Thales stared blankly at Lampard's half-unsheathed sword.
This was not the first time he was in danger.
Based on Thales' understanding of this world, it might not be the last either.
However, he really did not know what he could do when he was in the same carriage as the murderous Archduke Lampard, and there were countless soldiers outside the carriage.
Could he use his so-called mystic energy again?
Thales reached out and held Little Rascal's hand tightly.
"You're Nuven's granddaughter, aren't you, little girl?" Lampard flipped his sword over and said flatly.
Both of them froze.
Thales' palm was ice-cold. For a moment, he did not know how to react.
He realized it.
The Archduke of Black Sand Region stared fixedly at the old sword in his hand. His eyes were filled with a strange emotion.
"When Nuven went to war against the calamities, he brought you and her — the two most important bargaining chips — with him. This is really unexpected," Lampard said to himself.
Little Rascal was so frightened that she could not even speak.
Thales took a deep breath.
What should he do?
No.
Since it was already the end.
He had to at least figure out some things.
Thales slowly raised his head and stared straight into Lampard's eyes. "I think your actions are probably out of Nuven's expectations as well.
"The King Slayer."
* Swoosh! *
There was a crisp sound of metal scraping against metal.
Little Rascal trembled slightly. Thales was also startled.
Lampard turned his head. The sword in his hand had already returned to its sheath.
"Don't you understand? Whether it's Nuven's death or the current chaotic situation … "Archduke Lampard's gaze was very complicated, but Thales could not read much emotion from it. He only heard the archduke say," All of this was brought about by you. "
"Me?" Thales looked up in shock.
Lampard's expression fluctuated on the bumpy carriage. It brightened and darkened as the light changed.
"If everything went smoothly and according to my and Arunde's plan," the archduke said flatly, "Constellation and the Dragon would both welcome a new life.
"Until you destroy everything."
Lampard's gaze became sharp and cold as he directed it at Thales.
"In Constellation, you turned Arunde, who was destined to be king, into a prisoner. In Broken Dragon Fortress, you cut off my final path of retreat. In Eckstedt, you used Nuven's rage to force Black Sand Region to the brink of destruction." The Archduke of Black Sand Region's words became exceptionally cold, causing Thales to shudder. "It was you who forced me to use the most drastic method."
Thales gritted his teeth.
"A coward's excuse." The prince tried his best not to look at the old scabbard, which had been polished until it was shiny. He did not take a single step back and said, "Why don't you ask yourselves, why did you assassinate Prince Moriah and covet the throne?"
"Even after the plan failed, it wasn't that you didn't have any other way out, but you chose the most extreme one."
Thales shot Lampard a cold glance.
"A regicide grand duke."
Lampard stared at him without moving. Then, a rare sneer appeared on his face.
"When I was your age, my mother brought Harold and I back to Dragon Clouds City. At the city gate, I saw a criminal being executed with my own eyes." Lampard's lips were slightly tilted to the side, and his eyes sparkled.
"The moment before the execution, my grandfather's warrant arrived. He wanted to pardon the criminal."
Thales frowned. He glanced out of the carriage with the corner of his eye.
'No.
'There's still no chance.'
"In the end," Lampard continued, "before the warrant was read out and the king's order had yet to take effect, the executioner swung his axe and chopped off the criminal's head."
Little Rascal was still terrified, but as she listened to Lampard's story, she subconsciously put on an attentive expression.
"The executioner was a valiant warrior. His methods were clean and efficient, without any hesitation. Even now, I still remember the head that was raised high and the blood that spilled. I also remember the scene of him casually receiving the king's warrant with his bloodied hands."
The archduke paused for a moment. He lowered his head and looked at the sword in his hand.
"In the carriage, Harold kept comforting me, who was crying out of fear." Lampard seemed to be in a daze. He said quietly, "That was the first time I understood what death and slaughter meant."
He raised his head and turned towards Thales.
But this time, Lampard did not look at Thales.
Instead, he looked behind him.
At the little girl.
Thales' heart clenched. He could not help but tighten his grip on Little Rascal's hand.
"Later, my mother told us that the executioner was her biological brother, our uncle, Prince Nuven Walton."
Lampard said expressionlessly, his sharp eyes fixed on Little Rascal.
"Nuven Walton the Seventh, your grandfather, my uncle, was born a murderer. He was ruthless, tenacious, and stubborn. He could not tolerate weakness and hesitation, especially after he was crowned."
Little Rascal only stared at Lampard blankly. She did not even dare to breathe loudly.
"He always liked to deal with his enemies in a simple, violent, and swift manner," Lampard said flatly.
Thales' gaze shifted.
The scene of King Nuven killing Poffret, poisoning Alex, and banishing Mirk without hesitation in the Hall of Heroes was still vivid in his mind.
But the scene that left the deepest impression on him was when the old king took out 'Triumph' and placed it in Little Rascal's hand.
"He did this to the glacial orcs, to White Mountain, to the Alliance of Freedom, and to Constellation." Lampard cast his gaze out of the window again. There was a heaviness in his tone that Thales could also sense. "It's the same for Black Sand Region.
"The only way to deal with him is to be faster than him. Before he destroys me, destroy him first." Lampard's fingers tightened on the scabbard. His tone suddenly turned cold.
At the same time, Thales sighed.
"I understand," the prince suddenly said. His words were filled with exhaustion and emptiness. "Start with the fortress."
Lampard looked at him and raised his eyebrows slightly. "What?"
"Your plot …" Thales leaned against the carriage, feeling a little down. "It started when I was assassinated in front of the fortress and then entered your military camp, right?
"At that time, you knew very well that if you couldn't take down Broken Dragon Fortress, what awaited you would be King Nuven's terrifying, storm-like vengeance."
Thales raised his head and met Lampard's eyes. He said with certainty, "From then on, you made up your mind to destroy Nuven completely — before he destroyed you."
Lampard's eyes narrowed slightly.
He seemed a little surprised.
"Tell me about your plan." Thales raised his eyebrows and exhaled through his nose. "You've schemed and schemed to complete an unprecedented feat, but you have no one to talk to. It must be very boring."
"Tell me, how did you accomplish all of this?"
Lampard's gaze was still fixed on him. He did not move.
The carriage turned a corner. The inertia caused the prince and Little Rascal to lean slightly.
Thales decided to take the initiative and let him lead the conversation.
Just like the countless fieldwork and interviews in the dreams of his past life.
"So when you proposed to form an alliance with me in the tent," the prince said flatly, "you actually had ill intentions? Perhaps it was to arrange something through me? "
For example, it would be more convenient to push the blame for King Nuven's death onto him — just like what Lampard was doing now.
Thales remembered the days in Black Sand Military Camp.
An ally's sneak attack was always more effective than an enemy's face to face.
He thought of Serena Corleone.
The vicious beauty who taught him to be wary of his ally.
Finally, Lampard snorted softly.
"No, at that time, I really wanted to reconcile with you. I even thought of sharing my plan with you." The archduke shook his head and his tone turned cold. "Unfortunately."
Thales' brain began to work.
He had already determined the beginning of this plot.
'So …'
"Poffret." Thales' gaze flickered. "When you were investigating your Mystic Gun Unit and my assassination, you claimed that you found the Disaster Sword, but King Nuven found out about it."
"Now, it seems that you deliberately leaked this information to King Nuven, right? You knew that King Nuven would first deal with this close enemy. "Thales recalled the thrilling duel in Heroic Spirit Palace." Poffret was actually betrayed by you to Dragon Clouds City. "
Lampard snorted coldly.
"Kaslan," he said flatly as the carriage wheels scraped against the ground, "my uncle used to be in the Tower of Eradication. He was very interested in the Disaster Sword, and at the same time, he had a good relationship with Nuven. So I leaked the information to him, and Nuven would naturally find out from him."
At the same time, he could also accomplish some other things.
"Kaslan didn't know that you planned to kill the king, did he?"
Thales looked at him quietly, trying to find something from Lampard's gaze. "I heard that he had a bad relationship with you."
Lampard glanced at him thoughtfully.
Thales could only avert his gaze.
Lampard shook his head slowly. "When you were assassinated, I knew that Poffret was trying to set me up. That selfish and cowardly fellow was naive enough to think that we were just playing a game where he could take back his chips at any time and quit the game to cut his losses."
Thales sighed. "He paid the price. He betrayed his ally, and in the end, he died because of his ally's betrayal."
"As you said, investigating this matter was only to leak this information to Nuven. Of course, it was also to fill in the gaps in my troops. In fact, it was this investigation that gave me an unexpected discovery." Lampard's fingers gently stroked his sword.
Thales raised his head. "What discovery?"
Lampard gave him a mysterious look and shook his head.
Thales looked at him quietly, but the other party had no intention of explaining at all.
The prince could only sigh in his heart.
"So, you used Poffret as a sacrificial pawn to attract King Nuven's attention." Based on his experience in the interview, Thales chose to skip this point and continued the topic. "And you were busy preparing your conspiracy. For example, you used my assassination as an excuse to brazenly send troops to the north to escort me. You even contacted an ally like Shiles, right?"
Lampard stared at his saber. His gaze was cold.
"This was the last use that coward from Beacon Illumination City could play," the archduke said slowly. "To divert some attention and buy some time — the meeting, the banquet, the duel. I heard that Nuven had a great time in Heroic Spirit Palace."
Thales' tone became low. "At the same time, he lost his vigilance against you."
Lampard nodded. His eyes were filled with a piercing glint. "In the half a day given to me by Poffret's death, I had to secure victory."
"Betraying an ally, diverting the enemy, seeking an ally, seizing the opportunity to dispatch troops, preparing a plan, and the final thunderous strike." Thales sighed. "Unfortunately, it happened to be a chaotic night caused by the calamity. You really are a lunatic."
He raised his head and stared at Lampard in disbelief. "Do you know that no matter which part of this goes wrong, you will be consigned to eternal damnation?"
Lampard paused for a moment.
The carriage drove over an uneven ground, and the carriage shook violently.
Little Rascal, who was already nervous, could not help but scream.
Lampard suddenly raised his head.
"Consigned to eternal damnation?"
The Archduke of Black Sand Region raised his voice. Lampard's sharp gaze was chilling. "Child, you don't know anything.
I don't know anything. "
Thales furrowed his brows.
Lampard locked his gaze on him with unprecedented firmness and seriousness. His tone was full of suppressed emotions.
"In order to complete that grand plan with Arunde, we started preparing many years ago. From the communication of intelligence to the mobilization of the territory, from the bribing of connections to the search and cultivation of talents.
"In order to take down the fortress, I issued a rarely seen draft law in the history of Eckstedt. I used up almost every copper coin, every drop of blood, and every man in the territory. The Day Before the Bitter Cold Winter was imminent. I did not reserve supplies, did not cultivate wastelands, and did not transport rations. I bet everything on this plan!"
Thales was slightly stunned.
Lampard continued, his tone becoming more and more urgent.
"For this plan, Black Sand Region has long been unable to make ends meet, be it in terms of rations or funds. It is impossible to repay the money I borrowed from the Camian merchants. Our finances are about to collapse, and the coming year will only become more and more difficult.
"I don't have a lot of trustworthy regular soldiers. Two thousand is the limit. There are even fewer who are willing to fight against Dragon Clouds City. After the Great Dragon appeared last night, I secretly executed a group of wavers. Even so, I can't directly order them to surround and kill the king. I can only use vague orders to let them fight against 'Eckstedt's enemies'.
"And in Dragon Clouds City, the counts in the suburbs can recruit an army that is several times larger than ours. As for the Walton Family's own recruits … Once they discover us, we will be destroyed in Dragon Clouds City's encirclement at any time. We won't even be able to cause a splash.
"For last night, I braved the impending Day Before the Bitter Cold Winter, gnawed on dry rations, and brought the meticulously trained army all the way here. Their gazes when they looked at me were filled with fatigue, dejection, and confusion. They only relied on the instincts left behind from past training to maintain the most basic combat power.
"My people, from Levan to Kentvida, from Tolja to Bitz, all bet their lives and heads to restrain the army to follow me into this bottomless abyss.
"And we didn't even think about the supplies and warmth on the way back."
Lampard tightened his grip on the scabbard in his hand. His expression was terrifying and fierce. "Because I know that it is very likely that we won't even have a way back!
"This is an expedition with no way out."
Thales stared at Lampard in a daze.
The Archduke of Black Sand Region, who was unsmiling and ate venison in the tent, whose face flickered with the light from the fire, who pushed a wine glass towards Thales, only to be rejected by him in mockery, began to become three-dimensional in front of Thales' eyes.
"Do you understand now, young prince? When you were sitting comfortably in Renaissance Palace, receiving the royal family's name, and when your father was helping you eliminate enemies like Arunde," the Archduke of Black Sand Region said slowly, "Black Sand Region and I were already beyond redemption.
"What I did was to seize the last chance of survival in a hopeless situation that was already beyond redemption.
"I racked my brains to manipulate the situation and atmosphere, mobilized all possible and impossible manpower and connections, made countless promises, from the Marquis of Good Flow City to the gang leaders, from Camus Union's merchant group to the Armor District's information peddlers, from Shadow Shield to the Charleton Family. I even asked Shiles to urge and intensify the conflict between you and Poffret at the fastest possible speed, and …"
Lampard stopped talking. He took a deep breath and adjusted his emotions. "All so that I could rush forward and deliver the final, lightning-fast, fatal blow before Nuven realized it."
The archduke's eyes flashed. "I can only sit here after experiencing all this.
I have the future of our two kingdoms firmly in my hands. "
Thales stared at Lampard in a daze.
It was as though he was getting to know him for the first time.
The carriage drove through a street. The soldiers of Black Sand Region cleared the way for them in a low-key but effective manner.
Thales suddenly noticed that compared to the last time they met, Lampard's hair had turned much whiter, and he looked more haggard. His lips were pale, and his eyes were sunken.
Black Sword's words before the battle with Giza resurfaced in his mind.
'"They seek hope in hopeless situations, seek to turn the tables in the midst of losses, sublimate favorable situations into certain victories, and turn unforeseen and unexpected situations into their own support …"'
Thales exhaled deeply.
"I understand now." The prince closed his eyes. "Powerful people, so that's how it is."
Lampard narrowed his eyes. "What?"
Thales opened his eyes. Under Little Rascal's curious gaze, he said flatly, "In your game, in the confrontation between Dragon Clouds City and Black Sand Region, you are undoubtedly the weaker party. You are at a complete disadvantage and in imminent danger."
The prince sneered softly. "Do you know, after Nuven killed Poffret, he even threatened to send troops to Black Sand Region at the beginning of spring in exchange for a satisfactory Archduke of Black Sand Region?"
Lampard lowered his head and snorted. "As I expected, my dear uncle."
"You know your uncle, your king, and your opponent very well.
"But he doesn't know you, doesn't know his nephew." Thales heaved a long sigh. "You gambled everything, not even leaving a way out for yourself. You schemed, plotted, and did everything you could to gather chips. For the sake of survival, you risked your life."
Lampard did not speak.
Thales chuckled softly. His voice was full of sorrow.
"In comparison, Nuven Walton was the common-elected king. He controlled Dragon Clouds City, held supreme authority and great power. Even though you killed his son, he still treated you as a weak vassal."
Thales sighed softly.
"Because of his own strength, he was confident. He treated you as someone like Poffret, as an insignificant existence that he could easily destroy with a flip of his palm.
"In this game of life and death between Nuven Walton and Chapman Lampard, you were the truly powerful one." The second prince raised his head and stared at Lampard calmly. "And King Nuven's failure and death …
"It was already destined."
At that moment, Thales noticed that Lampard's gaze on him was different.
'Very well.
The conversation has begun. '
Thales took a deep breath.
"So, there is still one last question that I still can't figure out." Under Lampard's complicated gaze, Thales slowly enunciated each word.
"Aside from being an assassin, why did you come to Dragon Clouds City personally?
"And …"
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