For some reason, Thales also breathed a sigh of relief.
But Mallos changed the subject:
"But since we cannot reach an agreement, is it best to leave it to the captain or your majesty to decide?"
Vogel snorted angrily.
"enough."
He once again addressed himself by title:
"Watchman."
"Do you think that with Captain Adrian's infinite connivance, you can be arrogant and domineering without any scruples?"
This time, Mallos remained calm and meek:
"No, I think you must have misunderstood something, sir. I just said..."
"I said it." Obviously, no matter how well-mannered Vogel is, he can't hide his unhappiness at the moment:
"Don't educate me."
Thales knew in his heart that he could no longer pretend to be dead.
"Well, Lord Talon..."
"Perhaps you don't know much about it yet," Thales turned his head and raised his glass, cheerfully interjecting into their conversation:
"But there are people in this world who have enmity with me, who have conflicts of interest, or who are simply unhappy with me. To be honest, they can get to Longxiao City from here."
Vogel looked at him, the coldness melted away like ice and snow, leaving only a spring breeze on his face:
"You are outstanding, Your Highness. Naturally, you are often hated by villains. Don't worry about it."
Thales thought to himself that this guy's armor is harder than mine, while trying to smooth things over:
"Lord Marius's concerns are therefore justified."
"Of course, you are right, this banquet is very important."
"Why don't we each take a step back? Lord Marius doesn't have to interrupt the banquet radically and hastily, and you can more calmly check for hidden dangers without risking anything?"
Thales had an elegant smile and scorching eyes, which were filled with "Give me a face".
Marius was silent for a while and bowed respectfully.
Vogel took a deep breath and suddenly smiled.
"Of course, Your Highness."
The atmosphere finally thawed.
Thales then turned back and exchanged greetings with the next bureaucrat who came to reminisce ("Do you recognize me? I was the city gate officer who guarded the city gate on the day you were on your mission...").
"That look, or that look you claimed," Vogel adjusted his mood and spoke in a low voice:
"Is it aimed at His Highness Thales or His Majesty? Or someone else?"
"I have no idea."
Vogel's eyes turned cold again.
Mallos narrowed his eyes:
"Because from the angle below, His Majesty and others are also in this direction."
"I only know that that is... a man."
"man?"
"That's great," Vogel said sarcastically, looking at the people at the banquet who were getting more and more lively due to the drinks:
"At least we have one-quarter fewer suspects."
"So it's best to let His Majesty evacuate first..."
"No way," Vogel flatly refused:
"Perhaps your family has been away from politics for too long, Mallos, but you think the banquet is just about finishing the meal?"
Marius hesitated.
Vogel slowly raised his head.
I don’t know when it started, but the long song of the Blade King’s expedition has ended, and the background music has become long and majestic.
Following the palace steward's announcement, everyone turned their attention to King Kessel's seat.
There, several nobles who had come from afar knelt down sincerely, and an older man among them told something excitedly.
The king nodded, and while speaking softly and comfortingly, he stood up, left his seat, and walked towards them.
Thales' heart skipped a beat.
King Kessel walked up to a young man who was kneeling.
The young nobleman straightened up, raised his hands excitedly, and put his palms into the king's hands.
King Kessel asked several questions, and the young man answered them one by one.
Immediately, the king loudly announced to the four people that this person had inherited the honor and rights of his father's ancestors and officially became a baron in a certain territory.
Thales had to raise a glass with the officials to congratulate this grand occasion.
"It's the Blade Leader, the controversial illegitimate son. He actually bypassed the duchess and came to the royal capital on his own to seek canonization and recognition..."
A whispered conversation on a long table reached Thales' hellish senses.
"It seems that His Majesty has made a decision. Duchess Lyanna must be very unhappy..."
"What nonsense are you talking about? The Duchess and everyone in the Fuxing Palace are united..."
"Will his father's vassals obey?"
"Then it depends on the illegitimate child's methods..."
"They dare not disobey. Think about it, even His Majesty's heir is the illegitimate child raised by Lord Mann for him..."
"Shhh! It's okay to drink too much, but don't talk too much!"
Thales's face darkened.
Behind him, Vogel whispered to Mallos:
"Did you see it? Appearance, canonization, interview, praise, reward, reprimand... In this rare occasion, His Majesty has too many things to do."
"We just have to make sure he doesn't move too far from his seat."
But Mallos was not satisfied.
"So during this period, many people will come forward and contact His Majesty at such a close distance," the watchman held down his wine glass and frowned:
"Who came up with the idea? Are you crazy?"
Vogel snorted:
"Don't push yourself too far, watchman."
"This is His Majesty's own decision - after he learned about the 'assassin' you saw."
Marius choked.
Vogel snorted softly and looked in the direction of the king again.
"look carefully."
Thales narrowed his eyes, and the next nobleman stepped forward and knelt down. The palace steward announced that this person was of noble birth and had sufficient merit. According to tradition, he would receive the king's gift and become a royal knight of the kingdom.
King Kessel stretched out his arm, and behind him, two members of the royal guard came forward holding swords and ribbons respectively.
Mallos' eyes narrowed:
"The person holding the sword for His Majesty is..."
Thales quickly looked at the man holding the sword. He was a middle-aged guard who was not tall but stocky and kind.
"Chief Vanguard Officer, Baron Staley?"
Mallos was surprised and said: "He personally held the sword for His Majesty's canonization ceremony?"
Glover, who belonged to the Pioneer Wing, looked at Staley, pursed his lips, and became more serious.
Vogel snorted softly, seeming to be dissatisfied with Mallos's hindsight.
"There are also Chief Guard Officer Bridge and Second Guard Officer Mariko. Their elite guard teams have been secretly in place to protect the left and right."
When he saw the people in the guard wing, Doyle's expression changed, as if he remembered something unpleasant.
Vogel narrowed his eyes:
"The command, vanguard, escort, and the core three wings of the royal guard are all here, with all the elites coming out. Everyone who comes forward will be stared at. The assassin can't hide even thirty steps away."
Mallos' expression returned to calm.
Thales tried hard to search for something among the guests, but saw nothing. It was not until he switched to the hell sense that he saw dozens of different lights shining with the power of termination in the crowded banquet.
"If this doesn't reassure you..."
Vogel lowered his voice, but could not hide it from Thales' senses:
"His Majesty's secret bodyguard, commonly known as the 'Royal Assassin', is also present."
No one noticed that the wine in the prince's hand spilled a few inches.
At that moment, Thales suddenly felt that the assassin lurking in the dark was no longer scary.
He raised his head and looked at the huge empty pillars and the shadows cast under the lights, but he was no longer uneasy.
"Coupled with the strength of Staley and Mariko, no one can challenge His Majesty," Vogel glanced at Thales:
"Or it might be bad for the Duke."
Mallos didn't speak, just pursed his lips.
"As long as the nobles are safe, even if the assassin shows up, we can respond immediately and suppress it, turning it into a civil case of drunken misconduct or jealousy, which can be discussed at the banquet."
Vogel sneered:
"Of course, the premise is that the assassin exists."
"In addition to my people inquiring, the logistics wing and the palace manager are also checking the list and checking the luggage and gifts of the guests. The inner city police station is on the outside, clearing the entire five-mile radius," the deputy guard captain said more and more forcefully.
:
"It is reported that the Kingdom's secret department is also mobilizing manpower, collecting intelligence, and trying to find the suspect-if there is one."
"There are more people taking action, which can be said to be a massive move."
"Just for your... 'maybe'."
Vogel stared at the watchman dissatisfied.
Marius remained silent.
"See? As soon as I received your report, Captain Adrian led the entire guard to respond and took adequate security measures."
"Don't make it seem like you are the only one who is dedicated to serving the country, and we are all bad guys who are just sitting there and eating nothing."
Doyle and Glover looked at each other.
At this moment, Mallos spoke slowly.
"Is this... the captain's decision?"
Vogel glanced at him displeasedly and did not deny:
"I don't know why he trusts you so much, whether it's the selection of watchmen or this."
"Even if it's this 'someone looked at me' nonsense."
Thales could feel that Mallos's breathing was quickening.
"Of course, maybe he thinks you are born to be unlucky and bring trouble."
Vogel sarcastically said: "Be prepared early and clean up the mess."
Marius remained silent for a long time. When the canonization ceremony was in progress for the third person, he squeezed out a sentence:
"Thanks."
Vogel shook his head in disdain and turned to leave.
But he immediately turned around:
"Also, you'd better pray that the assassin is real, because if not..."
The deputy captain of the guard approached Mallos and spoke threateningly:
"You should know, Watchman."
Vogel's eyes turned cold:
"You won't be the only one unlucky."
Marius was as silent as ever, motionless.
"See you later, Tormund. Good night, your highness."
Vogel bowed to Thales and left quietly, leaning against the wall.
Duke Xinghu’s dining table fell silent.
Thales exhaled and looked at the lettuce that he had unknowingly cut into powder.
"look?"
Doyle, who finally dared to start breathing, didn't dare to look at his boss's expression. He shrugged at Thales:
"Bad guy."
Glover spoke carefully:
"Lord, since the Fuxing Palace has taken action... let's go next..."
Mallos suddenly looked up!
"Gather everyone together and arrange early warning and defense as usual," the watchman said with a sullen face.
"Yes, my colleagues in Fuxing Palace have taken action, but after all, this is our territory."
Doyle and Glover looked at each other.
Mallos turned back and looked at the curious Thales:
"We take care of ourselves."
d.d and the zombies quickly left.
Leave Thales and Mallos behind.
Fortunately, the canonization ceremony of royal knights continued, attracting most of the attention, and fewer people came to visit the prince.
Thales leaned back and looked at Mallos, who had been stiff for a long time.
For some reason, Thales actually had an illusion when looking at the guard captain who was always confused:
He is in a good mood now.
"So, your relationship with your superiors, especially the second in command of the Guard..."
Thales looked at Vogel who had returned to the king and tentatively said:
"Um, are we getting along well?"
Mallos tilted his head and looked at his "favorite" His Royal Highness the Duke.
"In life, there are always things you don't want to do, but you have to do," Mallos said without changing his expression, as if he didn't hear Thales' sarcasm:
"We call them - 'jobs'."
Thales groaned strangely.
"Like you 'working' under my hand?"
"I didn't say that."
Thales was silent for a while, and then he smiled politely: "Okay."
But that's what you think.
He lowered his head and continued to deal with the lettuce:
"but……"
Thales watched the next knight kiss his father's ring excitedly: "What the 'bad guy' just said, your..."
"The young master's team?"
"What do you mean?"
Mallos raised his eyes.
Thales looked at him and blinked.
"We may have an assassin hiding among the guests," the watchman stabbed him coldly: "But you are now taking your time."
"My favorite Duke?"
"Oh, my favorite guard captain," Thales looked at him intriguingly, shaking the fork in his hand like a pointer, deliberately acting like an experienced elder:
"If you grew up like me and went through what I went through..."
Mallos looked back at him and frowned.
Thales shrugged and tapped the plate with his fork, a look of pleasure on his face:
"Well, this lettuce tastes good."
Mallos snorted and turned his head.
Just when Thales thought that this guy was as indifferent as ever and couldn't help teasing him, the other party spoke.
"D.D and zombies, including everyone else."
"They did not enter your guard for no reason."
Mallos looked at Captain Adrian beside the king from a distance:
"The Doyle family has been away from power for a long time, and they are not willing to be just a wealthy family. They rack their brains to invite the king's favor, hoping to return to the center of the Seven Waiters, but they can't."
"The head of the Glover family holds an important financial position. He is a solitary and loyal servant to the king. He is very cautious and wishes he could stay away from all interested people in order to show his purity, purity and loyalty."
Thales' expression slightly condensed.
"In the royal capital, family background is both a bargaining chip for success and a burden that binds one's hands and feet."
Mallos’s words are slightly vicissitudes of life:
"It depends on how you choose."
Thales was silent for a while.
A bargaining chip that floats in the wind, a burden that ties one's hands and feet.
His eyes shifted to the nine-pointed star pattern on the cuffs.
"Lord Marius," Thales said lightly:
"I'm thinking, maybe you should come to etiquette class and let Ms. Ji Ni continue to teach me martial arts?"
"What I wish for."
"It's a pity that you can't disobey your orders." Mallos hummed in reply, which made Thales even more sure: he is in a good mood now.
Thales didn't want to miss this opportunity.
"how about you?"
The prince rolled his eyes:
"Why did you join my guard and become the leader?"
Marius paused.
"you know."
Mallos glanced sideways at him, as calm as ever.
"Work."
Thales frowned.
Mudd, you really think so.
"Then when will you introduce your family to me?"
Thales seemed to say casually:
"Let's see what the 'Razor' Mallos family, who is qualified to marry the princess, wants?"
"Are they a burden to you or a bargaining chip?"
At that moment, Thales trembled unconsciously.
Just now, the Sin of Prison River seemed to... jump a little?
Thales raised his head in surprise: Mallos remained the same, looking at him with a frown.
"What's wrong?"
Thales looked at him and said with an awkward smile:
"I didn't mention the past grudges between you and my aunt - okay, I will mention it now."
Mallos frowned.
Thales shrugged and teased tentatively:
"So, am I still your favorite Duke?"
Mallos looked at him for a long time - it was not an ordinary look, it was the kind of "look" that made Thales slightly tremble, the kind of "look" you get when ghosts appear in the scene unknowingly and stare at the protagonist in the horror movies of the past life.
.
Just when Thales couldn't help but look back, Mallos spoke up.
"Let's do it another day, Your Highness."
Thales said doubtfully:
"another day?"
Mallos nodded and became calm and calm again.
"Another day, I can take you to Awen Hill and Dongshan Cemetery outside Dongcheng District."
"Introducing my family to you."
"Okay..." Thales agreed happily, but then he realized something was wrong:
"Wait, you said, cemetery?"
Mallos nodded and smiled fresh and natural.
"yes."
"My grandparents, parents, uncles, brothers and sisters..."
Mallos's voice was quite deep, and combined with his smiling eyes, Thales was a little creepy.
"In the Mallos family, I have all the blood relatives that can be found in the genealogy."
"Everyone."
"They're all buried there."
Mallos' tone was very calm.
It's like talking to someone else.
Except that he kept looking at Thales without blinking an eye.
"Shall I introduce you to each other?"
Thales chuckled and turned back stiffly.
"Hehe, that, you know..."
The prince picked up the plate and said awkwardly:
"This lettuce is really good."
Thales knew that the watchman's good mood ended here.
Just like his luck tonight.
Because ten minutes later, a man came uninvited, sat down next to Thales, and smiled at him.
"Do you remember the first time we met?"
"What a coincidence. At that time, I happened to encounter you being chased by assassins, and I happened to save your life... Looking back now, maybe it was fate?"
Thales looked helplessly at the visitor, waved his hand to Mallos, who was looking over here, to signal that it was normal, and asked him to stabilize the Star Lake Guards who were on alert around him.
Why is this guy...
It happens to be this time...
"I'm a little busy and don't have time to reminisce about the past and the present with you."
The prince was not polite and called him by his first name:
"Jane."
However, the owner of the iris, the Duke of South Bank, Jenn Kelvindill, raised his glass to him with a slight smile on his lips:
"Yeah, that's a pity."
"I thought that you, who have suffered many life and death catastrophes, would be particularly concerned about the current situation of your former enemies - this is information I only obtained recently."
Thales was startled.
"Former enemies?"
Zhan, he talked about the assassination when we first met...
And the enemy who assassinated me in the past...
Thales subconsciously looked at Duke Arend.
"Oh, no, it's not the Duke of the North, and it's very clear what his current situation is," Duke Zhan put down his wine glass with a stern look:
"I'm talking about the cunning, unpredictable, crazy and vicious person..."
Thales was stunned.
"Obviously I have nothing and I am on the run..."
Zhan En said softly:
"But he can still catch you and me off guard with every move he makes, and make him look disgraced..."
The Duke snorted coldly:
"Ms. Serena Corleone."
Thales was confused for a second, and then fell into a trance.
Se...
In an instant, the sudden strangeness and the long-lost familiarity hit me at the same time.
Serena…
Thales' complexion changed slightly.
A certain blood vessel in my neck started to hurt like it had many years ago.
Zhan En turned the wine glass in his hand lightly and was slightly lost in thought.
"How about this name, Your Highness..."
At that moment, Duke Iris' eyes showed fear and coldness: