The stern-looking, white-haired Count Lisban was sitting at the long table in the Sword District's Disciplinary Hall. He raised his head with a stern expression and asked aloud, "Say that again?"
In front of him, a lean and strong middle-aged Northland noble bowed slightly with a stern expression.
This middle-aged noble was dressed in regular clothes. His every move carried the military style that even the Day before the Bitter Cold Winter could not wash away.
"A soldier discovered it." The person in charge of the Disciplinary Hall, the chief garrison officer of the capital, Viscount Leisdon narrowed his eyes. "The routine report sent back from Heroic Spirit Palace is very strange. The password at the gatehouse is not quite right."
His expression turned cold and his eyes shone with a light that was as sharp as a sword's edge. "It seems to have been tampered with, Your Excellency."
Count Lisban frowned.
As the Prime Minister who had served King Nuven for many years and the most trusted vassal of Dragon Clouds City, Count Lisban was always the last person to speak at the Imperial Conference. His words were usually the final word.
For example, the resolution passed a month ago to allow the troublesome Prince of Constellation to come to Eckstedt.
Ever since King Nuven personally handed him the ring that symbolized the authority of the Prime Minister, Count Lisban had been through countless storms in his political career that spanned decades. He could be said to have seen many things.
But at this moment, Lisban felt that everything he had experienced in the past two days was almost equivalent to the first half of his life.
First, the king summoned all the archdukes to a room. Lisban stood in the Hall of Heroes with a frown as he watched King Nuven propose a duel that was almost suicidal.
Then, he watched King Nuven kill Poffret on the spot to avenge his second son and intimidate the other archdukes.
As a result, the long-discussed plan to dispatch troops by the king and the Imperial Conference had to be pushed forward.
But the calamity and Kilika that came at night woke up almost everyone in Dragon Clouds City from their sweet dreams.
Then, the Great Dragon, which had not been seen for hundreds of years, came again.
Then …
Then, Lisban encountered the biggest problem in his life.
The king was missing.
Lisban had seen the bloody battle in the Thirty-Eighth Sentry Ground twenty years ago, experienced the most dangerous Day Before the Bitter Cold Winter sixteen years ago, received the bad news of Prince Soria's defeat in the Battle of White Mountain, learned of the dangerous situation of the glacier orcs causing a massive uproar, had a headache over the tense situation of the Archduke of Black Sand Region dying in battle, and had faced the dangerous situation of insufficient supplies during the war with Constellation. But none of them could compare to the current situation. The various strange things in Dragon Clouds City made him fearful and extremely anxious.
"Heroic Spirit Palace? The gatehouse? "The Prime Minister felt that there was one more thing on his mind.
But he seemed to have vaguely grasped something — it might be the answer to the question.
Lisban turned his head. "His Majesty still hasn't been found? No news from the White Blade Guards either? Where's Nicholas? "
Viscount Leisdon's face darkened.
"No. Only a few scattered White Blade Guards. They survived the battle against the calamities with heavy injuries. They know nothing." Leisdon shook his head. "Also, the rumors in the city are growing."
Count Lisban nodded and sighed.
"Rumors," the Prime Minister muttered.
'Rumors about the Constellatiates assassinating His Majesty?
'Impossible.'
Lisban furrowed his brows.
'His Majesty worked with the Prince of Constellation last night to uncover the traitor among the archdukes.
'But …'
"What about the Prince of Constellation?
"And His Majesty's granddaughter." Prime Minister Lisban raised his head and looked at Leisdon. "His Majesty was also looking for them, wasn't he?"
Viscount Leisdon still shook his head. "His Majesty gave this task to the Secret Room … but he hasn't seen Madam Calshan for a long time."
The veins on the back of Count Lisban's hand tightened.
"What a bad feeling." He exhaled deeply, his expression solemn. "After the Great Dragon appeared, Dragon Clouds City was actually in chaos."
The Prime Minister raised his head. "Is there anything else unusual?"
"Yes." Viscount Leisdon's eyes shone. "The number of patrols."
At that moment, the gazes of the two high-ranking officials moved simultaneously.
"Go on," Count Lisban said flatly.
"The chaos in the city has not ended, and the martial law around Shield District has not been lifted. But," Viscount Leisdon said cautiously, "two disciplinary officers under me reported that they saw at least two patrols coming out of Shield District.
"I have already sent people to investigate," he said solemnly.
Lisban did not speak.
But the clues were already connected.
"The password of the gatehouse is not that easy to tamper with." The Prime Minister frowned. "Combined with this strange information …"
"My God." His expression did not change, but his tone was filled with unease.
Viscount Leisdon's expression changed. "You mean …"
Prime Minister Lisban nodded. His expression was solemn. "I'm afraid something has happened at the First Gatehouse in front of Heroic Spirit Palace."
The Chief Garrison Officer clenched his fist.
"No way?" The viscount exhaled in disbelief. "Those are the soldiers of a gatehouse! And behind them are the reinforcements from Heroic Spirit Palace … "
Speaking of this, Leisdon's eyebrows twitched again.
"There are four archdukes in Heroic Spirit Palace."
He murmured, "Don't tell me they're working together …"
"No, it's too early to say." The Prime Minister waved his hand. A deep suspicion surged in his heart. "But there's only one thing I'm sure of.
"Before there's news from His Majesty, we can't sit here and wait." Lisban raised his head. His gaze was sharp. "We have to at least inform the four archdukes."
Leisdon frowned. "If they're really behind the scenes …"
"Then it'll be time for them to give themselves away." Lisban clenched his fists. His heart was in a mess. "I hope His Majesty is safe, but once …"
He did not continue.
But Leisdon knew the worry in the Prime Minister's heart.
Once something happened in Dragon Clouds City, could they still detain or even kill the four archdukes?
Then …
They would truly become Eckstedt's sinners.
"What are you going to do?" Viscount Leisdon paused for a moment. His expression was worried. "Without the king's warrant, we can't directly recruit militia.
"Or do you want to recruit your own troops? Or can we write a letter ourselves and summon the counts outside the city? "
Lisban did not speak.
In a situation where the king was missing, a count and a viscount would privately lead troops — and even summon the vassals to lead troops into the capital.
Both of them knew what this decision entailed.
"No."
"This is not conventional, and it'll take too much time."
Count Lisban stood up and shook his head. "I have a feeling that by that time, it'll be too late.
"Give up on the usual means of communication. Release the messenger crow and contact Heroic Spirit Palace. See the archdukes' reaction."
His pupils shrank slightly. "Also, gather the military forces of the main disciplinary hall and recall the existing patrols.
"We'll bring our current military forces and rush to the gatehouse.
"We'll see who's behind this."
'Whether it's the cowards from Constellation.
'Or someone else.'
Prime Minister Lisban thought to himself.
— — —
Nicholas frowned with a serious expression.
Calshan, on the other hand, flashed a gentle smile again.
Thales, on the other hand, looked puzzled.
In the next second, the Red Witch leaned forward and whispered something into Nicholas' ear.
"That's … strange …"
Her voice was too soft. Thales frowned. The Red Witch was speaking in a whisper, and he could not hear her clearly.
But this did not stop him from seeing Nicholas' back suddenly tremble.
"His … guarantee … is it?" Calshan's voice was intermittent.
Thales felt as if there were countless ants crawling over his heart — this feeling of only listening to half of what she said …
'It's really annoying!'
Nicholas froze for a moment.
Then, the Star Killer sighed and leaned over to the Red Witch's ear. He also whispered something into her ear.
"He still … has … blood …"
Thales sighed.
He still did not hear anything.
Compared to Thales, who could eavesdrop, the people standing a distance away from the two felt anxious. They watched anxiously, but did not dare to act rashly.
"Are they going to drink?" Kohen raised his eyebrows and mocked.
But just as he finished speaking, the masters of the Secret Room and White Blade ended their conversation.
Nicholas turned around and absent-mindedly walked towards the others.
The Red Witch raised her head and smiled at the group.
Then, she bowed slightly, turned around, and left the cave.
Watching the two separate, Thales had inexplicable questions in his heart.
'What's going on?
'The White Blade Guards and the Secret Room, what are they …'
At that moment, Raphael, Miranda, Kohen, Wya, Ralf, and the other White Blade Guards all looked at the Star Killer with puzzled expressions.
But Nicholas only had a stunned expression on his face.
'This kind of Star Killer is rare,' Thales thought in his heart.
"What happened?" Thales could not help but ask, "Are they going to trap us here until we die?"
Nicholas suddenly snapped out of his daze.
"Let's go." The Star Killer raised his head and swept his gaze over everyone. "We are safe.
"The Secret Room has retreated," he said in a flat tone and absent-mindedly, "And for some reason, the people from Black Sand Region did not appear."
Raphael raised his eyebrows and walked forward.
"Why did she leave?" The young man from the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department cautiously observed his surroundings and secretly held the hilt of his sword. "Where is Kaslan?"
Nicholas subconsciously let out a cold laugh.
"She let us go."
The Star Killer shook his head. "As for Kaslan … I don't know."
Thales was slightly stunned.
'Let us go?'
He stared blankly at the empty cave entrance and blinked, as if he could not believe it.
'How is this possible?'
Kohen slapped his head and looked serious. "Oh, she let us go …"
But in the next moment, the police officer's expression changed drastically.
"What?!" He opened his mouth wide and his expression became exaggerated. "Let us go?"
Kohen widened his eyes. "What did you do?"
Nicholas raised his head and forced a disdainful smile.
"I showed her my handsome face." He looked at Kohen and mocked him coldly, "Then her heart softened."
Cohen blinked his eyes in confusion and looked at Miranda and Raphael for help.
Miranda raised her eyebrows.
"You don't know how to tell jokes, Your Grace."
Miranda sighed. "You don't have to force yourself."
Nicholas' smile disappeared and he snorted coldly.
Thales pursed his lips. He looked at Raphael's thoughtful expression and asked, "What did you say to her?"
Nicholas raised his head and looked outside the cave entrance, at the Northland sky.
He exhaled with an indecipherable expression.
His expression was subtle and complicated.
"We made a deal," the Star Killer said slowly. "We made a deal.
"I offered a bargaining chip to the Secret Room in exchange for our freedom," he murmured in a low voice.
Thales was shocked.
'Bargaining chip?'
"What bargaining chip?"
'He … What did Nicholas say to the Red Witch?
'What kind of price would make the Secret Room give up on the heir of Constellation and the heir of the Northern Territory …
Give up on the Walton bloodline of Dragon Clouds City?
But Nicholas only shook his head. "A very big bargaining chip."
A bargaining chip that he did not know whether it was good or bad.
Nicholas thought in a daze.
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