Chapter 734: Overestimated

The effect of meeting the two Covendiers was immediate.

Over the course of a day, Thales continuously issued handwritten orders and letters, inviting guests of different industries, classes, and identities to Emerald Palace for meetings.

The first to arrive was Sea Wolf Tanganga.

Compared with the splendid clothes, fine ornaments, and heavy perfume he had worn on the day of the Feast of Battles, this famous shipowner of Jade City was dressed today in an old sailing coat so plain it seemed worn, wearing thick captain's gloves instead of gemstone rings, with a yellowed sweat cloth tied around his neck. His appearance was fierce, his speech rough and bold, and from inside to out he radiated an innate pirate bandit air.

As soon as he entered the prince's luxurious study, or more precisely, Duke Zayen's luxurious study, he began marveling at the furnishings inside and exchanging overly warm greetings. During this, he repeatedly looked toward Thales's face.

The bruise there was too obvious to ignore.

"Zayen hit me."

Beneath the classic mid-sized portrait of the first Duke Covendier, Thales answered without raising his head. At the same time, he wrote a reply on a report from the Golden Point District Security Hall applying for increased public security expenses:

"No money."

Tanganga's smile vanished.

He shrank back, rubbed his hands, and looked uncertain, as if embarrassed and at a loss because he had asked the wrong question.

No, he is doing this on purpose.

Thales raised his head and examined the person before him. The voice in his heart sounded again:

This former pirate is by nature fond of luxury and greedy for enjoyment. But from somewhere he heard the news that the prince's current situation was awkward and even that his pockets were empty. Therefore, before seeking an audience, he removed his jewelry, changed out of his fine clothes, dressed himself in shabby vulgarity, and deliberately acted careless, rough, and foolish to avoid the prince's anger and edge.

Thinking of this, Thales could not help narrowing his eyes. He took back the report from Wya, crossed out "No money," and wrote "Please forward to the Finance Department for joint discussion," then signaled Wya to explain a thing or two to the guest.

Sea Wolf had not been invited for no reason.

Recently, His Highness the Prince had received tips from the people of Emerald Palace. He learned that on the shipping routes around South Coast Territory, a small group of "organized criminal elements" aboard armed merchant vessels had been cruising back and forth, wantonly stopping ships, boarding them for "inspection," and forcibly collecting passage fees and protection fees. Their reason was: "The duke has fallen. The permits he issued no longer count."

This triggered a chain of changes: shipping costs rose, ships' entry into port was delayed, the lifeline of freight transport was obstructed, confidence in maritime trade suffered a great blow, and merchants became anxious. Some hoarded goods to drive up prices, while others dumped cargo at low prices. Markets fluctuated endlessly, prices deviated from reason, small and medium handicraft workers cried hardship, and citizens, merchants, and travelers in the city grew panicked. Sinister rumors such as "Jade City is really finished" rose loudly once more.

"What?"

Before Wya had finished stating it all, Tanganga was already crying injustice. First he wore a look of disbelief, saying, "Such things happen in the kingdom's seas? This is outrageous." Then, "Your Highness sees clearly, our Sea Wolf fleet is also a victim." Then, "With the greater environment like this, we have no choice but to raise prices." Even, with a slightly shameless air, "Ay, in times like these, what are we supposed to do?"

"I do not want to hear these reasons."

Thales reviewed official documents expressionlessly.

"Nor do I want to know what role you played in the middle. But you have one day. Only one day."

Tanganga frowned.

"If within one day you cannot solve the problem and cannot restore Jade City's shipping order to how it was, Tanganga..."

The prince lowered his head and drew a large dog head on a document from the Discipline Office requesting that twenty monuments be erected at the city gates, engraved with "Prince Thales's famous administrative sayings" to educate the people.

"Then I will have no choice but to solve you."

Tanganga's expression froze.

In that second, the former pirate's expression changed many times, from dissatisfaction to ferocity, then from anger to grievance. But he concealed all of it well.

Finally, he glanced at the bruise on the prince's face, looked at the attendant officer guarding near the prince, then swept his gaze past Morgan and Kusta at the door, and Batista and Neshy standing warily in the corner. His expression returned to calm.

He changed tactics. First, filled with righteous indignation, he said, "This was all forced on us by that wicked Zayen." Then he complained pitifully, "We never wanted to be dragged into the war between the prince and the duke." Finally, he even shed tears, saying, "Unfortunately, our strength is weak, our status low, and our voices light. We had no strength to resist."

Tanganga's reasons poured out in a long stream. He began with how the Sea Wolf tribe had been defeated and exiled to a foreign land, how Zayen had mercifully taken them in, and how they could not fail to repay kindness. He spoke of how, after settling in Jade City for more than ten years, they had finally gained a place, only to have someone grasp their weakness, leaving them unable to resist easily. Then he spoke of how Zayen combined money and power, threats and temptation, infiltrated everything, fully controlled their fleet, and ordered them around. Tanganga, as flesh on someone else's chopping board, could only lower himself and bitterly endure for decades. When he reached the emotional parts, he wept until even Thales could not help being moved.

"So that is how it was."

Thales pondered while painting ferocious fangs onto the dog head on the document.

"At the previous Feast of Battles, Zayen said anyone might betray him, but only Tanganga could not. I imagine that was because he holds your weakness in his hand and can overturn your fleet with a turn of his palm."

Under the strange gazes of the surrounding guards, Tanganga wept and nodded bitterly.

"Your Highness sees clearly. We truly..."

"No wonder."

Thales sighed and set down his pen.

"No wonder you traveled thousands of miles to the Nation of Night, stuffed Federico and his killer into the bottom of your hold, and smuggled them back to murder Zayen."

The moment these words fell, Tanganga's sobbing abruptly stopped.

The entire study quieted. The guards present all turned their eyes sideways.

"Your Highness, no, I..."

While Tanganga's face was terrified and he was speechless, Thales picked up his pen and sincerely, earnestly copied a letter of thanks according to the draft provided by Butler Ashford, sending it to the funeral industry giant of Jade City, Old Lady Torielle of the Bourbon family, for repaying ahead of time a Emerald Palace debt of thirty-five thousand one hundred eighteen gold coins, nine silver coins, and four copper pieces, with the bill delivered directly to His Highness the Prince's desk.

In addition, the old lady enthusiastically yet coldly hinted in the letter that if it was insufficient, the Bourbon family would be very happy to provide equivalent services, such as a series of dignified services for the prince himself, from coffin making to tombstone carving, from grave digging to burial rites.

"Of course, His Highness the Prince is healthy and will live a hundred years. Presumably he will not need them in the short term." So read the old lady's handwritten letter.

Unfortunately, from John the First, Black Eyes, onward, the Jadestar royal family had had a tradition of cremation. Faced with such enthusiasm, no matter how greedy Thales was, he could only respectfully decline.

"What do you mean, coveting dead people's money? Tol, don't say it so harshly. This is called the cycle of life..." His Highness the Prince, holding the draft for thirty-five thousand gold coins and desperately smelling the scent of ink on it, grumbled.

In the study, Tanganga finally calmed down from his initial tremor, but the next few minutes were rather awkward.

In summary, the Sea Wolf shipowner, after reacting, first cried injustice with all his might, denying everything to the death and requesting that rumors be refuted. But in the face of reliable sources and ironclad, people-supported, irrefutable truth such as "tips from the people of Emerald Palace," he ultimately lost.

Before His Highness the Prince, who represented justice and law, the famous Sea Wolf suddenly awakened and sincerely repented.

"Ah, Your Highness... there were several new sailors under me on temporary short contracts. They were unfamiliar with the business and, in haste, accidentally accepted a job escorting important personages from the Nation of Night to Jade City... Yes, that Count Lee. But I swear, the whole thing was done by those temporary sailors. I had no idea what attendants the vampires brought in the cabin. Of course, although I did not know of or participate in this matter and was inexplicably and innocently implicated, I am after all their shipowner. Failure in supervision and lax oversight are my fault. I cannot shirk responsibility, and I will absolutely not pass the blame..."

"Oh?"

"I swear, when my men carried them here, I truly did not know. Your Highness knows, vampires act mysteriously and never allow people to ask too many questions... I, I truly never participated in their conspiracy to murder the duke. If I had known in advance, then I... then no matter how much money they offered, I would not have carried them. After the incident, I immediately recognized my mistake and took measures at once. I already dismissed those temporary sailors at sea... Ah, for my oversight to reach this point, I truly regret it beyond measure. But heaven have pity, I never thought of betrayal, let alone murdering Duke Zayen. Your Highness, you must believe me!"

Thales thoughtfully scratched his chin.

"Oh, so that is how it was... Of course I believe you. After all, who does not make mistakes?"

Tanganga was moved to tears, until the prince's next sentence:

"But will Zayen believe you?"

Tanganga's crying face froze.

Thales did not even look at him. First, he drew an exaggerated two-colored milk cow cat on the cover of a one-hundred-seventy-page summary, or rather self-praise, report from the Urban Management Department regarding the Nocturnal Banquet.

Then, on another letter that came with the official document, one called a letter of reflection and apology but actually filled with sarcasm, he grandly wrote:

"Pay salaries today. Make up all arrears."

The letter had read: "Since Your Highness took the seal of Emerald Palace, the whole city has been inspired, currents have surged, and all offices, disregarding personal salaries, have handled cases and affairs at twice the previous rate. They have generously taken responsibility, worked from dawn to dusk, rotated day and night without rest, made no distinction between duties within and without their roles, and offered their lives in service, not daring to slacken in the slightest. Having traversed Jade City for thirty years, I have never seen one like Your Highness, who tempers his subordinates, urges people upward, imposes authority within and without, and bestows grace on a city. This is truly a great regret for the South Coast, a great fortune for the kingdom, a great sage among men, and a magnificent sight for the history books."

"Magnificent sight my hammer. Sorry, not talking about you... Right, I heard from Zayen that your Sea Wolf business is not limited to bodyguarding and transport. Occasionally you also do kidnapping and extortion?"

Thales wrote as he spoke, intentionally or unintentionally.

"Then, more than ten years ago, the ship that sent Federico to the open sea and finally let him escape, could it also have been sailed by your people? Hahaha, joking, only joking. Of course I know it wasn't you... It is just a coincidence, isn't it, that it also happened at sea and on a ship. If I were Zayen, tsk tsk... Ah, don't be nervous. Even if Zayen finds out, as long as the Nation of Night and Federico are willing to testify for you and prove you were innocently implicated... Even if no one testifies, it is no big deal. With Zayen's character, discerning every detail, careful as a hair, tolerating no sand in his eyes and no unjust cases in his hands, hm, I imagine he will not suspect your loyalty..."

Under Tanganga's constantly changing expression and eyes, Thales calmly folded the letter to Old Lady Torielle and handed it to Wya to place in a carrier raven's leg tube.

"...At most, he will suspect your ability."

Tanganga had just wiped away his tears, and his face turned deathly pale.

He raised his head and looked behind Thales at the wall. In the framed portrait, the first Duke of the South Coast, the Fatal Iris, was calmly playing with a dagger, the corner of his mouth raised as though smiling and not smiling.

"Your Highness, may I ask where you learned that Young Master Federico came by my ship, smuggled..."

Because one of your passengers was loose-mouthed.

"Tips from the people," Thales said softly.

Tanganga frowned.

After several seconds of painful hesitation, he clenched his teeth.

"But if I help Your Highness with this little matter, and Lord Zayen, after he is released from prison, discovers that I failed to carry out his order effectively, or even suspects that Your Highness summoned me today precisely..."

"Leaving aside whether he can get out..."

Thales spoke softly.

"If that day truly comes, would you rather Zayen blame you for being too timid, unable to withstand the second prince's threats and intimidation..."

The prince paused for one second.

"Or would you rather have him suspect that you are too bold, and from the beginning plotted to overturn Emerald Palace?"

In that instant, Tanganga's eyes widened.

Prince Thales and Shipowner Tanganga's closed-door meeting ultimately ended victoriously in an atmosphere of enthusiasm, harmony, and shared joy.

At the meeting, Shipowner Tanganga expressed his confidence in resolutely supporting Prince Thales's enlightened rule, his public spirit in resolutely preserving Jade City's order and stability, and his determination to resolutely protect the personal and property safety of South Coast residents.

He emphasized that the Sea Wolf fleet would set an example, starting from itself, and take the lead in launching a clear-and-bright action of self-inspection, self-correction, self-reflection, and self-warning among all fleet employees, vigorously rectifying the widespread shortcomings and problems among temporary employees, such as lax self-discipline, failure to distinguish public and private matters, ideological decline, and flawed conduct. They would achieve deep reflection, learn broadly from a single case, fill gaps, correct all errors, never repeat them, and simultaneously urge colleagues in the same trade to follow closely, advance shoulder to shoulder, leap forward together, and strive ahead.

At the same time, the shipowner refuted the absurd rumors in Jade City. He pointed out that in the waters around South Coast Territory, there had not been in the past, there were not now, and there would certainly not be in the future any "organized maritime opportunistic criminals." From beginning to end, the South Coast seas were peaceful, safe, stable, and orderly. Goods moved smoothly, and shipping was well organized.

In view of this, the concerns of a small number of industrial and commercial operators regarding the local business environment, route safety, and market order were unnecessary and wholly excessive. Jade City still possessed the healthiest, safest, most dynamic, and most promising economic and trade cooperation market in the world.

In addition, Shipowner Tanganga strongly criticized the short-sighted behavior of a small handful of selfish merchants and handicraft workers who failed to cherish themselves, blindly followed the crowd, spread and believed rumors, traded irrationally, disturbed the market, and ultimately harmed others and themselves. He believed that under Prince Thales's wise leadership, Jade City would surely reproduce the glorious history of the Queen's City, the City of Wealth, and the City of Dreams.

His Majesty Kessel's private envoy, Duke of Star Lake, second prince, first royal heir, and acting city lord of Jade City, His Highness Thales, expressed high praise and support for Shipowner Tanganga's speech and position. He emphasized to those present that as the saying goes, no waves rise without wind, and wind cannot come from an empty cave. Jade City is a famous city of law in the kingdom and will absolutely not allow hostile elements with ulterior motives to spread rumors and cause disorder, in order to divide unity, endanger people's livelihoods, damage confidence, and serve their unspeakable, despicable purposes.

Both sides conducted frank, constructive, and fruitful communication. At the end of the meeting, His Highness personally escorted Shipowner Tanganga to the door of the study, waving farewell in reluctant parting.

The prince's attendant officer, Wya Caso, accompanied the meeting.

"Next time, Tanganga," Thales casually added before sending him off, "if you do not want word to leak, choose your clients carefully."

Tanganga's eyes trembled, and he seemed thoughtful.

After sending away the heavy-hearted Tanganga, Thales sat behind the desk, looking at the slowly closing door and sinking into thought.

Do you feel it, Thales?

The voice in his heart said:

Have you seen clearly the nature of this pirate?

He has no intention of serving you, yet in the end he had no choice.

This is the effect created by the gap in power.

Whether it is the gap between great and small, the gap between having and not having, or the gap between knowing and not knowing.

It manipulates, coerces, and motivates people to do things outside common sense, outside their duty, outside their interests, and outside reason.

Thinking of this, Thales sighed helplessly.

Yes.

With one light sentence, I made Tanganga so afraid.

No, Thales. Don't be foolish.

The voice in his heart refuted him faintly:

What he fears has never been any particular sentence from you.

Thales's smile vanished.

"Wya, do you believe our Shipowner Tanganga? Do you believe he truly did not betray Zayen?" the prince said faintly.

The attendant officer, who was sorting official documents to the side, froze.

"I do not know, Your Highness."

Wya spoke cautiously and chose his words carefully.

"But from what we just saw, I do not think he, at least outwardly, has such courage."

"I think so too."

Thales nodded.

"The whole fleet has several hundred people, and their livelihoods and lives are held in the other party's hand. He fears Zayen, dreads Zayen, and dares even less to betray him."

"Then that means he truly was deceived..."

"But he is human. He possesses things far more complicated than fear, courage, loyalty, or even interests and positions."

Wya looked puzzled.

Thales leaned back against the chair and gazed absently at the portrait of the Fatal Iris on the wall.

"Tanganga is a seasoned old hand at sea. He absolutely knew that business had a problem. But he neither refused nor supported it. He merely remained silent and watched from the side."

Jealousy, resentment, indignation, fluke, laziness, greed, caution, mercantile shrewdness, cruelty, impulse...

Thales counted one by one the things he had just read from Tanganga's eyes.

All of these gathered together, constantly changing back and forth every moment, making Tanganga complex and changeable.

At times, he was jealous and resentful of Zayen. At times, he dreaded him greatly. At times, he ground his teeth with a bellyful of hatred. At times, he was satisfied, even grateful enough to weep. At times, he rejoiced in the strength of his backer and patron. At times, he complained that his paymaster used power to order him around. At times, he schemed craftily and wanted to kick a man while he was down. At times, he wanted to pretend to be deaf and dumb to preserve himself. At times, he hoped Jade City would prosper so he could continue making money. At times, he took pleasure in Iris Flower's possible decline and wondered whether he could gain a share...

And every complex possibility, whether pushing or pulling, converged the moment that group of bloodkin guests boarded his ship.

Tanganga fell into hesitation. On one hand, he was certain this absolutely could not be considered betrayal. On the other, he secretly took pleasure in the misfortune and pushed the waves along. On one hand, he felt such a minor matter should not threaten Emerald Palace. On the other, he secretly hoped it would give those great personages some deserved lessons and bitterness. After the incident, he tossed and turned in anxiety, doing his utmost to distance himself, while also being unable to resist taking advantage of disaster and the greater situation to make a windfall.

"Zayen is right. He grasped the most fundamental chain of interest, and was therefore certain Tanganga would never dare, nor have the strength, to betray him."

Thales spoke absently, as if seeing thin lines extending from behind the portrait of the first Duke Lenster, covering Emerald Palace and spreading over Jade City and even the South Coast Territory.

"But he is not entirely right either. Tanganga staggers between clearly defined loyalty and betrayal, and ultimately walks toward an uncontrollable third path."

In his field of vision, every thin line extending from the frame trembled lightly in different postures, ranges, and frequencies. Some pushed, some pulled, some were large, some small, some urgent, some slow.

Wya thought for a moment.

"But what he did still caused the Duke of the South Coast to lose power. It is nearly no different from betrayal."

"That is the interesting part."

Thales curled the corner of his mouth and, across seven hundred years, met the gaze of the first Lenster Covendier in the frame, who likewise seemed to smile without smiling.

"If Tanganga had truly made up his mind to betray Zayen from the beginning, then the development of the situation, the circumstances we face, and even the final result would likely be completely different."

He shook his head and sighed softly.

"I fear I would not have had the chance to seek his cooperation like I did now."

"So Tanganga's behavior is still different from true betrayal," Wya reacted. "Just as it is also quite far from pure loyalty."

Thales nodded and sighed.

"People do not always make choices clearly, explicitly, rationally, actively, and with self-awareness. More often, they are forced, unconscious, numb, late to realize, perhaps firm in the moment yet regretful afterward, to make choices whose direction is blurred."

"Like Tanganga," Wya nodded. "And like countless officials, merchants, workers, farmers, citizens, and common people from top to bottom in Jade City during this storm?"

Thales looked at Wya, slightly surprised.

"Exactly."

He straightened his posture.

"Perhaps history is not created by heroes, especially not the firm, great, decisive, purpose-clear heroes in our impression. Rather, it is lifted up by countless spectators like Tanganga, numb and lazy yet restless, by the flood gathered unconsciously from their joint efforts."

Thales sighed absently.

"That is why in the Scripture of the Setting Sun, the prophet Mohasa says: 'That is not only history, but also fate.'"

Everyone struggles with all their might, yet few realize that from beginning to end, they are merely binding themselves in their own cocoons.

Wya looked at the prince with concern.

"Your Highness, are you all right?"

"What? Oh, of course."

Thales came back to himself.

"All right, invite the next guest."

Wya nodded with some doubt, his gaze passing over the bruise on the prince's face.

Thus, the door was opened again.

"Hasha! Dear Hasha! My dearest Special Envoy Hasha!"

"Your Highness! Honored Your Highness! My most respected Prince Thales!"

Lord Hasha, the chief-state envoy from the Tairen Trade States across the End Sea, opened both hands covered in gemstone rings and laughed loudly. Thales, whose face was likewise warped from smiling, warmly embraced him and touched cheeks in greeting, as if they had been close as brothers from the first day, though this was their first private meeting.

"By the Radiant Sun, since Your Highness came to Jade City, you have never been so enthusiastic toward this humble one."

Hasha's common tongue had the distinctive accent of places like the Barren Mountains, but it was not heavy. His smile did not lessen, his movements were warm, and while ignoring the injury on Thales's face, he skillfully avoided the wound during the cheek-touching greeting.

"It truly leaves this humble one anxious and uneasy."

"The Setting Sun bears witness, anxiety comes from the unknown."

Thales wiped off the powder that had stuck to his face, took Hasha by the arm, and urged the large-framed man to sit first.

"But you foresee things like a god. How could you possibly be anxious?"

"Oh? How so?"

After sitting, Thales smiled mysteriously.

"I heard that after you came to Jade City, you joined more than a dozen merchant group representatives, foreign noble relatives, and envoys from friendly states, the kind with enormous volume and branch stations in Jade City, and created a temporary commercial alliance?"

Hasha's pair of artificial eyebrows, painted white, yellow, red, and black to show awe and worship toward the Radiant Sun Lord's four sacred aspects of solemnity, mercy, anger, and chaos, lifted upward.

"Heard from whom? Oh, ha, haha. Merely a small gathering, all friends we usually get along with... At most, it is used to bargain with Duke Zayen and negotiate over import tariffs."

Hasha laughed loudly and waved his hand, his posture natural.

Thales narrowed his eyes.

"Not because you foresaw things like a god and were certain early on that great trouble would happen in Jade City?"

"Eh, that is indeed correct. In Jade City, what greater event is there than Your Highness's honored arrival?"

Thales and Hasha looked at each other, then both laughed loudly, one sighing inwardly that the opponent was hard to handle, the other secretly wondering which little brat had leaked the news.

"There truly is something greater than me."

Thales smiled without warmth.

"For example, while Emerald Palace changed hands, people's hearts were unstable and the market was depressed, the alliance you created joined hands to hoard goods, drive up prices, break industry rules, create panic over shortages, squeeze out local operators, scare off old and new clients up and down the chain, and take advantage of the market chaos to bottom-fish and profit, pushing an Jade City already walking downhill further toward the abyss?"

The smile in Hasha's eyes disappeared.

"Ah. Now I understand what Your Highness invited this humble one here for."

Thales also restrained his smile.

"You, Special Envoy Hasha, and that little gathering of yours involving foreign merchants from all trades, did not come to Jade City to discuss tariffs."

"In fact, we did come to Jade City to discuss customs and trade policy."

Hasha was unhurried.

"Only this time, the negotiating conditions are somewhat... special."

"Is this Zayen's demand?"

"Why ask when Your Highness already knows?"

Thales let out a long sigh.

"If Jade City dies like this, what use is discussing better tariff terms?"

"Markets do not die," Hasha shook his head. "They only decline."

And people with minds smart enough, capital rich enough, and relationships hard enough can profit even in declining markets.

The profit can even be greater than in prosperous years.

Thales was silent for a while.

"Since we have made things clear, may I request that you stop standing behind Zayen?"

"Pardon?"

"I said, please have Your Excellency use your connections in that little foreign merchant alliance. I am not asking them to operate at a loss or even yield profit to the people. I only ask them to act normally, do business properly, stop following along with panic propaganda and singing down the environment, stop controlling transactions and manipulating the market, restore the stock and prices in Jade City's major shops to normal, and let this declining city come back to life."

Special Envoy Hasha pondered for a while.

"Those in that circle are clever people who make sure they win and never lose, Your Highness," he said slowly. "They do this because there is profit to be made. And once matters involve profit, if they are unwilling, I also..."

"Then make them willing."

Thales interrupted firmly.

"Just as you, as the organizer, stirred them into unwillingness."

Under Thales's aggressive gaze, Hasha frowned lightly.

"The Radiant Sun sees all. Suppose this humble one and my friends become willing to cooperate. What benefit will we receive?"

"Benefit?"

Thales gave a strange snort and showed the bruise on the side of his face.

"See this? Zayen hit me this morning. It has probably spread by now. Any thoughts?"

Hasha narrowed his eyes and actually examined it seriously for quite a while.

"Very forceful, very sudden, but unprofessional. More like the product of impulse."

Hasha murmured to himself.

"Based on this humble one's understanding of old friend Zayen, he has excellent self-restraint and has never lost control like this, let alone directly struck someone."

Hasha looked at him suspiciously, as though his face almost had the words, "What exactly did you do to him?" written on it.

Thales had no choice but to cough, stiffen his face, and pull the subject back.

"Since you have seen it, Special Envoy, what you should ask is this: if you continue standing on Zayen's side and disturb my Jade City, what harm will come?"

Looking at this Duke of Star Lake, Hasha frowned slightly.

"Very well."

He thought for a moment and sighed.

"This humble one promises, Your Highness Thales, that we will not, as Duke Zayen expects, no matter how favorable the tariff policies he promised, fan the flames and prevent you from taking control of Jade City."

"Much appreciated."

"But it is also inconvenient for us to stand on Your Highness's side."

"What does that mean?"

This time, it was Thales's turn to frown.

Hasha smiled.

"This humble one means that we will temporarily remain neutral until victory and defeat are decided. Whether Lord Zayen or Young Master Federico comes to power, or even if Your Highness personally leads Emerald Palace, by the way, none of these affect Your Highness's identity as the kingdom's heir, nor our respect for you, this humble one guarantees everything will return to normal. We will be very happy to continue sincere cooperation with Jade City..."

Thales fell silent.

He raised his head, looked at the portrait of the Fatal Iris, and took a deep breath.

"Not enough."

Hasha raised an eyebrow.

Thales turned back, his tone turning cold.

"In a war where strong and weak are clearly divided, if you remain neutral, it is no different from siding with the strong."

"What do you mean?"

"It means that if you do not stand with me..."

Thales leaned forward on his elbow, his expression cold.

"Then you stand with them."

Hasha looked at this prince and could not help frowning.

"Mm. You and Lord Zayen truly are different."

"How?"

"Business is business," Hasha said very naturally. "Matters of business should of course be solved with real gold and silver."

He still wants benefits?

Displeasure rose in Thales's heart.

"You are the chief-state trade envoy, Your Excellency Hasha."

The prince's face was dark as water.

"Is the very existence of you and your position not because some great business cannot be solved with real gold and silver?"

"And you are a prince of a kingdom, one who will inherit the throne in the future. You should look farther ahead."

"For example?"

"Money, wealth, goods, even this city lord position, are only low-level things to Your Highness."

Hasha smiled, looking like an experienced person lecturing the prince.

"If you focus too much on these matters and personally enter the field, it will not benefit your reputation and public praise in people's eyes, whether domestic or foreign. And that is the foundation of your future rule, where your true interests lie."

"Your Highness might as well look north. Even now, is there anyone willing to believe the words of the Kin-Slaying King and trade with Black Sand City?"

Thales did not answer immediately. He lowered his head and was silent for a long while.

"Then look at my face again, Special Envoy Hasha. Add the time I was humiliated by his sister, and I, as a prince, have long since lost all face and reputation."

Thales raised his head and said coldly:

"Reputation? Public praise? In Jade City, what else do you think I can lose?"

Looking at Thales's face, Special Envoy Hasha stopped smiling.

He did not speak. He only pursed his lips.

The two faced each other quietly in the study, both expressionless.

But just as the atmosphere became increasingly unbearable, Thales turned his head and sighed.

"Fine. I do not want to seem too aggressive. How about this? Did you see Shipowner Tanganga, who just left?"

Hasha froze and could not help looking toward the door.

"Yes. Mm, he looked... not very happy?"

"More than that."

Thales laughed coldly and leaned back in the chair.

"You should say he was very tough, refusing to yield an inch, full of iron bones, declaring he would rather live and die with Zayen than compromise with me. He is even secretly supporting pirate activity on the open sea, constantly harassing routes, frightening ships coming and going, and causing trouble for Jade City's order."

Hearing this news, Hasha looked thoughtful.

"Shipowner Tanganga is, after all, a Son of the Maiden, a man of the sea, someone who lives by licking blood from the edge of a blade. Inevitably, sometimes..."

"Special Envoy, let us make a bet."

Hasha's gaze shifted.

Thales raised one finger.

"If within one day, this thorn Tanganga submits to me, restrains his edge, and lets Jade City's maritime trade return to normal..."

He observed the other party's expression and paused.

"Then Your Excellency might as well help me with this little matter. Urge that little foreign merchant alliance of yours to stop joining hands to hoard goods and raise prices, restore normal operations, and when necessary, even bleed a little to help restore market order..."

Special Envoy Hasha's gaze shifted.

"And if Shipowner Tanganga's neck is too thick and his knees too hard, and he refuses to submit?"

Thales's eyes turned cold.

"Then he will no longer exist in this world."

Special Envoy Hasha's expression changed slightly. He forgot to ask for terms and hurriedly questioned:

"You intend to kill him? Kill Tanganga?"

"Since the kingdom has explicitly banned pirate activity..."

Thales shook his head, looking indifferent.

"Then there must be an example."

Hasha frowned with the hand-painted eyebrows.

"That will not be a good example."

"How so?"

The envoy thought for a while, then leaned away from the chair with concern and propped himself up.

"As a foreign minister, this humble one should not speak too much. But Your Highness Thales, Tanganga comes from a seafaring family..."

"You mean pirates."

"...who have operated the open sea for generations, with rich experience, and know many reputable captains..."

"Yes. He has depended on Zayen to live for more than ten years," Thales said absentmindedly. "He long ago became Emerald Palace's watchdog."

"But the current master of Emerald Palace is you."

"Soon I will not be."

Thales sneered.

"Thanks to him, and you, and all the many powers in this city, including a certain eldest miss who likes playing at ghosts and snatching food from a tiger's mouth, every day in this position feels like a year, like sitting on needles."

Listening to his tone, Hasha suddenly had a bad premonition.

"This humble one understands Your Highness's rule is not going smoothly, but in a place like Jade City, harsh punishments and severe laws are absolutely not wise."

His expression was solemn, and he spoke earnestly.

"If you take Tanganga's life now, then the fleets and shipowners who have served Jade City for years, many of them descendants of former Casay pirates, will not only refuse to submit to your rule, they will also grieve like foxes at a rabbit's death, become filled with righteous anger, and the consequences will be hard to predict."

Thales shrugged.

"Is that so?"

"Once Tanganga is forced into furious resistance and takes the ships loyal to him back into piracy, then the seas will not be peaceful, the states along the routes will all suffer, and Jade City, even the Kingdom of Stars, will lose more than it gains..."

"With just him? Hmph."

Thales laughed coldly and swept his sleeve, knocking several framed pictures from the table to the floor.

Hasha first froze. He picked up one palm-sized frame and looked closely, discovering that it depicted portraits of various noble ladies.

That itself was nothing. The key was that the family crest in the picture was rather conspicuous and special.

"Radiant Sun over all. This emblem is... the Sun Sword Shield?"

Hasha looked at the portrait in his hand, his face ashen, his smile cooling, as though he had seen some monster.

"Yes. Prime Minister Cullen's granddaughters and maternal granddaughters, more than a dozen."

Thales lazily raised one of them. The girl depicted wore fine, bright, noble clothing and ornaments.

"You know him, right?"

"Of course."

Hasha's expression was grave.

"Bob Cullen, Lord of Radiant Harbor, your country's current guardian duke of the Eastern Sea, Sword of the Bay."

The chief-state envoy looked numbly at the family crest in the painting.

"When he was young, he swore a blood oath and sailed to suppress the Casay pirates..."

Among those who often crossed the sea and traveled both shores of the End Sea, who did not know?

"Yes, yes, that one."

Thales scratched his ear.

"Once I fail to handle Jade City and cannot marry the beautiful and noble Miss Hilley, mm, I can only go to Radiant Harbor to choose a wife."

Special Envoy Hasha's expression changed slightly.

"Oh? Ah, a marriage between the Jadestar royal family and the Cullen family. That is good, very good. But these candidates are all Duke Cullen's grandchildren. Their status seems not quite as..."

"Their dowries are not as much as the Covendiers', but the kind is better. For example, the Cullen family's Polar Sun Fleet."

Thales narrowed his eyes.

"They definitely will not listen entirely to me. But helping the family's good son-in-law go destroy some arrogant, unlawful pirate fleet..."

Hasha frowned hard.

Thales raised both hands and leaned back.

"So Tanganga had better be sensible. He should not forget what happened to his grandfather."

"He will not forget," Hasha stared fixedly at the Sun Sword Shield emblem, his brows tightening. "And that is precisely the problem."

"Oh?"

Hasha set down the frame, his gaze grave.

What Bob Cullen had done when he was young was not merely suppress the Casay pirates.

In the complex political maneuvering on both shores of the End Sea, more and more powers were pulled into the conflict of interests between the East Sea people and the Casay Archipelago, ultimately causing the eastern and western continents, six countries' navies, and eight great fleets to form a treaty alliance and launch a full-scale war against the countless pirates spread across the Seven Seas, who had run rampant for a time.

They fought until seawater was dyed red wherever ships could sail, wherever anchors could be dropped, and even on every mast where one could set foot. It was a battle of life and death.

So it repeated for decades. Countless famous ships sank forever to the bottom of the sea, countless sailors were buried in fish bellies, and the five great pirate kings on the Seven Seas were finally cleaned out one by one. Three died, one went missing, and one was captured.

One among them was none other than Sea Wolf Tanganga's grandfather. The Skeleton Banner King, who had once awed the Seven Seas, raised a lonely sail and, in despair, staked everything on a surprise attack against Radiant Harbor, ultimately losing and being captured in Brilliant Bay.

It was said that he and his final subordinates were not granted a swift death. Instead, they were bound to the ram of the Cullen family flagship, the Grace of Erol, and paraded along the coast as proof of triumph.

They suffered sun and rain, wind and waves, gulls pecking and birds tearing.

Until every corpse dried and shriveled, becoming true "skeleton banners."

From then on, the Maiden lost her son, and pirates lost their shelter.

The wolves of the Seven Seas had no master and no king.

The bone banner rose no more; sunlight shone over the sea frontier.

Of course, also suffering disaster at the same time were the countless clans of the Casay Archipelago that had lived by raiding for generations. The surviving clansmen, such as Tanganga's mother, had no choice but to seek another path.

"By the Radiant Sun Lord above, however fierce the trouble here is now, however miserable the people's lives, it is still only a storm in one corner of Jade City. But if the blood feud between the Cullen family and the Casay people, even the Seven Seas pirates, is dragged in, then matters become complicated. It absolutely will not be the matter of one family. Around the End Sea, perhaps again..."

As Hasha spoke, he sighed.

"Peace is precious."

Thales listened with a slight frown, but in the end, he still snorted coldly and did not care.

"So now, whether my marriage or the peace of the End Sea, oh, and of course the bet with Your Excellency, all depend on whether Tanganga bows his head? Ha, this is becoming more and more interesting."

Seeing his indifferent attitude, Hasha's expression became increasingly ugly.

"Your Highness, please think twice. Relying on the Cullen family to pressure Tanganga... you may feel pleased for a moment, but it may leave endless trouble. Also, once the End Sea falls into chaos, what will happen to Jade City?"

Thales snorted coldly.

"Then look at my face again, Special Envoy."

He turned his head again, revealing the bruise, his tone resentful and ruthless.

"Unfortunately, because the Covendier siblings did wrong, Jade City already has endless trouble."

Looking at the prince's unprecedented ruthlessness, Hasha was instantly speechless.

This time, the silence in the study lasted especially long.

One side was angry and cold-eyed, his attitude clear.

The other was full of worry and heavy thoughts.

Finally, Hasha seemed to make some decision and sighed helplessly.

"Very well. Let this humble one persuade him."

Thales's expression shifted.

"What?"

Special Envoy Hasha shook his head.

"Tairen is also a state of maritime trade and an important client of the major fleets. This humble one will try to persuade Shipowner Tanganga to cooperate with Your Highness, stop pirate harassment, and also stop the non-commercial activities being coordinated by the major fleets."

"I do not understand," Thales narrowed his eyes.

"This humble one knows Your Highness has encountered obstruction in governance and suffered repeated humiliation. At this moment, anger burns within you, and only thunderous means can calm it."

Hasha looked exhausted.

"But my humble state has a proverb: A ruler values benevolence, a general values steadiness, a merchant values stability, and an official values endurance. Even for the sake of Your Highness ultimately taking control of Jade City, at this moment Tanganga, including the other opponents, should be left alive."

"Oh? I thought you had been protesting tariff matters with Zayen and should dislike Jade City?"

"Across one sea and two shores, cooperation is always better than confrontation."

Thales stared suspiciously at him for a long while before raising his head.

"Let us say this can work. But how will you persuade that foul-tempered pirate? Lick his balls?"

Hasha took a deep breath and ignored the crude words of a prince of a kingdom.

"This humble one will tell Shipowner Tanganga: the Tairen States and our allies have already decided to set aside prejudice and cooperate with Your Highness. We will take the risk of losses, open cargo holds and shipping, assist market order, and commit ourselves to stopping disorder and restoring correctness in Jade City. I think he will understand the larger trend."

Thales froze for a while before reacting.

"Are you saying... I thought Your Excellency just said you would remain neutral?"

Hasha revealed an ugly smile.

"This humble one just thought it through. In a war where strong and weak are clearly divided, standing aside and remaining neutral is no different from siding with the strong."

Thales raised an eyebrow.

Hasha smiled, his expression gentle and natural.

"Now, Your Highness, what do you say?"

Thales was stunned for a while before finally reacting. He likewise hung a smile over his whole face.

"Oh, in fact, Your Excellency's words have also enlightened me. You are right. Unless absolutely necessary, I should not marry a Cullen granddaughter. The prime minister's power is already large enough."

"Your Highness is wise."

"Your Excellency is wise as well."

"But this humble one is low in position and light in speech. Persuading so many great merchants to cooperate is truly not easy."

Hasha rubbed his four-colored eyebrows.

"If Your Highness can promise that after success, Jade City's tariff policy on several major categories of goods will loosen slightly..."

"We will talk about it later."

Thales smiled and refused, lowering his head to pretend to begin handling official documents.

"As forceful as expected of a future king," Hasha sighed when his probe failed.

"You flatter me."

"I imagine Your Highness will surely succeed at once and take Jade City."

"Thank you."

"Perhaps before I even go to persuade him, Tanganga will surrender on his own?"

"May your words come true."

"Because he has long since submitted to Your Highness, correct?"

"Ye... What?"

Thales was startled and could not help raising his head, just in time to see Hasha's expression change. At this moment, he was staring at him with confidence.

Not good.

The prince displayed his facial control skills and calmly tried to smooth the words over.

"Oh, ha, I wish. Unfortunately, that stinking pirate does not know how to appreciate favor..."

"And you, from just now until now, have merely been cheating to deceive me. You used Tanganga and the Cullen family's matter as a pretext, deliberately creating the appearance that if you did not get your wish, you would shatter jade and stone together, kill Tanganga, and cause chaos throughout the End Sea, all to force me into submission and compromise with you, correct?"

Hasha spoke smoothly, clicking his tongue.

He dismantled Thales's little calculations cleanly.

Thales controlled his expression with all his might and tried to explain.

"What? No, in fact..."

"I spoke with him outside just now."

Hasha's words were gentle, yet struck a fatal blow.

"I have to say, Tanganga is not a person good at hiding things."

Thales's smile vanished.

What?

He...

Special Envoy Hasha calmly lifted the teacup and drank the first sip of tea of today's meeting.

"Tanganga's past is not difficult to inquire about. But how did Your Highness determine this move would work on me?"

Looking at the other party's gaze and movements, Thales finally confirmed something and had no choice but to let out a long sigh.

"Because you are the chief-state trade envoy of Tairen."

He said helplessly:

"Your position and the weight of your words rely on peace and stability, not chaos."

Thales spoke dispiritedly.

"If in a fit of anger I overturn the chessboard and disturb the situation of the coastal states, then your words inside Tairen will no longer be effective, let alone your campaign for the next chief-state leader. Of the three nobles in Tairen who control the fleet and city defense, two are your political enemies. Chaos will only benefit them."

Special Envoy Hasha's gaze shifted slightly.

"After all, the current Chief-State Leader Supanat came to power after the Cullen family and their allies ended years of campaigns against the Seven Seas pirates, and the scale of maritime trade returned to normal. With the support of the Radiant Sun Temple, he persuaded the great families and won the votes."

Hasha gently set down the teacup.

"Your Highness understands many things about my humble state, some of them even secrets. Mm, your intelligence collection is quite complete."

It should be said that Emerald Palace's people's tips were quite complete.

But...

Thales sighed helplessly.

"Since Your Excellency saw through it long ago, you kept cooperating with my acting this whole way?"

Hasha smiled.

He first waved his hand calmly.

"If this humble one had not agreed to help Your Highness just now, would you truly have, in anger, drawn in the East Sea Fleet and the Seven Seas pirates and stirred the End Sea into a tangled mess?"

Thales stared at him for a while and sighed.

"No."

"Oh?"

Hasha shrugged.

"Even though Lord Zayen beat your face out of shape, while his sister humiliated you fiercely in front of the whole city, making you lose all face, fly into a thunderous rage, and seem about to lose Jade City?"

Thales's head hurt as soon as he heard this.

He took a deep breath.

"First, my face is not out of shape. Second, my face is very large and not so easily lost..."

But seeing Hasha's expression become more and more amused, Thales finally deflated and gave up defending himself.

"Fine.

"First, moving a chess piece at the price of overturning the chessboard is not my style.

"Second, rashly starting war is the stupidest thing, especially before you know what it will bring you.

"Third, as for marriage with the Cullens, mm, I made that up. As for these, these are cheap illustrations from the secondhand market. Even the Sun Sword Shield crest was added in a rush..."

Thales casually waved one portrait of a noble lady.

"I could tell. There are many flaws."

Hasha also picked up a framed picture, his gaze complicated, containing both nostalgia and hatred.

"A long time ago, my mother, and of course I as well, survived in the old market by copying cheap illustrations for others."

Thales looked at the envoy's appearance and suddenly realized that this time, the other party had not referred to himself as "this humble one."

The envoy from Tairen gave a soft sigh. He set down the illustration and slowly removed two gemstone rings from his right hand. Only then did Thales realize they were not merely rings, but decorative ring covers connected to two prosthetic fingers.

Hasha's right thumb and index finger were both reduced to small remnants.

Almost empty.

Thales froze. He remembered the extravagant scenes over these days in which Hasha had servants help him dress, had food and drink brought to his mouth, and suddenly understood.

He turned his head, suppressing the curiosity to ask what happened, and also forcing himself not to look at the other man's prosthetic fingers.

Hasha looked at the places where his fingers were missing. His expression was steady, like an ancient well without waves.

As if they concerned him less than that cheap illustration.

Wait.

Thales suddenly realized what was wrong.

What did he say?

Hasha used to copy illustrations. He understood this...

That meant...

Thales reacted and looked at the other man in disbelief.

"It was you. Just now, you were cheating to deceive me?"

Hasha slowly reattached the prosthetic fingers, returning to his luxurious and dignified appearance, and smiled faintly.

"What, did you truly think I drew words from Tanganga's mouth? Please. Your guards are all fierce and ruthless, and they would not let me get close to him at all. Sorry, I did not mean to interrupt. Please continue."

What?

Thales stared fixedly at the envoy for a long time. Only when the other party humbly apologized did he give an angry light snort.

"I am finished."

Even if he was not finished, he had been angered finished.

Hasha chuckled and apologized repeatedly.

"I can see it now. Your Highness truly is different from Zayen Covendier. At least not like him, so shrewd, wise, skillful, and admirable."

Thales's expression shifted.

Is he scolding me?

Hasha shook his head regretfully, as if disappointed that iron was not steel.

"No wonder Your Highness sits on the precious seat, yet is still made so battered, constrained, and trapped in a city of sorrow by him while he is imprisoned."

All right. He is scolding me.

Thales frowned. He originally wanted to defend himself, say something like "Actually, I am not bad either," or "The advantage in this battle lies with me," but in the end, he was speechless, with no sentence to refute.

In the next second, Hasha, having heard enough jokes, rubbed his hands together in satisfaction and stood.

"Since that is so, I will return first. Good luck, Your Highness."

Thales sighed.

Seeing Hasha walk farther and farther away, he could not help speaking:

"But at least..."

Hasha's steps halted.

Thales took a deep breath and could only say helplessly:

"I know it is a little late to say this now... but Your Excellency, can I ask you to do as you said earlier, and at least remain impartial and neutral?"

Hasha frowned and turned back.

Thales clenched his teeth.

"Please. I only need a few weeks, no, a few days to recover Jade City. If that truly is impossible..."

"Neutral?"

Hasha burst out laughing and interrupted him.

"Your Highness, I understand Zayen Covendier. He absolutely will not be the loser."

He narrowed his eyes and raised a finger, that prosthetic finger, shaking it as though he had heard something funny.

"And you, Prince Thales, at least the current you, are certain to lose."

Thales sighed in disappointment.

Damn it.

He could have drawn the other party into the trap.

How did the problem end up on one cheap illustration?

It was simply even more foolish than Meteor finding that invitation.

"Therefore!"

In the next second, Special Envoy Hasha suddenly grew solemn.

He stared fixedly at Thales.

"Tairen and our allies have decided to give up speculation and taking advantage of fire to rob."

Thales raised his head and widened his eyes.

Hm?

"In fact, we will do everything in our power to stabilize the market for Your Highness, calm rumors, open the flow of goods, recover people's confidence in the Queen's City, and even postpone a sizable debt, in order to help Jade City return to normal."

Ah?

For a moment, Thales did not react and froze.

Hasha bowed slightly. When he raised his head, he wore a smile.

"I hope this can help Your Highness regain a slight advantage in this unfair contest."

The study was quiet for a long time.

Until Thales came back to himself.

"Wh-what?"

Hasha only shook his head.

"There are no other attached conditions, Your Highness, not even the tariffs they have been shouting about. Faced with that group of short-sighted petty people, I can still make this little decision."

Thales finally understood each word the other party had said and looked at him in puzzlement.

Hasha said no more. He only nodded lightly.

"As for the rest, it depends on Your Highness."

After the envoy finished speaking, he turned and left.

His steps were steady.

His sleeves carried wind.

His body was large.

Yet he did not drag his feet at all.

He left only Thales sitting behind the desk, still astonished.

"Wait, Your Excellency!"

Thales still had not figured it out. Just as Hasha was about to walk out the door, he could not help calling him back.

"Do you mind telling me why?"

Hasha turned around, still smiling.

"Why?"

He thought for a while before his eyes brightened.

"I said it earlier."

Thales looked puzzled.

"Lord Zayen is a shrewd and capable leader."

Hasha spoke unhurriedly and gently rubbed his rings.

"Jade City flourished under him, but the precondition was that his authority and position were not threatened. Otherwise, he would sacrifice Jade City without hesitation, just as he prepared in advance, asking us to cause trouble for Jade City and stir up disasters, to force away its new master."

His gaze changed, shooting directly at Thales.

In that instant, Thales suddenly had an illusion. The person before him was not some errand-running envoy from a neutral trade state.

But a battle-hardened general commanding troops.

"But Your Highness is a prince of a kingdom and will inherit the throne in the future. You should look farther ahead."

Hasha repeated his earlier words, word by word.

"Reputation and public praise are the foundation of your future rule and where your true interests lie."

Thales's breathing halted.

"But Zayen's reputation and public praise are also very good," he said subconsciously.

"Extremely good."

Hasha nodded without hesitation, but his gaze remained firm.

"Among those who do not understand him."

Thales's gaze shifted.

"The Radiant Sun teaches: without a sacred heart, one cannot perform sacred deeds."

Hasha made an exaggerated prayer gesture. After finishing, his expression instantly returned to the courteous, false diplomat's look from before.

"Now, this humble one must hurry to summon a little gathering. Please excuse me."

"Your Excellency Hasha."

Thales spoke almost by instinct.

He originally wanted to say thank you, but felt it inappropriate. When the words reached his mouth, they finally became another sentence.

"This idea of creating danger to force you into compliance came from people's reported clues. I mean, I forced it out of Zayen."

Thales spoke faintly.

Hasha frowned when he heard this.

Thales looked at him with complicated feelings.

"But now, it seems Zayen underestimated you."

Hasha made a sound of acknowledgment and lowered his head in thought, his expression meaningful.

Several seconds later...

"No. In fact..."

The envoy raised his head and smiled in relief.

"He overestimated me."

"Just as for a long time, I also overestimated him."

Special Envoy Hasha from Tairen stroked his four-colored eyebrows, moved his large body, smiled without pause, and stepped easily out of the study.