Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 764 Triangle City

Let Kevin Deer take action and reap the benefits...

but……

Thales swallowed hard.

"But like this..."

Miranda's gaze was intense, but Marius remained silent.

But Thales, you've actually considered this ending before—an idea suddenly popped into Thales' mind, startling him.

If Thales can achieve his goal, that would be an even better outcome:

Well, the two Kevin Deer brought about their own demise. The biggest troublemaker and thorn in Emerald City has been removed, and what will remain in the memories of the people of South Shore are your tolerance, benevolence, and effective governance.

Just like these past few days, you've used both soft and hard tactics to win over everyone in Emerald City, and your skillful maneuvering has earned the respect of everyone in Kongming Palace...

Thales instinctively gripped the chair arm.

No, if that's the case, Hilly, Hilly will...

Even Hilla can't blame you—his inner thoughts contradicted him—you just need to spare Jann's life, put him in a prison cart, and send him to Everstar City.

Perhaps this would be better for the Duke of Iris.

At worst, you can try to salvage the situation by actively making amends afterward and by doing your best to mediate once you return to Everstar City, so that Hillay will understand that you have done everything in your power for that girl's wish.

She'll understand.

Because after these past few days of going through thick and thin together, she has come to understand you, she considers you a comrade-in-arms, and she will wholeheartedly believe in you...

No—Thales shook his head subconsciously, breathing in a daze.

No, no... This has nothing to do with Hilaire, or rather, it can't just be about Hilaire; this matter concerns the entire Emerald City.

That would be best for Emerald City—one thought after another popped into his mind—you see what kind of bastards those two Iris Flower descendants are, one cold-blooded, ruthless, hypocritical, and cunning, the other ambitious and without any bottom line.

After you leave, they will drop their masks, scoff at the agreements you brokered, and discard them like trash.

You shouldn't have handed over Emerald City, and the future of the people of the South Bank, to them.

Worse still, with Emerald City in either of their hands, their interests and positions clash, and both the Restoration Palace and the Sky Palace will inevitably teeter on the brink of war sooner or later.

Just as revealed in "The Jade City Mystery".

But Thales, this is the Emerald City that you fought so hard to save...

If you turn around and leave now, letting it be ruined and degraded in the hands of those shameless people...

No.

Thales took a deep breath, trying to put those thoughts aside for the moment:

“I understand what you mean, Mira, but for now…”

"Arund".

At that moment, Marius, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke:

"Is your suggestion because of your father?"

Thales was startled by what he heard and began to think carefully.

"what?"

Miranda paused for a moment, then looked displeased, but she still replied cautiously:

“My father was imprisoned for a crime, and I haven’t been able to…”

“I don’t mean that he ordered you to do it,” Marius said quietly.

Miranda was speechless.

She seemed to remember something, turned to face Marius directly, and her gaze sharpened:

"Then what do you mean?"

Marius looked at her quietly without answering, only giving a meaningful smile.

Seeing that the other party did not answer, Miranda's expression grew even colder.

Seeing the atmosphere turning tense, Thales was about to say something to smooth things over, but the moment he saw Miranda's cold gaze, another thought involuntarily popped into his mind:

You know, Thales.

Even without Marius's reminder, you should know why she made this motion.

Swords and blades have always been drawn from their sheaths.

Previously, wasn't her father, Duke Val Arend of the North, perhaps allowed, indulged, or even deliberately provoked by King Kessel, ultimately forced into rebellion and losing his power?

Miranda learned from it and took it as a lesson.

As for her suggestion, is it a tribute or revenge?

Thales snapped back to reality.

“Your Highness, what Aaron said is a risky move. If you really have such a plan, or at least have had such a thought, then you should be even more careful.”

Marius ultimately did not answer Miranda, but instead turned to Thales:

“Both Jann and Federico are not easy opponents. If Your Highness wants to make them fight each other and reap the benefits, you must be careful not to fall into one of their traps and be used by them to sow discord between you and the other, and to kill someone with a borrowed knife.”

Remembering how formidable the two Kevin Deer were, Thales became serious and nodded in agreement.

But Miranda took these words to heart; the female swordsman's expression changed drastically, but she suppressed her emotions and simply bowed her head.

"Of course, these are just my humble opinions, Your Highness, please do not take offense."

Thales could only smile and nod, indicating that it was alright.

But look at Miranda—he couldn’t help but think—look at her hopeful eyes.

This may be related to her father, but it is more related to herself.

Thales understood something.

Clearly, there were still some things Miranda hadn't said, or couldn't say:

Previously, everyone was wary of the royal power behind you.

Now, everyone is counting on you to hold onto the throne.

Thales felt a chill run down his spine, and a sudden, inexplicable anxiety and fear gripped his heart.

Fortunately, Marius spoke up in time to dispel his unease:

"In short, if you are not careful, Your Highness, who was originally uninvolved and invincible, may be dragged back into this mess and end up covered in filth—for example, what if one of the Iris flowers is assassinated, and DD happens to be at the scene of the crime?"

Thales frowned.

Marius warned:

“Back then, it won’t be as easy for you to convince people to ‘break up’ a fight.”

Thales agreed wholeheartedly and nodded.

Well, it wasn't that 'easy' before either...

Thor, do you know how many times I pretended to be powerful in public and in private, begging and pleading to stop the chaos in the Emerald City and bring about this peace and tranquility before us...?

Thales let out a weary sigh.

"Moreover, it seems that the best strategy for us is to maintain a delicate standoff between the two Kevin Deer and a skillful balance of power among the various forces, so as to keep the Emerald City in its current state."

Marius explained:

"This guarantees that even if you do nothing, you will become the most crucial party in Emerald City, like a pawn with a transcendent status, not heavy in itself, but able to determine the direction of the power scales in the South Bank."

A sword is sharpest and most dangerous when it is still sheathed.

Thales pondered.

"The Lord is absolutely right."

Thales turned his head in surprise, only to see that the person who spoke was none other than Miranda:

"Once both Kevin Deer fall from power, Your Highness will become the de facto ruler of the Emerald City, as well as the one under the greatest pressure and the target."

The female swordsman said in a deep voice:

"At that time, you would be the first to bear the brunt, facing the demands and schemes of various forces both inside and outside the South Bank. Any disturbance in the Sky Palace would be attributed to us, any change in the status quo of Emerald City would first harm you, and anyone who wanted to change the status quo would first consider the Regent Thales as their target—in fact, even now that both Kevin Deer are alive, you, sitting in the Sky Palace, are already facing such risks."

Thales wholeheartedly agreed.

Marius turned his head, gave Miranda a deep look, and then abruptly changed the subject:

"Or perhaps we could use Miss Hilly to put her in power after the two Kevin Deer have 'died themselves'?"

what?

Miranda's eyebrows twitched: "But..."

Thales' expression changed slightly: "But..."

"But I guess His Highness won't agree, right?"

Before the two could speak, Marius chuckled and presumptuously concluded:

"No matter how you look at it, it's neither worth it nor safe."

Thales and Miranda both paused, exchanged a glance, and then looked away.

"I see what you mean."

Thales awkwardly concluded:

“We cannot act rashly at the moment. Instead, we should continue to maintain the triangular situation between Janne, Federico, and me in Emerald City. This is the safest, most advantageous, and most powerful option for me.”

The three of them fell silent.

“Then Your Highness must make a plan: what kind of Emerald City will we leave behind when we leave?” Miranda sighed. “I’ve seen the look in the eyes of those two Kevin Deer—they won’t give up.”

Thales' expression hardened.

That's right.

No matter how resolute or confident the three spoke during the meeting, no matter how timely and effective the measures he left behind, or how strong his backup plan was...

Once he leaves, leaving behind a duke and a viscount, whether Federico is overshadowed by Janne or Janne is suppressed by Federico...

"Even if we compromise now, it's only temporary."

Miranda quietly voiced Thales's concerns:

"After His Highness leaves and the checks and balances disappear, Emerald City will sooner or later become a chessboard for two opposing armies. The only difference will be which side has more pieces and more external support."

Whether the Emerald City will still be the Emerald City that Your Highness or His Majesty desires is uncertain.

Thales rubbed his forehead in discomfort.

But that's his father's business.

Or rather, that's a matter between the Emerald City and the Kevin Deer family.

Miranda continued:

"Moreover, the deep-seated hatred between Janne and Federico should not be resolved by Your Highness."

Thales, still suffering from a headache, did not reply.

"There's no need to worry too much about them personally."

Thales and Miranda turned their heads simultaneously. It was Marius who spoke at this moment:

"Conflict breeds hatred, but the root cause is not hatred..."

Marius slowly walked to the window and looked at the street scene of the Emerald City.

"...but rather in ambition, power and interests, and in the different groups, classes and identities that the two Kevin Deer represent."

Love and hate, however deep, will eventually come to an end.

Power and profit surge endlessly.

Thales raised an eyebrow.

"When one side is in power, another opposes it; when one side benefits, another suffers. One side will inevitably side with one of the Kevin Deere in order to fight against the other, while the other side will react by rallying under the other's banner."

Marius said solemnly:

"This is true in Yongxing City, Longxiao City, Changyin City, Xiwang City, and Shenglin City. And in Emerald City, where development is most unique and changes are particularly dramatic..."

The watchman paused, gazing at the bustling city below his window:

"Now it seems that this is no exception."

It is even more serious due to the drastic changes.

"you're right."

Thales understood.

“The problems people see are those of Janne and Federico,” he said, frowning. “But the problems I see extend all the way to Lenster and Sonner back then, and even to the new class and the old aristocracy.”

Miranda glanced at them both.

“This isn’t just about who will be the duke,” Thales pondered, “it’s not even about two groups.”

He pondered carefully:

"The question is, what interests and ideologies these two individuals will approach, what kind of people will influence them, what kind of power will support them, and what decisions will they make, and how will this, in turn, profoundly affect Emerald City and the people behind them?"

He sighed:

"Or rather, this is the inevitable result of the development of the Iris Flower, the Empty Palace, and even the Emerald City to their current state. It is a problem in their fundamental structure that is unavoidable."

Thales rubbed his forehead again, feeling overwhelmed by a thousand thoughts, which were becoming increasingly chaotic.

The three remained silent for a long while.

For a moment, all that could be heard was the hustle and bustle outside the window.

"But what Your Highness has done is enough."

Marius suddenly spoke, breaking the silence:

"Because the rest will be taken care of by Emerald City."

what?

Thales opened his eyes, and Miranda turned to him as well.

Marius then said:

“A few days ago, Your Highness made a choice: you bypassed the two most crucial Kevin Deer and instead contacted and communicated with those who stood behind them, were used by them, and even surrounded them—those various forces and factions—from high to low, from top to bottom, from merchants to pirates, from nobles to gangsters…those people who carried the burden of Emerald City in layers.”

Telston was taken aback.

They had been constantly contacting and gathering intelligence on them ever since they arrived in Emerald City…

"And the beauty lies in the fact that, over the decades, whether they were merchants or bureaucrats, small landowners or workshop owners, the Kevin Deer family had granted them enough niche and even authority in order to develop Emerald City, giving them enough motivation and capital."

Marius crossed his arms and looked out the window, his eyes darting around:

"And several dukes, including Janne, used these methods of sharing benefits and gaining support to their fullest extent in order to resist the royal power and preserve the South Bank Territory. They were almost ready to grab the king by the neck and shout, 'Then go ask all the people of Emerald City for money!'"

Thales raised an eyebrow: I wish King Catherine V were here.

"You mean..."

"When the various forces you persuaded one by one made their choices, helping you escape the trap of choosing between red and black, and unknowingly bringing Emerald City back on track..."

Marius turned around, his tone intriguing:

"You have already shifted the conflict, turning the conflict between the two Kevin Deer and the Thales Regent into a conflict between the Kevin Deer family and all levels of society in Emerald City."

Thales' eyes flickered.

"Now, you have released the two Iris Flower young masters and even allowed them to contact various forces, to reach out to their former subordinates and supporters, especially those you have met, which shows your attitude and stance."

Marius sneered:

"Now, it's time for the Kevin Deer and his ilk to listen to different voices, to make a choice, beyond their contradictions and ambitions, beyond the constraints of old family feuds: do they want to turn this city into a city of wealth, a city of queens, or a city of war, a city of power?"

At that moment, Miranda's eyes widened.

The female swordsman murmured:

"The Exter people, so that's how it is, the Exter people..."

"And those people and things you have seen and know, they will, in turn, stand on their own grounds and interests to restrain Kevin Deer's authority and personal desires as the Lord of the South Bank, and use various—even limited—methods to force them to submit, to make them understand: going their own way will only lead to their own destruction."

Thales was stunned.

Not a coincidence.

He recalled his subordinate's report...

Even among high-ranking officials accustomed to court life, such as the Grand Steward Myrahovic and the Judge Ibonin, traditional vassals like the Calabyan and Lassia families, and even stalwarts of the military and police like the Seychelles Captain and Lieutenant Cherkey, foreign envoys from places like Hamburg and Terrane, and even the illustrious merchants and business leaders of the Emerald City, few came to visit Duke Jann…

Thales realized:

These people, these people who originally represented Emerald City, their silence, their deliberate estrangement from the two Kevin Deer...

That's no coincidence.

“Your Highness, you only need to observe the situation and act accordingly,” Marius said with his arms crossed. “Then, when the lighter side loses its balance, you can gently support it, and everything will be resolved.”

Observe the situation calmly and act accordingly...

Thales suddenly felt enlightened.

He recalled reading "The Emerald City" in his spare time: Prince Hyman and Lady Regina, King Eight Fingers and Duke Cork, so that's how it is...

"In my opinion, Your Highness, the stable triangular situation you rely on has never been the one involving the Prince, Janne, and Federico..."

Marius's eyes sharpened.

"But it is you, the Kevin Deer family, and..."

Marius took a step back, took a deep breath, and gazed with rapt attention at the countless scenes of everyday life outside the window:

"The entire Emerald City."

At that moment, Thales trembled.

The Watchman said slowly:

"This is the real Triangle City."

The words fell.

The three of them fell into deep thought.

The study was quiet.

Lord Marius, has your injury fully healed?

Marios turned around and looked at Miranda.

"Not yet, Aaron?"

“When you’re fully healed, remember to let me know,” Miranda stared intently at him, her challenge unmistakable. “I’d like to learn from you and hone my skills—the Terrorblade.”

Ok?

Marius frowned upon hearing this.

After Miranda finished speaking, without waiting for Marius's response, he bowed to Thales, then turned and left without hesitation.

"I'm going to cover your shift, Your Highness."

Seeing the female swordsman leave, Marius's gaze turned icy, and he abruptly turned to Thales.

"I didn't say that!"

Thales instinctively raised his hands.

How would I know who told her your nickname?

Wait... how am I supposed to know your nickname...?

Thales forced a smile and scratched his head awkwardly.

Marius sighed as he looked at Marius's silly grin.

"By the way, Your Highness, about what I just told you, the Emerald City Triangle, the trend-following, the situation-adapting... please don't take it too seriously, and certainly don't use it in practice."

Thales, who had been all smiles, froze upon hearing this:

what?

What?

So what you just said—

“If you truly want to solve the problem, Your Highness, then you cannot be obsessed with so-called ‘seeing through the essence,’ ‘the root of the problem,’ ‘grasping the key’ and other such rhetoric.”

Thales raised an eyebrow, and his smile gradually faded.

Marius said in a deep voice:

"You'd better focus on details and reality, history and truth."

Thales was taken aback:

"Details and authenticity?"

Does this need further explanation?

Marius nodded:

"Because whether it's 'essence' or 'fundamental,' these impressive-sounding principles are all summaries we come up with after the fact—most of the time we can only use them to comfort ourselves, or to boast to others, or to debate back and forth."

Marius turned to look at the bustling crowd outside the window:

"But only details and truth, Your Highness, only these are the bricks that make up reality, and they cannot be taken lightly."

Thales composed himself and sat up straight—a rare sight for a Watchman.

"Apart from them, all talk of essence and fundamental nature is false."

The next moment, Marius's usually calm voice suddenly showed a slight fluctuation:

"It's like leaving the person themselves..."

He said quietly:

"Faith and ideology are meaningless."

what?

Thales looked at his Watchman, his mind filled with countless questions, but when the words came to his lips, they condensed into a few words.

“Ah,” Thales sighed, “I will remember this.”

Marius did not turn back.

He just stared intently out the window.

Looking at the colorful and dreamlike city.

Looking into his eyes, one sees a desolate expanse of gray and lifeless desolation.

----

"I'm going to kill her."

He killed Catherine.

Kill that stinking bitch who only has one hand left.

The red viper trembled, slowly raised its head, its eyes filled with venom:

"No matter what price you offer."

No matter what kind of hitman you hire.

Even if it meant digging Lausanne II out of his grave.

Kill her!

But then the familiar voice rang out again:

"I'm afraid it's difficult."

Nekra suddenly turned his head and stared intently at Rick! The accountant recoiled in fright.

But Rick glanced at the ever-silent Fisseau, and though his legs were trembling, he bravely straightened his chest and continued:

"Firstly, under Prince Thales' iron-fisted rule, the political struggle within the Sky Palace has only just come to an end. All forces, large and small, inside and outside the palace, have only recently reached a consensus and settled down. This is his achievement and a matter of face... At this time, if anyone were to stir up trouble, they would become the target of everyone's criticism. Even someone as noble as Duke Janne would probably not be able to withstand the prince's earth-shattering wrath..."

The red viper's eyes widened.

"Secondly, I suspect that because the three forces in Kongming Palace have compromised and it's inconvenient to settle scores with each other, they need a scapegoat like 'Hambul the spy' to take the blame for the chaos these past few days... And when Catherine just made the announcement that she would 'find the Hambul the spy,' you, Nekra, were so eager to kill her, or at least to be suspected of doing it..."

Rick shook his head:

"Even if the brothers in the underworld don't believe it, Kongming Palace has just changed its master, and the thugs under it, eager to prove their loyalty and make contributions, will be happy to arrest you as 'spies'... It's much easier than actually looking for some Hanbul spy..."

Nekra swayed.

Rick said weakly:

"Even your most trusted brothers and comrades within the Blood Bottle Gang, faced with this situation, couldn't help but hesitate: should we hand you over to save our lives?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Nekra froze, his heart filled with bitterness.

"Little Red."

The alpha wolf slowly raised its head and looked at Nekra.

"Now you understand why I let your brothers go out first."

Fisseau's words were softer and slower than Rick's, yet they seemed to possess a magical power. Every word caused the red viper's superhuman hormones to surge rapidly.

Nekra just sat there, stunned, his face full of disbelief.

In other words, after that internal strife, Dao Biaozi was able to leverage the situation and borrow troops to relentlessly pursue and attack them.

They were constantly hindering her and could not retaliate against her, otherwise disaster would befall them.

Either listen, compromise, and sit down to negotiate.

Either give up and run away, making this trip a waste?

Did you kill so many bosses for nothing?

So many people died for nothing?

The red viper stared blankly at the short knife at its waist.

In the Kongming Palace, there was the newly arrived prince.

What exactly is wrong with him?

What deep-seated hatred do you have for him?

Why did everything that happened after he took the regency position drive him to the brink of despair?

The office fell silent, the atmosphere eerie.

Rick didn't dare to utter a sound.

The seemingly ordinary fireworks vendor, now a drug kingpin, chuckled softly.

Do you know why Little Knife's nickname is 'Phantom Blade'?

Rick quickly and respectfully replied:

"I've heard a little about it. I've heard that her arms are incredibly unpredictable, making her blade elusive, like a phantom—"

"Do not."

Rick paused, but then he noticed that the person who interrupted him was Nekra.

The red viper angrily raised its head:

“Phantom Blade—that’s what Turnbull called her in the past. He said, ‘That bitch…every stab of Catherine…’”

Nekra was filled with bitterness, resentment, and anger:

"Slash at places the enemy can't see or defend against."

It seems like an illusion, yet it feels real.

This is called the Phantom Blade.

Rick was startled by what he heard.

But Fasseau sighed.

"Little Red, do you think that when she rebelled against her boss 'Dogtooth' Bot years ago and took over for herself, all of Old Bot's men were neither surprised nor objected, and even applauded and supported her in unison?"

Nekra's eyes flickered.

"Because she was able to kill Bot not with the fatal blow at the banquet, nor with the drugs that old Bot took because he was indulging in women."

A sense of nostalgia welled up in Fasseau's voice:

"In fact, it was in countless daily routines that Little Knife, step by step, from interests to emotions, from loyalty to dependence, silently severed the relationship and connection between Old Bot and his subordinates... with each cut."

Every cut.

Nekra shuddered!

Rick's eyes lit up.

So that's how it is. In this way, even if everyone in the Blood Bottle Gang knows that there must be something fishy about Bot's death.

Even though everyone knows that Catherine is not innocent.

No one will question or object.

Let alone standing up to stop it.

Rick recalled the female leader of the Blood Bottle Gang, whom he had met once before, who claimed she couldn't administer anesthesia because she had undergone drug rehabilitation, and a sudden surge of emotion washed over him:

It seems she quit drugs back then...

It is undoubtedly "sunshine".

Wow!

Nekra suddenly stood up!

"I'll go find old Ferguson right now."

He gritted his teeth and trembled all over.

“He’s a local strongman who’s been operating for a long time; he definitely won’t sit idly by…”

But Fisseau laughed heartily.

"What are you laughing at again?" Nekra looked at the other person angrily.

The kingdom's drug kingpin shook his head:

"You have that much confidence in Ferguson?"

The red viper's expression changed.

He understood what the other person meant.

“Catherine’s hand was chopped off by him and me together, and we also found King Lausanne II together,” Nekra said coldly. “That fish farmer wants to back out now and take my head to beg for peace? Too late!”

"Really? You and him 'together'? When did you start 'together'?"

Red Viper's heart skipped a beat.

"What do you mean?"

Faisal's calm gaze and mysterious smile filled him with apprehension.

“Tell me, Little Red,” Fisseau said softly, “why did Ferguson follow you from the beginning? What special benefit did he get from betraying Catherine?”

Nekra suddenly felt a little flustered.

"Of course, old Fogg, he's harbored a deep grudge against Knife Bitch for a long time. He's unhappy that a woman is above him, and he's unhappy that the local higher-ups in the gang are only paying lip service to him..."

“Ferguson came from the East Sea – when Turnbull rose to power, he almost wiped out the Blood Bottle Gang’s East Sea forces, but Ferguson was the only one who was unharmed, even though he was ridiculed as a ‘wanderer’ afterward,” Faisal interrupted him. “Believe me, no one knows better than him how to forget grudges and resolve dissatisfaction.”

Forget past grievances, resolve dissatisfaction...

"What do you mean?" Nekra's eyebrows twitched, and his voice trembled.

"What I mean is, Fogg is going to board your pirate ship and follow you into your trap, Little Red," Fesseau said coldly. "There's only one reason."

He leaned forward, his tone firm and unwavering:

There has only ever been one.

Looking into the other person's eyes, which held a hint of pity and regret, Nekra understood something and felt a chill run down his spine.

"No," the red viper said instinctively.

“Ferguson, from the very beginning he dared to gamble recklessly, risking offending the Kevindir family to fight you and Lord Lausanne II, attacking Catherine, wielding a knife against his companions, adding his own strength to the chaos in the Emerald City, not for any other reason…”

Lazenci Fisseau nodded slightly:

"It's because he received instructions and guarantees—strong guarantees— long before everything even began."

ensure.

For some reason, Nekra found his hands trembling.

Rick, who was listening in, was equally surprised.

Faisal quietly watched the red viper:

Indeed, Ferguson dared to do this because he had been assured from the outset that even if he did something outrageous and offended some important figure he shouldn't have, he would have a way out, a way to retreat, and a way to survive, and that his crime wouldn't warrant death.

Of course, there might also be a reverse 'guarantee': if Fogg dares to refuse, what will happen to him...?

“Tell me, when Fogg and you were in that dilapidated warehouse, abandoning all code of honor and backstabbing Catherine and her men, did you think he was eagerly anticipating it and enjoying it, or was he reluctantly making excuses?”

Nekra's expression changed.

“He, Fogg, he…”

He recalled that afternoon of the warehouse shootout, when blood and flesh flew everywhere, and his terrible duel with that opponent who was skilled in legwork.

Feissor squinted forward:

"Guess who gave him that guarantee?"

Who can give him such a guarantee?

Rick realized something and was startled by what he heard.

Nekra remained motionless.

"Of course you can go to Fogg and beg him to fight Knife with you, but don't forget..."

Fasseau sighed:

"That guy keeps piranhas in the tank."

pat.

For a split second, Nekra's eyes were vacant, and he gripped the armrest of his seat in a daze.

He shouldn't have come...

He should never have come to Emerald City in the first place...

I shouldn't have gotten involved in this mess...

“Xiao Hong, you’re just like some big shot above us: you think you’re sitting on a triangular stool, in control of the situation, and everything is very secure.”

Fabre was slow and methodical, and his words were full of earnestness and concern.

"Little did you know, the bottom of your butt had already become a seesaw—just when you had defeated your enemy and were feeling triumphant, your whole body was lifted to the sky."

Unfortunately, the focus isn't on you.

The red viper was completely dazed.

“Now, the Kongming Palace has undergone a change of regime, and the chaos in Emerald City has continued until now. All forces have shown themselves, and the situation is now largely clear,” Fei Suo said.

The strongest party seized power, used its influence to manipulate various parties, subdued its two biggest rivals, and suppressed the entire arena.

The surviving pieces mostly have their own destinations or at least a way to survive...

"But unfortunately, it's only you, Xiao Hong, my friend."

King Lausanne II, Catherine, old Ferguson, the Blood Bottle Gang, the Brotherhood, the Greenskins, the Green Hats, and even the unapproachable Kevindir family and that Regent Prince Star...

“Every move you make, every action you take, and every faction you involve carries the potential to kill you, giving Little Knife a reason to put you to death.”

All that could be heard was Feuerbach's quiet conclusion:

"You've plunged headlong into a dead end."

There is no way to go.

Life is cut off.

Nekra did not answer.

He remained motionless, like a statue.

Rick, standing to the side, didn't dare to utter a sound.

He watched as the unarmed Fei Suo, with just a few words, rendered the ferocious Red Viper utterly bewildered and dazed, and he felt increasingly terrified.

Fisseau gently reached out and covered the mouthpiece, letting the pipe, which had burned down to almost nothing, slowly go out.

But the red viper was in a daze and no longer cared whether the other party still had any fire left.

Just as Fieso no longer needs it to ensure safety.

"hahahahahahahahahaha……"

A mournful laugh rang out.

Nekra leaned back, a sad smile on his face, and drew his dagger.

Under Rick's tense gaze, he glanced at the sharp blade and plunged it into the table:

thump.

"Stop pretending, you fake medicine dealer. You've come all this way, you can't just say this much," Red Viper said wearily and aggrievedly. He loosened his grip on the hilt of his knife, forcing a ferocious expression. "Give me a clear path."

Faisal smiled.

"Didn't Mr. Rick just point it out to you?"

Rick had just breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this, but he became nervous again.

“Escape Emerald City, flee the Kingdom of Stars, and avoid Little Knife’s trap,” Fesso said nonchalantly, “and you will naturally live.”

Then he suffered a crushing defeat, his name was forgotten forever, until he died far from home.

Nekra glanced at Rick.

Rick shuddered at that moment.

It felt like being targeted by a venomous snake.

“You know, this isn’t the path I want,” the Red Viper said coldly.

Fasseau fell silent.

"That would be a difficult situation."

He sighed, seemingly in a headache.

But Nekra's eyes remained fixed, his gaze fixed intently on the other person.

“You must understand, from the murder of King Losang II to the scandal of the Iris Flower family, from the infighting of the Blood Bottle Gang to the turmoil in Emerald City, from the common people to the nobles of the Void Palace,” Fei Suo said slowly, “one thing leads to another. You have been put on the chopping block by Little Knife. If you are not careful, you will be crushed by the combined forces of the unsuspecting parties.”

Nekra did not speak.

"But the overall situation is already set, and this is the current state of affairs."

Nekra's eyes flickered.

Faisal sighed:

"This current situation is exactly what he needs most, and it is what he has created by taking advantage of the thunderous momentum to subdue all parties and firmly grasp Emerald City in his palm."

"Him?" the red viper repeated ominously.

Faust nodded and said:

"Yes, it was him—Catherine used his name, the greens pledged their loyalty to him, the bureaucrats and nobles trembled before him, both the Red and Black Kevindirs were obedient to him, and the various forces surrounding Emerald City were either used by him or intimidated by him, and they only had awe and satisfaction with the status quo he brought to the country, and dared not utter a word of complaint."

he.

Rick felt a chill run down his spine.

"Therefore, as long as the current situation in Emerald City remains stable for one more day..."

Feisuo said quietly.

As long as he, as long as the new regent of Kongming Palace remains in power, as long as he remains in authority.

As long as he uses his immense power to maneuver and force the two sworn enemies, Kevin Deer, to abandon their past grievances and drink together in camaraderie, the terrifying balance can be maintained for a moment.

As long as the people of Emerald City, inside and out, hope that he will show leniency, beg him to spare no effort, and look forward to a peaceful handover, the voices of those who are willing to perform meritorious service for him and sing his praises will continue.

Then no one would dare offend him, no one would dare to oppose him, and no one would dare to risk being purged by all parties in Emerald City under his rule to interfere in the increasingly clear situation and fish in troubled waters.

"And if no force dares to risk offending that important figure, offending all the forces that are content with this position, to change the status quo, to disrupt the balance, to break the deadlock..."

To reignite the flames of war that had been so painstakingly extinguished.

"...Red Viper, you have nowhere to escape." The drug lord concluded quietly.

After all, it's a nine-pointed star.

No force dared to...

"But what if there is someone?"

Nekra's eyes flashed for a moment, then grew increasingly cold:

"What if some people are dissatisfied with the current situation, some are determined to break the status quo, and some simply hate the terrifying balance it brings?"

Rick understood what was happening and began to tremble with fear.

Feisuo curled the corners of his mouth.

"That's hard to say."

The red viper snorted coldly.

"You forgot to mention one thing."

Nekra sneered: "Under that prince's rule, Emerald City has achieved a balance. That is to say, all forces are kept under close watch and are closely monitored. Any unusual movement will be discovered, and then that prince will follow the clues to find out, suppress them, and skin them alive."

The red viper narrowed its eyes:

"So if someone wants to break the status quo easily, quickly, and without restriction, he needs a knife."

A knife that was originally outside the territory of Emerald City, outside the prince's sight, and preferably unrelated to the interests of the South Bank Territory, making it difficult to track and control.

For example... a knife from somewhere else?

Fasseau laughed even more heartily:

"It seems to make some sense?"

rub!

The red viper suddenly pulled out the dagger from the table, startling Rick.

"Until you yourself dare not do it, and only use me as a tool..."

“Tell me, Razanchi Fissor,” Nekra said expressionlessly, brandishing his sword before sheathing it, “who exactly is your master?”

Faisal smiled.

But Rick, on the other hand, was thinking much deeper and further ahead.

Who exactly is dissatisfied with the current compromise in Emerald City, the peace in the South Bank Territory, and the internal strife within the Kevin Deer family?

He was trembling slightly.

more importantly……

Which faction is dissatisfied with that North Star, with his achievements in Emerald City, with the reputation he has gained during this mission, and even with his future coronation as Thales I?

At that moment, Rick felt a chill creep up from his feet and trembled with fear.

Faisal did not answer immediately.

The kingdom's biggest underground drug lord slowly stood up, put away his now-cold pipe, and then gazed at Red Viper with a chilling look:

"Tell me, Red Viper, do you believe in the Goddess of the Sunset?"

Rick was stunned.

what?

"of course."

Nekra's answer was without hesitation.

As long as there's a way out for him...

Let alone goddesses.

He believes in all kinds of male gods.

Fabre nodded in satisfaction:

"So, Little Red, have you ever been to the Temple of Sunset and confessed to the priests?"

Nekra was taken aback.

----

"Your Highness!"

The messenger, Toledo, disregarded etiquette, flung open the door, breathless, clearly indicating the urgency of the situation:

"Something has happened at the Temple of Sunset!"

Thales suddenly looked up.

Temple?

Marius frowned and looked at Toledo: "Calm down, get to the important stuff."

"It's an assassin!"

Toledo took a few deep breaths and began to speak while bowing:

"An assassin infiltrated the line of believers waiting to confess and entered the temple to commit murder..."

assassin?

at this time?

The most skilled assassin in the city has already been imprisoned in the Corpse Demon Pit, hasn't he?

Thales frowned, got up, and walked towards the door.

Who was assassinated? What about casualties? Has the assassin been caught?

Marius followed closely behind, with Star Lake Guardians constantly joining the group along the way.

“The assassin was a priest,” Toledo hurriedly caught up, catching his breath. “Fortunately, he didn’t have much of a background and his reputation was so-so, so it won’t have too bad an impact. The only thing to worry about is his teacher… As for the assassin, he didn’t escape and committed suicide on the spot… The guards and cuckolds who arrived at the scene have sealed off the area and are not allowing anyone to approach… But the temple is a public place, and with so many eyes and mouths, the news has probably already spread…”

I knew it.

Finally, some people couldn't hold back any longer...

Thales' expression suddenly changed, and he abruptly stopped!

"The priest who was assassinated."

The prince turned around abruptly and grabbed Toledo's shoulder:

Tell me, what is his name?

Toledo was startled. He looked at Thales, whose expression was grave, and swallowed hard.

"It's...it's him, his name is..."

In Toledo's view, as he answered, the second prince's eyes widened further:

His name is Chadwi.