When Thales came back on horseback, the Palace of Heroes was already ready: the north road from the first city gate to the palace gate was completely swept, and the armors of the guards and soldiers were also particularly neat and lined up to stand guard. This was very important for the palace.
For northerners who are used to being rough and rough, this is probably the limit.
"Maybe next time you come back, you can show up without bad news."
The second prince, who was worried, carefully held the reins of the black horse Jenny, and said with a straight face to Putilai, who had not seen him for a long time.
"I see," Putilai raised his eyebrows, narrowed his eyes, and showed a strange look: "His Excellency Little Ronny proposed to the Grand Duchess to consolidate the stability of Longxiao City. This is actually bad news for you, Your Highness...
…”
ah?
The prince was stunned for a second by these words, and then he understood something.
He took a breath.
Thales slowly turned to Putilai, put on the most ugly face, and said word by word: "You must mention..."
But he was interrupted.
"Ah, I'm sorry," the thin man smiled meaningfully and shrugged helplessly on the horse: "Before you get angry, I swear I didn't mean anything else."
Putilai showed a harmless smile: "You know...'that' means."
Thales' eyes widened, and his mouth moved in the air several times, but in the end no sound came out.
The prince could only snort in dissatisfaction and turn around.
Who can understand the feeling of being filled with resentment and being forced back into your chest by just one sentence?
"As far as the current situation is concerned," the second prince resisted the urge to fire the former deputy envoy, tilted his mouth and bit out the words from between his teeth: "Anything that breaks the status quo may be harmful to us.
Threat: For example, this is what I mean by the unexpected marriage of the Grand Duchess and the interests involved behind it."
"Of course," Putilai still had the same look of being beaten, not caring that Lord Justin behind him had darkened his face. He shook his pipe with a look of leisurely contentment:
"You are a prince, and what you say must be true regardless of whether it is true or not."
God...
Thales covered his face, sighed painfully, and gave up the idea of explaining anything to this stubborn old man.
"It's unbelievable," the prince looked listlessly at the slowly approaching palace door: "These words actually came from the mouth of a minister who had ignored his prince for more than ten days."
Putilai snorted lightly and did not answer.
Nicolai had already led the Grand Duke's bodyguards to wait in front of the palace gate, but this time the Fallen Star didn't put on a dead expression after seeing Thales. Instead, he stared at him deeply, and then turned toward the stable.
Xiang pursed his lips, gesturing for him to continue.
This is not common.
The puzzled Thales stepped off the saddle in front of the stable.
"Wish you good luck," Putilai said calmly: "After the greeting is over, I will wait for you in your room."
"That's really comforting." The already depressed prince waved his hand dissatisfiedly.
Thales handed the reins to the groom, and then, accompanied by Wyatt and Rolf, walked towards Nicolai at the entrance of the palace.
"The Grand Duchess and the Count are in the Hall of Heroes. Go and join them." Nicolai waved his hand without changing his expression: "I still have to greet the forerunners of the mission here. They are very formal this time."
"Because the matter is particularly serious?" Thales snorted: "What happened to the result of the last incident? You know, about the Grand Duchess..."
"Shut your mouth," Nicolai interrupted him harshly: "The forerunner of Qiyuan City is here."
Thales turned his head, and sure enough, a group of cavalry with different banners slowly drove out of the first city gate, and headed towards the palace gate under the watchful eyes of countless Longxiao City guards on both sides.
Their flag is embroidered with a heavy opened book, and several imperial letters are engraved on the opened pages, the meaning of which is unknown.
The code of knights, the orthodox and noble ruler of Qiyuan City, the emblem of the Ronnie family.
It is said that they are a famous knight family that has been stationed in the Northland since the ancient empire. They have given birth to countless great knights who have left their names in history. Even when the emperor forcibly demolished the Knight Temple and the ancient knighthood gradually declined, they were still in the Northland.
It maintains a huge reputation.
Until the final battle.
Thales recalled the knowledge given by teachers in the Northland over the years.
Among the cavalry, the leading knight looks quite special: he has a dark face, flat eye sockets, shaved temples, leaving only short reddish-brown hair on top of his head, has a strong build, but wears light leather armor that is not common in the North.
, the belt around his shoulders was tied with various small tools that Thales couldn't understand. The weapons on his body, except for a short knife at his waist, turned out to be only a crossbow on his back, and
A quiver hanging from the saddle.
What attracted the most attention was his demeanor and temperament, even though he was riding a horse, as if he were strolling in a garden.
The forerunner of the Qiyuan City Mission actually has this attitude?
That means...
Just when Thales frowned, Nicolai beside him reacted earlier than him: he saw the meteorite showing a rare expression of surprise, staring intently at the leading brown-haired knight.
"Oh, this is really a surprise." The meteorite's expression slowly became serious.
Thales narrowed his eyes, looked at Nicolai, and then at the leather knight walking leisurely: "Do you know each other?"
Nicolai ignored him, but made a few gestures to his subordinates, and then walked forward alone. Only then did the prince notice that several senior members of the Grand Duke's bodyguard also showed the same expression.
Thales looked strangely at the brown-haired knight with an unusual face from the North.
he is……
Nikolai walked slowly to the front of the group of Qiyuan City cavalry and watched them all dismount, with cold expressions on their faces.
The brown-haired knight was of medium height, even slightly shorter than the slightly thinner Nikolai. He held down the belt at his waist and looked directly at the meteorite in front of him without flinching, showing an uncaring look.
A kind smile.
Thales sighed, and the Hell River Sins gathered near his ears, listening to the conversation between the two of them.
Nicolai and the knight looked at each other for a long time.
Until he took a deep breath, pursed his lips, nodded his head gently, and hummed coldly:
"How could it be you?"
His words were cold and unceremonious.
Thales felt nervous: It seems that their relationship is not good?
In the coming storm, the relationship between Qiyuan City and Longxiao City will probably depend on the outcome of this mission.
And now...
Listening to Nicolai's unkind greeting, the brown-haired knight grinned, revealing an inexplicable ruthlessness. Only then did Thales notice that the knight's lips were extra wide.
A special person.
The prince said silently, rejecting Huaiya's suggestion to leave first.
I saw the brown-haired knight tilting his head, opening his big mouth, making a gong-like voice, and said to Nicolai:
"Have you ever heard a joke?"
Nicolai frowned.
"There is a man who travels around doing business all year round. He is very worried that his wife in his hometown will be unfaithful to him." The brown-haired knight shook his head and said with a smile:
"So he sneaked home one night. Fortunately, except for his sleeping wife, the man didn't find any trace of the adulterer. So he was relieved and became happy with his wife."
Nicolai's brows frowned more and more.
The brown-haired knight chuckled, raised his finger and tapped Nicolai, who had an unchanging expression: "Afterwards, his wife lit up the lamp and saw her husband's face clearly, so she couldn't help but said in surprise..."
The knight's eyes widened and he repeated Nicolai's words with an exaggerated expression:
"How could it be you?"
The whole place fell silent.
The next second, the brown-haired knight burst into laughter, and one of them laughed so hard that he fell back and forth.
"Ha ha ha ha……"
As if the joke was really funny.
But Nicolai looked unmoved.
The companions behind the knight looked strange and turned their gazes away. Some of them coughed slightly, as if they were deeply ashamed of their leader's joke.
Thales, who was listening to all this from a distance, couldn't help but frown.
What are you doing?
Only the brown-haired knight still looked at Nicolai with a strange smile and shrugged.
Finally, after what seemed like centuries, Nicolai relaxed his icy expression and let out a long sigh.
"Same as before," Nicolai lowered his head and snorted coldly:
"It is not funny."
The brown-haired knight stopped smiling and his expression changed.
"Oh, God," the knight looked at the Faller with a disappointed expression:
"Your sense of humor is still the same shit."
Thales listened to their conversation strangely and began to doubt the relationship between the two.
Who is that brown-haired knight...
Nicolai looked at him quietly.
"How many years?" Meteorite said softly.
The brown-haired knight's smile slowly disappeared.
"Eighteen years," he smoothed his brown hair and hummed, "We haven't seen each other in eighteen years since I went back to Qiyuan City."
The Fallen Star nodded slowly.
But the expression of the brown-haired knight suddenly became vivid again.
"I guess you still don't have a mother-in-law, right?"
"And with your status, it is impossible for you to commit suicide in a big way, and the noble ladies probably don't like you," the brown-haired knight looked at Nicolai with disgust, and showed a meaningful smirk: "Don't
Tell me, in these eighteen years you still solved it with your hands!"
At this time, his companions behind him coughed unnaturally.
Nicolai remained motionless, staring at the brown-haired knight who said the obscene words.
Until he also curled up the corners of his mouth and laughed suppressedly.
Nicolai's laughter and the brown-haired knight's laughter gradually overlapped, as if they had laughed at each other countless times.
Thales looked at the meteorite's smile strangely. As far as he knew, apart from sneers and evil smiles, Nikolai, who had a dead face, rarely had other smiles.
The next second, Nicolai and the brown-haired knight waved their right hands almost at the same time!
Hit the opponent!
What?
The moment Thales' eyes shrank, as if he had experienced a tacit understanding of cooperation thousands of times, his two palms clasped together fiercely in the air!
Snapped!
Nicolai held the opponent's hand tightly, with a rare smile on his lips:
"It's nice to meet you, Big Mouth."
"Hahahaha," the brown-haired knight looked up to the sky and laughed, making his mouth even bigger:
"Each other, stab each other in the head!"
Thales looked at the two people's actions in surprise. It seemed that his previous guess was wrong.
Their relationship...
Not averagely good.
After all, not everyone can ridicule and tease the famous Fallen Star without any scruples.
That brown-haired knight...who is he?
This guy was dispatched as a member of the Qiyuan City Mission, which means that Grand Duke Ronnie...
Nicolai and the brown-haired knight let go of each other and walked side by side towards the palace gate.
The people in Qiyuan City seemed to be relieved and followed suit.
The brown-haired knight raised his head and looked at everything in the Palace of Heroes, with a lot of emotion in his expression, as if he was revisiting his old place.
"So, I heard that you single-handedly killed the leader six years ago?"
The meteorite's face instantly turned cold.
"That's right, plus some help from Byrne and you." Nicolai said softly.
"Me?" the brown-haired knight thought thoughtfully: "Sure enough, you used the secret I told you?"
"Yeah," the meteorite's face seemed to be a little paler: "And I'm not proud of it, not to mention that he was seriously injured at the time."
silence.
The two of them kept walking, but the conversation came to a slight stagnation in the subtle atmosphere.
"I understand that feeling." After a few seconds, the knight said calmly.
"When the boss recruited us into the guard, you probably didn't expect that this day would come."
Nicolai said nothing.
The brown-haired knight raised his head and looked at the cliff in the sky on the top of the Palace of Heroes. His eyes focused on the statue of Nekaru, and he sighed: "It's unimaginable. In the blink of an eye, we are almost fifty."
Guard.
Boss.
Thales moved slightly: he had already guessed the identity of this knight.
"Everyone will grow old," Nicolai whispered with deep meaning, "whether he is a king or a commoner."
"Speaking of this, in the past year, my chest has been hurting whenever it rains." The brown-haired knight seemed to be a chatterbox. Although Nicolai was taciturn, he still kept chattering: "You also have a similar problem.
What’s wrong with you?”
Nicolai shook his head: "I guess it was left at the outpost when you were young. You stayed in the snow pit for too long."
But for some reason, Thales didn't feel any sense of disobedience when he saw the normally taciturn Nicolai with his arms folded walking alongside the chattering knight with exaggerated movements, casually making common combinations.
Just like they are.
"A long time ago, a military doctor named Ramon told me," the brown-haired knight said while picking his ears roughly: "After the age of forty, our physical strength will decline significantly, and the body will begin to gradually...
With aging, some problems will appear. God, I laughed at him at that time..."
Nicolai sneered: "But at the same time, our experience and skills will gradually increase and settle, our emotions will gradually become more stable, we will get rid of impulse and madness, and make up for the degradation of our bodies."
"So, compared with those young people in their twenties and thirties, when we are forty years old, our experience and physical strength are balanced, which is the most powerful and terrifying stage for a veteran." The meteorite shaker shook his head: "Don't listen to this.
If you are a liar, you will belittle yourself."
"No, no, no, that military doctor said that once you are over fifty..." the brown-haired knight disagreed:
"No matter how much our skills and experience increase, they can never make up for the lack of physical strength and physical degradation. Every injury is a serious injury that is difficult to recover from. The problems left in youth are more like the curse of the tarsal bones that will accompany you from now on.
From when I wake up and open my eyes to when I lie down and close my eyes, it does not stop..."
Nicolai snorted lightly.
They were getting closer and closer to the palace gate.
"Although most of them are newcomers, I saw Gaira and Lum," the knight's eyes swept across the Grand Duke's guards on both sides of the palace gate: "Where is Byrne? He is not among us except you and Isaiah.
Besides, is Lord Michael the person with the best career in officialdom? Lord Michael is engaged in officialdom?”
He knows Michael, and he also knows the veterans who were once the White Blade Guards. Thales thought silently.
The identity of that knight has already been revealed.
"Byrne left," Nicolai said calmly: "The injury was too serious six years ago and I can no longer do anything."
The brown-haired knight rolled his eyes slightly with an interesting expression: "Really, so serious?"
"Six years ago, Longxiao City lost more than just a king," Meteorite said lightly: "Sometimes, inner wounds are more difficult to heal than physical wounds."
In front of the palace gate, the brown-haired knight stopped.
"I have a feeling, Pitou," he looked at Nicolai with interest: "You are different from before, you seem to be less annoying."
"And you are still as annoying as before." Nicolai retorted mercilessly.
The knight laughed loudly: "This is how we live up to our reputation of 'double-edged shame'!"
Thales almost frowned after listening to their conversation. It was unimaginable that someone could actually talk to Nicolai...
When Thales was distracted, the brown-haired knight and Nicolai had walked in front of him unknowingly.
"So, this is our dear Prince of the Stars?" The brown-haired knight looked at the prince with interest.
Thales breathed out: "Hello, I am Thales Bright Star."
The brown-haired knight lowered his head and looked at the prince carefully.
However, the moment the brown-haired knight's light eyes stared at Thales, the prince suddenly became excited!
A dangerous trembling feeling spread from Thales's back to his shoulders.
The river of sin began to roll over.
Thales looked back at the brown-haired knight with a solemn face, raising the alertness in his heart to the highest level: This is a feeling that even when facing an enemy with Nicolai, he would not have it.
what happened?
It's like... like being targeted by a terrifying hunter.
Could it be that this guy who talks about weird things is even worse than Nicolai...
"You know, I told Thornhead a long time ago that the imperial royal family is the darling of the gods, so their blood is golden," the brown-haired knight looked at the nervous prince, laughed, and patted the side next to him.
Nicolai: "He didn't believe it and said he would verify it for me if he had a chance..."
Thales frowned.
He recalled his unpleasant first meeting with the Fallen Starman.
Nicolai coughed.
"Prince Thales is a distinguished guest of the Grand Duchess. He is staying here temporarily at the invitation of the king," the Fallen Star interrupted the knight without hesitation: "Remain with the necessary respect, Monty."
The brown-haired knight named Monty shook his head dissatisfied: "Okay, okay, Grand Duchess... Oh my god..."
He looked away from Thales, but this guy was obviously not finished yet.
"So, hey, kid," Monty bent down towards the prince, put on a warm evil smile, and arched his eyebrows three times: "That Grand Duchess, hehe..."
"Have you ever had sex with her?"
At that moment, Thales froze on the spot.
What?
"Monty!"
Nicolai shouted angrily, relieving Thales from his embarrassment.
"Watch your mouth," Meteorite's palm pressed on Monty's shoulder. His face gradually turned cold, no longer as indifferent as when he saw his old friend again: "Especially because you represent Qiyuan City."
The brown-haired knight exhaled.
"Okay, I take that back," Monty shrugged and got rid of the Faller's hand with an interesting expression, "You haven't changed."
Nicolai snorted again: "As a pioneer, I believe you still have work. My subordinates will take you to meet the Grand Duchess."
"Of course," Monty smiled and shook his head: "I will leave the reception work of Sir Ian to you."
After saying that, Monty turned his head again and took a deep look at Thales before taking a step and walking towards the Palace of Heroes with his companions.
Thales was left behind, watching his back speechlessly.
"That's..." The prince scratched his head, unable to imagine that such a strange person came to Qiyuan City.
"Ned Monty," Nicolai replied succinctly: "The former White Blade Guard is now the Lord of Qiyuan City."
really.
Former Blade Guard.
But the prince already has some ideas about this mission.
Apart from anything else, just look at what Monty asked him just now, whether it was a joke or not...
Thales narrowed his eyes: There are no meaningless words in diplomacy.
That means……
"Do you have a good relationship with him?" the prince asked seriously: "Duke Ronnie sent him here to take advantage of his friendship with you?"
"If that's the case," Nicolai shook his head, "I'm afraid they will be disappointed."
"Ned Monty," Thales chewed on the name and narrowed his eyes: "He is very powerful?"
"You mean, except for his bad mouth?" Nicolai snorted: "Well, some boring people put me, him, and three other guys together, what do they call..."
"Five generals, right?"
Thales quickly reacted: "Including the Fire Knight of the Black Sand Territory."
"So he and Monty have also reached the extreme state," Thales said curiously: "Who is stronger, him or you?"
Nicolai glanced at him, his eyes full of disdain.
"Extreme Realm, this title is always deified in the hearts of many people," Nicolai hummed softly: "But only when you go to the battlefield do you know the role that Extreme Realm can play in a crowded fight.
It will be greatly reduced.”
"So, the extreme realm is more suitable for another kind of job with a small number of people," the meteorite turned his head and narrowed his eyes slightly: "Assassin."
Thales thought of the assassin who was waiting for an opportunity and fell from the sky six years ago.
"I feel the same way." He replied dully: "What does this have to do with Monty?"
Nicolai looked at Thales and said with profound meaning: "Although Monty is a soldier, the job he is responsible for is the closest to an assassin in the army."
Thales moved slightly: "You mean..."
"He was recruited into the Hand-Blade Guard as an elite sniper crossbowman."
"Later, Kaslan took a fancy to his talent and trained him to become a scout," Nicolai nodded: "Soon, Monty became the most terrifying scout in all of Exeter."
"Our job is to face the enemy head-on and fight bloody battles. Monty is better at sneaking around and striking suddenly."
"Twenty years ago in Baishan, on the eve of the Deep Valley Battle, he alone entered the ancestral altar of the Elf King's Court to spy on the enemy, leaving countless corpses along the way. It wasn't until the crow call he imitated was discovered that he escaped from the siege and walked away.
."
"From that time on, Monty got the nickname: 'Dead Crow'."
Fallen Star finished his words.
Thales was thoughtful.
Death Crow.
It's really not a nice name.
"You haven't said it yet, we are both the 'Five War Generals'," Thales continued to ask: "Who is stronger, him or you?"
"Him? Monty?"
Nicolai seemed to have heard the funniest joke. He looked in the direction Monty left and sneered again and again: "Within ten steps, I can break his neck in five seconds."
Thales was shocked.
wrong.
"So," Thales, who heard the hidden meaning, followed the principle of not making the dead face happy, and asked empathetically:
"What about ten steps away?"
Sure enough, in the next second, Nicolai put on the most disgusting face in his history when facing Thales, who was as curious as a baby.
The Fallen Starman crossed his arms, turned his head to the side, and snorted dissatisfiedly: "Humph."
Thales' eyes widened and he scratched his hair.
Looking at Nicolai turning around and leaving, he probably knew the answer.
So he sighed helplessly and walked towards the Hall of Heroes.
At that time, Thales thought that Ned Monty was probably the weirdest and most special guy he had ever seen today.
It wasn't until an hour later that he and Thelma met their real guest in the Hall of Heroes, the heir of the Knight Code family, the official envoy from Qiyuan City...