"I...I'm here!" A young man arrived at a butcher's shop while running, pressed against the wall and gasped: "Today the Prince of Stars came to the city, so I went..."
"Are you looking for your future wife again?" The butcher shop owner unceremoniously exposed his lies and snorted: "Is that why you are late today?"
"Hey! Don't talk nonsense... I'm just going to give you some gifts," the young man's face turned red: "And Sethia is not mine yet... mine..."
"You are such an idiot, Kevin." The butcher shop owner looked at the red-faced Kevin with contempt as if he had experienced it before: "Just sending some small gifts every now and then is not enough. You have to boldly confess your love. Do you understand?"
After hearing this, the young man Kevin grabbed his hair in worry: "You don't know, she has a vicious father and a weird nickname called Belt... It is said that she is still watching the glacier.
I don’t think he will ever allow his daughter to marry someone...a..."
"A poor boy who runs errands in the poor gang?" The butcher shop owner chopped open a pork tibia.
"Yes," Kevin clapped his hands and nodded sadly, "That's it!"
"Then just like a man, go see him face to face and talk to your sweetheart's father!" The butcher shop owner looked fierce and slashed into the chopping board with his knife.
Kevin was startled. He opened his mouth and hesitated for a long time.
Finally, I dejectedly took the words "I don't dare" into my heart.
"Humph, you coward," the butcher shop owner looked down upon him with contempt: "If you don't dare, just forget it... What about your job?"
"Here you go." Kevin said glumly, stuffing a ball of paper over his shoulder nonchalantly: "It is said to be a reply from Boss Griever."
The butcher shop owner took the paper ball and watched Kevin leave with a frustrated look on his face.
"It's such a leisurely life," a brisk voice said from behind the butcher shop: "Butchering, selling meat, and maybe even helping some stupid poor boys come up with love ideas."
The butcher shop owner's expression changed slightly.
He turned around and closed the door of the butcher shop.
"Come and visit me at this time," Gu, the butcher shop owner from the Far East, slowly turned around, spoke a common language with a North accent, and whispered to the dark corner behind him: "You are not afraid of being attacked by the gangsters who may come back.
Sword found?”
"After all, it was your idea to use false news to keep him."
The young man in white, Raphael Lindbergh, showed his face from the dark corner and smiled softly.
Gu's eyelids drooped, raising his inner vigilance like a prairie wolf.
Appearing so confidently, it seems that he really has a way to avoid being discovered by Black Sword.
Even the Black Sword's terrifying and inhuman perception - knowing all the movements within hundreds of meters in his mind, and the flies, insects, rats and birds have nowhere to hide - can he hide it?
Gu narrowed his eyes.
Raphael did not answer Gu, but only heard him sarcastically say: "Why, before you betrayed Wuyiwei, were you also a love consultant? Are you very experienced in this field?"
Gu heard those three words.
Even though his control of body reactions has become as fine and perfect as his after years of training and habits, he can't help but feel his heart beat slightly and his energy and blood move slightly.
Gu raised his eyes and looked at Raphael quietly.
The eyes of both men were as calm as water.
But only they themselves know the dangerous undercurrent hidden under their words.
[Never rush to show off the kill, but look for the enemy's weaknesses in endless temptations, attack sideways, take advantage of the trend, and add fuel to the flames - this is the habit inherited from the Secret Army by the Kingdom's Secret Department
style.
Since Suye and Xingchen formed an alliance, we have been fighting secretly with the Secret Society, and we are well aware of its unique style and methods:
But the question is, how can we resist?]
The master's words echoed in his ears, making Gu more alert.
"It's very interesting to see the ordinary lives and experiences of these people," Gu turned around and glanced at the empty store with a relaxed expression - most of the people had gone to watch the excitement of the Prince of Stars entering the city - and packed up as if no one else was there.
Looking at the tabletop, he said intentionally or unintentionally:
"You know, after staying in despair and darkness for a long time, you always want to breathe some hope and look for some sunshine."
"I thought based on your experience, you would have been used to seeing things like 'interesting'." Raphael raised the corner of his mouth.
"Get used to it?"
"That boy, Kevin is a real poor man," Gu sneered lightly and said with a playful expression: "Wealth, family background, strength, status, he has nothing."
"But he has his own sweetheart, and in his heart, he will imagine her as the most beautiful person in the world."
"Think of her with a smile, think of her with joy, think of her with hope."
"The most important thing is that no matter how difficult it is, he has the right to pursue these happiness and get closer to an infinitely beautiful goal." Gu turned around slightly and looked directly at the surprised Raphael: "He is the one who is truly alive."
The sun fell into the store and shone on Gu's body.
"Compared with scum like you and me, who live in darkness and secrets," Gu's eyes were calm and his tone was calm, "he is a complete person."
"Isn't it interesting?"
Half of Raphael's body was hidden in the darkness of the corner, and he listened quietly to Gu's words.
"If you are used to seeing beautiful people, you will also get used to being weak." Raphael's expression did not change: "Just like those things that made you weak in the past, think about it, King Yao..."
"I don't need to be tough," Gu suddenly interrupted Raphael. His tone was calm but unquestionable: "I just need you to fulfill the deal."
[Compared to your senior brother’s sharp sword scabbard and your senior sister’s long sleeves and good dancing, you are like a dagger in the dark. It never sees the light of day and no one knows about it. Only when it is handed out does it show its power. Therefore, you
Avoid any unnecessary battles and confrontations, and focus on nourishing your last, most critical, and most fatal blow.】
The master's words echoed in his ears again, making his face darken.
Dagger in the dark.
Not seeing the light of day.
Waiting for the moment to be delivered.
such a pity.
Gu took a deep breath, his face expressionless.
Raphael looked at him steadily, without moving his eyes for a moment, but smiled softly at the end.
"Don't worry, our information will not be wrong," Raphael said with interest: "The method of assassinating His Highness Thales under the fortress is their usual style... You will definitely find what you want."
Gu nodded silently.
Raphael showed a perfect smile and lowered his head.
"The prince and his party have entered Longxiao City and are currently in the Palace of Heroes." The young man in white no longer dwelled on the topic: "And where is your news?"
Gu stared at it, then slowly unfolded the paper ball sent by Kevin and swept it slightly.
"According to the news from the local gang, the monster's location has been basically confirmed," Gu put down the ball of paper and muttered: "Although I don't know what you are planning to do..."
Raphael chuckled and nodded.
"Don't worry," he said in a strange tone and with righteous words: "We are the righteous party, aren't we?"
"As a destroyer of disasters, we contribute to the security of mankind."
Gu Leng snorted, turned and left.
"Shit."
Raphael shook his head and chuckled indifferently.
He turned his head and looked out the window, looking at the Palace of Heroes high on the mountain.
Lost in trance for a moment.
Raphael couldn't help but think of what Gu said about the young man just now.
He has his own sweetheart.
In his heart, he would imagine her to be the most beautiful person in the world.
Think of her with a smile, think of her with joy, think of her with hope.
The eyes of young people are getting darker and darker.
Until he gently closed his eyes.
————
Thales looked at the cross sword on the ground with cold sweat.
What's happening here?
Slit your own throat?
The faces of Nikolai and Slash flashed before his eyes, but in Thales's eyes, their expressions were extremely ironic.
[For the common interests of Your Highness and His Majesty Nunn, he invites you to join his revenge. The hunter has sharpened his sword, the traps and traps are in place, and the prey is in danger of escaping.]
The time traveler raised his head and looked at the old man who was supposed to be his "ally" in disbelief.
King Nun's cold and threatening eyes were fixed on him.
Who is the prey and who is the hunter?
The scene where he confidently explained the "Alliance of Two Kings" to Gilbert in the Mindis Hall seems to still be vivid in his mind.
It seems so ridiculous now.
"Go on," Nunn VII's old and hollow voice urged him: "Show your courage and courage as a descendant of the Bright Star family..."
"Blood for blood!"
Thales' eyes were firmly attracted to that sword, his breathing quickened unconsciously, and his mind kept racing.
He raised his head and glanced at King Nun again, but the indifference and hatred in his eyes did not change.
what to do?
There was no time left for him to wonder and reason.
Faced with this dilemma, Thales' eyebrows couldn't help but twitch.
what to do?
King Nun really wants to put himself to death.
Thales closed his eyes tightly and clenched his fists.
what to do?
"Why," a strange voice came from the five great kilometers: "As a shining star, as a descendant of the Oath Keepers, don't you even have the courage to die to atone for your sins?"
"Then what are you doing here? To have fun!"
The speaker leaned forward, finally allowing Thales to see the face of the first Grand Duke clearly.
The other person sitting on the left hand of Nun VII is a bearded man in his forties, with a rough appearance and simple attire. He wears a triangle-shaped circle brooch on his chest. He is staring with disdain and disgust.
Thales showed undisguised hostility:
"If you don't dare."
"Then kneel down and beg for mercy."
"Xingchen's little cub." Bearded said viciously.
Thales gritted his teeth.
hateful.
Damn Northlanders.
The other Grand Duke also turned his head, and the firelight illuminated his head with a pot lid that was at the same level as his ears.
This was a tall Northlander, about forty years old, with a sharp face and a protruding chin, slightly younger than the bearded man. There was a glowing sword blade pattern embroidered on his clothes.
"Perhaps these noble imperial people think," Jarhead said coldly, echoing the bearded words: "Sending a seven-year-old brat to condescend to a northern countryside like ours is to treat our barbaric and backward group.
This is the greatest charity and favor from the people of the North."
"Perhaps that Kessel will still think: I'm just going to kill one of your princes, what's the point?" Jarhead sneered, organizing his words with ulterior motives: "Look, my son is here to give you candy, stupid.
The Northlanders!"
The atmosphere in the field became more tense.
Thales's breathing became faster and faster. He raised his head and stared at the Grand Dukes with sharp and terrifying eyes.
"Oh, are you angry?" The third Grand Duke revealed his face from the firelight. He was a rather old lord, about fifty or sixty years old, with a bitter look on his face and a bald head with only
There is a circle next to the ears, a pair of copper-colored hair rings around the forehead, and a chain is painted on the robe.
"Let me ask you, do you dare to touch that sword?" the bald lord said calmly, but with a sharp edge: "Whether you commit suicide with it or rush up to chop us..."
"It's much more effective than using eyes, right?"
Thales took a deep breath and glanced at the beard, the pothead, and the bald lord one by one.
Nun VII was unmoved.
At that moment, the six men sitting in the stone hall stared indifferently at the boy in front of them.
And the sword in front of him.
Bearing their looks, Thales felt a surge of anger in his heart.
Is this what they want?
The shock of being betrayed and plotted slowly turned into anger and resentment.
what to do.
Think of a solution quickly.
Blood debt.
revenge.
king.
Grand Duke.
A vague idea flashed through Thales' mind.
He looked up sharply.
"Very good," Thales' breathing became heavier and heavier, his words filled with resentment, dissatisfaction and injustice: "Blood for blood... quite fair..."
Under everyone's eyes that were either playful, contemptuous, or indifferent, Thales slowly leaned down.
He grabbed the sword on the ground.
This is the scene again.
It's such a choice again.
I've really had enough.
These bad guys.
His eyes gradually became firmer.
But I won't die here.
Won't.
Thales exerted force on his hand and raised the hilt of the sword.
Wait...this sword! He was shocked.
Why is it so heavy?
Thales, who was unprepared, didn't notice, and the hilt of the sword slipped from his hand.
"Clang!"
The cross sword fell to the ground again, making endless sounds.
Looking at this scene, the five big kilometers burst into laughter.
It's like watching a monkey show on the street.
"Relax! My child," the bald lord said with deep meaning: "Experience it carefully, this is the weight of the Northland."
Thales closed his eyes and took a few breaths.
It's so heavy.
Compared with the heavy wooden sword used to sparring with Jinnie in Mindis Hall, this sword of the Northland lord is heavier.
The next second, ignoring the mocking looks of the archdukes, Thales took a breath and grabbed the hilt of the sword again with a firm expression.
This time he used both hands, but at least he didn't let go again.
Thales dragged the hilt of the sword with difficulty.
"Hiss..."
The blade of the cross sword scraped against the floor tiles with an unpleasant sound.
"Come on, try harder..." Jarhead sneered at Thales: "It'll be up to your neck soon!"
The jeers of the princes became louder.
King Nun's expression remained cold and numb.
It seems that he is still waiting for Thales.
The time traveler gritted his teeth and pulled the hilt of the sword hard with both hands, before reluctantly dragging the sword in front of him.
Panting, he held the heavy sword in his hand, raised his head, and looked at the five lords.
"Remember it well, kid, never use the situation behind you to threaten a Northlander." The bearded man spat fiercely: "We have nothing to fear, this is the way of the Northlander."
"We are not afraid of your cowardly father or the weak country behind you."
Thales grabbed the sword, his eyebrows tightened, and his hands gradually tightened.
"Don't worry, Your Highness, before you slit your own throat," Jarhead, who had been mocking him, said in a fuss: "We will definitely stop you. How dare our little country Exeter let the great empire
Descendants, the future rulers of the entire star are injured and bleeding here? Hahahaha... we are..."
"It's so annoying!"
Thales interrupted him coldly: "Jarhead!"
An archduke next to him couldn't help laughing.
Jarhead choked on his words, closed his mouth and stared at Thales.
"Don't you just want my life to repay Prince Morar's life?" The prince of the stars said calmly: "This is too simple."
"Then what are you waiting for?" The bald lord said in a low voice: "Are you waiting for us to dissuade you?"
"Die like this?" Thales endured the strange looks from the audience and sighed: "This is too useless, too cowardly, and has no dignity at all."
"I heard that knights in ancient times swore to their lords to abide by their creed, uphold their honor, and defend their dignity." Thales raised his head and looked at the surprised bald and jar-headed princes: "Even death can
It will be filled with glory.”
"And I heard that Exeter inherited the glorious tradition of ancient knights and must value honor and dignity more than life and safety."
"Having said all this, aren't you just afraid of death?" The bearded man sneered disdainfully: "Why, you want us to spare your life to protect your so-called 'glory'?"
"No." Thales sighed, "Since I came to this world, I have never thought about going back alive."
Before the Grand Dukes could ponder the logic of his words, Thales gritted his teeth and straightened up.
"Compared to ending one's life like a coward, there is no honor or pride." A strange look appeared in Thales's eyes, and he shot straight to the end of the long table, talking to Nu Nu without any sign of weakness.
King En looked at each other.
Looking at Thales, Nunn VII's eyes moved, and his blue eyes emitted a different light.
"Please follow the glorious Exeter tradition and give me the most honorable way to die," Prince Star said slowly and slowly:
"The co-king of Exeter, His Majesty Nun Walton VII..."
The next moment, the second prince of the stars, Thales Bright Star, struggled to support the heavy sword with one hand. He resolutely raised his right hand forward, pointed at the old king in the distance, and said categorically:
"Please...come and take my life with your own hands."
What?
The five princes were stunned at the same time.
Thales shouted with all his strength: "I would rather die in the hands of others like a warrior! I would rather stand face to face and watch your sword pierce my heart."
His voice echoed in the stone hall.
The place immediately fell silent.
In the terrifying silence, Thales faced off with the six people in front of him.
The bald man narrowed his eyes and looked at Thales, as if he wanted to carve a hole out of him.
The bearded man had a gloomy expression, his eyes wandering back and forth between King Nunn and Thales.
Guo Jiahead rubbed his hands, his thoughts unclear.
"If killing a child with your own hands makes you uneasy, I might as well put it another way."
Thales, who was observing the expressions of the grand dukes, gasped and chuckled: "I heard that there is an ancient etiquette in the North that is used in everything from the inheritance of titles to the selection of kings by the grand dukes."
Two seconds later, Thales's echo in the stone hall gradually disappeared.
Ancient etiquette?
Inheritance of title?
The Grand Duke chooses a king?
The five Grand Dukes frowned one after another.
But the way they looked at Thales had changed.
The faces of several lords were filled with surprise and uncertainty.
On the other hand, Nun VII's face remained unchanged, still so indifferent and numb, as if he had never gotten over the pain of losing his child.
Thales withdrew his right hand and pressed it on the hilt of his sword, his eyes still fixed on King Nunn.
"Your Majesty Nuen, if you really want revenge..."
He said calmly:
"We use a duel to solve the problem."
"Me and you."
The silence lasted for several seconds.
After a few seconds, Lord Jarhead was the first to laugh.
Several other Grand Dukes also started laughing.
Only King Nun still looked as usual.
"Did you hear that?" Jarhead pointed at Thales, and the wrinkles on his face laughed: "Seven-year-old kid, hahaha... said he wanted to duel..."
But their laughter didn't last long.
Noon Walton, the co-king of Exeter, slowly raised a hand to silence the jeers of the archdukes.
Jarhead's expression froze.
I saw the old king speaking slowly and slowly in an old and deep voice:
"Oh? You want to duel with me?"
His eyes met Thales's in the air, making the latter feel shocked.
"Why?"
The Star Prince took a deep breath.
bring it on.
Thales dragged his heavy sword, took a step forward, and replied loudly:
"Only hatred and fairness!"
His childish voice echoed in the stone hall.
The two Grand Dukes, who were still in the dark, began to whisper to each other.
The other three looked back at Thales with unkind expressions.
"Didn't we, the Star People, kill your only son?" Thales gritted his teeth and suppressed the trembling at his feet:
"Then wouldn't it be the most legitimate and reasonable thing for a father like you to personally take revenge?"
The bearded Grand Duke snorted dissatisfiedly.
"You're just a seven-year-old brat?" He said with a livid expression, "You want to challenge our co-leader of Exeter? Don't you think the difference is too big?"
King Nun gently put down his elbows, clasped his hands, and looked at Thales quietly.
For some reason, at that moment, Thales felt that his hostility had dissipated a lot.
Is it an illusion?
But what needs to be done still needs to be done...
"No!"
Thales Brightstar raised his head, imagining Morris' posture when patrolling the streets in the brotherhood, trying to show his arrogance:
"I am the future king of the stars, and he is the current king of Exeter. We have equal status."
"I share the blood of Tormund and Midir, and he inherits the blood of Nekaru and Sara. We are of the same origin."
King Nuen suddenly began to sneer lightly.
"And..." Thales returned the different looks of the five Grand Dukes one by one without showing any signs of weakness.
"I am seven years old this year. I am young and frail, with short arms and legs." Thales bit out the words word by word with anger: "And you, Your Majesty Nunn..."
"You are almost seventy years old. Your strength is failing due to old age and your eyesight is dim."
Thales took a deep breath and showed a contemptuous smile: "We are evenly matched and have similar opportunities!"
"I think this will be a thrilling duel, no less exciting than the King Selection."
"how do you say?"
"The born king of Exeter?"
As soon as these words came out, some of the five princes frowned, some clicked their tongues, with different expressions.
King Nuen's eyes became more and more strange, and his smile gradually stopped.
At this moment, a burst of laughter broke the strange scene.
"Hahahaha," the fourth Grand Duke laughed out loud, turned around and exposed himself to the light: "You really dare to say that, boy? Old and weak? Evenly matched? Haha, my Majesty... It's so interesting.
!”
Thales was startled and looked at the Grand Duke.
This is a grand duke with long hair and shawl. He is about forty years old. The emblem on his body is a book. His resolute face and heroic laugh always remind Thales of Star Bei, who is also from the North.
Duke of Jing.
I saw him laughing boldly, regardless of the expressions of the other people, and banging the table: "You are really talented, boy!"
"Okay, I think," the voice of the last Grand Duke - a calm, pleasant voice came from the other side: "Maybe we can have a good talk... There is no need to be so tense..."
The firelight illuminated the voice's owner.
"Your Majesty," the Grand Duke who spoke last was the youngest, probably only about thirty years old. He was a neat-looking brown-haired young man with a bloody horseshoe embroidered on his shoulder. He continued to say in his soft voice.
: "I advise you to think again..."
"Conkley Perfit," but King Nunn's expression remained unchanged. He just slowly turned his head and glanced at the young Grand Duke: "Do I look like I'm joking?"
The brown-haired young man, Archduke Conkley Perfit, was speechless for a moment.
The remaining four princes exchanged glances and adjusted their sitting postures.
They were a little surprised by the current situation and were all waiting for the king's decision.
Only Nun VII, who was sitting on the main seat, turned his eyes again and looked at Thales for five or six seconds.
Thales' feet finally stopped shaking.
At that moment, the old man Kaslan's final evaluation of Nunn VII came to his mind:
[Nunn is also a human being, he will also grow old, and there will also be a day when he is confused by clever words and seduction, and is swayed by desires and impulses. 】
Thales chuckled in his heart.
"Of course, Your Majesty Nunn," Thales said softly, attracting the attention of the six people again: "I respect that you are the same age as my grandfather."
"It does seem a bit inappropriate to ask you to duel with me."
Several princes expressed doubts at the same time.
"I've been doing this for a long time, is this a bluff?" Bearded man said contemptuously: "So you still don't dare..."
"No!" Thales interrupted him.
"The duel still goes on!"
"But if today is really going to end like this," Thales turned his gaze and glanced at the five Grand Dukes one by one, including beards, potheads, bald men, long-haired men, and brown-haired young men, and then said without any doubt:
"I believe that the five Grand Dukes present are loyal people. One of them will definitely be able to fight on your behalf!"
As soon as these words came out, the long-haired man clenched his fists first!
The other archduke's breath suddenly suffocated.
"How about it? Dare to fight for your king? Grand Dukes?"
"I don't know which one of you," Thales gritted his teeth and raised his voice to the loudest, "want to duel with me and get that share of glory!"
"The glory of piercing the sword of revenge into my heart with your own hands!"
"As a Grand Duke, kill the Star Prince with your own hands and avenge Exeter!"
After Thales said this, he kept breathing heavily.
After a second, the second prince raised his head.
He saw with satisfaction that the five princes had all changed their colors.