In that second, Anker was stunned.
He stared blankly at Thales.
"His Majesty will be very, very happy …"
The Western Desert man turned his head absentmindedly and muttered to himself.
"Is that so, is that so …"
Thales frowned.
"You know, this morning, Zayen gave in to my father. He cut a big chunk of his flesh for this, then ran back to Jade City — as if it was planned. "
"What's in it?"
Thales stared at Anker.
"What's in it for Zayen Covendier and his South Coast Hill to help you create this big news?"
"Just to embarrass me? And then watch you being executed? "
Anker was still in a daze and did not speak for a long time.
"Anker?"
Thales had to raise his voice.
Byrael trembled slightly and came to his senses.
He looked at Thales blankly. His lips trembled as if he wanted to say something.
"Do you know, Your Highness," Anker finally spoke a few seconds later, but what he said had nothing to do with Thales' question.
"If I die in a duel, or at the hands of the guards, it's my own doing. It's no one's fault."
Anker said blankly,
"But you, you said you wanted to give me a chance.
"But do you know that when you stopped me, you stopped the weight of a life?"
He looked at Thales like a walking corpse.
"That was brave.
"But also very stupid."
In the next second, Anker's expression kept changing, his facial muscles contorted.
As if he was having an intense mental struggle.
Something was wrong.
Thales frowned.
Anker's behavior was not right.
"How interesting."
Thales' tone was calm as he continued to speak.
"You know, more than one person has said I'm stupid — and it was after I made them suffer."
Thales recalled the people who had said that: Nuven, Chapman, Kessel …
But Byrael ignored the prince's words.
"But why did I agree at the time? Why should I give you the sword? "
He was immersed in his own world, his words flowing like pearls.
"I'm just a pawn. Why should I overthink?"
The more Anker spoke, the more agitated he became, until he sobbed bitterly.
"Perhaps, perhaps I still have a hint of foolishness left in me." The Western Desert noble gritted his teeth, but he could not stop the tears on his cheeks.
"A trace of weakness, a trace of luck."
"I want to believe."
"To rely on."
His reaction made Thales even more suspicious.
"But when they were dealing with me … I suddenly thought of something." Anker bit his lower lip, his eyes brimming with tears.
"You are only one person."
Thales had no choice but to comfort him more to calm him down.
"If I believed you and relied on you …"
"But you …"
"Who can you trust? Who can you rely on?"
The next second, Anker suddenly struggled!
He did not care about the pain of his limbs being tied up, nor did he care about the terrifying wounds all over his body. He exerted force in his hands and pulled Thales in front of him!
The astonished Thales had no choice but to hold onto the other side of the recliner to maintain his balance.
At that moment, Thales realized that he was face to face with Anker.
And his eyes were filled with … fear?
"Your Highness, you are also just another chess piece, aren't you?"
Anker gripped his hand tightly, his body trembling to its peak.
Another chess piece.
"What else did Zayen say to you, Anker?
"Why did he insist that I come to see you — since things are as you said, irreparable?"
The Duke of Star Lake stared at Byrael.
"What other … chess pieces does he have?"
"What is it?"
Anker let out a painful whimper.
"Reason tells me that it's wrong. I shouldn't have taken my chances — the Desert God is merciful, the Desert God is merciful!"
He breathed heavily and spoke incoherently. His meaning was unclear.
"Your Highness, you shouldn't be weak either,
"The Desert God has no disasters, but the world has disasters!"
Thales grabbed Anker's hand tightly, watching his painful and fragile tears, and became more certain of his judgment.
Anker was a chess piece.
But Zayen … was not the whole game.
"Anker!"
Thales reached out decisively, hugged Anker's head from both sides, and looked straight into his eyes.
As if he was looking into his soul.
"Think about your family, think about why you came to the capital!"
Anker shuddered.
"We are the same people," the prince said in an irrefutable tone, "No matter what we face …
"Let me help you."
Anker stared back at the prince blankly, his gaze blank and helpless.
But Thales' gaze was unwavering.
Overbearing.
Not allowing him to retreat.
The next second, Anker exhaled.
With this exhalation, he seemed to have lost all his strength and fell weakly back onto the recliner.
But Thales was stunned.
Sobs could be heard in the air.
In front of the prince, a wounded Anker lay dejectedly on the chair.
The young man bit his lip and trembled.
Hot tears rolled down his cheeks.
Anker Byrael.
Thales felt suffocated.
This man who dared to make a scene at a royal banquet and exchange his life for the future of his family …
Cried.
Thales suddenly thought of Ralf.
That night, the Phantom Wind Follower, who had lost all hope, cried in front of him.
Just like … Anker Byrael at this moment.
The prince sighed, sat on a stool beside him, and lowered his head dejectedly.
He suddenly lost interest in knowing the answer and did not want to pursue the matter further.
At this moment.
"Tina."
Thales looked up.
Anker was lying on the chair, holding back his sobs as he whimpered,
"Tina Amorey."
The prince frowned.
"What?"
Anker took a deep breath, as if it could give him courage.
"Tina Amorey, the daughter of the former Baron of Amorey Town," he said intermittently, like a zombie, "She's living in Crow Caw City, in our Byrael household."
Thales was puzzled.
"I don't understand, what does this have to do with her …"
Anker looked up abruptly!
"Five years ago."
He raised his voice, his expression mournful, like a prisoner on death row heading to the execution ground.
"The Case of Tax Exemption for the Development of Border Counties caused the most controversy in the Western Wilderness. In the Western Wilderness, Baron Aimolei Town returned from a trip to the Blade Edge Hill. However, he was infected with the Mist Plague and his entire family died.
Thales was stunned.
"But Tina didn't."
Anker widened his eyes and stared at the prince.
"For five years, she tried to forget the past, hid her identity, and lived with us as a maid — after I left my father's castle with my sister-in-law."
Amorey Town …
The entire family died …
Thales felt a jolt in his memory. It was familiar.
"But, as long as you go to my house and find Tina," Anker panted, fear and pain entangled in his voice.
"She is the most convincing living proof."
"Her bloodline, her survival, her existence, her testimony can prove that five years ago, Baron Amorey's entire family did not die of a plague."
In the next second, Anker's voice became extremely cold and full of resentment.
"Instead, it was a few important figures in Western Desert who conspired together to silence them."
At that moment, Thales' heart stirred.
He remembered.
"After the incident, Amorey Town was given over to someone else to suppress the situation.
"Those in the know include the three most powerful families: Brave Souls Fort, Wing Fort, and even Fakenhaz!"
He had heard of this.
Thales thought in a daze.
On the way back to Eternal Star City from Blade Fangs Camp.
According to Kohen's cousin, the Count of Wing Fort, Derek Kroma.
But …
"Why?"
Thales reacted and asked anxiously.
"Why?!"
Anker was sweating profusely as he panted. He let out an ambiguous sneer.
"In order to turn Blade Fangs Camp into a talisman, in order to assimilate that sharp blade into a normal state, in order to stop Renaissance Palace from extending its hand to the west, Western Desert had to endure the pain of having a blade piercing their heart, and had to sacrifice the interests of the middle and small nobles. Obviously, Baron Amorey could not bear the pain. The king's decree dealt a huge blow to him.
"So much so that he decided to cast aside his tacit agreement with the three families and act rashly. He even threatened to lead his troops in protest, ignite the conflict, and force Western Desert to take a clear stand against Renaissance Palace!"
Thales' expression changed several times. He recalled what a certain duke had said to him.
"You have to know that when your vassals and subordinates are enraged, and the public's will is high, you have no other choice but to go with the flow.
"If you don't become their leader, you will become their enemy, and be the first to fall under a pincer attack from both inside and outside.
"The tragedy of the Amolei Family. This will be a tragedy that will shock the entire kingdom. The three great families are selfish, willing to sacrifice the interests of their subordinates and lords, not hesitating to kill the natural orthodox nobles of the kingdom to clean up the family."
"This will expose to the world how backward, autistic, brutal, and conservative Western Desert has been for a long time."
Anker closed his eyes in pain and leaned back on the recliner.
"It is also the opportunity and bargaining chip that His Majesty has been dreaming of.
"It is a chance for Renaissance Palace to completely break the stalemate."
Thales shuddered!
"The evidence is conclusive, and there is no way to deny it. It is a heinous crime, and the whole country is in an uproar. The three families will be besieged internally and externally, and Western Desert will be divided and difficult to unite.
"They can either submit, allow Renaissance Palace to do whatever they want, or accept whatever punishment His Majesty gives them."
Anker's face was pale.
"Or …"
Thales was inexplicably shocked and speechless.
The bargaining chip that King Kessel had been dreaming of to completely tame Western Desert.
Held in Byrael's hands.
But why, why …
Too many things that he could not figure out came at once, squeezing his head until it hurt.
There was a long silence in the room.
"No matter what, His Majesty will be very happy to have this bargaining chip.
"Very happy …"
Anker subconsciously struggled, the straps on the recliner rattling.
"Use it, Your Highness, use this bargaining chip.
"Use it to plead with His Majesty," Anker gritted his teeth, as if he was about to crush the most precious thing in his mouth.
"I will definitely die, but please, for the sake of this bargaining chip … protect the Byrael family, and protect my sister-in-law."
Thinking about the logic behind this, Thales took a deep breath and came back to his senses.
"Why, why are you only saying it now?"
The prince asked the tortured soul in front of him, puzzled.
"If you've made up your mind, why didn't you take it earlier and bargain with the Secret Intelligence Department, or even my father?"
Anker's expression crumbled. The madness and ruthlessness in his eyes vanished without a trace in an instant.
"So, Your Highness, what's the price?"
Anker replied blankly.
Thales understood and looked at him sadly.
"Everything."
The young man revealed a numb and despairing smile and nodded.
"The Byrael family will become traitors, the target of public criticism.
"In the chess game of Western Desert, we will no longer have a choice, no longer have freedom, no longer have … a future."
Thales pressed on his shoulder.
In the next second, Anker's eyes were slightly dazed. Endless pain and remorse seeped out of his voice.
"And Tina, Tina …"
"She will never, never, never forgive me."
As Byrael's voice faded, he stared blankly at the void, motionless.
Like a walking corpse.
Dead silence.
"That girl called Tina."
After a while, Thales spoke with difficulty.
"Who is she to you?"
Anker did not answer.
He only glanced at Thales with bloodshot eyes, slammed back against the back of the chair, and whimpered painfully between his teeth.
In that instant, Thales seemed to have returned to the cramped Ballard Room.
"She's good?" the prince asked in a daze.
Anker panted in a daze.
"The best.
"But now, it doesn't matter."
Anker no longer looked at him and said numbly,
"It doesn't matter anymore."
There was silence in the torture chamber.
But Thales' mind was in a mess.
Does Zayen know about this? Or does Zayen know that Anker has a bargaining chip?
"Is this … what Zayen asked you to tell me?"
"An irresistible bargaining chip, an opportunity for the royal family to completely crush Western Desert?"
Anker nodded absentmindedly.
"Yes.
"But it's not."
Thales frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Anker raised his head and looked at Thales bitterly.
"In order to save my family, I did ask Duke Covendier for help, and asked him to facilitate my intrusion into the banquet.
"But it wasn't him."
Anker said faintly,
"He was just … another chess piece."
Zayen was just … another chess piece?
Thales was stunned.
"I don't understand."
Anker panted for a few seconds, his expression pained, as if the effects of Chaka wine were gradually fading.
But Thales could not care less.
"Long before that, when I was searching everywhere, I asked another person for help."
Another person.
"He was the one who reminded me of the plan to bring a sword to the banquet and duel in front of everyone to protect my family," Anker's words were intermittent, with the double sorrow of heartbreak and despair.
"What?" Thales suddenly felt that he had touched the back of this chess game.
Bring a sword to the banquet.
Duel.
"Who?"
The prince pressed down on Anker's shoulder in shock, shaking him and asking,
"Who was that?"
Anker hissed in pain, but he still smiled bitterly and said, "But he was indifferent.
"But he was indifferent. He refused to help me. I even used this bargaining chip to threaten him. But he just laughed …"
"He finally said that my only chance to save the Byrael family can only be found in the capital, in one person."
Anker's bloodshot eyes were fixed on Thales.
"He also said, in case I fail, in case I have to use this bargaining chip …
"I must hand it to you.
"And I can only hand it to you."
Zayen was just a chess piece …
Someone.
The one who set up this chess game …
Someone else.
Thales could no longer hold it in. His grip on Anker's shoulder tightened.
"Who?"
The one who drove Anker to his death …
The one who sneered and moved the chess piece …
The one who drove himself and Doyle into a dead end …
In his anger, the prince's eyes burned.
"Who is the person behind this banquet farce?"
Thales made quite a commotion. Norb and Raphael's footsteps sounded urgently from behind.
"Your Highness? What happened? "
But Thales did not care. He only pressed down on Anker and waited for his answer.
The one hiding behind the scenes …
The one who watched coldly from the sidelines …
The one who, in the end, hinted at Zayen, guided Anker, and pushed Thales to find this bargaining chip that "His Majesty would be happy about", and did not hesitate to ignite all the conflicts under the table in the kingdom …
"He wanted me to tell you, Your Highness …"
Anker panted in pain, mustered the last of his strength, and leaned close to Thales' ear.
"The carriage is about to disperse. What do you want?"
Thales was shocked!
What?
At that moment, it was as if time had stopped.
Along with his thoughts.
The carriage … was about to disperse.
The carriage?
But …
Thales stared at the dying Anker in shock.
That's not right.
That's impossible.
How could it be …
"It's too dangerous, Your Highness, stay away from him!" The footsteps behind him were getting closer.
Anker Byrael gave a pale and numb smile, "He also said …
"Since I've given it to you, then hold on tight …"
In that second, Thales' eye sockets suddenly widened!
Before he completely passed out, Anker laboriously pressed himself against Thales' ear and hissed out the last few words.
"Hold on … your sword."
— —
Western Desert Hill, Ruins, Floating Sand Palace.
In a quaint and solemn room, Derek Kroma put down his teacup and glanced at the chessboard on the table.
"Are you going to take this step or not?"
He asked the person across the chessboard respectfully and politely, "Your Grace?"
"Hmph …"
Across from him, the master of the Ruins, Cyril Fakenhaz stared at the chessboard leisurely, deep in thought — but his expression was even more ferocious and terrifying.
"Patience, young man, patience …
"A good game of chess is never won in one move."
The Duke of Western Desert changed his sitting position without a care. He held his teacup confidently.
Derek was silent for a second. His face was expressionless.
"But …"
The young Count of Wing Fort was very honest. He pointed at the lonely black king on the chessboard, which was tightly surrounded by white chess pieces.
"You only have this one piece left."
Fakenhaz 'hand that was holding his teacup froze.
Derek pointed out the truth calmly and even more ruthlessly.
"No matter which way I go, my next move is going to be a checkmate."
Fakenhaz 'eyebrows twitched slightly.
"What do you know?"
Looking at the overwhelming situation of ten white and one black on the chessboard, the duke calmly coughed at the right time to hide his slightly red face.
"The situation on the chessboard is only superficial. What's more important is the chess player."
He extended his finger and pointed meaningfully at Derek, then at himself.
"As the saying goes, even chess is evenly matched. Little Derek, remember, we're playing chess with a person, not chess pieces."
'Chess player.'
Derek narrowed his eyes.
Fakenhaz smiled coldly and gently placed a chess piece.
The king moved.
His demeanor was profound.
Full of vigor.
Derek cast a sidelong glance at him as he placed his chess piece. He breathed a sigh of relief and extended his hand to take his next move.
"Wait!"
Fakenhaz shouted loudly.
Derek's hand stopped in midair.
The Duke of Western Desert bent down and observed the chessboard with a profound expression.
"Let me think again …"
Under Derek's incredulous gaze, in the next second, Fakenhaz calmly extended his hand and placed the only king back to its original position.
"Hmm, let me think again, let me think again …"
Derek's hand fell to his side in disappointment.
"Sir, there's only this move left. You keep going back and forth …"
The young Count Kroma sighed heavily.
"Or else, we can just consider this game as invalid —"
"Hey! How can we do that?! "
Fakenhaz slapped his thigh.
"We have a stake!"
He firmly interrupted the Count of Wing Fort. His gaze was fierce, and his aura was aggressive.
"And this is a peerless sword!"
Fakenhaz pointed at the sword in the distance, which was used as a stake in the game.
He said sternly, "Don't you know that I just gave my saber to someone?!"
'Ah.
The entire kingdom knows.
Derek could only roll his eyes in his heart due to his good manners.
"But you are about to lose. No matter how good this sword is, what does it have to do with you?"
He smiled elegantly and used vulgar words to pierce the duke's heart mercilessly.
But unexpectedly, Fakenhaz only smiled sinisterly. He stroked his walking stick gently and resumed the manner of an expert.
"The situation on the chessboard is only a superficial representation. What's important is the player …"
"As the saying goes, we are evenly matched. Little Derek, remember, we are playing against a person, not a chess piece …"
Derek shook his head absentmindedly. Once he was certain that time was not flowing backwards, he exhaled in pain and covered his forehead in resignation.
Fakenhaz saw his movements, narrowed his eyes, and seized the chance to extend his hand.
"It's useless to touch my chess piece secretly, Your Grace." The Count of Wing Fort buried his head in his hands. He did not even look, but he seemed to have predicted what would happen.
"You only have one king left."
Fakenhaz 'expression did not change when he was caught. He naturally and smoothly withdrew his hand that had been secretly touching the other person's chess piece.
His expression was calm.
There was no guilt.
Derek raised his head. His expression was stern.
"Seriously …" The Count of Wing Fort no longer looked at the chessboard.
"You should really be glad that I have a good temper to give away such a huge bargaining chip just like that …
"If Count Bozdorf was here, he would definitely lead his soldiers to Crow Caw City and burn that orphan girl from the Amole Family to ashes."
Fakenhaz did not seem to have heard him.
He only stared at the chessboard carefully. He stared at the only king he had left.
It was as if he could create a miracle with his stare.
"You seem to have a large army pressing down on us, and I seem to have no chance at all." The duke focused on the chessboard and muttered to himself, "But where is the turning point …?"
Derek glanced at him and said tentatively,
"Of course, if Black Lion knew about this now, he would also lead his soldiers to the Ruins and break your other leg."
Fakenhaz was still immersed in his own chessboard. He scratched his chin and thought hard.
"No matter what you do, you will die. You bastard, as expected of someone who was taught by Karabeyan …"
Derek snorted in disdain.
"Are you sure you are taking the right step?
"What if His Majesty announces to the world tomorrow that he will list our crimes and force us to, hmm, for example, disband the army, raise the tax rate, and hand over the right to appoint and dismiss government officials? What if Count Bozdorf cannot bear the humiliation and leads the people to revolt?"
The Count of Wing Fort stared at Fakenhaz coldly.
But the duke still ignored him.
"It's fine. Chess skills are not the key. Not the key." Fakenhaz pretended to be deep in thought. He rubbed his palm as if he wanted to rub a chess piece from it.
"The key is the person playing the chess … Think, Cyril, think again. There must be a way …"
But in the next second, Derek's aura changed.
"But let me say this first, Your Grace." He stared at the Duke of Western Desert, who was mumbling to himself.
"If the ending is not good, I do not intend to die with you.
Wing Fort has its own place to go. "
But Fakenhaz turned a deaf ear to him. He only stared at his bald king's chessboard.
"It's fine. Continue thinking, continue thinking. When the sky turns dark or the sky turns bright, there must be a way to break the stalemate …"
'The sky turns dark …
'The sky turns bright …
Derek raised his head and looked at the position of the sun. He felt a chill run down his spine.
"Enough, Sir Cyril."
Derek, who had long since lost his mood, pointed at the white king who pushed him down and said impatiently, "It's just a game of chess.
"I admit defeat."
At that moment …
* Slap! *
Fakenhaz slapped his thigh fiercely!
"Look!"
The duke, who was immersed in the world of the chessboard, suddenly came back to life and returned to reality.
"Look —"
He pointed at the white king who was pushed down by Derek. He grabbed his own black king and laughed excitedly.
"Didn't I win just like that?!"
As he stared at the Duke of Western Desert, who could not stop laughing, Derek's expression twitched.
'Win, my foot …'
Fakenhaz put down his chess piece. Filled with emotions, he heaved a long sigh.
"It can be seen that perseverance will eventually pay off, and hard work is the way of the king …"
The twitching on Derek's face became even more extreme.
Fakenhaz stared at the cold and merciless scenery of the Ruins outside Floating Sand Palace, as if it had been plowed by nature's razor blade. He suddenly felt a surge of heroic spirit, and he slapped the table.
"In this situation, in this game, when I won, I should give a big white!"
The Count of Wing Fort could no longer hold on. He sighed in resignation and buried his face in his palms again.
"Chess, chess. As expected, we are not playing a game of chess, and neither are we playing chess pieces." Fakenhaz chuckled.
"We are playing a chess player."
Derek gave him a polite and resigned smile.
'Chess player, my foot.'
"Just like you, Young Derek. You are still too young and too eager to admit defeat …"
Derek could no longer hold it in.
"That's right. The entire game took two hours, and you wasted one and a half hours just on the last move …"
He stood up and left swiftly. He did not forget to swear.
"Who the hell can win against you?"
As he stared at Derek's retreating figure, Fakenhaz smiled softly.
He turned his head around and stared at the black king standing tall on his chessboard.
"My uncle can," the duke said softly with a sigh.
"So can Midier."
When he thought of this, the Duke of Western Desert's expression changed.
He stood up in a fluster and shouted hastily,
"Hey, leave that sword behind!"
It was not easy for me to win the bet! "
He extended his hand expressionlessly. 'Monthly votes, rewards, and comments praising Swordless Sword for being diligent in updating.'
(End of this chapter)
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