"Trust you? The only way? There's no better choice? "
King Kessel chewed on these words and seemed to be deep in thought.
Thales controlled his breathing and stared at the king.
The king paused for a while and laughed coldly.
"Hahahaha …"
The laughter was deafening, and the lights around them flickered.
Thales subconsciously clenched his fists. He felt a heavy weight in his chest, and the air around him was heavy.
But he had no way out.
The laughter slowly disappeared.
"From what I saw, Duke Thales of Star Lake Fort …" The Iron Hand King's tone was calm, but it was even scarier.
"The crown is not on your head."
'The crown.'
An inexplicable sense of fear came over him, causing Thales' breathing to become slightly irregular.
"Even if you don't take this path," the king said faintly,
"The wheels of the kingdom are destined to never stop."
The teenager pressed his fist against the table and felt the pressure and pain coming from his fist, as well as the strange agitation of the Sin of Hell's River.
He knew what the other party cared about.
He knew.
Or did he think he knew?
Thales took a few deep breaths and looked up.
"Of course, you are the supreme king of Constellation."
The Iron Hand King was expressionless.
"You can ignore me, scoff at the West Barren, and reject this proposal with one vote."
Thales adjusted his mood and changed the topic.
"Anyway, you are very confident, and you have more than just Sand King in your hands."
He pointed at the letter on the table and maintained a calm tone.
"Just like how you can threaten Zhan Enlai to replace Western Desert and force South Coast Hill to pull your carriage for you. You can do it again in another place."
King Kessel snorted in disdain.
"But what's the price?"
In the next second, Thales changed the topic.
"In order to execute Sand King, Father, how much have you invested? How much have you paid?"
As he listened to Thales' words, King Kessel frowned slightly.
"Whether it is the huge amount of money spent on preparations, the astonishing scale of the standing army of the royal family, or the Western Frontlines that you have been operating for more than ten years …"
The prince was unhurried as he continued to speak.
"Human, material, financial, and mental strength, including the political games behind the scenes, are not easy to do. Even the opportunity is too rare. It's not every year that there's an unlucky prince wandering outside, convenient for you to use as an excuse and bait."
The King coldly snorted.
"If your plan had succeeded and you had reaped huge benefits, then these costs would have been nothing. But now, now …"
Thales paused for a moment and looked at him.
King Kessel pursed his lips. His expression was tense.
"My guess is that the reason why Supervisor Kirke complained about being poor in the Imperial Conference and why the Department of Finance had insufficient budget is because …" Thales spread his arms towards the table.
"In the end, it was because you mobilized the regular army for Sand King and emptied the national treasury, didn't it?"
At that moment, King Kessel suddenly raised his eyes. His gaze was so sharp that it was as if it had physical form, and he inched closer to Thales.
The atmosphere in the room was extremely stifling.
"That bargaining chip, that orphan of the Amolay family."
A few seconds later, the king spoke coldly.
"Where is she?"
The teenager exhaled and glanced at Zayen's letter.
"In that case, Father, you're not satisfied. You don't want to give up on Sand King's efforts for nothing. You're denying yourself and wasting all your efforts."
Iron Hand King's eyes grew colder and colder.
However, Thales' tone became harsher. He withstood the pressure and insisted on finishing his sentence.
"Otherwise, father, your so-called 'Sand King' plan will be tantamount to a tyrannical and evil act."
"The gains do not make up for the losses. It will harm the kingdom.
"The crime lies with you."
At that moment, the coldness in King Kessel's eyes reached its peak. It could not be any colder.
The Everlasting Lamps in the room seemed to have sensed something. They flickered rapidly in that second, as if they were shivering.
"It seems that the sword Fakenhaz gave you is really useful."
The King enunciated each word clearly. It was meaningful and ominous.
"Who told you to be arrogant and fearless?"
But the prince only laughed bitterly and ignored the King's hint.
"But this is not the end."
The Iron Hand King's gaze was fixed on Thales. It was as if his gaze was about to pierce through him.
Thales said loudly,
"After Sand King's failure at the last minute …
"The regular army of the royal family took back Blade Fangs Camp, removed their armor, retreated, and ceased all activities.
"The people of Western Desert returned to their hometown dejectedly. They were dejected and admitted that they were unlucky.
"The second prince arrived safely in the capital. Father and son were reunited, and he was conferred the title of duke.
"These peaceful appearances kept most of the people in the kingdom in the dark. They slept peacefully and did not know the truth."
Thales narrowed his eyes.
"But Father, you and Fakenhaz … If he is the only one … all of you know the undercurrent of Sand King. All of you know what happened a few months ago, and what did not happen."
King Kessel did not say anything. Only his gaze was distant, reflecting the shadows of the lamps.
"When you passed by each other, you saw the sharp blades behind each other's backs.
"But both of you have excellent acting skills and enough self-control. That is why you pretended not to know and greeted each other with a smile. You maintained the most hypocritical peace and the most fragile tacit understanding."
* Bang. *
Thales slammed his palms on the table, causing the Everlasting Lamps around him to flicker.
"Trust me, father. This is the last step between Renaissance Palace and the West Barren."
Behind us is a bottomless abyss. "
The prince stared at the King.
"Next time, you will not be so lucky."
King Kessel lowered his eyes. No one knew what he was thinking.
One of the Everlasting Lamps behind him dimmed, pulling the King's side profile into darkness.
Thales took a deep breath and said solemnly,
"When that time comes, if you want to deprive the vassals of Western Desert of their armies and expand the regular army of the royal family, the price will only be higher, and the situation will only become worse."
King Kessel did not respond.
He only turned his head silently and buried the side of his face in the darkness without any light.
"Admit it, Father.
Sand King's failure left behind a huge mess that pushed you and Western Desert to the edge of a cliff. You no longer have any room to maneuver, unless you completely give up on Western Desert. "
Thales paused to give the other party and himself time to think.
At this moment …
"Who?"
The King's voice rang faintly, as if he was not there.
"What?"
Thales was puzzled.
"What who?"
King Kessel's expression was complicated.
"When you left in the morning, your mind was filled with women."
'Women.'
Thales furrowed his eyebrows.
"At that time, you were muddle-headed and distracted," the King said coldly. Light and shadow appeared on his face at the same time. "You did not have the confidence and courage you have now.
"You did not care about the kingdom, politics, and all these things when you were blinded by women this morning, let alone risking your life to barge into the palace and give advice to the Emperor."
King Kessel leaned forward slightly and stared at Thales with a thought-provoking gaze.
"What changed you when you were outside the palace?"
Thales was stunned.
'What changed me?'
He snapped out of his daze and gritted his teeth.
"That is not important." Thales tried his best to sound more sincere.
"What is important is, Father.
Now, when we are at our wits' end, we have another choice. "
King Kessel pursed his lips.
Thales suppressed his restless Power of Eradication, slowed down his tone, and probed.
"Fakenhaz was the first to take a step back. For this, they offered their most powerful bargaining chip, enough to suppress Western Desert."
King Kessel turned his head and snorted in displeasure.
"Amore."
The prince nodded and fixed his gaze on the king.
"Accept it. Even if you don't earn a lot, at least you have a chance to make up for Sand King's huge loss.
"Accept it. Perhaps you can't solve the problem once and for all, but you can minimize the worst consequences.
"Accept it, let me communicate with them, give us a chance, and give Western Desert a way out of this mess."
The king snorted softly and did not comment.
"Please believe me. Be it from a realistic perspective or a long-term perspective, this is the only way. It is also the most efficient, easiest, most peaceful, and the path closest to success."
Thales' words had unknowingly become urgent.
"If you still want to complete Sand King, Father, at least don't let it become a mess, then this is not only the best choice.
"It is also the last choice."
Thales looked straight at the king.
"Father, for the sake of the kingdom, don't be rash and act in a fit of pique. Don't drag this out until you are beyond cure.
"Let me do it. End it now, right now.
"Before it is too late."
Once he finished speaking, King Kessel did not answer immediately.
He sized up Thales carefully, as if he wanted to see every detail on his face clearly.
This made Thales feel uneasy.
'Very good.'
Thales observed the king's reaction and silently cheered himself on.
'This is indeed something he cares about.'
'At least, he still cares.'
'Fortunately, he still cares.'
'I hope he still cares.'
More than ten seconds later, the king snorted softly.
"Extravagant rhetoric and eloquent words."
King Kessel changed his sitting position and said softly,
"But you avoided the important and dwelling on the trivial. You missed the most important point."
Thales felt a chill in his heart.
The king turned his head and said with a playful tone,
"That is, even if I accept this proposal, why is it necessary for Sand King to be carried out by you?"
"Duke Thales?"
In that second, Thales' eyelids twitched.
He subconsciously pressed down on his knees.
"Because, because Fakenhaz gave me the bargaining chip."
Thales took a deep breath and met the king's gaze.
"And I, as the introducer, the middleman, and the guarantor, should have some remuneration, right?"
King Kessel snorted softly.
"So, this is actually a deal."
The king stared at Thales, and his tone became more dangerous.
"A … two-party deal between Fakenhaz and me."
'A deal.'
Thales clenched his fists.
"You can interpret it that way.
But my existence is one of the conditions for Fakenhaz to accept the deal.
"From this deal, you will get, and I mean, you will gradually get Western Desert and become Sand King." The prince tried hard to find logic and tried to convince the king.
"The price is just …"
In the next second, King Kessel looked up. His eyes were like lightning, and he made Thales choke on his words.
"No," the king said softly, and it sent chills down Thales' spine.
"You are not a guarantor or an intermediary."
Kessel's gaze was like a sword that pierced Thales.
"You, you are the real bargaining chip in the deal.
"Thales Jadestar.
"The heir to the throne."
Thales' breathing froze.
"In this deal, I will hand you over to him," the king said slowly, but every word he said was unsettling. "Only then will he hand Western Desert to me."
"Isn't that so?"
Thales furrowed his eyebrows tightly.
'Damn it.
I will not let this go. '
"Listen, father."
He could only reorganize his words.
"I know what you are worried about."
Thales racked his brains.
"But please relax, I will not interfere with specific matters, I will not participate in the promulgation of any government decree, and I will not touch a single soldier's file. I will only be in charge of negotiating with the people of Western Desert. It will not be too complicated. I will only need a letter to mention this bargaining chip, and with Fakenhaz's cooperation, they will soon understand the pros and cons.
"You will be in charge of the rest of the matters —"
At this moment, the king suddenly spoke loudly and interrupted the prince.
"And the people will understand!"
Thales was stunned. He saw that King Kessel had sat up straight at some point in time. Light and shadow overlapped on his face, and light and darkness intertwined.
"The people will understand that there is another person in Renaissance Palace other than the king."
The king emphasized the word 'another person', and Thales could not help but hold his breath.
"No matter what problems they face with the king, no matter what …
"As long as they find this person …"
King Kessel stared at Thales, as if he was strangling him through the air.
"Then the price will not be so high, and the situation will not be so ugly."
The king narrowed his eyes. His tone was chilling.
"Because he has a sword in his hand.
"He can fight against the crown.
"Is this what you want?"
King Kessel's words continued. Every word seemed to be laced with venom.
"The future … Thales the First?"
At that moment, Thales' thoughts froze.
"So, is this also what you care about?"
A few seconds later, Thales took two absent-minded breaths and spoke with difficulty.
"Whether it was sealing off Mindis Hall, interrogating my guards, or summoning me into the palace to warn me, was it all because of this?
"To tell everyone that there is no 'other person' in the palace?"
King Kessel did not answer. He only snorted coldly and leaned back in his chair.
"Hand over that orphan girl, that bargaining chip."
The Iron Hand King's gaze sharpened. His words were stern and resolute.
"As for you breaking into the palace and plotting treason, your crime is punishable by death.
"Let bygones be bygones."
Thales raised his head and stared at the king with mixed feelings.
King Kessel closed his eyes. His expression was serene. "As you say, before it's too late."
"End it."
Thales suppressed the resentment in his heart and gritted his teeth.
"But, the matter of me contacting the people of Western Desert …"
But King Kessel only raised one finger gently.
He stopped Thales from speaking.
"Forget about it."
The king was expressionless.
He said softly, "For your own good, after you hand over that orphan girl, you don't have to do anything. You don't have to show yourself, let alone intervene.
"Continue to be the Duke of Star Lake peacefully."
Thales felt a chill in his heart.
"That's all."
The king said coldly.
"Don't talk about conditions.
"And don't block the way."
'Block the way.'
In the next second, the king opened his eyes and changed the topic.
"In that case, your guards in Mindis Hall …"
"And those loyal idiots who followed you into the palace to rebel …"
Hearing the underlying threat in his words, Thales' eyelids twitched.
King Kessel said softly, "Don't worry.
"Then, you don't have to be 'replaced'."
'Replaced.'
Both of them sank into silence. Ballard Room returned to silence.
Thales suddenly understood.
He understood what the other party cared about from the moment he made this suggestion.
This made him feel a little tired.
"I don't understand." Thales lowered his head and sneered.
"Be it you or Fakenhaz, why is everyone's gaze only on that crown?"
King Kessel glanced at him.
"Is it really so mysterious and precious that it can capture everyone's soul?
"We are obviously talking about the future of the kingdom." Thales raised his eyebrows and said indignantly,
"And you, were you born for the stars, or for the crown?"
Hearing this, King Kessel snorted lightly and curled his lips.
"You don't understand, maybe it's because …
"It's not on your head yet."
Thales clenched his teeth.
In the next second, the king's expression became stern.
"I'll ask you again, where is the orphan girl of the Amory Family?"
Thales clenched his teeth and ignored the faint threat in the king's tone. He forced himself to calm down.
He could not convince him.
At least, not in this way.
This was not enough.
Far from enough.
Thales took a deep breath.
He had to … give more.
Even himself.
When he thought of this, Thales closed his eyes and opened them again.
"What if I say 'no'?"
The king looked up and said in a playful tone,
"No?"
Thales puffed out his chest with a stern expression.
"That's right.
If you don't accept my conditions … "The prince's attitude became firm.
"Then there will be no deal, no bargaining chips, no Amory's orphan girl, no Western Desert people giving in, and no Fakenhaz taking the initiative to cooperate."
Thales snorted angrily.
"Say goodbye to your Western Desert."
The king's pupils constricted slightly.
"Then you will no longer be pardoned for breaking into the palace and rebelling."
"That's right!"
Thales retorted without hesitation,
"But you, father, you will bear the great damage and loss of Sand King's failure. You will be stuck in the impossible situation of Western Desert. You will gradually drift away from your desires."
The king frowned.
Thales paused for a moment and chuckled.
"Of course, with the Iron Hand King's personality and methods, you will definitely not let this go. You will definitely think of new ways to fix Western Desert. You will cheat, swindle, and seize. You will not give up until you achieve your goal."
When he said this, Thales' expression became solemn.
"Then, in your next failure, you will fall into the abyss and detonate the West Barren."
It will be like detonating an oil barrel that will last forever. "
Thales lowered his head and glanced at King Kessel coldly.
"Believe me, I have seen it before. It is an unforgettable scene."
The Iron Hand King's gaze turned cold.
"Are you threatening me?"
"No." Thales snorted and shook his head.
"I am just showing you the future reign of Kessel the Fifth."
Thales' smile disappeared.
"Western Desert is just the beginning. When the situation there is completely out of control and there is no way to control it …
"You will finally ignite the entire kingdom."
King Kessel's expression became even more unpleasant.
"Tell me, father, do you really want to …"
Thales paused.
He stared at the king, took a deep breath, and said word by word, "When you see the next —
"The Bloody Year?"
'The Bloody Year.'
His voice faded away.
The room was silent.
King Kessel was silent, and he did not move.
Only a pair of eyes gazed into the void, reflecting the light.
He did not seem to care.
Thales stared at him aggressively.
Until the next second.
"You are asking the wrong person."
The king's voice rose faintly.
"After all, you are the one who holds the bargaining chip."
In the next moment, Thales shuddered. He felt the Sin of Hell's River roaring angrily in his blood vessels, bringing with it a piercing pain.
It made him restless.
"You should ask yourself, 'If I do not accept your conditions, if I am not willing to give you the weight of the crown,' the king's words were very slow and intimidating.
"Then you would rather hold the bargaining chip in your hands and watch with folded arms …
"Watch the stars fall to the ground and the kingdom burn?"
Thales suppressed his Power of Eradication, but he could not help but be stunned.
King Kessel lowered his head slightly. His gaze was like a blade pointing at Thales.
"Tell me, Thales Jadestar."
Thales forced himself to meet the king's gaze, but he could not help but gulp.
"Do you want to witness the Bloody Year with your own eyes while you are alive?"
The king said casually.
"Believe me, I have seen it before.
"That scene is unforgettable."
Thales' breathing froze. He was about to refute, but he stopped himself.
The king laughed coldly.
"See, if you really understand what it means to be 'born for the stars', then you should not hesitate on this question.
"As for whether you will be the one to carry out the Sand King's orders, you should not care."
Thales was stunned when he heard this. He did not know how to answer.
"So, this will be the last time I ask you." The king's voice gradually hardened. He was no longer indifferent, like a sharp blade being unsheathed. "It will also be your last chance.
"The bargaining chip, the orphaned daughter of Amore.
"Where is she?"
Thales lowered his head and bit his lip.
'Not enough.
'Not enough.
'King Kessel will not accept my conditions.
'He will not tolerate any' transactions' that are beyond his control.
He will not allow even the slightest flaw to appear on the crown.
'The benefits of the kingdom, and even the Bloody Year are not enough to convince King Kessel.
'They are not enough to convince the Iron Hand King.'
'Sweet nothings, threats, and promises are all useless.'
He had to do more.
More.
More!
The Sin of Hell's River seemed to sense his emotions. It surged and filled his entire body.
'"If you want to enter this circle, Thales, you have to climb to the top.
'"The first thing you have to do is to bow down to them. Open up your body and mind, let their world and ideas rule over your entire being, and turn you into a person you cannot recognize. Only then can you start playing this game, and only then can you play it well."
'Bow down to them.
Open up your body and mind.
Turn you into … a person you cannot recognize. '
So, no matter what, he had to play this card.
Even if it meant eternal damnation.
As the Sin of Hell's River roared excitedly, Thales sucked in a deep breath and raised his head.
"Father, listen —"
But in the next second, his father snorted softly and shook his head, interrupting him.
"Alright, I understand what you mean, boy."
King Kessel's eyes moved, and he said a name.
"Byrael."
Thales was stunned.
"What?"
The king rubbed the back of his hand gently and pondered.
"That's the name of the assassin who broke into the banquet, right?"
Thales clenched his fists.
'Byrael.
'What?'
"I'm guessing that because Fakenhaz gave you that sword, that bargaining chip, and that orphan girl, you became fearless and full of confidence, and dared to break into the palace and plot rebellion to achieve your goal."
King Kessel put away the sternness in his voice and regained his composure.
"But you were not like this from the start. At least, you were not like this when you left this place. You were a completely different person before and after you left the palace.
"Then, this bargaining chip that can make you proud can only be obtained during the time you were out of the palace."
In that instant, Thales' heart trembled.
"As for the assassin who broke into the banquet …"
King Kessel looked as if he did not care at all. He rubbed the back of his hand attentively.
"He is one of the people you met in the Secret Intelligence Department after you left the palace today.
"He is also one of the few people who can talk to you about the kingdom's politics. He is also from Western Desert.
"That orphan girl of Amolay and the four-eyed skull are also from Western Desert.
"Midier once said that there are no coincidences in politics."
In that instant, Thales' mind froze.
'What …'
King Kessel raised his head and looked at him. He sneered.
"So, this is why the assassin did not want to commit suicide after he failed at your homecoming banquet. Instead, he put down his weapon."
The king stared at him like a hunter holding down his prey.
"Because he is counting on you.
"He is counting on that Prince Thales, who is famous for being compassionate, to go back and look for him after this.
"Alright, Fakenhaz's real sword, the bargaining chip that can overturn Western Desert — Amolay's orphan girl — will be given to you."
Thales forced himself to maintain his expression, but without realizing it, he was drenched in cold sweat.
The king's gaze became fierce.
"And, it's only for you."
"To make things difficult for me.
"To overturn the situation."
Hearing this, Thales' breathing became irregular.
'Impossible.
'No.'
'His bargaining chip, the only card he can use to bargain with King Kessel …
'Just like that, it was easily overturned by his opponent?'
The king chuckled and no longer looked at Thales.
It was as though the latter was no longer important.
"It's alright, Morat will pry everything out of his mouth."
King Kessel leisurely said,
"Including that orphan girl."
'Pry everything out.'
Thales' pupils slowly dilated.
'Byrael.
'Anke Byrael.'
"Thank you, Your Highness.
"Thank you for being willing to come here and listen to my voice, or my last words.
"Although there is no sunlight here, it is not that dark, right?"
'No.'
When he thought of this, Thales took a deep breath and clenched his teeth with difficulty.
"No, you are wrong. Fakenhaz and I have a secret communication channel — "
"Then it is the others," Kessel the Fifth interrupted him without hesitation. "The others you met after leaving the palace.
"It does not matter, it is enough to know that this orphan girl is alive."
The king did not even look at him.
"Whether it is the people you met after leaving the palace, or the places you went, the Secret Intelligence Department will know what to do."
'The people you met.
The places you went.
'Lillian, Yanni, the Abandoned House …'
'No.'
Thales could not believe it. His breathing gradually became stiff.
King Kessel raised his eyebrows and spoke in a relaxed tone.
"Do not worry, that orphan girl will soon regain her title with the support of the royal family and become Baroness Amory.
"Her surname is destined to go down in history."
The king said playfully,
"If her father knew after his death, perhaps he would be proud of it?"
'Go down in history.'
Thales was in a daze.
"So, Your Highness, what is the price?
"The Byrael family will become traitors and the target of public criticism.
"Tina, she will never, ever, ever forgive me."
'No.
'No!'
Thales looked up abruptly!
Under the influence of the Sin of Hell's River, an unprecedented resentment surged into his chest.
The teenager no longer hid it and glared angrily at the king.
"You are not listening to me seriously, are you?"
Thales clenched his teeth and said angrily,
"You talked to me for so long just to figure out where I found out about Amory's orphan girl."
King Kessel snorted lightly, unbothered.
"Thank you, child, but you have completed your mission.
"By the way, no matter who played along with you in this farce," the king's tone was calm, but every word was piercing. "They will pay the price.
"For your foolish actions."
Thales took a deep breath.
'Wya, Ralf, Doyle, Glover, and Cohen, who I tricked into coming here …
'No.'
"You can't do this," the prince said with difficulty.
"Remember, it's not that I didn't give you a chance — many chances."
King Kessel did not even look at him and responded coldly,
"You gave it up yourself."
The Iron Hand King reached out gently and turned the handle on the table to inform the people outside.
"Now, get out of my meeting room."
He concluded the entire conversation in a low voice.
"Go and ask Vanguard Marico how many lashes he should receive for trespassing into the palace and offending the king."
At that moment, Thales felt a bone-chilling cold.
— —
Western Desert Hill, Ruins, Floating Sand Palace.
"Yo, Scarface, come over here and play chess with me!"
Duke Fakenhaz, who was by the window, tightened his cloak and waved at the Barren Bone man behind the pillar.
The tall and strong Barren Bone man turned his head and approached the duke, causing his ponytail to swing back and forth.
A younger guard looked at the sawtooth tattoo on the Barren Bone man's body and put his hand on the hilt of his sword warily. However, he was stopped by another older guard.
The Barren Bone man walked past the nervous young guard. He did not even look at him, as if he was used to it.
He came before the Duke of Western Desert and rudely slammed his butt on the chair. He looked at the chessboard between them and frowned.
Fakenhaz gestured happily.
The Barren Bone man shook his head. His words were stiff and unpleasant.
"Kohe, you won't."
Fakenhaz sighed and quickly waved his hand.
"I know, I know. Why else would I look for you?"
Kohe was stunned for a moment. He looked at the chessboard, then at the duke. His face was full of disdain.
He pointed at the moon through the sandstorm outside the window.
"Little Crow Head, let's go. After him."
Kohe's words were unpleasant and difficult to understand, but Fakenhaz did not seem to be affected by it. He shook his head.
"No, no. Let Derek go. He has to rush back to Wing Fort to prepare for important matters." The duke looked at the victory and loss record book for the entire afternoon with resentment.
"Besides, why should I chase him back? I can't win against him."
"Little Bone Cub, I'm here. After him."
"I was the one who taught my son how to play chess. It's … meaningless to play against him."
Fakenhaz clapped his hands.
"Come, let's play chess!"
Kohe snorted angrily. He extended his hand and moved a chess piece randomly.
"Ah, Scarface, how can you move the queen first? That's not how you move. But it's okay. Look, I'm eating it now …"
"Hmph."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. That move of yours is not smart. It's the same as giving me a chess piece to eat. Clack! Hahaha! "
"Kohe, you don't understand."
"It's okay if you don't understand. You'll understand once you lose more …"
"Kohe, food."
"Don't go. Ask the servants to bring you whatever you want to eat and drink. Come, look at my move …"
"Kohe, kill!"
"Ah, don't be angry, Scarface. It's just a game of chess. Winning or losing is not important …"
Back and forth, Fakenhaz was having a lot of fun. Not long after, the chessboard was filled with Kohe's pieces that had been eaten.
After he finished his last move, the duke grabbed Kohe's hand in satisfaction and pushed the latter's king down. He lay on his chair and sighed.
"Ah, it's been a long time since I had such a satisfying victory! Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! "
Fakenhaz leaned back in his chair and shook his head.
However, the Barren Bone man stared at the satisfied Fakenhaz and said in a muffled voice,
"Bone Cub, kill."
When he said that, Fakenhaz's smile disappeared.
The duke got up from his chair and stared coldly at the Barren Bone man. His expression was disgusting and terrifying.
Kohe stared back at him without showing any signs of weakness.
A few seconds later, the Duke of Western Desert laughed and waved his hand.
"Nonsense, I'm playing chess. Why would I kill someone for no reason?"
However, Kohe shook his head. His gaze became terrifying.
The surrounding guards felt a sense of discomfort.
"Bone Cub," the Barren Bone man said sternly,
"Kill, great kill."
Fakenhaz's smile froze again.
He pointed at Kohe and shook his head.
"You …"
"Bone Cub, lie." Kohe clenched his teeth. His expression instantly became ferocious.
"Kohe, kill! Kill! "
The Barren Bone man's abnormal behavior made the Duke's personal guards around him nervous. Then, Fakenhaz waved his hand, indicating that he was fine.
The suzerain of the Ruins sighed.
"Alright, I'll tell the truth." Fakenhaz supported the chessboard and looked into the distance.
"I'm a little frustrated."
'Only you can see that, Scarface.'
The Guardian Duke of Western Desert looked out of the window in a daze.
"You know, waiting is the most torturous."
Kohe flashed a cruel smile.
"Kill?"
The duke shook his head in disdain.
"Oh, I can't be happy even if I kill!"
Kohe was obviously disappointed. He muttered, stood up and left in disappointment.
"Tell me, Scarface."
When Kohe turned around, Fakenhaz suddenly spoke.
"Have you gambled before? It's … you pay and say something. If you get it right, you win money? "
The Barren Bone man frowned and thought for a while. He shook his head.
"Kohe, no."
"At least you've seen others gamble before." Fakenhaz sighed.
"I mean, before you opened the prisoner column and carried me out of Sharalon Tribe?"
Kohe thought carefully for a while. His brows gradually furrowed.
When Fakenhaz saw his expression, he said in resignation, "Alright, I won't make things difficult for you —"
"Fifty-eight Water-shifting Periods ago." Kohe suddenly spoke and interrupted him, "Caliguri, beast cage."
"Luma, bet."
Fakenhaz's expression changed. He patted the table in front of him with great interest.
Kohe sat down again.
"Alright, so, when your tribe went to Caliguri, they played with beast cages … Who did your brother bet on? Tribal warriors? Slaves? Exiles? Desert robbers? Or beasts? "
The Barren Bone man's gaze turned cold.
"Kohe, kill."
Fakenhaz's eyes lit up.
"Hah, your brother made a bet, and you personally went down to fight and kill?"
Kohe nodded.
"Look at this tattoo of yours. How many did you kill?"
Kohe stood up and pulled open the clothes on the side of his back. He pointed at a few serrated tattoos as if he was very familiar with them.
"Eight? Wow! "
Fakenhaz sighed and said, "I guess you're rich?"
But Kohe was silent for a while before he shook his head.
"Luma, lose."
"What?"
Fakenhaz frowned in puzzlement.
"But you're still alive. How did your brother lose? Did he bet on the wrong thing?"
Kohe's expression turned gloomy.
"Tribe, bet on Bloody Thorn Lizards."
Fakenhaz's smile also gradually faded.
"Oh, your tribe has ordered you two brothers to fight each other in pairs."
The duke sighed and said, "This is the highlight.
"This is the highlight of the show. My guess is that he wants to attract big bets and make a big profit."
Kohe gritted his teeth. His cheeks trembled.
"Luma, no.
Kohe, no. "
Fakenhaz nodded.
"Of course, you refused, so you can only lose money?"
The Barren Bone man paused.
After a while, he looked up with difficulty.
"Tribe, kill. Cage Master, kill. Holy Chief, kill. Tribe, kill. Sand Servant, kill. "
The duke shrugged.
"Yes, I guessed so too. Everyone is very unhappy, especially those who placed bets. I heard someone mention it before."
He snorted softly.
"Your tribe set up a monster cage, and perhaps even received bets, but did not complete the duel. He must have lost a lot."
Kohe did not say anything.
The Barren Bone man only shook his head. His gaze was terrifying. "Tribe, poor.
Luma, pay, life. "
Fakenhaz paused.
Kohe gritted his teeth and looked up while his body trembled.
"Kohe, punish, life."
The Duke of Western Desert did not say anything.
He only sighed, extended his hand, and patted Kohe's shoulder.
Kohe turned his head and revealed a ferocious expression towards the invisible air.
"Ah, I remember now. Your bastard old tribe." Fakenhaz's eyebrows twitched as he came to a realization.
"That unlucky fellow who was attacked from the bottom to the top by you, from the head to the ribs, and only died after wailing in pain until dawn?"
Kohe snorted and did not answer.
Fakenhaz chuckled.
"Well done, Scarface. You have avenged your brother."
Kohe did not say anything. After a while, he suddenly looked up.
"Bone Boy, bet?"
Fakenhaz was stunned. He understood and nodded.
"Yes, I am betting too." The duke looked to the east and giggled.
"Bet on another round … Bloody Thorn Lizard."
Kohe frowned.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." The Duke of Western Desert shook his head.
"How should I put it? A full six years."
Fakenhaz gradually fell into a daze.
The Barren Bone man revealed a ruthless expression.
"Kohe, kill. Bone Boy, bet."
"Of course." Fakenhaz smiled.
"If it is killing, Scarface, I will definitely let you go and bet on you.
But, no, it is not. "
The duke's gaze became sharp.
"The key to this gamble of mine is not to kill and take lives."
"Instead, I'm betting on whether or not that person of mine, with his high standing in the capital city, will be able to risk everything."
Kohe showed a puzzled expression.
"Bet on him. Bet on whether he is willing to be like your brother."
Duke Fakenhaz's expression turned cold. He waved his hand and swept all the chess pieces on the table.
"Pay with your own life.
"In exchange for your life."
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
