Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 644 The First Round of Welcome

"That wine merchant is problematic."

Marius stood beside Thales, frowning as he watched Dagory Moss in the distance, obsequiously raising his hand, being rigorously searched by the displeased Rolf.

“Hmm?” Thales replied.

“We just checked his convoy.”

"result?"

“Their wheels are clean, and they don’t have many goods. They only have a few local temporary hires and a coachman,” Marius said, scrutinizing the wine merchant. “I guess he didn’t come from afar to attend the celebration as he claimed. On the contrary, he’s been waiting in Emerald City for a long time, specifically to wait for you here, perhaps at the behest of someone.”

A thoughtful person.

Thales recalled what he had seen and heard in the Kingdom's Secret Service.

However, I already knew that.

"You mean, he might be from Emerald City?"

"Or someone else."

Thales sighed. "I understand, Thor. Thank you."

Marius turned his head: "You still insist on seeing him?"

Thales was silent for a moment, then nodded and said:

"This is the only way to find the truth."

“Alright,” Marius said, no longer insisting, and waited for Rolf to finish searching him. “Remember to have Aaron and Golov watch over him.”

"of course."

“But, Your Highness, since we can see that he is not right,” the Watchman added, “so can others.”

"Yeah, I know."

Thales nodded cautiously:

"other people."

----

"So, your name is Morse?"

A few minutes later, Thales looked the richly dressed, overweight, yet cautious businessman up and down.

“Dagori Moss, my esteemed Your Highness,” Dagori’s smile was stiff, and his voice trembled almost imperceptibly, “I am honored to be an honorary director of the Central Domain Wine Merchants’ Guild. I came to Emerald City to attend the Queen’s Day celebrations, but who would have thought that I would have the honor of meeting Your Highness…”

Looking at him, Thales couldn't help but recall the scene in the interrogation room of the Secret Service, where Raphael had threatened and coerced him.

"Your nose?"

"Ah, Your Highness, I'm sorry?"

"It looks a bit crooked, as if it was broken before."

Dagory's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly continued:

"Oh, my nose, ha, it was an accident when I was supervising at the winery a while ago. It's funny, I was taking out a really good wine from the cellar..."

The Kingdom's secret service knew that Thales had witnessed the interrogation, and they knew that the prince recognized the man before him, recognized him as... well, the secret service's new subordinate.

But Dagori was still there, in front of him.

Thales looked at the wine merchant in front of him with a lack of interest.

So, the Kingdom's secret police had anticipated that I would meet with him amicably and then inquire about their plans?
Thales pursed his lips:
How is the wine market doing?

"To be honest, the current situation is worrying, especially in the central region, so I recently developed an exceptional wine..."

"Is it the kind of wine you sent over?"

"Hehe, that's right, I'm going to introduce you to His Highness..."

Thales put on a stern face:
"Then you should know that Prince Thales does not like to drink alcohol?"

Dagori was startled and quickly smiled apologetically:
"Um, well, I've heard a little about it, but I guarantee the wine delivered this time..."

“Not only that, I also particularly hate those who try every means to force me to drink,” but Thales was unmoved and became even more stern. “One of them is named Nunn Walton, and the other is named Charman Lumba—would you like to join them?”

Dagory realized what was happening and shuddered.
"Your Highness..."

“You’re not here to sell me your wine,” Thales said, his expression turning expressionless. “No ordinary person would recognize my car at a glance.”

"Your Highness is mistaken..."

"Miranda! Garen!" Thales waved his hand, no longer delaying him. "Invite this Mr. Morse into a carriage, find a secluded place for a drive, and find out who sent him."

Want to go for a drive?
Dagori stood frozen in place, watching in horror as the female swordsman and the big guy approached in the distance.

"Your Highness, no, I—"

Thales waved his hand dismissively: "And if he doesn't want to say..."

“Let’s just let him say it,” Miranda said coldly.

Thales laughed:
This is why I like you.

With a cold expression, Golov stretched out his long arm and grabbed the dumbfounded Dagory.

Dagori panicked and struggled in vain:

"But Your Highness! I really am here to sell wine! It is precisely because you do not like to drink that I am determined to overcome this difficulty..."

Thales ignored him and prepared to return to his carriage.

"No, it's a misunderstanding, I came here... No, there's no need, ouch, it hurts... I was wrong, Your Highness, I was wrong!"

After an unseemly struggle, Dagori's tearful pleas for mercy rang out:

"I confess! I confess! I'll tell the truth! I really didn't come here to sell alcohol! No, I didn't!"

The prince stopped in his tracks.

“That’s right, Your Highness. I’m here on a mission entrusted to me to lend you a helping hand!”

Miranda held Golov down, but the latter reluctantly let go, and Dagory fell to the ground with a thud, still shaken.

This is too fast.

Thales turned around, beaming:

"See, this is much simpler."

The new subsidiary of Secret Science is of poor quality.

"So, who entrusted you with this task, and what mission do you bear?"

The poor wine merchant stood up, panting, wiped the sweat from his face, and struggled to his feet.

If he says that now, some people will probably lose face.

Thales watched him with interest, wondering how long the secret police would wait to show themselves. Then, with a livid face, he suppressed his anger and apologized to the prince.

If it were that red-eyed kid, that would be even better.

"Prince Thales, I..."

Dagory was covered in sweat. He stared blankly at Thales, then glanced at the imposing, zombie-like man beside him, took a deep breath, and seemed to have made up his mind.

Suddenly, he flung his robes, his eyes wide with anger, and shouted:
"As a king, how can you not hold a banquet to encourage all people to enjoy themselves?"

"How can a ruler refuse a toast in order to win the hearts of his subjects?"

"How can a commander of thousands of troops not raise a cup of wine to comfort his brave soldiers who dare to die!"

what?
Thales was stunned.

Miranda and Glov were also stunned.

As Dagori spoke, he became increasingly indignant, his emotions running high, and his voice booming.

“That’s right, Your Highness Thales. It is because I heard that you dislike alcohol and have no interest in drinking that I have been entrusted by the earnest expectations of the people and come to Emerald City with the mission of restoring the Kingdom of Star Glory, risking my life to embark on this journey!”

What has been entrusted to us? What mission have we been entrusted with?
Thales subconsciously looked around, and sure enough, many Star Lake Guardians and even many passersby were attracted by the words and looked in this direction.

Oops.

Dagori, his eyes tightly shut, spoke while trembling:
"The setting sun bears witness! I, a humble commoner named Dagory Moss, humbly request Your Highness to learn to drink! In order to win the hearts of the princes and ministers, to win the loyalty of your soldiers, to live up to the expectations of the millions of people, and to become a wise ruler who will usher in a peaceful and prosperous era!"

With a heart-wrenching sense of tragedy, the wine merchant knelt down with a thud:
"Let us begin with the wine I have served!"

Before anyone could react, the words had already been spoken.

Only Dagori lay prostrate on the ground, curled up in a ball, like a huge bundle, trembling.

Marius stood at a distance with a dark expression, looking at Thales with a very complicated look in his eyes.

"Your Highness," Miranda said, her face pale as she looked at the curious and puzzled gazes around her, "are we... are we still going for a drive?"

It was a crisp autumn day, and a cool breeze blew by, making Thales shiver.

“Help him up, be polite, everyone’s watching,” the prince said with a gloomy face, coughing. “I, um, that… what he said makes sense. Please invite this gentleman forward, we, let’s have a detailed talk.”

The bundle on the ground shook again before relaxing and slowly unfurling:
"Thank you, thank you, thank you... Your Highness, indeed... indeed... truly enlightened, wise, and insightful..."

The prince looked even worse.

Damn secret service.

Damn prince's butt.

“Dagori Moss, right?”

“I guess you can make a fortune selling wine,” Thales said, stepping forward and supporting the wine merchant who was almost collapsing, “and there’s some truth to that.”

----

"Does Your Highness know that merchant? The one who offered the loyal advice?"

DD, returning from the front, plopped down on the luggage cart and pointed to the distance towards Golover: Duke Starlake, with a smile on his face and his hands behind his back, was having a friendly conversation with the trembling wine merchant.

I don't know them all.

As he spoke, Golov sat down next to Doyle.

"Either you know them or you don't. What does 'not knowing them all' mean?"

Golov shook his head:

“I have a feeling that although His Highness does not know him, he knows in advance who he is, knows that he is coming, and even… is looking forward to his coming.”

“Oh no, you zombie,” Doyle said, unscrewing a water bag. “You’ve been with His Highness for too long, and you’re starting to get all weird.”

Glov didn't reply, and DD continued drinking water.

“I’m still not used to it,” Golov suddenly said.

DD paused in his drinking motion.

Wow, that's really strange.

The zombie didn't seem to mind me calling him that.

And he even initiated the conversation?

Could it be that the drinking water in Emerald City truly has miraculous effects, bringing the dead back to life and healing flesh and bones?
"you mean?"

“Her,” Golov said succinctly.

Doyle followed Golov's gaze and saw Miranda Aarond standing not far from Thales, her hand on the hilt of her sword, wary of the merchant named Morse.

"Oh, you mean our dear new colleague, the sweet and lovely Miranda?"

Doyle put down his water bag, skillfully pulled a locally purchased apple from his duffel bag, and wiped it on his clothes.

"It's alright. Duke Thales said she's a candidate for the Prince's Attendant and is still under evaluation. Even Lord Marius hasn't said anything. If you ask Wyatt, the real Wyatt, he'll tell you that girl is wreaking havoc in Dragonsreach..."

As they were talking, Miranda turned her head to look in their direction, and Golov immediately looked away.

“I’m not used to her being here,” the zombie shook his head, “no matter what His Highness and the officer said.”

"You mean?"

“It’s inconvenient,” Golov said in a muffled voice. “Whether we’re resting in the same room or going to the bathroom, whether we’re changing clothes or taking off our armor or chatting and joking around, it’s always strange with her around.”

“Nonsense,” DD laughed, “You never brag or joke around with everyone—of course, I later found out it’s because your dirty jokes are just too good…”

Golov glared at him, but continued speaking:

"Furthermore, I don't even know what the Vanguard Wing's responsibilities are, or who it should partner with."

DD nonchalantly took a bite of the apple:
"But you said, 'She's killed people,' and that girl can take on 'The Iron Tower' and 'The Sinkhole' single-handedly..."

“That has nothing to do with it,” Golov glared at him. “You know what I mean!”

Doyle tossed the apple aside and shrugged indifferently.

"Okay, so what? What do you expect me to do? Secretly kill her and cover up the crime?"

Upon hearing this, Golov paused, hesitating:

"DD, you, you have a good relationship with His Highness, could you, could you..."

"Hey, why do you think I have a good relationship with His Highness?"

"You offended him, and all he took away was your little teddy bear..."

"You! I'll say it again, that's something very important to me, uh, since I was little, that, to keep me awake, no, to help me sleep, no, to ward off evil spirits—it's much more than just a little teddy bear!"

"In any case, could you please speak to His Highness and say that having a girl on the Vanguard Wing or the Guard Wing makes the work very inconvenient? Could you please persuade him to transfer her to another position?"

"Transfer me to the command wing, and I'll give you orders?"

"Um, this, Officer Doyle..."

"Now you know how to change your address? Heh, no way," DD scoffed as he chewed. "Starlake Castle has maids and peasant women too, so why didn't you complain about Granny Valencia being 'very inconvenient'?"

Grover frowned and snatched the apple away:
"That's different!"

"What's different?" Doyle retorted, reaching out to snatch the apple back.

Golov snatched the apple back into his hand and took a big bite:
"It's different everywhere!"

DD looked at the apple that had fallen into the other person's hand and pouted unhappily: "Then go find Marius. He's the one in charge of the overall coordination of the guards."

"I...I've already looked for it."

"The results of it?"

"He, my superior, told me: 'Mind your own business.'"

"What? Keep it under control..." Taking advantage of Golov's awkward moment, Doyle snatched the apple back and burst into laughter, "Hahahaha—"

Just then, a voice rang out from behind:

"In fact, you don't need to worry about His Highness or the Lord."

Doyle and Golov were startled and turned around to look: under the luggage cart, Paul Bozdorf was leaning against the wheel, methodically maintaining his bow and arrows.

"Holy crap, where did you come from?"

DD's hand trembled, and the apple rolled off the truck, where Paul caught it.

“I’ve been here all along; it’s you who are being too loud,” Paul said, taking a bite of the apple that had fallen from the sky and calmly wrapping the last strap around his bow arm. “And I believe Miss Arendt’s hearing is normal.”

Doyle glanced in Miranda's direction, then lowered his head dejectedly.

“I understand your concerns, Vanguard General Colov,” Paul took another bite of the apple before tossing it back to DD. “I suggest you try to reassure everyone this way: don’t treat Ms. Arendt as a colleague, but rather as His Highness’s honored guest. That would make things much simpler.”

Golov began to ponder, while Doyle looked displeased at the apple riddled with bite marks: "But she's not here to be a mere ornament. The Heiress of the North is a formidable character, and a trusted subordinate of the Fortress Flower. I've heard about her from that big oaf..."

"In fact, her political impact here outweighs her practical significance," Paul said casually.

The three remained silent for a while.

"Just like you, isn't that right, young master Bozdorf?"

Doyle narrowed his eyes: "By the way, did His Highness mention that you were also a candidate for attendant?"

Paul's expression turned cold.

“Yes,” he said softly, “like me.”

Golov spoke up, interrupting their unpleasant conversation:
"But she's a girl, which makes a difference."

DD shrugs:

"Isn't this perfect? ​​Who wants to see only stinky men coming to Starlake Castle—not counting Granny Valencia."

“You mean, it is indeed inappropriate to have a young lady frequently coming and going from His Highness’s side,” Paul tightened the straps on his arm. “People will say that His Highness accepted Lady Arend because he was attracted to her… or that he was indulging in gentle beauty.”

Doyle was silent for a moment, then let out a strange snort:
"Then the question arises: who are 'people'?"

Paul paused for a moment:
“You know what I’m talking about, Doyle, even if you are a Doyle.” DD took a bite of his apple and chuckled. “First, I forgive your prejudice against our family. Second, do you think that if His Highness didn’t do this, ‘people’ wouldn’t spread other rumors? Believe me, compared to ‘befriending powerful figures and colluding with locals,’ ‘indulging in beauty’ is at least a better term.”

Paul put down his Western Wilderness Bow and looked at Miranda in the distance.

“But this is not just His Highness’s business. They will criticize Lady Arend, saying that she came to His Highness’s side to seduce him… They will slander her, which will be bad for her reputation.”

“Then you’re here saying those words again on behalf of ‘people’,” DD shrugged. “Wouldn’t that be even more detrimental to her reputation?”

Paul sighed:
"I'm just worried about Your Highness, and it's also for the girl's own good."

“Brother Paul, rumors don’t hurt,” Doyle said, tossing away the apple stem and looking at Miranda with an open expression. “People do.”

Miranda sensed something and immediately swept her gaze over like a blade.

Paul and Grover both turned their heads, but Doyle grinned, revealing a set of bright white teeth, and waved vigorously at Miranda.

Miranda paused for a moment, but she still frowned and gestured dismissively with her chin in response.

“That’s for sure,” Paul said, bowing his head and carefully packing up the calibrated bow. “But, a girl falling into the clutches of men will likely cause trouble for the Star Lake Guard.”

"Ha, is she being nosy, or are we being nosy?"

Paul frowned, and his gaze towards Doyle changed slightly:

"As far as I know, DD, you should just be a silly, good-for-nothing rich kid, right?"

DD, who was taking out a second apple, paused and said unhappily:
"As far as I know, are you polite?"

“You two,” Golov suddenly spoke up, “want to fight?”

These words silenced both of them.

"If so, there are fewer people in those bushes over there," the zombie persisted.

Paul shook his head, looked at the defiant Doyle for a long time, and smiled slightly:
"DD, I'm really confused. Are you genuinely stupid or just pretending?"

After saying this, Paul turned and left without waiting for Doyle's reaction.

"Hey, how can you talk like that? I'm not stupid at all!"

Watching Paul's departing figure, DD muttered sarcastically, "So impressive, what a country bumpkin from the West."

Golov, however, seemed to be deep in thought:
"If nothing unexpected happens, that country bumpkin from the Western Wilderness will become the Earl of Heroic Souls Castle, a titled Earl."

"Thank you, thank you for reminding me, even though it was unnecessary!"

"So, DD, are you really stupid?"

"Hey, even zombies are getting bad influences..."

"Call me that again..."

----

"Fine, I've been put on the defensive by your words. I can't kill you, and I can't spare you either. Are you happy now?"

Beside the carriage, Thales waved to Marius in the distance to indicate that everything was fine, then handed a handkerchief to the middle-aged wine merchant in front of him, who was drenched in cold sweat and had even lost half of his wig.

“Thank you, I… I’m so sorry, Your Highness,” Dagori leaned against the wheel, looking terrified. He took the handkerchief but dared not use it. “But… I can’t… I can’t… I have no choice…”

“Now you can tell me, Your Majesty—what exactly are you here for?” Thales refrained from saying the words “Kingdom Secret Service” and warned, “Stop spouting this nonsense about the ‘earnest expectations of the people’.”

The Kingdom's secret police didn't reveal everything to this guy, at least not that they knew his identity, and it seems there was a reason for that.

not to mention……

[In this operation, you don't need to be the protagonist. All you need to do is act as a third party in Emerald City, as an impartial weight on the scales, listen, witness, and go with the flow.]

The rest will be done by others.

Bystanders...

Recalling the earnest teachings of his beloved father, Thales couldn't help but scoff inwardly.

Since that's the case, he figured it was better to avoid trouble and just watch the secret performance quietly.

Based on past experience, let's see when you guys mess things up.

Especially that red-eyed jerk who got dumped by his girlfriend.

"Of course, Your Highness, of course..."

Dagory looked at Thales with his small, watery eyes, as if he had a thousand grievances.

"In fact, I was originally a worker at a brewery. Later, I started my own business, but then a bloody year happened, and I lost everything and was desperate... Then, some investors appeared. They gave me funds and support, but I swear, Your Highness, I was just confused for a moment. I really didn't know at the time..."

"Some investors?"

Dagory's mournful face looked even worse:
"For this, they needed something in return from time to time, whether it was money or something else. At first it was small, nothing, but later, later..."

“Later, you became dependent and couldn’t break free. You sank deeper and deeper into it and became a tool of the Kevin Deer family,” Thales continued for him. “On the surface, you were a wine merchant in the Central Territory, but behind the scenes, you were running errands for them.”

Upon hearing "Kevin Deer," Dagory shuddered.

He held the prince's handkerchief as if it were the most precious treasure in the world, nervously observing the Duke of Starlake's expression:
"I was wrong, so wrong, Your Highness. Please forgive me... I was forced. I initially refused. I didn't know... I was out of my mind then, I was drowning in debt, I had no choice. I really didn't know they were..."

but I know.

Thales looked at the cautious Dagori with a lack of interest.

Not only that.

I also know who you are.

I know you were secretly working for Emerald City before.

And the secret service knows that I know.

I also know that you're secretly running errands for the secret service.

And they know that I know.

You probably don't know this.

“I know,” Thales sighed, having to reassure him, “that many times, we are not in control of our own lives.”

Upon hearing "not in control of his own destiny," Dagori took a deep breath, bit his lower lip, and nodded fiercely.

“In short,” Dagory began again, his voice trembling with fear, “a few days ago, the Kevin Deer family, those people, suddenly approached me in secret. They said I was brought from the central government and was a wine merchant, so their reasons were valid and their identities suitable. They forced me to… to come and get close to you…”

“You mean,” Thales frowned, “Jane sent you to spy on me, to spy on my every move?”

Upon hearing Jann's name, Dagory trembled again, quickly bowing his head, but holding his handkerchief high:
“I swear, Your Highness, I said no, I wanted to refuse. I have a whole family to support, and it involves human lives. But... but they are so tyrannical and ruthless... And I... I was out of my mind before. They are my investors. I really have no other choice but to... I am guilty, I made a mistake, Your Highness, but I really…”

interesting.

Thales listened to him, automatically ignoring the other's pleas.

"Why are you telling me this?"

“Because,” Dagory hesitated and a hint of bitterness appeared on his face, then after a few seconds, he forced a respectful and ingratiating smile, “because Your Highness Thales, you are the true heir of the kingdom! You are the heir to the Starry Sky royal family, the future king, witnessed by the setting sun, a destiny ordained by heaven…”

Thales raised his hand, stopping him from continuing.

The Emerald City, or rather, Jann Kevin Deer, wanted to know his every move, so they sent their business informants or spies—under the guise of alcohol.

So, the Kingdom's secret service knew this beforehand, which is why they approached Dagori in advance and had him taken to the interrogation room for "pre-processing"?
So the Secret Service had already set its sights on the Emerald City and Jann Kevin Deer back then, and started making preparations?
And now...

"I must say, Dagory Moss, I admire your candor and boldness."

Or at least be partially honest.

Pretend to be bold.

Thales stared intently at the wine merchant in front of him.

Dagory looked up, and after confirming that Duke Starlake was not angry, forced a smile:

"Loyalty is my duty, and everything I do is for the kingdom. It's all just what I should do. But, Your Highness, please forgive me. I was foolish back then, made a mistake, and trusted the wrong investor..."

"I understand, it's not your fault."

“But, Your Highness, what about Duke Janne…”

“Everything as usual,” Thales said softly, crossing his arms.

Dagory's eyes flickered:
"Huh? You mean?"

Thales looked at the bustling Emerald City in the distance and exhaled.

"To put it simply, Dagori, I don't know who you are, nor who's behind you. But after what happened before, I find you quite interesting, that's the truth. So I'll keep you around as a conversation partner and guide, to introduce me to the customs and culture of Emerald City, and perhaps even take me to the Emerald Festival?"

Dagori was taken aback.

“Of course,” he realized, “It is an honor, an honor I cannot shirk.”

"In that way, Dagory Moss, you have accomplished your task, approaching me in an unexpected yet very clever way, as Jenn instructed."

Thales's gaze sharpened:
"Therefore, you will naturally have the opportunity to spy on me through my words, actions, and emotions."

Dagory shuddered involuntarily at the sight of the prince.
"To inform Duke Janne?"

Thales nodded:

"So that Duke Janne may know—the part I want him to know."

They wanted to find an opportunity to remove him from his throne.

What if this is the game of the Kingdom's Secret Service: Double Agent?
Or, to put it another way, with the secret department added, three sides?

That's so damn cliché.

“Of course, Your Highness, of course, a brilliant plan,” Dagory picked up where Thales left off, his voice tinged with bitterness. “You are indeed, well, mature beyond your years, and exceptionally intelligent.”

Thales looked at Dagory Moss in front of him and sensed the reluctance in the other's eyes. His eyes flickered.

“You know,” the prince said calmly, “you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to.”

Dagori trembled upon hearing this.

"Your Highness..."

Thales suddenly realized that Dagor Morse, this not-so-big-but-not-so-small figure, could be considered successful in the eyes of ordinary people, but between the Palace of Restoration and the Palace of Emptiness, and in front of the Secret Service…

No, even in the face of his own powerlessness, he was filled with fear and felt powerless.

Thinking of this, Thales sighed:

“Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll have someone beat you up and kick you out of the convoy. When you see Jann, just tell him you failed your mission and couldn’t get close to me.”

"Don't worry, you and your family will be fine. I'll just pretend I didn't hear what you said."

As for the plans the Kingdom's secret service had on this poor fellow...

Go to hell.

Haven't you ripped me off enough over the years?

Dagori fell silent.

"No, no, no, Your Highness."

But just seconds later, the wine merchant seemed to have figured it out.

Dagori clenched his handkerchief, shaking his head with trembling hands:

"I understand, I understand, Your Highness. I am happy to serve you, and I will do so!"

Thales squinted and sized him up:
"Even if this might, well, be detrimental to your investors?"

"Disadvantageous? What makes you say that, Your Highness?" Dagor forced a smile. "Haven't you profited greatly?"

Thales paused for a moment, then gave a soft hum.

So cunning.

“The handkerchief is yours,” Duke Starlake said dismissively, shaking his head. “You don’t need to hold onto it anymore.”

Just as Dagory was expressing his deepest gratitude and carefully putting away the handkerchief given to him by the Duke, a commotion broke out in the crowd queuing to enter the city in the distance.

"I know they're here! Move aside, move aside! Don't block my way!"

A figure burst out of the crowd, his voice filled with anger:

"You shameless, despicable coward! Where are you! Come out! Come out! Come out!"

"No, sir, sir, please reconsider!"

The people around him couldn't stop him and could only watch helplessly as he rushed out of the crowd.

"Something's up, Star Lake Guard, on alert!" Marius's command rang out.

Thales was puzzled, but Dagor, who was beside him, changed color upon hearing this.

The onlookers gasped in surprise, and many curious onlookers gathered around.

The figure drew a long sword and charged towards the Starlake Fortress amidst the exclamations of the Emerald City guards.

"Enemy attack!"

The well-trained Star Lake Guard reacted swiftly, forming a tight encirclement around the convoy. Wyatt and Rolf moved closer to Thales, but Miranda and Glov got there first.

"Oh no, this is bad, Your Highness, could you please..." Dagori said in a panic.

"Stay calm, don't forget, we're experienced." Faced with the Emerald City's initial welcome, Thales remained quite calm. He pushed away Wyman, who almost hugged him, and firmly rejected the "human shield" formation of the four burly men led by Golov ("If you guys 'protect' me like you did at the last royal banquet, I swear, I will... Do you have any teddy bears or anything like that?").

He even stood on tiptoe, trying hard to see the sword-wielding figure rushing towards him:

"Who is that?"

Dagori, standing to the side, hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped himself.

"Um, that's...that's the young Earl of the Pintor family. They used to be quite wealthy; I even did business with them..."

Thales' expression changed.

It used to be quite spacious.

I've done business with them.

Thales suddenly remembered what happened in the interrogation room of the Secret Service when Raphael interrogated Dagor.

Is it...

“Dagori, you wouldn’t have…you wouldn’t have owed them a huge sum of money, bankrupted them, and then run away, would you?” Thales asked incredulously.

Then, naturally, the fire spread to me?

The wine merchant panicked and quickly shook his head in denial.

"No, no, Your Highness, that's not how it is, but... but I've heard... just heard..."

Just then, the figure wielding the sword finally broke through the crowd, only to be held back by several Emerald City guards a few feet in front of Star Lake Fortress.

Thales then got a clear look at the person: a handsome young nobleman not much older than Thales, dressed in a magnificent suit of armor ("No wonder, it's only a few steps, but he ran for so long. Even my grandma can run faster than him." - DD picking his teeth after dinner), walking with a clattering sound.

Dagory continued:

"I heard that when young Pintor was very young, his father tried to arrange a marriage for him, and the candidate was said to be..."

"Tales Shining Star!"

Thales's expression changed.

Everyone at Starlake Fortress was also taken aback.

Is this aimed at His Highness?

"The setting sun bears witness, you barbarian who grew up on the milk of the Northern wolves! You spoiled prince who bullies others because of your surname! You lecherous bandit who commits all kinds of evil! Don't even think about forcibly marrying the noble Miss Hille!"

What?
Thales was stunned.

The young Count Pintor, who had been stopped, was furious and roared in a direction he himself was unsure whether it was the right one:

"You call yourself a prince, and you dare to hide behind your subordinates? If you're a man, don't do that! Come out! On behalf of the honor of the Pintor family, on behalf of Emerald City and the dignity of South Bank Territory, I challenge you! We shall fight one-on-one—"

thump.

With a muffled thud, Pintor fell to the ground.

The world quieted down.

A few seconds later, the onlookers realized what was happening and exclaimed in surprise.

Amidst countless astonished gazes, Danny Doyle, the shrewd and capable First-Class Royal Guard of the Royal Guard, appeared leisurely from behind Pintor, his longsword still sheathed on his shoulder.

"Damn it, don't you know..."

DD, sword in one hand and apple in the other, kicked the unconscious Earl on the ground:

"I hate duels the most."

(End of this chapter)