The tavern in My Home was so quiet that even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard.
The mercenaries, or rather, the Disaster Swords, all stared in disbelief at the fair-skinned man who had spoken those shocking words.
"The heir of Constellation …"
While countless people sucked in breaths, Shawn, the mercenary behind Marina, snorted.
"I thought that it would be crazy enough for us to break out of the prison."
Thales saw that after Stake revealed the shocking target, Crassus, Ricky furrowed his eyebrows to the extreme. Klein, the Northlander beside him, stopped wiping his scabbard, and the cold glare in Masked Man's eyes became even more threatening.
Thales had also heard of the Disaster Swords before.
But he had heard of another name more often: the Tower of Eradication.
After the Battle of Eradication, it was a legendary holy land that tirelessly trained all kinds of warriors for humans and passed down skills for thousands of years to prepare for war.
Among the people Thales knew, be it Cohen, Miranda, Wya, or the others, all of them had stayed in the Tower of Eradication for quite some time and learned their skills there. Over the years, the place was so famous that everyone was used to calling the swordsmen who had the Power of Eradication and used the longswords (favored by the nobles) the "Swordsmen of Eradication". It did not matter if you were in the employment camps at the borders or the local city defense teams, as long as you mentioned that you had stayed in the Tower of Eradication, you would quickly become a hot commodity for all major employers.
And the Disaster Swords — that was how Stake called them. This name made Thales feel extremely uneasy. Based on what Wya had heard, they were the Tower of Eradication's mortal enemies.
'So …'
Thales sighed in his heart. 'They could plan a prison break in Blade Fangs Camp without hesitation, and even come into contact with the forbidden Shadow Shield.
"It's over, it's over, second prince …" Tampa looked as if he had given up on himself. "No matter what, can you not say such a big thing out loud? I still want to come back safely and sell my wine …"
Thales and Quick Rope exchanged a glance. They were experiencing the completely different emotions in each other's eyes.
Stake, who was the center of attention, calmly accepted everyone's gazes, as if he did not care.
"Your discipline and organization are really beyond my imagination." He rubbed his hands together. Facing so many strange gazes, he smiled humbly and said, "Even in front of so many people, facing such a big secret, you are not worried at all …"
Tampa's sorrowful complaints and Stake's mumbles were interrupted.
"You want him to die."
The masked man who did not speak much suddenly stood up.
He slowly approached Stake, and his wrinkled eyes shone with a brilliant light that was difficult to look at. "The Prince of Constellation?"
Thales gulped.
"If possible, try to capture him alive." Stake smiled. He was as gentle and humble as ever.
"Captured alive?"
The masked man walked in front of Stake and looked down into his eyes. "Are you saying that we are going to break through the encirclement in Constellation's military station and capture a prince? Then, we are going to risk the pursuit and encirclement of their countless armies and evacuate safely with that precious hostage?"
Thales noticed that there was a hint of indignation and anger in his words.
Marina couldn't help but say, "That's impossible."
Stake frowned as he stared at the masked man. Under his aggressive stance, he slowly retreated and tried to guess the man's identity.
"I didn't say that it's easy." The man from Shadow Shield shrugged and avoided the masked man. He smiled and glanced at the mercenaries in the tavern. "But at least it's not as difficult as breaking into the Prison of Bones."
At that moment, the masked man suddenly extended his hand!
* Slap. *
He pressed down on Stake's shoulder.
Stake's face instantly turned pale. The part of his body that was pressed down trembled slightly.
He shuddered violently and grabbed the masked man's arm with his left hand. He wanted to push him away.
But the man's arm did not move, as if it was made of metal.
"Because you can't do it on your own." Masked Man slowly exerted force in his hand, causing the trembling Stake to be unable to help but suck in a sharp breath. "So you want us to die as bait and buffer to help you achieve your goal."
Stake stared at the masked man in disbelief, but the mercenaries watching by the side only frowned. No one said anything to stop him.
The atmosphere in the tavern became increasingly suffocating. Thales, who was watching by the side, became increasingly anxious.
'What should I do in this situation?'
"We're not bait, but reliable reinforcements."
Stake gritted his teeth and endured the masked man's suppression and coercion, but he still insisted on speaking. "At the same time, we'll provide you with our resources … In a perfect plan … we'll take down the Prison of Bones and the Jadestar Prince at the same time … we'll protect each other and kill two birds with one stone … we'll help each other."
His words were intermittent.
The masked man snorted coldly. "Is that all?
Is there nothing else? "
In the unbearable pain, Stake forced a smile.
"Perhaps, it will even be a good start for our future partnership?"
The mercenaries in the tavern stared at this scene quietly, as if they were used to this kind of scene.
* Slap. *
A palm was placed on the masked man's shoulder.
The masked man frowned slightly.
Ricky stood by his side and shook his head. His expression was indifferent.
The man looked at Stake, who had a pained expression on his face. He snorted softly, then let go of his hand and retreated.
Stake breathed a sigh of relief. He tilted his body and rubbed his shoulder with an extremely unnatural expression.
'Damn it.'
He knew that he was at a disadvantage in this negotiation, which he acted on his own.
'But …'
"Why?"
Ricky took the place of the masked man and stood in front of Stake.
"Eighteen years ago, you destroyed the Jadestar Royal Family at all costs and left no room for maneuver. Even the branch families were affected."
These words shocked Thales.
The leader of the Disaster Swords said faintly, "Everyone in the circle is guessing who the patrons behind you are, the people who want the Jadestar Royal Family to be destroyed.
"Now, you are telling me that you want to capture the last Jadestar Prince alive?
"Why?" Ricky stood in front of Stake and stared at his stiff right arm. "What exactly are Teng and the people behind him thinking? What exactly do they want to do?
"Could it be … that the so-called blood of the Imperial Family, which has been passed down to this day, is really as brilliant as gold and can cure all diseases?"
Klein, who was behind him, laughed sarcastically.
Stake revealed an unpleasant smile.
"Honorable Crassus, why do you care about this?"
Even in such a disadvantageous situation, even after experiencing such a blunt threat, Stake's courage still surprised Thales. "Your goal is only the Prison of Bones. Forgive me for being blunt, but this is almost certain to anger Constellation, and King Kessel will not tolerate it.
"In this situation, on the basis that you can better achieve your goal, you turn to help their enemies and shake their political situation. Isn't this a brilliant move that suits your interests?"
The masked man behind Ricky sneered.
"Then, you completely pushed us to the opposite side of Constellation, and we had no choice but to board your pirate ship."
The masked man clenched his fists. "Just like the Assassin's Flower eighteen years ago, the Charleton Family."
'Charleton.'
This name, which he had not heard of for a long time, made Thales sink into deep thought.
Stake's smile remained.
"Sometimes, when you want something, you have to choose a side. If it's not this side, then it's that side."
He still had that amiable look that said, "I'm sorry, but this is the reality."
He was like a dedicated, hardworking, but helpless tutor.
"Besides, you've already made your choice. When you hijacked this tavern and planned to break into the prison …"
Stake let go of his shoulders, took a deep breath, and stood up straight. He looked like a generous man who was about to be escorted to the execution ground. He had a faint smile on his face that caused people to be unable to help but cast sidelong glances at him. "Isn't that so?"
The mercenaries stirred.
Masked Man and Klein looked at each other.
Ricky still did not move. He quietly stared at Stake.
Thales and Quick Rope exchanged glances between themselves by the table.
Their leader's silence affected the Disaster Swords. The tavern gradually became quiet.
Everyone looked at Ricky.
Stake waited quietly. Only his eyes occasionally darted around to observe the people around him.
After a long while, Ricky's gaze on Stake changed a little.
The leader of the Disaster Swords smiled and moved his chin a little. "Just like him."
"The same."
Stake, who had expected that he would be questioned, was stunned for some reason.
"What?"
Ricky snorted softly and turned around.
"How funny."
Ricky sat down again, as if he did not care about the person in front of him.
"At that moment, the way you spoke and what you said were exactly the same as Teng."
Stake's pupils instantly trembled.
'Teng.'
Thales heard the name with short syllables again.
Ricky leaned back on the stool and raised his chin. His gaze at the ceiling became unfocused. "I have seen that man, if Teng can still be considered a man. Sometimes, he is cunning, scheming, and cunning. Sometimes, he is passionate and ambitious. His existence is the world's merciless mockery of human nature."
Stake slowly lowered his head.
"Are you old acquaintances with the Shadow Master?"
Ricky curled his lips. "Yes, Teng. I have seen his methods and how he does things. I have to say, he is' unforgettable '."
Stake smiled. He was about to answer, but in the next second, Ricky's eyes shone with a terrifying glare.
"So I absolutely do not believe it."
Ricky lowered his head abruptly and stared straight at Stake.
His tone was urgent and resolute, and it was unprecedented. "I absolutely do not believe that my contact and meeting with him is a 'coincidence' or 'luck'. I also do not believe that any cooperation with him will be a 'win-win' result. Even if there are short-term benefits, it cannot cover up the greater losses we will suffer in the long run."
Stake was surprised.
"Leave immediately, Stake." Ricky's face was dark, and his tone became firmer. He did not allow anyone to refuse. "Out of admiration for your courage, I will not make things difficult for your companions who are hiding outside the house."
When he heard this, Thales breathed a sigh of relief.
'Fortunately, as long as I am not directly involved, I still have a chance to deceive them …'
Stake stared at Ricky in a daze. He looked at his cold gaze.
"Please forgive me.
I am not quite sure about your — "
Ricky snorted coldly, and his words were short.
"I don't trust you.
I especially don't trust Teng. "
He straightened his back, and his entire body instantly turned into ice. He said through gritted teeth, "So, worry about that stupid prince. We have nothing to do with each other.
Is that clear enough? "
Stake stared at him, as if he did not believe that they would refuse.
"But …"
There was surprise and hesitation in his tone. "You are alone and without help. The process of breaking into the Prison of Bones will be very difficult. Even if you are lucky enough to succeed, Constellation will not have a place for the Disaster Swords in the future …"
Klein snorted softly and said, "If we were worried about what you said, then we would not be here at all.
"Also, don't call us Disaster Swords. No one likes that title."
In the face of Stake's solemn face, the middle-aged Northlander put down the longsword known as Darklight and wrapped his arms around himself.
"We are the scions from outside the tower.
We are not a group of bugs in the gutter who serve a certain eunuch of Mane Ye as their leader, and who only have the false reputation of our ancestors. "
As he said this, the Disaster Swords snorted in agreement.
Their tone and expressions revealed their unruly arrogance and self-satisfaction.
Stake lowered his head tightly, and his cheeks trembled slightly.
Ricky snorted softly, as if he did not know whether to laugh or cry. He waved his hand at Stake. "You can go now."
A few mercenaries came forward on their own accord and surrounded Stake from three sides.
But in the next second, Stake raised his head swiftly!
"Wait a minute!"
Stake seemed to have figured something out. At that moment, there was an inexplicable hint of hesitation and struggle on his face. "I have a rough idea of what you think of the Lord of Shadows, but this …"
Ricky shook his head and did not even look at him.
"I said, you can go now."
Masked Man snorted in disdain, while Klein continued to pay attention to his Darklight.
The mercenary, Shawn, came forward.
"You heard what he said, worm." Shawn looked at Stake coldly.
"Are you going to help yourself, or do you want us to help you?"
Even though he said that, he did not have the slightest intention of letting Stake "help himself". Two sturdy mercenaries reached out and grabbed Stake's shoulders, intending to drag him out.
At that moment, an inexplicable hint of determination appeared on Stake's face.
He raised his head abruptly and looked over the mercenaries' shoulders at Ricky, who was unmoved.
"What if this has nothing to do with Teng?"
These words made Ricky move slightly.
"What if this is not some bullsh * t cooperation, but just a deal between you and me, and Stake and Crassus?"
These words made Ricky turn his head around.
"What?"
As he asked the question, the mercenaries' grip on Stake lessened.
Ricky narrowed his eyes, as if he was meeting Stake for the first time. "What do you mean?"
Stake broke free from the mercenaries' grip, and regardless of how disheveled he looked, he struggled forward.
"As I said, what happened today, whether it is the kidnapping of the prince or the cooperation between us, has nothing to do with Teng." Stake gritted his teeth, and his expression was resolute. "Master of Shadows, no, Teng doesn't know what happened here at all."
When he said this, Klein widened his eyes in shock. Masked Man even let out a soft gasp of surprise.
Only Ricky did not move.
But his tone changed.
"I have to say, you captured my interest," the leader of the Disaster Swords said slowly.
"What happened to Teng?"
In the suffocating silence, Stake showed a forlorn smile and shook his head in resignation and regret.
"Teng is done."
Ricky's eyes shone brightly.
His body unconsciously leaned forward. "Say that again?"
Klein and Masked Man exchanged a surprised look.
Thales originally had a headache over his future, and was not interested in the grudges between these mysterious organizations.
Until Stake's next sentence.
"Six years ago, on that day."
Stake turned his head around abruptly and stared at Klein with slight excitement. "You know, Klein, you and I were in Dragon Clouds City at that time. On that day when the Great Dragon and the calamities descended, we witnessed the upheaval that shook the Western Peninsula."
Thales felt as if his heart had skipped a beat.
Even Quick Rope did not move.
"On that same day, when everyone's eyes were focused on King Nuven's death and the ownership of the Dragonscale Crown, many things that the world does not know happened in the dark side of Dragon Clouds City," Stake said angrily.
The lights flickered, and the tavern became quieter.
Ricky nodded. His gaze was focused. "Continue."
Stake snorted coldly and glanced at the mercenaries around him. He looked at their various expressions before he said coldly, "On that day, Teng lost to the Black Prophet.
"That day, whether it was intelligence interception or direct confrontation, Teng lost to the Black Prophet."
"All of Shadow Shield's channels in Dragon Clouds City have been destroyed. Even something as important as assassinating King Nuven has gone awry. Lisban and the archdukes knew about the existence of the conspiracy a long time ago. The remaining forces in Dragon Clouds City even escaped the siege of Black Sand Region with the secret help of the Secret Intelligence Department and regrouped. We, who are in Dragon Clouds City, are practically blind. We can't even spare manpower to chase after the Walton Family's granddaughter or capture the Prince of Constellation. Lampard was even forced into a corner and could only put himself in danger. None of the backup plans we left behind for the archdukes to force them to obey Lampard and frame Constellation."
"Our plans in the Northland through Lampard have almost all failed."
The mercenaries started to whisper among themselves.
Thales frowned and ignored the shocked expression Quick Rope sent him. The Disaster Swords frowned together.
What?
Based on what Stake said …
That night.
That early morning.
Dragon blood.
What happened that day …
Ricky did not react. He stared at Stake coldly and waited for his next words.
"That's not all."
Stake's eyes were as cold as ice. "That day, the Secret Intelligence Department found him."
"Teng was ambushed in Dragon Clouds City. The Secret Intelligence Department caught him red-handed," Stake said coldly. There was an indescribable emotion in his voice. "They gave Teng a fatal blow that severely injured him and left him on the verge of death."
At that moment, the three Disaster Swords trembled!
"That man's forces, including the trusted aides of the Far Easterners who followed him since Mane of Night, suffered heavy losses."
Ricky turned his head and looked at Klein.
Klein shook his head to show that he did not know anything.
Ricky frowned. There was suspicion in his eyes.
In the face of his scrutinizing gaze, Stake laughed without being able to discern his emotions.
"Sometimes, I even suspect that for the Black Prophet, the power struggle in Eckstedt was just something he did along with the situation."
He smiled wanly and said tiredly, "That night, Shadow Shield, especially Teng himself, was the kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department's first target.
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