"Gu? Charleton? "
Thales repeated in disbelief. He looked back and forth between Raphael and Gu's prison cells, trying to find a thread of clarity in his jumbled memories and thoughts.
"Explain."
The prince restrained his emotions and stared at Raphael seriously.
"Now."
Raphael was silent for a while. He tightened his grip unnaturally.
"Your Highness, even if you are from the royal family, the Secret Intelligence Department has not been clear about your intelligence rank for a long time —"
"Explain!" Thales interrupted him rudely.
"I am explaining," Raphael cut him off coldly.
"But I have to make it clear, Your Highness, that I can only reveal information that is not higher than Madman's level without breaking the rules."
Madman's level …
Thales shook his head impatiently.
"You don't have to explain the rules of the Secret Intelligence Department to me — just explain."
Raphael sneered.
"I'm not saying it for you to hear."
The Barren Bone man raised his arm slowly. A black crack had appeared on his forearm at some point in time. The muscle lines inside squirmed gently, hiding a strange shadow.
Just like six years ago.
Thales was immediately stunned.
The prince retracted his gaze from the man's arm with difficulty and tried to return to the current topic.
"As you can see, this person's surname is Gu, and his name is Tang — at least on the surface."
Raphael stared at Gu's prison cell gloomily.
"He was born in a family of officials in Mane Ye of the Eastern Nation. He fell behind in his family and entered the Mane Ye Royal Intelligence Department: the Dark Robe Guards."
Gu Tang.
Black Robe Guards.
Thales' gaze changed.
"You mean, he is a secret agent of Mane Ye?"
Raphael nodded, but shook his head.
"He is a 'former' secret agent — at least according to the information we obtained."
"Former?" Thales looked at Gu's prison cell. He suddenly realized that he knew nothing about this prisoner who gave him shelter and a meal six years ago.
Raphael's forearm tightened unnaturally, but his expression did not change. He continued to speak tirelessly.
"Nineteen years ago in Qilin City, a member of the Chen royal family launched a coup in an attempt to suppress King Yao Hao, who had just ascended to the throne. During this period, the Dark Guard was split into two factions. The Commander Lin Dou, who was loyal to King Yao, won the battle. He took over as the Commander of the Dark Guard and cleaned up the mess, killing all the traitors in the Guard. "
Yao Wanghao.
Lieutenant Qing.
The unfamiliar and distant term crossed the ocean and entered Thales' mind. He could not help but frown.
But Raphael obviously had no intention of stopping to explain for the prince.
"Gu belonged to the faction that stood on the wrong side. He concealed his identity and fled to the Western Peninsula. He worked as a peddler, craftsman, mercenary, and other jobs. After the Bloody Year, he took root in Dragon Clouds City. He took advantage of the ruins and gaps left after the consecutive wars between Eckstedt and Constellation to wander around and work as an intelligence peddler.
Thales took a deep breath and averted his gaze from the metal door of the prison cell.
"What's that to you--to us?"
Raphael's lips curled up into a cold smile.
"Later on, we found out that during the years he was in Dragon Clouds City, Gu did more than just his old profession."
The Barren Bone man stared at the iron bars on the cell door.
"Aside from buying and selling information, this Far Easterner's business also included acting as an intermediary for various major forces and mediating conflicts.
"And for some conflicts that could not be mediated, but could not be ignored …"
When he said this, Raphael's gaze turned cold.
"He would find an assassin."
'An assassin.'
Thales tensed up.
'Wait.
Dragon Clouds City, Gu, intelligence peddler, assassin, six years ago. 'The teenager slowly connected the clues from many years ago. His expression gradually changed.
"That's right." Raphael sneered as he observed Thales' expression.
"Six years ago, in Dragon Clouds City, under King Nuven's power, the underground forces were in a state of disunity. Gleeward controlled the streets, Vlad ran amok in the black market, Camus Union profited from the people's lives, and there were countless other factions. Their relationships were complicated, tangled, and chaotic.
"And he …" Raphael raised his chin at Gu's cell door.
"Your friend from the Far East used ten years to gradually take over the dirtiest and most dangerous business. He became the biggest and most convenient contact for assassins in Dragon Clouds City."
Thales' eyes slowly widened.
"From street thugs and fugitives to Shadow Shield and Assassin's Flower, he had connections and was familiar with all of them.
"He bought lives with one hand and sold them with the other. He could be said to have hidden his abilities well and had eyes and ears all over the world."
'Shadow Shield.
Assassin's Flower. '
Thales stared fixedly at Gu's cell. His gaze never wavered.
But his gaze had changed.
'If Gu is the biggest intermediary for assassins in Dragon Clouds City, then six years ago …'
In the next second, Raphael expressionlessly stated what Thales was worried about.
"Chapman Lampard. Back then, the Archduke of Black Sand Region found Shadow Shield through Gu."
"Both sides colluded and formed a partnership."
Thales turned his head around stiffly.
'The partnership between Chapman Lampard and Shadow Shield.
'Their middleman is …
'Gu?'
He could not help but recall when he was young. He and Little Rascal hid in the carriage, shivering, and watched the Archduke of Black Sand Region talk to Stake.
But Raphael had not finished speaking.
"In the end, due to how troublesome the target was, Gu used his trump card and contacted the most powerful and terrifying assassin in the world. He relied on his sinister and dangerous killing blade to break through the heavy defenses of the White Blade Guards in the chaos brought by the calamities, and took the head of the Born King."
At that moment, Thales froze on the spot.
Raphael narrowed his eyes slightly.
"And do you know who that is?"
The corridor fell into a dead silence.
After a long while, Thales exhaled laboriously.
"Yes."
Raphael sneered. He did not care about the prince's extremely unpleasant expression.
"He knows how to contact the regicide family that fled without a trace after the Bloody Year. This alone is enough for us to imprison him until he dies of old age or confess."
Thales did not speak. He just clenched his left fist. His fingertips swept past the scars on his palm, which had been cut by the police countless times.
"But this is not the first time."
Raphael continued.
"At least, in Gu's account book, 'Flying Locust Blade' is not the first business that you're involved with."
Thales tried hard to digest the new information and looked up.
In the next second, Raphael's gaze turned cold.
"Six years ago, Your Highness, when you went to the north as an envoy, you and the Kingdom's Wrath were surrounded by Lampard's Black Sand Region Army under Broken Dragon Fortress, and you were bombarded by the Mystic Gun Unit …
"Who do you think used a variety of communication channels to help Archduke Conkray Poffret of Beacon Illumination City find an assassin who could even instigate the Mystic Gun Instructor, so that he could get what he wanted and watch you die in Lampard's army?"
'Mystic Gun.'
Thales frowned. He felt as if he had returned to the time he was under the fortress six years ago, when he faced countless blades.
His expression was solemn.
"Are you saying that it was Gu Juzhong who contacted them?"
Raphael snorted and swung his arm slightly.
"And you said that he helped you in Dragon Clouds City and saved your life?"
Thales subconsciously looked at Gu's prison cell.
"Then think carefully, Your Highness."
At that moment, although Raphael's tone was as relaxed as ever, his words were filled with a darkness that no one knew about.
"Do you think that 'Ground Shaker' Kaslan, who betrayed King Nuven, told you about the channel to contact Gu in the tavern because he found you pleasing to the eye, so that when you escaped from the siege of Dragon Clouds City, you could look for this seemingly mysterious and neutral underground figure?"
'Kaslan.
'Six and a half bucks.'
Thales' gaze was fixed on the cell's hatch, but he clenched his fists tighter and tighter.
"Do you think that there are so many kind Far Easterners in Dragon Clouds City that when a mysterious noble brat knocks on their door during martial law, they will always entertain him with good wine, good food, and a good bed, just because the kid is obedient, cute, smart, and kind?"
Far Easterners.
'Entertain.'
The prince gritted his teeth and tried hard to recall the scene of him and Little Rascal in Gu's butcher shop that morning.
"Do you think that things are really so coincidental that when all of Dragon Clouds City is in a mess, a shady intelligence peddler only needs to leave his house for two minutes to smoothly bring back the envoy of a country, the Marquis of Good Flow City, Shiles Bamra, who came alone, so that he can turn around and give you to Chapman Lampard?"
'Intelligence peddler.
'Shiles.'
Raphael's words were as sharp as blades. One after another, they pierced through the defenses in Thales' heart.
"All these suspicious points, these strange things, these things that seem reasonable but cannot be investigated, have you ever thought about them before you treated him as your savior?"
At that moment, Thales took a deep breath and suppressed the gradually boiling Sin of Hell's River.
'If … If all these suspicious points Raphael mentioned are problematic.
That means that the things he once thought … '
"Yes, Gu."
Raphael spoke coldly, not giving the prince any time to react.
"He never helped you.
"On the contrary.
"He was the one who betrayed you."
Thales closed his eyes gently.
'Six and a half.
'He never helped you.
'He betrayed you.'
At that moment, the cell that imprisoned Gu did not seem so eye-catching anymore.
The corridor returned to silence.
Raphael exhaled and looked at the cell door with a complicated gaze.
"And he also betrayed us."
Thales spent a lot of energy to calm himself down. When he heard that, he slowly opened his eyes and tried to maintain the calmness in his tone.
"He and the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department work together?"
Raphael nodded.
"Once, yes."
The Barren Bone man stared at Gu's cell door and snorted in disdain.
"Obviously, whether it's Eckstedt, Constellation, Camus Union, or even Shadow Shield and the Tower of Eradication, this self-proclaimed neutral intelligence peddler is used to 'working together' with everyone. He receives money from many parties and goes around patting his chest. He is smooth and slick in changing hands. Then, he reaps the benefits while his clients kill each other.
"The only difference is that this time, he messed up."
Thales' cheeks stiffened.
"What did he do?"
Raphael was silent for a few seconds.
"As you mentioned, Karen Booker was one of the few 'wise' intelligence officers in the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department. His death was a loss we could not afford to bear.
"And when we abandoned the headquarters in Dragon Clouds City six years later, we were more or less affected by this. We had no other choice."
Thales exhaled, trying hard to expel the gloom and frustration from his heart.
"What happened?"
Raphael shook his head and glanced at Gu's cell.
"This is also what we want to figure out.
"From his mouth."
Thales stood quietly on the spot. His emotions were complicated.
Raphael, on the other hand, sighed and regained his relaxed and indifferent attitude.
"Just like this, Your Highness. Even in the face of the seemingly conclusive past, there are still too many unknown and terrifying details hidden in the dark.
"So, when you turned the tide in Heroic Spirit Palace six years ago, Your Highness, you were in high spirits."
Raphael sighed with emotion.
"Don't forget that on that day, outside Heroic Spirit Palace, the members of the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department were also fighting against the enemies in the shadows in the invisible battlefield, even if it was just for a page of paper, a paragraph of text, or a signal to give you and the kingdom a chance to win. Booker was one of them."
Thales' gaze shifted.
"The Prince's Ass — this name is funny, isn't it?"
Raphael turned around and faced the dark corridor that seemed to have no end. His eyes shone with a faint light.
"However, all of them were survivors of the 'Dragon's Blood' Project that changed the world six years ago. After the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department fought against King Nuven, the Secret Room, the White Blade Guards, Chapman Lampard, Shadow Shield, Camus Union, and other enemies, they fought against each other to the death. They were the only survivors among the corpses and sacrifices on the ground.
Thales raised his head in surprise.
"And we don't tell you certain information, not because we don't trust you, but because you can't discard your burdens like us, forget yourself, and wholeheartedly devote yourself to the dark and dirty mission to complete the goal."
Raphael narrowed his eyes and gestured at Gu's cell.
"Even if you think … you owe your target your life.
"In this case, if you insist on knowing only a little, you will only stray further and further, lose the ability to distinguish the truth, and be led by the nose by others."
'Discard your burdens and forget yourself.'
Thales frowned slightly.
"You are not us, Thales. You should live under the sun and the blue sky." Raphael sighed. It was rare that he did not use honorifics, but called the duke by his name.
"Let us face the boundless hell."
At that moment, his dark red eyes were incomparably sincere.
But what Thales remembered was the different faces Raphael showed to the wine merchant Dagori, the blacksmith Gibbon, the nobles of Blade Edge Hill, and Belicia in the interrogation room.
There was a long silence in the corridor.
Until the prince spoke again. His voice was hoarse.
"Then how do I know that the people who lead me by the nose are not you?"
Raphael froze for a moment.
"When you truly sit on that seat, Your Highness."
Raphael's smile faded.
"When you truly can decide everything in the world with a word, when you can decide everything in the world with a finger, when you have full control over the goals, missions, operations, budgets, development, and future of the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department …
"You will know."
Thales listened to this seemingly familiar sentence expressionlessly.
But unlike in the past, this time, he did not refute it.
In a gloomy mood, Thales followed Raphael out of the maze-like underground corridor, passed through many checkpoints, and left the main residence of the Secret Intelligence Department's manor through the main gate, returning to the place where they first got off the carriage.
But Raphael frowned.
"You called for someone to pick you up?"
Thales, who was in a daze, snapped out of it.
"What?"
But the prince was also stunned. There were two carriages parked in front of them. One was the carriage they used to come from Renaissance Palace, but the other …
"Your Highness!"
As a familiar shout rose, a short and strong man dressed in the uniform of the Royal Guards jumped down from the driver's seat of the carriage. It was Kommodore, the protector who had once sparred with Thales in Mindis Hall.
"Your Highness Thales, you are indeed here …"
Kommodore was drenched in sweat, but when he saw Thales, he still perked up and bowed to greet him.
"I am here on orders from Officer Mallos to serve you."
Thales was a little puzzled, but Raphael and the coachman from the Secret Intelligence Department in the other carriage stared coldly at Kommodore, who appeared before them. Their expressions were hostile.
"It's fine," Thales said when he saw this.
"He is one of my men, a member of the Star Lake Guards."
Raphael snorted softly.
"Are you sure?"
Thales pursed his lips and walked forward.
"Kommodore?"
The prince sorted out his terrible mood.
"Shouldn't you be in Mindis Hall? Why are you here? "
Kommodore moved his wary gaze away from Raphael.
"Officer Mallos gave me an order before I entered the palace, Your Highness. He asked me to keep an eye on one thing. If there is an accident, I am to slip out of Mindis Hall, gather my men, and come here to receive you.
"To avoid … inconvenience to you."
'Mallos?
'Inconvenience.'
Thales seemed to have realized something. He turned around and cast a glance at Raphael behind him.
The Barren Bone man was silent for a second. In the end, he tactfully retreated.
Thales turned his head around and asked for the main point.
"You said … an accident?"
"Not long after you and the officer entered the palace, Your Highness," Kommodore hesitated a little, but he still told Thales the truth.
"The people from the Flag Bearer Division came."
'Flag Bearer Division.
'Is it one of the six divisions led by Vice Guard Captain Vogel Talon at the banquet?
'What are they doing here?'
Thales was slightly puzzled.
"What do you mean?"
Kommodore carefully observed Thales' reaction.
"You know, the person leading the team is the Second Flag Bearer Gaitan … They did not allow any explanation and immediately sealed off Mindis Hall. They detained everyone and said that they want to conduct a full investigation."
Thales was shocked.
"What?"
'Sealed off … Mindis Hall?'
"Why?"
Kommodore forced a smile.
"Gaitan said that it was because of the accident at the banquet yesterday."
Thales exhaled stiffly and painfully.
'As expected.
'This again.'
"They said that our dereliction of duty meant that there was a loophole in the security, or even a mole. This might endanger the prince's safety, so they needed to conduct a thorough investigation and audit from top to bottom."
Kommodore sighed. He was a little dispirited.
"The investigation by the Flag Bearer Division was very … Jonveled was interrogated for two hours before he came out. He did not look too good. And Morgan was practically tied up before he went in. Kursta was even suspected to be a foreign spy. Stone told us to obey and not resist, but Ness almost fought with them. Penal Officer Patterson wanted to use his status to plead for mercy, but Gaitan was famous for being shrewd and ruthless in his work. He did not give face to anyone … "
Thales' eyebrows furrowed even tighter.
"In any case, it was a huge operation. The Jadestar Private Army, the Nobles' Affairs Office, and the inner city police station were also there. I suspect that there were even people from the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department among them. The team was mighty, and I reckon that many people saw it."
As Thales listened to Kommodore's narration, he slowly widened his eyes.
'What does he mean?'
'Mindis Hall.'
The residence in the capital given to the Duke of Star Lake by the king.
'Locked down and investigated?'
Thales exhaled and tried his best to unclench his fists. He tried to understand the current situation.
"How did you sneak out?"
"I used to work in the inner city police station, Your Highness." Kommodore's gaze was a little evasive, as if he was not too willing to talk about these few relationships.
"There were a few police officers who were in charge of locking down the perimeter. I was acquainted with them.
"Procca could have sneaked out as well, but Gaitan had an old grudge against him when he was young. He kept a close eye on him, and I reckon that he would not let him have an easy time."
Kommodore looked behind the carriage.
"The only person I could find was Glover. He left in the morning because he was punished to recuperate. The people from the Flag Bearer Division were very unhappy about this."
Thales frowned a little.
"Glover?"
Right after he finished speaking, a familiar figure appeared from the other side of the carriage.
"Your Highness."
First-class vanguard of the Star Lake Guards, the strong Zombie Glover came before Thales in full armor. His expression was stern.
"We should immediately return to the city. I keep feeling that there is something on the other side of the carriage staring at us from the forest. It harbors ill intentions."
When he saw the vanguard he was the most familiar with, Thales was completely at ease.
But he immediately frowned and looked at Glover's back.
"But your injuries …"
Glover shook his head. He pulled open his collar and revealed the bandages inside.
"It's fine. My Power of Eradication can alleviate pain, and …"
Glover swung his arms, and his eyebrows furrowed in a barely noticeable manner.
"Lord Mallos, he was merciful when he whipped me."
It's as if … as if he knew that this would happen, and he still needed me. "
Thales was slightly stunned, but he immediately remembered what Mallos said to him in the morning before he explained the Temple and Imperial Style.
"Has no one from Renaissance Palace come yet?
"I guarantee you that they will definitely come, sooner or later."
Thales suppressed his terrible mood. He understood something and asked,
"What about Doyle? Was he also whipped by Mallos on purpose so that he could be released from Mindis Hall to avoid trouble? "
Glover shook his head.
"No, I've seen it. Doyle's injuries should be real. He was beaten badly."
'Firstly, after what happened yesterday, the Doyle Family is at the heart of the storm,' Glover thought quietly.
'Secondly, hmm, Lord Mallos is probably very vengeful.
Especially after Doyle called him 'Tormond Junior' during the banquet while he was drunk. '
"So, Mallos knew that this would happen," Thales' words interrupted Glover's thoughts.
"He entered Renaissance Palace with me. Where is he now?"
Kommodore, who was by the side, answered,
"Will, an acquaintance of the Flag Bearer Division owes me a favor. He just sent me a message to tell me that Lord Mallos is still in Renaissance Palace."
He hesitated for a second.
"He is … with Vice-captain Talon."
Thales exhaled.
'I understand now.
'So, Tormond Mallos is my favorite personal captain.
Even if he predicted the current situation … '
At this moment, he could not even protect himself.
"The Flag Bearer Division." The prince sighed, "Vogel Talon.
"How courageous."
Kommodore and Glover looked at each other.
Thales turned around and called out to Raphael, who was a distance away.
"Raphael, do you know about this?"
The Barren Bone man walked closer. Thales noticed that his eyes had been disguised into another color.
Under the hostile gazes of the two royal guards, Raphael revealed a friendly smile.
"What is it?"
Thales glanced at him and snorted coldly.
"Nothing."
"If it is inconvenient for you, Your Highness," Raphael was obviously very good at reading people's expressions. He saw some clues from the trio's expressions.
"The Secret Intelligence Department welcomes you to stay for a few more hours …"
"Thank you, but there's no need," Thales refused decisively.
"I think you don't mind if I go back with my personal guards?"
Raphael looked at Thales for a few seconds.
"Go ahead." The Barren Bone man smiled widely and called out the other two people's names and backgrounds as if he was reciting his family's treasures.
"Caleb Glover from the Glover Family and Gianluca Kommodore from the police station. They are famous members of the Royal Guards. Of course we can trust them."
Glover and Kommodore frowned at the same time, but Raphael had already bowed, turned around, and walked away.
"That's …" Glover watched Raphael's back as he left. Only then did he slowly loosen his grip on the hilt of his sword.
"The person who cleans up my mess," Thales said gloomily.
The prince was about to board the carriage without any explanation.
"Now, let us return to Mindis Hall and deal with the Flag Bearer Division."
However, Glover shook his head firmly.
"No, Your Highness."
Thales' expression changed slightly.
Kommodore took over the conversation, and his smile was a little stiff. "What Commander Mallos means is …
"Do not be in a hurry to return to Mindis Hall."
Thales looked puzzled.
Kommodore said carefully,
"Those people from the Flag Bearer Division, they have … His Majesty's warrant."
'His Majesty's warrant.'
Thales was stunned.
"And the people from all the departments are …"
Kommodore said awkwardly,
"If you show up rashly, and the situation becomes ugly …"
He did not continue speaking.
But Thales already understood.
The prince stood in front of the carriage in a daze.
"So," Thales said absentmindedly,
"I just entered Renaissance Palace, and right after that, my nest was raided. Now, I have a home, but I can't go back?"
Kommodore looked ashamed.
"I am very sorry, Your Highness. We did not protect you well during the banquet, which led to such an accident …"
"No."
Thales forced himself to calm down and tried to sort out the messy things that happened throughout the day.
"No, no, no.
"No, trust me." After he understood what was going on, Thales suddenly felt like laughing.
"This is definitely not your reason."
Ever since he returned to Constellation, he had always abided by the rules and did not dare to be presumptuous.
Last night was the first time he made a decision of freedom after he returned to the kingdom, and it might also be a risky choice.
Then, he paid the price.
Thales could not help but laugh, causing the two guards to look at each other at a loss.
As punishment, he had just sat in on an Imperial Conference while trembling with fear, then was mercilessly reprimanded by the king. After that, he was brought to the Secret Intelligence Department and enjoyed the company of the Black Prophet throughout the entire process. Even his Mindis Hall and the Star Lake Guards were severely punished.
As for now …
Glover interrupted in a low voice.
"In fact, Lord Mallos suggested that we return to Xing Palace."
"Return to Xing Palace?" Thales sneered, and there was a hint of mockery in his voice that he did not even notice.
"Look for my father?"
"No, look for Madam Jines." Kommodore stared at Thales' expression carefully.
"The commander said that only she can …"
'Protect you.'
Kommodore kept the rest of his words in his heart.
Thales fell silent.
'Look for Jines.
'Is that so?
'Then, I'm back to six years ago, when I just arrived at Mindis Hall.
'I faced countless known and unknown threats, but I could only drift along with the waves.
'I sought protection from others.
'Six years ago.'
The prince held onto the carriage. His face was expressionless, and he did not move.
A long time had passed.
Finally, after Kommodore gave Glover a signal with his eyes for the third time, the Duke of Star Lake closed his eyes, sucked in a deep breath, and exhaled slowly.
"No, we are not returning to Xing Palace.
We are not looking for Madam Jines either. "
Kommodore and Glover frowned at the same time.
Thales opened his eyes.
"We are going to Red Street Market in Western District."
At that moment, the two guards were stunned.
"What?"
Thales held the carriage's axle tightly and gritted his teeth softly.
"There is a club called 'One Night's Romance' over there."
Kommodore widened his eyes, while Glover's expression was solemn.
"Your Highness, why … are we going there?" Kommodore asked tentatively.
"What are we doing? Of course … "
Thales let go of the wheel and cast him a glance. His tone was calm.
"We are going to look for women."
Kommodore first understood what Thales meant, then he felt incredibly troubled.
"But Your Highness, your identity …"
Thales snorted.
"Who said that I am going there as a prince?"
The prince boarded the carriage and pointed at the duo.
"Lead the way, Kommodore. We will go and change our attire first. Then, you will lead the way, Glover."
The zombie shuddered.
"But —"
But Thales interrupted him rudely.
"Remember, Glover, after we reach there …"
"Your name will be …" At that moment, Thales' smile disappeared, and his voice was incredibly cold.
"Raphael Lindbergh."
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