In the meeting hall of Heroic Spirit Palace, from the archdukes to the king's close vassals, even the White Blade Guards and ordinary Heroic Spirit Palace guards, all stared at Archduke Poffret.
Among them, King Nuven's gaze was the most terrifying.
It was like the legendary evil dragon that would choose its prey.
The followers behind Archduke Poffret were all pale. Many of them raised their heads, as if meeting him for the first time. Their gazes were filled with shock and bewilderment as they stared at their suzerain in disbelief.
Watching all this, Thales sighed softly. "Sometimes, it's not a good thing to leave in such a hurry."
In the face of all this, the young Archduke Poffret only pursed his lips and said nothing.
"Not only that." The commander of the White Blade Guards behind him, the Star Killer Nicholas, stared coldly at the archduke. His gaze was full of disdain. "When the men we placed at the city gate stopped them …
"These people from Beacon Illumination City had no intention of responding at all. Instead, they drew their swords." Nicholas' voice grew softer and more unsettling. "Until I personally killed that supreme class fellow among them."
The followers of Beacon Illumination City looked at each other with unpleasant expressions. They gritted their teeth and lowered their heads.
"Conkray? You? " Archduke Olsius stared at Archduke Poffret in a daze. "I thought that Beacon Illumination City was the closest and had always been Dragon Clouds City's most trusted helper …
"Obviously, the truth is different from what we thought." Beside him, Trentida exhaled in resignation. "Guess how tonight's going to end?"
The king's voice rang out just in time.
"End?" Nuven the Seventh let out a terrifying sneer. His gaze was fixed on the silent Poffret. "Believe me, everyone …
"Tonight's ending will be terrible …"
No one answered.
Archduke Poffret still lowered his head and did not say a word.
* Bang! *
With a cold expression, Archduke Roknee slammed his palm on the table. The sound reverberated in the hall.
"We are Northlanders." Roknee raised his head and looked at every archduke. His voice was filled with disappointment and resentment. "Not those Southern Empire people who eat conspiracies and assassinations!"
"Umm …" Thales pursed his lips and whispered, "Thank you for the compliment."
"Speaking of which, you really surprised me." Archduke Trentida's eyes shone with cunning and rumination. "Our little guest from Constellation … Are you really only seven years old?"
"A little venomous snake." Olsius stared coldly at Thales and said, "It has a special sensitivity towards conspiracies."
Thales took a deep breath.
Conspiracy? No.
He thought to himself.
From the assassination of the Eckstedt Diplomat Group, to the war between Constellation and the Dragon, to the fight for Broken Dragon Fortress, to the Mystic Guns that were shot at him, to Lampard, to Poffret … Everything was connected.
That fluctuation surged into his brain in a timely manner, allowing Thales to think faster and clearer. Just like in the past, different elements and events were clearly separated before his eyes.
"This is not a simple plot," Thales heard himself say.
"A lot of things happened at the end of this year." The Second Prince of Constellation closed his eyes and sorted out the things in his mind. "For Eckstedt, nothing is more important than Prince Moriah's assassination in Constellation."
"However, this is not an isolated incident. It is a terrifying chain of conspiracies that spans the two most powerful countries in the Western Peninsula."
Scenes from the past reappeared before his eyes.
The Duke of the Northern Territory's ferocious expression.
King Kessel's roar, losing his composure.
The various gazes of the Dukes of Constellation.
The Archduke of Black Sand Region's emotionless gaze.
Nuven the Seventh's despair.
And now, the Eckstedtians in Heroic Spirit Palace.
Thales opened his eyes gently. His gaze was solemn.
"This plan cleverly utilized the long-standing conflict and hatred between the two countries, which was amplified by the Fortress Treaty and accumulated for more than ten years.
"The executors of the plan turned it into a sharp blade that pierced into each other's countries, attempting to reshape each other's power structure amidst the turmoil and reshape the Western Peninsula's situation."
Everyone in the Hall of Heroes fixed their gazes on the Prince of Constellation. Even their breathing slowed.
Only the vice diplomat of Constellation behind Thales, Lord Putray Nemain, frowned slightly, as if worried about something.
"First, they killed Prince Moriah in Constellation, then instigated a war between Constellation and Eckstedt. The Jadestar Royal Family suffered great losses in the internal conflict with the domestic nobles. King Kessel abdicated in defeat and condemnation. The Guardian Duke of the Northern Territory, Val Arunde, took over the authority and crown of the Supreme King of Constellation with the support of the people and the glory of fighting against Eckstedt. "
Thales lowered his head and spoke plainly, as if he was narrating something that had nothing to do with him.
"Just like the two wings of a butterfly, this is only the wing in Constellation. As for the one in Eckstedt …"
Archduke Poffret clenched his fists without realizing it.
Thales' voice continued to travel faintly.
"Prince Moriah's death deprived the Walton Family of the hope of choosing a king. King Nuven's anger turned into nourishment for war. Archduke Lampard brazenly dispatched his troops in the name of avenging the king. In the chaos, with the cooperation of the spies, he conquered the Northern Territory of Constellation, obtaining unprecedented prestige and benefits. In the end, the Archduke of Black Sand Region returned with the glory of the battlefield, and with overwhelming prestige, he successfully chose a king.
"After the plan was completed, Constellation and the Dragon would replace each other in the midst of their mutual hatred, and be reborn from the ashes."
Thales paused for a moment and gently concluded.
"An ingenious, grand, risky, ambitious, creative, and daring terrifying plan."
The five archdukes had different expressions.
Roknee's expression was solemn, Olsius pondered in shock, Trentida glanced sideways at the other people in the hall, and the bald old Lecco blinked, his emotions indecipherable.
Archduke Poffret's breathing gradually became heavier.
"Young people, you think too much and have great ambitions." Archduke Lecco's murky eyes moved slightly as he asked Poffret, "However, you made an unnecessary move to assassinate the Prince of Constellation, and exposed yourself instead?"
Poffret did not answer him. He only stared at the ground in a daze, as though everything around him did not exist.
"I think it was not an unnecessary move — he had no choice but to do so." Thales raised his eyebrows. "I just figured this out. The scene of me being assassinated in front of the fortress was to completely destroy Lampard."
Archduke Lecco turned to him.
"According to the original plan, Lampard would ascend the throne and become King Chapman — I don't know how many generations this name is." Thales turned to Poffret.
"And you, Archduke Poffret, are his most secret collaborator in Eckstedt."
Finally, Poffret raised his head, but he did not look at anyone.
"But the problem is, this plan failed at the first stage." Thales sighed.
"Prince Moriah was assassinated, but Constellation's spy failed. My appearance prevented the Duke of the Northern Territory from starting a war as planned." He furrowed his brows as he thought of all the things in Renaissance Palace, and Sonia and Arracca in the fortress. "Lampard also failed to gather the forces of the three southern archdukes to invade Constellation, and he also failed to take down Broken Dragon Fortress. The war between Constellation and the Dragon could not happen at all!
"Archduke Lampard could not bring the glory of conquering Constellation's Northern Territory to take the crown that he aspired to get."
Archduke Poffret exhaled softly, and a low panting sound could be heard.
"What's worse is that … with Val Arunde's failure in Constellation, Chapman Lampard's conspiracy was exposed." Thales laughed bitterly. "The enraged King Nuven will seek revenge and make Lampard and Black Sand Region pay the price."
"Ah." Behind the long table, King Nuven caressed the black ring on his finger and added in a seemingly nonchalant manner, "Isn't that so?"
The archdukes exchanged glances.
"So," Thales nodded, "Lampard is doomed. King Nuven and Dragon Clouds City will not let him go. "
Under the archdukes' gazes, he nodded at the expressionless Poffret.
"Under such circumstances, if Lampard is really forced into a desperate situation, how can Lampard's collaborator remain unscathed? Based on Lampard's personality, he will definitely drag his collaborator to hell. "Thales shook his head.
"For his own survival, Archduke Poffret must act first. He must completely eliminate his former collaborator and future threats …"
The long-haired Archduke Roknee snorted coldly.
"Once the Prince of Constellation dies in Black Sand Region, and Lampard is stained with the Prince of Constellation's blood …" Thales walked back to Putray's side and sneered. "For the sake of the throne of Constellation, even before King Nuven takes action, the dukes of Constellation will swarm over and tear Lampard and Black Sand Region into pieces. I think the other archdukes will be happy to see that happen.
"Only then will you be completely safe."
The Prince of Constellation's voice faded away.
In the hall, many people sighed with different intentions. Some were contemplative, some were regretful, some were sad, some were indignant, and some were angry.
In the next second, the young archduke, Poffret, finally turned his head slowly. With a cold gaze that was no longer gentle and friendly, he glared at Thales. Then, he looked at Nuven the Seventh again, who was sitting at the other end of the long table.
* Clap, clap, clap … *
A slow and rhythmic applause rang from the other end of the long table.
King Nuven clapped expressionlessly.
But no one responded to him.
"This deserves applause." The old king applauded while speaking with an unsettling rhythm and tone, "For our guest from Constellation …"
Thales rolled his eyes helplessly. He could feel that the gazes on him in the hall were filled with contemplation and fear.
"And for you, the Walton Family's long-time ally, the leader of the Poffret Family, and my most trusted Archduke of Beacon Illumination City, Conkray Poffret."
The common-elected king and the Archduke of Beacon Illumination City's gazes finally met in the air.
On one side was complicated and angry, while on the other side was numb and indifferent.
"Say something, Conkray." King Nuven's voice became muffled and oppressive. It reverberated in the brightly lit meeting hall, making everyone feel strangely suffocated. "Before you can say anything else."
"At least, try to choose your own way of death?"
Archduke Poffret suddenly curled up the corners of his mouth, revealing a sinister and terrifying smile.
"Way of death?" he muttered.
Behind Poffret, a disarmed follower whispered worriedly, "Sir, perhaps we should —"
The next moment, Poffret turned his face and said coldly to his subordinate with a furious expression, "Shut up."
"Shut up."
The follower's words came to a halt. He sighed and stopped talking.
Poffret turned his head. His facial muscles twitched as he gritted his teeth. His expression kept changing between indignation and anger.
"Hmph." The young archduke sneered.
"What do you want me to say …" The young archduke's laughter grew longer.
Thales furrowed his brows.
King Nuven's expression did not change.
"Hahaha." Poffret shook his head mockingly. "What else can I say?"
The next moment, he turned around abruptly. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's as he scanned the entire hall.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Poffret's cold words caused everyone's expression to change.
"I received an invitation from His Majesty to come to Dragon Clouds City to discuss the relationship between the two countries." Poffret looked around with a sneer and extended his hand towards Thales. "Then, the common-elected king whom I respect the most and cannot resist joined forces with a prince from an enemy country who has a blood feud with him to accuse me of being the murderer of Prince Moriah?"
"And the reason?" Poffret turned around abruptly. His expression was ferocious, which startled Thales.
"Just because I wanted to leave the banquet early? Because I wanted to rush back to my territory earlier? Because my people had an unnecessary conflict with the White Blade Guards at night? And I sacrificed a supreme class bodyguard! "
Poffret panted and hammered his chest.
"This is shameless slander!"
"F * ck you, Poffret!" A vassal beside the king spat in disdain. "A coward's self-defense!"
"Aiyaya." Archduke Trentida narrowed his eyes and chuckled. "This really isn't the young Conkray I know. What a pleasant surprise."
"We all heard that child's words and saw your reaction. Even now, are you still going to quibble?" Olsius furrowed his brows. "Don't forget, you are a Northlander."
"Quibble?" Poffret retorted loudly. He widened his eyes as if he had gone mad.
"From the beginning until now, this damn brat has been spouting nonsense alone!" Poffret pointed at Thales and roared loudly.
"And you fools have been fooled by him alone, by a Prince of Constellation, a remnant of the Empire!"
Thales shrugged helplessly and exchanged a glance with Putray behind him.
Beside them, Marquis Shiles whispered with a face full of smiles, "Wow, to be able to see this scene in the Eckstedt Palace, it's really worth the trip back."
Poffret turned around and glared at King Nuven angrily.
"I murdered Prince Moriah?"
"I cooperated with Lampard?
"I orchestrated the assassination of this brat?"
The archduke roared angrily with a twisted expression.
"Is there any evidence?!
"Everyone knows that Moriah and I are of similar age, and we are close friends. What reason do I have to murder him?" The young archduke's words made the others frown and whisper to each other. "As you said, Archduke Olsius, the Poffret Family is the most powerful ally of the Walton Family!"
King Nuven watched Archduke Poffret's actions without saying a word, but his gaze grew colder.
"And you, the great and fatuous King Nuven the Seventh, are you going to execute me here?" Poffret yelled at everyone. "With this ridiculous and absurd accusation? Just because I want to return to my territory earlier?
"Just because of this damn brat's nonsense?
Archduke Poffret panted heavily and raised his right index finger. Gritting his teeth, he said, "If I die here, Poffret will not forget, Beacon Illumination City will not forget …"
"Northland will not forget!"
Amidst everyone's frowns, Poffret roared madly.
"Everyone will know that the king without heirs, the Walton Family, who has reached a dead end, has gone mad! He believes in treacherous officials and enemies, persecutes loyal ministers and friends, accuses me without reason, evidence, and justifiably, and publicly massacred archdukes in Dragon Clouds City!
"Everyone will know that this is a violation of Raikaru's Joint Ruling Pledge!"
The other archdukes looked at his performance in silence, their eyes filled with sorrow.
Poffret adjusted his breathing, and there was a hint of threat in his words. "After I die, my younger brother will inherit the archduke's position, and the Poffret Family will treat Dragon Clouds City —"
But at this moment, King Nuven's applause rang out again.
He interrupted Poffret, causing him to be slightly startled.
"Not a bad attempt." There was a deep chill in King Nuven's old and deep voice. "To think that I always thought you were a polite sissy.
"I've underestimated you. It seems like you're still a good actor. You should go to Dragon Kiss Academy or Dark Night Temple, not here."
"Bah, this is your deliberate plan to kill me and weaken the archdukes," Archduke Poffret fiercely retorted to his king. "Other than guesses and slander, do you have any evidence?"
King Nuven sneered.
"Of course, maybe you've long lost your mind. You don't care about evidence or who the murderer is. You only want to weaken us archdukes!"
Poffret raised his hands and bared his chest. He gritted his teeth and stared at the king. "Then what are you waiting for? Come, kill me!
"Let the Eckstedtians see what kind of king they have!"
"When we reach Hell's River, I will tell Moriah." Poffret gritted his teeth and enunciated each word. "After his death, his father went mad. The Walton Family died in this generation!"
* Thud! *
Upon hearing his deceased son's name, King Nuven slammed his fist on the table.
Poffret ignored him.
Poffret turned around and swept his gaze across all the archdukes. His eyes were burning with fury. "And all of you, who sat and watched this trial without any evidence, who sat and watched all of this, will be next!"
Archduke Roknee shook his head in disdain. His gaze was filled with disgust.
Ladyheaded Trentida gave him a friendly smile, showing eight teeth.
Olsius stared back at the young archduke without saying a word.
Archduke Lecco did not even raise his head. He seemed to be particularly interested in the long table in front of him.
The close vassals and advisors around the king revealed contemplative expressions.
They were not the only ones who realized the problem.
Watching from the side, Thales also frowned slightly. Although Poffret seemed to be quibbling as a final struggle, he was not unreasonable.
An archduke came to Dragon Clouds City, but was executed by the king …
What would the people think? How would Beacon Illumination City react? Would the archdukes really be indifferent?
Besides.
Although everyone knew it was him, it was Poffret.
But there was no evidence.
Unless Lampard came forward and admitted to the crime while identifying Poffret.
Thales' worried gaze kept shifting between the tensed Poffret and the stern old king.
'What should I do?
Will the king really throw caution to the wind and execute … '
While everyone was deep in thought, King Nuven finally spoke.
"Evidence?"
The old king threw his head back and laughed.
"Hahahaha …"
Poffret was slightly startled. The archdukes also looked at him in confusion.
"Since when do I need evidence?" Nuven the Seventh's tone slowly rose. "I only need a reason. I only need the truth."
Poffret exhaled through his nose and sneered.
"Hmph, a typical tyrant. Raikaru would also be ashamed of you." He narrowed his eyes. "The evil habits of the Empire reappear in you. Perhaps this is …"
"Raikaru?"
King Nuven did not let him continue.
"When Raikaru Eckstedt was on his deathbed," the old king clenched his right fist and snorted.
"His nephew and heir, the later Nuven Walton the First, made a vow to the human hero as his heir in front of his bed, witnessed by the Queen of the Sky.
"The last sentence in his vow later became the Walton Family, the Dragon Spear Family's language."
"Yes." Under everyone's gaze, Nuven the Seventh lowered his voice and said solemnly, "As the Son of Northland, the Son of Northland, the Way of Northland."
Archduke Poffret was slightly startled and puzzled.
"Since we are Northlanders …" King Nuven clenched his fists tightly. His eyes were burning with anger, but he suppressed his emotions and continued to speak solemnly.
"We should follow the Way of Northland."
Everyone's expression changed at the same time.
Thales thought of a possibility. His face turned pale.
King Nuven clapped his hands.
The sound of two footsteps slowly came from outside the hall.
Everyone's gaze was attracted by the two newcomers.
Thales saw the newcomers clearly. He frowned and looked at Putray.
Putray narrowed his eyes and shook his head at him.
Poffret stared blankly at the newcomers.
"Come and meet our dear Chief of Intelligence." King Nuven raised his hand and introduced the newcomers.
"Madam Calshan."
Under Thales' solemn gaze, an old woman whom he had met before smiled gently and bowed slightly to the archdukes.
The arrival of the Red Witch, the master of the Secret Room, made the archdukes frown.
'What does this mean?'
Ignoring everyone's expressions, the king pointed at a woman dressed in a silver-white robe whose face was covered by a veil. He continued in a cold voice, "And the Head Ritual Master of Bright Moon Temple, Juwle Holme."
Thales was stunned.
He saw the mark on her body: a pair of moons embedded together. They were a curved crescent moon and a full, waxing moon.
'The Head Ritual Master of Bright Moon Temple?'
High Priestess Holme did not say anything, as if everything around her had nothing to do with her.
But the archdukes and the king did not show any signs of anger, as if this was how it should be.
This made Thales think of Sunset Temple in Constellation and High Priestess Liscia.
Gods.
What kind of role did they play in this world?
"What does this mean?" Poffret's expression was dark as he stared at the king.
"What does this mean?" The old King Nuven sneered and slammed his palm on the long table. "Her Excellency High Priestess Holme is naturally here to bear witness … It's nighttime now, the Bright Moon Goddess is the best witness."
Poffret seemed to have guessed something. The young archduke felt his throat go dry. He said hoarsely, "Bear … Bear witness to what?"
"Bear witness to what?"
The old king flashed an angry smile and turned to the Prince of Constellation. "Little Thales, watch carefully …"
Thales was shocked, and he snapped out of his thoughts.
King Nuven said flatly, "The ancient ritual of Northland cannot be proposed casually.
"The ancient rituals of the Northern Lands are not something that can be casually proposed. It requires a sufficient number of witnesses, a sufficient sacred ritual, and an arbitrator of sufficient status to witness it together. Only then can it be effective."
'The ancient ritual of Northland?'
Thales stared blankly at the old King Nuven the Seventh. For a moment, he was extremely shocked.
'No way?
'Could it be …'
The archdukes and the vassals were equally shocked. Many of them even had panic and panic in their eyes.
"Your Majesty?" A noble who seemed to be an administrative officer next to the king asked with a frown.
But Nuven the Seventh did not give them any chance to ask.
The next moment, King Nuven shook his right palm and slammed it on the chair!
* Bang! *
Everyone was startled.
The old king of Eckstedt, who was almost seventy years old, stood up abruptly. His face was filled with hatred and murderous intent. With an aged voice that sounded like muffled thunder, he spat out the following words.
"I, Nuven Raikaru Cadeon Walton, the seventh Nuven in the genealogy of the common-elected kings.
The King of Dragon Knights cum hero Raikaru, the successor of the hero Chara.
The common ruler of the Northlanders in the Western Peninsula, the defender of the glacier defense line.
The defender of the humans in the north, the conqueror of White Mountain.
The arbitrator of the Golden Passage, the conqueror of Broken Dragon Fortress.
The thirty-fifth common-elected king of Eckstedt and Quiquer Glacier, the Archduke of Dragon Clouds City.
"Under the witness of the spokesperson of the Bright Moon Goddess, at the Imperial Conference, the Archduke of Prestige Orchid, the Archduke of Reformation Tower, the Archduke of the City of Faraway Prayers, the Archduke of Defense City, and the only heir to the royal family of Constellation …"
Thales stared blankly at the king's actions, not knowing what to do.
Equally shocked were the archdukes, including Poffret himself.
The king continued to speak. His words were laced with chilling resentment and pain.
"For my son, the last heir of the Walton Family and Dragon Clouds City, Moriah Bertram Nuven Walton, and for the despicable assassination he suffered.
"Under the glorious tradition of Northland, in the name of blood vengeance …
"To you, Conkray Poffret of Beacon Illumination City …
"To issue a sacred duel challenge."
The old king's words were resolute. He looked at the stunned young archduke and spat out his last words.
"The duel is issued in the name of the king."
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