It is still an empty road after the patrol team has cleared the area. Passers-by will consciously stay away or be driven away by the patrol team that quickly arrives. There are still the Grand Duke's personal guards guarding the left and right. The patrol team is clearing the way forward and backward, and there are still people surrounded by people.
"Travel" surrounded by people...
But when Thales rode on the streets of Longxiao City again, he had a different feeling, not only because the route he usually took to play chess was different, and not only because the Fallen Stars were watching eagerly.
Follow behind.
After all, this may be the last time he walks in Longxiao City during his six years as a hostage.
Probably Nicolai also knew this.
So when Thales went out of his way and didn't pick up the reins and gallop at high speed (when he used to play chess, this always made the surrounding Grand Duke's guards full of complaints), he instead asked the veteran Gennard, who was a dark horse with a violent temper, and Jenny, in addition to Tai
The only person other than Ers who was not so repulsive held the reins and walked slowly forward to the Ax District as if it were sightseeing. The Fallen Star just pouted in dissatisfaction but said nothing more.
"Jenard," Thales looked at the buildings retreating on both sides in fascination: "Starting from the birch forest in the north, you have been in the mission for more than six years."
Jenard looked back at the prince: "Yes, Your Highness."
Thales sighed: "Being trapped in Longxiao City for so long..."
"It's far less exciting than when you charged into battle under Duke John, and it's probably not as comfortable as being on the city defense team in Yongxing City."
"It must be boring."
Listening to Thales' words, Jenard looked into the distance.
This veteran of the Star Legion, who had served under the Star God of War and the Flower of the Fortress, and experienced the disaster eighteen years ago, became more energetic after experiencing the six years in the North Kingdom, and swept away the city defense team.
The numbness and lifelessness of the times.
Although he has always felt guilty for becoming the tool of Duke Iris in the birch forest of the stars, attracting the vampires to interfere with the prince's mission.
"Compared with the hardships you have endured, this boredom is not worth mentioning," Jennard sighed: "And compared with the bloody wars in the Bloody Year, this boredom is not worth mentioning.
"
Thales said nothing.
His brows wrinkled unconsciously.
Year of Blood.
Bloody war.
The team moved forward slowly, and although it might be the last leg, the patrol team composed of Northlanders and the Grand Duke's personal guards were still clearing the way and guarding the surrounding area responsibly.
"Thank you, Genard," the second prince turned his head and looked at the veteran Genard who had followed him all the way from Yongxing City with a deep expression: "Your service in the past six years has actually far exceeded what you owe Duke John.
Thank you."
"No, Your Highness," Genard nodded respectfully: "It is I who should thank you."
"As for the kindness I owe Lord Duke John..." His expression sank, and there was an indelible pain in his brows, and he turned his face subconsciously:
"No, that's something I can't repay in my lifetime."
Thales stared intently at the back of the veteran leading the horse in front of him.
The prince took a deep breath and remembered the small stone urn he had seen in Canxing's tomb: "John Canxing, Duke of Star Lake, I heard you say something about him... humorous and approachable?"
Hearing the familiar name, Jennard couldn't help but feel slightly shaken.
"Yes, Your Highness, but the Duke's approachability is not the same as yours..."
It seemed that as soon as he mentioned that person, Genard's expression and spirit came alive: "I still remember the day of the conscription... Although the Duke is middle-aged, he does not have any excessive majesty or airs..."
"He is poor at martial arts, but has good eyesight, but his singing voice is even better, and he can also play the lute... Regardless of nobles, farmers, businessmen, craftsmen, soldiers, even prostitutes and prisoners of war, he can always communicate with all kinds of people.
Mingle: It was easy to find John in the military camp, because wherever the laughter was loudest, the Duke would be there."
Jennard was immersed in the memories of the past and couldn't help laughing: "I even thought he was a little... naive and silly many times."
Silly?
Thales cast a doubtful look.
"This is not disrespectful, it's just," Jenard frowned: "I don't know how to express it... Anyway, those of us in the Guards all talked and laughed with him, subconsciously treating him as one of our own, not as an authoritarian
The commander in hand, or the noble brother of Star King, Duke of Star Lake."
Gennard became more and more energetic as he spoke: "Eighteen years ago, at the military meeting of the Star Legion, the Duke would always be in a daze, or he would snore or even drool when he fell asleep. The nobles present were very embarrassed... For this reason,
Captain Sonia often apologized pitifully while gritting her teeth and hitting the Duke's head hard in public until he woke up from his sleep or knocked him unconscious. Vice Captain Kenya once used ice water to put him out of sleep.
A record of waking up."
The veteran laughed loudly: "Although the Duke always looked aggrieved and defended pitifully: he was not sleeping, but thinking about countermeasures in his dreams."
What?
Sleeping during a military meeting?
This is... the Star-Glory God of War who put down the rebellion?
Thales was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help scratching his head: "It sounds really... um, special?"
"Of course, it just sounds ridiculous. After all, if he was really a fool," Jenard glanced at Thales meaningfully and sighed, "there would be no title of 'Starry God of War'
Already."
Thales frowned slightly.
"What about you, Willow?"
Willow, a soldier walking behind his horse with two guns, one long and one short, was unexpectedly called by his name and was surprised:
"um, I?"
In six years, this new recruit who was rescued from the gallows by Thales in Broken Dragon Fortress, after experiencing the experience of leading from Black Sand to Dragon Sky City, has generally washed away his childishness. Although the team members
The veterans still like to make fun of him.
"How do you feel about these six years in Longxiao City?"
"To be honest, when I came out of the fortress six years ago, I didn't expect to stay in the enemy's country for so long." Under the reminder of veteran Genard, Willow quickly adjusted his expression: "But...
"
"Uncle Jernard said," he frowned: "It is because you are here that the people in the north can enjoy peace."
"So, it's probably worth it."
Thales was slightly startled.
Willow raised his head with a bitter expression:
"that is……"
"You know, I sometimes think," Willow sighed: "If you had been here eighteen years ago, just like this, using yourself as a pledge to go to Exeter..."
"Maybe the war will not happen, and my sister will not die of illness."
Thales lowered his head and fell into deep thought.
"Really?" He said calmly, as if talking to himself.
The team moved forward again and passed a fork that separated the spear area and the ax area.
"Huaiya," the prince on the horse raised his hand and pointed past the heavy guards on both sides to the three-story building with a terrace not far away:
"That house is the chess and card room we go to once a month, right?"
"Yes, Your Highness." The attendant observed carefully and replied cautiously.
Thales looked at the familiar outline of the building and felt somewhat inexplicably:
"In the past, we have always gone directly to the Spear Area, but we have never seen it from this angle."
He looked meaningfully at the specially decorated chess and card room, recalling the few "class" experiences he and Aixida had in it: "I'll probably miss playing chess in it."
"Actually, it's not too far away. If you want," Huaiya estimated the distance to the house: "Why not go and have a look?"
"No need," Thales shook his head, pointed to Nicolai next to him, and sighed: "Look at his face..."
"He is probably eager for an assassin to pop out from somewhere and kill me before we go to the Black Sand Territory."
These words made Huaiya frown deeply and subconsciously glanced around.
Rolf made a mocking expression at him, which unsurprisingly attracted an angry look from the attendant.
Nicolai turned his head, snorted disdainfully, and urged his horse forward.
"Where is your deputy?" Meteorite asked coldly: "Why didn't you see the cunning Lord Putilai Niman going to the Black Sand Territory with you?"
Thales' expression darkened and he shook his head: "We haven't seen each other for six years. To be precise, Putilai has long been no longer in my mission."
"We haven't seen each other for six years, but as soon as we show up, we will send troops to the Freedom Alliance with the stars?" Nicolai had a sullen face and said harshly:
"Maybe I should have caught him early. That man is not simple. Maybe he is the middleman between Xingchen and Lumba."
Thales raised his eyebrows.
"According to Putilai, he has been watched by you all the time in Longxiao City," Thales sighed: "Shouldn't you know his every move better than me?"
Nicolai gritted his teeth and gave him a warning look.
"Speaking of this, you know," Meteorite said coldly: "I have confirmed that the person who leaked the secret of the Grand Duchess to the darkroom was not Lisban."
Thales was slightly startled at first.
The prince thought of something for a second, then raised the corners of his mouth and exhaled secretly.
Do you still need to confirm?
But Nicolai's expression immediately turned terrifying.
"But it was you who brought Lombard here."
"So, if it's not Lisbane, then is it you, little prince?"
Meteorite's expression was grim, as if he was about to beat him at any moment: "You took the initiative to leak the biggest secret of Longxiao City to the Black Sand Territory and the Dark Room, so the king grabbed our handle and came here.
Join forces with you?"
Nani?
It took Thales two seconds to figure out what Nicolai meant from his dazed state.
The next moment, the prince's eyes widened and his tone suddenly increased: "What?"
Nicolai ignored his astonishment and continued in a cold voice: "Are you the one who told me to give this information to Lombard?"
Thales looked at the Fallen Star blankly, remembering the lie he made up casually not long ago in order to test the other party.
The Fallen Starman was still staring at him with glaring eyes.
Seeing that the Meteorite didn't look like he was joking at all, Thales felt confused as to whether he could laugh or cry.
This guy is really...
Seriously.
The next second, Thales took a deep breath and let the air stay in his lungs for a while before exhaling weakly.
"It's the same old saying, Nicolai," he shook his head helplessly: "On certain things, you and I..."
Thales looked into the Meteorite's eyes and said sincerely:
"It's really not on the same level."
After saying this, Thales no longer paid attention to Nicolai's extremely ugly expression, and signaled Gennard to rush his horse and pass him.
Behind Thales, the light-moving elf guard followed quickly, half of his face under the cloak sticking out his tongue at the ashen-faced Fallen Starman.
At this moment.
Whoosh!
A sharp and sharp sound came suddenly from a distance!
The team seemed to be held tightly by an invisible hand, and everything came to a halt.
Many people’s expressions changed drastically!
Thales' face turned pale, as if he had been awakened to a certain scene in his memory.
The moment he recognized the sound, he shouted hastily:
"It's a crossbow arrow!"
The patrols on the outside quickly formed a formation, the Grand Duke's personal guards consciously protected the inside, and the people of the stars responded with the prince as the center.
In two steps, Ada dwarfed Jenny's horse's hooves and jumped to Thales' side. Jennard habitually blocked the black horse, and Willow gritted his teeth and drew out his two guns.
Huaiya subconsciously wanted to pull Thales off his horse, but Nikolai stretched out his hand and held him down!
"Everyone, calm down!"
The grim-faced Fallen Starman pushed Huaiya away and reprimanded the attendant impatiently: "This is just a signal crossbow arrow from Longxiao City! And it's not nearby!"
Nikolai, who looked tense, nodded to the people around him: the team of northerners formed a protective formation and immediately spread out in a well-trained manner, with a clear division of labor and a strict formation.
In the patrol team that opened the way ahead, several soldiers climbed onto their horses neatly and set off towards different streets to gather information.
Only then did Huaiya wake up and look at Thales, who was also pale.
"What's going on?" This is the confused Thales.
[Listen to the voice, front.] This is Rolf's sign language.
"This is the patrol's firing arrow," Nikolai stared at the empty street ahead:
"They need reinforcements."
Thales frowned slightly.
Need reinforcements?
"Boss!"
Lord Justin looked into the distance with a serious expression and said in a nervous tone: "The direction of the sounding arrow... is ahead, which is our destination, the Mission Post House in Ax District!"
The Northlander team, especially the less well-trained patrol team, immediately went into an uproar.
The team that had been habitually alerting the surroundings immediately turned their attention and looked at the street ahead.
Nicolai hummed, his face calm, and he stared at the direction of the sound.
"What?"
Thales was shocked: "The mission house? Isn't that Rumba..."
"The patrol team is under the jurisdiction of the General Order Department of the Lesden garrison. Patrol team reinforcements from other districts will be in place soon."
He spoke coldly, with the authority of a commander in his words: "And that's none of our business! What we have to do now is to stay on standby and wait for the ones ahead..."
The next moment.
Whoosh!
Another sharp sound interrupted Nicolai's words!
"Boss, second shot!"
Justin spoke in a hushed voice next to Nicolai, but couldn't suppress the anxiety in his tone: "It seems the situation is urgent!"
The breathing of the people from the North and the Stars began to speed up at the same time.
Thales stared at the street ahead, feeling the tension in the air getting stronger and stronger.
Nicolai frowned fiercely and gritted his teeth: "Where's the scout, what's the reward ahead?"
"If something big happens ahead," Thales pursed his lips, "I might have gotten stuck."
The prince didn't care about the face of the fallen star. He turned his head and said anxiously to a short man under a cloak:
"Ada!"
"I know, you can see it!"
Ada pouted, snorted dissatisfied, and said something Thales couldn't understand.
But there was no delay in her movements: she saw the elf guard running to the side of the street at high speed, grabbing a window pane, and leaping up to the top of the three-story house on the side in a few steps.
In the eyes of everyone, she was as fast as a gecko, attracting many eyes of amazement.
On the roof, Ada gently raised her right hand and stopped in front of her forehead covered by a cloak.
The elf seemed very comfortable at that moment, as if he was feeling the breeze.
But the people on the street were all staring at her nervously.
The Meteorite snorted dissatisfiedly and whispered to Justin: "That's why the people we are following can't keep up with her..."
After a few seconds, Ada turned her head and her expression darkened.
"I can't see the specific situation clearly, but I can see the fleeing crowd," Facing everyone's nervous and expectant gazes, Ada muttered and reported back from a field of vision invisible to ordinary people: "Oh, there are still fights in the air.
There are at least a dozen pairs of voices..."
Thales narrowed his eyes: The fleeing crowd? How many pairs were fighting?
But the elf soon had no more to say.
"Lord Nicolai!"
As the sound of horse hooves sounded, a cavalryman from the previous patrol hurried back, breathing heavily in a voice that was quite exasperated:
"Ahead...the Black Sand Territory's station...Lumba...the king's posthouse...has been attacked!"
Everyone was surprised!
The King's Inn?
Attack?
The anxious words of the cavalryman continued: "The guards of the post house... seem to be in bad condition... the patrol team in the Ax area... was caught off guard. Two order officers and three teams were fighting. I saw several corpses..."
Many people frowned.
"stop!"
Nicolai spoke decisively, interrupting his incoherent response: "Just tell me two things: enemy situation? Current situation?"
The cavalryman was stunned for a moment, and then he regained his energy a little while panting.
“It’s confusing!”
The cavalry sentry who inquired about the news shook his head: "The opponent launched a surprise attack from more than one place. The number is unknown. They look like they are from the North. They not only have swords, but also bows and crossbows..."
"As for us, the people from the Black Sand Territory and the patrol team are fighting, and the order officers on the outside are blocking and fortifying, but there are fleeing civilians everywhere, and there are even people who are hot-headed and want to join the war by picking up weapons..."
Hearing this, Justin's expression tightened and he leaned into Nicolé's ear: "Today is the political day. There are too many nobles in the Ax District. Their private soldiers and guards are troublesome..."
Thales' frown deepened.
Nicolai's expression seemed to have just become frosty. He nodded: "Continue to investigate and send people to report back to the palace and the regent of Lisban."
The Fallen Starman turned around and glanced at the Grand Duke's personal guards first. Seeing that most of them behaved calmly, he nodded with satisfaction:
"Hmph, you actually dare to do something in a noble area like Ax District on Tingzhengri..."
Nicolai looked at the sky in front of him and hummed softly, with a hint of gloating in his words:
"No matter who the enemy is, they must hate the king..."
He turned his head and said to the sad-looking prince: "It seems that the journey to the Ax District to join Lumba will be postponed, little prince."
Before Thales could reply, Nicolai gave a loud order:
"Everyone!"
"The patrol team that opened the road will immediately stop advancing after the next wave of sentinels return, set up a defensive line, block the flow of people from the Ax Area, and prohibit anyone from passing through, whether it is their own people or others!"
The patrol team immediately took action after hearing the order. Since the accident six years ago, the patrol team of the first city gate was like the palace guard, and from then on directly obeyed the command and dispatch of the Grand Duke or the Grand Duke's personal guard.
Nicolai's voice was very decisive: "As for the Grand Duke's personal guards... the crossbowmen spread out on the spot, fill in the defenses, clear the commanding heights on both sides of the street, ensure visibility, and kill any unknown targets moving at high speed this way!"
"As for us, change direction and return to the Palace of Heroes along the same route...Justin, you lead the fourth team to launch an interception formation, be responsible for breaking up the rear, and be alert to any threats from that direction!"
The actions of the Grand Duke's personal guards were faster and neater than the patrols: they immediately changed from the rear to the front and turned to retreat. Lord Justin's team almost formed a human wall, blocking the road leading to the chaotic area. Many bows
The crossbowmen climbed up the houses on both sides one after another, drew out their long arrows, and aimed in that direction vigilantly.
Listening to the other party's order to blockade and retreat, Thales sighed: he knew the attitude of the Fallen Stars.
"Hey," Thales turned around and reminded the Faller angrily: "I know you want to see him die, but if Lumba died here today..."
"Are you sure this is a good thing for Longxiao City?"
Nicolai shook his head disdainfully: "My responsibility now is to transport you back to the Palace of Heroes in a safe manner, and I don't care about anything else."
Thales took a deep breath.
"Okay," the prince spread his hands: "Think about it, King Charman died inexplicably in Longxiao City under the rule of the Grand Duchess..."
"If I were Qiyuan City or Guard City, I would definitely have criticized Longxiao City for its poor protection and even deep suspicion first, and then in the dirty transactions of the King Selection..."
The Fallen Star paused slightly.
He turned to look at Thales with a cold face.
Thales shrugged helplessly: "For Longxiao City?"
At this moment, the sound of the third arrow shot came from afar.
The atmosphere became more tense.
After a few seconds, Nicolai snorted angrily and turned around with a curse:
"Son of a bitch..."
He shouted angrily with dissatisfaction: "Gale, you take the fifth and sixth teams and go to the post house to reinforce the patrol team over there. We have practiced this situation for six years. You know what to do!"
An experienced Grand Duke's bodyguard nodded, smiled pitifully, and led half of the Grand Duke's bodyguard to reinforce the situation.
Nicolai was obviously in a bad mood: "Everyone else, retreat as planned!"
In the bad atmosphere, the group turned around with complicated emotions and headed back in the direction they came from.
They hurriedly retreated for a few minutes. It was not until they returned to the junction of the Ax Area and the Spear Area and saw the familiar chess and card room that the tension in the team slowly subsided.
"Damn it," Waiya spat nervously, "Why do we always encounter this kind of thing?"
"Calm down, Huaiya," Thales said with a gloomy face: "Remember what I said: don't panic."
But Thales himself was also adjusting his breathing on the horse, thinking about what had just happened.
On today's political hearing day, in the Ax District where nobles gather...
The attack, no, the assassination of Charmaine Lombard?
who is it?
and……
If Lumba died here...
Thinking of this, Thales clenched his fists and tightened his grip on the saddle.
He stayed in the middle of the retreating team, with a solemn look on his face.
"Hey! Little prince."
"You know," Meteor Rider rode up to Thales and said coldly: "If we maintain the usual galloping speed and arrive at the Ax Zone earlier, we might catch up with the attack head-on."
Thales frowned: "What do you mean?"
Nicolai shook his head: "I mean... your head may not be cheaper than Lumba's life."
Thales thought of something and his scalp tightened:
"You said, those people might want to intercept me?"
Nicolai snorted disdainfully.
The second prince subconsciously looked around: the streets were calm, Ada was running vigilantly on the rooftops, observing the surroundings from a high position, and everything was normal with the team of Northlanders.
Thales then turned around and said with doubt on his face:
"I……"
"I'm not that unlucky, am I?"
As soon as he finished speaking, an accident happened.