If you asked a Constellatiate which department under the king was the scariest, he would most likely blurt out "the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department".
But if you asked him which department was the scariest, he would definitely not know.
Only for Thales, this department was considered an "old acquaintance". Whether it was when he first met the Black Prophet in Mindis Hall, when he was imprisoned in Dragon Clouds City, or when they met in a hurry in Blade Fangs Camp, they had interacted a little too many times.
Unfortunately, it was definitely not pleasant.
Now, this mysterious department that had been operating since the era of the King of Renaissance, the highest intelligence agency of Constellation, was sitting in front of him.
"This is the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department?"
Thales stepped off the carriage and sized up the manor in the southern suburbs of Eternal Star City. It was surrounded by a small river, the fields were barren, the low walls were simple, and the mansion was old.
There were even farmhouses, warehouses, and even free-growing woodlands that had obviously been left uncultivated for many years.
It was ordinary and conformed to the norms.
If it were not for the vast area and few people, this would be a standard suburban aristocratic manor.
'Maybe it really was confiscated after raiding some aristocratic family,' Thales thought.
"At least for the past decade or so."
Raphael greeted the carriage driver. The latter did not say a word and disappeared before Thales' eyes with the sound of horse hooves.
Just like an ordinary passerby in the countryside.
The Barren Bone man made a "please" gesture to the prince and gestured to the iron gate of the manor not far away.
However, the entire manor was silent, almost dead silent.
Like a tomb.
"I don't see many guards."
Thales suppressed his anxiety, stepped on the autumn leaves on the ground, and followed Raphael to the iron gate.
But he soon discovered something unusual. Two black crows flew out of the dense forest, flew over their heads, and disappeared into the simple manor.
"No need."
Raphael's pace was relaxed.
"Ordinary intruders can't threaten us."
Thales raised his eyebrows.
"Then what if it's not ordinary?"
But at this moment, Thales' hair stood on end, and he heard the whistling of the wind.
Reminded by the roar of the Sin of Hell's River, he quickly turned his head!
But it was too late.
A huge black shadow broke through the air with an unstoppable force.
It went straight for Thales!
"No!"
Amid Raphael's shocked and angry cry, Thales could only seize the time given by the Sin of Hell's River to react and put on Iron Body Style.
Dong.
In the blink of an eye, the huge black shadow arrived and crashed into Thales' bosom!
He was sent flying.
The first thing Thales felt was a violent jolt in his arm. Then, he felt the pain of his back rubbing against the ground.
His bones and muscles all over his body were protesting.
It was as if he was about to fall apart.
No, no …
As the Sin of Hell's River surged, Thales gritted his teeth and endured the pain. He tried his best to open his eyes.
But this was not the end.
A huge black shadow immediately enveloped Thales' entire body. It restrained his legs, pressed down on his shoulders, and pressed a huge weight on his chest, making it difficult for the teenager to move and breathe.
Thales could even feel the other party's heavy, violent, fiery, and hurried breathing as he leaned forward as if he was demonstrating his strength. He was so close to Thales' cheek that he could even feel the other party's rough, violent, and fiery breathing.
No.
Thales struggled fiercely.
He swore that no matter how inconvenient, suspicious, or inappropriate it was, he would definitely bring the police or the Sentinel with him.
He absolutely could not allow himself to be slaughtered unarmed.
The attacker stuck his head under Thales' neck and took a few deep breaths. Each breath was longer than the last, and he seemed to be gradually intoxicated by it.
Raphael's exasperated voice was then heard.
"No! Edward — "
At this moment, Thales suddenly felt his cheeks heat up.
Below his neck, a moist and sticky soft object covered him.
His chin, cheeks, and cheekbones. From bottom to top, it slowly swept across the side of his face.
Hot, warm, and soft.
And a little … fishy?
Thales was stunned.
The other party left his cheek, leaving behind a sticky liquid.
When the wind blew, it felt cool.
'Hmm?'
Before he could react, the black shadow approached him again, accompanied by rapid and fiery breathing.
Another wave of warmth and dampness covered Thales' mouth, nose, forehead, and ears …
Over and over again.
It made him unable to open his eyes.
The other party breathed continuously. The tip of his nose and lips brushed against Thales' skin countless times. They pressed closely against each other, and he seemed rather excited.
Thales was stunned. Even the Sin of Hell's River was silently dispelled.
'What … is this?'
"Edward … this is Prince Thales. He's not a threat!"
Finally, the Barren Bone man's arm appeared on the attacker's neck, trying to pull him off Thales' body.
As the attacker protested in dissatisfaction, Thales felt his chest loosen. He finally gained some space and raised his head.
The prince was immediately stunned.
On top of him was a large, pitch-black dog.
"Woof, woof!"
At this moment, Raphael was grabbing the fierce dog's neck and dragging it backwards. He was in a sorry state during the wrestling.
Thales recognized its breed.
It was an Angry Wolfhound.
This breed of dog was known for its fierceness. It had always been a good helper for the nobles of Constellation when they went on hunting excursions. A long time ago, Chief Morris of the Brotherhood, Quide and Rick's superior, also kept a majestic Angry Wolfhound. He even met Thales by chance in the back alley of Sunset Pub. The Angry Wolfhound also liked to "play" with Thales. Hmm, the "play" that was not too friendly.
The large dog in front of him also had similar characteristics, whether it was sharp fangs or a fierce face.
Except for one thing.
It was also …
'Too big.'
Thales stared blankly at the wrestling in front of him.
Although Raphael was slender, he was not short.
But even with his size, it was difficult for him to restrain the large dog. He was like a child trying to reach out and hug an old tree that was two or three times thicker than him.
At this moment, the fierce-looking dog was looking at Thales on the ground with great interest. Its breathing was hot, and it occasionally licked its tongue and swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
"Sabot!"
Raphael, who saw that he could not hold on anymore, looked into the distance and shouted angrily.
"Pull it up!"
A gloomy and lazy voice rang out at the right time, approaching from afar.
"Coming, coming. Be at ease."
A right hand with only three fingers appeared in front of Thales. It grabbed the large dog's collar and exerted force in a very skillful manner.
Finally, Thales felt his body relax. It felt as if someone had lifted the three layers of quilts covering him — and in the middle of summer.
The large dog was pulled away from his body. It barked in dissatisfaction, and the sound was deafening.
"I'm sorry, Lord Raphael. Edward was walking in circles, and I did not pay attention …" The lazy voice dealt with the large dog's protest while apologizing insincerely.
Thales grabbed Raphael's hand, felt his whole body go numb, and struggled to get up.
"Damn it … What is this?"
Thales patted the dust off his body, still in shock, and pulled up his sleeves to wipe the saliva that had not dried on his face.
Raphael coughed awkwardly.
"Your Highness, I believe you have met Edward. He is one of our … guards."
The Barren Bone man waved at the large dog in front of him. The exaggerated movement made it roar.
"Woof! Woof! "
It bared its teeth, its gaze fierce.
But when it subconsciously wanted to move forward with a fierce look on its face, the right hand with only three fingers reached out and stopped Edward.
"You know, guards … Edward doesn't like being introduced like this. He thinks this is his territory, and he is the master."
Raphael snorted.
"Is that so?"
The person holding the large dog was a haggard middle-aged man who looked like he did not sleep well last night. He had dark circles under his eyes, and ignored Edward's threatening barking. He bowed to Thales.
"Duke of Star Lake, I've heard a lot about you."
Raphael looked at the Angry Wolfhound warily and introduced,
"This is Sabot, the best tracker in the kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department."
Sabot shrugged.
"Also a gatekeeper, and a dog walker."
The large dog next to him was dissatisfied again.
"Woof! Woof! "
"Alright, alright, my bad," Sabot comforted Edward.
"I mean, I'm a gatekeeper, and someone who scoops your poop …"
Tracker, gatekeeper, dog walker …
Thales, who got rid of the unknown liquid on his face, nodded awkwardly and returned Sabot's greeting, but his eyes kept drifting to Edward.
The Secret Intelligence Department's watchdog …
Looking at the other's forelimbs that were as thick as his thighs, and the four paws that could reach the height of a normal person's shoulder, as well as the impact of a heavy cavalry charge, Thales gulped with lingering fear.
This is too big!
That's against the rules!
Once it noticed that Thales was sizing it up, the ridiculously large black Angry Wolfhound instantly lowered the volume of its growl.
"Awoo ~"
The large dog, Edward, retracted its sharp teeth and revealed its tongue. Its lower jaw opened up into a huge arc, and its tail swung freely from side to side.
"Obviously, he likes you, Your Highness."
Sabot frowned and said in a dark tone.
Edward opened his mouth in a frightening manner. He could not hide the saliva dripping from his mouth as he stared at Thales with sparkling eyes.
Joy was written all over his face.
He was full of energy.
Thales quickly lowered his head to avoid eye contact, and tidied up his messy clothes in a flustered manner.
"Yeah, I can see that."
Sabot held the collar with one hand, and scratched Edward's back with the other to soothe its restlessness.
"It's been a long time since he pounced on someone. The last time was a long time ago …"
Raphael cleared his throat and gave Sabot a warning look.
"I'll go open the door. Watch your dog."
Sabot turned his head indifferently, and Edward bared its teeth again.
"Woof woof!"
"You misunderstood. Raphael wasn't talking about you, he was talking about me. Watch me …"
The Barren Bone man strode towards the double-opened iron door.
Sabot looked at Raphael's back, and then at the large dog beside him that kept nudging forward, obviously interested in Thales.
"Tsk tsk, Lord Hansen must be very upset …"
Thales suppressed his fear of Edward.
"Why?"
"Don't you know?"
Sabot took out a chain ("Who the f * ck uses a steel chain to chain a dog!" — the prince later complained) and buckled Edward's collar.
He took a step closer to Thales (the prince subconsciously took a step back) and said in a low voice,
"There's a rumor in the Secret Intelligence Department that Lord Hansen's leg was bitten off by a terrifying dog."
'Huh?
The Black Prophet's leg? '
Thales pricked up his ears.
"But there's always been a dispute over which dog it was. There's even a bet.
"But, tsk tsk, if you ask me," Sabot winked at the large dog beside him, and put on a pretentious air, hinting at something.
"Do you understand what I mean?"
The terrifyingly large Angry Wolfhound barked excitedly, its enthusiasm for Thales undiminished.
Thales took a step back and nodded stiffly.
In the distance, Raphael approached the double-opened iron door, pulled up his sleeves, and waved his fingers in the air.
What was even more bizarre was that as his fingers danced, the air in front of the iron door rippled like the surface of a sparkling water.
Thales frowned.
"What is he doing?"
"Magic veins," Sabot looked at the prince, then at Edward, and answered casually, "It's a trick of Soul Tower. Only by drawing the corresponding veins on the corresponding Sealing Circle will one be let in. In comparison, I prefer Alchemy Tower. They're all classical, and like to use keys. "
Thales' heart skipped a beat.
"But I remember that magic is forbidden?"
Sabot shook his head.
"Forgotten."
Thales raised his head in confusion.
"What?"
Sabot tugged at the chain on Edward's body, and prodded it, preventing the large dog from slipping out of the cage and approaching Thales.
"Magic is forgotten, not forbidden."
Thales' expression changed.
"Is there a difference between being forgotten and being forbidden?"
Sabot shrugged.
"From the practical point of view, no."
"But in terms of motive and purpose …"
At that moment.
"Sabot," Raphael's voice came, sounding dissatisfied, "that's enough."
At some point, the Barren Bone man had turned around, and the iron door opened a gap behind him.
Sabot smacked his lips, and waved his hand nonchalantly.
"Alright …"
But before he could finish, there was a sudden change in the situation!
The large dog, Edward, suddenly jumped up and leaped towards the iron door!
Thales was shocked.
Perhaps unprepared, or perhaps unable to let go in time, the equally shocked Sabot was pulled down by the chain and dragged towards the iron door by Edward.
In the next second, the large Edward slammed into Raphael in front of the iron door!
"Bang."
The Barren Bone man was mercilessly sent flying and fell to the side, moaning.
Sabot was thrown off by the chain, and rolled a few times on the ground, moaning as well.
Thales looked at everything in front of him in shock: two men were taken down by a dog.
"Are … are you guys alright?"
I knew it.
This dog is too big!
But what happened next was even more unexpected.
In front of the dumbfounded Thales, the large black Angry Wolfhound dragged the empty chain and happily smashed open the iron door on one side, then ran back and clumsily pushed open the other door.
Once it was done, it turned around happily and looked at Thales.
The prince's heart sank.
"Wait, hey, hey, hey, good dog, Edward, right … Um, I actually don't know them … If you have a grudge against them …"
But in the next moment, Edward roared, took a step forward, and rushed towards the teenager!
"No, no no no! Don't, don't come over … "
The traumatized prince took five or six steps back in fear. In the end, he could not care less about the dignity of the royal family, and turned to run!
But Edward's size was not only huge, but it was equally fast.
Thales had only run a few steps when the large dog swept past him and pounced on him!
F * ck!
Thales subconsciously raised his arms to block the attack.
But fortunately, Edward did not recklessly pounce on him this time.
It nimbly stopped not far in front of Thales, and obediently whimpered twice, as if to remind him of something.
'Hmm?'
Thales lowered his arms in puzzlement.
The large dog approached him carefully with short, quick steps.
This time, as he looked at its obedient gaze, Thales realized that the Sin of Hell's River in his body did not react.
Edward stuck out its tongue, wagged its tail, and turned twice on the spot with its mountain-like body.
"Woof! Woof! "
It barked twice at the open door. Its gaze was obedient, and its bark was ingratiating.
Sensing its kindness, Thales looked at the door in the distance, put down his arms in puzzlement, and pointed at himself.
"Me?"
The large dog became even more excited when it received a response.
This time, it wagged its tail and barked once at Thales, then twice at the iron door.
"Woof! Woof woof! "
Under the dog's expectant gaze, Thales looked at the blocked path and the two figures lying on the ground in the distance. He did not know if they were dead or alive. He braced himself and forced a smile.
"You mean, the door?"
"Woof!"
The large dog happily pounced on the prince, whose face was ashen. It circled Thales twice, arched his back, and pushed him forward.
"All right, all right, I'll go …" The anxious Thales walked forward, not knowing what to do.
Edward walked beside him, licking the back of his hand affectionately from time to time, and rubbing against the teenager's arm.
Until they arrived in front of the iron door.
"Oh." Standing in front of the iron door, Thales understood. He was a little enlightened, but also a little relaxed.
"You mean …
"You opened the door for me on purpose?"
"Woof!" Edward barked even more cheerfully.
"Good, good dog." Thales suppressed his uneasiness, tentatively extended his hand, and scratched its furry head in a rusty manner.
"Thank … thank you?"
Edward stuck out its tongue, turned its head, and looked pleased.
It was obviously enjoying it.
On the other side, Raphael got up while cursing. He patted the dust off his body, and glared angrily at Sabot, who was also tidying himself up.
"Alright, we all know that Edward is very smart," Sabot said eerily. He extended his hand to grab the large dog's leash, and took over Thales' action of scratching the dog.
"But this is the first time."
Edward growled at him in dissatisfaction, its vocal cords threatening.
"We'd better hurry up and go in." Raphael looked at the large dog warily, his face full of displeasure.
"It looks like it's not done yet."
Thales turned around for the last time, and waved awkwardly at Edward.
The Angry Wolfhound responded excitedly, and wanted to move forward again, but was pulled back by Sabot.
With a click, the iron door was shut.
Sabot, who was equally displeased, and the large Angry Wolfhound, who was looking at Thales reluctantly, were both shut outside the door.
"Sabot." Through the iron door, Raphael looked at the large dog suspiciously.
"The Duke of Star Lake is traveling in private, do you understand?"
"Yes, I'll tell them." Sabot shook his head nonchalantly.
"An innocent and cute fawn accidentally trespassed on Edward's territory."
The large dog howled angrily.
"Alright, alright! I know! "
Sabot scratched Edward's neck with a headache.
"I'll say it's a big wolf, a wolf, alright? It won't damage your reputation … I swear, the other dogs will be impressed … "
Listening to the man and dog arguing further and further behind him, Thales felt a lingering fear.
"So, Sabot, he can talk to dogs?"
The Barren Bone man laughed.
"He thinks he can."
"What do you mean?"
"At least according to Lord Hansen, that's what Sabot has believed for decades," Raphael shook his head indifferently, "As for whether it's true …"
"Only dogs know."
Thales smiled.
He grabbed his collar, and sniffed the place where Edward's teeth had bitten him.
The prince immediately frowned.
He could not be mistaken.
That was fresh …
The smell of blood.
"So, old friend, other than eating, when was the last time you pounced on someone like this?"
Outside the iron door, Sabot took out an old notebook and opened the cover, which had the crooked words "Don't get eaten!" written on it.
As he listened to Edward's roar, he recorded something excitedly.
"What?"
"You mean the smell? The same smell? Dog? Another dog? "
Sabot's eyes widened.
"What, a big dog? His big dog? A powerful dog? A dog the size of the earth? A dog that gave birth to a dog? A dog that all dogs are afraid of? "
Sabot suddenly came to a realization.
"A big dog, his big dog, a dog that gave birth to a dog … Oh, I get it …"
He put down his pen, touched Edward's head, and looked at Thales' back through the iron door.
"What you want to say is —"
The Angry Wolfhound stared at Sabot's palm, licked its saliva-filled teeth, and growled in warning.
"His mother?"
The Angry Wolfhound's eyes turned cold.
In the next second, the fierce dog's muscles trembled, and it raised its head!
Clack!
The sound of teeth clenching exploded in the air.
In the nick of time, Sabot skillfully and swiftly retracted his palm.
"I see. Fine, so you bully the weak and fear the strong …"
Sabot showed no fear. He raised his right hand, which only had three fingers, and smiled at the fierce Angry Wolfhound, "I say, his mother may not be human …"
"But you're a real dog!"
Edward snorted in dissatisfaction.
Then, it turned its head in disdain, flicked its tail, and strode its paws, and went back for a walk in high spirits.
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