Thales realized that he had underestimated the high wall of power.
After he privately hinted to Mallos and Stone to send someone to "study" the plan to move to Star Lake Castle, in less than a week, the news of the Duke of Star Lake moving out of the capital spread like wildfire and through the streets and alleys of Eternal Star City.
"It's not good. Even the brothels in Red Street Market are saying that the prince is tired of the ladies in the capital and is going to" practice his spear "elsewhere. I don't know how they found out — and don't ask me how I found out," Glover, who had returned from his vacation, reported to the prince solemnly. At the same time, he glared at Wya who was hesitating to speak.
Star Lake Guards' first-class penal officer, Old Patterson, was fuming with rage. He brought two subordinates and the Phantom Wind Follower, Ralf ("He looks strange and vicious, Your Highness. He's very suitable for this job. Of course, the most important thing is that I can point at him and say to everyone, 'Look, this is what happens when you talk too much.'" Patterson said through gritted teeth), and with a whip in hand, he went around Mindis Hall to "catch moles", vowing to find out who leaked the secret.
"That's definitely not me!"
Doyle, who had returned from home with much difficulty while dragging his ridiculously large and small luggage, was caught red-handed by the "mole-catching team" at the main entrance.
"The setting sun can prove that I didn't mention our move to anyone — What? You mean these luggage? Hehe, my parents forced it on me. I can't do anything about it. Look, even the winter clothes were stuffed in. So annoying … Hey! Mute! Don't touch my lucky teddy! It's a must have at the head of my bed! "
Everyone in Mindis Hall was in a state of panic until Mallos appeared and reminded the old penal officer gently and tactfully, "The prince's move is a big deal.
The prince's move was such a big thing. Even if it was just a preliminary "research", there would definitely be a lot of disturbances. In addition to Mindis Hall's deteriorating financial situation ("I think we need to hire more people, cooks, gardeners, coachmen, and maids — What? Wine glasses? What does this have to do with wine glasses? Forget it, I'll just ask His Highness. " As long as everyone in Mindis Hall still had family and friends, it was inevitable that the news would be leaked.
As for why Duke Thales left the capital city, the rumors on the streets spread in an orderly fashion. They ranged from 'the legend of the past dukes of Mindis Hall being haunted' to 'the legend of the rebellious prince running away from his marriage', and even 'the legend of Star Lake Castle hiding a mistress'. There were many versions of this story. The main dispute was over the identity and number of the female protagonists, and even their gender. This was because Mindis Hall did not have the money to recruit female servants after the prince returned.
Interestingly, the people were dismissive of the saying that "the prince was bankrupt". Once it was mentioned, the crowd would roar with laughter, "Do you know how much the treasures in Mindis Hall alone are worth? Even the Prince's underwear is made of gold. Is there a need for you to worry? "
The rumors were so chaotic that Prime Minister Cullen couldn't help but ask about it at the Imperial Conference one day.
It was inconvenient for Thales to answer directly, so he cleverly diverted his fire and took the opportunity to probe the possibility of saving Mindis Hall's finances.
"Father, what do you think?"
At that time, the wise King Kessel was reading Jade City's port tax report and listening to Chief Kirkirk's grievous complaints ("As the dignified Chief of Finance, I only receive a salary of five silver coins per month. Have I ever cared about money? But they, this group of profiteers and corrupt officials of the South Coast, who have benefited from Your Majesty's wise grace to earn so much, are so selfish that they even want to haggle over this small tax? "). His brows were tightly furrowed and his mind was preoccupied. Hearing that, he just waved his hand in disdain, "Get lost.
"He approved."
After coming out of Renaissance Palace, faced with Mallos' suspicious gaze and Stone's expectant expression ("His Majesty can't let you starve to death, right?"), Duke Thales smiled brightly. Duke Thales smiled brilliantly. He appeared to be confident, steady, and composed.
"His Majesty has given high praise to Mindis Hall's long-term and fruitful work. He is full of confidence and expectations, and sincerely encourages us to be unique, to keep pace with the times, to be independent, to create new sources of income, to pursue excellence, and to explore the future —"
Bang!
Mallos slammed the table expressionlessly, "The main point."
The duke's smile instantly collapsed.
"No money."
So, after another two days, the direction of the rumors on the streets of the capital changed.
In order to resist the marriage arranged by his father (there were also bets on who the female lead would be. It is worth mentioning that although the odds were so high that it was impossible, the prince's old friend, the heir of Walla Hill, Cohen Karabeyan, did appear at the bottom of the odds list, behind a group of socialites and noblewomen), Duke Thales did not hesitate to disregard his manners to protest. This caused the king to fly into a rage. During the Imperial Conference, he slapped the heir hard in front of all the ministers and ordered him to get out of the capital immediately!
"No one has slapped me!"
On the training field, faced with the worried Wya and the plate full of "skin care and beauty tonic", Thales was flustered and exasperated.
"I'm fine, my face is fine too! No, why should I let you see my fart — other parts of my body are fine too! Oh Sunset Goddess, I really, really didn't rebel when I entered the palace this time! Why won't you believe me? "
Under the influence of many factors (mainly the increasingly shocking numbers on the account book), Thales gave up on keeping a low profile and stopped hiding. He began to let Mallos openly check the inventory, sent Stone as a logistics officer to liaise with the Chief of Renaissance Palace, asked for the account book and map of Star Lake Fort from the Nobility Affairs Council, instructed the Jadestar Private Army to stay behind, communicated with the police station about the time to leave, and had the others (Doyle was indignant about this) purchase sufficient supplies. At the same time, he shut his door and refused to leave.
"Is this really fine? Won't the rumors get worse? "Wya frowned.
"Trust me." On the training field, the prince drew his bow and arrow with gritted teeth, aiming at Mallos' butt in the distance. "The prince's butt is very popular."
Wya was stunned.
But fortunately, the rumors only circulated for a few days before they all changed.
Rumor had it that Duke Thales overstepped his bounds during an Imperial Conference. The king was furious and cut off Mindis Hall's financial resources as punishment. The Duke of Star Lake had to leave the capital to find his own way out.
Well, at least part of it was true.
The rumor among the vassals and bureaucrats was that the Duke of Star Lake's political stance was too moderate when it came to taxes. He even sympathized with the feudal vassals who were far away. This offended the king's party that had been in power for a long time. The latter repeatedly slandered the king during the Imperial Conference and finally moved the king, forcing the duke to stay away from the center of politics.
'Hmm, this is not entirely wrong.'
Therefore, on a weekday morning, when the sky was just beginning to light up, the main gate of Mindis Hall silently opened. The fleet of carriages belonging to the Duke of Star Lake slowly drove out towards Star Lake Castle near the Royal Family's Hunting Forest in the suburbs.
"Are you sure everyone is fine with this? After all, we are leaving the city and going to the countryside. "
Thales yawned loudly and leaned against the window with a sleepy face. He watched Logistics Officer Procca complete the final handover with the private soldiers and servants who stayed behind.
"They are the Royal Guards, not strategists." Mallos rode beside the carriage (the driver was originally Glover, but Thales rejected it verbally). He frowned as he flipped through the account book handed to him by the Logistics Division. "It's not their job to express opinions. Damn it, why did we overspend last month again? What's up with so many skincare products? "
On the other side of the carriage, Wya quietly turned his head and started a lively conversation with Ralf.
In the silence of the morning, their carriage caught up with the earliest opening of the city gate. They passed through the Philosopher's Gate on the south side of the capital, passed through a few markets and villages outside the city, crossed Shepherd's Ferry, and drove onto the southern section of Renaissance Avenue, which had been greatly rebuilt during the reign of 'Thorn Cutter' Tormond the Third.
The south side of the capital was obviously more prosperous than the north side. Along the way, there were peddlers and hired workers who had woken up early to enter the city, farmers and craftsmen who were preparing to go to the market, postal carriages going back and forth, and even foreign travelers. They were either transporting goods in carriages or walking on foot from various towns near Eternal Star City. They were in groups of three to five and were bustling with activity. From time to time, they would comment on the carriages that passed by them.
"Ah, I recognize this carriage. It should be this season's Patrolling Court. They are the judges who are patrolling and adjudicating cases on behalf of the king …"
"Forget it. They don't even have a flag. They must be some noble's illegitimate son, the kind who is overflowing with wealth but can't afford to make it public."
"Look at the imposing manner of this carriage. Tsk tsk, so awesome. Men should be like this!"
"Tsk, he's just a bastard with a good life. If I was born there, I could replace him too!"
It was the end of summer. The vegetation around the avenue was lush and verdant. The duke's carriage turned off the avenue. There were fewer travelers, and trees grew, shading the sun. Birds and beasts flew away in fright. The surroundings were full of life, and the atmosphere gradually became more wild. They had entered the territory of the Royal Family's Hunting Forest.
"F * ck, I swear that's a bear!"
Doyle cried out in surprise. For a moment, the entire team was extremely nervous. "Zombie, draw your sword!"
"Don't be so paranoid," the veteran Genard shouted at them to stop. He shook his head. "I saw it clearly. It's just a stray cat."
According to Mallos, the Royal Family's Hunting Forest, which had been delineated since the Black Eye Era, had always been a good place for the royal family to go on leisure trips and entertain guests. Before the Bloody Year, the late King Aydi had led a group of ministers to hunt there more than once. The two princes, Horace and Herman, especially liked to call their friends and gallop on their horses.
During the Bloody Year, Eternal Star City was threatened by both the rebel army and Eckstedt. They had no choice but to close the city. Hence, the entire Central Territory was filled with bandits, and the surrounding villages and towns, as well as many nobles' fiefdoms, were almost destroyed. The Hunting Forest also became an ownerless wasteland. It was not until the 'Fortress Treaty' was signed that the Kingdom's Wrath returned with the Fury Guards. They reorganized the Central Standing Army and wiped out the remnants of the rebel army and bandits around the capital.
After the war, firstly, the national treasury was in dire straits, and secondly, the people's lives were in dire straits. Moreover, the Iron Hand King himself was not interested in hunting or feasting. The Royal Family's Forest Protectors who were responsible for guarding and maintaining the forest did not receive any rewards. The merchants and farmers did not have any profits to share either. Hence, they scattered and settled down nearby. Some became tenants in the farmlands, some were hired to work, and some joined the Jadestar Private Army. Conversely, they became a high-quality source of soldiers when the Standing Army was reorganized.
"The Kingdom's Wrath's Baron Manor is down that road. Next to it is the barracks of the Central Standing Army. For more than ten years, he has almost turned the Hunting Forest into their exclusive training ground and exercise ground." Mallos stared at a small path in the forest that was obviously trampled out. His gaze was profound. "But the good thing is that with the Standing Army here, no one dares to invade the nearby royal territory."
Jennie, who was raised as a noble's warhorse from a young age, was extremely dissatisfied with such an environment. From time to time, she would break free from the person who was leading her, neighing as she chased after a deer or a badger that flashed past the depths of the forest, causing the team to be in a flurry. But always, after Thales tried his best to call out to her, she would return dejected and depressed, covered in marks from branches and plants.
"In the stable, she's the queen. No horse dares to fight with her," the veteran Genard said cheerfully. "But the birds and beasts here don't have such self-awareness. She's not very satisfied."
They soon arrived under an iconic tree. The watchman said that this was the most popular campsite when the Hunting Forest was still flourishing. The thick and dense tree, which seemed to be very old and covered the sky, was called the 'Star Tree'. There were many legendary stories about the Jadestar Royal Family.
It was said that during the last years of the Empire, the King of Renaissance, who was still an illegitimate child, once ignited his fighting spirit under this tree. He was determined to make a name for himself and get rid of the name of a bastard.
There were also people who said that five hundred years ago, the 'Procrastinator', Prince Brad, suffered a coup and fled Eternal Star City in a panic with the Nine-Pointed Star Crown. He climbed this tree to escape from his cousin, the 'Unfortunate One' Keira, who was chasing after him. He fled to Brave Souls Fort to recruit soldiers and buy horses, and thus began the bloody confrontation between the two stars.
There were also legends about the Great Spirit Archduke, Kahn Trentida, who invaded Constellation four hundred years ago. It was said that he camped under this tree and was prepared to besiege Eternal Star City. However, in the middle of the night, he saw the King of Renaissance charging towards him with a spear in hand. The brutal and terrifying 'Great Spirit' was startled awake from his dream. He was so frightened that he tore camp overnight and retreated.
There were also people who said that three hundred years ago, the 'Jackal' Sumer the Third invited five guardian dukes to a hunting feast under this tree. Three of them never walked out of the Hunting Forest.
There was even a poem that said that two hundred years ago, the 'Conqueror of the North', Erica, who was still a princess, met a mysterious knight who was not recorded in the history books under this tree while she was hunting. That was how she became pregnant with the 'Enemy of the Wolves', Keira, whose biological father was unknown.
However, even though D.D, who 'often came here to play when he was young', narrated the above story vividly and vividly, and even though he managed to stun the audience like Willow, Ralf, and Wya, the Duke of Star Lake only laughed it off.
Thales originally thought that they would encounter such a dense forest along the way. However, after walking for a short while, the end of the road suddenly opened up. Amidst the green forest, a blue lake came into view. It was as pure as a mirror, and it reflected the pure white clouds in the blue sky. It was dreamlike, and for a moment, people could not tell the difference between heaven and earth.
With the beautiful scenery before them, everyone, including Thales, could not help but stop in their tracks.
"By the Sunset Goddess." Doyle looked at the blue lake excitedly. "This is much more beautiful than the painting!"
"Wait, the painting?"
Wya reacted, his face full of suspicion. "Didn't you say that you often came here to play when you were young?"
"It's not time yet. Let's continue forward." Mallos was in a rare good mood. He ignored the people behind him who were glaring at D.D. "It's not too late to be amazed by it then."
The duke's convoy moved along the lake. The grass and trees became shorter, and the scenery before them became wider.
Looking into the distance, the other end of the lake was a towering and precipitous mountain wall. Dozens of raging waterfalls hung on it, rushing out from between the rocks and straight into the lake, like a giant silver curtain falling from the sky.
"My God, I've read about this in a book. It's said that practicing swordsmanship down there will yield twice the result with half the effort." The young vanguard in training, Ness, pointed at the wide waterfall excitedly. "Does anyone want to surf?"
"Don't believe those knights. If you rush down from there, even if you're alive, you probably won't be able to find that story." Second-class Protector Officer, 'Highman' Franzuke, mercilessly dampened his enthusiasm.
Thales was similarly captivated by the magnificent scenery, and he could not look away.
"That's one of the downstream branches of Shepherd's River."
Mallos patiently explained to almost everyone else in the convoy, who had not seen this scene before, "That's not the case.
"The riverbed falls here, forming a waterfall and depositing a wide, clear lake. It's called 'Star Lake'."
'Star Lake.'
Thales muttered the name in his heart and subconsciously turned his head.
Sure enough, on the other side of the lake opposite the waterfall, a towering castle appeared in front of him.
It was located at the edge of a hill, surrounded by the lake on three sides. It was built in an ancient style, and only a small path could go around the hill, over its moat, and straight into the castle.
It blended perfectly with the forest, lake, waterfall, blue sky, white clouds, hills, castle, and all the other elements. It was not abrupt at all, and gave off a tranquil and intoxicating feeling. Everyone subconsciously lowered their voices and lightened their footsteps, as if unwilling to disturb this beautiful corner of the scenery.
"And that, is Star Lake Castle." Mallos stopped his horse and sighed quietly.
Everyone held their breath.
Including Thales.
The teenager had done his homework before this. He knew that Star Lake Castle used to be a monastery that was isolated from the rest of the world. Its earliest history could even be traced back to the Black Eye Era, and it was filled with Sunset Sect monks who were knowledgeable but determined to train hard.
However, the person who truly brought this monastery into the eyes of the world was an old scholar named Sumer nearly five hundred years ago. He was born into a noble family, but he was knowledgeable. During the chaos of the 'confrontation between the Twin Stars', he brought his family and lived in seclusion here, concentrating on studying the Classics of Theology.
That was until the bloody and cruel 'confrontation between the Twin Stars' ended with the deaths of two Jadestars (who claimed to be kings of their respective countries) one after another. However, the 'Morning Party' and 'Evening Party' under them — the domestic suzerains who chose sides — formed a blood feud that could not be resolved for generations through the years of war, death, alliance, and betrayal.
It was to the extent that when the kingdom was without a lord and the throne was empty, there was not a single heir who could submit to the suzerains of the two equally powerful parties, ascend to the throne and be crowned without any dispute, and reignite the flames of the confrontation between the Twin Stars.
(In fact, due to interests and the situation, during the eight-and-a-half-year civil war, many members of both parties had been in more than one camp. It was common for an alliance to suddenly betray and return to the alliance. Today, when the king and his vassals had a heart-to-heart, they would solemnly swear to show their loyalty. Tomorrow, when they were captured on the battlefield, they would suddenly come to their senses and abandon darkness for light. The leader of the Eastern Sea's heroes, the Cullen Family of Splendid Port City, had repeatedly switched between the two parties. They were a miraculous existence that could remain unscathed despite their defection. That was why the nicknames of the two Guardian Dukes of the Eastern Sea were 'Noon' and 'Midnight' respectively.)
Fortunately, there had been enough bloodshed in the kingdom, so much so that countless Dark Night Priestesses had died of exhaustion. There were also enough men in Constellation, so few that no one wanted to put on their armor and go to war anymore. During the eight years of confrontation between the Twin Stars, countless citizens and their families were destroyed. Many great families lost their heirs. The price they paid was high, and the lesson they learned was painful. It was rare even in the history of Constellation, which was filled with frequent civil wars.
The Morning and Twilight Priestesses, who were at daggers drawn, finally put down their weapons reluctantly under Sunset Priestess' suggestion and coordination. They entered Eternal Star City and began a difficult negotiation in Dark Night Temple, which was filled with corpses waiting to be buried. (This was also how the Morning and Twilight Regions were named in Eternal Star City. They were separated by Dark Night Temple.)
Hence, as' Black Eye 'John's great-great-grandson, Scholar Sumer, who was sixty years old, or rather,' Pulse Breaker 'Sumer Jadestar the Second, was invited out of the Sunset Monastery where he lived in seclusion. He walked out of the high castle by the lake deep in the forest, and walked into Renaissance Palace while surrounded by two groups of vassals who were eyeing him covetously. He stepped onto the stage of history and ascended to a supreme position.
Regardless of how much the Morning and Twilight Priestess regretted this decision, or how it caused their respective alliances to fall apart, not long after Sumer the Second was crowned, he followed the newly promulgated 'Bloodline Decree'. He renovated and expanded the Lakeside Monastery, which he had stayed in during his scholar days, into a castle, and granted it to his eldest son, Alan. He was also conferred the title of Duke to show that the succession had been decided long ago and that there was no room for dispute. "From the nobility to the commoners, they must obey this law and not go against it." The confrontation between the Twin Stars, which was caused by the dispute over the succession of the elder and the younger, was thus brought to an end.
Star Lake Castle and the significant Duke of Star Lake were thus born.
"This is our territory, the castle that we will be staying in in the future?" Wya looked shocked.
This sentence made Thales avert his gaze from Star Lake Castle. He cast aside the heavy history and collected his thoughts.
'Well, at least …'
The prince was in a good mood.
He had a house.
The greenery was in place, the lake was beautiful, and there was even a natural swimming pool.
'But …'
Thales glanced at the corner of the ledger in Mallos' saddlebag.
'I wonder how the mortgage is calculated.'
"It's a good place."
Glover, who was never good with words, nodded as he moved forward.
"Look at its shape and topography. It is surrounded by a lake on three sides, has a high vantage point, narrow passageways, wide field of vision, drawbridges, trenches, arrow towers, lookout posts, the height of the city walls, the angle at which they intersect, and the breadth of the defense." The zombie pointed at different spots in Star Lake Castle. "With only a dozen people, it will be impenetrable.
"Even if they are besieged by enemies who outnumber them by several times, if they have enough supplies, they can defend for a few months or even a year — much better than Mindis Hall, which is almost undefended."
"Oh my God, you can't use this analogy. Mindis Hall is a work of art, and here, here is —" Doyle paused for a moment before he forced out his next sentence. "Other works of art!"
On the other side of the team, Paul from the Black Lion Family of Brave Souls Castle, who had just joined the team, suddenly sighed and attracted everyone's attention.
"My father told me that a long time ago, every vassal and every lord took pride in having their own family castle. Even if they had to spend two or three generations of their family's wealth, they had to build a castle with extraordinary significance."
The young heir of the Bozdorf Family looked at the castle in the distance with melancholy in his eyes.
"The Sky Pillar Fortress of High Forest City, the Floating Sand, Flowing Sand, and Sinking Sand palaces of the Wasteland Ruins, the Treading Waves Palace and the Quelling Tide Pagoda of Splendid Harbor, the Emptiness Palace of Jadeite City, and the Blood Gate Fortress of Blade City … Although their shapes and styles are different, all of them have a long history and are famous fortresses that are difficult to attack, not to mention the magnificent and magnificent Renaissance Palace.
"As for Arunde's Cold Castle, Bozdorf's Brave Souls Castle, and the Kroma Family's Wing Fortress, even their territories are named after fortresses and castles."
Paul's words were sincere and melancholic.
"They are our line of defense rooted in the ground, the knights' immortal mounts, and the sturdiest defense on this land."
When he said this, Paul let out a long sigh.
"But now, there are no more castles like this. In fact, there are fewer and fewer of them."
His words made many people fall into deep thought.
But the person who answered him was out of their expectations.
"Of course," Doyle said carelessly. "My castle was built hundreds of years ago, and it has holes everywhere. In summer, mosquitoes and lice will fly everywhere, and the stench will not go away. In winter, it is not much better. The cold wind will blow people's noses, and the windows will make loud noises. No matter how we repair it, we can't fix it. Besides, just hiring people to clean it and maintain its functions will cost a lot of money. It's not worth it.
"So, in the end, my stepmother decided to close most of its areas and only use a few complete and newly renovated halls and rooms. And from what I know, more and more nobles and suzerains would rather spend their money elsewhere. I even heard that in some places, there are families who abandoned their ancestral castles and moved into towns and villages. "
Doyle raised his finger excitedly and gave the next example.
"Not to mention Renaissance Palace. That building is so old …"
Glover coughed violently.
"So old …"
Doyle suddenly shuddered and came to a realization.
"So old that it has a lot of history, meaning, and culture!
"You must know that Renaissance Palace is a miracle built with divine power and magic!"
The people who were originally gloating revealed disappointed expressions when they heard that.
Doyle knew that he had made a slip of the tongue. He cleared his throat.
"In short, no matter what kind of castle it is, no matter how sturdy or how great it is, it will have all sorts of problems after a long time.
"If that's the case," Paul said coldly, "why not just destroy it, tear it down, and rebuild it from the beginning?"
His words made Thales in the carriage fall silent as well.
"My stepmother had such a plan, but she gave it up due to financial problems," Doyle recalled the past. "And my father said that although we don't live there anymore, at least we used to live there."
He sighed and said,
"If we tear it down, some things can't be rebuilt."
These words made many people look at him in a different light.
Doyle's eyes turned, and he became mischievous again.
"Besides, what if war breaks out again? What then?"
Paul did not speak.
Wya took over the conversation at this moment.
"A mediocre king builds his strong walls with soil and stone. It is difficult for foreign enemies to invade, and it is difficult for the castle to fall. A king who is good at fighting uses flesh and blood as his walls. His martial arts are matchless, and there are countless heroic souls. A wise king uses the hearts of the people as his walls. He is always victorious and never defeated, and he will never stop flourishing. "
The prince's attendant thought of something, and his gaze became profound.
"Only a truly great king uses peace as his walls. He is ordinary, but no one knows about him."
As soon as he said that, everyone in the carriage cast sidelong glances at him. Even Ralf had a strange expression on his face.
"Wow, it's really Wya. Did you say that yourself?" Doyle said in surprise.
"No."
Wya lowered his head, and his expression was complicated.
"I heard it when I was young."
Thales was moved when he heard that. He remembered what Jines had told him, about what Crown Prince Midier once said.
"Even if the palace walls are a thousand feet long, and the mighty stronghold is ten thousand feet long, where is my life?"
"Makes sense."
Mallos, who was at the front of the group, suddenly spoke.
"The city walls are thick and sturdy. While they defend against foreign enemies, they also cover up the sky and are burdensome. There is no lack of such examples in history: suzerains are satisfied with a sturdy city, and they are content with the status quo behind the city walls. Because of that, they become narrow-minded and short-sighted. They do not think about improving themselves, and in the end, they suffer the consequences of their own actions."
The watchman's prestige over the past few months caused everyone to shut up. The carriage fell into silence for a moment.
"Maybe that's not all."
Glover, who had always been obsessed with the shape of the fortress, did not seem to know how to read people's expressions. He did not care whether it was "time for the commanding officer to lecture".
He continued, "My grandfather said that the methods of war are destined to become more abundant, especially after the appearance of the Mystic Guns. Regardless of whether it is defending the city or attacking the city by force, it has become the worst strategy.
"After all, no matter how thick the city walls are, no matter how wide the battlements are, they cannot withstand the continuous high-temperature bombardment from the Mystic Guns or the falling stones from the catapults."
Paul sighed and said,
"So, such a castle is destined to decline in the future and become history?"
"Perhaps." Glover fixed his gaze on Star Lake Fortress, as if he was trying to find its weakness. "But perhaps our descendants, the people of the future generations, will come up with a better idea, build stronger fortifications, and build a super city wall that even the Mystic Guns cannot break?"
"Maybe they will be smarter, smarter than us," Wya interrupted, feeling dejected. "Think of ways to resist war and foreign enemies without relying on city walls or fortresses, and ensure safety?"
"Or maybe they will be even more foolish."
Mallos also joined the conversation. He sighed and said, "Maybe they will build more and thicker city walls, and be content with the status quo, complacent, until the self-righteous city walls collapse. Only then will they regret their actions."
Thales listened carefully to the conversation and pondered for a long time.
"Or they will be unparalleled geniuses!"
Doyle's excited voice suddenly rang, causing many to frown.
"For true peace, our descendants will build flawless, unbreakable city walls and fortresses that can isolate everything, and the people on both sides will not be able to touch each other no matter what!"
Doyle bowed on his horse and spread his arms proudly at Star Lake Castle.
"Clatter, clatter — Peace shall come!"
Listening to this nonsense, everyone in the convoy rolled their eyes and sighed.
Until another young voice came from the carriage.
"So the city walls are tall, the trenches are deep, and the people on both sides can't see each other, can't hear each other, and can't talk to each other."
Everyone turned around in shock, only to see the Duke of Star Lake leaning against the window, gazing at the beautiful Star Lake Castle from afar, but his eyes were dead.
Thales said faintly,
"Until everyone's fate becomes lonely and helpless, and they struggle in pain but do not know why, and they are inexplicably angry but cannot be dispelled.
"Until everyone, from birth to death, is destined to be a prisoner behind the wall."
The duke's words silenced the entire convoy.
Everyone looked at each other, not knowing how to react.
Mallos urged his horse to the window.
"Your Highness?"
Thales snapped out of his daze, waved apologetically, and sat back in his seat.
"Don't worry about me, continue."
The duke's convoy continued to move forward.
Once they saw Star Lake Castle, the remaining journey was much shorter. They quickly went around the hill and drove into Star Lake Castle through the heavy steps on the trenches.
But what they saw was nothing compared to what they felt from the horizon.
"My God, ahem, I thought, ahem, I thought that only my castle was in disrepair …"
Doyle was dumbfounded as he stared at the iron gate of the castle entrance, which collapsed with a gentle push from him. He coughed violently in the dust.
"How long has it been since anyone lived in this place?
"The previous Duke of Star Lake?"
Glover tied a scarf around his face and carefully stepped into the entrance. He gestured for the people behind him to get down from their horses.
"Eighteen years."
"Be careful, Your Highness." Wya opened the carriage door for Thales, and his tone was vexed. "This place …"
Thales got down from the carriage, and only then did he realize that the famous Star Lake Castle, from the city tower to the sentry tower, from the courtyard to the castle walls, was in ruins. Weeds grew everywhere, the ironware rusted, and the wooden furniture rotted.
Many of the corners in the courtyard had become nests for small animals. When they walked into the entrance, they even startled a group of bats that were resting on top of their heads, causing Jennie to break free from the rope in a fit of rage ("When she saw the stable, she probably felt that she was cheated into buying a house," Thales explained later). She neighed loudly, kicked, and panted, causing the guards to be in a flurry. At the same time, she also frightened a flock of birds in the sentry tower, three cats on the castle wall, and a swarm of bees under the eaves of the castle.
The young duke could not help but frown.
'Alright, it's fine, it's fine …
'Second-hand … No, it's a rough house.'
"Do we expect to reduce our expenditure in this place?"
Logistics Officer Stone used all his strength to pull his boots out from a collapsed wooden door. He complained to Mallos in a low voice.
"What are we relying on? Selling antiques?"
"Ha!"
Doyle carefully walked around the uneven floor tiles, pushed aside the spider webs, and arrived in front of the old gate of the main castle. He pulled the door knocker and said sarcastically, "Be careful, everyone.
"Be careful, everyone, we're in an antique! It'll cost thousands and tens of thousands if you bump into it! "
Doyle was unconcerned when he heard everyone telling him to shut up. He smiled and turned his head, preparing to open the gate.
But at that moment, a hatch on the gate suddenly opened, and a hideous and terrifying face appeared in the darkness!
Doyle shuddered and fell backwards. Everyone, including a black cat that was practicing its balance on the iron chain, could hear his heart-wrenching wail, "Oh my Sunset Goddess!"
"There's a ghost!"
Thales was startled. The guards pressed down on their swords until they were stopped by Mallos' shout.
"Steady!"
The watchman (after kicking away a spider web under his feet) came out from the crowd and pulled Doyle up, "Look carefully!"
Everyone looked closely and realized that the main gate of the main castle had been opened at some point in time.
Thales furrowed his brows.
The main castle was pitch-black, and the atmosphere was ominous. In this darkness, a stooped figure holding an Everlasting Lamp silently appeared in front of them.
"F * ck!" Seeing this person, Doyle still wanted to cry out in surprise, but he was dragged to the back by Glover and Bastia.
The hunched figure walked through the gate shakily.
He had wrinkled skin and white hair. He was senile and moved slowly. He was an old man with one foot in the grave.
But the moment the old man looked up, Thales felt a sharp pain.
"Guards, mind your manners." Mallos tidied his dusty clothes and turned around. "This is the watchman of Star Lake Castle."
Thales carefully sized up the old man in front of him. He was dressed simply and his eyes were cloudy. He looked at them, but it was as if he was looking at the horizon.
The old man with the lamp grinned, revealing his gums that had only a few teeth left. He gave them a strange smile.
"Heh."
The old man's voice was barely discernible. There was a faint chill in it that sent chills down everyone's spine.
"It's been a long time." Mallos' expression was the same as usual, but his polite tone was extremely respectful. "But I believe you have already been informed."
The old man did not move. With the main castle's darkness behind him, his figure with the lamp looked even more eerie.
"Heh."
The guards looked at each other, their hearts filled with doubt.
Mallos extended his hand to Thales in the group and said respectfully, "Please allow me to introduce you.
"Please allow me to introduce you. This is Prince Thales Jadestar, the new master of Star Lake Fortress.
Thales could not help but straighten his back and smile when he heard this.
The old man held the lantern. His gaze swept past Thales, but there was no spirit in it, as if it was a boring routine.
"Heh."
"Yes, we are here to take over the castle, my dear …" Mallos bowed deeply in the face of the old man's answer, whether he understood it or not, and called out the old man's name.
"Vitano Cato."
(End of this chapter)
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