It was still an empty road after the patrols cleared the area. Passersby would consciously stay away or be chased away by the patrols who quickly arrived. The Archduchess' Guards were still on the left and right, while the patrols opened the way from the front and back. It was still a "journey" that was completely surrounded …
However, when Thales rode on the streets of Dragon Clouds City again, he had a different feeling. It was not just because the route he took to play chess was different, nor was it because the Star Killer was following closely behind him with covetous eyes.
After all, this might be the last time he walked in Dragon Clouds City during his six years as a hostage.
Nicholas probably knew this as well.
Hence, when Thales acted out of character and did not tug on the reins to gallop at high speed (this always made the Archduchess' Guards around him grumble when he went to play chess in the past), and instead let the veteran Genard — the only person other than Thales whom Jennie, the violent black horse, did not dislike — hold the reins and slowly moved forward to Axe District as if they were sightseeing. The Star Killer only pouted in dissatisfaction, but did not say anything.
"Genard." Thales stared absentmindedly at the buildings moving backwards on both sides. "You have been in the diplomat group for more than six years, starting from the birch tree forest in the Northern Territory."
Genard turned around and cast a glance at the prince. "Yes, Your Highness."
Thales sighed and said, "After being trapped in Dragon Clouds City for so long …"
"It's not as exciting as when you charged and broke through enemy lines under Duke John's command. It's probably not as comfortable as when you were in Eternal Star City's city defense team."
"It must be boring."
As he listened to Thales' words, Genard gazed into the distance.
This veteran of the Starlight Legion, who had served under the Starlight God of War and the Fortress Flower and experienced the disaster eighteen years ago, became a little more spirited after six years in the north. The numbness and lifelessness of his time as a city defense team was gone.
Even though he had always felt guilty for becoming the Duke of Iris Flowers' tool in the birch tree forest in Constellation, leading the Blood Clansmen to harm the prince's diplomat group.
"Compared to the hardships you went through, this little bit of boredom is not even worth mentioning." Genard sighed. "And compared to the bloody war in the Bloody Year, this little bit of boredom is not even worth mentioning."
Thales did not speak.
He could not help but frown.
The Bloody Year.
A bloody war.
The group moved forward slowly. Even though this might be their last journey, the patrols formed by the Northlanders and the Archduchess' Guards were still dutifully clearing the path and guarding the surroundings.
"Thank you, Genard." The second prince turned his head around and stared at the veteran Genard, who had followed him all the way from Eternal Star City with a profound expression. "Your service over the past six years has actually far surpassed the favor you owe Duke John."
"No, Your Highness." Genard nodded respectfully. "I should be the one thanking you."
"As for the favor I owe Duke John …" His expression darkened, and pain that could not be erased rose between his brows. He subconsciously turned his face away.
"No, that's something I can never repay in my entire life."
Thales stared fixedly at the back of the veteran leading the horse in front of him.
The prince took a deep breath and remembered the small stone urn he saw in the Jadestar family tomb. "The Duke of Star Lake, John Jadestar. I've heard you talk about him before … He's humorous and approachable?"
When he heard the familiar name, Genard could not help but feel slightly refreshed.
"Yes, Your Highness. But the duke's approachability is quite different from yours …"
It seemed as if Genard's expression and spirit would become lively at the mention of that person. "I still remember the day of the conscription … Even though the duke was middle-aged, he did not have an overly dignified or arrogant demeanor …
"His martial arts skills were terrible, but his eyesight was pretty good. His singing voice was even better, and he could play the lute … He could always get along with all kinds of people, be they nobles, farmers, merchants, craftsmen, soldiers, or even prostitutes and prisoners of war. It was very easy to find John in the military camp, because the duke would definitely be at the place where the laughter was the loudest."
Genard was immersed in the memories of the past, and he could not help but laugh. "Most of the time, I even thought that he was a little … silly."
'Silly?'
Thales cast him a puzzled look.
"It's not that I'm being disrespectful, but …" Genard furrowed his brows. "I don't know how to express it … Anyway, all of us in the personal guards talked and laughed with him, and we subconsciously treated him as one of us, not as a commander with authority, or as the Duke of Star Lake, the younger brother of the King of Constellation with a noble background."
The more Genard spoke, the more energetic he became. "Eighteen years ago, during the military conference of the Starlight Brigade, the duke was always absent-minded, or he would snore or even drool when he was asleep. The nobles who were present were all very embarrassed … Because of this, Captain Sonia apologized pitifully, and at the same time, she would clench her teeth and hit the duke's head in front of everyone until he woke up from his sleep, or knocked him unconscious. Vice-captain Kenya even had a record of using ice water to wake him up from his slumber."
The veteran laughed out loud. "Even though the duke looked aggrieved every time, and he would explain pitifully that he was not sleeping, but thinking of countermeasures in his dreams."
'What?
'Sleeping during a military conference?
'This is … the Starlight God of War who quelled the rebellion?'
Thales was stunned when he heard that. He could not help but scratch his head. "It sounds really … urk, special?"
"Of course, it just sounds ridiculous. After all, if he was really an idiot, he would not have the title of 'Starlight God of War'." Genard cast Thales a profound glance and sighed.
Thales frowned slightly.
"What about you, Willow?"
Willow, a soldier with a long gun and a short gun strapped to his back, walked behind Thales' horse. He was caught off guard when his name was called. He was shocked.
"Hmm, me?"
Over the past six years, this new recruit, who was saved by Thales from the gallows in Broken Dragon Fortress, had mostly gotten rid of his childishness after going through the trials from Black Sand Region to Dragon Clouds City. Even though the veterans in the team still liked to make fun of him.
"How did you feel during the past six years in Dragon Clouds City?"
"To be honest, when I came out of the fortress six years ago, I didn't think that I would have to stay in the enemy country for so long." Under Genard's reminder, Willow quickly adjusted his expression. "But …"
He frowned. "Uncle Genard said that it is because you are here that the people in the Northern Territory can enjoy peace.
So, this is probably worth it. "
Thales was slightly stunned.
Willow raised his head. There was a slightly bitter expression on his face.
"That's right …"
"You know, sometimes I think …" Willow sighed. "If you had been here eighteen years ago, and used yourself as a hostage to go to Eckstedt …"
"Perhaps the war would not have happened, and my sister would not have died of illness."
Thales lowered his head and sank into deep thought.
"Is that so," he said faintly, as if he was talking to himself.
The team moved forward again and walked past a junction that separated Spear District and Axe District.
"Wya." The prince on the horse raised his hand. He moved past the heavy guards on both sides and pointed at the three-story building with a balcony not far away.
"That house is the chess room that we go to once a month, right?"
"Yes, Your Highness," the attendant observed it carefully and answered cautiously.
Thales stared at the familiar outline of the building and felt a little sentimental for some reason.
"In the past, we always went straight to Spear District. We have never seen it from this angle."
He stared at the chess room that was specially decorated with a profound look and remembered the few times he and Asda had 'lessons' in it. "I probably miss the time we played chess in there."
"Actually, it is not too far away. If you want, why don't you go and take a look?" Wya estimated the distance to the house.
"There is no need." Thales shook his head and pointed at Nicholas beside him. He sighed and said, "Look at his expression …
"He probably wishes that an assassin would jump out of nowhere and kill me before we go to Black Sand Region."
These words made Wya frown deeply. He subconsciously looked around.
Ralf made a mocking expression at him, and as expected, it attracted the attendant's angry glare.
Nicholas turned his head, snorted coldly in disdain, and urged his horse forward.
"Where is that vice diplomat of yours?" The Star Killer asked coldly, "Why didn't I see the cunning Putray Nemain with you to Black Sand Region?"
Thales' expression darkened and he shook his head. "We have not seen each other for six years. To be precise, Putray is no longer part of my diplomat group."
"Six years, and the moment he appeared, he accompanied Constellation in attacking the Alliance of Freedom?" Nicholas' expression was tense, and his words were stiff.
"Perhaps I should have arrested him a long time ago. That man is not simple. He might be the middleman between Constellation and Lampard."
Thales raised his eyebrows.
"According to Putray, you have been watching him in Dragon Clouds City." Thales sighed and said, "Shouldn't you know his every move better than I do?"
Nicholas gritted his teeth and gave him a warning glance.
"Speaking of which, you know," the Star Killer said coldly, "I have confirmed that the person who leaked the archduchess' secret to the Secret Room was not Lisban."
Thales was slightly startled at first.
The prince took a second to remember something. Then, the corners of his lips curled up and he secretly exhaled.
'You still need confirmation?'
But Nicholas' expression immediately became terrifying.
"But you were the one who lured Lampard here.
"So, if it wasn't Lisban, was it you, young prince?"
The Star Killer's expression was cold, and he looked as if he was about to beat him up at any moment. "You took the initiative to leak the biggest secret of Dragon Clouds City to Black Sand Region and the Secret Room. That's why the king came here and joined forces with you, right?"
'What?'
It took Thales two seconds to snap out of his daze and figure out what Nicholas meant.
The next moment, the prince widened his eyes and his voice suddenly rose. "What?"
Nicholas ignored his astonishment and continued to speak coldly, "Answer me. Were you the one who gave this information to Lampard?"
Thales stared at the Star Killer in a daze. He remembered the lie he had casually made up to test the other party.
The Star Killer was still staring at him with a burning gaze.
When he saw that the Star Killer was not joking at all, Thales, who did not know whether to laugh or cry, felt a headache coming on.
'This guy is really …
'Serious.'
The next second, Thales took a deep breath and let the air stay in his lungs for a while before he exhaled weakly.
"It's still the same old saying, Nicholas." He shook his head rather helplessly. "When it comes to certain things, you and I …"
Thales looked into the Star Killer's eyes and said with great sincerity,
"We're really not on the same level."
After he said this, Thales no longer cared about Nicholas' extremely unpleasant expression. He gestured for Genard to urge the horse to move past him.
Behind Thales, the nimble elf protector quickly followed. The half of his face under the cloak stuck out his tongue at the livid Star Killer.
At this moment …
* Whoosh! *
An ear-piercing sound suddenly came from afar!
The group seemed to have been pressed down by an invisible hand, and they were forced to a stop.
Many people's expressions changed drastically!
Thales' face turned pale, as if a certain scene in his memory had been awakened.
The moment he recognized the sound, he anxiously shouted,
"It's a crossbow bolt!"
The patrols on the outer perimeter quickly formed a formation. The Archduchess' Guards consciously surrounded the inner perimeter. The Constellatiates reacted with the prince as the center.
Aida lowered her body and slid past Jennie's horse's hooves in two steps. She leaped to Thales' side. Genard habitually stood in front of the black horse. Willow gritted his teeth and pulled out his twin pistols.
Wya instinctively wanted to pull Thales down from the horse, but he was held down by Nicholas, who was beside him!
"Everyone, calm down!"
The Star Killer pushed Wya away with an unpleasant expression and reprimanded his attendant impatiently, "This is just a signal arrow from Dragon Clouds City! And it's not nearby! "
The tensed Nicholas nodded at the people beside him. The Northlanders who had formed a protective formation immediately spread out in a well-trained manner. They had a clear division of labor and were ready for battle.
A few soldiers from the patrols in front of them nimbly climbed onto their horses and set off towards different streets to gather information.
Only then did Wya snap out of his daze. He looked at Thales, whose face was also pale.
"What's … going on?" Thales was bewildered.
"Listen to the sound. It's in front." It was Ralf's sign language.
"This is the whistling arrow from the patrols." Nicholas stared at the empty street in front of him.
"They need reinforcements."
Thales frowned slightly.
'Reinforcements?'
"Boss!"
Lord Justin stared into the distance with a serious expression. His tone was very nervous. "The direction of the whistling arrow … is in front of us. It's our destination, the courier station of the diplomat group in Axe District!"
The Northlanders, especially the patrols who were not as well-trained, immediately burst into an uproar.
The troops, who were originally vigilant of their surroundings out of habit, immediately shifted their gazes and looked at the street in front of them.
Nicholas hummed in acknowledgment. His expression was calm as he stared in the direction of the sound.
"What?"
Thales was shocked. "The courier station of the diplomat group? Isn't that Lampard — "
"Enough!"
Nicholas shouted loudly, interrupting everyone's restless guesses.
"The patrols are under the jurisdiction of Garrison Officer Leisdon's main disciplinary hall. Reinforcements from the patrols in other districts will arrive soon."
He spoke coldly, and his tone was filled with the authority of a commander. "And that has nothing to do with us! What we need to do now is to stand guard and wait for the … "
The next moment …
* Whoosh! *
Another urgent sound cut off Nicholas' words!
"Boss, the second shot!"
Justin spoke in a hushed voice beside Nicholas, but he could not suppress the anxiety in his tone. "Looks like the situation is urgent!"
The breathing of the Northlanders and Constellatiates quickened at the same time.
Thales stared at the street in front of him and felt the tension in the air grow stronger.
Nicholas furrowed his eyebrows tightly and gritted his teeth. "Where are the scouts? What about the report from the front?"
Thales pursed his lips. "If something big really happened in front, they might be held up."
The prince did not care about the Star Killer's expression. He turned his head and hurriedly spoke to a short person under the cloak.
"Aida!
I know you can see it! "
Aida pouted and snorted in dissatisfaction. She said something that Thales did not understand.
But her movements were not the least bit sluggish. The elf protector sprinted to the side of the street, grabbed a window pane, and jumped to the top of a three-story house in a few steps.
In everyone's eyes, she was as agile as a gecko, attracting many amazed gazes.
On the roof, Aida gently raised her right hand and stopped in front of her forehead, which was covered by the cloak.
At that moment, the elf seemed to be very relaxed, as if she was enjoying the breeze.
But the people on the street were all staring at her nervously.
The Star Killer snorted in dissatisfaction and muttered to Justin in a low voice, "That's why our stalkers can't keep up with her …"
A few seconds later, Aida turned her head. Her expression also darkened.
"I can't see the specific situation, but I can see the fleeing crowd." Faced with everyone's nervous and expectant gazes, Aida muttered and reported in a field of vision that normal people could not see, "Oh, there are sounds of fighting in the air, at least a dozen pairs …"
Thales narrowed his eyes. 'The fleeing crowd? 'A few pairs of fighting?'
But the elf did not need to continue talking.
"Lord Nicholas!"
As the sound of horse hooves rose, one of the cavaliers from the patrol team rushed back. He panted rapidly, and there was a hint of exasperation in his voice.
"Up ahead … Black Sand Region's station … Lampard … The king's posthouse … has been attacked!"
Everyone was shocked at the same time!
'The king's posthouse?
'Attacked?'
The cavalier continued to report anxiously, "The guards at the posthouse … seem to be in a bad situation … The patrol team in Axe District … was caught off guard. Two disciplinary officers and three squads are fighting. I saw a few corpses …"
Many people frowned.
"Stop!"
Nicholas said firmly, interrupting the cavalier's incoherent report, "Just two things. What's the enemy's situation? What's the current situation? "
The cavalier was stunned for a moment. Only then did he recover a little from his panting.
"It's very chaotic!"
The cavalier scout who went to gather information shook his head. "The enemy has launched surprise attacks from more than one place. The number is unknown. They look like Northlanders. Not only do they have swords, but they also have bows …
"As for our side, the people from Black Sand Region and the patrol team are fighting. The disciplinary officers at the perimeter are sealing off the area and setting up defenses. But there are fleeing civilians everywhere. There are even people who are hot-headed enough to pick up weapons and join the battle …"
When he heard this, Justin's expression tensed. He moved closer to Nicholas' ear. "Today is the day of the state affairs hearing. There are too many nobles in Axe District. Their private soldiers and guards are troublesome …"
Thales furrowed his eyebrows even deeper.
Nicholas' expression looked as if it had just been covered in a layer of frost. He nodded. "Continue to investigate. Send people to report to the palace and Regent Lisban."
The Star Killer turned his head around. He first glanced at the Archduchess' Guards. When he saw that most of them were calm and collected, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Hmph, they actually dared to attack in a noble district like Axe District on the day of the state affairs hearing …"
Nicholas looked at the sky in front of him and snorted softly. There was a hint of schadenfreude in his words.
"No matter who the enemy is, they must hate the king to the core …"
He turned his head around and clicked his tongue at the prince, who had a worried expression on his face. "Looks like we'll have to postpone our trip to Axe District to seek refuge with Lampard, young prince."
Without waiting for Thales to reply, Nicholas gave a loud order.
"Everyone!
"The patrol team who will open up the path, when the next wave of scouts returns, immediately stop advancing. Set up a defense line and seal off the flow of people coming from Axe District. No one is allowed to pass through, be it our own people or others!"
The patrol team immediately took action when they heard the order. Ever since the accident six years ago, the patrol team in the First Gatehouse had been like the palace guards. From then on, they listened directly to the orders of the Archduchess or the Archduchess' Guards.
Nicholas' voice was very decisive. "As for the Archduchess' Guards … Archers, spread out on the spot and fill in the defense. Clear the high ground on both sides of the street to ensure visibility. Kill any unidentified targets moving at high speed in this direction!
"As for us, change our direction and return to Heroic Spirit Palace … Justin, lead the fourth team and form an intercepting formation. You'll be in charge of bringing up the rear. Watch out for any threats coming from that direction!"
The Archduchess' Guards' actions were faster and more efficient than the patrol team's. They immediately moved from the rear to the front and retreated. Lord Justin's team almost formed a human wall and sealed off the path leading to the chaotic district. Many archers climbed up the houses on both sides of the street, drew their arrows, and aimed in that direction vigilantly.
When he heard the other party's orders to seal off the area and retreat, Thales sighed. He knew the Star Killer's attitude now.
"Hey." Thales turned around and reminded the Star Killer indignantly, "I know you want to see him die, but if Lampard dies here today …
"Are you sure this is a good thing for Dragon Clouds City?"
Nicholas shook his head in disdain. "My current responsibility is to transport you back to Heroic Spirit Palace in one piece. I don't care about anything else."
Thales took a deep breath.
"Alright." The prince spread his hands. "Think about it, King Chapman died mysteriously in Dragon Clouds City, which is under the archduchess' rule …
"If I were the City of Faraway Prayers or Defense City, I would definitely righteously criticize Dragon Clouds City, which did not protect me well and was even more suspicious of me. Then, in the dirty deals of the King Selection Congress …"
The Star Killer froze for a moment.
He turned his head to look at Thales with a cold expression.
Thales shrugged in resignation. "For Dragon Clouds City?"
At this moment, the sound of the third whistling arrow came from afar.
The atmosphere became even more tense.
After a few seconds, Nicholas snorted angrily and turned around while he cursed.
"Son of a b * tch …"
He yelled in dissatisfaction, "Gail, bring the fifth and sixth teams to the posthouse to reinforce the patrol team over there. We've practiced this kind of situation for the past six years. You know what to do!"
A veteran Archduchess' Personal Guard nodded and smiled with pity on his face. He brought half of the Archduchess' Personal Guards to reinforce them.
Nicholas was obviously in a bad mood. "The rest of you, retreat according to the original plan!"
In the terrible atmosphere, the group of people turned around with complicated feelings and went back in the direction they came from.
They hurriedly retreated for a few minutes until they returned to the border between Axe District and Spear District. When they saw the familiar chess room, the tense atmosphere in the group slowly subsided.
"Damn it." Wya's expression was tense as he spat. "Why do we always run into this kind of thing?"
"Calm down, Wya," Thales said with a gloomy expression. "Remember my words: don't panic."
But Thales was also adjusting his breathing on the horse's back as he thought about what happened just now.
On today's state affairs hearing, in Axe District, where nobles gathered …
'Attack, no, assassinate Chapman Lampard?
'Who is it?
'And …
'If Lampard dies here …'
When he thought of this, Thales clenched his fists and gripped the saddle tightly.
He stayed in the middle of the retreating group with a solemn expression.
"Hey! Young prince. "
The Star Killer rode to Thales' side and said coldly, "You know, if we had maintained our usual galloping speed and arrived at Axe District earlier, we might have been caught up in that attack."
Thales frowned. "What do you mean?"
Nicholas shook his head. "I mean … your head might not be as valuable as Lampard's life."
Thales thought of something and felt his skin crawl.
"You're saying that group of people might have wanted to intercept me?"
Nicholas snorted in disdain.
The second prince subconsciously looked around. The streets were quiet, Aida was running on the rooftops vigilantly, observing the surroundings from a high vantage point. The Northlanders' group was also normal.
Thales turned around and said with a face full of suspicion,
"I …
"I'm not that unlucky, am I?"
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