The king had drunk enough. He threw the goblet down and exercised his joints.
"Brat." He snorted at Poffret, who was on the ground. "You have the guts to mention the war twelve years ago?
"How much do you know about the tragedy and bloodshed twelve years ago?" With a disdainful gaze, King Nuven stared at his prey, who had lost both his arms. "You are nothing but a suzerain's heir whom he dotes on. Your grandfather only keeps you in the safest main camp. He doesn't even let you transport the supplies …"
In Thales' eyes, the young archduke's eyes were bloodshot as he stared blankly at the front.
It was as if he had even forgotten the pain in his arms.
"But maybe your grandfather was right. If you were sent to transport the supplies and supplies, and if you encountered Horace Jadestar, who would sneak around and attack the supplies …" At this, King Nuven's face darkened. "F * ck, then there wouldn't be so many f * cking problems."
A few seconds later, Poffret, who was pinned to the ground, let out an indecipherable laugh.
"As for the so-called shock you received in the war … Bullshit." King Nuven suppressed his anger until he could no longer suppress it. "Without Dragon Clouds City, without the Walton Family, you are nothing!"
He let go of Poffret's foot and kicked Poffret's stomach!
Thales frowned. He remembered his time in Abandoned House, the days when he was punched and kicked from time to time.
After suffering the kick, Poffret curled up and moaned in pain.
"And you shouldn't have gone after Moriah!" King Nuven lowered his head and growled with a pained expression. "He thought you were his friend!
"Despicable traitor! Hypocritical coward! "
The enraged King Nuven kicked Poffret's chest again.
* Thud! * The dull sound was clear.
Poffret curled up again. Under the heavy blow, he could not help but cough.
Poffret's cough gradually eased. Then, his curled up body stretched out again.
His two folded arms looked extremely hideous.
The archduke laughed strangely, as if he was crying.
"Hahaha …" Poffret suppressed his laughter, but in Thales' ears, it sounded so miserable and tragic.
King Nuven's expression became increasingly hostile. He looked at his enemy and gritted his teeth. His expression was terrifying.
The young archduke abruptly stopped laughing. He raised his head and glared at King Nuven with eyes brimming with anger.
"That's right, I did it." Poffret glared fiercely at the old king. Panting, he said, "Moriah only told me about his secret mission — to visit Constellation and renew the treaty! What an honor … "
"You admit it?" King Nuven's expression was solemn. His eyes burned with hatred and pain. "You only have the guts to be a man when you're facing death, don't you?"
"Yes, I don't have to waste any effort at all. I can use his trust in me to deceive him into going to Constellation." Poffret responded to the king with a mocking smile. "Including his itinerary, arrangements, plans, and even the members of the diplomat group …"
King Nuven kicked Poffret's abdomen again.
Poffett rolled away from King Nuven's side in pain.
"Just because you feel that you've been treated unfairly?" King Nuven sneered. His voice suddenly rose. "You killed my son and betrayed your friend!
"The so-called status in Beacon Illumination City … is just an excuse you're looking for for your selfishness and indifference! You can even betray your own father … What else can't you do?! "
Poffret groaned in pain from his broken arms. His forehead was drenched in cold sweat, but when he heard the king's words, he lifted his head from the ground with difficulty and chuckled.
"Unfair?" Poffret's laughter was strange and maniacal. "My God, you, you really … really, you don't even blush … You're indeed our Born King … Unfair? Hahaha … "
The next moment, Poffret's expression changed. He looked at the four archdukes.
"Stop pretending! All of you! "
The young archduke's words were filled with anger.
"Olsius, Trentida, Roknee, Lecco … Do you dare to swear to your ancestors that you're not grateful or happy for what I've done? Do you dare to slap your chest and say that you're not glad or happy about Moriah's death and the Walton Family's loss of power and decline?! "
The archdukes chose to respond with silence. Even the craftiest Trentida did not make a sound at this moment.
Thales felt that the atmosphere in the hall had become very tense, as if the scope of the duel had expanded beyond the two of them.
King Nuven did not say a word. Step by step, he slowly walked towards Poffret.
Panting, Poffret shrugged his shoulders and struggled to crawl on the ground.
Thales looked at the struggling archduke on the ground. He did not feel the slightest relief from the truth being revealed or the vengeance being avenged.
All that was left was an indescribable sorrow.
"The ten archdukes," Poffret gritted his teeth and said as he struggled to crawl, "the ten archdukes … after your death … will fairly and justly choose the king, right?"
King Nuven stopped in his tracks.
With his back facing King Nuven, Poffret crawled to the center of the hall. He tried his best to turn over and face King Nuven.
"To the south … you promised Reformation Tower a long time ago that you would arbitrate on behalf of Trentida and obtain the disputed territory at the border of Elaphure City in exchange for his support.
"In your hands, you have little Olsius, who fled to Dragon Clouds City after losing the fight for the throne. You have the bargaining chip to interfere with the inheritance of Prestige Orchid Region. No matter how dissatisfied Archduke Olsius is, he does not dare to voice his anger.
"Since your father, you have relied on Dragon Clouds City's position to forcibly reestablish the trade route to the Glacier Sea in the northeast. You have threatened the Kemarren Family to cut it off unless they choose you as king.
"Of course, there is also us — the Poffret Family that you and your father supported to rise to power, the Beacon Illumination City that you tamed like a hound that will listen to you with a whistle."
King Nuven frowned deeply.
The hall was filled with whispers.
Thales also had doubts in his heart.
Poffret continued to speak with grief, indignation, and pain.
"To the north, the bald old Lecco of Defense City will only remain neutral and choose the family that is bound to win at the most crucial moment.
"To the north, the Stustel Family of Sentinel Region has always chosen whoever supports them in resisting the orcs."
Poffret rose from his kneeling position. He straightened his upper body and turned his head abruptly to look at the ice-cold King Nuven. His voice was desolate.
"In the next King Selection Congress, you and your Walton Family have already made arrangements for four of the votes … And with these votes, the two people in the north are destined to choose you!"
King Nuven's face turned green. His clenched fists made cracking sounds.
"In the future King Selection Congress, we so-called archdukes have no chance at all!"
"Unfair?"
"This is the real unfairness!" Poffret roared in a low voice. His words sent a chill down the spines of everyone in the hall.
"Decades ago, before your grandfather died, he arranged for the king selection and your father's coronation …
"Since then, all of you have used all kinds of disgusting methods to manipulate everything in the dark under the pretext of fair competition and open king selection!
"Pushing the appointed person to the front and suppressing all dissenters and opposers. Our king selection is just a formality to send the appointed person to the throne!"
King Nuven strode forward.
Thales sighed in his heart. 'Is this the truth behind the king selection?'
He remembered what Putray had told him about the history of the establishment of the Eckstedt king selection system.
The archdukes who had opposed each other since Raikaru's death.
Poffret's face was filled with disgust and disgust as he stared at his livid opponent.
"From then on, the 'Archduke Walton of Dragon Clouds City' disappeared. There was only 'King Walton of Eckstedt'!"
"Bah!" He gritted his teeth as if he wanted to bite King Nuven into pieces. "Don't you know why we call you the 'Born King'?
"It's not because you are a genius or powerful …
"It's because you were destined to be the common-elected king of Eckstedt since you were born!
"You motherf * cking Born King!
"What disgusts me the most is that you still have the cheek to proudly claim that Eckstedt is governed by a joint king selection system?"
Poffret's face was dragged across the cold floor tiles. He began to lose control of his emotions. "Under the suppression of the Waltons, what difference is there between us and the rotten hereditary royal family of Constellation and the tyrannical system of the Empire? Sooner or later, a madman like Constellation's Aydi the Second will appear and drag his entire country to hell!"
Hearing this familiar name, Thales' heart sank.
'That's my grandfather.
'Drag his entire country … to hell?'
Suddenly, he felt someone pat his shoulder lightly. It was Putray behind him.
Thales exhaled through his nose with difficulty and shifted his attention back to the scene.
King Nuven stepped forward with a cold gaze and mercilessly tripped him.
* Thud! *
The young archduke, whose arms were crippled and who could not even maintain his balance, was swept to the ground again.
Poffret fell back to the ground, but he continued to shout.
"Verbally praising the greatness of the Joint Ruling Pledge, hypocritically claiming that we have the freedom and right to choose our king, but secretly monopolizing all power and fixing the throne and interests …
"In this world, where else would a ruler be so shameless, despicable, hypocritical, sanctimonious, and disgusting!
"You have long turned Eckstedt into the Walton Family's hereditary kingdom! The Walton Royal Family! How ironic! Raikaru's Joint Ruling Pledge has long been ruined by this shameless family left behind by his nephew! "
Thales sensed his erratic breathing.
Everything that happened before his eyes was like a mirror to him.
At that moment, as he listened to Poffret's accusations, he did not think of Eckstedt.
Instead, he thought of Constellation.
It was Kessel's cold expression and the One-Eyed Dragon Koshder's solemn gaze.
It was the Hall of Stars' Six Great Clans and Thirteen Distinguished Families, each harboring their own ulterior motives.
Thales sighed softly in his heart and unconsciously clenched his fists.
"That's not all!" Poffret used all his strength, swaying as he struggled to get up from the ground.
"Your father married his daughter to the previous Archduke of Black Sand Region a long time ago, trying to meddle in Black Sand Region's affairs by controlling the Lampard Family's bloodline!
"You maliciously purchased Crystal Drop Ores from Camus Union and transported them to Elaphure City in the east at a low price. Nominally, it was to guard against the threat from the Eastern Peninsula, but in reality, it was to cut off the supply at a critical moment and force the Gadro Family to submit!
"God knows what other tricks you prepared for the west, for Roknee of the City of Faraway Prayers — I'm guessing it's that Camian whose territory is close to the City of Faraway Prayers, the hypocrite Marquis of Good Flow City, right? What is it this time? A contract that looks gorgeous but is actually full of traps? "
Hearing this, Thales could not help but turn his head and look behind him.
Marquis Shiles of Camus Union felt everyone's gaze. He coughed awkwardly and turned his head away.
Poffret's face had long lost all color. He no longer tried to get up, but lay on the ground as if he had accepted his fate. His tone was sorrowful and low.
"That's not all. You also wanted to learn from Constellation in the south. You wanted to set up tax collectors who reported directly to the king throughout the territory. You wanted to take back the suzerains' jurisdiction in their own territories, and you wanted to send the king's officials throughout the country — starting from Beacon Illumination City!
"This humiliation, this oppression, this injustice … It's not just me, and it's not just a day or two …" Poffret panted, his voice becoming weaker and weaker. "How could we not fight back?"
"Fight back? So you caused Moriah's death? To take revenge on the Walton Family? "King Nuven's gaze flickered slightly." By betraying and betraying a friend? Only a coward like you … "
Poffret paused for a moment. His gaze became complicated and subtle.
"Yes, Moriah," Poffret panted, his voice low. "We used to be friends …
"I've also told myself that everything will be fine, but … but …" Li Yundong's eyes widened.
"Nuven Walton!" The young archduke's expression changed, as if he had painfully made up his mind about something. He lay on the ground, raised his head, closed his eyes, and let out a desolate laugh. "This is all your fault! You forced me to do this! "
"Me?" King Nuven's voice was like the muffled thunder before a storm, deep and terrifying.
Poffret's voice rose. He trembled as he raised his head. His gaze was vicious. "Five years ago, after I rejected your appointment as an official in Beacon Illumination City …
"Immediately, someone among my vassals strangely jumped out to question my legitimacy. Trentida began to provoke me arrogantly at the borders. The people in my territory began to talk about my abilities … Soon, my vassals began to rebel, the people began to resist taxes, and the territory was in chaos … When I was in a terrible predicament and at a loss for what to do, you sent Moriah with a letter from you to mediate!"
"As I read your hypocritical and pretentious letter of comfort, I raised my head and looked at Moriah, who was standing in front of me. I listened to him mention our past with a silly smile on his face … Only then did I understand that we were never friends!"
"I'm just a dog of Dragon Clouds City!
"And don't you know what kind of person Moriah is?!" The veins on Poffret's face bulged. His brown hair stuck to his forehead, making him look ferocious and pathetic.
"I've had enough of the silly smile on that good-for-nothing's face! In his mind, the whole world is so beautiful! " Poffret's eyes were bloodshot. He struggled to get up with all his might and roared madly at everyone in the Hall of Heroes.
"That's a naive, weak, hesitant, incompetent, short-sighted, and unambitious good-for-nothing!"
"Hahaha …" Under King Nuven's gloomy face, Poffret's upper body shook and he laughed wildly. He laughed so hard that tears almost came out of his eyes.
"Did you know … that fellow, that good-for-nothing Moriah … His biggest dream was actually to become an adventurous mercenary … to, to travel the world … Hahahahaha … Mercenary, adventurous … Hahahaha …
"Right, he even fell in love with a prostitute! A coquettish slut!
And he even said that he wanted to marry her! "Thales shook his head.
Thales shook his head. He remembered what King Nuven had said about Prince Moriah when he first met King Nuven and the archdukes.
Poffret laughed so hard that tears almost came out of his eyes.
King Nuven furrowed his eyebrows tightly.
Poffret laughed in a morbid manner. He rolled on the ground in pain and agitated emotions. Snot and tears streamed down his face. "The honorable Prince Moriah, the future Archduke of Dragon Clouds City, wants to marry a lowly whore who has been f * cked by tens of thousands of people! Hahahaha …
"And he's also the appointed King of Eckstedt. Think about it, the great Eckstedt has a prostitute queen! All the subjects have to bow to a whore … Hahaha … "
Everyone in the hall looked at him. Many of them lowered their heads and sighed.
King Nuven did not interrupt him. He only continued to stare at Poffret with that terrifying gaze.
"This fellow, this piece of trash, this piece of trash, this shameful existence without self-awareness or responsibility, is actually the heir of the Walton Family!" Poffret had laughed enough. He raised his indignant and hateful eyes. "And I still have to swear loyalty to him against my will and worship him as king — not because of his ability, but because of his family name and father!
"And you still ask me why I chose Lampard? Why the Archduke of Black Sand Region, who is as black as the name of his territory? That beast who killed his own family? "
Archduke Poffret's eyes were filled with fire. His roar was like thunder. "I did not choose Lampard! I chose a future without the Walton Family! A future without the appointed King of Eckstedt!
"I am very happy that I have finally destroyed the last of your bloodline." He glared at King Nuven with gritted teeth. "The next common-elected King of Eckstedt will no longer have the surname Walton!"
Poffret was answered by a vicious blow from King Nuven that landed squarely on his face.
King Nuven grabbed Poffret's collar and said coldly, "Before that, I will destroy you first."
The young archduke laughed miserably. He shook his head, turned around, and looked to the side.
At … Thales Jadestar.
Thales' heart immediately tightened.
'What's going on?'
"Hey, you! Constellation's little brat! "Poffret shouted, attracting everyone's attention to Thales.
"You," the wounded archduke uttered with difficulty and laughed shrilly. "You are very pleased with yourself, aren't you? A Prince of Constellation flaunting his prowess in the capital of Eckstedt … fooling a group of archdukes? "
Thales frowned. He could feel the hostile gazes of the people in the hall.
After all, he was in Eckstedt.
"Your days will not last long!" Poffret said resentfully. "Did you think that assassinating you was just an act of self-preservation?"
Thales could not help but be stunned by the archduke's next words.
"You don't know how much they want your life." Enduring the pain in his arm, Poffret panted. "When I hired them, I figured out their motives … It's not just for money …"
Thales felt his breathing quicken.
The young grand duke continued, "That's right.
"Even in their dreams, they want to kill the entire Jadestar Family and take over Renaissance Palace!
"They are wanted criminals that everyone in Constellation wants to kill. Of course, they can't do it … But here, in Eckstedt …
"When they accepted my money, they did not react at all." Poffret's eyes were like fire. "But those killers, when they heard that the target was you, the heir to the Jadestar Royal Family of Constellation …
"The expressions on their faces, how excited they were …"
"What?
What killers? "Thales stared at him in a daze. A few seconds later, he reacted." Who are they? "
"Who else?!" Poffret yelled with a delighted expression. "Of course, it's those sneaky assassins! Those pitch-black assassins! They were the ones who infiltrated Lampard's army and used his Mystic Gun Unit to assassinate you under the fortress!
"They are the Jadestar Family's greatest enemy!"
Thales stared at him in disbelief.
'Jadestar Family's greatest enemy?'
The next moment, Poffret laughed maniacally and called out a name that made everyone frown.
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