Chapter 708: In the King's Name

Federico, or Fed, as his family had once been accustomed to calling him, was smiling.

Even though he was kneeling in disgrace and humiliation on the ground before the stand, his hands bound, his forehead touching the earth, every organ in his body groaning.

Half his face was numb. His left eye had taken a punch during the arrest and was swollen so badly he could barely see. A long gash had been dragged across his chin and kept seeping blood. Part of his ribs had been kicked and ached faintly. His left wrist, bound behind his back, was badly sprained, the pain drilling into him.

And that was only his upper body.

But Fed was still smiling.

He smiled with extraordinary joy, extraordinary relief, and extraordinary sincerity, even with several traces of madness, no matter how the security officers escorting him scolded him in fierce voices that lacked confidence and told him to restrain himself.

Once, he had curled into a ball in a narrow, cold, dark room, supporting himself with hatred and shame, trembling amid endless screams and groans by his ear, relying on pain and anger to keep his body warm.

Whenever he remembered the countless days and nights spent in that cramped room, Fed unconsciously tightened his body and slowed his breathing.

His mouth was filled with the taste of mud and blood. Blood and saliva kept seeping from the corners of his lips, and he had neither the strength nor the time to wipe them away.

Now, compared to what he had once experienced, these wounds and pains, these humiliations and miserable moments, were practically rewards from fate.

They reminded him where he was.

They announced the revenge and satisfaction that were about to come.

And they foretold the return he was willing to pay everything to obtain.

The curve of Fed's mouth widened even further.

The lamps around him were bright as day, while the shadow beneath him was black as ink.

That swordsman, that bastard who claimed he had killed members of the Royal Guard, really just left? Without leaving even a bit of sentiment?

Fine.

In any case, it was almost complete.

With difficulty but pleasure, Fed raised his head. The selection meeting, familiar yet strange, chaotic yet orderly, appeared before him.

The security officers escorting him were terrified and at a loss. Farther away, the spectator crowd was noisy. The vassals debated fiercely, the foreign guests whispered to one another, the guards were tense and vigilant, and the soldiers gripped their weapons tightly...

"Nothing is wrong here! They only need to talk. All of you, step back, farther back. Do not come over! Have everyone else move farther away too!"

Hilley shouted, stopping the surrounding guards and servants from approaching and signaling for all those tense and anxious people to retreat.

The young lady of Covendier had a special position and a close relationship with each side's master. Both the Star Lake Guard and the Jade Legion had scruples. They had no choice but to slowly retreat, clear the crowd, and open up a sizable space for Thales and Zayen, while glaring warily at each other.

Soon, everyone in the arena, whether local or foreign, vassal, honored guest, or ordinary guard, whether anxious or calm, angry or relieved, was waiting for the two people of highest status in Jade City, or rather, for the result of their negotiation.

"A test?"

Zayen paid no attention to the gazes around him. He stared at Thales and lowered his voice.

"You mean your father did all this and arranged so many games not to deal with me and Jade City, but to... test your position at this moment?"

"It should be both," Thales said, coming back to himself. The emptiness after the Sin of Hell's River receded made him dizzy. "Killing two birds with one stone has always been his preference. This way, whether he wins or loses, he gains at least one thing."

Zayen frowned.

"Listen. I know Federico is a great threat to you," Thales said, turning to look at Federico, who knelt within the security officers' formation with an eerie smile. "But I cannot stand aside. I need him alive for now. Otherwise my father will know..."

"Then let him know!"

Zayen suddenly raised his voice. He irritably walked two steps back and took a deep breath before turning around again.

"Let him know that Fed was too stupid and too blind, causing failure, and that you tried to remedy it but could not, not that we..."

"If I had not been here when it happened, perhaps he could understand..." Thales sighed.

Lies.

The voice in his heart mocked unpleasantly.

You know very well, Thales.

With King Kessel's suspicion and vigilance, he would never be so understanding.

As long as Federico fails, as long as you do not make an "on-the-spot decision" at the key moment, he will doubt your position.

Thales worked hard to cast away distracting thoughts.

"But now, I am standing here, under everyone's eyes, and Federico is over there, waiting, or rather, expecting me to intervene..."

Zayen sneered lightly.

"I should have had Cecil drive you to the farthest stand today and separate you from all of this. I should even have locked you in the palace and not let you come out," he said sarcastically. "In fact, I should never have allowed you near Hilley."

Thales let out a long sigh.

"Friends, I have stabilized them, but not for long." Hilley turned back, her voice anxious. "Tell me you have discussed a solution to this situation, right?"

Zayen's expression was ugly. He said nothing.

"Yes. We have a way." The prince looked left and right, trying not to let all the gazes from outside disturb him. His voice was quiet enough that only the Covendier siblings could hear. "Listen, Zayen. You once asked me what price I wanted before I would lend you a hand. This is it."

Thales looked toward Federico in the distance.

"You mean you want to publicly shelter a rebel," Zayen said in a low voice, his tone poor, "support his accusations, frame and slander me, turn me into a suspect in patricide and silencing witnesses, and only then come to 'help' me?"

"What?" Hilley could not believe it.

"No. Those accusations will not be adopted. I only want to delay the situation," Thales tried to explain. "So Zayen, you cannot win yet, and Federico cannot die yet..."

"We talked about this," Zayen cut him off coldly. "In Jade City, we temporarily cease hostilities and do not become each other's enemies..."

"I am not becoming your enemy."

"Then what is this?"

Zayen's tone grew hurried.

Hilley quickly pulled at her brother, but the duke's expression made the people on Jade City's side grow increasingly anxious.

Thales felt a terrible headache.

"If you win today, Zayen, if you make Federico disappear just like this, do you think my father will let it go? Perhaps the next one to come to Jade City will not be me, not Federico, not the kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department, but the Kingdom's Wrath and his army!"

Zayen stared at him for several seconds. Then the duke smiled.

"You really are afraid of him, aren't you?"

Thales paused.

"And because of that, you want me to loosen my hand and let his knife stab into my heart?"

Zayen lowered his voice, doing his best to maintain basic dignity.

"Your reason is that if I do not, then next time the king will bring a longer knife. Do you see the absurdity here?"

Thales wanted to speak but stopped.

"What is even more absurd is that in this game, even if I win, you remain a noble prince. At worst, your purse becomes a little flatter, and your father's love a little thinner." Zayen spoke coldly.

No.

Thales inhaled. Kortaksa in his pocket grew heavier and heavier.

"But if I let go, if I lose..."

The Duke of South Coast glanced at the people craning their necks in anticipation around them, his eyes growing colder.

Hilley's face went pale.

Thales swallowed.

"You will not lose."

Zayen sneered and looked at Federico.

"You do not know what I am facing, Your Highness."

Thales frowned slightly.

"Duke Falkenhaus faced the same problem, but he chose to trust me," Thales said, taking Warning from his waist, his words earnest. "He gave me a sword, and the Western Desert was ultimately preserved."

Zayen's face changed.

Thales stepped forward and sincerely looked into the other's cold, resolute eyes.

"For Jade City's sake, for your sister's sake, Zayen, please."

Zayen's gaze moved.

At that moment, it was as if everything in the arena stopped.

Only Thales and Zayen remained, deciding Jade City's fate in this crucial conversation.

"Lieutenant Chelky, continue escorting the suspect!"

The next second, Zayen's cold order startled Thales out of his thoughts.

"No one is permitted to obstruct you on the way until he is delivered to prison!"

Thales' heart sank.

"Zayen!" he warned loudly.

The change in the two great figures' attitudes made the onlookers tense.

"Hypocritical, false, hesitant, weak." Zayen turned back and sneered repeatedly. "I am truly sick of your affected manner, clearly acting only for yourself yet insisting on pretending to be selfless. It disgusts me."

Thales' heart trembled.

Hilley was shocked.

"Zayen, wait. Do not rush to decide..."

But the duke cared neither for the prince's warning nor his sister's persuasion. He directly issued the order.

"Security Hall, what are you still standing there for?"

Beside Federico, the security officers who had been hesitating in a daze all shuddered. They roughly dragged Federico up from the ground.

"Y-yes!"

The crowd stirred again. People began discussing what had happened in this round of negotiation and conversation, and how the duke and prince were fighting over the suspect.

But Thales only stared fixedly at Zayen, whose expression was resolute.

Damn it.

He had already explained the causes, consequences, and interests clearly. Why...

In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning.

But several seconds later, when Thales returned to reality and the present, and looked with difficulty at the bustling crowd before him, at Zayen and Hilley's faces...

He knew he had already made his choice.

"Duke Zayen!"

Thales said loudly. His voice was amplified by the Sin of Hell's River, letting everyone around hear clearly.

"The matters stated by the suspect Federico Covendier are of great importance and full of doubts. For fairness and justice, and even more for your reputation, I believe we should not rush to a conclusion. Why not establish a special case, send people to investigate strictly and interrogate carefully, until the truth is revealed? What do you think?"

When the prince's words fell, the crowd that had been discussing instantly fell silent. The security officers escorting Federico also slowed, their leader occasionally sweeping worried glances toward this side.

Zayen slowly looked at him, his face livid.

"What?" Hilley was also shocked and unable to believe it.

But Thales only stared fixedly at Zayen, and the latter's gaze in return was profound and complicated.

"Your Highness Thales," Zayen spoke, his enunciation clear but his rhythm slow. "You must be tired and not thinking clearly."

Zayen's response made Thales sigh softly.

But soon, he took a deep breath and stepped forward.

He understood.

The atmosphere was wrong. The people on both sides, Star Lake Guard and Jade Legion, all stiffened and instinctively drew closer to their masters.

"Star Lake Guard!"

Thales shouted decisively, causing Zayen's eyes to change.

He understood. This confrontation had nothing to do with promises, justice, or character, and even less to do with their private grudges.

It only concerned interests and victory.

Zayen wanted to win, so naturally he refused to retreat.

And Thales could not lose, so naturally he could only move forward.

"In the king's name, swiftly seize the suspect Federico Covendier!"

Facing Thales' unyielding response, Zayen frowned deeply.

Thales turned back and looked at the Star Lake Guard, whose faces had gone pale.

"Bring him back and keep him under strict watch, our watch!"

As his words fell, Wya, who had still been hesitating, was completely stunned in place until Miranda kicked him hard.

"But... obeying orders, Your Highness!"

Wya tried his best not to look at the gazes around him and turned toward his equally astonished colleagues.

"So, Vanguard Wing, or Guard Wing? In short, His Highness has given an order. I need two..."

"One is enough." Before Wya could finish, Miranda decisively stepped out from the crowd and walked toward Federico.

Perhaps because the king's name was weighty enough, the security officers nearby looked at one another and did not dare stop her. But Miranda had not taken more than a few steps when...

"Cecil!"

Zayen's order rang out, and another figure moved in response.

Thud!

With a dull sound, Miranda raised Eagle Soar and blocked a sword that had not been drawn from its sheath.

"Step back, lady. That is Jade City's own criminal."

Knight Cecil held his sword horizontally, coldly blocking the space between Federico and Miranda, his gaze icy.

The two warriors faced each other, making everyone tense. Whether Star Lake Guard or Emerald soldiers, all looked toward their respective masters and secretly prepared to act.

"Knight Cecil, did you hear His Highness Thales' order?" Miranda tightened her gloved grip on her sword hilt.

Cecil glanced at Zayen, whose brows trembled and whose face was livid.

The knight turned back.

"Apologies. I am hard of hearing."

"Then perhaps retire sooner?" The swordswoman's expression changed.

"You are not my opponent. Bring that Mallos instead, and it might be close," Cecil said disdainfully.

"The Blade of Terror has other important matters and no time to attend to this." Miranda felt the great pressure coming from the other party, but she gritted her teeth and refused to show weakness.

Behind Miranda, Glover and the others exchanged looks and wanted to step forward to share the pressure, but the soldiers behind Cecil also watched them like tigers eyeing prey.

The surrounding onlookers had varying expressions. Most foreign visitors were calm, but the local nobles and vassals looked ugly. Count Lassia was so angry he clenched both fists. The two Misses Karabeyan pressed together and whispered.

"Wait!"

At this moment, Hilley shouted. She rushed between Zayen and Thales, pointing one hand at each of them, her face full of anger.

"Have your people step back and put away their weapons! We do not need to do this! At least not now!"

The next second, Miranda and Cecil, who stood at the front of the confrontation, both frowned.

Knight Cassian had silently appeared at their side.

"I am not confident I can break up your fight," Cassian sighed. "But I can promise, Cecil, Lady Arunde, that I will attack whoever moves first."

Miranda and Cecil both frowned and looked at each other.

Cecil snorted coldly and was the first to step back. Miranda let out a breath and also retreated.

Only then did the two groups pull back slightly and open space again for the three figures of the duke's family.

"Move aside, Hilley," Zayen scolded his sister, though his eyes did not leave Thales. "Now is not the time for you to speak..."

"Shut up, brother." Hilley turned back and jabbed a finger viciously in Zayen's direction. "This is all the mess your self-righteousness created! A trap, huh? More chips, huh? The overall situation is decided? Ha, ha, ha!"

Zayen's expression darkened.

Seeing this, Thales sighed.

"Hilley, this matter truly has nothing to do with you..."

Hilley abruptly turned and pointed straight at Thales' forehead.

"Do not tell me this has nothing to do with me, brat! If you had not come here for a marriage interview, I would not have had any of this!"

Thales frowned.

After Hilley's overbearing interruption, the people on both sides looked at one another, and the atmosphere eased slightly.

Hilley worked hard to calm herself and spoke to the two in a low voice.

"Fine. I know, I know you cannot stand each other, and I am not forcing you to like each other..."

"No, Hilley. This is no longer just about my relationship with him..."

"I think he quite likes Jade City, just like his father..."

"Shut up!"

Hilley angrily interrupted them, making both pause.

She took a deep breath and first tried her best to persuade the prince.

"Listen, Thales. I know, when it concerns my brother, he loses his head. He is unwilling to give up the advantage he already has, unwilling to spit out the meat already in his mouth. But..."

Halfway through, Hilley slowly sighed.

"But, Thales, you have to understand. If you stand up now and support Federico's accusations, patricide, silencing witnesses... you are not merely stopping Zayen from winning. You are forcing him to die."

Thales paused.

"I know. I understand. But please trust me, Hilley. This is only temporary. Only this way can I hold the situation, seize the initiative, and choose whether to advance or retreat..."

"I suppose that is what you said to Anker Byrael too?" Zayen sneered.

Thales' eyelid twitched.

"Using the flowery words you are so good at for hypocritical acting, 'please trust me,' deceiving him by saying you would help him and save him. That was how you tricked him into putting down his weapon, obediently surrendering and walking into prison, so that you, kind-hearted and unable to bear seeing others suffer, could keep him out of sight and out of mind?"

Thales' whole body trembled. He slowly raised his head.

"Zayen!"

Hilley turned back, her expression instantly fierce.

"I told you to shut up!"

But she was too late. The prince's gaze had completely darkened.

"I told you. Mention his name less." Thales looked expressionlessly at Zayen, who continued to sneer.

"Who?" Zayen deliberately mocked. "Oh, you mean Anker. Anker Byrael? That unlucky fellow from the Western Desert whom kind-hearted you sent into the Prison of Bones, never to see daylight for the rest of his life?"

Hilley felt a splitting headache.

"Ah, I do not know what old grudge the two of you have or how you formed it, but I know it must be stupid. So can you..."

Thales smiled.

"That letter, Zayen."

Thales spoke with a light laugh.

"That letter you wrote to my father, lowering yourself, fawning like a slave, flattering him and begging for peace. I tore it up with my own hands."

Zayen's eyes focused.

"At the Imperial Conference, in front of his face, I tore it into pieces."

Thales sneered lightly.

"That was how I obtained his permission and came here, so that you could see with your own eyes how I..."

"Thales!"

Hilley turned back and interrupted him, unable to believe it.

But she was likewise too late. Zayen looked at Thales, his gaze complicated yet relieved.

In the end, he actually revealed a trace of an ominous smile.

"Good. Very good." Zayen applauded softly and tilted his chin toward Cecil.

Cecil understood the Duke of South Coast's meaning. He glanced mockingly at Cassian, who had tried to break up the fight, then issued an order.

"Jade Legion, assist the Security Hall, clear the obstacles, and escort the criminal!"

Shing!

The next second, the front row of Emerald soldiers drew their weapons and pointed them from afar at Miranda.

Shing!

On the Star Lake Guard's side, Glover roared and drew his sword, stepping forward. Ralf and Morgan followed with ruthless expressions. The three stood beside Miranda and faced Cecil and his soldiers without fear.

Although the difference in numbers was great, the confrontation between Star Lake Guard and Jade Legion was deeply significant. Starting from the people nearest them, many spectators became terrified, and the crowd stirred repeatedly.

"What happened?"

"Did the talks collapse?"

"Terrible. I thought their relationship was good..."

"Rush the gate. Squeeze through if you have to!"

Rumors spread, and panic gradually extended throughout the arena. The guards and security officers maintaining order found it increasingly difficult.

At the center of the conflict, Thales and Zayen stood very close, one firm, one cold.

"Um, are we going in?" someone in the Star Lake Guard asked carefully.

"Of course we..."

Neshy drew his sword and stepped forward, only to be yanked back by someone.

"Protect His Highness!" Wya released him and said with a dark face.

"Zayen, please. Do not force me." Thales looked at the Duke of South Coast before him and slowly shook his head.

But Zayen's face was cold.

"Who is forcing whom?"

Thales narrowed his eyes.

"And when you flip the table, have you realized," Zayen said softly, "that you do not have as many chips in your hand as I do?"

Thales frowned.

"Your Highness, I know saying this now ruins the mood, but..." Wya took two steps forward and came behind Thales. He looked around worriedly and saw rows upon rows of Jade Legion soldiers, their momentum fierce.

"We have fewer people, we are at a disadvantage, and we cannot win a fight."

Thales' eyes shifted.

"Chips." He laughed softly, his gaze never leaving Zayen before him. "Your Grace, did you just say chips?"

Zayen's expression did not change. He remained silent.

The next second, Thales stepped forward. Under everyone's tense gaze, he approached Zayen step by step.

"You are right, Zayen! Federico misjudged the situation. No one responded to his accusations because they lacked a leader."

Thales came before him, his expression stern.

"A leader with enough weight."

Zayen's eyes changed slightly.

The next moment, Thales roared.

"Tell me, Zayen Covendier!"

Under everyone's gaze, Thales spoke sharply.

"These days, the wine merchant died in a revenge killing, the wool merchant died because of debt, Rene died in an accident, young Bolwin died in a brawl, Security Officer Kaquere died in a robbery, and the defense lawyer simply disappeared. Six subjects of the kingdom have already died violent deaths. Is this a coincidence? Is there something strange behind it? Is there some hidden truth? Or is Jade City's public security worrying, and its governance urgent?"

As soon as these words came out, the heavyweight vassals and guests all changed expression.

Zayen was expressionless, but his gaze toward Thales had grown cold to the extreme.

Wya was startled. "Your Highness..."

Thales snorted coldly and continued raising his volume, letting more people hear.

"Or to put it directly, are the deaths of these kingdom subjects related to you, to a border minister of the Kingdom of Stars, the city lord of Jade City personally appointed by His Majesty, the guardian duke of South Coast, Zayen Covendier?"

Prince Thales had directly spoken to accuse the Duke of South Coast. This was no small matter. The nearby vassals and guests erupted into uproar.

Only Federico looked up to the sky and laughed, laughing with increasing joy.

But at this moment, no one cared about the prisoner's actions anymore.

"No, Thales, what are you doing?"

Hilley stood between the prince and duke, bewildered, frightened, and unable to believe it. But Cassian sighed, clasped her arm, and pulled her back. Ashford timely draped a cloak over her.

Seeing the surrounding people, Zayen took a deep breath. In the end, he said nothing. His expression merely grew colder.

On the other side, Knight Cecil's face was extremely ugly. He had no choice but to shout loudly, stopping the soldiers in the legion from whispering to each other in shock.

"If these murder cases were not your doing, Zayen Covendier," Thales said without changing expression, his voice steady and his words severe, "then why did you exhaust every effort, mobilizing methods and connections, to hide the causes of these victims' deaths? Why did you use every possible means to obstruct my subordinates' investigations and questioning? And why are you obstructing my interrogation of the case suspect, Federico Covendier, at this moment?"

"Why, Zayen?"

Thales stepped forward and raised both arms.

"Can you explain it to me, to His Majesty, and to the entire kingdom?"

The prince's gaze sharpened, and his words turned again.

"Or do you need me to go one step further and find evidence and witnesses proving that you interfered with law enforcement and covered up murder cases?"

The surrounding crowd's discussions grew louder and louder.

Seeing the situation turn bad, the vassals and guests around the duke's stand scattered in fright, leaving an empty space and allowing the Jade Legion and Star Lake Guard to face each other. Many important figures also instinctively summoned their bodyguards and attendants for safety.

Amid the chaos, Zayen stared fixedly at Thales, letting the sound waves in the arena cover the sky and earth as people's hearts panicked and wavered.

"You originally knew the truth, Thales," the Duke of South Coast said word by word. "But I suppose, at this moment, in front of so many people, you suddenly do not know it anymore, correct?"

Thales did not answer. Instead, he turned toward the tide-like surging spectators, expressionless.

"Very well. Then whether Zayen Covendier is suspected of hiring murderers, bending the law for private reasons, or obstructing justice..."

"Star Lake Guard!" Thales roared, causing Wya and the others to all tremble.

But the next second, he turned in Zayen's direction and called out to an unexpected target.

"And Jade Legion!"

Cecil frowned fiercely. His subordinates behind him burst into uproar.

"Immediately enforce the law and arrest the major-case suspect, Zayen Covendier, to be imprisoned pending trial!"

In the moonlit arena, Thales stood righteous and stern, roaring his command.

"In the name of the supreme king of the Kingdom of Stars, His Majesty Kessel V!"