Everyone's gaze returned to Thales again.
Thales exhaled and smiled.
"What about the others?" Thales looked at the remaining people and narrowed his eyes. "What we are about to do is very dangerous … we might lose our lives."
The remaining people exchanged a few glances.
Wya revealed a helpless but determined smile. "Your Highness, I have already said this when we first met. For the rest of my life, this body of mine will be yours to command."
Thales shrugged.
The veteran Genard raised his eyebrows slightly. "If you ask me, your style is indeed different from Duke John's, but why not?"
"Don't look at me," Willow said nervously. "I will go wherever everyone else goes."
Ralf saw Thales' gaze shift to him and could not help but frown. He extended his hands and made two gestures in the air.
"Don't ask.
"Just do it."
Thales smiled knowingly.
'This tone.
Does he think he's still in Blood Bottle Gang? '
"Very well, then we have reached a consensus." Thales breathed a sigh of relief and looked at everyone. But his expression immediately darkened. "Even though this decision might kill us."
'No.'
Thales sighed in his heart.
In this plan, there had to be someone who was going to die.
'But since the decision has been made …'
Thales' gaze froze.
"But what are you going to do?" a discordant voice interrupted.
Everyone turned their heads.
"We only have a group of defeated soldiers who are on the run. All of them are injured and hiding. Including the White Blade Guards, there are only about a dozen of us." Behind Kohen, Miranda Arunde looked at the prince with a cold expression. "You are just a seven or eight-year-old brat. What can you rely on to overthrow Lampard and protect the Northern Territory?"
Lady Arunde's gaze was incredibly sharp, and her question was extremely sharp. "Even to save the kingdom?"
"The same question," Nicholas mocked bluntly. "Do you really want us to die and 'move' the people of Dragon Clouds City?"
Thales lowered his head and was silent for a few seconds.
"What do you think?" the Prince of Constellation asked calmly.
Everyone looked at each other.
Putray raised his eyebrows.
"I say," said the vice-diplomat in a low voice, with a puff of smoke, "that we are no match for Lampard in any respect."
Cohen crossed his arms and gave Raphael a questioning look, but the latter ignored him.
"Lampard has nearly two thousand men. They are the standing army of Black Sand Region, and they are disguised as patrols. They are also firmly occupying the First Gatehouse, and even control Heroic Spirit Palace." Putray calmly recounted the events.
Nicholas raised his head and his eyes shone with a cold glare. "Dragon Clouds City has enough troops to suppress him. Gather the patrols and the Walton Family's recruits. The White Blade Guards will be the vanguard, and I will personally lead the attack. Whether it is the gatehouse or Heroic Spirit Palace, I guarantee that they will not last more than fifteen minutes."
"If, as a mere lord, you could recruit these troops in a suitable name, which might take a whole day, and make them run amok in Dragon Clouds City without hesitation, follow you to attack the gatehouse, and rush into Heroic Spirit Palace," Putray retorted without batting an eyelid. "That's right.
Nicholas did not speak. He forcefully swallowed the words' This was my original plan 'back into his throat.
Mirk patted him on the back of his shoulder.
Putray sighed and continued, "He has multiple supreme class elites under him. Regardless of whether it's Kaslan or the Fire Knight, if they ambush us when we are caught off guard, they can defeat us in a short amount of time. There's even an existence like the supra class swordsman Kroesch."
Hearing this, Mirk's expression clearly froze.
"He has allies like the Red Witch, Shiles, and Vlad." Everyone listened quietly to Putray's analysis. Their expressions became increasingly unpleasant. "Intelligence is everywhere, and his connections are everywhere. I am willing to bet that once we get close to Heroic Spirit Palace or the First Gatehouse, we will be discovered within five minutes."
"Don't forget about Shadow Shield." Thales sighed. "And maybe Charleton."
Hearing this, Putray's gaze darkened. "Yes, and Shadow Shield and Charleton."
"We are also at an absolute disadvantage in terms of the situation." The vice diplomat took another puff of his pipe. There was a worried look on his face. "Your Highness, as well as Constellation, have been rumored to be the masterminds behind the scenes. Other than a few White Blade Guards and this neutral temple, we are isolated and helpless. It is difficult for us to even show our faces."
Everyone's expression became solemn.
It was as if the excitement and passion from earlier had been swept away.
"Unless Lampard surrenders directly." Putray put down his pipe and sighed softly. "Otherwise, I don't see any chance of winning until now."
Thales did not speak. He only quietly observed everyone's expressions.
"Might as well let Raphael find another calamity to help us." Kohen shrugged in annoyance. "It will be faster this way."
Many people raised their eyebrows.
Nicholas and Mirk looked at the young man from the Secret Intelligence Department with unfriendly expressions.
"Yes." Raphael snorted coldly and glanced at Kohen. "Maybe we can even get a Great Dragon to help us. Then we will definitely win."
The others shook their heads.
Little Rascal's expression changed. She subconsciously touched her glasses.
Ralf grunted and gestured at the Bright Moon Goddess with his chin.
"Ah, I understand what the mute meant this time." Wya looked at the Phantom Wind Follower and sighed.
"He said that we should directly pray to the Bright Moon Goddess. This is more reliable." Under everyone's gaze, the prince's attendant spread his hands at the statue. "At least you will still be able to see her."
Putray clutched his forehead and sighed. "If we …"
"Are you done?"
The second prince suddenly interrupted Putray.
Thales raised his head and looked at everyone with a piercing gaze.
He flashed a sly and confident smile as he recalled the unforgettable battle and the swordsman who left a deep impression on him. "Before the big battle starts …"
Thales raised his right hand and gently tapped his forehead. "We have to change our minds first."
Everyone was stunned.
"Change … our minds?" Miranda asked doubtfully.
Among the puzzled people, Raphael rolled his eyes and seemed to be deep in thought.
Thales exhaled and operated his brain, which had been thinking for a few hours.
"Black Sand Region seems to have the upper hand in every aspect, seizing the initiative." The scenes from last night appeared before his eyes. He extracted information one by one. "They have the entire situation under control, and we have no power to fight back."
Thinking of this, Thales smiled faintly.
'How could a flying dragon lose when it rides on his face?'
But he felt a little gloomy. 'No one in this world understands this joke.'
At this thought, Thales raised his head and forced himself to be alert.
* Smack! *
"But …" The second prince's gaze was calm as he punched his other palm. "Really?
"Do you have another opinion?" Putray's eyes shone brightly. "Your Highness?"
"No." Unexpectedly, Thales shook his head. "Your analysis is correct.
"But even if they are as strong as the calamities," the prince raised his head and his gaze was firm, "they can't change people's hearts and turn the situation around.
"Even if they are strong enough to destroy Eckstedt's capital, kill all the Eckstedtian nobles, and even threaten every Northlander with death, they can't change Northland's traditions, can't change Eckstedt's spirit, can't force people to change their minds, and can't destroy the truly precious things in this land."
Kohen ran his fingers through his hair. His expression did not change, but his gaze when he looked at Wya was filled with one word — What?
Wya shrugged at him. 'I don't understand.'
They were not the only ones. Nicholas also frowned in puzzlement.
"What are you trying to say?"
Thales' pupils shrank.
"What I want to say is," the second prince said faintly, "Don't limit your vision to a simple comparison of strength. The battle we are about to face is not a gambling fight between two people using their strength to arm wrestle, nor is it a game of counting on a chess board, much less a fair duel between ancient knights."
"An army of one or two thousand people is nothing. They can't change the minds of the nobles in Dragon Clouds City, and the warriors of Dragon Clouds City can crush them in one blow," Thales said calmly. At the same time, he kept thinking about the doubtful points he had grasped before. "Kaslan and Tolja can kill any pawn at will, but even if you tie the two of them together and multiply them by ten, they can't make the archdukes willingly support Lampard as king. They can't turn the truth that has already happened into an illusion.
"The Red Witch seems to be very powerful, but without the support of the power she is attached to, the Secret Room's spies and the secrets they hold are nothing.
"Shadow Shield and Charleton sound terrifying, but they can only carry out assassinations and spies in the dark. What truly supports their survival is power, as well as the conflicts and contradictions that arise from power. Without power, they are like fish out of water. They have no value at all."
"They are just Lampard's chess pieces: the intelligent Kentvida, the brave Tolja, the well-respected Kaslan, the all-pervasive Red Witch, the well-connected Marquis Shiles, and the obedient Black Sand Region army." When he said this, Thales shook his head. "But we can't be fooled by these chips and chess pieces."
Raphael flashed a faint smile. "Interesting."
'What a familiar argument.'
Miranda lowered her head, seemingly in deep thought.
Kohen widened his eyes and blinked three times in puzzlement. 'How is it interesting?'
Thales took a deep breath. The expression in his eyes was extremely serious and solemn.
"You must know that all these chess pieces cannot compare to the strongest, most terrifying, most powerful, and most unique chess piece on their chessboard."
The prince's voice rang faintly, "Only that person is the greatest threat.
That truly powerful person, the strongest chess piece in their camp. "
No one spoke. Everyone seemed to be thinking, even Kohen.
Raphael rubbed his fingers, Miranda stroked the hilt of her sword, Nicholas' gaze was still as cold as ice, and Mirk looked at Little Rascal with a profound gaze.
Putray seemed to have forgotten to smoke, letting the pipe burn in his hand. He said tentatively, "You mean …"
Thales raised his gaze and pictured that terrifying opponent in his mind.
"Yes," he said absentmindedly, "an ambitious and ruthless person with extraordinary courage."
Thales nodded nonchalantly, but his eyes were filled with wariness and solemnity. "Their strongest chess piece."
He said the name softly.
"Chapman Lampard."
At that moment, everyone was stunned.
"We cannot be fooled by the appearances of the other chess pieces," the prince said softly, "As long as we attack the weak point, everything else will be solved."
Thales quietly watched the other people's gazes and expressions, not saying a word.
Then, Nicholas raised his head in confusion.
"You mean," the Star Killer said in disbelief, "to behead him?"
"I get it." Before Thales could react, Kohen slapped his forehead and his eyes lit up. "We're going to do everything we can to assassinate Lampard?"
When he heard their words, Thales almost vomited blood.
He rolled his eyes and suddenly remembered High Priestess Holme's words just now.
So, the prince tried his best to look calm and snorted. "You're not listening to me."
Kohen was instantly stunned and widened his eyes.
On the other hand, Nicholas looked as if he had just eaten sh * t.
Thales exhaled deeply.
'Oh my God.
'No wonder …
'So, when I say this, and then look at the other person's ignorant face …
'It's so pleasant.'
After savoring the feeling for a while, Thales raised his eyebrows.
"I understand." Finally, Miranda caught on to Thales' words. "You are not thinking of going head-on against his armor. Instead, you are thinking of going around the edges and directly attacking Lampard's fundamental goal?"
"Thwarting his intentions?"
Putray narrowed his eyes.
"Yes, the root of everything is Lampard." The second prince smiled in relief. He said with a smile, "We're going to determine his intentions and then find his weakness."
Everyone looked at each other.
"You make it sound so easy," Nicholas said in dissatisfaction. "What's Lampard's weakness? What's his goal? How are you going to thwart him? "
Thales blinked. "I have a conjecture about this — it needs to be verified.
"As for thwarting him …
"Since we are going to deal with their strongest chess piece …" Thales took a deep breath, and his eyes shone like fire. "Naturally, we have to bring out our strongest chess piece on the battlefield where both sides are the most unfamiliar, the most disadvantaged, and the most isolated."
Thales said resolutely, "We'll decide the winner in one round."
Miranda furrowed her brows.
"Wait, did you just say our strongest chess piece?" the swordswoman asked doubtfully.
"What did you mean?"
Kohen glanced at the silent Raphael, then at Nicholas.
"The Secret Intelligence Department?" the police officer asked tentatively, "Or the legendary anti-mystic equipment?"
Thales raised his eyebrows.
"You mean …" Putray glanced at Little Rascal suspiciously, causing the latter to panic a little. "The Walton Family's orphan? The legitimate heir of Dragon Clouds City? But her gender … "
"The strongest chess piece." Nicholas put down his arms and looked around. Puzzled, he said, "Me as a supreme class?"
Thales ignored the three of them. He exhaled through his nose and suppressed the displeasure in his heart.
"All of you are right." He ignored the others' words. His eyes burned with the flames of pre-battle. Just like when he faced the Blood Mystic in the past, he said eagerly, "The strongest chess piece in our camp …"
The second prince smiled and extended his right hand. He tapped his chest and shouted a name.
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