Bang! Thud! "
A few muffled thuds came from the banquet, along with the crowd's cries of surprise.
As he was prepared, Thales did not panic. But the moment he instinctively stood up, Mallos, who was beside him, mercilessly shoved him!
The force was so strong that he almost suspected that his personal guard captain was the assassin.
Thales fell into Glover's broad arms. Before he could react, three burly men from the Star Lake Guards' Guard Division — Bastia, Franzuke, and Ferri — appeared out of nowhere and pounced on Thales!
Together with Glover, they formed a wall around the Duke of Star Lake and pressed him tightly against the wall, leaving no room for escape.
"Highest alert! Guard Division in position! Vanguard Division reporting! "
Mallos' voice came from the gaps between the four burly men, "Forget about what happened …"
"Protect His Highness and escort him to safety!"
So the four walls supported him as he stumbled and moved unstoppably.
Thales, who was covered in sweat, felt his vision go dark. Half of his face was pressed against Bastia's sturdy abs, and it hurt through his armor.
For a whole five seconds, he could only struggle to spread his arms and create a path between the four thick walls of human flesh.
"Give, give me some space …"
In his ears, he could hear the commotion in the banquet getting louder and louder. From time to time, he could hear the muffled thuds of tables and chairs, the shouts of male guests, and the screams of female guests.
"Oh my god!"
"Pull them apart!"
"No! Baron! "
Damn it, what's going on!
Fortunately, Thales had barely moved a few meters in frustration when vice-captain Vogel's anxious voice rang out.
"Damn it, royal guards, calm down!"
"That's not an assassination at all, it's very far away from us …"
It was the sound of a lifesaver.
Thales felt his feet stop.
"Wait a minute," Mallos' voice rang out, "Let's take a look."
The next second, light reappeared in front of Thales' eyes.
Although he was still surrounded by several guards, he, who had regained the right to breathe, held onto Ferri's shoulder and stood up with much difficulty.
"What happened …"
As the Duke of Star Lake had the advantage of having a higher seat, Thales looked towards the center of the commotion.
The guests in the banquet hall stood on their tiptoes and gathered around curiously.
In the middle of the crowd was an empty space: a long table had long been overturned, dishes and cutlery were scattered all over the floor, and many guests had fallen and were helped up by the people around them.
What the hell?
Thales did not understand what was happening at the banquet.
But he could see that the dukes' table was also tense.
The royal guards escorted the unhappy Zayen to a corner, but his butler calmly followed with his master's wine glass.
The One-Eyed Dragon, Koshder, angrily pushed away the two guards who wanted to take him away. The latter dared not say a word despite his anger.
Duke Arunde received the same treatment as Thales. He was immediately surrounded by the guards of the Flag Bearer Division.
The two commanders of the guards present looked solemn as though they were facing a formidable enemy. Mallos nervously communicated with the Star Lake Guards, while Vogel ordered the men from Renaissance Palace, but the latter kept sending men out, while the former kept gathering men back.
"Hurry up and find out what happened. If it's drunken sex, suppress it no matter how big it gets. We'll talk about it tomorrow …" This was Vogel.
"Maintain the highest level of alert," Mallos' voice sounded, full of vigilance.
"Protect His Highness well. This may be a disturbance caused by an assassin, looking for an opportunity to strike …"
Doyle was annoyed at not being able to squeeze into Thales' 'protection team of four' immediately, but after hearing this, he said confidently, "Leave it to me, sir!"
He tried his best to move to Thales' side.
"With me here, even if the entire Mindis Hall blows up, no one can touch a hair on His Highness …"
But at this moment.
"Hey, D.D …"
Franzuke, who was the tallest and had the best view, stared at the restless crowd and said hesitantly,
"That looks like … your father."
Doyle was stunned.
"What?"
He hurriedly squeezed out of the formation of the Guard Division, stood on his tiptoes, and grabbed onto Franzuke's shoulder.
Not only Doyle, but everyone else was stunned as well.
Franzuke, who saw the truth, stuttered.
"He's probably drunk and … fighting with someone?"
Thales narrowed his eyes.
Sure enough, a figure that bore some resemblance to old Baron Doyle was knocked to the ground and dragged, screaming non-stop.
Someone tried to rush forward to stop it, but it did not seem to work.
Around them was a screaming crowd. They kept retreating as the center of the conflict shifted.
"Oh no, this is an occasion," Doyle saw the situation clearly, stomped his feet in anger, and scratched his head anxiously.
"Stupid old man … I really f * cking give up …"
Doyle pressed down on his weapon and was about to charge down instinctively, but Mallos pushed him back to Thales' side with a furious expression.
"Stay at your post, Dennis Doyle!"
Doyle snapped out of his daze and awkwardly returned to the formation.
"Indeed, it's that slippery, greedy, opportunistic old baron," Vogel came to Mallos' side and frowned.
"He can actually fight with someone?"
A few servants rushed over, trying to maintain order while helping the guests affected by the conflict.
But the next moment, the man dragging old Baron Doyle turned around and threw the two servants a few meters away!
"Oh, Sunset!"
"Stop fighting!"
"Good! Good fight! Keep fighting! Hit him! We Northlanders support you! "
"Help him!"
"Step back! There's nothing to see! "
A number of guests of higher status and character tried their best to maintain order and get everyone to step back. The crowd yelled and moved a little further away.
Mallos and Vogel frowned at the same time.
Alright, Thales did not know if old Baron Doyle could fight with someone.
But he could tell that the baron's opponent was really good at fighting.
Doyle was extremely anxious as he watched.
"Pass the word down, continue to maintain the highest level of alert," Mallos ordered after listening to the report.
Clearly, Vogel was no longer in the mood to point fingers at Mallos. He was equally serious.
"Stay focused and watch out for suspicious people. This is a good time to fish in troubled waters — and protect the other dukes and nobles.
"Let the emergency team take action. No matter what it is, whether it's jealousy or a drunken brawl, suppress it immediately …"
But …
"No, Lord Talon."
Mallos stared at the two people at the center of the conflict and interrupted Vogel.
"I recognize that look."
Mallos' next sentence made everyone tense up.
"It's that assassin."
Thales was shocked.
"What?"
Doyle's eyes widened, "My old man? Assassin? "
Doyle let out an ugly laugh.
"Hehe, no, sir, stop joking. At his level, he might not even be able to defeat my stepmother's pet cat …"
But as Doyle spoke, he realized something.
His face paled and he subconsciously looked towards the center of the hall.
"Ahhh, no, no, no, no, no more killing!"
A high-pitched female voice rang out from the crowd!
"Blood! There's blood! "
Thales only had time to see a flash of cold light. The banquet crowd retreated again!
The next second, he was once again surrounded by the royal guards. He could only hear the voices around him.
"Stop them!"
"Help!"
"Someone's injured!"
"That's not necessary!"
Thales squeezed through a small gap and peeked out from under Glover's armpit.
"Don't panic. Just guard our posts and protect His Highness and the nobles. Let the others deal with the situation," Mallos ordered coldly.
"But sir, my father, he —" Doyle seemed to be anxiously defending himself.
At this moment, an angry and gloomy male voice broke the stifling atmosphere and reverberated throughout the banquet hall.
"Silence!
"I don't want to hurt you!
"If you don't want to die, step back!"
Thales was blocked behind Glover and could not see anything clearly. But the noise from the crowd seemed to stop abruptly, and then turned into a low murmur.
"Sir, we should stop this immediately …" It was Doyle's voice again, extremely anxious. His footsteps followed.
Mallos's exasperated voice came.
"Damn it, Glover, stop him!"
Thales felt the space in front of him loosen and he regained his vision: Glover had grabbed Doyle by the waist, who was about to charge forward, and pushed the latter to the ground.
As for the hall …
"What's going on?"
Vogel looked at the center of the banquet hall in disbelief.
A young male noble was glaring angrily, holding the bruised and trembling old Baron Doyle hostage with his left hand, while his right hand held a sharp dagger that gleamed coldly.
"Step back! Everyone! "he warned.
As he turned around, the dagger kept pointing at the crowd around him.
Wherever the tip of the dagger pointed, the crowd retreated until the empty space became larger and larger, leaving only him and the baron.
"That dagger … How did he get the weapon? All the guests, we … "
Vogel was both shocked and furious. He quickly summoned his subordinates.
"It doesn't matter." Mallos did not care much about the 'assassin' on the other side.
The watchman first turned around to size up Thales, and found that the curious duke was only disheveled and had a slightly messy hairstyle.
"The important thing is, he got it."
Thales, who was "locked" between the three human walls, blinked hard as he watched the scene of hostages being held in the field.
"What's going on — let him get up, Glover. You're a big guy, stop pressing down on him."
Glover finally got up, pulled the indignant Doyle up, and patted him on the shoulder.
In the hall, a few guests with higher prestige came forward and advised the young man who was holding the hostage.
"Calm down, sir …"
"There's no need to use swords …"
"We can slowly talk through any conflict …"
"Everyone, the weather is so good, why don't we sit down and have a drink?"
As they spoke, two Mindis Hall guards saw the opportunity and pounced from behind, trying to subdue the hostage-taker!
But Thales saw the young man slam the hilt of Baron Doyle's sword, causing the latter to fall to the ground in pain, and immediately turn around!
The sword flashed.
"Clang! Clang! "
With a few soft clangs, the young man's figure flitted past the guards surrounding him. One of the guards fell to his knees in pain and was kicked a few meters away. Another guard screamed as his weapon fell to the ground, and he held his bleeding arm as he retreated.
Seeing the blood, the crowd exclaimed again.
In an instant, reinforcements arrived. Three guards pushed their way through the crowd, but paused just as they were about to swarm forward.
"Take a step forward!"
The young man grabbed old Baron Doyle's collar and placed the dagger against his neck.
"Then he's really dead."
The young man did not look handsome, but his eyes were extremely determined.
The crowd whispered among themselves. Countless eyes were focused on him, including many important figures.
Only Thales frowned slightly.
This person in front of him, this' assassin '…
Looks familiar.
Mallos' gaze darkened.
"This skill …"
Vogel, who was watching the situation unfold in surprise, nodded.
"Quite impressive.
"And style.
"Nice postures, exquisite moves, tricky angles," Mallos mused.
"It's the Tower of Eradication's' Rose 'swordsmanship.
"The skills of the Tower of Eradication … You mean," Vogel's expression was solemn,
"A foreign noble?"
Mallos nodded.
"Possibly."
At this moment, a shrill female voice rang out of nowhere.
"You despicable bastard!"
A noblewoman with makeup on broke free from the crowd, raised a dinner plate, and charged at the assassin like a madman!
The guards and the hostage-taker were startled.
"I'm going to kill you —"
The woman's dinner plate slammed into the young man. The latter did not retaliate, and only dragged the old baron back. For a moment, he was in a sorry state.
Until he could not take it anymore. With a roar, he rammed into the woman, knocking her two meters away.
The old baron exclaimed.
"You'd better step back, Lady Doyle." The young man gritted his teeth and pressed the tip of his sword against the shivering Baron Doyle.
"I don't have the habit of using violence against women."
Baroness Doyle was in a sorry state. Her makeup was streaked with tears, but she struggled to get up and said hysterically,
"If you're going to harm my husband!
"Then you'd better kill me first!"
The young man gritted his teeth, while the hostage-taker exhaled in pain.
"Damn woman, what's the use of you coming here," the old baron said angrily.
"Step back!"
Sitting on the ground, the tearful Lady Doyle's expression changed, "What?"
"What did you call me?"
For a moment, her ferocity was on full display.
Old Baron Doyle shuddered instinctively.
"I mean, my dear, please step back," the baron's voice softened. He forced an ugly smile under the blade of his sword.
"Listen to him, step back, and protect yourself.
"That's how I can live."
At this moment, an angry male voice rushed into the arena along with footsteps!
"Let him go!
"Let go of my father!"
Thales was shocked. Only then did he realize that Doyle had broken free from Glover's custody, left the formation, and rushed into the arena.
Towards his father!
Vogel frowned and looked at Mallos: the latter stared gloomily at the ashamed Glover.
The banquet crowd exclaimed again. No one cared about the guards who were trying to maintain order and disperse the crowd.
Doyle's charge was extremely fast. In an instant, he knocked away the guards and unsheathed his sword!
"Clang!"
The young man had no choice but to exchange a blow with Doyle.
"Come at me if you have a problem!"
Doyle was enraged. His sword swung wildly and went straight to the point.
"A coward who bullies the weak and fears the strong!"
This was the first time Thales saw Doyle draw his sword.
Doyle was different from the impression Thales had of him in the past. His swordsmanship was upright, bright, and glorious compared to the glib and frivolous Doyle.
His footsteps were steady, his movements smooth, and his attacks and defenses were well-balanced.
In just two moves, he forced the hostage-taker to retreat continuously.
"Your father?"
In two seconds, the hostage-taker sneered and defended himself.
"Your father! Bullies the weak and fears the strong? Hahaha! "
But this was not a fair fight.
The young man kicked a wine glass at his feet. By the time Doyle blocked the glass, the hostage-taker's sword was already at the old baron's neck.
"Step back, or I'll kill him now!"
The young man pushed the baron in front of him to block Doyle's view.
His voice trembled. He was even more resentful than Doyle!
Doyle was furious. The knight's sword in his hand trembled.
"Ahhh … Coward!"
But the young man was unmoved. He even pulled the old baron's hair in a show of force.
Instead, the old baron spat harshly.
"Brat," Baron Doyle, whose face was bruised and had difficulty speaking, said with difficulty,
"This is your father's business … Take your mother and scram!"
Doyle breathed in pain, but in the end, he lowered his sword and stepped back to help his stepmother up.
Thales could not help but speak.
"Lord Mallos, perhaps we …"
But the next moment, Mallos interrupted him with a gloomy voice. His words were laced with an unbearable chill.
"All of you … Drag that guy back, even if you have to break his legs."
Thales was momentarily speechless.
The Star Lake Guards looked at each other. Three of them stepped forward and left to carry out the order.
Many of Doyle's skills were not bad, but two fists were no match for six hands. Procca dispelled his resistance, Kommodore restrained his struggles, and the young Ness was the most direct. A heavy punch to his abdomen did not work, so he punched a second time.
Until the dying Doyle was dragged back to the guards' formation by the three of them amid his stepmother's sobs.
In the distance, the dukes had different expressions: Zayen was deep in thought, One-Eyed Dragon was furious, Duke Val looked on coldly and even had the mood to pour wine for himself.
Further down, the 'Seven Jadestar Attendants' who were directly under Central Territory were not so calm.
Baron Doyle, who was also one of the Seven Jadestar Attendants, was being held hostage. Viscount Adrian was speaking worriedly to Lozano Glover. Baron Stone was gritting his teeth. 'Little Iron Spike' Lady Barney held her son's hand tightly and comforted Luther Barney, who was curled up and crying at the start of the conflict.
Viscount Patterson, who was old and hard of hearing, tried his best to listen to his two nephews' horrified reports of the crisis. He would ask questions loudly from time to time, which eased the tense atmosphere.
"Young man, this is a royal banquet, and the honorable Duke Thales is present."
Among the crowd, the honorary Count Godwin, who was rather prestigious among the king's supporters and was in charge of receiving guests at royal banquets, stepped out from the crowd. His voice was calm and gentle.
"No matter what the reason is, your actions are unwise and may even hurt many people."
"Whether it's Baron Doyle or yourself."
In the face of Count Godwin's persuasion, the hostage-taker laughed. His laughter was desolate and desperate.
It made Thales deeply uneasy.
But just a few seconds later, the young man took a deep breath and tried to put away his madness and anger.
"I'm very sorry, Your Grace.
"But everyone, please do not panic."
Seeing that the panicked crowd had gradually calmed down, and that the guards in front of him had no intention of attacking, the young man panted and said loudly,
"Just listen to me."
The hostage-taker dropped the old baron, looked around, and said through gritted teeth,
"I am educated and courteous. I have no intention of harming the innocent at Mindis Hall's banquet.
"I have no choice but to resort to this!"
Old Doyle, who was at his feet, scoffed.
"Bah …"
But the young man's gaze turned sharp. He lowered his head and kicked him mercilessly!
"Shut up, old varmint!"
The crowd exclaimed again.
"The guards here can't handle it. We have to do something."
On Thales' side, vice-captain Vogel instructed his orderly in a low voice, "Control the perimeter.
Quietly and gradually evacuate the crowd. Observe your surroundings, don't let your guard down — and don't let that guy discover you. "
Many people obeyed the order and got to work.
Vogel turned around.
"Are you sure it's him?
"Is it possible that it's someone else, and he's just bait?"
Mallos nodded calmly.
"Judging from his gaze, I'm sure."
The watchman ignored the unresigned Doyle, who was restrained by the two men, "But I'm wrong about one thing: his target is not His Highness, but Baron Doyle."
"So what should we do?"
Thales could not help but ask, "Let him take hostages?
"The king is not here. Perhaps the highest-ranking Duke of Star Lake, the owner of this place, should step in …"
"No," Mallos rejected quickly and left no room for negotiation.
"Listen up, Your Highness, you stay here."
Thales was rendered speechless.
The vice-captain furrowed his brows.
Mallos turned his head around. His expression was capable and swift.
"Glover, go and gather Morgan, Itariano, Pedrossi … Hmm, and Toledo and Trefanov."
Glover was startled and looked puzzled.
In the Star Lake Guards, it was understandable that Morgan was a veteran of the Vanguard Division.
But Itariano belonged to the Logistics Division, and Pezarossi was Penal Officer Patterson's follower.
As for Toledo and Trefanov, both of them used to be Mallos' subordinates in the Command Division. After arriving at Mindis Hall, they continued to serve as his messengers.
But these candidates who seemed to be unrelated to each other …
"They're all good at scouting or sniping."
The solemn Mallos explained clearly in one sentence, "Equip the crossbows.
With you as the leader, split into three groups and go up to the platform. Find a firing range and wait for my signal. It's best if you can kill with one arrow, or two will do … "
But Vogel's expression changed drastically.
"You're crazy!"
The vice-captain held down Glover, who was about to leave with the order, and said to Mallos through gritted teeth,
"Look around, from dukes and counts to the Seven Jadestar Attendants!"
Thales subconsciously glanced at the guests and noticed that many of them were secretly casting glances in their direction.
"Mindis Hall, a royal banquet. All the influential nobles and high-ranking officials in the capital are here. It's as if the entire kingdom is watching!"
Vogel glanced around worriedly and said in a low voice,
"If he stabbed without saying a word, that would be fine. But he's holding a hostage and negotiating with Count Godwin …"
Mallos frowned.
"Drunken disputes and personal grudges are one thing. But if he's killed in public without regard for the hostage and blood is spilled, and it's the royal family who did it first, then it's another … "
Mallos shook his head.
"That's the least troublesome …"
Vogel hurriedly interrupted him.
"That's the troublesome part!"
The leader once again had a different opinion. The royal guards around him trembled in fear, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Even Thales, who had relaxed after realizing that he was not assassinated, tensed up again.
The vice-captain glared at the watchman.
"Don't forget, Prince Thales is the host of the banquet! If one of the Seven Jadestar Attendants dies here, it'll be on his head! "
Thales was shocked.
"Besides, if you fail to behead him, and that guy goes berserk and starts killing people, the situation will get out of control …"
Vogel's voice grew more cautious.
"And anyone here, even an underage girl, will have a great responsibility …"
Mallos was unmoved as he observed the terrain of the field.
"We can drag the negotiation, gradually clear the scene, clear the area of fire, reduce the scope of impact and collateral damage …
"This isn't just 'damage' on the body!"
Vogel's voice grew more urgent. He was clearly losing his patience.
"For the sake of Sunset, Bright Moon, and Dark Night!
"This is just a banquet dispute. Don't make it look like a rebellion in the palace, a bloody war!"
Thales felt a chill in his heart.
Rebellion in the palace, a bloody war …
The vice-captain glared fiercely at Mallos.
"It's been so many years. This is the first royal banquet after the return of the heir to the kingdom. The last thing we need, and the last thing we can have, is this kind of situation and impression!
"Do you understand?"
This time, Mallos was silent.
He did not refute Vogel's lecture.
"Count Godwin has stepped forward, and the best outcome is a negotiated settlement."
Vogel collected his emotions and looked at the scene again.
"Killing him mercilessly is the worst plan."
On the other side, Count Godwin's negotiation with the hostage-taker continued.
"Young man, you're in the prime of your life. Why waste it?"
Count Godwin's words were as gentle as ever, and sounded sincere.
"Put down your weapons, release Baron Doyle, and we'll talk slowly. I guarantee on my reputation that you'll get the help you deserve. "
The young man wiped the blood off his face and glanced at the old baron at his feet.
"Honorable Count Godwin, you have a good reputation, and I'm grateful for your concern and help."
His gaze was filled with indifference and resentment.
"But I'm sorry, you can't help me.
"No one can help me."
"There's no need to be so certain, young man," Count Godwin gestured for the guards not to agitate him as he said gently,
"First of all, who are you?"
The young man was silent for a while.
The next second, he pressed down on the old baron's shoulder, causing the latter to tremble in fear.
"I am Anker Byrael."
The hostage-taker, whose face was covered in blood, looked up, but his words exuded a sense of pride.
"From the Byrael family of Crow Caw City in the Western Desert."
The young man who called himself Anker Byrael's voice trembled.
"I'm His Majesty Kessel's loyal servant, a brave warrior, and …"
His voice trailed off.
"Insignificant subjects."
Anker slowly raised his head and looked at everyone with a sharp gaze.
"And my father is one of the thousands of suzerains in Constellation, the Baron of Crow Caw City."
There was a small commotion in the crowd. Many turned around to look for friends who were in the Western Desert, or were familiar with it, in an attempt to dig out some information.
"Damn it, it's a foreign hereditary noble," on Thales' side, vice-captain Vogel hurriedly waved his hand and summoned his subordinates from the Flag Bearer Division.
"Go check if it's true, and inform Renaissance Palace immediately."
Count Godwin discussed with a few friends.
"Anker, right? The Byrael family … "
"Since you're of noble birth and have been educated since you were young," Count Godwin turned around, his tone gradually turning from gentle to stern.
"Then you should know …"
"Whether it's kidnapping the old and weak or despicable assassination, disturbing guests or insulting the banquet host, it will bring shame to your family!"
Anker panted on the spot in a daze.
"Please forgive me for taking the risk and disturbing all of you because I have nowhere else to go."
His voice was dry and hoarse.
Filled with despair.
Anker raised his sword with a face full of hatred and pressed it against the old baron's neck again.
"Because only here can I catch this damned old varmint!"
"Force him to look me in the eye!"
Looking at the other party's determined gaze, Thales had a thought!
"This bastard …"
Doyle, who had recovered a little, was still held down by his arms by his colleagues. He gritted his teeth and struggled.
"If you have the guts, you —"
But he did not finish, because Mallos suddenly turned around and mercilessly slapped him across the face!
Smack!
Doyle was stunned.
He stared blankly at Mallos, whose gaze was as sharp as a knife.
"If you want to kill your father, just say it!"
The watchman said coldly,
"Let him go! I'd like to see how many more stupid things you can do today! "
Procca, who was holding him, hesitated for a moment before loosening his grip bit by bit. Kommodore, on the other hand, decisively let go of Doyle.
The latter took a few deep breaths, touched his swollen face, trembling as he looked at his father who was being held hostage. Finally, he clenched his teeth and squatted down in pain.
Mallos' actions were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation. Vogel, who was watching from the side, frowned. Thales was also taken aback.
But the Duke of Star Lake recovered and looked at the situation.
He was focused on another part.
The assassin — Anker Byrael.
It's him.
Thales' expression was solemn. He recognized him.
At the start of the banquet, the prince improvised and gave an opening speech.
And after his bold "F * ck you, Chapman Lampard", a young noble was the first to respond by raising his glass and shouting back.
"To Duke Thales!"
"To his open-mindedness, wisdom, breadth of mind, courage — and youth!"
It's him.
It was his generous echoing response that elicited a tidal wave of responses and blessings from the guests to the Duke of Star Lake.
Thales recalled the scene just now and looked at the young man with mixed feelings: He held a sword in one hand and held the dying Baron Doyle hostage with the other. His expression was resolute and determined.
Just like what Mallos had said …
Facing death with equanimity.
"Anker, you said your father is a suzerain, the Baron of Crow Caw City," Count Godwin said slowly.
"Would he be willing to see you like this?"
Anker shuddered.
"My father, Baron Byrael of Crow Caw City …"
He clasped the old baron's neck tightly, his eyes glazed over as he murmured,
"No matter how unwilling he is, he won't be able to see me anymore."
Count Godwin was stunned.
Anker took a deep breath, became angry and focused again, and looked at everyone.
"A few months ago, as one of the suzerains of the Western Desert, my father responded to Duke Fakenhaz's call.
"He led the army westward on an expedition into the desert. Thousands of miles away, he spread the might of Constellation."
Thales was stunned.
An expedition into the desert? Wasn't that —
Anker's voice echoed in the hall, high-spirited and generous.
"He was ordered to lead the army! For His Highness Thales' return journey …
"Clear the way!"
Thales was stunned.
Many gazes were directed at the prince, encompassing all kinds of things.
Among them were Zayen's interest, the One-Eyed Dragon's sharpness, and Duke Val's indifference and silence.
Wait a minute.
Thales suppressed his surprise. The trip to the Western Desert replayed in his mind.
A few months ago, the local conscripts of the Western Desert dukes who cleaned up the desert with the regular army of the royal family. Their fate …
"Until that early morning, a few hours before Duke Thales was finally found …"
Anker said in a daze,
"Taking advantage of the Legendary Wing's absence from the camp, the Barren Bone people and orcs launched a massive attack and invaded the Blade Fangs Dune camp.
"My father, who was still in the camp, was suddenly attacked in his sleep.
"His army was almost completely wiped out.
"And he himself was seriously injured."
Blade Fangs Dune …
Thales' heart trembled.
The murderous gaze of the Legendary Wing — Baron Roman appeared before him.
And his chilling words:
"Kill our way back to the camp … No matter who we meet … be it humans, mixed breeds …
"Sal … Ri … Kai …"
Thales' breathing stagnated.
"As the general of a defeated army, my father returned home dejectedly. When he returned to Crow Caw City, he was criticized …"
The assassin, the hostage-taker, Anker Byrael took a deep breath and raised his head with bloodshot eyes.
"Not long after, his injuries worsened, and he suffered both physical and mental torture …"
The young man with the sword raised his head and looked at Thales, who was high above him. He said hoarsely,
He said hoarsely, "He died in pain."
On the other end of his line of sight, Thales clenched his teeth and closed his eyes.
Eight thousand words, no more chapters. Take it away. You're welcome.
Meeting a friend tomorrow might not be any better.
Monthly votes.
(End of this chapter)
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