Chapter 640: Queen of Cities

"So this is Jade City?"

Behind a checkpoint temporarily separated by wooden fencing, Doyle and Vanguard Officer Neci held their mounts and looked in surprise at the surging line before the checkpoint, and the seemingly endless buildings behind it.

"Ow, there are way too many people. We cannot even get in while lining up."

"Is Jade City always this lively? Or is there some market sale going on?"

"No, it is not a market, and there is no sale," Guard Officer Komuto squeezed over with difficulty from the other side, trying hard to refuse the peddler selling ornaments to them. "But clearly, we have still come at the wrong time..."

"Do you see all the warning officers on this street? There are more of them than beggars in the capital."

"His Highness Thales will probably collapse when he sees this. He is most afraid of crowds..."

"Hey, everyone!"

The real Wya Casso dodged a dusty carriage, covered his face scarf, and came to them. "Gods, squeezing over was really not easy. His Highness has been waiting too long behind us. Lord Mallos sent me to hurry you along. What exactly is happening ahead?"

Komuto nodded. Amid the noise of the crowd, he had to wrap his arms tightly around his companions' shoulders and raise his volume beside their ears.

"I contacted the garrison officer here. He has already sent a messenger with Zonevid to see Commander Mallos! But with this scene and these numbers, I think it will be difficult. He suggests that, for safety, we had best wait outside the city a little longer. After the crowd passes and they maintain order, we can enter. Jade City will send food..."

The people from Star Lake Castle immediately became dissatisfied.

"What kind of joke is this?"

"This is far too neglectful!"

"After making us wait so long, if they send food, it had better include Jade City's famous wine..."

"Are they serious? He is just letting His Highness wait outside the city? We are Royal Guards, from the Central Territory, representing Renaissance Palace!"

"Why do they not seal the road? Are these messy peddlers more important than the prince's arrival?"

Wya sighed and stood on tiptoe to look toward the black mass of people at the checkpoint.

"But at this speed of entering the city... are these people lining up? Why? To pay an entry tax?"

Doyle narrowed his eyes.

"What? There are still entry taxes in this era?"

Komuto shook his head, leading everyone away from the crowd and toward the duke's convoy.

"I asked around. It is not a simple entry tax, but a guarantee fee. Every person entering Jade City has to register, clearly writing their guarantor in the city and specific address, including the amount of property they carry. If you leave within the required time, the Urban Management Office returns the fee in full. If you exceed the time, it is deducted or even confiscated. If you violate some regulation, you even have to pay extra..."

Everyone complained again.

"Isn't that still tax collection? Wouldn't doing this drive everyone away? What if no one wants to come to Jade City in the future?"

"Then do we have to register when entering? We represent His Highness, represent the royal family!"

"I heard from the receiving official just now that these are rules set by the late old duke. Prince and commoner are treated the same..."

"Fuck, that old duke really narrowed his own road..."

"That is why he is 'late'..."

"Do not worry. We are honored guests. Filling out forms and paying fees, that kind of thing will be handled by specialists from Jade City. It will not be your delicate hands' turn..."

The three finally squeezed out of the crowd, only to run into a troupe of performers blowing and beating instruments with fiery momentum, forcing them to detour again.

"We have caught the Emerald Celebration, so it is very lively."

Komuto wiped sweat from his face.

"Add the news of the Duke of Star Lake's visit spreading... guests from the Seven Seas and Six Realms are all piling into Jade City around this month. See that? Those with dark skin are Red Earth people. And those with strange hair ornaments are guaranteed to be Humbler people. There are also Calenza people from the Tyren Trade Federation, Nieda people from the Ligur city-states, grassland people from some tribe I do not know, and I just saw a merchant group from the Far East. No idea if they are from Suye or Cheng."

Neci shook his head. "The Great Cheng Khanate belongs to the Flame Sea Province. It is not the Far East..."

"Is that so? Why do I remember it as the Tuoluo Province?"

Komuto shrugged indifferently. "No difference to me..."

"There are ten countries in the Far East. It might not be Suye either. Maybe it is Kurora..."

"Kurora is an ancient province name, right..."

Doyle clicked his tongue in contempt. "Ew, who taught you geography..."

"Elves! I saw elves! Definitely High Elves from the Eastern Continent. Fuck, that pointed chin..."

"Nonsense. Elves hate crowds too. When the delegation from the Sacred Tree Kingdom visited Eternal Star City, they chose to enter late at night and kept very low profile. You only knew when they left..."

"Maybe you saw orcs..."

"Look at that grand canal, and the big ships on it. I bet it can go straight to Archsea City, directly to the Sea of Eradication!"

"Idiot. Canal ships would fall apart at sea!"

Behind and to the side of the road, inside a carriage separated by Jade City guards, the Duke of Star Lake, Thales Jadestar, put down his book and took a deep breath.

Through the carriage window, with the help of the Hell's Senses, he felt every breath of this city.

So, he had arrived.

The capital of the South Coast, the base of the Covendier Family, the city of pitch-crystal, the capital of wealth, the queen among cities: Jade City.

Without question, it was a completely different city from Eternal Star City.

"I do not see city walls."

Beside the carriage window, Miranda rode on horseback, holding a telescope high and trying to look past the Jade City guards.

"Aside from people, houses, streets, bridges, and trees, there are only bridges, houses, people, streets... and trees."

"Strange, I cannot find them either. Could they have demolished the walls?"

Glover, beside her, was likewise searching for traces of city walls.

"No hurry. You cannot see them from here," Mallos, commander of the Star Lake Guards, sat on a luggage cart to the side and calmly read last month's income and expenditure report. "Walk two more blocks forward from here, and you will see them. And I suspect that even if you saw them, you would not recognize them. Several gate openings have already been converted into streets."

"What? Jade City's area and radius are this large? Even the city walls cannot contain it?"

Miranda put down the telescope and looked suspiciously at the crowd before her.

"How large must the population be?"

"It was a little better ten years ago," Logistics Officer Storr answered with narrowed eyes. "I guess it has expanded very quickly."

"Wait. In that case, if the construction and renewal of the city walls cannot keep up with the expansion of urban districts, would the city's defenses not be practically nonexistent?" Glover was similarly surprised.

These words made the surrounding Star Lake Guards exclaim.

"Then how do they defend against enemies? At least against bandits?"

"How did they hold through the Bloody Year?"

"I do not think the Bloody Year reached Jade City..."

"Help me remember, how long does it take to walk from south to north in Eternal Star City?"

"Never walked it, but definitely not this long."

"When was the last time you came?"

"When I was little, more than ten years ago. But at that time..."

"I came for an errand five years ago, but I took the sea route. I vomited the whole way on the ship and did not notice. In the blink of an eye, we had crossed the Pasture River and gone inland."

"Three or four years ago, a cousin of mine got married. Fuck, he told me his home was on the edge of the city. I looked at the surrounding blocks and thought he was joking or being modest. Looking again now, damn, it was actually true. The edge?"

"Now I understand why my neighbor's son would rather be a postman here than return to the capital..."

Thales stretched. He closed Records of Emerald Maze, extinguished the Sin of Hell's River, and shut the surrounding clamor outside his ears.

Looking at it now, Jade City's scenery was indeed very different from Eternal Star City.

At least it was quite suitable for tourism and sightseeing, expanding one's knowledge.

Thales stuck his head out of the carriage and waved at the solemn Ralf and Paul.

Of course, how wonderful would it be if he truly were only here for tourism?

The young man looked at the bustling crowd pressed around Jade City's checkpoint and thought somewhat dispiritedly.

Or, simply matchmaking would be fine too.

Mm, if the girl's older brother were not Zayen Covendier, that would be even better.

"Since you are going to inspect a prospective fiancee, you must tidy yourself up and look spirited," Madam Valencia had said worriedly as she helped him arrange his appearance before he left Star Lake Castle. "Clothes, accessories, makeup, perfume. Ah, do not forget this, a collection of bardic love poems, guaranteed to work every time."

"I would rather bring Records of Ovedo's Governance: Gains and Losses." At the time, Thales hovered between lack of interest and unease, and only yawned when he heard this.

"Ovedo? A king of Allenbia who was beheaded two hundred years ago cannot help you win a girl's affection."

Madam Valencia sternly tugged at his collar and sighed again. "Ah, Your Highness, you are truly worrying. So little and already going to... In the team, does anyone know the etiquette of dates between young men and women? If you do not understand anything, impatiently mess around, offend the girl, or get into bed without knowing how to use protection..."

"Madam!"

Thales somewhat helplessly interrupted her. "According to ancient imperial standards, I am fourteen..."

"Do not use that to brush me off," Valencia clicked her tongue and shook her head. "Right now you are a half-grown child, just at the age when you have learned to stare at girls. Right, that Arunde girl. She is already so forward. Do you have thoughts? Do you need Madam to create an opportunity for you?"

Thales could only bury his head in his book and continue sighing.

Of course, not everyone was reluctant to part with him.

"So, you are finally leaving!"

In math class, Scholar Julio excitedly received Thales' exercise book, then realized something was improper and hurriedly squeezed out a surprised expression. "Uh, I mean, you are leaving already?"

Thales rolled dead-fish eyes.

"Scholar Julio, you seem very happy?"

"Eh, how could I... cough, cough. Jade City has convenient transportation, developed commerce, gathers all kinds of talent from the Eight Directions and Seven Seas, has surging trends of thought, prosperous culture, and flourishing scholarship. It is also famous within the kingdom." Julio adjusted his glasses, and the momentum around him changed. "But no matter what, Your Highness is a student taught by the respected master scholars of the Royal Grammar Academy. Your knowledge and learning are not inferior to anyone. On this southern inspection, you must constantly think of learning, improve daily, and not lower the prestige of us Eternal Star students."

"Too long. I did not understand."

"Uh, that is, remember to do homework."

"What about you, Scholar? The field account books for the remaining two farms..."

"Doing it, doing it! I can finish calculating them in another week. Eh, wait, clearly I am the teacher!"

"One week is too long. Three days."

"Ah! Then... can we discuss it, Your Highness? Six days? Or five days would work too?"

"In fact, Scholar, I just finished writing an application to His Majesty for increasing your salary..."

"I will send over the account books tomorrow!"

Grand Scholar Bona brought Thales a large pile of books, including the narrative poem Emerald Maze, the historical biography Records of Southern Expansion, Far Sail War Chronicle, the research paper Pitch-Crystal and Seals: The Guarantor Tradition and Commercial Notarization System of Jade City's Mining Guild, and the Sunset Temple hymn Emerald of Dusk.

"Jade City? Jade City is good!"

The bright-scalped grand scholar shakily took out the final book.

"The territory of Stars is vast, with different scenery. If scenery is like this, people are even more so."

Thales took the book Grand Scholar Bona handed him and changed expression as soon as he saw the cover.

"Chronicle of the Witch Queen's Seduction and Ruin of the Kingdom?"

The prince subconsciously hid the book.

"Is this something I can read?"

"Of course not." Grand Scholar Bona blinked his cloudy little eyes. "So, do not idly read it aloud in public to the entire Jade City, especially Act Three, 'A Young Girl's Dream Broken by One Marriage Paper.' Some of the descriptions inside are, mm, not very proper."

"But aside from that, I dare say this is a rare good play, comparable to Secret Romantic History of Iron Thorn, Lacey Anlunzo in the Wind, and Blackeye and His Male and Female Lovers. It is especially helpful for Your Highness to understand the meaning of this mission. Youth. Youth never returns."

Thales swallowed and bowed in thanks with complicated feelings.

On the other side, Wya returned home once and brought Thales a stack of documents, all information and intelligence about Jade City. The header of every page had been carefully cut away to prevent people from seeing the source. But this did not prevent Thales from recognizing the faint imprint left on the bottom page: the trace left by Gilbert's signature.

Facing such a stack of documents, Thales was silent for a long time.

"If there is a chance, thank your father for me."

"Yes," Wya answered respectfully, but murmured quietly at the end, "if there is a chance."

If there is a chance.

Thales looked at Wya. In the end, he still said nothing.

Of course, compared with these teachers, Thales' other amiable, learned, respected secret teacher whose identity could not be made public was another style entirely.

"You really are not going with me to Jade City?"

"As far as I know, you are not going to improve your mystic energy," in the study one afternoon, the Air Mystic still elegantly and calmly moved the chess piece before him with his eyes, "but to run errands and risk your life for someone else, continuing mortals' childish and laughable political game."

On the other side of the chessboard, Thales cleared his throat.

"Strictly speaking, it is matchmaking."

And overthrowing the South Coast regime.

"And I have no interest in that, and respectfully decline your intention of using me as a hidden card."

"Then... what if I die there?"

"In the past two hundred years, Jade City has had no known legendary anti-mystic armament."

"That cannot be certain. Jade City has rivers and sea ports beside it, rich mines within it, is not only one of the great cities of the Western Continent but also one of the important intersections between two continents, gathering countless forces. Maybe one day, heh, a legendary anti-mystic armament will come?"

"Then as a mystic, I should be even less likely to go."

"Uh, then what if what appears is the rare perfect anti-mystic armament my respected teacher guessed about?"

"Then I will trouble Your Highness to go ahead of me and gather intelligence?"

"...Then what if I die in a political conspiracy, die at the hands of mortals?"

"Then you deserve it." Asda mercilessly took Thales' knight. "It will be the inevitable consequence of your long-term narrowness and short-sightedness, your satisfaction and intoxication with worldly position and authority, and your lack of heart for learning mystic energy, procrastination, laziness, and carelessness."

Thales was silent for a good while.

"You are just unwilling to go, aren't you?"

"I can go. Perhaps I can even watch over you a little..."

"That is right! Teacher and student helping each other, teaching and learning..."

"As long as you are willing to abandon everything you have now and completely walk the path of mystic energy."

Thales tugged the corner of his mouth and pushed over his own king with one finger.

"Well, pardon the disturbance. Please rest."

Asda suddenly raised his head.

"Remember, even if you are in crisis, you must avoid revealing that 'magic trick' ability of yours."

Magic trick.

Thales' eyes turned.

"Even if I am about to die?"

The mystic was unmoved. "As you said, Jade City is located at a major sea route and is full of mixed forces. There is no guarantee that our enemies do not have eyes and ears there. If those two bitches discover you, you will likewise die, and you may very likely implicate me."

Thales could not help curling his lips.

Asda's tone was without ripple. "Then, good luck, idiot who insists on stepping into muddy water."

Seeing that help was hopeless, Thales sighed in disappointment.

But before class ended, the young man still could not help speaking.

"No matter what, Mr. Sakern, before setting out, I still want to thank you."

Asda's gaze paused.

"For what?"

Thales rubbed the king piece in his hand and was silent for a while.

"For letting me, during these few hours, set aside identity, put down worries, and freely and comfortably speak for a while."

The mystic did not answer.

He looked faintly at Thales, who knew not what he thought.

The study fell quiet.

Thales did not expect an answer. He shook his head self-mockingly, stood, and walked toward the door.

"Then class should end."

Very ironic.

But very helpless.

And this was his life.

Since that night on Red Street, since he walked into Renaissance Palace.

"Child."

When the duke's hand touched the doorknob, Asda suddenly called to him.

"If you truly encounter mortal danger, forget what I said."

Forget...

Thales frowned and turned back. The mystic's voice was unexpectedly somewhat... drifting.

Asda was silent for a while. Blue light flashed in his eyes at an angle Thales could not see.

"If you are going to die, risk everything, go all out, and perform the most splendid trick of your life."

Thales paused.

The most splendid trick?

In that instant, his throat moved, and his mood was complicated.

Presumably, after knowing each other for so many years, there was still more or less a little teacher-student affection?

Asda's figure slowly faded.

"You must understand, as long as you die first from losing control of mystic energy, the Twin Empresses will not be able to find you."

Thales' smile stiffened. By the time he came back to himself, the room was already empty.

Fuck teacher-student affection.

As for the Star Lake Guards, although some people vaguely guessed that this trip would not be as easy as the words suggested, most were rather excited. ("I never want to stay in this place where birds do not shit again!" Neci's heartfelt emotion, before he was punished to clean bird shit in the messenger raven cage.) Especially after hearing that the duke was going to visit Miss Covendier.

"In short, on this trip to Jade City, our schedule is very tight. We must arrive in time for the city activities of Queen's Day..."

Not long ago, Thales sat at the head of the long table in Ascension Hall, informing the guards and attendants of Star Lake Castle. But many people's gazes still focused on Miranda beside Thales.

"Queen's Day? You mean the Emerald Celebration?" Neci, beside the long table, was overjoyed. "That famous kingdom carnival where people drink for seven straight days?"

The guards seated on both sides of the long table burst into an uproar.

Mallos frowned, while Thales gritted his teeth.

"Yes, the Emerald Celebration. But literally, it remains Queen's Day, a tradition passed down to commemorate the queen's grace, just as we commemorate Revival Day and King's Day here, while the Western Desert celebrates Saint-Pursuing Day..."

But before he could finish, he was drowned out by everyone's cheers.

"So Your Highness is really going to marry the young lady of the Covendier Family?"

"Does this mean the castle will welcome a mistress?"

Thales had no choice but to cough and painstakingly explain:

"Attention, attention! Going to the Emerald Palace to visit the Iris Family is indeed an important matter on this trip. But to casually discuss an unmarried lady's life-long matters is rather improper..."

However, the people of Star Lake Castle were excited.

"Isn't it too early to marry now? After all, you are only fourteen, and the world is still very exciting... uh, or is it too late?"

"Eh, old Kong, you do not understand. If you do not first marry and take a wife, how would you know the outside world is very exciting?"

"I heard Covendier is rich enough to drip oil. The dowry should not be small, right? Does this mean we finally have money?"

"Then I propose repairing the toilets and sewers..."

"That is what you care about? Better to worry whether southern brats from Jade City will come steal your rice bowl..."

"Exactly what I need, early retirement..."

Under the clamor of Star Lake Castle's people, Thales finally could no longer endure it.

In the next second, he took out a palm-sized cloth bear and slammed it hard onto the long table.

Miranda, to the side, frowned.

Amid painful whimpers, everyone stared fixedly at the cloth bear, only then remembering the cruel and cold character of the Duke of Star Lake.

Both sides of the long table quieted.

"Very good."

Thales looked around and nodded in satisfaction.

Sure enough, I am usually too amiable.

This lot will not remember unless I bring something ruthless.

"I think you all know that Jade City has a pleasant climate and prosperous commerce, and is the second-largest city in the kingdom after the capital. But because of certain reasons I cannot directly state, yet you probably all know, Duke Zayen's relationship with me is rather, mm, complicated."

Everyone remained quiet, only their gazes could not move away from the little bear.

The Duke of Star Lake cleared his throat and straightened the slightly crooked little bear so everyone could see its full appearance.

"Therefore, we are not going on vacation. Added to the fact that we happen to be arriving during the celebration, with guests from all sides gathered, from travel security to social affairs, our work will not be easy."

Doyle, eyes full of tears, bit his lower lip.

"Since that is the case, why are we going?"

Paul, sitting in the corner, suddenly spoke.

"Precisely because of that, we must go."

Both sides of the long table began whispering again, words like "political marriage," "appeasement," "smash the place," "steal his sister," and "become his brother-in-law" slipping into the duke's ears among hushed voices.

Mallos, at the side, finally could not watch any longer. He snatched away the little bear, depriving the duke of his right to speak.

"In short, the schedule and route have been set, and communication with the Emerald Palace has been completed. We must arrive at Jade City at the latest four days before Queen's Day, and ideally move into the Emerald Palace that same day. Jade City will arrange our matters afterward, but this is important. The Guards cannot relax at any time. If I find out any of you made a mistake..."

Everyone, whose gazes had lost focus, could not react until Mallos warned unhappily:

"Did you hear me?"

Everyone reacted and responded in unison, their voices ringing through the castle, morale high.

Only then did Mallos snort coldly and throw the cloth bear back into the duke's arms.

Thus, the Duke of Star Lake's convoy set out for Jade City on a certain autumn day. They drove out of Star Lake Castle, took the route through Ferry Town, crossed the Pasture River, then turned southeast onto the southern branch of Grace Avenue. Along the way, they passed many places: Swan County, Mirror River, Weitlen Town, Wola Corridor, Fang Land, Flourishing Forest...

The farther they traveled, the more humid and warm the climate became. Rivers and ferries grew dense. Wild forests and wasteland gradually disappeared. The terrain and roads became increasingly orderly and flat. Even the wild grass on both sides of the road grew much more gentle. In the harvest season, people came and went through wheat fields. Farms and pastures were busy without pause. Workshops in towns were rich in variety. All kinds of traveling merchants and seated traders bustled. Messengers and postmen galloped back and forth between castles and villages. As Thales watched along the road, he only felt that this was the "peaceful kingdom" described in official documents of Stars.

The journey was still considered peaceful. In most places, town officials and noble lords, after learning that the Duke of Star Lake was passing through, had sent envoys early to wait along the road, guide the way, clear paths, even send warning officers and patrol teams to separate unrelated people. If they encountered nightfall or heavy rain, they provided lodging and supplies without the slightest error. But while treating him with courtesy, most people were also serious, even respectfully distant, making Thales sigh endlessly.

It was like an invisible hand was pushing everything behind this journey.

And so, without realizing it, the duke's party entered the South Coast and arrived at Jade City.

Thales' thoughts returned to the present, to the carriage outside Jade City.

"Look at that fool, just walking down the street openly carrying a bag of gold. I bet if this were Eternal Star City, once night fell, he would be gone."

"If it were the Lower City, there would be no need to wait until night."

Doyle and Neci's idle chatter entered his ears. Thales smiled and shook his head, but his smile soon vanished.

After all, he was not here for tourism, right?

Thales' gaze sharpened.

He had come to seize and destroy.

The prince lowered his head and opened the information about Jade City that Wya had brought.

To understand Jade City, of course one first had to understand the Covendier Family.

The Kingdom of Stars had gone through thirty-nine supreme kings, not including those who had in fact ascended the throne, but for various reasons were stripped of qualification under the pens of royal historians or temple priests. According to historical records, there had been no fewer than fifty queens. Among them, a full thirteen came from the Covendier Family of Jade City and its branches.

As for the other noble ladies who married into great and powerful houses and managed household affairs as mistresses, they were countless. This fact won Jade City the fine reputation of "Queen's City" very early, while the saying "the queen of Stars, the emerald of the crown" also made it impossible for the Iris Family to remove the hats of royal in-laws, uncles, and fathers-in-law for a very long time.

Well then, Thales thought as he turned a page. It was not unreasonable that he had come here for matchmaking. At least tradition had him pinned down tightly.

But thirteen queens. That was too many.

Only one reason could explain it: Covendier's dowries, whether material or political, were too abundant.

Thinking of this, Thales could not help looking at the portrait of that Miss Covendier.

Conversely, royal princesses marrying into Jade City was also not rare. The wife of the fourth Iris Duke was Princess Celicia, the youngest daughter of John the First, Blackeye. Kessel the Second, Far Sail, even married his own sister, in fact, he also successively married his three daughters to seven territorial dukes, into Jade City, obtaining the full support of the South Coast. With the help of the Covendier and Cullen fleets, he won the great historic Battle of Bolasco, burying the Humbler Dynasty's fleet on the sea floor and strangling the ambitions of Kadile the Boundless on the far side of the Sea of Eradication.

Sea routes, navy.

Thales made some notes. For a long time, the kingdom's maritime presence had relied on the three great families of the East Sea Region, which directly faced the gate to the Sea of Eradication. Thus Duke Cullen had also firmly occupied the prime minister's position. It was impossible for King Kessel not to want to change this status quo. However, after the Bloody Year, the kingdom's navy developed far less than the land standing army, after all, the former's costs and expenses were several times the latter's.

Clearly, the South Coast was the second choice.

But was it only this?

Thales turned another page.

In fact, two hundred and fifty years ago, when the court struggle famous in Star history, the Blood Debt Struggle that lasted three generations, came to an end, a certain Duke Covendier once asserted the right to the throne for his princess wife, the daughter of Mindis the Second, the Moneylender, competing with his brother-in-law, Elan the Third, the Survivor King, for the Nine-Star Crown. Of course, what happened afterward was the favorite of playwrights and bards: Elan the Third's eldest daughter, Miss Elika at the time, later Queen Elika the North Conqueror, led mercenaries to besiege Jade City. ("Recently I heard the South Coast is unsettled, and bandits covet the royal family. I came especially to suppress bandits for my aunt.") She frightened back the ambitions of her aunt and uncle, helping her father Elan the Third ascend the throne.

And in Jadestar's genealogy, the most recent Iris queen had to be traced back nearly sixty years, to Bella Covendier, the second wife of Sumi the Fourth, the Taciturn. Speaking of which, she had some connection to Star Lake Castle: she was the birth mother of the previous Duke of Star Glory, John.

Historical records say Queen Bella had beautiful looks and dignified bearing, along with extraordinary learning and talent. She was a famous noble lady in the kingdom back then. But after marrying into the royal family, her flamboyant and luxurious nature gave her a poor public reputation. Several extravagant Hundred Flower Banquets even earned Bella the vicious pejorative title of "Witch Queen." Clearly, these were malicious slanders from people with ulterior motives, and were closely related to the triangular political struggle in the imperial conference at the time between Duke Tebak as military adviser, Earl Amond as finance director, and Duke Covendier as the kingdom's prime minister.

Thales rubbed his chin and read Gilbert's notes.

Without question, the Covendier Family's influence over kingdom politics and even the royal genealogy had once reached its peak. But something had clearly happened in between, causing Jadestar and Iris to gradually grow distant and cease intermarrying in the sixty years after the Taciturn.

Thinking of this, Thales remembered the story the Duke of the Western Desert had told him, of Witch Queen Bella attempting to depose the elder and establish the younger, and could not help drifting slightly.

He turned to the next page.

However, regardless of the reasons, half a century of estrangement was rather unfavorable both to Jadestar's influence in distant territories and Covendier's kingdom position. Therefore, in the middle of the reign of the late King Aydi the Second, it was only natural that he and Duke Lenster Covendier began strengthening contact. The late king first appointed Duke Lenster as Minister of Commerce and Trade, stationed in the capital to serve before the throne, and also promoted a group of young talents from the South Coast to positions and training in the capital, including the later Earl of Wola Region, Turami Calabyan; Earl of Marshland, Aichison Lasia; and Viscount Sona Covendier of Archsea City.

Duke Lenster and the Iris Family also returned kindness with kindness. First, he dredged and even reopened the connecting canals along the upper and lower Pasture River, linking the long-declining commerce between the Central Territory and South Coast. This promoted the development of ports around Jade City and later brought enormous benefit to army logistics during the Bloody Year. During the Bloody Year, the Iris Family also spared no effort in providing Renaissance Palace with a steady stream of money, grain, and soldiers. In fact, for the famous Star Glory Legion to be recruited and established when the treasury was poor, Duke Lenster's support behind the scenes and the participation of South Coast soldiers deserved no small credit.

In addition, the late King Aydi the Second was enthusiastic about touring the kingdom and inspecting territories, both to maintain relations with great families across the regions in a private capacity, and to use the gradually traditional central circuit court to visit various places, investigate situations, judge cases, spread the king's authority, and reaffirm the kingdom's regulations. Among these, Jade City, with its beautiful scenery and pleasant climate, was one of Aydi the Second's favorite cities to visit. The late king often stayed there for ten days or a month, even summoning the imperial conference there and governing on site. The accompanying officials and nobles also praised the Queen of Cities endlessly. Even the third prince, Bancroft, settled his lifelong matter during such a tour and married a princess consort from the South Coast.

After the Bloody Year, all regions of the kingdom were scarred. Only Jade City and its surroundings had not been poisoned by war. Although fewer than three out of ten soldiers who went out to fight survived, they absorbed a large number of refugee immigrants and goods during the war. Added to Duke Lenster's policy of rest and recovery, exempting subordinate vassals from military service taxes on one hand, and actively rebuilding postwar order in his territory on the other, the South Coast was able to recover quickly after the war. Jade City soon became the second largest city in Stars after Eternal Star City. From the historical "Queen's City," it became the real "Queen of Cities." The Covendier Family also flourished for a time, until disaster rose from the Iris...

"His Highness will definitely accept it!"

The clamor outside the carriage did not fit with the crowd, including startled neighing from horses and the shouts of Star Lake Guards. Thales, interrupted in his reading and note-taking, frowned and raised his head.

"Please trouble my lord to pass on the message, pass on the message. This is just a little token of this lowly one's sincerity, a little token. Consider it something to help my lord's brothers quench their thirst..."

The commotion outside the carriage grew larger and larger. The Star Lake Guards clearly also became nervous. Thales felt through the Hell's Senses that his carriage had already been surrounded and protected.

All right, if an assassin had to come make trouble at this time, that was also fine. In any case, he was used to it. It was just...

Thales helplessly closed the documents.

Could they let me finish reading first?

"What is happening outside?" Thales did not stick his head out the window. ("No matter what situation occurs outside the carriage, the thing you should least do is stick your head out and look around. If I were an assassin, I would be very happy to complete a sniper kill at that moment." Mallos, countless times pressing Thales' head back from the carriage window.) Instead, he asked cautiously.

Several seconds later, Miranda and Glover's faces appeared outside the window.

"A commoner who caught up from behind. No one knows how he saw through our identity, and he slipped past Jade City's guards' isolation line." Glover was somewhat embarrassed, guilty over having leaked their traces. "Right now he is behind us, brazenly insisting on sending a gift to Your Highness."

Miranda took up the words.

"Lord Dread Bla... Mallos is taking people to check his accompanying team one by one. But in my opinion, they should not be assassins. At least he himself is not."

A commoner saw through my identity?

"Decline the gift, advise him to go back, but comfort him properly and do not leak too much," Thales said, shaking his head. "Also, tell Mallos to be gentle when checking. Before we arrive at the Emerald Palace, we should keep low profile."

A gift?

Heh, newly arrived and deep in enemy hatred. Who knows what "gift" Zayen has prepared for me?

"Of course, Your Highness." Glover nodded and left.

The noise outside the carriage continued, but Thales quickly caught Logistics Officer Storr's formulaic tone in the Hell's Senses.

"Thank you very much for your enthusiasm, sir. We have already conveyed the message. His Highness knows your sincerity and is very grateful. But unfortunately, we have official duties and cannot drink, and His Highness also does not enjoy drinking. But you need not be discouraged..."

Does not enjoy drinking.

Thales remembered something and frowned.

"Miranda? Glover?"

"Well, you should still go and accept the wine," Thales sighed at them. "Just do not drink it, and do not appear too enthusiastic."

Glover nodded without hesitation and took the order, but Miranda paused.

"May I ask why?"

Thales was silent for a while.

"Because... as the Duke of Star Lake, I cannot not enjoy drinking."

Miranda's gaze moved, but she said nothing.

"Wait. What is that person's name?"

Glover froze and was about to go back to ask the name when Miranda calmly spoke.

"Moss, Your Highness. His name is Dagori Moss. He seems to have come to attend the Emerald Celebration."

Dagori Moss.

In that instant, Thales' smile vanished.

"Dagori Moss." The Duke of Star Lake repeated the name, the coldness in his eyes growing. "Tell me, could he be from the Central Territory, and happen to be a great wine merchant who loves king and country, cares about employees, yet unfortunately suffered losses and went bankrupt?"

Glover frowned and was about to go ask clearly, but Miranda raised her brows.

"I do not know whether he loves king and country, cares about employees, or whether he suffered losses and went bankrupt. But when he introduced himself just now, he did indeed say he is an honorary director of the wine merchants' guild of the Central Territory."

Glover paused.

"Your Highness, you know him?"

Thales looked absently outside the window.

"No. I do not."

But he changed direction:

"We have kept a very low profile along the way. Tell me, how did he see through our identity and actively come find us?"

Glover froze when he heard this.

"My oversight, Your Highness. It should be that these past few days, I made the formation arrangements too obvious."

Thales smiled and shook his head.

"No. Believe me, it was not your oversight. But if there is wine, why not drink?"

Miranda and Glover looked at each other.

Thales put away his books and documents, opened the door, and stepped out of the carriage.

"Go invite this Mr. Moss. Let him come see me."

Miranda stared at him.

"May I ask why again?"

Thales raised his head, his smile bright.

"Because I cannot wait."

"The latest news. He has arrived."

In a dark and dim room whose surroundings were covered by thick curtains, a figure holding candlelight pushed open the door, his voice low.

"Number Two great figure has already arrived at Jade City."

The candlelight was faint, illuminating a dining table in the room.

"Finally!"

A shadow sprawled on the dining table struggled up, stretched, and rubbed a sword in his hand. "After so many days, I could not wait anymore!"

"Number Two great figure," a third voice sounded from the end of the dining table, "what does he have?"

The candle flame flickered. The room was deathly still.

"Everything."

At the head seat, a fourth shadow raised his head and spoke faintly, as if in a dream:

"Reputation, power, status, subordinates. He has everything."

The shadow rubbing the sword and the shadow at the end of the table both fell silent.

"Number Two figure travels light."

By the door, the shadow holding the candle calmly said:

"But the strength around him cannot be underestimated. Their protection is strict, watertight, and they are all experts of the Royal Guards from Renaissance Palace, sharp, alert, and unfathomable."

The sword-holding shadow and the shadow at the end of the table looked at each other.

"Royal. Guards?"

A fifth voice, cold and hoarse, sounded from the corner of the room, bringing with it the sound of chains.

This voice made everyone in the room tremble.

"I remember."

Amid the rustling of chains, a pair of faintly glowing eyes appeared from the darkness and gave a sinister cold laugh.

"A long time ago, I butchered one."

The people in the room seemed very wary of this voice. After his words fell, no one answered for a long time.

After a long while, the person holding the candle carefully spoke:

"Fortunately, we have not detected traces of Supreme Class experts. Clearly, the Flower of the Fortress is not in the team, nor is the Wrath of the Kingdom."

"Fortunately?"

The person in the corner chuckled coldly, making metal ring.

"Or unfortunately?"

Everyone in the room endured the urge to look toward the corner.

"In short, we still need to act cautiously. After all, it is the Jadestar royal family. No amount of care is excessive," the person holding the candle said quietly.

"Hahahahaha, Number Two figure... look at how frightened you are. What, will he be harder than Number One figure?" The cold laugh in the corner sounded again.

"Or perhaps I should kill you first, to avoid you ruining things?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone tensed.

Until the head seat of the dining table sounded with that dreamlike voice:

"Shh..."

"Listen."

"Do you hear it?"

The others froze together.

The shadow at the head seat tilted his head, pressed a hand against his ear, and closed his eyes to listen in the candlelight.

"This city is whispering."

"She opens her arms and warns every person who comes here."

"Whispering?" the shadow in the corner said disdainfully, bringing another ring of chains. "Does she perhaps say, fuck all of you?"

The other three frowned.

Only the shadow at the head seat ignored everything and continued immersing himself in his own world.

"Jade City, she says..."

"Better to part for a friend than perish as enemies." He slowly spoke this sentence.

There was no answer.

Including from the shadow in the corner.

"Isn't that right," the shadow at the head seat said softly, careful as though coaxing an infant, "our beloved His Highness Thales?"