Chapter 257 Raising glasses to share the same hatred (Part 1)
The Duke's study was quiet for a long, long time.
After listening to the prince's proposal, the two Kevin Deeres had different expressions and digested it for a long time.
"So, after going through so much, we are still standing still." The first person to speak was Federico. He had a complicated expression and seemed to be smiling. "In the end, he was clean and everything was business as usual. He continued to do what he had usurped.
Duke of South Shore?”
"Business as usual?" Zhan said disdainfully.
"But you have become the new Viscount of Gonghai City, Feide."
Thales raised his eyebrows and forced a smile:
"This is a big step."
"Being under his control, listening to his orders, maybe you will be tortured to death by him in the end?" Feder raised his voice.
Before Thales could react, Zhan snorted coldly:
"So according to your statement, Feide returned home honorably after clearing his name, and became the second-in-command of the Kongming Palace and the special agent of the royal capital, but I have to hand over some rights and tolerate my evil-minded cousin.
My rule is very fickle and difficult, maybe he will usurp the throne in the end?"
Duke Iris sneered:
"Everyone is happy?"
Federico answered the question at the right time, with the same sarcasm on his face:
"Let bygones be bygones?"
The two of them had their own priorities, but they both stared at Thales with a chilling smile in tacit understanding, making the latter's back feel hairy.
Going back and forth, the sense of déjà vu reminded Thales of the scene in the Hall of Heroes many years ago when he faced Charmaine Lombard and the four Grand Dukes.
However, compared with the conflicted nobles of Exeter, aren't you Kevin Deere a family?
Thales sighed.
Thor is right, it seems to be more difficult than imagined.
Well, a little bit.
Thales smiled, as if the conversation just went smoothly:
"Very good, it seems you all understand. Before moving on to the next step, if you still have any questions about the details..."
"Your previous proposal was much better than this," Zhan En's smile disappeared, leaving only a cold face, "At least you promised to send him to the Bone Prison?"
"At least?" Federico frowned.
"But you didn't agree. You asked me to wait a few more days and wait until the situation in Emerald City gets worse before I come back." Thales shrugged, "So I waited."
Zhan En sneered and ignored the prince's sarcasm.
"So, you have completely controlled the situation: debts, commerce, public security, nobles, military resources, and even gangs... All the problems in Emerald City have been solved, and that's why you are so unscrupulous and unscrupulous."
Zhan En looked at his tense-looking cousin:
"Either to me or to him?"
Thales just picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea, his demeanor calm and his expression unchanged.
Damn, this is so painful.
"As the saying goes, an iris is of one mind and sharp in its decision--well, in fact, you two don't need to like each other or even cooperate in Emerald City. You just need to cooperate with me separately."
Thales continued to put on a fake smile.
In fact, perhaps the extremely different relationship between these two brothers and their deep hatred can leave the greatest talisman for the future Emerald City.
And if they really cooperate sincerely in the future...
Thales thought:
The Emerald City may be in for a disaster.
"Please forgive me for being blunt."
Federico spoke in a low voice:
"Your Highness, since you have taken control of the situation and have no worries about weapons, why don't you just go all out and achieve the full result?"
Thales frowned.
So it was all done...
The question is, what is the full merit?
Where is the full credit?
Whose full credit?
"Your Highness, please think twice: We have made so many efforts, the Emerald City has been captured, and the goal is about to be achieved. We only have the last step to solve the culprit." Feder raised his head and stared at Thales, trying to hide the dissatisfaction in his eyes and trying to bargain.
, "At least send him to the Prison of Bones, or even put him under house arrest in the capital, as long as he stays away from the Emerald City?"
Zhan En frowned slightly.
Federico is extremely serious:
"Otherwise, even if he agrees to His Highness, with Zhan En's ambition and management, it will only take two years for him to regain power, and we will all lose all our previous achievements."
Well, that makes sense.
Thales nodded lightly.
but……
"But you won't let that happen, right?"
Thales downplayed:
"As Viscount of Gonghai City, Feide, promise me: you will do your best to serve the country and curb your cousin's ambitions."
Federico gritted his teeth.
"The above conditions are negotiable, Thales, but you have to send this guy to the gallows or to jail."
Zhan En spoke at this time, and his words were stern:
"Lest the black sheep of the major families follow suit in the future and usurp the family head, putting everyone in the Nineteen Stone Seat in danger and making it difficult for you to conquer the Six Realms in the future."
Thales was startled when he heard this.
Just listen to the Duke of Nan'an hum:
"As for the Viscount of Gonghai City, you just need someone to keep an eye on me anyway. You can be anyone you want, even the Black Prophet."
this……
"Then I'm afraid you won't survive tomorrow morning." Thales responded with a sigh.
"It would be better if I die with my eyes open one day." Zhan En said softly.
"Your Highness does not mean the Black Prophet." Federico said expressionlessly.
"That's not what I said." Zhan En said coldly.
The two Kevin Deeres looked at each other with both deep hostility and caution.
It's like two swordsmen dueling each other, stepping on each other's feet, testing each other.
It would be nice if Taylor wasn't in the middle.
All right.
Thales rubbed his scalp, and the scar cut by Sak'el was still clear to the touch.
"But as long as you agree to my conditions," Thales tried, "No matter what happens in the future, you can at least get out of the current predicament, regain freedom and even power, act independently, and no longer be prisoners who can only wait anxiously."
"But that's not freedom." Federico shook his head.
Zhan snorted softly.
"After agreeing to this condition, he and I were imprisoned here, in the Emerald City, just like the location of our rooms: monitoring each other and guarding against each other, becoming each other's cage."
Zhan En chuckled, picked up the teacup, and said sarcastically:
"This new tea is really delicious."
"I didn't expect that one day I would agree with you," Feder said coldly, raising his tea cup as a gesture, "Dear cousin."
Okay, although this bad idea was indeed inspired by Mallos' arrangement of accommodation for the two Kevin Deeres...
Thales twitched the corner of his mouth helplessly.
"To be honest, you two have quite a tacit understanding at the moment," the second prince, who was in the middle of the coordination, sighed. "You really don't want to consider working together? You two will become a very good couple."
"I understand His Highness's painstaking action, but in reality everything cannot be perfect." Federico was still respectful.
"He won't let me go." Zhan En said concisely.
"Just like he won't tolerate me." Federico was equally determined.
Oops, this sense of déjà vu is coming again.
Thales closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
How did he convince those Yankees who only knew how to fight and kill?
Whoever disobeys will be crushed to death with magic power?
Zhan glanced at his cousin and concluded with disdain:
"If we do as you say, Thales, one day one of us will die... and something will happen at the hands of the other party."
"That's easy," Thales forced out a sincere smile, "Whoever gets into trouble first, I'll kill the one who's left."
The smiles of both Kevin Deeres disappeared.
It seems that the tea in my hand suddenly loses its aroma.
The entire study fell into silence.
Only Thales was left smiling, with bright eyes looking at the two iris flowers, one red and one black:
Fair enough, right?
After the joke was over, Thales still sighed.
"Listen, I'm trying my best to protect both of you at the same time," he said a little tiredly, "but you have to kill each other to be satisfied?"
"He is just responsible for his crimes," Zhan En said coldly, "Don't forget, how many lives have been lost since he returned to the Emerald City?"
"Everyone deserves what they deserve," Feder shot back. "They are all participants in the old case, repaying the debt for the injustice and torture my father suffered at your hands."
Thales started rubbing his scalp again.
He leaned on the noble leather backrest reserved for dukes and murmured to himself:
"That's all, I might as well kill you two at the same time and directly let Xi Lai take over as the guardian duchess of the South Bank..."
Zhan frowned and warned:
"Tiles!"
Thales snorted coldly: "Maybe I'll send you both to the Bone Prison and lock you both in a single room..."
Federico glanced at the two of them and his eyes moved:
"If this is because of Cecilia, Your Highness, and because you can't bear to see her disappointed, then with all due respect..."
Thales' eyes moved.
"Under the current situation, only Zhan is gone - of course, this is his own fault and has nothing to do with you," Fede said softly, "Only then can you and her have no obstacles and finally get married."
ah?
Thales froze immediately.
Zhan En trembled at first, then slowly turned his head:
"What did you say?"
no……
Thales was confused:
He, did they all misunderstand something?
"And we can do this: I guarantee she will hate me, not you, Your Highness."
Federico nodded respectfully, ignoring his cousin's sharp eyes that wanted to open his chest and disembowel him:
"When the time comes, I will sincerely bless you - this is something that Zhan will never be able to do in his life."
Zhan En's eyes became even more terrifying.
Thales only felt a sudden pain in his brain.
This topic is going a little bit wrong.
But unexpectedly, the Duke of South Bank, who always got angry whenever he mentioned his sister, did not lose his temper. He just took a deep breath and calmly replied to Feder.
"Don't involve her, cousin," Zhan En said slowly, "When something happened to our family, she wasn't even old enough to be sensible."
But Federico gave no face at all:
"Is it because she is not old enough, or do you think she is not old enough?"
Zhan En's eyebrows trembled.
"Can't you see it yet, my dear cousin? It's fate. No matter what you do, no matter how much you think, you can't stop Hiley from getting close to the person she likes."
Thales was a little embarrassed when he heard this, and was about to say something to defend himself, but he felt that if he really did this, it would only make him more embarrassed.
So I had to keep quiet.
Just listen to Fede continue without mercy:
"We can't stop her from living the life she deserves, without being tied down by her family."
Zhan En was stunned.
Federico smiled as he spoke:
"So your existence is an obstacle, Zhan, and will only bring pain and struggle to our little sister."
Thales finally got out of the awkward period and couldn't help but frown when he heard this.
The look in Zhan En's eyes had never been so terrifying.
He stared at Federico, his breathing became heavier, and his whole body was visibly shaking.
"She is not your sister."
"So you only allow her to be yours?" Federico tutted, "How sick."
"Sick?" Zhan gritted his teeth and spoke with difficulty: "The person who said this has lived with vampires underground for eleven years."
But another Kevin Deere showed no sign of weakness and even went a step further:
"With all due respect, cousin, if it was really for your sister's good, you should die earlier."
"enough!"
Thales had to interrupt the two people who gradually began to attack each other.
He frowned and paused for a while, unable to help but feel unworthy of the use and offense Heeley received during the conversation between Zhan and Federico.
Her brothers with the same surname and blood...whether they love her or hate her, they are all creatures of power.
He suddenly felt bored.
He no longer wanted to care about the grudges between the two of them.
No matter who cares more about whose sister, or who really killed whose father.
It's all the same anyway.
Trivial, childish, boring.
And you have big things to deal with, Thales.
It is related to national affairs and the livelihood of all people.
The voice in his heart said coldly: It is better to resort to more powerful and realistic means.
Thales' face turned cold.
"You and him, neither of you will die."
Both of them turned their heads and looked at Thales sarcastically, with disbelief written all over their faces.
"Okay, I know that my handling of this situation makes you all dissatisfied and even uncomfortable," Thales left the back of his chair and changed his strategy, "But believe me, you can't have a more satisfactory result."
Neither Kevin Deere responded.
Thales turned to one of them.
The one who has more and therefore cares more.
"That's right, Zhan, I can do what you want: put Feder to death, and let you return to the position of Duke with good conditions, so that you can continue to be a good mediator in the sound of peace...
…”
Thales' tone tightened:
"But that is destined to be the last time I help you. Whether I want to or not, next time, I will definitely not be able to help you 'make everyone happy' like this time, and patiently help Emerald City 'control the situation'..."
He paused:
"...let alone helping Xi Lai."
Zhan En's eyes moved.
Thales said calmly:
"Even if you have the intention, you are powerless."
Zhan En was silent and thoughtful.
Thales ignored him and turned to the other person.
The one who has more to lose and therefore cares less about.
"And you, Feder, with all due respect, just because someone wants to bring down the Duke of Iris, who has a big tree with deep roots, you, as an exiled nobleman - this is a nice way of saying it, but a more realistic way of saying it is 'broken down' -
Only then can I have the opportunity to return to my country to redress my grievances.”
Federico's expression changed.
Thales narrowed his eyes:
"If Zhan just dies like this, is gone, gone... do you really think you will be the final winner?"
Federico's eyelids twitched.
"Believe me, when the time comes I want to help you, but it will be much more difficult than it is for me to help Zhan now."
Fede gritted his teeth and groaned:
"I don't care - I feel enlightened when I come here."
"Because you had nothing before," Thales said expressionlessly, "but that was before, Lord Viscount Federico."
Upon hearing this title, Feder's eyes changed.
"A great man in the kingdom once warned me something, and I will now pass it on to you."
Thales said calmly:
"He said: 'Since I gave it to you, hold on to it and hold on to your sword.'"
Thales narrowed his eyes:
"'Don't lose it.'"
Federico fell into deep thought upon hearing this, his breathing quickened and his expression struggled.
Thales closed his eyes and gently rubbed his forehead.
Very good, Thales.
The voice in his heart gave a low voice of approval:
You get started.
Being in this position, flicking the silk thread in his hand and playing music hit the key points of weakness of both of them.
Even if not...
??????55.??????
Thales opened a slit in his eye.
You can also get a lot of information by observing their reactions.
Continue to pick up the next thread.
Until the dial...
The whole web.
"What about you?"
Federico's sudden question made Thales break away from his thoughts and come back to his senses.
"Since you know that Zhan is going to be overthrown, and you know that I will not be the winner," Feder's expression is very strange, half-smiling but not smiling, with a kind of madness after relief, "then your highness, you still make such casual decisions and make hasty decisions,
Confront him in private..."
He looked at Thales:
"Will he be satisfied?"
he.
Thales frowned deeply.
The young man looked at Federico, who had a cold expression on his face, and moved his fingers, trying to pluck the threads on his body, but he felt that the entire net was trembling.
"That's my business."
The moment he opened his mouth, he felt that a certain thread in his pocket containing the "Kortaksa" was being moved.
Thales ignored the discomfort in his heart and spoke slowly:
"I've known you not long ago, Feder, but I thought that after all the interactions we had, you should understand..."
"Don't mention 'him' in front of him."
Zhan sighed and saved half of the sentence for Thales:
"I speak from experience, cousin."
Federico looked at Zhan, then at Thales, took a deep breath, and had a decisive attitude:
"I said, as long as I can get revenge, as long as I find justice, as long as I find the truth, as long as Zhan pays the price, I don't care who the winner is, whether it's me or someone else..."
"You can't win!"
Thales suddenly shouted loudly, startling both of them and looking at each other.
The prince immediately realized his gaffe. He had to take a deep breath and took a sip of tea to remind himself before returning to his normal tone:
"Like he can't win."
Thales' eyes burned:
"Even if I didn't intervene, even if I let you kill Zhan En and make you the regent of Kongming Palace or even the Duke of Nan'an, even if the Nan'an Territory will be directly under the jurisdiction of the royal family from tomorrow...he, he can't win."
Federico and Zhan frowned at the same time.
"Because he is aloof and thinks that as long as he sits in the royal capital and strategizes, and adds some coercion and inducement, the Emerald City will be able to get there, and he will be paid ten thousand gold every year. He thinks that as long as he gives the tree trunk a rough and powerful blow, the money tree of the Emerald City will fall.
money."
Thales gritted his teeth:
"But he has never set foot here. He has never seen it with his own eyes like me. He has seen all kinds of people in the Emerald City, both inside and outside. Even I haven't seen enough."
Far from enough.
"Because he is just like you, he thinks he has experienced destruction and injustice, tragedy and pain, so he has the right to not care. He has the right to only take but not to give. But he doesn't understand, let alone has the chance to understand: he has to reach out to protect the branches first.
, water and fertilize, so that the tree can grow fruit."
Thales' mind flashed back to what he had seen and heard in the Emerald City these days, and he remembered what Zhan En had told him. The sixth generation of Kevin Dill had succeeded in turning Iris from the highest link in the Emerald City to the lowest link in the Emerald City.
, and then return to the highest level of more than a hundred years of hardship.
"So he can't win."
Thales said in a daze:
"And the day when he stretched out his hand to shake the money and found that the branch was dead, and he had to admit that he couldn't win..."
He turned to the pale Federico:
"Which one do you think he cares about more, you sitting on the Duke's throne or the dead and broken Emerald City?"
Federico frowned and swallowed.
His lips parted, but in the end he didn't answer.
Thales chuckled and nodded:
"That's right: he doesn't even care."
Thales sighed and leaned back on his seat slumped.
"Consider my proposal again."
Neither Kevin Deere spoke.
Not bad.
The voice in Thales' heart said to him:
As a strong person, it is also a good method to express your difficulties and pain in a timely manner, and in turn achieve a surprising victory effect, but you must be careful...
"I see."
Federico interrupted his thoughts, disbelieving and disappointed:
"It turns out that the most conservative, passive and unprogressive person in this city is far from Zhan En."
Thales snorted softly:
"Whatever you say."
Anyway, that's what happened.
Now just look at the two of them...
"Can't you see, Feder."
Zhan En, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke, but it was not to Thales, but to his cousin who was at odds with him.
"Our beloved Prince, he is doing what he has always been best at, or the only thing he is good at..."
Zhan glanced at Thales with contempt and complexity:
"And the mud."
Thales couldn't help but stiffen while holding the tea cup.
What?
Even Federico frowned and looked at his cousin.
"Not just between the two of us, Kevin Dill," Jenn sneered, "but also between him and his father, and maybe between himself and Hilley."
Thales looked ugly.
"To avoid conflict, neither one of us will win, nor will His Majesty win, nor will you even let yourself win." Zhan En's eyes that seemed to see through everything made Thales feel cold, "Naturally, no one will 'lose'
.”
The Duke of South Bank turned to Federico, but it seemed that he was not looking at him, but at something behind him.
"There are no loser gamblers who turn over the table and flash their knives."
Zhan snorted disdainfully:
"There is also Xihuang, and even Exter many years ago. God knows how many 'crises' he has solved in the past by using this harmonious method, deceiving himself and others, and how many worse hidden dangers he has buried, and how many futures he will bring.
disaster..."
Damn little flowers.
Thales stared at him with an evil look in his eyes.
But curses are curses, and he couldn't help but think of the words of Balta, the former barber shop owner:
[Before that, all the rescue methods were just to put out the fire with salary, which was not only futile, but also self-righteous...]
Although he thought so, Thales was still unforgiving:
"At least you're still sitting peacefully in the Kongming Palace, Zhan, instead of turning your head upside down into a brush to clean my toilet."
Zhan couldn't help but frown: "What?"
Thales turned to the other person and tried to convince himself to get through the hurdle before him:
"And you, Fede, must know how to accept what is good for you: the choice between the Viscount's mansion and the dank dungeon is actually not difficult."
Federico frowned deeply.
"In contrast, I think you are not willing to lose at the hands of the other party, right?"
Thales took a deep breath and didn't think about the deeper meaning of Zhan's words:
"It's better to be friends than to die because of enemies."
Neither Kevin Deere nor Kevin Deere was very happy to be lectured in their own family language.
"My conditions may be very harsh for you two, but please remember, if someone else is sitting here, the conditions will only be even more harsh."
Thales gritted his teeth:
"I'm tired. I've made it clear. It's up to you to figure it out."
The prince obviously wanted to drive away the guests, which made both Kevin Deere and Kevin Deere frown.
"No matter what your response is," Thales continued, "I will announce the results of the noble arbitration at the final praise banquet of the Emerald Celebration."
Thales stood up, and Zhan and Federico also had to stand up - either out of upbringing or out of status.
"Until then, if either of you changes your mind, please come directly to me."
Thales walked towards the door - but he took two steps, subconsciously stopped, and then remembered with embarrassment:
Now he, Thales Brightstar, the acting regent of Emerald City, is the master of this place.
He shouldn't have been the one to leave.
Thales turned his back to the two of them, looking frustrated.
Oops.
Duke Xinghu couldn't help but feel embarrassed, but he responded in time, quickly adjusted his expression, turned around to face the guests appropriately and naturally, stretched out his arms, and made a farewell gesture towards the door:
"But please also remember: No matter how much it costs or how much it costs, there will always be a discount for those who arrive first."
Zhane and Federico looked at each other.
"As for those who haven't arrived...well, it's not a question of whether there is a discount, but whether there is stock."
Facing the acting regent who saw off the guests with a smile, both of them were silent for a while.
Just when Federico was about to leave, Zhan suddenly spoke.
"You need us."
Thales's smile continued:
"please forgive?"
Zhan raised his head and looked at Thales firmly.
"You need the Emerald City, Thales," he affirmed, "just like you need the Western Wilderness."
While Thales and Federico looked puzzled, Zhan continued coldly:
"You need us Kevin Dill alive, suffering, and a profitable but 'unfinished' Emerald City to continue to struggle and resist, sandwiched between you and His Majesty's breath, so that you can have the confidence
If you have chips, you can return to Fuxing Palace to face him in the future."
Thales's face changed slightly, while Federico was thoughtful.
Zhan pointed at Federico:
"That's why you need to make peace between us, need us to hate each other and tolerate each other, live in the Emerald City."
Thales frowned and thought for a while.
"I have to say, Zhan, I admire your imagination and conspiracy theories, including your mindset of understanding everyone as a profit machine and a power creature, but don't be too..."
But Zhan interrupted him with a sneer:
"how long?"
how long?
Thales looked confused.
"A gambler hasn't lost, so he hasn't tipped the table yet. But he hasn't won, so he refuses to leave."
Zhan En enunciates clearly and every sentence is shocking:
"But how long can a gambling game that neither loses nor wins money last? How long can the guests endure without giving up the game or even..."
He looked at Thales with evil intentions:
"Change dealer?"
Thales' face darkened.
"One game? Two games? Ten games? Forever?"
Federico looked at Thales and then at Zhan, his thoughts changing rapidly.
"As far as I understand them, Thales, a gambler will rarely flip the table just to lose money," Zhan said coldly, "but he will often fight for poverty."
Thales said nothing.
The Duke of Nan'an did not leave his seat. On the contrary, he sat down as easily as the master here.
"Unless someone makes up their mind..."
Zhan’s eyes are sharp:
"End the bet."
After the words fell, there was only dead silence in the study.
After a while, Thales took a deep breath.
And in front of him, in the invisible air, the entire net covering him was shaking uncontrollably.
It drives countless silk threads and tightens them inch by inch.
"Gamble less money, Zhan," Taylor said, remembering what he saw at the Black Gold Casino in the Royal Capital when he was a child, and he responded with difficulty, "As far as I understand them, it's not terrible if a person loses a bet."
He looked up at Zhan:
"The scariest thing is actually that he won the bet."
Zhan En turned his head and looked at him coldly.
"Because if he loses, he loses it, but once he wins, he can't help but keep betting, the next one, the next one, the next one."
Thales said softly.
"Until he bets chips that he can't afford to lose," the prince looked at the two people in front of him and stopped smiling, "he can only drag others, countless people, innocent people, people who are not in the gambling game at all, to replace them.
He will make amends together."
Zhan and Federico thought deeply about this sentence.
Thales raised his arm to see off guests again:
"It's time for you to go back to your room. Please remember: I'm only waiting for the praise banquet."
Federico glanced at Zhan, who was sitting in his seat with no intention of leaving.
"Well."
Zhan En spoke softly, but what he said shocked both of them:
"I agreed."
accepted?
he……
Taylor paused for a moment, then slowly raised his head, confirming his hearing in the eyes of Zhan En's clear and cold eyes and Federico's disbelief.
"I can't hear you." He said softly.
Zhan sneered.
"I said, Thales, I accept your above conditions, whatever you want, damn, disgusting things."
Zhan pointed at another Kevin Deere, straightened his body, and was extremely serious:
"Including letting this bastard live in Nan'an Territory, or even living in my Kongming Palace - and add one more thing: ensuring the absolute safety of Xi Lai."
Federico’s expression changed!
"Oh, really?"
Thales put down his arm to see off the guests.
"Do I look like I'm kidding?"
Federico finally recovered from the shock and couldn't help but say: "Your Highness!"
But Thales reached out to stop him, walked quickly back to his seat, and sat down with interest.
"Go on?" Thales picked up the tea cup.
Under Federico's disbelieving look, Zhan smiled.
"And you, Thales, take this awkward and struggling Emerald City as a gift, and even more as a bet, and go to the Fuxing Palace for business."
Thales' smile disappeared.
"Just remember, if you can't end the gamble..."
Zhan’s eyes are sharp:
"Then it's best not to lose the bet."
He sneered again and again:
"Otherwise, as you said..."
Thales' breathing was stagnant and he had to swallow.
Just listen to Zhan En whisper:
"You alone can't afford the compensation."
At that moment, Thales felt that the study became a little stuffy.
Small and cramped.
Suffocating.
Like being caught in a net.
Zhan En exhaled happily, raised his glass and took a sip of yerba mate.
It enters the throat smoothly.
No discomfort at all.
"No!"
Federico reacted and subconsciously denied it.
He angrily fought for Thales:
"No, Your Highness, Zhan En will never make harmful or unprofitable choices. He agreed so happily. There must be something fishy behind it. You can't-"
"You're right, Feder!"
Before Thales could reply, Zhan interrupted him. He put down the tea cup with a slightly scary smile:
"I placed my bet."
Thales' face was expressionless.
Federico's fingers trembled.
Place a bet?
What bet?
Whose bet to place?
"But believe me, cousin, it's definitely not that pleasant."
Zhan Enyan smiled and raised his hand to the teacup in Federico's hand:
"It's your turn, Feder, do you want some tea?"
Thales still didn't speak.
This time it was Federico's turn to turn around.
He was breathing heavily and looked at his cousin in disbelief. ()