"This is the daughter of the Oath Keepers, the noble royal princess," Nob paused and looked at Thales with deep meaning:
"The Duchess of Xinghu."
The Oathkeeper's daughter?
Thales' breathing was stagnant as he looked at the female knight with sharp eyebrows and thin lips smiling softly.
"She has not been famous in history for being unmarried all her life, but she is the longest-serving secret intelligence chief - her elven bloodline has given her a long and healthy life - so long that she had to retire behind the scenes early and set up a new chief to avoid causing controversy between the government and the opposition. .”
Tyr looked curiously at this heroic princess and the Duchess of Star Lake.
His... ancestors.
【Theodora·e·m·Bright Star,354-?】
Her temperament reminds people of the Flower of the Fortress, but the latter is far less powerful than Theodora's dazzling silver that makes people bow their heads.
"But the year of her death is not written on it." Thales said doubtfully.
Nobu smiled:
"Because we - the secret department ourselves don't know."
"It is said that when Princess Theodora really left the Secret Service and drifted away at the age of one hundred and one, the reigning 'surviving king' Elan III was already her great-grandson."
In comparison, her brothers had much shorter lives.
Norbu thought.
Thales looked down and saw the princess's quotation embroidered with gold thread:
[Look, look, look, look at this stupid thing.]
Thales was petrified in place.
What the hell?
Thales's face twitched in disbelief as he looked at this "Princess Quote" that was neatly embroidered but full of curse words.
This is……
Star Princess?
"Can't you just say something more normal?"
Nobu showed an embarrassed expression and hesitated:
"This is her own wish, so that is not convenient."
What if she comes back one day? - He bit these words in his mouth.
Thales narrowed his eyes and understood.
He followed the good example and no longer looked at Theodora's portrait.
"You see, although she is a woman, Theodora had a tough attitude and domineering methods when she was in power. She is the best in the secret science."
Norbu explained:
"Since her beginning, the kingdom's secret department has spread out spies all over the world, and those who are ruthless and radical will be punished."
"If necessary, she will not hesitate to issue the much-criticized overseas assassination mission, even if it may trigger a war."
Overseas assassination.
Thales was startled.
He remembered what King Nun told him that night about the fate of his eldest son.
"But it is said that in those years, the secret room dreamed of conquering the taiga in the south, and Kuntana did not dare to cross the sea of terminus. Even though they were itching with hatred, no one dared to touch even a hair of the spies of the secret department."
Norbu looked at this special star princess without concealing the admiration and longing in his eyes.
Thales let out a breath.
Damn secret science.
How much unwritten ink is there in this place’s history books?
"Oh, I'm afraid we have to watch these next three together."
Norbu was leaning on the crutch with great interest, as if he was still getting familiar with his new third leg.
He pointed out another painting to Thales, which showed a tall, handsome, sunny and handsome man:
【Noah c.p. Almond, 434-462】
“‘Sail,’ Noah Almond.”
"It is rumored that he is one of the lovers of Queen Elijah, the Northern Conqueror."
The queen's lover...
so.
Is this the king's man?
Norbu lowered his head and blinked, changing his previous solemn tone:
"Of course, some people say that the Northern Conqueror likes to hunt for women. There is no one in her court that the queen has not slept with - regardless of gender."
After hearing the gossip, Thales looked at the handsome man Noah with a different look.
Seen from a distance, the Noah in the painting has a strong figure and a handsome face. He is indeed outstanding and was the first choice.
Nobu shook his head and said:
"But unfortunately, as Queen Alicia lost power, Gu Fan was guillotined by her deputy and successor."
"Deputy? By your own deputy?"
Thales frowned, thinking of my tavern in Blade Tooth Camp and its thought-provoking slogan.
Norbu nodded and sighed:
"Indeed, not every pairing works together as happily and seamlessly as Leinster and Halva."
He looked at the next painting.
"And this is Gu Fan's deputy."
There was a hint of awe in Norbu's words:
"The Pale Baron, Sancho."
Thales raised his head and saw a man in the painting with a bloodless face but a pair of deep eyes.
Sancho's face was good, his posture was elegant, and his fingers on the strings were long and slender. He looked like a talented man with a lot of poetry.
Not the intelligence chief of the underground world.
【Sancho d.d. Doyle, 438-489】
Tails was stunned when he saw the surname:
"Doyle? His last name is Doyle?"
Norbu said doubtfully:
"Yes, what's wrong?"
The Pale Baron, Doyle.
"Nothing." Thales shook his head, remembering the previous "wise minister" Karabiyan:
"That is, whenever you put such noun combinations together..."
Thales tried hard to drive out another careless personal guard and his equally weird father from his mind, and sighed:
"It always makes people wonder, 'History, what have you done to them?'"
"Please continue."
Nobu was a little confused, but he continued:
"Sancho was once the head of the cruel staff under the Red King John II, the top of the powerful ministers, with overwhelming power and bloody hands."
"Before him, the Secret Service was just an intelligence agency. In his hands, it turned into a terrifying monster integrating supervision, control, trial, law enforcement, violence, propaganda, censorship, and stability maintenance."
Norbu spoke in a cadence, as if telling a ghost story.
"As the most powerful intelligence chief in history, he spread the anger and violence of the Red King to his heart's content, did whatever he wanted, and it was difficult to control the situation, ending the historical inheritance of countless famous families."
Thales frowned and looked at this different Doyle again: he was noble and elegant, and in no way did he look like an executioner who had suffered a lot of bloodshed.
Nobu's tone became urgent, as if he had seen the blood of those years:
"Until the Pale Baron also died at the hands of his deputy and successor, the 'Black Messenger' Mason Zoneved."
Thales raised his eyebrows.
Another death by a deputy.
He followed Norbu's gaze and saw the third person:
【Mason H.A.Zonevid, 443-506】
This man was alone in the darkness, his eyes were gloomy, his appearance was the same but he looked mean and unkind, like a wild beast in a corner that preys on people.
If you just look at the portraits, Almond the Gufan is an upright and heroic young man, the pale Baron Doyle is a gentle and narcissistic talent, and the Black Messenger Zonevid...
There is no doubt that he is eerie and has the temperament of a villain.
Norbu's voice came:
"The Black Messenger betrayed his master and sought glory. After killing Sancho, he failed to surrender. Fortunately, he received the first execution order issued by the 'Wise Lord' Mindis III after he succeeded to the throne: to spend the rest of his life in the Prison of Bones."
Thales took a long breath:
"So, from the time of the Northern Conqueror to the Red King, the three intelligence chiefs of the Secret Service all suffered from internal disasters and did not end well."
Why, is backstabbing also popular in Kingdom Secrets?
As if feeling the Duke's emotion, Norbu said slowly:
"At that time, the kingdom was in chaos."
Thales nodded.
"A little gossip," perhaps to liven up the atmosphere, Nobu lowered his voice and smiled slightly:
"It is said that these three stewards have all slept with Queen Alicia, or in other words, have been slept with by the Queen."
Slept with the Queen.
Thales raised his eyebrows and scanned the portraits of Lone Fan, Pale Baron, and Black Messenger, and suddenly realized that they were either heroic, gentle, or gloomy, but they were all mature men with their own characteristics.
Okay.
Taking advantage of her position...this queen really knows how to enjoy herself.
"It's really messy," Thales blinked:
"In every sense of the word."
At this moment.
"enough."
They all turned around and found Raphael standing behind them, looking uncertain.
He stared at Norbu sullenly, then looked reproachfully at the prince.
"I told you, don't move."
The Desolate Bone Man said coldly:
"Especially with strangers."
Thales looked at Nobu, who lowered his head apologetically.
Duke Xinghu twitched his lips.
"Sorry, I thought..."
Thales glanced at the room behind Raphael:
"It's not that fast to wipe your butt."
The eyes of Raphael and Thales met in the air, and a wave of swords and sword shadows were exchanged in the air.
Norbu observed his words and stepped forward to salute at the right time:
"Raphael."
Raphael seemed to have noticed the man on crutches and replied coolly:
"Nobu."
For some reason, Thales felt that the relationship between the two of them was a little stiff.
Norbu smiled slightly:
"So, I heard that there is a sudden big case involving the nobles of the Western Wilderness?"
Raphael nodded, with a touch of alienation in his words:
"Yes."
Nobu nodded clearly and looked into Raphael's red eyes:
"Well, it's not my case, but if you need help..."
Raphael interrupted him without saying anything:
"If I need help."
Seeing that the other party didn't want to say anything, Nobu stopped talking to him and turned to Thales.
"I haven't had time to say thank you, Your Highness Thales," Nobu said respectfully:
"If you like me, I would like to visit later..."
"Your Highness still has something important to do," Raphael suddenly stood in front of Thales and said with a warning:
"And he did it privately."
Nobu stopped silently.
"Of course," he looked at Raphael who refused to give in and nodded in despair:
"certainly."
Norbu saluted Thales again, turned around and left limping with an unskilled cane.
The figure is lonely and somewhat pitiful.
Thales couldn't bear to see it.
"What did Norbu do?"
After Nobu left, Thales suddenly asked.
Raphael frowned:
"What?"
Thales followed in the footsteps of the Bone Man:
"What did he do wrong during the Year of Blood that led to him being stationed in the Western Wilderness, which is akin to exile?"
Raphael's face tightened:
"You have to ask yourself, or your lord, about that."
"Really? Thales observed Raphael's face and hummed.
"If you want to take a day trip to the Secret Academy, Your Highness," Raphael said unhappily:
"I can definitely meet your needs."
"Why, are you jealous when you see how popular I am?" Thales was happy to see Raphael's unhappy look.
Raphael hummed softly and continued to move forward.
"Okay, so, Guide Raphael, who is this?"
Thales pointed casually.
Raphael glanced:
"Lisaandro Esposito, no nickname."
In other words, there are too many nicknames, so just don’t give them any.
Thales came closer to the portrait. It was a middle-aged man with a humble smile and kindness:
【Lysando Esposito,530-602】
【When you know you are wrong, you have done something right.】
"He was born in the year that the wise king died. As the son of a humble leatherworker, he changed his destiny by passing the literacy test. He eventually became the intelligence chief of the 'Silent One' Su Mei IV and attended the imperial meeting."
Raphael moved forward steadily, regardless of Thales being left behind:
"Since him, the Kingdom's Secret Service has swept away the old traditions. It is no longer the king's personal toy, but an important national intelligence department with clear powers and responsibilities, efficient operation, sufficient budget, and important status. Bit by bit, step by step, it will
Over the past century, we have taken back the disadvantages of the darkroom one by one."
"So there is today's secret science."
Raphael's tone was respectful.
Thales had to speed up all the way to keep up with Raphael's inconsiderate pace.
"And he was also Lord Morat Hanson's teacher."
Raphael walked out of the corridor and came to a special-shaped iron door. He also opened the magic lock in the ripples of air with his fingers, and turned into a dark inner room.
"You mean the Black Prophet?"
Thales followed quickly and walked into this inner room:
"His teacher?"
But the moment he stepped into the room, Thales suddenly felt panicked!
The Sin of Hell River stirred uneasily, but it was different from any previous danger. It felt ethereal, yet creepy.
"Hiss, hiss..." A faint rustling sound sounded in my ears, which reminded me of the sliding movement of snakes.
Fortunately, this feeling was fleeting and seemed to be gone.
If it were shorter, Thales would even think it was an illusion.
what happened?
Thales adapted to the darkness of the inner room and followed Raphael's footsteps with fear.
"You know, we usually don't mention this nickname, Your Highness."
The Desolate Skeleton Man's tone became cautious:
"Especially in the secret department."
"Why?" Under the dim light, they walked forward for more than ten meters. Thales, still immersed in the fear just now, subconsciously asked back:
"Why didn't you mention it?"
The next second, a hoarse voice sounded from the darkness after six years of absence:
"Just like us, we usually don't mention the 'skirt star' in front of you."
"Your Highness Thales."
This is……
Hearing this voice, Wang Zisheng stopped in his tracks and didn't even have time to understand the ridicule in the other person's words.
The feeling of panic came over again, especially just now.
The crime of the prison river is restless.
Raphael stopped a few steps in front of him and turned around.
Revealing the person behind him.
Thales' eyes widened.
He had expected this scene, but...
"Lord Hansen," Thales stared at the thin black figure in front of him:
"haven't seen you for a long time."
In front of him, the current intelligence chief of King Kessel, the head of the secret service who had been out of sight for many years, the Black Prophet, Lord Morat Hansen, was sitting in a dark wheelchair, facing him.
I saw the old man in front of me gasping in pain as he raised his abhorrent face, which was only skin and bones, and showed an intimidating smile to Thales.
Thales looked at Morat in surprise.
how……
He remembered six years ago, when the Black Prophet was still very energetic and powerful even though he was old, and he could still threaten Gilbert and Jinny with a cane.
but now……
Thales stared blankly at the wheelchair under the other person's seat.
How could he look like he was dying?
But Thales soon realized something was wrong.
"Hiss...hiss..."
The sensory feedback from hell gave him countless hair-raising rustling sounds - originating from the dark and colorless "wheelchair".
The sin of the Hell River spread to Thales's eyes, allowing him to see clearly in the dark room.
Thales looked instinctively: he saw that the Black Prophet's wheelchair was "wrapped" with countless sticky and moist black veins, which were like muscle textures and also wrapped Morat's legs.
He was still squirming, contracting, and breathing from time to time.
That's not a wheelchair.
At that moment, Thales' hair really stood on end.
It was a...living creature.
Like branches, like vines, like tentacles.
Its back extends to the interior wall, covering half the room like a vine, all the way to the ceiling.
As for Morat, sitting in a "wheelchair", he seemed to have "grown" out of these vines.
Thales breathed in a daze, suddenly remembering the blood magician he once was.
This is……
"Don't be afraid," Morat breathed hard, raising his skinny arms and connecting them to thousands of black vines that were squirming like thousands of snakes:
"Some necessary means are like taking medicine to treat illness."
Raphael stood aside, his expression unchanged.
Take medicine to cure illness?
It took Thales several seconds to calm down.
"Your Excellency, what's wrong with you?"
Morat laughed, causing the black-veined vines around him to stir.
"old."
"Your Excellency the Duke of Star Lake," the Black Prophet's voice was a little ethereal, but still chilling: "Time has caught me."
"Just like it captured Mr. Lisandro, it also captured His Majesty Eddie."
"Like it's going to catch everybody eventually."
The Black Prophet's eyes froze, showing longing:
"Except the elves, of course."
Thales breathed in a daze. At that moment, he didn't know how to face the monster-like opponent.
"I believe you have seen, Your Highness, that the kingdom's secret department has gone through fifty-seven general managers," Morat came back to his senses:
"We are all closely related to the stars, sharing weal and woe."
"Inseparable."
"We are not your enemies, Thales," Morat looked at the disgusting creature wrapped around half of his body with emotion, and called out the Duke's name:
"The truth is, we struggle just like you."
Thales stared at the black vines and felt his eyebrows twitching.
The Black Prophet raised his hand and didn't know what he did. The black veined vines that spread over half of his body immediately trembled and came out of the back of his "wheelchair", "releasing" Morat.
"Hiss, hiss..." The sound of the vines shrinking was shuddering.
Only the part that was still wrapped around the wheelchair was still moving back and forth, like maggots swarming and chrysalises twitching.
Looking at this scene, Thales felt a little uncomfortable in his abdomen.
Morat closed his eyes, took a few deep breaths, then weakly opened his eyes and nodded to Raphael.
"let's start."
The Desolate Bone Man bowed his head respectfully, turned around, opened another door, and disappeared into the darkness behind the door.
Seeing Raphael leave, Thales suddenly realized that the only ones left in the room at this time were him, the Black Prophet himself, and...those black "things".
This thought made him uneasy.
"Would you mind giving me a push, Your Highness?"
Morat stretched out his skinny hand toward Thales, opened his inhuman mouth, and smiled like a dead man in a coffin: