Chapter 756: Raise a Cup Against a Common Enemy Part 3

The study was silent for a long time.

After quite a while, Zayen finally recovered from that heavy mood with difficulty and let out a long sigh.

"The killer. That man named Bolwin. The killer who supposedly murdered my father. He had received great kindness from Uncle Sonar, and he willingly bore the charge of assassinating the duke. Of course, Uncle let him die quickly, without torture."

Federico shuddered back to himself.

"Then the real killer..."

Zayen shook his head wearily.

"All we know is that the man later earned the alias Reverse Scimitar. Even that was something we barely traced afterward from circumstantial evidence that had passed through who knew how many hands. Its reliability is not high. Six guards died in Emerald Palace that night, and Ashford and my mother only caught a hurried glimpse of him."

Thales' expression shifted slightly.

"Reverse Scimitar... he... who sent him?" Fed asked blankly.

Zayen fell silent.

He slowly raised his head, showing a strange look and a pale smile.

"But you know, Fed With how clever you are, you have actually always known."

He looked at Federico, his gaze enough to chill the heart.

"You simply refuse to admit it."

Federico's eyes widened.

"Or you cannot admit it."

Zayen said softly:

"And dare not admit it."

Federico trembled all over.

Thales realized something, unable to hide his shock.

"Just like me. No matter how resentful I am, no matter how unfair it is, no matter how hypocritical and vicious, even today I must still go against my conscience and give the order for the Blood Bottle Gang to do the dirty work, to clean up every possible clue that might draw out the old case, whatever the cost."

The smile on Zayen's face was split equally between desolation and hatred.

"Because I absolutely cannot, cannot announce to the outside world who the true mastermind behind my father's assassination was, even if only for Jade City."

Federico said nothing more.

Thales could no longer hold back his question.

"Zayen, wait, you mean the old duke's death was my..."

This time, Zayen suddenly turned his head. His attitude changed completely. With a hatred and loathing Thales had never seen from him before, he roared:

"I said, Thales! Shut up! Shut up!"

Zayen was agitated beyond measure. He sprang to his feet and pointed straight at Thales.

"When I am speaking to my cousin, when we irises are discussing private family matters, you are not allowed to cut in with a single damned word!"

Thales was startled badly and froze where he was.

"I..."

"Not allowed!"

Zayen roared, both eyes bloodshot.

In an instant, the respect and restraint the Duke of the South Bank had shown the prince vanished without a trace.

Thales hesitated for a while, and in the end fell into dim silence.

Perhaps the Star Lake guards outside the door had grown used to the occasional shouting in the study. As long as it was not Thales himself making the sound, they remained quiet and did not knock to ask.

"Zayen."

Federico spoke weakly, as if reminding him, and as if pleading.

Zayen took a deep breath and slowly sat down.

It was clear he was trying to adjust his emotions, but with little success.

"Because of you, Thales Jadestar, you unlucky, damned, Sunset-cursed..."

The Duke of the South Bank struggled to move his gaze away from Thales. His voice was pained and restrained.

"Yet also lucky, unfair, shameless bastard born destined to wear a crown..."

Zayen clenched his fists. His whole body shook as he ground his teeth.

"You have no idea what it means for me to let you be. To let the son of my enemy speak freely, move freely, even breathe freely in Jade City, in Emerald Palace. To let a Jadestar bastard come and go freely in Jade City, in Emerald Palace, in the place of my father and uncle, turning guest into host...

"To endure you shamelessly proposing marriage to a daughter of Covendier. To endure you and my sister laughing and chatting, talking of love and affection. To endure you speaking to me rudely from above, even making self-righteous comments about the misfortune of my father and uncle, stirring my blood kin against me..."

Thales was stunned.

He looked at the uncontrollable Zayen. He looked at the other man's expression and eyes, his feelings complicated.

That was something he had never seen before.

Or rather, something hidden for too long, with no way to be released.

Deep, naked hatred.

Hatred carved into the bone.

Zayen's words trembled. His breathing was uneven, and he had to pause several times midway to keep his speech smooth.

"Thales, you have no damned idea how broad a heart, how great a resolve, and how deep a tolerance it takes for me to do this."

At last, he had the courage to raise his head and look venomously at Thales, or at something behind Thales.

"You. Do. Not. Know."

Zayen trembled.

"You do not know a damned thing."

In that atmosphere, Thales could only lower his head. He could only passively and silently endure hatred that perhaps should not have been his to endure.

"Because you are Thales damned Kingdom-Saint Jadestar."

Zayen hissed:

"You belong to that cursed bloodline that will never be stained with disgrace, that will only ever have a fine image, that will always be praised by everyone, that no one is ever allowed to hate..."

Zayen bit down on each word, clearly loathing them to the extreme.

"Filthy. Blood."

The study grew quiet again.

Only the faint sound of Federico's teacup remained, and Zayen's rapid breathing gradually calming.

Thales closed his eyes deeply.

He suddenly thought of the experiences of the past few days.

He thought of those Jade City officials who had pretended not to know in front of him, cooperating with the performance.

And of what Zayen had just said:

If I were you, Fed, I would show a bit of Jade City's official wisdom. Even if I discovered something odd, I would pretend not to know and cooperate with us until the play ended. Then I would accept the conditions with tears of gratitude, and that would be that.

Why insist on exposing it, making everyone lose face?

Looking at Zayen's unapproachable appearance before him, Thales felt complicated, and rather uncomfortable.

"Why?"

At last, Federico spoke with difficulty and broke the silence. He looked lifelessly at his cousin.

"Why did it have to be my father? Why Sonar Covendier?"

Zayen gave a cold laugh and spat bitterly.

"Then who else could Jade City count on? The other incompetent uncles in the family who had merged completely with the old nobles and knew only eating, drinking, playing, and abusing power? Or the ungrateful Twin-Tower Longsword and Four-Winged Basilisk?"

Federico said nothing.

Several seconds later, Zayen took a deep breath and rubbed his forehead.

Seeming to realize he had not answered the question properly, he calmly added:

"Because Uncle did not want to become the enemy's chess piece, to make a fatal move against our family."

Grief seeped into Federico's eyes.

"Because if he had not died. If he had not died before the royal envoy arrived to demand accountability. Before the Kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department took him to the capital for careful interrogation and beat him into becoming the true culprit. Before the supreme king's will descended. Then Jade City's internal strife would no longer have been limited to internal strife. It would have completely become the fighting pit of the entire Kingdom of Stars, and a betting slip for Renaissance Palace."

Zayen snorted coldly.

"Just like back then, with the one-winged crow of the Western Desert. Do you know what happened to the previous Count of Wing Fort?"

Thales' thoughts stirred.

"Do you know that if not for my father's utmost mediation in the Kroma family's tragedy of kin, and the tough stance of the previous Duke of the Western Desert, along with the Karabeyan family's guarantee from within..."

Zayen said coldly:

"Once that case was made public, with his great crime of murdering his wife, who was also the younger sister of the old Count of Rockwall and the cousin of the Sunset Archbishop, and attempting to murder his son as well, the Kroma family might even have been excommunicated by the Sunset Temple. They might not even have kept the title and fief of Wing Fort."

Zayen turned his head and took a fierce gulp of tea, not reacting at all to its bitterness.

"Let alone a younger brother who dared to murder a duke who was also his own elder brother..."

Federico closed his eyes.

"And Uncle Sonar understood that."

Zayen tightened his grip on his cup.

"So did my mother."

Federico remained utterly lost.

"Why? Why..."

"Because Uncle was the most outstanding Covendier. That was what my father said in the last letter he wrote to me before his death," Zayen said in grief.

"But he did not tell me."

Federico's eyes reddened. He clenched his fists, shaking.

"He did not."

"He left you a suicide note, telling you not to take revenge," Zayen said, shaking his head. "You simply did not believe it."

"He did not write it clearly..."

"He damned well could not write it clearly!"

Zayen said impatiently:

"He could not ensure that a paranoid fool like you would not give the enemy another excuse to invade Jade City!"

Federico stared at the tea leaves in his cup, wide-eyed.

"I don't believe it! That was... that could only have been something he wrote under your coercion! If you think this will make me let go of..."

Zayen sneered and shook his head.

"Please. No one could coerce Sonar Covendier, not even the elder brother he respected most."

His earlier sharpness seemed to gradually return.

"Why do you think people believed the iris was fighting internally? Why did they believe Uncle had the qualifications to be the old duke's political opponent? Was it because your father was so easy to talk to that anyone could force him to write a suicide note?"

Federico did not answer.

"In this way, this 'family strife' that was enough to trigger a storm and invite intervention from higher powers ended before I returned to the kingdom. Everything was merely trouble beginning inside the walls of the iris, merely Covendier cleaning its own house."

Zayen said faintly:

"Aside from changing the duke, everything in Jade City remained as before. Every family's interests were unchanged. The balance was maintained. Apart from a few rebukes, the enemy had no opening and could only return in disappointment."

Finally, he sighed and spoke the family's words:

"Rather for the sake of friends than to perish by enemies."

Federico's expression struggled beyond measure.

Thales said nothing. Not only because Zayen did not welcome his interruption, but also because he should not speak at such a moment.

But he felt that the chair beneath him was especially prickly right now.

After a long while, Federico slapped the arm of his seat as if venting and angrily raised his head.

"No. No, no, no... I don't believe it! I understand you, Zayen. I know all of this is merely a scheme you are using to reach your goal..."

"I have said everything that should be said, without avoiding anything, and even in front of this little brat."

Zayen sneered and cut him off.

"As for why you do not believe it, why you would rather believe an outsider's malicious slander than believe the bonds of blood kinship, why you would rather believe your father died wrongfully in some unclear conspiracy than believe the solemn words we could write on a public notice, or to put it differently, what consequences there would be once you believed it..."

Zayen glanced at Federico meaningfully.

"Only you yourself know that."

Federico's breath caught.

"No, you..."

He gritted his teeth and began, but could not continue.

"For Sunset's sake, Fed, use your head," Zayen said loudly. "Back then, when your rebellion in Gonghai City failed, if not for your father, how could either I or the Lassia family have let you escape? With the relationship between the iris and the Night Kingdom all these years, how could we have allowed you to live?"

Federico froze.

"If not for an accident midway, if our alliance with Corleone had not broken and the Blood Fangs had not fallen to them..."

Zayen could not help glancing at Thales. The latter smiled politely.

"How could you possibly have been sent back?"

Zayen thought of something else.

"And you, after so many years, Fed, surrendered to them, to our enemies, so easily."

He spoke with mockery.

"And the methods you used to split the family and blacken the iris's name were even exactly like theirs back then."

Federico clenched his teeth hard.

"Arbitration? Noble arbitration? The Roderick Ordinance? Hahahahahaha!"

Zayen looked at Thales and laughed loudly.

"The iris became the most central link in the chain of cities through the ruling legitimacy that began in the era of the Revival King, through the illustrious fame of our ancestors, and through the natural rights of Covendier. That is why, whether it was Jade City back then or me today, we could neither avoid nor escape their sudden attack when they likewise used supreme ruling legitimacy against us."

He said darkly:

"Not to mention we also had an inside traitor."

"No!"

Federico could not help cutting him off. The former held his teacup, and the tea in it trembled again and again.

"I don't believe it. You are lying. My father, he..."

"That's right. Uncle was a stubborn hard-liner. He was both my father's right and left hand and his political opponent in the later period. He was the representative and umbrella of the conservative forces in Jade City."

Zayen said impatiently:

"But do not forget, he was also an upright descendant of the iris, with Covendier blood flowing through him. When the greater crisis arrived, he endured humiliation and heavy burdens, refusing to become the enemy's chess piece and tool, and for that he did not hesitate to sacrifice his life."

Federico was silent for a while. When he spoke again, his resentment had only deepened.

"No. This still cannot absolve you!"

He raised his head angrily and looked at Zayen.

"You forced him to his death."

"All of you!"

Zayen fell silent.

"I will not hide it from you. I did not make it back in time that year," the duke sighed, not looking back at Fed "The one who went to persuade your father was my mother."

Federico's brow twitched.

"I do not know what Uncle Sonar was thinking. I do not know whether your father regretted it. I would never say I am proud of her actions."

Zayen lowered his voice.

"But with the great house on the verge of collapse, Mother made the most difficult and painful decision that could be made in that critical moment."

"She died in depression a year later. I suppose, I suppose it was because she always felt guilty toward Uncle."

Zayen paused for a second and said, unbearably:

"Although... although Uncle had no complaints."

Federico trembled all over and instinctively denounced:

"Lies!"

Federico drank the last of the bitter tea and forced himself to calm down.

"You are only saying this to drive a wedge between His Highness and me, to make me resent him, and to make him doubt me."

He looked toward Thales, but his gaze dodged away.

Thales also felt rather uncomfortable.

"Then think it through, Cousin," Zayen sneered. "For the sake of your power and position, how far are you willing to go?"

He stared fixedly at Fed

"Can you endure your father's murderer giving you orders? Can you endure him sitting before you, laughing and talking, while you must lower your head and bow to him, raise a cup with him in joy, and even become allies and trade with him?"

Federico trembled slightly.

"Can you, for the peace of Jade City and the future of the iris, knowingly pretend not to know the truth, continue acting, not only refrain from exposing it but do everything you can to keep it secret, forcing out a smile while swallowing pain and fury?"

Thales frowned deeply.

The next second, Zayen shouted angrily:

"Can you?"

Federico fell into a daze.

After quite a while, Zayen finally calmed. He looked down at the tea that had long since been emptied.

"I can."

The Duke of the South Bank said faintly:

"I can do it."

Zayen's face was expressionless.

"For an entire... eleven years."

Thales closed his eyes.

"So long that even I myself thought..."

Zayen gave a miserable laugh.

"I had already forgotten the hatred of my father's murder, the resentment of my family being seized."

At this point, Thales finally let out a breath.

"May I say something?" the prince asked quietly.

Zayen looked at him.

"No. But would that stop you?"

The Duke of the South Bank forced down his hatred.

Thales curled his lips.

Federico sniffed and gritted his teeth.

"I still do not believe you, Cousin," he said, struggling to recover his thoughts. "And I advise Your Highness not to believe him either."

Thales could not help frowning.

Truly impressive.

The voice deep in Thales' heart praised quietly:

After things have been said to this extent, this exiled noble still remains calm, refuses to believe it, and insists on denial.

Should he be called too calm, or too emotional?

Too impulsive, or too clever?

Too persistent, or...

Too realistic?

Thales' heart shivered.

Zayen smiled sarcastically when he heard this.

"Of course, Cousin. Because from your position, you probably cannot believe it at all, and dare not believe it."

But in the next second, Zayen actually turned to Thales.

"He will not cooperate with you, Thales. He knows very clearly who his true backer is. That is the only virtue of those who crave power."

This time, he was no longer full of hostility and hatred. He had returned to his normal state, calm and rational.

As if the boundless hatred he had just shown Thales had never existed.

That made Thales' feelings even more complicated.

"Are you challenging me?" Fed responded to Zayen calmly.

"And he will not stop. Even if he and I coexist in Jade City, he will do everything possible to uproot me from his path, no matter the cost, whether he pays it himself..."

Zayen ignored his cousin and continued coldly:

"Or whether others pay it."

Federico scoffed.

"The question is, Cousin," Zayen narrowed his eyes, "can you truly make decisions for yourself? Can you pay your own stake?"

Federico's gaze shifted.

"What do you mean?"

Thales raised his eyes.

He suddenly noticed that the two irises before him had returned to a rational game.

As if the astonishing family secret just now was, to them, nothing more than faded historical background.

It could not affect their decisions in the present.

No, have you already digested the truth from earlier?

This turn...

So fast?

Then Zayen said:

"That Supreme Class vampire killer, Fed If not for the iris's enemies acting as guarantee, would the Night Kingdom have let him leave so easily and serve you?"

"I personally persuaded him," Federico snorted. "Those to whom Jade City owes debts must at least have a path back to collect."

Zayen shook his head.

"And those helpers of yours still active outside, those allies, those subordinates, or the subordinates you think are yours. Will they truly act according to your intentions?"

Federico said nothing.

"Even if you truly sit in this..."

Zayen subconsciously patted his own chair. After realizing this was a guest seat, he had to grit his teeth and point at Thales' chair instead.

"That seat."

"Do you think you will then possess everything you have dreamed of? Freedom? Dignity? Rights? Independence? The ease of no longer living under another's roof? Or the relaxation of no longer watching someone else's expression?"

Federico hooked the corner of his mouth, but did not refute him.

"You cannot do it, Fed, Cousin," Zayen sneered. "What kind of boots you wear decides what kind of road you can walk."

"And you can? In your current state?" Fed shot back.

"That's right, Cousin."

Zayen spoke coldly:

"I compromised. Quite spinelessly. I have made a fool of myself before you."

Zayen looked straight at Federico without flinching, his gaze cold and firm.

"For a higher goal."

He stared at Federico without weakness, perfectly justified.

"I too wish you would die this instant, but I made a compromise and tolerated you living. This is the sacrifice I can make for Jade City, for the greater picture, the price I can pay. And you, Fed? Federico Covendier?"

Federico's eyes moved slightly.

"When pressure from a higher level descends, when an unimaginable enemy bears down on us, when the shadow of the past falls over us again..."

Zayen said coldly:

"Compared to the sacrifice of our fathers, what do you understand, and what can you do?"

Federico fell silent.

For a very long time.

So long that Thales even painfully suppressed a yawn.

"Then you are wrong, Cousin."

At last, Federico seemed to make up his mind. He raised his head and chuckled.

"Although I still do not believe you..."

"Best not to," Zayen said coldly. "Your life matters."

Federico glanced at his cousin, then respectfully turned to Thales.

"But I accept Your Highness' proposal."

Thales had still been immersed in the shock of the old case's truth and still thinking painfully about how today should end. Hearing this, he looked up in surprise.

"Ah? What?"

Zayen scoffed in disdain.

"I will be honored to become the prospective Viscount of Gonghai City."

Federico showed no joking expression, only increasing solemnity and respect.

"And Your Highness' eyes and ears in Jade City."

Thales froze.

Why?

Why, when it involved the hatred of a murdered father, could they remain so calm? Recover so quickly?

They could still move their stakes with normal expressions?

He was clearly sitting right here, was he not?

Thales asked himself blankly.

You know why.

The voice deep in his heart sighed.

You have always known, Thales.

You know why they must be calm, must treat it as lightly as passing clouds.

Or rather, you know the power that makes them do so.

"You should become the king's eyes and ears instead, Fed That suits you better," Zayen said sarcastically.

"And I accept your challenge, Cousin."

Federico turned toward the Duke of the South Bank, his gaze sharpening.

"Let us face the threat that comes from each other."

His eyes burned.

"For the rest of my life, I will not stop struggling. I will watch you roll down from your throne in disgrace."

Thales' expression changed.

"You may try," Zayen said, completely unafraid and calm as a cloudless sky. "Or die on the road while trying."

Federico ignored Zayen's threat and only said softly:

"I will use all my strength, in my own way, to make the iris whole again."

"So that we become greenhouse flowers before us, or roadside weeds a hundred years later?" Zayen mocked.

"You will see," Federico narrowed his eyes. "Or perhaps you will not."

The two Covendiers looked at each other. The atmosphere held both hostility and wariness, yet also tacit recognition. It was subtle beyond words.

"Good."

Zayen suddenly turned back and looked at Thales.

"I persuaded him."

Thales started.

"Ah, ah?"

"What, is this not what you wanted?"

Zayen seemed dissatisfied by the Duke of Star Lake's surprised face. He said darkly:

"Or do you want to hear another tragic story from our family?"

Thales reacted and hurriedly smiled.

"No, no, enough, enough. I mean... this is good. Then we... what did we agree to earlier again?"

"No need to mind him, Your Highness."

Federico bowed slightly, in contrast to Zayen's arrogance.

"He has merely achieved his goal, so he is showing off while also looking for a chance to increase his say."

Thales raised his brows and looked at the two Covendiers.

Uh...

They were still fighting to the death just now, and the compromise was reached this quickly?

Is this how South Bank people negotiate?

Or is it only Covendiers who do this?

But the reminder from outside the door pulled Thales back to himself, and he quickly became serious.

"Very good, Duke, Viscount. Then I wish us a pleasant cooperation?"

He leaned forward and extended a hand.

Federico narrowed his eyes and stepped forward first, also stretching out his hand.

"For the greater picture before us."

Zayen paused for a moment. He looked at the two collaborators, then snorted and extended his hand.

"Only placing a bet."

Three palms joined in midair, though none of them were especially friendly or willing.

Only then did Thales let out a breath.

"There is no hurry. The final decision will be announced at the Praise Banquet, including the explanation of the old case."

He looked toward the door.

"Although saying this is a little long-winded, and although I do not expect the two of you to settle down from now on, still..."

Thales tested:

"Before the Praise Banquet, no one should want to make any small moves and break the agreement, right? For example... killing the other person?"

The two Covendiers looked at each other, but neither answered.

So Thales restored his smile, bright as spring wind.

"Very good. Meeting adjourned! You leave first, Fed Zayen and I still have things to discuss."

Federico immediately frowned.

"I thought Your Highness ought to have things to discuss with me. We are the ones overthrowing him together."

Zayen gave Fed a cold glance.

"Then you are welcome to come find me anytime, Fed," the prince said with a beaming smile. "From now on, both of you may come and go freely. This is the benefit of cooperation."

"Forgive me for saying too much, Your Highness."

Federico looked back at Zayen.

"The power that supports Your Highness' 'free discretion'..."

He rose and left, his words carrying hidden meaning.

"Is not in this city."

Federico turned and left the study.

Leaving Thales deep in thought.

"You heard his threat, Thales."

Zayen looked deeply at his cousin's departing back.

"He gained a place here by relying on your father's support. Whether he wants to or not, Viscount or Duke, he will become your father's puppet."

Thales narrowed his eyes, ignoring the provocation in Zayen's words.

"But he does not look all that docile, especially toward my father."

"That makes it worse. He will become your father's reason."

Zayen's words made Thales look at him.

"What do you mean?"

"He obtained a new kennel by relying on a collar. But the moment he grows tired of the collar and decides to turn back and bite his master..."

Zayen said calmly:

"Whether he succeeds or fails, Jade City will inevitably face disaster."

Thales thought for a while.

"But I am still sitting here. Though Jade City has had all kinds of trouble, it is still far from facing disaster."

"That is not only because you are sitting here."

Zayen said softly:

"It is also because I am sitting here."

He looked at Thales.

"But Fed cannot. You saw what he can do to achieve his goals."

Zayen lowered his voice.

"And when you distribute power to him in order to balance me..."

Thales said nothing.

"You can persuade me," Zayen said faintly. "But you may not be able to persuade him. Or even if you persuade him, it may be useless."

Thales frowned.

"In any case, you are free now."

Thales sighed.

"Hilley will come find you soon. When you see her, tell her: I fulfilled my promise."

Zayen's expression changed slightly.

"You should stay farther away from her."

"You should trust her a little more," Thales could not help saying. "If I really stayed farther from her, then you definitely would not be able to see her now."

The Duke of the South Bank was silent for a while, then rose to leave.

Thales looked at his back and hesitated for a moment. In the end, he could not help calling out to him and forced himself to speak:

"Zayen. About your father's matter, I only want to say that I am sorry..."

"What matter?"

Zayen's footsteps stopped, but he did not turn around.

"About what?"

Hearing the other man's attitude, cold and detached as if it had nothing to do with him, Thales could not help freezing.

"No..."

He looked at Zayen's back. In the end, he lowered his head listlessly and forced a smile.

"...Nothing."

Zayen paused for a while before nodding and decisively leaving the study, brushing past Mallos as the latter entered.

"Good, then."

Watching him leave, Thales felt an even colder chill in his heart.

"Did everything go smoothly?" Mallos asked while collecting the documents the Duke of Star Lake had approved messily.

Thales shook his head.

As if he had experienced a fierce battle, he was exhausted in body and mind, and lay over the desk groaning.

"It did not go smoothly?"

Thales sighed.

"Tormond, have you ever tried sitting face to face with an irreconcilable enemy, forcing yourself to endure revulsion, give up revenge, ignore hatred, and even cooperate against your own will? For the sake of... the greater picture?"

Mallos paused.

"That must feel terrible."

"Yes..."

"Allow me to feel sorry for you."

"What? Oh, not me..."

"Then allow me to feel glad for you."

"Uh, that is not necessary either... All right, actually I am standing on the enemy's side."

"I see."

Mallos seemed thoughtful.

"Then you must also feel terrible."

Thales could not help freezing.

"Yes," he said faintly. "Sometimes, it feels even worse."

"Then allow me to feel sorry for you."

"Oh, no need. After all, it is not me personally."

"Then allow me to feel glad for you."

"Mm... how did we circle back again?"