Thales looked steadily at the floor beneath his feet.
Six years ago, in the secret passage under the city gate, a group of people who escaped were intercepted by the Scarlet Witch and unable to advance or retreat.
that time……
The tired-looking Fallen Starman stepped forward alone and offered "a big bargaining chip" in exchange for their safety.
Thales could not help but feel deep doubts in his heart.
What did Nicolai tell the Scarlet Witch that made Ms. Cassian turn around and leave, causing her to ignore existences like the Star Prince and Miss Walton, as if they were just unnecessary outsiders.
Is the Dark Room really so maverick? One moment, he was determined to overthrow the King of Nun, who was determined to have his own way, but the next moment he was able to walk away without any hesitation, without getting involved in anything?
If, as Rumba says, Thelma's existence is just...
Thales took a deep breath and veins appeared on his hands.
"absurd."
He looked at King Charman in front of him coldly:
"The heir to Longxiao City who is recognized to have been dead for six years is still alive? And the whole six years that I went north alone and was a hostage, including our life-and-death contest in the Palace of Heroes six years ago, were all just part of a conspiracy?"
"You expect me to believe you? Such baseless nonsense?"
The prince looked offended, looked into the king's eyes with dissatisfaction, and retorted: "Why did Morar deliberately fake his death? Why did he want to bring his family to the brink of collapse and make Longxiao City in turmoil? Why did King Nuen do it again?
Would you come up with such a plan that is not worth the gain and lose your life in vain due to your counterattack?"
boom!
"Because he didn't fake his death on purpose, and Nunn didn't do it on purpose either!"
King Charmaine punched the scabbard of his sword, and responded to Thales's aggressive words with a frosty face: "Do you think this is something fun? Do you think I would be bored enough to make up such a lie to alienate you?
With Longxiao City? Since I got this damn news, God knows how many methods, time and resources I have used to get to the bottom of it, just to find out whether that good-for-nothing prince is dead! In order to find out whether the good-for-nothing prince I got six years ago
How long can I wear my crown?"
The king's sharp eyes revealed murderous intent: "Believe me, if he had not died, no one in this world would want him to disappear forever as quickly as possible without being known to anyone more than me!"
Thales looked at the anger and coldness on the king's face suspiciously, feeling that the other person's emotions were not fake.
There was silence in the carriage for a few seconds.
"So, 'I didn't fake my death on purpose'," Thales calmed down and tugged on his sleeves: "What do you know?"
King Charmaine snorted coldly: "This is news from the darkroom, to be precise, from my spies in the darkroom. It is said that the Scarlet Witch has been pursuing this matter for six years regardless of the cost, and she only got some clues half a year ago."
"Six years ago, Prince Morar returned to Longxiao City from his fief. In the Palace of Heroes, he had a fierce quarrel with King Nun. Although King Nun cleared most of the people in the palace before his death,
But there are still people alive to prove this," King Charman said here, with a strange light shining in his eyes, wandering between contempt and disgust:
"A few days later, Moral left without saying goodbye and disappeared without a trace."
Thales' eyes narrowed:
"Li...what?"
"Yes, Thales," King Charman snorted disdainfully: "A prince who bears the heavy responsibility of a country ran away from home in anger because he was scolded by his dear father!"
The prince took a second to digest the news, and then looked at King Charmaine with burning eyes.
"Can you imagine Nunn's expression at that time? His son irresponsibly left everything behind, including his own identity, including his original mission to the stars, and disappeared overnight in Nunn, Longxiao City and even the entire
Out of Exeter's sight, in order to escape safely, he even deliberately leaked the itinerary to Perfitt as a cover, and this led to everything that followed."
"Morrar Walton, Nunn's worthless son," the king gritted his teeth with contempt and sullenness:
"He is simply the greatest disgrace to the Walton family for over six hundred years. Even if you search all over Exeter, you probably won't be able to find a worse piece of trash than him."
Oh My God……
A prince…
Leave it all behind...
runaway?
For some reason, another person suddenly appeared in Thales' mind: Decades ago, Ms. Jini was not as mature and charming as she would later be. She was penniless and embarrassed, but she resolutely walked out of the family manor.
Follow the prince's motorcade and head towards the unknown future.
The king took a few seconds to adjust his breathing, and came to his senses in anger and anger.
"Therefore, while the anxious natural king was searching, he could only use a substitute with a similar appearance to replace his son who had run away from home to travel to the stars. Anyway, as a symbolic prince, all he had to do was smile."
"We have traced the information about the substitute. He was born in a small noble family on the outskirts of Longxiao City. His ancestors are related to Walton. He was found by the White Blade Guards eighteen years ago and has since entered Longxiao City to 'work'
, of course, in fact, he is being trained to become Prince Morar’s stand-in.”
Just listen to King Charman continue coldly:
"You all know what happened later. Morar's substitute died in the stars. I guess Nunn was surprised, but he followed the trend and made the fake come true. Externally, he seemed angry and asked for corresponding compensation from the stars. Internally, he cleared up the uneasiness.
The princes of the division."
Thales tried hard to pull himself out of the shock Moral gave him, and looked at the king with unspeakable emotions.
"This is why I began to doubt the identity of the Grand Duchess: There is no reason for Nunn to leave a Grand Duchess and a son who can overthrow the former. Believe me from the terrible whirlpool that plunged Longxiao City into a succession dispute.
, from Oresio in Welland to Rose in the Principality of Anrenzo, this is the most terrible disaster for noble families."
"Of course, his biggest surprise should be that you, Thales, can save Longxiao in the future when Moral disappears, when he is in trouble inside and outside Longxiao City, when his power is declining and even when he passes away.
The Star Prince of the Gun Family."
“A great tool.”
The king looked at Thales with complicated eyes, as if the prince in front of him was an object.
"In this way, Nun used a fake archduchess to trap you and Xingchen, stabilized the rule of the Walton family in Dragon Sky City, and allowed the Dragonlance family to safely survive the years when the natural king is away, while hiding it from you.
The biggest secret is revealed: maybe one day, Lisban or the Fallen Stars will welcome back Moral who is tired of playing outside, Longxiao City will return to Walton's hands, and all the plans of the stars will come to nothing."
King Charman finished his words and looked at Thales quietly.
Thales said nothing, his brows came and went, and he thought silently for nearly two minutes.
how so?
The back of King Nun appeared before his eyes: the heroic and sophisticated late king looked back in his mind with a sneer that made people cringe.
Noon Walton.
He can decisively fight a duel in front of the ministers, and he can also use poisonous tactics without hesitation.
He could poison a young girl to death without any hesitation, and he could also put the family inheritance in his and Little Slippery's hands without a care.
And now...
Nunn, the born king.
What kind of person are you?
"Is this what you want to say?"
The second prince said in a tired tone: "Everything six years ago, the grievances between you and me, the conspiracy in the Fuxing Palace, the confrontation in front of the fortress, the disaster in Longxiao City... all originated from Morar's willful departure?
"
"It's hard to believe, isn't it?" King Charman sneered: "But the origin of everything is so absurd, ridiculous, funny, and unreasonable."
"You were held hostage in the north for six full years on an unjust charge..."
"I almost risked everything, and almost lost everything..."
With every word he spoke, the hatred in King Charman's eyes grew.
"Arende became a prisoner, Perfitt had his neck broken, Exeter even changed to a king..."
"Since then, all the bloodshed and turmoil all stemmed from a loser running away from home!"
The king suppressed his anger and looked fiercely, as if he was about to eat someone in the next second.
There was silence in the carriage for a few seconds, as if to remind them of the heaviness of this moment.
The prince closed his eyes gently and opened them slowly:
"But what Nunn didn't expect was that his nephew in the Black Sand Territory caught him by surprise. When he just started planning, he killed the king first and wore the crown himself?"
"That's why you sit here and tell me these things." Thales looked at the king and his eyes returned to calm, calm and calm.
In the carriage, King Charmaine's breathing gradually subsided.
"It's not just me, Thales," King Charman leaned back on the carriage, his eyes bright: "And you."
Thales' eyes narrowed.
"Don't forget, my crown was built by us together." The king said calmly.
Thales sighed softly, then sneered.
"It's still baseless nonsense," the prince rubbed his forehead sleepily: "Everything about Morar's death is just the empty talk you told me."
"Yes, so I'll stop here," King Charman replied without hesitation: "But I believe you have your own conclusion in your heart, and you have been here for six years and have no idea about the people and things in Longxiao City.
If you are more familiar with it than me, you can definitely find the truth by yourself."
Thales lowered his head, feeling tired.
Whether it was Moral's life or death, Thelma's identity, Nunn's calculations or the Charmaine in front of him, they all gave him the illusion that his brain was exploding.
It's too much.
So tired.
"Assuming this is true... So, I was deceived and played by a dead man for six full years?"
The prince chuckled inexplicably: "This feeling is really strange."
Opposite him, the king's face changed slightly.
"It's only been six years, which is pretty good."
Thales raised his head: "What do you mean?"
But King Charman just looked at him quietly and snorted softly:
"Don't forget, whether it's the great and bold and bold grand dukes of Exeter from generation to generation, or the groups of nobles in the Kingdom of Stars who are skilled in calculation and scheming..."
"They were all killed by a seemingly mediocre and cowardly King of the Stars, a dead man who has been dead for hundreds of years..."
He lamented: "It has been deceiving and playing tricks on for more than a century."
The next moment, Thales's eyes returned to clarity, and he looked at Charmaine Lombard seriously.
"What do you want, Rumba."
Finally, King Charmaine leaned forward and raised the corners of his mouth slightly.
It's as if this conversation has just begun.
"Risban and the Fallen Stars are too concerned about the Palace of Heroes. I can't get close to that girl, but you can," the king said with deep meaning in his eyes, "You also know what I want."
Thales snorted softly.
"Ronnie and Leko, as well as Schuster from the Outpost Territory and Camarun from the Glacier Sea, the joint denunciation of the four archdukes is not easy to deal with, is it?"
He shrugged: "That's why you tried so hard to provoke the Freedom Alliance and planned the position of Longxiao City."
King Charmaine nodded.
"I said, this is not a good job, and every Grand Duke is not an easy person," he said seriously: "But if..."
But Thales interrupted him.
"You know, six years ago you said in the Palace of Heroes..."
"Every one of you is born in the shackles of the endless struggle between the king and the prince. You will never be able to escape. You want to break it."
The prince spoke in a tone that the king had never seen before, seemingly sighing with emotion, but also with a slight joking: "But I don't know why, what you are doing now always reminds me of King Nuen."
For a moment, Thales saw the tendons in King Charmaine's hands trembling slightly.
"Those who want to break the shackles rack their brains to study the structure of the shackles and are fascinated by this escape game," Thales said softly:
"Until one day, he discovered that the shackles on his body had grown into a part of his body."
"He can no longer leave the shackles he once wanted to break."
Thales sneered subconsciously and asked the question he had asked another king six years ago: "Don't you feel tired?"
"Or is it that the pain caused by the shackles has made you unable to feel the weight it brings to you?"
King Charman did not speak, his face remained motionless in the dim carriage.
The silence lasted for a long time.
Thales exhaled and laughed uncontrollably.
He turned his gaze elsewhere, no longer paying attention to the calm King Charman, and shook his head: "This reminds me that maybe his choice of running away from Morar just allowed him to escape from this shackles and be free from it."
Not like us.
Regardless of whether he will be found by Lombard or not, to a certain extent, Moral Walton, the wayward prince who left everything behind and traveled thousands of miles away, has been far away from the shackles given by his blood.
But...what about himself? What about Thales Brightstar?
When will he break free from this shackles?
At that moment, Thales suddenly thought of the Qi Magician and the hand he extended to him.
But what followed was a seemingly warning look from the High Priest Holm in the Bright Moon Temple.
King Charmaine's face was so dark that he could almost shed water.
"He didn't."
A few seconds later, the king bit out words from between his teeth, and tightened his fingers on the scabbard gently: "Leaving away is not escape, and running away weakly is not relief."
"But he will," King Charmaine's words became deeper and deeper, and there was a terrible meaning in the words:
"After we find him."
Thales let out a long breath and tried to drag his thoughts back from the emotion to the whirlpool in front of him.
"Moral, assuming he is still alive as you say..."
The prince steeled himself and forced himself to look at the king: "Then where is he?"
Hearing this topic, King Charman also recovered from his sullenness and annoyance. He tapped his sword lightly:
"Recently, a person matching the characteristics of Morar appeared on the south side of the great desert. Near the Principality of Sera, we only found this place. That side is the territory of the Star People, and the darkroom is difficult to penetrate."
"But we won't stop."
"Let's work together to find Morar and kill him, Thales," the king said coldly: "No matter who does it, let us end this inexplicable threat together, and let Nunn and his jokes that fool the world go to hell.
Go ahead."
King Charman slowly approached his face: "Through this matter, I hope you understand, Thales: In the seemingly peaceful Longxiao City, who are your friends and who are your enemies, and who treats you as a despicable person?"
Who will treat you as a puppet in a comedy show?"
Thales curled his lips, imagining the prince wandering around the world incognito, and then thought about Lisban and Nicolai.
"You have a good idea, killing two birds with one stone."
The prince shook his head, opened his arms, and leaned back on the car without caring about the image: "But you know, I can still yell now, or simply disclose the truth in the car, and then, your words, your secret will follow
Your ideal..."
Thales narrowed his eyes: "I'll go to hell with you."
Charmaine stared at him and didn't look away for a long time.
The temperature in the car seemed to have dropped to freezing point again.
"I have a question, Thales," the king said slowly after an unknown amount of time: "Once Morar returns, what will be waiting for your little girlfriend?"
Thales felt depressed.
"You know the answer."
"Could it be that the kind-hearted Lisban and the kind-hearted Fallen Star will issue Morar a certificate of commendation after she is restored to commend her for what she did for the stability of Longxiao City while sitting in the Palace of Heroes pretending to be the Grand Duchess for six years?
contribution?”
The king sneered again and again:
"If what happened to Moral is true, then this secret will not be buried with my death, but one day, it will come back to bite you and that girl fiercely together with your enemies. This is what you are today.
The meaning of the choices faced.”
Thales looked at Charmaine motionlessly, his eyes dull and lacking in emotion.
choose.
It's a choice again.
He clenched his fists.
The prince said coldly: "I can just walk away and stand by, and you can just play your own chess game."
The king smiled.
"You can't. You are different from many people, Thales."
King Charman shook his head confidently, his gaze like a sword, pointing directly at people's hearts: "As long as you have the ability, spare strength, and belief, you will not stand back and leave a hell behind you without any concern, cold-bloodedly
Watch others cry in pain, and then hypocritically comfort yourself: This is the best choice and the most realistic choice."
He raised his hand in the darkness and pointed to the highest place in Longxiao City outside the carriage: "Otherwise, six years ago, you would not have thrown yourself into a trap and returned to the Palace of Heroes."
Thales's fists clenched tighter and tighter, almost scratching the palms of his hands.
hateful.
He sighed tiredly in his heart.
No one in the carriage spoke anymore, and the silence lasted for a long time.
It seems like a century has passed.
"If you have nothing else to say, then so be it," Thales shook his head with a gloomy expression, "I'm tired."
"Of course," King Charman, who looked at him quietly, nodded casually, as if they were not enemies at all: "If... you know where to find me."
When Thales heard this, he sneered:
"Still reluctant to leave?"
"You know, the storm is coming, and Longxiao City will not be calm in the future."
At that second, the king's eyes became very subtle, containing inexplicable meaning.
"I am not the one who is reluctant to leave, Thales," Charmaine Lombard said thoughtfully in a calm voice:
"As you said, the storm is coming."
Thales frowned. He stood up as his throat surged and pressed his hand on the car door.
"One more thing, Thales."
Thales, who had his back to the king, stopped and turned his head slightly.
King Charman turned his head and glanced at him with a strange look.
"Six years ago, under the Broken Dragon Fortress, you dared to risk your life, but you also had to charge in the opposite direction, and you had a bet with me on a battlefield with no eyesight, with no way out,"
"But today, six years later, in the peaceful Longxiao City, you don't dare to risk the life of the Grand Duchess, you don't dare to speak your mind to the end, and bet with me on the undercurrent of the battlefield."
Thales was stunned.
The king just laughed and said: "Why, Thales, is it better to make a decision in a critical and bloody situation than in a weird and difficult situation? Or is it because when facing the lives of others, it is better for you to make decisions than when facing your own life?
More difficult to decide?"
Thales gritted his teeth and frowned.
That's different.
Back then, I and the people around me were in a dead end, and I could risk my own life without hesitation, risking my life with almost no hope.
But today...
Selma…
"Or have you become cowardly, hesitant, and merciful during the six years in Longxiao City?" Charman said softly.
Thales maintained his position of holding the car door, his face serious.
"We are different, Lumba," the second prince did not turn his head, still facing Charmain sideways, he said coldly: "You are a ruthless gambler."
King Charman raised his eyebrows slightly:
"how about you?"
"What are you?"
This time, Thales didn't hesitate anymore. He opened the car door and stepped out of the carriage without looking back.
"Be careful, Thales," the king's voice came faintly from behind: "When the enemies smell your weakness..."
boom!
Thales closed the car door without hesitation and kept all the words behind him in the car.
He has heard enough today.
There is no need to shake your mood anymore.
not to mention……
weakness……
The prince thought of the terrifying appearance of the Black Prophet, and his heart tightened.
In the carriage, King Charman looked at the slammed door with complicated eyes, lowered his head to examine his scabbard, and said the second half of the sentence seemingly indifferently:
"...They won't let it go easily."
The four days of the break were spent on revising the previous article. If you are interested, you may wish to go back and re-download the first few chapters.