In the empty banquet hall, Thales and Zhan faced each other from a distance.
There were few people in the distance, and the guards and servants were still sending off the uneasy guests, looking cautiously but in awe from time to time.
"Now?"
Zhan En's surprised look only lasted for a second, and his good self-control made him stop his expression.
Duke Iris remained silent and ignored the nervous eyes of a few people in the distance. He just slowly moved across the messy ground and walked towards Thales.
Thales stared at the other party coldly.
Until Zhan En stopped and stood in front of the dagger.
"So you are just a blind cat who meets a dead mouse, trying your luck by cheating?"
The owner of Kevin Deere looked at the dagger on the ground, calmly, half-smiling.
He was leisurely and contented, without the slightest hint of gaffes or self-consciousness as if his conspiracy had been exposed and his plan exposed - just like when Thales exposed "New Star"'s plan at the state meeting six years ago.
This made Thales feel uneasy.
"I took it out of his mouth," Thales said without changing his expression.
"This sword was indeed given to him by a certain customer, not from some unknown source."
The prince glanced at several exits:
"Unfortunately, security at the banquet tonight is strict."
"There are not many customers who can enter without personal search."
Zhan took his time and spoke happily:
"Then why do you think it's me?"
He looked very interested. If you didn't know better, you might have thought that the two dukes were talking about something interesting after dinner.
Rather than a thrilling political conspiracy.
Thales frowned slightly.
The young man suddenly discovered that compared to the young and promising Duke of South Bank who had stayed in his mind six years ago and had not been in office for a long time, Zhan En was now much less imposing and much stronger.
The other person is different.
Thales told himself silently.
He is a little less lively and bright, and a little more melancholy and steady.
A thought flashed through Thales' mind: his experience in the North might have made him stronger, sharper, and more skillful.
Those six years in the stars.
What happened to Zhan again?
"We broke down."
Thales said lightly, maintaining the palace and dignity of Duke Xinghu:
"Before the party begins."
Zhan En's eyes moved.
"But in the middle of the banquet, you eagerly came up to chat and talked about political gains and losses."
Thales looked directly into the other person's eyes:
"Or be more straightforward..."
"Looking for something to say when I have nothing to say."
A brief silence.
Thales looked at the hall pillars in the distance, watching the shadowy servants cleaning up the mess of the banquet:
"I know you are well-behaved, Zhan, and I also know you are thick-skinned."
"But after all, it's not as good as this."
Zhan nodded slowly, with the corners of his mouth raised, as if he was tasting a glass of fine wine:
"It can't be that I really want to chat with you..."
Thales interrupted him coldly:
"You noticed."
Zhan En's eyes condensed.
"You noticed that the royal guards were frequently mobilized to strengthen protection: you realized that someone unexpectedly discovered Anke's existence in advance."
The young man looked at the dagger lying alone on the ground and stepped forward:
"You can't sit still."
"You need to hold me back to ensure that the plan goes smoothly and that Anke's goal is still there even after the king leaves."
"This is your biggest flaw."
Zhan said nothing.
"And based on my experience, every time you try to show your kindness out of nowhere, something bad will happen."
Thales stopped in front of the dagger, looked directly at the Duke of Iris opposite, and called his name:
"Jane Kevin Deere."
Old friend.
Thales said silently.
Zhan En smiled, looking unconcerned.
"You are very suspicious, Your Highness."
"Perhaps when you were still in the north, you were often plotted and harmed by various people?"
Calculate, inflict harm.
Thales wiped away the images of Nunn, Charmaine, and even the Black Prophet from his mind, and also chuckled:
"And maybe you didn't realize, Zhan, the topic you mentioned tonight when you had nothing to say..."
"King vs. vassals? Land vs. security? Dominance vs. rebellion?"
Thales language contains sarcasm:
“What you say reflects what you think.”
Zhan En's smile faded slightly.
"I think that before today, you have probably been worried and troubled for a long time by the matter between Crowcrow Town and Mirror River, the grudge between Bailar and Doyle, and how to take advantage of the opportunity."
Thales didn't look at Zhan's expression. He looked around and looked at the countless tables, chairs, cups and plates that were broken due to Anke's banquet, and sneered:
"And all of these endanger the prestige of the Fuxing Palace, alienate the Seven Shining Stars, provoke conflicts among the nobles, and expose conflicts in the ruling..."
"Just to cause trouble for me?"
In the distant hall, Glover and Piloga, who had seen off the last group of guests, were about to come in, but were stopped by Mallos with his hand.
The watchman looked at the two people confronting each other in the hall and shook his head.
The lights are still bright, and the Mindis Hall remains quaint. However, compared with the bustling bustle before, the banquet hall at this time is silent, cold and empty.
Only Thales and Zhan stood in the center of the hall, standing opposite each other and looking at each other quietly.
The only thing standing between them was the sharp-edged dagger on the ground.
After a long time, Zhan walked to the long table aside, picked up the wine glass left for him by the butler, and poured a glass of Sera Principality's famous wine:
"Like most people in the Western Wilderness, Anke Bailar is realistic and pragmatic, and is not a person who will be easily swayed by words."
Thales looked at his actions and frowned.
Zhan raised his wine glass and turned around while leaning on the long table.
"How can you be so sure that he will give up and give in?"
He looked at Thales carefully, as if he wanted to put the boy in front of him together with the boy from six years ago:
"Wouldn't you risk everything in a fit of rage and burn everything on the spot?"
Anke Bailar.
Thales tilted his head, and a shadow flashed across his face.
"Same as you." He said in a low voice.
Zhan En shook the wine glass in his hand and smelled the aroma:
"Oh? What?"
Thales looked at the wine glass in the other person's hand and felt that he was also thirsty.
"Before he became a pawn, he was a human being."
"He is a human being, a very complex yet very simple person."
Duke Xinghu came to another long table, swept away the obstructing clutter, and picked up a wine glass.
He didn't care who had drank it before, he just threw it behind him and spilled the remaining liquid inside.
The wine fell to the floor, and a few drops splashed onto Zhan En's boots, causing the owner of Iris to frown as he savored the aroma of the fruit wine.
Thales picked up a pot of water, leaned against the long table, and turned around.
"No matter who instigates him, who influences him, or what he is coerced by, all his thoughts and actions, in the final analysis, originate from himself."
Zhan En left the place calmly:
"Have you known him before?"
"No," Thales filled the cup, "but the intelligence information states that Anke also has a younger brother and three younger sisters, all of whom are young and live in Crow Cry Town."
Thales' eyes were fixed on the wine glass in his hand.
"I was thinking at that time, what would they do if he died avenging his father?"
Zhan looked at him and raised the corners of his mouth.
Boom.
Thales put down the kettle hard.
"Single-handedly, he broke into the palace to express his love, killed his enemy with his own hands, and avenged his father."
"This sounds very passionate and satisfying."
Thales said in a deep voice, looking at his reflection in the wine glass:
"But in reality, this will not solve anything: the royal family will not tolerate the assassination, and his behavior will only be regarded as a crime that floutes order and will be severely punished as an example of destabilization to serve as a warning to others."
"As Bailar's family, they are already in dire straits and will only face disaster."
Zhan En smiled more and more subtly.
And Thales' eyes gradually turned into ice:
"But when I thought about it, he was going to duel with Doyle, and I understood."
"Anke didn't want to kill people, it wasn't even fair. Maybe revenge was just a reason."
Thales raised his head suddenly.
"Under the heavy pressure of his father's huge debt, the vassal's betrayal, and Doyle's conspiracy, he has little experience and nothing to do. He just wants to fight for the last guarantee for his family: to win the public's sympathy and force the royal family to
Come forward to ensure that his family can survive this catastrophe safely and avoid bankruptcy and land loss, as well as the destruction of his family and his family."
Zhan En still tasted the aroma of wine calmly and complacently, but did not drink it.
The prince's tone became tense:
"He took desperate risks, not for revenge or even seeking justice, but just wanted to fight for the future."
"And in order to accomplish this goal perfectly without leaving any further trouble..."
Thales gritted his teeth.
"He must die." Zhan raised his head and answered coldly.
Thales was in a daze, and suddenly remembered the expression on D.D's face when he decisively expressed his stance to him and started a duel.
The voice of Duke Iris floated in the hall, ethereal but mysterious:
"He could only use the most legitimate excuse of revenge and justice, bear it all, and use his own death to take away all the blame and disgust."
"It's better to die an honorable, admirable, dramatic and legendary death."
"Like a hero."
"Become a perfect victim who is not harshly criticized, and who is perfect, leaving only nostalgia and sympathy behind."
Zhan observed Thales's expression and wondered:
"Only in this way can the onlookers who are mean, vicious, selfish and hypocritical be relieved and release their poor empathy."
"Only in this way can the royal family and the kingdom be forced under pressure. After this sad story, they have no choice but to help and take care of his troubled family to prevent it from ruin and decline."
The water in Taylor's wine glass began to boil slightly.
Like a stormy sea.
"Ank Bailar."
Thales' face was expressionless:
"He is not the selfish hero in those legendary stories that everyone likes, who commits suicide in a fit of rage, regardless of the wailing of the orphans and widows behind him."
"He's not some scumbag hero who can't think of anything for a moment and gets hot-headed just to get some bullshit ideas. He will perish together."
Zhan En looked at him silently, the wine glass in his hand calm.
The prince slowly raised his head, his eyes dead:
"He is just a run-down country squire in a remote place. He has a family and younger siblings."
"To shoulder responsibilities and endure humiliation in a difficult life."
"A man who, under great power, plans hard, works hard to support his family, and seeks a chance of survival for his loved ones..."
Thales' breathing quickened:
"Ordinary people."
That's why Anke gave in.
Thales thought bitterly.
He must give in.
Because he is not alone.
Don't just live for yourself.
Thinking of this, Thales couldn't help but feel indignant and raised his voice:
"And you, Kevin Deere, you took advantage of that, you took advantage of his humanity, you took advantage of what was most fundamental and important about him as a human being."
"Turn him into your pawn."
Thales's words are chilling:
"Come and deal with me."
Zhan En looked at him quietly. After a long time, he smiled.
Like the spring breeze turning into rain.
"do not you?"
Thales trembled slightly.
Zhan gently shook the wine glass and watched the liquid in the glass rotate orderly and smoothly in one direction:
"Didn't you also take advantage of this, seemingly 'persuading' him, but actually forcing him?"
Zhan En's smile turned grim.
Thales' wine glass trembled.
"Not long ago, when Bailar came to me," Zhan said in a casual tone:
"What I saw was a scarred and desperate poor man who wanted to seek help from the famously approachable Iris family."
Duke Iris's eyes flashed:
"He needs hope."
"So I gave him hope."
Zhan paused and raised his eyebrows:
"Perhaps, there is also relief from the pressure."
"I told him that only one person can reverse his family's destiny."
"A 'new man' who returns with a God-given halo, who is completely different from the king here and the kings in the court."
Thales gritted his teeth and stared at the water in his cup churning back and forth, making waves.
Zhan left the long table, walked forward, and approached Thales with a proud tone:
"Until you get to the duel."
"Until you use force to cut off this hope: no matter whether the duel is won or lost, life or death, whether you kill the prince or never reverse the case, his family will be in ruins."
Thales shuddered and closed his eyes.
The owner of Kevin Deere snorted coldly:
"You took advantage of his humanity and forced him to give up the duel, and even forced him to survive. You were so stingy that you refused to even grant the mercy of death."
"Only more cruel than me."
Thales was speechless.
The Duke of South Bank took a leisurely step and stepped over the dagger on the ground.
"Do you know what kind of future he will face when he walks out alive tonight?"
Thales' breathing stopped.
Kevin Deere came to Thales with a mysterious smile and swayed his wine glass:
"Now, who is the ruthless person, Your Highness?"
Thales was silent for a long time.
He just looked at his glass of wine.
Looking at the water in the cup, it changes from endless rolling to overwhelming, and then returns to silence again.
Just when Zhan En lost his smile and was about to turn around.
"Aren't you going to drink?"
Zhan frowned.
Thales raised his head with an indifferent expression and looked at the wine glass in the other person's hand.
Maybe he was a little shocked, but the Duke of Nan'an looked at the wine in his hand and still responded happily:
"Judging from the aroma, it's worse than the ones imported from Emerald City," Zhan En shook his head, shaking the wine glass with a look of regret on his face: "But if you want to drink..."
"No, it's not my favorite flavor."
Thales said nothing and just hummed softly.
But the next moment, he suddenly raised his wine glass and poured the water in the glass into his mouth.
Drink it all in one gulp.
Duke Xinghu finished drinking the water to soothe his dry mouth and tongue. He did not shy away from looking bad and behaved in an indecent manner. He wiped the water stains from his mouth and flicked it away.
Water droplets splashed over, causing Zhan En to retreat silently.
But Thales stood up and left the long table!
"Why?"
Thales strode forward and asked coldly:
"Is it because I didn't agree to your conditions just now? Will I fall in love with you in a cowardly manner?"
Zhan stood still, but he frowned and realized: Thales was moving forward, approaching him.
"Or have you always made up your mind to break up with me and fight to the death?"
Thales pushed all the way in front of Zhan, until the distance between them was less than a foot, and the dagger on the ground was once again glowing with cold light.
When the two eyes met, there was a spark.
Zhan stared at Thales closely, his leisurely expression slowly disappearing.
"This is a warning."
Thales hummed:
"warn?"
Zhan En raised the corners of his mouth and called him by his name:
"I came to you on purpose at the banquet."
"Tiles."
"To be honest, I'm not afraid that you will find out it's me. No, it's better to say that I want to be discovered by you,"
Thales frowned.
"It's not just about creating opportunities for Bailar," Zhan sneered:
"Tiles, this is my last chance for you."
Zhan lowered his wine glass and approached the depressed Thales without caring:
"Bailal's actions are all spontaneous. All I do is point out the clear path, give him a slight push, and make the next casual move."
"But just like that, you can't bear it anymore and are in a state of embarrassment."
He leaned close to Thales's ear, whispering like a lover, but his tone was deeply cold:
"Can you imagine the scene when the chess game gets serious?"
Thales didn't answer, just squeezed his wine glass.
"I want you to know, Thales, and I want to teach you to know: this is my response."
The Duke of Nan'an said in a rare harsh voice:
"In response to you offending me, rejecting me, and even threatening me six years later."
Thales was stiff all over.
The other party's breath left Thales's ear.
The person in front of me once again transformed into the kind and kind young Duke of Iris who made people feel like spring breeze.
But just a few seconds later, Thales took a deep breath.
He chuckled.
"I? Reject you?"
Thales's expression changed. He looked at Zhan from head to toe.
The latter was unhappy for a while.
Until the prince said frivolously and sarcastically:
"Sorry, I didn't know you liked men."
"Dear Jenn."
At that moment, Zhan En's eyes suddenly turned cold.
But Thales didn't care. He even raised his left hand and gently put it on Zhan's right shoulder. He also put it close to the other person's ear and shook his head with a tut:
"Otherwise, maybe I could have been more gentle and gentlemanly when I rejected you just now?"
Zhan stopped laughing.
He didn't move or look at the hand on his shoulder, he just stared at Thales coldly.
"If you choose war, Thales, you are determined to be my enemy."
"Then this move is just the beginning."
Zhan looked at Thales as if he were looking at a corpse:
"Prince of the Stars? Duke of Star Lake? The blessing of the royal power? Good reputation? The allegiance of the ministers? The experience of the North? A noble attitude?"
He asked coldly, his tone without any fluctuation.
The next moment, Zhan suddenly raised his left hand and held down Thales's left hand!
"I can destroy them," Duke Iris said with viciousness in every word:
"One by one."
Feeling the opponent's wrist exerting force, Thales pursed his lips.
"Here, on my familiar chessboard, I can make you miserable."
At that moment, Zhan En's eyes were so sharp that they could cut through flesh and blood and pierce the heart:
"When it comes time to break up, even if I sacrifice everything, I can still make you pay the heaviest price."
The Duke of Nan'an snorted softly and removed Thales' palm.
But to his surprise, the silent prince not only did not let go, but quickly grabbed Zhan En's wrist!
Zhan En's eyes narrowed.
But it wasn't the act itself that made him dissatisfied or even disgusted.
"Is it because of that conversation?"
Thales' words sounded softly.
"Six years ago, when I was leaving Yongxing City to go north, we had that parting conversation."
six years ago.
Leaving Yongxing City...
conversation.
One second, two seconds.
Zhan En's eyes were confused at first, then fell into a deep cold and fainted into anger.
"Because I asked about your family, your family?"
Thales's words sounded faintly, flowing into Zhan's ears like poison flowing into his blood vessels:
"And the secret of their misfortune?"
Any expression disappeared from Zhan En's face instantly.
At that moment, the sin of the Hell River in Thales' body burst into a burst of unreasonable restlessness!
It almost made him lose his temper.
At that moment, Thales knew that he was on the right track.
This is it.
Thales resisted the urge to use the power of termination, looked at the Duke of South Bank again, and bit out the words between his teeth:
"look?"
"To a certain extent, there is not much difference between you and Anke."
There was a counter force on Thales's hand trying to break free, but he still held Zhan's wrist tightly and never let go - at least not allowing the elegant opponent to break free gracefully.
"And you ask, who is the ruthless person?"
Thales stared at Zhan, staring at his expressionless face, as gray as a vampire:
"It's up to you."
"Jane Kevin Deere."
silence.
A lifeless silence spread as the two looked at each other as if nothing had happened.
In the hall, the atmosphere between the two finally dropped to freezing point.
On the periphery, the royal guards waiting for the dukes to negotiate seemed to be aware of the situation and wanted to step forward, but were blocked by Marius.
Finally, Zhan turned his head, avoiding Thales's sight, and stopped trying to break away from the prince.
But he smiled.
"do you know."
"From 'Black Eyed' John, to 'Southerner' Heyman, 'High King' Elan, 'Oath Keeper' Midir, 'Northern Conqueror' Alicia..." Zhan became leisurely again,
He was at ease, but the extremely cold light in his eyes revealed the truth:
"Historically, there have been many star kings who taught Exeter a lesson."
"And you know what I learned about how to deal with the Northlanders?"
Thales frowned.
Zhan no longer pushed Thales outward, but pulled him closer and whispered calmly:
"Before they fuck you..."
"Just fuck them to death."
Thales' eyes turned cold.
"Don't imitate me."
But Zhan smiled slightly.
"Do you think that just because you have survived being born a king, you are qualified to be complacent and go your own way?"
"Polaris? Hehehehe..."
The owner of the iris said softly:
"Believe me, if you try to imitate Nunn VII's gameplay in the Kingdom of Stars, you will only die faster, more miserably, and more inexplicably."
Thales felt a chill in his heart.
Zhan like this is often more disturbing than the sinister and angry Duke of South Bank.
The next moment, Thales flicked his wrist and was thrown away by Zhan En!
"Watch your hands, Your Highness."
The Duke of Iris smiles as if spring is full of flowers and the grass is luxuriant:
"As I said, times have changed."
"No better than before."
Thales remained silent.
His threats...
Doesn't work.
or……
Too effective?
Zhan En took a step back and swept his shoulder carelessly, as if it was stained:
"You don't want to be fucked to death by me, Your Highness."
"Until you meet your real enemy."
Thales' complexion changed.
He slowly raised his head.
"The only enemy I can see so far is you."
Zhan seemed to have heard some joke and burst into laughter.
"How to choose friends and foes is a science, Your Highness."
"The Kingdom of Stars is prosperous and peaceful, and its prospects are bright," his smile remained the same, but his words gradually became more subtle: "Everyone you see is a friend."
"What you can't see is the enemy."
Zhan En held the wine glass in his hand. The liquid in the glass was still there and the color was as new as new.
"It's better to be friends than to die because of enemies."
He smiled warmly and immediately released his fingers.
Thales' pupils narrowed.
Snapped!
The wine glass fell to the ground, shattering into pieces and splattering with crystals.
Each fragment reflects a different light and shadow on the lights in the hall.
Zhan En no longer lingered and turned around and left.
"That's my property."
Thales was behind him, looking at the debris on the ground, and spoke coldly.
"That's right," Zhan En said without looking back.
"So you feel heartbroken."
Thales frowned.
"Aren't you afraid?"
Seeing the other party walking further and further away, Thales couldn't help but raised his voice:
"In Yongxing City, he openly provoked the royal authority, alienated Canxing and his vassals, destroyed the relationship between Fuxing Palace and Xihuang, and endangered the heirs of the kingdom."
"Or are you still thinking that the Bright Star royal family will die and you will be crowned?"
Thales stared at the opponent's back and lowered his voice:
"My father won't be happy."
Zhan sneered.
"What happened, you may be very busy tomorrow."
He still didn't look back, leaving his back to Thales and answered loudly:
"But if you have time, you might as well go and visit Bailar in prison."
Thales was startled.
"Believe me, Your Majesty will be very happy."
Zhan's voice became farther and farther away, echoing:
"Maybe you're the only one who's unhappy."
Thales's heart moved:
"Why?"
"Because I said, this is just a warning."
Zhan’s steps are as elegant as before, and his posture is calm and noble:
"So I left you with a little windfall."
Thales was puzzled.
"Be smart, Your Highness, and be calm."
The Duke of South Bank's voice gradually lost its emotion:
"I said, the next time, it will be a declaration of war."
What?
Declare war?
Thales looked at each other in disbelief, unhappy, angry, and disgusted, all gathered together.
What the hell is this **** with such a sense of superiority doing?
There will be a next time?
Does he still think that Thales offended him tonight?
Thales was shocked and angry at the same time. He didn't know whether to be angry or laugh at him.
Zhan's figure walked away, left the hall, and met his butler.
"it's over?"
Mallos' steps came from behind.
Thales sighed.
No.
It's just the beginning.
When I think of the hardships I have experienced today and what I will face tomorrow...
This is only the first day, the first banquet.
After forcing himself to act humane all night, Thales let out a breath and sat down on the chair tiredly, feeling unhappy in his heart:
"I still don't understand why he hates me so much."
Thales snorted coldly and looked at the broken glass on the ground. He became more and more unhappy and wanted to smash the empty cup in his hand to vent his anger.
But with his arms halfway extended, the Duke of Xinghu, who had a great family and a wealthy family, still took a few deep breaths and put the cup back on the table unhappily and rationally.
"It's like I've harmed his whole family." Thales said gloomily.
Mallos came behind him and nodded silently:
"Then did you cause trouble?"
The prince turned around and rolled his eyes at him.
"I asked Doyle to change his shift early. He has to go back and settle down with his family," Mallos was obviously used to the death penalty in the Duke's eyes, and reported as indifferently as before:
"Of course, tomorrow..."
tomorrow.
Oh, no.
Thales covered his face, let out a painful groan, and interrupted the guard captain.
"By the way, Marius."
The watchman looked like he was listening.
"Your temporary sniper team," Thales raised his head feebly:
"They haven't changed their shift yet, have they?"
Mallos glanced at the outside:
"No. What?"
Since there is no shift change...
Thales snorted coldly and glanced in the direction where the Duke of South Bank left.
His face was gloomy and his words were cold:
"Then if I order them to follow and sneak in secretly and kill Jann Kevin Deere..."
"No." Mallos answered quickly.
Thales frowned:
"Why?"
"Because," Mallos turned around, calm and unashamed: