Bright moon, rocks, bonfire, wild, and a man.
When Thales woke up, the feedback from hell's senses gave him such a scene.
'Good, I'm not tied up.'
Thales opened his eyes slowly. Despite the pain at the back of his head and the waves of dizziness, he quietly touched his waist.
"Are you looking for this?"
A voice that sounded like a gong rose.
Thales sighed and gave up on searching. He sat up laboriously and patted the dust off his clothes. "That's mine."
Beside the bonfire at night, Monty leaned against a tree with a leisurely expression. He looked at Thales with a smile.
JC's dagger spun nimbly in the man's hand, and he performed a lot of tricks.
"I have to say, it's pretty sharp."
The Raven of Death turned the dagger into a backhand grip and swiftly sliced through the air. He pulled his arm back with a soft sound of the air being sliced.
"I can be considered to know a lot about weapons, but I can't even tell that it's made of some rare metal. Tsk tsk, the royal family is indeed the royal family." Monty flicked JC's blade and clicked his tongue with interest.
Thales twisted his neck in resignation to soothe the pain at the back of his head while he observed his surroundings.
They were no longer in the forest, but in a wilderness with complicated terrain and jagged rocks of all shapes and sizes. The man had even started a fire under a huge rock that was slanted to avoid the wind.
There were two horses tied to the tree behind Monty. They were well-equipped, and one of them had a quiver, while the other even had a longsword and shield. It was obvious that they were warhorses.
With hell's senses, Monty's silhouette was no different from that of a normal person. He had a transparent human form, but Thales could see that, just like the Fortress Flower, the Kingdom's Wrath, and the Star Killer, there was a strange power hidden in this supreme class elite's body. It lurked in his muscles and blood vessels, and occasionally flashed across his body.
'The horses are on the opposite side, and there are no weapons. This is a wilderness I'm not familiar with, and the enemy is very powerful.'
Thales secretly shook his head. 'The chances of escaping are very low.'
While he was observing carefully, Monty had already put down his dagger and tossed a piece of jerky and a waterskin to him from afar.
Thales caught them in a flurry, then frowned slightly.
"That's it?"
The prince patted the dust off the jerky and said with a disgusted expression, "Since you started a fire, can't you hunt and roast some meat?"
Monty shook his head and did not seem to care at all.
"My apologies, Your Highness."
"In the wild, the smell of meat will attract unnecessary trouble. It's already too much to start a fire." The Raven of Death grabbed another piece of jerky, stuffed it into his mouth, and chewed it with relish. "Of course, you can choose not to eat it."
Thales sighed in a seemingly sorrowful manner. He took a small bite of the jerky and put on a disgusted expression as he stared at Monty in displeasure.
The man opposite him seemed to be very interested in the Prince's appearance of not being able to swallow his food, and let out a low mocking laugh.
"What is this place?" The prince seemed to have given up on protesting. He stared at Monty dejectedly and glanced at JC's dagger by Monty's hand.
"Where are we?"
Monty tore another mouthful of jerky and deliberately chuckled.
"On the way."
On the road.
Thales furrowed his eyebrows slightly. "Wow, so accurate."
"I'm really sorry that I did not bring you a map," Monty said sarcastically. "Your Highness."
"The people from the Secret Intelligence Department, the people who were supposed to be waiting in the forest to receive me …" Thales said flatly, "What did you do to them?"
Monty laughed when he heard that.
He laughed very happily and his shoulders shook, as if he was very happy when he thought about it.
This made Thales' heart sink.
"Didn't I tell you?" Monty blinked and had a smug look on his face. "They were 'very busy'."
Thales, whose expression darkened, did not respond. Instead, he quietly opened the waterskin.
He covered his mouth with the spout and quietly activated hell's senses. Once again, he carefully observed his surroundings, including the position of the moon.
'It's midnight now. It's been at least a few hours since he knocked me out.
'But …
'Strange.'
The prince drank a mouthful of water and asked faintly, "Are you alone?"
Monty furrowed his eyebrows.
"What's wrong?"
The Raven of Death narrowed his eyes slightly. A hint of wariness flashed in his gaze.
"Do you think that if I'm alone, you might have a chance?"
Thales glanced at the bag containing the crossbow beside him, then at JC's dagger lying quietly on the ground. He sighed softly.
"Forget it.
I never had the delusion that I could challenge Eckstedt's most famous scout alone. "
Monty chuckled softly.
A cold glint flashed in the Raven of Death's eyes, making Thales feel uneasy again. "Then don't look at me like that. You don't have a chance."
Thales put down the waterskin and wiped the corners of his mouth.
"But you're really alone."
Monty furrowed his brows and his tone became cold. "Do you like to talk nonsense?"
Thales shook his head.
But he still smiled faintly. "This can explain other problems. Why? Are you afraid of being discovered? Of discovering that you kidnapped the Prince of Constellation without permission?
"Such as being discovered by Dragon Clouds City, or by your good friend, Nicholas?"
Monty raised his head. His gaze on Thales grew colder.
"Ha." He curled his lips with a fake smile.
Thales raised his eyebrows, put down the waterskin, and started biting the jerky again.
"That's true. You're not carrying me, but two thousand cavaliers," he said vaguely.
Monty's gaze shifted slightly.
"Do you remember? Constellation's two thousand cavaliers are still waiting at the desert border, waiting to interfere with the Alliance of Freedom's war."
The prince tore the stiff jerky with difficulty and drank a mouthful of water from time to time. "It concerns the interests of the City of Faraway Prayers and Dragon Clouds City.
"The burden on your shoulders is not light when you bring me along, Lord Monty."
Thales said softly, "Are you ready?"
Monty did not speak, but his expression was completely stiff.
"You talk too much."
Thales shook his head nonchalantly. "But you're very confident, right?
Because you're the best scout in all of Eckstedt. The City of Faraway Prayers' army is also greatly enhanced because of you. "
The Raven of Death snorted coldly. His gaze on Thales became even more hostile.
"Flattery won't help you, Your Highness."
He said coldly and unhappily, "So, why don't you finish the food in your hands and shut up?"
However, at this moment, Thales suddenly laughed out loud.
"Hahahaha …"
Monty was slightly surprised at first, then he looked at him suspiciously.
"I understand now." Thales swallowed the last mouthful of jerky with water and patted his half-full abdomen. The smile on his face became brighter.
"Oh you, Raven of Death …"
Monty's expression became even more unpleasant, and his attitude became even more displeased.
"Damn it.
"Understand what?"
Thales forced himself to put away his smile and averted his gaze from Monty. He shook his head hard. "Nothing."
But he burst into laughter again, as if he could not hold it in. "It's just that … Haha, I suddenly realized that I'm too slow."
Monty's gaze became fierce.
The Raven of Death said coldly, "You've said so much, but it gives me a bad feeling. You're planning something, or you know something."
Thales seemed to be engrossed in eating his jerky, but his eyes never left Monty.
Monty felt very uncomfortable under his stare, and he said coldly,
He said coldly, "They say that you're very good at persuading and swaying people.
"So, perhaps in the next moment, you'll say something that will make me hesitate?"
Thales' smile faded away, but he shrugged. There was not a hint of fear on his face.
"Perhaps you're hesitating because you're guilty to begin with?"
When he finished speaking, the air sank into silence.
Only the crackling of the bonfire remained.
The warmth on the Raven of Death's face disappeared completely. This time, he stared at the prince quietly for a long time.
Thales felt uneasy as he stared at him.
A few seconds later, Monty sneered and stood up. "You know, there's a good way to overcome hesitation."
Thales was slightly stunned. He watched the Raven of Death walk towards him, and he subconsciously shrank back.
"What?"
But Monty was already in front of him.
He put on that savage smile of a hunter again and clenched his fists. "That is, don't give yourself the chance to hesitate.
"Are you done eating?"
Thales felt his heart palpitate. He subconsciously got up and moved backwards. "Wait, you —"
But before Thales could finish speaking, Monty's expression changed. As if he did not need to accumulate any strength, he moved forward at lightning speed!
* Bang! *
A dull thud rose. Thales could not even see Monty's movements clearly before he fainted again.
"You're awake again?"
This was the first sentence Thales heard in his muddled state after he woke up from his hunger and jolts.
It still belonged to that man.
The first thing he saw was the ground.
The grass, stones, soil on the ground …
'Wait.
'Why are they all moving backwards?
'The moving ground?'
Thales was shocked!
He shook his head hard, and to his surprise, he was lying on the saddle in an ugly posture. As the horse's hooves moved forward slowly, his head and hands were on one side, and his legs were on the other.
The prince instinctively struggled to get up, but he realized that he was tied tightly to the saddle. He could not even straighten his body!
"Damn it …"
Thales felt the soreness all over his body and looked around in pain. The weather was clear and the sun was shining brightly, but they were walking on a small path covered in weeds. There were cedar trees on both sides of the path. It was obviously not the same place as yesterday's campsite.
'Damn it.
What kind of operation is this? '
Thales stared at the horse's hooves that moved up and down on the ground with a solemn expression. His heart sank.
He desperately looked up at Monty, who was whistling leisurely on another horse.
"Damn it, is this the treatment you should give to the prince?"
Thales exhaled. He felt that the pain in his waist and abdomen was becoming more and more unbearable. He could not help but curse through gritted teeth, "Are you sure that your superiors won't punish you for this?
"What if I die on the way?"
The Raven of Death turned around from his horse and chuckled. "But you're not dead yet, are you?
And I'm sure that they won't!
"Hahahahaha …"
Thales heaved a long and heavy sigh. He looked at his tied body and could not help but lower his head. He felt that he was extremely unlucky.
"You old actor, you used too much force."
The Raven of Death did not seem to understand the underlying meaning in Thales' words. He slowed down his horse and rode alongside Thales.
"Listen, talkative boy." Monty's smile was very terrifying. "For the sake of peace and smoothness on our journey …
"You have two choices now."
Monty raised two fingers in a relaxed manner. The joy of having prey in his hands rose on his face.
"Choice one, you can continue to talk …"
But he had not finished speaking.
"I choose two," Thales said coldly.
He did not even bother to look at Monty's expression or emotions.
This made Monty's expression stiffen for a moment.
He tilted his head and looked at his raised fingers. He scratched his chin in slight displeasure.
"Damn it," the Raven of Death said in displeasure, "I haven't even started."
"Hmph."
Thales answered him bluntly and retorted stiffly, "Anyway, the result of choice one is always the worst, isn't it?"
Monty snorted in displeasure and turned his head around, inviting ridicule upon himself.
They had been on the road for about an hour. It was so long that Thales only had the strength to pant.
'The feeling of being hung on a horse's back is really … Oh my god …'
"Hey … that big-mouthed …"
"The Star Killer told me that he could snap your neck in five seconds." At that moment, Thales felt his consciousness blur. His waist ached, and his abdomen, which was against the saddle, was almost worn through. This made him hate the person in front of him so much that he gritted his teeth.
"Honestly, right now, I'm really looking forward to that scene."
Monty stiffened a little while he sat on the horse.
"Five seconds? Is that what he said? "
His expression became very unsightly.
But in just a moment, Monty composed himself.
He smiled in disdain and turned to Thales, who was gritting his teeth on the horse's back. "Now I believe that you are indeed troublesome, at least when it comes to being annoying.
"You're already in this state, and you still can't shut your mouth?"
Thales gasped in pain and tried his best to show a pale smile.
"See, this is the problem.
"When I was still in Dragon Clouds City's hands, they thought I was troublesome." The prince's sweat dripped to the ground. It was rather difficult for him to speak, and his voice was hoarse. "But after they lost me, they remembered that I was still a bargaining chip.
"And now, I'm in your hands."
The teenager tried his best to raise his head. He was drenched in cold sweat, but he still tried his best to put on an ugly smile. "Guess who is the most troublesome?"
Monty snorted coldly and moved his horse forward.
He slowly raised his hand and aimed it at Thales' neck.
Thales immediately felt a chill run down his spine. The feeling of being frightened returned to his mind.
"Alright, alright, don't do it." The prince lowered his head in regret and shouted, "I will cooperate!"
Only then did Monty show a satisfied smile.
But Thales grimaced in pain and spoke again, "I only have one last question …
"Are you sure that we're on the right path?"
The Raven of Death frowned hard.
Monty let out a long sigh. "Didn't you choose the second option?"
Before Thales could react, the next moment, Monty's hand slashed down heavily!
* Bang! *
It struck Thales' neck.
The Raven of Death nodded in satisfaction as he watched the prince faint (again).
He changed to a more comfortable sitting position and muttered as the horse swayed,
"It's much quieter now."
Thales swore that this was the most difficult path he had taken in his short life so far, the most terrifying sleep he had, and the most boring person he had ever met.
His daily routine was to eat and faint, wake up, wake up to eat, eat again, and then faint again.
It seemed like Monty was enjoying this as well. Whenever Thales spoke a little too much or angered him, he would basically serve him with a karate chop, and from time to time, he would say, "First rule".
Sometimes, Thales would wake up on horseback, and sometimes, he would open his eyes in the wilderness. Every time he woke up, he could only see the scenery changing, the sun and the moon alternating, and he did not even know how much time had passed.
Back pain, leg cramps, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, these were all common occurrences.
Oh my god.
Thales, who was about to go mad, wailed in pain in his heart.
Even pigs aren't this cruel!
He felt like he had returned to the Abandoned House. No, it was even worse.
He secretly said, 'I'll remember this person, the Raven of Death, Ned Monty.'
Damn bastard.
I'll teach him a lesson when we get back!
Thales thought through gritted teeth.
However, just when Thales thought that this kind of life would last until they reached their destination, one day, when he woke up on horseback, he discovered something different.
This time, he was forcibly shaken awake.
"Hey, wake up!"
When Thales opened his eyes in a daze, the Raven of Death's voice was a little anxious and solemn.
It was another day.
'Sigh.'
The prince, who had adapted to the light, was at a loss. "What's wrong?
Are you lost? "
It was only then that he realized that the scenery around him was different again. The hills full of fir bushes and jagged rocks had turned into gentle slopes with slight ups and downs. There were fewer trees, and more weeds.
'This is …'
Thales stretched his head and hands in pain to ease the pain caused by lying on horseback for a long time. He was almost used to it. He even developed a way to use the Sin of Hell's River to relieve the pain.
"You don't want to be captured by Dragon Clouds City, do you, Your Highness?"
Monty said coldly.
Thales became a little more clear-headed. He suddenly realized that there was something wrong with Monty's words.
The prince's expression became stern. "What's wrong?"
Monty grabbed his horse's reins with one hand, and Thales' with the other. His horse was much faster than usual.
"We just crossed the Sunset Snow River." Monty cast a glance behind him. His expression was solemn, and his gaze was terrifying.
"Someone has their eyes on us."
Sensing the heaviness in his words, Thales shuddered and remembered his current situation.
'We just crossed the Sunset Snow River …
'They have their eyes on us …'
"Who is it?" he asked warily.
Monty shook his head. His expression was tense. "I don't know, but if I had to guess, it should be Dragon Clouds City or Lampard's pursuers."
Thales moved a little. "How do you know?"
The Raven of Death snorted softly.
"I just know."
With an unquestionable expression, he looked around seriously. "This is the scout's intuition. The smell in the air is very familiar."
Thales was stunned.
'Pursuers?
'How can it be …'
"If you don't want to be captured," Monty said coldly, and there was a warning in his words.
"Then we'll work together."
Thales stared at him in a daze.
"How do we work together?"
Monty lowered his gaze and gestured at his limbs. "We can't go on a leisurely outing anymore. We have to let go of the reins and charge forward.
"You're also tired of fainting on a horse and sleeping, right? You make me feel like a human trafficker."
The Raven of Death said with a disdainful expression, "How about it?"
Thales stared at him.
After a few minutes, the prince finally smiled.
"Of course."
He said affirmatively.
"There's still a long way to go before we reach our destination." Thales nodded and narrowed his eyes. "When we're faced with the pursuit of all of Dragon Clouds City, we both need partners.
"Not troublemakers."
"We're not enemies, Lord Monty."
Thales put away his smile and said solemnly, "Especially when we're facing Dragon Clouds City."
Monty exhaled and gradually smiled. The ominous feeling of having his eyes on his prey returned to him.
Under the sun, the Raven of Death raised his eyebrows. "Very good."
He smiled, took out JC's sheathed dagger from his bosom, and cut the rope that bound Thales without hesitation.
Thales exhaled. 'Finally.'
His limbs were numb. He straightened his back and sat up straight on the horse.
He felt like he had not ridden a horse normally for a few lifetimes.
Thales let out a satisfied sigh of admiration. His feet in the stirrup gave him a sense of security.
"How is it? Can you do it?" Monty glanced at him. His gaze was subtle.
Thales exercised his wrists and rubbed his numb waist. He took a deep breath and felt his vitality return.
"I've been reborn," he said faintly.
"Very good." Monty smiled sinisterly and tossed JC's dagger back to Thales.
Thales caught the familiar dagger, and his heart became calmer.
'As expected …'
"Now, sit on your horse, pull the reins, control the direction, and follow me. Run with your life on the line." Monty patted his bag, which contained his crossbow, and lifted the quiver from the saddle. His expression was stern. "Of course, don't even think about running away. I don't want to shoot you down with an arrow. For example, shoot through your balls.
"Trust me, I can do it."
Thales felt a chill in his heart. He raised his eyebrows, held the reins, and nodded obediently.
Monty licked the corner of his lips. "Get ready to start.
"Remember, run with your life on the line!"
In the next second, Monty pulled out the rope in his hand and whipped it hard on Thales and his own horse!
As the horse galloped faster, the air brushed past Thales' arms, and he felt the pleasure he had not felt for a long time.
He exerted a little force on the stirrup and leaned forward so that the horse could speed up and catch up with Monty's hooves.
* Thump, thump, thump … *
Thales sucked in a mouthful of air in comfort. He narrowed his eyes and felt the force of the strong wind blowing against his face.
This could be said to be the happiest day he had in the past few days!
But after just ten minutes, Thales' heart sank.
"Wait!" He shouted at Monty, who was in front of him.
"Why did we change direction?
To avoid the pursuers? "
The Raven of Death turned around and roared back in an unquestionable manner.
"Cut the crap!
"Just follow me!"
Don't relax, they're not easy to deal with! "
The arrow was nocked on the bowstring. Thales could only suppress the doubts in his heart and follow this unreliable guide forward.
They ran for an entire day and night while they galloped anxiously.
They practically did not stop along the way. They even ate on horseback.
The scenery before their eyes slowly changed. The gentle slope turned into an open wilderness. The trees had almost disappeared, and even weeds were rarely seen.
What they could see in the wilderness were mostly large, bare pieces of limestone.
So, when morning arrived again, they finally found a small stream that was so shallow that they could not even fill a waterskin. When they set up camp and rested, even the horses were so tired that they whimpered.
"Where are we?"
Thales almost collapsed on the ground. He leaned against a rock and panted while he gulped down water.
"Land of Barren Rocks." This time, Monty answered very straightforwardly. He also gulped down a mouthful of water, but he did not look relaxed or tired. His gaze was still alert.
"It's already under the rule of the City of Faraway Prayers.
Next, we don't need to avoid the crowd anymore. We can even go straight to the village to replenish our supplies. "
Thales' expression froze.
Land of Barren Rocks.
"So, are we really going to the City of Faraway Prayers?" he asked nonchalantly.
'So, the Great Desert is in the south.'
Monty shrugged and did not answer. He just tore off a piece of jerky and put it into his mouth. God knows how he could eat the moment he got off the horse, run once he got on the horse, and sleep the moment he laid down.
For example, Thales felt like he was about to collapse from exhaustion. He did not even have the strength to eat.
"Did you take a detour?" Thales panted. "Why do I feel like you're not walking in a straight line?"
Monty glanced at him in disdain.
"Shut up. When you're outside, you have to listen to the professionals."
With a hint of worry, Thales turned around and glanced behind him.
"So, we shook off our pursuers?"
"Of course." Monty seemed to be in a good mood. His eyebrows relaxed, and he actually answered his question.
"Even if I'm carrying a burden, I'm still Eckstedt's best scout."
As he watched the Raven of Death's smug expression, Thales could not help but raise his eyebrows. He mumbled in his heart, 'A burden …'
"So, who is the one chasing us?"
Monty only shook his head. "The person you don't want to see the most."
"Alright, I suggest that you shut up now and have a good sleep. Or do you want me to help you sleep?"
Thales could only turn his head around in embarrassment to avoid being knocked unconscious again.
He picked a relatively flat rock in the Land of Barren Rocks, which was covered in sand and dust. He lay down without any worries, recovered his strength, and thought about his next step.
When he was captured by Monty, Thales initially thought that the situation was very bad.
Later on, after his first conversation with Monty, he discovered to his surprise that the situation was very good.
But now, after following the Raven of Death for an entire day and night, Thales frowned again. 'No, the situation is not as good as I thought.'
When he thought of this, Thales cast a worried glance at Monty.
'This person …
'Isn't as simple as I thought.
'It's much more troublesome and complicated.
'I'm very close to returning to my country.
'Now, I need a chance.
A chance. '
As he thought of this, Thales quietly closed his eyes and entered dreamland.
But this time, he fell asleep much faster than he imagined!
* Whoosh! *
A sharp, hurried sound woke Thales up from his dream.
He panted heavily. This strange and rapid sound left a deep impression on him!
'This is …
'This is?'
"Be on guard!"
Monty's exasperated shout traveled into his ears, and Thales snapped out of his daze!
It was noon. The sun was high in the sky, and it made the bare rocks burn. Thales climbed up while drenched in sweat. Only then did he realize that Monty already had a weapon in his hand, and he was looking behind him with a ferocious expression.
The tension in the air affected Thales, who had woken up from his dream. He shook his head and stood up.
"What's going on?" Thales touched the dagger in his bosom and looked around in shock, but he did not see anything.
Just as he was about to activate hell's senses, the Raven of Death responded with an angry snort. "What's going on? We screwed up."
Monty seemed to be filled with anger. He ground his teeth continuously, and his gaze was terrifying. "Damn it, how is it possible …
"How did they find out?!"
Thales had never seen him like this before. He looked as if he had flown into a rage out of humiliation.
But Monty's body tensed up even more. Like a frightened beast, he stared fixedly at the back of a rock.
Thales was stunned.
'How …'
But he suddenly recalled the most crucial part.
"The sound just now," Thales said in shock and bewilderment. He desperately tried to recall the impression in his memory. "It's a little like the whistling arrow of Dragon Clouds City's patrol team, but there are some differences. I must have heard it somewhere before …"
And at that moment …
A hoarse and deep male voice traveled slowly from behind the rock.
"Because it wasn't the patrol team's whistling arrow."
At that moment, Thales and Monty's expressions changed!
'This voice …'
The sound of unfamiliar horse hooves rose from behind the rock.
A masked man with a white cloak and a saber on his back rode out from behind the rock. His eyes were bloodshot, but they were still as sharp as a blade.
Thales froze. 'Cloak, mask … I recognize this attire.
'He is …
'He is …'
The newcomer swept a cold glance at the two of them. He gently pulled down the scarf beneath his face, revealing the pale but distinct outline of his face.
When he saw the newcomer clearly, Monty covered his forehead in pain. He gritted his teeth and stomped the ground. "Son of a b * tch!"
The newcomer said hoarsely, "That is the signal arrow of the White Blade Guards of Dragon Clouds City, which has been used for almost a hundred years.
"Six years ago, it rang countless times in Dragon Clouds City."
Thales sighed.
In the next second, the teenager took out the jerky from his pocket, stuffed it into his mouth, and chewed it hard.
"I told you this in the hall, right?"
"Thales Jadestar."
Under the sun, the former commander of the White Blade Guards of Dragon Clouds City rode on a warhorse, fully armed. He carried the Rising Sun Saber on his back and stared at Thales, who had a gloomy expression on his face, with his terrifying eyes.
Thales and Monty looked at each other. Their expressions were unpleasant.
"'Be careful. You'd better not fall into my hands.'"
The voice of the Star Killer, Lord Soray Nicholas rose in the wilderness. There was a murderous chill in his voice.
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