"I'm still worried about that weird doctor staying with His Highness." Beside the fire, Huaiya stared at another fire in the distance with a strange expression, where there were only two figures, one big and one small, sitting around.
This was the third night they came to the Lombard Military Camp. Ramon claimed that he would review Thales' injuries alone, and strangely, His Royal Highness also agreed to him.
"He is a prince, so he can do whatever he wants." Putilai smoked his pipe and exhaled a cloud of smoke, which made Huaiya's face darken: "Also, relax, Ramon's fear of His Highness is not just a pretense.
from."
"Furthermore, with so many Sergeants Exeter on duty around, His Highness is safe." Putilai glanced at the evil-looking Exeter soldiers standing guard or patrolling around him, and then glanced not far away.
Ada, who was at the scene, said slowly: "Furthermore, if Ramon is really an assassin, he had too many opportunities on the previous battlefield... Don't forget, it was him who saved His Highness."
Huaiya thought about what happened on the battlefield, and his heart moved slightly.
"Speaking of this...what happened to His Highness?" The young attendant asked worriedly: "At that time, he could not even breathe..."
Putilai looked at Huaiya who looked suspicious and narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Have you always been worried about this matter?" the thin deputy envoy said with interest.
"It's not just this one thing," Huaiya frowned and recalled solemnly, while expressing the doubts in his heart: "His Highness's physical condition is very good... In fact, it is better than I expected. No matter how serious the injury is,
Damage and recovery time are calculated in days..."
But that's more suspicious, isn't it?
"Also, I can't help but care about the superpowers that His Highness said he learned from the Black Prophet." Huaiya lowered his head and glanced at the single-edged sword in his hand: "After all, it is a secret science, Your Highness.
Although...he is just a child after all, and it is not a good thing to be too close to the secret society."
Secret science.
snort.
Putilai raised his head and blew out a puff of smoke at the moon in the sky with a complicated expression.
"Do you think the Secret Service is a scary place?" The deputy did not look at Huaiya.
Huaiya pursed his lips and nodded.
"I have heard many stories about that place, some are ridiculous, some are weird, and some are unreasonable," the young attendant drew his sword, his voice full of hesitation: "But I have to admit that the secrets of the kingdom are mysterious.
, and the reputation of the Black Prophet is scary.”
"I thought that at your age you have not heard too many stories about the Black Prophet," Putilai chuckled: "You know, Morat has been in charge of the secret department for more than thirty years. I even doubt that back then,
When the young Eddy II was crowned, Morat was already working in the Secret Service."
Huaiya wiped his sword and shrugged:
"While training at the Tower of the End, I heard a joke: Something happened in each of the four major intelligence agencies in the world. The Red Witch broke a teacup, the Priest Bai burned out an oil lamp, and the Youth Academy
The lieutenant wore an old robe, and the Black Prophet slept with a torn pillowcase...guess, which incident has the most serious consequences?"
"Maybe there is one thing missing," Putilai took a puff of tobacco and curved the corners of his mouth: "The Gray Sword Guard has worn out a scabbard."
Huaiya and Putilai chuckled together.
"Master Shao is not as unkind and scary as the outside rumors say. It's just that as the tower master of the Tower of the End, he is more calm and steady." Huaiya showed a nostalgic look and nodded: "Besides, he has no place except for his hair and beard.
It’s gray.”
"Huaiya, as an attendant," after the joke, Putilai said slowly and seriously: "It is a good thing to care about the prince you serve, but..."
He looked at Wyatt Castle with a compelling look: "Want to hear some advice?"
Huaiya raised his eyebrows and showed a listening expression.
"Each Bright Star Prince is like a separate secret department. They all have many secrets," Putilai said with deep eyes: "It is enough to only care about those you should know."
Wyatt frowned.
"Don't make life too difficult," Putilai sighed: "You must know that the lives of the princes themselves are difficult enough."
Especially...their surname is Canxing.
Putilai said silently.
The image of the past comes to mind.
Huaiya looked at the crackling fire with a complicated expression.
"Lord Putilai, I still remember what you said that day in the birch forest," Huaiya turned over his weapon and said silently: "Were you once an attendant?"
Putilai's pipe no longer smokes.
The deputy envoy blew out his cigarette holder and looked at Huai Ya.
The latter raised his eyes and asked him calmly: "Then... which prince of that year did you serve?"
Putilai's eyes focused on the fire paused for a moment.
"Just like...your father." After a few seconds, he said slowly.
"But I am older and I left the prince's side earlier."
Huaiya stared at him, and the action of wiping the weapon on his hand stopped unconsciously.
"Really, Attendant," the young Attendant said with a complicated expression and deep eyes, "Do you have a family?"
Putilai turned his head and took a deep look at Huai Ya.
so funny.
He said silently: The famous "Cunning Fox" in the stars, the leader and signatory of the "Fortress Peace Treaty", can't even handle his own family well.
But then his eyes darkened.
How can I get better?
"Listen, Huaiya," the deputy said, stroking the slowly cooling pipe in his hand, his tone heavier than usual:
"Gilbert is a competent and outstanding attendant. He is well organized and meticulous. He is loyal to his ideals and goals from beginning to end - he has his own principles."
Huaiya gently squeezed the edge of his sword.
"Even sometimes, those principles are so cold?" the young attendant said calmly.
"Cold?" Putilai snorted:
"Sometimes, you have to make a choice - no matter how difficult it is."
Before Huai Ya could respond, a discordant voice intervened in their conversation out of thin air.
"Good evening, two distinguished guests from the stars," Viscount Cambida, subordinate to the Grand Duke of Black Sands and his most trusted adviser, came from a distance wearing a thick military uniform unique to the North:
"I hope I didn't disturb you!"
Kambida smiled and sat down opposite Putilai, who had playful eyes, and Waiya, who looked unhappy.
"You are indeed disturbing us." Huaiya looked at Cambida with an unkind look, and gently flicked the blade of the sword in his hand, making a cool crisp sound.
"Very good, that means I've caught your attention." Cambida took off his gloves without a care and warmed himself by the fire: "Why don't you stay in the tent? The weather is very cold, and this is the Northland."
"We like the open wilderness," Putilai poured out the ashes from his pipe and replied coldly, his thin face flashing in the firelight: "The scenery is beautiful and the field of vision is broad."
"Don't worry," Cambida smiled softly and saw through their thoughts: "You are in Exeter, and the Exeter people are not in the habit of listening to the corner of the tent."
He turned his head and looked at the Star Prince and his doctor in the distance: "The prince is safe here."
Cambida narrowed his eyes: "What a special prince, isn't he?"
Otherwise, the Grand Duke would not have given such an evaluation.
Huaiya snorted disdainfully.
Putilai frowned.
They began to pay attention to the prince.
Probably the child said something strange in Lumba's tent a few days ago.
This is not a good sign.
The deputy pulled out his tobacco bag, grabbed the next handful of tobacco, and said calmly: "It seems we are leaving tomorrow."
Huaiya raised his eyebrows.
Kambida's expression froze, and he looked at Putilai warily: "You know?"
"It's written on your face, and there are those sergeants who come and go all night... Moreover," Putilai picked up a burning branch from the fire and relit the pipe: "Isn't this what you are here for?
The purpose?”
"Convey your master's wishes?"
silence.
Cambida stared at Putilai seriously, as if he wanted to observe him again.
"Yes," His Excellency the Viscount of the Black Sand Territory said calmly: "We will set off tomorrow. I will lead a force of two thousand people, including five hundred cavalry and the flaming knight Lord Tuleha, to escort His Highness Thales directly.
On the way to Longxiao City, we will not rest in any castles or towns of lords and nobles, but at most we will camp in the wild."
"Two thousand people, how about bypassing the castle? In order to ensure that no one is looking for an opportunity to plot against him again?" Putilai smiled softly: "I am really worried about your lord... It seems that Lomba is also desperate, and he is not interested in plotting against him.
The person behind this has no clue at all.”
Cambida's expression changed slightly.
“I thought that keeping promises and being loyal were the glorious and proud traditions of the North,” Putilai asked softly while puffing away his breath, “But look at this military camp now, there are conspiracies and tricks everywhere.
Who else can you completely trust the taste of?"
Cambida's expression gradually stiffened.
"Do you know what this is called?" Putilai snorted: "A crooked beam must also have a crooked shadow... No matter King Nun or your master."
Cambida grabbed a handful of snow from the ground, gently crushed it, and watched it fall from his fingers.
"Don't comment on the internal affairs of the North, Imperial people," the Viscount said coldly: "At least in the land of the Black Sand Territory, accidents will not happen again."
Wyatt put his sword back into its sheath - he felt something was not right in the atmosphere.
"Accident? The trainer of the magic gun may have a different opinion," Putilai put down his pipe and laughed: "Let me give you a suggestion, Your Excellency, the clueless Viscount."
Cambida's eyes moved: "What do you know?"
"Stop checking that Officer Hardy's contact with the Grand Duke and the lords. You are doomed to be in vain." Putilai frowned and tested the temperature of the pipe to make sure that it did not burn well: "It is better to look for his business.
Line, investigating scrapped magic guns flowing out of the black market..."
Cambida showed doubts: "Black market?"
"Ah, the people from the North who despise the magic gun," Putilai sneered: "Compared to purchasing the magic gun directly from the empire, the training of the magic gun is the most expensive. The integrity of the core and the newness of the parts.
It is inversely proportional to the soldier's proficiency in operating the magic gun."
Cambida looked thoughtful.
Waiya on the side was confused.
"The magic gun troops of the Grand Duke of Black Sand are very skilled, and the accuracy of the volley fire is also very good." Putilai glanced at Kambida and flicked the metal rod of the pipe. "According to my experience, unless the Grand Duke of Lombard is willing to
Cut off half of his knights and heavy cavalry, and allocate a large amount of gold coins every month to support magic gun training, otherwise he will never be able to train such a force in three years."
Cambida thoughtfully said: "He must find enough financial resources and use a lot of training to maintain such a force so that it can be used at critical moments..."
"Fortunately, there are only three years and only one training officer," Putilai added some tobacco and mocked: "In another three years, those troops will probably be able to follow orders like 'Turn around and fire at the Grand Duke's location'
Has it been implemented?"
Cambida ignored Putilai's sarcasm, and continued to speak truthfully: "So he must find a way to the black market, such as using the magic gun that has been scrapped and should be destroyed according to the agreement, in exchange for money, wear and tear
parts, eternal oil, and even bribed the purchasing officer who went to the empire to purchase magic energy cores.”
Putilai shrugged and lit his pipe again: "I guarantee that his black market contacts know much more about him than those big-headed soldiers."
Cambida exhaled and then asked: "Why can't the mastermind and financial backer behind him directly provide him with financial support?"
"If that were the case, you would have found clues about his dealings with other forces long ago. Why did you need to delay it until now?" Putilai said disdainfully.
Cambida's face turned red - he had been so troubled by this matter in the past few days that even his basic judgment was affected.
Huaiya frowned... He didn't quite understand the conversation between the two.
silence.
"Lord Putilai, the 'Dark Room' has provided you with information," Viscount Cambida, who had figured something out, slowly said, "I'm starting to believe what they said."
"Oh? What an honor," Putilai said with a face full of intoxication and took a deep breath of tobacco: "What did the darkroom say about me?"
"They only have information about you before you left the palace, but it is already interesting enough," Cambida said with strong interest in his eyes:
"Putilai Niman, the web-spinner within the palace walls, the silent planner."
Huaiya looked at Putilai with a surprised look.
This guy……
"Ha," Putilai turned around and smiled: "The Scarlet Witch's men really think highly of me!"
"No, I think," Cambida said with a thoughtful look on his face, "their information should be updated."
"The people in the palace walls may be good at observing people's emotions and making suggestions," Viscount Cambida curled his lips and put on his gloves again: "But some wisdom must be accumulated in experience and knowledge."
Putilai made two trills from his nasal cavity and blew out a stream of smoke.
"By the way, Lord Putilai Niman, the former Viscount of the Stars," Cambida stood up with a broad smile: "The decision to counterattack on the battlefield was both brave and decisive."
very good.
Putilai took a deep look at Thales and Ramon in the distance.
Now they like me more than you.
————
"We have arrived at Exeter's territory... This is not our deal!" Ramon stared angrily at Thales in front of him.
"The Exeter people are unwilling to let anyone related to the Star Mission leave," Thales grabbed a branch, stirred the fire, pouted at the surrounding Exeter soldiers, and sighed: "
I am just a powerless Prince of the Stars, what can I do?"
“You can’t do this,” Ramon gritted his teeth: “I saved your life—hurry up and find a way to get me out!”
"You didn't save my life!" Thales frowned: "Remember, I was just out of strength, and you were just on the battlefield..."
"We all know that's a lie!" Ramon laughed angrily: "I don't know what you did, but most of the organs in your body failed that day. It's useless no matter how strong your physique is... even the strongest
No horse can pull a wheelless carriage, but I tried my best to stimulate your life potential..."
"Snapped!"
Thales broke the branch in his hand with force.
"My body is strong, which is a good thing. On the other hand, you'd better keep your voice down. You don't need your voice to check the patient's body," Thales said coldly: "If you don't want your poor little secret to be known to others...
…Ramon ‘Doctor’.”
He especially emphasized the word "doctor".
"Speaking of this," Ramon looked around and said with an uncertain expression, "Okay, at least find me a messenger crow..."
Thales snorted from his nose.
"Don't worry, doctor," Thales rowed on the snow and recalled many memories that had popped up in his mind in the past few days, such as those blocks of text that looked like pictures. "The gangsters don't dare to provoke the well-trained army.
Don’t worry about the Blood Bottle Gang.”
"In the end, gangsters are just gangsters."
"Ha, Your Highness, do you really think so?" Ramon turned around and smiled sarcastically.
Thales' face was expressionless, but his heart sank.
In fact, Ramon was right.
Those two gangs may not be that simple.
In particular, the Blood Bottle Gang is still two people, Aixida and Giza - the power of two madmen...the power of disaster.
It's really strange.
Even if the Blood Bottle Gang often does dirty things for powerful nobles, they can't ignore the threat of magicians, right?
Why would Xingchen allow such a gang to be entrenched in Yongxing City? Are they confident enough in the legendary anti-magic weapons they hold and think they can control the magic master?
How is that possible... Thales thought back to Giza and smiled to himself.
Although Aixida appears not to care about the life and death of the Blood Bottle Gang, as powerful as he is, why would he intervene in the gang's territorial grab that is completely unnecessary to him? Isn't Red Square Street just a romantic street?
And the Black Street Brotherhood... actually dared to harbor members of the "Regislayer Family" Sarriton family in the royal capital, and could also steadily suppress the Blood Bottle Gang - you know, the latter has magicians and big
Noble double backstage.
Those two gangsters - Thales couldn't help but think of his five years in the brotherhood - had too many doubts.
And there is one right in front of me.
Thales looked at the strange doctor with a big nose, who stared at him in the firelight.
Ramon himself, a doctor who hides secrets, travels between the two countries' borders, and is at the center of the vortex of the struggle between the Blood Bottle Gang and the Brotherhood...
Thales smiled.
"A prince is not someone who can casually agree to other people's requests." The second prince of Xingchen looked at Ramon with interest: "Since you have a request, let's make a deal and exchange it for something valuable.
.”
Ramon was stunned.
"For example, I find the origin of your powers very interesting," Thales stretched out pretending not to care: "In exchange, I will try my best to negotiate with them... at least let you use the messenger crow to contact you.
Fraternity friends? Maybe there are other conveniences..."
Ramon looked at Thales blankly.
Does he still care about that?
A prince?
Wait, what if...
After a long while, Ramon spoke with difficulty:
"You are the Prince of the Stars, and your relationship with Morat Hansen is unknown," Ramon gritted his teeth, carefully considering his words and tone: "I have no intention of putting my secrets in your hands...
So stupid."
"And...didn't you learn the ability to read minds from the Black Prophet?" Ramon snorted coldly.
"Oh, come on, I don't want to dig any more secrets from your brain," Thales shook his head: "That ability is very nerve-wracking... It'll hurt your brain."
Ramon looked at Thales steadily, with a strange color in his eyes: "Although you are just a child, you don't look like you care much about my health."
Thales didn't speak, just looked back at Ramon quietly.
"I do have some guesses," Thales said carefully: "I have seen divine magic and know what the process is, but you don't seem to have the step to communicate with the gods..."
"Those powers, the powers you use to heal diseases and save people..."
Under Ramon's strange eyes, Thales slowly told his biggest guess.
"It's magic, right?"
Ramon remained expressionless, neither admitting nor denying.
Thales knew the answer.
magic.
Thales breathed out softly in his heart.
This word has never been heard since he came into this world.
Until one night on Red Square Street that changed his destiny.
【A long time ago, there was only magic and no magic power in the world.】
These are Asheida's original words.
[So, you don’t even know the connection between magic energy and magic...]
These are the words of Giza.
It is true that the Exeters will not let anyone in the mission leave. But Thales is the prince of the stars after all. If he insists, it is not impossible for Lombard to relent and let the unimportant Ramon leave.
But Thales didn't do that.
Because Ramon may have what he wants.
Thales must find ways to figure out everything about himself.
Such as magical energy... and the magic closely related to it.
Ramon chuckled.
Until Thales frowned impatiently.
"The Black Prophet is not familiar with you, and you are not his student, right?" Doctor Wei stopped smiling and asked slowly: "Otherwise, it's impossible for you not to know this."
Thales's heart moved.
He knew the crux of the problem.
"So," Thales looked at the surrounding Exter soldiers, glanced at Ada who was bored at the entrance of the tent, then looked at Putilai and Huaiya in the distance, and said lightly:
"Magic, is this a secret that even the Black Prophet can't sit still?"
Ramon said nothing, just stared at him.
Thales suddenly laughed.
"I am a prince, and he is my father's vassal," the second prince said, "He sometimes agrees to my request, that's all... He didn't tell me much."
"This is really interesting," Ramon's eyes widened, his expression strange and enthusiastic, just like the first time he saw Thales: "The new prince of the stars is actually interested in that kind of thing... really
So funny."
Thales frowned.
What's the meaning?
Is that something I'm not supposed to know?
"Do you really want to know?"
Ramon's eyes widened and he tutted: "Morat will not be happy."
Thales lightly clenched his fist.
"I am the future Supreme King of the Stars," Thales felt his voice trembling slightly when he said "King":
"Do you think I care whether he's happy or not?"
"Very good, very good. Explain magic to the prince of the stars and the descendants of the empire." Ramon showed a strange smile, shook his head and closed his eyes: "This is a good deal, and I can get a lot from it.
pleasure."
Thales narrowed his eyes.
"Then can we start?" the prince said slowly.
Ramon opened his eyes suddenly.
"How was your history class, Your Highness?" Ramon said slowly:
"I mean, how did humans resist the ancient orcs and defeat them in the battle to chase the saints? How did they negotiate peace with the ancient elves and ancient dwarves in the battle for survival, and finally rise in the history of the world?"
Thales's face turned red.
Well, since he was taken to Mindis Hall, he actually didn't have much time to read history.
"Not very good," Thales said slowly: "But I know that in the history of the confrontation between humans and orcs, we awakened extraordinary power - today's power of termination, and the first batch of knights appeared..."
But Ramon interrupted him.
"So, it's not just magic," Doctor Strange looked at Thales with energy: "You don't even know the history of mages and magic towers, right?"
Thales frowned.
“Therefore,” Ramon chuckled, “Like most people in the world, you also live in the kingdom of the gods, the seven hells and the human world, intertwined with the web of uneasy fears and self-deception lies.
"
lie?
Fear?
"They - those history books say this, right: The glory of knights and the power of the end brought about the rise of mankind. The swords of warriors and the neighing of war horses freed us from the oppression and threat of the ancient orcs?"
Ramon spoke with deep meaning.
Thales thought back to what he learned from Gilbert in the Mindis Hall.
But before Thales could answer, Ramon looked disgusted and uttered one word decisively:
"lie!"
"A shameless lie."
"A complete lie."
Thales was startled.
lie?
"What allowed humans to defeat the orcs was not a knight at all, nor a supernatural or terminal power," Ramon said with excitement: "It was a mage."
Ramon spread out his hand with a feverish expression and gently shook it in the air:
"It's magic."
Thales frowned slightly.
"You mean, the extraordinary power, the Northland military swordsmanship, and the knights are all fake? They are actually vulnerable to the orcs?" The second prince asked with strong doubts: "What can really do in the world?
It is the mages and the magic they use that win the battle on the front line?"
"Magic...is a power more powerful than the power of termination?" Thales pondered and asked slowly.
"Ha, you actually compare magic with the power of termination, just like those ignorant and ignorant people thousands of years ago," Ramon seemed not used to being interrupted, he snorted disdainfully: "Open your narrow mind
Just a little! Your Highness!"
"Magic is not a kind of power. It is not at the same level as the power of termination." Ramon shook his head, his eyes full of longing and reverence:
Ramon looked at him quietly, the look in his eyes was filled with a combination of contradictory and weird emotions such as respect, admiration, arrogance, humility, intoxication, etc.
Thales had never seen that kind of look in the eyes of anyone in this world.
No... Thales was slightly startled, maybe he had seen it before.
In that dark chess and card room.
The figure in blue.
"Magic..." Ramon raised his hands and slowly opened them, like a believer kneeling to pray to the gods, trembling with excitement:
"Magic is a meaning, an attitude, a belief, and a principle of life," Doctor Strange stared into the void, as if there was his destination and dream:
"The Master is the practitioner of this principle."
"They believe that everything in the world is meaningful, can be analyzed, and needs to be recognized - in this process of cognition, we, humans, can become more perfect, greater, and more
Progress, closer to the truth,"
"From the laws of the sun's operation, to the mystery of the origin of life, to human behavior and rules, the evolution and development of history, everything is within the scope of magic...Magic is the sum of all pursuits of knowledge, discovery and truth.
, the progress of magic will bring us a better future."
Thales frowned deeply, trying his best to understand Ramon's seemingly crazy words.
“To this end, they entered the tents of the ancient Shavin tribe and designed the first political system in history—the ancient Shavin kingdom;
They once stood beside Tamu, the late king of the north, to warn him of his relationship with the orcs;
They once stood behind the Iron-Blooded King and used their knowledge and experience to design and supervise the construction of 'humanity's last line of defense';
In the midst of sacrifices and defeats, they continuously improved their weapons and techniques, summed up the experience and techniques that each soldier spontaneously learned, and perfected the first unified set of "Northern Military Swordsmanship" in history;
They once noticed the potential in the human body, studied the birth and development of that power day and night, and named it "extraordinary power";
They had struggled forward in the battlefield of blood and fire, working hard to study the techniques of killing and improving the techniques of healing;
They had worked tirelessly on iron and steel to create stirrups and saddles, and established the first cavalry, allowing the knights for the first time to have the speed and impact to not lag behind the orcs;
Of course, they have also developed their own power, discovered the truth of matter, tortured the truth of spirit, mobilized the energy of nature for their own use, and transformed external resources to serve mankind. The power in my hands is only the most insignificant part of it;
They once attacked with the knights on the ice of Quegur Glacier. In the attacks without regard for sacrifices, they completely ended the myth of the invincibility of the orc heavy infantry formation, making the Battle of the Saints the most magnificent scene in human history.
scene;
They even questioned the existence of gods and challenged the emperor's authority;
Once upon a time, the three magic towers represented the most intelligent and progressive beings in the world, who were aloof and independent. Even the supreme emperor and the powerful Patriarch of the Myojin Church had to show their respect under the three towers;
Once upon a time, the existence of mages made many people believe that what is worthy of our pursuit in the world is not only power and status - but also truth."
Ramon took a deep breath and slowly put down his hands, his eyes already sparkling slightly.
"This is the mage, this is the magic." He clenched his fists, trembling and choked: "In the history of the rise of mankind, it is the most important, most splendid, and most precious chapter that has been forgotten by everyone."
"And now,"
Ramon lowered his head and said lonelyly:
"No one in the world remembers magic anymore, and no one knows about mages anymore."
"Only an unfortunate and lucky person like me is left, burning the embers of magic through books and scrolls..."
Thales looked at Ramon blankly.
He didn't even know that the branch on his hand was burning.
He couldn't believe what he just heard.
He could only open his eyes and mouth as wide as he could.
magic.
Mage?
This was different from any version of magic he had heard in his previous life. It was not those swishing fireballs, it was not a transaction of chanting a spell to get an elemental response, it was not using oneself as a spiritual sponge, it was not a ritual to communicate with a certain being.
, not an acquired version of the superpower, not for powerful and powerful power.
Magic is a meaning.
A belief.
A principle.
Thales was completely stunned. At this moment, Asheida's words kept echoing in his mind:
[The Master explores the truth of the world, uses various ingenious methods and wisdom, and uses the world's resources and energy to serve a better world.]