, Tyr

Si deduced the logic step by step, thinking hard about the next sentence to make it sound more credible and convincing:

"Under the shadow of the dragon, they quickly reached a consensus: to end the current chaos as soon as possible, welcome the last prince back to the royal capital, and crown him amidst blood and death. The forces that should have been fragmented in the stars gathered into one, just for the sake of

Resist the greed of the dragon of the north."

Grand Duke Lecco's eyes shrank: "What do you mean?"

Thales took a deep breath and tried his best to look neutral and not care so much about the stars:

"It's ironic, but it is also very likely that it was Exeter's menacing invasion that forced us to bridge the internal contradictions and conflicts and saved the Star Kingdom from division and decline."

As soon as these words came out, the breath of all the princes changed.

Although their expressions remained unchanged due to their long-standing leadership, Thales still felt something strange in the air.

"You are older than me, wiser than me, and have experienced the past more personally. You might as well think about it again: If you had not gone south twelve years ago, what would have happened to the Star Kingdom, which had just lost its king and was leaderless and in chaos?" Tai

Else said calmly.

"And just now, Lomba persuaded you to blame Xingchen, and when he sent troops with him, did he also tell you by coincidence that Xingchen is in the most embarrassing and inconsistent stage, and the northern border is isolated and helpless, which is convenient for you to capture

it?"

"Unlike some grand duke who can't wait to tell you the answer and order you to do things," Thales nodded slightly to the grand dukes: "I have raised the question, but I will stop here. Please think and make your own decisions.

.”

A strange and complicated expression appeared on Lumba's face.

The princes all looked at him.

Thales breathed out in his heart, but there was a lingering haze: Regarding Exeter's invasion, what he just said was just a conjecture, just to make the archdukes think about the cost of invading the stars again.

But Thales kept trying to convince himself that this was just a conjecture. What if it was true?

What if Exeter's invasion did temporarily force the Star People to stand together again?

He couldn't help but think of the words of the natural king when King Nun told him about Suril's death last night:

[Tales, twelve years ago... we sent troops south to the stars, not without reason...]

[He is an assassin from your star...]

When Xingchen was most in danger, a strange assassination from Xingchen triggered Exeter's southward invasion.

King Nun mentioned the assassination...

Prince Suril died in that assassination...

In the negotiation between Nicolai and the Scarlet Witch, the assassination was mentioned...

Even Putilai hinted that he was related to the assassination when he parted with the prince just now...

What secret was hidden behind that assassination?

Thales clenched his fists slightly.

Lumba stared closely at the prince.

If his eyes could kill, then Thales would probably be dead.

But Taylor ignored him.

"So, I, the descendant of King Tormund of the Restoration, Thales Thranjelana Kessel Shining Star from the Kingdom of Stars..." Thales raised his chest, looked solemn, thinking in his mind

I imagined the scene in the Hall of Stars facing the vassals, and tried my best to show the momentum of a prince:

"I am standing here, with the most humble wishes and the most peaceful expectations, imploring you: reconsider the war between our two countries and think about the cost and meaning behind it."

At that moment, the four Grand Dukes Lecco, Ronny, Trudida, and Olesio looked back at him equally seriously, with serious expressions.

It was as if the child in front of him was not a frail child, but a ruler who could sit on an equal footing with them.

"You can't guarantee that it will definitely bring about the most desired results, either for you or for us." At that moment, Thales thought of the many people whose destinies were changed by the war and said lonelyly:

"No one can guarantee that."

The hall became quiet again.

The brazier went out again.

The princes all cherished their words and thought deeply. This time, they didn't even make eye contact.

Lumba didn't speak either.

But the knuckles on the back of his hand holding the sword were pale and the veins were protruding.

A few seconds later.

"That's it."

Grand Duke Lecco closed his eyes and sighed softly: "Please don't say any more, Prince Thales, I think we all understand what you mean."

Thales felt relaxed, his feet softened, and he swayed slightly.

Thelma held his waist from behind to prevent him from making a fool of himself on the spot.

Thales turned back painfully and gave her a forced smile.

"What do you say?" Archduke Lecco's voice echoed in the hall.

It seems hollow and tired.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" Grand Duke Ronny was the first to raise his head, his tone vague but decisive: "I would rather fight against a lion than a jackal in the same boat."

Lumba's brows frowned more and more.

these people……

"You know, Charmaine, although your conditions are very tempting," Trudida shrugged lightly, with a complicated look on his face: "But I don't want my descendants to wake up one day and find themselves lying in a

In the ruins, so..."

Lumba snorted expressionlessly.

these people……

Grand Duke Olesiu's expression was stiff for a long time. After a while, he opened his mouth and uttered a sentence bitterly:

"We should not have come today, let alone attend this damn ecumenical meeting."

Lumba slowly lowered his head.

These are the people...
To be continued...