Dragon Clouds City, in the doorway behind the First Gatehouse.
Countless fully armed Black Sand Region soldiers surrounded the two carriages and their attendants tightly. They looked at the uninvited guests who dared to barge into the gatehouse with hostile expressions.
Thales sat in the carriage. His skin crawled as he looked at the densely packed enemies in front of him through the window.
'This is bad.'
This was the scene they faced on the other side of the gatehouse after they risked being attacked from both sides, charged through the rain of arrows, and risked everything to enter the gatehouse.
Thales clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and suppressed the panic in his heart.
'Calm down.
'Calm down, Thales.
'It's not that bad.'
The image of Black Sword calmly searching for a way out and a chance of survival appeared before his eyes. He was completely suppressed by Asda.
He also remembered King Nuven's meticulous, interlocking strategies and strategies during the duel.
Thales took a deep breath and forced himself to start thinking.
The accident in front of the gatehouse, whether it was the appearance of Lisban or the Red Witch, had disrupted their plans. Shiles was supposed to bring him into Heroic Spirit Palace in the name of Lampard's ally, and not this chaotic situation.
The accident happened too suddenly. They did not even have time to discuss their next step.
Thales could only desperately think of a way out.
The people inside and outside the carriage were still panting rapidly. Even the horses that pulled the carriages were panting. The carriage Thales was in had even broken a rope.
"We, we charged in … but …" Outside the carriage, Kohen held the wheel with one hand and pressed his other hand against his abdomen. He panted in a disheveled manner.
He looked at the hostile soldiers in front of him with an unpleasant expression. He said to Miranda, who was panting even more heavily than he was, "Sunset, Goddess above … why do I feel that our choice was a little … impulsive …"
"At least they didn't turn us into porcupines when we were outside." While Miranda calmed her breathing, she narrowed her eyes and observed the situation around her. She then sized up the doorway and Heroic Spirit Palace, which was right outside the doorway. She felt anxious. "Hurry up and tidy yourself up."
Kohen raised his head in pain and exhaled.
In the carriage, Thales looked at Putray.
"It seems like the way we came in was still too high-profile, and there are so many people." The prince looked worriedly at the scene outside the carriage. "As expected, they are suspicious."
Whether it was the White Blade Guards or the other people from Constellation, none of them were part of Thales' original plan.
Nicholas checked his disguise for the last time and said with a solemn expression, "We've already done this. Although we've put the rest of the people in danger, at least we don't have to face the Red Witch."
"We have no other choice." Putray shook his head. "Once the Red Witch learns of our movements, even if we have a hundred backup plans, there's a high chance that they will fail."
"Why don't we think about what to do next — how to deal with these people outside?"
Thales sighed. He felt like his head was about to explode.
He turned to look at their 'good friend' from Camus Union.
Their original plan was …
"Oh, I guess." Marquis Shiles also saw the scene outside the carriage, but he was even calmer. He slowly adjusted his collar, which was crooked because of the carriage's galloping speed, as though the rain of arrows that brushed past his head was just a noble's polo. "At this moment, I suddenly became important, didn't I?"
Thales furrowed his brows.
Ever since they entered the gatehouse, Shiles had become calm and unruffled, which made Thales rather uneasy.
Nicholas snorted softly. "Are we going to bet on this guy again?"
Putray exhaled in resignation. "We can't just barge in, can we? The number of guards in this gatehouse is at least ten times that of ours."
Shiles spread his hands at him innocently, but his expression was completely different from when he was outside the gatehouse.
He looked like a dealer who had just taken back his chips from the players in a casino.
Thales took a deep breath.
The accident just now had also put the Northlanders in danger. This made Nicholas' threat to Shiles seem a little weak and powerless.
And now, they could probably only rely on Shiles.
"I know that the way we invited you here is a little unpleasant, Sir Marquis," the prince said flatly, "But in street gambling, 'winner takes all' often means that other players are squeezed out. The Archduke of Black Sand Region is no exception."
Shiles' gaze flickered.
"Handing us over will not strengthen the fragile alliance between you and Lampard." Thales calmly thought about everything from the marquis' point of view and thought about what he should do. "But sending me to Lampard and the other archdukes …
"Other than the so-called 'friendship' formed between you and Lampard because of benefits, you will not lose anything." Thales narrowed his eyes. "On the contrary, you may have an unexpected gain."
Shiles' eyes brightened. "Is this a promise from the heir of Constellation's Royal Family?"
Thales shook his head firmly. "Based on my experience, promises are very fragile, even if they are the suzerains of a land or the dukes of a country. But as you said, when doing business, we can't just look at numbers and profits, we also have to build our reputation and connections."
Putray raised his eyebrows.
Shiles narrowed his eyes and met Thales' gaze.
Outside the carriage, a rebuke from Black Sand Region could be heard. Someone had already knocked on their carriage door.
The prince nodded. There was an unquestionable tone in his voice. "Aside from Lampard, please use us as your backup."
Shiles stared at the prince with great interest. The corners of his lips curled up, and the expression in his eyes kept changing.
Finally, he nodded slightly.
Thales exhaled.
"I will miss today's amazing show." The Marquis of Camus Union straightened his collar in the carriage, lifted his hat a little, and smiled politely at them. Then, he gave Thales a meaningful look. "Whether it was Lampard or you, it was worth the price of the ticket."
Thales' tone was very serious. "Remember, all you need to do is to send me to Lampard and the other archdukes."
However, the Marquis of Good Flow City only smiled at him, pushed open the carriage door, and walked down.
Thales took a deep breath, exchanged a glance with Putray, and jumped down the carriage as well.
Only Nicholas and Putray were left.
"He is a shameless bastard." Nicholas, who was still in the carriage, snorted coldly and stared at Shiles' back. "He will not cooperate with us obediently."
The vice diplomat of Constellation shook his head. "Precisely because of this, he will not cooperate with Lampard obediently."
Nicholas glanced at him.
"You don't seem to be worried about your prince at all," the Star Killer said coldly.
Putray chuckled softly.
"When I first met him, Thales was just a precocious child who was a little clever." The vice diplomat revealed a thoughtful expression. "He was sensitive, hesitant, timid, sloppy, and lacking in confidence. He was a far cry from his reputation from the National Conference."
Nicholas furrowed his brows.
Putray sighed as he stared at Thales' small back.
"But as we spent more time together, I had a feeling that the more encounters he had along the way, the stronger he became. Thales was constantly learning, adjusting, and adapting.
"Whether it was the vampires, the calamities, the Fortress Flower, the Kingdom's Wrath, or even King Nuven or Chapman Lampard, whether it was his friend or foe …" Putray's eyes shone with a different light.
Putray's eyes shone with a different light. "I'm afraid they didn't realize what kind of effect their actions had on that child."
The Star Killer was slightly stunned.
He turned his head and tightened his grip on his scabbard, pursing his lips in disapproval.
"You talk a lot of nonsense."
Outside the carriage, Thales followed behind Shiles and nodded slightly at the disguised Wya and the others.
Thales was not very used to the sudden increase in light. He narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at the entrance of the gatehouse in front of him.
This was Thales' third visit to the First Gatehouse in two days.
He still remembered the scene when he first entered the First Gatehouse. Surrounded by the diplomat group, he watched the gatehouse that separated Heroic Spirit Palace from Dragon Clouds City's Outer City fall with anxiety, nervousness, and awkwardness.
But this time, they were here to …
Thales soon saw a 'familiar' scene. The crude and magnificent Heroic Spirit Palace was less than a hundred meters in front of them. The ten gigantic pillars and eight large furnaces were still standing there.
But the palace guards and White Blade Guards that could be seen everywhere had disappeared without a trace.
In their place were hundreds of Black Sand Region Soldiers.
Their faces were filled with vigilance and ruthlessness. They were still dressed in the uniform of the patrol team, but the patrol team's standard sabers, which were used for small-scale conflicts, had long since been replaced by lethal weapons unique to large-scale battlefields such as spiked hammers, battle axes, straight sabers, and even crossbows. They seemed to have just ransacked the gatehouse's armory.
Almost all the people on Thales' side held their breaths.
A noble dressed in plate armor strode out from Black Sand Region's formation. He had a broad face and a protruding nose bridge.
"Your Grace." Count Levan, Lampard's subordinate vassal, stared at the Marquis of Good Flow City who stood in front of the crowd with a hostile expression. "Regarding your trespassing into the gatehouse.
I need an explanation. "
The soldiers of Black Sand Region surrounded the group of people tightly. Their gazes were fierce.
Almost all the people on Thales' side held their breaths.
Shiles lowered his head and sighed softly.
Everyone, including Thales, waited anxiously for his reaction.
When Shiles raised his head again, the marquis had already put on that kind and polite smile again.
"My dear count." Shiles nodded slightly. His smile was reserved and friendly. "I brought you a surprise."
Count Levan narrowed his eyes and carefully sized up Shiles and his' attendants'.
"You appeared at the wrong time," Levan said thoughtfully, "Can't you call it a surprise, especially when you brought … these people?"
Even with their disguises, Count Levan noticed the White Blade Guards' strong physiques and agile movements. He could not help but have a strange expression appear on his face.
Thales' heart immediately skipped a beat.
However, Marquis Shiles smiled faintly and raised his hands confidently.
"I heard that your prisoners in the gatehouse made a small mistake?" he said softly to Levan, as if he was watching a good show.
Levan's expression changed. He was a little uneasy. "Mistake? You misunderstood … "
With an expression that said 'I knew it', Shiles raised his index finger and pointed at Levan from afar. He clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Oh, by the looks of it, His Grace still doesn't know about your mistake?"
Levan was immediately rendered speechless.
Looking at Levan's expression, Shiles laughed out loud and made way for the boy behind him. "Let me introduce you.
"This is your archduke's missing 'guest'. He is also the honorable Prince Thales Jadestar, the only heir to the throne of Constellation.
"Under my escort, he returned."
Count Levan's expression froze on his face.
Thales took a deep breath and walked forward slowly with an indignant look on his face.
Shiles sighed. He looked as if he was trying his best to restrain himself but could not help but show off. He walked slowly to Count Levan and patted his shoulder.
"Take it easy. This is a 'surprise' that I managed to smuggle in right under the Prime Minister's nose."
Shiles raised his eyebrows and waved at Mirk, who was in front. "Look, if it weren't for this group of strong mercenaries that I hired from the western border of the desert, I'm afraid we wouldn't have been able to capture him."
Levan's expression changed. The hostility in his eyes when he looked at the White Blade Guards and Constellatiates had diminished quite a bit. "Mercenaries?"
Mirk, who had put on makeup, had a high nose bridge and a tanned face. He flashed an exaggerated smile and nodded at Count Levan.
"Some of us are from the City of Faraway Prayers. We are Northlanders. Some of us are from other places, my lord," Mirk said in a gruff voice. "We look for food in the desert. If you have any requests, we only need six gold coins to kill someone."
The White Blade Guards flashed honest, silly smiles in unison. It gave Count Levan a shock.
'They're really good at acting.'
Thales rolled his eyes in his heart.
'As expected of the' omnipotent 'White Blade Guards.'
Levan looked at these people, then at Thales, who was surrounded by them. He furrowed his eyebrows.
Shiles still had a smile on his face.
Everyone was waiting for Count Levan's decision.
Finally, after thinking deeply for a while, Levan relaxed his eyebrows and waved at the soldiers behind him. "Everyone, return to your posts! Helson, Jason, both of your squads stay behind. "
Following his order, the densely packed Black Sand Region's soldiers turned around with rustling footsteps and returned to the gatehouse through the stairs on both sides. Most of the people in the field immediately dispersed.
Thales then breathed a sigh of relief.
"On behalf of the archduke, I would like to thank you for your help.
"Lord Tolja has already gone to apologize to the archduke. If he sees your 'surprise', he will definitely be very pleased." Count Levan coughed unnaturally and cast a glance at Thales. Then, he nodded awkwardly at Shiles. "I will convey your goodwill to the archduke. Now, let me take over."
"You and your men can rest here …"
Shiles smiled and shook his head. He raised his right palm and stopped the count from speaking.
"Oh, no." The marquis' eyes brightened. "This prince has just told me an extremely important piece of new information. I think I need to bring him to see the archduke as soon as possible."
Levan paused for a moment.
"The archduke is busy." The Count of Black Sand Region frowned. "You are not allowed to disturb him."
Shiles threw away his smile and his expression became serious.
"Please believe me. The information on this prince is related to what the archduke wants to do." Shiles' suddenly serious tone made Count Levan nervous. "You can't imagine it."
Count Levan stared at Shiles seriously.
The latter also stared back at him solemnly.
A second later, Count Levan sighed. "Alright, I can send someone to bring you to see the archduke …"
"I have to bring him there." Shiles shook his head and gestured at Thales with his chin. "There are some things that can only come out of his mouth."
Levan was a little puzzled. "Is it very urgent?"
Shiles first shook his head, then nodded with a mysterious expression. "It's very urgent."
Levan met his gaze for a few seconds.
"I understand." The count nodded. "You can leave now. The archduke is in Heroic Spirit Palace, near the Hall of Heroes."
Shiles flashed a smile. "Thank you."
Thales felt as if a huge stone had finally been lifted from his heart.
As long as he could see the archdukes, he would at least have a chance.
"Wait, your men will stay here." While Levan commanded his small team, he nodded at Shiles without letting his guard down. "Our men will escort you there."
Shiles raised his eyebrows and pretended to casually glance at the people beside the fleet of carriages.
"Of course." The marquis nodded nonchalantly.
Thales' heart sank.
He watched as the people around the two carriages were taken away by the soldiers of Black Sand Region. He also watched as a group of soldiers walked towards him and Shiles. The person in charge nodded politely.
'Very well.'
The prince took a deep breath.
'From now on, I'll be alone.'
But at this moment, a sonorous male voice came from the stairs leading to the gatehouse behind them.
"Please wait for a moment!"
Everyone turned their heads in unison.
A strange middle-aged man, who was dressed in gorgeous clothes and had an ordinary face but had eight braids at the back of his head, slowly walked down the stairs.
Count Levan furrowed his brows and asked impatiently, "What's wrong, my dear civilian disciplinary officer?"
He seemed to be very displeased with this new middle-aged man.
In the crowd, Mirk and Nicholas frowned at the same time and lowered their heads.
They recognized the newcomer.
The middle-aged man shook his head, completely unbothered by Levan's tone towards him.
"Mercenaries, right?" The middle-aged man walked to the side of the two carriages and sized up the group of people. He flashed a reserved smile and his gaze stopped on Miranda. "I didn't know that there were female mercenaries among you?"
Kohen and Raphael exchanged glances. Unease surged in their hearts.
But Miranda was expressionless. She raised her head with her dark face, which had been crudely smeared with paint.
"I come from the Land of Thorns, my lord," the swordswoman replied in an uncouth manner, sticking her tongue out. "There are female mercenaries everywhere." Kohen narrowed his eyes.
Cohen narrowed his eyes. Good acting.
The middle-aged man raised his eyebrows slightly.
"I see." He nodded slightly, his eight braids swaying slightly. "May I see your sword?
I'm very curious about how heavy the female mercenary's sword is. "
Miranda was slightly startled.
"Enough, Vlad," Count Levan said in annoyance. "Perhaps the archduke can tolerate your rudeness, but this place is —"
"Please wait a moment, my lord." The man named Vlad turned his head and interrupted him loudly. There was a profound meaning in his words. "You don't want to commit another grave mistake, do you?"
Levan instantly froze.
Thales could not help but feel puzzled. 'What's wrong?
This middle-aged man … If I remember correctly, he should be one of the underground forces of Dragon Clouds City that Kohen and the others mentioned. '
Vlad turned his head and smiled at Miranda again. "May I?"
Miranda took the sword without a word and handed it to the man in front of her.
"Phew." Vlad tested the weight of the sword in his hand and could not help but sigh. "It's really not light."
Miranda smiled. "I think so too."
Vlad sighed and pulled out a section of the blade.
"By the way, let me introduce myself. My name is Childe Vlad." The middle-aged man shook his head and lowered his head to size up the sword in his hand from various angles. "Twelve years ago, I was in charge of collecting taxes in twelve small villages in the suburbs of Cold Castle."
Miranda furrowed her eyebrows slightly.
"Oh, Cold Castle, I know." She laughed gruffly. "Are you from Constellation?"
Vlad smiled faintly.
Beside them, Count Levan shook his head in disdain.
"Yes, in theory, we are employed by the Tax Department of Cold Castle." Vlad flipped the sword in his hand over and said calmly, "The reason why they employ us is because they need us to argue with the tax collectors from Central Territory, who are of a higher rank, so that it will be easier for them to pay less taxes to the king."
Miranda and Raphael, who had been paying attention to the conversation, were slightly startled.
'He …
'Why did he say all this?'
"But we have never seen the lords of Cold Castle even once."
Vlad sighed. "They would only send their vassals, the idiots from the Sangreis Family, to audit the accounts and take away a huge amount of money from the tax items. Then, they would make us bear the blame, whether it was to the tax collectors at the top or to the villagers at the bottom. They have eyes and ears everywhere, and they are the in-laws of the suzerain's family. We have no way to complain, and can only swallow our anger year after year."
"That's why you came to Eckstedt." Miranda shrugged and snorted nonchalantly. "It's understandable."
"No!"
Vlad suddenly raised his head and raised his voice.
Everyone was startled.
"You don't understand."
Vlad sheathed the sword in his hand. His expression was gloomy. "Finally, one year, Cold Castle sent a young master to collect taxes. He was of noble status, young and promising. We thought that things had changed. We no longer had to be bullied and bullied."
The former tax collector of Constellation sighed softly. There was a nostalgic look in his eyes. "I remember the name of that noble young master very clearly — Nolanur Arunde."
Miranda's expression did not change.
But there was already a huge storm raging in her heart!
Raphael and Kohen looked at each other. Their uneasiness grew.
Thales looked around and felt that the situation was getting more and more out of hand.
'What's going on?
He mentioned the Arunde Family to Miranda …
'Did he recognize something?'
"Nolanur told us that Cold Castle finally discovered an abnormality in the tax items," Vlad said softly.
"He also said …"
At that moment, pain appeared in Vlad's eyes.
"He said that we, the petty tax collectors, have been sued by the Sangreis Family for 'embezzling' taxes all year round," Vlad said in a mocking and hateful tone. "We, the victims, have been sued! We embezzled taxes and filled our own pockets! "
Beside him, Count Levan frowned. He felt that something was not right.
Vlad might be of lowly birth, but he had a malicious mind.
But he was not a fool, nor was he a lunatic.
On the contrary, he was very smart.
Beside him, Marquis Shiles wanted to say something in embarrassment, but Count Levan raised his hand and stopped him.
"No matter how we begged," Vlad shook his head with great difficulty, as though … "That year, the 'Just Nuranor' personally beheaded eight of my colleagues, including my teacher, amidst the cheers of the villagers."
"Eight innocent people," Vlad said dejectedly.
Vlad said dejectedly. His expression immediately turned into one of hatred.
"I'll never forget Nolanor Arunde, that stupid noble young master. I can't forget the feeling of kneeling before the execution platform. I can't forget the look of disdain everyone gave us." His eyes were filled with resentment and hatred, and his eight braids swayed slightly. "Go f * ck the Arunde Family."
Vlad gritted his teeth and let out a low, beast-like howl.
Miranda took a deep breath and raised her head.
"I still remember the disgusting, righteous expression on that brat's face before the execution." There was coldness in Vlad's eyes. He imitated that person's tone and spoke in agony, "'In the name of the suzerain of Cold Castle, Duke Arunde, you shall die under the blade of' Soaring Eagle 'to atone for your sins and restore justice.' He only said it once, then beheaded one of them."
Vlad said hatefully, "I was the ninth person. I heard him repeat this sentence eight times, and I also saw him brandishing this sword eight times!
"Until Cold Castle sent an order to summon him back urgently."
Miranda felt an endless chill run down her spine.
She snatched her saber back. Her face was pale, and she frowned.
Vlad did not stop her. He only sneered sarcastically.
"Of course." Vlad stared at the sword in her hand with a terrifying expression.
"I will never forget the style of this sword even when I die.
His saber that shines with a cold light. "
He said coldly,
"'Soaring Eagle' that belongs to Nolanur Arunde."
"Is that so," Vlad said faintly. There was deep hatred and anger hidden in his eyes.
"This Lady Arunde?"
Everyone on Thales' side felt their hearts tremble at the same time.
The thing they were most worried about had finally happened.
With a pale face, Shiles looked at the person in charge here — Count Levan.
The count sighed and glanced at the stiff Vlad with a complicated expression.
"They are not from Camus Union."
Count Levan turned to Shiles and Thales with a hostile expression. "They are people with ulterior motives!"
The count waved his hand and coldly ordered his soldiers.
"Take them down.
All of them! "
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