Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 744 Scum of the Earth
From early morning, Kongming Palace was bustling with people.

Besides the government offices that were on duty as usual, guests from all over the city and beyond included local nobles and foreign merchants, property owners and workshop owners, agents of merchant groups and officials at all levels, as well as representatives of coachmen's guilds and dockworkers, covering most of the livelihood circles that could be reached in Emerald City.

The palace gates were packed with people, creating a great commotion. The open space was crowded with carriages, sedan chairs, servants, and attendants. People were even arguing and fighting over parking spaces and the order of arrival.

Of course, the majority of the crowd consisted of onlookers who had rushed over upon hearing the news. They had even skipped the celebrations throughout the city, instead standing in a dense mass outside the cordon set up by the soldiers and guards. They pointed and commented with great interest at the extraordinary spectacle at the palace gates, critiqued the guests entering and leaving the palace, speculated about the Emerald Legion's serious demeanor, relished the anecdote of Miss Hilaire's (sometimes known) trickery of the prince, discussed the turbulent situation in the city, lamented the fate of Emerald City after the collapse of the city walls, and grieved deeply for the decline of the Star Kingdom to its current state...

Some of the onlookers couldn't contain themselves and stopped the guests to ask what was going on. They learned that they had all received a last-minute invitation from Prince Thales and had rushed over to the palace for an audience.

As for the reason, no one, including the invitee, knew. The invitation did not specify, only stating "The Duke of Xinghu cordially invites you to a meeting."

But this only makes people more nervous and curious.

So, after a series of governance failures, this prince, who was constantly thwarted, finally had no choice but to reveal his true colors as a northern barbarian, sharpen his knife and start a bloodbath to forge his regency and wash away the humiliation he suffered at the hands of a woman.
Hmph, how laughable!

It's time to teach this little brat that where there is oppression, there will be resistance!

We men from the south bank are also staunch and unyielding, not to be trifled with, and certainly not like those power-hungry cowards in the capital—Honey, you always say married life isn't romantic, right? How about this, I'll exchange the bank drafts, you pack up your valuables, and we'll take the kids and the cat on a three-month trip? It's not for any other reason than that after all these years of taking care of the kids and cooking, you've been so virtuous and kind, my conscience is bothering me and I want to make it up to you…

Compared to the bustling activity outside the palace gates, the scene inside the main palace was equally impressive.

Guests arrived in droves to await their audience, starting in small groups and gradually growing into a bustling crowd. The waiting room was eventually filled with people, and the three main halls were filled with people. Finally, the royal guards and the guards of Kongming Palace had to restore order, forcing the guests to form a long, S-shaped queue that twisted and turned all the way up the corridor.

Regardless of their noble birth or immense wealth, every guest in the procession was filled with trepidation. Some stared intently at the entrance, others remained silent with blank expressions, some nervously adjusted their appearance while awaiting the announcement of their names by the master of ceremonies, and still others chatted casually with acquaintances, discussing who had just gone in, who had come out, who had entered immediately, who had never returned, who had emerged with a mournful face, and who had left the palace with a broad smile. You said that fierce-looking man looked like the pirate Tanganga, I said that the group surrounding him must be the special envoy of the Tyrene Kingdom, you openly praised His Highness Thales for his wisdom, martial prowess, and extraordinary courage, and I loudly exclaimed that the Duke of Star Lake's reputation as a genius was well-deserved...

But only Thales himself knows who is the most exhausted person in Emerald City today.

Throughout the entire day, from noble families to wealthy merchants, from foreign envoys to local officials, he tirelessly received all sorts of people, treating each one differently. Some were gentle and comforting, others were stern and harsh, some were witty and humorous, others were cold and solemn. Some people had to talk to him for a full hour, while others were dismissed after just a few words. Some required a private audience to show his importance, while others were accompanied by guards and even carried with them axe and other weapons...

These guests from all walks of life treated him with varying degrees of politeness and deference, or with insincere pleasantries and endless chatter, or with trepidation and fear. But they all had one thing in common: they all ignored the bruises on Thales' face and took it for granted, as if everyone was born with a bruise on their face.

Only one younger herbalist, at the end of his audience, couldn't help but mention how effective his family's secret concealer was. However, his more experienced colleagues, who turned pale at the mention of it, subtly stepped on his toes. Before he could finish speaking, he was half-pushed, half-dragged away. After profuse thanks and countless apologies, Thales could hear his father's scolding even through the door:
"You unfilial son! That wasn't just an injury; it was the humiliation he suffered at the hands of Emerald City, the contempt shown to a prince of the nation—a slap across the face!"

"Nephew, how dare you bring this up in front of him? Are you out of your mind?!"

"Kevin Deer delivered that slap, but he can't take it, and nobody else can even mention it, because it'll draw blood!"

"He might not be able to do anything to the irises, but taking our heads is a piece of cake!"

"Prepare a few more generous gifts later and send them every day. Just make sure he doesn't hold a grudge..."

"It's too late. I heard that His Highness is very petty and holds grudges..."

"He got humiliated and frustrated by Kevin Deer, and he's just looking for someone to vent his anger on..."

"But his attitude was quite good, and he assured us that the industry's practices and regulations would remain unchanged..."

"You're so stupid! Which butcher shows his knife before leading a pig to the slaughterhouse? Aren't they all just trying to lure it away with good food and drink?"

"Don't let his smiling face fool you, this prince has just returned from Exeter, and it's said he slaughtered countless people on his way back..."

"I heard that the prince hated drinking, but the Heavenly King, ungrateful as ever, forced him to drink. Alas, you all know what happened to King Nunn afterward..."

"Now we've really offended him, oh dear, what are we going to do..."

"Duke Jenn just doesn't want to marry his sister to him, tsk tsk, look where the duke is now?"

"Don't be so naive. He suffered a crushing defeat in Emerald City. Whether this incident happened or not, he'll find someone to take revenge..."

"I heard he's short of money, a lot of money..."

Thales, who was already used to it, listened with a numb expression, completely unmoved.

Besides, many guests, whether with humble manners or eloquent speeches during their audiences, all pointed out, implicitly or overtly, that:

Duke Jann's sister was frail and sickly from childhood, raised in seclusion and with little exposure to the world. In addition, the Duke and Duchess doted on her and were somewhat lenient with her, neglecting her upbringing. This was even more pronounced after the new Duke ascended the throne, with excessive pampering and indulgence, which led to the formation of Miss Hillay's current personality...

Of course! Who is Prince Thales? He is a prince of noble birth, a wise and magnanimous man, and has a reputation for being tolerant, kind, and loving his people like his own children. He is a sage king reborn!

He would never let a small matter cause a bigger problem, or take his anger out on others... Oh, look at me, I'm so long-winded. How could His Highness not know these things...

Moreover, Emerald City is currently dealing with a myriad of affairs, requiring Your Highness's oversight and meticulous management; this is a matter of great importance…

So, well, there's a saying in the distant lands that goes, "A great man's belly can hold a boat," right?

It was as if Thales would fly into a rage and slap Emerald City to death if they didn't say that.

Most of the time, Thales responded with a smile.

But for some people, it's not like that.

“Last night at the North Gate Bridge, the operation to capture King Losang II was carried out in secret. Many participants only learned of it at the last minute,” Thales said softly to the new guests. “Because it involves the cases of Janne and Federico, which have far-reaching implications, I had to keep a low profile and avoid the people from the Sky Palace. Even the specific operations were handled by the female leader of the Blood Bottle Gang…”

He raised his head and looked at the Emerald City officials who filled the room, having just rushed over from their respective offices.

"But tell me, how did Hilla Kevindeer know about my actions? And from where?"

The officials held their breath, surprised and tense upon hearing this.

“No, she not only knew, but she also found the address precisely, timed it perfectly, and ambushed me halfway, snatching the prisoner without missing a beat,” Thales said absentmindedly, recalling last night. “It was as if… as if she was waiting there specifically for me to come to her door, so that she could snatch the prisoner from my jaws at the most crucial moment and then slap me hard across the face.”

At this point, Thales gently patted the uninjured side of his face:
"I failed to arrest him and became the laughingstock of the whole city, losing all my prestige."

The officials looked at each other in dismay, breaking out in a cold sweat as they listened.

Especially when they were surrounded by royal guards on all sides, all staring at them with unfriendly expressions.

A senior political official swallowed hard, and under the urging gazes of his colleagues, he stepped forward and spoke with a forced smile: "Your Highness means..."

"Your Highness means..."

The political official was interrupted.

“Someone has betrayed us,” said the attendant Wyatt Cassel, standing near the prince, adding coldly. “Right in the Palace of the Void, in the various government offices that might know the inside story, and even among the gentlemen standing in this room right now, someone leaked the news in advance, tipping off Miss Hilla.”

Upon hearing this, the officials' expressions all changed.

When they realized what had happened, they all denied it repeatedly, crying out that they were innocent, filled with fear and grievance.

Amid the noise, Thales closed his eyes to rest, remaining silent.

“Although we kept a low profile throughout, our departure from the palace could not be kept secret from the palace guards and the spies in various security posts. You most likely received the news halfway through the journey,” the speaker was still Wyatt. The attendant turned to a group of officials and questioned them sternly, “Is that right?”

The city garrison officer and several guard chiefs' expressions changed drastically, and they vehemently denied it.

"Your Highness, you are wise. We have been working tirelessly these past few days, completely exhausted. We have no time to worry about that garbage dump at the North Gate Bridge—well, I mean, security incidents there are usually handled according to normal procedures. We absolutely have not paid any special attention to it, much less tipped anyone off..."

"It's perfectly normal for His Highness to go out of the palace for inspections, why are we asking so many questions..."

"We wholeheartedly support Your Highness, how could we do such a thing..."

"I'll go back and check on those temporary workers right away. I told you they were definitely up to something..."

"It was due to my subordinates' negligence. I will immediately launch a thorough rectification campaign, conduct a strict investigation and punishment within the department, strengthen security in every corner of Emerald City, and guard against treacherous individuals with ulterior motives, especially those hiding among the masses..."

Wyatt watched their pathetic and laughable self-justifications without saying much, and simply turned to the other side.

"His Highness approved a special budget for last night's operation," the prince's aide said coldly, his words sharp. "The finance minister should be aware of this large expenditure, right? Although he may not say it, he must have already noticed something amiss and knows that we have a major operation planned at the North Gate Bridge?"

On the other side of the room, a group of tax officials, led by Chief Steward Myrahovic and who had been lying there pretending to be dead, were startled awake from their petrified state, staring blankly at their noses.

They all turned pale and rushed to defend themselves:

"Your Excellency is mistaken..."

"Yes, but all official documents are sealed and classified! We would never leak them..."

"Not at all, not at all. This old man's eyesight is failing, and I simply cannot understand what kind of money His Highness approved, or what it is intended for..."

"We're not that diligent with our accounting; we usually report every six months or so... Recently, we've been completely lax, so how could we have discovered this... Ah, we'll definitely crack down on this when we get back, and strive to improve the department's work capacity and the frequency of our audits..."

"Actually, each department has its own slush fund, and even we who are responsible for approvals may not be able to find it... Of course, slush funds are wrong!"

“If the prince needs money, it’s just a matter of issuing a note. How dare we ask too many questions? Would we lose our official positions? — I mean, we have no right to review the budget expenditures of higher-level leadership departments, including the names under which projects are approved and their intended uses, just like we can’t report to or supervise directly to higher levels…”

"Our security spending has increased a bit this week, but we don't know what it's for, especially since it's near the North Gate Bridge..."

Wyatt's face was cold. After listening to their explanations for a while, he said nothing more, but turned to another group of officers in military uniforms with a strong demeanor.

“Captain Seychelles,” Wyatt said to the Extreme Knight standing silently to the side, his voice tinged with doubt, “last night, His Highness the Prince also invited you to the North Gate Bridge to lend a hand?”

Seychelles slowly raised its head.

The royal guards in the room tensed up.

Although he disarmed himself upon entering and was unarmed, his every move still carried the oppressive aura of a master of the highest realm.

Only Wyatt remained unfazed, staring down at the Seychelles knight.

The latter slowly said, "I was invited to take action to apprehend the culprit, prove the Duke's innocence, and end this farce as soon as possible..."

But Wyatt interrupted him rudely:

“But when Miss Hilay took Lausanne II away, you did not stop her.”

Seychelles frowned slightly and glanced at Thales:
"Yes."

“And Miss Hilla is Duke Janne, your master’s sister.”

"Yes, but the circumstances were special at the time, and His Highness dared not act rashly..."

This time, Wyatt interrupted him even faster than before, his tone cold and stern, his voice carrying a rebuke:
"What did you say? What doesn't His Highness dare to do?"

Seychelles' expression shifted slightly as he looked at Thales, but the latter remained leaning back in his chair, eyes closed and silent.

It was as if they hadn't heard at all.

Faced with the gazes of everyone in the room, Seychelles hesitated for a moment.

“I… I did try to intervene at first,” Seychelles explained, “but Miss Hilla was accompanied by Cassandra, who is also a Knight of the Extreme Realm, whose skills were learned from the Tower of the End. I wasn’t entirely confident I could take him down…”

“So you just let Miss Hilly—Duke Jenn’s sister—take away a suspect who might have played a key role in the Duke’s case,” Wyatt said softly.

Seychelles pursed her lips: "I'm not the only one here, there's also..."

But Wyatt, contrary to his usual behavior, wouldn't allow him to explain himself at all:

"As far as I know, you and Lord Cassien—coincidentally, he is also an official knight of the Emerald City—are old friends?"

Faced with malicious suspicion, Seychelles' expression darkened, and his words became more forceful:

“I used to be. But please believe me, Your Highness, I will not let personal feelings influence me…”

"But unlike him, Seychelles, before you were knighted, you were a mercenary in the Eastern Continent, commonly known as a 'sword dealer'?"

Wyatt and Seychelles's back-and-forth was full of hostility, making the others in the room cautious and afraid to even breathe.

After being interrupted several times, Seychelles took a deep breath and suppressed her anger:

"Yes. But since then, I have honored every employment contract and done my best to fulfill my duties..."

Wyman snorted coldly:
"Since it's a contract and a market transaction, does that mean the highest bidder wins, regardless of their position?"

Seychelles could no longer contain himself. He suddenly spoke, glaring angrily at Wyatt:

"You f***ing—"

boom!
A muffled thud interrupted the argument inside the room.

"enough!"

Everyone was startled, only then realizing that the one who spoke was Prince Thales, who had been feigning sleep. The latter stood up, his face cold and stern.

"All of you."

Wyman turned around solemnly and bowed respectfully:

"Your Highness."

The officials, realizing what was happening, bowed in unison with the prince's attendants, including Seychelles, who looked furious and resentful.

"Please rest assured, I am not here to hold anyone accountable."

Thales looked around, took a deep breath, relaxed his expression, and spoke in a steady tone:

"It's not about forcing you to pay the price for the mistakes I've made."

The officials exchanged bewildered glances, and one of the more astute individuals quickly picked up the conversation:

"Not at all, Your Highness has devoted yourself wholeheartedly to governing Emerald City..."

“A few minor setbacks are common in governing a country; how can it be considered a mistake…”

"The more a gemstone is polished, the shinier it becomes..."

"Your Highness is indeed broad-minded; he is a man destined for great things..."

Thales raised his hand and spoke gently, signaling everyone to calm down.

“I’ve invited you all here today because of this letter,” he said, pulling a letter from his drawer and handing it to Wyatt, who respectfully passed it to the officials below him. “I need you all to sign it and then send it to the capital in secret.”

The high-ranking officials in the first row huddled together to read the letter, but the more they read, the more confused they became, and they looked at each other in bewilderment.

Others couldn't wait and looked wary upon hearing "joint signature":
"A joint signature?"

"for what?"

"What letter?"

"A statement waiving the owed wages?"

"Please don't..."

Thales sighed.

“It is a letter to His Majesty, requesting him to reject a motion.”

Everyone was stunned.

"What motion?"

Thales slowly sat down, his expression grave:

"Emerald City Emergency Control Order"

what?
Everyone was stunned again, not understanding why.

thump.

Everyone turned around at once, and saw that among the judges' ranks, Iboning, the acting Grand Judge of the Emerald City and a student of the late Judge Brennan, was deathly pale, with his official scrolls scattered all over the ground.

“Emergency…control?” he murmured. His fellow judges behind him seemed to understand something and bent down to pick up the scrolls, their expressions shocked.

The letter was passed from hand to hand, and Thales remained silent for a long time.

"As you know, Duke Iris is suspected of murdering his father to seize the throne, hiring assassins, and covering up the truth... Whether it's true or not, the Kevin Deer family is currently in turmoil, the political situation in the South Coast is unstable, and Emerald City... is becoming increasingly desolate, with widespread public resentment."

Everyone present felt their eyelids twitch upon hearing this.

Thales slowly began to speak:
"Therefore, the Royal Court believes that the Emerald City needs urgent control to stabilize order and prevent any disasters."

These words immediately caused an uproar in the study.

"what?"

"What kind of emergency?"

“How to control it?”

Thales closed his eyes, his voice low:

"As a safeguard, it has been suggested that Baron Alaka Mu lead one thousand royal standing troops to the Emerald City for temporary garrisoning to stabilize the situation."

The officials were increasingly astonished:
"Your Majesty, the wrath of the kingdom?"

"Why an army? A standing army?"

Who pays for the garrison expenses?

"And what about the Emerald Legion? Where are they now?"

"when will you arrive?"

"We don't have any bandits here, so what's the point of stability?"

“It’s not just about garrisoning,” the vigorous Judge Ibonin thought of something, his expression serious. “Just like in the Western Wilderness back then, this is to temporarily replace the local lords’ rule with the central government’s temporary control in times of emergency.”

The study fell silent instantly.

Thales remained silent.

The treasurer, Lord Myrahovic, stared wide-eyed in disbelief:

"No, it won't, right?"

"How can this be?"

"Let those soldiers rule?"

"It was brought by the central government..."

"Emerald City will be destroyed!"

Thales sighed softly, and the noise in the study gradually subsided as he spoke:
“Not long ago, learning from the experience of the Baki camp, the Imperial Council lost confidence in the local lords, hence this motion—of course, they also know that this matter is highly controversial, so the authorities will not recognize it until it is officially published.” “No!”

Manager Myrahovic was startled and spoke up:
You can't let this happen!

After their initial surprise, the other adults nodded in agreement.

"We're perfectly fine here, there's no trouble, no need for garrisoning!"

The Seychelles captain also frowned:

"The Emerald Legion has guarded Emerald City for generations, and every member's contract is written in black and white..."

“This is legally untenable,” Judge Ibonin gritted his teeth. “Such a serious matter should at least require a national council, or at least a motion from the council of high nobles. The royal council cannot…”

Thales nodded:

“Indeed. But regardless of the process, I believe that as we are speaking, Baron Mu has already received the order and begun mobilizing his forces.”

The study fell silent once more.

“But, but even if he comes with his men,” a government official said, a hint of hope in his voice, “you, Your Highness Thales, you will still be the regent, right? Temporarily in charge of Kongming Palace?”

Thales smiled, looking exhausted after receiving guests all morning.
"I hope so."

“You must be,” Judge Ibonin affirmed, “no one in the entire kingdom is more noble or qualified than you, except His Majesty himself. To have you step down now would be tantamount to telling the world that your regency over Emerald City has failed, and that the Palace of Restoration no longer trusts you…”

He paused, seemingly remembering something, and looked at Thales with a look of shock.

Silence fell over the surroundings once again.

This topic is too sensitive and too dangerous.

No one dared to interrupt or say anything at this time.

Thales gave a soft, bitter laugh.

“Arakka Mu saved my life, and he is stubborn and has a special status and outstanding achievements,” he avoided the topic at hand. “I may not be able to get him to do anything.”

The study remained silent.

No one dared to speak.

Thales looked around and had no choice but to continue himself:

"So once he arrives..."

“No, the wrath of the kingdom cannot be aroused,” Ibonin interrupted the prince, his face ashen.

His words quickly garnered support.

"Correct!"

"We're perfectly fine, there's nothing wrong with us!"

"No regulation is needed!"

"The Imperial Council needs to think this through carefully. The current problems in Emerald City cannot be solved by military control..."

"Emerald City prospered with the passing trade, but the arrival of an army might change that..."

"Someone needs to remind His Majesty..."

“That’s what I said too,” Thales agreed gently, “which is why this letter came about.”

Everyone turned their heads at once: the letter had just been passed to the Seychelles captain, who, under the gaze of the entire room, frowned and handed the letter back to the cold-faced Wyatt.

“I must write to His Majesty before the Royal Council makes a formal motion, and reject it with all my might,” Thales said solemnly. “Of course, I can’t say it outright, that would only backfire. I can only emphasize between the lines, while expressing my concern for His Majesty’s health: the situation in Emerald City is settled, and order is as stable as Mount Sighs. There is no need to expend more effort and waste resources.”

The people in the room seemed to awaken from a dream, and began to speak one after another:
"Exactly!"

"Send the message immediately!"

"Delay is not an option; we must not cause trouble for the officials in the court..."

"Prince Thales is known for his wisdom and will surely be able to persuade His Majesty..."

"Our remote village shouldn't disturb the Palace of Restoration, let alone trouble the renowned Wrath of the Kingdom..."

"The Star Kingdom is in the midst of a revival and rise. Every place requires money and military force. Why waste time and effort here?"

"The affairs of the kingdom's central government are more important... It's no big deal if the people of Emerald City suffer a little more..."

"It's just..."

It wasn't until Thales let out a heavy sigh that everyone's hearts were once again in suspense.

“Unfortunately, everyone has seen my experiences and my ‘achievements’ these past few days,” Thales said with a somber expression, repeatedly mocking himself. “Not to mention last night, I let a key suspect escape, and even Miss Kevin Deer… In short, I have lost all prestige, become a laughingstock, and utterly disgraced the royal family.”

Officials, unable to contain themselves, have voiced their encouragement:

"But that's not your fault!"

"Your Highness had no choice but to do it..."

"Especially yesterday, the fault did not lie with Your Highness!"

"Is it because we have... a mole?" an official added cautiously.

"You have not only not disgraced the royal family, but have also brought glory to the royal family, demonstrating your magnanimity and forbearance in not stooping to the level of petty women!"

"Sigh, Miss Hilla was too willful. She was so eager to save her brother that she filed an appeal and protested, but she should have found the right way to do it..."

But Thales ignored these comments; he simply looked dejected and shook his head absently.

"Once the news reaches the capital, the Imperial Council will know that after Jann's resignation, I am unworthy of his position, and my governance of Emerald City has ultimately failed..."

These words made everyone feel quite reluctant to listen:

"Your Highness..."

"You've only just taken office, so there are bound to be some oversights..."

"Yes, we've all seen how hard you've been working to solve the problem..."

“We all know these days that no one dares to say you haven’t poured your heart and soul into it.”

Thales gave a wry smile and waved his hand to interrupt the crowd's chatter:

"In short, this letter is not convincing enough based on just my signature."

At this point, he took a deep breath, raised his head, and looked at each official:
"I need you, I need more Emerald City officials, and pillars of the Sky Palace, to sign this petition together."

The officials' expressions turned solemn.

"To prove to my father that Emerald City is as peaceful as ever."

Thales' gaze was firm and resolute:

"Motion rejected."

After the words were spoken, the officials looked at each other.

"I understand."

Judge Ibonin was the first to react. He sighed, stepped forward, and extended his hand to Wyatt:
Where should I sign?

Thales breathed a sigh of relief and smiled as he looked at the acting Grand Inquisitor.

“This city is the lifeblood and pride of Professor Brennan, and he would not want to see it fall into the ravages of war,” Ibonin decisively reached for his pen and signed his name at the bottom of the letter. “I implore Your Highness to consider the plight of the people and to argue your case based on reason.”

Thales looked at him intently and nodded emphatically.

The officials snapped out of their daze, nodded in agreement, and stepped forward to sign the petition.

Wyman had to step in to maintain order and have them sign in one by one.

“Of course, in order to prove to His Majesty that there is no need for military control here,” Judge Ibonin said solemnly, “the court will try its best to catch up on the cases that have piled up in the past few days and finish them as soon as possible.”

His statement also inspired officials in other departments.

"Yes, yes, we might as well work overtime these next few days..."

"I will go find Miss Hilla now, and if I can find her, I will try my best to persuade her..."

"Then our finance department will go back and study how to save some money..."

"That doesn't have to be the case."

Thales suddenly spoke, interrupting the treasurer.

The prince opened a drawer and handed a voucher to the tax officials:
"Here are over 30,000 gold coins. Use them to pay the back wages owed to all the officials and the Emerald Legion. Pay as much as you can, and if there's any left over, use it as an overtime bonus according to the rules."

Upon hearing this, perhaps because of the large sum of money involved, or perhaps because it concerned their salaries, all the officials in the room turned their heads and stared intently at the redemption slip in Thales' hand.

Upon seeing this sum of money, Steward Myrahovic was undeniably surprised, but having seen countless large sums, he tightened his collar and calmly accepted the cashier's slip.
"Actually, waiting for my salary is secondary; I'd rather use it to solve my immediate problems and pay off the debts of Emerald City..."

The officials' eyes dimmed.

"You need to feed yourself first before you have the strength to pay back others," Thales said with a smile.

The officials' eyes lit up again.

Myrahovic's eyelids twitched, flattered and surprised:

"Yes, Your Highness, you...you've gone to such lengths, it's really too much for us..."

“No need to thank me. This is the amount that the Popon family owes to the Kongming Palace,” Thales shook his finger. “The extra amount is proof of their enthusiasm for participating in city affairs, their sincere hope for the return of order to Emerald City, and their gratitude for supporting my regency.”

Upon hearing this, everyone's thoughts stirred, and they exchanged glances.

"When it's time for year-end awards, remember to present the Good Citizen Award to Mrs. Tourelle."

Thales sat back down, but then, remembering something, he raised his finger again.

"Also, the envoy from the Kingdom of Tarlun promised me that he would take the lead in connecting with several foreign merchant groups to waive—or at least postpone—several debts owed by Emerald City, and it seems to be quite a lot," he said, pointing casually. "Just recently, Your Excellency, please send someone to finalize this."

If the previous 30,000 gold coins were merely strange, this time Myrahovic was genuinely startled, and then overjoyed:

"Yes, yes, Your Highness!"

Thales gave a soft snort and looked seriously at the treasurer of Kongming Palace:

“Remember, be meticulous down to every single copper coin—this money is not mine, nor does it belong to any of you here, but was created by the inhabitants of Emerald City, and is only temporarily entrusted to us by the Goddess of the Sunset.”

Hearing this, the officials were even more motivated, their eyes filled with admiration and eagerness as they looked at Thales, and their words became even more flattering and pleasing.

"Your Highness is right..."

"A wise saying..."

"It is fitting to erect a monument and inscribe words to educate all people..."

"If everyone had this awareness, how could the kingdom not prosper?"

"With such a wise helmsman in the hands of the great ship Starry Sky, it is bound to sail smoothly through the wind and waves!"

But Thales ignored him and paid no heed.

“I know that many industries in Emerald City have intricate connections with local nobles. Without their cooperation, even if you want to do something, it will be much less effective,” Thales waved his hand. “Don’t worry, I’ve talked to them and discussed some conditions. They won’t be an obstacle; on the contrary, they will help you clear the way.”

"Merchants who stockpiled goods and whose business was impacting the market should resume normal operations soon, although it will take some time for market confidence to recover..."

Thales continued, going through each point systematically and confidently:

"By the way, the robbery incident at sea has been proven to be a misunderstanding. There are no pirates in the southern coastal territory, and the shipping routes will soon be open again—the relevant departments should follow up on this."

"Furthermore, the misunderstandings between me and many local nobles have been resolved, and their protests against my rule should subside somewhat, which will also normalize the distribution of their land and estate assets and taxes..."

"Order on the streets will gradually return in the next few days. The Blood Bottle Gang and the Brotherhood have both agreed to give me some face—of course, the former messed up the job when arresting King Losang II, and the latter missed the trap, so they don't dare to disrespect me now."

"And the aftermath of that fire..."

With each sentence Thales uttered, he resolved a problem. Officials from the relevant departments reacted with a mixture of surprise and delight, sometimes praising and sometimes sighing.

The royal guards in the room, including Wyatt, listened in stunned silence, their gazes towards Thales growing increasingly astonished.
By the time Thales finished speaking, the officials who had been queuing to sign the petition had finally finished signing the last name.

The prince exhaled, feeling the weight on his shoulders lifted, and he felt much lighter.

In response, the Emerald City officials, who had suddenly become loyal and highly motivated for various reasons, patted their chests and declared that they would do their utmost to repay His Highness's kindness and expectations.

"We've lingered here too long. Let's go back and handle our official business now, and speed things up..."

"The repair and cleanup work following the market fire is proceeding at an accelerated pace. We've decided to take further consideration and come up with a better solution..."

"The patrols at the security center will resume three times a day, ensuring that citizens can live and work in peace and that travelers feel at home..."

"The courtroom has become less efficient since Lord Brennan's death, with a backlog of disputes. We'll go back and try to catch up..."

"The prison has discussed this internally. By optimizing the processes and systems, we can free up one-third of the cells to house those awaiting incarceration, and we won't have to tolerate those minor offenders anymore..."

"After some reflection, the Discipline Inspection Commission believes we need to be more grounded. Erecting monuments and inscriptions is absurd and unrealistic... Right, we need to shift our focus and crack down on market manipulation and financial fraud, addressing the urgent needs of the people..."

"The entertainment options in the Iris District have been rather limited these past few days. We can liven things up, create a lively atmosphere, and win back everyone's confidence..."

"Let's examine the market incentives again to see if we can further stimulate the economy and restore confidence..."

"Regarding the recent concerns about maritime crimes, we will dispatch police vessels to patrol, ensuring constant vigilance, peace of mind at every step, and reassurance for everyone..."

As Thales listened to these lofty pronouncements of setting goals, expressing loyalty, and making determination, he gradually smiled. But as the adults spoke with increasing fervor for the public good, his smile slowly faded.

"Everyone."

Thales spoke softly, and the study quickly fell silent:
"After the great upheaval that befell Kongming Palace, regardless of why you occupy these positions, whether it was due to self-abandonment, depravity, or other reasons—whether it was driven by self-interest, ideals, responsibilities, salary, stance, tradition, habit, or something else..."

Thales recalled a series of events that occurred after Jenn stepped down:

"And why did you suddenly overcome your deep-seated problems and change so drastically, becoming so enthusiastic, ambitious, selfless, and diligent in your duties, regardless of how long this situation will last or how long it will be effective, and regardless of your opinions or views towards me..."

The prince took a deep breath.

"Please remember that the rise and fall of this place, the livelihood of thousands of citizens, and even your own life and destiny are in your hands."

He scanned each official with utmost care:
“You are not working for Emerald City, nor for Janne, nor for the Iris.”

Thales' gaze sharpened as he lightly tapped his chest:

"It's for myself."

"It's also about saving yourself."

“Because if you don’t do this,” Thales said sincerely, “believe me, there are things in this world far more terrible than the wrath of the kingdom.”

These words immediately struck everyone as awe.

Just then, the Seychelles knight, who had been silent in the group, suddenly strode forward and stepped out from the crowd!

The royal guards were so frightened that they rushed forward, until Wyah stopped them.

"Your Highness, please rest assured."

The Seychelles knight gritted his teeth, his face contorted with rage:

"I will immediately mobilize my men and search high and low to find that vampire assassin, including Miss Hilla..."

Thales was taken aback for a moment, then laughed.

"and then?"

He interrupted Seychelles:

"If we dig three feet into the ground again, and people laugh at us once more, saying that Miss Hilaire has captured the prince's captive, and I have to mobilize the entire city to find him?"

Upon hearing this, Seychelles paused, slightly embarrassed.

“Forget about that idiot killer, and there’s no need to go looking for Hilla,” Thales stood up and sighed. “These days, my experiences in Emerald City have taught me one thing.”

He walked to the window and gazed intently at the bustling Emerald City street scene below.

There are no shortcuts to governing a region.

Thales spoke softly, without any restraint.

"Whether I can hold onto my position as city lord, what personal grudges I have with Kevin Dill, how many times Hilay slapped me, whether Jann killed his father years ago, or how much the central kingdom desires the wealth of the Sky Palace—these are all trivial matters."

His words became increasingly sensitive, causing those around him to change color and exchange bewildered glances, holding their breath and pretending not to hear.

Only Wyman listened thoughtfully, taking quick notes in his notebook.

Thales stared at the Emerald City, lost in thought:

"The most important thing is to govern Emerald City well, so that everyone has food to eat—no, so that everyone has hope in their eyes."

Everyone was completely confused, but Thales took a deep breath and turned around.

"This is far more useful and practical than me relying on maneuvering, winning over and suppressing, shifting the blame, engaging in factional struggles, smearing and framing political enemies, and using all sorts of seemingly clever and admirable means to keep my position, maintain my authority, and secure my livelihood."

He said softly:

"In fact, this is what I, Jenn, and those nobles and scum in this position should really be doing."