Sak'el raised his head, took a step forward, and walked into the range of the fire.
But at that moment, everyone was stunned.
I saw the former watchman of the royal guard, the terrible punishment knight, Sak'el, laughing in a low voice and staggering towards him.
But that was far from the reason for their surprise.
I don’t know when, but the tough and unbeatable Sak’el burst into tears.
"You are very smart, Your Highness," Sak'el's voice was choked and hoarse, his chest was shaking, and his red eyes were staring at Thales:
"Even too smart."
He slowly raised the ax blade.
This made the remaining people subconsciously prepare for the attack.
"You know that in this gloomy dungeon, there is no luck in being targeted by me, so you give up force, stop escaping, let alone use your forbidden power, and instead resort to political tactics."
Thales was slightly surprised.
Sak'el's voice was hoarse, full of despair and sorrow, like a wounded soldier who had lost his last hope.
"You know my relationship with these people, so you deliberately released them to confront me, observe, collect intelligence, and look for opportunities while dormant and preparing."
He glanced over one by one, looking at each guard member with eyes full of pain and conflicting emotions.
"From the moment we met until now, you seem to be running away in embarrassment and weak, but in fact, you are pressing forward step by step with your own plans. From Samuel, Barney, to Naki, your insinuations and push-ups have brought you closer little by little.
The truth of that time until you caught my weakness, the things I care about."
Sak'el said, looking around and smiling bitterly with tears in his eyes.
"I..." Thales opened his mouth to speak, but found that he was speechless.
Bang!
There was a crisp sound.
Sak'el's ax blade fell to the ground.
At this moment, under everyone's surprised gaze, Sak'el finally showed rare fatigue and age.
Just like before, he was still alone, standing against everyone else.
Take one to eight.
but now……
Thacker raised his eyes.
But now...
The multiple figures in front of him gradually blurred, and finally focused on the young and embarrassed, yet calm and inexplicable figure in the front.
Sak'el looked at Thales quietly, a smile that was both bitter and melancholy amidst his tears.
I don’t know when it started…
It has become one-to-one.
Sak'el sighed softly in his heart and looked away from his old colleagues.
They are no longer criminals who have been in jail for a long time or are on the run in panic.
Instead, he became the proudest being again.
Kingdom of Stars...
High Royal Guard
At this moment, Sak'el didn't know why he couldn't suppress the tears in his eyes, and he didn't know why he couldn't fill the hole in his heart.
He just looked at Thales in front of him dreamily.
If he wasn't such a taboo being...
That's good.
Sak'el's figure swayed in the air, but he tried his best to steady himself.
"You sincerely and ruthlessly pressed for the truth, forcing each of them into desperate situations, showing your true nature, and digging out the details that were most worthy of your use."
Sak'el became more and more anxious as he spoke, and his expression became heavier and more desperate.
"Then, like a saint who saves the world, you use your special status as a shining star to forgive them and relieve their burdens."
"more importantly……"
"You have become the spiritual support in their hearts, and you have completely tied yourself to them."
Thales felt bitter in his heart.
He could only resist looking at the expressions of the people around him.
Sak'el took a deep breath and stared desperately at Thales, who had a complicated expression at the moment:
"To them, you are no longer just a prince they met for the first time."
The punishment knight continued in despair:
"You are the mourner of Naki and Nai, the pardoner of criminals, and the comforter of prisoners. You are the prince of the shining star that they recognize, and you are a noble person who is willing to take risks to clear up misunderstandings for me."
"If I kill you, it will be equivalent to destroying them both physically and mentally."
Sak'el covered his tears and smiled bitterly while shaking uncontrollably:
"But it all seems so logical, I can't find anything wrong with it, hahaha."
Thales sighed:
"Sacher..."
But the Punishment Knight didn't give him a chance to speak.
"Just now, when I was a villain, I would have beaten them to pieces without hesitation, and then killed you."
Sak'el lowered his arms and said these words with such force that the others became nervous.
"I can bear their hatred as a villain afterwards."
"I can live like that, I can die like that, I have lived like that for eighteen years!"
"Eighteen years!"
Sak'el growled lowly.
His shaky body seemed to be unable to hold up any longer, and he fell backwards, leaning against the wall.
There was a sad silence in the dungeon.
Sak'el's expression slowly turned gray.
"But those words you just said, those words you used to defend me, were not meant for me."
"You told them."
Sak'el raised his head and looked at each of his colleagues.
For some reason, everyone caught by his eyes felt an indescribable tingling sensation.
"You cleansed me of my sins, you made them respect me again, and more importantly, you turned their feelings into weapons against me."
The punishment knight's voice became increasingly bitter, sounding like a plea.
"Because you know, from this moment on, when what I see on their faces is no longer hatred for traitors, but apologies and respect for their superiors..."
Sak'el leaned against the wall, pointed at his chest, and then at his head, breathing intermittently.
"And you know, this is my greatest weakness."
Sak'el stared sadly at the ax blade at his feet, looked up to the sky, and let out a painful roar in his throat.
"You know, facing them like this... I can't do it anymore..."
Thales looked at each other blankly.
Speechless.
"But why."
The dying punishment knight took a deep breath, as if he had regained energy:
"If you don't expose all this, if you don't pursue the truth..."
"Then maybe..."
At that moment, Sak'el looked at the body on the ground and at Little Barney, with endless sadness on his face:
"Maybe Naki and Nye will still be alive and breathing."
"As for Barney, he will still only hate me, not his father, not the late king."
Thacker closed his eyes.
Little Barney turned his head and tried not to look at him.
Cannon took a painful breath and dropped the weapon as well.
The atmosphere became quite uncomfortable.
Thales felt a heavy pressure on his chest that he had never felt before. If he didn't say something, he would explode.
"I'm sorry, about Naki and Nai, I..."
But after the young man finished speaking, he was interrupted again.
I saw Sak'el holding his forehead tightly with one hand, twisting his cheek in pain:
"I don't know, I really don't know, what you said to them, what you said to comfort them, including what you said to me when you were willing to reveal your identity, and even when you risked everything to reveal your identity, were they really from the bottom of your heart?
Is it the truth, or is it hypocrisy with ulterior motives?”
"Are you trying to save them or yourself?"
Thales was stunned.
Sincerity or hypocrisy?
Save others, save yourself?
Thales was lost in thought for a while.
"Maybe," the young man felt an unspeakable sense of loneliness for some unknown reason:
"Maybe a little bit of both."
Sak'el's breathing became more intense.
It's like he's having another episode.
"Hahaha, lurk in the dark, test the weakness, and finally hit the vital point, killing with one blow," the punishment knight's laughter became faster and faster:
"The most terrifying thing is that I already know your methods, but I am still unable to fight back! I don't have the talent like Lord Hansen, and I can't even tell whether your words are true or false."
sincere.
pretend?
Thales looked at him conflicted.
He spoke several times, but in the end he could only say lonelyly:
"A long time ago, I heard something from a one-eyed guy."
Thales sighed:
"If it's beneficial to the stars, why is it true or false?"
Sak'el was slightly shocked and paused for a few seconds.
But soon, his face covered with tears became distorted.
"Good for the stars?"
"Haha, so you specifically pointed out that your status as a hostage in the North is also one of the means? You want to remind me that Exeter is on the offensive and has the upper hand, and once you die, the kingdom will fall into
Dilemma?”
Sak'el was talking to himself almost crazily.
Thales was silent for a while and then spoke:
"Actually, I didn't think that much, I just felt..."
"feel……"
Thales opened his mouth, but found that he could no longer speak.
at this time.
"You bright stars are all the same, aren't you?" Sak'el put down his hand and smiled with tears in his eyes.
Thales was stunned:
"us?"
Sak'el chuckled again:
"Back then, he was like this, looking at me sincerely and calmly, revealing the truth without hesitation, admitting his purpose without hesitation, even admitting his hypocrisy, admitting his apology, and his 'have to do it'
'."
This time, the punishment knight looked in one direction dreamily and slowly stretched out his finger.
"Look, he was sitting there, smiling sincerely and innocently, and letting me choose."
"Just like it is now."
Thales looked in the direction he was pointing.
But all he saw was a dark void.
He turned around worriedly and found that the guards around him were looking at the crazy Sak'el with sad expressions on their faces.
"Molding truth and hypocrisy together, carving out a chessboard that others have to move..."
At this moment, Sak'el was like a haggard old man, without the warrior demeanor he once had.
This made Thales feel sad.
Sak'el's voice gradually weakened, bringing out a heartbreaking rhythm: "I hate you, but I hate that I don't hate you even more, I hate that I can't hate you even more..."
"Bright Star..."
"You are all equally cruel."
cruel.
Thales closed his eyes tightly.
"I'm sorry." He said with difficulty.
The next moment, the punishment knight suddenly roared!
"ah!"
Sak'el knelt on the ground in pain, covering his forehead.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness!"
"Why!"
The roar was dry and hoarse, but it was even more heartbreaking.
Thales wanted to step forward, but was grabbed by Belletti behind him.
Little Barney shook his head at him.
Sak'el's wail lasted for a few seconds and then weakened.
But the next second, he looked at Thales with a sad expression.
"Walk."
This time, Sak'el's words were simple.
"Let's go, Your Highness, leave."
He covered his head and crouched in front of the wall, his tone almost pleading.
"Never, never come back here again."
"Just pretend that you...have never...seen me."
Thales stared blankly at the punishment knight.
He is safe.
but……
This is not what he wants.
He felt sad when he looked at Sak'el, who was almost collapsed and was hysterical just a moment ago.
no.
Thales took a deep breath:
"You... you can come with us and leave the Prison of Bones. You may not be able to return to the capital in an upright manner, but..."
But unexpectedly, Sak'el suddenly burst into flames and roared out of thin air!
"Walk!"
Thales was startled until Belletti held his shoulders.
Sak'el slumped back to his original position, his voice became lower, and he began to sob.
"Before I lose control...go."
"I beg you."
"Bright Star."
Thales looked at him and was silent for several seconds, until Barney behind him coughed lightly.
"I see."
Thales sighed, turned around, and walked away.
it's over.
He said this to himself.
But for some reason, there was no joy in his heart.
There is only a touch of sadness.
"Wait a minute."
Everyone turned their eyes and saw Samir looking in the direction of Sak'el and loudly said:
"Sak'el, do you plan to stay in the Prison of Bones and die here for the rest of your life?"
Punishment Knight did not answer.
Samir frowned.
"Okay, if you like it here, just fend for yourself."
"But before that, you have to tell me," Samir gritted his teeth: "Who is it?"
"Who was the shining star who attempted to usurp the throne eighteen years ago?"
This sensitive issue made everyone nervous again.
But Sak'el just chuckled in a daze and shook his head nervously.
"It's not important anymore."
"It doesn't matter anymore."
Samir's brows became tighter and tighter, obviously unwilling to do so, and he took a step forward.
"you"
But another hand held him down.
"He's right, Samir."
Little Barney breathed out, his tone filled with disgust for the past and lies:
"No matter who did it...the result cannot be changed."
Samir was silent for a while.
Finally, he angrily threw away Barney's arm and stopped looking at Sak'el.
"Very good, then let's..." Little Barney sighed.
But just when everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Thales let out a long breath, and suddenly turned around and walked back as if he had made up his mind!
He walked towards Sak'el again without hesitation.
Little Barney, who had only one arm left to use, couldn't catch him, and his color suddenly changed.
"Your Highness!" Belletti subconsciously tried to stop Thales.
But Thales calmly raised a hand and stopped everyone's actions.
"I know what I'm doing."
The young man exhaled, walked slowly to Sak'el, who was holding his head and shaking, muttering to himself, and squatted down.
"You know, knight," Thales showed a friendly but sad smile:
"During my journey, I experienced the most despairing darkness."
Sak'el's shaking stopped.
He put down his arms and looked at the young man blankly and confused.
"At that time, there was a lonely and selfless hero behind the scenes who gave me the most generous and sincere blessing."
The next moment, Thales made a move that shocked everyone.
He reached out his hand and gently held Sak'el's head.
"And now, in the name of Thales Bright Star," Thales said the most sincere words in his calmest and gentlest voice:
"I convey his blessing to you."
bless.
Sak'el seemed to be stunned. He stared at Thales, motionless.
Thales leaned forward and leaned against the knight's forehead.
"May the darkness purify your soul, and may the torch guide your direction," Thales's voice was hoarse, but it had an inexplicable sense of hollowness, which made the bystanders unknowingly eliminate their anxiety:
"The lonely watchman, Sak'el."
Thales closed his eyes and placed his forehead against the other party's ugly mark:
"May you... never be lost."
At the moment of contact, Sak'el's whole body trembled slightly.
Thales' mood was extremely calm.
After doing all this, he felt like he had become different.
but……
"ah!"
He suddenly heard people behind him exclaiming in unison.
But Thales ignored them. He knew they were worried, but he also knew that he was safe now.
"This is……"
However, at an angle that Thales couldn't see, Quick Rope opened its mouth wide.
He looked at the faint silver light emanating from Thales and was so surprised that he took a step back and bumped into Tardin!
Little Barney looked at this extraordinary light in shock, and exchanged glances with Belletti, frightened and at a loss for words.
It wasn't until several seconds later that the confused Thales opened his eyes and stood up.
Only then did he realize that at some point, the guards behind him had widened their eyes and stared at him blankly.
Strange.
Thales was puzzled for a while.
The young man cast a questioning look at the petrified man: "What's wrong?"
"Well, you just..."
I saw Kuaisheng covering his mouth in an exaggerated manner, speaking incoherently, pointing at Thales's arm and shaking it endlessly: "Oh my god, the bright moon, the harvest, Muhai, the desert god..."
"Is this... the legend, the imperial palace, that, golden, shining, sparkling, sparkling?"
The next second, his mouth was covered by Tardin behind him.
"Nothing, Your Highness."
Taldin said respectfully:
"He was just a little excited."
Under Taldin's merciless hand, Kuaisheng, who was about to cry, immediately nodded his head calmly.
Thales shook his head inexplicably.
But he knew it was not the time to pursue the matter further.
With pain all over his body, he turned his head tiredly and saw Sak'el, who was covered in wounds, sitting blankly, looking at him in disbelief, silent.
But at least...
Thales thought silently:
The crisis is resolved.
Thales stared at him for a while and finally sighed.
The prince stepped forward and walked towards the others. Barney Jr. and Belletti tacitly moved out of the way, followed by Samir, Tardin, Cannon and Bree.
The quick rope stood there stupidly, and was pulled away by Tardin.
Step by step, Thales staggered through the passage they respectfully gave way to, and suddenly felt like he was walking in the Fuxing Palace.
He smiled mockingly to himself.
He didn't know why, but he felt that these people's attitudes were different.
They were more respectful than when they first met, but less cordial than when they had forgiven and comforted them.
Thales didn't think too much. He walked through the passage that people gave up and walked to the bodies of Naki and Nai.
"What are you going to do with their remains?"
Little Barney paused and looked sad.
"One day," he whispered carefully:
"We will come back and retrieve everyone's remains."
Thales nodded.
The bloody years of these people.
That's it for now.
The young man sighed, endured the pain in his waist, leaned down, and picked up the green crystal "key" on the ground.
The key to the Bone Cage.
"So," Thales grinned and rubbed his waist, which was probably a muscle strain, and looked at the people in front of him:
“Are you ready to get out of jail?”
Everyone looked at Barney.
Little Barney was silent for a while, looking away from the body on the ground.
He silently picked up the sword, walked to Belletti, and let the latter hold his body.
Cannon sorted out Naki and Nai's remains for the last time, sobbed and gritted his teeth and nodded.
Bree kissed the deceased's forehead and stood up.
Taldin let go of the fast rope and readjusted his sword.
Quick Rope showed off his white teeth, held the Time Crossbow, and made an exaggerated "You're awesome" gesture to Thales.
Samuel silently pulled out the silver-edged sword that Thales had left behind from the ground and walked behind the crowd.
This group of scarred remnants gathered silently.
Little Barney looked around, then hummed softly and nodded to Thales:
"at any time."
Thales raised the corners of his mouth and suddenly his eyes narrowed.
"Oh, one last thing."
"While you are all still here..."
The prince turned around, rubbed the key in his hand, and looked at each of the slovenly and scarred guard members, thoughtfully:
"Selan Zelana."
"Do you have any impression of this name?"
Everyone was stunned.
Thales scanned everyone's expressions.
He found nothing unusual.
The young man frowned and asked:
"I mean, eighteen years ago, especially before the Year of Blood?"
The others looked at each other, but all of them had a look of astonishment.
Finally, Belletti asked in confusion: "Seran...na?"
"Who is that?"
Looking at their expressions, Thales could only sigh in disappointment.
"My mother," he shook his head, finally giving up on his intention to find witnesses from many years ago:
"It is said to be."
Everyone looked at each other in astonishment.
"It's okay, I'm just trying to ask."
"But since you don't know..."
Without any delay, Thales walked straight to Samir, raised the key in his hand, and with the most complicated and strange mood, he looked at this ancient but lonely dark dungeon for the last time: "Come on, find your secret exit.
.”
"We've had enough of this shabby dungeon..."
Samir stretched out his hand, but did not take the key immediately.
"Are you sure you want to go out?"
Thales was slightly startled:
"What's the meaning?"
Samir shook his head:
"I don't know what you are capable of, but if the disaster is leaked outside and through people like us..."
Samuel's eyes turned cold:
"Whether you are a prince or not, there are many people who want you dead."
"Samuel!"
Belletti glanced at Sak'el, who was sitting in the shadow corner on the other side, and said sternly: "Don't forget, His Highness saved your life...all of our lives."
Samir snorted softly.
Thales looked at him and then at the people around him.
From their eyes, he saw not only respect for the prince, but also fear and awe of the unknown.
Of course, the only exception is a heartless person.
Thales smiled.
"Yes, if my identity is exposed, many people will want my life."
The prince said calmly: "But you don't want it."
"This is enough."
At that moment, Samir was stunned.
His eyes stayed on Thales for a long time.
Several pairs of eyes moved slightly.
Thales snorted lightly and shook the key in his hand.
"And it's really time for us to go."
Samuel looked at the key in Thales' hand and then at him, a little lost.
"yes."
"time to go."
Samir nodded coldly, but withdrew his hand and ignored the key.
Under Thales's doubtful eyes, he saw Samir walking ten steps to an inconspicuous corner. He first pried open a floor tile with his long sword, then leaned down and stretched out his hand to pull something inside.
"Samuel? Key?"
Just when everyone was scratching their heads, changes happened.
Rumble…
The slight vibrations coming from the ground and the bursts of dust falling overhead made Thales and the others suddenly change their colors!
"What is this"
Before Little Barney finished speaking, Thales reached out to cover his mouth and nose and discovered the key.
Amidst the constant falling dust, a dark hole suddenly appeared in the place where the ceiling and wall connected to the wall directly in front of them!
Rumble…
Amid everyone's surprise, the shaking continued, and the area of the hole above their heads continued to expand.
It looked like the wall tiles connected to the ceiling were receding piece by piece, slowly revealing the spacious rectangular opening.
What's even more amazing is that the wall tiles seem to have been agreed upon, retreating at different distances from top to bottom. When they retreat to the bottom, they just form a stone staircase that goes up step by step. From the ground to the ceiling, there are eight or nine people.
wide, leading to the dark unknown hole.
The cold wind kept pouring in from the ever-widening hole, causing Thales to shiver.
Ten seconds passed.
When the vibration completely dissipated and the hole above the head was completely revealed, everyone was stunned.
This is……
Thales stared blankly at the stone staircase that seemed to move backwards and upwards step by step.
"I know, it's shocking, isn't it?" Samir stood on the edge of the new stone staircase and sighed: "The miracles of the mages."
"When I first saw it, I was just like you."
Thales took a deep breath, came to his senses, and tried to convince himself that he didn't need to be so shocked.
The young man took steps:
"Okay, then let's..."
Thales' hands tightened.
etc.
For a moment, he suddenly realized something was wrong.
"Samuel."
Thales stared blankly at Samuel standing at the edge of the stone staircase.
"You opened the exit without looking for it? Do you know its location?"
The prince's question attracted most people's attention.
Samir snorted softly:
"I always knew."
Thales was stunned.
He tried his best to adjust his breathing, and tremblingly raised the crystal green key in his hand:
"Then why...don't you need a key?"
Thales' question made everyone feel that something was wrong, and Barney's expression suddenly changed.
Samir snorted lightly and turned towards them, his back facing the cave entrance and stone stairs.
"Because this exit was opened an hour ago," Samir said expressionlessly:
"Before the key falls into your hands."
Thales' brain felt dizzy, and he tried hard to understand the strange logic here.
The exit door has been opened a long time ago?
Before it falls into my hands?
Wait, where did I get this key that is said to be able to open the Prison of Bones?
That is……
Thinking of this, Thales couldn't help but turn pale.
Samir looked at the darkness in the cave entrance and frowned slightly:
"They seem to be a little late and need some reminders..."
Samuel grabbed the silver-edged sword in his hand and tapped it on the stone bricks a few times. The blade suddenly made a crisp tinkling sound that spread through the empty darkness behind the cave entrance.
Ding…ding…ding…
At that moment, Barney and Beretti both changed their colors!
"Samuel?"
Samir turned his head and hummed, saying nothing.
But soon, unusual changes occurred in the field.
tread.
Footsteps.
There were mysterious footsteps in the darkness at the entrance of the cave.
passed into Thales's ears.
Right behind Samir.
Little Barney subconsciously caught up and formed a truth formation with Belletti, protecting the surprised Thales behind him and facing Samuel who was not quite right.
Step, step, step...
Plural footsteps.
There are more and more footsteps, from weak to strong, from small to loud, from far to near.
From vaguely audible to clearly discernible.
Everyone is nervous!
"Samuel, what did you do?" Barney looked at his old colleague in disbelief.
But Samir just looked at him coldly.
Step, step, step...
Finally, a pair of sand boots appeared at the top of the stone staircase. With a leisurely rhythm, he walked out of the darkness and descended step by step.
"Good job, Samuel," a strange voice that Thales almost forgot, but immediately remembered the moment he heard it, came from above the boots:
"After waiting for so long, I almost thought you had died."
The voice was calm and unhurried, yet cold and indifferent.
Samir snorted coldly and did not answer.
Little Barney and others looked at each other in confusion, but did not get an answer.
But they noticed that Prince Thales suddenly became ugly and extremely shocked.
impossible.
"So, all our troubles..."
The pair of sand boots slowly walked down the stone stairs, gradually revealing their owner's figure.
The calm voice continued:
"The Shield of Shadows, the Northlanders, the Secret Service, your prisoner friends, including that damn mask..."
"They're all killing each other, right?"
Samir nodded, ignoring the doubtful and disappointed looks in others' eyes.
"Of course, basically everyone here is injured and is no longer a threat," Samir glanced around his fellow guardsmen and said coldly:
"But Sonny didn't survive."
The owner of the sand boots paused slightly:
"Oh, what a pity."
"But we will remember him."
Little Barney held a sword with one arm and raised his alert level to the highest level. Belletti firmly protected Thales's flanks, while the others solemnly rearranged their formations.
But Thales was completely frozen in place.
impossible.
The owner of the sand boots finally stepped down the stone stairs, revealing his whole face in the firelight.
"no no."
Thales looked at the visitor blankly:
"I saw with my own eyes that you were obviously nailed through..."
The man wearing sand boots sighed slowly, as if he didn't feel comfortable with it:
"Yeah, yeah, I know."
He is like a librarian who has explained library rules to people countless times but still encounters violations every day. His words are filled with laziness and impatience:
"You saw it with your own eyes: I died."
Amid the confusion among the guard members, Thales glared at the man who shouldn't be here.
impossible.
"So you might as well take a guess, Prince Thales."
The visitor calmly opened his arms, with the same polite smile as before, and showed his intact neck and chin to Thales:
"What kind of existence is there in this world..."
The visitor paused for a moment, seeming to enjoy Thales's reaction:
"Immortal to death..."
He chuckled and continued:
"Every rebirth?"
The visitor's laughter seemed to be filled with magic, bringing out the deepest fear in Thales's heart.
Kill him without death.
Every rebirth.
Thales looked at the other person on the stone staircase stiffly, feeling that his thinking was about to stop.
In this world, there are existences that cannot be killed...
That is……
That is……
"By the way, thank you for helping me keep the 'eternal truth'."
In Thales' almost frozen eyes of surprise, the visitor calmly and politely took the silver-edged sword handed to him by Samuel.
"But I remember that you didn't understand the inscription on it."
It's Ricky.
Thales said to himself blankly.
It's him.
The person who should have died under Yoder's sword for a long time, the blood-whispering mercenary leader, Crassus of the Sword of Disaster, and Ricky who was always calm and unhurried, stood on the stone stairs, gently showing the streamlined sword blade.
Two lines of inscriptions.
"Truth is eternal."
Looking at the stunned Thales, Ricky's eyes flashed coldly as if he were reborn after death, and he said in the most soothing tone: