Thales' eyelids twitched.
He scrutinized King Kessel's face. For the first time, he discovered that there were different emotions on this resolute and cold face.
Is that so?
His … father.
"No, Your Majesty."
Thinking of this, Thales said calmly,
"What I want is indeed the same as before."
But he changed the topic.
"But not for so-called 'gentleness', so-called 'compromise', so-called 'gradual progress'." Thales' expression darkened.
"At least this time, it's not."
King Kessel's table knife cut the next piece of food and knocked it against the plate with a crisp sound.
"Then what is it for?"
The king mocked.
"Could it be that this dinner has really changed you?"
Thales looked at him silently. At that moment, he was filled with emotions.
"Do you still not understand, Your Majesty?"
The prince lowered his head, picked up his spoon, and sighed.
"You can't defeat them.
"You can't do it alone."
Thales stared at his spoon, watching it dig out a piece of food.
"You need me."
'You need me.'
King Kessel was silent for a while.
"Isn't it too late to ask for peace now?"
Hearing this, Thales could not help but smile, but his smile was a little bitter.
"Ask for peace?
"Who said I'm asking for peace?"
Thales raised his head, his expression gradually turning cold.
"I'm here to declare war on you, Your Majesty."
At that moment, the king's table knife knocked against the plate.
Kessel slowly raised his head and looked at his son.
"What?"
Thales' expression was gloomy and his tone was solemn.
"From today onwards, Your Majesty, I will give you a weapon that has never been seen before.
"I will truly help you succeed."
Across the table, King Kessel stared at him coldly, his expression unfriendly.
"Amolei's bargaining chip, it is no longer in your hands."
Thales shook his head.
"No, not the orphan daughter of the Amolei Family," the prince said nonchalantly.
"That's at most a bonus."
"A bonus?"
Thales nodded.
"Yes. Just like the 'Sand King', it was just a beginning. It was a bumpy wagon at the beginning that deviated from the path, but it was eventually pulled back to the right path by us."
King Kessel did not speak. He knew that Thales had more to say.
As expected, in the next second, Thales' expression became stern.
"In order to defeat them and your slippery and unpredictable opponents, Your Majesty, you have to change your strategy. You can't just charge around with your strength anymore. You can't be so aggressive anymore. You can't wield your sword aimlessly anymore. You can't be alarmed every night."
Thales said in a low voice,
"You need them to jump out, stand up, and shine."
"You need them to be lax, to be careless, to make mistakes."
"You need to understand them, control them, and numb them."
At that moment, the king's expression changed slightly.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Thales' attitude was frank and magnanimous, as if this was the most logical and natural thing to do.
"In Constellation, in this mess left behind by the Virtuous King, the situation is so clear that there is no way out. What you truly need, what you lack …"
In the next second, Thales' expression became stern, and his voice suddenly turned cold.
"It's an opponent.
"An opponent who can stand up to you as an equal."
At that moment, Kessel the Fifth's eyes suddenly widened!
Thales looked at the king from afar and actually felt a strange sense of calm and relief.
That's right.
Since ancient times, swords could not escape from their sheaths.
What he wanted to become was not a sword.
It was a sheath.
"And this opponent, he must be like you, strong enough, noble enough, able to summon heroes to shake the kingdom. With his existence …"
Thales did not continue, but glanced at King Kessel tentatively.
For the first time, the Iron Hand King, who always said what he said, replied in a low voice,
"I'm listening."
Thales sighed in his heart.
He found it.
Receive the enemy, observe the enemy, deal with the enemy.
In this hurried and arduous battle with King Kessel, Roland's heart sank.
He charged, fell, resisted, was defeated again and again, and got up again and again …
Finally, he came to the last step.
The Sin of Hell's River flowed madly in his body, and finally left in satisfaction.
In the next second, Thales suddenly looked up!
"Logically speaking, this is the only way.
"With him, you can mislead your enemies: The Iron Hand King is not invincible, not unstoppable, not destined to be your natural enemy.
"With him, you can confuse your enemies: Renaissance Palace is not a monolithic entity, not flawless, not without weaknesses."
King Kessel's expression was solemn, no longer disdainful or careless.
Thales continued quietly.
"With him, you can weaken your enemies: In false hope, they will lose their vigilance, indulge in civil and military affairs, and die in peace.
"With him, you can lock onto your enemies: With the anti-king's flag flying high, all who gather under it will fall into your trap, and you will catch them all in one fell swoop.
"And he will give you unexpected help, help you see through them, disintegrate them, and finally … destroy them."
King Kessel unknowingly put down his knife.
At that moment, he looked at Thales with an extremely complicated expression.
The king frowned.
"You …"
Thales did not give him a chance to reply. He raised his voice and continued.
"In terms of benefits, this is also the only way.
"With him, your enemies will no longer be hidden or scattered. They will gather like a pack of wolves, like a herd of horses. From then on, they will be traceable, traceable, and visible. You will clear the path for the chariot and point the sword in the right direction.
"Is there a battlefield that is easier to understand than this?"
King Kessel clenched his fists, and the space between his brows began to struggle.
Thales' voice echoed in Ballard Room, causing the lights to flicker and the shadows to flash back and forth.
"With him, you will have the most unfathomable undercover agent. As the enemy's leader, you will lurk deep in the enemy camp. No matter which chess player you face, or what game you experience, you will have the other party's king firmly in your grasp. You will have the enemy in your palm, and you will be able to do whatever you want.
"Is there a chess game that is more likely to win than this?"
At that moment, the king gritted his teeth, his expression ferocious.
"You —"
"And in reality, this is also the only way!"
Thales stood up abruptly.
"Today, I have committed treason, brought my sword to force the king to abdicate. I have done wrong, and I have almost rebelled!"
Thales looked down at the king, who was in disbelief across the long table. For the first time, he felt that the king was "hiding" behind the long table.
"At this moment, no matter how much the Secret Intelligence Department tries to cover up any loopholes, the news has long spread throughout the capital, and will soon sweep through the entire country.
"No matter how kind and filial we are in the future, there will always be people who will remember the rift between the king and his heir, and the scene of our confrontation as ruler and subject. They will try to take advantage of the situation and make things difficult for us."
Thales' voice became gloomy.
"Our relationship has long been irreparable, irreparable.
"All the efforts you've made for the 'kindness of a father and a filial son' have been wasted. They are meaningless.
King Kessel's expression changed several times. He reached out and clasped the table tightly.
"If that's the case," Thales was expressionless and his tone was cold,
"Why not make the most of it, make use of this matter?
"Why not push the boat with the current, and ride the wind and waves?
"Ride the waves?"
The Iron Hand King breathed with difficulty and squeezed out words through his teeth,
"You …
"So, for the sake of reason, for the sake of interests, and for the sake of reality, Your Majesty."
Thales looked at him quietly, seemingly righteous, but also cold and ruthless.
"I, Thales Jadestar …
"I am destined to be your enemy."
His voice faded away.
The atmosphere in Ballard Room seemed to have returned to peace. It was incomparably quiet and comfortable.
Comforting.
After a few seconds, King Kessel recovered from his shock and questioned him in disbelief.
"Do you know what you're saying?!"
Thales let out a long breath.
Strange.
He smiled slightly.
"More or less.
"No."
The Iron Hand King interrupted him with suppressed anger.
"You don't know."
King Kessel took a deep breath and adjusted his breathing.
"On the surface, you want to break off all ties with me, clearly oppose and denounce me, stand as an equal with the supreme king, walk into that sinister and greedy camp, become brothers with the enemies of the kingdom, speak up for them, and become their flag and hope?
"Behind my back, you are going to conspire with me. You are going to be my spy against your conscience. You are going to work with the tyrant. You are going to destroy your previous stance and foundation. You are going to sell your soul to the royal power. You are going to be at the king's beck and call, and you are going to stab me in the back countless times?
The Iron Hand King gritted his teeth, as if he was looking at the biggest bastard in the world.
"Do you know what this means?"
Why.
Why was he so surprised?
Was he not the one who created this situation?
Looking at King Kessel's expression, Thales chuckled.
It was very strange. When this moment really came, the emotions he thought he would feel: resentment, grievance, indignation, sadness, sadness, loss …
All disappeared without a trace.
All he could feel was a boundless deathly stillness.
"It's funny, I have a friend who taught me a lesson."
Thales smiled, thinking of his former "old friend."
He said wistfully, "Betrayal is the true meaning of an alliance."
What was equally strange was that, in addition to the hatred and disdain, he suddenly missed that ugly woman a little at this moment.
So this was how she felt.
King Kessel's expression changed again.
But this time, he suppressed the excess emotions and tried his best to return to being the calm and rational king from before.
"Do you know the price and the worst consequences of this proposal of yours?"
The Iron Hand King's eyes were burning.
"If you take this as an expedient measure to brush me off, hoping that the two sides will waver, or even be fickle and gain from the middle, then you are gravely mistaken."
Thales pursed his lips, feeling that the air in Ballard Room had finally begun to flow.
"You better understand." At this moment, the king was extremely serious, and there was a hint of threat in his words.
"This is not some chess game or game.
"This is a real — war."
Thales' eyelids twitched.
"And anyone, no matter what his name is, how high his position is, how much power he has, whether he is wise or brave, aggressive or gentle, if he thinks he is infallible and dares to stand in the middle of the battlefield …"
At that moment, King Kessel's murderous intent was overflowing.
"They will all be crushed.
"Not to mention benefiting from both sides.
"Benefiting from it."
At this second, Thales' heart was empty.
That's right, the scabbard.
Thales silently said to himself,
Not only to face the wind and frost outside the scabbard.
But also to endure the sharpness within the scabbard.
This was the way to deal with the Iron Hand King.
No matter how heavy the price was.
Sealing a thousand blades, how evil was that?
The prince lowered his head and exhaled with difficulty.
"Yes, I know."
When he looked up again, his eyes were already serious.
"But as you said: I was born for Constellation."
King Kessel's gaze froze.
"Compared to the vast Constellation and the mighty kingdom," Thales said calmly, "Our father-son relationship, gratitude and hatred, and even our lives and fortunes …
"None of it is that important."
At that moment, King Kessel's expression changed. He struggled several times, but in the end, he did not speak.
Looking at the other's reaction, Thales smiled softly.
"Just like five hundred years ago, the King of Ascension killed his son as a sacrifice to the gods."
King Kessel was slightly shocked.
Thales looked at the deep ceiling and sighed.
"Those who hear only know that this is a violation of the natural order, cruel and terrible.
"Those who know are the ones who walk. Only then will they know the inside story. It is sorrowful, heroic and generous."
Recalling the story he had unearthed, Thales gradually became lost in thought.
"'Ascension King' Alan the First bore the infamy and his prestige was destroyed.
"'Alien' Prince Herman shed blood and sacrificed his life.
"Jadestar joined forces, father and son conspiring together, stirring the kingdom's blood to boil, inciting the anger of the subjects and people to crusade. Finally, they knocked down Sunset Temple, which had dominated Constellation for two hundred years, from its altar, causing it to split and decline, never to recover."
At that moment, the room was extremely bright, and the words were powerful.
And King Kessel's gaze changed.
"This version of the story has always been a royal secret. How did you know?"
Thales looked at him and smiled in relief, but did not explain.
"Yes, outsiders do not know, but the Jadestar Royal Family knows. This is the truth and meaning of 'Ascension Sacrifice'.
"With the blood of the son and the grief of the father, strip the ribbon of divine power from the king's scepter."
In the next second, Thales' expression became solemn.
"Let me show up, Your Majesty. Let me become your enemy.
"Your spy, your chess piece, your bargaining chip."
"Your sword."
He placed his hands on the table and looked straight at the king.
"In this way, I can help you achieve your wish.
"Not just 'Sand King', not just Western Desert, but all of the kingdom."
At the end of the long table, King Kessel stared blankly at the teenager in front of him, swallowing several times.
Perhaps the entrance and exit of the guard captain made the lights burn brighter. The chill in Ballard Room gradually dissipated and warmth returned.
"As I said, Father, when you are overwhelmed by the weight of the crown, you will not be able to breathe."
At that moment, the prince's gaze was aggressive.
"I have come to save you.
"For this, I will stake my reputation, my life, and my future.
"To help you achieve the unprecedented greatness of the kingdom."
Thales clenched his fingers into a fist and punched his chest.
The scar that was burned many years ago seemed to be heating up again.
"This is my real bargaining chip today."
He looked at the speechless king and said in a low voice,
"It has already taken shape since I openly broke into the palace and rebelled under the eyes of the entire kingdom, and completely broke off relations with you at the Imperial Conference.
"And you have no reason to refuse."
Thales punched his chest, his gaze cold.
"Accept it, and you will gain unprecedented benefits.
"The dilemma is no more, and the solution is easy.
"The road ahead is wide open, and new."
Thales paused, took a deep breath, and forced himself to speak sternly.
"As long as the stars exist, the Empire lives forever."
In the next moment, Thales suddenly reached out in the direction of the king!
King Kessel trembled slightly.
"But …"
He looked at Thales in a daze.
It was as if the person standing in front of him was not his son.
But a new stranger.
"For the sake of Constellation, Your Majesty." The teenager raised his palm, his tone firm, and his gaze fearless.
"Let us be enemies with each other."
The secret chamber was deep.
But the king did not answer.
His breathing was disordered.
"Kessel Jadestar …"
Thales was unmoved. He continued to stare at the man in front of him.
"What do you say?"
The lights flickered.
Kessel did not answer.
He looked dazed.
"Iron Hand King …"
Thales' expression was deep. He dragged out his words and lowered his tone, making people uneasy.
"What do you say?"
The Iron Hand King did not answer either.
His whole body was stiff.
"Father!"
At this moment, Thales' eyes were sharp. He shouted at the top of his lungs,
"You —"
"What do you say?!"
After being locked in the small dark room for so long, this was all he had until New Year's Day.
(End of this chapter)
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