A few minutes later, Thales led Mallos and a large group of people to Renaissance Palace's carpet in a bustling manner.
Wya tried repeatedly to tell Doyle that he was in charge of the prince's personal matters, but he was always fooled by Doyle's joking, "Oh, why are there any distinctions between us?" Kohen was eager to find Glover to ask about the situation, but the latter kept moving in the group to ensure that he and Kohen were always on Ralf's sides. If the police wanted to find him, they would have to go past the Phantom Wind Follower.
After going through an ordeal together, the two groups of people who had no interaction with each other and had temporarily formed a team — the former subordinates of Dragon Clouds City and the Star Lake Guards — were no longer as distinct as before. The dark mass of Renaissance Palace forced them to cluster around the prince, dispel their nervousness and fear, and search for safety and belonging.
"Thank you, Tormond," Thales suddenly said.
He ignored Wya, who was struggling to catch up to the prince, but was held back by Doyle's excessive enthusiasm.
Mallos, who was closest to the teenager, frowned.
"For what?"
"Thanks to your prior preparations and leaving enough manpower for me," Thales said faintly.
"That was just an emergency insurance."
Mallos shook his head.
"I didn't expect you to not only use it …"
As the most well-dressed, healthiest, and neatest person in this group, Mallos looked at the unfamiliar faces in the group and frowned.
"And added quite a lot of manpower."
'Did something great.'
Amidst the hustle and bustle, Thales was not in a good mood, and Mallos seemed to have a lot on his mind. The two of them seemed to have a tacit understanding, and there was a long gap between their questions and answers.
"Who is that?"
Looking at the backs of the two figures in front of him, one big and one small, but with great teamwork, Wya could not help but ask Doyle in a whisper.
"Oh, him." Doyle's eyes lit up. He looked like someone who had been through this before.
"Of course it's our beloved personal guard captain, Tormond Mallos."
"Oh." Wya reacted.
"The one His Highness said was going to send to the Prison of Bones?"
Doyle's expression changed. He pressed a finger to his lips.
"Shh —"
He sneaked a glance at the captain's back.
"He … is very stingy."
They walked down a flight of stairs. The black horse, Jennie, hated this kind of terrain and environment, so she started to throw a tantrum again. Genard and Willow were flustered by her, and she caused a commotion in the group. In the end, Glover grabbed her reins and used the zombie's unique death gaze and the long sword at his waist to force her to submit.
Thales sighed and said to his personal guard captain, "Thank you. You can't even protect yourself, but you still asked Captain Adrian to help me."
"What?" Mallos frowned.
"He's here to buy me more time. 'Neither the swords of the past nor the present can escape from the sheath'. Isn't that the secret code that you asked him to deliver?"
"No," Mallos denied firmly.
"That's what Captain taught me."
"What?" The prince was stunned.
"So, you didn't ask him to come?"
Mallos shook his head, his expression as usual.
"Of course not. Vogel alone is troublesome enough. I can't deal with you."
Thales paused for a moment.
"I knew it."
The prince exhaled angrily and pressed his hand against his forehead.
"Calm down, calm down. Everything depends on yourself, on yourself, everything depends on yourself."
Mallos' gaze shifted to Thales' hand.
"What's that?"
Thales froze. He put down his right hand and looked at the ornament on his index finger — it was a grayish-white bone ring with two rings, one at the front and the other at the back. The face of the ring was engraved with a strange and ferocious beast's head, which covered almost half of the knuckle. It was monotonous but heavy.
If he wore two more, he could even use it as a punch.
"A gift to witness reconciliation." Thales paused for a second, then put down his right hand and said faintly,
"From Father."
Mallos was deep in thought.
A group of servants and guards approached from afar. When they realized that it was Prince Thales, their expressions changed drastically. They retreated as quickly as they could and scattered before they entered the salute range.
"How rare. I've never received such treatment."
Mallos looked at the empty palace with complicated emotions.
"What did you do?"
'What did I do?'
Thales' heart sank. He was in a trance amidst the noisy crowd.
Doyle talked about all kinds of ghost stories in Renaissance Palace, leaving Kohen and Willow dumbfounded.
Genard looked at the obedient Jennie with relief. He felt that the prince had a successor to lead the horse to the increasingly impatient Glover.
In the face of the complicated situation, Wya tried to gesture with his hands, wanting to say something to Ralf to unite them, but the latter always looked indifferent.
"I sold myself," Thales said gloomily.
Mallos turned to look at him.
"Don't worry, I negotiated a good price."
The watchman narrowed his eyes.
"Such as?"
Thales glanced behind him.
"Such as you, and everyone in Mindis Hall, safe and sound. Escaped from disaster?"
"Yes," Mallos' expression did not change.
"It's all thanks to you that I'm in trouble."
Thales ignored his sarcasm.
"Due to offending the royal family and kidnapping nobles at a banquet, Anker Byrael will be sent to the Prison of Bones for life."
Mallos raised his eyebrows.
"Life imprisonment? Hmm, he must be very grateful. "
Thales shook his head.
"Sparing his life is my father's biggest concession — as for the debts and political disputes between the two families, the Nobles' Affairs Chamber will step in and negotiate with the Department of Finance and the Department of Discipline to resolve them."
"These are worthless," the watchman shook his head.
"What did you sell, and what did you exchange for?"
Thales paused.
"You know, today's Imperial Conference was supposed to question the Western Desert dukes about the internal strife in Blade Fangs Camp and the Byrael family case."
Mallos' expression changed slightly.
Thales chuckled.
"Until I broke the rules and barged into the palace with the Fakenhaz family heirloom sword, lamented the pros and cons, and dissuaded His Majesty."
Mallos' expression changed. He glanced at the guard who was narrating 'Dragon Clouds City's War Chronicle, Kohen the Brave and the Fire Knight'.
"But the sword you held was clearly the Karabeyan family's."
"Yes," Thales was gloomy.
"But people don't know."
The watchman paused and nodded.
"People don't know."
Thales nodded as well.
"And I will write a letter and send it directly to Duke Fakenhaz in the Western Desert."
Mallos' gaze shifted.
Thales sighed. His tone was filled with endless emotions.
"After writing it, we can do whatever we want in the capital, and even the entire kingdom."
Mallos was deep in thought. This time, he was silent for a long time.
Thales snorted softly.
"Also, please inform Logistics Officer Stone that from tomorrow onwards, Mindis Hall will be responsible for its own profits and losses."
Mallos' expression darkened.
'F * ck.'
"Have you ever thought about what if you fail?"
"I have."
Thales sighed and said, "That's why I sent Kommodore."
"Kommodore?"
Thales nodded.
"He was a little afraid of barging into the palace and causing trouble. He was reluctant. That's why I sent him to look for Madam Jines.
"Judging by the time, it should be about time."
At this moment, a breeze blew. The lights in the palace corridor flickered!
Mallos frowned.
"Enemy attack!"
Everyone's expression changed.
In the next second, a strong gust of wind blew. A black shadow shot out from the end of the corridor. It charged towards Thales at lightning speed!
Glover and Kohen moved forward together and drew their swords.
But the black shadow surprised them. He stepped on Glover's sword, then on Kohen's shoulder. In a flash, he broke through the two of them in an instant.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, the black shadow passed by Wya and Ralf one after another. He charged towards Thales and Mallos without any obstacles!
"Wahhhhhh! Hah! "
A clear and sharp voice traveled into the air.
"I bought this road, I am the one who opened this road!"
Thales' vision blurred. He saw the black shadow draw his weapon. His blade flashed continuously, forcing Wya and Ralf to retreat. At the same time, he made the Everlasting Lamp in the corridor tremble in pain.
"If you want to harm the prince, step on — my — body!"
The black shadow stopped and revealed a short and small figure that was tightly covered by a cloak.
She brandished the machete randomly and made babbling noises to demonstrate to the dumbfounded people around her,
"Did you hear that? Did you hear that? Did you hear that?"
Everyone, including Thales, was stunned. They watched the performance of the person in front of them in a daze.
Seeing that no one challenged her authority, the person put away her machete and nodded in satisfaction.
"Hmm, that's right!"
The next moment, Thales' face twitched.
"E-Aida?"
The short and small figure nodded. She shook her cloak, put her hands on her hips, and struck a dashing pose. She snapped her fingers. "Correct!"
"Kid, I came immediately when I heard that you were in danger! But since I'm here, you're safe. You're welcome! "
Under everyone's strange gazes, the elf protector extended her hand excitedly and patted Thales' shoulder awkwardly.
"How is it? I arrived in time and saved you from danger. Are you touched?"
Thales' face darkened. He thanked her dryly.
"Ah, yes. I'm touched. It's all thanks to you. If you came a little later …"
It didn't seem to make any difference.
Aida nodded in satisfaction and wiped the grease at the corner of her mouth.
Wya and Ralf, who were used to this scene, sighed and dispersed. Only the black horse, Jennie, snorted excitedly.
"Instructor Aida."
Mallos' expression tensed up.
"Royal Guards, welcome home."
Hearing these words, Aida shuddered. She turned her head around and spoke in a timid voice.
"Hey, you're that, that …"
"Sir Instructor!" A mournful cry rang out.
Doyle pushed through the crowd and pounced on her. His eyes were sparkling and his voice had changed.
"Y-you've been gone for six years. Six years. Finally, you're back! Sob sob, you told me that you would only be gone for a few weeks … "
The others looked at him with furrowed brows.
Aida was stunned. She scratched her head in embarrassment.
"Ah, s-sorry …"
"I didn't expect to be gone for so long. I've made you worry …"
"No, since you're back, then I'm relieved." Doyle sniffled and teared up. He sounded very touching.
"I can follow by your side and serve you like before!"
"Thank you, thank you," Aida chuckled guiltily.
"By the way, that …" She suddenly remembered something and looked kindly at the loyal Doyle.
"Who are you?"
On the other side, Mallos looked at the chaos in the team and sighed deeply.
"You know, Your Highness, the price is actually not important."
He turned to the downcast Thales.
"Most importantly, when you're bargaining, you're using …"
Mallos said in a low voice,
"Is it your own scale?"
Hearing this, Thales raised his head and clenched his right hand.
—
"Empty words?"
In Ballard Room, Thales chuckled at the king in front of him.
"What, I have to sign a labor contract to sell myself to you? 'If I don't do as you say, don't go undercover in a company and steal trade secrets, you'll deduct my year-end performance bonus'? "
The prince glared at King Kessel.
"Boss?"
Thales sneered.
"Or do you want me to write a secret statement, and when I betray you, you can take it out and tell the world that 'the prince is a wolf, don't trust him'?"
The Iron Hand King did not respond to his nonsense.
He just raised his head and stared at the furnishings in Ballard Room that had not changed for many years. He was silent for a long time.
Finally, just as Thales was about to yawn, the king spoke softly.
"Make a vow."
Thales was stunned.
King Kessel's eyes were bright.
"We will form an alliance and make a vow to bear witness to this moment."
Vow?
Thales blinked, somewhat surprised.
"Wow."
"This, I really didn't think of it. Vow."
The prince ruminated on the word.
"So old-fashioned?"
King Kessel did not speak. He just stared coldly at Thales.
Thales sighed.
"Alright, Your Majesty."
The next second, Thales pressed his right hand and flipped onto the conference table!
The king frowned.
Thales sat cross-legged, flipped open the lid of the wine pot and took a sip. He choked and his face contorted.
"Then, if you agree, if you accept, if you acknowledge our agreement today, if you are willing to fight side by side with me and move forward together until the kingdom is clean and Constellation is revived, Your Majesty Kessel …" Thales gritted his words and put down the wine pot in disgust.
"Let us drink together and swear an oath of alliance."
He knocked on the wine pot and pushed it towards the king.
"For the kingdom of Constellation."
King Kessel frowned. He glanced at the wine pot, then at the disheveled but arrogant Thales, and snorted in dissatisfaction.
"What's wrong?"
Thales laughed and patted the table under his butt.
"Hey, don't tell me this table is an antique used by someone. If I recklessly jump on it, will you teach me a lesson?"
King Kessel shook his head. He was expressionless as he gently pushed the wine pot away.
Thales frowned.
"You …"
"This is the Yankee custom of swearing, barbaric and backward."
The king said slowly,
"We have a better way."
Under Thales' strange gaze, King Kessel stretched out his palm and held the Staff of Constellation by the side of the chair.
At that moment, the jewel on top of the scepter emitted a dazzling blue light without warning, illuminating the entire Ballard Room as if it was daytime. Thales closed his eyes and turned his head!
"What the hell!"
Fortunately, the blue light disappeared in a flash.
King Kessel put down the scepter and spread his left hand.
Thales opened his eyes in pain and slowly regained his vision.
He discovered that on the king's left hand, there was a sizable ring lying quietly.
It was grayish white.
His expression was ferocious.
"This is the coronation item of the Jadestar Royal Family." King Kessel turned the strange ring on his hand with a strange look in his eyes.
"For seven hundred years, it has been hidden in the Staff of Constellation, only appearing for a short period of time whenever the throne changes hands."
"Coronation item?"
Thales narrowed his eyes and sized it up.
"This ring, this shape, doesn't look like …"
"An orc-style bone ring." The Iron Hand King knew of his doubts and went straight to the point.
"It was forged from the bones of rare and heavy ancient Terror Beasts, smelted into the hardest part, and painstakingly forged."
This time, Thales was truly shocked.
"Orcs?"
The king did not answer, his gaze still fixed on the bone ring.
Thales scrutinized the strange ring — there were many beast heads engraved on the surface of the ring ring, and without exception, they were all roaring angrily.
He compared it with what he had seen and heard in the desert. Although this bone ring was already very big, compared to the orcs …
"It's too small," Thales said doubtfully.
"Because it was not made for orcs, but for humans," the king said faintly.
"Its name is' Gurtaksa '."
Gurtaksa.
Thales recalled the orc language lessons and guessed,
"I don't know if your intonation is correct, but this syllable and structure in the orc language should be a noun or a pronoun. And these two affixes should be positive and glorious, and an abstract concept. As for the actual meaning, it depends on the pronunciation and writing, as well as the different language habits of the three major orc branches …"
"'Covenant'," King Kessel did not give him a chance to show off his studies and answered him directly, "This is its meaning.
"That is its meaning."
'Covenant.'
"Gurtaksa." Thales' gaze was attracted by the bone ring, and he softly recited its name.
"Covenant?"
The king nodded.
"Seven hundred years ago, the allied forces of the mountain elves and the northern humans suffered a crushing defeat. They were wiped out overnight, and the situation in the Battle of Eradication deteriorated."
The Battle of Eradication.
Thales' heart sank.
"At the critical moment, a mortal went north alone, and embarked on a dangerous journey. He went against the ancient 'last line of defense of humans', and went deep into Quiquer Glacier."
Quiquer Glacier.
The king's voice was long and deep.
"He wanted to break the taboo of humans since ancient times, and seek help from the ancient enemy to form an alliance and fight the calamity together."
The ancient enemy.
Fight the calamity together.
Thales was puzzled.
"A … mortal?"
The king nodded slowly, and his words carried the weight of history.
"When he returned from the glacier, eight war flags fluttered behind him.
"In the orc kingdom behind the glacier, there were eight tribes who were willing to put down the blood teachings of their ancestors, and cast aside their blood feud.
"They marched down south with great force."
Thales could not help but hold his breath.
"So, for the first time since the Uncivilized Era, the orcs passed through the natural stronghold of Quiquer, the ruins of the 'last line of defense of humans', the thirty-eight sentry posts built later on, and entered Northland Province. They set foot on the territory of the former human empire, migrated thousands of miles, and joined the Battle of Eradication."
In the next second, King Kessel's gaze was sharp.
"Just like that, Raikaru Eckstedt, with great courage and courage, broke through unprecedented obstacles, and brought a powerful army of reinforcements that no one expected, but the world could not accept.
"And thus stabilized the war in Northland.
"Helped him in the end — reverse the cold wind."
Raikaru Eckstedt.
When Thales heard this name, he could not help but think of the silver light in the boundless darkness between the mountains under Dragon Clouds City.
"This is … the first time I've heard of it."
The Iron Hand King nodded.
"Of course, the Northlanders of the later generations did not think that it was a glorious thing to rebel against the orthodoxy and associate with the ferocious-looking foreign species," King Kessel said flatly.
"Especially after the Battle of Eradication, the relationship between humans and orcs worsened again, and they became enemies."
The Iron Hand King put down the bone ring in his hand and pushed it in front of Thales.
"And this is the token that Raikaru formed an alliance with the orcs in the past.
"Gurtaksa — 'Alliance'."
The king paused for a while.
Thales picked up the bone ring, suppressing the doubts and shock in his heart, and slowly digested this strange piece of history.
"There are a total of eight beast heads carved on it, representing the consensus of the eight Sacred Chieftains of the orcs," the king said slowly.
"It is said that Raikaru followed the orc's etiquette and single-handedly defeated all his opponents, thus gaining the orcs' respect and trust in exchange for their understanding and promise."
"Single-handedly …" Thales turned the bone ring and looked at the obscure words around it. He remembered the "orc duel" he encountered in the desert and sighed.
"Alright, it's a legend.
But why is it here? On … the scepter of the King of Constellation? "
King Kessel raised his head.
"After the Battle of Eradication, the new nobles of Northland and the remnant citizens of the Empire had a conflict again, and Raikaru and Tormond the First met each other with weapons.
"But the two kings eventually signed a truce based on their foresight, and let bygones be bygones."
Thales remembered the library in Dragon Clouds City and came to a realization.
"This ring bears witness to the treaty established by the two kingdoms, and the oath made by Raikaru and Tormond," the king said in a low voice.
"In the end, the founding king of Eckstedt gave it to the King of Renaissance as a sign of reconciliation and trust."
'So, Raikaru used this thing to exchange for Tormond's' Triumph '?'
"Oh," Thales' expression did not change.
"I see.
"Then why did you take it out?"
King Kessel stared at him quietly and did not answer.
Thales reacted and could not help but laugh.
"This? Isn't that the Northlanders' oath method? "
He tossed the bone ring and did not know whether to laugh or cry.
"Barbaric and backward?"
In the next second, King Gurtakosa was thrown into the air by Thales, but he was caught by the king!
King Kessel stared at Thales solemnly. The atmosphere became heavy.
This made the latter nervous.
At an extremely slow speed, the king put on the Covenant on his index finger and extended it towards Thales.
"Here and now, with Gurtakosa as our witness, we swear an oath."
His expression was solemn and did not seem to be joking.
Thales' eyebrows twitched.
"You're really going to do it?"
Is he a drama queen or something?
But the Iron Hand King stared at the teenager and enunciated each word clearly.
"You will help me push the kingdom forward, remove obstacles, and break the shackles."
His gaze sharpened.
"For this, at all costs.
"Everything."
At that moment, Thales could not bear the king's sharp gaze.
"So general?"
He could only turn his head away and joke to ease the atmosphere.
"There's no clause or anything?"
The Iron Hand King stared at him for a while before gently removing the bone ring.
"The oath is made by people, not by cold words.
"The oath is also connected to people."
The king said softly.
"We have a tacit understanding in our hearts regarding the agreements we make, the promises we keep, and everything we have said before.
"There's no need for unnecessary words."
Thales' eyebrows twitched. He chuckled unnaturally.
"Sounds like playing house."
But the king did not want to play house. He pushed Gurtakosa in front of Thales.
"It's your turn."
Seeing that the king was so serious, Thales had to pull himself together and pick up the simple but ferocious bone ring.
"Alright."
Thales did not think too much. He shook the ring on his hand.
"And you …"
"Put it on," King Kessel interrupted him, his gaze growing colder.
Thales could not help but frown.
But he still carefully turned the bone ring and put it on the index finger of his right hand.
Unlike its ferocious and rough appearance, it felt smooth and warm to the touch.
Thales gulped and aimed it at the king.
Alright.
"Here and now, with the 'covenant' as our witness, we swear an oath."
"I will help you push the kingdom …"
Thales looked at the king and said seriously,
"And you will respect my wishes, listen to my opinion, and treat me sincerely without reservation.
"There will be no deceit.
"There will be no deceit."
At this moment, the prince and the king looked into each other's eyes and felt the seriousness in each other's eyes.
After a long silence, King Kessel nodded.
"Then, in the name of Kessel Mindis Eddie Jadestar.
"I promise."
He stared at Thales.
Thales felt uncomfortable under his stare. He just wanted to get out of here.
"Then, in the name of Thales TherrenGirana Kessel Jadestar, I …"
Thales coughed.
"I agree!
"Is it done?"
'Damn it.'
Although wearing the ring was not uncomfortable, the prince did not feel good.
It was like … he was bound by something.
The king looked away, nodded, and said softly,
"Then the agreement is set."
Thales sneered and shook the bone ring on his hand.
"Then, the contract takes effect?"
At this moment …
Thud!
Thales only felt a muffled sound explode in his ears. His eardrums hurt, and he subconsciously covered his ears with his hands.
"Then the agreement is set … is set … is set …"
The heavy and layered voice came from all directions. It echoed endlessly and shook the entire palace!
But it was useless to cover his ears. This heavy and strange voice was pouring into his brain in an indescribable way, and he could not even tell what language it was.
"Those who betray this alliance … those who betray … those who …"
If he really had to describe the feeling, it was like thousands of blades were tearing at a piece of steel!
Even the table and floor tiles under him were shaking incessantly.
"Deserted by all …"
"F * ck!"
Thales only felt the world spin. He could not help but close his eyes, but he felt everything around him vibrating at a high frequency!
He could not help but shout,
"What the hell?!"
The Sin of Hell's River surged madly, but it did not have the slightest effect.
The heavy and sharp voice continued, becoming shorter and more forceful, and clearly distinguishable.
"Blazing Body —"
The words rose and fell, shaking people's hearts. Thales only felt his chest go numb.
"Soul Breaks Hell's River!"
Finally, the last syllable disappeared, and everything stopped.
Thales leaned on the table, put down his hands that were covering his ears, and opened his eyes with trembling hands.
He was already drenched in cold sweat without realizing it.
Ballard Room was still quiet.
The lights shone, and everything was as usual.
Opposite him, King Kessel sat on the chair, similarly rubbing his forehead with a pained expression.
"Relax, this matches the records …"
Thales struggled to get up and quickly took off the bone ring.
It rolled a few times and stopped on the table. The beast head opened its mouth ferociously, as if to swallow everything.
"What the hell … is this thing?"
Thales took a few deep breaths, still feeling a lingering fear.
"Magical power, right?" The king exhaled and gradually returned to normal.
"This is the curse."
Thales desperately rubbed his ears, but found that they no longer hurt, as if everything just now … was an illusion that never happened.
"Curse?"
King Kessel nodded, and his expression became cold again.
"During the Age of the Empire, some people said that they came from the depths of hell, from the source of Hell's River, and that they were proof that demons were disrupting the human world.
"Some people said that they were just fabricated by charlatans, alarmist self-proofing prophecies, but self-deceiving.
"Others said that they came from the mysterious and terrifying unnamed ancient god, and lurked in the corner that the God of Light missed when he created the world."
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"But even the once knowledgeable wizards could not completely understand the secrets within. They could only classify it as the most secret and taboo part of magic, keep a respectful distance from it, and shelve it."
The king cast a glance at Gurtaksa before he looked at Thales quietly. His words were profound.
His words were profound, "This is the curse laid down by the ancient wise men of the orc tribe. It is mysterious, difficult to break, and has lasted for a long time."
Curse.
Thales panted and wiped his sweat.
"Is … is it useful? What can it do? "
The Iron Hand King chuckled.
"Those orcs …" He was silent for a while before he spoke, "Seven hundred years ago, the eight orc tribes who were willing to help the humans fight against the calamity did not send their troops out of generosity and sympathy."
Thales' expression froze.
"Raikaru promised them a land without snow and ice for them to live and reproduce after the war was won."
King Kessel said slowly,
"That is the Eight Great Orc Tribes under the Dragon Skeleton Throne in the Great Desert today."
Thales frowned.
"The Great Desert?"
He recalled his experience in the desert and his brief contact with the orcs.
"The Eight Great Orc Tribes in the desert came about because of this?"
Thales immediately reacted.
"Wait, a land without snow and ice?"
The king stared at him quietly.
Thales burst into laughter.
"So Raikaru played a word game? The land he promised before the war, but distributed to the orcs after the war, was not wanted at all. A barren desert? "
'How should I put it, Raikaru, you damn …'
'Little Smarty?'
Thales thought of Silver Shadowman in the Belly of the Mountains and did not know whether to laugh or cry.
"A word game?"
But the Iron Hand King snorted coldly, causing the lights in the room to tremble.
He glanced at Thales lightly.
"Do you know how the King of Dragon Knights passed away?"
Thales' smile disappeared when he heard this.
He had a bad feeling.
"He died of illness."
Thales said cautiously,
"King Raikaru spent his entire life on the battlefield. He was plagued by illness and died young. His nephew, 'The Smiler' Nuven Walton inherited Raikaru's position and title. He renamed Arunde Castle to Dragon Clouds City to commemorate his uncle, the founding king of Eckstedt. "
Speaking of this, Thales could not help but think of 'Raikaru's Vow' and the centuries-old struggle between the king and the archdukes.
"But the Smiler and the nine suzerains under Raikaru refused to accept each other, causing Eckstedt to fall into a terrible division and turmoil. Until 'Black Eye' John led his army on a northern expedition, forcing them to unite. The ten archdukes signed 'Raikaru's Vow' to resist Constellation together."
"Yes." As King Kessel listened, he snorted softly.
"But that was the official story."
'Official story?'
Thales narrowed his eyes and waited for the rest of the story.
"In the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department, there is an extremely old top-secret intelligence sealed by 'Fatal Iris' herself."
The king said faintly,
"It recorded that one night after the establishment of Eckstedt, countless people in Arunde Castle woke up in shock."
"They heard the piercing wind, echoing through the vast sky."
"They also saw the blue flames covering the moon, melting all the snow on a thousand peaks."
Wild wind, vast sky, blue flames …
As he listened to these unnatural phenomena, Thales, who had experienced it before, asked in surprise,
"What? You mean … "
King Kessel was silent for a while before nodding faintly.
"Exactly."
"That mythical dragon, the so-called 'Queen of the Sky', who was said by the people to be the spouse of the King of Dragon Knights, descended on the Cliff of the Sky that night."
In the narrow and dark Ballard Room, the Iron Hand King spoke in a low voice.
"It sent down merciless flames …
"The successful and respected human hero, the King of Dragon Knights, Raikaru Eckstedt the First …
"Alive …"
"Burned to ashes."
As soon as he finished speaking, the lights dimmed.
"What?"
Thales cried out in shock.
He turned his gaze to the table and fixed it on the grayish-white and ferocious bone ring.
What the hell?
The statue that stood at the highest point of Dragon Clouds City.
The hero that the Northlanders were most proud of.
The founding monarch of Eckstedt.
The Silver Shadow under the mountains.
The King of Dragon Knights.
Raikaru Eckstedt.
His fate. He was … by his own, or by the 'wife' that was rumored by the world, by the Queen of the Sky …
To …
Thales' mind went blank. He could not understand the logic behind this truth.
"As I said, the one who made the oath is a person, not a cold language. Cheating and playing with words are just petty tricks."
The king said slowly, fearfully and solemnly.
Playing tricks, playing with words …
Thales' gaze froze.
Wait.
Raikaru's promise, the orcs, the land without snow and ice, the Great Desert.
So, what happened just now was …
The one who betrayed this alliance.
The betrayal of those close to him.
Recalling the Demonic Voice he heard just now, Thales was stunned.
"Gurtakesa has his own judgment on what kind of agreement is made, what kind of promise is kept, what kind of betrayal is, and what kind of abandonment is."
Opposite him, King Kessel also stared at the bone ring. His eyes flickered.
"It will, when necessary, in its own way …
"Respond."
Respond.
Under the mountains, the laughing Silver Shadow flashed before Thales' eyes for the last time.
It was replaced by that Demonic Voice.
Burning Body.
Soul Breaks Hell's River.
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