Kingdom’s Bloodline

Oops, did he guess?

I don't understand, what does this mean?

The second prince lowered his right hand calmly and touched the JC dagger on his waist.

Jen stared at him intently.

Don't you understand, Thales?

The Duke of South Bank narrowed his eyes:

You might as well think about it again: Do you really not understand?

Thales' face remained unchanged, only he heard his heart beating.

calm.

If Zhan En sees through me and realizes that I am just pretending to cooperate with the king...

What will he do then?

Turn your face directly? Do it? Tell the world? Kick me out of the Emerald City?

still……

But the next second, Jen smiled slightly.

He turned back to pick up the kettle and refill Thales' empty glass.

Listen: Kingdom Secret Division killed Moss, but that was just the beginning. The purpose is to attract your attention, provoke us to fight, and let you follow this clue all the way.

Jen put down the kettle, and looked at Thales very meaningfully:

Like now.

Thales picked up the cup steadily: You said that before.

Zhan En didn't look at him again, just poured himself a glass of clear spring drink:

And they killed the wool merchant named Diop for the same purpose: to provoke you and your people.

Thales frowned.

real?

The prince tried his best to suppress the urge to snort:

The secret department killed Diop to catch me?

Jen nodded: They understand your character,

They know you're going to stand out and be the first to charge.

There must be something there.

The voice in his heart told Thales: Moss, Diop, behind the death of these people, there must be something that Jann couldn't wait to hide, so much so that he used the secret department as a shield.

It's a pity that my people failed to keep the white-clothed killer from the secret department, Thales sighed naturally, otherwise we can ask something.

I don't have anyone either, the Duke of Nan'an said flatly, but that's the kingdom's secret department, it's normal.

Killer in white.

Thales carefully observed Zhan En's expression, but found nothing.

No, it cannot be said that nothing was achieved.

After all, the voice inside whispered that you knew from the beginning that Jen could not be trusted.

After all, the true meaning of alliance is betrayal.

Zhan En paused slightly: But there is no doubt that the Secret Division treats you as a pawn and wants you to take the lead against me: from Moss to Diop, maybe to the next person, and so on, until you dig out the secret Ke Wendier's secret weapon prepared by Ke Wendeer will be kicked out of power in one fell swoop.

Secret weapon?

Thales nodded:

So, there is indeed something wrong with that Diop?

Jen fell silent.

A few seconds later, he seemed to have made up his mind, nodded and said:

That's right, besides being in the wool business, Diop has another identity: the secret accountant of Kongming Palace.

Dark account?

Agents like Dagory Moss will bring some gray income to the Emerald City that is inconvenient to talk about and record, Jann replied calmly, and Diop is the one who manages these dark accounts. one of the people.

You mean, illicit income, accounting and money laundering?

Duke Iris snorted softly:

If the secret department digs out his identity and his accounts, and you make an open and just accusation as you did just now, it will indeed bring a lot of trouble to Emerald City, and let me and my officials We were in a hurry for a while.

Thales frowned.

If what Jann said is true, then Diop is the one who runs the Emerald City's dark accounts, which is why Moss is going to meet him.

However, Zhan En actually confessed so simply?

That means he's already prepared for everything.

He is confident that the affairs behind Diop have been cleaned up, and no clues will be left to the enemy, especially the Kingdom Secret Division.

Thales' mood became more and more serious.

Of course you won't let this happen, the prince said blankly, that's why you hastily cut off the clues, and even found the scapegoat, to finish the case and make sure it can't be brought up. big waves?

Jen nodded:

During the Emerald Festival, this matter cannot become the focus of the whole city, otherwise it will fall into the hands of the Secret Division.

Like Moss?

Jen affirmed, Just like Moss.

Thales was silent for a few seconds.

Then you should tell me about Diop first.

I really should, Zhan En admitted without any burden, but please understand that it involves the internal operations and finances of Emerald City, and there may be some illegal income that is not easy to see. I don't want more people to know , at least until I remove the threat and secure it.

Eliminate Threats, Keep Safe…

I don't want more people to know...

For some reason, looking at the owner of the Emerald City in front of him, Thales thought of Kingdom Secrets.

Of course, I can understand, it makes sense, it makes sense. Thales raised the corner of his mouth.

Believe me, Thales, the current handling method is the most ideal, Jann raised his glass, You and I, we have cleverly maintained the balance of the situation in Emerald City under the obvious struggle.

Thales' expression changed: Equilibrium?

Zhan En took a sip of the clear spring drink:

For one thing, the Kingdom's Secret Division did not succeed. The Diop case entered a normal process, silently, and did not cause an earthquake or cause chaos.

That's right, it's completely normal for Bedren to act violently after drinking and kill people in a fit of rage over a debt dispute, Thales said in a low voice.

Secondly, you didn't fall into the trap of the Secret Division and became their pawn, which led to the breakdown of our relationship and the imbalance of the situation.

Thanks to you cutting off the clues in advance, I didn't let me get the 'secret weapon' of the secret department to deal with you.

Three, if I really want to trouble you, Thales, Jann put down his glass and suddenly raised his voice, How did your men who went to track down Diop escape the emerald legion's blockade so easily? ?”

Thales frowned deeply.

After a few seconds, the prince took a deep breath.

So, Diop's line is broken, no matter what conspiracy is behind him... Thales said slowly, What do you think the Kingdom Secret Division will do next, and how should we deal with it?

Jen raised the corner of his mouth.

Whether it's Moss or Diop, their deaths represent that the Kingdom's Secret Division wants to change, change, and chaos, he carefully looked at his wine glass, looking at the distorted scene through the glass, And we give them the opposite.

the opposite.

You mean, there is a pool of dead water, just like the case of Moss and Diop, one is an old grudge, and the other is a debt dispute? Thales said quietly.

Jen didn't answer, just smiled.

Besides, Zhan En, you shouldn't do anything to hide from me anymore, right?

Thales stared at him fixedly:

If there is, now is the time to confess, so as not to cause yesterday's accident to damage the trust between us for nothing.

After the words fell, Zhan En was silent for a long time.

I can't make a guarantee, because even collaborators with the same interests will have reservations, the Duke said, but I can say that if something like yesterday happens, you will be notified in advance.

Looking at his expression, Thales nodded slowly.

The two dukes had their own concerns and did not speak again.

For a moment, the dining room fell into a suffocating silence.

Until Jen coughed: Now, if we have nothing else...

But you know, Jen.

Thales spoke suddenly.

If your Emerald Legion, if they really captured my personal guards at the scene of the murder, the prince looked at the Duke, then I will get a reputation for murder, and I will be powerless to defend myself, so I will probably have to leave in despair. Emerald City, withdraw from this game.

Jen paused: Maybe.

Then why not? Why don't you just throw me out of the Emerald City like this?

Thales looked straight at Zhan En, as if to see through his heart:

In this way, no matter what backhand the secret department has prepared for me, no matter what role they expect me to play in it, it will be discounted or even invalid, once and for all, once and for all.

Jen was silent for a long time.

The atmosphere in the dining room became strange.

Because we have an agreement and cooperation, Zhan En said slowly after a while, his voice a little tired and hoarse, We are still on the same chariot, fighting against the most powerful person in this kingdom, aren't we?

The Duke of South Bank raised his head and restored his smile:

If you leave, won't I lose an ally who can fight against the king together? I think we should agree on this point, Thales.

On the same chariot, against the strongest man...

Seeing the other party's appearance, Thales stretched out his hand unconsciously, and touched the hideous bone ring in his pocket.

No.

Thales' answer made Jann's color change slightly.

The reason why you didn't drive me out of the Emerald City once and for all is not because we have an agreement.

The prince said seriously: It's because of my father.

Because you are jealous of him and afraid of him.

Jen's smile froze for a moment.

Thales put down his cup and sighed:

This time I came to Emerald City, no matter whether the purpose is to see my fiancée or not, I was sent by His Majesty the King.

No matter how annoying I am, how much I make you hate, as long as I'm still in the Emerald City for a day, you can use me to spy on the plans of the Fuxing Palace, spy on the king's actions, and always be on guard against the kingdom's secret science through me. intrigue: whether it be my marriage, or my character, or the deaths of Moss and Diop.

He looked up:

But if my bright chess is forced away, defeated by your means, and completely out of the chess game, who knows how the kingdom's secret department will react, who knows how my father will react? who knows what they will use Other means that you don’t know? Maybe it’s hard to guard against, maybe it’s getting worse, maybe it’s a terrible price?”

And this is why I haven't been driven away by you, or why you dare not drive me away, Thales said lightly, Look, facing him, you, including me, we even overturned the chessboard There's no right to turn around and walk away and say 'I'm not playing anymore'.

Jen En's eyes slowly focused, nailed to the wine glass.

Your Highness, come and mobilize the rebels now, the Duke said maliciously, Isn't it too early?

Telston for a few seconds.

You didn't understand me, the prince said softly, or do you not want to understand?

Thales clenched his bone ring tightly.

When I was in Xihuang, I asked Falkenhauser: If you knew in advance that the king had bad intentions and the opponent's conspiracy in advance, why didn't you stop him in advance?

The Duke of South Bank did not speak.

Duke Xihuang's answer was tactful and cautious. He said that the conflict was necessary, and he said that sometimes doing nothing is the best choice, the prince said in a daze, but behind that trace of cunning and wisdom, I I saw the deep fear that belonged exclusively to the Duke of the Western Wilderness, the Lord of the Ruins, and the Duke of Cyril Falkenhauser. That fear may not be exaggerated and obvious, but it lurks so deep that he even has the courage to sneak a glance at it Don't even look at it.

Jen was expressionless and didn't answer, but he was clutching the napkin in his hand tightly.

That's right, the meaning of my stay here, as you said, is to maintain a balance, Thales said here, a little bit out of interest, to maintain the tacit understanding between the two sides, to maintain this invisible struggle, and to stay In the range that you can understand, accept, and deal with.

Because the butcher knife on the top of the head is deterring you and me, deterring everyone: Even if you resist, you must be respectful and polite, and you must be rational and peaceful, and you will not dare to cross the line or break this terrifying balance.

Jen still didn't answer.

But it is worth a thousand words.

The dining room was completely silent until Thales let out a long sigh:

So, what's the point?

Jen raised his eyes: What?

Thales' tone was a little emotional:

I mean, what's the point of all of our fights, cooperation, resistance, infighting, intrigue, coming and going, including you and Fuxing Palace, and my father and I? After all, it's just a quarrel under the knife , war in a cage.

He stared at Jen, depressed:

Why, Jen, why do we have to?

Zhan En was silent for a while, but suddenly smiled, with a desolate and tragic smile:

Because that's who we are.

Thales came back to his senses and exchanged a glance with him.

Sorry, I lost my temper by talking too much. The prince said in a deep voice.

But unexpectedly, Jen shook his head.

We all have those moments.

The Duke was in a daze: And you are right, the discord under the butcher's knife.

At that moment, Thales felt for the first time: the man in front of him was in the same room as him, sitting at the same dining table.

Thales restrained his mind, eliminated unnecessary emotions, and took a deep breath.

And then again, you know, it wasn't that bad, and we didn't have to be there.

Which step?

Tels paused for a moment: My father, maybe, maybe he didn't want to kill them all.

Jen narrowed his eyes.

If I could... Thales took a deep breath, trying his best to sound confident, As long as you and Emerald City take a step back...

But he was interrupted by Jen.

Take a step back?

The Duke of South Bank looked at him with a half-smile.

Facing the gaze of the other party, Thales tightly clenched the bone ring in his hand, as if it could give him strength.

I mean……

I know what you mean, Zhan En said coldly, I figured it out, you probably solved the matter in the West Wilderness a while ago: take a step back, ha ha.

Thales frowned slightly.

Take a step back, that's right, power belongs to the throne, finances belong to the central government, rule belongs to the Fuxing Palace, and resources flow into Eternal Star City.

Jen leaned back in his chair in a rare relaxed posture, and counted:

The Emerald City lost its aura of self-government, the queen of the city let go of her freedom and pride, Kevin Dill threw down the power to dominate, and was willing to become the supreme king's slaves, servants, tools, weapons, chips and stepping stones to help. Influence to control other backward territories, distant borders, unruly subjects, to create more of the same kind, and so on, until every inch of the country is like this, in order to realize his grand vision: the stars are integrated from top to bottom, like arms and fingers, Just like the empire of old.

Thales was in a heavy mood and was about to speak, but Jann never paused:

But why?

The owner of the iris turned his head, his gaze was as sharp as a knife:

The system of the Emerald City has been established by us over the years. We have accumulated the wealth of the people on the South Bank bit by bit. The prestige of the Kevin Dill family here has been earned through hard work.

Why should we be made to pay, let us dedicate, let us cooperate, let us sacrifice, let us destroy our families to relieve difficulties, let us be loyal to the country, let us hand over all the possessions we have, and give more Taxes, to serve more services, to bear more debts, to support the soldiers of the royal family, to help the officials of the royal capital, to write the history of Canxing, to strengthen the authority of the Fuxing Palace, to achieve the glory of the nine-star crown, To realize the ambition of the supreme king, to share and bear the disasters brought by the dignitaries from the central government, such as the bloody year?

Thales wanted to say something, but still gritted his teeth.

The duke continued with a sneer: Why, why should the people on the South Bank, who are living the best, living in the best circumstances, and thriving in the stars, take the initiative to retreat and support the idlers in the entire star for no reason, so that the savages in the mountains and the north The vulgar barbarians in the borderlands, the profiteers and lazy men in the East China Sea, the sandy people in the west wasteland, the bandits and robbers led by the blades, and the group of leaders in the central government who look high above the top, despise everything, and look like kings from the backcountry. Masters, let them take everything from us, share our dividends, and drag down our lives?

It's just because a certain person from your ancestors, who didn't know how many generations, drank too much one day, except when he was peeing, he fainted and shouted 'if the stars are here'?

Facing Zhan En who looked like this, Thales took a deep breath.

You just said, 'Everyone looks like they're from the backcountry,' didn't you?

The prince looked at the Duke with a weak smile.

But you, you speak as if the South Shore Territory is a man, a fisherman with no one on a deserted island, helpless and self-reliant, as if Kevin Dill has always been isolated from the world, as if the past seven hundred years It does not exist, as if you have built today's Emerald City with your own efforts.

Jen frowned.

But there are no islands in this world, Zhan En, you are not different from the stars, you are not different from the kingdom, and you are not alone in the world.

Without the well-developed communication line of the territorial water system on the south bank, the population, territory, history, culture, and market of the entire Star Kingdom... How do you think the transoceanic trade that you are proud of will be realized? Where are you going? Every Queen's Day, how can there be so many visitors from other countries in the Emerald Festival, looking for business opportunities and profits?

Thales raised his head, categorically:

Commerce, market, raw materials, supply, land, system, history, politics, immigration, culture, there are too many... The South Bank collar is not only drawn in the territory of the kingdom, but also deeply embedded in the huge system called stars, Interacting back and forth, seamlessly integrated, indistinguishable from each other.”

Jen was silent for a while, then sneered disdainfully.

How long have you lived in the Fuxing Palace since you grew up so big, Your Highness?

Thales was taken aback.

Long enough to think that the kingdom is you and you are the kingdom?

Jen's words turned cold:

According to what you said just now, Xingchen and Exeter have been fighting for many years, fight and stop, have the same history and experience, and have already interacted back and forth to form an inseparable whole. Why don't you go to Black Sand City and offer Nine Stars A crown and a staff of stars, kneeling down on one knee and calling Charmain Rumbad gratefully? Or crossing the Sea of ​​Ending to Sunwatch City to swear allegiance to 'Kadir of the Mountains and the Earth', maybe he will show mercy and let The Canxing family becomes the eighth family to serve him?

Thales swallowed his throat.

I don't make such sophistry, but you understand what I mean. The prince felt tired and shook his head. Sometimes, for peace, for stability, for balance, maybe we have to pay the price.

who?

Duke Iris asked fiercely:

Who are 'we' when you say that, when you're always like 'we have to pay the price'?

Is it you? Is it the king? Is it the Star Kingdom? Is it the central leader? Is it the capital? Is it the Canxing royal family? Someone else said?

Thales didn't answer.

Because he didn't have an answer either.

He just clutched the Guertaxa in his pocket tightly.

He knew that his answer was pale no matter what.

And who is the 'price'?

Jen disdainfully said:

Is it me? Is it the leader of the South Bank? Is it the Emerald City? Is it the Kevin Dill family? Or are they those grass-roots people who can only do nothing in it and can only be slaughtered and fiddled with by this huge mechanism called the stars?

Thales snorted:

A mediocre man?

He shook his head feebly:

These words should be spoken by those ordinary people who are struggling to survive, not a duke who stands tall and has a magnificent palace.

When you face the royal family of Canxing, which has a long history and eternal authority, and the descendants of the Emperor's Line who have climbed to the top and overlooked the stars, Zhan En snorted coldly, Who can say that he is not a grassroots, let him be slaughtered?

Thales was silent.

He finally sighed:

To be honest, from what I've seen and heard in the past few days, I quite like Emerald City...

Does your father like it? Jann interrupted him unceremoniously.

Thales frowned: So, there is really no room left?

Jen looked at him seriously and smiled.

“As a child, at a family dinner, my father once said: ‘As long as someone is willing to back off, there will always be room.’”

Thales squeezed the bone ring covenant again, feeling a glimmer of hope.

Your father, the old prince was a wise man.

But there was a mocking look on Jen's face:

Until my uncle added coldly: 'This is only for the strong.'

The voice fell, and Thales understood.

The two were silent for a long time.

Your uncle, he is also very interesting. Thales said bitterly.

Not interesting enough.

Then do you think my father will take the initiative to retreat?

Jen En sneered: What do you say?

Thales looked at him, his eyes flickering: What if he was forced?

The Duke of South Shore paused. He raised his glass, only to find it was empty.

In this country, who can force him, the supreme king? He said quietly.

Thales turned his head.

Believe it or not, Jan, said the prince earnestly, he has the same fears we face.

Jen snorted coldly:

I don't take part in rebellions especially doomed ones.

The two faced each other silently, without saying a word.

A few seconds later, Thales took a deep breath and stood up.

I see. Good luck, then.

But just as Thales was about to walk out of the dining room, Jen suddenly stopped him.

Thales, if, I mean if, if things really come to that point, can I trust you?

Thales stopped and thought for a while.

No, you can't.

Jen frowned deeply.

Thales turned around:

You know that yourself.

But in the next second, Thales smiled slightly.

But at least you can believe in interests, he nodded, and now, we have the same interests.

Jen looked at him and nodded in the same way.

Thales turned around, opened the door and left.

But the moment he stepped out of the dining room, Thales' expression turned cold.

Did you get back the interest you asked for?

The watchman Mallos who followed up at some point asked him this.

Thales paused for a while.

When he spoke again, he cleaned out all his luck and weakness from his brain, and threw him into the river of hell along with Zhan En's nonsense just now.

Because you know, Thales said coldly in his heart:

Behind you, Jen is the same.

Even more decisive than you.

Moss, and Diop, the Duke of Xinghu said coldly, one is Jann's agent, and the other is an accountant who manages his secret accounts. They must be hiding something.

Mallos raised an eyebrow.

Dig three feet, Thor, even if you dig through the mine veins under the South Bank collar, you must find out their secrets.

Mallos was silent for a while: But you know they are dead, and the clues have been broken, right? And according to official records, they all died of normal things...

I do not care!

Thales raised the volume in a rare way, causing Huai Ya, who was waiting for them in the distance, to look sideways.

Find a way, Thor, find a way, the prince said with burning eyes, I have a hunch: as long as we dig something...

Thales loosened the bone ring and looked at the garden outside Kongming Palace.

The Emerald City is ours.