After listening to his subordinate's report, Viscount Kentvida took a deep breath.
?
He turned his head and looked at Putray again.
"What is this?" Kentvida asked coldly.
Putray moved his eyebrows but did not speak.
"What exactly are you thinking?"
Kentvida's expression was unpleasant. He strode up to Putray. His height advantage of being half a head taller made him look mighty. "You've done so much, but it's just …
"Just to send a seven-year-old brat to meet the archduke?" Kentvida furrowed his eyebrows tightly. His gaze was as cold as a cold glare, sharp and cold.
Putray exhaled slowly.
He missed the pipe and tobacco in his arms very much. Unfortunately, his bound hands could only stare at the tobacco and sigh.
The vice diplomat could only grind his teeth to quench his tobacco craving.
"Then, in your opinion, what should we do now?"
Putray raised his head and looked at his opponent without a hint of nervousness. "Charge at all costs? Take the risk and carry out an assassination? Run all over the city to seek help? Think of a way to escape danger? Or try to make peace with you? "
He shrugged, as though it was just a casual conversation between old friends.
Kentvida took a deep breath and relaxed his mind, suppressing his shock and anger at the accident.
With thorough and meticulous planning and far-sighted vision, he climbed up the ranks as a lord, won his current position among the local vassals of Black Sand Region, and became the archduke's chief strategist.
In the archduke's plan, anyone could be flustered, angry, and crazy when they encountered an accident — just like a typical Northlander.
Only he could not.
He could not.
For the great future in their hearts.
The future that was free from heavy shackles and had infinite possibilities.
When he thought of this, the coldness on Kentvida's face eased a little.
"Impossible," the word slowly came out of the viscount's mouth.
Putray raised his eyebrows slightly. "Hmm?"
Kentvida shook his head.
"You can't possibly pin your hopes on a child — this is not a romance novel.
"What kind of trick are you playing? What are you counting on? " Viscount Kentvida snorted softly and a strange smile appeared on his face. "Or is there something on that boy? A letter from King Kessel? A promise from an archduke? A powerful legendary anti-mystic equipment? A special alchemy ball? Or even an edict from Empress Hellen? Or is he just a substitute to divert attention? "
Putray lowered one brow and glanced at him playfully. "You do not seem to believe it."
Kentvida shook his head slowly.
"Let me put it this way, viscount," said the deputy, shrugging his shoulders, "what is the game between us?"
"Deploying troops in front of two armies? The political strategy of exchanging chips? Or even the simplest and most direct assassination? "
Kentvida stared into Putray's eyes, but he could only find endless profoundness and peace in them.
Just like the most seasoned politicians, the most senior spies.
The viscount said softly, "Whatever it is, even if you send Nicholas or yourself over, it is still wiser than sending a child to the five archdukes."
Putray seemed amused. "He's no ordinary man."
Kentvida took a step back and stared at Putray with his head tilted.
"Perhaps in your Renaissance Palace, that child can act according to the script given by the king, cooperate with your performance, and earn the reputation of being a precocious person." Kentvida clicked his tongue softly. "But here, facing the Northlanders, you will regret it."
Putray raised his head and met Kentvida's teasing gaze.
"Perhaps in your eyes, the Star Killer's extraordinary skills allow him to charge into the enemy's formation and even turn the tide of the battle, and my strategies are also enough to make you flustered.
"But in fact, we all know very well in our hearts," the Constellatiate vice diplomat said slowly, "The key to this game of chess has never been these edges and corners, nor the minor details."
"The battle that will decide the outcome of this battle has just begun."
'Very well.'
The Constellatiate deputy rubbed his fingers behind his back.
He silently said in his heart, 'At least this viscount was caught off guard by our actions.
'In other words, in terms of intelligence, Black Sand Region has returned to the same starting point as us …
'They can no longer gain an irreversible advantage through prior preparations and covert actions.
'From this moment onwards.'
Putray closed his eyes, then slowly opened them.
'Thales Jadestar, you are about to face the fairest and cruelest duel.
'What will you do?'
Kentvida's expression darkened.
He stared coldly at the Constellatiate. After a long while, he said airily, "The decisive battle?
"And what leverage does that boy have?"
The viscount said softly, "You don't understand what kind of person the archduke is, what kind of power he possesses, and where exactly he stands, overlooking the world from above."
Kentvida narrowed his eyes and said solemnly, "In the face of overwhelming power, all schemes and schemes are pale in comparison."
Putray did not speak, but after he heard this, he stared at Kentvida with a strange gaze. The corners of his lips curled up slightly.
He slowly revealed a smile, then burst into continuous laughter.
Viscount Kentvida's pupils shrank slightly.
Putray's laughter continued.
"You're laughing," Kentvida said flatly, "You don't agree?"
Putray's laughter lasted for a few seconds before he inhaled deeply. His muscles stopped twitching, and a strange expression appeared on his face.
"I thought that even if we're scheming for others, at our level, we would more or less have some understanding of it." He stared at Kentvida's expression and shook his head slightly.
"Overwhelming power?"
Putray sneered disapprovingly. "Most people who say this are weaklings who know nothing about power, or pitiful people who pursue power but fail."
Kentvida's expression slowly stiffened.
Putray raised his eyebrows slightly and continued, "Precisely because they have never understood power, they can only use their poor imagination and self-deceiving assumptions to describe things they have never obtained. They endlessly exaggerate the omnipotence of power to fill the emptiness in their hearts and absolve themselves of their failures.
"Just like how weak mortals are used to describing gods that they have never seen before as omnipotent beings."
Kentvida stared at him expressionlessly.
"However, only powerful people who truly possess power and have experienced it will know." Putray blinked and raised his head to look at the ceiling.
"So-called overwhelming power." Putray sighed slowly. There was a rare look of nostalgia and regret in his eyes.
"It has never existed."
Kentvida was deep in thought. He did not move.
A few seconds later …
"As expected of someone who once stayed in Dragon Kiss Academy," the viscount said softly. "Your eloquence in sophistry is really good."
Putray smiled faintly. "Thank you."
"He's just a child." Kentvida shook his head slowly and revealed a ruminating smile. "With the archduke around, he can't do anything."
"He's not just a child," Putray quickly replied. There was an infinite brilliance in the vice diplomat's eyes. "He's Thales Jadestar."
Kentvida laughed in a mocking manner. "That's the fairest battlefield. Whether it's the Imperial Family or the Jadestar bloodline, they won't bring him any help."
Putray snorted softly.
"Yes, the fairest battlefield." Putray narrowed his eyes and nodded slightly. "With Lhasa Kentvida.
"Why do you follow the Archduke of Black Sand Region?"
Kentvida was slightly startled.
"Is it because of the legitimate bloodline of the Lampard Family? Is it because of Black Sand Region's powerful foundation? Is it because of the archduke's status? Or is it because you were coincidentally born in Black Sand Region? "
Putray shook his head and closed his eyes. "It's the same, Your Grace."
"A king is not respected by his bloodline." Putray took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes.
"That child's greatest bargaining chip has never been his bloodline or birth."
There was silence.
Their gazes met like blades clashing.
Kentvida furrowed his brows.
'Damn it.
'This guy …
'I can't get anything out of him.'
Kentvida quietly clenched his fists.
'How much do they actually know about our plans and methods?
'No.'
Kentvida suddenly thought of something. 'It's not like we don't know anything.
'At least, judging by his behavior …'
'They don't care about the archduke's power at all.
'But what's more terrifying is that they don't even care about their own power.
'Because …'
Kentvida's eyes brightened.
He abruptly turned his head around and hurriedly said to his subordinate behind him, "Send a message to His Grace!"
Putray frowned slightly.
"Their target is not us." Kentvida took a deep breath and tried his best to remain calm as he said,
"Instead, they are using the other archdukes' fear …
"To turn them into our enemies!"
Putray's expression changed slightly.
Kentvida's subordinate received the order and left.
"What a deep impression." Putray raised his eyebrows slightly. There was an unconcealable surprise in his tone. "Viscount Kentvida."
Kentvida turned his head around and stared at his opponent with a solemn expression. "The same goes for you.
"Lord Nemain."
— — —
The five archdukes stared at him without blinking.
Until he cleared away the black ash on his face so that his face could be seen clearly.
'Awkward.'
This was the only adjective Thales could find for this moment.
"Can someone explain it to me?"
Archduke Trentida whistled and looked at Thales with a subtle expression. He then turned to the other archdukes, as though he was seeking help. "The story about a Prince of Constellation who mysteriously crawled out of the fireplace in Heroic Spirit Palace?"
"As I said," Archduke Roknee tilted his head and snorted coldly at Lampard, "Surprises are never too late."
Lampard stared expressionlessly at the disheveled Thales. His eyes were filled with endless chilliness that almost overflowed.
Under the gazes of the five archdukes, Thales could not help but take a deep breath. He did not know if it was because of the chimney or because he was nervous.
'Calm down. Calm down, Thales.'
He clenched his fists.
'I'm already here.
'The final battlefield.'
He thought of all the people who went out to divert attention and create space for him.
'As long as I win, they can survive … as much as possible.'
Thales lifted his head with a heavy heart. His gaze swept past every archduke.
'First.
I want to start a conversation. '
"Believe me, if it wasn't for our Archduke Lampard using a large number of soldiers to seal off almost every path from the gatehouse to this place, and locking all of you in a small cage that is isolated from the outside world …" Thales tried his best to control his voice to make it sound relaxed and cozy. At the same time, he tried his best to remind every archduke of their situation.
"Actually, I would prefer to meet all of you in the guest room, dressed neatly."
Archduke Roknee narrowed his eyes and let out a lukewarm chuckle. Olsius looked at him with a solemn expression.
"I admire your courage, child," Roknee said softly, "but you came to the wrong place.
"You broke into the Hall of Heroes, the place where the five archdukes of Eckstedt hold a solemn meeting."
His expression became stern. "You violated the dignity of Northlanders."
Thales' heart skipped a beat.
'The atmosphere is not quite right.'
He furrowed his brows and carefully recalled what Little Rascal, Nicholas, and Putray had told him.
"Violated dignity?" Thales took a deep breath. "Is it more serious than an archduke of Eckstedt killing the king and trampling on the Joint Ruling Pledge?"
The five archdukes' expressions became solemn.
They looked at each other.
"Be careful, child." Olsius snorted coldly and glared at him. "Sometimes, saying the wrong thing can cost you your life."
Thales chuckled softly and straightened his neck.
The five archdukes' gazes were unbearable, especially when they came from Lampard and Roknee.
"I don't know if all of you are aware of this, but King Nuven has unfortunately passed away." Thales clenched his fists with all his might to prevent himself from breathing too fast and causing his voice to tremble.
"But I was there, and I saw it with my own eyes," Thales said resolutely.
Trentida heaved a long sigh.
Thales carefully observed their expressions.
The second prince gritted his teeth and threw out his next sentence. "And the mastermind who mysteriously rushed over after that incident and manipulated the calamity's invasion and the assassination of the king is standing among you, trying to convince you to cover up his crimes, clean up the mess, and collude with him in his evil deeds."
Thales took a step forward and stared at Lampard with a solemn expression.
"Chapman Lampard," he said sternly, "do all of you really want to be associated with this king slayer?
"Even if he broke your iron law?
"And become the most unstable factor among the archdukes?"
One second passed.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
To Thales' surprise, the archdukes only glanced at Lampard with strange expressions.
As if they had encountered something funny.
Thales' heart skipped a beat.
He instinctively felt that something was wrong.
Archduke Lecco coughed loudly, then turned to Lampard with a frown. "Is this part of your performance, Chapman?"
Lampard still had that unsmiling, cold expression on his face.
"No, this was an accident," he said coldly, his gaze never leaving Thales.
Thales looked at Lampard anxiously and flashed a set of white teeth.
'What's wrong?
'No.'
Thales told himself, 'I have to take the initiative and test my opponent.'
"Hey, Chapman, I went through a lot of trouble to get here." The second prince forced a smile and spoke as if he was meeting an old acquaintance, "Aren't you going to buy me a drink, old friend?"
Thales raised his eyebrows. "When you proposed to form an alliance with me in front of the fortress, didn't you still owe me a glass of rye wine?"
The four archdukes' gazes shifted to Lampard, either overtly or covertly.
Lampard snorted coldly.
"Of course, I have prepared a wine glass for you," the Archduke of Black Sand Region said softly and calmly.
Thales revealed a puzzled expression.
The next moment, Lampard's gaze sharpened, and he suddenly raised his voice. "Guards, two people are coming in."
His voice faded away.
Thales' expression froze.
A question came from outside the hall, "Archduke Lecco?"
"Do as Chapman says." The bald old archduke exhaled and shook his head. He looked at Thales with a mocking gaze. "Send one of our guests out."
Thales' expression changed drastically!
'What's going on?
'I can't even initiate a conversation?
Why isn't he playing by the rules? '
"Wait!"
The second prince hurriedly raised his hands and said to the other four archdukes,
"At least listen to what I have to say about the king slayer, about how he wants to use Eckstedt to strengthen himself —"
However, to his surprise, he was interrupted.
"Oh, the king slayer, Chapman Lampard." Trentida revealed a malicious smile. "I heard that King Nuven's death was a bit of a pity."
"Thank you, we got it."
"His Highness of Constellation."
At that moment, Thales felt a chill in his heart.
'What's wrong?
'They … the archdukes, why?'
Thales breathed absentmindedly.
The other archdukes' expressions were subtle, as though they were not surprised at all.
Olsius stared at him coldly, his gaze threatening.
Archduke Lecco stared blankly at the floor tiles, seemingly unconcerned.
Trentida's smile was like poison, chilling to the core.
Even Roknee, who spoke up for justice when they first met, was expressionless.
Lampard was the only one who flashed him a terrifying sneer, like a gambler who had already won.
The footsteps of the guards came from outside the hall.
In that second, Thales gulped with a pale face.
'No.
'No, they shouldn't have reacted this way.'
In a flash, he suddenly understood.
'The words they said earlier,' for Eckstedt ', were not ordinary words.
'The archdukes and Lampard have reached an agreement.
'What did Lampard say to the archdukes?
'Lure? Promise? Threat? Conspiracy?
Even make them disregard the great crime of king slaying and disregard Eckstedt's tradition and stability?
Make them turn a blind eye to Lampard's actions of gathering troops to force the abdication, and choose to be in cahoots with a dangerous murderer?
The footsteps outside the hall were getting closer. They were the people who came to escort him out.
Thales looked at the archdukes in disbelief. They were still sneering faintly.
It was as though the dumbfounded Thales was just a clown at that moment.
At that moment, Thales, who was standing in the Hall of Heroes, suddenly realized how difficult the task he had to face was.
'This chapter is very tiring to write. I changed the draft three times.
'I'll correct the typos later.
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