Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 719 Black Eyes
"It seems you've treated yourself well."

With mixed feelings, Thales walked to the opposite side of Jann and pulled out an expensive armchair.

“Likewise,” the Duke of South Bank said without looking at him, opening the jug of wine from the Duchy of Sera on the coffee table. “Be careful, Your Highness, that chair isn’t very comfortable.”

Tyre paused.

He patted the armchair, his face turned cold, and sat down without hesitation.

"How can such an expensive chair be uncomfortable to sit in?"

“That’s why,” Jenn said, pouring two glasses of wine and watching him sit down in the chair with a meaningful look in his eyes, “expensive things are often not comfortable to use.”

“If that’s the case,” Thales said, stroking the smooth, warm armrest and feeling the texture of the leather, “I haven’t seen you throw it away, have I?”

Jann raised a glass of wine and gestured to Telstow.

"As you said."

The Duke chuckled softly, pushed another glass of wine toward Thales, gestured with his hand, and spoke in a profound tone:
"It is very valuable."

Thales didn't reply immediately; he stared at the other person for a long time.

“Then we really need to be careful,” Thales leaned over the coffee table and casually but undeniably pushed the glass of wine back to the table. “Otherwise, if I break the chair, it won’t be easy to fix.”

Jann's gaze froze slightly as he watched Thales refuse the wine.

“It’s not beyond repair,” he smiled slightly, withdrew his hand, raised his wine glass nonchalantly, and took a deep breath. “You just need to find the right craftsman.”

Thales leaned back in his chair, silently watching Jenn savor the wine, and hummed softly:
"Given how valuable this chair is, it must have cost a fortune to repair, no matter which craftsman it is, right?"

Jenn swirled his glass, took a small sip, and clicked his tongue in approval:
"It's still cheaper than the chair itself."

"Would you rather spend money to repair it, or would you rather it be as good as new?"

Jenn's gaze sharpened.

“That depends on where the chair is placed,” Duke Iris said quietly, “whether it’s displayed in the hall for others to see, or placed in the bedroom for him to sit on.”

Thales remained silent, and Jenn did not speak either. The two of them stood facing each other quietly in the bedroom.

After a long pause, Jenn put down his glass and spoke first.

"So, the current regent of Emerald City comes to me, a mere prisoner, yet refuses to drink my wine," he stared at Thales' face meaningfully, "is there something wrong with his rule?"

Thales scoffed softly.

"As a prisoner who never leaves his cell, how do you know that my rule is 'not going well'?"

Jenn smiled and turned toward the balcony.

"Please, with such a huge column of smoke and fire coming from the Glory District, even the rats hiding deepest in the Kongming Palace could smell it."

Thales frowned.

Jann closed his eyes, his expression one of enjoyment, seemingly still savoring the aroma of the wine.

“You know, Starlake Castle had a rat infestation for a while,” Thales said, staring at the wine jug on the table, “until I got rid of all the rats, not a single one left.”

After saying that, he stared intently at Jann.

Jenn remained silent for a moment.

"Not a single one left?"

Duke Iris nodded:

"That will require quite a few mousecats, quite a few."

“There were quite a few,” Thales retorted, “but I later discovered that only one cat was truly useful.”

Jenn sneered:
"Oh, which one?"

Thales and Jann stared at each other for a long time.

The next moment, Thales suddenly smiled:

"You misunderstood, Your Grace."

Thales leaned forward and picked up the glass of wine that was originally his.

This time, it was Jenn's turn to frown slightly.

"The rule of Emerald City is going smoothly and without any trouble. The citizens live in peace and contentment, and the officers and soldiers are doing their duties faithfully," Thales said casually, swirling his glass in greeting to Jan. "I don't even need to worry about the fire accident on Ruhsan Street. The officials at all levels have taken care of it themselves."

Jann's eyes narrowed.

“I think so too,” he leaned back, his expression instantly turning cold and aloof. “Otherwise, you would have been too busy to come and drink with me and talk about chairs and mice.”

"Was your father in pain?" Thales' smile remained, but he abruptly changed the subject, "When he passed away?"

Jenn's expression shifted.

Thales, however, calmly continued:
"Especially when you find out you've been betrayed, and that the person who killed you was your most trusted blood relative?"

Jann stared expressionlessly at Thales's glass, but just when Thales thought he was about to change his expression, Jann raised his head without changing his demeanor:
"Please forgive me?"

Thales looked at the other person and snorted softly:

“As I said, Emerald City is too peaceful, or rather, too peaceful. That’s why I have nothing to do all day, which is why I have time to do this—arbitrate your dispute with Federico, and find out the truth and bring justice to the late Duke Lenster and Viscount Sonner.”

His Highness paid special attention to the last few words, squinting his eyes:

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

For several seconds, Jenn remained motionless, like a statue.

He continued until he exhaled and poured himself another drink.

"You just said that this is the only mouser cat you need?"

Jenn poured the wine with steady, unwavering movements, without the slightest impropriety.

"It's a bit too monotonous and lacks originality."

“However, when the rats are cornered and have nowhere to go,” Thales swirled his glass, his gaze never leaving Jann’s face, “they really fall for it.”

Jann slammed the wine jug down.

"But are you sure that only rats need to be cleaned up?"

The Duke raised his glass, carefully observing the color of the wine under the lamplight:

“If there are even more ferocious beasts hiding in the castle, a single mousecat is far from enough.”

In Jenn's wine glass, Thales' face was reflected through the wine, appearing crimson and distorted.

“In fact, my cat is ruthless and ferocious,” Thales said, raising his glass to him as well. “Lots of it.”

Jenn's expression turned cold.

He lowered his eyes to look at Thales's glass:
"You've almost spilled the wine, are you really not going to drink a drop?"

“The glass is in my hand,” Thales said coldly, continuing to swirl the glass. “I can drink it whenever I want.”

Jenn remained silent.

A few seconds later, he took his wine glass and slowly walked to the window.

“Of course, then you can drink it whenever you want,” Jann said, looking out the window with an icy expression. “But the wine has been opened, and we don’t know how long it can be kept.”

Before his eyes, the lights of thousands of homes in Emerald City twinkled like a glittering galaxy.

The two remained silent for a while, each lost in their own thoughts.

“I should have thought of that sooner,” Thales said suddenly after a long pause.

"What are you thinking about?"

“You recommended me to the throne as regent, yet you vehemently opposed Hilly’s participation in the rule, not only because you care about your sister,” Thales narrowed his eyes, “but also because you are still in the game, and the vacant position of city lord is just another piece in your game, with the goal of devouring anyone who sits in it.”

Jenn didn't even turn his head:

"To blame the shortcomings and difficulties of your rule on a mere prisoner is not in line with your usual image."

Thales snorted coldly.

"That letter."

"What letter?"

Thales raised his eyes.

"Not long ago, you wrote a petition to my father entitled 'Petition for Replacement Service,' which said that paying taxes to replace service would reduce the number of soldiers. It seemed like you were obedient and compliant, but in reality, it was full of hidden schemes and traps."

“You said it in the arena,” Jann said coldly, “that you tore up that letter.”

“Yes. But someone as 'unyielding to the enemy' as you, even dared to feign compliance with the peace letter to the Supreme Iron-Fisted King, keeping your guard up. So when you faced me, forced to step down as lord and hand over the southern bank of Emerald City,” Thales’s question was both stern and disdainful, “how could you not have hidden plans, not laid traps, not left a thorny path for your successor in the vacant seat?”

The room was quiet for a while, with only the sound of their breathing audible.

“Have you ever considered,” Jenn gazed at the city lights that once belonged to him, his eyes sharp and deep, “that perhaps, to secure that seat, one must have to overcome all obstacles?”

"That's how it should be?"

Thales scoffed and slammed his glass down.

"My men spent an entire day, patiently persuading many finance officials to work overtime, before they were able to roughly clarify the Emerald City's accounts, especially that pile of debts."

“Congratulations,” Jenn said sarcastically.

Thales leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms:

"In fact, the huge public debt is not a bad thing for Emerald City, but has been a common occurrence for many years, and is a means of drawing funds for future development and governance."

“I really wish all my finance officers had your vision,” Jenn said, still sounding sarcastic.

But Thales's eyes flickered:
"But strangely, Emerald City started sorting out and restructuring its debts seven or eight years ago. Some were rescheduled, some were split, some were merged, some were modified, and some were even borrowed in large amounts. In the end, all kinds of debts were concentrated into three batches: the first batch alone included millions of dollars in initial debt, which had to be paid off within two years starting now."

The prince said coldly:
"The repayment period for the second batch of debts is around ten years, and for the third batch it is around fifteen years."

Jann didn't speak, but he finally shifted his focus from the window and slowly turned around to face Thales.

"Just like you said before, you anticipated that the Fuxing Palace would target the Iris, but you didn't know when or how they would come, so you simply prepared in advance to be safe."

Thales continued calmly:

"These three massive debts are actually three layers of insurance you created for yourself by using Emerald City's finances—for the next fifteen years or even longer, whoever overthrows your rule and seizes Emerald City will have to face a treacherous debt trap..."

“It’s just a matter of money,” Jan interrupted him, swirling his wine in a crimson vortex. “The Starry Sky Royal Family is incredibly wealthy; you must have a way to solve this, right?”

Thales frowned.

"The money issue?" the prince scoffed. "Jade City has changed hands, already experiencing political turmoil. Merchants accustomed to Jade City's trading order have begun panic selling, leading to price instability and market chaos..."

In addition, there were various rumors such as "the prince wants to drain the Emerald City dry," "the prince wants to raise taxes to make money," or "the prince wants to clean house"...

He thought with some concern.

"And when I started robbing Peter to pay Paul, trying to find ways to increase revenue and cut costs to pay off debts, even more trouble came," Thales said coldly. "The moment the idea of ​​cutting expenses and shifting budgets came up, the efficiency of officials at all levels dropped visibly. The Seychelles Knight—whether he was authorized by you or not—even subtly threatened my legion to strike. The incident on Rue du Rhône Street, let's just consider it an accident for now, was caused by these factors combined with the inefficiency of the guards and the chaos and turmoil of the Blood Bottle Gang."

Jan listened quietly, staring at him with a chilling gaze, without a hint of schadenfreude.

"Then there was widespread panic. People lost faith in the future of Emerald City, and those with some wealth fled one after another. Crimes broke out frequently in the city," Thales stared intently at the other person. "If we don't do something soon, the once prosperous Emerald City will probably begin to decline."

Jenn showed no further expression; he simply took a deep breath and slowly raised his glass.
"drink wine?"

Thales frowned deeply, but he ignored the other person and continued speaking:

"I originally planned to summon the powerful vassals and wealthy merchants of the South Bank Territory, and even foreign merchant guilds and tycoons, to coerce and entice them to lend money to help Emerald City fill its deficit and temporarily alleviate its predicament..."

Jenn snorted, his meaning unclear.

"But before that, I received an account book from Ashford's butler, which contained information about the Kevin Deer family's private property."

Jenn's eyes flickered:
"As expected, you set your sights on Kevin Deer."

Thales sighed.

“My men have just figured it out. The Iris family is indeed incredibly wealthy. Just in the mining of pyrite, your assets are estimated to be worth millions, and they are all cash cows that generate a steady stream of income. This doesn’t even include smelting and trade,” the prince said sullenly. “Even if we only manage to squeeze out half of that, it would be enough for Emerald City to get through this crisis for now.”

Jann did not answer, but simply stared at him meaningfully.

"But that's the problem."

Thales lifted himself off the chair and stared intently at the other man.

“I searched through the ledgers and the entire Kongming Palace, and found that the Kevin Deer family had very little cash available, less than fifty thousand in total.”

Jann curled the corners of his mouth into a smile.

"Because you started operating seven or eight years ago, investing the vast majority of the family's cash into various industries—for example, you have a 20% stake in the Emerald City Cotton and Wool Merchant Guild, many of the crystal mines in the north are joint investments by the Kevin Dier and Lacia families, and half of the merchant groups of the Everlasting Oil Industry in Arch Sea City have signed cooperation agreements with Iris Flower. And these are only the ones that can be found. There are probably many more businessmen like Dagory Moss. Everyone is a front for your assets, spreading throughout the southern coast of Emerald City, and even all walks of life in the Star Kingdom."

Thales became increasingly serious as he spoke, gritting his teeth:

"So, if I were to use Kevin Deer's money, the first thing I would do is to extract and sell assets from the dozen or so wealthy industries across the South Coast. And once I do that, for example, I could sell off at a low price the dozen or so workshops, dozens of raw material warehouses, hundreds of shops, and thousands of looms that you left behind in the textile industry across the South Coast..."

“To cut off the fuel supply from the source,” Jann picked up the conversation, sounding relaxed. “The already unstable industry order and economic situation will only become more panicked, chaotic, and turbulent in the short term, confirming the rumors that ‘the prince wants to squeeze the Emerald City dry.’”

Thales took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions.

How did he learn all this?
Forget it, it doesn't matter anymore.

“What’s worse,” Thales continued with difficulty, “if I manage to weather the crisis by selling off your assets at a low price, which leads to economic turmoil and an industry crisis, then the interests of the countless large merchant groups, wealthy tycoons, noble forces, and vassal families who have colluded with you and are entrenched in the upstream and downstream of the industry, such as the Kalabyan family who have invested with you in the textile industry, these giants and tycoons all over the South Coast will also be affected.”

Thales clenched his fist.

"Therefore, I canceled my meetings with these people and also gave up my plan to borrow money from them to help me out."

Jenn silently took a sip of his drink:

"why?"

"Why? Because they're already inextricably linked to you and the Iris family economically and industrially," Thales said dismissively. "Why should I needlessly make enemies and invite trouble?"

Jenn didn't say anything.

"Anyway, after this round, the fiscal situation, debt, tax revenue, commerce, public security, and people's livelihoods have all been affected..."

Thales suppressed his anger:
“From beginning to end, no matter where I start, I will be blamed. No matter who actually benefits or loses, no matter how complicated the process is, I will bear the ultimate cost and infamy.”

Thales took a deep breath and calmed down.

"But I guess these people would be willing to lend it out if you asked, right?"

He looked at Jenn, his eyes sharp:
"Why? Just because you have a business partnership with them, and your interests are intertwined?"

Jann gave a cold laugh.

“I think you can call it trust,” the Duke of South Bank shook his head, “but it is based on institutions and customs: they trust me, they trust the Iris, not just because of faith and loyalty, habit and duty, but also because of their positions and interests, because of the system and institutions.”

Jenn's eyes flickered:
"So much so that once they leave us, they will inevitably lose trust in the city."

Thales scoffed dismissively.

Jenn raised his voice:

“And this ‘trust,’ Thales, is something you can’t buy back no matter how many times you emphasize ‘royal blood’ or ‘kingdom restoration’.”

Thales's gaze grew colder and colder.

"So, it's not just the position of city lord; you, you've turned the entire Emerald City into a trap."

The prince said coldly:
"Anyone who seizes it by unconventional means will trigger a chain reaction and thus bear the consequences."

Jann remained silent, and Thales did not continue.

The two faced each other in silence for a full minute.

Until a few fireworks burst in the night sky, casting their light into the room, the celebration of Queen's Day continued listlessly.

Finally, Jenn walked back to the sofa and slowly sat down.

He tapped the wine jug and glanced meaningfully at Thales:

"So, even now, you still won't drink my wine?"

Thales took a deep breath.

He looked at the wine glass on the coffee table and pondered for a long time.

Finally, the Duke of Starlake gently reached out and picked up his wine glass.

Jenn smiled.

Thales raised his glass and smelled the wine.

The next second, he raised his head, his gaze stern.

"The outcome of this arbitration, Janne, is that you will leave safely, clean and untainted, while Kevin Deer will continue to rule, and you will regain your dukedom and the title of city lord, continuing to be the Lord of the Iris."

Jenn's eyes lit up, and he looked at him with approval.

“Very well,” he picked up the wine jug, “but?”

"But Federico will be pardoned. Not only will he be innocent, but he will also reclaim his property rights and inheritance rights as the son of Sona, becoming the new Viscount of Gonghai City—don't worry, an honorary Viscount."

thump.

Jenn slammed his wine jug down heavily.

The Duke of the South Bank raised his head, his gaze cold: "Then why don't you just say 'I'm going to shove a nail up your ass'?"

"I'm not finished yet."

Thales said indifferently:

"The Emerald Legion will be given the name 'Royal Family,' and its numbers and expenses will remain the same. However, the maintenance costs will first be paid to the Palace of Restoration in the form of taxes, and then distributed in the name of the Kingdom, forming a routine for military and national defense. The officers at all levels who command the legion must be approved by the Kingdom's Military Affairs Department in advance..." The more Jann listened, the uglier his expression became.

"What happened this year and in the past will be forgiven, but starting next year, the annual tax revenue of all villages, manors, and towns in the South Bank Territory will be recalculated. If you understand what I mean, then the Restoration Palace will have full authority over this..."

"Do you still want to drink or not?!"

Jenn suddenly spoke, interrupting Thales.

His expression was cold, and his gaze was dangerous.

“And I haven’t even gotten to the part about ports, trade, and tariffs yet,” Thales said expressionlessly.

“Then you don’t need to say anything,” Jann said coldly. “It saves time and effort, and also saves me a pot of good wine.”

“But I must say! And you are too!” Thales suddenly raised his voice.

Jenn frowned.

Thales took a deep breath and tried his best to be sincere.
“I believe, Janne, that you left a trap, or rather a problem, for your successor early on—a problem that only Kevin Deer can solve—not with the intention of a lose-lose situation.”

Jenn's eyes flickered slightly.

“Instead, we create leverage to negotiate,” Thales stared at him, “and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

Thales sighed:
"Please, for the sake of Emerald City—I believe that letting it decline is not your intention."

Janne stared at him intently, remaining silent for a long time.

"Were those conditions your father's idea?"

Thales' heart tightened.

“As long as you agree,” the prince said in a deep voice, “I will handle things at the Palace of Restoration.”

Jenn chuckled.

Thales frowned:
"I'm serious, the specific terms and conditions can be discussed further, but I can take full responsibility—"

Jenn suddenly interrupted him:

"Why did you come to me?"

Thales paused.

Jenn moved closer to him, his gaze piercing:

“Tell me, Thales, from debt to taxes, from the market to law and order, you’ve been in that position for so long, dealing with so many things, even investigating Kevin Deer’s assets and knowing how the Emerald City’s businesses operate, yet the conditions you’re offering are still the same?”

"And you even thought that all the problems could be solved by threatening me with arbitration and borrowing enough money?"

Thales frowned:
"What do you mean?"

"What do you mean?"

Jenn shook his head and chuckled.

“You are Duke Thales of Starlake Castle. You should know the architectural structure of the kingdom: the monarch, the princes, officials, clerks, and all sorts of commoners from all walks of life, from top to bottom…”

Thales looked puzzled.

Jenn leaned back and stretched his arms out to the entire room:

"But here, in Emerald City, you see something different: merchants' transactions and status are guaranteed, farmers are exempt from corvée labor and even heavy taxes, craftsmen from all walks of life form guilds to speak out together, officials at all levels work diligently and methodically, and even foreigners are respected here. But once the greatest vassal or the highest nobleman steps through the city gates, he must accept all of the above rules: he must understand why the lowly peasants on his land can shout at the lords in the courtroom without being punished."

Thales' eyes flickered, and he fell into deep thought.

Jenn patted his chest:

"Because, because all the rights these people possess are guaranteed by us, by the Iris family, and by the Duke. In other words, whether it's the merchant guilds and conglomerates demanding clear trade regulations in the city hall, or the farmers shouting for a fixed amount of rent and taxes, or the artisans uniting to demand that the city lord severely punish wage deductions, all of these are rights that we have allocated, granted, and shared from the Duke's authority."

"Under this new order, the nobles' desire for exploitation was suppressed, officials held the power to set rules, merchants displayed their greedy generosity, peasants rose up to work themselves to the bone, and money from both inside and outside the country came to serve us."

"But it was precisely under this new order that we, the noble ducal family, made unprecedented compromises. From top to bottom, we stepped out of the Kongming Palace and down from the highest throne, leading by example, restraining our vassals, and doing things that most rulers could not understand—we not only took on security and defense, but also worried about market order, the welfare of residents, the operation of businesses, and the enforcement of laws. For this, we did not hesitate to borrow debts that would take generations to repay, did not hesitate to personally participate in business operations, did not hesitate to invest in and promote all kinds of businesses that cost money but did not yield results, and did not hesitate to set rules that even barons in the countryside felt ashamed and embarrassed, and we ourselves were the first to bow our heads and abide by them!"

Thales recalled every detail of what he had seen and heard since arriving in the Emerald City, his expression changing slightly.

Jenn's eyes flickered:

"Imagine this: the Supreme King holds absolute power in Everstar City, everyone fears the co-ruler king of Exter, the highest councilors of Commas are corrupt and rife with powerful clans, and nobles from all over the world are at the highest level of the ruling system, lording it over their own lands!"
"But we, every generation of Duke Kevin Deer, must walk carefully in our own city so as not to damage even a single stall. If we do something unpleasant, we have to spend money to hire the Blood Bottle Gang. If a farmer picks his nose and curses us to our face for doing a bad job, we still have to smile and wave apologetically. If a merchant is robbed five miles outside the city, we have to spend huge sums to mobilize the army and chase the criminals to the ends of the earth to bring them to justice. Then we have to sweep around the surrounding hundreds of miles for three months and patrol for a whole year to regain the trust lost!"
“This is what makes Emerald City and even the South Bank Territory different. Starting with ‘Parrot Lord’ more than a hundred years ago, my ancestors emulated wise rulers, but over the generations they went a step further than Mindis: We gave up power, relinquished interests, and sacrificed status to establish not only rules for our subjects and outsiders to follow, but also cages and barriers that bind us, chains that even we ourselves dare not touch, let alone break!”

Upon hearing this, Thales was deeply moved.

He suddenly understood why Jann Kevin Deer was the most renowned, best-looking, and most "approachable" guardian duke in the kingdom.

The logic, conditions, and reasons behind this, the ought to be and the inevitable in the context of history and environment, cannot be simply explained by the statement "Jan En was a hypocrite and a sanctimonious person".

As rulers, King Nunn could be tyrannical, King Chaman could be ruthless, King Kessel could be cold-blooded, even the Prime Minister of Cullen could be old-fashioned, Cyril Falkenhausen could be a scoundrel, the one-eyed Korsd could be arrogant and aloof, and the Duke of Val in the North could be extremely radical...

But Jenn can't.

Jenn did this not because he liked it, but because he was willing.

Rather, it was something he had to do.

This is true of Emerald City.

Just like swords and blades of the past, they cannot escape their sheaths.

"And these are things that your father, that iron-fisted king who is absolute and unquestionable, who only knows how to take and not give, could do?" Jann said softly.

Thales looked up, his expression grave.

"Therefore, as the highest link in the chain of rule," the prince couldn't help but sigh, "the Iris family, by exercising the authority of the Duke, guaranteed the city and even the entire South Bank: you established order, clearly defined rules, formed systems, obeyed the law, and even sacrificed your authority..."

Jenn smiled and nodded slightly:

"To be precise, we have cast ourselves into the cornerstone of order, willingly becoming the bottom link of the new chain from the highest link of the old structure."

Old buildings, new chains...

Thales sighed deeply:
"Thus, a new chain began to operate: ensuring security, attracting commerce, stimulating the economy, liberating labor, encouraging production, driving the people, influencing the land, changing the way vassals lived, and consequently reversing their stance and nature..."

Information about Emerald City—military, economic, political, class, historical—transformed into abstract pictures and shapes, swirling and piling up before his eyes.

Thales became more and more engrossed in his speech:

"Thus, the chain rose higher and higher, one link leading to another, one link giving rise to another. In this way, a hundred years passed in a flash, and Emerald City quietly rose to prominence: it gave back to the Iris family, so that all those who made a living from it and benefited from it, whether they were nobles or common people, believed in the guarantee of the Duke of South Bank, got used to the rules of the Emerald City Lord, and abided by the order of Kevindale."

"And so, the Kevin Deer family went from the bottom to the top: the chain started turning, forming a loop, revitalizing the whole situation, and completing the transition from the old to the new order."

Thales took a deep breath, becoming even more serious:
"More importantly, over the past century, the Iris has given up a portion of Emerald City to officials, farmers, merchants, and people of all walks of life, making them truly a part of Emerald City. In turn, you have bound yourselves firmly to every part of Emerald City: you are both guarantors and beneficiaries, leaders and protectors, the foundation and the pinnacle, an indispensable link."

Thales gritted his teeth:
"But what if one day, this link is broken..."

Upon hearing this, Jenn, who had been silent all along, sneered and spoke:
"Just like your experience in this chair, this chain will break from this link, disintegrating layer by layer and collapsing one after another, because what is being removed is not only the top, but also the foundation: the source of power, the formulation of rules, the enforcement of laws, the guarantee of order, the choice of commerce, the flow of money, the form of the economy, the content of production, the lives of the people, the rule of the vassals, and finally affecting the prosperity and stability of Emerald City—they will have a chain reaction, a vicious cycle, and shatter inch by inch."

Thales frowned deeply:
"If I don't want to break it, but only replace this link—"

“Then you have to break it down first, break this chain,” Jan interrupted him bluntly, “and then replicate our history, with the same or even more effort, to start another chain.”

“Because this is a chain, not an old-fashioned building—the lord of the manor changes his surname, and the peasants on the land don’t notice anything different, since the whip above their heads is still vicious. Changing the lord is like taking a brick off the roof,” Jann sneered. “But here, the ‘peasants’ of Emerald City will worry about how to ensure their safety, who will enforce the rules, whether the industry will change, and whether the new lords will share their profits and hardships—because you’re not taking a brick off a high roof, but removing a link from a tightly taut chain.”

At that moment, Thales' breathing rose and fell. He stared at Jann in front of him, but felt as if he were facing a different person.

It is a city.

“Then I will rebuild this chain, win back trust, and even get the royal family to invest, set rules, and build an order that everyone can trust, to prove that Kevin Deer is not irreplaceable…” he said through gritted teeth.

But, if that were the case...

"how long?"

Jenn said coldly:
"Even if you are a genius and your actions are appropriate, even if you have learned from the experience of the past two hundred years and have hindsight, even if the price and sacrifice you pay as a newcomer are far less than what six generations of Kevin Deer have paid... but how long will that take? After the decline of Emerald City, how long will it take you to rebuild trust, reconnect the chains, and restore the South Shore Territory of today, based on the Starry Sky Royal Family?"

The Duke of the South Bank sneered:

"Five years? Ten years? Twenty years? Thirty years?"

Thales hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

"But the premise is that you and the royal family must restrain yourselves and your vassals, not bleed the Emerald City dry, not take a single needle or thread, not repeat the bad habit of aristocratic exploitation, not plunder the spoils that are within easy reach, and patiently wait, even at the cost of sacrificing your own interests, before you can finally wait for the day when it prospers and benefits the rule."

Jenn laughed:

"Actually, I have quite a lot of confidence in you—twenty years should be enough?"

Jann narrowed his eyes: "But how much time do you have left?"

"I mean, how long did he give it to you?"

Thales's breath hitched.

"Now, do you understand?"

Jann stared at him, but Thales felt as if a city was pressing down on him.

"As for the conditions you just sat here and put forward to me: taxes, the military, trade, industry, almost every link in the chain."

The Duke of the South Bank clicked his tongue and shook his head:

“I know your father is envious of these things, but does he really know what we have gained through wealth and abundance? Do you really think I can give him what he demands?”

Thales turned his head with difficulty.

"And he, as a high and mighty monarch who knows nothing of respect, desires the reward that the Kevin Deer family earned through the arduous efforts of six generations and seven dukes, going from the highest to the lowest level and back again..."

"Kathel Shining Star V," the Duke said coldly, gazing at the city lights, "is he worthy?"

Thales remained silent for a long time, seemingly lost in thought.

Jann remained silent, returned to his seat, and quietly drank his wine.

"I understand."

Jenn turned his head away.

“The Emerald City wasn’t built in a day, Jann,” Thales looked at the Duke with sincere eyes, “so it shouldn’t have been destroyed in a day, it shouldn’t have.”

Jann frowned at first, then gave a disdainful sneer.

"A threat? Really? You?"

Thales shook his head, his face filled with sorrow.

Do you know how lucky you are?

"What?" Jann asked, puzzled.

“Imagine if it were my father, if he had discovered these things about Emerald City after he succeeded,” Thales said, looking around the room. “Then perhaps I should pray for you, for your city.”

"So now, you're so lucky to have met me first."

Jenn's eyes flickered.

He stared at Thales for a long time.

“I’ve made myself perfectly clear,” the Duke of the South Bank finally scoffed, “believe it or not—”

"So you're just going to let Emerald City decline, even be destroyed?" Thales suddenly looked up and raised his voice.

There was a moment of silence in the prisoner's room.

“It wasn’t me, it was you,” Jann said, looking at Thales with eyes full of hatred. “You.”

Thales frowned.

“I know you’re furious, Jan, because this is your city,” he said earnestly, “but that’s precisely why, because this is your Emerald City, your people, not Starlake Castle, and certainly not Everstar City!”

Jenn's expression gradually froze.

Thales took a deep breath.

"I swear, I will get you the best terms, but on the condition that..."

"Do you know what I thought of when I looked out the window and saw the lights of thousands of houses in Emerald City?" Jan interrupted him softly.

Thales frowned.

Jann raised his head and gave a disdainful snort.

"It is said that six hundred years ago, John I was determined to restart the imperial conquest and go north to Exter, 'to finish the work his father had not completed'."

Thales seemed to remember something, and his expression changed:
“Jayne…”

"At that time, the whole country was filled with martial spirit and jubilation. Only the 'wise minister' Halva, who was already old, got up from his sickbed and rushed to the king's procession overnight, vowing to remonstrate with him even at the cost of his life."

Jann's voice was very soft:
"Do you not see the myriad lights shining in every home, and the countless lives lost? How can we bear to see such carnage?"

Thales looked at him, his face growing increasingly sorrowful.

"And King John, a man of great talent and ambition who had conquered countless people, rode on his horse and looked up at the lights of the homes before him."

Jenn's eyes darted around, as if he had really seen that scene:
"All I could see was complete darkness."

Thales closed his eyes.

“That’s right, those are John the Black Eyes’ exact words.”

Jenn paused, then looked at Thales with a complex expression.

"Your ancestors."

No one spoke, and the room remained silent for a full minute.

Until Thales suddenly stood up and walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Jenn asked, looking at his glass. "Not drinking anymore?"

Thales paused in his steps.

"You forgot one thing."

The prince sighed:
“That’s right, Jenn. What you’re using as leverage to protect yourself is the foundation built by the Kevin Deer family over generations.”

He turned around.

“But don’t forget,” Thales said coldly, “who in this palace isn’t Kevin Deer?”

Upon hearing this, Jenn's expression changed slightly.

"DD!"

The door was suddenly flung open.

"Your Highness!"

With his head covered in bandages, Officer Doyle rushed into the room, looking utterly loyal and ready to serve at a moment's notice.

"The guard wing is now fully assembled. What are your orders?"

"Open Federico's door," Thales interrupted DD without further ado, "I want to see him, now."

"Uh, yes!"

Jenn frowned.

Just as Thales was about to leave, Jenn spoke up:

"You will regret this."

Thales turned around.

"Because I went to find another Kevin Deer?"

“No,” Jenn narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint in them, “because of the other person you went to see…”

He turned his head:

"Also Kevin Deer."

Thales's face darkened.

next second.

"First Class Bodyguard Danny Doyle!"

DD was striding confidently past a group of guards, pondering how to open the opposite door with the most dignified posture, when he heard the prince call him by his full name, which was quite unusual for him. He was so frightened that he slipped and fell, but he didn't care about his embarrassment and scrambled back.

"Your Highness, Your Highness?"

“From now on, you will be in charge of all of Jann Kevin Deer’s food, supplies, and communications. You will personally oversee all of them and check them carefully,” Thales ordered expressionlessly. “I don’t want to see anyone else passing on any messages from outside this room to him.”

Jann paused, his hand holding the wine glass still.

“Yes, Your Highness—ah, me, me?” DD was first flattered, then uneasy. “But Your Highness, I’m worried I might not be able to…”

"Do you remember the assassin at the royal banquet?"

DD was taken aback by what he heard.

Jann's expression changed slightly.

"The one who held your father hostage with a sword, forced you to duel, and almost caused your family's destruction?"

Thales turned his head, gave Jenn a cold glance, and gestured with his chin:
"He sent him."

Doyle shuddered.

He turned his head in disbelief to look at Jenn, who had a deep frown.

The next second, Thales stepped out of the room without looking back.

All that remained was a long sigh from Jenn.

And DD, with an ugly expression, was staring intently at him.