Chapter 775: Rebellion (Part 1)

The second the old priest's words fell, the council hall became deathly silent.

His Majesty... from Jade City... take... what?

Everyone, including Thales and Federico, looked at Fable in disbelief, listening to his words that pointed directly at the king, as if they had not reacted yet.

A few seconds later, the council hall exploded!

"How dare he..."

"So this whole string of disasters in Jade City really was the king's doing?"

"How can that be said out loud..."

"No, no, no, this is exactly how to put some pressure on those people from the royal capital..."

"I would like to see how the Duke of Star Lake cleans this up..."

"There aren't any axemen lying in ambush outside the hall, are there?"

"What are you afraid of? We have many people..."

"The deputy chief priest is too brave!"

"The old man is advanced in years and does not have many years left anyway. He might as well take the lead and pierce through this matter..."

"Interesting. This chess game in Jade City has already torn off its face and stopped caring about dignity..."

"Is he not afraid of offending the prince, the future king?"

"It is fine. Just pretend you did not hear it, laugh it off, and move on. That is Jade City's old custom..."

"Do not make any unnecessary expression. Everything that old man said has nothing to do with us..."

The council hall remained in turmoil. The Star Lake Guard and the officers responsible for order did their utmost to suppress it, but the results were limited.

No.

Something was very wrong.

Amid the uproar filling the entire hall, Thales solemnly looked at Chief Priest Fable before him, whose face was flushed and whose chest rose and fell. The voice in his heart spoke coldly:

At least, the direction was wrong.

Especially in Jade City, this was not the rhythm that South Bank people were accustomed to, and even less something this nearly retired deputy chief priest should have said.

Some things, everyone knew perfectly well, but they absolutely could not be spoken aloud.

Some people, everyone was incomparably familiar with, but even their names could not be mentioned.

There was a reason for this.

Behind these tacit rules of what could not be done, said, or mentioned, there lurked a deep and terrifying undercurrent of power.

For example, in the disaster currently afflicting Jade City, many people had guessed or even knew that, behind the scenes, "the king intends something for the South Bank..."

But even if the struggle inside and outside Emerald Palace turned bloody, everyone still maintained a tacit understanding in public. Most only mentioned the dispute between "His Highness the prince and the two Cavendills," and at most respectfully and cautiously asked "what Renaissance Palace's attitude might be."

But once that layer of tacit understanding was broken, and the undercurrent beneath it was placed on the table for public examination...

The voice in Thales's heart was extremely grave:

Something terrible would happen.

At this moment, aside from a few heavyweight figures who knew the stakes and could still maintain proper seriousness, the officials and clerks murmured constantly, the business owners and merchants had pale faces, the foreign envoys and guests watched with interest, and the people in the rear rows loudly protested in excitement, agitation, or righteous indignation, fearing only that chaos was not great enough.

As for the one who had started the controversy, Deputy Chief Priest Fable still stood firmly in place, staring fixedly at Prince Thales on the main seat.

This deputy chief priest...

What exactly did he want to do?

What kind of result did he want to bring about?

Thales thought urgently:

Did he not know that once his words and actions intensified the situation, then from Emerald Palace to Renaissance Palace, from Zayen to Federico, and even from Thales to the countless common people of Jade City, every side would have no room left and could only compete through violence? When that time came, no one would be the winner.

"Nonsense!"

Federico's sharp, angry shout covered the noise filling the hall and attracted everyone's attention.

"Prince Thales's regency over Emerald Palace is an expedient measure and emergency action taken while the Cavendill family is suffering misfortune. It exists so Jade City can continue operating. What does that have to do with His Majesty the king?"

He pointed directly at Fable.

"As for occupying another's nest, you do not hesitate to make reckless comments about the royal family to alarm people, but do not drag the whole city into the water! This is not Blade Fief. Jade City has never rebelled in its history!"

Or rather, there had never been a rebellion successfully launched here.

The discussion in the council hall instantly quieted.

Federico's word "rebellion" calmed many people down. They began weighing the consequences of "recklessly discussing the royal family" and sat upright again, cautious in word and deed.

But Thales's brows furrowed even tighter.

Of course, Federico had done well.

For his own sake, this rebellious son of the iris naturally had to stand on your side without hesitation.

The voice in Thales's heart analyzed cautiously:

But Thales, think about what Federico just said, things like "an expedient measure" and "emergency action."

On the surface, those words are defending and supporting you. Yet by following Fable's logic, he is also reminding the public that your regency is temporary, accidental, unofficial, and something that will ultimately leave.

Will this also benefit him, benefit this Federico Cavendill who has shone so brightly today, in the future?

Especially now, when Zayen is extreme and enraged, unable to handle affairs...

Amid the uproar, Thales clenched his fist.

"Whether it is related or not, only you, Zayen, and His Highness know the truth."

Deputy Chief Priest Fable snorted coldly and turned to face the entire hall.

"But including myself, the powerless citizens of Jade City can only watch our lives collapse step by step and be destroyed inch by inch. How could we know what kind of power is controlling, manipulating, and ruling our fate, and where it will lead?"

Powerless?

Standing below the prince, Wya quietly glanced around the hall.

Those who were qualified to receive Sunset Temple's invitation and attend this hall were, at worst, business owners with some property or respected local figures. Which one of them could be called "powerless"?

"We, whose eyes are covered and who know nothing, what can we do? What should we do? What will we do?"

The old priest continued, his voice ringing loudly.

"Is it not to tremble and lift our heads amid devastation, look toward the highest person our poor knowledge and limited vision can think of and remember, question and petition him, and hope he can give a response with even the slightest bit of sympathy, mercy, and responsibility?"

This speech made the faces of everyone in the hall change several times.

"Unless, unless this is precisely the plan of certain people?"

Fable smiled miserably and turned his aged body toward Thales, whose expression had stiffened.

"To watch Jade City descend into chaos and rot away, and then, then certain people can come down to Renaissance Palace from on high with swords and royal decrees, and, in the name of setting chaos right, take full control, just as they did with the North and the Western Desert..."

Thales's breath stopped.

"You are too presumptuous!"

Before the crowd could cry out, Federico, both shocked and furious, interrupted the old priest.

"The place where you stand is the land of the Stars. It was fiefed to vassals by royal power through generations of former kings after the War of Eradication. There is order between high and low, sovereign and subject are one body. How can you be allowed to slander, divide, and incite?"

The Scarlet Iris's body was thin, but at this moment, he stood before Thales's main seat, shielding him from the wind and rain, facing the entire hall alone, his hair and beard bristling, righteous and severe.

"His Highness accepts your audience, but that does not mean he tolerates your provocation and humiliation. Are we truly to become those selfish and domineering Northlanders who view their lord as a bandit enemy and cut one another until blood flows like rivers at the Kingsmoot?"

The council hall fell into uproar once more.

But Thales, seated on the main seat, narrowed his eyes and observed Federico's back as he protected him from the storm.

No, Thales, you must think one layer deeper.

The voice in his heart spoke slowly, grave and solemn:

Judging by the current situation, Federico is acting as your blade, standing in opposition to Priest Fable, who has arrived by borrowing the surging will of the crowd.

But is there a possibility that, even though he is currently in your camp, the best outcome for Federico is not for you to win a great victory?

Rather, it is for you to become bound hand and foot in Jade City's political mire, forced to rely on him more and grant him more power?

Thales's breathing quickened.

Ideally, he could even intensify the contradiction at the right time, provoke the prince's rage and decisiveness, and push you to use your mighty regency power to settle accounts with the disobedient people in the city. If those "disobedient people" happened to be his political enemies, Zayen's former claws and teeth, and obstacles to his future rule over Jade City, that would be even better.

That way, when you leave, you will give him, Federico Cavendill, who is destined to return to Jade City by borrowing royal power, even more room to rule.

Of course, as for whether he will remain wholeheartedly loyal to royal power after that, after he enters and takes control of an Jade City that has been fully purged...

The voice in the prince's heart took a meaningful turn:

Mm. Strange. Although the reasoning is not entirely sufficient...

But Thales, have you thought of one point?

Before today's confrontation shaped the current situation, this Deputy Chief Priest Fable, whose words are fierce, who intensifies contradictions, and who seems incompatible with everyone...

He was once Federico's teacher too.

Thinking of this, Thales's eyebrow twitched.

"Deputy Chief Priest! Everyone!"

Amid the uproar, Count Shukardel of Evergreen Island, one of the Thirteen Counts by Imperial Charter who had come from afar, could no longer hold back and spoke sternly.

"We may express our opinions and even raise objections, but we must not recklessly discuss His Majesty, much less estrange sovereign and subject. Otherwise, we vassals all have our oaths and are loyal to the king's affairs. How could we allow..."

"Everyone, let us discuss the matter itself, stick to the facts, and avoid throwing hats around or involving things too far away..." This was Finance Director Mylahovich, coughing as he stepped out to smooth things over.

Trade Office director McMan was flustered and too anxious to maintain dignity in his words.

"Deputy Chief Priest, why go this far? After today, perhaps you do not plan to keep living in this circle anymore, but we still have to make a living in Jade City. As I see it, the temple collects no small amount each year in confession fees and atonement money..."

City Hall chief Briotti wiped the sweat covering his forehead.

"Well, perhaps we should return to discussing the follow-up arrangements for the Emerald Celebration. Several segments were delayed because of accidents. What should be done? When should the Praise Banquet be postponed to..."

Even among the dignitaries in the front row, there was a pair of chirping voices that entered Thales's ears through the Hell's senses.

"Sister, let's play a game!"

"Sure, sister. What game? How do we play?"

"You clap once, I clap once!"

"The king smiles at me so nicely!"

"Good, the game is over!"

"Eh, sister, why is it over already?"

"Because you said the wrong thing. Of course it is over."

The voices of discussion in the hall grew louder and more chaotic, surging like the sea and drowning out everything.

Not good.

Amid the clamor, Thales closed his eyes.

At least now, the focus of argument in the council hall had suddenly shifted from the gains and losses of the prince's regency to Emerald Palace "using the sovereign to seize from the subject."

Not good.

With the appearance of the former covering it, facing a furious crowd, he could still use various means to divert matters and various excuses to delay. At worst, it would only be "the prince is incapable" or "the prince is entangled in grudges with the Cavendills."

But if the essence of the latter was bloodily torn open...

Damn it.

Thales let out a long sigh.

No matter who was behind this, no matter what intentions they held, no matter whose interests it suited...

He first had to solve the problem before his eyes.

Maintain the tottering last bit of dignity.

Thinking of this, Thales abruptly opened his eyes.

"Deputy Chief Priest!"

The prince's clear voice crossed the clamor.

The hall gradually quieted.

More and more eyes focused on Thales.

This time, there were many more unclear meanings in them.

"First, please believe that the royal family has no conspiracy to take over Jade City..."

The prince spoke solemnly.

"Nor do I have any reason to stand against Jade City's prosperity and stability, watch it rot away, and then take over afterward..."

Liar.

As he spoke, the voice in his heart mocked him.

You know it, Thales.

Your father intends precisely that.

And even the reason Jade City lost its former prosperity and stability...

Was that not also the result of your appearing here?

"Your Highness has not answered my question," Deputy Chief Priest Fable said woodenly. "What will become of Jade City afterward?"

He narrowed his eyes.

"Your Highness, by the Sunset above, is Jade City destined, no matter what, to welcome an unavoidable, immeasurable, and irreversible historical upheaval?"

Countless whispers rose again in the hall, anxious and tense.

Thales opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated.

How should he answer?

Thales swept his gaze across the guests seated in the hall, looking at pairs of uneasy or doubtful eyes.

How could he answer with the most dignity, the most suitability, the best chance of stabilizing the situation, and the greatest comfort to the hearts of these people before him?

"Incomprehensible."

Federico warned sternly, then turned toward Thales. "Your Highness, you do not need to answer him. We have all seen how you exhausted yourself for Jade City and mediated between all sides!"

"His Highness's status limits him, so it is inconvenient for him to answer. I can understand that."

Seeing the prince hesitate, Fable was not surprised. He only sighed softly.

"But are you truly prepared?"

The deputy chief priest suddenly turned and raised his volume.

"If you continue this way, no matter what Jade City becomes in the future, whether declining or chaotic, bowing its head or bending its body, or even suffering worse and unpredictable consequences..."

Fable looked around the hall, then slowly turned back to Thales.

"Your Highness, are you, and the people behind you, truly prepared?"

His gaze was sharp, but carried traces of melancholy and loss.

This left Thales silent for a long while.

"Deputy Chief Priest," Thales looked around the hall at the people representing different identities, powers, classes, and trades, and sighed helplessly, "this was originally supposed to be only a disturbance limited to Emerald Palace, with limited damage..."

Amid the whispers, the prince was exhausted.

"How did it come to this?"

Old Fable looked quietly at Thales.

"Believe me, Your Highness, I do not want this either. Truly."

For some reason, Thales heard equal, or even greater, exhaustion and disgust in the other's voice.

"But I have seen it."

The old priest opened the Scripture, touched pages that had obviously been burned away by fire, and sighed.

"Whether the chaos of war during the Bloody Years, or the feud between the Cavendill brothers, I have seen Jade City at its worst when it loses order: war looming overhead, the whole city terrified, countless refugees, no security from morning to night, livelihoods lost, and people's hearts in disorder. You do not know how great a price and sacrifice the people with aspirations back then, beginning with the old duke, paid to bring Jade City back to order again and again."

Whether materially or spiritually.

His words were slow, yet they made everyone in the hall grow solemn and lower their heads in thought.

Deputy Chief Priest Fable's eyes grew distant.

Lenster was gone, Sona was gone, several administrators had died in succession, and even Brennan, who had been responsible for enforcing law and judging cases, was gone.

Even the devout and compassionate Ilshaga sisters, who had shared his ideals and once worked with him, were gone.

That group of people who had struggled to maintain this region's peace and prosperity had all departed one by one.

Only he remained, a small priest who should have guarded the conscience and morality of this city, lingering on with his last breaths.

Yet in the end, he could not escape the disasters of the past.

"I believe that anyone who experienced that misery does not wish to experience it again."

Thinking this, Fable took a deep breath.

"That is why today's disaster, the change in Emerald Palace, cannot help making people feel... fear and caution."

The council hall was quiet for a good while.

"I guarantee it with my honor and my life, Mr. Fable. The disasters of the past will not repeat themselves."

Only after a long while did Thales slowly speak.

"But they already have."

The old priest looked at him and gently shook his head.

"Look at him, look at you," Fable turned and faced the hall, and everyone whose eyes met his could not help turning away, including Federico. "Then look at everyone in this hall."

Of course, look at me as well.

I am guilty.

"The disaster of the Youngest Son now burns fiercely once more."

Fable lowered his head in loss and closed the Scripture.

Federico seemed unable to bear it.

"Sir..."

But Fable immediately raised his head and extended a hand to stop his former student, his expression firm.

"But precisely because of this, what others cannot say, I shall say!"

The deputy chief priest moved his legs, sore from standing too long, and looked at everyone.

"Whether it is you, Your Highness, or the Cavendills, or even His Majesty the king... no matter what sort of future, what sort of change, whose interests and schemes..."

Fable gritted his teeth.

"...none of it can come at the cost of the peace and well-being of the countless living people of the South Bank Territory."

When his words fell, the council hall was silent for a time, and many people lowered their heads in thought.

Thales stared fixedly at Fable, his feelings complicated and heavy.

Who was this old priest?

Was he truly a stepping stone raised up by the kingdom's Secret Intelligence Department, convenient for Thales and Federico to consolidate power and advance reform in Jade City?

Or was he a variable in the plan, a chess piece that had suddenly entered the game?

Was he speaking for himself, for the temple, or even truly for Jade City's interests?

The prince pondered with no small vigilance.

But...

A few seconds later, Thales, who had reached no answer, finally let out a long sigh.

"Everyone, I know where your fear comes from, and I can understand why you gathered here. If this can set your hearts at ease..."

Thales slowly unclenched his fist and stood.

"Everyone, I announce that the dispute between Zayen and Federico, that is, the old case of Duke Lenster's murder, will soon, to be exact, at the traditional Praise Banquet of the celebration, be concluded by arbitration, and it will absolutely not be delayed without end. It is neither an excuse for me to cling to power, nor a trap dragging Jade City into the abyss."

Federico's expression changed slightly. Under Thales's gaze, he wanted to speak but stopped.

"And no matter what the result of the arbitration is, I will hand over the regency and return governance to Emerald Palace," Thales said solemnly. "Yes, I will leave Jade City, return to my Star Lake Castle, and comfortably be my duke."

Thales could feel many people in the council hall breathe a sigh of relief when they heard this.

This made him feel and confirm something all the more clearly.

"Everyone, please be at ease. I have absolutely no conspiracy to occupy another's nest and seize power through the regency," Thales tapped the seat beneath him and sighed softly. "Believe it or not, everyone, before I came here, I never thought of sitting in this position."

Deputy Chief Priest Fable stood below him, looking at him with a strange gaze that held both relief and something like pity.

"After all, this is not Dragon Clouds City. I have no plan to stay here long term, unless..."

Thales raised his head and smiled.

"You wish to imitate the Northlanders?"

Unfortunately, no one supported this joke from hell.

The council hall was completely quiet, all listening seriously.

Sigh. If the Northlanders had been able to listen to him speak so patiently long ago, how nice that would have been.

Thales's gaze grew distant.

He suddenly noticed that the layout of the council hall allowed sunlight to shine in from the top windows on all sides, gathering into many columns of light that swept back and forth.

It made the hall incomparably bright.

"As for after I leave, what Jade City will become, where it will go, and what kind of relationship the future ruler will have with the kingdom's center, whether friendly or at odds, cooperative or in conflict..."

Thales shook his head.

"That is not something I can predict."

The prince raised his head. Against the backdrop of countless columns of light, he faced countless pairs of eyes throughout the hall.

"With this, Deputy Chief Priest, are you satisfied?"

He said solemnly:

"Everyone attending this audience, are you satisfied?"

The prince's voice echoed through the council hall.

A few seconds passed, and whispers rose again in the hall.

But no one answered directly.

Thus Thales slowly turned his head and looked to the other side.

"Thank you for your candor, Your Highness," Deputy Chief Priest Fable said with a complicated expression when the prince looked at him. "It distinguishes you from the tyrants and evil rulers we hear about in rumor."

He carefully studied Thales again and shook his head with emotion.

"What a pity, Your Highness. What a pity that you are a prince," the old priest sighed. "And what a pity that you are still only a prince."

Thales's brow twitched.

Everyone began discussing.

Priest Fable coughed and spoke slowly.

"Then, during Your Highness's time as regent, can you guarantee Jade City's stability? Not to mention going further, can you at least restore its former order, prevent disasters from arising, and allow countless citizens to feel at ease?"

Thales was silent for a while.

"I do not know what will happen in the future, but I guarantee that so long as I remain regent in Emerald Palace for one day..."

The prince raised his head, his gaze firm.

"I shall do everything in my power to maintain order and stability, and absolutely not allow all sorts of absurd disputes, such as the misfortune that happened to your student, to harm the citizens of Jade City or endanger its prosperity and wealth."

Thales took a step forward.

"Otherwise, there will be no need for everyone here to enter the palace again. If my governance is improper, I will naturally resign and take responsibility..."

"Your Highness!"

Federico suddenly spoke, interrupting the prince and attracting everyone's attention.

Thales turned back in confusion.

"Fed?"

"Forgive me, Your Highness," Federico said gravely, his chest rising and falling as he slowly walked to the deputy chief priest. "You are certainly benevolent, but I worry that you are being deceived by petty men."

Thales's eyebrow twitched.

"Fedi, what do you mean?" the deputy chief priest frowned.

"If I were them, Mr. Fable, if I were those conspirators, those masterminds behind the curtain..."

Federico turned his head, his gaze icy.

"Then what I would be waiting for is this very moment: this forced palace of yours has finally compelled His Highness Thales to state his intentions and make a promise."

Many people in the hall began whispering, and the old priest frowned as well.

"Then at this moment, just after His Highness has made his promise, I would arrange another assassination in Jade City, stir up another disturbance and disaster. Would I then be able to use that as reason to force His Highness to carry out his promise and resign in responsibility?"

Federico raised his voice, his tone growing harsher, making the listeners doubtful and uneasy.

His words were cold and full of irony.

"If it truly succeeded, Mr. Fable, certain people would surely be very grateful to you."

These words struck at the heart, and many faces changed.

A disorderly buzzing rose again in the council hall.

"Fedi..."

Hearing these heart-piercing words, Deputy Chief Priest Fable's expression changed. He looked at Federico in disbelief, his chest rising and falling.

"Of course, this is only a coincidence, right?"

Federico smiled coldly.

"Right, everyone present?"