Even if there are only two people face to face, the Foreign Secretary is still rigorous and restrained in his words:
"Maybe they do have old grudges, maybe they don't obey each other, maybe the king's orders have not been implemented smoothly in the Western Wilderness for many years, and it was just an accident..."
But Gilbert narrowed his eyes:
"But from the perspective of your father and your rule, Your Highness, are they colluding, is it a coincidence, or is it both, just a tacit understanding..."
"Does this still matter?"
Thales looked stunned when he heard this.
Gilbert took a deep breath and said extremely seriously:
"Xihuang, it is like a rough, uneven, soft and hard pie. Sometimes it is slippery, sometimes it is stubborn. It has hard stubble that is easy to knock your teeth, and it is also sticky that keeps cutting. No matter you chew it carefully, you can eat it slowly.
It’s still such a feast, it’s hard to eat from any angle, let alone digest it.”
"Compared to this, whether it's the desperate Arend in the north, the tough and fragile Nantriste, or the young and energetic Kevin Dill on the south coast..."
Gilbert shook his head, the fear and worry in his eyes only increasing.
"So, do you understand what Baron Williams means?"
Thales, who had not yet reacted, looked at him blankly.
Just listen to Gilbert chuckle:
"Yes, compared to his famous name in the desert, anyone who has really been exposed to the inside story knows that Legend Wing is arrogant, arrogant, difficult to get along with, has made countless enemies, and disdains friends with him because of his ability."
His choice of words is precise and direct.
"Even the Fuxing Palace doesn't like him. He has no respect for the nobility and no care for tradition. He can raise an army with anger and destroy the city with pleasure. He is determined to have his own way and the emperor's life is difficult to control..."
"Of course I don't care about the mere political tricks of Xihuang."
Thales froze.
In his mind, he pictured Roman pulling Nobu coldly and openly threatening to enter the Fuxing Palace.
[Next time, if they want to take my territory again and play some kind of political game to balance power...just wait until I go to Fuxing Palace to find them.]
Gilbert's tone contained a hint of disdain:
"And with the support of the royal family and the army, he became even more unscrupulous: no matter the toughness of the black lion, the sophistication of the crow, or the unpredictability of the four-eyed skull, overnight after the desert war, no one could defeat him in the Wings of Legend.
It pales in comparison to the madness and ferocity of the system."
Gilbert's eyes showed the excitement of a fox catching its prey:
"So, when a ferocious god who doesn't even pay the king's favor takes root in the complicated and chaotic Western Wilderness..."
He didn't say any more, just looked at Thales with a smile.
On the contrary, Thales looked at him in surprise:
"So what you need is not a Xihuang who is at odds with each other and entangled, but a Xihuang who is forced to work together under the pressure of being outside the rules?"
"So that you can hold on to the rope, grasp the key, and get rid of the trapped beast once and for all?"
"And Williams, that pressure?"
In front of him, Gilbert still smiled as before.
Williams, Falkenhauser, Croma, Bozdorf...
And now, it's Gilbert, and...
Kessel V.
Thales leaned weakly on the chair, rubbing his eyebrows in distress, feeling that his brain was about to explode.
After a while, he put down his palm.
"But does it work?"
"The nobles of the Western Wilderness, even the most radical ones, will not surrender just because there is a troublesome lunatic on their doorstep. On the contrary, they will only be angered, and even more..."
Thales couldn't find any good words, so he simply gave an example:
"Just like this time, Gilbert and the arrogant Williams almost burned through half of the Blade Tooth camp and stole all the supplies that the Lord of the West Wasteland had put here, but they..."
But at this moment, a terrible thought flashed through Thales' mind.
His words continued, but his speaking speed slowed down unconsciously:
"They...they...he..."
The prince paused in his words.
He looked at Gilbert blankly.
"Gilbert, if the Legend Wings are part of your plan..."
Thales looked at his old teacher in disbelief:
"Then how do you expect Xihuang to react?"
Gilbert realized something, and his smile gradually disappeared.
"Your Highness, it's getting late..." He cleared his throat.
But Thales seemed to be immersed in his own world, thinking about himself:
"I always thought that the Blade Tooth Camp was not your target, but a bait."
"And the nobles of the Western Wilderness suffered heavy losses and had to vomit out the camp. That is your result."
"But what if I'm wrong?"
Thales stared at the shattered meal on the plate.
Gilbert didn't speak, just looked at him worriedly.
"What if the Blade Tooth Camp is not even a bait at all? What if it is just a gambling table with rules written on it, allowing the nobles of the Western Wilderness who think they know the rules to carefully place their chips?"
Thales slowly calmed down his thoughts, reasoning and narrating. The more he spoke, the more frightened he became:
"What if this is the real bait until their chips are eaten by Williams who ignores the rules?"
"What if the result you want is not just to make the West Wasteland lords spit out the Blade Tooth Camp?"
"What if what you want is for them to be fooled and severely injured, forced to tear away their reserve under heavy pressure, and have no way out to fight back?"
Gilbert frowned and shook his head:
"This is why you are so worried, Your Highness, why should we..."
But Thales interrupted him again.
"Gilbert."
Thales looked at the dinner plate blankly:
"Follow you and Marius, the thousands of royal standing troops transferred from the interior, from the north and the central territory..."
"They are not going to change the anti-blade camp, and they are not here to greet me, right?"
Gilbert pulled up his face and smiled a little reluctantly:
"I don't understand what you mean. Of course they are here to welcome the heir to the kingdom."
Thales still stared blankly at the dinner plate and shook his head subconsciously:
"Perhaps they are here to fight the nobles of the Western Wilderness who intend to counterattack after a night of desperation."
This time, the silence at the dinner table lasted longer.
But Thales just froze in his seat, motionless.
Looking at the second prince's appearance, Gilbert sighed heavily:
"You are overthinking it, Your Highness. Nobles are not that stupid, nor are they that impulsive, even the most radical Bozdov."
Gilbert coughed hard:
"They have no confidence in defeating the Wings of Legend on the battlefield, nor do they have the leverage to force Fuxing Palace to make concessions, and then spit out the Blade Fang Camp. Why would they do such an unwise thing?"
After the words fell, Gilbert looked at the prince worriedly.
This time, Thales looked back at him blankly.
In the Mindis Hall six years ago, compared to the invisible Yodel and the unpretentious Jinnie, the polite and kind Foreign Secretary was one of the few people he trusted and admired wholeheartedly.
Over the years, whenever he thought about the years in Mindis Hall, he would have a clearer sense of belonging to his hometown and his way back, which were gradually blurring.
But I don't know why...
After six years in the North, after the aura of seeing old friends faded away...
For some reason, he felt that Gilbert's gaze suddenly became a little strange.
"Yes, you are right."
Thales stared blankly at the edge of the table and spoke mechanically, as if repeating Gilbert's words:
"Even though they have suffered such a heavy loss, the people of Xihuang have no leverage. They will not be so unwise and give the royal family a reason to punish them and completely seize power from them for no reason."
The people of the Western Wilderness have no bargaining chips.
chips.
A bargaining chip to induce the Western Wilderness nobles to counterattack.
At that moment, he suddenly understood.
Thales raised his gaze, looked directly at Gilbert, and reluctantly raised the corners of his mouth:
"I think too much."
Gilbert avoided Thales' gaze that almost looked through him and said stiffly:
"My little sir, your dinner is getting cold, and we have to travel tomorrow..."
Thales' heart beat slowly.
At that moment, he only felt that his heart was beating so slowly.
so slow.
"Your Highness?"
Thales woke up with a start.
He forced himself to smile, took a deep breath, and started eating again.
The Foreign Secretary seemed to feel something, but he just opened his mouth hesitantly and did not make a sound.
"Why, Gilbert."
Gilbert raised his head.
I saw Thales cutting up the meal absentmindedly, feeling depressed:
"Why, the Duke of Xihuang wants to give me a sword passed down by his family."
"Why did Legend Wings become so furious after seeing it?"
"Why, the earl of the one-winged crow came in person and sent me home with great courtesy."
It was obviously a question, but there was no questioning tone.
"About this..." Gilbert paused and explained patiently and gently.
But Thales could no longer hear what he was saying.
He remembered the story the watchman had told Dele when he first met Marius yesterday.
[Then from that day on...the king's blessings benefited all the people, and everyone lived and worked in peace and contentment, forever and ever, living happily...]
turn out to be……
That's not just, just a story.
Thales lowered his head and froze on the spot.
The ugly old guy was right.
His father is indeed a genius.
Is not it.
only.
only……
Thales tightened the knife in his hand.
"...So, this is a common method among nobles, to please and win over."
Gilbert finished speaking kindly and pulled Thales out of his silent thoughts.
The prince raised his head like a rusty doll and forced a smile.
"Yes."
"So soon, the entire kingdom will know that the Duke of Xihuang and the returned Prince of Stars were chatting, laughing and exchanging gifts in the Blade Tooth Camp."
Thales said bitterly:
"And the little unpleasantness that happened the night before between Baron Blade Ya and the lords of Xihuang has been eliminated."
"Their goal...has been achieved."
He didn't ask any more questions.
Gilbert looked at Thales' bitter expression and finally said nothing. He just exhaled and looked away.
"So you understand?"
The Foreign Secretary lowered his head, his expression unclear and his tone low:
"It's better to return that sword."
Thales' hand holding the knife paused for a moment.
He took a deep breath.
The lights in the main hall dimmed.
"No."
"You said that at the national meeting six years ago, Gilbert."
Thales stared at the dinner plate closely, with mixed feelings in his heart.
"In politics, when faced with opponents, killing them all without leaving any room for them is not a wise way to conduct politics."
"In the past six years, I have gained a deeper understanding of this principle."
Gilbert frowned.
Thales took a deep breath.
When the prince raised his head, his smile had returned to calm and natural:
"I think I'd better keep it."
"If there ever comes a day, I want to leave room for both sides who have no choice but to retreat."
Gilbert was slightly surprised.
"And this sword, regardless of the intention behind it," Thales' eyes dimmed slightly, but immediately returned to normal:
"At least, it has the potential to become that leeway."
Thales said in a daze:
"As long as there is a glimmer of hope, I don't want to give up."
The voice fell.
The silence in the main hall lasted for a long time.
After a long while, Gilbert let out a long sigh.
"Your Highness," Xingchen's cunning fox looked at Thales happily:
"You have grown up."
Thales curled his lips and braced himself:
"You said this once."
Gilbert smiled, but it could be seen that his smile was a little forced.
"Yes, Your Highness, but..."
Gilbert looked directly into Thales's eyes and sighed again:
"You have really grown up."
This time, Thales did not refute, he just smiled again and then moved his eyes back to the dinner plate.
Just when the two of them were silent and facing each other in silence.
"Gilbert."
"Did my father ever think about that?"
The prince slowly chewed a piece of food that he didn't even notice what it was:
"What if I die along the way?"
Gilbert's face became tense.
"Your Highness, our kingdom will do our best to protect your safety..."
Thales hummed and raised the corners of his lips bitterly.
"Yes, you also said this."
"six years ago."
The Foreign Secretary was immediately speechless.
A few seconds later, Gilbert answered unnaturally:
"This, this is why Yoder is by your side along the way."
He reluctantly said:
"His Majesty is concerned about your safety, so he sent his most trusted secret guard..."
"He believes that Yodel can protect you just as he believes that he can protect His Majesty himself."
After saying that, Gilbert turned his head and scanned the air beside him, as if confirming something:
"Right, old friend?"
But there were only two people at the table in the main hall.
There was only the sound of knives and forks clashing with dinner plates in the air.
no respond.
Gilbert's smile slowly stiffened.
Thales raised his eyes and looked at his old teacher with unclear emotions.
Gilbert breathed out.
"Perhaps Jodl is not here at the moment," the Foreign Secretary said with a wry smile:
"Or maybe he just..."
Gilbert glanced around, finally lowered his head in embarrassment, and sighed helplessly:
"...don't want to talk to me."
At this moment.
"The latter." A hoarse voice suddenly sounded.
The Foreign Secretary was startled.
Gilbert looked back subconsciously, and all he saw was still void.
Thales curled his lips.
"All right."
Gilbert felt sad:
"By the way, mission accomplished, old friend."
"You have lived up to His Majesty's trust and protected his heir's safe return."
Still no response.
Gilbert could only sigh and look back angrily.
Instead, Thales suddenly put down his knife and fork and stared into the air.
"What's wrong?" Gilbert asked concerned.
Thales didn't look at him, just grabbed the spoon and scooped up a spoonful of beans.
"Nothing, just..."
Thales looked at Bean in rapt attention and subconsciously twitched the corner of his mouth.
"I miss the Northland a little bit."
in particular……
While dining.
Gilbert suddenly raised his eyebrows.
"You know, after the "Fortress Peace" eighteen years ago, for a long time..."
The Foreign Minister nodded, his tone full of endless nostalgia.
"I think so too."
At the dining table, an old man and a young man were immersed in their own memories.
After a few seconds, Thales came back to his senses and gently put down the spoonful of beans.
Grab the hard-to-use knife and fork.
The second prince showed a decent smile to Gilbert and ate a piece of meat covered in sauce with perfect etiquette.
Gilbert gave him a pleased smile in return.
But only Thales knows.
That piece of meat was left out too long.
Bitter.
stiff.
In the dim light, Count Bozdorf stepped into the door, dusty and dusty.
A guard with a four-eyed skull emblem printed on his armor rushed forward, but he pushed him away unceremoniously.
The guard was furious and was about to draw his sword.
"It's okay," a sharp and cold voice sounded in the room, causing the guard's arm to stop abruptly:
"He can come in."
Without even looking at the guard who was ordered to retreat, Count Bozdorf strode directly to the owner of the sharp voice, staring intently at the man who was eating.
"You came in without announcing it," Cyril Falkenholz swallowed a mouthful of fruit, then raised his terrifying face and looked at the visitor with squinted eyes:
"If Gao He were here, he would beat you to death directly."
"Use your fists."
But his threats seemed to have no effect on the guests.
"My father respects you, Cyril," the owner of the Black Lion, Lewis Bozdov, said coldly:
"I don't."
Duke Xihuang sneered.
"What a coincidence, I also respect your father," he turned his attention away from the plate in front of him and said in a cold tone:
"But not you."
Bozdov snorted angrily.
"Did you make the crow travel day and night to the camp to pick him up?"
Earl Lewis gritted his teeth, and the anger in his eyes almost overflowed:
"you?"
Duke Xihuang chuckled again and did not answer.
But Bozdov wasn't ready to let him go just like that.
Boom!
The fists wearing iron gloves hit Falkenhauser's dining table, knocking the plate of fish over and causing juices to splash everywhere.
The Duke of Xihuang is neither flustered nor angry.
He just silently took out a handkerchief and wiped his splashed face.
Earl Black Lion bent his elbows and slowly pressed his upper body towards the Duke.
"I even prepared that kid's family flag, it's so big," Lewis' eyes were like daggers, biting the words fiercely:
"Just waiting to 'greet' him."
Duke Xihuang chuckled:
"real?"
Count Bozdorf stared at the seemingly indifferent Duke, and then curled his lips.
He laughed as if he was angry.
"In Grace Town, that boy was right in front of me, as close as I am to you now."
"You can cut your throat with one knife."
Bozdov tilted his head, with a fierce look in his eyes, and looked at Duke Xihuang's eyes that were sometimes cloudy and numb, and sometimes clear and sharp.
"And he is still as self-righteous as he was six years ago, proudly showing off his ridiculous eloquence to me, unaware that he is only one foot away from disaster."
Falkenholtz had no awareness of being threatened, and instead laughed:
"You have to admit, that boy does have some eloquence, doesn't he?"
Bozdov seemed not to have heard anything and gritted his teeth:
"And that damn crow, and his equally damned crows, are standing there, standing between me and him, within the reach of my army, smiling at me, like the bodyguard of a god.
bodyguard."
Bozdov's voice was cold and his words were suppressed:
"because of you."
Falkenholz's smile slowly faded and he looked thoughtful.
"Well, Nadler did a pretty good job."
"Thank Sunset, he's a good crow, isn't he?"
boom!
Lewis’s fists hit the dining table again!
"I could have taken him down!"
This time, Count Bozdorf could no longer suppress his anger.
"You clearly know that my army is best at breaking through obstacles and attacking fortresses. The Black Lion Infantry Regiment that destroyed the city has arrived at Enci Town. You clearly know that I am far away from the Blade Tooth Camp and from him..."
Bozdov was furious. He took a few breaths before finishing his sentence completely:
"...Only one day left."
"one day."
He said in a whisper.
Falkenholz also seemed to be serious, and he snorted disdainfully:
"Then what?"
Bozdov stared intently at Duke Xihuang.
"That is the lifeblood of Fuxing Palace, the foundation of their rule, and our best bargaining chip in more than ten years."
Earl Black Lion is aggressive, and the anger in his eyes is clearly visible:
"We can take back Camp Sabertooth and even drive away that sissy."
"At least, tell them our attitude..."
But the tepid Duke of Xihuang suddenly raised his head and said decisively:
"Then the Bozdov family of Heroes Castle is only one day away from being destroyed!"
His words were as cold as the cold wind, and he was unceremonious.
The conversation between the two stopped for a few seconds.
This time, it was Bozdov's turn to sneer.
"Do you know what happened in the Blade Tooth Camp?"
"The pampered Duke?"
Earl Black Lion straightened up and distanced himself from the opponent, but the sharpness in his eyes only increased.
"Bailal lost the entire year's income, much of it from debt; Emory lost their family heir; Xinxian Land even lost this season's autumn harvest manpower."
"And Thoth said he would never join our military expedition again."
"Lugo even overwhelms the entire clan."
Falkenholz turned his head to avoid the count's sight.
Bozdov’s questions seemed to have been ground out:
"this is us."
"Is there any difference if we perish today and perish tomorrow?"
Falkenholz slowly raised his head.
"Of course."
At this moment, Duke Xihuang's eyes became profound.
"If you perish today, you will have nothing."
Falkenholz narrowed his eyes.
"If you die tomorrow, at least you still have hope for tomorrow."
Lewis Bozdorf opened his lips and smiled coldly.
Two seconds later, his laughter stopped abruptly.
"Hope for tomorrow?"
"All this you did..."
His smile turned into ice:
"For the so-called hope?"
Cyril Falkenhauser paused.
"No."
He reached out and turned to his crutch, his eyes focused on the hook on which the long sword originally hung, but was now empty.
"For..."
The Duke said calmly with the most complicated and unspeakable emotions: