Thales was stunned for a full ten seconds.
'Shadow Shield.'
He heard Gilbert describe this name before.
It appeared together with the Charleton Family's name in the tragedy of the Bloody Year.
The direct murderer of the Jadestar Royal Family.
He remembered the small stone jars in the Jadestar family tomb in Renaissance Palace. From the king's eldest son, Midier, to Horace, to the twin princes, Bancroft and Herman.
And the youngest princess, Constance Jadestar.
'But Shadow Shield …' Thales stared at Poffret in disbelief. 'Assassinate me?
How could … '
His thoughts were quickly interrupted.
"Enough."
King Nuven's voice rang in the hall.
"As long as I am in Dragon Clouds City," the king threw Poffret down with a gloomy face, "I will not allow such a despicable assassination to happen again."
"Hmph." Poffret sneered and hissed a word through his teeth, "Tyrant."
King Nuven narrowed his eyes and looked at his helpless enemy.
"End it all." Poffret curled his lips and his expression was cold. "I will watch from the bottom of hell's river how your family is destroyed!
"End it all!"
King Nuven gently clenched his fists and was silent for a few seconds.
His eyes were filled with complicated emotions.
Finally, King Nuven closed his eyes and exhaled through his nostrils.
"The duel is not over, but I can give you a chance." Under everyone's gaze, the old king opened his eyes and said flatly, "Admit defeat to me now.
"Now, admit defeat and admit to your crimes. Confess to the conspiracy between you and Lampard."
"You can still earn your life back."
Poffret was completely stunned.
'What.
'What?'
"But you will spend the rest of your life in prison … Your younger brother will inherit Beacon Illumination City, and Poffret will still rule that land.
"Other than you, Beacon Illumination City will not be punished." The old king's gaze was sharp. "What do you think?"
Everyone in the hall was stunned.
Poffret stared blankly at the king.
"I killed your last son," he said absentmindedly.
"Yes." King Nuven's gaze darkened. "You killed my son."
Poffret's gaze gradually changed as he looked at the king.
Thales saw struggle and pain in it.
The young archduke lowered his head, breathing rapidly.
Thales pondered over the king's choice. At that moment, Putray whispered into his ear, "If he agrees, if Beacon Illumination City still wants to rule it stably in the future, it must never make an enemy out of the Walton Family."
Thales nodded in realization.
Nicholas snorted coldly by the side.
After a few seconds, Poffret slowly raised his head. A bitter smile appeared on his desolate face. "Really?"
"Yes," King Nuven said flatly. "As long as you say that word, you can continue to breathe the air of Northland."
The hall was silent for a moment.
But not long after, Poffret, who was lying on the ground, stopped smiling.
His face was like ice and his eyes were like steel. His expression seemed to be covered with cold snow that would not melt for a thousand years.
The young duke looked the King in the eye.
Poffret gritted his teeth, but said another word resolutely and decisively, "Yes.
"Absolutely not."
Thales shook his head.
"This is Northland," Nicholas said softly behind Thales. "Being forgiven by the enemy is also a form of humiliation."
King Nuven sighed.
But he immediately raised his head and flashed a gentle smile at Poffret.
"Good boy."
The old king smiled with a complicated expression.
Suddenly, Poffret kicked the ground with his left leg and struggled to get up from the ground. With a roar, he charged towards King Nuven!
What welcomed him was a gentle kick from the old king that hit his calf bone.
* Thud! * Poffret lost his balance again and fell to the ground face down.
Poffret let out a final howl of indignation.
King Nuven shook his head slowly.
He stood up and knelt down on Poffret's back. Then, he reached out with both hands and grabbed Poffret's head tightly, lifting him to a place where the four archdukes could see.
The four archdukes, Olsius, Trentida, Roknee and Lecco, all stared at their king with solemn expressions.
The next moment, the common-elected king of Eckstedt, Nuven Walton the Seventh, roared loudly in his old but heroic voice.
"Look!"
His roar echoed in the hall.
King Nuven's face was filled with anger. He roared loudly.
"This is the enemy of the Walton Family!"
Poffret's face was mournful, but he smiled as if he had been released.
As many people inhaled, the old king twisted his hands forcefully.
* Crack! *
The crisp sound of a neck bone breaking reached Thales' ears.
* Plop! * Poffret fell to the ground.
But this time, his head was facing upwards, staring blankly at the ceiling.
King Nuven sat on the ground and stared expressionlessly at his enemy's corpse.
No one spoke.
The only sounds in the hall were the howling of the snow outside the window and the crackling of the braziers, along with the uneven breathing of the crowd.
The dead silence lasted for a few seconds.
Then, a light and moving trill traveled faintly from the other side of the hall.
"Death …
"It's just a long-awaited homecoming."
High Priestess Holme of Bright Moon Temple said flatly.
She crossed her arms again and lowered her body. The eyes on her veil slowly closed.
"The winner has been decided.
"The holy duel.
"The end."
As soon as she finished speaking, the High Priestess of Bright Moon Temple turned and left.
The Red Witch smiled and turned to follow her.
In the hall, many people finally exhaled slowly.
'It's over.'
With a wave of Lord Mirk's hand, the servants and guards hurried to catch up. The doctors and healers who had been on standby rushed to King Nuven's side and bandaged the wounds on his chest and face.
The king's vassals and the four archdukes left the spectating area. They left absent-mindedly with different moods.
"I was wrong. I can't brag about this duel for a year." Marquis Shiles sighed. "It's enough for me to brag about for a lifetime."
Nicholas glanced at him coldly and walked down the field. He began to instruct the White Blade Guards to deal with the aftermath.
"It's been a complicated day, my dear Highness." Shiles adjusted his hat and bowed politely to Thales. "Forgive me for taking my leave. I have to go back immediately to estimate the possible business losses we might suffer in Beacon Illumination City. I hope it doesn't exceed the returns King Nuven has given us."
Thales shrugged and watched the Camian leave.
"It's been a fruitful day." Thales turned around and said sarcastically in a low voice, "We have to talk, Putray — about Shadow Shield."
Not only that, but he also had many other things, including many doubts, that he wanted to ask this experienced and knowledgeable deputy.
"I agree." Putray nodded cautiously and solemnly.
At this moment …
"The four of you!" The old king's aged voice came from afar. "Do you have any opinions about this duel?"
King Nuven raised his head. His gaze pierced through the crowd and fixed on the four archdukes.
The hall fell silent again. Everyone looked at the four archdukes.
The archdukes had different expressions, but Thales could feel the solemnity and vigilance on their faces.
After all, a colleague had just died here.
"No." The one who answered the king was the cold Archduke Roknee. He only said softly, "This is a holy duel. It is a righteous vengeance. It is fair and just. Poffret also confessed to his crimes."
Trentida was still smiling. Olsius did not say a word. Lecco looked elsewhere, his expression indecipherable.
King Nuven stared at the long-haired archduke for a few seconds and suddenly sneered.
"It'd be strange if you didn't." King Nuven sneered. "Your dissatisfaction has been going on for a long time, right?"
Thales suddenly felt the atmosphere in the hall become tense again.
Until King Nuven's next words.
"You don't have to worry anymore." King Nuven sighed slowly. "I will send a messenger crow tomorrow. The Archduke of Beacon Illumination City has died gloriously in the duel. Beacon Illumination City will be inherited by this fellow's younger brother. He must have been looking forward to it for a long time."
The archdukes were slightly stunned.
"The Walton Family has no hope in the next king selection," the old king said desolately with his head bowed. "We don't have a candidate who has enough prestige and legitimacy."
Archduke Olsius frowned. "Your Majesty —"
King Nuven did not stop talking and interrupted Olsius. "But at least, before I die, I can still do one last thing for my family and Dragon Clouds City."
He raised his head. His gaze was piercingly cold.
The archdukes shuddered.
"Such as?" Archduke Olsius asked softly in his most cautious manner.
King Nuven smiled.
"War," the old king said softly. "It's going to be the new year soon. After next spring, I will enlist Dragon Clouds City's army."
Hearing this, Thales felt a chill in his heart.
'No way?'
The four archdukes held their breaths.
"Constellation?" Archduke Olsius glanced at Thales with an unfriendly expression, causing him to shudder in fear.
Fortunately, King Nuven's next words made the Prince of Constellation exhale.
"No."
"I want to go for a stroll in Black Sand Region." King Nuven, who was sitting in the middle of the hall under the care of a healer, patted his thigh in a relaxed manner.
"To visit my dear nephew, Chapman Lampard."
The archdukes frowned.
So did Thales.
"I miss him." The old king's eyes shone brightly. "I miss him to death."
Archduke Olsius and Archduke Trentida, whose territories were near Black Sand Region, frowned simultaneously.
"But I don't like being alone. I don't want to go alone." King Nuven stared at the four archdukes with a sharp gaze. "What do you say?"
The four archdukes did not speak.
Until the king's second sentence.
"After 'visiting' him, shall we discuss the king selection?" the old king said meaningfully.
The four archdukes glanced at each other. This time, they quickly made a decision.
"Defense City will respond with all its troops. We will always stand on the king's side." The bald Archduke Lecco was the first to sigh.
Archduke Olsius nodded solemnly. "Prestige Orchid Region has no objections. We will also send reinforcements."
"This is a legitimate revenge, a warning to those who are plotting in secret." Archduke Roknee's eyes shone. "The City of Faraway Prayers is willing to send reinforcements."
"Since all of you have said so, if Reformation Tower still doesn't send troops," Trentida said in annoyance, "I won't even be able to walk out of Dragon Clouds City."
Hearing this, Thales criticized in his heart, 'The king will take the lead and help you eliminate a competitor. Why not?'
King Nuven looked at them and laughed out loud.
At this moment, Archduke Olsius could not help but ask, "What about Black Sand Region?
Are you going to let Chapman's son inherit the archduke's position? "
King Nuven stopped laughing and shook his head gently.
"I have a candidate in mind. He's definitely a good candidate for the archduke's position." He stretched his newly bandaged right arm. "Kaslan Lampard … Chapman's uncle. He used to be the captain of my personal guards."
Thales was stunned. He thought of the sturdy old man in Hero Tavern.
"I heard that he has no interest in power and that he hates his family," Archduke Roknee said flatly.
"Yes." King Nuven laughed softly. "But it's not up to him."
The archdukes were slightly stunned.
"Alright!" The old king pushed the doctor aside and stood up boldly. He shouted angrily, "Everyone, go up!"
"The banquet is still going on!" King Nuven looked around at everyone and laughed. "Don't spoil the mood!"
The four archdukes looked at each other. With different expressions on their faces, they bowed and left.
The members of the king's Imperial Conference also left.
Thales noticed that when everyone turned around, the old king's smile disappeared from his face.
"All of you should leave too!" King Nuven shook his head and said to his White Blade Guards, "Just stand guard outside the hall …"
Nuven the Seventh sighed and grabbed the wine barrel. He walked to the stairs where the battle was held and sat down. His expression was desolate. "I'll sit here alone."
Nicholas and Mirk looked at each other and nodded.
Thales and Putray looked at each other. Both of them carefully left with the crowd.
'Tonight is long enough.
'And fulfilling enough.'
At this moment, King Nuven's voice rang again.
"Thales! My dear guest! "
Thales jolted violently.
The people in the hall who had yet to leave looked at the Prince of Constellation.
Especially the archdukes, such as Archduke Lecco, who seemed to be deep in thought.
"Why don't you stay?" King Nuven patted the stairs beside him. His expression was calm. "I still have to thank you properly. Shall we have a drink together?"
Thales opened his mouth and looked at the king awkwardly.
'What a joke.
'After I offended a bunch of archdukes, after you broke an archduke's neck, after you forced the other archdukes to join the war with you …
'You want me to have a drink with you?
'What I need to do now is to disappear quickly and keep a low profile. Once the time is up, I'll return to my country immediately!
'Even if you want to attract hatred, you can't do it this way!'
He turned around and looked at Putray. The latter shook his head slightly.
"It's an honor to drink with you … but I'm only seven years old." Thales turned to look at King Nuven. He said politely and embarrassedly, "And I'm very tired …"
'But …'
"Bullsh * t, seven years old!"
King Nuven interrupted him with a displeased expression and raised his wine glass to the second prince.
"When my father brought me to drink for the first time, I was only five years old. As the future king, how can I not know how to drink?"
Thales looked dazed. He was ready to find another excuse.
"Or do you want to reject the King of Eckstedt's invitation?" King Nuven revealed a contemplative look. "Even you, like that fellow lying on the ground, look down on a king who doesn't have much time left?"
The atmosphere in the hall became strange again.
Thales' heart suddenly raced.
He could only lower his head and sigh.
Then, he turned around and took a step forward.
Under Putray's worry, Nicholas' frown, Shiles' smile, and the four archdukes' peculiar gazes …
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