No matter what the reason is, they believe in themselves and follow themselves to this point.
No.
etc.
Thales clenched his fists suddenly - he couldn't fall here.
"Tap...tap..."
The footsteps of the guards outside the hall were clearly audible.
He cannot fail.
cannot!
"Okay, this is just a small episode," Grand Duke Lombard looked at Thales's expression, shook his head coldly, and turned to the others:
"We have more important things..."
Thales made up his mind and looked up at the Grand Dukes:
"Believe me, I don't want to do that either."
The next moment, the second prince drew out the jc dagger without hesitation.
The several princes were suddenly startled and looked at each other.
Lumba's face became colder and colder.
"What?" Trudida shook her head funnyly:
"Are you going to duel with us again, little prince?"
Thales stared at the princes without saying a word.
Two guards appeared at the hall door, and Archduke Lecco had turned to them, preparing to order Thales to be taken away.
Thales turned around and looked resolutely at the nearest brazier.
Watch it burn on the triangular high-speed rail.
time……
He needs more time.
The second prince took a deep breath, and the sins of the Hell River surged up his arms according to his call.
At that moment, Thales felt that his hands were full of power.
Yara's action of throwing a sniper knife in Hongfang Street appeared before his eyes.
The next second, the second prince waved his arm decisively and threw the jc with all his strength!
The dagger was shot at the brazier with full force.
The eyes of the princes all froze!
"Keng——"
The dagger hit the brazier firmly, and the crisp sound of metal echoed in the hall.
All the archdukes looked at Thales' actions in shock.
The brazier was knocked crookedly by the dagger, lost its balance, and eventually fell from the iron frame.
"Dang clang...dang...danglong!"
The loud sound of the brazier falling to the ground came one after another.
The firewood and charcoal above spattered to the ground, sparks flying everywhere.
Archduke Olesiu frowned: "Hey, are you..."
But before he finished speaking, he was surprised to see Thales put his palms around his mouth and turned towards the door of the stone hall.
Under the unbelievable expressions of the five grand dukes, the second prince roared in a rough voice: "There is an assassin!"
"Protect the Grand Duke!"
The expressions of all the princes changed!
"Dang Cang..."
The sound of the brazier falling to the ground still spread throughout the hall, and the sound was so loud that it could be clearly heard even outside the hall.
Just entering the hall, the two soldiers from the Black Sand Territory looked at each other in surprise.
The next second.
"Qiang!"
"Keng!"
The sound of countless swords being unsheathed was immediately heard outside the hall!
Grand Duke Lombard reacted the fastest. As soon as he recovered from the shock, he immediately turned around and ordered to the outside of the hall: "Steady..."
But before he could finish his words, there was an instant boiling outside the hall, covering his voice:
"Get out of the way!"
"Back off! Heisha leads!"
"Stop them!"
"Hold your position! Two people will come in with me!"
"Your Excellency, please answer me..."
"Press the crossbow string, don't panic!"
For a moment, there was a bustle of orders, pushing, and even the sound of blades meeting and metal colliding outside the hall!
Extremely chaotic.
Thales gasped and grabbed his right arm with his left hand to relieve the pain and cramps caused by overexertion.
"Do you think that, as the heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Stars," the prince said painfully, "I risked my life and paid countless prices to come here just to make a joke with you?"
"I have long been prepared to sacrifice everything."
Thales raised his head and stared at the expressionless Archduke Lecco without flinching.
"I know what Lumba said to you to make you choose your current position," Thales breathed hard, feeling the pain in his arm getting worse and worse: "But at least listen to what I have to say.
You will know the whole story - and then make your decisions wisely."
"Because we all know that your next actions are related to the future of our two countries, and even more related to your destiny."
At that moment, Lumba clenched his fists and looked at him with endless killing intent in his eyes.
Olesiu stared at Thales with a terrifying expression on his face.
Trudida showed an interesting expression, as if she was meeting Thales for the first time.
Ronnie's eyes lit up.
Grand Duke Lecco said nothing, but his eyebrows twitched and his nose flaring.
The chaos outside the hall continued.
A soldier who looked like a white-blade guard rushed into the hall with a knife. He handed out the knife without mercy and slashed at the two black sand collar soldiers who had just entered.
"clang!"
The soldiers of the Black Sand Territory gritted their teeth to resist the opponent's attack. The two looked at each other, hesitating whether to fight back.
"Your Excellency Grand Duke Lecco, we heard an unusual sound..." The white-blade guard raised his knife with a ferocious look on his face:
"I knew that nothing would happen if the bastards from the Black Sand Territory tried to break in..."
At this moment.
"boom!"
There was a loud noise.
In the chaos, Archduke Lecco punched the table hard, startling everyone.
"Northlanders!" he roared angrily. "Exeters!"
Thales was stunned for a moment. He had never seen the old Grand Duke in such a majestic moment.
As if the dying old man in the past was just an illusion.
I saw Grand Duke Lecco shouting outside the hall like an angry elephant: "If you are a warrior, just hold on to me!"
"Neither us nor Charmaine are dead yet!"
After a few seconds, the arguing outside the hall subsided.
The white-blade guard was slightly startled and looked around the hall. When he saw the current situation of the archdukes, he put away his sword and retreated.
"Lord Justin, just take care of the people outside," on the other side, Rumba said coldly: "I just need to take care of this child..."
"Charmaine!"
Grand Duke Lecco turned his head and looked at Lombard with stern eyes, his urging was very obvious: "Not now."
Grand Duke Heisha frowned.
"I thought you had already made your choice," Lumba said with an unkind expression: "Don't forget, he is the heir to the stars, the kingdom of stars!"
Lecco's face turned cold.
Trudida raised her eyebrows.
Thales' heart skipped a beat.
"Then you have nothing to worry about, right?" Archduke Ronnie, who had been silent all this time, raised his head with sharp eyes: "In this chess game, we have already secured their heirs and the chips of victory.
It’s in hand.”
"Foolproof."
Thales moved slightly.
Am I a "victory chip"?
In other words, these princes are indeed prepared to...
Several Grand Dukes looked at the Grand Duke of Heisha, with complex implications.
Lumba said nothing, his eyes going back and forth between Lecco's stern expression and Ronnie's cold face.
"Your Majesty the Grand Duke, if there are any difficulties," the two black sand collar soldiers present felt the strange atmosphere in the scene. One of them glanced at the several Grand Dukes, held the hilt of the sword, and said to Lombard with a cold face: "All you need is
Once you give your order, we will not hesitate no matter who we face."
The White Blade Guardsman who was confronting them snorted coldly.
Grand Duke Ronny glanced at Lumba unhappily.
Thales tried his best to suppress the beating of his heart.
very good.
This situation shows that the two sides are still in a highly tense confrontation, and the alliance between Lombard and the Grand Dukes has just been reached.
still have a chance.
Even if there is no chance...
Just like Lumba did under Broken Dragon Fortress - Thales bit his tongue with a firm expression: I must also create opportunities!
never give up.
Never admit defeat.
Just like Serena taught him to be wary and suspicious in the failed alliance.
Just like Jenn Kevin Deer in the friendly trap, it taught him hypocrisy and sanctimony.
Just like Noon Walton used the power and death of the king to teach him decisiveness and caution.
This was that man - Thales raised his head and looked resolutely at the Duke of Black Sand with an uncertain expression - this was the most valuable lesson he taught Thales in the blood and darkness, in the horror and nightmare.
Charmaine Rumba!
silence.
The chaos and noise outside the hall continued.
After a few breaths, the Duke of Black Sand loosened his clenched fists.
He exhaled slowly and put away the chill on his face.
"We're fine, you go out first." Lumba looked at the two soldiers and nodded stiffly.
"People outside," Grand Duke Lombard turned his head again and shouted to the outside of the hall: "Let Elasa stick to his position and stay vigilant!"
Grand Duke Lecco then softened his expression.
Ronnie smiled.
"Lord Justin, please go out first." The old man said calmly: "As you can see, we have not finished discussing some things."
Lord Justin of the White Blade Guards was slightly startled, then nodded slowly.
He looked at the little boy with a black face who suddenly appeared, suppressed his doubts, and followed the soldiers from the Black Sand Territory out of the hall.
Ten seconds later, the commotion outside the hall stopped.
It seems that the atmosphere has returned to that tense moment.
Thales looked at all this and slowly calmed down his breathing, feeling dripping with cold sweat.
really.
Nicolai was right: welcome to the North.
Facing the tough Northlanders, you must act like a tough warrior to win their respect.
The next second, Grand Duke Lecco sat down heavily in his seat.
"You have one minute to finish what you want to say, you bold troublemaker," the old man looked at the prince of stars with a frosty face: "Otherwise, I don't mind 'escorting' you out personally."
Olesiu glanced at the brazier and dagger on the ground, and added coldly: "Then I will send you to the gallows on the crime you 'dreamed of'."
"For example: assassinate the Grand Duke."
The other three Grand Dukes had different expressions.
Thales swallowed hard.
Following his habit, he forced a smile and took three deep breaths.
It was as if a soft and pleasant voice sounded in his ears again:
【Just treat it as another game.】
The prince raised his head and faced the five grand dukes, who were facing each other quietly on both sides of the rectangular table.
On one side was a thin, shabby little boy.
On one side were five tall, mighty, and unusually dressed men.
"Assassinate the Grand Duke? I am not surprised by your threat, Grand Duke Olesiu."
Oratiu pursed one lip.
Thales could feel the blood all over his body still stirring, but he still said slowly in the calmest voice:
"I know that Lumba will definitely suggest that you blame me and the Kingdom of Stars for the death of the king, and then unite and move the country south."
The prince's voice echoed in the stone hall: "In the name of avenging King Nun, we launched a war to seize the land and wealth of the stars, right?"
"Compared to this, the charge of assassinating the Grand Duke is nothing at all."
The voice fell.
Except for Lombard, the four Grand Dukes had different reactions.
Trudida looked at Lecco with interest, but the old man just looked straight at Thales without saying a word.
Ronnie snorted softly and poked Olesio next to him.
Grand Duke Lecco coughed.
"As far as I heard last time," the old Grand Duke responded directly but politely: "Prince Thales, someone carefully planned this assassination, and behind the disaster is the shadow of the secret department, and the stars are no matter what.
It’s hard to take the blame.”
"At this moment," Grand Duke Lecco's eyes flashed with a strange light: "As the spokesperson of the stars, Thales Bright Star..."
"You are the one responsible for His Majesty's death - there is no doubt about it."
Thales frowned.
The other party's words circumvented the quirks and loopholes, and were clever and perfect.
And judging from their attitude, direct refutation is ineffective.
A piece of charcoal fire residue on the ground burned out and slowly extinguished.
what to do?
Thales forced himself to chuckle and glanced at each grand duke:
"We Star People bribed the 'Flower of the Assassin', who has a deep feud with the Bright Star Family, to carry out the assassination?"
Grand Duke Ronny frowned.
The prince continued: "And Lumba led his army into the city by coincidence, captured the first city gate and the Palace of Heroes, and met you here?"
Alessio looked at him coldly.
"But it's not important," the second prince who only saw the stars puffed up his chest and said seriously and cautiously: "Grand Dukes, I do not regard you as fools."
"Therefore, please treat me sincerely, put aside unnecessary rhetoric and hypocrisy, and put all the chips and conditions on the table," Thales gritted his teeth and said coldly: "Anyway, judging from our mutual identities
, nothing that happens in this hall will be spread."
Lumba showed an impatient expression: "Humph."
Several princes turned their heads and looked at each other. At least two pairs of eyes were full of surprise.
"That's so interesting," Trudida said with contempt and intriguing emotion, shaking her head and clicking her tongue:
"Little boy, want to join the adults' chess game?"
Thales was in a state of high mental stress and ignored him.
He must find a breakthrough.
The most important thing is, what did Lombard rely on to convince them?
Is it really what you think...
Thales took a deep breath and gritted his teeth: "I want to know what exactly Rumba said to you."
Archduke Olesiu crossed his arms and looked at Lumba, only to find that the latter's face was stiff.
"What did he promise you?" Thales gritted his teeth.
"land?"
"wealth?"
"that power?"
"future?"
Every time Thales said a word, he carefully observed the expressions of the Grand Dukes.
Hearing this, Trudida narrowed her eyes and showed a malicious smile.
The prince clenched his fists and swallowed: "Still..."
Thales frowned:
"Things that might threaten your survival?"
At that moment, Thales felt a chill all over his body.
Charmaine Lombard's eyes were like those of a predatory beast, full of aggression, fixed on him.
But compared to the discomfort in the military camp, the fear in the shield zone, and the tension in the carriage...
At this moment, Thales felt extremely calm when facing Lumba's eyes.
It was like the relief a scout felt when he finally found the enemy's location on the eve of a battle between the two armies.
Looking at Lumba's reaction, the blood in Thales' heart began to boil. He vaguely felt that he had grasped the key.
Compared to Lombard, the expressions of the other Grand Dukes are also very interesting.
"This is beyond the scope of our conversation," Trudida said impatiently, "What do you think?"
Thinking of what Slice said and what Little Slicker said, Thales became more and more sure of his suspicions.
Now, he had to know how much, what, and to what extent Lombard had to say to them to get these grand dukes to reach an agreement with him?
At this time, Rumba's sneer came from the hall.
"I am deeply impressed by your performance, Your Highness," Grand Duke Heisha was clearly smiling, but his always stern face did not allow people to feel the slightest smile on his face:
"But adults' games are cruel."
Trudida frowned slightly and looked at Olesio on the side.
Thales was slightly startled.
Lumba slowly walked to the side of the hall, blocking the firelight on one side, leaving a long and dark shadow that covered Thales's expression.
"But wait until you grow up, wait until you can command a country with a single gesture, then come and question us." Grand Duke Heisha said coldly:
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the several princes suddenly became stern.
Thales frowned: Lumba began to fight back.
And the weapon he uses to fight back is definitely not his age, but...
"I'm looking forward to that day in a few years, ten years, or decades." Lumba turned his head, with a dangerous light in his eyes: "When you become a wise and wise king, when you What kind of interesting opponent would the Star Kingdom under its rule be?"
The moment Lumba's words fell, Thales felt that the eyes of other grand dukes became different.
"It's exciting just thinking about it," Lumba looked at him condescendingly, turned to the other princes, and said in a cold tone, "What do you think?"
The temperature in the hall seemed to drop by half in an instant.
The archdukes looked at each other one after another, and then all glanced at Thales, seeming to be sizing him up.
But this time, their faces were far less happy and relaxed than before.
Not good.
Grand Duke Trudida coughed slightly.
"Prince Thales, I admire your courage, but you didn't say anything meaningful. You were just sowing discord and alarmist. I even suspected that you were stalling for time." More sinister:
"Northlanders are not people to be fooled."
Trudida looked at Lecco.
The latter looked solemn, nodded slightly, and turned to the outside of the hall: "I think we'll stop here."
Thales's heart skipped a beat.
What did Rumba just say? Kingdom of the Stars?
But Archduke Lecco had already opened his mouth.
Seeing that he was in a bad situation because of Lumba's words, the second prince was excited and said desperately:
"Wait a minute!"
The princes paused slightly.
"I don't know what my future will be like," Thales' breathing began to quicken, and he couldn't help but frown - his right arm began to hurt again, "Charmaine Lombard, but you are a formidable opponent. , there is no doubt about it.”
Lumba's eyes were filled with fierceness.
Thales gritted his teeth and looked at Trudida's smile and Lecco's solemnity: "What kind of eloquent tongue can you use to make the Grand Dukes accept your excuse and accept your regicide with peace of mind?" Turn a blind eye to your sin of ignoring Nekaru's oath to co-govern, and turn a blind eye to the threat you bring to the interior of the Exter Kingdom?"
The second prince's words made all the princes frown.
Thales adjusted his breathing. He was extremely anxious and could no longer care about the temptation. He roughly said what he knew: "Now I understand, it is not you they are afraid of, but your attempt to persuade them. Sooner or later, the Kingdom of Stars will become..."
The princes changed their colors one after another.
at this time.
"enough!"
Thales paused, and the rest of his words were stuck in his throat.
It was not Rumba or Trudida who interrupted him.
But Olesiu.
The Grand Duke of Wellandland said coldly: "Who do you think you are? That you can stand here and sow discord between the Grand Dukes without any scruples?"
Thales frowned: It seems that Willanland has become a staunch supporter of the Black Sand Duke.
Very bad.
He didn't find a key breakthrough, nor did he find out his opponent's trump card.
That "general" hit makes it impossible to make a move.
Judging from the looks of the grand dukes... if we take action too early, it may even be counterproductive.
"play off?"
"You are standing here now, advancing and retreating together for Exter, as close as a family." Thales struggled to find a point to continue the conversation. He pointed at Lumba: "But the jackal that killed the leader,
Do you think so too? Do you know that his plan to assassinate King Nun was originally intended to..."
He was interrupted again.
"Here we go again," Grand Duke Trudida raised his head, pointed his chin at Thales, who had a distorted expression, and said in a strange and sinister manner: "Prince Thales from the Stars, in what capacity do you say this here?
Where is the one who avenges King Nun?"
"Stop biting randomly."
Thales was speechless.
"Yes."
"Even if you put aside the suspicion of assassinating the king, you are just a foreign prince and should not have appeared here." Archduke Olesiu sneered, shook his head at him with an unkind look, and said coldly: "Don't interrupt us.
's internal affairs."
Not good.
Very bad.
Originally, he had already opened a dialogue, trying to get the princes to talk to him on an equal footing as if they were their opponents.
Thereby finding the conditions given to them by Lombard and launching a counterattack.
But... Thales bit his lip, feeling anxious: Lombard, in turn, took advantage of his own intentions - the grand dukes truly regarded themselves as dangerous opponents in the future.
Because of the lack of chips, because of the bad situation, and even more because of his special performance just now, Lomba provoked the hostility of the archdukes towards him with just one word - Thales clenched his fists and looked at Lecco and Tulu in embarrassment.
Dida and Olesio were the three great dukes.
what to do?
Lombard sighed: "With all due respect, Prime Minister Lisban and we still have misunderstandings that need to be resolved - he is already waiting for us at the city gate."
The several princes looked at each other and nodded slightly.
Grand Duke Lecco nodded expressionlessly: "It's time to let the guards in - or we can send him out ourselves."
"Then go and do what needs to be done for Exeter."
At that moment, Thales felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
Watching Archduke Lecco stand up slowly, his heart beat faster and faster.
The sacrifices of so many people...
The future of two countries...
Should we decide here...
what to do.
what to do?
At this moment.
A familiar but terrifying voice sounded in Thales' ears:
"I can help you."
The second prince trembled suddenly!
That is……
Thales's hair stood on end, and under the strange looks of several grand dukes, his face turned pale and he was dripping with cold sweat.
The princes seemed to have no reaction to the sound, as if they did not hear it.
The prince forcibly restrained his desire to look around.
Thales's heart beat uncontrollably!
It's him.
It's him!
He hasn't left yet.
Not leaving yet!
"As long as these people die here, the truth about Longxiao City will be covered up," the pleasant male voice continued to reach Thales' ears, full of deep temptation: "Everything you worry about
, the people you care about will have an acceptable ending."
"but……"
The prince's breathing became more and more rapid.
There was fear and hesitation on his face.
Thales clenched his fists tightly and stared at the ground.
When several unsuspecting princes saw Thales' appearance, they looked at each other and couldn't help laughing.
It seems that he is just a child.
Lumba did not hide his sneer.
"Do you want to go out by yourself, or do we want to send you out?" Archduke Olesiu walked to the unconscious Thales and said coldly.
Thales didn't answer him, he just panted and trembled by himself.
And in a place where others could not detect it, that voice came faintly into Thales's ears in the void:
"The condition is: you give up everything and come with me."
Come with me.
At that moment, Thales, who was in a daze, suddenly remembered what the High Priest Holm said to him in the Bright Moon Temple:
【One day, you will face important choices again - even decisions.】
[At that time...you may recall what I said today.]
【Be careful with your choices.】
"Decide quickly, I can't wait for you long," the voice gently urged him in his ear: "The legendary anti-magic force is close at hand."
Thales raised his head with difficulty and looked at the five archdukes in front of him with great heaviness.
Kill them all?
Follow him?
How does he choose...?
"How's it going, Thales Brightstar?"
In the unnoticed air, the air magician who left and returned, Asheida Saxon said quietly: "Do you accept your fate as a magician, or do you end your future here?"