In the tower, Cyril snorted coldly:

"I dare say that even a wise king, when he sees today's situation where the whole country is full of suspicion and suspicion, it is hard to say that he will not feel a little regret for his decision back then.

This time, Thales listened quietly and said nothing.

But he remembered the words he used to persuade the five grand dukes when he tried his best to turn the tide in the Palace of Heroes.

[The current weakness and turmoil of the stars are not accidental, but inevitable after embarking on this path.]

【This is what the wise king left for the stars.】

At that time, this was the "argument" that he swore to and worked hard to pluck out, and it was only temporarily used to sway a few princes.

To be honest, even he himself didn't really believe it.

But now...

Thales clenched his fists unconsciously.

But Cyril, who had been observing him silently, seemed to be not enough. After tutting and shaking his head, he raised his voice and spoke the next sentence:

"But you know, we, those of us who are declining, may just be in the scary future where you 'cross the obstacle' and successfully 'reach the summit'..."

The Duke's tone was very soft, like a devil whispering in his ears:

"The most inconspicuous member."

Thales suddenly raised his head.

"What's the meaning?"

The terrifying Duke of Xihuang no longer looked at him, but turned his head and sighed:

"You think that after we, the feudal lords and the old nobles who dominated the place, have completely disappeared, the common people who have finally found seats in the national meeting and the new nobles who you rely on as weapons will be satisfied.

, you will be willing to do so, and you will succeed and retire?”

Cyril's eyes slowly turned murderous:

"When you ascend the throne to subdue the princes and gather power, do you think that in order to contain the princes, the royal family spends a lot of money to support the standing army and look at where to go? What is the way out for a biting mad dog like Alaka Mu? A biting mad dog like Sonia...

What can an immoral woman like Satherley bring to you? What trouble-making shameless bastard like Williams can share with you both inside and outside the government?"

Thales took a deep breath.

Three handsome men of the stars.

He thought of the rude Kingdom's Fury, of the steady Flower of the Fortress, of...

Annoying legendary wings.

As well as their subordinates from Broken Dragon Fortress to Blade Fang Camp... there are countless of them, and they are mobilized frequently, and they have gradually become the royal standing army that is the norm in the kingdom.

"As for people like 'Cunning Fox' Cassel, 'Money Bag' Jack Man, 'Private' Red, and even Old Man Godwin and Pointy-faced Connie in the Council, who are so called loyal to you in order to defeat the powerful.

The royalists who regard nobles as their own responsibilities, after they have accomplished their great work, what will they leave behind for you and what will they ask for from you?"

The Duke's words became increasingly dangerous:

"Do you think that when the shining star occupies the throne supremely and there is no threat to the country, when countless humble people have followed the king's will and erased their natural fear of the high-ranking people, and then merged into a rolling torrent to defeat the old seal?

Minister, when you become a new generation of nobles and serve the supreme king..."

Cyril's voice was so sharp that it almost penetrated the door. To Thales, it sounded like a poisonous snake spitting a message:

"Can you just sit back and relax?"

Thales was silent for a long time.

But it was obvious that His Excellency the Duke did not intend to let him go.

"What's even scarier is..."

Speaking of this, Cyril's tone was tinged with a hint of treachery, a bit alarmist:

"When those merchants who relied on you to sell their official positions and get titles, found that their gold coins could no longer buy more glory, when those mercenary knights who won titles by opening up the frontier wasteland, found that their swords

It cannot be exchanged for glory like the founding six guardian dukes..."

At some point, Cyril started pacing again. Thales, who was lost in thought, only realized this when he heard the other party's voice coming from nearby:

"When those professional bureaucrats who worked hard to read and digitize could only earn a meager salary in the form of paperwork, when the creditors in the royal bank found that the king had no intention or could no longer pass the internal confiscation of the house.

Or expand outward, thereby selling concessions, increasing debt, and expanding profits..."

"When countless new nobles are eager for more power, status and benefits, but can no longer find a big target like us, no enemy for them to plunder, no object for them to demand..."

It was still the duke's exclusive words with a harsh tone, but Thales no longer felt any trace of wit or humor.

Boom!

Cyril's crutch hit the ground hard.

I saw the Guardian Duke of the West Wasteland blocking the window, his figure facing back the light, and his broad but empty leather robe covering him tightly like the shadow of a solar eclipse:

"Who do you think they, who have lost their respect for those in high positions and are eager for power, are most likely to point their new fingers at?"

"Is it up or down?"

Falkenholz said coldly:

"Who's going up, and who's going down?"

"And what happens when it goes up, and what happens when it goes down?"

up.

down.

Unconsciously, Thales' left hand had firmly grasped the jc dagger stuck on the bedside.

Any change comes at a cost.

The young man thought in a daze.

Some costs may not be apparent at the time, but they are just like when Cyril talked about the chess game...

After a hundred steps.

Then, he is Thales Bright Star.

Could it be that "after a hundred steps"?

"Let's not mention that these are all your conjectures..."

Thales took a deep breath, cheered up, and shook his head:

"If the general trend is really like this, then it is inevitable."

"Then, we will definitely have corresponding methods, such as readjusting the situation and balancing interests, and there will always be a better way out."

But Cyril's contemptuous smile was not his usual ridicule or sarcasm aimed at offending others, but genuine disdain from the bottom of his heart.

"So you have never been a ruler..."

"Humph, do you really think that your citizens are good people who are sincere and loyal and repay their kindness? As long as the governance is clear, they will live and work in peace and contentment? As long as you give them benefits, they will be satisfied and support you with tears of gratitude, even if

Are you going to hell?"

Thales turned his head and frowned.

"Repeat," the prince choked and was a little unhappy:

"I don't like rhetorical questions."

But this time, Cyril no longer fell for his "rhetorical questions":

"Go to hell."

The Duke of Xihuang said coldly and shamelessly. Thales swore that he even heard the Xihuang dialect that some locals are used to speaking:

"This is not a face-to-face transaction, and your people are not businessmen: you hand them money with one hand, and they will give you goods with the next hand? This is not even a bar fight. You can earn back your dignity and subdue your opponent with your fists alone.

"

Boom!

The Duke swayed and took a big step forward very quickly. His robes that were fluttering in the cold wind pressed against Thales like a hunting vulture:

"This world is not that simple. It is so simple that you can gain something if you work hard. It is so simple that you can be rewarded if you put in your efforts. It is so simple that if you work together and work hard, you can have lasting achievements and benefit all people."

"People are not that simple. It's as simple as giving kindness to others, giving benefits to others, fearing severe punishment, and submitting to threats."

Cyril's tone was urgent and sharp, like a scolding:

"No."

He looked at Thales who was a little shocked and hit the wall hard with his cane:

"I have been ruling the Western Wasteland for more than twenty years, starting from helping my uncle with political affairs. Believe me, your people will always give you unexpected and counterproductive feedback."

"One person may be cooperative, loyal, or obedient, but a group of thousands of people?"

Falkenhausz snorted coldly, his eyes were cold, alert and alert, as if facing an untouchable flame:
To be continued...