Chapter 763: Family Shame Made Public

Above the altar, Zayen knelt beneath the grand statue of the Sunset Goddess, lost and dazed. Captain Cecil stepped forward and tried several times, but still could not help him up.

Federico looked at his cousin's back with a complicated expression, saying nothing.

"So this was revenge born from private resentment."

Wya thought of what had happened in the birch forest of the North years ago and looked with emotion and some satisfaction at the assassin's suicide note Thales had handed him.

"The mistake the Duke of the South Bank made back then eventually returned to himself."

Thales stood with his hands behind his back at the front of the altar, raising his head to look up at the unfathomably divine Sunset Goddess.

Perry Bott's corpse, covered by the white cloth, lay quietly between the two Covendiers, humble and insignificant.

"If it were only himself, that would be fine."

Mallos spoke softly, calm and without waves.

"Unfortunately, the debt a gambler owes often must be repaid together by the people beside him."

The people beside him...

Zayen's back trembled slightly.

"Right, Hilley. No, Hilley... she... she is now... the enemy went after Chadwi for her..."

But these words seemed to remind Zayen of something. He recovered from his daze and anxiously turned to Thales.

"You! Thales! Go find her, now! Send people! Send the army to protect her! And you, Cassian! How can you be here? Go back immediately, go back to her side..."

Everyone looked at one another.

"Calm down, Zayen!"

Thales had no choice but to loudly interrupt him.

"Do not worry. I have already made arrangements."

The prince came before Zayen and looked at the Duke of the South Bank, who had lost all manners and composure, but he could not feel happy about it.

"There are enough guards, and she is hidden very well. Nothing will happen. If all else fails, there is also an escape plan."

Of course, the greatest variable was still that girl's personality.

Hilley was not someone who would behave, hide obediently, and cooperate with the plan.

Zayen stared blankly at Thales and took several deep breaths.

Federico looked with complicated eyes at the scene of Thales soothing Zayen.

"According to the current investigation, the assassin was very rash. He had no time to obtain any clues from Chadwi, let alone find Miss Covendier," Mallos added.

Thales nodded.

"Furthermore, if the mastermind's true target is Hilley... then we even more cannot go looking for Hilley with great fanfare. This is very likely their goal: watching us panic and reveal flaws."

Zayen's gaze gradually focused, and he reclaimed his shaky reason.

"As for her safety, forgive me for speaking frankly."

Cassian looked at the Duke of the South Bank's sorry state and sighed.

"Miss Hilley's ability to independently protect herself may far exceed most people's imagination."

One had to know, many years ago, outside Half-Tower, inside the evil forest, this life of mine was saved by her.

More than once.

Cassian sighed emotionally in his heart.

And even more, I owe her mercy for not killing me.

"I agree."

Thales thought of Hilley's series of mysterious abilities, from pretending to be divine to summoning ghosts and gods. While agreeing, he also felt lingering fear.

"This is our urgent priority."

Federico suddenly spoke and looked at little Bott's corpse on the ground.

"Find the truth. Find the mastermind. Only then can Hilley be protected."

The initiator of the Blood Iris looked intentionally or unintentionally at Zayen kneeling on the ground.

"Only then can we know who exactly is setting up mysteries, and who wants to fish in muddy waters. After all, what the eye sees may not necessarily be true."

Thales frowned and walked back to the latter's corpse.

"There must be someone behind this manipulating and planning it."

Knight Cecil looked at Zayen's lost state, full of indignation.

"As for this little Bott, he was a tool ordered by others. Talk of private resentment is merely an excuse. Whether with him or without him, they would still have acted against Lord Zayen..."

"And if my cousin were not so ruthless, hypocritical, and cold, if he had fewer schemes and fewer cunning tricks..."

Federico stared at Zayen's back and spoke coldly.

"I think the mastermind would not have such a convenient excuse, such a useful tool."

Zayen closed his eyes.

However, a mocking voice emerged deep in Thales' heart.

Thales, you have experienced Jade City's situation. You have seen the predators coveting it. You have also tested how deep the waters of the South Bank are.

If it truly was as Federico said, and more than ten years ago, when Jade City suffered a great change and Zayen Covendier hurriedly inherited the position, he had not been so ruthless, hypocritical, and cold...

Could that Jade City, envied by everyone and rich enough to rival a kingdom, truly have remained stable and prosperous until today?

Thales took a deep breath.

Of course, the truth might also be the opposite.

If Zayen had not been so ruthless, hypocritical, and cold, perhaps he could not have sat firmly in the newly obtained ducal seat at all, and might even have had difficulty surviving the political calamity of the old duke's assassination and family civil strife.

Thinking of this, and looking at Zayen's soulless back as if he were a walking corpse, Thales suddenly thought of Quick Rope's assessment of his brother, that former Exter prince Suril, in Blade-Tooth Camp.

Suril was destined to meet an end... not because of some individual, some conspiracy, some accident, but because he sat in that position, and even more because Suril was born to this path and existed within it. His decisiveness, coldness, and ambition were all signs. When he became accustomed to advancing in darkness, maneuvering through schemes, going back and forth in politics, swinging his sword on battlefields, and climbing snowy peaks in the frost of the Dragon's kingdom...

Then one day, he would die by it, sooner or later. If not this time, then next time. His way of life would one day roll back and devour his life...

This has nothing to do with your strength, Thales. On the contrary, the greater your strength and the greater your power, the tighter this chain locks, the deeper it binds, and the more impossible it becomes to break free...

In that instant, Thales looked at Zayen kneeling beneath the goddess statue and felt he understood him a few degrees more.

The more Zayen wanted to grasp power, the more power turned back and grasped him.

Leaving him nowhere to flee.

But do not misunderstand, and do not grow sentimental, the voice deep in his heart hardened at the right time, promptly dispersing Thales' current melancholy.

Judging from the current situation, whether Zayen has that many schemes and cunning tricks or not...

Without your persistence and help, Thales, Jade City's stability and prosperity...

Would at most have lasted until today.

Thales came back to himself.

"So little Bott sought revenge against the duke, but someone innocent and unlucky suffered instead."

Looking at the corpse of his former classmate on the ground, Knight Cassian pulled himself from his sadness and turned toward Thales, his gaze sharp.

"How is that priest? Is he all right?"

Thales' heart chilled. He raised his head and exchanged looks with Mallos and Wya.

Correct. Chadwi's safety was what Hilley cared about most.

"Do not worry. Priest Chadwi remains well."

As the prince's attendant, Wya had no choice but to make his face stern and speak.

"He is under the strict protection of us and the temple, recovering..."

But Cassian skipped past the attendant's wording and struck directly at the root:

"Take me to see him."

Wya paused. He resisted the urge to turn and look at Thales, and released a polite smile.

"I understand your concern for the injured. But I am sorry. After experiencing such a thing, that priest was quite frightened and cannot conveniently see guests now, for safety..."

"In other words," Cassian's tone tightened, "he is dead?"

Wya froze and hurriedly said:

"Of course not! I can swear on my honor that the priest is still alive..."

Still alive.

Mallos frowned when he heard it, and Thales' heart sank.

As the prince's attendant, Wya was still a little inexperienced.

"I understand."

Cassian looked deeply at him.

"Chadwi's life is in danger, correct?"

Wya immediately choked, realizing his mistake.

Cassian was silent for a long while. He looked several times at the grave-faced Thales and Mallos, seeming to see through something.

Then he looked at the two completely different Covendiers and hooked the corner of his mouth, as if about to give a mocking laugh.

But in the end, he looked toward the corpse of that old acquaintance on the ground and let out a long sigh.

"I did not spend much time with that priest, but even from that little interaction and what I heard and saw... he should not die. At least not for this."

Cassian stared at Thales.

"And someone should do something about it."

Thales nodded solemnly.

"Of course."

Cassian nodded in response and turned to leave.

"Excuse me. Someone needs to know this."

Someone needs to know...

Watching Cassian leave, Thales' heart chilled.

If Hilley learned about Chadwi's assassination...

Wya saw Thales' difficulty, felt something in his heart, and subconsciously spoke:

"Please stay..."

But before he finished speaking, and before he could even think clearly what he should do, someone acted first.

"Stop, old friend."

Cassian's old colleague, Captain Cecil of the Jade Legion, blocked the former's path and spoke coldly.

"We are not finished."

Cassian's steps paused, and he frowned.

"Finished?"

"You know."

Cecil pressed the hilt at his waist, his gaze sharp.

"Last time, at North Gate Bridge, you obstructed law enforcement and stole away the vampire culprit. I have not settled that account with you yet."

Good.

Wya relaxed inwardly.

At least someone had stopped him, and the reason was still fairly decent.

But he immediately reacted.

Why Cecil?

Wya was confused and exchanged a look with Mallos. The latter gave him a playful look.

How should one put it? Even if he was a Supreme Class knight, a commoner born from an Eastern Continent mercenary background, Cecil had clearly only been the duke's errand-running bodyguard a few years ago. Now he carried military rank and was a mainstay of the Jade Legion.

Mallos thought of his dealings with this legion captain and could not help narrowing his eyes.

This man was highly skilled, but what was powerful about him was far more than his skill.

"Do our accounts have to be settled at this time?" Cassian observed front and back, his expression growing cold.

For Cecil, now was precisely the right time to settle accounts.

Mallos nodded inwardly.

Otherwise, behind closed doors, even if the accounts were settled clearly and well, who would see it?

"If you want to leave, that is fine."

Cecil glanced very quickly at Thales and said coldly to Cassian:

"Then trouble yourself to lead the way and come with me to the place where you and Miss Hilley are hiding and sheltering the vampire culprit, so we can arrest him and bring him to justice."

Cassian's expression changed.

Wya remained confused, but Mallos had to regard Knight Cecil more highly.

Once these words came out, it would no longer be convenient for Cassian to go back and find Miss Covendier, at least not openly.

"No wonder, old friend."

Cassian's gaze was frightening, his tone cold.

"No wonder your official career is smooth and you rise step by step."

"Thanks to you resigning back then and yielding your position to someone worthy."

Cecil snorted disdainfully.

"That is why I have today."

The two old colleagues coldly confronted each other.

Interesting.

Mallos pondered.

That night at North Gate Bridge, when they surrounded and captured Lausanne the Second, Cassian snatched the criminal from Cecil's hands.

But Thales, as regent, had indicated there was no need to investigate deeply. As the person with greatest responsibility, Cecil immediately forgot the matter and paid it no attention.

Now, when they did not want Cassian to return and pass along information, and when it was inconvenient to say so plainly...

Cecil's memory returned, and he suddenly remembered this case and prepared to settle accounts.

Soft when softness was needed, hard when hardness was needed. Straight and bent at will, stretching and contracting freely.

Mallos could only sigh again.

Was this Jade City's special breed of Supreme Class knight?

By comparison, certain people in the capital, especially in the Royal Guard, if placed in Jade City... Mm, without the shelter of family background, they would probably be eaten until not even bones remained.

"Lord Cassian, please hear me out."

Thinking of this, Mallos, who had been silently observing, finally spoke and explained warmly:

"One reason today's misfortune found Priest Chadwi is precisely because the person behind this could not find Miss Covendier, whose whereabouts are unpredictable. But you understand that girl's personality. If she herself learns of this and becomes furious, acts impulsively, even actively appears and throws herself into the net, then that will be exactly..."

"That is also her decision."

But Cassian answered coldly, unmoved.

"It should not be anyone else's decision."

Mallos frowned slightly.

"Since you are so loyal and devoted, old friend..."

Cecil sneered.

"Why did you have to claim lofty purity back then and leave everything behind?"

Cassian frowned, looking at his old colleague in confusion.

Not only that.

Cecil stared coldly at him.

Back then, how free and easy Cassian had been. How lofty and pure. Simply because he could not bear the darkness of the world, he resolutely resigned, discarding the office and title countless people envied and yearned for but could not obtain as if they were worn-out shoes, caring not at all.

Truly with the style of an ancient knight.

Only...

Cecil pressed hard on the sword hilt, forcing down the discomfort in his heart.

He was so free and at ease, so morally noble. After giving a lofty speech, he drifted away, but where did that leave those who stayed behind? Where did it leave awkward ordinary people like them, who had to be covered in mud and crawl through petty schemes simply to earn a mouthful of food?

Even when Cecil filled the position and title he vacated, it felt like picking up someone else's leftovers, accepting another person's charity, making himself seem vulgar beyond endurance and unworthy of the position.

But how much of Cassian's position and title had come from family background, and how much had come from struggle and merit? Did he truly not understand?

Then why did it just so happen that he seemed pure and self-respecting, while Cecil seemed vulgar and unbearable?

Even more unreasonable was that if he left, then he left...

"And why have you come back now?"

Cecil's words carried faint disgust and disdain.

"For the sake of climbing onto an even higher branch?"

That was correct.

Watching their confrontation, Thales felt something in his heart. These two old friends had complicated past ties and grievances hard to distinguish.

He did not know how Doyle had seen it.

"I do what I am willing to do."

Cassian was silent for a while.

"And at this moment, being loyal and devoted to Miss Hilley happens to be one of those things."

Cecil scoffed disdainfully.

"Unlike you, old friend. From past to present, you can only and have only ever been 'loyal and devoted.'"

Cassian looked at Cecil, and intentionally or unintentionally glanced toward Thales and Zayen.

"Whether you are willing or not."

Cecil's pupils instantly focused.

He abruptly tightened his grip on the sword hilt and took two deep breaths.

Yes.

He stared fixedly at his old colleague and grinned, while the voice from deep in his heart grew increasingly pained and unwilling.

It was because in Cassian's eyes, certain things, things most ordinary people could spend their entire lives yearning for and never reach, came too simply and too easily, even were theirs from birth. Thus, they were optional, did not need to be cared about, let alone cherished.

That was why they could be so detached from the world, lofty and self-clean.

Perhaps it was not even false hypocrisy, because these fortunate children, this group blessed by heaven, sincerely thought this way. Perhaps they even felt themselves very noble and very detached.

Shing!

Cecil drew his longsword, calculated the distance and angle for action, and sneered.

And people like Cassian would never understand why someone like Cecil, whose three generations had lived among the poor fighting for food, had to scheme so carefully, climb so desperately, haggle over every bit, be so ambitious and restless.

Why did they simply not understand how to raise their heads and look at sun, moon, and stars, wind, flowers, snow, and moon, the grandeur of heaven and earth?

Why did they have to live so forcefully, so painfully, so hard, so artificially, pressing their heads, waists, and even knees so low?

Why struggle through mud, dirty and ugly, without dignity, for those base, vulgar, insignificant scraps?

Was the title of knight-lord very special? Was the status of legion captain very impressive? Was noble birth so remarkable? Was being born with land, property, family history, and contacts very important? Was getting along and working with people of different classes so hard? Was eating one more bowl of meat each day or missing one meal, having ten more or ten fewer silver coins in monthly salary, really a matter of life and death?

In life, doing what one was willing to do and not doing what one was unwilling to do. Was that very hard?

Should people not be born relaxed and beautiful, free and independent, happy and self-consistent, unrestricted by external things and unconstrained by others?

Shing!

Cassian also drew his sword from the sheath. He turned his body sideways, looked at the guard forces all around the temple, and calculated a breakout.

"I do not want to be your enemy, Cecil."

"Wrong, Cassian."

But Cecil was murderous. His answer made Cassian unable to understand.

"You think you do not want to."

The atmosphere before the altar immediately became tense.

Mallos frowned. Wya instinctively blocked in front of Thales, waiting in strict readiness.

Federico was thoughtful. Zayen remained dazed, as if unaware of anything beside him.

The guards in the distance noticed the abnormality here, but no one dared approach.

"Even if you keep me here," Cassian looked around, at obstacles in every direction and at every level of status, and snorted lightly, "she will learn of it eventually."

Thales' mood sank.

He is right.

The voice in Thales' heart carefully reminded him:

That girl's divine abilities cannot be called vast, but they are weird enough.

Hilley will know.

And that will be the moment trust collapses between you.

"Enough."

Thinking of this, Thales sighed and interrupted this increasingly dangerous confrontation.

"I will go with you."

Wya turned back in confusion.

"Your Highness?"

Thales pushed aside Wya, who was protecting him behind his body, and walked step by step toward the drawn swords of Cecil and Cassian, forcing both men to lower their blades and retreat half a step.

"I said, I will go with you to see Hilley, Knight Cassian."

Cassian was somewhat surprised, and everyone else present froze.

"I do not intend to hide it from her. In fact, I will personally tell her about Chadwi, before she learns it from somewhere else."

Thales' worry was difficult to dispel.

"And I only hope that before then, you can give me a little more time, so that I can organize the clues and formulate countermeasures. I hope that when I see her, I can have more and more complete information, thereby giving valuable advice and help, instead of knowing nothing and leaving her alone to digest anger and grief."

Thales looked firmly at him.

"I swear."

Cassian stared at the youth.

"Your oath."

He snorted coldly and was utterly impolite toward His Highness the Prince.

"Is not my oath."

Most of the people present frowned together.

"I know. I respect that very much."

Thales tried his best to speak sincerely.

"So if you insist, I can only compromise, put down the matter here, and go with you to see her, lest some misunderstanding and misjudgment occur between me and her."

Zayen came back to himself and slowly turned his head. Federico's expression was subtle.

Cassian fell silent. He looked at Cecil, whose face was dark and who refused to yield an inch, still not understanding where the other man's inexplicable hostility came from.

In the end, Cassian snorted lightly, put away his sword, and retreated to the side.

"Fine."

Thales' gaze moved.

"Oh?"

"I can wait."

Cassian's tone was wary.

"But not too long."

Thales was somewhat surprised.

Was this...

Agreement?

"She instructed me."

Cassian said softly:

"In the city, if there are any changes, all are to be based on Your Highness' opinion."

Thales could not help being startled.

"Based on me... she... Hilley really said that?"

"You doubt this?"

"No, no, no. I just..."

Wow.

Thales felt somewhat flattered.

She trusts me that much?

Cecil stood to the side. He had no choice but to put away his weapon, his mood complicated as he watched Thales patiently explain things to Cassian.

Yes.

He forced down the unwillingness in his heart and shook his head mockingly at himself.

Some people are favored by others from birth.

Some people are born without needing to make effort.

Unlike him.

At this moment:

"What exactly do you want to do?"

A hoarse and tired voice came.

Everyone turned together.

Beneath the divine statue, Zayen spoke faintly:

"What do you want?"

"Of course, stabilize the situation and reduce losses."

Thales took a deep breath and turned around.

"Then hope that we can find..."

"Not you."

Zayen spoke coldly. He rose from the ground, his eyes dark.

"I mean him."

Everyone followed his gaze and looked toward the other iris.

"You."

The Duke of the South Bank said coldly:

"Federico Covendier."

Fed frowned.

"What?"

"You did this. You planned it, or at least ordered it."

Zayen pointed at the corpse on the ground and said coldly:

"There are far more people running errands under you than Lausanne the Second, correct? And this did not happen early or late. It happened precisely after your house arrest was lifted, after you regained freedom and could contact them."

"Absurd."

Federico's face was dark as water.

"We were placed under house arrest together, and also released together. How can it not be you who did it, you who made contact, Cousin?"

"Hilley is my blood sister!"

"She is also my blood cousin!"

Of course, both of them were suspicious.

Thales helplessly closed his eyes.

If he had known, he should have kept the two of them locked up until he left.

No. That was impossible.

Another self in his heart spoke in time, cautious and rationally reminding His Highness the Prince.

You understand very clearly, Thales:

Arbitrating the old case is a good reason. It allowed you to temporarily obtain the authority to restrain Covendier and the qualification to control Jade City.

But in reverse, it is not a good excuse. For as long as you do not settle the case and give an explanation, for as long as you do not at least clear and release one Covendier, you cannot win Jade City's trust, balance the situation, and stabilize the scale.

Nor can you leave Jade City as you wish.

You use this to clamp down on Covendier and restrain Jade City.

Yet Jade City also uses this to clamp down on you and restrain the royal family.

Thales abruptly opened his eyes.

"This assassin was like you, both escaping from the high seas, both returning at this time to seek revenge against me."

Zayen sneered.

"You did not even happen to take the same smuggling ship back to Jade City, did you?"

"I am also very sorry about Priest Chadwi's encounter."

Federico flatly denied it.

"But this matter has nothing to do with me. No means no."

Thales frowned.

"And you knew, Fed"

But Zayen pressed aggressively, refusing to let it go.

"You knew Hilley had entered the temple to receive instruction. You knew she was on good terms with that priest. You also knew she sometimes hid here to avoid trouble. You even knew her condition from childhood..."

Thales' brows jumped.

"Zayen."

Federico frowned and interrupted him.

"You have lost composure."

But Zayen ignored everything. He gnashed his teeth and said more and more:

"And who knows how much more your father told you about Hilley. Good, bad, strange, bizarre, including our family's history and grudges with Half-Tower, with the temple, with the Secret Intelligence Department, even with the royal family..."

Thales' expression moved.

"Cousin!"

Federico had to interrupt him loudly. He glanced at the people nearby.

"Calm down. Look at the occasion. Family shame should not be made public."

"You have already made it public!"

Zayen laughed loudly and coldly.

"Look at it now. Thanks to you, the iris name has become a joke. Descendants slaughter one another, enemies watch greedily, and Hilley has become a target..."

"Bullshit!"

Federico could no longer endure it and raised his volume to clash back.

"This is clearly all your fault!"

Zayen paused, then laughed in fury.

"My fault?"

The quarrel between the cousins grew increasingly unrestrained, making everyone watching tightly frown.

Wya signaled Thales with his eyes, but the latter merely shook his head and continued watching their quarrel.

"Of course! Did you not hear it just now?"

Federico snorted coldly and waved toward the corpse on the ground.

"Look at it. A coup, interception and murder of an envoy. If not for you creating so many filthy messes during your administration, would this drug dealer's son have had his family ruined and then come back to settle the account on Covendier's head? How would the people behind him have had the chance to exploit the gap and slap our family's face, destroying Jade City's foundation?"

Zayen breathed rapidly, glaring fixedly at his cousin.

"And you, Zayen Covendier. You sat on the ducal seat, yet could not even wipe your own ass clean. You could not silence someone properly, and even let him have the chance to escape and return for revenge!"

Zayen choked when he heard this and clenched his teeth.

"If not for you bringing back so many disasters..."

"Stop dragging out that persecution fantasy about me scheming against you!"

Federico spat and interrupted him, pointing straight at Zayen's nose.

"This is your fault. The mess you left behind, the enemies you made, the resentment you created. And you know it. No one knows it more clearly than you! You dragged her into this, burdened Hilley!"

Zayen was robbed of words until his chest rose and fell, his expression twisting.

"So do us a favor and stop performing this deep sibling affection. If something really happens to Hilley, then it can only be because you personally brought suffering on your sister..."

Before anyone could react, Zayen, burning with rage, swung a fist.

"Suffering your mother's ass!"

Bang!

Under everyone's shocked gazes, Federico, who took the punch, fell to the ground.

He shook his head and touched the blood flowing from his nose. First disbelief, then humiliation and anger filled him, and he got up and charged at Zayen.

"Fuck you, you dog..."

Bang!

"Your Highness!"

Wya was shocked and was the first to look at Thales.

But there was no time to ask for instructions. The two furious cousins almost at the same moment crashed viciously into each other.

Thus, under everyone's eyes, the two indescribably noble young Covendier lords, who had been fighting fiercely in politics, began fighting physically inside the temple with no refinement, even crudely unbearable. The filthy words from their mouths never stopped, and some insults clearly came from childhood grudges:

"You Gonghai fishing bastard..."

"Fuck your corpse-carrying mother..."

Thales sighed in despair.

Ignoring Wya's anxious request for instruction, he sat on the steps beside little Bott's corpse, closed his eyes, rubbed his forehead, and did not even look at this evenly matched and indescribably noble "fierce battle."

But perhaps because they had been raised in luxury, or perhaps because peace had lasted too long, the fight between the two men was far less enjoyable to watch than the Election Conference. It quickly changed from rapid exchanges of punches into ugly pulling and tearing, and under Mallos' hint, was forcefully stopped three seconds later.

"Lord Zayen! Calm down! We are still in the temple..."

Cecil grabbed the enraged Duke of the South Bank from the front, half pushing and half dragging him away.

"Please step back, Young Master Fed I do not like your father, but I dislike abusing public power for private revenge even more..."

Cassian rudely restrained the equally furious Federico, locking his right arm and dragging him backward.

The two Covendiers were soon separated. Both stared at each other with hatred, bruised noses and swollen faces, clothes in disarray.

Mallos stood in the middle, looking left and right at the two Supreme Class experts blocking the two nobles, frowning.

"If Your Highness does not object..."

Wya rubbed his fists, especially staring at Zayen.

"I will have them calm down right now and then lock them up again..."

"Let go."

"Ah?" Wya was startled.

"I said, all of you, let them go."

Thales still had his eyes closed and rubbed his forehead, but the words he spoke were unexpected.

"Let them fight."

Huh?

Cassian and Cecil, responsible for breaking up the fight, looked at each other in disbelief.

Even Zayen and Federico, who were gritting their teeth and exchanging threats, froze.

Only Mallos' gaze moved, and he consciously retreated to the side.

"But Your Highness..."

Wya still wanted to fight for something.

In that instant, Thales suddenly opened his eyes and raised his head, roaring angrily:

"Let go!"

Everyone shook together.

Cecil and Cassian almost released their hands at the same time and both retreated.

Only Zayen and Federico were left on the steps, facing each other with no obstruction.

The two men, still panting, did not react in time and stared blankly at Thales.

"Continue. Fight."

Thales sat on the steps, elbows pressed against both knees, expressionlessly looking at the countless empty seats below the altar, thinking of where every person in Jade City should sit.

"Do not stop because of me."

Zayen and Federico were both baffled. They looked blankly at each other.

The moment their gazes met, new hatred and old grudges surged into their hearts. Their faces turned fierce, and they subconsciously grabbed each other's collars.

But Thales' cold and calm voice came:

"Just beat either one of you to death, and he will be treated as the mastermind behind this case."

The fists and elbows the two irises had just raised both paused.

"This way, the case is solved, the political problem is solved, and as for Jade City, probably no one else will die."

There would simply be endless future trouble, and no way to end things as smoothly as imagined.

Of course, you, Thales, will still use every means and exhaust every method to maintain balance.

Thales coldly watched the two Covendiers begin to think, while the voice deep in his heart pointed out what he wanted to express.

But what does that have to do with the dead man out of the game?

"Is this not your wish and goal?"

Thales casually brushed away nonexistent dust from his knees.

"Borrow my hand to remove each other? One person enjoying the throne alone?"

Zayen and Federico still held each other.

The two men, gritting their teeth, looked at Thales, then at each other. The anger and hatred on their faces gradually disappeared, replaced by doubt and confusion.

"So I am giving you the chance now. Not bad, right? Simpler than racking your brains over political struggle, right? There. Act."

Thales did not look at them and raised a hand to urge them on.

"Come on. Act?"

But though the two Covendiers held each other's collars, and though their hatred remained, they did not move.

The four others around them also made no sound.

"Right here, right now. With Sunset as witness, duel."

Instead, Thales' words continued, unclear whether they were sarcasm or serious.

"It does not matter who. Just beat one to death. Truly, just one. I said so."

Zayen's gaze was angry, but he remained silent for a long time.

"Fight."

Federico's gaze was cold, but he did not move an inch.

"Fight?"

The next second, Thales impatiently stood and urged them coldly:

"Fight!"

Under the support of the Sin of Hell's River, his voice echoed through the empty temple, making the guards on duty and the security officers investigating in the distance all glance over. Then, under their superiors' low scolding, they quickly lowered their heads and nervously busied themselves with the work in their hands, pretending nothing had happened.

Zayen and Federico coldly faced each other.

"Act, Zayen. You were quite strong when you punched me."

Thales restrained his expression and stepped forward, slowly circling the two like he was watching a monkey show.

"As for you, Fed, did you not dream of sitting in that seat?"

Cecil and Cassian hurriedly retreated.

"Your Highness, people are watching..."

Wya felt something wrong and wanted to remind him, but Mallos reached out and stopped him.

Thales stopped before the two irises, expressionless.

Under the prince's gaze, the cousins' emotions gradually returned to calm.

Zayen scoffed disdainfully, released the other man's collar, and pushed Fed back along the way.

"Barbaric."

The latter threw his hand in counterattack without showing weakness, swatting away his cousin's arm.

"Absurd."

Wya unknowingly breathed a sigh of relief.

Federico stepped back, and Zayen also turned his head away. The two bruised Covendiers each tidied their appearance.

"Looks like you will not fight?"

Thales folded his arms, his gaze dark.

"What, could what happened just now have been an act? A fake fight? A joint performance for me to see?"

Faced with the prince's mockery, neither Zayen nor Federico spoke.

"Now, can you shift your energy away from attacking and framing each other? If neither of you is willing to be that 'mastermind.'"

Thales passed them and slowly walked forward, staring directly at the Sunset Goddess statue above him as he snorted coldly.

"You should know, whether it was Anker Bylal, who went to assassinate in Mindis Hall, or a certain personal guard of mine who sleeps hugging a little teddy bear..."

His Highness the Prince deliberately turned back and glanced at Zayen in disdain.

"...they both had more guts than you."