Amidst the hustle and bustle, Thales stared expressionlessly at the shortsword in his hand. He walked against the flow of the crowd and allowed the guards to pass by him.
The prince's figure was embellished in the midst of a group of armored guards, looking lonely and out of place.
Dazzling and prominent.
In the next second, as if the ban had been lifted, the long-silent crowd of guests burst into an uproar.
Waves of cheers, discussions, applause, and whispers rang out incessantly.
"Oh my god, I swear, this banquet is the coolest thing I've seen this year …"
"As expected of Jadestar, right? Reminds me of forty years ago … cough cough cough … "
"That's right, let me tell you, when Polaris was still in Northland … he killed kings and archdukes when he saw them … Elaphure City really missed him!"
"Remember, if anyone asks about what happened today, don't talk too much. Just say that the royal guards controlled the scene …"
"His stance was so brave. Ah, good Sanni, let me tell you a secret, I really want to be pressed against the wall and kissed by His Highness … Ah what, you too? Hmph, shameless! B * tch! "
"Let me tell you, go back and immediately invest in the glass merchants' guild, especially in the production of wine utensils …"
"No, listen to me, before Renaissance Palace responds, you are not allowed to come to Mindis Hall again, and you are not allowed to comment on what happened today …"
"Before that b * tch Enosha does anything, we have to find out the details of His Highness' life in the North, especially what kind of girls he likes …"
"As expected, he still can't get rid of the Northland barbarians' style. Let me tell you, be careful in the future …"
"Mama, I also want to study in Eckstedt … Ah? Otherwise, I can be a hostage! "
"Did you write it down? Yes, in this order: quail eggs, roast goose, lettuce, especially lettuce … "
"Tell your father to close all the usury loans your family has … Losses? You're still thinking about losses? Doyle is a good example to learn from! "
"Did you hear that? Did you hear that? 'I have the guts to stand in front of him and look him in the eye'? "
"No, when we go back, we can't even mention it, especially that bet …"
It was as if the public's temporarily lost enthusiasm had finally returned after the situation had calmed down.
"Thank god, thank god, my Sunset … That damned scoundrel, I swear, I swear …" Baron Doyle hugged his son and wife as he wailed unbridledly, which made Doyle feel very awkward.
Many people began to size up the Prince of Constellation, who stood among the many guards with his back to the hall, with different gazes.
But Thales only said nothing.
He raised his head slightly and looked at the empty highest seat after the King left.
It was as if he was living in his own world.
Not to be disturbed. Not to be disturbed.
"Alright, Flag Bearer Division will take over from here … Take him directly to the Secret Intelligence Department," Vogel instructed the men who were escorting Anker, then glanced at the dazed Thales with a complicated expression.
"Obviously, a lot of people have to work overtime tonight."
Soon, under all kinds of gazes, Anker was escorted away by the guards who were waiting for him. Even though he did not struggle, the length of the escort team was still comparable to a guard of honor.
Thales listened quietly to the sound of Anker being taken away. He did not look at his eyes.
On the other side, the Doyle family was finally free, and they cried tears of joy.
Thales did not react.
It was as if a boulder was pressing down on his chest, making it difficult for him to react.
Mallos motioned for Glover to put the cloak on the duke, but was stopped by Thales' outstretched hand.
As the backbone of the king's party, Count Godwin coughed, stepped forward, and greeted Thales like an elder.
"Your Highness, you've worked hard tonight …
"If you don't mind, I think the banquet will end here …"
But Thales suddenly spoke.
"Sorry, everyone!"
The Duke of Star Lake's sudden loud voice interrupted the buzz of discussion.
Thales turned around.
His expression was cold, sending a chill down everyone's spine.
Looking at the prince's expression, Mallos frowned slightly.
Thales knew that more than one person had told him: A smile is the best armor.
But the Northlanders had taught him:
Armor alone is not enough to fight.
The prince pressed down on the bewildered Count Godwin and walked towards the crowd.
"I know, perhaps today, my opening remarks were too gentle."
Thales' gaze was unprecedentedly cold.
"It's easy to misunderstand."
The banquet hall fell completely silent.
Thales lowered his voice, but in the silence, his words were incredibly clear.
"But for those who don't know me, or don't like me, or even don't want to see me …"
Thales' expression was dark.
"I don't mind repeating my welcome speech."
He paced lightly, and his sharp gaze swept past every guest.
It made people want to retreat.
"Everyone!"
Thales suddenly raised his voice, and said through gritted teeth, using the toughness and deterrence that he had once forgotten out of habit.
"I am Thales!"
He looked around the crowd, and his gaze was sullen.
"A name that you can't find even if you flip through the seven hundred years of the Jadestar Family's genealogy!"
The guests whispered again, but they soon disappeared under Thales' gaze.
Thales lowered his head and caressed the short sword in his hand, feeling its expensive material and good feel.
He said in a low voice, "So, you may not know …
"For the past six years.
"I am neither the Prince of Constellation, nor the Duke of Star Lake."
The guests looked at each other.
Thales played with the short sword and did not raise his head, but every word he said was deep, and the guests subconsciously pricked up their ears.
"I saw the vassals kill each other, and Nuven's death.
"I saw the Great Dragon descend from the sky, and the calamity burn the city.
"I saw the war turn chaotic, and Chapman rise to power."
Thales' pupils narrowed, and he looked up abruptly.
"Black Sand Region hates me like a mortal enemy, and Dragon Clouds City sees me as a jinx!"
His sudden cold voice made many of the listeners quiver.
Thales strode forward, and his gaze was resolute as he stared at everyone who met his gaze.
As he approached, the crowd subconsciously retreated.
"And in all of Eckstedt, the millions of living beings call me —"
While he was still speaking, Thales suddenly flashed his short sword and stabbed it into a long table in front of him!
* Thud! *
Thales roared furiously in the midst of the throbbing sound.
"Polaris!"
With the help of the Sin of Hell's River, his voice echoed in the banquet hall, causing the lights to flicker and the figures to flicker.
The entire hall was silent.
Hundreds of people, including many important figures of high status, did not even dare to breathe loudly.
Thales stared at the blade on the table, his breathing erratic.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Thales finally let go of the short sword.
Only the hilt trembled slightly.
But the silence lingered, and the guests remained silent.
Until Thales spoke coldly.
"Everyone, welcome to my … Mindis Hall."
He turned around, expressionless, and concluded with a cold voice.
"May you enjoy yourselves.
"The banquet is over."
No one moved.
Until Mallos sighed, stepped forward, and instructed the royal guards and the guards of Mindis Hall to restore order and persuade the guests to leave.
Vogel and Count Godwin also stepped forward and arranged for everyone to leave.
Only then did the banquet hall gradually regain its liveliness. The sounds of discussion and footsteps rang out again, but in a much more orderly and low-key manner, as if deliberately avoiding the Duke of Star Lake, who was in a bad mood.
Thales was still standing in the hall, and behind him was the short sword that had disrupted his banquet.
"I remember telling you to retrieve Sentinel," Thales asked Mallos, who had come up behind him and seemed to have something to say, without turning his head.
"Why hasn't it been retrieved yet?"
Mallos gestured to the guests passing by, apologizing to them on the duke's behalf, and replied nonchalantly, "That sword is hidden in the lock cabinet in your study.
"The sword is hidden in a locked cabinet in your study. I don't have the password."
Thales was slightly taken aback.
"Why didn't you ask me just now?"
"Because," Mallos glanced at the short sword behind him.
"From the beginning to the end, you never thought about using that sword."
Thales paused for a moment, then smiled in relief.
"Then you weren't worried, worried that he would really duel with me?"
Mallos chuckled, raised his clenched fist, and looked above his head.
Thales followed his gaze and looked up.
Soon, he saw five or six members of the Star Lake Guards emerge from the shadows above the banquet hall. Each of them held a crossbow and looked at them vigilantly.
Mallos slowly unclenched his fist that had been clenched for a long time.
In the next second, the royal guards in the shadows put away their crossbows.
"That's … Toledo, Morgan, and Itariano who are beside you …"
Thales recognized these people and could not help but be surprised.
"The sniper team you arranged at the last minute," Thales said in realization.
"Why do I remember that Vogel stopped you?"
Mallos scoffed and looked at Vogel, who was bidding farewell to a few nobles in the distance.
"He thought he stopped me."
Thales exhaled.
"Previously, did you think about the price of doing this?" Mallos asked softly.
Thales shook his head.
"No."
"And now?"
Thales' heart sank and he fell silent.
Mallos did not say anything, his expression remained indifferent.
The guests in the hall gradually began to move. Many squeezed to bow and bid farewell to Thales, but even more dilly-dallied, as if wanting to linger for a while longer.
For example, the Seven Jadestar Attendants.
"Very clever, Your Highness. As expected of Count Caso's favorite pupil."
This was Baron Stone of the Seven Jadestar Attendants. His expression was gloomy, and his thoughts were unclear.
"Despicable scoundrel, how dare you be so presumptuous," the elderly Viscount Patterson said indignantly.
"Your Highness, you must forge ahead and face the truth. Otherwise, such devious schemes will only become more rampant."
"This is no trivial matter. Take care, Your Highness."
Viscount Adrian's farewell was concise and clear.
"The Doyle family has no way to repay Your Highness' great kindness … only …"
This was a weeping old baron. But long before he could start his speech, he was dragged away by the observant Doyle, who apologized profusely to Thales before leaving.
"Your Highness, your righteous act of standing up for your subordinate is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people," Lady Eleanor said softly as she led her son, Luther, to bid farewell.
"A benevolent master is bound to be rewarded."
Facing them, Thales was expressionless. At most, he nodded slightly.
Until Val Arunde, shackled and escorted by the guards, came before him.
"You will become a problem, child." Duke Arunde snorted softly and stared at Thales with interest.
"Trouble for many people, big trouble."
Thales suddenly moved. He slowly raised his head and stared intently at the duke.
"Even bigger than you?"
Val raised his eyebrows and smiled. Without saying a word, he instructed his escorts, "Let's go.
"Let's go, I miss my luxurious single room."
After Val left, Lozano Glover, one of the Seven Jadestar Attendants, came before him.
"Your Highness, the accumulated problems in Mirror River and Crow Caw City are not just a temporary problem. They will affect many parties. Please pay more attention when you deal with them."
Thales nodded, but his heart was numb.
Viscount Lozano paused for a moment. He glanced at Glover, who was coordinating the work on the other side.
"My younger brother, Calun, he is dull and taciturn. He often forgets to eat and sleep when he works. He does not know how to rest and rarely goes home." Lozano looked at his younger brother with a complicated gaze.
"Please let him come back for a vacation regularly, so that he can better serve the royal family."
Thales' gaze flickered.
"I will."
Lozano nodded, bowed and left.
"That's it?"
Thales turned around. Koshder Nanchester blinked his single eye and looked at the prince disapprovingly.
"No," Thales said flatly, trying not to think about the haze in the depths of his heart.
"This is just the beginning."
Koshder snorted.
"I will return to Steep Forest City soon."
The Duke of the Land of Cliffs curled his lips, "Tonight, I brought you a few special stones from the Land of Cliffs as a gift. Find a few trustworthy people and keep them safe."
Thales frowned in confusion.
"Why?"
"Because they are military messenger raven directional stones," Koshder said nonchalantly.
"They are connected to a few military intelligence ravens that have not been recorded in the post stations, and not even the Secret Intelligence Department knows about."
Thales exhaled.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Koshder snorted and shook his head.
"Because your banquet had not started then."
He glanced at Mallos, who was arranging matters not far away.
"Because you did not need it then."
Thales was stunned.
But the One-Eyed Dragon left without any reluctance.
The figures hurried away and said their goodbyes. Thales watched the day's "unique" banquet come to an end with exhaustion and apathy.
Until he saw one of the figures.
Thales took a deep breath and recalled everything that happened tonight.
He smiled.
Amid the noise of the guests, Thales raised his head and called out to the figure who was about to leave.
"Dear Zayen!"
The hall fell silent again. Many people stopped and looked over.
In the crowd, the amiable Duke of Iris Flowers turned around.
"Your Highness?"
Proper etiquette and elegant behavior.
Thales looked at him and suddenly said,
"You forgot something."
Zayen was stunned.
"Something? I don't understand … "
But the next moment, his expression changed.
Because Thales turned around and, without hesitation, pulled out the short sword from the table!
Clang!
The metal short sword flew a few meters and hit the stone floor with an incessant clang.
It caused the people around to avoid it.
"The sword you brought." In front of everyone, Thales said coldly, without hiding anything.
"Aren't you going to take it back?"
As soon as he said that, everyone's expression changed and they were shocked!
The hall fell completely silent.
Zayen's eyes widened slightly as he looked at him in surprise.
Thales and Zayen, amidst the countless hurrying figures, looked past the crowd without any hindrance and met in the air.
Soon, the surprise faded from Zayen's gaze, leaving only coldness.
It was tit for tat with Thales.
As if they had a tacit understanding, after a period of fearful whispers, the remaining guests scrambled to leave in batches. Even Vogel was no exception.
It was as if there was a plague in the banquet hall.
Not long after, most of the guests in the hall had left.
Mallos frowned and waved his hand to dismiss the equally surprised royal guards and servants. He also stepped back quietly.
Zayen pondered for a few seconds before turning around and dismissing his old butler.
"You know, in these six years,"
Thales chuckled.
"Did I learn anything from Dragon Clouds City, from the Northerners?"
Duke Zayen frowned slightly.
He did not speak, but his expression grew more serious. His earlier elegance and composure were nowhere to be seen.
In the empty hall, Thales spoke softly. His tone gradually turned murderous.
"You f * cked them."
Thales stared at Zayen, his gaze sharpening.
"And they f * cked you back."
In the messy banquet hall, the Duke of Star Lake's voice echoed in every corner with a chilling coldness.
"Only harder.
"More ruthless.
"More painful."
In a split second, the banquet hall fell into a suffocating silence.
Only the two men facing each other from afar, their gazes as swords, confronted each other in the air.
Until Zayen sighed and sneered.
"How did you find out?"
Thales did not speak.
He frowned, took a step back, and sat down on a chair. He stared at the short sword, his thoughts unclear.
"You told me," the prince hissed.
"Is that so?" Zayen's smile grew wider and wider.
"When?"
A few seconds later, Thales raised his head and looked at Zayen again.
"Now."
After reading the anti-epidemic news for a day, I feel overloaded. My threshold has reached its limit and is about to be melted.
I'm happier writing.
What matters of the Six Dynasties have become private schemes.
(End of this chapter)
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