Chapter 717: Red and Black

"I am deeply honored by Your Highness' visit."

The moment Thales walked into the guest room, he saw Federico Covendier sitting alone in the reception hall, facing the door, gently rubbing the teacup in his hands.

His face was sallow, his clothes plain, and he looked thin and frail, almost like an ascetic monk.

He was completely different from the Federico who had charged into the selection meeting before everyone's eyes, mad and desperate.

Thales said nothing either. He simply sat down opposite Federico by himself.

The seat was made of hardwood and somewhat uncomfortable. When Thales lowered his head, he discovered that the cup by his hand contained only the most basic tea. Its color was calm and pale, almost like clear water.

"Have they treated you harshly?" Thales asked thoughtfully.

Clearly, although the room where Federico was confined was right across from Zayen's, whether in utensils and furnishings or food, clothing, and daily needs, it was far inferior to that of his ducal cousin.

"No, Your Highness." Federico neither rose nor raised his head, only focused on fiddling with the teacup in his hands. "In fact, the treatment here is almost excessively good. It makes it difficult for me not to think back to childhood."

Seeing Federico's casual attitude toward the prince, Glover, who had come along, showed anger on his face. He strode forward, intending to kindly help the other party recall the etiquette for an audience, but Thales waved and stopped him.

"No need to search him, Gallen. He will not hurt me."

When Thales said this, he stared straight at Federico, as if trying to hook the man's soul out through his eye sockets.

At least for now, while he still needs me, he will not.

"Thank you for Your Highness' trust."

Federico said this with his mouth, but his gaze drifted without anchor, as if he were seeing something else through the teacup.

Glover gave an angry snort. He glared fiercely at Federico, as though he would split open the other party's heart and liver in the next moment to check whether any weapons were hidden inside.

But Federico still did not raise his head.

A few seconds later, under Thales' gaze, Zombie deliberately inspected the front edge of his sword in front of Federico before leaving the room, leaving only Thales and Federico behind.

"Let us not waste time and get straight to the point," Thales picked up the teacup and said solemnly. "Fede, you do not mind me calling you that, do you? It seems Hilley and the others call you that."

Only after the prince finished speaking did Federico slowly raise his eyes and look straight at Thales. His face was covered with bruises of all colors, and bandages were wrapped around his arms and torso, giving off a strong medicinal smell.

"Of course not," Federico said faintly. "Only, I thought you would come to see me sooner."

Thales shifted his sitting posture on the uncomfortable chair. While frowning, he could not help noticing that although Federico was covered in wounds from his arrest, some of which were rather frightening, his speaking pace was steady and his expression calm, as if the body he used to speak and the body that was injured were not the same one.

Be careful, Thales. Be careful.

The voice in his heart quietly reminded him:

No matter how many coincidences and accidents lay between, it was precisely this seemingly empty-handed man who stirred up storms in Jade City and pulled Zayen down from the seat of city lord.

Even more frightening, unlike Zayen, this man had fallen to the bottom and had nothing left to lose.

Thus, he had no scruples.

And was even less bound.

Even at this very moment, when he seemed so alone and weak.

Thinking of this, Thales' tone cooled.

"Tell me. When did the Secret Intelligence Department find you? What did they say to you, and what follow-up arrangements did they make afterward?"

The teacup in Federico's hand swayed lightly.

"So this is Your Highness' view of me," he said with a smile that was not a smile. "A chess piece of the kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department?"

"Then, Fede, are you?"

Federico paused for a while, thoughts churning in his eyes.

"Although I know they were the ones pulling strings and building bridges behind the scenes, no, I have never had the fortune of meeting any of them. Even messages and intelligence came through middlemen who had passed through who knows how many hands."

His gaze rose from the teacup.

"In Jade City, my eyes were smeared black. I could only fight alone and rely on myself. That indeed is not much different from being a chess piece."

Thales' heart sank.

"As for afterward, their people, if they truly were their people, said nothing. At most, they implied that the less I knew, the better." Speaking to this point, Federico gently turned his head. "Naturally, it cannot compare to Your Highness surveying the overall situation and commanding the whole."

The less he knew, the better.

Thales frowned deeply.

That did fit the Secret Intelligence Department's style.

He deliberately ignored the other party's words and continued questioning:

"Then after Duke Lenster's unfortunate incident that year, where have you spent these years?"

"In my late father's lifetime, he had reliable old friends and connections who risked retaliation from the Covendier family to shelter me, allow me to live hidden under an assumed name," Federico's eyes stilled, as though he had recalled something unpleasant. "Out of honor, promise, and gratitude, forgive me for being unable to reveal their exact names."

Thales observed his expression and nodded.

"Until the Secret Intelligence Department dragged you out?"

Federico shook his head and corrected Thales:

"Until the family sheltering me could no longer bear the pressure, changed faces, rolled up my bedding and luggage, and drove me out the door."

Thales fell silent when he heard this. A few seconds later, however, he scoffed.

"So, according to you, you could no longer hide outside and were forced to return to Jade City. You were quite wronged?"

"Not entirely." Before Federico's eyes appeared that dark, cold, narrow room, and in his ears there seemed to echo screams and groans. "If one has a home to return to, who would be willing to live under another's roof?"

Thales observed the other party's expression, secretly inferred his experiences, and tried hard to understand the man before him.

"So you simply returned to Jade City, recruited forces, and stirred up trouble?"

Federico snorted softly.

"Whether or not the Secret Intelligence Department intervened, regardless of whether nobles aided me, one day I would certainly have returned," he said coldly. "For my father, for the truth, for justice."

Thales looked at him and frowned.

One second later, Federico suddenly relaxed and smiled faintly at the prince.

"But indeed, I chose to return now because after many years, a great figure of the kingdom who fears no power, is restrained by none, cannot be deceived, and is sufficient to contend with Zayen finally arrived in Jade City to help me redress my grievance."

Thales' expression tightened, and he forced a smile.

You overestimate me.

Right now, the entire city of Jade City was about to crush him.

"That day in the arena, in full view of the public," Thales collected his mood, "how could you be certain that I would stand up to protect you?"

"I was not certain," Federico shook his head, seemingly unconcerned. "But I believed that with Your Highness' intelligence and character, even if you did not step forward at the time, you would react afterward and speak righteously on my behalf."

Thales sneered.

"But if it truly waited until 'afterward,' with you falling into Zayen's hands, overturning the situation would not be a matter of shouting one or two sentences."

"Fortunately, Your Highness responded properly and decided in time."

Federico's answer was watertight, without a flaw. Thales was silent for a long while.

It was very interesting. Although on the day of the arena incident, Federico's actions and performance had seemed flamboyant and unrestrained, bold and overstepping, even mad and desperate, seeing him today, this Federico privately rubbing a teacup gave off a calm, composed, low-key, and meticulous feeling.

It formed an exact contrast with that cousin of his, who was outwardly humble and approachable but in truth ruthless and vicious.

Or, one could say, equally different inside and out?

"I strongly doubt something, Fede." The prince leaned forward and spoke again. "Do you truly believe that Zayen Covendier, as the duke's son at the time, Jade City's first heir, the inevitable future South Coast Guardian Duke, coveted power so much and could not wait to inherit, so he hurriedly killed his father and framed his own uncle in order to gain power sooner?"

Hearing the key subject, Federico's expression changed, becoming solemn and serious.

"I know what Your Highness doubts."

He thought briefly, then put down his teacup and looked straight at Thales.

"At first glance, the ducal seat was already in his pocket. My dear cousin indeed had no need to do such a thing."

But Fede changed direction:

"But did my father not know this? In any case, if the duke died, the seat would be inherited by his nephew. What need would he have to murder his elder brother? If he truly wanted to seize the position, why not kill Zayen as well?"

"Perhaps, perhaps he tried," Thales narrowed his eyes, but the words he said were not friendly. "He simply did not succeed?"

"Please believe me, Your Highness. Or you may send people to inquire of the old people from the past. With Viscount Sonar Covendier's thunderous methods and character, if he had truly tried, even if he had only thought of it," Federico did not show offense on his face, but his words allowed no doubt, "then there would be no Zayen today."

Thales' heart tightened.

"Moreover, my father and Uncle Lenster were brothers born of the same mother. They supported each other for many years, sharing sweetness and bitterness. Even if they disagreed, there was absolutely no suspicion between them. For the family, he worked diligently and exhausted his heart and blood, never harboring ambition to overstep and seize the position. For such a person, what need was there to suddenly change face overnight and strike ruthlessly at any cost, murdering his brother to seize the title, while his elder brother was alive, his rule stable, and Zayen still the first heir?"

Federico carefully observed Thales' expression.

"By contrast, is not the so-called 'truth' of conspiracy and usurpation fabricated by Zayen with the power in his hands and forced upon the world even more suspicious?"

Thales snorted when he heard this.

It was not without reason.

But he merely smiled faintly and drank a mouthful of tea.

"Perhaps. Perhaps Viscount Sonar was loyal to his elder brother in life and was not someone consumed by lust for power. But unfortunately, I have witnessed betrayal born from loyalty, more than once."

Thales looked straight into Federico's eyes, trying to find an unusual ripple within them.

"For example, Duke Lenster at the time was old and muddled, listened to slander, stubbornly tilted toward the new wealthy merchant groups, authorized and supported their growth, thereby neglecting the landed nobles, old vassals, and even the authority belonging to Covendier..."

As expected, Federico frowned.

"So the viscount, loyal to the family, was heartbroken and determined to speak for old law and reason, to wake his elder brother with a thunderous warning. Thus he made up his mind, resorted to swift severity, and walked a road of no return?"

Thales' voice carried a bewitching quality.

"And after the deed was done, family rule returned to the proper path. The viscount's own wish was fulfilled, he had no more attachments, and willingly bore responsibility, calmly letting go and departing?"

The entire room was quiet for a long time.

Thales watched Federico without moving.

"If Your Highness truly believes this, or rather, if you truly suspect this," as expected, Federico's answer remained calm, but a chill that could not be ignored lay between the lines, "then why not directly knock on the opposite door and invite Zayen Covendier to return to the seat of city lord? Everyone would be satisfied, and all would rejoice."

"You misunderstand," Thales smiled. "That is not what I suspect. Or rather, not only that."

"Your Highness?"

Thales paused for a while.

"What I suspect is, Fede, whether you truly believe from the bottom of your heart that 'Zayen is the culprit,' or..."

His gaze sharpened.

"For revenge, power, even honor, perhaps even to support the goal and motivation that keep you alive, you tell yourself that you must believe this?"

Federico frowned tightly.

"Forgive my dullness. I have failed to grasp the true meaning within Your Highness' words."

Thales leaned back and examined him.

"After investigating, my people told me that before the Bloody Year, typhoid fever was prevalent in the kingdom, and Jade City was no exception. The young Zayen was weak and nearly died. That was why Duke Lenster sent him to the Eastern Continent. In name, he was studying abroad. In reality, he was seeking doctors and medicine."

The prince said softly:

"At the same time, you, Federico Covendier, were raised as the Iris Flower family's second heir in the event of an 'unfortunate accident'?"

Federico abruptly raised his head.

"Then if Zayen had unfortunately died young back then, the ducal seat would have been in your pocket, correct?" Thales said with ill intent. "Or if he dies now, there is still time?"

Federico was no longer calm and courteous. He stared coldly at Thales.

But Thales continued pressing hard.

"Tell me, Fede. When you wake from dreams at midnight and remember that the South Coast Duke's seat was once close enough to grasp, yet ultimately brushed past you," he sighed, "have you ever felt even a trace of... unwillingness?"

The two fell into silence again, but this time, the temperature in the room was even lower.

"Your Highness actually does not like me very much, do you?" Federico said faintly after a long while.

"Like?"

"I thought Your Highness originally wished to seek the truth and correct what was bent and crooked," Federico looked toward Thales. "I did not expect that, like Zayen, you only wish to weave 'truth' with power."

Thales' expression cooled.

"You left your homeland for many years, Fede. But the moment you returned, you brought six murders and took six lives, not counting the casualties and losses affected by this, the countless lives ruined because of it."

Federico's gaze froze.

Thales picked up the teacup, his gaze cold.

"All to lure Zayen into the hook, draw him into covering things up, and force him to weave a cocoon around himself?"

"Those people," Federico refused to show weakness, "the merchants who paid black money, the middlemen who took money to hire murderers, the killers who received money and acted, the security officers who treated human lives like grass and forged evidence, even the jailers who caused my father to die inexplicably by 'suicide,' all of them deserved their crimes. Meeting this end was only punishment matching guilt."

"That is not for you to decide," Thales said without courtesy. "Moreover, arbitration and investigation are not finished. The truth remains unknown."

"One must know that Zayen ruled Jade City for many years. He has long covered the sky with one hand and left no flaws. I am merely the son of a criminal minister, difficult to convince the crowd. If I did not use extraordinary methods and force him into suspicion and disorder, I would not even have the chance to stand here and speak to you, reopening the old case."

"Then you can be considered to have gotten what you wanted," Thales sneered. "Do you know that people outside now call you the 'Scarlet Iris,' call Zayen 'Black Hand,' and call this family dispute 'Red and Black'?"

Federico paused when he heard this.

"I must say, I originally did not much like this nickname." He narrowed his eyes. "But when I think that my cousin may dislike his even more..."

When he thought of Zayen's expression, and how from now on he would never again dare wear his favorite black gloves, Federico felt happy.

Thales smiled coldly.

"Then that means, Fede, you are the one who was 'forced' to use extraordinary methods, seeking straightness through crookedness, wanting to use 'power' to weave the 'truth' you want."

Federico frowned.

"Tell me, Fede. If you had the chance to become Jade City's lord, the South Coast Duke," Thales put down the empty teacup and gazed sharply at him, "what price would you be willing to pay?"

The two quietly looked at each other.

But before long, Federico's tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed.

"Your Highness must have just seen my cousin."

Thales' gaze moved.

"Because your mood is bad," Federico's expression returned to calm, "and I think at this moment, in all of Jade City, there should be no one else capable of worsening Your Highness' mood."

"You observe quite carefully."

"Please forgive me," sensing the displeasure in the prince's words, Federico bowed slightly. "When a person has drifted through foreign lands and lived under another's roof for long enough, he gradually learns to observe words and expressions."

Drifting through foreign lands, living under another's roof, observing words and expressions.

Thales chewed over those words.

What kind of person was he, exactly?

And what kind of role did the Secret Intelligence Department of the kingdom treat him as?

Although since entering Jade City, Thales had already fought and matched wits with this person several times, both openly and in secret, he did not understand him at all. He did not understand his past, his character, or his intentions.

He only knew that he was a...

Covendier.

Federico continued speaking calmly:

"And I guess this is precisely why you came to find me. My cousin is unwilling to accept the current situation. Using the improper advantage of having ruled for many years, he shamelessly bound himself and Jade City together, forcing Your Highness to hesitate over the consequences?"

"One after another, you people cannot leave your rooms, yet you understand outside matters quite well," Thales scoffed.

"Your Highness misunderstands. I have no such prophetic ability, nor Zayen's means of infiltrating from top to bottom." Federico's gaze drifted. "I simply... understand him too well."

"Oh?"

Federico nodded and looked toward empty space.

"When we were young, he and I would take little Hilley to play. Zayen was careless and broke an antique vase left behind by the Witch Queen. It was said that the mysterious inscription on it concerned the family's fate and was extremely important, so Uncle Lenster valued it greatly."

Thales' expression moved.

It seemed that he had heard Hilley tell this story before.

"When held accountable, Zayen was silent for a long time. In the end, he stepped forward and admitted his mistake. But before that, everything he had done was posturing, creating an atmosphere for everyone: the 'Lafist Vase' had not been broken by him. It was merely that, as the duke's son, he had to stand forward at that moment, bear the blame for someone else, and shield his brothers and sisters from wind and rain."

Federico scoffed, full of disdain.

"Uncle Lenster gave him a small punishment, and in the end, the matter was let go. But everyone present praised Zayen for having breadth and responsibility, for being fit to be duke, while glancing at me with strange eyes. We were all still young then, but do you know what it felt like when I stood beneath him, my heart filled with resentment yet unable to defend myself?"

He took a deep breath.

"As for my father... once his elder brother made a decision, he would no longer comment or investigate further. But that day, the look Father gave me..."

Thales could not help frowning. "Is living in your family truly not tiring?"

Federico came back to himself.

"Yes. The Covendier family was once flourishing with many branches and leaves. Among close relatives, there were at least half a dozen cousins of similar age to Zayen and me who were qualified to study and play together. Countless times, we walked past Ancestor Rock, hoping that one day we would establish achievements and engrave our names upon it."

Federico shook his head and said faintly:

"But in the end, most people followed tradition, changed surnames, and left the family. At the critical moment, those who truly dared stay to assist Iris Flower, or rather, those who truly dared, as Covendiers, to stand up and say no to Zayen's lies and rule..."

Federico did not continue. He only snorted coldly, his gaze sharp.

"From this, Your Highness can see that although Zayen was weak from childhood and failed at every training course, precisely because of that, he put all his energy into playing tricks and scheming." Federico's words carried hatred deep into the bone. "Even when facing irreversible loss, he still must grit his teeth and use any means necessary to snatch benefits from a certain defeat and take back a round."

"Just like that vase. Just like this time..."

Federico narrowed his eyes.

"Since he was willing to bow his head and hand the seat of city lord to you, he must have left an even sharper and harder-to-handle fallback."

Thales silently watched him.

Federico took a deep breath, returned to the present, and became realistic and serious again.

"Then I guess Your Highness came to see me for no other reason than to make a gesture for Zayen to see, warning him that you actually have another choice and attempting to force him to yield."

Federico revealed a smile at just the right moment.

"Because in your heart, he, Zayen Covendier, remains the only proper choice to resolve Jade City's problems."

Thales frowned when he heard this.

"Perhaps I have spoken too much." Federico's smile slowly vanished, and he bowed slightly. "Because you now feel that I am overly perceptive, and the displeasure in your heart has risen further."

"Of course not." The other party's gaze made Thales quite uncomfortable. "One must know that the Black Prophet can even read minds. I still talk and laugh with him just fine."

"Of course not."

Federico repeated the Duke of Star Lake's words.

"Because your extraordinary reason tells you," he raised his eyes, "that perhaps, just perhaps, this Covendier before you, unpleasant whether in birth and image or methods and actions, may not merely be a spur to drive Zayen, nor merely a chess piece of the Secret Intelligence Department. Perhaps he truly has a way to resolve Jade City's deadlock in one move?"

"Strange." Thales scoffed and examined him. "Why do I feel that Zayen created such a huge problem for me, yet you seem rather happy?"

Federico paused for a while, seemingly thinking about something.

"You are right, Your Highness." He opened the corners of his mouth. "Because this means that he is still the Zayen I know."

"It also means my mission is not yet complete. I still have the chance to confront him, cross blades with him, and personally take revenge, rather than sit here until my corpse grows mold."

Federico looked around the room and murmured to himself:

"It means I can fulfill my long-cherished wish and force that stubborn fool thoroughly onto a road of desperation, death, and no return."

Thales observed the other party's dazed yet firm appearance and sank into thought.

He understood Zayen and knew that the South Coast Duke was not afraid of him, not afraid of the dignity of a prince, not afraid of the name of a duke, and not even afraid of all the schemes arranged by the king.

But at that instant, Thales suddenly felt:

Perhaps, perhaps what Zayen Covendier would truly fear was this thin, frail man before him.

Federico Covendier.

Thinking of this, Thales could not help raising his head and looking directly at the other party for the first time.

"Of course, that also means I am still useful and valuable." Federico returned to himself. Noticing Thales' gaze, he smiled apologetically. "Then perhaps, perhaps next time you encounter such a problem, when you again walk to the doors of him and me, you will slightly set aside your likes and dislikes and first consider a certain less bright and splendid Covendier?"

Looking at him, Thales smiled.