Chapter 713: The King's Will

"One million one hundred seventy thousand?"

The Duke of Star Lake, and, although it absolutely could not be said aloud in public, the current regent of Jade City, Thales Jadestar, stared in shock. His voice rose out of his control, startling everyone in the study into a collective shiver.

After the duke's voice fell, the study sank into silence. The atmosphere was oppressive.

Only after a long while did Thales finally recover from the blankness in his mind. He closed his mouth, lowered the ledger with difficulty, and looked in disbelief at the two rows of people before the desk.

On the left stood Mallos, Storo, and Hugo, the three senior guards. Their expressions were steady, their gazes grave.

On the right stood six current officials from Jade City's Finance and Taxation Department. They had their heads lowered deeply, nervous and uneasy. From time to time, they would secretly glance up at the duke, then quickly lower their eyes to the floor again.

"Your noble Highness Thales, to be precise," the treasurer standing at the front, Lord Myrahovich, a man from the Ligurian city-state who had settled in Jade City for many years yet still could not shake his Eastern Continent accent, sniffed with the expression of a man about to be led to execution, "it is one million one hundred seventy-eight thousand six hundred fifty-three Tomond gold coins."

Thales' expression did not change. He was numb and dazed.

"And that is only part of it, Your Highness," one financial officer could not help reminding him. "The largest portion."

"Also, this is the preliminary repayment," another humble assistant financial officer added in a small voice. "The initial amount, with the nature of a guarantee."

"Yes. If we calculate the total, it is nearly..."

Before the younger auditor could finish, his colleagues held him back, pleading with their eyes for him to shut his mouth right there.

Thales stared blankly for several seconds, then silently released the ledger in his hands.

If, just if...

If he sold everything in Star Lake Fort, from its lands to its property to all its household goods, including that whole pile of cats and dogs, could he scrape together one million one hundred seventy thousand gold coins?

"Tell me, my lords," Thales said hollowly, his eyes empty, "how did you manage to make the Queen's City, prosperous, flourishing, and more thriving by the day, owe this much debt, becoming a pile of rotten accounts and a bottomless pit buried under liabilities?"

Compared to this, what did the tens of thousands in foreign debt that Anker Byrael, that Western Desert assassin, said his father owed to the Doyle family even count as? What did it count as? It was practically a splash of water! What need was there to look as if the sky had collapsed, rush into the royal banquet, try to kill Thales, and shout at the top of his lungs?

One had to know that a certain South Coast Guardian Duke, who owed several million, perhaps even more than ten million gold coins in total to different creditors and merchant groups, was still running around every day, living extravagantly and spending money like water, while somehow making the entire kingdom believe his family had so much oil and ore that he could squander it for a lifetime and never run out!

The officials looked at one another, deeply uneasy.

Under the prince's question and Mallos' pressing gaze, the officials present trembled and dared not speak.

After a good while, under Treasurer Myrahovich's look, an older accountant finally stepped forward and told Duke Thales, trembling and heartbroken:

Originally, the Queen's City had been one of the rare model territories in the kingdom that carried no foreign debt and had sound finances. Its income and expenses had been balanced, and it was rich enough to dominate a region.

Until the time around the Bloody Year, when the kingdom's situation changed abruptly, the state of affairs took a sharp turn for the worse, rebels sprang up like wildfire, and foreign enemies watched hungrily from the side.

To support the kingdom's war, and also for the safety of his own territory, the old duke, Lenster Covendier, urgently needed a great deal of money to prepare and reorganize the army. For this reason, he raised funds from many parties, borrowed foreign debt, and even rewrote the overall budget for Jade City and its surrounding directly governed fiefs.

"But that was more than twenty years ago," Quartermaster Storo said in disbelief. "Don't tell me you borrowed debt for twenty straight years in one breath?"

"Of course not," Myrahovich said righteously when the topic reached this point. "After His noble and great Majesty Kessel was crowned, the kingdom welcomed peace and prosperity. We also very quickly repaid the debts, until the Desert War."

Another financial officer in the prime of his life took over, speaking fluently. At that time, His Majesty Kessel had required vassals across the country to contribute to the war on the western front. But the old duke was kind and benevolent, unwilling to levy labor service or raise taxes, so he could only borrow money again. Most of it was invested into supporting the kingdom's war as military funds, while the remainder was used for facility construction and order maintenance in Jade City and the South Coast Territory.

"But even the Desert War was more than ten years ago," Standard-Bearer Hugo said with a frown.

"Yes. The debt from the Desert War was originally about to be paid off," Myrahovich said, rubbing his forehead, "if not for an unexpected situation..."

The finance and tax officials immediately began weeping and lamenting. One after another, they said that first the old duke was assassinated, then the Iris Flower entered internal strife. The South Coast Territory was thrown into upheaval, everyone in Jade City panicked, soldiers and police ran wild, merchants withdrew in fear, and the towns on the South Coast that had once recovered some vitality after the war grew more desolate by the day.

Thus, after Duke Zayen succeeded the title and suppressed the rebellion, he had no choice but to borrow once more to reorganize the market, maintain order, and win back confidence and business for Jade City.

However, the good times did not last long. Lord Zayen had not ruled for long, and his various measures had only just begun to show results, when the hardworking and hospitable citizens of Jade City were struck by another bolt from the blue: the frightening general edict of the Kingdom of Stars, which came urgently from the capital and sounded the horn of war once again.

The Eckstedt diplomatic mission had been murdered on the road. The northern army had gathered at the border. Broken Dragon Fortress was in danger day and night. The Kingdom of Stars was teetering.

Seeing that war between the two countries was about to break out at any moment, that the unspeakably tragic Bloody Year was about to repeat itself, and that everyone in the South Coast Territory had fallen into panic, the bold Duke Zayen decisively ordered, before going to the capital to take part in politics, that Jade City immediately raise funds and prepare for war in order to serve His Majesty. As for the method of raising funds, the merciful duke, mindful of his father, was unwilling to increase taxes on the people. Naturally, he merely borrowed-

"As far as I know," Thales interrupted him, "that war never happened."

"Yes. Speaking of that, it was thanks to Your Highness..." Myrahovich smiled broadly. "But the fiscal budget had already been made, the loan contracts and promissory notes had already been signed, and the fiscal and economic crisis that followed proved the duke's foresight..."

"Crisis?"

The finance and tax officials spoke again:

Not long after Eckstedt withdrew its troops, to celebrate the kingdom's confirmation of an heir, Duke Zayen donated large tracts of mines, farmland, and related industries to the royal family. Those had been no small sources of income and had seriously affected the fiscal health of the South Coast Territory. The timing of the donation was roughly-

"After I went to Eckstedt," the prince said with an ugly expression. "Believe me, Zayen's donation of land to the royal family was not merely for congratulations."

Myrahovich told him with difficulty that, as a result, they had no choice but to borrow once again to fill the shortfall. Over these thirty years, after all the crises and disasters mentioned above, Jade City's debts had continuously renewed and grown by the day. Until today, principal and interest together...

Thales glanced at that number and felt a wave of dizziness.

"Then, gentlemen, may I ask about the debt repayment schedule and arrangements?" Mallos asked softly.

The officials looked at one another.

"For such a large debt," Mallos said with a firmness that brooked no doubt, "you must have arranged a repayment plan long ago, correct? Rather than waiting until the final day before hurrying to raise money for repayment?"

Thales reacted, and his eyes lit up.

"Of course, of course we did. In fact, Duke Zayen was already busy with this matter before the celebration, planning to resolve it one payment at a time..." Lord Myrahovich hurriedly said. "And now that Your Highness sits at the center and handles affairs with wisdom, we naturally have even more confidence in clearing the debt!"

Thales took a deep breath and reminded himself that life was still beautiful. He could not be beaten down by reality.

"Then, my lords," Thales raised his head, folded his hands, steadied his voice, and looked very professional, very knowledgeable, as if his chest held strategies worth ten thousand gold coins, "at present, how much funding can Jade City's treasury reserves allocate for repayment?"

"Not little, Your Highness, not little," one auditor said, puffing up his chest. "One must know that Jade City is a regional capital. Its foundation is thick, and its revenues are abundant..."

Thales nodded in satisfaction.

"Compared to the debt?" Storo said darkly.

The financial officer instantly shrank back.

"Not enough, Your Highness, not enough," the seemingly dim-eyed old accountant said shakily. "One must know that Jade City is a regional capital. Its expenditures are complex, and its outlays are extremely high..."

Thales' smile stiffened slightly.

Seeing that the atmosphere was turning bad, Treasurer Myrahovich hurriedly spoke:

"In fact, we still have many methods to raise enough money. For example, we can flexibly adjust the budget, advance or even divert certain less urgent accounts, such as city construction, disaster reconstruction, and relief fund reserves. Or delay the payment of salaries and subsidies for certain temporary external clerks, then find an opportunity to replenish them afterward when cash flow becomes more ample..."

"We can also reduce some redundant and unnecessary town posts," the assistant financial officer quickly continued. "Of course, positions above a certain level, such as clerks involved in finance and taxation, concern the city's operation and still cannot be moved lightly."

"We can find a pretext, such as celebrating the prince's visit, to collect this quarter's transaction tax and property tax in advance," a tax officer joined in.

"Based on each merchant's income record from the previous year, then increasing it by ten to twenty percent before collecting in advance?" another tax officer said quietly. "After all, the people's lives are getting better and better, and prices are rising steadily."

"A disaster relief fund was allocated a few days ago. We can temporarily suspend implementation and let those farmers wait a little longer..."

"Cut back on the various public banquets and ceremonies during the Emerald Celebration..."

"There is also the Jade Legion's equipment procurement plan. We can push it to next year. Though in my opinion, the equipment those green hats carry can still be used for several more years if we wrap the rusty parts..."

"Of course, we can also negotiate with the creditors and reach certain debt extension agreements. It is just that we would inevitably have to pay a little more interest."

"Northeast of Sunflare Town, a piece of wasteland has just been reclaimed from a bankrupt lord. Buyers are already making inquiries. We might as well urge them and speed up the procedures..."

"Including the sale of concessions for certain industries, as well as the prospecting and mining rights for newly discovered leaching crystal deposits, the oceanic eternal whale fishing rights... Of course, taxes on a few border lands are difficult to collect, so we might as well contract them out in full..."

The finance and tax officials began chattering over methods to raise money and repay the debt. Thales listened until his head felt as big as a bucket. Mallos and the other two also frowned repeatedly.

But Thales soon thought of certain matters.

"All right, all right, gentlemen. Let me put it this way." The prince interrupted them and asked tentatively, "After using all kinds of methods you mentioned, regardless of how many of them are terrible ideas, to show your marvelous abilities, raise the funds, and repay this one million one hundred seventy thousand..."

"One million one hundred seventy-eight thousand six hundred fifty-three, Your Highness."

Thales frowned and corrected himself:

"Very well. After we repay this debt totaling one million one hundred seventy-eight thousand six hundred fifty-three..."

"Partial debt, Your Highness," one financial officer reminded him. "This is only the largest portion."

Thales took a deep breath and spoke again:

"Then, after we repay this portion of debt, totaling one million one hundred seventy-eight thousand six hundred fifty-three..."

"And it is only the preliminary debt..."

"If we calculate the total..."

Bang!

Unable to endure any longer, Thales slammed the desk hard, startling everyone.

"Enough," His Highness the Prince said through gritted teeth. The officials lowered their heads one after another. "Just tell me directly. After that, how much money will Jade City have left?"

The officials exchanged glances, looking left and right, seemingly hesitant.

Mallos, Storo, and the others also exchanged a look.

Until the old accountant shivered.

"In fact, Your Highness, we would have nothing le-"

Myrahovich observed the prince's expression and hurriedly stopped his subordinate. "How much would Your Highness like to have left?"

Thales exhaled.

Good. At least someone here understood how this worked.

He scratched his chin and sniffed like a cat that had smelled fish.

"If, and I am only saying if, the kingdom was about to go to war, and Jade City wanted to show its heart in serving the country, say, by updating Kingdom's Wrath's Wrath Guard, repairing their equipment, changing their horses, and buying him a pair of height-increasing boots; or equipping Broken Dragon Fortress with twenty mystic guns, reinforcing the walls, and getting a batch of imported tobacco for the Flower of the Fortress..."

Or perhaps helping a certain king, who loved the people as his children and loved the country as his home, scrape together a new standing army capable of fighting?

The expressions of the finance and tax officials, Myrahovich included, all changed. They shrank down one after another, not daring to raise their heads or respond.

Thales initially wore an expectant expression, but gradually, his smile grew stiffer and more awkward.

No way.

"Your Highness," Myrahovich finally said cautiously, "what kind of tobacco does Lady Sonya of Broken Dragon Fortress like?"

Looking at him, Thales understood.

"I see..."

Thales took a deep breath and stared at the accounts report on the table with an awful expression.

So Jade City could still barely keep itself running. Being able to feed itself was already quite good...

If it also had to repay debt, then Emerald Palace would be even less able to dig out extra money for a certain supreme king of great talent and bold vision.

Unfortunately, one of the conditions he had once used to convince Kessel the Fifth to let him act freely and enter the game was...

Thales swallowed.

Bad.

Very bad.

Unless...

Thales said faintly:

"Tell me, there shouldn't be some royal saying like 'a Jadestar always pays his debts,' right?"

Mallos frowned.

"What?"

Thales reacted and squeezed out another smile.

"Nothing. Never mind. Just a rural saying from the North."

He quickly rallied and tested the waters:

"So if, my lords, and again I am only saying if, for all kinds of irresistible reasons, we do not repay this one million one hundred seventy thousand, what would happen?"

The moment these words left his mouth, the officials froze and looked at one another.

Treasurer Myrahovich coughed.

"Your Highness, most of the creditors are important figures within and beyond the South Coast Territory, people who can influence Jade City: industry owners from the major guilds, great merchants, several vassal families with long histories, large foreign sponsors, oh, right, and even the Royal Bank..."

"Of course, of course. They are all great figures and rich men. But," Thales waved a hand, "but what if I tell them, 'Grant me a little more time'? They cannot force me to repay the debt, can they? For example, by raising an army to attack me? 'Creditors do not die at the hands of deadbeats'?"

The financial officials were speechless. Once again, they looked at one another, as though this was the first time they had encountered such a ruler.

"They, they... But our credit..." Treasurer Myrahovich seemed unable to react.

Seeing his reaction, Thales' eyes turned.

"They cannot force you, Your Highness," Mallos coughed, interrupting this conversation. "After all, they have neither an army nor authority. They would be helpless against your breach of contract. And I recall that in the history of the kingdom, there have not been no precedents..."

Thales' momentum changed. He nodded solemnly.

"Then we might as well study-"

Standard-Bearer Hugo Fubi inserted a chilling sentence:

"The last one who did so was precisely Red King John."

Thales' expression froze on his face.

"Yes. He borrowed money to raise an army and launch a coup. After he successfully took the throne, he used his dignity as king to throw all his creditors into prison, threatening them into delaying, reducing, or even canceling the debts," Mallos added softly. "Those unwilling to comply were framed by the Secret Intelligence Department as traitors, their property confiscated and their heads cut off. In this way, Red King's debts were naturally wiped clean."

The finance and tax officials' expressions tightened. They wanted to speak but stopped.

Thales frowned deeply.

Mallos lifted his teacup and calmly took a sip.

"Why aren't you continuing with the question?"

Mallos turned in surprise. "Your Highness?"

"Go on. According to your usual habit, you should be asking me a question now," Thales said, his face full of displeasure. "'Guess what happened to Red King after that, Your Highness?'"

Mallos' movement stiffened.

A few seconds later, he lightly raised his teacup toward the prince and smiled apologetically.

"All right. I understand what you mean." Thales did not wait for his answer. He covered his face with both hands and sighed toward the ceiling. "The Iron Bank does not tolerate arrears."

Everyone present looked at one another, utterly confused.

"Nothing. Just a folk saying from the Western Desert... So now, yes, repayment..."

Thales came back to himself. Looking at the numbers on the accounts, he felt uncomfortable all over.

"In fact, Your Highness," Treasurer Myrahovich reminded him anxiously, "even if we truly become overdue and breach the contract, there is no need to worry. We still have other solutions. There is no need to reach... Red King's step."

"Oh?"

Thales' spirits rose the moment he heard this.

The treasurer nodded.

"According to the loan contracts, and following the old precedents left from the era of the Virtuous King, when we borrowed the money, what we mortgaged was the future tax revenue of Jade City and even the South Coast Territory..."

"Future tax revenue?"

Thales was stunned. "Which kinds?"

"Many kinds, Your Highness," another tax officer said thoughtfully. "Aside from the traditional land rent from the directly governed fiefs of Jade City, and the territory taxes and agricultural, forestry, and field taxes fixedly paid by vassals, as well as commutation taxes, what we levy also includes transaction taxes, real estate taxes, product taxes, security taxes, water and land passage taxes, customs duties, concession taxes, deed taxes, notarization fees, recognition fees, and so on throughout the South Coast. There are thirteen major tax categories in total, with forty-four secondary tax items divided beneath them, and beneath each tax item there are further detailed types..."

"Enough, enough!" Thales' ears hurt from listening. "Gods, I will never understand finance."

But when he reacted, his expression changed again.

"Wait. You mean that if we default, we will have to hand over the South Coast Territory's income for the next several quarters or even several years in the future?"

"Not all of it, Your Highness, no," the old accountant said shakily. "According to the amount of principal owed, the degree of delinquency and arrears, and the level of penalty in each debt contract, the mortgaged tax revenue also has an approximate proportion..."

"Approximate proportion? How much?"

"Not much, Your Highness. After all, Jade City is a regional capital..." The treasurer was heroic and spirited as he waved a large hand.

Thales' mind began moving again. "Then if, and this is still an if, the western front needs money to-"

"Not enough, Your Highness," the tax officer answered extremely quickly, cutting off Thales' last bit of luck. "After all, Jade City is a regional capital."

Thales' smile disappeared, and the study quieted as well.

"Fine. Then to put it simply, because of this damned portion of preliminary debt," Thales tried not to think of more, "Jade City is currently entangled in debt and short on funds. It cannot, in the short term, withdraw a large amount of money to support national construction and the great cause of revival?"

The officials quickly turned their heads and looked elsewhere.

"And if I cannot repay the debt, things will be even worse," Thales continued, his expression worsening as he spoke. "Because the South Coast Territory's revenue for several consecutive years in the future will not be stably guaranteed, much less freed up to serve the kingdom?"

When he finished speaking, the officials lowered their heads deeply and did not dare breathe too loudly.

Thales glared at the tops of their heads and hats for several seconds without waiting for a single answer.

Thales pressed a hand to his heart, drew a deep breath, then exhaled harshly.

"Then what am I-"

Thales forced down his irritation, along with the words that were about to leave his mouth:

Then what the hell am I sitting here for?

"A-apologies. The Finance and Taxation Department is incapable and has disappointed Your Highness," Treasurer Myrahovich said with shame across his face.

"Disappointed?"

Thales suppressed his temper and forced the corners of his mouth upward.

"No, no, no. How could I be disappointed? Someone else should be disappointed..."

The prince's smile gradually vanished. He looked numbly at the accounts report before him.

"Ha, ha. As for me..."

I am done for.

Seeing the duke sit in place with an ugly expression and say nothing, the atmosphere in the study grew darker and more oppressive.

Until-

"Wait," Thales suddenly remembered something and came to himself. "These debts were all borrowed with Zayen's seal and approval, in the name of the Covendier family, correct?"

The officials all froze.

Lord Myrahovich's eyes turned.

"Well, Duke Zayen himself did indeed guarantee the repayment of the debts when they came due..."

"Thank the gods!"

Thales first clenched his fist and waved it hard. Only then did he realize he had gone a little too far, and he hurriedly sat upright.

"I mean, even if the debt is delayed, it is Covendier's credit that suffers, right? 'A Covendier debt always goes rotten'?"

Everyone froze again.

Looking at their expressions, Thales put away his awkward smile and coughed.

"Don't be nervous. I am joking. Debts still have to be repaid. It is just... how much family property does Covendier have, exactly?"

"Your, Your Highness?" Myrahovich seemed to understand something, and his expression turned frightened.

Mallos' gaze also chilled.

"If, and I am only saying if," Thales scratched his chin, "from Emerald Palace's inventory to the industries under the Iris Flower's name, or Little Flower's private funds, all these things put together, how much are they worth?"

The old accountant's expression changed greatly. "Your Highness, are you planning to, to confiscate the Covendier family's..."

The officials all changed color.

Thales shrugged.

"What? It is the mess he left behind. The debt he signed. I use his money to repay it, and in doing so I help him stabilize Jade City's finances. Is this not only right and proper, thank the gods?"

The treasurer trembled.

"But Lord Zayen..."

Thales waved his hand broadly.

"I believe that he is loyal to the public, devoted to the country, and mindful of the overall situation. He certainly would not object."

Right?

The moment his words fell, the entire study became silent.

Whether the officials from the Finance and Taxation Department or Mallos and the others, all of them looked at him with strange expressions.

Thales' smile froze on his face.

"All right, it was just a joke. I do not intend to empty Emerald Palace's household," the prince coughed, waving repeatedly, as if trying to drag time back into the past. "I have written to His Majesty. Rest assured, Renaissance Palace will reply soon and decide the related matters..."

At that time, whether it was selling ancestral property or mortgaging it for repayment, it would no longer be up to Zayen or himself to decide.

Thinking of this, Thales' expression darkened.

His eyes turned.

"But, of course, whether for arbitration or for finance, it is very necessary to figure out how much money sits in the Covendier family's private accounts, correct?"

The study was quiet. No one dared answer him.

Thales could only put away his smile and wave awkwardly.

"Go on. Busy yourselves with your affairs. Daily matters. Raising money to repay debt. And..."

Looking at the meek finance and tax officials before him, who did not dare say much, Thales sighed.

"That will be all."

At the prince's urging, Storo and Hugo escorted all the officials away and sent them back to work as quickly as possible.

After all, there were still plenty of matters to trouble him.

Once the door closed, Thales collapsed into his chair.

"What kind of damned mess is this?"

Mallos, who remained behind, was thoughtful. With bandages still wrapped around his arm, the Watchman slowly paced.

"With a single order, stripping a duke who governs a region of his title, confiscating his household property," the Watchman said faintly. "Do you know who the last person to do this was?"

"Ha, let me guess," Thales picked up his teacup and mocked listlessly. "A king? The kind who died miserably? Convenient for comparison with me?"

"No. Not a king."

"Thank the gods. Then there is nothing to compare."

"An emperor," Mallos said softly. "The last emperor in the world."

Thales' hand, which held the teacup, stiffened.

"Hey, Tormond, how are your injuries?"

One second later, Thales produced a smile and changed the topic in time before the other party could tell him the tragic end of "the Last Emperor," Sebastian the Ninth.

Mallos looked at the bandages on his body.

"They no longer hinder me. Thank you for Your Highness' concern. Incidentally, congratulations. Without spending a single soldier or pawn, you smoothly took control of Emerald Palace."

"It is nothing. It was not my credit anyway," Thales said, closing the accounts report on the desk with a headache. "And I only followed the circumstances, guided them along, and am temporarily transitioning, watching over Emerald Palace."

To hell with acting according to circumstances.

He remembered something and looked up.

"Right. Thank you, Tormond. If you had not arrived at the arena with the banner in time, Zayen would have..."

"He would not have."

Thales raised his head in confusion.

Mallos' gaze was certain.

"Even if I had not carried that banner into the venue, Duke Zayen would still have yielded. At most, the process would have been more difficult and the method more embarrassing. But you would still have safely and smoothly sat in this position and taken control of Emerald Palace."

Thales' expression sharpened.

"How do you know?"

Mallos glanced at the ledger on the desk.

Thales frowned and fell silent.

"If, and I am only saying if," after a long while, Thales snorted softly, "if I hanged those useless financial officials who occupy their posts and do nothing..."

He raised his head.

"Do you think the remaining people in the Finance Department would devote themselves more fully, help me solve the debt, and bring in revenue?"

Mallos frowned slightly.

"Guess what, Your Highness," a few seconds later, he said faintly, "what happened to Red King after that?"

Thales stared at him for several seconds and snorted coldly.

"Fine!"

Thales no longer dwelled on this topic. He spread his hands.

"You know, compared to this, what surprises me more is Jade City's Finance and Taxation Department. Its scale and manpower are more than three times that of the kingdom's Finance and Taxation Office."

He sank into thought.

Looking at Myrahovich and his people, no wonder Chief Joco and his accountants and tax clerks could not compete with them.

"Not only that. There are also municipal officers, trade officers, judges, security officers..." Thales murmured, distracted.

"Indeed," Mallos said, looking at the accounts report on the table. "Astonishing."

"Let me tell you, Tormond. From administration to public security to markets to finance, I attended four meetings in just one morning," Thales came back to himself, and simply looking at it made him feel deeply irritated. "Most of the time, all I could do was smile and nod, watching one official after another come in and out respectfully, saying words that were perfectly correct and completely useless..."

"You have worked hard," Mallos replied respectfully. "I wonder how many meetings Duke Zayen used to hold in a day."

Thales was immediately left speechless.

A few seconds later, he sighed deeply.

"Have Wya come over later, Tormond. I need to write another letter to the one in Renaissance Palace and remind him."

"You mean write a letter asking for money to repay the debt?"

Thales' fingers stiffened.

How could that be possible?

Even if he wanted money, he would have to mention it in the letter after next.

Mallos narrowed his eyes.

"His Majesty will probably not be too satisfied."

Thales turned toward Mallos and sighed helplessly.

"Yes. But no matter what, he will not be satisfied, Tormond. At least, he will not be satisfied with this ledger," the prince patted the table and explained to the Watchman, and also to himself. "But if he thinks this place is the same as the North, and that he can easily take over by sending one team of supervising officers and royal envoys, happily collect the money, then he is wrong. Gravely wrong. Ridiculously wrong..."

"Mm-hm."

"Worse still, he is not someone who can calmly and tolerantly face his own mistakes," Thales sank into murmuring to himself. "On the contrary, as a ruler, he will only stubbornly and relentlessly persist until he turns his own mistake into the entire world's."

As for the price, everyone would have to bear it with him.

"Because that way, it would no longer look like he was wrong?"

Thales raised his head and unexpectedly glanced at Mallos.

He had truly not expected the other party to respond, and with such... undignified words.

"Yes. If the ox refuses to drink, he will not force its head down," Thales chuckled. "Instead, he will dig apart the dam until the flood covers the sky, then point at the ox sinking underwater and say, 'Look, isn't it drinking now?'"

"And drinking its fill," Mallos said softly.

Thales exchanged a glance with him and laughed quietly.

"Exactly."

"Then, Your Highness," Mallos changed the topic, "have you thought about how you will mediate between the two Covendiers who are being 'received as honored guests'?"

Thales' expression sank.

"No."

"But things have reached this point. I fear it is no longer something I can decide," Thales pointed overhead. "At least, before Renaissance Palace replies, there is not much we can do."

At that time, the battle that belonged to him would truly begin.

"But they can," Mallos said. "So I suggest Your Highness had best start preparing and do something first."

Thales frowned.

"You mean..."

"Find out the truth behind Duke Lenster's assassination that year," Mallos said. "That is the key to arbitrating this case."

Mallos looked at the accounts report on the desk.

"Perhaps more than this case."

Thales' expression darkened when he heard this, and he was silent for a long while.

"Tormond, do you truly believe Zayen killed his father to seize the title and framed his own uncle?"

"I am not certain, Your Highness."

"Then Federico framed him in order to avenge his father?"

"I am not certain of that either."

"Then would you rather the truth be the former or the latter?" Thales asked softly.

Mallos noticed something strange. "Your Highness?"

"No matter how we investigate, the result will be one of those two," Thales said distractedly. "Federico wants the former. Zayen wants the latter."

Mallos frowned.

"They both only want the result that benefits themselves, Your Highness. This is human nature."

Thales sneered.

"Since that is the case, what does it matter what the truth was back then? What meaning does it have, whether it truly happened or was fabricated out of nothing? Isn't it enough to know that many years ago, Zayen took power because of this matter, and many years later, Federico used this matter to overthrow him?"

The prince thought of everything that had happened over these days, from the silencing case to the change at the arena. He only felt irritated, disgusted, and nauseated.

"Truth, Tormond. To some people, truth is nothing at all."

The study quieted.

"But you are not 'some people,' Your Highness," Mallos said softly. "To you, truth means everything."

Thales was slightly moved.

"And regardless of what result may come, only those who know the truth can truly hold the initiative."

This time, Thales was silent for a long time.

"All right, Tormond. Send people to investigate the old case from that year and find out the truth," Thales sighed. "Especially the grudges between old Duke Lenster and his brother, that Viscount Sonar. Although I highly suspect that after so many years, Zayen would not have left us many clues or much evidence."

"As you command, Your Highness." Mallos bowed slightly. "In fact, I have already sent people to begin this matter."

Thales froze, then said unhappily:

"Hmph. I knew it."

Mallos was expressionless as he turned to leave.

"But, Tormond," just before Mallos walked out of the study, Thales suddenly spoke, "you and I both know what kind of result the one in Renaissance Palace wants."

Mallos' expression tightened.

"You know, don't you? Even if we find out the truth, it cannot outweigh a single letter from Renaissance Palace, a single decree."

Thales stared into space.

"That is the most difficult battle we, no, I, must truly face."

Mallos was silent for a while.

"Do you really think so? That we should be worried about Renaissance Palace?"

Thales laughed despite himself.

"What else?"

Mallos turned around, his face solemn and stern.

"Where are you, Your Highness?"

Thales paused. He looked around.

"Uh, the honored guest study? The study used by the Virtuous King over a hundred years ago?"

"No." Mallos shook his head, enunciating each word. "What I am asking is: Where. Are. You. Right. Now?"

Thales froze.

"Emerald Palace," he thought for a long time before he finally understood. "I am in Emerald Palace, the ancestral palace of the Iris Flower, the Covendier family."

Mallos nodded.

"Better because of friends than dead by enemies."

Thales looked at his expression and could not help growing tense.

"Which one?"

The prince said gravely:

"In this palace, Tormond, which Covendier are you truly worried about?"

Mallos did not answer. He merely asked in return:

"Which one is not a Covendier?"

Thales was stunned.

But they were soon interrupted. Wya and several guards arrived at the study and informed the Duke of Star Lake with excitement and respect:

From yesterday evening until now, after several of the fastest military messenger crows had flown in relay without rest, day and night, the reply sent from Renaissance Palace to His Highness Thales had finally arrived.

With a heavy heart, and with the feeling that he was about to welcome a battle, Thales accepted the letter tube that Wya protected as if it were his own life. He drew out the scroll bearing the supreme king's will and slowly unfolded it.

But this time, the king had neither written him a long and complicated guide to seizing power, nor sent a lengthy list of officials to take over Jade City. He had not even included his opinion on how to handle Zayen himself or the old case from that year. There was not even a single severe and harsh rebuke or lesson, the kind Thales was used to.

Under the Star Lake Guard's full expectation, and under Thales' wide-eyed stare, this astonishingly short royal reply contained only a few words, so few they were not even wider than the nine-pointed star wax seal stamped outside:

[Handle it yourself.]