Chapter 652: This Palace Is Airy and Bright

Although the two prairie guests were of noble status, their movements were clean, fierce, and not at all vague. Their throws and grapples were skilled and deadly, clearly tempered through real combat.

First, the martial style of the Seli Prairie was completely different from that of the Western Continent. Second, the guards and servants who arrived did not dare use heavy hands. Therefore, they tried several times but failed to suppress the two men who had truly become angry. Instead, several enthusiastic guests who stepped forward for justice were dragged in and injured.

"This looks really familiar. It reminds me of the royal banquet."

Looking at the chaotic corner of the banquet hall, Thales said warily:

"Is this it? If someone dies, the Secret Intelligence Department can use..."

"I do not think so," Zayen, closely watching the situation, shook his head. "The prairie people know this is their own grudge. A conflict between foreign guests will not involve the Covendiers. And the Emerald Celebration gathers guests from all directions. Disputes like this after wine heats the blood happen every year. Nothing strange. Taking a step back, even if serious consequences truly happen..."

Zayen stopped and glanced at Thales.

"Jade City has its own laws, fair and strict, persuasive and trusted. All sides on the sea routes and trade roads know this. As long as it is handled properly, no one will put the account on our heads."

Hearing this, Thales thought of his own experiences and could not help sighing.

"Makes sense. If the capital also had a judge like Brennan, Anker Bayral would not have had nowhere to appeal and ended up kidnapping and threatening people at my banquet."

And you would not have given him that sword to cause trouble for me.

Thales held back the complaint he did not say.

"I know you are cursing me in your heart."

Zayen's expression did not change, distant and indifferent.

"But you are actually very clear that this was never a problem that one or two well-trained, principled judges could solve."

Thales pursed his lips. Zayen's words made him think of Cohen's career as a warning officer in Eternal Star City.

As he was thinking, the conflict in the banquet hall changed again. A nimble figure squeezed into the guards' formation and instantly joined the battle between the two prairie guests.

Thud! Smack!

The newcomer did not display any superior strength or technique, but he was very lucky. He entered the battle exactly when both sides' attacks were fading and the new round had not yet begun. He lowered himself to receive a fist, turned, swept with a leg, and the two guests fell hard to the ground one after another.

The watching crowd exclaimed.

The two troublemakers, their anger not yet gone, were about to get up, but the newcomer raised a hand. A sheathed sword flew from the side at just the right moment and landed in his hand.

In the next second, the newcomer showed no politeness and thudded twice, knocking the two prairie men unconscious over the head.

The guards saw the opening and hurried forward to lift the two away, then helped them up for treatment and bandaging.

Perhaps because of the atmosphere, the surrounding guests sent out cheers and applause. The nearby musicians also started Conquest Song at the proper time.

The conflict was resolved, and the newcomer also spun gracefully to sheathe the sword. A tearing sound followed.

Miranda stood barefoot on the ground, frowning at her torn dress, somewhat embarrassed.

"Not bad skill. Only..." Zayen ahemmed and glanced at Thales. "A pity."

Thales was thinking of what profound words he should say to show the bearing of an expert, such as, "Ah, nothing strange, all my subordinates are at this level." Hearing this, his expression stiffened.

What pity? How is it a pity? Where is the pity?

Do not only say half the sentence!

At the scene, Mallos appeared behind Miranda as though possessed by divine will. He offered his coat and, at the same time, exchanged it for Eagle翔 in her hand. This made the group of red-eyed men around them, who were eager to try and competing to remove their jackets or coats, sigh in disappointment.

"The sword came at exactly the right time, my lord. Only, I kicked off my shoes just now," Miranda looked at her bare feet, her expression embarrassed. "Could I trouble you again..."

Before she finished, Mallos automatically stepped aside. Glover and Paul struggled to push through the crowd. The former had lost a button from being squeezed and awkwardly returned a left shoe. The latter wore a smile, along with a stain acquired at some unknown time, and gracefully presented a right shoe.

"When did you find them?" Miranda asked in surprise as she took the shoes.

"When did you kick them off?" Mallos was expressionless.

Miranda smiled and thanked them one by one.

The Star Lake Guards' atmosphere became even more harmonious, until Doyle squeezed through the crowd, panting, and obsequiously and expectantly offered a third woman's shoe.

"What? Not this one? Ah, I see. Heh, heh, no problem! Nessie is still behind us, crawling on the floor and searching inch by inch..."

The crisis came to an end. The two prairie guests involved also slowly woke up. Much of their anger had faded, perhaps because they lost face by being thrown down in public, or perhaps because the person who acted was actually a girl.

However, one of them angrily broke free from his servants and rushed in front of Miranda to demand an explanation. The Star Lake Guards refused to show weakness. Doyle stepped forward, holding Glover with his left hand and dragging Paul with his right, boldly protecting Miranda.

The guest touched the swollen red spot on his forehead and spoke a fierce string of Eastern Continent prairie language to Miranda. The people nearby hurriedly translated: the guest wanted to know this lady's name and residence. When he rode to war in the future, conquered ten tribes on the Giseli Prairie, and accumulated ten grasslands, he would return to the Western Continent and offer five of them to her as a betrothal gift.

Miranda could not help freezing, trying hard to understand the other's words. But the other troublemaker snorted coldly, also pushed away his attendant, and stepped forward.

This guest had a bruised eye and a red face. He even straightened his messy clothes and used stumbling Western Common to say to Miranda that this lady was beautiful, brave, and highly skilled. Would she be willing to return with him to the Duseli Prairie? If she was willing, he would immediately swear a heaven oath upon his honorable saber that if he became khan of the tribe in the future, she would be his great consort, and they would rule the tribe together and awe the prairie. If he failed to become khan or unfortunately died early, then the lady could take half his cattle and sheep and seek another hero to remarry.

Back and forth, the two guests, separated by Miranda, once again began angrily shouting and cursing. Whether for the girl, or for "Giseli" or "Duseli," no one knew. Seeing that they were about to roll up their sleeves and fight again, a pair of black-gloved hands clasped their shoulders.

"Tell them I am not a tool for them to compete over face."

"As for grassland and khans, they have no meaning to me." Unable to mend the torn dress, Miranda simply wrapped it around her calves as leggings. She held their necks and laughed loudly. "Because I am the khan, the Snow Khan across the sea!"

The two prairie guests froze first. After they understood, their gazes toward Miranda became even hotter. The two gestured and babbled, wanting to form with her a sibling bond without blood ties, but even more sacred.

Mallos appeared at the right time, smiling as he praised the two guests' skills. He pointed to the plates and bowls affected by their fight on the ground and waved his hand. Before two nearby Eckstedtian guests could express opinions on the meaning of "Snow Khan," he had everyone pull Miranda away.

The situation thus calmed, and this corner once again recovered the heated atmosphere of drinking and celebration.

"She truly is a good sword."

On the viewing platform, Zayen looked at Miranda, his eyes approving, and spoke again.

"Sharp and pressing. Perhaps capable of奇 effects."

Thales felt proud. In the dark corner where no one could see clearly, he straightened his collar and his back.

But Zayen changed direction:

"Only, a sword has two edges and easily wounds its wielder. If one's stature is insufficient, it is best not to wave it around wildly."

"No need to worry," Thales curled his lip. "I am not like a certain someone, carrying a sword every day and giving it to people at other people's banquets."

Mentioning the old grudge, Thales and Zayen exchanged a glance, snorted together, and turned away.

"Fine. At least we have confirmed one thing," Thales exhaled. "At the Strife Banquet, my father will not act through the guests from the prairie. The knife will not fall from here."

"Well said," Zayen mocked. "Now the only thing we need to pay attention to is the other several hundred guests. This is practically parting clouds to see mist, sudden enlightenment, greatly reducing the difficulty of our work."

The two were silent for a while.

"Can we stop mocking each other?" Thales sighed. "Truly, this greatly increases the difficulty of our communication."

Zayen laughed softly and picked up the hookah.

"Tell me, Thales, what secrets did you and your people uncover in Jade City over these days?"

Thales's heart paused.

"Sorry?"

The Duke of Iris snorted softly.

"Stop pretending. Over these days, your subordinates, including that Arunde, even removed her military uniform to attend banquets, trying every possible way to infiltrate Jade City like mice digging holes. From nobles above to commoners below, they searched everywhere. Commerce, trade, public security, military, law, history, even matters concerning my sister. They probed everywhere, leaving no hole unentered. As for you yourself, you spent my hospitality funds as hard as you could, wandered through the whole city, and picked faults everywhere. Did you truly think I did not know what you wanted to do?"

Thales's expression froze.

Oh.

"I thought we had agreed, Thales. In Jade City, we would be open and honest..."

Facing Zayen's burning gaze, exposed Thales coughed.

"Well, I, we have been busy these few days, right? You were also not free, and I did not have time to visit your bedroom at night, hm, no way to tell you privately..."

But Zayen ignored his boundary and continued pressing:

"Yet behind my back, you make small moves, racking your brains about how to bring me down?"

The Duke of the South Coast put down the mouthpiece and exhaled white smoke, making his expression even stranger.

Thales was a little embarrassed. He rubbed his hands together.

"Yes, I sent people to investigate and scout, understand Jade City's current situation, and search for Jade City's weaknesses, because, because that is what I should do!"

The prince adjusted his mood and made himself sound righteous.

"Since we need everyone, especially my father, to see us as fire and water, hostile to each other... isn't this normal, proper, even necessary?"

Zayen narrowed his eyes.

Thales turned and waved unquestionably.

"Since we are pursuing stimu... pursuing results, then we carry it through to the end!"

Zayen did not answer. He only silently examined him.

The other party's silence lasted so long that Thales felt somewhat awkward and had to put down his aching arm.

"Well said."

The Duke of the South Coast looked toward Jade City outside the viewing platform and snorted coldly.

"Then as your apparent enemy, I should also resist you with all my strength, block your channels, make things hard for your subordinates, obstruct your life, and absolutely not let you live comfortably, to show that we truly are fighting to the death without revealing a single flaw. Otherwise, how would we deceive others, correct?"

Thales refused to show weakness.

"What? You are threatening me now? Do not forget..."

Zayen continued:

"Starting with cutting your daily meals, how about that?"

Meals...

Thales timely changed into a friendly smile and changed direction.

"Do not forget that we are only acting!"

He chuckled.

"Aiya, acting is only a method, after all. Being too serious and entering the role too deeply is not good. It will seriously affect our cooperation efficiency. After all, we still have the greatest enemy!"

Zayen snorted disdainfully and took another puff.

"Then, Your Highness and your subordinates, after working so hard over these days, found anything in Jade City?"

Amid the drifting smoke, the Duke of the South Coast's gaze shot directly into Thales's eyes.

"For example, is there anything worth noticing, something that can be used as leverage, strike fatally, and overturn House Covendier?"

Thales paused, his smile awkward.

"About that..."

Something enough to overturn House Covendier... uh, the secret seasoning for roasted meat?

"I thought we agreed to be open and honest?"

In the next instant, the duke's aura changed, his eyes full of killing intent.

"Tell me, Thales. If you were the king, if you were His Majesty, how would you deal with Jade City and seize power from the Covendiers?"

Thales's smile froze.

If you were the king.

How would you seize power?

Thales?

The prince silently looked back at him.

Zayen only smoked silently, waiting for his response.

At that moment, many thoughts flashed through Thales's mind.

You are the king.

You are His Majesty.

What would you do?

In an instant, he seemed to return to Renaissance Palace and see that young figure wearing a crown.

The youth only moved a finger, and the entire kingdom moved like a machine, neat and unified, like an extension of his own arm.

His kingdom.

Thales had no choice but to reach into his pocket and squeeze the pact, using the hand-piercing bone spikes to pull himself back to reality.

The two on the viewing platform silently faced each other. On one side was the banquet hall with peaceful singing and dancing and voices boiling. On the other was the panorama of Jade City seen from above, with countless specks of light.

Finally, Thales sighed softly.

"Yes. Over these past few days, I sent my people out and did indeed learn some intelligence about Jade City."

Zayen set down the hookah and looked at him seriously.

"As far as I know, large amounts of commercial goods pouring in from the entire kingdom gather here. In Jade City, they are assembled, processed, sorted, and traded."

Thales's expression was serious.

"Then transported to Archsea City, where they go to sea, northward, to the Eastern Continent, or south to the Merfolk Sea. The reverse is also the same."

This was the main point Glover finally reached after returning from the Canal District and telling a whole pile of horrifying dock ghost stories about water ghouls eating people and legends of tidal hunters at sea.

Hearing his words, Zayen's gaze changed.

"And those merchants, craftsmen, and handicraft owners go nowhere else. They only trust Jade City and Covendier, trust the order and rules here." Thales shook his head. "The Secret Intelligence Department can threaten one wine merchant into betrayal and perhaps influence some industries through him..."

"Betrayal?"

Zayen was thoughtful.

"That wine merchant. You truly believe the Secret Intelligence Department can use him, or people like him, to influence certain things?"

"Perhaps. Only perhaps." Thales shook his head. "But the key is that they cannot force so many people to betray at the same time. They cannot reverse everyone's impression of Jade City. They cannot cut off your mature financial lifeline."

Zayen did not speak. He only silently nodded.

"In addition, the Covendier family has shares in quite a few armed merchant ships, such as that pirate just now, hm, former pirate, Tanganga's Sea Wolf Fleet."

Thales continued calmly:

"Of course, in name, they are still merchant ships belonging to different shipmasters. Their scale cannot compare with the kingdom's and Radiant Harbor's navies anchored in the East Sea Territory, and their combat power is unknown. But they are enough to guarantee your transoceanic trade."

This was intelligence Wya and Komuto brought back after eating around the major guilds by relying on Gilbert's reputation.

"As for the Jade Legion, this is another innovation. Yes, they have not been established for long, have not experienced war, and are insufficiently drilled. In combat power and scale, they cannot compare to the Royal Standing Army. Perhaps they cannot withstand two charges back and forth from Arracca Murkh's Fury Guards."

This was the conclusion Glover and Miranda reached after privately "testing hands" with several face-loving local officers.

"You overpraise them," Zayen suddenly spoke. "I know exactly what those green hats amount to. If they can withstand half a charge without collapsing, they will have earned their salaries."

Facing such an honest duke, Thales was somewhat embarrassed.

"But they have unified command, and this is their profession. They do not have the flaws of conscripts," Thales continued. "If my father wants to use a method similar to the Legendary Wing stirring up Bladefang Camp against you, it will probably be very difficult, at least without enough excuse or pretext."

Zayen smiled.

He watched the youth with interest, seeming to encourage him.

"Anything else?"

Thales looked back at him.

Zayen looked very calm.

Was he confident?

Or accumulating strength before striking?

"The citizens here."

Thales continued:

"They are different from Eternal Star City. In fact, they are different from the citizens of most places I have seen. They are workshop owners, property owners, shipowners, merchants, workers, craftsmen, cart drivers, trackers, sailors... too many to count, including the many guilds, associations, and merchant associations they form. Jade City even specially established a notary hall to handle their matters.

"The grassroots officials are the same. This is my first time seeing so many people in a warning hall. Ridiculously many, and they still feel it is not enough. They recruit volunteer assistants from good citizens, and most are ordinary citizens by birth, with property and business in Jade City."

This was intelligence Komuto obtained by using his warning hall connections and finding several old friends here.

Of course, there was also Doyle and Nessie. Their group gathered it by eating and drinking all over the city. Of course, using Jade City's public funds.

"In other places, farmers, herders, and craftsmen are in the villages around the lord's castle, relying on land to live. If there is crop failure and grain shortage, they might protest and revolt. To avoid being drowned by them, the lord may also be dragged in and escalate the conflict to the level of the Guardian Duke."

Thales sighed softly, his gaze strange.

"But these citizens who have left the land and entered all walks of life... to stir them up against you and overturn Covendier, I can only say, the time is not ripe."

Zayen's smile did not decrease.

"That is not strange. Eternal Star City, Radiant Harbor... large towns all have this trait."

But Thales shook his head.

"After I came here, rumors spread all over the streets of Jade City. The versions were different, but the common point was roughly this: once I marry your sister..."

Speaking of sensitive information, Thales could not help raising his head to observe Zayen's expression, lest the other party impulsively push him down from here.

Fortunately, although the Duke of the South Coast frowned slightly, he did not act too intensely.

"The rumor says that once I marry the duke's sister and become a Covendier brother-in-law," Thales carefully said, "then facing a royal relative surnamed Jadestar, the Iris Family will have no choice but to lower its head, and royal merchants under the royal family will swarm into Jade City..."

"To divide the market and profits?" Zayen raised a brow and asked.

"No. Jade City is not afraid of people coming to divide the market. In fact, you welcome and encourage merchants to come, thinking this can drive circulation and promote prosperity," Thales denied. "But the reason you released this rumor, yes, I know it was you, should be to let the citizens know: someone, some important person, is coming from top to bottom to change Jade City's rules."

Zayen raised his brows.

Yes, rumors. This was news Ralf had heard in streets and taverns by pretending, though not entirely pretending, to be deaf and mute and relying on the advantage that no one paid him attention.

Thales leaned on the railing and looked at the ten thousand lights below.

"As duke, you can bring concrete administrative institutions into Emerald Palace. You can willingly pay fines to the trial hall. You can humbly apologize to a judge. This means that in the entire South Coast, no one, unless their status and power are above the Guardian Duke, dares break rules that even the Iris must follow."

Thales looked at him.

"And it is precisely these rules that the Covendier family took the lead in creating and maintaining that shaped the South Coast's unique order. Merchants from outside can safely bring wealth and goods here, fearing no turmoil or power. Local citizens dare walk the streets carrying a bag of gold, not worried about safety or loss. Even wealthy and powerful nobles have no choice but to sit at this gambling table, follow the dealer's instructions, and move chips to place bets."

"In short, here, no one needs to tremble while observing the lord's mood and preferences, be controlled by the ruler's whims, or worry about possible turbulence, such as in Eckstedt, where when one king dies, you need a new mithril crystal mine contract?"

Zayen no longer smiled. He stared tightly at the prince without saying a word.

Thales changed direction:

"But once I become a Covendier relative, once a natural existence above Covendier appears in the South Coast, can the established rules still be followed? Will they still be followed? Once the greedy nobles and royal merchants of the capital follow me, follow Jadestar, into Jade City, will they still respect order? Will they not borrow naturally stronger royal power to seize and plunder by trickery and force?"

"For example, in the matter of Dagori Moss's arrest earlier, what you wanted all of Jade City to see was exactly that the Jadestar royal family was sheltering a merchant from the Central Territory, and that 'the royal family wants to change the rules you rely on for survival,' correct?"

Thales sighed.

"This is the purpose of your rumor. And I, unfortunately, am a northerner who grew up in Eckstedt. Oh, I forgot. To the South Coast, everything north of the Shepherd River, including Eternal Star City, counts as the 'barbaric north.'"

Zayen's gaze toward him became increasingly strange.

"I guess this way, almost all the merchants, owners, craftsmen, workers, and most ordinary citizens in Jade City will spontaneously reject me, hate me, and resist the royal family's entrance and interference. Let us not mention that stupid earl who challenged me to a duel, but that Sunset priest who expressed dissatisfaction with my marriage a few days ago. I suppose what he reflected was the will of the broad citizenry?"

Thales sighed inwardly. On this point, the prince's farts had lost.

"Therefore, any damned marriage alliance can go to hell." Thales sneered. "If I truly took marrying your sister as the goal and thought I could safely touch Jade City through a marriage between the royal family and the duke, I would truly be blind."

"Not bad, Your Highness," Zayen snorted softly, looking at him with new respect. "Not bad."

Thales took a deep breath.

But it was not only this.

Far from it.

"And across the entire South Coast, from the duke downward, the traditional high vassals, whether actual fiefs or honorary nobles, earls, viscounts, barons, and families, all have businesses and foundations in Jade City, with complicated relationships spread across all walks of life," Thales continued.

This was news obtained by eating, drinking, and playing with Jade City's wastrel youths.

"For example, the Karabeyans of Vola Fief and the Lacias of the Marshland. These nobles either partner with some merchant as guarantors, invest in some industry for dividends, or simply lead and open an entire trade route themselves..."

Hm, and those two Karabeyan twin sisters. To find out the family business relationships behind the Tailors' Guild, Komuto had no choice but to be slaughtered for two hundred and twenty-four gold coins. Fortunately, he had just resolved that through Miranda.

"...So their profits and income no longer rely on their traditional land, but to a great extent depend on..."

"Jade City's prosperity," Zayen steadily completed his words.

Thales nodded, his expression grave.

"And Jade City's prosperity depends on trade and entrepot business, depends on rules and order, depends on the Covendier family's governance and protection, and on the prestige you have accumulated in the South Coast over a long time.

"This makes you perfectly secure in the traditional ruling order. When an actual-fief baron, forced by land into a dead end, and his subordinate villagers can cry legal principles in the trial hall and no one pays attention, when not even one weighty vassal is willing to appear and arbitrate for him, it is even less possible for my father to overturn you through such people. The land conflicts and debt disputes like Bayral and Doyle at the royal banquet would not splash even a ripple here. Even if there were one, it would only be a matter of one strike from Judge Brennan's gavel."

Thales remembered something and was silent for a while before continuing:

"So the archdukes of Eckstedt may unite against Chapman Lampard. The Frys and Zemuto families of the Northland may covet the power vacuum after Arunde's decline because of short-sightedness, pride, and greed. The Western Desert ministers, including Croma of Wing Fort and Bozdorf of Heroic Spirit Castle, may become estranged from Duke Falkenhausen because of differing positions and divided political views."

Thales felt the words he spoke were incomparably heavy.

"But here, the South Coast's great vassals have been in the game too long, are involved too deeply, and depend too much. Not only is it impossible for them to be bought by my father to oppose you, they will only revolve around Jade City, be bound together by the entire South Coast system, support Covendier, and resist the royal family's invasion."

"Is that so? Are you certain?"

Zayen's gaze grew sharper.

Thales stared at Zayen, feeling the deeper things beneath the other's eyes.

"As for the final counterattack force," the prince slowly spoke, saying the information Gilbert had organized and that came to him through Wya, "as early as the year your father died and you succeeded as duke, it was completely extinguished."

Zayen's gaze moved.

"Nearly ten years ago, in year 669, Viscount Sona Covendier of Archsea City hired assassins to kill your father."

Zayen took a deep breath.

"Viscount Sona, your uncle, succeeded halfway, but after the matter was done, his conspiracy was exposed, and he died in prison," Thales sighed. "I think that was the final counterattack of the South Coast's traditional landed nobles."

Of course, if this had happened in Eckstedt, the Northlanders would probably have elected Sona Covendier as king.

The night wind blew across the viewing platform. Zayen's gaze was deep.

"Rather decline because of friends than perish because of enemies."

He extinguished the hookah and placed the pipe back into the bottle.

"But my father never expected that this sentence could be used on his own brother."

Thales did not speak, giving the man before him a little respect.

"Final point. Logically, for a city this large, slums like the Lower City..." after several seconds, Thales continued, "Jade City should only have more, not fewer."

"There are indeed quite a few," Zayen nodded. "The New Suburb District here is exactly that, and its area is still growing every year."

Thales shook his head.

"But it is nowhere near as chaotic as the capital. By comparison, Eternal Star City has many citizens, but more poor. The Lower City's area is several times larger than the other districts, and it had to be divided into three districts before it could be managed, if they call that management."

Thales thought of the past in the Sixth House and could not help frowning.

"Jade City is wealthy. There are many businesses, many industries, and many jobs. As long as you have hands and feet and are willing to work, you will not starve. As long as there is hope, few people will take desperate risks," Thales sighed. "Even the Brotherhood and Blood Bottle Gang must be cautious under such order."

"Therefore, trying to start from the bottom levels of the city does not seem feasible either."

When his words fell, Thales was silent for a long time.

Zayen also did not speak. At this moment, the two seemed to be silently tasting the same thing.

"This is all the intelligence I know about Jade City."

Thales sighed long.

"In short: the so-called weakness of the Covendiers, I did not find it at all."

Zayen looked at him, his gaze changing several times.

"I truly admire you, Zayen. Truly."

The prince's gaze was faint.

"From what I have seen, from military to finance, from politics to systems, from commerce to public opinion, from ruling relationships to the lower society, every part of this city and this territory fits tightly together, ring after ring, watertight, flawless."

"As long as one remains on this land, whoever dares move against you, against Covendier's rule, is moving against this city's rules, its order, its interests, its foundation, and must bear the united counterattack of the entire South Coast from top to bottom and inside to outside."

Thales walked to the front of the viewing platform and knocked on Emerald Palace's stone railing.

"It is not as thrilling as the Northland, not as rough and tooth-grinding as the Western Desert, not as thick with authority as Eternal Star City, but it is a real wall of bronze and iron, as solid as a fortress of gold."

The prince looked at the city before him and could not help feeling moved.

"Jade City is called the Queen of Cities, but some also call it the queen among cities."

He turned toward Zayen, his meaning pointed.

"You know, victory and defeat on the chessboard are determined by the king's life or death, but in truth, the queen is the strongest piece."

Zayen said nothing and was silent for a long time.

"Are you perhaps overestimating us? You know, we do not even have city walls."

Thales smiled.

He patted the railing and only felt pain in his palm.

"Correct. It has no city walls. The speed of expansion simply cannot keep up with the speed at which residents pour in and settle. But..."

Thales remembered a scene from the past and sighed.

"A mediocre monarch builds his city wall with earth and stone, making it hard for foreign enemies to invade and hard for the castle to fall..."

But before he could finish, Zayen interrupted him:

"A wise monarch uses people's hearts as his city wall, forever victorious and forever flourishing."

The Duke of the South Coast recited this sentence, slightly dazed.

Thales froze.

"How do you know that?"

Zayen looked at him.

"Of course, Honorary Earl El Rukhsan's Supreme Strategy."

"He was a military strategist from a hundred years ago, a Tuoluo man who had not the strength to bind a chicken, yet became the wise king Mindis the Third's military consultant before the throne and effectively became the highest commander of the Stars army. The so-called 'Swordless Marshal' who could not even lift a sword. Since you quoted him, you should know, correct?"

Ah?

Supreme Strategy?

Rukh-what?

What thing?

"Oh, Ru, Rukhsan. Mm, correct." Thales, utterly confused, had no choice but to force himself to remain calm. "That is exactly who I was talking about."

But Zayen seemed to see through him. The duke laughed softly.

"Rukhsan was the commander of the 'Battle of Radiance' in the Fourth Continental War. He overturned many established ideas of battle and combined naval war with land war, city defense with field battle, coast with plain, to formulate strategy. Although he did not have brilliant gains that dyed the sea red like Bolasko's great naval battle of 'Far Sail,' he still made the Morning Wind Fleet of Hanbul and the fleets of the Ligur city-states return empty-handed, causing the Eastern Continent's fierce so-called 'million-strong army' to fail to land and withdraw in disgrace."

"It was also from him that military consultant became a permanent important position in the Imperial Conference, and the Royal Knight Academy also added strategic planning to its courses."

Zayen changed direction, and his smile disappeared.

"But in his later years, after Rukhsan retired and lived in Jade City, his military thinking became conservative and backward. He was constantly criticized and mocked. People said he had grown old, lost ambition, and become timid from illness and nightmares, no longer possessing his former vigor."

"Supreme Strategy is his unfinished final work. Compared with his other works on planning, troop movement, and military debate, this book is not about how to fight wars, but how to avoid fighting wars. These days, not many people are willing to read it."

A grand chorus came from the banquet hall. It seemed the Strife Banquet had reached its peak.

"Uh, yes, correct." Thales coughed. "Exactly that. Uh, it fits Jade City's current situation very well. You do not raise military blades, do not take dangerous moves, do not start great incidents, yet make all the jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards that want to gnaw this bone unable to find a place to bite."

Hm, describing the king like this, was it a little disrespectful?

Zayen's face sank like water, and he did not speak.

Time seemed to pass for as long as a century.

"It was not me."

Zayen finally spoke.

"What? What was not you?" Thales asked, puzzled.

"I mean, it was not only me. It was not even only my father."

The young duke came beside Thales and looked with him at the ten thousand lights below Emerald Palace.

"What you saw today began from the golden age of Stars opened by the wise king a hundred years ago. Starting from Duke Federico, the 'Parrot Duke' everyone mocked as clumsy and said only parroted words, through six full generations of Covendiers, seven Dukes of the South Coast, and the united efforts of countless people of vision and virtue. They held fast to one corner yet looked far ahead, hiding their light and nurturing strength through subtle influence for a century. Only then was the Queen of Cities cast."

One hundred years.

Six generations.

Seven dukes.

Thales's expression changed slightly.

He understood something.

The "Parrot Duke" Federico. The "Swordless Marshal" Rukhsan.

So...

The wise king Mindis the Third.

He was not the only great man in that turbulent era.

"Your heart is cluttered," Zayen curled his lips and raised his arm toward all of Jade City, "and this palace is airy and bright."

Zayen glanced coldly at Thales.

"Compared with your glorious and ancient Jadestar royal family, compared with Eternal Star City since the wise king, compared with Renaissance Palace, sunk in illness and hard to rise..."

"How is it?"