Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Cohen strode towards the young man behind the Black Prophet.
"Raphael!"
The nobles around the thirteen stone seats all turned to look at him.
Cohen held back his emotions and called out to the young man, "Raphael Lindbergh!"
The young man in the white robe also saw Cohen striding towards him. He flashed a frivolous smile, whispered something in Morat's ear, then walked towards Cohen.
"You've been missing for three whole years!" Even the king and the two dukes on the high seats noticed Cohen's anger.
"Cohen!" The young man's voice was brisk and bright, just like his appearance. He opened his arms towards Cohen. "You're still so energetic!"
Cohen unceremoniously slapped the young man's arm away. "Why did you leave without saying goodbye?"
He looked at the king's supporters in the distance, as well as Lord Morat Hansen, who stood alone at the side. No one dared to approach him. He said in disbelief, "You're now … with the Black Prophet? Do you know how much blood and sin he has on his hands … "
"That's a misunderstanding of the world," Raphael said with a smile. "Lord Hansen's contributions to Constellation and sacrifices are far greater than any of the lords here."
Cohen was stunned. For a moment, he could not find the words to refute. He could only say, "We'll talk about this later. For the past three years, what exactly …"
"I've been by Lord Hansen's side, listening to and following his teachings." Raphael's expression was still as calm as ever.
"Teachings?" Cohen was stunned for a moment. His expression changed from surprise to anger. "Is that the reason? You abandoned Miranda for three whole years for no reason at all! The reason was to listen to that poisonous snake's teachings? "
"Lady Miranda?" Raphael gently crossed his arms and suddenly became cold.
"She never belonged to me. How could you say I abandoned her?"
Cohen looked at his old friend in disbelief, as if he was seeing him for the first time.
"Are you crazy? Miranda is still waiting for you to find … "
"For her own good, ask her to give up those unrealistic thoughts."
Cohen widened his eyes and then sighed. "If you think you're not good enough for her, then I can tell you right now that she doesn't care …"
"That was in the past. People change," Raphael interrupted him coldly. "I used to like her a lot, but I don't anymore. That's all."
The white-robed young man noticed the gazes from the six stone seats. He said softly, "This is not a suitable place for reminiscing. Forgive me for taking my leave."
But when he turned around, his shoulder was grabbed tightly by Cohen!
"You haven't finished speaking." Cohen suppressed his anger. "Damn it. What's wrong with you? It's impossible for a person to change so quickly! "
With a cold expression, Raphael grabbed Cohen's hand. "That's because you've never seen my true colors. I'm the heir to the Sword of the Twin Towers, Officer Karabeyan."
Cohen pressed down hard on Raphael's shoulder, his eyes filled with anger and bewilderment.
He knew that the young man in front of him was a genius swordsman with a photographic memory in the Tower of Eradication. In fact, he was the first Awakened to the Power of Eradication among his peers in the Tower of Eradication. And in the final assessment before leaving the tower, he came in second place, second only to Miranda and one place higher than Cohen himself!
A Swordsman of Eradication with a bright future!
But why —
Cohen gritted his teeth with a determined expression. "The Raphael I know would never make such a choice! You … left the tower that day, and then there was no news of you … What happened? "
What happened?
Raphael sneered. "I've seen the true side of this world."
In the next second, a cold and violent Power of Eradication swept through Kohen's hand!
In an instant, the starry blue Power of Eradication in his body resisted fiercely!
The surging Power of Eradication forced him to let go.
But Cohen did not care about this.
He cared about something else.
Cohen looked at his old friend in shock and asked in disbelief, "Raphael, your, your Power of Eradication … I remember it was the 'Sword's Death', but why … why did it become like this?"
Raphael raised his eyebrows and revealed an incomprehensible smile. He said briskly, "Compared to the original me, I have sublimated."
Cohen could only watch in a daze as his old friend from the Tower of Eradication turned around without hesitation or reluctance.
With his back facing him, Raphael tilted his head and revealed a cold gaze. "Let me give you a word of advice, Cohen Karabeyan.
"Be careful today."
Raphael walked back to Morat Hansen's side coldly.
The police officer frowned and clenched his fists. His eyes were filled with confusion and surprise.
'That feeling … Could it be …'
The flash of swords and blades that night in Red Street Market appeared before Cohen's eyes.
The swordsman dressed in red and black, and his murderous, frenzied sword momentum.
More importantly, it was his raging and out-of-control Power of Eradication.
Cohen took a deep breath.
'No way?'
A few seconds later, he exhaled and slowly walked back to his father's side.
"Don't ask."
In the face of his father and the director's questions, Cohen, who was filled with doubt and anger, ended it with two words.
When the Thirteen Distinguished Families — the Javea Family with the Sunshot Bow as their emblem, the Almond Family with the Dark Blue Wave as their emblem, and the Lascia Family with the four-winged lizard arrived, there was another commotion in the crowd.
But it could not be compared to the commotion caused by the Covendier Family's arrival — this time, there was more enthusiasm.
In the dark room, Thales' eyes were very sharp. He saw the person who caused the commotion in the crowd.
The well-mannered and amiable suzerain of Jade City, the Guardian Duke of South Coast, Zayen Covendier, accompanied by a solemn old man, nodded and smiled at the people around him as he slowly walked over.
As he approached the thirteen stone seats, many nobles stood up and bowed to pay their respects. Zayen patiently returned their greetings one by one.
Zayen walked to the centermost stone seat, knelt down on one knee towards the expressionless Kessel the Fifth, and kissed the ring on his finger.
"Covendier," Kessel frowned slightly, "I heard that you had a small misunderstanding with the royal guards yesterday?"
"It's just a small matter." Zayen put on a friendly smile, "Your Majesty need not worry about it."
Kessel nodded and glanced meaningfully at Zayen's smile. "I hope that it will be the same today."
Zayen froze slightly.
'As expected, something must have gone wrong.
'It should have been a show of the nobles forcing the appointment of an heir, but His Majesty seems to have prepared for it?'
The guards passed down the message to the square outside the hall layer by layer. Then, from the bottom to the top, deafening cheers once again rang out.
"Hoo — hoo —"
"Kevin — Covendier —"
"Iris Flower — Tricolor Iris Flower —"
Thales' heart sank. 'The Duke of Iris Flowers is so popular?'
Listening to the cheers coming from below Renaissance Palace, the young duke stood up calmly without batting an eyelid. The butler behind him took his cloak without batting an eyelid.
Zayen sat on one of the six stone seats and smiled at the other two dukes, who had different expressions on their faces.
The smiling Duke Bob Cullen raised his hand and introduced the cold-faced "Iron Eagle", "Val, this is young Zayen …"
But the Duke of the Northern Territory, who was coldly sizing up Zayen, nonchalantly interrupted the fat duke's words.
"Iris Flowers … You are the youngest duke of Constellation?"
Duke Cullen, who was interrupted, did not take it to heart and smiled, rubbing his belly.
Zayen was stunned. He felt that the other party's gaze was as sharp as a sword and could not be looked at directly.
'This is "Iron Eagle" Val? It's just like the rumors say …
But I wonder, when Eckstedt's vanguard points straight at the Northern Territory … '
"Nice to meet you, master of the White Eagle, Duke Arunde," Zayen chuckled and bowed with his hand on his chest. "The youngest duke, forgive me for being undeserving of the title. As far as I know, the master of the Tabark Family is much younger than me. "
But Val's expression did not change, and he said in a tone that allowed no rebuttal, "It's alright. Since you're sitting on that seat, it means that you have the right to participate in this game."
At this moment, a discordant, shrill voice pierced through the crowd and interrupted almost half of the hall.
"What a pity …"
Thales heard a shrill and abrupt voice coming from another side door, piercing through the crowd.
"Every time I step into this city, this so-called capital …"
The crowd dispersed. The nobles' gazes were rather complicated, containing both hatred and excitement.
"I can smell the unique scent of city people …"
"That stench of pampered life … is simply nauseating …"
On the carpet, the owner of the shrill voice limped towards the nobles, accompanied by his entourage.
"… It's like an old man who's about to die of old age but still enjoys his position without doing any work, and a pretty boy who's still wet behind the ears — he can actually sit on the thrones of the Six Great Dukes."
As soon as these words came out, many nobles immediately burst into an uproar.
On the Six Great Stone Seats, Zayen's expression stiffened slightly, while the plump Duke Cullen laughed out loud. Val Arunde narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists.
Thales was surprised to find that the person walking towards him was a middle-aged man with sparse hair. He had a haggard and bloodless face, and even his lips were sunken in, making it seem as if he was missing the upper row of teeth. Only a pair of intelligent and sharp eyes proved that this was a living person.
One of his feet was obviously crippled, and he relied on a crutch for support as he stepped on the starry blue carpet step by step towards the Six Great Stone Seats.
Val Arunde clenched his fists and said with an unfriendly expression, "I haven't seen you for many years, damn old bones."
"Cyril!" On the throne, Kessel the Fifth actually revealed a hint of a playful smile. "You're here, very good! Otherwise, the title of 'Most Unpopular Person' in this meeting will be snatched away by our Duke Arunde. "
The Duke of the Northern Territory snorted coldly.
"Hahahahaha —"
This haggard middle-aged man, the Suzerain of the Ruins, the Guardian Duke of Western Desert, Cyril Fakenhaz let out a long and sinister laugh and limped towards the king. With one hand on the crutch, he half-knelt down and kissed the king's ring. With a cold and sharp voice, he said,
"Fakenhaz is never absent, Your Majesty."
The three dukes present had different expressions, but none of them made a sound.
Thales frowned. The moment Cyril bent his back and lowered his head, a terrifying skull pattern appeared on the scarlet cloak behind him, and there were actually four eye holes on the skull.
Fakenhaz, the wealthy family with the Four-Eyed Skull as their emblem, had always been mysterious. They were at the frontlines of the battle against the Barren Bone tribe and the orcs in Western Desert.
"It's three o 'clock. Four of the six dukes are here, and eleven of the thirteen nobles are here. Your Majesty, it's time." Gilbert looked around the entire hall and nodded solemnly towards Kessel.
Kessel nodded slightly and did not speak.
He flipped the scepter in his hand in the air and smashed it hard on the ground!
* Thud! *
For some reason, in Thales' eyes, this smashing sound actually spread throughout the entire hall, as if a heavy hammer had been struck in everyone's hearts!
The voices in the hall gradually became softer.
"Everyone, it's time …"
With the ingenious design of the Hall of Stars, Kessel's deep and dignified voice spread clearly and unmistakably.
"Constellation, Year 672 of the Calendar of Eradication, National Conference.
"It shall begin now."
The noisy Hall of Stars immediately quietened down. Everyone's gazes were directed towards the center. There, the king, four dukes, and eleven counts were in a strange silence.
Until the guards transmitted the king's words out of the hall.
Hence, under Renaissance Palace, the cheers and commotion in Star Plaza exploded once again.
However, it was completely different from what the citizens of the capital had imagined.
The National Conference was started by a noble who questioned the National Conference itself, as well as the thirteen Distinguished Families' mutual attacks against each other.
"Sorel, what do you mean by this?" Bern Talon, a noble in his prime from the Pentagram Star, asked furiously.
"Are you questioning His Majesty's authority to convene the National Conference?"
"I am not questioning His Majesty's authority. He is the king, of course he can do whatever he wants!"
The person who questioned the legitimacy of the National Conference, Smith Sorel, who had a golden sun as his emblem, replied rudely, "What I am questioning is whether he maintains the most basic respect for us, the nineteen noble families!"
King Kessel stroked his own scepter and did not say a word, as if he did not hear what Smith said.
Sorel snorted coldly and continued, "What we have received is Constellation's General Edict! It is the place where the wise nobles gather together in the Higher Parliament to control Constellation's future! Not this messy, crappy National Conference where anyone can come and go! "
There was a wave of protest from the civilians who were listening at the periphery, but it was immediately suppressed by the nobles' voices in the center of the hall and the angry glares of the guards.
"It is not without reason." Lewis Bozdorf of the Black Lion stroked his stubbled chin and said thoughtfully, "In this situation, no matter what we discuss, there will not be a good result, not to mention that important matter. It is more appropriate for the Higher Parliament.
"We should immediately move to the small meeting room.
"Bozdorf, do you mean that we should disperse and have a small meeting of nineteen people?" Count Zemunto, the Count of the North, who had a white bear as his emblem, the Castellan of Overwatch City, said coldly, "Things have already come to this, and you are still dwelling on this matter. Did your mother not give you a brain?"
In the hall, the crowd burst into an uproar because of this undisguised insult and attack!
Even Duke Cullen and Zayen, who were sitting on the six stone seats, frowned. Only the Duke of the Northern Territory sneered.
"My mother has a very good memory. She should not have forgotten this." Bozdorf was not provoked at all. He chuckled and replied, "But Count Zemunto, you —"
But his words were interrupted by another noble of the Northern Territory.
"Shut up, Black Lion. We are not really concerned about your mother or whether you have a brain."
The suzerain of the Lonely Old Tower, Friess, who had the iron-colored long wall as his emblem, knocked on the stone seat again and again. With an ashen face, he said coldly, "We came to the South to deal with that important matter! We are concerned about Constellation's safety. And you Southerners, you sons of b * tches, are still concerned about whether the invitation you received was written with the correct title? "
"Constellation's safety?" Hodge Dastan, the nobleman with crossed swords, interrupted. He shook his head. "Don't be arrogant. All of you are only concerned about your own safety. But I do not want to blame you for this, because I am not nobler than all of you."
He leaned forward and swept his sharp gaze across every noble. "But this is not about the title of the invitation. It is about whether His Majesty is using the National Conference to kidnap the will of the people and coerce the suzerains. This concerns the safety of all of us, not just the northern noblemen!"
The audience burst into an uproar again!
There were even people shouting, "Scram! Selfish noblemen! "
But Dastan was still in the midst of the chaos. With a ferocious expression, he shouted loudly, "Don't forget about the Desert War! Don't forget how you were forced to conscript the people of your territories just to avenge the Royal Family! "
It was only then that Kessel the Fifth furrowed his brows.
But he had to admit that his words were very convincing. Thales also began to think about the purpose of this National Conference.
"We can talk about the procedure later, but that matter is imminent!" Count Talon propped his hands up and furrowed his brows. "We must make a decision on how to deal with that matter today!"
"Decision? How do we make a decision? "Count Sorel punched the stone seat and widened his eyes." Under the watchful eyes of the public! Under broad daylight! In front of so many civilians and even the eyes and ears of the enemy, we cannot even mention what that matter is! How do we discuss it? "
"Simple." Black Lion Bozdorf smiled and said, "Everyone knows what is going on. Tell us, what price are you willing to pay in order to solve that matter?"
At this moment, a sharp and shrill laughter came from the six Archdukes. "Hahaha, that matter? I say, after talking for so long, why are all of you still hiding it?
"What are you all afraid of? Of Eckstedt?
"Of the king? Of us dukes?
"Or are you afraid of this hall, afraid of the civilians in the plaza below?"
Everyone's expressions changed. They looked at the haggard Cyril Fakenhaz.
The Guardian Duke of Western Desert, whose family crest was the Four-Eyed Skull, smiled terrifyingly.
"Let's be frank!
Eckstedt's diplomat group and their prince were killed in Constellation! "
Everyone was shocked at the same time!
Although the nineteen nobles knew about this through the general edict, this was still an undisclosed secret!
'How dare he, how dare he?'
Duke Cullen frowned. Duke Arunde slapped his thigh and shook his head. Zayen pursed his lips tightly and did not say a word.
"Sir Fakenhaz!" Count Derek Kroma tried to stop him with an unpleasant expression. "We do not have to discuss this matter in the National Conference —"
"Shut up, boy! Sir is speaking! " Fakenhaz rudely cut him off, making the Count of Wing Fort, who knew him a little, stop.
The old Count Karabeyan, who had always been close to the Kroma Family, could not help but frown.
Cyril Fakenhaz gritted his teeth with a gloomy expression and continued to reveal the secret that should have been taboo.
"All of you are well aware of it, but only the civilians do not! Those barbarians will not let go of this opportunity!
"That broken treaty … They have been rubbing their palms and waiting for it for twelve years.
"Everyone in Constellation, be it the king, the nobles, or the civilians, listen up!
"Constellation, and Eckstedt.
"Western Peninsula's shield and blade.
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