"You mean, Constance Jadestar, my little aunt?"
Thales subconsciously repeated his words.
Constance.
Little jinx.
Escaped marriage.
And …
"The Tenth Powerhouse?"
"Uh-huh." Morris smiled knowingly at first, then gloomily.
"I still remember that on the day we finally returned to Constellation after going through a lot of hardships, the Little Jinx suggested that we get drunk as a farewell, so we snuck into some rich person's wine cellar, laughed and cried at the same time, and drank until dawn. Then, we gave her this name. Of course, after we woke up, we realized that the 'wine cellar' she found was actually the supply warehouse of Arched Sea City's main police station. "
Thales arched an eyebrow as he recalled what Aunt Elise had told him about Constance's "glorious" past, and he probed,
He probed, "I heard that she was very 'lively'?"
"Lively?"
Morris recalled the past and sighed helplessly.
"Black Sword said that the Sunset Goddess probably caught a cold when she was creating Constance, and accidentally dropped her soul into hell's river. She could only pretend that nothing had happened, and when the gods weren't paying attention, she quickly fished it out and stuffed it in randomly …
"For her and the trouble she caused along the way …"
Morris' expression was a mix of bittersweet and bittersweet.
But he shook his head and decisively cut himself off from the past, becoming solemn again.
Thales listened to him and could not help but smile. He began to imagine his notoriously unreliable aunt and the Nine Powerhouses wandering outside.
But when he thought of the cold stone urn in the Jadestar family tomb, his smile immediately disappeared.
"So this is how you met Horace."
Thales returned to the present and said seriously,
"You don't seem to like him?"
Hearing this name again, Morris's expression turned ugly.
"No one likes him."
The fat man from the Brotherhood snorted coldly.
"And vice versa."
No one likes Horace.
Seeing his impression of Horace, doubt surged in Thales' heart.
"Then why do you still work for him?"
The prince frowned.
"Take risks for him and commit treason?"
Morris stared at him a little meaningfully.
The fat man snorted, his expression disdainful.
"We don't work for him."
He said coldly, "Horace, that cold-blooded butcher, an inhumane pervert."
A cold-blooded butcher.
Thales became even more puzzled.
"But —"
"We are willing to risk our lives for Black Sword, just like how he is willing to go through fire and water for us." The plump man cut him off, as if he did not want to continue the conversation.
"That's it."
Thales mulled over his words and sorted out the logic behind them.
"Are you saying … that it was Black Sword's decision to work for Horace?" The prince narrowed his eyes and said, "And all of you were only … assisting him from the side?"
The corners of Morris's mouth twitched, but he didn't comment.
"I remember now. You said that the Black Sword and Horace were old friends?"
The youth raised his head and reorganized his thoughts.
Black Sword.
It seemed like he was the key.
"What is the relationship between them? What did he owe Horace? Or did Horace give Blacksword something? "
"So much so that he was willing to risk his life for the second prince and even dragged you, his sworn brothers, with him?"
Morris still did not answer, but only stared at him carefully.
A few seconds later, the plump man chuckled softly, but the way he looked at Thales became even more amused.
"What's wrong? Why did you stop? "Thales narrowed his eyes.
"Yes." Morris smiled slyly and repeated his words.
"Why did you stop?"
Thales' expression changed.
The plump man's gaze was still locked on him.
"Fine," Thales snorted coldly, thinking that this guy was really good at making deals.
He was starting to miss the Northlanders' straightforwardness.
"Although the clues are messy and unrelated," the prince said solemnly,
"But based on what I've seen and heard, the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department has been doing things in three directions recently."
Morris listened carefully.
"The most likely, and the most urgent, is Western Desert."
Thales thought of Anker Byrael and his heart sank.
"This involves the military system, the feuds between nobles, political history, and one bad thing would be war and bloodshed — and that place happens to be the birthplace and lair of Blood Bottle Gang."
Morris furrowed his brows slightly, seemingly puzzled.
"Next is South Coast Hill."
The prince said faintly,
"As far as I know, the business there is flourishing and life is rich. If the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department has any use for you and Blood Bottle Gang … you should be more familiar with it than I am."
Morris was deep in thought.
"Lastly is Blade Edge Hill, but I don't know much about it. I only know that it might have something to do with the local feudal structure."
Thales shut his mouth.
Silence returned to the two of them.
"That's it?"
Morris was a little disappointed as he asked,
"Just three places? Three dukedom territories? That's it? "
Thales sneered softly.
"That's the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department. Why, do you want more?"
Morris tried hard to digest the information. His expression gradually changed.
"Western Desert, South Coast, Blade Edge, and us — are you f * cking kidding me?"
Thales had no intention of being courteous with him.
"Why, do you think a prince of a country would come to the notorious Lower City District just to joke around with a gang leader?
"Who knows? Maybe you're really lustful, and just want to take liberties with women?"
Thales flashed a polite but hypocritical smile.
Morris pondered seriously for a while, then looked up again.
"Alright, let's assume that what you said is true … If there's really such a big deal behind this, what can you expect us to do?
"In other words, what can we street thugs do when it comes to important matters of the kingdom? All we can do is lie flat and let them do whatever they want."
Thales was silent for a moment.
"Tell me, Morris. Back then, when you Nine Powerhouses accepted that mission with a sky-high price," the prince said faintly.
"Have you ever thought that you would come into contact with the royal family with the longest history in the world?
"Have you ever thought that you would end up like this today?"
Morris' expression was slightly restrained. His gaze was dark.
Thales sighed and took a deep breath.
He walked to the next shelf.
It was very strange. Although this place was narrow and cramped, not as bright and spacious as Mindis Hall, and not as classical and grand as Renaissance Palace, Thales felt that his breathing was smooth, far better than when he was in the latter two places.
But there was one thing that remained unchanged.
Chains.
"Boss Morris, this world is full of invisible chains that connect everyone, everything, and every factor."
Morris listened attentively, but his expression was puzzled.
"But they are not simply connected one after another, or connected end to end. They are not simply pulling one end to move the other.
"On the contrary, every chain is embedded with each other. You have me in you, I have you in me. Every pair of inlays is different. Pushing and pulling, squeezing and rubbing. Every node is unique and has its own rules. It is never repeated."
Thales stared at the gap between the two shelves, imagining the chains piercing from left and right, and finally converging on his body, locking him firmly.
Kessel, Renaissance Palace, Gilbert, the Imperial Conference, Mallos, Mindis Hall, Anker Byrael, the royal banquet, Raphael, The Black Prophet, the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department …
This time, however, he felt as if the chains were solid, wrapping around his body again and again.
The teenager slowly reached out his hand, as if touching the unique coldness of every inch of metal.
"This is our world. The interaction of all levels forms the most complex, subtle, and unfathomable mechanism of influence — even two chains that seem the least likely to be connected may hide an unimaginable connection."
Thales stretched out his hand, closed his eyes, and said absentmindedly,
"Pulling one end will move the rest, and then they will be pulled back, affecting the original chain.
"Do you believe that sometimes, a bloody gang fight can affect the final ownership of a kingdom's power?"
Morris did not understand what he meant.
Thales gently closed his left hand, and the scar on his palm, along with the imaginary chain, into his fist. Then, he pressed it against his chest.
There, the burn scar under his clothes seemed to ache.
Thales suddenly opened his eyes.
"Similarly, the rise and fall of the two largest gangs in the kingdom is actually the most interesting barometer."
Morris' expression changed.
"When something happens to the kingdom, it will be reflected in the livelihood of the people at the lowest level. Changes in iron smelting, mining, agriculture, taxes, prices, stocks, profits, and quality of life. The Blood Bottle Gang is related to the interests of the great nobles and suzerains, while the Brotherhood is deeply rooted in the circle of the poor. When the two lose balance, it will be time for both sides to fight or negotiate."
Morris was deep in thought. His brows furrowed.
A few seconds later.
"The kingdom? With us? "
One of the leaders of the Brotherhood snickered. His gaze was cold.
"Come on, you are just exaggerating. You are just trying to scare us."
The plump man stared into Thales' eyes.
"From finance to market, from budget to tax, from administration to people's livelihood, do you know how many obstacles there are in the chain from one end to the other? Do you think this is a marionette show where the king moves his fingers, and the gangsters on the streets start to act? "
Thales stared at him for a long time, and suddenly laughed.
"So, you do understand."
The prince looked at him calmly.
"At least I understand more than Lance, that information broker."
Morris's expression turned a little ugly.
"Alright, I'll believe you for now." Thales turned around and fiddled with the goods on the other side.
"I believe that all of you are serving Horace because of Black Sword."
"But it still doesn't make sense. After Horace died and the Bloody Year passed, what made you stay in the capital, step into the quagmire of Lower City District, willingly become a gang at the lowest level, take root, grow, and dedicate your life?"
Morris became solemn.
But soon, the solemn expression on his face turned into a playful one.
"Black Sword mentioned it before."
Thales frowned.
"What?"
A cunning look appeared in Morris' eyes.
"After we returned from Northland, Black Sword told us that perhaps one day, a certain young prince would come to our door and become interested in our relationship with the Bloody Year." He sized up Thales' back. "Perhaps one day, a certain young prince would come knocking on our door and become interested in our relationship with the Bloody Year.
"Looks like today is the day."
Thales' expression changed, and he put down the goods in his hands.
'Damn it.
'It seems like it was not a coincidence that they recognized me.
Black Sword's relationship with these people is closer than I thought. '
"Don't tell me that you formed the Brotherhood to avenge Horace?"
Thales ignored him. He was determined to continue to hold the initiative in his hands.
"According to you, Horace's charm should not be that great."
However, at this moment, Morris walked to the display window and sighed.
"Child, have you ever picked up a bundle of linen?"
Thales caught up with him. "What?"
"Of course you haven't, pampered prince."
Morris raised his hands and looked at his rough and plump fingers. His gaze was perplexed.
"But I have."
Thales tilted his head, puzzled.
"You hold on to the roots, look after the head and the tail, bundle by bundle, beat, threshed, picked, sorted, stacked, and arranged, step by step." The plump man stared into the distance outside the window and said meaningfully, "At first, you thought that this task was simple and clear, and that you could quickly finish it and get away.
"But you soon realized that from the first bundle, some of the linen unexpectedly bounced up and returned to the bundle.
"You thought that it was just a small problem, but as you progressed, more and more bundles of linen broke out of your control and became entangled."
Morris' eyebrows were tightly knitted together.
"Over time, all the out of control bundles even became entangled with each other and tangled into a ball, messing up the entire stack of linen bundles. You couldn't find the ends, the roots, you couldn't hold them, you couldn't shake them, but you couldn't break free and pull them out.
"When you came back to your senses, even your own limbs had long since been tied up. They became tighter and tighter, and you couldn't free yourself."
He said in a daze,
"At that moment, all the linen became a mess that you couldn't recognize and couldn't untie.
"And when you faced the mess, you just sank deeper and deeper, powerless."
Sank deeper and deeper, powerless.
Thales did not interrupt him. On the contrary, the prince followed his gaze and also stared at the dirty street outside the window. He seemed to be deep in thought.
"You're born noble, so you find it very troublesome to be entangled by invisible chains?"
Morris clenched his fingers and sneered.
"Next time, try flax. Feel the suffering of the people."
Both of them were silent for a while.
But Thales felt that he had read something.
"What about the others?"
Thales sighed.
"Aside from you and Black Sword, what about the others in the Nine Powerhouses?"
Morris turned around and stared at him coldly. He did not answer.
Looking at the man's expression, and remembering the confrontation between Asda and Black Sword, Thales suddenly knew the answer.
"What happened in the Bloody Year?" he asked softly.
Morris was silent for a while and turned his head.
For some reason, looking at his expression, Thales suddenly thought of the people in the Prison of Bones.
This made him dispirited.
"Enough. Let's go." He exhaled and ignored Morris. He walked out of the shelf, greeted Glover and Grove, and then walked towards the door of the shop.
"Young Master, may I ask where your residence is?"
Grove suddenly walked out of the counter and approached Thales, but was stopped by Glover.
The boss rubbed his hands obediently and said with a fawning expression, "The typhoid medicine you wanted, I can hire a carriage to deliver it …"
Thales frowned.
"It's stored here," the teenager said coldly.
"When I need it, I will inform this local friend to come and collect it."
Thales glanced at Morris behind him.
Grove immediately froze.
The plump man from the Brotherhood snorted coldly.
"Of course."
"Hey, hey." Kohen popped up in dissatisfaction.
"How did you become good friends —"
"Goodbye, Yanni." Thales did not even look at the police officer. Instead, he looked at the young lady boss with a complicated expression. "And …"
The teenager was silent for a moment and said faintly,
"Thank you."
Yanni also looked at him quietly and smiled when she heard what he said.
"You're welcome," the good lady, who was already married, replied softly.
"It's my duty.
"Please take care of yourself, kind young master."
Her tone was gentle, and her eyes were calm.
Just like in the past.
Thales glanced at Yanni one last time, and emotions surged in his eyes.
"Ah, you too."
Thales thought of something and waved at Glover. He casually pointed at Grove, who was in front of the counter, and then left the pharmacy.
Zombie was stunned for a moment. He reached for his waist, but remembered that he had generously thrown his money bag to Qianqian at Laurel Club.
Glover turned to Kohen awkwardly.
The police officer was also stunned for a moment. He extended his index finger and pointed at himself.
'Me?'
Glover furrowed his eyebrows and made a hurried expression.
'What else?'
Kohen pressed his hand on the equally empty money bag at his waist. He remembered that his salary was almost completely deducted for this month, and he immediately felt bitter.
"What?" Layork the assassin appeared at the right time and snorted coldly at Kohen.
"Police officer, are you going to force people to buy on credit and dominate the market?"
Kohen was momentarily speechless.
Thales did not see it because he was walking in front, but Morris, who was behind him, observed the situation and laughed heartily.
"It's okay.
The bill will be on the Brotherhood. "
Grove, who was behind him, was stunned at first. Then, he trembled, and his expression was bitter.
Morris seemed to have realized something and laughed out loud.
"Don't be nervous, old friend. It's not that kind of 'bill'. This time, we're really paying the bill. Yes, with real money."
Grove flashed an ugly smile.
Morris gestured with his hand. His subordinate took out a money bag and placed it on the counter.
Old Grove did not expect the other party to really pay the bill. He was instantly overwhelmed by the favor.
But Morris had no intention of ending it.
"Hey, old friend."
He put his arm around Grove's shoulder, and they seemed to be very close.
Grove shuddered.
Before the boss could respond, Morris patted his face in a friendly and kind manner.
"Next time, if I hear you hit your wife again …"
Morris chuckled and stopped talking. His smile disappeared without a trace.
Only his fierce-looking face was still shiny and glossy.
Grove's lips trembled, and his entire body trembled even more violently. He nodded repeatedly.
Morris patted Grove's chest in a forthright manner, almost making the latter faint from the impact.
Only then did the fat man let go of him and walk out of the shop.
After this group of unusual customers left, the boss of the pharmacy let out a long sigh and collapsed into his wife's arms.
"Yanni, who … who was that?"
But to Grove's surprise, Yanni, who had been submissive and submissive since she was a helper and had not changed even when she was his wife, revealed a profound expression that he had never seen before.
"A friend."
Yanni supported her husband and looked at the black hair behind Thales' head quietly. Her gaze was complicated and subtle.
"A long, long time ago …
"Little friend."
Grove widened his eyes. His gaze wandered between the customers and his wife who had left. He could not believe that Yanni had such a friend.
Only when Thales and Morris' figures disappeared around the corner did Yanni snap out of her daze and sigh.
But when she turned around, she saw her husband rubbing his hands together with a fawning expression.
"My dear, what was the style of the dress you saw last time?" Grove smiled ingratiatingly and said, "It's the same style.
"Should I buy it for you?"
Yanni, who knew her husband's character very well, raised her eyebrows in resignation and rolled her eyes.
On the muddy street of the underground street, Glover and Cohen followed closely by Thales' side. Not far behind them, Morris strolled leisurely while he chatted with Layork and his subordinates.
Along the way, the people first huddled together and muttered maliciously when they saw Thales and the other two. Then, when they saw Morris, they looked terrified and avoided him.
"Just now, Your Highness." The zombie first glanced warily at Morris behind him and lowered his voice.
"If you wanted to help the lady in the shop, you could have used a more … suitable method.
And not let her suspect that you are … "
Glover hesitated for a moment and did not finish his sentence.
"Flirting?"
Thales said faintly and helped him complete the sentence.
"Or lustful thoughts?"
Glover frowned and did not continue the conversation.
"Ah ah, I was just about to tell you about this!"
When he heard this, Cohen's ears twitched and he earnestly advised Thales, "I know that at your age, you will start to be interested in girls.
"I know that at your age, you're starting to be interested in girls, but we need to develop the correct concept of love. Don't treat sexual harassment as flirting …"
"You are right, Calun."
But Thales did not even look at Cohen. Instead, he looked ahead expressionlessly.
"I want to help Yanni.
Not harm her. "
Glover was slightly stunned. He quickly glanced behind him and seemed to have understood something.
Cohen was the only one who was confused and blinked his eyes repeatedly.
Thales sighed.
"So, do you think she is happy?"
Thales walked past a familiar street and tried to forget his past.
"Is she really satisfied with a husband like that? Is she really satisfied with that kind of life?"
They did not expect the prince to ask such a question. Glover and Cohen were stunned.
"Of course not."
Glover hesitated for a moment before he said with certainty,
"But at least she gritted her teeth and found a way to survive."
Thales turned his head. "Hmm?"
Glover exhaled a breath.
"Lily, someone, someone told me," the zombie stuttered, "that life is miserable and bitter."
Glover's gaze shifted.
"But so what? We just have to deal with it.
"It doesn't matter if the posture is pretty or not.
"You can still live decently in a pile of sh * t and urine."
When Thales heard this, he looked at the ruins and filth on the street and could not help but sigh.
"You are a survivor, Calun Glover."
"No, I am not."
Glover looked into the distance and said in a daze,
"She is."
At this moment, Cohen let out a long sigh.
Thales and Glover looked at him.
"Although I did not really understand what she said … medicine scales, bread, and so on.
"But I suddenly felt …" Cohen hesitated and looked disappointed.
"But when she said that no matter who she married, she would exchange her skirt for bread, I suddenly felt … very sad."
Thales frowned.
"Why?"
"I don't know." Cohen shook his head and sounded indignant.
"But, but that is her life. She should be able to use other things to exchange for it, and she should be able to get something better."
The police officer's voice became gloomy.
"But people can only see her skirt."
"You always throw bread at her without asking anything."
Cohen was unhappy.
"As if that is the only deal, and there is no other choice."
Glover snorted coldly.
"In this world, there are men who do not only look at her skirt, but also not throw bread at her."
Glover mocked.
"Like you?"
Unexpectedly, Cohen did not argue with his "enemy" this time. Instead, he shook his head sadly.
"No, zombie, you don't understand. I don't think this is a problem that can be solved by finding one or two or a dozen good men. It's not that simple …"
Cohen scratched his head desperately, as if trying to grasp an indescribable thought.
"I just feel that she is facing an enemy that cannot be defeated."
Thales narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean?
"What do you mean …"
Cohen searched for the right words to express himself, and his expression became more and more pained.
"When I was still at the Western Frontline, our troops once captured a group of gray mixed breeds who invaded the borders and hunted the merchant caravans."
Glover's gaze moved, and he began to size Cohen up again.
"I was still young and inexperienced. I asked their leader with a translator, 'Why are the orcs hunting us?'
"I thought it would talk about the history of blood feud between the two races, the glory and pride of the orcs' ancestors, and even the benefits in and out of the desert …"
Cohen took a breath and said gloomily.
"In the end, it said, 'Because humans are hunting us.'"
Thales was deep in thought. Glover was expressionless.
"I asked it, 'Can we stop hunting each other?'"
"It replied with a smile, 'Of course.'
"As long as one of us kills the other."
The autumn wind blew on the street. The three of them were silent for a while.
Cohen exhaled. His eyes were filled with worry and doubt at the same time.
"I swear, I have never been afraid of any gray mixed breeds … But at that moment, when I faced that orc who was still laughing before his death, for the first time, I felt tired, bored, embarrassed, helpless, and even … fearful for no reason."
The simple-minded Cohen said in a daze,
"It was as if my sword was no longer hitting a body of flesh and blood or a heavy axe, but an invisible iron wall. No matter how I slashed, it was useless.
"I even suspected that at that moment, my heart of the sword was shaken."
Thales did not speak. He only furrowed his eyebrows.
"I wrote a letter to the Tower of Eradication, to Raffel, a friend of mine, and he replied, 'Since the beginning of the uncivilized era, we have been winning wars against the orcs for thousands of years. We have also shed blood for thousands of years, and people have died for thousands of years.
"But why has it never brought peace?"
Cohen said absentmindedly.
"Never."
Thales sighed.
"Because we do not want peace in our hearts," Glover said in a muffled voice.
"Because we, and they, are not used to peace."
Cohen smiled bitterly when he heard that.
"Yes, perhaps."
Cohen immediately furrowed his eyebrows.
"But just now, the words of the shop owner's wife made me feel the same way."
"Why, why do people always think that if she wants to get married and find a husband, she can only exchange her dress for bread? Do they only look at her dress and men's bread? Or do they only allow her to wear dresses and men to take bread? "
Glover shook his head.
"I don't understand."
But Thales' gaze was strange.
"I don't really understand either." Cohen also shook his head.
But he looked puzzled and puzzled.
"I just feel that no matter how much I have suffered in the past, no matter how badly I have been injured, no matter how fierce the battles I have fought, no matter how powerful the enemies I have faced … compared to her expression when she said those words, it was as if … as if it was nothing."
Glover furrowed his eyebrows. He did not understand.
Cohen scratched his ears and cheeks. He was worried about his poor language skills.
"I feel as if … as if the enemies she has to face in those words are also an iron wall. They are even more powerful than all the enemies I have met in my life. From the criminals and gangsters on the streets, the orc desert bandits on the battlefield, to the Fire Knights of Eckstedt, the Northland Army, and even the legendary demons and calamities …"
Cohen sighed.
"They are all more terrifying, powerful, and countless times more terrifying."
At that moment, Thales stopped in his tracks.
Glover cast a questioning glance at the prince.
Cohen's gaze was unfocused.
"Even if I reach supreme class, even if I inherit the old man's title and lead all his armies …
"I can't win against them."
Thales took a deep breath and raised his head to look at the sky.
At this moment, he suddenly had an illusion that the invisible chains that bound him were rubbing against each other as he raised his head, making a ringing sound.
"And she, the shop owner's wife is just an ordinary woman." The police officer sighed from the bottom of his heart. He looked deeply pitiful.
"She only has a pair of hands.
"This is not fair.
"Not at all."
This time, Glover began to think deeply as well.
Thales raised his hand gently. As he moved, the illusion of the chains clanging against each other became even more obvious.
'Yes.
This is not fair. '
Thales' lips curled up into a cold smile.
'Not at all.'
Behind them, Morris saw that Thales had stopped moving. He also stopped moving forward. He only stared at the three people with a burning gaze.
The passersby around them, whether they were beggars, gangsters, merchants, or employees, all of them ran away to avoid them as long as they knew Morris and Layork's identity. They did not dare to look at these people.
Thales took a deep breath and lowered his head.
"If you can think of it this way, Cohen." The prince smiled.
"Then she will have two pairs of hands."
Cohen, who was immersed in disappointment, snapped out of his daze. He was stunned when he heard that.
"What?"
Thales raised his finger and shook it. He chuckled.
"Maybe D.D. is wrong."
Cohen blinked and scratched his head innocently.
"Huh?"
"Your brain, it might be … not very bright." Thales smiled and walked in front of Cohen. He stood on tiptoe and stretched out his finger towards Cohen's forehead. He flicked it with a clear sound.
"Ow!"
Cohen did not expect the prince to ambush him like this. He cried out in pain, covered his head, and retreated.
"But at least, compared to most people in this world …"
Thales retracted his finger. He looked at Cohen, who was gritting his teeth and making a 'how dare you' expression, with great interest.
He sighed and said, "It's not broken yet."
'Broken?'
Cohen looked at him with a displeased expression.
At this moment.
"Thank you, stupid cop," Glover suddenly said gloomily.
When he heard the words' stupid cop ', Cohen exhaled helplessly. He turned around and said forcefully,
"Hmph, if we fight again, I'm not afraid … Huh?"
The police officer came to his senses and said stupidly,
"You, what did you just say?"
Glover sighed and walked forward. He stared into Kohen's eyes with a serious and awkward expression.
"I said, thank you."
"Thank." Cohen was puzzled at first. He then covered his forehead and retreated warily.
He then asked, "Thank what?"
Glover was silent for a while.
"Lillian."
Cohen widened his eyes.
The zombie said quietly,
"I know that you've been helping her. After she … helped her chase away the harassers."
"Thank you."
Glover glanced at Thales and sighed.
"Thank you for lending her another pair of hands."
'Huh?'
Cohen looked at Glover in a daze, then at the amiable Thales. He felt their gentle gazes that could melt a person's heart. He was stunned and could not understand the current situation.
'What the hell happened?'
Thales looked at this scene and smiled knowingly.
At this moment.
"My dear … little friend!"
The three of them turned their heads at the same time.
Morris rubbed his hands and walked forward with Layork and another subordinate. Behind him, a few sneaky figures disappeared into the streets.
"The main street of the underground street is right in front." The fat leader of the Brotherhood chuckled.
"If you don't mind, let me be the tour guide?"
Thales raised his eyebrows.
"There's no need." Cohen waved his hand and refused sternly.
"We're decent people. We don't talk to you —"
Thales lifted his foot and stepped over Cohen. He spoke, and together with Glover's action of capturing Cohen, he interrupted the police officer's unfinished words ("Boohoo! No! I'll bite you! "). He choked.
"So, you've already discussed it with other people in the Brotherhood, such as Black Sword?
"You don't think I'm joking anymore?"
Morris' expression froze.
"Ahahaha!" The leader of the Brotherhood laughed to relieve the awkwardness.
"Of course not!"
With Thales' gesture, Glover suppressed his urge to stop Morris (and turned it into strength to capture Cohen from behind). He watched as Morris walked forward and put his arm around the prince's shoulder. The two of them walked forward with their arms around each other's shoulders.
"But think about it, you only gave us three far-fetched names and told us that the Secret Intelligence Department was going to do something unknown in these places," Morris whispered in Thales' ear.
"So, we should wag our tails and beg for mercy from you, who bullies others with his power, and follow you wherever you go, just like the Red Turban in the past, to become your watchdogs and pawns?"
Thales laughed.
"Morris, you don't look like a street thug." The teenager put his arm around the plump man's back. His words were spoken with ease.
"You don't have the boorishness and numbness of muddling along, living a befuddled life."
"As you said, I'm in charge of accounts." Morris winked.
"If you want to spend, you have to make a budget first.
"And I think you want to deposit it with us." Morris' gaze wavered slightly.
"It should not be just that batch of potions."
Thales nodded. He recognized that they had arrived at the territory of Black Gold Casino — the holy land of low-level gamblers.
"First of all, I am not Horace, nor the Black Prophet.
I am not your master, but I am not your enemy either. "
Thales narrowed his eyes.
"You should know very well what my value is like."
Morris did not speak.
Thales chuckled and said, "But I believe that what you owe me is not just this batch of potions."
Morris' gaze turned sharp.
But Thales continued to look at the road ahead indifferently and ignored him.
A few seconds later, Morris snorted and let go of him.
"You said that Constance is your biological aunt, right?"
Thales turned his head.
Morris' expression turned cold.
"Then do you know how she passed away?"
Thales' heart tightened.
He remembered Gilbert's teachings and sighed.
"Shadow Shield and Charleton …"
"Asda," Morris said softly.
Thales paused.
"Asda Sakern," the plump man's voice rang. He sounded extra careful in the messy and dirty streets.
But there was a hint of coldness in his words.
Thales raised his eyebrows. He did not expect this name to appear here.
"What?"
Morris snorted and looked into the distance.
"Eighteen years ago, in this city …"
His tone was indiscernible.
"The Air Mystic," Morris said faintly, as if he did not care.
"That undying monster.
"In front of Renaissance Palace …
"Killed Constance."
'Killed …
'Killed …'
Thales spent a full three seconds to digest the meaning of this sentence.
The image of the elegant, calm, and elegant tutor appeared before his eyes.
'Constance?'
But the teenager could only widen his eyes and repeat what he had said in vain.
"What?"
Morris looked at the sky and took a deep breath, as if he wanted to suck in all the scent of blood.
"She bled from her orifices and suffered the cruelest pain in the world. Then, she opened her eyes and died quietly.
"Our little calamity, our little powerhouse, she just lay on the ground, staring at the sky with lifeless eyes."
The plump man's voice trembled slightly.
"Lonely.
"Helpless.
"Cold."
At that moment, Thales shuddered slightly and found it hard to breathe.
It was just like the experience his teacher had given him countless times.
"What?" He could only repeat it for the third time.
"Crushed to death by it." Morris stared at the sky absentmindedly, completely ignoring the second prince's questions.
"And the other idiots in the 'Nine Powerhouses' — really idiots. How could humans defeat Mystics and calamities? Why did they go? Why did they go to their deaths?
"Right before Black Sword and my eyes."
In an instant, countless chaotic and complicated thoughts surged into Thales' mind. They even surpassed the upper limit of what he could handle.
But among them, Black Sword's words to the Air Mystic that night under Raikaru's giant statue were especially clear.
"Twelve years ago, when you, monster, went on a killing spree in Renaissance Palace, why did you not have such concerns?"
What followed next was the last words of the girl who made people tremble in fear on that day, before she turned into ashes.
"Be careful of Asda."
Thales breathed in a daze.
"Aside from territory and interests, this is our personal grudge with the Red Bandana of Blood Bottle Gang.
"Black Sword, including Black Street Brotherhood." Morris lowered his head. Unknowingly, he had already clenched his fists tightly.
His voice trembled as he said, "Our existence.
"It's for one day."
He turned his head to look at Thales with bloodshot eyes.
"Let these unkillable monsters …"
"Pay the price."
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