Kingdom Bloodline

"I apologize for the embarrassing situation, Your Highness."

Federico took a deep breath, returning to reality with disappointment and disgust:
"But I believe that Emerald City is still loyal, and even if it is confused for a moment, it will eventually make the right choice."

Especially when it comes to one's personal safety.

The scarlet iris coldly surveyed the people in the hall:
The dignitaries in the front row glared at him angrily or coldly, the homeowners in the middle row lowered their heads and dared not meet his gaze, while the attendees in the back row and corners whispered among themselves, filled with fear and astonishment.

But no one stepped forward to refute it.

"Since no one can sign this contract, let's call it a day?"

Federico stood like a sharp blade in the council chamber, his gaze piercing:
"Your Highness is very busy. We still need to catch those treacherous and troublemaking masterminds behind the scenes."

Upon hearing this, everyone tensed up again and began whispering among themselves.

This time, however, the whispers in the hall were filled with caution, apprehension, and disappointment.

While no one was paying attention, Thales quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Just now.

"thump!"

A heavy thud was heard, and everyone turned their attention to it, immediately startled!
He is the deputy high priest, Fabre.

He knelt down on both knees below the duke's throne, his hand trembling as he reached out to touch the old copy of the "Sunset Bible" lying on the ground.

how……

Thales's brow twitched, and he instinctively stood up:
"Deputy Priest..."

"Your Highness, please believe me!"

The deputy high priest, trembling, picked up the scripture and brushed away the dust:
“I have neither accomplices nor need accomplices, let alone conspirators.”

The old priest paused for a moment, then slowly raised his head.

"If you insist on saying there were accomplices, or that someone taught, encouraged, or supported me in making this proposal today..."

Faber looked at Thales, his voice heavy with sorrow, his eyes red-rimmed:

"Then it can only be you, Thales Star."

At that moment, the entire audience was stunned.

"It is you and your actions that make me believe: change has arrived!"

The entire hall fell silent.

Even Thales was stunned.

what……

What did he say?
A second later, Thales, realizing what had happened, suddenly changed his expression!
Marius frowned slightly, while Wyatt stared in disbelief.

Federico, regaining his senses, instinctively rebuked:
"presumptuous!"

The lords, nobles, and high-ranking officials sitting in the front row quickly realized what was happening and began to speak:
"Arrogant!"

"Slander!"

"This is outrageous!"

"They've really rebelled!"

"Arrest him!"

Was it the prince who instructed the priest to incite the Emerald City to propose that contract?

Are you kidding me? If this gets out...

"What, sir? Are you trying to frame His Highness?"

Federico seized the opportunity and launched a sneer attack:
"Or do you really intend to raise a rebellion and install a new king?"

Wow!
The council chamber erupted in chaos once again!

Thales' expression was stiff, and he remained silent.

Led by Wyatt, the Star Lake Guardians looked grim and frequently looked at Marius, requesting instructions.

"Master Deputy Priest!"

The representative of the Sunset Church, who had been watching his colleagues in the priesthood give their speeches with trepidation, finally could no longer contain himself:
"What are you trying to do! This is not the behavior of a true believer! The goddess has never given such a divine revelation!"

The attendees, having recovered from their shock, continued to discuss the matter, some panicking while others were quite agitated.

Thales coldly observed the chaos in the hall, then slowly raised one hand.

Marius was the first to understand. He urged the ceremonial officers and guards to maintain order, and at the same time, he called out loudly:
"His Highness has ordered: Silence!"

Perhaps because the dagger on the prince's throne was still there, the murmurs in the hall subsided instantly.

"The setting sun bears witness, I'm serious! Ladies and gentlemen! Your Highness! This is neither provocation nor a trap!"

The old priest was kneeling on the ground, clutching the scriptures, his expression a mixture of despair and urgency:

"After the election, the two Kevin Deer turned on each other with all sorts of underhanded tactics, causing a series of misdeeds, leading to the collapse of the people's livelihood and widespread panic. It seemed that Emerald City was on the verge of splitting and declining, repeating the tragedy of the past..."

He took a breath, having finally managed to gain some patience from the crowd:

"Only Your Highness Prince Thales, the new regent, is it you alone who broke with convention, humbled yourself, bypassed the power struggles of the Empty Palace, and abandoned the arrogance of great men, saving Emerald City from the root, not from political maneuvering..."

"From maritime trade to commerce, from artisans to farmers and herdsmen, from officials to commoners, you received everyone in the city, listened to their needs, comforted their concerns, and answered their questions!"
"By doing this you will reconnect the veins of Emerald City, revive the heart of South Bank Territory, save the achievements accumulated by the people of South Bank over the past hundred years, and allow them to escape the shadow of the power struggle in Kongming Palace for the first time in hundreds of years!"
"You subdued the two Irises and all the sinister forces, making peace with them. You also rejected the path of tyranny that sought the easy way out, and single-handedly withstood the threat from the shadows above, striving for a smooth transition..."

"It was you who made many people in Emerald City realize that even without the Duke, without that family who claimed to be the saviors of the South Bank, ordinary people still have to live and move forward. They cannot belittle themselves, stay in the same place, and ruin their future because of the selfish interests of the Iris family."

Thales' eyes flickered slightly.

Before they knew it, the whispers in the hall had increased.

As the only representative of Kevin Deer in the entire arena, Federico had a frightening look in his eyes and an ugly expression.

“I know, I know this is not something that can be accomplished in a day: From the very first day you and your men arrived in Emerald City, you went deep into the countryside, visited every street and market, investigated every sector, and even went to the darkest sewers…”

"You are one of the few masters of Kongming Palace who, over the years, have personally set foot outside the North Gate Bridge, cared about the truth behind even the murder of a mere dancer, and even personally inquired about the lives of people in the deepest, most obscure places..."

“You are one of the few rulers who are unwilling to succumb to the power trap of the Iris Flower and will not submit to the established rules of Emerald City. In that position, you did not abuse your power, compromise or make deals, and you refused to collude with local clerks or even the Blood Bottle Brotherhood.”

Thales listened to his words, his gaze shifting several times.

The whispers in the hall grew increasingly chaotic, and many people looked at the prince with different expressions.

"Unlike those rulers who only know how to seize power and grab profits, who only know how to trade bargaining chips with important figures and scheme against political enemies, and who only see their own private property..."

The old priest, trembling, got up and waved his arms:

"Only then do I truly believe that you have found the key to governing this city, and even the affairs of the nation, Your Highness!"

Thales frowned instinctively.

Fieble stumbled down the steps to Thales's seat, where he was stopped by Wyatt, but he didn't seem to care and continued speaking:
"This is something that many rulers throughout history have overlooked, something they could hardly understand when they were overthrown despite holding great power."

The deputy chief priest gasped and painstakingly said each word:

"Men, the holy prophet Mohassa said: Theology is the study of man."

The old priest turned to the crowd in the hall:

“Rule is not achieved through power, but through people, through living people.”

Thales' eyes flashed.

"The controversial 'wise ruler' once dabbled in this, but his lifespan was limited, and it was too late..."

As he spoke, the murmurs in the hall grew louder.

"And the wise rulers of Kevin Deer throughout history, whether it was the Duke of Xhosa who sought to govern from the people, the Duke of the Ram's Horn who treated scholars with respect, or even the Duke of the Parrot, and even... all had the opportunity..."

The old priest looked at Thales, then at Fede beside him who had a sour expression, his face darkening.

"But they lacked virtue and wisdom, and ultimately failed in the face of real-world setbacks..."

Listening to what the other person said, Thales stared blankly at the old man.

What kind of person is he?

Is he a genius at weighing things and handling affairs, or a master of intrigue and manipulation?

Or perhaps, they are idealists who would sacrifice their lives for their beliefs and convictions?
"Now, it is you, it is you who started all of this, Your Highness!"

The deputy chief priest's expression was sorrowful, earnest, and sincere:

"You followed the chain inch by inch, brick by brick, restoring order to the Emerald City that had been corrupted by power struggles at the highest levels, preventing Kevin Deer's selfish actions of dragging the entire city down with his internal strife, and saving countless citizens from the destruction of their homes and lives..."

Thales was slightly moved upon hearing this.

"Therefore, they—no, therefore, we—had enough courage to come here."

After speaking, Deputy High Priest Fiebur stepped back and bowed to Thales.

Behind him, the audience who had accompanied him to the palace to "participate in politics" began to murmur, while Federico's face turned pale.

Thales sighed and reached out to interrupt Federico, who was about to retort.

changed.

After listening to the old man's story, Thales sighed inwardly:

Things have definitely changed.

This is no longer a power struggle between the Palace of Restoration and the Palace of Emerald City, centered around the family feud of Kevin Deer.

This was not a matter of him, Janne, Federico, or even Hillay, and other important figures maneuvering, fighting, and compromising on the stage of the Empty Palace.

After the deputy high priest proposed the contract and tore away the last veil, what was revealed to him was something even deeper.

Thales looked into the old priest's hopeful eyes and calmly observed the excited and nervous expressions of most people, and the worried and shocked expressions of a few.

That was the city, no, to be precise, every part of the city, every tentacle, every piece of flesh and blood...

This is the result of their gradual awakening, trembling reaction, and quiet emergence from the surface amidst the turbulent waves, fueled by the sting of the fierce battles within the Kevin Deer family.

Thales suddenly realized that whether Fabre was being sincere or deliberately putting on an act...

Even if, even if this is the vice-high priest and the Sunset Temple using this opportunity to seize power and take advantage of the situation...

He borrowed the momentum of public outrage in Emerald City following the Duke's downfall and the subsequent turmoil.

"Your Highness, you don't need to—"

Federico, standing nearby, spoke up in desperation, but Thales suddenly reached out and pressed down, signaling him to shut up.

Federer had no choice but to grit his teeth and bow his head, feeling extremely embarrassed.

“Deputy High Priest, your student, Chadwi.”

Thales spoke softly, his voice filled with exhaustion and numbness:
How is he now?

The old priest was still immersed in his sincere plea when he heard this, and many listeners were also stunned.

"As I've already said, all we can do is pray for his recovery..."

“He’s not just your student, he’s also my friend,” Thales said, looking directly into his eyes. “I need to know.”

The deputy high priest remained silent for a long while.

"Chadwi is not in good condition."

The old priest spoke softly:
“Unreasonable tyranny has crushed him, leaving behind wounds that will never heal and a deep-seated poison. Even the most experienced temple healers and monks can only do their best to alleviate his pain.”

A wound that will never heal in a lifetime.

A deadly poison that penetrates deep into the bone marrow.

Under the cautious, probing gazes of the entire room, Thales remained silent for a moment.

“Was the power that crushed him external,” Thales said softly, “or internal?”

Fabre frowned slightly:
Is there a difference?

Thales gave him a deep look.

"Is that so?"

The deputy high priest couldn't help but turn his head away, avoiding eye contact.

Finally, Thales took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

The prince sat down again, unconsciously gripping the dagger on the arm of the chair.

“I heard what you said, Mr. Fabre, but I’m afraid I don’t deserve such praise.”

Duke Starlake put on a stern face again.

"As for your expectations... I don't actually possess such noble and selfless character, much less the kind of wise and sage ruler you describe. In fact, my mission here is..."

Thales paused for a moment, observing the reactions of the crowd, before speaking cautiously but sincerely:
"Now, all I want is to help this city weather this calamity and cross this inevitable historical juncture with minimal cost—you, Mr. Fabre, do you understand?"

He stared intently at Fabre, as if trying to see into his heart.

The deputy high priest silently looked back at him, a smile suddenly appearing in his eyes.

"Of course, Your Highness."

The old priest lowered his head, looking with a sense of emotion at the religious scriptures in his arms:

"Including myself, many people actually know or have guessed the purpose of your visit, but many still hold onto a glimmer of hope..."

Many audience members in the front row frowned upon hearing this.

"But I have learned from the mortal world that if people always take chances, want everything, and are afraid to act for the sake of perfection, they will not be able to solve any problems."

The old priest took a deep breath, raised his head, and his gaze sharpened:
"Especially after you return to the capital from here."

At that moment, Thales felt a chill run down his spine.

Therefore, he understood very well.

"Just like the silence of everyone in this hall—how long are you going to compromise and endure this?"

Thales' eyelids twitched!
"Sign this contract, son, seize Emerald City, hold on to it!"

Amidst numerous astonished gazes, Fabre abruptly changed the subject, his eyes blazing with a fierce light that pierced directly into Thales's gaze:

"Seize the historical opportunities and leverage it can give you, just as it wants to seize you!"

Thales was startled by what he heard.

"Insolence! Do you really think there are no loyal subjects here?!"

Federico was furious. Disregarding etiquette, he shouted at the Star Lake Guard:

"Royal Guard! This is a traitor and rebel! He's instigating discord between the royal family and their son! What are you waiting for? Seize him! For His Highness! For the King! For the Kingdom!"

Wyatt and his colleagues were all startled, but before he could make a move, Marius pressed his shoulder down firmly.

However, the next second, the stern-faced old priest suddenly turned around!

"You, Federico Kevindeer!"

Federico was taken aback.

“Kevindil will not die for the enemy—yes, that was his motto when Duke Cork defied the king’s might with his own strength!”

The old priest stared at Federico, his beard and hair bristling with anger:

"But you, Federico, you so desire the duke's throne and to be the head of the family, do you truly understand the meaning of these words?"

Federico was caught somewhat off guard:

"Wh-what?"

The deputy high priest stared intently at his former student:
"I would rather die for my friends than for my enemies."

The old priest sneered:
"No, although this sentence is catchy and widely known, it is merely a weak and ineffective mistranslation of modern common language, perpetuating errors through generations..."

Thales' heart skipped a beat.

Federico looked at his teacher with suspicion and uncertainty, his breathing quickening.

Just like in his childhood, the old priest spoke solemnly and authoritatively in class:
"Because these words of your ancestor, Lenster Kevindir, no, they should be Lenster Clementius, were recorded in the ancient imperial script during the final battle."

Thales suddenly remembered Aishida's corrections to his ancient imperial text, especially the phrase "towards omniscience" from the Alchemy Tower, or rather, "I am on the path to omniscience."

Therefore, the most accurate and profound original meaning of this tricolor iris phrase is...

"In that chaotic world, where enemies were everywhere, homelands were torn apart, and hope was extinguished, this is what the ancestor of the Kevindale family told the King of Restoration..."

The deputy high priest took a deep breath, standing in the council chamber belonging to the Kevin Deer family, his gaze unfocused:
"It is because of the love, kindness, and friendship we possess... and it is because of the friends, comrades-in-arms, and allies we cherish..."

[I would rather be with my friend.]

The Kevin Deer family—no, at that time, he was referring to the restored king and his newly established kingdom, painstakingly built with his brothers and sisters…

The deputy high priest's gaze was deep and unfathomable.
"With such belief and such persistence, we—the last descendants of the empire—will never succumb to endless malice, hostility, and struggle, and will never perish because of it."

[Do not perish with the enemy.]

"This... is the closest thing to the true meaning of your ancestors' original text that we can explain in the common language of today."

The old priest finished speaking.

Thales unconsciously let out a breath.

I would rather die for a friend than for an enemy.

Every time he heard this family motto of the Kevin Deer family, he couldn't help but frown, sensing the deep shrewd calculation, even numbness and coldness, behind the words.

Just like that portrait in the Kingdom's Secret Service of the deadly iris playing with a dagger.

But if this interpretation is made as the secondary priest...

Thales seemed to see that era of cataclysmic upheaval and the collapse of the imperial capital.

The young first Iris stood in the setting sun, facing the desperate, dejected, and desperate last vestiges of the empire, including Tormund, and stepped forward with unwavering determination.

It is because of our love, kindness, and friendship...

We will never indulge in malice, hostility, and struggle...

We will never perish because of this.

I would rather die for a friend than for an enemy.

In that instant, Thales actually sensed a sense of grandeur and magnanimity in the face of adversity from the ancient charm of the words.

A unique kind of perseverance and hope.

A force that can truly unite people's hearts.

Thales squinted:
Deadly Iris Renster... Just what kind of person is he?

"fart!"

Federico's furious roar interrupted Thales's deep contemplation.

“The written language of ancient empires naturally contains ‘undefined words’ and ‘unsettled meanings’—its interpretation is not singular!”

Scarlet Iris glared at her former teacher through gritted teeth:

"It's not your place to spout nonsense in my family's language!"

"It's definitely not your turn!"

Fibrill coldly retorted:
"Because whether it's you and Janne, or countless descendants of Kevin Deer... you attend my Ancient Empire literature classes only to get high scores and fulfill your duties, to satisfy the wishes of your elders and the needs of power, and you've never cared about what it truly means!"

Federico paused for a moment, taken aback by his retort. Of course, it wasn't just them.

The deputy priest felt only sorrow.

Including old Leinster and Soner… and even the former Duke of Cork himself, their irises, and all these descendants of Kelvin Deer…

And have they ever cared about the true meaning behind these words?

"Therefore, I would rather die for a friend than for an enemy."

Priest Fibour no longer paid attention to his students, but turned his attention to Thales.

“You have given us hope, Your Highness, and something that generations of Kevin Deer, who have always considered themselves wise, could not and would not give…”

The old priest shook his head and looked directly at Duke Starlake:
Please don't let us down again.

In that instant, Thales closed his eyes and instinctively gripped the handrail tightly.

Again.

He had felt something like that in the Palace of Restoration...

That familiar yet unfamiliar heaviness, that suffocating feeling.

"No, Your Highness! Don't believe his nonsense!"

Federico fiercely countered from the other side:
"This contract is nothing but a joke—don't forget your mission! You went through so much to save Emerald City, are you just going to watch it be destroyed again!"

The old priest coldly retorted:
"If Emerald City stagnates, reverts to the old ways of Kevin Deer, concealing its problems amidst a facade of prosperity, and remains stagnant through repeated power struggles, then that will be its destruction!"

The argument inside the hall grew louder and louder, to the point that it could no longer be contained.

"Please believe me, Your Highness Thales, I made this difficult proposal because I know it is a feat only you can accomplish!"

The deputy high priest gazed earnestly at Thales in his seat:
“If anyone else were sitting in this seat today… even the powerful and deeply entrenched Duke Janne—especially him!”

He paused, his expression darkening slightly.

"Even I would not propose this contract with such sincerity and hope, hoping to leave some room and balance between Everstar City and Emerald City."

Fabul's words made Thales's brow twitch.

“No, Your Highness! This contract, which seems to praise your noble character, actually requires you to cut off your own arm,” Federico said through gritted teeth, “to satisfy the selfishness of him and those behind him—they are just another Janne, what difference is there?”

“I know, Your Highness! This agreement may seem like a constraint and a limitation, but…”

The old priest spoke earnestly, almost pleadingly:
“But, Your Highness, if you wish to rule Emerald City…”

The deputy high priest looked at him with hopeful eyes:
"Then we must first be bound by Emerald City."

At that moment, Thales' expression changed slightly.

He suddenly remembered the past.

Just like Chaman Lumba told him, it felt like sitting on the throne.

He didn't put on a crown.

Instead, they were put in shackles.

"And if, Your Highness, if you were to rule the kingdom in the future, or even more..."

Fabre took a deep breath, gripped the Bible tightly in his hand, and asked seriously:

“You, Thales Shining Star…”

He said, word by word:
Are you truly ready for your reign?

As soon as he finished speaking, the council chamber erupted in another uproar, the sound shaking the roof.

But this time, there was also a fair amount of applause mixed in.

"Your rule needs no one else's opinion!"

Federico vehemently refuted:

"Don't forget your identity, Your Highness, the heavy responsibility you bear, and the mission you have come here for!"

But Thales didn't listen to any of them.

He simply endured the unwavering gaze of Deputy High Priest Fibrill and Federico's furious rebuttals.

He simply looked down at everyone in the hall, observing their every move and gesture. He sensed the complex, ever-changing, and subtly mysterious changes in each person's expression after every argument, trying to guess how the subtle thoughts deep within each person's heart resonated with the Vice High Priest's words and the vast whole of Emerald City.

At that moment, the sins of the River of Hell flowed naturally, and time seemed to slow down.

Thales felt as if he had fallen into a trap.

That's right.

A voice deep within his heart murmured:

While you're busy outwitting and battling the two Kevin Deer, your eyes bloodshot and the fight seemingly unresolved, and trying to decipher the king's intentions from the Palace of Restoration, racking your brains to find and fix each unexpected turn of events...

The countless tentacles of power, or rather, the vines of interest, within Emerald City had already spotted the gaps and quietly climbed to the edge of the Sky Palace's observation deck.

In the past, they were the nourishment and support of successive Southbank Dukes, nurtured and strengthened by the blood deliberately extracted from the Iris family, and loyally tamed under Kevindir's whip, striving forward step by step to lift Emerald City and Southbank Territory to their current position.

And now...

Thales took a deep, difficult breath.

A voice deep inside sighed:
Now, in order to defeat Janne, to resist his desperate counterattack after his fall from power, to clean up the mess left by the malfunction of the Void Palace mechanism, and to drive the carriage that has stopped due to the broken iris chain...

You lean down and probe every node in the structure and system, activating these tentacles of power, activating... the entire Emerald City.

And so, after the irises fell, and after the rules and chains of Kevin Deer loosened, they finally merged with the Emerald City, becoming a terrifying behemoth with countless tentacles, crawling out of the deep sea and climbing the towering Sky Palace.

That's right, Thales.

A voice inside him chuckled softly:

At this very moment, inside the Kongming Palace, what you are sitting on is neither a duke's throne nor a power vacuum.

It's not just the entire Emerald City.

It is that enormous creature that has taken shape thanks to you and has just awakened...

And it spoke to you for the first time through the words of the deputy high priest…

It extended its tentacles.

In order to save itself from the storm of the struggle between royal power and the iris?
Thinking of this, Thales clenched his fists.

What should we do, Thales?
As he watched the lip movements of the deputy priest and Federico, he felt as if he were once again standing at the crossroads of fate.

Accept the contract?

By sacrificing the legacy of the iris, all the difficulties the prince encounters in the Emerald City will vanish, and he can accumulate prestige amidst cheers.

At the same time, you will leave behind even bigger problems and worse consequences in the future, in the Palace of Restoration, which will surely shake the kingdom.

Refusal of the contract?

Use Fede as a sharp blade, cut away obstacles and branches at any cost, suppress dissent, plunder what is needed, and offer this city up for the table.

But this means that your intention to preserve the city's vitality has completely failed, and you can only watch helplessly as Emerald City slides into the abyss of decline.

Thales closed his eyes.

So, Your Majesty, is this what you expected? To give me this choice?

To prove that my expectations were just fantasies and would ultimately fail.

Prove that your path is the only one, at any cost?
Do not!
Thales suddenly opened his eyes.

He certainly has more choices than just accepting or refusing.

It's not just about nodding in agreement or ruthlessly eliminating someone.

It's not just about either/or.

There must be a third way.

The third option.

Faced with a torrent of discussion and countless stares, Thales gritted his teeth.

But where is it...?

where……

Think, Thales, you've managed to escape countless dilemmas in the past, and you can do it this time too. Quickly, think hard...

Delaying time? Distracting attention? Finding a blind spot? Compromising and stalling?
However, unlike the individual opponents and enemies of the past, this time it was the vast and scattered Emerald City, a group composed of countless tentacles...

Thales clenched his fist tighter and tighter.

Just then, Commuto rushed in from outside the hall to apologize to Marius.

The watchman's eyes sharpened, and he asked a few questions until Komuto was sweating profusely. Only then did he come to Thales' seat and whisper a few words in his ear.

At that moment, the prince's expression changed!
"what?"

He turned his head sharply and stared at the watchman:
"why?"

The latter nodded expressionlessly, then shook his head.

"Please make the decision."

Thales was stunned.

He slowly turned his head, looked at the empty space outside the hall, and pondered silently.

Many guests in the front row noticed the prince's change, and the tone of their discussion shifted again.

"Your Highness? Has something urgent or important happened?"

Federico's eyes lit up:
"If it's urgent, we might as well adjourn the meeting for now. Anyway, this topic isn't really of any interest..."

But Thales just gave him a complicated look.

"Your Highness, what urgent matter could be more important than the future and destiny of Emerald City?"

Fiebull continued to plead earnestly:
"The people of this city, and indeed the entire kingdom, are all eagerly awaiting your decision. Our fate rests entirely in your hands!"

Seeing their reaction, Thales suddenly let out a very rude sneer.

"What goes around comes around..." he muttered to himself.

"Your Highness?" the two asked in unison.

Thales sighed and turned around:

"It's nothing, I was just reflecting... This time is just like that time, Kongming Palace is just like Yingling Palace."

Federico and the vice-priest exchanged a puzzled look.

Yes, I'm filled with emotion, yet another wave of emotion.

Thales chuckled softly, a mixture of helplessness and relief in his voice.

My thoughts—Karma is a bitch.

In front of a full audience, Thales took a deep breath, put on a serious face, and waved his hand.

It's as if a certain choice has been made.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Marius immediately turned around, and under his command, Commuto and several guards hurriedly left.

The next second, a mechanical click was heard and the side door of the council chamber opened.

"Please, spare us, spare him too, Mr. Fabul."

A familiar voice came from outside the hall.

Tired, hoarse.

numbness.

The moment that voice rang out, everyone in the council chamber changed color!

Except for Thales.

He simply gazed wistfully at the figure slowly walking in from the side door.

"If it's about the future of Emerald City, then we can discuss that."

The figure slowly approached with the sound of footsteps, causing the audience to turn around.
"But if it's about which prince the Sunset Temple should choose, and what kind of support and connections he should receive to inherit the throne and rule the kingdom, thus determining the future of Emerald City..."

A thin, gaunt man with disheveled hair and a full beard slowly walked into the hall.

The moment the audience saw who it was, they erupted in an uproar!
Why is he here?

"It's not that he's unwell..."

"No, it means he wanted to avoid suspicion..."

"How did he become like this?"

"He was in prison. I bet the prince really abused him, didn't give him any food..."

"They might not even give us clothes to wear..."

"No wonder he gave in... I couldn't have stood it either..."

"Didn't they say he made up with the prince and they were chatting and laughing together?"

"If you're treated like this, who would dare not make up with you?"

As that figure passed by, many attendees instinctively and habitually stood up to greet him and bow, but after bowing, they realized what had happened and felt a mix of emotions.

Federico snorted and looked disdainfully at the approaching figure.

Deputy High Priest Fiebel stared intently at the other party, his hands trembling.

"Mr. Fabre, I'm gone, and this is how you're going to do things..."

Amidst numerous complex and subtle gazes, the current Duke of the South Bank, Jann Kevindir, gaunt and sickly-looking, laboriously made his way to the highest point of the council chamber, step by step:

"Do you really want to drive Emerald City, South Bank, and all of us to our deaths?"

As soon as the Duke of the South Bank finished speaking, a murmur of uncontrollable whispers erupted in the council chamber.

“That’s exactly what I meant, cousin.”

Federico watched Jann's arrival with mixed feelings:
"You've come at the right time. Please reaffirm Kevin Deer's loyalty to the Palace of Restoration and his adherence to the Stellar Order—"

“Shut up, Fed,” Jenn said, walking slowly forward without even glancing at his cousin. “The foundation of Emerald City, the wealth of Kevin Deer, is not meant to be squandered by you.”

Federico showed anger:

"you--"

“Jann Kevin Deer, I knew it, the threat of the young children wouldn’t be so easily eliminated.”

The old priest sighed, his expression filled with hatred and disgust:
"Have you repented for the countless sins you've committed in this city? You?"

Jenn paused, glancing at his former teacher.

“Thank you for your lesson in ancient imperial literature, sir,” the Duke of South Bank continued forward, his tone indifferent. “I have already donated money for atonement—to your temple.”

Deputy High Priest Fiebel was speechless with anger.

Janne walked step by step past countless guests:

Superintendent Mairahovic, Acting Judge Ibonin, Captain of Seychelles, Lacia and her son, the Kalabyan sisters, Count Havia, Count Shukader, Ambassador of Thames, envoy of the city of Congzhong, and so on...

These people had different expressions as they bowed, some with awe, some with wariness, some with politeness, and some with enthusiasm.

But he just kept walking forward without even glancing at them.

Finally, Duke Iris Flower walked step by step before the current regent of Kongming Palace.

"Welcome to the meeting, Jen, although... you're a little late."

Thales sighed, stood up, walked slowly down the steps, and reached out his hand to Jenn.

The sickly Duke of the South Bank glanced at him but did not reach out in response.

He merely glanced behind Thales, at the throne belonging to the Duke of the South Bank, and at the dagger embedded in the arm of the chair, his gaze deep and complex.

Thales wasn't angry. He withdrew his hand, leaned closer to Jenn, and whispered:

"To be honest, for a moment, I thought this was a trap you set up."

Jan just stared back at him coldly.

"She's awake."

Thales paused for a moment.

But he immediately realized what was happening, and his eyes lit up:
"She's awake? That's wonderful—"

Before Thales could finish speaking, Jenn grabbed Thales' arm!

The audience members all frowned, and Wyman was even more surprised.

Fortunately, Jenn merely leaned close to Thales' ear and said coldly:

"So, what I'm going to do next is for her."

Jenn snorted coldly:
"Just for her."

Thales was taken aback:
"what?"

But the next second, Jenn released his arm and turned to face the entire hall!
"Gentlemen, I know what you're arguing about. I've had enough of it outside."

He walked slowly to the center of the hall, bearing the gaze of the entire audience—as he had always been accustomed to.

"Unfortunately, Mr. Fabre's considerations are too far-fetched and beyond our reach."

The Duke said quietly.

And what he wanted to change was too close to home.

Disaster is imminent.

“The Emerald City at present does not have sufficient conditions to support what he said.”

Jann glanced back at the deputy high priest, who was about to speak with a resentful expression, but the duke spoke first:
"As for this Prince Thales... don't even think about it, the waters behind him are too deep."

The Duke of the South Bank spoke with absolute certainty, his tone chilling:

"Whoever touches it dies—I'm a prime example."

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at the prince, and whispers began to rise again.

Thales felt his eyelids twitch.

He swore he even heard the words “King Nunn” and “Duke of Val” in their whispers.

Jann raised his head and looked at the iris banner hanging on the wall of the hall, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

"Of course, I understand your concerns. No matter where the trouble comes from, the problem still needs to be solved—Emerald City cannot continue to be in such chaos."

The whispers in the hall grew increasingly noisy.

"Don't worry, I've got an idea."

The current occupant of the Kevin Deere family gazed at his family crest, his eyes growing dull and lifeless.
"You'll be satisfied."

His tone was cold and resolute:
"To the satisfaction of everyone." (End of Chapter)