Chapter 754: Raise a Cup Against a Common Enemy Part 1

The duke's study was quiet for a very, very long time.

After hearing the prince's proposal, the two Covendiers had different expressions and digested it for quite a while.

"So after all this, we are back where we started," Federico was the first to speak. His expression was complicated, his smile not quite a smile. "In the end, he comes out clean, everything continues as usual, and he remains the Duke of South Coast he usurped?"

"Everything as usual?" Zayen said disdainfully.

"But you become the new Viscount of Archsea City, Fed"

Thales raised his brows and squeezed out a smile.

"That is a great step forward."

"Under his control, obeying his orders, and perhaps ultimately being killed by his schemes?" Federico raised his voice.

Before Thales could react, Zayen snorted coldly.

"So according to your arrangement, Fed clears his name and returns home gloriously, also becoming Renaissance Palace's second figure and the capital's special inside agent. Meanwhile, I have to surrender a number of rights, tolerate my cousin full of rotten water pointing fingers at my rule and making trouble everywhere, perhaps even having him usurp me in the end?"

The Duke of Iris smiled coldly.

"Everyone rejoices?"

Federico took up the words at just the right time, his face equally full of sarcasm.

"Let bygones be bygones?"

The two emphasized different things, yet both tacitly stared at Thales with chilling smiles, making his back prickle.

This back-and-forth made Thales involuntarily remember the Hall of Heroes many years ago, when he faced Chapman Lampard and the four archdukes.

But compared with the Exstedt nobles, who were full of contradictions, were you Covendiers not family?

Thales sighed.

Tor was right. It seemed this was a little more difficult than imagined.

Mm. A little.

Thales propped up his smile, as if the conversation just now had gone smoothly.

"Good. It seems you both understood. Before we enter the next stage, if you still have questions about the details..."

"Your previous proposal was much better than this." Zayen's smile disappeared, leaving only coldness on his face. "At least you promised to send him to the Prison of Bones."

"At least?" Federico frowned.

"But you disagreed and made me wait a few more days, until Jade City's situation got a little worse before coming back," Thales shrugged. "So I waited."

Zayen sneered and ignored the prince's sarcasm.

"So you have already thoroughly controlled the situation. Debt, trade, public order, nobles, military supplies, even gangs... all of Jade City's problems have been solved, and that is why you are so fearless and unscrupulous."

Zayen looked toward his tense-faced cousin.

"Toward both me and him?"

Thales only picked up his teacup, lightly drank a sip, moved calmly, and did not change expression.

Damn it. Bitter as death.

"As the saying goes, when the iris shares one heart, its edge cuts... all right, in fact, the two of you do not need to like each other in Jade City. You do not even need to cooperate. You only need to cooperate with me separately."

Thales continued wearing his false smile.

In fact, perhaps only if these brothers had an awful relationship, with hatred too deep to resolve, could the future Jade City retain its greatest protective charm.

And if they truly worked together with complete sincerity in the future...

Thales thought:

Then Jade City might face real disaster.

"Please forgive my stupidity."

Federico spoke in a low voice.

"Since Your Highness has already controlled the situation and has no worries about a weapon of restraint, why not press forward in one breath and complete the entire achievement?"

Thales frowned.

Complete the entire achievement...

The question was, what entire achievement?

Achievement where?

Achievement for whom?

"Please think twice, Your Highness. We have made so many efforts. Jade City is already in your pocket. The goal is about to be achieved, lacking only the final step, resolving the chief culprit," Fed looked up at Thales, doing his best to hide the dissatisfaction in his eyes while trying to bargain. "At least send him to the Prison of Bones, or even house arrest in the capital would do, so long as he is far from Jade City?"

Zayen frowned slightly.

Federico was incomparably serious.

"Otherwise, even if he agrees to Your Highness, with Zayen's ambition and management, once he retakes power for merely two years, all our previous work will surely be wasted."

Mm. Not unreasonable.

Thales nodded lightly.

But...

"But you will not let that happen, right?"

Thales spoke lightly.

"As Viscount of Archsea City, Fed, promise me: you will devote all your strength, with one heart for the country, to restraining your cousin's ambition."

Federico clenched his teeth.

"All the above conditions are negotiable, Thales, but you must send this fellow to the gallows or to prison."

Zayen spoke at this time, righteous and stern.

"So that in the future, the black sheep of the great families do not imitate him one after another, usurp their family heads, and make every person on the Nineteen Stone Seats fear for themselves, creating countless obstacles when you later bring the Six Territories under control."

Thales froze at these words.

The Duke of South Coast snorted.

"As for the Viscount of Archsea City, you only need someone to watch me anyway. Let anyone take the position. Even the Black Prophet."

This...

"Then you probably would not live past tomorrow morning," Thales sighed in response.

"Better than dying with eyes open one day," Zayen said softly.

"His Highness does not mean the Black Prophet," Federico said expressionlessly.

"I was not speaking of him either," Zayen said coldly.

The two Covendiers exchanged a glance, filled with deep hostility and careful caution.

Like two swordsmen dueling, stepping and probing each other.

If only Thales were not in the middle.

All right.

Thales rubbed his scalp. The scar Zakriel had cut open still felt clear under his hand.

"But as long as you agree to my conditions," Thales probed, "both of you can obtain what you care about most. Zayen keeps the ducal seat and Hilley's safety. Federico restores his father's honor and obtains Archsea City's title. Jade City avoids collapse. The royal family obtains an answer that can be explained. Everyone..."

"He merely takes responsibility for his crimes," Zayen said coldly. "Do not forget how many lives were killed from the moment he returned to Jade City."

"Every one deserved it," Fed countered. "They were all participants in the old case, paying the debt for the grievance and torture my father suffered at your hands."

Thales began rubbing his scalp again.

He leaned against the duke's noble leather backrest and muttered to himself:

"Forget it. I might as well kill both of you at the same time and let Hilley take power directly. The female guardian duke of the South Coast..."

Zayen frowned in warning.

"Thales!"

Thales snorted coldly.

"Or send both of you to the Prison of Bones and lock you in the same cell..."

Federico glanced at the two of them, and his eyes moved.

"If this is because of Cecilia, Your Highness, because you cannot bear to see her disappointed, then forgive my bluntness..."

Thales's eyes moved.

"Under the present situation, only if Zayen is gone, of course, this is his own fault and has nothing to do with you," Fed said softly, "can you and she possibly be without obstacles and finally become a couple."

Ah?

Thales instantly stiffened.

Zayen first trembled, then slowly turned his head.

"What did you say?"

No...

Thales was utterly confused.

Had he, had they all misunderstood something?

"And we can accomplish this. I guarantee she will hate me, not Your Highness."

Federico respectfully nodded, paying no attention at all to his cousin's sharp gaze that looked ready to split open his chest and belly.

"When the time comes, I will sincerely bless you both, something Zayen could never do in his life."

Zayen's gaze became even more frightening.

Thales only felt his brain throb.

The direction of this topic was not good.

But unexpectedly, the Duke of South Coast, who usually erupted whenever his sister was mentioned, did not lose control or grow angry. He only took a deep breath and calmly replied to Fed

"Do not drag her in, cousin," Zayen slowly said. "When our family had its accident, she was not even old enough to understand."

But Federico gave no face at all.

"Was she not old enough, or did you think she was not old enough?"

Zayen's brow trembled.

"Can you still not see it, my dear cousin? Fate has already decided. No matter what you do, no matter how much you want it, you cannot stop Hilley from approaching the person she likes."

Thales felt somewhat awkward at these words. He wanted to argue, but also felt that if he truly did, it would only become more awkward.

So he stayed silent.

Federico continued without mercy:

"And even less can you stop her from living the life she deserves, one not dragged down by the family."

Zayen swayed visibly.

Federico smiled as he spoke.

"So your existence is the obstacle, Zayen. You will only bring pain and struggle to our little sister."

Thales had just managed to leave the awkward period when these words made him frown.

Zayen's eyes had never been so frightening.

He stared fixedly at Federico, his breathing heavy, his whole body visibly trembling.

"She. Is. Not. Your. Sister."

"So you only allow her to belong to you?" Federico clicked his tongue. "How sick."

"Sick?" Zayen clenched his teeth and spoke with difficulty. "The person saying this lived underground with vampires for eleven years."

But the other Covendier did not show weakness at all. He even went further.

"Forgive my bluntness, cousin. If you truly want what is good for your sister, you should die sooner."

"Enough!"

Thales had to interrupt the two, who were gradually beginning to attack each other.

He frowned and paused for a while, unable to help feeling wronged on Hilley's behalf for how she was being used and offended in the conversation between Zayen and Federico.

Her brothers of the same surname and blood... whether they loved her or hated her, they were all creatures of power.

He suddenly felt tired.

He no longer wanted to care about the grievances and grudges between the two of them.

No matter who cared more about whose sister, or who truly killed whose father.

It was all the same.

Petty, childish, boring.

And you still have important matters to handle, Thales.

Matters of state, the lives of the people.

The voice in his heart said coldly: better to resort to more forceful, more realistic means.

Thales's face turned cold.

"Neither you nor him will die."

Both turned their heads together and looked at Thales sarcastically, disbelief written all over their faces.

"All right. I know my handling makes both of you rather dissatisfied, even uncomfortable," Thales left the chair back and changed strategy. "But believe me, you can no longer obtain a more satisfactory result."

Both Covendiers had no reaction.

Thales turned toward one of them.

The one who possessed more, and therefore cared more.

"That is right, Zayen. I can do as you wish: execute Fed, let you set favorable conditions and return to the ducal seat, smooth over appearances, and allow you to keep dancing with long sleeves in a chorus of peace..."

Thales's tone tightened.

"But that would be the last time I help you. Whether I want to or not, next time, I definitely will not be able to help you make everyone 'rejoice' like this, or patiently help Jade City 'control the situation'..."

He paused.

"...much less help Hilley."

Zayen's eyes moved.

Thales said lightly,

"Even if I had the heart, I would lack the strength."

Zayen said nothing, thoughtful.

Thales did not care and turned on his own toward the other one.

The one who had lost more, and therefore cared less.

"And you, Fed, forgive my bluntness. Precisely because someone wants to topple the deeply rooted Duke of Iris, you, as an exiled noble, and that is the pleasant way of putting it, were allowed to return and become useful."

Federico's expression changed slightly.

"But once Zayen is gone and the target disappears, what are you?"

Thales looked at him.

"A troublemaker who knows too much, carries too many grievances, has no foundation, no troops, no offices, no recognition, and has already been used once."

Federico's lips pressed tight.

"If you truly sit on the ducal throne, do you think the people who pushed you up will let you hold it steadily?"

Something in the invisible net seemed to be tugged.

Thales ignored the discomfort in his heart and spoke slowly.

"I have not known you long, Fed But after so many dealings, I thought you should understand one thing..."

"Do not mention 'him' in front of him."

Zayen sighed and saved Thales the second half of the sentence.

"Experience talking, cousin."

Federico looked at Zayen, then Thales, and took a deep breath, his attitude resolute.

"I said it. As long as I can take revenge, as long as I can recover justice, as long as I can find the truth, as long as Zayen pays the price, I do not care who the winner is. Whether the one who wins is me or someone else..."

"You cannot win!"

Thales suddenly shouted loudly, startling both of them into looking at each other.

The prince immediately discovered his loss of composure. He had to take a deep breath, drink a sip of tea to remind himself, and only then returned to a normal tone.

"Just like he cannot win either."

Thales's gaze burned.

"Even if I did not interfere. Even if I allowed you to kill Zayen and become regent of Emerald Palace or even Duke of South Coast. Even if South Coast Territory came under direct royal jurisdiction starting tomorrow... he, he cannot win either."

Federico and Zayen frowned at the same time.

"Because he stands high above, thinking that so long as he sits in the capital and plans from afar, moving vertically and horizontally, with some threats and inducements added, Jade City will obediently enter the trap and offer ten thousand gold every year. He thinks that as long as he strikes the trunk roughly and powerfully, this money tree called Jade City will obediently drop money."

Thales clenched his teeth.

"But he has not stepped one foot here, has not personally looked here as I have, has not seen all kinds of people in Jade City or its corners inside and out, even if I have not seen enough either."

Far from enough.

"Because he is the same as you. He believes that since he experienced destruction and injustice, tragedy and pain, he therefore has the right not to care, the right only to demand and not give. But he does not understand and has no chance to understand: only if he first reaches out to protect the branches, water and fertilize, can this tree grow fruit."

In Thales's mind flashed what he had seen and heard in Jade City these days. He remembered what Zayen had told him: the hardships of more than a hundred years, six generations of Covendiers going forward one after another, turning the iris from Jade City's highest ring into its lowest ring, then back to its highest ring.

"So he cannot win."

Thales spoke in a daze.

"And when he reaches out to shake out money but discovers the branches are withered, and he has no choice but to admit he cannot win..."

He turned toward the pale-faced Federico.

"You sitting on the ducal throne, and the withered, broken Jade City. Which do you think he will care about more?"

Federico frowned deeply and swallowed.

His lips moved, but in the end he did not answer.

Thales smiled lightly and nodded.

"Correct answer: he cares about neither."

Thales sighed and leaned wearily back into his chair.

"Think over my proposal again."

Neither Covendier spoke.

Not bad.

The voice in Thales's heart said to him:

As a strong person, showing one's difficulties and wounds at the right time to obtain an unexpected effect is also a decent method. Only, be careful...

"So that is how it is."

Federico interrupted his thoughts, both incredulous and disappointed.

"So the most conservative, passive, and unambitious person in this city is far from Zayen."

Thales snorted softly.

"Say whatever you like."

In any case, that was how it was.

Now it depended only on the two of them...

"Can you not see it, Fed?"

Zayen, who had not spoken for a long while, suddenly opened his mouth, not to Thales but to the cousin he could not live under the same sky with.

"Our beloved His Highness the Prince is doing what he has always been best at, or the only thing he is good at..."

Zayen glanced at Thales with contempt and complexity.

"Muddying the water."

Thales's motion of lifting the teacup froze.

What?

Even Federico frowned and looked toward his cousin.

"Not only between the two of us Covendiers," Zayen laughed coldly. "Also between him and his father, and perhaps between himself and Hilley."

Thales's face turned ugly.

"Avoiding conflict, allowing neither of us to win, nor His Majesty to win, not even allowing himself to win," Zayen's gaze, as if seeing through everything, chilled Thales's chest. "Naturally, then, no one 'loses.'"

The Duke of South Coast turned toward Federico, but seemed not to be looking at him. Rather, he looked at something behind him.

"Nor will there be gamblers who lose until their eyes redden, overturn the table, and draw knives."

Zayen snorted disdainfully.

"And the Western Desert, even Exstedt from years ago. Heaven knows how many 'crises' he resolved with this mud-mixing method in the past, self-righteous and self-deceiving, and how many worse hidden dangers he buried, how many future disasters he will bring..."

Damned little flower.

Thales stared fixedly at him, his gaze unkind.

But cursing was one thing. He could not help remembering the words of Barta, the barber-shop owner, from before:

Before that, all means of rescue are nothing more than carrying firewood to extinguish a fire, not only futile, but self-righteous...

Though he thought this, Thales's mouth still refused to show mercy.

"At least you are still sitting safely in Emerald Palace, Zayen, not upside down as a brush cleaning my toilet."

Zayen could not help frowning.

"What?"

Thales turned toward the other person, trying hard to convince himself to first get past the problem before him.

"And you, Fed A person must know when to stop after gaining something. Viscount's manor or damp underground cell is not actually a difficult choice."

Federico frowned deeply.

"By comparison, I think neither of you is willing to fall here by the other's hand, yes?"

Thales took a deep breath.

"So why not both live? Both obtain what you can obtain. Both keep what you cannot lose. Both watch each other, restrain each other, and leave the rest to time."

The study fell into silence.

Zayen suddenly laughed.

"Time?"

His eyes were cold.

"You mean, leave the problem to tomorrow."

Thales said nothing.

"No. What His Highness means," Federico said quietly, "is that if we cannot kill each other today, then we should kill each other more elegantly tomorrow."

"Better than dying stupidly today," Thales said.

Zayen looked at him.

"You need us alive."

Thales's heart sank.

Zayen slowly leaned back, his gaze sharp.

"You need a strange and struggling Jade City that has not been 'completed' to continue existing, resisting, and being caught between your breath and His Majesty's, so that you have confidence and bargaining chips when you return to Renaissance Palace to face him."

Thales's expression changed slightly. Federico looked thoughtful.

Zayen pointed at Federico.

"So you need to muddy the water between us. You need us to hate each other yet tolerate each other and live together in Jade City."

Thales frowned and thought for a while.

"I must say, Zayen, I admire your imagination and conspiracy theories, including the fixed way your mind interprets everyone as interest machines and power creatures. But do not be too..."

But Zayen interrupted him with a cold smile.

"How long?"

How long?

Thales looked puzzled.

"A gambler has not lost, so he has not yet overturned the table. But he has not won either, so he refuses to leave."

Zayen enunciated clearly, every sentence alarming.

"But a gambling table where one neither loses money nor wins money, how long can it continue? How long can the guests endure before giving up the game, or even..."

He looked at Thales maliciously.

"Changing the dealer?"

Thales's face darkened.

"One round? Two rounds? Ten rounds? Forever?"

Federico looked at Thales, then Zayen, his thoughts spinning.

"As I understand them, Thales, a gambler rarely overturns the table because he lost money," Zayen said coldly. "But he often fights with his life because of poverty."

Thales said nothing.

The Duke of South Coast did not leave his seat. On the contrary, like the master of this place, he sat down with ease.

"Unless someone resolves..."

Zayen's gaze was sharp.

"To end the game."

When his words fell, only dead silence remained in the study.

After a good while, Thales took a deep breath.

And before him, in the invisible air, the entire net covering him trembled uncontrollably.

It pulled countless threads, tightening inch by inch.

"Bet less money, Zayen," Thales remembered what he had seen in the Black Gold Casino in the capital when young and struck back with difficulty. "As I understand them, it is not frightening when a person loses a bet."

He raised his head and looked at Zayen.

"The most frightening thing is actually when he wins."

Zayen turned his head and stared coldly at him.

"Because if he loses, then it is gone. But once he wins, he cannot help it. He cannot help continuing to gamble, betting the next hand, then the next, then the one after that."

Thales spoke softly.

"Until he wagers chips that he cannot possibly afford to pay," the prince looked at the two before him and no longer smiled. "So he can only drag in others, countless others, innocent people, people who were never at the gambling table, to pay with him."

Zayen and Federico both sank into thought because of these words.

Thales raised his arm again to send the guests away.

"You should return to your rooms. Please remember: I only wait until the Praise Banquet."

Federico glanced toward Zayen, who remained seated and showed no intention of leaving.

"Very well."

Zayen spoke softly, but his words made both of them freeze together.

"I agree."

Agree?

He...

Thales paused. Only then did he slowly lift his head. Under Zayen's clear, cold gaze and Federico's incredulous eyes, he confirmed his own hearing.

"I cannot hear you," he said softly.

Zayen sneered.

"I said, Thales, I accept your above conditions. Everything you want, every damned, disgusting part of it."

Zayen pointed at the other Covendier, straightened his body, and became incomparably serious.

"Including letting this bastard live in South Coast Territory, even in my Emerald Palace. And one more condition: guarantee Hilley's absolute safety."

Federico's face changed.

"Oh, truly?"

Thales lowered his arm of dismissal.

"Do I look like I am joking?"

Only then did Federico recover from shock and could not help speaking:

"Your Highness!"

But Thales reached out to stop him, quickly returned to his seat, and sat down with great interest.

"Go on?" Thales picked up his teacup.

Under Federico's incredulous gaze, Zayen smiled.

"And you, Thales, take this awkward and struggling Jade City as a gift, and even more as a wager, back to Renaissance Palace to report."

Thales's smile disappeared.

"Just remember. If you cannot end the game..."

Zayen's gaze was sharp.

"Then you had better not lose the bet."

He laughed coldly again and again.

"Otherwise, as you said..."

Thales's breath stopped, and he had to swallow.

Zayen spoke softly.

"You alone are far from able to pay."

In that instant, Thales felt the study become somewhat hot and stuffy.

Narrow and cramped.

Suffocating.

As if he had fallen into a net.

Zayen breathed out happily and lifted his cup to drink a mouthful of mate tea.

It went down smoothly.

Without discomfort.

"No!"

Federico reacted and instinctively denied it.

He unwillingly fought for Thales.

"No, Your Highness. Zayen never makes choices that harm him without benefit. He agreed so readily. There must be something strange behind this. You cannot-"

"You are right, Fed!"

Before Thales could answer, Zayen interrupted him. He put down the teacup, his smile somewhat frightening.

"I placed a bet."

Thales was expressionless.

Federico's fingers trembled.

Placed a bet?

What bet?

On whom?

"But believe me, cousin. This was absolutely not that easy."

Zayen smiled pleasantly and gestured toward the teacup beside Federico's hand.

"It is your turn, Fed Are you drinking tea or not?"

Thales still did not speak.

This time, it was Federico's turn to turn around.

His breathing was dazed, and he looked at his cousin in disbelief.