Chapter 722: Leverage Part 2

A few minutes later, in another special room.

"I am truly deeply sorry, Your Highness Thales."

Federico's voice was as calm, cold, and cruel as always.

He raised his head and looked faintly at Thales.

"Judge Brennan was an old figure from back then. He was indeed on the list, and I did have a plan to question him. Lausanne the Second acted according to that," Federico shook his head. "But I assure you that aside from questioning, I never issued an order to kill him."

Thales frowned, his gaze suspicious.

"But as far as I know, when your father was alive, he had long-standing disagreements with him, even mutual attacks. Brennan was also the one who convicted your father."

Thales narrowed his eyes.

"Perhaps in your view, his death was also deserved?"

"Quite the opposite."

Federico's voice did not ripple.

"My father did not like Lord Brennan, but their disagreements were limited to public affairs and never involved private grudges. In fact, Father respected Lord Brennan quite a bit. He once told me privately that the person in Jade City with the least selfishness and least likely to betray Covendier was Judge Brennan.

"As for Brennan convicting my father, with Zayen's ability to forge evidence, I think the judge could only handle matters according to procedure.

"Just as 'Ram-Horn Duke' once said: those you can see are friends; those you cannot see are enemies."

Thales did not answer. He only drank a mouthful of tea and carefully observed Federico.

At least on the surface, he could not see the slightest flaw.

"Then what about Lausanne the Second? That killer?"

Thales said:

"You are already sitting here, yet he is still active in the city, running errands and handling matters for you?"

"Forgive me." Federico's expression was grave. "When I surrendered myself to Jade City, I stepped into Zayen's chessboard and lost all initiative. Therefore, I had to preserve chess pieces outside the board. Even when I am trapped in prison, they can act alone. Lausanne the Second is one of them."

"Then who exactly is Lausanne the Second? What secrets does he have? What goal?" Thales' words carried warning. "Why did he come to Jade City with you? And take such a great risk for you?"

"I do not know much about him, but I can say this: Lausanne the Second is a very special person. Or rather, a very special sword."

Thales raised his brows.

"Obviously," Thales said after a moment of silence, "a killing tool with a defective mind, unpredictable moods, a vicious heart, ruthless hands, and a tendency to slaughter innocents."

Federico was silent for an instant, then shook his head.

"Believe me, Your Highness, in essence, he is very similar to us. Every moment, he fights a cruel and desperate battle against fate. Many things are done by him because he has no choice."

"Us?" Thales was deeply suspicious.

Federico slowly raised his head and nodded lightly.

"Us."

Us, my ass.

"Then call him back now," Thales did not want to waste more words with him. "Surrender, submit to the law, and abolish your meaningless 'off-board chess piece.'"

"Since Your Highness commands, naturally I would obey. But unfortunately, from the moment I entered here and trapped myself in prison, I could no longer control him. In fact, I have never fully controlled him."

Thales frowned.

"Lausanne the Second told me himself that he was hired by Covendier. That was you, correct?"

"Indeed."

"Then do you think I look like a fool?"

Federico shook his head in denial.

"Forgive me, Your Highness. I have absolutely no disrespectful intent, but I have also not spoken a single false word."

"Then you yourself are the fool, unable even to control the hunting dog under your hand?"

Federico smiled and shook his head.

"With Your Highness' lofty position, where commands are issued and prohibitions enforced, and no one ever dares defy you, you must be accustomed to everyone being restrained by power and status, obeying orders like hunting dogs and chess pieces."

Federico's eyes flickered, seeming to sigh with feeling.

"But believe it or not, Your Highness, there is always a type of person in this world who is not bound by worldly customs and rules. They are very dangerous, but therefore more useful. Those who act according to free will are inevitably more efficient than those who have no choice but to act according to rules.

"And when I hired him to come here, I promised Lausanne the Second that I would not treat him like his past masters. With me, he would always be free. I promised him I would bring him out of the mudpit of decline, take him to see the scenery at the top, and show him what kind of power had beaten him down to the bottom back then."

Thales did not answer. He only stared carefully at the other party.

Federico came back to himself.

"If not for this, someone as unruly as him would not have been willing to cooperate with me."

"Then that means whatever he does afterward has nothing to do with you?"

"Of course it has to do with me. I simply do not know how he will act, or whether he will keep the promise he made to me. If he does, the task list I gave him is also very long. It depends on how he chooses."

Thales' gaze grew colder and colder.

"A tongue as clever as a reed," the prince said softly. "With just a few light sentences, you cleanly remove yourself and push all responsibility onto Lausanne the Second alone."

"That is the reality."

Thales sneered.

"Not long ago, he was only a little short of taking my life."

Federico frowned hard.

"I deeply regret it."

"Is that the only sentence you know how to say?"

"I once explicitly ordered Lausanne the Second not to harm even a hair of Your Highness, and I never asked him to kill Brennan. Even so, he still brought destruction beyond expectation. On this point, I cannot shirk responsibility."

Federico slowly nodded, then shook his head.

"For this, I am ashamed, and very sorry."

Hearing this, Thales thought of Mallos' words.

Knightly bearing.

Aside from Brennan himself, no one in the entire residence was injured...

Brennan himself drank poisoned wine in the study...

But the next second, Federico changed direction:

"But since he treated Your Highness like this, and killed Brennan, that can only prove one thing."

"What?"

"Lausanne the Second," Federico sighed softly. "He lost control again."

Thales frowned slightly.

"Again?"

He suddenly remembered his experience encountering Lausanne the Second in the ghoul tunnel, the opponent's state before and after, as different as two people.

"Your Highness, do you know the roots Lausanne the Second and the Blood Bottle Gang have with Jade City?"

"A little," Thales came back to himself. "They are Covendier's white gloves for dirty work."

"More than that, Your Highness. More than that." Federico shook his head. "For more than a century, when Jade City, especially the predecessors of Covendier, decided to learn from the Virtuous King and transform themselves, clearly establish rules, and divide traditional rights among more lower people who better suited our interests and could sell their lives for us, in order to stimulate vitality and cut out decay, someone raised a point: someone had to be responsible for watching and restraining these upstarts who rose overnight: officials, merchants, craftsmen, farmers, scholars, landless knights..."

Speaking to this point, Federico's eyes moved.

"Of course, I believe that during your time governing, whether in daily government affairs or market commerce, you must have experienced these people's outward compliance, inward defiance, and ignorance of timing."

Thales snorted softly without confirming or denying.

"As for the candidates to restrain them, the fat-headed nobles and relatives could not be counted on. One could only choose mud-legged people, ruined households, and bitter lives even lower than them. Thus the Blood Bottle Gang came into being, born outside the rules and opposed to law, solely to restrain those within the rules who might one day devour the law."

Federico continued:

"They are our invisible feelers, reaching into darkness no one cares about. When we cannot appear, they conveniently use more violent and unreasonable means, but ones that work better and do not affect Covendier's reputation and interests, to recalibrate Jade City's direction."

"You make it sound pleasant," Thales said disdainfully.

"Just like this, under Jade City's tacit approval and even support, the Blood Bottle Gang expanded step by step and gradually grew, even spreading across the entire country," Federico gradually became distracted. "Even their former gang leader, Turnbull, if one traced his bloodline upward, could be connected to an illegitimate son of Covendier several generations ago."

"Until one day, my uncle discovered that these people were beginning to lose control."

Thales' gaze moved.

"They had learned. They actually began colluding with high officials and nobles everywhere, deliberately drawing close to the rules, using the rules, even beginning to seek more backers, completely contrary to what we originally expected them to do."

Federico's words turned cold.

"And among them, Gang Leader Turnbull was talented and ambitious. He wanted more."

Turnbull and the Blood Bottle Gang.

Thales thought of something, his eyes narrowing.

"Thus one day, in Emerald Palace, my uncle and father decided: a stable, unified, powerful Blood Bottle Gang no longer suited our interests."

Thales frowned.

"They destroyed the Blood Bottle Gang?"

Federico smiled and shook his head.

"In fact, Covendier did nothing. My uncle and father merely hinted to the vicious pups that had long been eyeing the dog bowl: from now on, they could seize the big dog's food."

Thales' eyelid twitched.

He thought of Phantom Blade Catherine, of her and all sorts of Blood Bottle Gang members, of the scenes in which they slaughtered one another, head broken and blood flowing, life and death, over power, status, interest, or even merely face on the street and a breath of pride.

All of this, the entire lives of these gang figures...

"Thus Turnbull's end arrived."

Federico concluded lightly:

"Lausanne the Second, no matter how high his swordsmanship or how many he killed, was merely an ordinary supporting character in that unavoidable scene of fate."

No, not only them.

Black Sword, Morris, Kincha, Roda, Morris, Layork, even Quide, dead for a long time...

A sense of sorrow suddenly surged in Thales' heart.

"I once tried to make him understand and accept this, to see a higher picture and a larger world," Federico shook his head, quite regretful. "Unfortunately, Lausanne neither understood nor agreed."

Thales clenched his fist.

"Therefore, these people will lose control. And when they lose control," Federico sighed faintly, "they need recalibration."

Recalibration.

"Zayen refused."

Thales suddenly spoke expressionlessly.

Federico did not react and showed confusion.

"Whether Brennan's death, or me threatening him with his sister," Thales shook his head. "He refused to compromise."

Perhaps because that name was mentioned, Federico no longer had his previous calm and careless manner. His eyes brightened.

"He did not compromise? Truly? Not even the slightest sign of loosening? For example, Zayen was willing to take out some money, allowing Jade City a few more days?"

I will write a letter now... to the Bopon family in the funeral business... withdraw ten thousand gold coins...

Thales looked at him and slowly shook his head.

"No."

Federico immediately frowned.

"Or did he make any conditions to you in return? For example, give up the arbitration, or even hand me over, and he would agree to yield?"

Federico must die.

Thales' eyes did not ripple. He continued shaking his head.

"No."

Hearing this, Federico frowned tightly and did not relax for a long time.

"Is that so? I underestimated him..."

Thales did not speak either.

He only carefully observed the Covendier before him, comparing him with the other Iris Flower.

Red and Black.

After a long time, Federico raised his head, and his gaze sharpened.

"That is right. He has been duke for so many years, accustomed to high position and great power, ordering others around. He would absolutely not yield easily..." Federico made up his mind, eager to try. "Your Highness, perhaps we have not pressured him hard enough..."

"There is no 'we.' Only you." Thales interrupted him.

Federico froze.

"Tell me," Thales leaned forward, "aside from having Lausanne go find Brennan, what other methods have you prepared? To force me into action and force Zayen to yield?"

"Your Highness..."

"Tell me why you are so confident," Thales pressed step by step, "so certain Zayen would yield because of this? What else have you hidden from me? What is it of Zayen's that you want to hold leverage over?"

Federico's expression moved slightly.

"Forgive me, I do not understand..."

"Hilley, Brennan, the old case from that year," Thales did not listen to his defense at all. "What exactly can make Zayen so apprehensive? Is it truly because he killed his own father, so he fears guilt and compromises?"

Federico's gaze flickered.

But only a few seconds later, he recovered his calm and revealed a smile in perfect measure.

"I understand now," Federico said. "Your Highness, Zayen yielded, correct?"

Thales frowned.

Seeing this, Federico's eyes lit up.

"He compromised."

"And the reason you have concerns and refuse to tell me directly..."

Federico raised his brows.

"Ah. What he wants is me."

The Covendier called Scarlet Iris stood and paced back and forth, faint excitement visible in his steps.

"Or rather, he wants you to sacrifice me, thereby stopping the arbitration and making you give up the investigation." He gritted his teeth. "Give up pursuing his sins from that year."

Thales said nothing.

Pa!

Federico clapped his hands hard.

"Excellent, Your Highness!" He glanced sideways, his gaze sharp. "If he is willing to yield, that means you have struck his sore point!"

"But Your Highness must also be cautious. You can deal with him perfunctorily, but you absolutely cannot agree to him lightly! Zayen appears submissive, but in truth, he retreats in order to advance. Once you give up pursuing the old case from that year, you will lose the greatest bargaining chip you have to hold leverage over him..."

"Federico Covendier!"

Thales sharply interrupted him, causing Federico, who was immersed in the pleasure of revenge, to abruptly stop.

The prince slowly stood.

"You still have not answered my question." Thales stared coldly at him. "What truth is hidden behind the old case from that year? What else are you hiding from me?"

Federico stared blankly back at Thales.

"And your return to Jade City, with all your painstaking planning and every step carefully arranged, was it truly only to seek justice and redress your father's grievance?"

The two silently stared at one another, one aggressive, the other hesitant.

After a long time, Federico took a deep breath.

"I do not know, Your Highness. I also do not know the truth of the old case from that year. But I know that whatever it is, Zayen is very nervous."

He revealed an ominous smile.

"And I look forward to digging it out together with Your Highness."

I knew it.

"Then you do not need to look forward to it."

Thales said coldly.

Federico paused.

"Because tonight is the end of Lausanne the Second. Perhaps also of your other allies."

At that moment, Thales' words made Federico's expression change greatly.

"Your Highness..."

"Your chess route outside the board ends here," Thales' voice was cold, not letting him interrupt. "As for the question just now, I hope that when I return, you will have a better answer. You know, another Covendier is right across the door."

Federico's expression changed several times.

"And he looks more cooperative," Thales walked toward the door without looking back, "and richer."

"But also more dangerous!" Federico suddenly said.

Thales stopped.

Federico gritted his teeth.

"Please, Your Highness. Do not agree to him. Do not give up your bargaining chip, and especially do not let Zayen take back the bargaining chip. Otherwise, we will all regret it."

Thales laughed lightly with disdain.

"There is no 'we.' Only me."

After saying this, he turned back.

"By then, you would already be dead. How would you regret anything?"

Federico's brow twitched.

The two quietly looked at each other.

"Let me see him."

A few seconds later, Federico spoke again.

But this time, his words were especially difficult:

"Before you make your decision, please let me see Zayen once. Of course, you may watch from the side."

Thales frowned.

"That is all? Nothing else to say to me?"

Federico took a deep breath and nodded with difficulty.

Seeing that he had nothing else to say, Thales snorted, shook his head, and continued leaving.

"Your Highness!"

Thales' footsteps paused.

"Changed your mind?"

Federico took a deep breath, his gaze hesitant.

Several minutes later, he finally spoke slowly.

"Lausanne is extraordinary and cannot be measured by common sense," Federico squeezed out a smile, but the words he said disappointed Thales. "Please be more careful."

Thales frowned hard.

This time, he did not look back again and walked straight out of the room.

Zayen and Federico.

Jade City.

Hilley.

The king's expectations.

So many factors, so many choices. How should he choose?

Ignoring the guards' awed gazes, Thales walked into the corridor, forcefully suppressing the anger and irritation in his heart.

"Your Highness?"

Seeing the prince come out, Wya quickly followed Thales.

"How was it?"

"Not bad." Thales' expression did not change, his tone confident. "I squeezed something out of both honored guests."

"That is good... but Your Highness, you do not seem very happy?" Wya asked tentatively.

Thales' brow twitched.

At that instant, he suddenly felt a little annoyed.

He was clearly smiling, was he not?

How did this guy see it?

But when Thales turned his head and saw Wya's worried face, he could not help sighing.

"I do not know." Thales shook his head. "I just keep feeling... whether it is Zayen's concession and compromise, or Federico's attitude, their reactions do not seem like what I deserved."

"Ah? Deserved?" Wya was completely confused. "Your Highness, I do not under-"

"Do not understand?"

Thales took over his words, speaking both to Wya and to himself:

"It is fine. I do not understand either."

Wya became even more confused.

But before he could answer, Thales patted the attendant officer's shoulder.

"Go tell the Logistics Wing to prepare a good dinner for the brothers of the guard. The most expensive kind."

"As you command. Ah, the most expensive?"

Halfway through speaking, Wya's expression suddenly changed.

"But the Logistics Wing said..."

"Record the meal cost under me when I return." Thales pulled out the envelopes in his clothes, calm and confident. "After I go talk with a few wealthy bastards."

"Uh, yes... yes?"

Wya's brows twitched, half-believing and half-doubting.

What happened to His Highness?

Record it under him?

No, wait. Since when was His Highness responsible for reimbursing accounts?

Could he possibly not know that this was his money being spent?

"After dinner, prepare to form up and depart."

"Yes. Your Highness, where are we going?"

Thales' smile instantly vanished.

"The outskirts of Jade City."

He looked toward the unseen depths of the corridor, killing intent exposed in his eyes.

"North Gate Bridge."