Federico—or, as his family used to call him, Federico—was laughing.

Even though he was kneeling on the ground in front of the stands in embarrassment and humiliation, his hands were tied, his forehead was touching the ground, and all the organs in his body were groaning.

Half of his face was numb. His left eye had been punched in the arrest just now and was so swollen that it was difficult to see. His chin was dragged out with a large gash, which was bleeding continuously. He was also kicked in the ribs, which caused a dull pain.

, the left wrist that was tied behind his back was severely sprained, and the pain was excruciating.

This is just the upper body.

But Feder was still laughing.

He smiled extremely happily, extremely relieved, extremely sincere, even with a hint of madness, no matter how sternly the security officer responsible for escorting him scolded him to restrain himself.

Once, he huddled up in a small, cold, dark room, relying on hatred and shame to support himself, shivering from the endless screams and moans in his ears, and relying on pain and anger to maintain body temperature.

When he thought of the countless days and nights spent in that small room, Feder unconsciously tightened his body and slowed down his breathing.

His mouth was full of the taste of earth and blood, and blood and saliva kept oozing from his lips, but he had neither the strength nor the time to wipe them away.

Now, this wound and pain, this humiliation and embarrassment are like a reward from fate compared with the past experience.

They remind you where you are.

It indicates the coming revenge and pleasure.

It also foretells that he is willing to sacrifice everything in order to get the reward.

The curve of Feder's mouth widened even further.

The lights around him were as bright as day, but the shadow under him was as dark as ink.

That swordsman, that bastard who claimed to have killed the royal guards, really just left like that? No mercy at all?

Whatever.

Anyway, it's almost done.

Feder raised his head with difficulty but pleasure. Familiar and unfamiliar, chaotic and orderly choices appeared in front of him:

The security officers who were escorting him looked panicked and at a loss. The crowds of spectators further away were making noises. The vassals were discussing fiercely, the foreign guests were whispering, the guards were nervous and vigilant, and the sergeants tightened their weapons...

"It's okay here! They just need to talk, you all stay back, stay away, don't come over! Let others stay away too!"

Xi Lai shouted, preventing the guards and servants around him from approaching, and motioned for all of them who were nervous and anxious to move away.

Miss Kevin Dill had a special status and had a close relationship with her respective masters. Both the Star Lake Guards and the Emerald Legion were wary of this. They had to slowly retreat, screen out the crowd, and create a large space for Thales and Zhan.

In the open space, they watched each other eagerly.

Soon, everyone in the room, no matter locals or outsiders, no matter vassals, distinguished guests or ordinary guards, no matter whether they are anxious or calm, angry or lucky, are waiting for the two people with the highest status in Emerald City at this moment, or

Said it was the result of their negotiation.

"Test?"

Zhan En ignored the looks of the people around him. He stared at Thales and lowered his voice:

"Are you saying that your father has done so many things and set up so many traps, not to deal with me and Emerald City, but to... test your position at this moment?"

"It should be both," Thales came back to his senses. The emptiness after the sin of the Hell River faded made him dizzy. "Killing two birds with one stone has always been his preference. This way, no matter whether he wins or loses, he can at least gain the same thing."

Zhan frowned.

"Listen, I know that Federico is a big threat to you," Thales turned to look at Federico, who was kneeling in the vigilance officer formation with a weird smile, "but I can't stand idly by, I need to

He is alive for now, otherwise my father will know..."

"Then let him know!"

Zhan suddenly raised his voice. He took two steps back anxiously, took a deep breath, and then turned his head again:

"Let him know that it was Feder who was too stupid and blind, which led to the failure, and you were powerless to remedy it, not us..."

"If I wasn't here when it happened, then he might still understand..." Thales sighed.

lie.

The voice in his heart said unhappily:

You obviously know it very well, Thales.

With King Kessel's suspicion and vigilance, he would never be so considerate.

As long as Federico fails, as long as you don't make a "snapshot decision" at the critical moment, then he will doubt your position.

Thales tried to put aside distracting thoughts:

"But now, I'm standing here, in full view, and Federico is right there, waiting, or rather expecting, for my intervention..."

Zhan snorted lightly.

"I should have asked Seychelles to drive you to the furthest stand today, or even lock you in the palace and not let you out..." He sarcastically said, "I should not have even let you get close to Shilay.

"

Thales let out a long sigh.

"Guys, I've stabilized them, but it won't be long," Hilley turned around, his voice anxious, "Tell me, you have discussed a solution to this situation, right?"

Zhan's expression was ugly and he remained silent.

"Yes, we have a way," the prince looked around, trying not to let the various looks from the outside world disturb him. His voice was so low that only Kevin Dill and his sister could hear him, "Listen Zhan, you once asked me what price I wanted.

, are you willing to help? That’s it.”

Thales looked at Federico in the distance.

"You mean you want to openly cover up the rebels," Zhan said in a low voice, with a bad tone. "Support his accusations, frame me up, and label me as a suspect of patricide and silence - and then you can come to 'help' me.

?”

"What?" Hilley couldn't believe it.

"No, those accusations will not be adopted. I just want to delay the situation," Thales wanted to explain, "So Zhan, you can't win yet, and Federico can't die yet..."

"What we talked about," Zhan interrupted coldly, "is that in the Emerald City, we will temporarily suspend the truce and not be enemies of each other..."

"I'm not against you."

"Then what is this?"

Zhan's tone became urgent.

Hilley quickly grabbed his brother, but the Duke's expression made the people in Emerald City more and more anxious.

Thales felt a headache.

"If you win today, Zhan, if you let Federico disappear like this - do you think my father will give up? Then maybe next time it won't be me, Federico, or the Kingdom Secret who comes to the Emerald City.

No, it’s the Kingdom’s Wrath and his troops!”

Zhan looked at him closely, and after a few seconds, the Duke smiled.

"You're really afraid of him, aren't you?"

Thales had a meal.

"So you want me to let go and let his knife plunge into my heart?"

Zhan lowered his voice and tried his best to maintain basic decency:

"The reason is that if I don't do it, then the king will come with a longer knife next time - do you see the absurdity here?"

Thales hesitated to speak.

"What's even more ridiculous is that even if I win this round, you will still be a noble prince. At most, your wallet will be a little thinner and your father's love will be less." Zhan En said coldly.

No.

Thales took a breath, and the Gurtaksa in his pocket became heavier and heavier.

"But if I let go, I lose..."

The Duke of Nan'an glanced at the waiting people around him, his eyes becoming colder.

Hilley's face turned pale.

Thales swallowed his throat.

"You won't lose."

Zhan sneered and looked at Federico:

"You don't know what I'm facing, Your Highness."

Thales frowned slightly.

"Duke Falkenhauser, he faced the same problem, but he chose to believe in me," Thales took off the 'warning' from his waist and spoke sincerely, "He gave me a sword, and Xihuang finally

be preserved.”

Zhan En's expression changed.

Thales took a step forward and looked sincerely into the other person's cold and determined eyes:
To be continued...