After a brief silence, there was an uproar in the Hall of Heroes!
"What?"
"That means……"
"But that boy obviously..."
But no matter who else's emotions are, they can't compare to what Thales Brightstar himself feels at this moment.
At that moment, the prince could hardly control his body.
Until the sin of the river of hell surges up uninvited.
To him, the whole world seemed to stop at this moment.
Only my thoughts are spinning rapidly.
Kingdom of Stars.
A supporter of the Freedom Alliance?
With the help of the mysterious power of termination, Thales, dripping with cold sweat, tried his best to control his breathing, barely ensuring that he did not lose his composure.
Countless questions came to mind.
what happened?
what happened!
"That is to say..."
At the top of the hall, the golden-bearded Earl Hester frowned fiercely and looked angrily at Monty who brought the news: "You bastards of the Freedom Alliance..."
"The reason why they had the confidence to tear up the agreement was because there were those Imperial people standing behind them?"
Deathcrow shrugged and said in a gloomy tone: "Obviously."
The angry discussion in the hall once again escalated to a new level.
"What are you doing?"
"Fuck the Imperials!"
"Are they crazy?"
"Their only heir is still..."
"Is it a total war?"
"Then what's our next step? Are we still going to Qiyuan City?"
Thales took a deep breath in a daze.
Kingdom of Stars, Free Alliance, Exeter...
Whether it was some information obtained under the close surveillance of the Palace of Heroes, the news brought to him by Putilai, whom he had not seen for many years, or the news obtained from Longxiao City, there was not a single clue pointing to this dá àn
.
He didn't get any hints.
Just like Dragon Blood six years ago.
For him, this was a veritable "accident."
"It's really interesting." Count Linna, who was always expressionless, did not hide his bad mood this time. He twisted his face and stared at Thales:
"On the surface, he sent his son to Longxiao City, but secretly he still worked tirelessly to do anything?"
Lin Na sneered maliciously: "You are worthy of being the successor of the empire."
"And we, we thought we had the safest bargaining chip and thought the Star People would keep to themselves, but in the end we were like fools and were fooled around."
"Just like the last war."
"Isn't it, little prince?"
The atmosphere in the hall became increasingly solemn.
With a stiff face, Thales raised his head with difficulty, responding to various expressions of surprise or anger in the hall: Lisban's doubts, Nicolai's gritted teeth, and Nazer's deep thoughts. Compared with them, even Monty
The unsettling hunter's eyes seemed to have softened a lot...
as well as……
And the disbelieving and overwhelmed eyes of the Grand Duchess.
No.
Selma.
"Hey, you are named Canxing!"
Earl Curterson stood up abruptly and looked angrily at the stiff-looking prince in the corner.
"What the hell do you know about the Free League, about your crazy father's army?"
"Did you plan this?"
Thales clenched his fists.
The beads of sweat on his forehead became more and more dense.
No.
I do not know anything.
no matter what……
But before the words came out of his mouth, the prince gritted his teeth.
No.
Now is not the time to panic, nor is it the time to cry out for injustice.
Just as I thought: the accident happened.
What I have to do is to deal with it and minimize the loss.
Calm down, Thales.
calm!
"Hey!"
Cotson said angrily: "Are you mute?"
His voice represented the anger in the hearts of the Northlanders at this moment, echoing in the hall.
The prince suddenly raised his head, but saw a panicked and helpless look in Thelma's eyes.
The Grand Duchess looked at Thales subconsciously, and then at Lisban, who was equally solemn, looking at a loss.
"Looking at how confident he is, maybe Longxiao City is too kind to him," Count Linner clenched his fists, making a scary crackle between his knuckles, and said softly, "Maybe we should return to the Northern people's ways.
Tradition."
"Want something hard?"
Thales didn't answer.
The people in the North looked at the Prince of Stars with more and more fierce eyes, including the Grand Duke's bodyguards who were guarding him. In this atmosphere, even Rolf, who was also shocked, unconsciously pressed his arm.
Under everyone's gaze, the second prince could only keep calm and maintain the most basic thoughts. Even Ian, who was also sweating profusely and kept pulling on his sleeves, had no time to care.
If you say so.
Something is wrong.
Very wrong.
The resistance of the Freedom Alliance, the war problems in Qiyuan City, the power storm in Longxiao City, the breathing space of the Black Sand Territory...
They all come from, come from...
These different objects, different motives, and different actions come together in the same place...
Where is the connection, where is the truth that the clues point to, and what is the key to the matter?
Facing the prince's silence, Earl Curtson seemed to be getting more and more impatient, and he took a step forward suddenly!
"Uncooperative?"
Curtson showed an unprecedented ferocious expression, pouted at Thales, grinded his teeth, and said word for word: "Very good, then tear him alive until he speaks."
This sentence seemed to ignite the already explosive atmosphere.
"That's right!"
Many of the vassals in Longxiao City stood up one after another with the same anger and gnashing of teeth, and gave out a flood of approval:
"Kill him to death!"
"If you dare to play tricks on us, then you will pay the price!"
"Show us the attitude of the Northlanders!"
Nicolai tried to maintain order, but was unable to do so.
Rolf stood nervously behind Thales, seemingly ready to make a desperate move in the face of the Northlander's anger.
This is his sign language.
But the protagonist of the matter, Thales, remained motionless.
He seemed to have suppressed all emotions and suppressed all reactions, sitting stiffly in place like a stone statue, ignoring the angry waves of curses and curses.
Like a stone statue.
"Son of a bitch from the Empire!"
"Nail him to the city gate!"
"Let the people of the stars have a taste of torture, hypocritical cowards!"
The noise continues.
Like an endless torrent, it hits the rocks again and again, ruthlessly and coldly, shocking and terrifying.
Thales in the center of the waves was just silent and said nothing.
It's as if the world has nothing to do with him.
The chaotic hall was filled with anger and hatred.
Until a sharp and out-of-control female voice, like a rainbow piercing the dark clouds, tore through the noisy curses and bad words...
resounded in the Hall of Heroes:
"enough"
Thales is so excited!
Everyone was shocked and subconsciously turned around to look at the highest seat.
There, the young Grand Duchess had left her seat without knowing when!
She made fists with both hands and waved them at her side, while she gritted her teeth and her face was distorted.
At this moment, Thelma Walton was like a desperate lioness guarding the pride of lions, roaring quite hysterically: "This is the Hall of Heroes!"
"Shut the fuck up!"
"Shut up!"
The voice of the Grand Duchess echoed among the beams.
The curses of the vassals suddenly subsided.
The hall returned to silence.
The only thing left was the rapid and trembling breathing of the girl in front of the highest seat.
Everyone stared blankly at the out-of-control Grand Duchess, looking at her clenched fists, her eyes red, and her eyes scanning the whole place angrily.
It was as if they had met their female lord again.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Monty the Dead Crow watched with interest as Selma opened and closed her mouth, unable to calm down for a long time, and sighed in a low voice: "Well...even if he is a little girl, he is still a Walton.
"
Thales opened his mouth slightly and stared at the troubled girl from a distance, with mixed emotions.
Selma.
No.
At this time, you should...
"What the hell is this?" Ian whispered angrily behind Thales: "You tell me about the Freedom Alliance."
"Didn't you listen to what the Grand Duchess said?" However, this time, Thales just shook his head coldly:
"Shut up."
Ian was stunned.
Finally, a steady cough broke the silence.
"Sit back, Curterson, everyone."
The regent's stern voice sounded.
"Whether it's moody or bullying the weak, it's all a cowardly act. The Northlanders are not that despicable yet," Earl Lisbane stood in front of Curtson and said calmly: "We will decide how to deal with this matter after discussing it with the lady.
after."
"Now that what has happened, it is useless to punish him severely."
"Until then, Prince Thales is still our guest."
The regent's words made Curtson frown.
"He is right," the old Count Nazaire echoed coldly: "It's just a military report. Look how anxious you are. If His Majesty Nunn is still here..."
The words of the two powerful vassals calmed down the irritability and anger in the hall a lot.
The vassals sat back down one after another, but their gazes on Thales did not decrease at all.
Thales closed his eyes, but his brain was spinning faster.
Accident.
If you have to get to that point...
"Ma'am." Lisban turned around and hinted to Thelma gently.
Thelma took a deep breath, calmed down her previous gaffe, and sat down with Nicolai's help with an ugly expression on her face.
She glanced at Thales, with an unreadable expression in her eyes.
"Lord Monty."
After Earl Lisban restored order in the hall, he turned to the indifferent Crow.
"Is Qiyuan City definitely the army of Xingchen?"
The regent asked steadily: "Is there any possibility of someone else being able to do it? For example, Kang Ma Si?"
"You know what I used to do, right?" Monty scratched the back of his head and pouted at Nicolai on the steps: "What do you think is the possibility of us getting the wrong target?"
The vassals all frowned.
"The five thousand light cavalry cannot be local nobles, they can only be..." Count Linna looked at Monty with scrutiny and suspicion: "Did you fight?"
Monty shook his head.
"In the past few days, the group of star people did not even approach the Free Castle. They just watched from a distance and kept sending out rangers to investigate." The Dead Crow looked at the letter in his hand and clicked his tongue: "From Blade Fang
The distance between the camp and Fort Liberty, God knows how they managed to get supplies in the desert."
Hearing this, many nobles were slightly startled.
"Wandering, cruising, patrolling, avoiding battle, and stabbing in the back at the critical moment," the speaker was Count Nazaire. The old man rubbed his chin and his eyes moved slightly: "Does this tactic sound familiar?
"
"For example, eighteen years ago?"
There was another silence in the hall, and many people lowered their heads.
Earl Curterson closed his eyes and sighed: "Fuck."
Thales' heart moved.
"Are Sonia Satherley and her guards still in Broken Dragon Fortress? Where did they get the five thousand cavalry, even if they are light cavalry, and stuff them into the desert together?" The youngest Earl Hester frowned.
, subconsciously turned his head to look for that figure:
"It is impossible for such a large-scale troop mobilization without any news in advance. Where is the news from the dark room? Mrs. Cassian, your..."
Hester realized that he had said the wrong thing and stopped himself in time.
A few seconds later, Monty snorted softly: "Whether it's a fortress or a dark room, you should ask the King of Black Sand Territory for the most clear answer."
The ministers in the hall were silent again.
Yes.
The throne is no longer in the Palace of Heroes, nor in Longxiao City.
The darkroom only for Exeter is naturally the same.
Everyone felt sad.
This is... Longxiao City after the death of King Nuen.
Upon hearing this, Earl Lisban sighed:
"It's not important anymore."
"The important thing is, if the stars are involved," the regent looked solemnly at the desolate-looking Grand Duchess: "Then our next Western Expedition..."
The discussion among the vassals resounded in the hall again.
Count Linna sneered: "Imagine this: when we were fighting to attack the city, there were a total of five thousand people in the desert to the south watching leisurely, waiting to give us a blow at any time, and there might be others behind them.
The entire Kingdom of Stars..."
"Twenty years ago, even if we had three Grand Dukes working together, the war would have dragged on for nearly a year because of the intervention of the White Elves and Camus." He narrowed his eyes, as if remembering those years: "Guess what, the stars can
How long will it drag us on, two years? Three years?"
"The king must be very happy to see this scene."
The envoys from Qiyuan City looked at each other with ugly expressions.
The atmosphere in the hall became increasingly depressing.
Thales ignored the unkind glances that glanced at him from time to time and quickly rearranged the information he knew.
Things won't be that simple, nor will they be that complicated.
It's just that the chess game needs to be raised a little higher. I originally thought that this was a storm between Exeter and the Free Alliance, or even within Exeter.
The Freedom Alliance wants to be independent, the Black Sand Territory wants to tide over the difficulties, Qiyuan City wants to protect its own interests, and Longxiao City wants to balance its own power. The other Grand Dukes are eager to sit back and watch the king's decline and Longxiao City's split.
And now...
We need to add the stars into the mix.
So, in this storm, where is the best interest of Xingchen?
"This is just an optimistic situation," Count Curterson clasped his fingers and calculated the numbers as if talking to himself: "If the opposite side... the opposite side is really the Kingdom of Stars that came out in force after the Year of Blood...
…”
"It's even worse, including the white elves who suffered losses in the previous war, and the four northern cities of Camas, who are looking at the situation..."
"And us, we only have Longxiao City and Qiyuan City..."
Count Nazaire looked at him calculating the chips, let out a long sigh, and said the words that made many Northlanders unhappy:
"When was the last time Exeter lost a battle...?"
No one spoke.
Boom!
The one-armed Count Kierkegaard punched the arm of the chair, making a dull sound.
The livid face told his mood at the moment.
The vassals clenched their fists one after another.
"The situation has become complicated." Earl Lisban's face remained unchanged and he said calmly.
Nazer nodded.
It's rare for two old friends and rivals to agree.
Thales was still thinking quickly.
Conjectures came to his mind one by one.
"If the plan to send troops remains unchanged, we need to readjust the deployment of troops, including the quality of the recruited soldiers," the old earl said in a serious tone: "The difference between facing the enemy Free Alliance and the enemy Star Kingdom is not the slightest."
"You mean, retreat?" Lisban's words came steadily.
"I didn't say that. After all, the lady has made a promise, and it is related to the honor of Longxiao City and Walton," Count Nazer said seriously: "But if we still have to send troops to fight, we can't use the same attitude as before.
, dealt with it hastily."
"After all, the opponent we are facing is our old enemy for nearly seven hundred years."
"Shield of the Western Continent, Descendant of the Empire."
No one spoke anymore.
Only the Death Crow shook his head and exhaled.
The heir of Qiyuan City, Ian Ronnie, stared in disbelief, looking at Thales and then at Thelma on the steps.
how come……
In the Grand Duke's seat, Thelma looked stunned.
At this moment.
"No."
Count Linna raised his head and attracted the attention of the entire hall.
"The problem is actually very simple." The Earl, who had a cold expression and spoke like a knife, looked at Thales again this time and said with deep meaning: "We neither need to increase our troops nor need to hesitate."
Thales' scalp tightened.
coming.
What worried him the most after what happened.
Many people moved slightly.
"The stars have an army coming to disrupt the situation."
"And we have their heirs."
Count Linna said coldly: "Prince Thales Bright Star, right?"
"A name that has never appeared in the Shining Star family tree."
At that moment, Thales felt that the eyes around him were getting colder and colder.
Earl Hester was startled: "You mean..."
Count Linna sighed: "Cut off one of his hands and send it to Yongxing City."
"Tell his crazy dad: retreat immediately."
"problem solved."
At that moment, the Grand Duchess turned her head suddenly and looked at Thales in disbelief.
But Thales remained indifferent.
Then the Grand Duchess looked at her regent anxiously, but Earl Lisban just shook his head slightly, indicating that he should be calm.
The people in the North became quiet and looked at Thales with increasingly weird looks.
Among them, Monty the Death Crow showed a strange smile to him.
Still like a hunter, looking at his prey.
Thales sighed.
"Hey, enough is enough," finally, Earl Hester couldn't help but said:
"This is not in line with the behavior of the people in the North. More than three thousand years have passed since the ignorant era when the Iron-Blooded King drank his heart out!"
Count Linna shook his head: "This is his role. Thank the gods, after six years of wasting food, this precious hostage finally came in use."
Thales clenched his fists.
"Wait a minute, that was the iron-fisted king who executed three hundred nobles in one night. It is said that the lunatic watched the entire execution without blinking an eye." Count Curterson snorted with no respect: "If he is really as rumored,
If you have a heart as strong as stone and refuse to retreat even if you do this..."
Count Linna smiled.
"That's enough of you," Earl Hester snorted impatiently: "Release him in exchange for retreat, or simply kill him to show your dissatisfaction with the Star People, and we torture children to vent our anger? What's going on."
Count Linner sneered.
"This is not venting anger. Besides, we are just releasing him," a cold light appeared in his eyes: "It's just in the form of installments."
Earl Hester frowned.
Installment?
"One letter is not convincing enough, so two, three, four..."
"Anyway, in addition to his palms, he also has arms, legs, feet, eyes, nose, ears..." Count Linna's cold words echoed in Thales's ears: "Every time we write a letter, we 'install it'