Chapter 721: Leverage Part 1

In Emerald Palace, inside Zayen's room, Thales sat upright in the main hall, silent.

"Doyle boy, have you finished inspecting the meal?"

Zayen's voice sounded coldly, making no effort to hide his disgust and impatience.

"Do you know whether there is poison inside? Whether any notes have been stuffed in to pass messages?"

Behind Zayen, in the side hall across from them, Doyle, holding tableware, lifted his face from the table full of dishes.

"Ah? Oh, almost. Almost done."

Doyle's mouth was greasy. Hearing this, he even glared fiercely at Zayen, then dug a large spoonful of mashed potatoes from the mess of plates and bit it into his mouth with the posture of someone about to bite the spoon apart as well.

"Please wait a little longer. After all, you are a great duke, a big figure! Your status is noble and important. If something happens, heh, a ruined descendant of a small Mirror River family like me cannot bear the responsibility. Why don't you play with my little stuffed bear first, so you do not get bored?"

Zayen turned his head and looked at the stuffed bear on the dining table, pressing his lips together in disgust.

He endured the burning sensation in his stomach and looked toward the clock again:

Mealtime had already passed by an hour.

Over there, Doyle ate another bite of roasted meat and did not forget to make admiring tsking sounds.

The South Coast Duke finally could not endure any longer:

"Is this also how you inspect meals for your prince?"

"Eh, you got it right!"

Doyle took bites left and right, not forgetting to pretend to feed the little bear on the table. "Why are you so picky? No wonder you never grow up! Tsk, tsk. If you refuse to taste it first, how can the duke eat? Good, open your mouth, ahh, ahh..."

"Back then, I also did this-cough, cough. Apologies. Almost done."

Under Thales' sudden and unexpected knife-like glare, Doyle wilted halfway through speaking.

Doyle obediently lowered his head, put down his, to be precise, Zayen's meal, and hid far away.

Zayen and Thales exchanged a glance. The atmosphere in the room immediately changed, falling into suffocating silence.

"A great pity."

Zayen sighed softly.

"One must know that my father and I both relied heavily on him. Lord Brennan's passing is a wound to Jade City that cannot be filled."

Thales sat in place without answering. A wineglass filled with grape wine sat by his hand, but he had not touched it at all.

"Promise me. Catch the murderer and redress justice."

"Of course," Thales said softly. "If I can still wait until that day."

Zayen nodded.

"How is Jade City?"

"Worse."

Thales raised his head, his gaze cold.

"A dozen large merchant groups joined together to request an audience with me, asking me to take measures. Market disorder and unstable prices have already begun to affect their income and future plans.

"The Jade Legion received wages in time and was at least stabilized. But another group of Construction Department clerks who heard the news and know they may be owed wages are very dissatisfied. Some planned to make big news during the celebration, but it was discovered in time, and they are still negotiating now."

"Oh?" Zayen elegantly picked up a glass of wine to fill the hunger in his stomach.

"The Blood Bottle Gang's turf has had another incident. Gang fighting, street chaos, gradually beginning to affect ordinary citizens. The legend of the water ghoul is spreading noisily again...

"Add to that the Judgment Hall's low morale. Recent public security cases have piled up too much, and the prisons are nearly full. They can only cram more than ten criminals into one room. The Security Hall complains every hour, saying it is about to become a gang branch inside, while their control effect is also limited.

"The head of the Construction Department coincidentally fell ill. The deputy cannot make decisions. Orders to cut spending and reduce administration have long failed to be carried out. And once I get angry and want to replace people..."

Thales snorted coldly.

"As for the Finance Department and City Hall, they are still arguing even now, as if as long as they shrink their heads, kick the ball to others, and throw responsibility to other departments, the matter will pass and the problem will solve itself."

Never mind if floods outside rise to the sky and one day inevitably drown them too.

Thales thought this, his mood poor.

After hearing such a long string, Zayen nodded slightly, then laughed despite himself.

"They are a bunch of bastards, are they not?"

Thales looked at him.

Zayen swirled his wineglass and sighed with feeling.

"At first, they obey orders and act, appearing loyal and devoted, making you, as their master, quite satisfied, thinking they can each carry out their duties and assist your smooth rule.

"But very soon, you will discover that they will find problems at almost every possible link that can go wrong, down to details so small they cannot be smaller. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, whether for self-interest or following the trend, just like worms can always find cracks and hollow spaces in a building to nest and settle."

Zayen's gaze tightened.

"Thus, as time passes, everything from top to bottom becomes mottled, full of illnesses everywhere, riddled with holes. And even if you exert all your strength, all you can do is patch and mend, papering over the east and plastering the west.

"At times, you can only be led by the nose by their feigned madness, stupidity, and cunning schemes. Even if you know, you cannot explode.

"In the end, you discover that even if you sit at the highest point, you can only conform to the operating principles and general direction of this system, this machine. You draw benefits from it as much as possible, make use of the parts inside that can still be used, guide according to circumstances, and drift with the current, yet remain powerless to reverse the sky."

After Zayen finished these words, he was silent for a long time and looked toward Thales.

But the prince only stared faintly at him and did not answer.

Zayen lowered his head and pondered carefully for quite some time. Suddenly, he sighed, as if he had made some decision.

"Forget it. I will write a letter now." The duke put down the wineglass, walked to the desk, sat, and picked up a pen. "Take it to the Bopon family, who deal in funeral business. They owe Covendier a debt. When they see the letter, they will give you ten thousand gold coins. Of course, if your personal charm is sufficient, perhaps you can take a little more."

Thales' gaze moved.

"Why?"

"Please use this money to give Lord Brennan a generous burial. Be sure to let him rest peacefully after death, in order to calm the hearts of Jade City," Zayen said without raising his head, writing rapidly. "As for what remains, you may use it to fill the fiscal shortfall and temporarily get through the difficulty."

Speaking to this point, Zayen's gaze moved.

"Also, deal with Lausanne the Second. I do not want to see him killing people and taking lives on my turf, lawless and unchecked."

Thales picked up the wineglass he had not touched and gently rubbed it, but his gaze locked onto the other party.

"But if I do not take your letter and go to ask them for money myself, or even borrow money," he said sarcastically, "then I presume I could not beg up even a copper, correct?"

"Not necessarily," Zayen said without raising his head, neither hurried nor irritated. "Perhaps if you show that ancient imperial sword the old Western Desert bones gave you, they will agree."

Thales laughed with a scoff.

"Huge debt, a falling market, disorderly prices, rotten public security, bureaucrats who comply outwardly while defying inwardly, Jade City in complete chaos." Thales counted off one matter after another, his tone sharp and biting. "What can ten thousand gold coins do?"

"That is your problem," Zayen's pen did not stop, but he turned his gaze toward his guest. "Regent Thales?"

Thales only played with the wineglass and remained silently quiet.

"As city lord, do you truly understand Brennan?"

Zayen frowned slightly.

Thales thought of that suicide note and said with some feeling:

"His final wish was a simple burial. No tombstone, no words left behind. The simpler, the better. Even his ashes are to be scattered into the sea."

Zayen's pen stopped.

"So that is how it is. A simple burial. Frugal."

He put down the pen and frowned at the half-written letter, his gaze freezing on the phrase "generous burial."

A few seconds later, Zayen sighed softly, picked up the pen again, and continued writing.

"It does not matter. I will still write this letter. You will still use it to take the money. Even if there is no funeral, Brennan died an unnatural death and people are panicking. Whether the Judgment Hall or the entire officialdom of Jade City, you need to soothe them."

Thales smiled without warmth.

"So if a few more people die, Jade City's debt can be resolved?"

Zayen snorted softly and shook his head.

"I believe you know who killed Brennan, and who is eager to fan the flames and use you like a puppet."

"Brennan killed himself."

Thales' words made Zayen's pen tip tremble.

"In his study. He drank poisoned wine."

"He was not killed? Or forced to kill himself?" The South Coast Duke frowned suspiciously.

"He also left behind a suicide note," Thales ignored the other party's doubts. "A suicide note filled with regret and pain, tormented by conscience, admitting that the judgment that year was mistaken."

The prince raised his head at this point, his gaze like a blade, pressing straight toward the duke.

"Including the case files and evidence from the old duke's assassination."

Zayen's expression was as usual. He began writing again and added the signature.

But Thales kept staring at him, his gaze burning.

"Zayen, tell me now exactly what happened back then," he said softly, yet the force seemed to weigh ten thousand pounds, "before I have no choice but to investigate to the end and the truth comes to light."

Zayen was silent for a while.

"Then what are you waiting for?"

His attitude cooled and made no compromise.

"Dig to the roots, complete the arbitration, and arrest me into prison. A real prison. I hear the interior of the Prison of Bones is quite magnificent..."

Thales smiled.

"Even at this point, you still bite down and refuse to loosen your mouth. It seems this is the key to the problem."

"And you bite down on this one problem until you bite through and crush it, digging out the so-called truth you want. Then what?" Zayen abruptly raised his head at the desk. "Let me and Jade City be destroyed together? So you can start again on the ruins and achieve imperial greatness?"

After this sentence, both fell quiet for a while.

Thales looked at the wineglass, heavy with thoughts.

Zayen looked at the pen tip, his gaze frozen.

"You can keep the Jade Legion."

Zayen came back to himself and could not help being puzzled.

"What?"

Thales took a deep breath and put down the wineglass heavily.

"I said you do not need to hand over military power to the royal family. Of course, on the surface, you still have to give up the right to levy conscripted soldiers, but in any case, the South Coast's conscription system exists in name only, so you will not lose much."

Zayen frowned and tested:

"Mm-hm?"

"The bureaucracy and personnel appointments. Eternal Star City will not interfere, at least not excessively. Of course, with this mess, any interference from them would only add to the chaos."

"That is all?"

"The other conditions remain. I can make Federico stay far away from you and no longer remain in the South Coast Territory to make trouble for you."

Thales calmly finished the conditions and looked toward Zayen.

The duke was silent for a long time, his brows trembling slightly without stop.

At last, he exhaled and said solemnly:

"Fede will not be willing to give up."

Thales raised his brows.

"Then he must get past me first."

Zayen snorted softly and pondered for a moment.

"Taxes?"

Thales sighed in his heart.

Damn it.

Could he not be so sensitive toward numbers and accounts?

"The officials under Lord Joco Mann are all very professional," Thales said, bracing himself. "I believe they will work together with your people to discuss a system that balances fairness and efficiency and conforms to the interests of multiple parties..."

As expected, before he could finish, Zayen sneered.

"You know that is not what I want."

"But you know that is what he wants," Thales emphasized. "Deal?"

Zayen stared fixedly at him.

"Come back in a few more days," the words he spoke greatly disappointed Thales. "Perhaps by then, because of changes in Jade City, you will offer a better proposal?"

Thales' expression cooled.

"Zayen." The prince leaned back. "My patience has limits."

"What a coincidence. So does Jade City."

The negotiation broke down.

Thales looked at Zayen's firm gaze and sighed long in his heart.

The room quieted again. For a time, only the rustling of Zayen writing could be heard.

"Brennan should not have died like this," Thales suddenly said after a long silence.

Zayen paused.

"Indeed, he should not have."

"He was a good person, a good husband, a good father." Thales thought of the suicide note and became slightly distracted.

"And a good judge," Zayen added.

"He should not have died in a meaningless political storm and official struggle," Thales shook his head and sighed.

"No. Politics itself is meaning," Zayen did not raise his head. "Whether struggle or unity, they are only processes."

Thales shook his head, not agreeing.

"This is the price you must pay in order to bring together a large group of people with different thoughts and incompatible positions, and make them head toward the same destination," Zayen continued. "Helpless, heartless, powerless, meaningless."

Zayen picked up the melted sealing wax and looked toward the prince.

"But necessary, and realistic."

After saying this, the duke lowered his head and placed the letter into an envelope.

Thales frowned deeply.

Necessary, and realistic?

Without noticing it, the oppression and urgency that could only be felt in Emerald Palace appeared on him again.

"I want to yield the position to Hilley."

"Then that is even-what do you want?"

Zayen was handling the envelope. Hearing this, his expression changed and he suddenly raised his head.

Thales took a deep breath, feeling that he had just broken something in this room.

"I said, since I must both govern the city and investigate the case for arbitration, I truly cannot divide myself," the prince said solemnly, speaking like a diplomat. "Therefore, I have decided to let Miss Cecilia participate in government affairs, perhaps even go further and succeed as city lord. After all, Jade City has borne the surname Covendier for generations. In emotion and reason, I should not overstep and act in someone else's place."

The more Zayen listened, the worse his expression became.

"And then you use my safety as the condition," he said coldly, "and throw Jade City's unsustainable problems to her?"

Thales shrugged without confirming or denying.

"Then she will come to find me and force me to yield," Zayen continued with a cold laugh. "Or worse, she will grit her teeth and take the position, battering herself bloody alone, even if she has to dance naked."

"Perhaps." Thales thought of Hilley's appearance, and his heart sank.

The two were silent for quite a while.

"This must be his idea, correct?"

Zayen's tone was icy. He did not say the name, but both of them knew who "he" referred to.

"This is only a proposal. I am still considering it." Thales looked at the other party and deliberately emphasized the latter half. "You know, weighing pros and cons."

Zayen raised his head.

"I want to see Hilley. Now."

The other party's response made Thales' heart move.

"My lord duke, as far as I know, you are currently under arbitration investigation," he said in a businesslike tone. "To avoid suspicion, you may not meet outside guests."

Zayen frowned.

"Really?"

Half question, half threat.

"Yes. Also, Jade City is busy saving itself and stabilizing order," Thales raised his brows. "You understand."

A flash of light passed through Zayen's eyes.

He sneered.

"I thought you were a smart person, Thales."

"Oh? How so?"

Zayen picked up the pen again, was silent for a while, and continued writing.

"When we were young, Fede broke a precious prophetic artifact, framed young Hilley, and then stood by to see whether I would stand up and bear responsibility for her..."

Thales' expression changed slightly.

"If I admitted fault, then I was frivolous and had damaged family property. If I let Hilley be punished, then I, as elder brother, had failed to supervise and protect. If I defended myself and said Federico had done it, then I was a weak elder brother shifting blame to a younger brother..."

Zayen's gaze sharpened.

"And no matter which move I made, the entire family would be disappointed in their eldest son and heir."

After hearing this version of the story, Thales thought for a long time.

"You are now like a chess piece, Thales. You move however he wants you to move."

"But you have not realized," Zayen said sarcastically, "that according to Federico's chess route, no matter how you move, you lose."

After Thales finished listening, he silently nodded.

"You and Federico, perhaps including Hilley, in your Covendier dictionary, likely do not have the words 'retreat' and 'yield,'" he sighed softly. "Or rather, you think those words can only appear in other people's dictionaries, correct?"

Zayen snorted coldly.

"You promised me, Thales." The duke stared tightly at Thales. "No matter how ugly things became, you would absolutely not involve Hilley."

Thales' gaze darkened.

"Then consider my proposal again," the prince said softly. "Just as I am considering his proposal."

Zayen was silent for a long time.

"I previously thought you were a good person," Zayen said expressionlessly. "It seems I was wrong on this point too."

Thales shrugged.

"If I want to bring together a large group, or merely two people with different thoughts and incompatible positions, and make them move toward the same destination," Thales countered, "then perhaps I must pay a price?"

"Realistic," the prince stood, preparing to leave, "and necessary."

Zayen did not speak. He only followed procedure, picked up the sealing wax, poured it onto the envelope, and began stamping the seal.

Thales no longer delayed and turned to step away.

There was not much gained here.

Or perhaps, the gain was already enough?

"I want him dead."

Thales' footsteps paused.

He turned around.

"What?"

Zayen had put down the sealing wax. His eyes were icy, and his entire body carried a sharp momentum.

"All of the above conditions included. The Jade Legion, personnel appointments, taxation..." He practically bit the words out from between his teeth. "But I want to add one point."

Zayen abruptly raised his head, his gaze sharp as blade and sword:

"Federico must die."

Thales first froze when he heard this, then frowned deeply.

Perhaps he had been wrong.

He looked at Zayen's appearance.

Perhaps the gains had exceeded expectations.

The prince took a deep breath and tried to bargain:

"Exile abroad?"

Zayen did not answer.

"Prison of Bones?"

Zayen's expression did not change. He only focused on staring at him, his gaze making one uneasy.

"If that really will not do..."

"It does not matter. You can take your time considering it." Zayen interrupted him, beyond question. "If it really will not do, you can also write to Renaissance Palace and ask what His Majesty says."

Thales frowned.

"But Jade City cannot wait..."

"This is the letter we just agreed on, for the Bopon family. Deliver it directly to old Lady Tulier," Zayen snorted coldly and interrupted him. "They do not have much cash. Thirty thousand is the limit. Of course, if they dare give less than thirty thousand, you can directly lead soldiers to confiscate them. Not only will I have no objection, I will even help you find a reason afterward."

The South Coast Duke stood, picked up two envelopes from the desk, and the Iris Flower wax seals on them were extremely eye-catching.

"As for this second letter, show it to the three major guilds of the textile, wine, and construction materials industries, as well as several merchant groups. You can raise one hundred thousand, or a promise that makes them cut flesh to stabilize the market and conditions, relieving your immediate urgency."

Thales' eyelid twitched.

"Only these?"

Although he said this, Thales looked at this Zayen in no small surprise.

Just like that?

Two letters, one hundred thirty thousand...

One-tenth of the debt...

Just so simply?

"This is my sincerity. Perhaps it can help you think clearly about how to take the next step."

Zayen walked before him and extended the envelopes, his gaze sharp.

"And what if it is less than one hundred thousand?"

"Then simply lead soldiers back and confiscate me," Zayen said without changing expression.

Thales hesitated for an instant.

A few seconds later, he finished considering, made up his mind, and reached out to take the letters. But Zayen suddenly withdrew his hand, taking back the envelopes.

"And I hope that the next time you return, you can also have sincerity."

He stared fixedly at Thales.

Thales swallowed.

Fine. Although the choice was difficult.

At least it was not nothing.

Thales exchanged a glance with the other party. The next second, the prince snatched away the two letters.

"Should I say you love your sister too much," Thales stuffed the letters into his clothes, his eyes turning, "or hate your younger brother too much?"

Zayen smiled falsely.

"In any case," he turned and walked toward the windowsill, "do not let Fede kill people in my city again, Thales."

His gaze focused.

"Do not let him hold leverage over you again, and do not give him more bargaining chips."

Thales walked thoughtfully toward the door.

"But if he dies, the arbitration and everything else vanish like smoke, and the old case from that year can no longer be overturned," Thales said slowly. "I would lose the means to restrain you, correct?"

Zayen raised his gaze and looked toward Jade City outside the window.

"Perhaps by then, the one holding the bargaining chips and leverage over me will be you?" the prince said softly. "By the way, you may eat now."

The room was silent for a while, and Zayen still did not go eat.

"You should think from another angle, Thales."

Zayen's expression was strange.

"If you insist on mutual destruction, then once you return to the capital..."

The South Coast Duke turned his head, his gaze meaningful.

"Who will be holding leverage over you?"