Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 611 Code Name: Sand King

Chapter 611 Code Name: Sand King (Part 2)
Thales instinctively turned his head to look around, but the small Ballard Room remained quiet and still, without any movement.

The sun has set, and the lights are dim.

Only King Kessel's cold gaze pierced from afar, like a blade pressing against his throat.

"very nice."

Thales sighed and gave up his search for Yordles.

“He has never listened to me like this when we are outside.”

Thales squinted, trying to calm himself down, like relaxing his muscles and joints before a major battle:

"But are you sure he's really gone?"

But the Iron-Fisted King's answer was simple and direct, his words sharp and swift:
You have fifteen minutes.

A quarter of an hour.

Thales was silent for a second.

Clearly, this fifteen-minute interval will not be used to discuss "positive topics such as the reunion of father and son".

He thought this to himself and nodded with a hum:
"Not bad. You know, back then the Yankees only gave me two minutes."

King Catherine V snorted coldly.

"And you've already wasted half of it."

His tone made people feel a sense of urgency.

Hearing Kessel's merciless words, Thales had no choice but to take a deep breath and brace himself.

After all, he has come so far and sacrificed so much.

Only then did they arrive at their own windmill.

Is not it?
Thinking of this, Thales composed himself and became serious.

“After the banquet last night, you extorted this petition from Little Flower—I mean, Duke Iris—forcing him to pay taxes and perform corvée labor, and even calling on the whole country to follow suit.”

Thales leaned forward slightly and pressed down on the letter on the table:
"Now it seems that you did that to solve the problem of today's royal council—Lord Sodor wants to expand the standing army and is in dire need of money and prestige."

King Kessel turned his gaze to the petition without saying a word.

"That's why we're in this situation today, with you and Consultant Sodor putting on a show in the Ballard Room," Thales said coldly, his gaze turning icy.
"Or rather, you two communicated beforehand, he charged ahead while you strategized from the inside, coordinating seamlessly from within and without."

But his words clearly had no effect.

"Ha, you must be a genius, seeing through the kingdom's dark secrets," King Kessel retorted sarcastically, completely unaffected.

"Why didn't the other officials at the Imperial Council think of this?"

Thales frowned slightly.

"Yes, this matter is very obvious. Even the Meteorite could see it, but the ministers just don't say it out loud."

Or perhaps, they dare not say it out loud.

The next second, Thales' expression changed.

"But something's not right."

The boy picked up Jan's letter, leaned forward, and whispered:

"opportunity."

King Kessel squinted, and Thales stared intently at him; neither of them spoke.

The ever-burning lamplight rippled gently, casting shimmering shadows throughout the conference room.

Like being in the deep sea, enduring the surging undercurrents.

"An unexpected incident that happened last night has actually solved this morning's problem?"

Thales spoke slowly, his gaze never leaving the Iron Fist King's face:
"What a coincidence."

King Kessel did not react at all, as if it were just a bunch of nonsense to him.

Thales flicked the letter in his hand and shook his head slightly:

"But there are no coincidences in politics."

"Or perhaps you had the foresight to preordain the unexpected event at the banquet, waiting for Jenn to walk into your door and offend me, so you could seize leverage to blackmail me."

"Or, you improvised and, after the unexpected events at the banquet, had a sudden inspiration, coerced Janne into writing a petition, and instructed Lord Sodor to make a proposal before the emperor, making a swift and decisive decision."

There was a moment of silence in Ballard's room.

"Self-righteousness and baseless conjecture," King Kessel displayed disdain:

"Secretary's assessment of you was indeed correct."

But Thales smiled slightly and nodded.

"This is it."

"Whether this letter was premeditated or a spur-of-the-moment decision, I still feel that something is wrong with it."

Thales's gaze sharpened:
"Until I obeyed your orders and went to the secret service."

At that moment, Iron Fist King frowned slightly.

Thales' speech quickened and became more rapid:

“First of all, I have confirmed that Anke Bailar’s attack on the banquet was not instigated by anyone—at least not by you.”

King Kessel remained completely still, making Thales feel as if he were talking to a stone statue.

But he knew he wasn't.

"If I hadn't shouted that in public, no one would have known that it was Jenn who brought the weapon used in the attack."

"And bringing the conflict between Bailar and Doyle to the forefront is not conducive to the kingdom's rule, nor is it in your best interest."

Thales shook his head and said firmly:
"At least I'm certain of one thing: the accident at the banquet wasn't something you planned beforehand."

King Kessel remained noncommittal.

He simply added one sentence:

"Letting you see a serious criminal, Secret Service, they've been too lenient with you."

Thales responded with a polite smile:
"Secondly, you want me to go to the secret service and see the mess I've made, so you can teach me a lesson."

The king snorted coldly:
"Clearly you haven't learned anything."

Thales took a deep breath, looked down at the cut on his left hand, and recalled the Black Prophet's words in the interrogation room:
The important thing is not what you did, not whether you did it or not, and certainly not whether you did it right or wrong, but that you were there, that you were your place and your existence.

Under the power of authority, your position is different from others; the gap is fixed. So no matter what you do at the top of the power structure, what's meant to happen will happen.

Thales looked up:
"Indeed, every move I make in this position is significant and far-reaching."

"Whether I dislike drinking alcohol or only eat lettuce, whether I accept duels or help the Northmen smuggle... what the superiors like, the inferiors will follow even more fervently. I should see, know, and be responsible for the consequences of my actions."

“Very well,” King Kessel hummed in response.
"Have you thought about how you plan to take responsibility for the prince's rebellion?"

However, the next second, Thales' expression turned serious, and he changed the subject:
"but!"

What's meant to happen will happen.

Thales paused briefly, then said decisively:

"Later, someone told me: 'Do you know how many checkpoints there are in the chain, from finance to the market, from taxation to budget, from administration to people's livelihood, from top to bottom, from one end of the chain to the other?'"

Thales sneered and pointed to the darkness outside the window:

"You think this is a puppet show where the king can just twitch his finger and the street thugs will start fighting?"

At that moment, the king's eyes flickered slightly.

"Who said that?" he said coldly.

But Thales shook his head and did not answer.

"Then, connecting this with what I had seen and heard at the royal banquet, I thought of even more."

As Thales spoke, he leaned on the edge of the table, his gaze fixed on the king.

“During these days, the central government, especially the industries surrounding the capital, such as agriculture, medicine, tobacco and alcohol, forging, leather and textiles, have experienced unprecedented, significant and prolonged turmoil.”

"And that is by no means something that can be influenced by the likes or dislikes of Thales Star alone."

At that moment, King Kessel slightly raised his chin.

Although it was only for a moment, Thales captured this detail.

"So I began to suspect that behind the propaganda and publicity campaign of 'The prince loves lettuce, but the farmer still starves'..."

He took a deep breath, recalling the series of encounters from the banquet to the secret service, then to Red Town Street and the Lower City.

Thales' eyes sharpened:
"What exactly is the Secret Service trying to cover up?"

"What exactly happened in the kingdom?"

Thales finished speaking.

A cold wind rushed into the room, scattering the flickering lights and creating a chaotic mess of light and shadow.

His reply was a sneer from the king.

"Making something out of thin air, fabricating something out of thin air."

King Catherine turned her head to the side, burying one cheek in the darkness, as if she had lost interest:

"Have we had enough of these conspiracy theories?"

A feeling of indignation welled up in Thales' heart, both familiar and strange.

"And then I saw it!"

The boy unconsciously raised his voice and spoke faster:
"Whether it's a supply and demand gap in grain and wine production, an unprecedented shortage of various medicinal herbs driving up market prices, conflicts erupting among local gangs over market imbalances, northerners encountering trade barriers when trying to smuggle winter supplies, irregular population movement from the border to the interior, and the continuous secret conscription of foundry artisans by the army, and perhaps even more..."

Thales unconsciously clenched his teeth.

In that instant, he felt as if he had returned to Valhalla, facing the six Grand Dukes of the North—and the Grand Duchess.

"All of these, these tremors at the end of the power chain, are not ordinary market norms, nor are they influenced by my 'Prince's Love for Slender Waists,' but rather seem to be the mess left behind after some kind of powerful force intervenes in various industries: mass production, stockpiling of materials, population movement, goods transportation, centralized allocation... and all of this must be done in secret, to cover up the truth..."

Just then, the king suddenly spoke, interrupting him:
"where."

Thales was taken aback.

"where?"

King Kessel spoke softly, his voice deep and resonant.

"After leaving the Secret Service..."

He leaned forward onto the table, his face emerging from the shadows like a lion taking strides, searching for the best position to pounce.

"Where else did you go? What did you do? Who did you meet?"

King Kessel spoke slower and slower, yet each word was more urgent than the last.

It implies a subtle, albeit imperceptible, danger.

Where did they go, what did they do, and who did they meet?

Thales paused slightly.

A one-night stand, Leia Club, Grove Pharmacy, Sunset Bar, abandoned house...

Cohen, Sissi, Lillian, Tinker, Grove, Morris, Leyok...

All of these.

His past.

Thales clenched his fist.

But he took a deep breath, dispelling the lingering fear he felt when facing the king, and replacing it with a hundred times more tense caution and vigilance when facing a powerful enemy.

"Let me think... um."

He leaned back in his chair, a smile spreading across his face, his voice confident and relaxed:
"Hongfang Street, Xiacheng District".

"Hiring prostitutes and engaging in brawls."

"Men, women... well, and people beyond those two."

King Kessel frowned.

Thales' smile remained unchanged:
"If you ask Butthead, or those butts who are secretly following me, they'll probably tell you this."

The next second, the king's brows slowly relaxed.

"That beggar's den, right?"

King Kessel snorted, as if he were talking about a trivial matter:
"After all these years, you still belong there."

A beggar's den.

"Whenever you get hurt, you still run back to your mother's arms with a pitiful look on your face, like a cub returning to its mother's embrace, crying loudly, and finding courage there."

As soon as he finished speaking, King Kessel turned his head and glanced at him lightly.

Thales shuddered slightly. Looking into the other person's eyes, he suddenly understood.

Thales knew where that familiar yet unfamiliar resentment came from.

The boy recognized the king at that one glance.

Six years ago, he was brought back from the abandoned house by Yodl and met this dignified and imposing man for the first time in the Mindis Hall.

At that time, the other person also had that same expression on their face.

Disdainful.

indifferent.

Indifferent.

Thales closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

But this time...

Everything changed the moment my grandfather took me away a long time ago.

Golov's dejected words echoed in his ears:

【We, Lillian, Tinker, I…】

We can't go back.

【forever.】

The boy suddenly opened his eyes!

"Therefore, based on the above, I have confirmed the second point!"

Thales's face was cold and stern as he grabbed the letter from Iris:
“The matter concerning this letter was not something you decided on a whim, Father.”

King Kessel frowned, seemingly surprised.

Thales spoke clearly, his logic gradually became smoother, and he broke through the layers of hesitation he had encountered when facing the king:
"Long before Lord Sodor's radical proposal, the large-scale expansion of the Royal Standing Army had already been carried out in an orderly yet unstoppable manner outside the central territory and in all walks of life: food and supplies, equipment and weapons, logistics lines, and even possible future recruits and garrison locations were all being carried out in full swing."

"If we include the time spent on initial planning, preparation, surveying, coordination, mobilization, and action, it may have lasted for several months or even one or two years, and it has a wide reach and far-reaching impact, almost like war mobilization—only it is more low-key and more secretive, without making a big fuss or making a declaration of war, in order to avoid market turmoil and prevent anyone from noticing anything in the slightest movement."

Thales squinted:
"So much so that the Kingdom's secret service had to patch things up and cover up the news, even resorting to using the prince's name."

King Kessel's eyes grew sharper.

Snapped!
Thales slammed Jenn's letter onto the table with a slap:

"It is clear that Lord Sodor's proposal to expand the ranks was not simply a matter of informing you and getting your approval."

He stared intently at the king's face and said in a cold voice:
"You, and the Kingdom's Secret Service, you must have been plotting this for a long time, and you were determined to succeed!"

Ballard's room fell into a long silence.

"Humph."

A few seconds later, the Iron Fist King's groan finally came:
"So, you're not entirely stupid."

"At least he's smarter than the money-grubbing Juke—how could Bank have promoted him back then?"

Seeing the king's reaction, Thales became even more certain of his judgment.

He chuckled softly, forgetting his previous sense of oppression:

"That leads to the next problem."

"If Jenn's letter supporting the expansion wasn't something you planned in advance, then the expansion proposal wasn't something you came up with on a whim either..." Thales' expression hardened, his voice turning slightly cold:

"So what exactly did you do?"

Faced with the prince's questioning, King Kessel remained silent, his gaze growing ever sharper.

Thales started to explain, counting on his fingers:
"From secretly preparing for the expansion, to the unexpected royal banquet, to the letter that blackmailed Janne, to the debate in the Royal Council about the expansion, all these steps that led to the goal were either clearly planned and prepared in advance, or purely coincidental and a stroke of luck."

He sneered:
"Could it be that when it comes to matters of national importance, you can be half planning and half random, half calculating and half relying on luck?"

King Kessel responded with a cold laugh.

“Isn’t that exactly what you’re doing now?” the king clicked his tongue. “Breaking into the palace to make your voice heard, killing people to be listened to.”

"Half is calculation, half is luck?"

Thales paused in his speech.

He paused, exhaled softly, and reminded himself not to fall into the other person's trap:
"Then, I thought of the royal meeting this morning."

"Today, Lord Sodor strongly criticized the drawbacks of conscription and advocated for the expansion of the standing army, but he was met with unprecedented opposition."

“Starting with the Prime Minister, most of the members of the Imperial Council were caught off guard and unprepared for this proposal, whether in finance, diplomacy, or agricultural and livestock production: the Ministry of Finance and Taxation was short of funds and had no budget, it was not in the public's or moral grounds and had no legitimate reason to propose it, and various departments were complaining about the shortage of resources.”

King Kessel's eyes flickered.

Thales discovered that although the statue-like king remained silent, he was no longer expressionless.

This discovery thrilled him; it was like an invincible formation finally breaking through after repeated attacks.

“The conditions and situation were not sufficient. Even if everyone knew that this was your intention, Sodor’s proposal faced numerous obstacles and could not stand alone. In the end, he could only lower his demands and retreat again and again, limiting the military reform to Yongxing City and the Canxing Private Army.”

Thales then changed the subject:
"So I'm even more puzzled: why didn't you consult with your own people beforehand, or inform the royal council, about a national policy decision that you, the royal secret service, and Lord Sodor had been planning for a long time, on a grand scale, and that had already been quietly rolled out in secret? As a result, when it came to the last minute, the kingdom was in dire straits, the subjects were all against it, and there was a lack of money, reputation, and manpower?"

Thales stared at the king, waiting for an answer:
"In the end, you still have to rely on that unlucky sucker, Jenn, who just walked right into your door yesterday, to cheer you on and provide initial funding?"

silence.

In that instant, King Kessel's eyes turned cold, as if Thales were the problem.

"why?"

He suppressed his unnecessary expressions, his tone unfriendly:
"Because you know nothing."

Know nothing.

Thales smiled.

He became even more certain of his suspicions.

"I really don't understand."

Thales said seriously:

"Your initiative was clearly prepared in secret for a long time and you were determined to implement it, but due to insufficient communication and coordination and inadequate conditions and circumstances, you could only reluctantly settle for second best and rely on accidents and good luck to fill the gaps."

The boy's face turned cold:
"Your political maneuvering in this matter is far too clumsy and awkward."

In that instant, Iron Fist King let out a soft snort, whether it was dissatisfaction or disdain was unclear.

Thales shook his head:

“No, this is not you, Iron Fist King, Kessel Star V.”

"This is completely inconsistent with your usual domineering, forceful, and uncompromising personality, as well as the Secret Service's meticulous and prepared style—look at 'Dragon Blood.' In one night, the North collapsed, the dragons wailed, and Exter fell into internal strife and declined. That is a classic example of your strategic planning and ability to stir up the winds and clouds."

Hearing the word "dragon's blood," King Kessel V remained expressionless.

Thales looked up and straightened his clothes:
There is only one explanation.

"First of all, you have indeed been planning the expansion of the standing army for a long time."

Thales said coldly:

"The Royal Standing Army, this chariot of the kingdom, is destined to roll forward unstoppably under your will."

King Kessel did not speak.

But sometimes, silence is the best response.

Thales continued in a deep voice:
"However, this letter you used to blackmail me was indeed a spur-of-the-moment decision."

The prince smiled and said softly:

"Because the warhorse that was originally supposed to pull the kingdom's chariot for you unexpectedly broke free and went out of control, stumbling on the battlefield."

In that instant, King Kessel's fingers twitched almost imperceptibly.

"So you have no choice but to settle for second best, make do with what you have, and use whatever you have on hand—that's what happened to Little Flower and his South Shore Territory. They were just a silly, lost little horse that wandered into the stable without thinking, and you, seeing the horse, immediately put it in a bit, nailed it to a shoe, and hurriedly put it on the road to pull a cart."

Thales stared intently at his father, pushed Jann's petition to the center of the table, and positioned the iris emblem facing the king:
"Using inferior goods to pass off as superior ones, and filling in the gaps with backups."

After he finished speaking, Thales waited for several seconds.

Until King Kessel's face finally showed a few unusual changes.

"Warhorses, pull the chariot," the king hummed, reaching for Jann's letter.
"interesting."

Thales took in his expression. The boy smiled slightly.

"But as I said, Little Flower is not a lamb to the slaughter."

The prince's smile faded, and he said solemnly:

"It is foreseeable that this new fake horse will be listless and unsteady on its feet, unwilling to pull the cart and struggling to move."

"At best, it can only be considered inferior."

Thales's tone changed:
"As for the original, the genuine horse..."

At that moment, King Kessel's gaze was like a sharp sword.

The boy curled the corners of his mouth:

"I guess compared to those like Little Flower who are just there to make up the numbers..."

"It must have fewer flaws, be vigorous and sturdy, hardworking and conscientious."

"It must be of the highest quality."

Iron Fist King did not speak; he simply put down the letter and waited quietly for Thales' reply.

The prince's tone gradually rose, as if he were slowly unfolding a story:
"For example, it allows you to expand the standing army without worrying about the shortage of funds and food budgets, without being afraid of the pressure of public opinion, and without having to inform the officials of the Imperial Council, or argue and bicker with the old hands of the Kingdom's departments."

Thales spoke slowly and deliberately, but he noticed that King Kessel's brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

"With just you, Sodor, and the Black Prophet, the three leaders—the King, the Military Affairs Department, and the Royal Secret Service—are enough to solve the problem."

"To expand the royal standing army safely, smoothly, successfully, discreetly, and without leaving any future troubles."

Thales exhaled and squinted:
"Or more."

Iron Fist King listened to the boy's words, but he did not react immediately.

Ballard's Chamber fell into a deep, deathly silence.

It seemed even the lights had been frozen.

But Thales was very patient.

He was familiar with the battlefield he was on.

Iron Fist King remained silent for a long time before finally speaking in a deep voice.

"So, how did you find that genuine horse?"

Thales stared at him for a very long time before finally nodding slightly.

"I have learned about the general situation in the west from many sources."

west.

King Kessel did not speak.

Thales said slowly:

“I know that since the Year of the Crimson, the Western Front has been maintained for so many years. The group of Western Wilderness lords led by Falkenhausen have long been cunning and shrewd to the extreme. No matter how you try to appease them, warn them, or even beat them up, it will be useless.”

"But you can't go against the world and tear off the mask, you can't loosen the collar of the legendary Wings' vicious hound and let him slaughter and exterminate them, treating the nobles the way you treat orc prisoners of war, that would make the entire star boil and go out of control."

Thales became serious:
"Therefore, it was very unreasonable for you to spend so much money and resources a few months ago and send the royal standing army to that quagmire in the western wilderness."

"You're not going to intimidate the feudal lords, because it's useless."

"It's not about destroying our families and clans, because we dare not."

"It's certainly not about going a thousand miles to welcome a son..."

Thales' eyes flashed:
"Because in your eyes, I'm not that important yet."

It was getting colder and colder in Ballard's room.

King Kessel's gaze slowly changed, and he unconsciously leaned forward, leaving the back of his chair.

“That’s right. Lord Sodor’s proposal this morning, such as reducing the Starlight Private Army and piloting the expansion of the standing army in the Central Territory, is just the tip of the iceberg.”

"As for the months or even years of covert preparations, it wasn't just for expansion."

Thales' voice grew increasingly cold and harsh:

"In the Western Wilderness Territory a few months ago, on the eve of my return to the kingdom..."

"You have dispatched the three main divisions of the royal standing army to conquer the western deserts, disregarding the losses, not for any other reason..."

As the prince spoke, King Kessel's pupils slowly contracted.

Thales spoke softly, using the calmest and most composed tone to reveal the most shocking truth:
"So that, after the Desert War, in the midst of the most urgent and devastating invasion of the orcs and skeletons, you can legitimately and on a considerable scale expand your royal standing army."

"You must seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when the lords of the Western Wilderness gather together and lay bare their wealth, plunder their resources, and absorb their nourishment to fund your army."

"Then, taking advantage of the moment when the lords suffered a strange defeat and heavy losses, we should disband their bloated and incompetent conscription army in one fell swoop without any objection."

A cold wind howled in the shadows, and the lamplight flickered.

Thales' gaze froze, his heart heavy:

"Taking advantage of the long-term military control over the western front, we will implement military reforms on the spot, re-establish border defenses, and re-establish rules and regulations."

"Ultimately, just like Grace Town which lost its autonomy, you must fundamentally, from the root, abolish and dismiss the autonomous military obligations and rights of the Western Wilderness vassals."

King Kessel bowed his head slightly, the flickering lamplight casting a shadow beneath his eyes.

Thales gritted his teeth:
"Power originates from violence."

"After more than a hundred years of effort by King Mindis III, it was only then that their economic, political, cultural, diplomatic, and status privileges were barely weakened..."

"You, Iron-Fisted King, Kessel V, do you wish to wield the power of a thousand armies, the might of thunder, the speed of lightning, and the sweeping force of a tidal wave..."

"On this land in the Western Wilderness, the natural military rights of the vassals, lords, and nobles since the founding of the state will be completely and thoroughly swept into the dustbin of history."

Thales stared intently at the silent King Kessel, but couldn't help but recall Chaman Rumba, whom he had faced in Valhalla.

"Once they succeed, the once-illustrious Falkenhausen family and the once-insignificant Barral family will be reduced to nothing more than wealthy landowners with titles and property, leaving behind only family trees and history, but no longer able to resist the king's power."

"And eventually it spread throughout the country, forging a new normal of star-dominated rule."

Thales said quietly:

"The final move to complete the game of the wise ruler."

King Kessel did not speak.

He simply stared intently at the second prince.

"All of these," King Kessel's voice finally came softly after a long while, "were all your own ideas?"

Thales' eyes flickered.

"of course not."

Someone told me.

King Kessel's eyes flickered:
"Who?"

Thales raised his head and accepted it calmly:
"Everyone."

King Kessel looked puzzled.

Thales smiled.
"From royalty and nobility to common people."

Even you.

"Your Majesty the King."

King Kessel frowned deeply.

But Thales gave a soft snort:
"Do you remember what you said to me when I first saw you after I returned to China?"

"That sword."

"And it is because of that sword that I became the Duke of Starlake."

King Kessel squinted.

Duke Xinghu raised his head, his eyes shining brightly:
"And the reason you are so dissatisfied with me accepting Falkenhausen's sword..."

Thales said coldly:

"Not because of what has already happened."

"It's because of those things in your plan that should have happened in the Western Wilderness but ultimately didn't."

King Kessel's eyes slowly widened.

"Yes, your operation in the Western Wilderness failed. You were unable to complete your military reform in the Western Wilderness under the once-in-a-lifetime conditions, as originally planned."

"But if the horse stumbles, all the effort will be in vain, for no other reason than that."

"Precisely because..."

Thales raised a finger and gently tapped himself:

"I."

The prince finished speaking.

The Ballard Room was deathly silent, utterly still.

For a full ten seconds, Iron Fist King did not respond at all.

But the way he looked at Thales slowly changed.

From previous disdain and indifference.

became……

“Now I know,” finally, King Catherine V said softly:
"How did you manage to survive in the North?"

"Polaris".

Polaris.

Under the table, Thales clenched his fist tightly.

He did not admit his mistake.

At that moment, the king's eyes revealed a deep solemnity.

strangeness.

And fear.

Thales smiled slightly, and his speech quickened:
"Am I growing fast enough now?"

King Kessel's brow furrowed.

"Is it enough to bear the weight of the Star Kingdom?"

Thales squinted and sized up the king:

"Is this enough for me to participate in this game?"

Thales spoke in a relaxed tone, with a hint of teasing.

But in that instant, Iron Fist King suddenly raised his eyes, and his aura changed drastically!
“From just now until now,” Kessel’s voice was extremely cold, his gaze sharper than the eye:

"Can what you've said make up for the foolish consequences of your reckless intrusion into the palace?"

Thales was taken aback:
"Perhaps these are two separate things..."

But King Kessel scoffed dismissively, showing no politeness whatsoever:

"Then what's the point of saying all this?"

"To bear the weight of a few hands."

Thales was taken aback by the vulgar response.

"I admit, your performance was quite good."

"But unfortunately, the fifteen minutes were used up."

"Tell Vanguard Maric that I have granted him permission to punish the prince for his treasonous act of trespassing."

After saying that, Iron Fist King turned his head away, ending the conversation coldly and rudely.

Thales frowned deeply.

really.

His father was not someone who would be easily swayed by unexpected events.

Even if we face...

He is his son.

But just a second later, Thales' expression relaxed.

"Do you want to?"

King Kessel frowned.

In the narrow, dark, and cold Ballard Room, Thales rubbed his arms, not even glancing across the long table:
Do you still want it?

Iron Fist King didn't look up, but a hint of doubt appeared in his eyes.

Thales took a deep breath, pointed to the letter on the table, and said calmly:
"As I said, Jenn won't let you get away with this easily. This inferior horse will only go into the pit and is not easy to ride."

"But do you still want it?"

At that moment, Thales recalled the tone of his voice when he used the chisel to seduce others in the tavern:

"Do you still want to complete it? Do you still want to bring about an unprecedented upheaval in the entire Star Kingdom, or even the entire world of Errol...?"

King Kessel's expression changed slightly.

The prince's voice grew increasingly serene, his tone intriguing:

"Reform the military system, reverse the legal system, take over the troops of the feudal lords, and promote the army of the king."

"From now on, shall the royal standing army become the only, legitimate, and powerful violent armed force on the western wilderness?"

Silence returned to Ballard's room.

A few seconds later, the king's voice rang out, hoarse, cold, and uttered slowly and deliberately.

"What's the meaning?"

Thales clenched his fist tightly.

At that moment, he suddenly felt that the pressure the king had once placed on him, the pressure that had made him feel so heavy, had completely vanished.

“If the answer is 'yes',” Thales said calmly.

"So……"

His gaze met King Kessel's in mid-air:
"I can help you."

I can help you.

At that moment, Iron Fist King's gaze became dangerous, cold, and subtle.

He turned his head to face Thales again:
"you……"

“Do you remember, Father,” Thales interrupted, feeling the air lighter than ever before, “when I said, ‘I’ve come to save you…”

He smiled slightly, his eyes shining:

"I was serious."

"When you, the supreme Iron-Willed King of the Star Kingdom, could only ride the inferior horse Janne with a pitiful air, wearing a tattered and rusty helmet and armor, trudging along the uneven road, and still had to put on a show of being cool and domineering, to pursue your dream of the stars."

King Kessel's gaze suddenly turned icy.

Thales chuckled and spread his hands:

"What, you really think I care about your tattered crown?"

In Ballard's room, the two faced each other from a distance, the lamplight and the cold wind their only audience.

Iron-Fisted King remained silent for a moment, then resolutely shook his head:
"It cannot undo the consequences of your foolish actions today. The Star Prince has rebelled and forced the emperor to abdicate; you will not escape punishment."

Thales' mood somber.

“I know, but that’s another matter.”

Thales looked back at him:
"What do you say, Father?"

King Kessel did not speak, but stared intently at him.

Thales was the first to lose in the eye contact.

"Alright, I know. Even if it's not the Western Wilderness, there's the Southern Shore. Anyway, you'll find a way..."

He sighed, got up from his seat, and walked towards the door.

"Then I'll go."

Thales waved his hand dismissively: "Put me under house arrest in the Mindis Hall. Whipping or gallows, whatever you wish—wait, no gallows, I don't like the feeling of being choked."

Just now.

"The Sand King."

Thales paused, his fingers resting on the doorknob.

Duke Xinghu raised his head, but did not turn around; he simply stared at the dark, cold stone door.
"what?"

The king's muffled, thunderous voice came from behind, as cold as ever, its tone unreadable, neither agreeing nor disagreeing:
"This is an action plan that was jointly formulated by my brother, King Midir, along with the Military Affairs Department, the Diplomatic Department, and the Royal Secretariat a long time ago."

Operation codename: Sand King.

Midil.

Secret Service.

The Sand King.

Thales grasped the most crucial words.

He took a deep breath, released the doorknob, and turned to face Catherine V again.

"Sand King, Sand King?"

Thales squinted, searching through the royal genealogy that Gilbert had explained to him.

"You're not talking about the grandson of the 'Wise Ruler,' who, in the 552nd year of the Final Calendar, embarked on a grandiose expedition to the desert, only to suffer a crushing defeat, losing blood and his flesh stained with yellow sand, and in fear, abandoned his vassals and subordinates, fleeing in humiliation by digging holes in the sand, boasting that 'invisibility equals invincibility,' completely burying the golden age of four generations of previous kings, becoming the 'Sand King,' a laughingstock of the Western Continent for all time, the one who shares your name—"

Thales paused, then hummed softly:
"Kathel IV?"

Iron-fisted King remained silent for a while.

"Do not."

He denied it in an irrefutable way:

"I'm talking about that 'Sand King,' who, after being betrayed by a powerful vassal and suffering a crushing defeat in 553, survived the desert with only a small mercenary group. He resolved to work hard, learn from his mistakes, and despite being known for his cowardice and extravagance, he kept that money-grubbing mercenary group in the capital, paying them hefty salaries and providing them with expensive supplies. Ultimately, he built a professional army independent of any lord, territory, bloodline, or service—the precursor to the royal standing army."

King Kessel's eyes flashed with a sharp light:
"Kathel IV".

Betrayed by a powerful vassal...

Leave the mercenary group in the capital...

The precursor to the royal standing army...

Upon hearing this unusual biography, Thales seemed to be deep in thought.

"Now, sit down."

King Kessel said coldly, leaving no room for argument:

"let's talk."

Let's talk.

From an unseen angle, Thales exhaled deeply and curled the corners of his mouth into a smile.

He slowly turned his head around.

"I thought a quarter of an hour had passed?"