Thales subconsciously turned his head and looked around, but the small Ballard room was still deserted and quiet, with no movement at all.
The sun has set and the lights are dim.
Only King Kessel's cold eyes pierced him from afar, like a knife piercing his throat.
"very nice."
Thales sighed and gave up trying to find Yodel:
"When he was outside, he never listened to me so much."
Thales narrowed his eyes and tried to adjust his mood, just like relaxing his muscles and joints before a battle:
"But, are you sure he really left?"
But the Iron Fist King’s answer was simple and direct, with cold words and no delay:
"You have a quarter of an hour."
A quarter of an hour.
Thales was silent for a second.
Obviously, there will be no "positive topic of father and son reunion" at this moment.
He thought so and nodded with a hum:
"Not bad. You know, the Yankees only gave me two minutes back then."
King Kessel V snorted coldly.
"And you've wasted half of it."
His tone made people feel anxious.
Listening to Kessel's merciless words, Thales had to take a deep breath and cheer up.
After all, he has come so far and sacrificed so much.
Only then did we come to our own windmill.
Is not it?
Thinking of this, Thales put away his expression and looked solemn.
"After the banquet last night, you extorted this petition from Little Flower—I mean, Duke Iris—to force him to pay taxes and serve as slaves, and also called on the whole country to follow suit."
Thales leaned forward slightly and pressed the letter on the table:
"Now it seems that you did that to solve the problem of today's imperial meeting - Master Suoduo wants to expand the standing army and is in urgent need of money and reputation."
King Kessel turned his attention to the "Petition" and said nothing.
"That's why today, you and Advisor Thordo were singing and singing in the Ballard Room," Thales said coldly with a cold look:
"In other words, you guys communicated with each other in advance, and he charged forward, while you were strategizing, cooperating internally and externally, and cooperating seamlessly."
But his words obviously had no effect.
"Ha, you must be a genius, you must have seen through the dark side of the kingdom," King Kessel mocked him expressionlessly, not affected at all:
"Other adults at the Imperial Council, why didn't they think of this?"
Thales frowned slightly.
"Yes, this matter is very simple? Maybe even the Fallen Stars can see it, the ministers just don't tell it."
Or, don’t dare to tell the truth.
The next second? Thales' expression changed.
"But something is wrong."
I saw the young man picking up Zhan En's letter? He leaned forward and whispered:
"opportunity."
King Kessel narrowed his eyes? Thales stared at him steadily, neither of them spoke.
The flames of the eternal lights shimmered slightly, and the entire conference room was illuminated with ripples and shadows.
Like being on the deep seabed? Bearing the surging undercurrents.
"A temporary accident that happened last night actually solved this morning's problem?"
Thales spoke slowly, his eyes never leaving the Iron Fist King's face:
"What a coincidence."
King Kessel showed no reaction? As if this was just nonsense to him.
Thales shook the letter in his hand and shook his head slightly:
"But there are no coincidences in politics."
"Or? Did you foresee the accident at the banquet beforehand? Did you just wait and see? Just waiting for Zhan to knock on the door and offend me? So that you can use it to blackmail me."
"Either, did you adapt to the situation? After the accident at the banquet, you had a sudden idea and forced Zhan En to write a petition? Instructed Lord Soduo to make a proposal before the emperor? He made a decisive decision on the spot."
The Ballard Room was silent for a while.
"Self-righteous? Just making assumptions out of thin air?" King Kessel showed disdain:
"The secret department's evaluation of you is indeed correct."
But Thales smiled softly and nodded.
"This is it."
"Whether this letter was premeditated or improvised? I still feel like something is wrong."
Thales' eyes condensed:
"Until I obeyed your order and went to the secret department."
At that moment, the Iron Fist King frowned slightly.
Thales spoke faster and more urgently:
"First of all, I confirmed that Anke Bailar's attack on the banquet was not instigated by anyone else - at least not you."
The motionless King Kessel made Thales think he was talking to the stone statue.
But he knows that he is not.
"If I hadn't shouted that voice in public, no one would have known that it was Zhan who brought the murder weapon."
"And bringing the conflict between Bailar and Doyle to the fore is not conducive to the rule of the kingdom and is not in your interest."
Thales shook his head and said with certainty:
"At least I have confirmed one thing: the accident at the banquet was not your pre-planning."
King Kessel was noncommittal.
He just added lightly:
"Let you go see the felons, Secret Division, they are still too lenient with you."
Thales responded with a polite smile:
"Secondly, you asked me to go to the secret department to see my own mess, so that I can be beaten into a more honest state."
The king snorted coldly:
"Obviously you haven't learned anything."
Thales adjusted his breathing, looked down at the cuts on his left hand, and recalled what the Black Prophet said in the interrogation room:
[What matters is not what you did, whether you did it or not, nor whether you did it right or wrong, but what is important is that you are there, your position and existence.]
[Under the power of power, your position is different from that of others, and the gap is determined. No matter what you do at the upper reaches of power, what should happen will always happen. 】
Thales raised his head:
"Yes, I sit in this seat, and every move I make is of great significance and has far-reaching influence."
"Whether I don't like to drink, or I only eat lettuce, whether I accept a duel, or help the Northlanders smuggle... What is good for the people above will be bad for the people below. I should see it, know it, and be responsible for the consequences of my actions.
.”
"Very good," King Kessel hummed and said:
"Then have you thought about how you will be responsible for the prince's rebellion?"
However, the next second, Thales' expression became solemn and the conversation changed:
"but!"
What is supposed to happen will happen.
Thales paused for a moment and said decisively:
"Later, someone also told me: Do you know how many hurdles you have to go through from finance to market, from taxation to budget, from administration to people's livelihood, from top to bottom, from one end of the chain to the other?"
Thales sneered and pointed to the darkness outside the window:
"Do you think this is a puppet show where the king moves his fingers and street gangsters start the show?"
At that moment, the king's eyes moved slightly.
"Who said that?" he said coldly.
But Thales shook his head and did not answer.
"So, when I combined what I saw at the royal banquet, I thought of more."
Thales said this, leaning on the edge of the table and locking his eyes on the king.
"In these days, the Central Territory, especially the food, agriculture, medicine, tobacco and alcohol, blacksmithing, leather, textile and other industries around the royal capital, have all experienced rare, large-scale, and long-term turmoil."
"And that can't be affected by Thales Brightstar's behavior, likes and dislikes alone."
At that moment, King Kessel raised his chin slightly.
Although it was only for a moment, Thales captured this detail.
"So I began to suspect that behind the public opinion and propaganda guidance of 'the prince likes lettuce, the farmer will starve to death'..."
He took a deep breath and recalled a series of encounters from the banquet to the secret department to Hongfang Street and Xiacheng District.
Thales looked sharply:
"Secret Science, what exactly are you trying to cover up?"
"Kingdom, what happened?"
Thales's voice fell.
The cold wind poured into the room, causing the lights to be messy and the lights and shadows to be messy.
What answered him was a scoff from the king.
"Catching wind and making things up out of thin air."
King Kessel turned his head and buried one cheek in the darkness, seemingly losing interest:
“Enough about conspiracy theories?”
A wave of dissatisfaction surged into Thales's heart, familiar yet unfamiliar.
"Then I saw it!"
The boy unconsciously raised his voice and spoke faster:
"Whether there is a gap between the supply and demand of grain and wine production, or the unprecedented shortage of various medicinal materials that has raised the price of medicines on the market, or the conflicts between private gangs over the imbalance of market interests, Northlanders want to privately buy winter grains but encounter trade problems.
Barriers, the flow of people from the frontier to the interior is not normal, and the craftsmen in the foundry industry are constantly being secretly requisitioned by the army, and maybe there are more..."
Thales gritted his teeth unconsciously.
At that moment, he seemed to have returned to the Palace of Heroes, facing the six Grand Dukes of the North—and the Grand Duke.
"All of these, these tremors at the end of the power chain, they are not ordinary market normality, nor are they the influence of my 'Prince with a Thin Waist', but more like the mess left behind after some kind of powerful intervention in all walks of life.
:Mass production, material hoarding, population movement, goods movement, centralized deployment...but it has to be done in secret to hide the public's eyes..."
At this moment, the king suddenly spoke and interrupted him:
"where."
Thales was startled.
"where?"
King Kessel spoke quietly, with a deep and strong voice.
"After leaving the secret department..."
His body leaned forward on the table and his face emerged from the shadows, like a lion taking steps to find the best position to kill.
"Where else have you been, what have you done, and who have you met?"
King Kessel's words became slower and slower each time, but each time they spoke more tightly.
There are hidden dangers.
Where did you go, what did you do, and who did you meet?
Thales paused slightly.
One-night affair, Laiya Club, Grove Pharmacy, Sunset Bar, Abandoned House...
Cohen, Sissi, Lillian, Tinker, Grove, Morris, Leyock...
all of these.
his past.
Thales clenched his fists.
But he took a deep breath and dispelled the faint fear when facing the king. Instead, he was a hundred times more cautious and careful when facing a powerful enemy.
"Let me think about it... hmm."
He leaned back in his chair, smiled, and said in a confident and relaxed voice:
"Hongfang Street, Xiacheng District."
"Soliciting prostitutes and fighting."
"Men, women...well, there are people besides these two."
King Kessel frowned.
Thales' smile remained the same:
"If you ask Butthead, or those Butts who are following me secretly, they will probably tell you this."
The next second, the king's brows slowly widened.
"That beggar's den, right?"
King Kessel hummed softly, as if he was just talking about something trivial:
"After all these years, you still belong there."
Beggar's den.
"Whenever you are injured, you will just run back aggrievedly, just like a cub returning to its mother's arms, crying loudly, and finding courage there."
After the words fell, King Kessel turned his head and glanced at him lightly.
Thales trembled slightly. He looked at the other person's eyes and suddenly understood.
Thales knew where the familiar yet unfamiliar anger just now came from.
The boy recognized the king's look.
Six years ago, he was brought back from the abandoned house by Yodel, and met this majestic man for the first time in the Mindis Hall.
At that time, the other party also had the same expression on his face.
Disdainful.
indifferent.
Indifferent.
Thales closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
But this time...
【A long time ago, when I was taken away by my grandfather, everything changed.】
Glover's lost words rang in his ears:
【We, Lillian, Tinker, I...】
【We can’t go back.】
【forever.】
The boy opened his eyes suddenly!
"So, from the above things, I confirmed the second point!"
Thales looked coldly and grabbed Iris' letter:
"The matters involved in this letter are not your impromptu thoughts, father."
King Kessel frowned, as if he was surprised.
Thales spoke clearly, and his logic gradually became smoother, breaking through the layers of hesitation he had faced when facing the king:
"Long before Lord Soduo's radical proposal, the large-scale expansion of the royal standing army had been carried out in an orderly but unstoppable manner externally, throughout the central territory, and in all walks of life: food and grass supplies, equipment and weapons
, logistics lines, and even possible future recruitment sources and garrison locations, are already in full swing and operating at every level."
"If you include the time for early conception, planning, preparation, exploration, coordination, mobilization, and action, it may have lasted for several months or even one or two years, and it has been widely involved and has far-reaching influence, almost mobilizing for war - only more so.
Keeping a low profile, being more sneaky, not speaking out loudly, not declaring war, avoiding market turbulence, in case the clues are picked up from the slightest hint of chaos."
Thales narrowed his eyes:
"So much so that the kingdom's secret department had to fill in the gaps and cover up the information. Even the prince's name had to be used."
King Kessel's eyes became sharper.
Snapped!
Thales slapped Zhan's letter on the table:
"It can be seen that Lord Soduo's expansion proposal is not just a matter of communicating with you, but also getting your approval."
He stared at the king's face and said coldly:
"You and the kingdom's secret department must have been planning for a long time and are determined to win!"
The Ballard Room fell into a long silence.
"snort."
After a few seconds, the Iron Fist King's snort came faintly:
"So, you're not too stupid."
"At least he's smarter than Qiu Ke, who is full of wealth and wealth - how could Bank promote him back then?"
When Thales saw the king's reaction, he became more and more sure of his judgment.
He chuckled, forgetting the previous depression:
"That brings up the next question."
"If Zhan's letter supporting the expansion was not premeditated by you, but the expansion proposal was not your impromptu idea..." Thales' expression calmed down and his voice was slightly cold:
"Then what kind of nonsense did you do?"
Facing the prince's question, King Kessel responded silently, but his eyes became sharper.
Thales spread his fingers and said:
"From the secret preparations for the expansion, to the accident at the royal banquet, to the letter to blackmail Jenn, to the debate on the expansion in the Royal Council, all these steps to achieve the goal step by step, some are clearly planned and prepared in advance.
Some are just lucky coincidences."
He sneered:
"Could it be said that when it comes to the kingdom's major affairs, you can still half plan and half be random, half rely on calculation and half rely on luck?"
King Kessel also sneered in response.
"Isn't that what you are doing now," the king tutted, "breaking into the palace to speak out and killing people to be listened to."
"Part of it is calculation and part of it is luck?"
Thales was speechless.
He paused and exhaled gently, reminding himself not to fall into the other party's trap:
"Then, I remembered the imperial meeting this morning."
"Today, Lord Soduo spoke highly of the disadvantages of conscription and advocated the expansion of the standing army, but he encountered unprecedented opposition."
"Starting from the Prime Minister, most people in the Royal Council, whether it is financial diplomacy or agricultural and animal husbandry production, were caught off guard and unprepared for this proposal: the Finance and Taxation Department has no budget, public opinion and morality are not justified, and various departments are in short supply.
The complaints are endless."
King Kessel's eyes moved.
Thales discovered that although the statue-like king was still silent, he was no longer expressionless.
This discovery made him excited, like an invincible formation that finally opened a hole under repeated attacks.
"The conditions and situation are not sufficient. Even if everyone knows that this is what you mean, Soduo's proposal is faced with many obstacles. In the end, we can only lower our requirements, retreat again and again, and limit the reform of the military system to Yongxing City and Can.
Star Private Soldier."
Thales changed the subject:
"So, I'm even more surprised: Why didn't you and the Kingdom's secret department, Lord Soduo, plan for a long time, and the grand-scale national policy decision was quietly rolled out in secret?
Too much greeting? So when things came to a head, we found that the kingdom was stretched thin, and all the subjects objected in unison, and it was short of money, reputation, and people?"
Thales stared at the king, waiting for an answer:
"In the end, you have to rely on an unlucky guy named Zhan En who just knocked on the door yesterday to cheer you up and provide initial funds?"
silence.
At that moment, King Kessel's eyes turned cold, as if Thales was the problem.
"Why?"
He restrained his unnecessary expression and spoke in a bad tone:
"Because you know nothing."
Nothing.
Thales smiled.
He was even more certain of his guess.
"I really don't understand."
Thales said seriously:
"This initiative of yours has been secretly prepared for a long time, and you are determined to implement it. However, due to insufficient communication and coordination, and insufficient conditions and situations, you can only retreat and settle for the next best thing, relying on accidents and good luck to fill in the gaps.
"
The young man's face turned cold:
"In this matter, your political skills are too lame and too clumsy."
At that second, the Iron-Fisted King snorted, whether it was dissatisfaction or disdain.
Thales shook his head:
"No, this is not you, Iron Fist King, Kessel Bright Star V."
"This is not in line with your always arbitrary, strong and uncompromising character, nor is it in line with the style of the secret agency that is prepared for all dangers - look at 'Dragon's Blood'. Overnight, the Northland collapsed and the dragon screamed,
When Exeter fell into civil strife, that was a classic example of you strategizing and stirring up trouble."
Hearing "dragon's blood", Kessel V had no expression on his face.
Thales raised his head and straightened his clothes:
"There is only one explanation."
"First of all, you have indeed planned the expansion of the standing army for a long time."
Thales said coldly:
"The royal standing army, this kingdom chariot, is destined to roll forward under your will, irresistible."
King Kessel said nothing.
But sometimes, silence is the greatest response.
Thales continued in a deep voice:
"However, this blackmail letter from you is indeed a temporary act."
The prince smiled and said softly:
"Because the war horse that you originally planned to pull the kingdom's chariot for you unexpectedly lost control and stumbled before the formation."
At that moment, King Kessel's fingers moved imperceptibly.
"So you can only settle for the second best, make do with the simplicity, eat whatever you want, and use whatever is at hand - that's what happened with Xiao Huahua and his Nan'an collar. They were just a stupid lost pony who walked into the stable in a daze, and immediately
When you saw the horse was interested, you put a bit on the horse and shoed it, and hurriedly went on the road to pull the cart."
Thales looked at his father steadily, pushed Zhan's "Petition" to the middle of the table, and let the fleur-de-lis coat of arms face the king:
"Recharge the inferior ones and recharge the spare parts."
After the words fell, Thales waited for several seconds.
Until King Kessel's face finally showed some unusual changes.
"War horse, pull the cart," the king hummed softly, reaching out to pick up Zhan's letter:
"interesting."
Thales took in all his expressions.
The young man smiled slightly.
"But as I said, little Huahua is not a lamb to be slaughtered."
The prince stopped his smile and said solemnly:
"It can be predicted that this new fake horse is sluggish and unsteady. The boss is unwilling to pull the cart and starts making noises."
"At best, it can only be considered inferior."
Thales' voice changed:
"As for the original, that genuine horse..."
At that moment, King Kessel's gaze came towards him like a sword.
The boy raised his lips:
"I guess, compared with someone like Xiao Huahua who just makes up the numbers..."
"It must have a lot of faults. It is energetic and has strong shoes. It is hardworking and conscientious."
"Must be of the highest quality."
The Iron Fist King did not speak. He just put down the letter and quietly waited for Thales's answer.
The prince's tone slowly rose, as if he was slowly unfolding a story:
"For example, when you expand the standing army, you don't have to worry about the shortage of money and food budgets, you don't have to be afraid of the pressure of public opinion, you don't even have to worry about informing the ministers of the Imperial Council, and you don't have to talk to the old kingdom department.
Go ahead and argue."
Thales spoke slowly, but saw King Kessel's brows getting darker and darker.
"As long as you, Soduo, and Black Prophet are there, as well as the three giants of the King, the Secretary of Military Affairs, and the Kingdom's Secret Service, we can solve the problem."
"Safe, smooth, successful, low-key, leaving no trouble, expanding the royal standing army."
Thales exhaled and narrowed his eyes:
"or more."
The Iron Fist King listened to the young man's words, but he did not react immediately.
The Ballard Room fell into a deep silence.
It seemed like even the lights were frozen.
But Thales is very patient.
He is familiar with the battlefield he is on.
The Iron Fist King was silent for a long time, and then he spoke in a deep voice.
"So, how did you find that genuine horse?"
Thales stared at him for a long time, then nodded slightly.
"I have learned about the general situation of the west from many sources."
west.
King Kessel said nothing.
Thales said slowly:
"I know that since the Year of Blood, the Western Front has been maintained for so many years. The group of Western Wilderness princes headed by Falkenhausz has already reached the pinnacle of sophistication and cunning.
A beating on the head won't help any eggs."
"But you can't risk the disapproval of the world and tear yourself apart. You can't loosen the collar of Legend Wing's vicious dog and let him kill everyone in a bloody massacre. You can't treat the imperial nobles the same way you treat orc prisoners of war. That will make the whole star boil out of control."
Thales became serious:
"So, it is very unreasonable for you to spend a lot of money and food a few months ago and send all the royal family's standing army to the quagmire of the Western Wilderness."
"You're not here to beat the princes, because it's useless."
"I'm not going to destroy my family or clan, because I don't dare."
"I'm not going thousands of miles away to welcome my son..."
Thales' eyes flashed:
"Because in your eyes, I'm not that important yet."
It was getting colder in the Ballard Room.
King Kessel's eyes slowly changed, and he unknowingly left the back of the chair and leaned forward.
"That's right, Lord Thordo's proposal this morning, regarding the reduction of the Bright Star private army and the trial expansion of the standing army in the Central Territory, are just the tip of the iceberg."
"As for the secret preparations that lasted for months or even years, it was not just for expansion."
Thales's voice became colder and harsher:
"In the Western Wilderness Territory a few months ago, on the eve of my return to the kingdom..."
"You send all the three main forces of the royal family's standing army to conquer the desert in the west, regardless of the losses, for no other reason..."
Following the prince's words, King Kessel's pupils slowly narrowed.
Thales spoke softly, using the calmest and calmest tone to tell the most thrilling fact:
"Just to expand your royal standing army on a considerable scale after the desert war, in the most urgent and brutal invasion of the orcs and the Bone Man."
"You must seize the opportunity of a thousand years for the princes of the Western Wilderness to gather together and use all their wealth to plunder their assets and absorb their nutrients to use as military resources."
"Then, taking advantage of the moment when the lords were unexpectedly defeated and suffered heavy losses, they made one move and disbanded their bloated and incompetent levy army without any objection."
The cold wind howled, and the shadows of lamps flickered.
Thales' eyes were condensed and his heart was heavy:
"Taking advantage of the fact that the western front has been under military control for a long time, we will implement military reform on the spot, redefine border defense, and reestablish rules and regulations."
"In the end, just like Enci Town, which has lost its autonomy, you must fundamentally and from the source abolish the independent military obligations and rights of deposing the vassals of the Western Wasteland."
King Kessel lowered his head slightly, and the lights flickered, reflecting a shadow under his eyes.
Thales gritted his teeth:
"Power arises from violence."
"After Mindis III spent more than a hundred years to weaken their economic, political, cultural, diplomatic and status privileges..."
"You, the Iron-fisted King, Kessel V, want to take advantage of the power of thousands of troops, the might of thunder, the speed of wind and lightning, and the power of sweeping waves..."
"In this land of the Western Wilds, the natural military rights of the vassals, lords, princes and nobles since the founding of the country will be completely and completely swept into the garbage heap of history."
Thales stared at the silent King Kessel, but he couldn't help but think of Charmaine Lombard he had faced in the Palace of Heroes.
"Once successful, the Xihuang family, as powerful as Falkenhauser and as humble as Bailar, will be completely transformed into a rich man with no title and property, leaving only a family tree and history, but no longer able to resist the power of the king.
, big landowner.”
"And eventually expanded to the whole country, creating a new normal of star rule."
Thales said quietly:
"The final move to complete the Xianjun chess game."
King Kessel said nothing.
He just stared at the second prince deeply.
"All of this," finally, after a while, King Kessel's voice came softly, "did you think of it yourself?"
Thales' eyes moved.
"of course not."
"Someone told me."
King Kessel’s eyes moved:
"who?"
Thales raised his head and accepted it calmly:
"Everyone."
King Kessel looked puzzled.
Thales smiled:
"From the princes and nobles to the common people."
"Even you."
"Your Majesty the King."
King Kessel frowned fiercely.
But Thales snorted:
"Do you still remember what you said to me the first time I met you after returning to China?"
"That sword."
"And, it is precisely because of that sword that I will become the Duke of Star Lake."
King Kessel narrowed his eyes.
Duke Xinghu raised his head, his eyes full of energy:
"And the reason why you are extremely dissatisfied with me accepting Falkenhausz's sword..."
Thales said coldly:
"Not because of what happened."
"It's because of the things you planned that should have happened in the Western Wilderness, but did not happen in the end."
King Kessel's eyes slowly widened.
"Yes, your action in the Western Wilderness failed. You failed to complete your military reform in the Western Wilderness under rare conditions as originally planned."
"But if the horse stumbles, the success will fall short, and nothing else will happen."
"just because……"
Thales raised a finger and tapped himself gently:
"I."
The prince's voice fell.
There was a dead silence in the Ballard Room, and everything was quiet.
For ten seconds, the Iron Fist King did not respond at all.
But the way he looked at Thales gradually became different.
From the previous disdain and indifference.
became……
"Now I know," finally, Kaiser V spoke softly:
"How did you survive in the north?"
"North Star."
Polaris.
Under the table, Thales clenched his fists tightly.
He didn't admit his mistake.
At that moment, what was revealed in the king's eyes was deep solemnity.
strangeness.
And fear.
Thales smiled slightly and spoke more briskly:
"Now, am I growing fast enough?"
King Kessel raised his eyebrows.
"Is it enough to bear the weight of the Star Kingdom?"
Thales squinted his eyes and looked at the king:
"Is it enough for me to participate in this chess game?"
Thales' tone was relaxed and quite teasing.
But at that moment, the Iron-Fisted King suddenly raised his eyes, and his momentum suddenly changed!
"From just now to now," Kessel's words were extremely cold and his eyes were sharp:
"Can these things you said make up for the stupid consequences of your brazen invasion of the palace?"
Thales was stunned:
"Maybe it's two things..."
But King Kessel snorted disdainfully and said unceremoniously:
"Then what you say is useless."
"Carry the weight of a few handfuls."
Hearing this vulgar response, Thales couldn't help but be startled.
"I admit, your performance is pretty good."
"But unfortunately, the quarter of an hour has run out."
"Tell Captain Mariko that I will grant him permission to carry out the punishment for the prince - for breaking into the palace and committing treason."
After saying this, the Iron Fist King turned his head and ended the conversation coldly and rudely.
Thales frowned tightly.
really.
His father was not a man who would be easily shaken by accidents.
Even if faced with...
It's his son.
But just a second later, Thales's expression relaxed.
"Do you want to?"
King Kessel frowned.
In the narrow, dark, and cold Ballard Room, Thales rubbed his arms without looking across the long table:
"Do you still want it?"
The Iron Fist King did not raise his head, but there was a hint of doubt in his eyes.
Thales took a deep breath, pointed to the letter on the table, and said calmly:
"As I said, Zhan will not let you take advantage easily. This inferior horse will only go into a pit and is difficult to ride."
"But do you still want it?"
At that moment, Thales recalled the tone of the drill when he was bewitching others in the tavern:
"Do you still want to complete it? Do you still want to complete the unprecedented changes in the entire Star Kingdom, or even the entire Errol world..."
King Kessel's expression changed slightly.
The prince's voice became quieter and quieter, and his tone was thought-provoking:
"Reform the military system, reverse the legal system, collect the soldiers of the princes, and promote the king's army."
"From now on, let the royal standing army become the only orthodox, legal and powerful violent force in the Western Wasteland?"
Silence returned to the Ballard room.
Until a few seconds later, the king's voice sounded the same, hoarse, cold, every word.
"What's the meaning?"
Thales clenched his fists tightly.
At that moment, he suddenly felt that the pressure that the king had brought to him, which made him breathe heavily, was completely gone.
"If the answer is 'yes'," Thales said in a steady voice:
"So……"
His eyes met King Kessel's in the air:
"I can help you."
I can help you.
At that moment, the Iron Fist King's gaze became dangerous, cold, and subtle.
He turned his head and faced Thales again:
"you……"
"Remember, father," Thales interrupted, feeling that the air had never been so brisk, "when I said, 'I'm here to save you'..."
He smiled slightly, with a look in his eyes:
"I was serious."
"You, the supreme iron-fisted king of the Kingdom of Stars, can only humiliately ride Zhan En, an inferior horse, with a worn-out helmet and rusty armor on your back, trampling on the uneven bumps along the way, and have to
When you put on a strong and domineering look and pursue your dream of the stars."
King Kessel's eyes suddenly turned cold.
Thales smiled and spread his hands:
"Why, do you really think that I care about your tattered crown?"
In the Ballard Room, the two faced each other far away, with the lights and cold wind being their only listeners.
The Iron Fist King was silent for a while, but shook his head firmly:
"It cannot make up for the consequences of your foolish behavior today. The Prince of Stars conspired to rebel and force the palace. You will not be able to escape."
Thales's mood sank.
"I know, but that's another story."
Thales looked back at him:
"What do you say, father?"
King Kessel did not say a word, but just stared at him steadily, his eyes unblinking.
Thales was the first to lose his battle in the face of each other.
"Okay, I know, it's not just the Western Wilderness but also the South Bank. Anyway, you have a way..."
He sighed, left his seat, and walked toward the door.
"Then I'll leave."
Thales waved back indifferently: "Put me under house arrest in the Mindis Hall. Whipping or gallows, it's up to you - wait, forget about the gallows. I don't like the feeling of being choked."
At this moment.
"Sand King."
Thales paused, and his finger stopped on the doorknob.
Duke Xinghu raised his head and did not turn around, just staring at the dark and cold stone door:
"What?"
The king's thunderous voice came from behind, as cold as ever, and it was impossible to tell whether he agreed or refused:
"This is an action plan jointly decided by Brother Midir, the Military Affairs Department, the Foreign Affairs Department, the Kingdom's Secret Service, and the four parties a long time ago."
"Operation codename: Sand King."
Midir.
Secret science.
Sand King.
Thales captured the most critical words.
He took a deep breath, let go of the doorknob, and turned around to face Kessel V again.
"Sand King, Sand King?"
Thales narrowed his eyes and searched for the royal genealogy that Gilbert explained to him.
"You are talking about the grandson of the 'Wise Lord'. In the year 552 of the End Calendar, he made a successful expedition to the desert, but ended up in a disastrous defeat. He lost blood and was stained with yellow sand. He was so frightened that he left his vassals and subordinates behind and dug a hole in the sand to escape in shame.
The 'Sand King' who claims that 'invisibility equals invincibility' completely ruined the golden age of four generations of kings and became the laughingstock of the Western Continent for all eternity, the one with the same name as you——"
Thales paused and hummed:
"Kaiser IV?"
The Iron Fist King was silent for a while.
"No."
He denied irrefutably:
"What I'm talking about is that in 553, after being betrayed by a powerful vassal and suffering a disastrous defeat, he survived from the desert with a small mercenary group. He worked hard to gain strength and learned from the experience. Despite his reputation for being greedy for life and afraid of death, he also wanted to take that
Seeing the money, the mercenary group stayed in the royal capital and paid a hefty salary to provide expensive supplies. Eventually, it became a professional army that was not controlled by any princes, territories, blood ties, or service, which was the predecessor of the royal standing army.
That 'Sand King'——"
King Kessel looked sharply:
"Kaiser IV."
Betrayed by the powerful vassal...
Leave the mercenary group in the royal capital...
The predecessor of the royal standing army...
Hearing the biography of this different character, Thales was thoughtful.
"Now, sit down."
King Kessel said coldly, leaving no room for doubt:
"let's talk."
Talk.
From an invisible angle, Thales took a deep breath and raised the corners of his mouth.
He slowly turned around.
"I thought the quarter of an hour was up?"
King Kessel snorted coldly and glanced at him from afar:
"Yes."
"For you."
Thales stabilized his expression, took a deep breath, then pulled out his chair and sat down again.
"certainly."
"By the way, Mariko Vanguard is very promising and trustworthy," the prince seemed to have suddenly remembered something, and said gently:
"But I think it would be prudent to let him take over as the chief criminal officer and take charge of the punishment of royal family members, right?"
He smiled slightly and stared closely at King Kessel's expression:
"What do you think, Your Majesty?"
But at the end of the long table, King Kessel just looked at him dimly.
"Boy."
"Before I let Mariko drag you out and hang you."
The Iron Fist King has dangerous eyes and a bad tone: