Chapter 641: The First Round of Welcome

"That wine merchant has a problem."

Mallos stood beside Thales and frowned at the distant Dagori Moss, who was holding up his hands with great diligence and cooperation while Ralf, whose expression was poor, searched him strictly.

"Mm-hm?" Thales replied.

"We just inspected his accompanying convoy."

"Result?"

"Their wheels are very clean, and there are not many goods samples. He has only a few local temporary hires as attendants, and the coachmen are the same," Mallos carefully examined the wine merchant. "I suspect he did not come from afar to attend the celebration, as he said. On the contrary, he has been waiting at Jade City for a long time, specifically waiting here for you, perhaps under someone's instruction."

Someone.

Thales remembered what he had seen and heard in the Secret Intelligence Department.

Except, I knew that long ago.

"You mean he may be one of Jade City's people?"

"Or someone else's."

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

Mallos turned his head. "You still insist on seeing him?"

Thales was silent for a while, but still nodded.

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

"All right." Seeing this, Mallos no longer insisted and waited for Ralf to finish searching him. "Remember, have Arunde and Glover watch him."

"Of course."

"But, Your Highness, since we can see that he is improper," the Watchman added, "others can too."

"Yes, I know."

Thales nodded cautiously.

"Others."

----

"So, your name is Moss?"

Several minutes later, Thales looked the richly dressed, portly, yet cautious merchant before him up and down.

"Dagori Moss, my respected Your Highness," Dagori's smile was stiff, and a nearly imperceptible tremble lay between his words. "This humble one is unworthily an honorary director of the Central Territory Wine Merchants' Guild. On this trip I came to Jade City to attend the Queen's Day celebration. Who would have thought I would, would have the honor of meeting Your Highness..."

Looking at him, Thales could not help remembering the scene of him in the Secret Intelligence Department's interrogation room, being threatened and coerced by Raphael.

"Your nose?"

"Ah, Your Highness, pardon?"

"It looks a little crooked, as though it was once broken."

Dagori's smile froze, but he quickly answered:

"Oh, my nose, ha. An accident while overseeing work at the winery some time ago. Interesting story. At the time, I was taking out an absolutely peerless wine from the cellar..."

The Secret Intelligence Department knew Thales had witnessed that interrogation. They knew the prince could recognize the fellow before him, recognize that he was... mm, the Secret Intelligence Department's new downline.

But Dagori was still here, before him.

Thales looked at the wine merchant before him without much interest.

So, the Secret Intelligence Department calculated that I would meet him peacefully and then ask about their plans and intentions?

Thales pressed his lips together.

"How is the wine market?"

"To be honest, recent conditions are worrying, especially in the Central Territory. That is why I recently developed an absolutely peerless wine..."

"The wine you sent over?"

"Heh heh, precisely. I must introduce it to Your Highness..."

Thales put on a stern face.

"Then you should know this: Prince Thales does not like drinking?"

Dagori was startled and hurriedly smiled apologetically.

"Uh, this, this humble one has heard a little. But, I guarantee the wine sent this time..."

"Not only that. I especially hate those who try every method to force me to drink." Unfortunately, Thales did not buy it. Instead, he became increasingly severe. "Among them, one was named Nuven Walton, and another was named Chapman Lampard. Do you want to join them?"

Dagori reacted, and his whole body trembled.

"Your Highness..."

"You did not come to sell me your wine." Thales withdrew his stern expression and became expressionless. "Ordinary people also cannot recognize my carriage at a glance."

"Your Highness' words are mistaken..."

"Miranda! Glover!" Thales waved a hand, no longer delaying with him. "Invite this Mr. Moss into a carriage, find somewhere empty, take him for a ride, and ask clearly who sent him."

A ride?

Dagori froze where he stood, looking in terror as the female swordsman and the big fellow in the distance answered and approached.

"Your Highness, no, I..."

Thales waved indifferently. "And if he does not want to say..."

"Then ride until he says it," Miranda coldly said.

Thales smiled.

"This is why I like you."

Glover's face was cold. He stretched out a long arm and seized the dumbstruck Dagori.

Dagori panicked and struggled in vain.

"But, Your, Your Highness! I really came to sell wine! Precisely because you do not like drinking, I wanted to attack difficulties and overcome hardships..."

Thales turned a deaf ear and prepared to return to his carriage.

"No, misunderstanding, I came to... do not, there is no need. Hiss, pain, pain, pain... I was wrong, Your Highness, I was wrong!"

After an undignified round of dragging and pulling, Dagori's begging voice, carrying tears, rang out:

"I confess! I confess! I will tell the truth now! I truly did not come to sell wine! I did not!"

The prince stopped.

"Correct, Your Highness. On this trip, I was entrusted by someone and carry a mission. I came to help Your Highness!"

Miranda held Glover back. The latter unwillingly released his hand, and Dagori sat on the ground, still frightened.

That was too fast.

Thales turned around, smiling warmly.

"See, this is much simpler."

The quality of the Secret Intelligence Department's new downline is not good.

"So, who entrusted you, and what mission do you carry?"

The poor wine merchant panted and stood. He wiped the sweat from his face and fell into a difficult struggle.

If he said it now, certain people would probably lose a great deal of face.

Thales looked at him with great interest, thinking about how long the Secret Intelligence Department's people could endure before showing themselves, then apologizing to the prince with ashen faces while holding in their exasperation.

If it were that red-eyed brat, even better.

"Your, Your Highness Thales, I..."

Dagori was sweating all over. He stared blankly at Thales, then looked at the zombie-faced, naturally imposing big fellow beside him. He took a deep breath, seeming to have made a decision.

He suddenly flung his robe, widened his eyes in anger, and spoke loudly:

"As a monarch, how can one not hold wine feasts to inspire all people to rejoice together?"

"As one who sits above men, how can one not accept toasts to receive the hearts of servants?"

"As one who commands thousands of troops, how can one not raise a wine cup to comfort soldiers who dare die?"

Huh?

Thales froze.

Miranda and Glover also froze.

The more Dagori spoke, the more grief and indignation filled him. His emotions were passionate, his voice sonorous.

"Correct, respected Your Highness Thales. Precisely because I heard you hate wine and detest drinking, that you do not enjoy the contents of the cup, I accepted the earnest expectations of millions of common people and carry the mission of reviving Stars' glorious kingdom. I came to Jade City to risk death on this journey!"

What expectations? What mission?

Thales subconsciously looked around. Sure enough, quite a few Star Lake Guards and even many passersby were attracted by these words and looked this way.

Bad.

Dagori tightly closed his eyes and spoke while trembling:

"Sunset bears witness! This lowly commoner, Dagori Moss, boldly asks that Your Highness must learn to drink, so that you may win the loyalty of lords and ministers, gather the hearts of subordinates and soldiers, not fail millions of common people, and become a wise ruler of a generation, founding a peaceful age!"

With tragic emotion capable of moving heaven and earth, the wine merchant dropped to his knees with a thud.

"Please begin with the wine this humble one presents!"

When the words fell, no one reacted.

Only Dagori lay prostrate on the ground, curled into a ball like a huge bundle, trembling all over.

Mallos stood far away with a dark face, looking at Thales with very complicated eyes.

"Your, Your Highness," Miranda looked at the curious and confused gazes around them, her face ugly. "Are we still... still going for a ride?"

Autumn was crisp and clear. A cool wind blew over, making Thales shiver.

"Help him up. Be polite. Everyone is watching," the prince said darkly, coughing once. "I, mm, that... these words are not without reason. Please let this gentleman come forward. We will, that, talk in detail."

The bundle on the ground shook again. Only then did he relax and slowly unfold.

"Thank, thank, thank... Your Highness. As expected, open-minded, wise, wise..."

The prince's face became even worse.

Damned Secret Intelligence Department.

Damned prince's butt.

"Dagori Moss, right?"

"I suppose there is a reason you can make a fortune selling wine." Thales stepped forward and helped the nearly limp wine merchant, angry from embarrassment. "It is not without logic."

----

"Does His Highness know that merchant? The one who gave loyal advice?"

Doyle, who had returned from the front, sat down on the luggage cart and pointed out the distance to Glover. The Duke of Star Lake, with a smile on his face, hands behind his back, was strolling while kindly talking with that trembling wine merchant.

"Not entirely."

As Glover spoke, he sat beside Doyle.

"Either he knows him or he does not. What does 'not entirely' mean?"

Glover shook his head.

"I have a feeling: although His Highness does not know him, he knew in advance who he was, also knew he would come, and was even... expecting him to come."

"It is over, Zombie." Doyle unscrewed a waterskin. "You have followed His Highness too long and are starting to become mysterious too."

Glover did not answer again and continued drinking.

"I am still not used to it," Glover suddenly said.

Doyle's drinking motion paused.

Yo, this really is rare.

Zombie actually has no objection to me calling him that.

Also, he started a conversation?

Could Jade City's water really have a wondrous effect, raising the living dead and growing flesh on bones?

"You mean?"

"Her." Glover was brief.

Doyle followed Glover's gaze. Miranda Arunde was guarding not far from Thales, one hand on her sword hilt, keeping watch on the merchant named Moss.

"Oh, you mean our dear new colleague, the gentle and adorable little sister Miranda?"

Doyle put down the waterskin, skillfully took a locally purchased apple from the luggage bag, and wiped it on his clothes.

"It is fine. Duke Thales said she is a candidate for prince's attendant officer, still in the observation period. Even Lord Mallos did not say anything. If you go ask Wya, the real Wya, he will tell you that the girl killed in all directions in Dragon Clouds City..."

As he spoke, Miranda happened to turn and look over. Glover immediately moved his gaze away.

"I am not used to her being here," Zombie shook his head, "no matter what His Highness and the commander said."

"You mean?"

"Inconvenient," Glover said dully. "Whether resting in the same room or going out to use the toilet, whether changing clothes and taking off armor or everyone bragging and joking together. With her here, everything is very strange."

"Nonsense." Doyle laughed. "You have never bragged and joked with everyone together, of course. I only later learned that was because your dirty joke level is too high..."

Glover glared at him, but still continued.

"Also, the duty assignments in the vanguard wing. I do not even know what I should have her do, or who I should pair her with."

Doyle indifferently bit the apple.

"But you said she has killed people. And that girl can solo Iron Tower and Pitfall..."

"It has nothing to do with that." Glover glared at him. "You understand what I mean!"

Doyle tossed the apple and shrugged unconcernedly.

"All right, so? What do you expect me to do? Secretly kill her and destroy the body?"

Glover froze when he heard this and hesitated.

"Doyle, you, you have a good relationship with His Highness. Can you, can you..."

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

"You offended him, and he only confiscated your little cloth bear..."

"You! I will say this again, that is very important to me, uh, from childhood, that, refreshing, no, sleep aid, wrong, guarding the house and warding evil... It is far more than just a little cloth bear, all right!"

"In any case, can you tell His Highness that whether in the vanguard wing or the guard wing, having a girl there is very inconvenient? Can you persuade him to transfer her..."

"Transfer her to the command wing, so she can give you orders?"

"Uh, this, Guard Officer Doyle..."

"Now you remember to change the address? Heh, no way." Doyle snorted while chewing. "Star Lake Castle also has maids and farm women. How come I never see you complain that Madam Valencia is 'very inconvenient'?"

Glover frowned and snatched the apple.

"That is different!"

"What is different?" Doyle refused to be outdone and reached out to snatch the apple back.

Glover again snatched the apple into his hand and took a fierce bite.

"Everything is different!"

Looking at the apple that fell into the other person's hand, Doyle curled his lips unhappily.

"Then go find Mallos. He is the one responsible for the Guards' overall scheduling."

"I... I already did."

"Result?"

"He, the commander said to me: 'Manage yourself.'"

"What? Manage..." Taking advantage of Glover's embarrassment, Doyle snatched the apple back again and laughed while clutching his stomach. "Hahahahahaha..."

At that moment, a voice sounded from behind:

"In fact, you do not need to trouble His Highness or Lord Mallos."

Doyle and Glover were both startled and turned to look. Beneath the luggage cart, Paul Bozdorf was leaning against the wheel, methodically maintaining his bow and arrows.

"Fuck, where did you come from again?"

Doyle's hand shook, and the apple rolled off the cart, only to be caught by Paul.

"I have always been here. You were simply too loud." Paul bit into the apple that had fallen from the sky and calmly wrapped the final binding on the bow arm. "And I believe Lady Arunde's hearing is normal."

Doyle glanced in Miranda's direction and lowered his head resentfully.

"I understand your concerns, Vanguard Officer Glover." Paul took another bite before throwing the apple back to Doyle. "I suggest that you might as well comfort everyone this way: there is no need to treat Lady Arunde as a colleague. Treat her as His Highness' honored guest. Once you do that, things become much simpler."

Glover began to think, while Doyle unhappily looked at the apple covered in bite marks.

"But she is not here to be a vase. The female heir of the Northland is a ruthless character, and the Flower of the Fortress' capable subordinate. I heard the big fool talk about it..."

"In fact, her political effect here is already greater than her practical significance." Paul said lightly.

The three were silent for a while.

"Just like you, right, Young Master Bozdorf?"

Doyle narrowed his eyes. "Right, did His Highness also say he would make you a candidate attendant officer?"

Paul's face turned cold.

"Yes," he said softly. "Just like me."

Glover spoke, interrupting the unpleasant conversation between the two.

"But she is a girl. This is different after all."

Doyle shrugged.

"Isn't that just right? Who wants to see only stinking men come seek refuge with Star Lake Castle? Madam Valencia does not count."

"You mean, letting a girl frequently enter and leave His Highness' side is indeed improper." Paul tightened the binding on the bow arm. "People will gossip, saying His Highness accepted Lady Arunde to, saying what he values is... saying he is indulging in softness and beauty."

Doyle was silent for a while and gave a strange snort.

"Then the question is, who are 'people'?"

Paul's movements paused.

"You know what I am talking about, Doyle, even if you are a Doyle."

Doyle bit into the apple and chuckled.

"First, I forgive your prejudice against our family. Second, do you think if His Highness does not do this, 'people' will not spread other rumors? Believe me, compared with 'befriending powerful families and colluding with local forces,' 'indulging in beauty' is at least somewhat better."

Paul put down his Western Desert bow and looked at Miranda in the distance.

"But this is not only His Highness' matter. They will criticize Lady Arunde, say that she came to His Highness' side in order to sed... They will slander her. This is harmful to her reputation."

"And here you are, helping 'people' say it again," Doyle shrugged. "Is that not even more harmful to her reputation?"

Paul sighed.

"I am only worried about His Highness, and also doing it for that girl's good."

"Brother Paul, rumors do not hurt people," Doyle threw away the apple core and openly looked toward Miranda. "People do."

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

Paul and Glover both turned their heads. Only Doyle opened his big mouth, showing a row of bright white teeth, and waved hard at Miranda.

Miranda froze for a moment, but still frowned and disdainfully nudged her chin toward him in response.

"That is naturally true." Paul lowered his head and carefully packed up the calibrated bow. "It is just that, when a girl falls into a pile of men, I fear the Star Lake Guards will have many incidents from now on."

"Ha. Is she the one who will cause incidents, or are we?"

Paul frowned and looked at Doyle with somewhat different eyes.

"As far as I know, Doyle, you should only be a silly, useless young nobleman, right?"

Doyle, who was pulling out a second apple, paused and said unhappily:

"As far as I know, are you polite?"

"You two," Glover suddenly spoke. "Are you going to fight?"

These words made both men silent.

"If so, the grove over there has fewer people." Zombie would not let it go.

Paul shook his head. He looked at Doyle, who refused to show weakness, for a long time, then smiled slightly.

"Doyle, I am now very curious. Are you truly stupid, or pretending to be stupid?"

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

"Hey, hey, how are you talking? I am not stupid at all, all right!"

Looking at Paul's departing back, Doyle quietly mocked, "So impressive, bumpkin from the Western Desert."

Glover, however, was thoughtful.

"Barring accidents, that Western Desert bumpkin will be the Earl of Soul Fortress in the future. A sealed earl."

"Thank you. Thank you for your completely unnecessary reminder!"

"So, Doyle, are you truly stupid?"

"Eh, why has even Zombie learned bad habits..."

"Call me that one more time..."

----

"All right, you squeezed me with your words. Killing you is not right, sparing you is not right. Are you happy now?"

Beside the carriage, Thales waved at Mallos in the distance to indicate that there was no problem, then unhappily handed out a handkerchief to the middle-aged wine merchant before him, who was drenched in cold sweat and had even lost half his wig.

"Thank you, I... I truly am sorry, Your Highness," Dagori leaned against the wheel, terrified, taking the handkerchief but not daring to use it. "But, but I cannot... I cannot... I have no choice..."

"Now can you say it? Royal... what exactly did you come here to do?" Thales held himself back from saying the words Secret Intelligence Department and warned him. "Do not feed me nonsense again about the earnest expectations of millions of common people."

The Secret Intelligence Department had not told this fellow everything, at least not explained to him that I already knew his identity. It seems there is a reason.

Furthermore...

[In this operation, you do not need to be the protagonist. What you need to do is merely serve as the third party in Jade City, the unbiased weight in the center of the balance. Listen, witness, and act according to circumstances. That will be enough.]

[Others will take care of the rest.]

Others...

Thinking of the earnest teachings of his universally beloved father, Thales could not help coldly snorting inwardly.

Since that was the case, it was better to avoid extra trouble. He would simply quietly watch the Secret Intelligence Department perform.

Based on past experience, he would see when they smashed the pot.

Especially that red-eyed bastard who had been dumped by his girlfriend.

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

Dagori's small eyes looked watery at Thales, seeming full of countless grievances.

"In fact, I was, this humble one originally worked as a helper at a winery, then later started my own business. When the Bloody Year came, I lost everything and had no way out... then, then certain investors appeared. They gave me funds and support. But I swear, Your Highness, I was only muddleheaded for a moment. At that time, I truly did not know..."

"Certain investors?"

Dagori's mourning face became even uglier.

"Because of that, they occasionally needed some returns, whether monetary or otherwise. At first it was very small, nothing much, but later, later..."

"Later, you formed dependence and could not break free, sank deeper and deeper, unable to pull yourself out, and became a tool of the Covendier Family," Thales continued for him. "On the surface, a wine merchant from the Central Territory, but secretly running errands for them."

Hearing "Covendier," Dagori visibly trembled.

He held the prince's handkerchief as though holding the most precious treasure in the world, nervously observing the Duke of Star Lake's expression.

"I was wrong, truly wrong, Your Highness. Allow me to ask your forgiveness... I was forced. At first I refused. I have a whole large family, all human lives. But, but they are terribly tyrannical and cruel... and I, I lost my head before. They were also my investors. I truly had little choice. I truly did not know they were..."

But I know.

Thales looked at the cautious Dagori without much interest.

Not only that.

I also know who you are.

I know you previously served Jade City in secret.

And the Secret Intelligence Department knows I know.

I also know that you now run errands for the Secret Intelligence Department in secret.

And they also know I know.

Probably only you do not know.

"I know." Thales sighed and had no choice but to comfort him. "Many times, we cannot help ourselves."

Hearing "cannot help ourselves," Dagori took a deep breath, bit his lower lip, and nodded fiercely.

"In short," Dagori spoke again, terrified and respectful, "a few days ago, the Covendier Family's people, those people suddenly secretly found me. They said I came from the Central Territory and was a wine merchant, so the reason was sufficient and the identity suitable. They asked me, forced me, to approach you..."

"You mean," Thales frowned, "Zayen had you come as a spy to investigate my every movement?"

Hearing Zayen's name, Dagori trembled again and hurriedly lowered himself, bowing his head. Only the handkerchief was held high.

"I swear, Your Highness. I said no, I wanted to refuse. I still have a large family, all human lives. But, but they were very overbearing, cruel, and ruthless... and I, I lost my head before. They were also my investors. It was truly difficult for me to have another choice. I could only... I am guilty. I made a mistake, Your Highness, but I truly..."

Interesting.

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

"Why tell me this?"

"Because..." A few traces of hesitation and bitterness appeared on Dagori's face. Several seconds later, he struggled to squeeze out a respectful, flattering smile. "Because Your Highness Thales is the bloodline of the kingdom! You are the heir of the Jadestar royal family, the future king. Sunset bears witness, heaven-gifted and destined..."

Thales raised a hand, stopping him from continuing.

Jade City, or rather Zayen Covendier, wanted to investigate his every movement, so they sent their commercial informant or spy under the name of wine.

In that case, did the Secret Intelligence Department know this early on, and only then find Dagori in advance and bring him to the interrogation room for "preprocessing"?

So the Secret Intelligence Department had already set their eyes on Jade City and Zayen Covendier at that time, and had begun preparing?

And now...

"I must say, Dagori Moss, I admire your honesty and boldness."

Or partial honesty.

Fake boldness.

Thales stared firmly at the wine merchant before him.

Dagori raised his head. After confirming that the Duke of Star Lake was not angry, he barely squeezed out a smile.

"Where loyalty lies, everything is for the kingdom. These are all within my duty, what I should do. It is just, may Your Highness pardon me. Back then I was muddleheaded for a moment, walked wrong and made mistakes, and wrongly trusted investors..."

"I understand. That is not your fault."

"But, but, Your Highness, Duke Zayen's side..."

"Everything continues as before," Thales said softly, crossing his arms.

Dagori's gaze moved.

"Ah? Your meaning is?"

Thales looked at the bustling Jade City in the distance and breathed out.

"Put it this way, Dagori. I do not know who you are, and I do not know who is behind you. But after that earlier show, I feel you are very interesting. That is the truth. Therefore, I will temporarily keep you by my side as a conversation partner and guide, to introduce me to Jade City's local customs and perhaps even take me to tour the Emerald Celebration?"

Dagori froze.

"Of, of course." He reacted. "A great, great honor. I cannot refuse."

"In this way, Dagori Moss, you will have completed your mission. According to Zayen's instruction, in an unexpected but very clever way, you approached me."

Thales' gaze sharpened.

"So naturally, you will also have the chance to probe intelligence from my words and actions, happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy."

Dagori looked at the prince and subconsciously trembled.

"And report what is learned to Duke Zayen?"

Thales nodded.

"And report what is learned to Duke Zayen, the parts I want him to know."

To find an opportunity to pull him down from the throne.

If this was the Secret Intelligence Department's game: double agent?

Or, with the Secret Intelligence Department added, triple?

How fucking old-fashioned.

"Of course, Your Highness, of course. A brilliant plan," Dagori took up Thales' words, bitterness not absent from his tone. "You are indeed, mm, mature beyond your years, wise beyond ordinary people."

Thales looked at Dagori Moss before him, sensed the unwillingness in the other man's eyes, and his own gaze moved.

"You know," the prince said lightly, "if you are unwilling, you can choose not to do it."

Dagori trembled when he heard this.

"Your Highness..."

Thales suddenly realized that Dagori Moss, this neither large nor small figure, could count as successful in the eyes of ordinary people. But between Renaissance Palace and the Emerald Palace, before the Secret Intelligence Department...

No, even before the powerless him, he was filled with fear, unable to help himself.

Thinking of this, Thales sighed.

"How about this. I will find someone to beat you up and drive you out of the convoy. When you see Zayen, say your mission failed and you failed to approach me."

"Do not worry. You and your family will be fine. I will also pretend I never heard you say those words."

As for the Secret Intelligence Department's plan arranged on this poor fellow...

To hell with it.

After all these years, have they not trapped me enough?

Dagori fell silent.

"No, no, no, Your Highness."

But after only a few seconds, the wine merchant seemed to think it through.

Dagori gripped the handkerchief tightly and trembled as he shook his head.

"I understand. I understand, Your Highness. I am very willing to contribute to you. I will do it!"

Thales narrowed his eyes and examined him.

"Even if this may, mm, be unfavorable to your investors?"

"Unfavorable? Why would Your Highness say that?" Dagori squeezed out a smile. "Are you not gaining a great deal from this?"

Thales froze, then lightly snorted.

Truly slippery.

"The handkerchief is yours," the Duke of Star Lake shook his head and said disdainfully. "No need to keep holding it up."

Just as Dagori thanked him a thousand times and carefully put away the handkerchief granted by the duke, the crowd lining up to enter the city in the distance suddenly became noisy.

"I know they are here! Move aside, move aside! Do not block me!"

A figure rushed out of the crowd, his voice full of anger.

"Shameless, despicable cowards! Where are you? Come out! Come out! Come out!"

"No, my lord, my lord, think carefully!"

The people beside him could not stop him and could only watch helplessly as he rushed out of the crowd.

"Situation. Star Lake Guards, alert," Mallos' command came.

Thales was full of doubt. Only Dagori beside him changed expression when he heard the voice.

The watching passersby burst into uproar, and many people curiously gathered around.

The figure drew a longsword and, under repeated exclamations from Jade City guards, charged toward the Star Lake Castle people.

"Enemy attack!"

The well-trained Star Lake Guards reacted extremely quickly. The guards swiftly formed ranks, defending the convoy so tightly that not even water could leak through. Wya and Ralf both moved closer to Thales, but Miranda and Glover arrived ahead of them.

"Bad, this is not good, Your Highness. Could you possibly..." Dagori was somewhat panicked.

"Steady. Do not forget, we are experienced." Faced with Jade City's first round of welcome for him, Thales was quite calm. He pushed away Wya, who nearly carried him into his arms, and firmly refused the "human meat shield formation" of the four large men led by Glover. ("If you lot 'protect' me the way you did at the royal banquet last time, I swear, I will definitely... do any of you have something like a cloth bear?")

He even stood on tiptoe, trying hard to see clearly the sword-wielding figure charging over.

"Who is that?"

Dagori, to the side, wanted to speak but hesitated.

"Uh, that is the young earl of the Pintor Family. His family used to be quite well off. I even did business with them..."

Thales' expression changed.

Used to be quite well off.

Did business with them.

Thales suddenly remembered what had happened previously in the Secret Intelligence Department interrogation room, when Raphael interrogated Dagori.

Could it be...

"Dagori, you could not have... could not have owed them a huge sum of money, ruined their family, and then run away, right?" Thales asked in disbelief.

And then this fire naturally burned over to me?

The wine merchant panicked and hurriedly waved his hands in denial.

"No, no, no, Your Highness, it is not like that. But, but I heard, only heard..."

At this moment, the figure holding the sword finally broke through the crowd and was firmly stopped several feet before the Star Lake Castle formation by several Jade City guards.

Only then did Thales clearly see who had come: a handsome young noble master not much older than Thales, wearing a suit of gorgeous armor. ("No wonder. It was only a few steps, and he ran for so long. My grandma is faster than him." Doyle, picking his teeth after eating.) He jingled as he walked.

Dagori's words continued:

"I heard that when Young Master Pintor was very small, his father once tried to arrange a marriage for him. The candidate was supposedly..."

"Thales Jadestar!"

Thales' expression changed.

The people of Star Lake Castle were also shocked at the same time.

This was aimed at His Highness?

"Sunset bears witness, you barbarian who grew up drinking northern wolf milk! You useless prince who bullies people with your surname! You lecherous bandit who commits every evil! Do not even think of forcibly marrying noble Lady Hilley!"

What?

Thales was dumbstruck.

The stopped young Earl Pintor was furious and roared in a direction he did not know was correct or not:

"And you dare bear the surname Jadestar! You are still a prince! If you are a man, do not hide behind your subordinates' asses. Come out! On behalf of the glory of the Pintor Family, on behalf of the dignity of Jade City and the South Coast, I challenge you! We will one-on-one du..."

Thud.

With a muffled sound, Pintor fell to the ground.

The world quieted.

Only several seconds later did the watching crowd react, exclaiming repeatedly.

Under countless astonished gazes, the shrewd and capable first-class guard officer of the Royal Guards, Danny Doyle of Mirror River, carried his unsheathed longsword over his shoulder and appeared leisurely from behind Pintor.

"Fuck, don't you know..."

Doyle carried the sword in one hand, ate an apple leisurely with the other, and kicked the unconscious young earl on the ground.

"I hate people who mention duels the most."