Under the extremely regretful look of old Kaslan, Thales breathed a sigh of relief after trying every possible means to avoid the glass of rye alcohol.
After they rested for a quarter of an hour, Viscount Cambida turned his head and nodded to the flaming knight Tuleha.
"Get ready!" Tuleha ordered to his soldiers: "We are ready to set off! We must reach Wellandland before tomorrow night!"
Upon hearing the officer's words, Exeter's officers and soldiers stood up, left their drink money, and walked out of the tavern.
Everyone in the stars looked at Thales.
Thales glanced at Putilai, shrugged, and jumped off the bar.
But just when he waved to the old man Kaslan and was about to leave.
"Kid, wait!"
Kaslan left the bar and walked to Thales.
Only then did Thales realize that this old man, Kaslan, was extremely tall, almost seven feet tall. He had to raise his neck to an extremely high angle just to look up at him.
Fortunately, Kaslan knelt down in front of him.
"You are going to apologize in front of King Nun, right?" Old Kaslan said slowly: "And I also heard that it is to repay Prince Morar for his misfortune in the stars."
"Yeah," Thales breathed out: "Let's see if King Nunn is interested in my head."
Kaslan's eyes moved slightly when he looked at him.
"When I was your age," the old man sighed, "I just followed my brother's butt and chased sparrows."
Thales smiled slightly.
But before Thales could speak, Kaslan said to himself: "Damn it, it's a mess of aristocratic political conspiracy, they never show mercy, do they?"
"It doesn't matter whether you are seven or seventeen... God knows how Prince Morar died. It's a pity, he was a good young man."
"This..." Thales looked surprised: "Thank you for your understanding... Mr. Kaslan..."
Kaslan looked at him steadily.
Until Thales showed an embarrassed look and pointed to the door.
"Listen," the old man Kaslan said calmly:
"I served under Nunn, and to some extent, I'm relatively familiar with him."
Does this tavern owner know King Nun?
Thales was slightly startled, then turned to look at Cambida not far away.
Why did they bring themselves here? Is it really to take a break?
Kaslan sighed softly: "He was a good king when he was young, a standard Walton burly man."
"I still remember the scene when Nun Walton stood at the 38th Watchtower, swinging his hammer at the incoming orcs."
"At that time, he was generous, tolerant and just, and could personally stand in front of the orc's ax for a nobody - every warrior would be proud to die for him."
"Oh?" Thales's eyes lit up: "That's good. It seems that at least he won't be a king who orders my head to be chopped off at every turn."
"But people change."
Old Kaslan exhaled, and his eyes became blurred and erratic: "Nun is also a human being, he will also grow old, and there will be a day when he will be confused by slander and sex, and will be swayed by desires and impulses."
"Although he bleeds the blood of Nekaru Ex, he is not a perfect dragon or hero after all."
"Especially...he is a father who lost his son."
Thales couldn't help but be stunned.
Kaslan lowered his head and stared closely at Thales: "Be careful, the second prince of the stars."
"Exter took the dragon as his flag, but for six hundred years, we have only worshiped the dragon's power, learned its pride, and left behind its wisdom and wisdom."
"Although we call ourselves children of the North Wind and the Dragon, the yoke of the empire we carry is no less than that of the stars."
"What do you mean?" Thales' eyes widened: "You mean: Exeter's domestic situation may be worse than imagined?"
"Kid, take care." Kaslan just shook his head and gently put his hand on his shoulder: "Since you gave me the money but didn't drink, then this can be considered a little advice from me."
Thales could only spread his hands: "Thank you for your advice..."
Unfortunately, it's of no use.
What is supposed to come will still come.
No matter what, he has to face Nunn VII.
"By the way," Kaslan hesitated for a while, then suddenly exhaled and smiled: "If you encounter any irreversible crisis in Exeter...even King Nun can't save you..."
King Nun can't save me?
Thales was suspicious: What does this mean?
"There is a butcher's shop on the westbound road of Longxiao City. The signboard is a dagger." Kaslan chuckled and whispered under Thales's frowning expression: "The boss is a Far Easterner named Gu.
He owed me a favor back then, and he was a bold guy who often dared to do things that violated the law."
"If you want to ask him for help - just say 'six and a half'."
Under Thales' surprised eyes, the old man Kaslan slapped him hard on the shoulder again!
The second prince staggered again.
In the eyes of Thales, who was grinning, the old man in front of him slowly stood up and laughed boldly:
"Next time you come, remember to drink my rye!"
"That's the symbol of manhood!"
Before Putilai showed his murderous gaze, Thales smiled awkwardly and left.
Cambida frowned and watched Thales and the others go away.
Then he slowly walked to the bar and turned to the old man Kaslan.
"You see, the next king of the stars," Cambida's eyes radiated cold light: "You see how different he is, his maturity has changed, right? What were we doing when we were seven years old? Nun King Seven
What were you doing when you were old?"
"Well," the old man Kaslan said slowly, staring at the door of the tavern, "this kid's eyes are indeed different from others."
In the child's eyes, he could see no awe or nervousness, only full interest and curiosity.
There is also an enigmatic self-confidence and determination that never seem to waver.
This is not the look a frightened child who is thousands of miles away from home should have.
"This is the next opponent that Exeter will face... I am almost certain that when he grows up, he will become Exeter's formidable enemy." Cambida raised the corner of his mouth and knocked on the bar.
: "It's a pity that the Grand Duke can't attack him directly."
"When did we Northlanders become such cowards that even a seven-year-old child is afraid of us?" Kaslan said in a disdainful voice: "Maintaining the country amid conspiracy and fear... this is what a precarious empire can do.
matter."
"Of course," the counselor of the Grand Duke of Lombard said softly: "For this, we need a better king, not an old and fatuous person who is sitting on a corpse and eating nothing, nor is he a young man with hot blood and brain."
"Huh," Kaslan grabbed two wine glasses and put them in the kitchen window: "So Charmaine Lombard is really a good candidate?"
"I believe you still love Exeter and the kingdom of dragons deeply," Cambida looked at him steadily: "Even if His Majesty Nunn drives you out of the White Blade Guards."
"Hey!" The old man seemed particularly unconvinced by this sentence: "Nunn didn't drive me away!"
"I left on my own!"
Cambida didn't speak, just stared at the old man.
Really?
After a few seconds, he slowly said:
"So you still don't agree?"
"Ha!" Kaslan shook his head mockingly: "I'm just a tavern owner, what can I promise?"
"'Kaslan the Earthshaker', as the previous leader of the White Blade Guards, your reputation is still spread among them, and your story is still told in the thirty-eight outposts." Cambida said slowly.
: "As long as you say a word..."
"What, you want me to use my influence and connections to convince my old subordinates to side with Charmaine?" Kaslan snorted with disdain.
"I believe you will make the best choice for Exeter," Cambida said with a calm expression, but sharp eyes, looking straight at the old man Kaslan:
"Caslan Rumba..."
"After all, you are the uncle of His Highness the Grand Duke."
Kaslan looked up sharply.
"He is still the most famous commander of the White Blade Guards since the founding of Exeter." Cambida said calmly.
"In the coming storm, you are destined to be unable to survive alone."
Of course, it may not be just "persuading old subordinates", but it may go further.
Cambida thought silently: After all, the White Blade Guards are the king's personal guards and are responsible for the personal safety of King Exeter...
"Do you know what this reminds me of?" Kaslan interrupted his thoughts.
Cambida politely curved his lips and smiled.
The old man looked at him coldly.
"Queso Lombard was asked by the empire to convince his hometown people to cooperate with the empire, pay taxes obediently, and stop resisting."
"If I say no, will that boy Charmaine also exile me to the Reconstruction Tower?"
Cambida frowned.
"Just go back and tell my nephew:" Kaslan said slowly, but firmly:
"Fuck Rumba."
"Okay," Cambida sighed and shook his head without surprise: "Then at least you should be able to do the second favor."
Kaslan snorted coldly: "You always care about interests, right?"
"This time," Cambida narrowed his eyes: "It has something to do with that prince."
Kaslan put away a few cups again and ignored the Viscount.
"There are people in Exeter who want to assassinate the prince - whether it is to frame the Grand Duke or to disrupt the situation," Cambida said with a dark face: "They even used the officers lurking in our magic gun unit
spy."
"You know I hate these dirty politics the most," Kaslan raised his head and said bluntly: "I don't want to know anything..."
"The next thing is related to you," Cambida interrupted him in a deep voice: "The Grand Duke sent a letter yesterday. We found clues about the officer and spy in the black market, but it was intercepted halfway."
"What does it have to do with me?" Kaslan said rudely.
"Those who cut off the clues halfway used the sword style of the Tower of Ending, and used an unusual power of ending!" Cambida whispered, as if telling a secret: "And they are definitely not
People from the Tower of the End.”
Kaslan was stunned.
"Go on," the old man said solemnly: "What kind of ending power?"
"I know you will care..." Cambida said sharply: "It's the kind of crazy and out-of-control power of termination that you mentioned a long time ago... I remember that you are still working for the Tower of the End?"
"Just to return a favor to Shao," Kaslan's eyes showed nostalgia: "After all, how many years have I graduated..."
But then he looked at Cambida seriously: "What else?"
"Our super-level terminator swordsman, Chloe - remember, he is the daughter of your comrade, that strong little girl - was seriously injured in their hands and almost lost his life."
"She was the only one who escaped."
Kaslan clenched his hands.
"The clues we are pursuing are broken, and the only clues left are those strange powers of termination..." Cambida said sincerely: "We need your help... even if it is for the Tower of the End, not for Rumba.
"
"The person who is as famous as Shao of the Gray Sword Guard, the pride of the Tower of the End, the pride of the White Blade Guard - Kaslan Lumba, the Earthshaker."
————
The Tower of the End and the lounge of the House of Heritage a few days later.
"What we can be sure of is that the Sword of Disaster does not have a complete inheritance of military swordsmanship in the North." One of the inheritors of the Extreme Realm, Jedi Tafner, sat on the table and said to his students: "Even if it becomes outdated again,
, after all, it is a set of swordsmanship carefully developed by countless swordsmen and mages... and the House of Heritage has the most complete security system."
"We can start from here..."
"Okay, okay...just keep looking for books here, Jedi."
A tired-looking Cohen Karabyan leaned against the table, knocked on the table leg, and rubbed his red eyes: "Anyway, I can't stand it anymore - but I will remember this good time and sneak around with the teacher every night.
The day of entering the library of truth..."
Jedi's face suddenly darkened.
"Are you giving up?" His teacher said unhappily: "The pursuit of the Sword of Disaster?"
"I'm not giving up," the blond vigilance officer Cohen said angrily, "but do you know how many books there are in the library of truth?"
"Then, I just received a letter from a beautiful woman yesterday..." Cohen ignored Jedi's bad expression and yawned: "I have to return the favor."
Yara.
Is this her name?
Cohen touched the letter in his arms and smiled.
That cool girl with double swords.
However, at this moment, a stern and cold old voice came from behind the master and disciple.
"Jedy Taffner."
"Cohen Karabyan."
Jedi and Cohen both trembled!
"Plop!" Jedi jumped off the table in embarrassment and accidentally fell to the ground.
"Boom!" Cohen jumped up from the ground nervously and hit the table with his head.
The two of them were in a hurry, one was rubbing his knees and his face was contorted, the other was rubbing his scalp and grinning.
They stood up with difficulty, tried their best to stand up straight, showed the most obedient and friendly smiles, and looked at the gray-haired old man from the Far East with a sword hanging from his waist and a cold face who appeared at an unknown time.
"Ah! Shao! When did you come back? They all said that you went to the Blade Valley for inspection..." This is the inheritor of the Tower of the End, Jedi Tafner, raising his hands and bowing with a smile on his face.
"Master Shao! Master Shao! Oops, I plan to be the first to visit you when I come back this time, and I also brought you Xingchen's specialties..." This is the Star Kingdom's security officer and city defense captain rubbing his hands with a flattering look on his face.
,Cohen Karabyan.
But the gray-haired old man Shao ignored their smiles.
"The table in the lounge is not for dancing." Shao stared at Jedi with a flattering expression, and his cold voice made Jedi's smile become more embarrassing: "Inheritors must set a good example!"
"Of course, of course." Jedi Tafner nodded humbly and sincerely.
Then, he turned to Cohen, his iron-stern face frightened the latter: "Since there are chairs, don't sit on the ground."
"Well, yes, yes." Cohen listened to the instruction seriously.
The two of them smiled and nodded repeatedly, as respectfully as they wanted.
Just kidding, this is the tower owner of the Tower of the End - Gray Sword Guard!
The lightest punishment he gave his students was to stand on one hand for ten hours!
And the crimes that deserve the lightest punishment - for example: walking with too many steps and poor manners!
The Gray Sword Guard stared at them coldly.
Jedi and Cohen stood straighter than the other.
Fortunately, Shao just snorted in the end and said nothing more.
The two secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Until Shao said the next sentence.
"I heard," Shao said slowly, "You have broken into the Library of Truth in the past few days - many times?"
Jedi and Cohen were petrified in place at the same time.
"Well... listen to my explanation," Jedi smiled awkwardly: "Well... you happened to be away, and Cohen found some clues about the 'Sword of Disaster', so..."
"This is for the Tower of the End, for the 'Purge'," Cohen used the wording he learned in the security hall, and patted his chest righteously: "We are fighting for the 'Sword of Disaster'..."
But Shao's serious and deep voice rose slowly, interrupting them.
Cohen suddenly raised his chest and raised his head solemnly, and stood up straight.
"You go to Exeter immediately," Shao said slowly, "There is an old friend named Kaslan who needs help."
"Ah? Kaslan?" This was Jedi. He looked at Shao in surprise: "You mean that drunken Northland uncle who used his sword as an axe?"
Shao turned to him, his cold eyes forcing Jedi to remain silent.
"But..." Cohen rubbed his head awkwardly: "I have to go back to Xingchen to do a favor for my friend first..."
"Cloë Xi, remember, you were at the same time," Shao said solemnly: "She was injured in the hands of the Sword of Disaster... It is very likely that she will never be able to use the sword again in this life."
Cohen raised his head, looking stunned.
Croash...
In his eyes appeared a round-headed Northern girl standing in the scorching sun, holding a sword and gritting her teeth.
And her white teeth.
"Okay," the security officer turned around without hesitation and said firmly to the two inheritors: "I will go and prepare immediately... How serious is the situation? Do you need me to bring the family's private soldiers?"
"Bringing the private soldiers of the Star Nobles into the territory of Exter," Jedi said in a deep voice, "Have you lost your mind?"
Cohen nodded suddenly.
"You won't be the only one," Shao said solemnly: "There is another person who will meet you on the road...she has just joined the 'Purifiers' recently."
Cohen was stunned for a moment.
————
Broken Dragon Fortress, northern gate.
"Be careful on the road. Although Lombard has withdrawn and the war has not started, it is Exeter after all." The flower of the fortress, Sonia Satherley, looked at Miranda Arend who was getting ready to go, and chuckled: "
Although I really want to suggest that you bring those private soldiers of the Arend family..."
"This is the border between the two countries," Miranda said softly, "It is impossible to cross with troops."
not to mention……
Arend...
Miranda pulled on her black gloves and pinched the white eagle emblem on her cuffs.
The Flower of the Fortress looked at the appearance of her subordinates and sighed: "It's better to go out and hide for a while. After all, your uncles and brothers from the Arlende family are so annoying..."
Miranda bit her lip tightly and said nothing.
"This is not to avoid." She said calmly.
"Okay, okay," Sonia reluctantly held her subordinate's shoulders: "This is for friends, right..."
Miranda gently patted the white sword hilt on her waist and nodded.
Croash.
The girl who never gives up.
"We studied under the same teacher," the daughter of Duke Arend said coldly: "When she is in trouble, I must be by her side."
There is not much left in this world.
It must be cherished.
Miranda recalled the brisk and bright figure in white in her memory, as well as his always cheerful and optimistic tone.
The corners of his mouth could not help but curl up slightly.
She turned around and stepped into the stirrups.
"Don't worry, sir, I'm not some helpless little cat."
"Besides, I am not fighting alone," Miranda Arend rode on the horse and nodded to Sonia: "I have an old friend who will go with me."
"When the matter is resolved, I will come back."
She flicked the horse's reins and galloped out of the fortress gate.
Sonia looked at Miranda's back and the white eagle logo looming behind her, and sighed.