Federico—or, as his family used to call him, Federico—was laughing.
Even though he was kneeling on the ground in front of the stands in embarrassment and humiliation, his hands were tied, his forehead was touching the ground, and all the organs in his body were groaning.
Half of his face was numb. His left eye had been punched in the arrest just now and was so swollen that it was difficult to see. His chin was dragged out with a large gash, which was bleeding continuously. He was also kicked in the ribs, which caused a dull pain.
, the left wrist that was tied behind his back was severely sprained, and the pain was excruciating.
This is just the upper body.
But Feder was still laughing.
He smiled extremely happily, extremely relieved, extremely sincere, even with a hint of madness, no matter how sternly the security officer responsible for escorting him scolded him to restrain himself.
Once, he huddled up in a small, cold, dark room, relying on hatred and shame to support himself, shivering from the endless screams and moans in his ears, and relying on pain and anger to maintain body temperature.
When he thought of the countless days and nights spent in that small room, Feder unconsciously tightened his body and slowed down his breathing.
His mouth was full of the taste of earth and blood, and blood and saliva kept oozing from his lips, but he had neither the strength nor the time to wipe them away.
Now, this wound and pain, this humiliation and embarrassment are like a reward from fate compared with the past experience.
They remind you where you are.
It indicates the coming revenge and pleasure.
It also foretells that he is willing to sacrifice everything in order to get the reward.
The curve of Feder's mouth widened even further.
The lights around him were as bright as day, but the shadow under him was as dark as ink.
That swordsman, that bastard who claimed to have killed the royal guards, really just left like that? No mercy at all?
Whatever.
Anyway, it's almost done.
Feder raised his head with difficulty but pleasure. Familiar and unfamiliar, chaotic and orderly choices appeared in front of him:
The security officers who were escorting him looked panicked and at a loss. The crowds of spectators further away were making noises. The vassals were discussing fiercely, the foreign guests were whispering, the guards were nervous and vigilant, and the sergeants tightened their weapons...
"It's okay here! They just need to talk, you all stay back, stay away, don't come over! Let others stay away too!"
Xi Lai shouted, preventing the guards and servants around him from approaching, and motioned for all of them who were nervous and anxious to move away.
Miss Kevin Dill had a special status and had a close relationship with her respective masters. Both the Star Lake Guards and the Emerald Legion were wary of this. They had to slowly retreat, screen out the crowd, and create a large space for Thales and Zhan.
In the open space, they watched each other eagerly.
Soon, everyone in the room, no matter locals or outsiders, no matter vassals, distinguished guests or ordinary guards, no matter whether they are anxious or calm, angry or lucky, are waiting for the two people with the highest status in Emerald City at this moment, or
Said it was the result of their negotiation.
"Test?"
Zhan En ignored the looks of the people around him. He stared at Thales and lowered his voice:
"Are you saying that your father has done so many things and set up so many traps, not to deal with me and Emerald City, but to... test your position at this moment?"
"It should be both," Thales came back to his senses. The emptiness after the sin of the Hell River faded made him dizzy. "Killing two birds with one stone has always been his preference. This way, no matter whether he wins or loses, he can at least gain the same thing."
Zhan frowned.
"Listen, I know that Federico is a big threat to you," Thales turned to look at Federico, who was kneeling in the vigilance officer formation with a weird smile, "but I can't stand idly by, I need to
He is alive for now, otherwise my father will know..."
"Then let him know!"
Zhan suddenly raised his voice. He took two steps back anxiously, took a deep breath, and then turned his head again:
"Let him know that it was Feder who was too stupid and blind, which led to the failure, and you were powerless to remedy it, not us..."
"If I wasn't here when it happened, then he might still understand..." Thales sighed.
lie.
The voice in his heart said unhappily:
You obviously know it very well, Thales.
With King Kessel's suspicion and vigilance, he would never be so considerate.
As long as Federico fails, as long as you don't make a "snapshot decision" at the critical moment, then he will doubt your position.
Thales tried to put aside distracting thoughts:
"But now, I'm standing here, in full view, and Federico is right there, waiting, or rather expecting, for my intervention..."
Zhan snorted lightly.
"I should have asked Seychelles to drive you to the furthest stand today, or even lock you in the palace and not let you out..." He sarcastically said, "I should not have even let you get close to Shilay.
"
Thales let out a long sigh.
"Guys, I've stabilized them, but it won't be long," Hilley turned around, his voice anxious, "Tell me, you have discussed a solution to this situation, right?"
Zhan's expression was ugly and he remained silent.
"Yes, we have a way," the prince looked around, trying not to let the various looks from the outside world disturb him. His voice was so low that only Kevin Dill and his sister could hear him, "Listen Zhan, you once asked me what price I wanted.
, are you willing to help? That’s it.”
Thales looked at Federico in the distance.
"You mean you want to openly cover up the rebels," Zhan said in a low voice, with a bad tone. "Support his accusations, frame me up, and label me as a suspect of patricide and silence - and then you can come to 'help' me.
?”
"What?" Hilley couldn't believe it.
"No, those accusations will not be adopted. I just want to delay the situation," Thales wanted to explain, "So Zhan, you can't win yet, and Federico can't die yet..."
"What we talked about," Zhan interrupted coldly, "is that in the Emerald City, we will temporarily suspend the truce and not be enemies of each other..."
"I'm not against you."
"Then what is this?"
Zhan's tone became urgent.
Hilley quickly grabbed his brother, but the Duke's expression made the people in Emerald City more and more anxious.
Thales felt a headache.
"If you win today, Zhan, if you let Federico disappear like this - do you think my father will give up? Then maybe next time it won't be me, Federico, or the Kingdom Secret who comes to the Emerald City.
No, it’s the Kingdom’s Wrath and his troops!”
Zhan looked at him closely, and after a few seconds, the Duke smiled.
"You're really afraid of him, aren't you?"
Thales had a meal.
"So you want me to let go and let his knife plunge into my heart?"
Zhan lowered his voice and tried his best to maintain basic decency:
"The reason is that if I don't do it, then the king will come with a longer knife next time - do you see the absurdity here?"
Thales hesitated to speak.
"What's even more ridiculous is that even if I win this round, you will still be a noble prince. At most, your wallet will be a little thinner and your father's love will be less." Zhan En said coldly.
No.
Thales took a breath, and the Gurtaksa in his pocket became heavier and heavier.
"But if I let go, I lose..."
The Duke of Nan'an glanced at the waiting people around him, his eyes becoming colder.
Hilley's face turned pale.
Thales swallowed his throat.
"You won't lose."
Zhan sneered and looked at Federico:
"You don't know what I'm facing, Your Highness."
Thales frowned slightly.
"Duke Falkenhauser, he faced the same problem, but he chose to believe in me," Thales took off the 'warning' from his waist and spoke sincerely, "He gave me a sword, and Xihuang finally
be preserved.”
Zhan En's expression changed.
Thales took a step forward and looked sincerely into the other person's cold and determined eyes:
"For the sake of the Emerald City, for your sister's sake, Jenn, please."
Zhan En's eyes moved.
At that moment, it seemed as if everything in the arena came to a standstill.
Only Thales and Zhan are left to decide the fate of the Emerald City in this crucial conversation.
"Do you think you've got her?" Zhan En said softly.
"What?" Thales and Hilley were both startled.
"Do you think that by playing the good guy card and deceiving yourself and making friends with her, you can soften my attitude and blur the essence of this struggle?"
Zhan En looked at his sister, then at Thales, and sneered:
"Do you think I can't see your attitude and position here, that you would rather resort to luck and luck than face the facts, and just want to duck your head and escape?"
Thales' heart skipped a beat.
Rather resort to luck and luck...
Unwilling to face the facts...
I just want to lower my head and escape...
ZHANE What is he talking about?
He subconsciously clenched his fists, but he touched the Gortaxa bone ring through his pocket.
"Um, brother," Shilai felt bad, "I think it's best for us to discuss the matter and not go too far..."
"Second Lieutenant Cherki, continue to escort the suspect!"
The next second, Zhan En's cold command awakened everyone present.
"No one is allowed to stop him on the way until he is sent to jail!!"
Thales's heart sank and he returned to reality.
"Jane!" he warned loudly.
The change in attitude of the two noble men made the onlookers nervous.
"Hypocrisy, falsehood, hesitation, weakness," Zhan En turned around and sneered again and again, "I'm really fed up with your pretentious way of pretending to be selfless even though you're obviously just for your own convenience and satisfaction.
It makes me sick."
Thales trembled inwardly.
Hilley understood his brother's attitude and was shocked:
"Zhan, wait, don't make a decision in a hurry..."
But the Duke ignored neither the prince's warning nor his sister's persuasion, and directly ordered:
"Police Department, what are you doing standing still?"
Beside Federico, the security officers who were hesitating and dazed all shuddered, and they roughly dragged Federico to his knees:
"Yes Yes!"
The crowd was in commotion again, and people began to talk about what happened in this round of negotiations and dialogue, and how the Duke and the Prince played around the suspect...
But Thales just stared at Zhan with a determined expression.
hateful.
He has clearly explained the causes and consequences, the stakes, but why...
[I would rather resort to luck and luck...I don't want to face the facts...I just want to lower my head and escape...]
At that moment, countless thoughts flashed through the lightning.
[You wander to the top of the cliff, but you dream of the view of the sky...]
The king's voice sounded faintly, making Thales tremble violently!
Is it?
A few seconds later, when Thales returned to reality and the present, when he looked with difficulty at the bustling crowd in front of him, at the faces of Zhan En and Shilai...
He knows that he has made his choice.
"Duke Jenn!"
Thales said loudly, his voice amplified by the Sin of Hell River so that everyone around him could hear clearly:
"What the suspect Federico Kevindil mentioned is very relevant and full of doubts. For the sake of fairness and justice, and for your reputation, I think we should not rush to a conclusion. We might as well set up a special case and send people to investigate strictly.
, how about careful interrogation until the truth comes out?"
After the prince's words fell, the crowd that was originally talking about each other suddenly fell silent. The security officers escorting Federico also slowed down. The leader glanced here worriedly from time to time.
Zhan En looked at him slowly, his face ashen.
"What?" Hilley was equally surprised and in disbelief.
But Thales just stared at Zhan, who looked back at him with a profound and complicated look.
"Your Highness Thales," Zhan spoke, speaking clearly but with a slow pace, "You must be tired and your mind is unclear."
Zhan's response made Thales sigh softly.
But soon, he took a deep breath and took a step forward.
He understands.
The atmosphere was not right, and people from both sides - the Star Lake Guards and the Emerald Legion - all shuddered and subconsciously moved closer to the master.
"Star Lake Guards!"
Thales shouted decisively, causing Zhan's eyes to change.
He understood that this confrontation had nothing to do with commitment, justice, character, or their personal grudges.
It's only a matter of victory or defeat.
Zhan wants to win, so of course he refuses to back down.
As for Thales, he couldn't lose, so naturally he could only move forward.
"In the name of the king, quickly capture the suspect Federico Kevin Dial!"
Faced with Thales' unyielding reaction, Zhan frowned.
Thales looked back at the Star Lake Guards, all of whom had earth-colored faces:
"Take him back and keep him under strict supervision - our supervision!"
After the words fell, Huaiya, who was still hesitating, was completely stunned until Miranda kicked him hard.
"Yes - as ordered, Your Highness!"
Huaiya tried his best not to look at the eyes of the people around him, and turned to look at his colleagues who were also shocked:
"So, the vanguard wing, or the guard wing? In short, His Highness has an order, I need two..."
"One is enough." Before Wyatt could finish speaking, Miranda decisively stepped out of the crowd and walked towards Federico.
Perhaps it was because the king's reputation was big enough that the security officers nearby looked at each other and did not dare to stop him, but Miranda had not taken a few steps forward yet——
"Seychelles!"
Zhan En's order sounded, and another figure moved in response!
Boom!
There was a dull sound, Miranda raised her eagle and raised an unsheathed sword.
"Stand back, ma'am, that's the Emerald City's own prisoner."
I saw the Seychelles knight holding his sword straight, standing coldly between Federico and Miranda, his eyes cold.
The two warriors faced off against each other, making everyone nervous. Both the Star Lake Guards and the Emerald Sergeant all looked at their respective masters, secretly gearing up to prepare for action.
"Knight of the Seychelles, did you hear His Highness Thales's order?" Miranda tightened her grip on the hilt of the sword in her gloves.
Seychelles glanced at Zhan - the latter's eyebrows were trembling and his face was ashen.
The knight turned back: "Sorry, I'm deaf."
"Then retire early?" The female swordsman's expression changed.
"You are no match for me. It would be better to replace you with that Mallos." Seychelles said disdainfully.
"The Terror Blade has other important matters, so I have no time to worry about it." Miranda felt the strong pressure coming from the other party, but she gritted her teeth and showed no sign of weakness.
Glover and others behind Miranda looked at each other, wanting to step forward to share the pressure, but the sergeants behind Seychelles also looked at them eagerly.
The expressions of the surrounding bystanders varied. Most of the foreigners looked calm. Only the local nobles and vassals looked ugly. Count Lassia clenched his fists in anger, and the two Miss Karabiyan stood together and whispered.
"Wait a moment!"
At this moment, Shilai yelled, and she rushed between Zhan and Thales, pointing at one person with one finger and an angry look on her face:
"Tell your men to stand back and put away their weapons! We don't have to! At least not now!"
The next second, Miranda and Seychelles, who were on the front line of the confrontation, both frowned:
Knight Cassian appeared silently beside them.
"I'm not sure I'm going to put you at odds," Cassian sighed, "but I can guarantee, Seychelles, Ms. Arend, I will attack the person who takes the first step."
Miranda and Seychelles both frowned and looked at each other.
Seychelles snorted and took the first step back. Miranda breathed a sigh of relief and also stepped back.
The two parties then retreated slightly to make room for the three Dukes.
"Get out of the way, Heeley," Zhan scolded his sister, but his eyes did not leave Thales, "It's not your turn to speak now..."
"Shut up, brother," Xi Lai turned around and stabbed Zhan's direction fiercely with his finger, "This is all a trap you thought you were poking out! Trap, huh? More chips, huh? The overall situation is determined? Ha, ha.
,ha!"
Zhan En's face darkened.
Seeing this, Thales sighed and said, "Xilai, this matter really has nothing to do with you..."
Hilley turned around suddenly and pointed directly at Thales' head:
"Don't tell me this has nothing to do with me, little brat! If you don't come on the blind date, nothing will happen to me!"
Thales frowned.
After Hilley's arrogant grab for the white space, both sides looked at me and I looked at you, and the atmosphere became a little brighter.
Xi Lai tried to calm down his emotions and whispered to the two of them:
"Okay, I know, I know you don't like each other, but I don't force you to like each other..."
"No, Heeley, this is not just about my relationship with him..."
"I think he is just like his father. He likes the Emerald City very much..."
"Shut up!"
Hilley interrupted them angrily, causing both of them to pause.
She took a deep breath and tried her best to persuade the prince:
"Listen, Thales, I know that my brother Guan Ji is chaotic. He is unwilling to give up his existing advantages and spit out the meat he has eaten, but..."
Halfway through the words, Shilai sighed slowly:
"But, Thales, you have to understand that if you stand up now to support Federico's accusations: parricide, silence... By doing so, you will not only prevent Zhan from winning, but you will also force him to die."
Thales had a meal.
"I know, I understand, but please believe me, Xi Lai, this is only temporary. Only in this way can I control the situation, take the initiative, and choose to advance or retreat..."
"I guess that's what you told Anke Bailar, right?" Zhan sneered.
Thales' eyelids twitched.
"Use your usual hypocritical rhetoric - 'Please believe me', lie to him that you will help him and save him. Only then will he be tricked into putting down his weapons and go into prison obediently. Only then will his heart be relieved.
You who are good at seeing others suffer, how can you not see them?"
Thales trembled all over and slowly raised his head.
"Jane!"
Xi Lai turned around, his expression suddenly turned fierce:
"I told you to shut up!"
But she was too late, and the prince's eyes completely darkened.
"I told you, don't mention his name." Thales looked at Zhan who was sneering expressionlessly.
"Who?" Zhan deliberately said sarcastically, "Oh, you mean Anke, Anke Bailar? The unlucky guy in the Western Wilderness who was sent to the Bone Prison by your kindhearted man and will never see the light of day for the rest of his life?"
Xi Lai felt a splitting headache:
"Ah, I don't know what old grudges you have and how you got it, but I know it must be stupid, so can you..."
Thales smiled.
"That letter, Jenn."
Thales chuckled and said:
"That letter you wrote to my father, which was groveling, servile, flattering and begging for peace, was torn up by my own hands."
Zhan En's eyes narrowed.
"Right in the imperial meeting, in front of him, torn into pieces."
Thales sneered:
"That's why I was able to get his permission to come here so that you can see with your own eyes: how I brought you..."
"Tiles!"
Hilley turned around and interrupted, in disbelief.
But she was also late. Zhan looked at Thales with eyes that were both complicated and relieved.
At the end, he actually showed an ominous smile.
"Very good, very good." Zhan clapped gently and nodded his chin towards Seychelles.
Seychelles understood what the Duke of South Bank meant. He glanced sarcastically at Cassian, who was making the argument, and then ordered:
"Emerald Legion, assist the Security Department, clear obstacles, and escort prisoners!"
Whoosh!
The next second, the Emerald Sergeants in the front row unsheathed their weapons and pointed at Miranda from afar!
Whoosh!
On the Star Lake Guard side, Glover roared and drew his sword and stepped forward, while Rolf and Morgan followed closely with ruthless faces. The three of them stood beside Miranda and faced Seychelles and his without fear.
sergeants.
Although there was a huge disparity in numbers, the confrontation between the Star Lake Guards and the Emerald Legion was of great significance. Starting from those near them, many spectators were frightened and the crowd was in commotion.
"what happens?"
"Did the deal break down?"
"Oops, I thought they had a good relationship..."
"If you want to rush the card, you have to squeeze out even if you have to squeeze out!"
Rumors spread and panic gradually spread throughout the arena, making it increasingly difficult for the guards and security officers to maintain order.
At the center of the conflict, Thales and Zhan are close at hand. One side is firm and the other is ruthless.
"Um, can we get up there?" D.D from the Star Lake Guard team asked cautiously.
"Of course -" Nixi drew her sword and stepped forward, but was pulled back.
"Protect Your Highness!" Huaiya let go of him and said with a sullen face.
"Zhan, please, don't force me." Thales looked at the Duke of South Bank who was right in front of him and shook his head slowly.
But Zhan had a cold face:
"Who is forcing whom?"
Thales narrowed his eyes.
"And when you turned over the table, you realized," Zhan said softly, "that you didn't have as many chips as I did?"
Thales frowned.
"Your Highness, I know it's disappointing to say this at this time, but..."
Huaiya took two steps forward and came behind Thales. He looked around with concern and saw the Emerald Legion lined up in a menacing manner.
"We have a small number and are at a disadvantage. We cannot defeat them."
Thales turned his eyes.
"Chips," he chuckled, keeping his eyes on Zhan across from him, "My lord Duke, did you just say, chips?"
Zhan En's expression remained unchanged and he remained silent.
The next second, Thales took a step forward, and under everyone's nervous eyes, he stepped closer to Zhan:
"You're right, Jenn! Federico misjudged the situation, and his accusations went unanswered because they lacked a leader."
Thales came to him with a stern expression:
"A leader of sufficient weight."
Zhan En's eyes changed slightly.
The next moment, Thales roared:
"Tell me, Jenn Kevin Deal!"
Under the gaze of all eyes, Thales spoke sharply:
"These days, the wine merchant has died in a vendetta, the wool merchant has died in a moneylending, Rene has died in an accident, little Bolwyn has died in a brawl, the Caguire vigilante has died in a robbery, and the defender has simply disappeared - the kingdom has already had
Six people died unexpectedly. Is this a coincidence? Is there something fishy behind it? Is there a hidden agenda? Or is the security of the Emerald City worrying and governance urgent?"
As soon as these words came out, the expressions of all the heavyweight vassals and guests changed!
Zhan's face was expressionless, but the look he looked at Thales was extremely cold.
Huaiya was surprised: "Your Highness..."
Thales snorted coldly and continued to raise his volume to let more people hear:
"Or to put it bluntly, are the deaths of the people of these kingdoms related to you, to the vassal minister of the Kingdom of Stars, the lord of the Emerald City personally appointed by His Majesty, and the guardian Duke of the South Coast Territory, Zhane Kelvindir!"
Prince Thales directly accused the Duke of South Bank. This matter was not a trivial matter. The vassals and guests nearby were in an uproar and exploded.
Only Federico looked up to the sky and laughed even more happily.
But at this moment, no one cares about the prisoner's actions.
"No, Thales, what are you doing!"
Hilley stood between the prince and the duke, confused, frightened and disbelieving, but Cassian sighed, clasped her arm and pulled her back, and Ashford put a cloak on her in time.
See the people around you.
Zhan took a deep breath, but he didn't say anything in the end, but his expression became colder.
On the other side, the Seychelles knight looked extremely ugly. He had to yell loudly to stop the sergeants in the legion from whispering to each other in surprise.
"If these murders were not committed by you, Jan Kevin Deere," Thales said without changing his expression, his voice was steady, and his words were stern, "Why did you try so hard to hide these murders?
The cause of death of the deceased? And why are you trying every possible means to obstruct the investigation and questioning by my men? And why are you trying to obstruct me at this time from interrogating the suspect in the case - Federico Kevin Dial? "
"Why, Jenn?"
Thales took a step forward and raised his arms:
"Can you explain it to me, your Majesty, and the whole kingdom?"
The prince looked sharply and changed the topic again:
"Or do you need me to go further and find evidence and witnesses to prove that you intervened in law enforcement and covered up the murder?"
The chatter among the surrounding people became louder and louder.
Seeing that the situation was not good, the vassals and guests around the Duke's stand were frightened and dispersed, leaving an open space for the Emerald Legion and the Star Lake Guards to confront each other. Many nobles also subconsciously summoned bodyguards to accompany them for safety.
In the midst of the chaos, Zhan stared at Thales, letting the sound in the arena fill the air, and people's hearts were shaken with fear.
"You originally knew the truth, Thales," the Duke of South Bank said every word, "but I guess at this moment, in front of so many people, you suddenly don't know anymore, right?"
Thales did not answer. Instead, he turned to the surging audience with an expressionless face.
"Very good, then whether Jann Kevin Deere is suspected of hiring a murderer, bending the law for personal gain, or obstructing justice..."
"Star Lake Guards!" Thales roared angrily, shocking Huaiya and others.
But the next second, he turned in the direction of Zhan En and shouted to the unexpected person:
"And the Emerald Legion!"
Seychelles frowned fiercely, and his subordinates behind him were in an uproar.
"Immediately enforce the law and arrest the suspect in the serious crime - Jenn Kevin Deere, and put him in jail pending trial!"
In the arena under the moonlight, Thales was upright and roared an order:
"In the name of His Majesty, the Supreme King of the Kingdom of Stars, Kessel V!"