The team of royal guards moved non-stop, passing through countless blocks, passing through the Twilight Zone and Morning Star Zone, and headed straight to the center of Yongxing City.
Thales, on the other hand, was in a depressed mood, drifting with the tide like a zombie, being surrounded and moved forward.
Although there were only about twenty of them hurriedly riding on the road, unknowingly, the number of police officers and security teams passing by gradually increased. It seemed like a coincidence, but they appeared one after another and inadvertently dispersed, separating the obstacles and crowds on the road.
Let them have a smooth journey.
But Thales really couldn't arouse the interest in studying them.
"You know, Mr. Hickser wrote me several letters over the past few months..."
Finally, in the unbearable silence, Gilbert spoke.
"Tell me about your studies."
There was a hint of embarrassment in his equally deep voice.
Thales suddenly came back to his senses.
"Oh, Old Crow."
The young Duke of Xinghu cheered up and tried to tell himself that he should not bring unnecessary emotions to the people around him.
"Yes, I haven't thanked him yet. Longxiao City is grateful to him..."
Feeling the change in the prince, Gilbert's tone was slightly excited:
"He reminded me that you are a little ahead of schedule."
Thales, who was struggling to concentrate, tried to concentrate:
"Ahead of time?"
Gilbert nodded:
"Yes, although that is a rare comment, but..."
The Foreign Minister narrowed his eyes and seemed a little distracted at that moment:
"After receiving the teacher's letter, I sometimes think, maybe... maybe I, maybe we are all too impatient."
Thales looked at him puzzled:
"About what?"
Gilbert sighed and said seriously:
"At least in Yongxing City, noble young men of your age...they care more about appearance and clothing, banquets and girls."
Appearance and clothing.
Party and girls...
Yes.
Thales paused for a moment, recalling his past six years.
What did he care about during those years?
What did he experience?
The Duke couldn't help but feel slightly absent-minded, but he immediately recovered.
Tails, who had a premonition that Gilbert was about to admonish something, forced a smile and shook his head.
"You should go back a few years ago. At that time, Huaiya was only a teenager."
Gilbert Castle was slightly startled when he heard the familiar name.
The prince looked towards the northern sky and said with a smile:
"However, in those years, what your son cared more about was his sword... and me."
Thales smiled, remembering every move, voice, and smile of the attendant Wyatt Castle.
Listening to the sound of horse hooves and seeing the guards surrounding him, Thales suddenly realized...
Even though he returned to the stars and Yongxing City, these royal guards protecting him...
So strange.
This made him miss the familiar faces that used to surround him even more.
Wyatt, Rolf, Putilai, Jennard, Willow, and the guy who stole the chicken legs and roasted the rabbit...
From Yongxing City to Birch Forest, from Broken Dragon Fortress to Longxiao City.
From the past to the present.
And where are they now?
Thales couldn't help but be fascinated.
"I'm glad you favor him so much."
Gilbert's words brought him back to reality.
"But on the subject..."
The cunning fox of the stars had a complex expression, but spoke with pride:
"You know, Huaiya has returned to Yongxing City several times in the past few years in the Northland."
Thales nodded.
Gilbert narrowed his eyes slightly:
"But he probably never mentioned to you that he came back to see his fiancée?"
Thales, immersed in longing for his old friend, subconsciously repeated Gilbert's words.
unmarried……
Thales' face suddenly changed!
What?
The prince turned his head in surprise.
Gilbert was seen looking at him with a smile on his face.
"Waiya?" Thales asked with wide eyes.
Gilbert nodded, with both relief and sadness in his eyes:
"Waia."
Waiya?
Thales opened his mouth wide in surprise and stared at Gilbert.
Wyatt Castle?
That old-fashioned, serious, little old man-like...
The one who keeps a straight face and is polite every day, staring at Rolf with big eyes and small eyes...
That Waiya who is always "exerting too much" and whose whole body is stiff?
Thales blinked subconsciously, trying to digest the news.
But Gilbert just smiled faintly.
Thales took a deep breath and shook his head.
Waia, Waia!
I didn’t expect it! I didn’t expect it!
He couldn't help but feel a little funny and a little relieved:
I didn’t expect you, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, to be...
Until Gilbert's next words:
"So, you have reached your age this year..."
Thales' expression changed again.
"Cough cough cough... cough cough..." The prince suddenly coughed, and the figure on the horse was hunched in pain.
Gilbert's face stiffened and he continued:
"It should be noted that you have an obligation to continue the greatness..."
"Cough! Cough cough cough -" The prince's cough became louder and louder, covering up the voice of the foreign minister. Even the royal guards who were separated by a short distance on the left and right turned around strangely.
In the end, Gilbert could only shake his head sadly.
"All right."
"Let's save some time on this topic."
Thales' cough disappeared instantly, and his back was straighter than a flagpole.
Gilbert narrowed his eyes and looked at the unconscious Thales caressing his chest calmly on the horse, with an "I knew it" look of helplessness written all over his face.
"Then I hope that the next news will interest you."
Thales seemed to suddenly come back to his senses, naturally and suddenly:
"information?"
Gilbert nodded slightly and his expression became serious again - every time at this time, Thales would think of Wyatt and his expression when he saw Rolf.
But the foreign minister's next words made the prince's thoughts become serious.
"The newest messenger crow is from the north."
north.
Thales frowned:
"Is it Putilai and Waiya?"
"No." Gilbert shook his head, but his expression showed no sign of relaxation:
"but……"
I saw the Foreign Minister riding his horse closer and saying in a deep voice:
"A few days ago, Longxiao City completed its war mobilization."
Longxiao City.
Hearing this familiar term, Thales clenched his knuckles slightly.
Gilbert's words continued:
"The expeditionary force of 10,000 people has been assembled and is preparing to go to Qiyuan City to join the battle and the Western Expedition of the Freedom Alliance."
Thales frowned deeply.
At that moment, it was as if all the memories about the Northland came back to my mind - war, forced marriage, mobilization, everything that happened during the days when Longxiao City was in charge.
Ten thousand troops.
Thales recalled his impression of Longxiao City.
For Longxiao City, neither more nor less.
So……
"Who is the noble who leads the army?"
Duke Xinghu looked solemn: "Who will fight this battle?"
Gilbert nodded and reported the information accurately:
"The lord of Hunting County and Origami County, Count Kahn Kirkegaard, will serve as the deputy commander of the Longxiao City Expeditionary Force."
Kierkegaard.
The resolute face of the one-armed earl in the Hall of Heroes appeared in Thales' mind.
He sighed.
"Sure enough, the one who leads the army is the most capable fighter in Longxiao City..."
But when he said this, Thales was slightly startled:
"Wait, Gilbert."
"You just said - 'deputy' commander?"
The prince looked at Gilbert in surprise.
Gilbert pursed his lips and nodded.
etc.
Kierkegaard is only the deputy commander, which means...
No.
The unbelievable surprise on Thales's face grew bigger and bigger.
Gilbert spoke solemnly:
"According to recent news, Longxiao City's first large-scale military expedition after twenty years of silence..."
"The immature Grand Duchess Walton will be in military uniform and carrying a sword, taking command of the army."
"Go into battle and fight in person."
Grand Duchess...
Go into battle...
Personal expedition...
At that moment, Thales was stunned on the spot.
Gilbert didn't speak, just looked at him silently, waiting quietly to take in the prince's reaction.
That familiar figure seemed to reappear before his eyes.
The figure crying in the dark asked him if he could escape.
emaciated.
thin.
Wrongful and helpless.
Weak and lonely.
She grabbed his arm and hid behind him.
Shivering.
"oh……"
"That's it..."
Duke Xinghu withdrew his expression blankly, nodded subconsciously, and murmured to himself.
"Wow."
His face was stiff, but he forced himself to shout a suppressed exclamation.
But no one knew that he felt so strange at this moment.
Mixed flavors.
Indescribable.
But the next second, the figure in his mind turned around, revealing a face that was equally familiar to him, but completely different.
The face that held the crystal in his mouth under the pressure, and his forehead was wet with sweat, but he still tried his best to pout his mouth.
tenacious.
stubborn.
Stubborn and unyielding.
Resolute and strong.
Standing in front of the highest seat, standing among thousands of troops, raising arms and shouting.
One call and a hundred responses.
It seemed like a long time passed.
It was so long that even Gilbert couldn't help but shout a reminder.
"So they succeeded," Thales said quietly, trying hard to forget unnecessary pictures and forcing himself to start thinking about more practical things:
"Ronnie from Qiyuan City, Leko from Guard City, and Walton from Longxiao City—the three-city alliance of Exter."
"They stood up for everything."
Thales' tone was still empty, but his spirit gradually recovered and his brain began to spin:
"Confronting the unrest in the West provoked by Lombard."
Thinking of this, Duke Xinghu took a deep breath and raised his head.
"What about us?"
Anyone else might have been confused by such a question, but Gilbert knew what he was going to ask.
The Foreign Secretary breathed out slowly.
"As you can see, now that you have returned and the situation on the Western Front has subsided..."
Gilbert's mouth curved slightly:
"Then, whether it is the royal standing army under Baron Williams or the levies hard-earned by the lords of the Western Wilderness, there is no reason to stay in the desert and spend time and effort patrolling."
Thales took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"So, without the control of the stars, the weak Freedom Alliance defends the city alone, facing the three major cities in the North, and facing almost half of the Kingdom of Exeter..."
Duke Xinghu opened his eyes. This time, he became calm and dignified:
"The battle has been decided."
"The Freedom Alliance... is over."
Gilbert didn't say anything, just nodded in acquiescence.
After a few seconds, Thales' lips curled up and his mood became lighter.
"Now, it's King Charman's turn to have a headache."
He looked at Gilbert with a smile:
"I escaped, and the stars also withdrew, so Lombard lost both leverage and reason."
"He can no longer use the stars as swords to force his vassals to obey orders."
Thales thought of the deflated appearance of the aggressive parricide king, and felt that the sadness of no longer having his hometown just now was swept away, and even his breathing felt particularly comfortable.
"On the other side, Longxiao City joins Roni's side, praying that Yuan City's worries will be resolved."
"The Black Sand Territory has another enemy, and the momentum against the king will only rise instead of falling."
Thales chuckled and gently spread his hands on the horse:
"Rumba loses both ways."
He could even imagine the old rival's sullen face, suppressing his anger, blowing his beard and glaring at him...
Gilbert coughed.
"In fact..."
"Your Highness..."
The Foreign Secretary's words were hesitant, which caught Thales' attention:
"A few weeks ago, not long after you escaped from Exeter, and when the news about Longxiao City's listening to the government just came..."
Gilbert glanced at him, frowned slightly, and hesitated to speak.
Thales' heart sank.
The Foreign Secretary exhaled unnaturally:
"At that time, King Charman rushed back to the Black Sand Territory."
Gilbert lifted the reins of the horse and looked solemnly into the distance.
"In just a few days, Charmaine I visited almost every vassal under his command who opposed him."
Thales frowned fiercely.
"visit?"
The prince thought of the so-called "visit" that Prince Charman had come to Longxiao City - whether it was to visit him or to the Hall of Heroes, he suddenly felt something was wrong.
"The information obtained by the secret department is limited..."
Under Thales's bad premonition and ugly expression, Gilbert told the truth with a straight face:
"But obviously, as the king claimed that he wanted to recruit their troops to go to the west, the Mende and Devinson families, who had been resisting taxation in the Black Sand Territory, were the first to give in and expressed their intention to return to the king's banner - the strangeness of which is unknown."
Thales felt cold.
"Under Lomba, the Ika family closest to the Reconstruction Tower was probably worried that Grand Duke Trudida was having a secret relationship with Lomba. They withdrew their call to resist the tax before the king came to visit, and took the initiative to send this quarter's grain tax to Black Sand City.
."
The prince's hand holding the horse's rein became tighter and tighter, and his whole body became even more tense unconsciously.
However, Gilbert's sigh continued:
"One day later, the old Count Peruno, who was highly respected and had a close relationship with the former Grand Duke of Black Sands and was also the most fierce opponent of King Charmaine, suddenly suffered from an old illness."
Thales began to hear his own breathing.
"He was bedridden and unable to see things, so Peruno's son took over the power of the territory, changed his father's policy, and went out of the city in person to warmly welcome King Charmaine's inspection."
Under the almost shocked look in the Duke of Star Lake's eyes, Gilbert said unhappily:
"And the last two Shifeng families who stubbornly resisted and refused to open the door to welcome the king...they were punished."
Thales gritted his teeth.
"punish?"
Gilbert nodded, his eyes showing the rare fear of the cunning fox in the stars:
"With the support of the above four major families, King Charman came to the city and declared war with bloodshed."
"There are two entire castles... led by the Burning Knight himself, and the black sand army is overwhelming."
"Victory in one day, destruction in three days."
Gilbert's solemnity and vigilance have increased to the extreme:
"According to the ancient ritual of the people of the North, they hang the heads of those who disrespect the king's orders on the city gate as a warning to others."
"While still on the execution ground, the king deprived an earl and a viscount of their titles on the spot - and demoted their heirs to common people."
Listening to Gilbert's words, Thales could hardly adjust his expression - it seemed that every word he spoke was filled with ice and snow drifting from the North.
Gilbert sighed slowly.
"More than that, on that day, King Charman used the power of conquest to violate the rules and consecrate several new nobles from humble backgrounds. However, no one from the top or bottom of the Black Sand Territory dared to comment."
Thales slowly relaxed his body and put his arms on the horse.
The shock in my heart could not be greater.
Gilbert shook his head:
"To this day, except for a few small families in the Black Sand Territory that are close to the border and have nothing to do with the overall situation - out of morality or interests - they are still loudly refusing to compromise..."
But Thales didn't let him continue.
"He succeeded."
The prince stared blankly at the northern sky, as if he saw the gloomy and cold king.
"He won."
Gilbert watched Thales's expression worriedly and couldn't help coughing.
"Internally, that's true."
Xingchen Sly Fox forced out a smile and changed his tone from fearful to positive.
"But from the outside, whether it's the Reconstruction Tower or the Welland Territory, they immediately strengthened their defense after receiving the news and deployed heavy troops on the border of the Black Sand Territory..."
"And the other Grand Dukes in Exter's country are even more excited and are attacking in unison. From Qiyuan City to Fengzhao City, from Elk City to Glacier Sea, many Northlanders even openly question the origin of his throne..."
Gilbert spoke with a smile, but Thales could feel a hint of disharmony in his laughter:
"The Black Sand Territory has aroused public anger, and King Charman is unable to survive alone. What's more, the economy and people's livelihood in their territory are already shaky..."
But the prince interrupted him.
"It's late."
In the team, the young man under the cloak straightened his back but silently lowered his head.
"Charmaine Lombard."
"Maybe many people don't recognize him as the king of Exeter."
Thales pursed his lips tightly, imagining the scene where he and the other party were face to face, as if he felt the real pressure:
"But now, he has become..."
"The king of the Black Sand Territory."
Gilbert hesitated, unable to answer.
Only the second prince looked up to the sky and sighed, closing his eyes:
"I told them. Back then, in the Hall of Heroes, I told them..."
"But I'm afraid they still don't understand."
Thales opened his eyes, not looking at the clear blue sky above his head, but his eyes touched the looming, rolling black clouds in the distance.
"They don't understand that the wave they are facing cannot be easily stopped by resorting to the military or paying money."
Gilbert was slightly stunned.
The prince gritted his teeth and frowned:
"And this is just the beginning."
"Charmaine Lombard, he will become more powerful, more greedy, more..."
Tails paused and exhaled an angry breath from his nose.
"Your Highness, you don't have to worry so much," Gilbert seemed to be unable to bear it:
"No matter how powerful King Charman is, we can still..."
But Thales shook his head.
"No."
"Not us."
He stared steadily at the dark clouds on the horizon:
"Killing, seizing, granting, these things King Charmaine did...seemed like nothing more than a spark."
"But it's unstoppable."
Gilbert listened to the prince's words and fell silent thoughtfully.
"And it will eventually ignite..."
Thales lowered his head and looked straight ahead, the seriousness in his eyes could not be greater:
"The whole Northland."
At this moment.
"Boom!"
The bells were ringing.
Thales and Gilbert were both shocked.
The sound of the bell rose faintly, rolled in and out, was long and heavy, and shocked people's hearts and minds.
It penetrates the ground and the air at the same time, reaching the underground and the sky.
The echo was deep and lingering for a long time.
Amidst the uneasy neighing of the horses, many royal guards also frowned and looked at each other.
Only Marius at the front remained as calm as ever, picking up the reins and pedaling forward steadily.
"That's..."
Feeling the roaring in his ears, Thales slowly turned to Gilbert as if he was aware of it.
The latter got over his initial surprise and nodded slowly to the prince:
"The Bell of the Stars."
Thales' thoughts moved.
Gilbert sighed: "The last time it sounded, it was..."
"I know."
Thales felt the memories emerging and said blankly:
"Six years ago."
"The State is...a meeting."
But his emotion did not last long, because the team soon turned around the next block and stepped onto another avenue.
It was at this time that Thales noticed:
Unknowingly, they had passed through countless blocks, and the people around them had also drifted away. They were isolated a hundred steps away by the slowly increasing number of security teams, leaving only curious heads and eyes.
Soldiers and guards, security officers and security forces, countless people were already standing neatly in front, either forming their own teams to maintain order, or forming walls to separate passages.
Waiting for guests.
On this side, the road under the feet of the royal guards has become a broad and boundless road.
Of course, at the end of the avenue, the most eye-catching thing is...
Thales breathed in a daze and slowly raised his head.
Saw it.
it.
The classical mottled colors, the endless steps, the thick black palace walls, the majesty rising from the ground, the vicissitudes of the century, and the majesty of the stars.
Fuxing Palace.
This large flat-topped pyramid that had appeared in his dreams countless times was like a giant that walked silently but blocked the sky. It was both foreboding and suddenly appeared in front of his eyes.
Like overwhelming mountains and seas.
But there was no noise.
Thales stared blankly at the giant palace in front of him, and it took him a long time to come back to his senses.
Passing through the passage formed by the palace guards, the royal guards unconsciously eased their horses' hooves and slowed down.
Until Marius raised his hand, twenty-five royal guards lifted their cloaks.
The silver helmet and bright armor are exposed, reflecting the sunlight.
Hugo, the flag officer, even raised a tall nine-pointed star flag and fluttered in the wind.
In the distance, the people separated outside the isolation line began to make noise.
Countless eyes were directed at these twenty-odd riders, and there was a lot of discussion.
Thales turned his head with a complicated mood, looking at the civilians who were firmly separated on both sides, at the soldiers and guards standing upright around him, and finally at the heart of the kingdom in front of him, separated by the palace wall:
Fuxing Palace.
No one knows his state of mind at the moment, no one can describe his current feelings, no one can describe his current emotions.
He could only open his mouth in silence, lost in thought.
Thoughtful.
If something is lost.
As Thales's team arrived in front of the palace wall, the black mass of city-defending crossbows and magic guns turned around under the hinges and manpower, and there were many sentries and murderous intent.
A nobleman dressed in the same attire as Marius and others came from the palace gate surrounded by a group of soldiers. He raised his right arm and showed his palm towards Thales's team.
In an instant, following Marius's gesture, the twenty-five members of the royal guard gathered their horses. Glover and Doyle even took a step forward and stretched out their hands to lift Thales and Gilbert's mounts.
Stop together.
But at this moment, they all had serious faces and awe-inspiring attitudes.
"Twenty-five members of the Royal Guards, following the king's orders, escort important officials."
Marius's voice rang in front of the Palace Gate Avenue, bounced off the walls of the Fuxing Palace, and echoed on the wide avenue:
"Duke of Star Lake, Prince of Stars, first heir to the Nine-Star Crown and the Supreme Throne, the noble His Highness Thales Bright Star..."
"Already back."
As soon as these words were spoken, everything fell silent.
No matter the guards in front of the palace gate, the sentries on the palace gate, or the security teams on the avenue, everything fell silent.
For a moment, all that could be heard was the clear and calm voice of Mallos, echoing in all directions.
In front of the palace gate, the nobleman who stopped Marius straightened his body and took a step forward.
"Password."
The nobles dressed as royal guards looked at Mallos and said coldly:
"crown?"
Marius slowly rode forward, happily facing the ferocious giant crossbows guarding the city.
He narrowed his eyes and spoke softly, his voice like a gossamer:
"dark."
Thales was slightly shocked.
Time seemed to have stopped for a moment.
Until the noble guarding the palace gate nodded, turned around and waved.
"boom……"
With a deafening roar, the steel noose moved.
The dark palace door in front of Thales trembled fiercely, and with the rhythm of huge force, it slowly started to move, as if it was trying to push away the dust accumulated for thousands of years.
Tearing oneself apart.
Reveal the true appearance of Fuxing Palace.
The setting sun turns into gold.
Just like the sunset that illuminated Fuxing Palace red and bright when Thales became a prince six years ago.
But this time, under the bright sun, Thales just raised his head in confusion.
He looked at the bright and dazzling golden light, falling inch by inch on the outer wall of Fuxing Palace.