Late at night in Star Lake Castle, Thales sat alone on the top deck of the Jackal Tower, staring down at the Star Lake in the distance.
King Kessel and Captain Adrian returned to the royal capital that night, leaving only Sonia and her Star Guards, causing a commotion in the banquet hall of the main castle until the early morning...
Mallos and Aunt Valencia were in a state of distress, and as for the Duke of Star Lake himself, he returned to the bedroom early on the grounds that he was too drunk.
("Fart! I clearly saw the juice he drank!" The Fortress Flower drunkenly tugged on Marius' collar)
But only Thales himself knew that he would rather get drunk and unable to sleep than welcome the king's visit.
A cat meows from the distant eaves, echoed by the barking of dogs on the ground, plus the faint chirping of cicadas. Star Lake Castle under the moonlight is full of wildness and comfort.
Why?
Thales looked at the sparkling waves on the Star Lake with his eyes in trance.
Why now? Why Jenn, why South Shore?
Thales lowered his head and pulled out a heavily bandaged dagger from its sheath. After returning from escaping in the desert, for various reasons, instead of removing it, he strengthened the camouflage on the JC to ensure that it
Will not be seen coming out.
More importantly, why him?
Thales casually took out the bone ring "Kortaksa" and hung it on the tip of the dagger.
The ferocious bone ring complements the sharp blade, making it even more desolate under the moonlight.
What exactly did Kessel V want from him?
Why is the king so confident yet so casual?
Where will the Fuxing Palace start and how will it deal with the aftermath so as to ensure the effect without causing trouble?
What is his role, how should he act, and what can he do?
Countless questions and hesitations flooded Thales' mind.
There was light moving on the Xunying Tower not far away. Thales knew in his heart that this was the change of patrol sentry. Judging from his figure, it might be Pioneer Officer Supa Langlai leading a group of local Bright Star private soldiers.
The prince skillfully climbed down the observation deck, crouched to avoid sight, and waited for the end of the shift. The patrol sentry was more focused on the threats outside the castle, but if one of them turned around in the middle of the night and saw the head of Duke of Star Lake in the center of the castle, it would definitely not be a command.
Pleasant things.
Thales leaned against the wall, his eyes condensed.
Well, at least he knows one thing.
That is, he must obey the king's instructions, go to the Emerald City, and participate in this political conspiracy with an uncertain future in any way.
Not just because he was bound by an oath, not just because he had a personal grudge with Zhan En, not just because this matter was inevitable.
Even more because this is his choice, his right, and his bargaining chip. After he experienced painful lessons such as "Dragon Blood" and "Sand King", he risked his future and life to escape from the fingers of the Iron Fist King.
, a little freedom gained through hard work.
This freedom may not be much, but it is crucial.
As in the past, Thales had no idea about the plan, means, process, or details of the Fuxing Palace's plan to deal with Zhan En. He was excluded and could only act according to the circumstances.
But it was also different from the past. This time, Thales received a clear order, was told the answer in advance, and was even recognized as an independent third-party chess piece, no longer drifting in the kingdom's chess game.
Besides...
【I don't care what you do as long as it gets done.】
Thales shook the dagger in his hand, and the bone ring "covenant" flipped up into the air and was grabbed by him...
And now, what he has to do, what he can do...
"No, sir, I mean Lordess, Lord Satherley, this can't be done, it can't be done, really, I, I can't!" An embarrassed and panicked male voice came faintly from under the observation tower.
Thales, who was practicing his skills, changed his expression.
"Oh, I understand, so you don't like me?" Then came a sassy female voice, her words were aggressive.
What?
Thales swallowed his throat and entered the hell sense.
"No, how dare I... You are very powerful, very elegant, very charming, but I, I belong to the royal guard..." The man became more and more panicked.
Thales held his breath and tiptoed up to the observation deck on the other side, carefully exposing half of his head and looking down.
Diagonally opposite, two floors below him, "Zombie" Grover was leaning stiffly on the observation deck, with the sky behind him.
Sonia Satherley, the famous flower of the fortress, stood in front of him drunkenly, holding his shoulder with one hand, almost forcing Glover out of the lookout.
"That means I'm not worthy of your royal guards?" Sonia leaned forward, with a cold light in her misty eyes.
Glover shuddered slightly.
"No, sir! I mean it's my duty, and I have to protect His Highness..."
"Don't worry about that! I can guarantee that His Highness Thales won't have any objections and may even help me as long as you are willing." Sonia shook her head and showed an evil smile.
Thales frowned fiercely, while Grover's expression was stiff and he shook his head desperately.
Seeing that the man would rather die than obey, Sonia, whose eyes were misty, was silent for a while, and then she understood something. She beat Glover's chest rhythmically:
"Aha, I understand. Do you think you are incompetent? Hehe... you don't have enough experience in all aspects?"
Glover's face turned red.
"No." He denied it flatly at first, but then he realized that this was a breakthrough and quickly admitted: "I mean, yes, Chief Sutherley, I, that, I can't! I have never... um, I am not good at this.
I still have little experience, so even I... I definitely won’t be able to endure it, and I won’t be able to hold on for long..."
But Sonia took a step forward, almost pressing on Glover, and slapped his shoulders with both hands!
"Don't worry, I will teach you!"
Fortress Flower's eyes shone brightly, the curvature of the corners of her mouth became wider and wider, and her tone became weirder:
"And it starts from scratch, demonstrating it in person, step by step, step by step, teaching you every step, oh..."
Thales, who was eavesdropping above, changed his expression several times. Was this what he should have heard?
Glover couldn't bear it anymore. He pushed Sonia away violently, turned around and broke away:
"No, we, we can't do this. Lady, sir, this, this is against the rules... By the way, I still have duties to watch tonight, why don't we talk about it next time..."
But before he took two steps, Fortress Flower's arm pressed against the wall and stood in front of him: "But I want you, I really, really, desperately want you."
"I want it now."
Glover swallowed his throat and breathed faster.
Sonia, who smelled of alcohol, had blurred eyes and approached Glover unsteadily:
"I know, actually you want it too, right?"
"And I happen to be the commander of Broken Dragon Fortress. I have a heavy responsibility to protect our country. In other words, it's not just me, but the entire kingdom that wants you."
The Flower of the Fortress wore a smile that could not resist, and forced Glover to the corner step by step. The latter's face that had not changed for thousands of years was now infinitely frightened.
"Are you really serious about not thinking about it anymore?"
Damn it.
Thales, who was eavesdropping on all this, rubbed his face.
What the hell is this?
The prince squatted under the observation tower with complicated emotions, making sure that they could not see him, and then forced (extremely unwillingly) the sins of the Hell River to flow into his throat and mouth, adjusting the frequency.
After a few seconds, he pinched his nose, took a deep breath, and opened his mouth to speak:
"Meow, meow"
The cry penetrates the obstruction and echoes back and forth, as if it is in the ears.
Fortress Flower and Glover were both startled. They separated suddenly and looked around.
"Meow" Thales continued to imitate a certain black cat who dared to say harsh words to Aunt Valencia, elongating the tone vividly and pretending to be a cat that was sleeping soundly here and protesting against human interference.
Glover finally got rid of the panic. When he thought of something, he immediately looked serious:
"Ah, it's that damn black cat. It must have gone to the Duke's place to eat and peek at confidential documents again. This, this is an emergency, it's quite dangerous. I, I have to protect Duke Thales' room...
"
Sonia seemed to wake up a little and looked at him in disbelief.
Glover coughed and straightened his clothes: "Um, Chief Satherley, Lady, I'm very grateful for your favor, but no, I'm sorry, I can't, I can't... I have to go on duty, if you
If necessary, I can recommend other brothers in the guard to take their place. For example, there is a great young man in the guard wing..."
The Fortress Flower narrowed her eyes, obviously extremely dissatisfied.
Glover was so angry that he didn't dare to say a word.
"Meow" came the third cat meow overhead, each sound more urgent than the last.
Finally, Sonia let out a long sigh.
"Oh, forget it, forceful melons are not sweet."
The zombie breathed a sigh of relief.
"Don't worry, we..." Sonia patted Grover's chest, raised the corners of her mouth, and winked meaningfully:
"The days ahead are long."
Glover's face turned pale. He turned around and rushed up the corridor as if running for his life, and rushed down the stairs without looking back.
"What a pity," Sonia looked at his embarrassed back, obviously feeling regretful, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, what a good young man."
Great, mission accomplished.
Not only did he not offend the flower of the fortress, but he also successfully rescued his subordinates. Thales was very satisfied with his response, and even the haze of the king's visit was relieved a lot.
Relying on his past experience, Thales pinched his nose and screamed twice more as a finishing touch and to confuse him, so that it would not appear too strange.
What I have to do now is sneak away...
The next second, Thales turned around and met a pair of green eyes.
He was stunned.
That's a black cat.
It stood elegantly and proudly on the observation deck, looking suspiciously at the Duke of Xinghu who was huddled in the corner with his nose pinched.
Hey, why does this cat look familiar?
Thales was extremely embarrassed. In order not to expose himself, he had to continue to pinch his nose and give it a friendly meow:
"Meow?"
The black cat blinked and suddenly realized.
It blew its beard, gave him a look of contempt, took elegant but disdainful steps, and left wagging its tail.
Looking at the other party's proud butt, Thales's face darkened.
What's the matter, haven't you ever seen a prince meow like a cat?
Dead cat stealing food.
Thinking of this, Thales pinched his nose angrily and roared at the black cat in protest:
"Meow wow wow!"
The black cat paid no attention, just wagging its tail, walking on elegant cat steps, and disappeared around the corner.
Cut, dead cat.
Thales cursed silently, but the next second, the light on the observation deck dimmed, as if something blocked the moonlight.
Duke Xinghu was stunned, and he raised his head stiffly.
Under the moonlight, Sonia Satherley did not know when she had reached the height of the third floor, squatting on the observation deck above Thales' head, looking down at him in a daze, staring at him huddled in the corner, holding his nose and gnashing his teeth.
The Duke of Star Lake.
The breeze blew, and the two of them were up and down, one up and down, staring at each other in silence.
Thales dared to swear to Ming Ye that at that moment, he just wanted to jump off the tower and be done with it.
I don’t know how long it took, but Sonia tilted her head and narrowed her eyes:
"Hi?"
The young man was shocked, then he let go of his nose and smiled:
"What a coincidence, hey, Sonia, can't you sleep either?"
Sonia didn't speak, but her eyes became more complicated.
"Aha, the scenery here is very nice, isn't it?"
Sonia still didn't answer, but her brows became tighter and tighter.
"All right."
Thales exhaled a painful breath, stood up, and gave up the idea of getting through:
"I'm sorry, but Glover said he doesn't want to."
Sonia snorted from her nose, fell next to Thales, sat against the wall, and murmured calmly:
"That's because he hasn't tried it."
Fortress Flower took out a bag of tobacco and a piece of paper from her arms, and quickly rolled up the cigarette.
Thank God she didn't ask about the meowing.
"Okay, even if you are right," Thales tried to forget the embarrassment just now, "but then he still has to agree to try."
"He will agree soon. He doesn't know what I can give him. It will be unforgettable in his life..." Sonia put the rolled cigarette into her mouth, pouted, and her tone was quite unwilling.
"Do we really want to discuss this topic here?" Feeling that the topic was getting more and more unpleasant, Thales had to interrupt her with a grimace.
"Okay, it's not appropriate to do it in front of you," Sonia held a cigarette in her mouth, took out a piece of crystal flint, and tried to light a fire, "but in this position, you will have to experience something like this sooner or later."
"stop!"
Thales cut off the topic and turned around with a grimace.
Why is he telling her this here? He obviously has a lot of things to do!
right.
A voice sounded in his heart: a lot of things.
Among them are the legendary anti-demon forces.
Thales' steps faltered.
He turned to look at Sonia, and what came to his mind was the scene of her holding up a shield, subduing Giza to the ground, and watching the latter disappear into ashes.
Maybe this is a breakthrough and we can get some ideas.
But the voice in the bottom of my heart reminded me sternly to be careful and don’t forget what Asheida said. If the Queen of Magic knows or even notices that you are exploring the secret of the legendary anti-magic weapon...
Thales clenched his fists.
He had to be cautious, natural, smooth, roundabout, without leaving any trace, and without arousing suspicion, he had to ask her about the legendary anti-demon armed forces...
"You didn't bring that shield?"
The flower of the fortress rubbed the flint hard, but didn't react:
"What? Oh, that thing was returned to Fuxing Palace, and I'll get it back later."
Thales frowned.
Well, it turns out that the Supreme Shield is not here.
Then why is Aixida hiding out in such a hurry?
Sonia was still trying to light up her cigarette and said in a nonchalant tone: "You know, weapons need to be polished and maintained, and the legendary anti-magic weapons are even more delicate."
Legendary anti-magic weapons also require maintenance, more so than ordinary weapons.
Thales nodded.
He was getting ready to ask more.
Snapped!
As the fire lit up, Fortress Flower finally lit the cigarette in her mouth. She took a deep breath with an intoxicated look on her face, and then slowly exhaled it after a few seconds.
Thales had to wave his hands desperately to disperse the smoke.
Sonia glanced sideways at the prince:
"Want a bite?"
Thales, who was shrunk by the smoke, shook his head skillfully:
"Children can't..."
Halfway through his words, Thales remembered the "glorious history" of the Imperial people becoming adults at the age of fourteen, and reluctantly changed his words:
"As far as I know, it is not good for the throat and lungs. If you smoke too much, it will affect your breathing. If you smoke too much, it will affect your lifespan."
"Influence, breathing, lifespan?" The flower of the fortress smiled.
"Child, do you know what is the deadliest weapon on the battlefield?"
"Magic gun?"
"Nah," Fortress Flower held her cigarette and looked up at the sky, her eyes less drunk. "It's not a knife, not a sword, but a hammer and a spear."
"Especially when thousands of people are crowded together and fighting for their lives, it doesn't really make much difference whether you take one more breath or take one less breath and live eighty or fifty years."
Thales remembered the breakout battle he had experienced under the fortress, the roar of murder in the sky, and the broken limbs and arms on the ground. He couldn't help but frown, and his movements to drive away the smoke became faster and faster.
"And when a spear pierces your chest with a 'chi' sound like this," Sonia turned her head and quickly poked Thales' chest with two fingers:
"There is no difference between a healthy lung and a black lung."
Hold!
The pain in his chest made Thales grimace and he had to move back a little to avoid more physical contact with her.
The flower of the fortress looked at him and smiled.
"But if such a puff of cheap smoke," Sonia took a deep breath of cigarette, her eyes fixed on the Star Lake in the distance, "can make hundreds of soldiers forget their timidity, pain, despair, and death.
Let them boost morale and unity while spouting trash talk, and weaken the possibility of bombing the camp and collapse."
Sonia looked at Thales and breathed out a puff of thick smoke leisurely:
"Then maybe, maybe we can win a battle and defend a fortress."
Cough! Cough! Cough!
Thales was choked and coughed repeatedly.
"Thank you, I remember," the prince held his nose in pain, "don't smoke if you're not fighting!"
Sonia burst into hearty laughter.
Amid the smoke, the two people, each with their own concerns, fell silent, and the castle lookout at night was lonely.
not enough.
Thales reminded himself: he needed a better insertion point, he needed to know more.
"Speaking of combat and longevity, how long have you been fighting with that shield?"
Sonia put down her cigarette and looked directly at him.
Feeling a little embarrassed by her gaze, Thales quickly made up for it:
"I heard people say that the legendary anti-magic weapon will shorten the life of the user? I remember that you used it a lot to save me..."
The Flower of the Fortress looked at him for a long time and smiled.
"There is such a saying," Sonia shook her head, "But don't worry, the thing in my hand doesn't like me and won't cooperate with me to release its power, so it can't hurt me."
"Oh, then what should I worry about?"
Thales turned back in surprise: "It doesn't like you?"
"Yeah, I'm confused about it too, right?" Sonia took a puff of her cigarette, feeling dissatisfied. "What's going on in this world? A broken shield has the right to say that it doesn't like me anymore."
No, this is not the key, the key is...
"No, no, I mean, it, it? It's...alive?" Thales said in surprise.
"So, but not entirely. It can't speak, but I can feel its, how should I say, emotions?"
Sonia picked her ears: "It is said that they only have the same mind-set with a few owners, and only then can they exert their greatest effect. It is said that the greater the effect, the heavier the price."
Mind to heart...
Maximum effectiveness...
Thales frowned, remembering the Purifying Edge from long ago, that small red sword with a great history.
"Like that broken shield in my hand," Sonia continued with a cold snort, "Every time I do it reluctantly, I really think of myself as a master, but then, hey, I don't bother to care about it anymore, so it's better
The long-handled sword I seized outside is very useful."
Thales fell into deep thought after hearing this.
"However, there must be a reason why you were awarded the Supreme Shield. The kingdom must be very optimistic about you." He said cautiously.
"It's nothing," Sonia waved her hand, and there was a lot of smoke. "In the Year of Blood, its owner died, and the extreme masters suitable for it were almost gone. They had no choice. At that time, I happened to want to
When I went north to fight, I just put it on in a daze. When I first got it, the broken shield was dark and rough. I took a hammer and smashed it for half a night to make sure it was not a fake."
No wonder the Supreme Shield doesn't like you.
Thales was silent for a while, and finally couldn't help but ask:
"Then do you still remember who its last owner was?"
Sonia rubbed her nose.
"Baron Quentin told me that I can't quite get the name, but I heard that he was a royal guard during his lifetime, and he was quite a young man."
He was a royal guard during his lifetime...
Thales stopped talking.
"By the way, don't tell anyone else," Sonia narrowed her eyes, "Black Prophet specifically warned me at the beginning: The legendary anti-magic force is a secret of the kingdom. It is very important and very sensitive. If anyone pries, remember to tell him as soon as possible."
Thales was shocked.
"Fuck, I knew it," the prince said calmly, "no wonder he didn't want to tell me anything."
The Flower of the Fortress laughed: "Believe me, you are not the first, just get used to it."
"So, everything is fine in the north?" Thales changed the subject to avoid suspicion: "Dragon Broken Fortress, the border, Lumba?"
Talking about her old profession, Sonia hummed and stood up.
She lay down on the observation deck and looked at everything in Xinghu Castle carefully, as if she didn't want to let go of every plant and tree, even the cat on the roof wanted to take a closer look.
"Thanks to you, son, whether it's the Black Sand Territory or the Welland Territory, the Yankees have been busy beating their own people in recent years and have become more peaceful. What's more, it's almost the busy farming season, and the fields, farms, towns, and workshops
, the market, there is a shortage of manpower everywhere, not to mention the war, even the bandits who cross the border to rob are not free."
Thanks to him.
These words brought Thales back to the days six years ago when he walked out of Broken Dragon Fortress and headed to the north.
Besieged by vampires, blood magicians, and the black sand army, scenes of the game between him and Lumba under the fortress appeared in front of him, extremely clear. Thales looked at Sonia in front of him with a little more kindness in his eyes.
"Of course, it will be hard to say in a few days," Fortress Flower held her cigarette in her mouth and hummed softly, "So I am taking advantage of this time to go back to my hometown and enjoy my vacation."
Thales was moved when he heard this:
"Going back to your hometown? Are you a local?"
Sonia turned her attention away from an old tree in the distance:
"Of course, when my parents were alive, they were farmers in a nearby farm. It's just over two hills in that direction."
Sonia pointed the direction to Thales enthusiastically:
"When I was old enough to wield a pitchfork, I applied for the army and became a guard here."
Sonia, the famous flower of the fortress, was born into a farmer's daughter.
Thales' thoughts moved and he reacted:
"I know you are from Duke John's old army, so you started as a guard at Star Lake Castle?"
Sonia dusted off the cigarette ashes and looked at the main castle of Star Lake Castle with deep eyes.
"There," Sonia pointed under the moonlight, "there used to be three trees there. I used to rest there during my shift."
Thales followed her finger and saw that there was a field cultivated by Valencia.
A thought in the young man's heart.
Tree……
"And that place used to be part of the garden," Sonia's voice was a little ethereal. "John likes to walk there alone and meditate, rain or shine. He says it helps with thinking."
Thales looked at the area that was now surrounded by many dogs.
garden……
Thales subconsciously clenched his fists.
"Sonia..."
"It's not just your castle, kid."
Sonia looked at the location of Xun Film Studio with a dazed expression and a long tone:
"A lot of people have called this their home for many, many years."
Home.
Thales was silent for a long time.
When he turned around again and looked at the field, he had a different feeling.
"I'm sorry." He suddenly didn't want to ask her about the Supreme Shield anymore.
There will be a chance, he told himself.
not now.
It shouldn't be.
Sonia was silent for a while, the cigarette butt flickering in and out.
"No, thank you." Sonia shook her head, dispelling the haze, and returned to the cheerful flower of the fortress:
"Every year I come back to rest for a few days, eat at old Cordero's farm, make troubles and fights, etc. But this year, since you have repaired the castle..."
The next second, Sonia showed a proud smile:
"Then I don't have to look at old Cordero's face. Ever since I was five years old and my mother rejected his proposal and I beat her son to tears, he has always had a problem with me. Are you really not going to say anything?
"
Thales stared at the cigarette butt held out by Sonia, smiled and shook his head.
"Well, welcome home," Thales said trying to recover from the sadness just now, "You and your people can stay here for as long as you like, and all food and lodging expenses are included."
"All inclusive?" Fortress Flower looked unbelieving, "I accidentally overheard an old man from the guard today being irritated and saying that it was really comfortable for us to live and eat for free."
"You should be talking about the Second Logistics Officer, Durward Straw." Thales thought of something and looked embarrassed, "And I can guarantee that you definitely didn't hear it 'accidentally'. That bad old man is so bad."
very."
But his eyes soon brightened.
"But it doesn't matter. I entertained the famous marshal of the kingdom and made great achievements in war, Lady Sonia Satherley. I believe this account can be repaid to my father."
No, it must be reported to him.
Otherwise, Thales swore, he would lie in the Ballard Room and not get up at the next imperial meeting.
Sonia blew out a puff of smoke and snorted.
"Your Majesty has returned?"
"Yes." As soon as Thales said this, he felt something was wrong and looked at her with a frown.
The flower of the fortress grinned.
"My child, after all, I am in the war, and unfortunately I am also a commander. If I didn't even know who was in the marching team, Dragon Broken Fortress would have been fucked over eighteen hundred times."
really.
She also knew about the king's visit.
The way Thales looked at her changed, losing the lightness before and becoming a bit heavier.
Is she really just going back to her hometown to enjoy her vacation?
Was this planned? The royal guards escorted the king here in the name of sending the kingdom's famous general back home?
So was this ordered by King Kessel? Or did he let it go? What does his move mean, and what does it imply to himself? What does Sonia's appearance here mean?
All kinds of thoughts came to his mind, and at this moment, Thales suddenly lost interest in talking to Sonia.
Those days when they ate and lived together in the fortress six years ago no longer seemed clear.
Only the bone ring "covenant" in his pocket became heavier and heavier.
Sonia seemed to be aware of it, and she glanced at Thales.
"For the convenience of disclosure, what does Your Majesty want from you?" Fortress Flower asked casually, the cigarette in her hand had been mostly burned and gradually dimmed.
She doesn't seem to know.
Or is she just pretending not to know?
Sonia Satherley, she is indeed the benefactor who saved you from trouble six years ago, but don’t forget that a voice rose from the bottom of your heart, carefully reminding Thales that she is also one of the three commanders of the kingdom and a standing army of the kingdom.
The person in charge.
It is the king's sword.
Thales swallowed his throat.
What did the king say to Sonya? What did he instruct her to do? What impact would it have on him?
What should he say and what shouldn't he say?
I'm going to meet the candidate for my fiancée.
I'm going to destroy the Duke Protector of the South Bank.
What should he say?
"On a business trip," Thales said without changing his expression, looking through the smoke, "I have to go out and run an errand."
"On a business trip? I guess you won't go north to visit your hometown in Broken Dragon Fortress?"
Thales hesitated for a moment.
"Don't worry, don't be nervous, I'm not interested in what you are going to do." Sonia smiled easily, as if she could see through Thales's mind.
She took one last puff of cigarette and reluctantly threw away the cigarette butt.
"Anyway, it's the same old routine of internal fighting, either extortion or power grabbing. I can't handle that."
Same old thing.
Thales breathed out.
He thought of the dragon's blood, of the Sand King, and of the mission he had been given by the king.
King Kessel has been ups and downs in the treacherous kingdom politics all day long, manipulating the situation, but as his sword, his general, and his real kingdom fortress, the flower of the fortress in front of him seems so cheerful, cheerful and magnanimous.
atmosphere.
How did she do it? The voice in his heart asked.
This made Thales a little bit inexplicably jealous.
"Yes, the same old thing," the young Duke snorted, his words full of indescribable complex emotions, "I can't do it either."