Chapter 777: Thales I (Part 1)

The deputy chief priest's astonishing words triggered arguments throughout the hall.

Some people loudly opposed, while even more clamored in support. Thus a fierce argument broke out among the listeners themselves, back and forth without end. Under this chain reaction, the council hall was noisy and chaotic for a time.

"So, the prince establishes a covenant in Jade City, grants authority for self-governance, and exchanges that for support..."

Amid the arguments, Lord Mylahovich, Jade City's finance director seated in the front row, leaned back in his chair thoughtfully and spoke quietly to the person behind him.

"Ibo, you are the acting high judge. Legally, can this work?"

Behind him and to the side, the young judge Iboning's eyes moved.

"Careful, Ibo."

On Iboning's left, Trade Office director Viscount Deckman of Gathered Journey Fort spoke softly while seriously observing the listeners, especially the reaction of the second prince on the seat.

"This covenant, whichever of the four points we discuss... concerns the entire kingdom."

Several dignitaries nearby did not show anything openly, but unconsciously glanced in their direction.

Judge Iboning looked at the deputy chief priest and Federico still arguing in the hall, and was silent for a while.

"My lords, whether this move is feasible..."

The acting high judge took a deep breath and answered in a low voice.

"It still depends on whose law, when the law was made, what level of law it is, whether it is the Sacred Covenant or contract law, inheritance law or lord-vassal law, fief law or city-state law..."

"Ibo, you are still young. Can you stop giving us this official nonsense?" To the judge's right, City Hall chief Briotti quietly interrupted him, his expression impatient.

Iboning pressed his lips together and said nothing.

"No, he cannot, and he does not dare."

In the front row, Shining Sun Town mayor and honorary baron Amisarashvili did not even turn his head as he spoke coldly.

"He is not his teacher, not the respected High Judge Brennan."

The instant he heard his teacher's name, Iboning's eyes moved slightly.

"Mayor." Director Mylahovich gently reminded his colleague.

But Amisarashvili only shook his head and continued on his own.

"He is merely an assistant. He does not have the spirit to settle the matter with one hammer blow and then shoulder the consequences himself."

The young acting judge stared fixedly ahead and did not answer.

"But he is the acting high judge now."

Mylahovich sighed, intentionally or unintentionally.

"If he wants to remove the word 'acting,' he must have it."

After these words fell, the several high officials in the small group turned their attention back to the argument in the hall and no longer paid attention to this young colleague who had taken the position after his teacher's death.

Acting High Judge Iboning only clenched his fist, expressionless, unmoving amid the hall's fierce debate.

"Regarding your question, my lords."

One second later, Iboning suddenly spoke.

He stared seriously at the deputy chief priest and Federico, who were arguing endlessly in the hall, and said in a low voice:

"In Dragon Kiss Academy, one school of jurisprudence scholars believes..."

"Oh, more nonsense..." Mayor Amisarashvili unhappily shook his head.

But Iboning ignored his disappointment and finished his words.

"...that all laws and rules in this world are results, and only results."

Several high officials of Jade City froze when they heard this.

The young Iboning turned his head, his gaze sharply sweeping across several seniors and colleagues.

"They are all merely people's later recognition of power and the accomplished facts it creates."

His colleagues were all stunned.

"Oh? What facts?"

Only Lord Mylahovich showed a smile.

"And what sort of later recognition?"

Iboning did not answer again.

Amid the doubts of his seniors, he slowly turned his head and looked toward Prince Thales, who sat frowning with his head tilted, his gaze grave.

This conversation among Jade City's high officials was accurately caught by the Hell's senses and clearly delivered into Thales's ears.

The Duke of Star Lake's brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

Damn it.

Under the swelling noise of many voices, Thales slowly exhaled and lightly raised a hand.

Emerald Palace was experienced in political meetings. Before Mallos, Wya, and the other attendants near the prince even needed to pass on the order, the etiquette officers, guards, and servants present stepped forward according to procedure, rebuking the hall, maintaining silence, and restoring order.

This made Thales, who had a headache over the situation before him, feel a little better.

The South Bank was still the South Bank, and Jade City remained Jade City.

If this were those crude Northlanders of Eckstedt, the lord himself would likely have to shout until his voice broke or even wave a weapon to control the scene. Of course, on the listening day of Dragon Clouds City's archduchess, the archduchess's personal guards had been run ragged, and Nicholas had nearly dented the Rising Sun saber from knocking it, yet still had not held down the room until Chapman Lampard stepped into the venue.

As for the royal council in Renaissance Palace, that was another scene entirely.

If the person on the throne so much as raised a finger, no matter how fiercely the Ballard Room argued, it would return to silence within three seconds.

How long must you wait, Thales, the voice in his heart sighed helplessly, before your words have that kind of effect and you no longer trap yourself in predicaments like this?

Must you be repeatedly confined to this kind of embarrassing situation, coerced and plotted against by others, racking your brains to escape, never to be freed?

Is this the fate of Thales Jadestar?

"Deputy Chief Priest."

Seated under the iris banner, Thales pulled back his complicated thoughts. His voice echoed through the council hall passed down through generations of Cavendills.

"Your proposal... writing the regency on paper, a council, a time limit for handing over power and so on. Mm, it sounds rather novel."

Or perhaps, it sounded terribly old.

Under the entire hall's gaze, Thales looked at Federico, whose eyes seemed ready to spit fire, then at Deputy Chief Priest Fable opposite him, whose expression was calm but whose eyes held hope.

"Only... why?"

The second prince looked quietly at the old priest, as if seeing countless threads stretching out from behind him.

"Why you?"

Sunset Temple could be called the oldest and most conservative force in the kingdom.

Temple priests had always been closely connected with the old nobles, especially major local lords. The choices for chief priests in various regions mostly came from hereditary great houses and prestigious chartered families. Opposed to them were the clerics and monks of the Sunset Church, who naturally leaned toward new nobles and new wealth, including the many newly enfeoffed lords and industrial and commercial people who arose after the Bloody Years.

Given this, it was only normal that temple priests from highborn families disapproved of royal power, supported by the new nobles, suppressing the iris; disliked the Jadestar royal family reaching its hand into the South Bank Territory and controlling Emerald Palace; and were not happy to see the changes Jade City was about to welcome.

But only for that reason, to personally step forward, smash the jar, divide the regency to draw everyone in, include all of Jade City high and low, offend Renaissance Palace in words, and even use something as sensitive as succession to the throne as leverage while hiding incitement and estrangement, was still far too extreme.

As for why they would spare no price to dig out a large portion of power and interest from Emerald Palace, where the great seat was vacant...

As for how many variables doing so would bring to the situation, to Thales's mediation plan of stabilizing Emerald Palace, preserving Jade City, dissolving conflict, and even avoiding war...

"Because I am in this city."

Deputy Chief Priest Fable's face was solemn, pulling Thales back to reality.

"I know, Your Highness, everything that happened in Jade City has exhausted you in body and mind. Believe me, I am the same," the old priest patted his own chest, his expression pained. "Jade City is the same."

He turned and looked toward the public in the hall. The weariness and disgust he revealed made many people feel the same.

"Thus I have come especially to share Your Highness's worries. So long as you sign this covenant and prove that you do not covet power, and are even willing to let Jade City's people participate in governance, the people's hearts will naturally settle, the difficulties will naturally be solved, and you may naturally act freely without misgivings."

The old priest decisively waved his hand. His gaze toward Thales was incomparably firm.

"Even if misfortune happens again in Jade City, it will not be blamed on you, and it will not damage your reputation. Toward you, we will have only gratitude, admiration, and respect, whether you are still regent in Emerald Palace or not."

Share Your Highness's worries...

So long as you sign this covenant...

The difficulties will naturally be solved...

Whether you are still here or not...

At that moment, Thales suddenly wanted to laugh.

It was as if he had returned to the Ballard Room in Renaissance Palace, where he coldly and solemnly pointed out to the Ironfist King the truth and mistakes of Operation Sand King, put forward his suggestion, and likewise claimed that he wanted to "share the king's worries," serve as the king's vanguard, shoulder the weight of the crown, and likewise establish a covenant with the king.

In the end, he had received a ring.

Facing the hall's complicated gazes, Thales gritted his teeth.

So that was how Kessel V felt when sitting across from him back then.

"Absurd!"

In the first row of the hall, Count Lasia was furious.

"Old man who chants scriptures, you are blackmailing His Highness!"

"Of course not."

Fable was unhurried and did not look back. "This is only a humble request. Whether to accept or reject it rests entirely in His Highness's thought."

The deputy chief priest raised his head and looked straight at Thales.

"After all, force can win obedience, but it cannot make a transaction."

As soon as this was said, the whole room began discussing, and voices of approval became increasingly clear.

Transaction.

Thales took a deep breath and looked at the old priest before him, who was equally calm and certain. He could not help gaining a little more understanding of the person involved.

It seemed that when the Ironfist King did not immediately order people to drag him out and stuff him headfirst into a toilet to flush him away, the king's temper had truly been... very good.

Only...

The voice in Thales's heart thought bitterly: Your father had that ring, had that kind of power, and had the courage to let go and make a covenant.

But you, Thales, what do you have?

On what basis?

"Old man, you f..."

Count Lasia, who had been pressed until he felt terrible, was about to curse loudly, but another voice interrupted him.

"Was it you?"

Everyone turned their gazes and saw Federico, who had been silent for a long while, look coldly forward and speak quietly.

"Mr. Fable, was everything behind the scenes you?"

The old priest frowned.

"The one assassinated was your student. The one who sought audience and forced the palace was also you. The demand you proposed was not a strict investigation of the murderer, nor a request for compensation, but precisely this covenant, this committee and supervision over the regency..."

Federico snorted coldly and looked warily at the guests filling the hall.

"For this so-called covenant that fishes in muddy waters and divides and eats away at the duke's authority, you have been scheming for a very long time, haven't you, Deputy Chief Priest? When did it begin? When my cousin fell? Or even earlier, when my uncle was still in power?"

The Scarlet Iris showed a fierce expression.

"Is this looting a burning house, or seizing power and rebelling?"

His questioning voice echoed through the hall. For a time, no one dared speak, and even Count Lasia was pulled back by his eldest son, wanting to speak but stopping.

"Young Master Federico, your words are too severe."

The old priest sighed softly. He turned around, faced the guests, and made an apologetic prayer gesture.

"The people seeking audience and participating in political affairs has precedent in Emerald Palace. 'Duke Kossa inquired of the people, honored worthy men and treated the humble with courtesy, skillfully comforted the common folk, and thus achieved great governance.' This precedent did not begin today, nor did I invent it alone."

More importantly...

Fable slowly turned his head and looked with grief and pity at the people who had come to attend the audience today.

He looked at their expressions, confused, excited, nervous, or greedy, yet uniquely lacking firmness and righteous indignation.

No.

The deputy chief priest closed his eyes.

By the Sunset above, it was not yet time.

Perhaps in the future, perhaps very soon, but...

Not now.

The old priest turned around.

"Furthermore, I said this: the effective period of this covenant between us and His Highness only lasts until the regency transition ends and power returns to the iris."

The deputy chief priest sighed and made a prayer gesture.

"And Sunset Temple is willing to guarantee: no matter who it is, after the temporary regency ends, the city lord of Jade City and even the duke of the South Bank Territory will ultimately return to the Cavendill family, of course, to someone qualified and suitable, without damaging orthodox ownership."

Without damaging orthodox ownership...

When these words fell, Thales saw many listeners in the hall breathe a sigh of relief, especially the nobles, large and small, whose families had land and industries.

The ducal candidate returns to the Cavendill family...

These words made Federico's firepower ease slightly. He frowned and began observing the guests in the hall, quickly starting to calculate.

"Orthodox?"

Thales suddenly spoke.

"When that time comes, even within the Cavendill family, who is qualified, who is suitable, and who is the orthodox candidate for Duke of the South Bank, must that also be countersigned, endorsed, mediated, and decided by you, Deputy Chief Priest, and Sunset Temple?"

Federico's gaze changed when he heard this.

"No," the old priest faced the listeners, his expression solemn. "To be precise, under His Highness Thales's promise and in a manner consistent with the whole city's interests, it will be decided through public deliberation by the council or committee established in the covenant."

Thales frowned.

Public deliberation?

As soon as this was said, the council hall filled with discussion, and among them were no few excited people.

Deputy Chief Priest Fable calmly bore the prince's questioning gaze.

Of course, Sunset Temple's will and even "divine oracle" would likewise be an important and indispensable part of this "public deliberation."

The deputy chief priest continued:

"After that, the council or committee established for the temporary transition will be dissolved, and the position of regent shall also be abolished..."

"What if no suitable candidate can be found?"

Thales coldly interrupted the old priest, remembering the current state of military rule in the Western Desert.

"Will the council you proposed and the regent it appoints continue administering Jade City until you find a candidate you are satisfied with, or rather, until someone wins your satisfaction?"

Federico and many others' faces sank.

"Your Highness asks well!"

Count Lasia understood something and said loudly:

"So this covenant may very well be a fraud, deceiving power into your hands and never letting it go again!"

The deputy chief priest frowned.

Thales remained expressionless.

"Deputy Chief Priest!"

In the hall, Federico abruptly turned and stared fixedly at the old priest.

"I cannot help noticing that in your covenant, whether dividing rights and responsibilities, forming a committee, deciding the regent, or even supporting His Highness's coronation, every clause emphasizes that Sunset Temple must guarantee, countersign, and even supervise implementation?"

Priest Fable's eyelid twitched.

He raised his hand to the sky and made an incomparably devout prayer gesture.

"A guarantor and witness should naturally be above worldly interests. And with the Goddess above..."

"The Goddess is naturally everywhere," Federico rudely interrupted him, meeting him blow for blow, "but Deputy Chief Priest, are you so righteous truly for Jade City?"

Under countless gazes, he pressed closer step by step.

"Or is it for Sunset Temple, for that secular authority you lost long ago?"

Federico narrowed his eyes. His words again shocked the entire room and stirred noise on all sides.

"To allow your priestly peers in the temple to use this chance to once again grasp great power, using the name of faith to coerce nobles above and bully common people below?"

Deputy Chief Priest Fable's expression chilled.

"Deputy Chief Priest, you ask His Highness to sign a covenant to prove his intentions. Have you done so yourself?"

Federico questioned loudly.

"With the Goddess above, have the temple priests of Jade City done so?"

The old priest's face paled under the refutation, and his fingers trembled. He instinctively lowered his head and looked toward the Sunset Scripture fallen on the ground.

"Not without reason!"

Fed's questioning received scattered support from the audience, especially from Count Lasia.

"Deputy Chief Priest, nominating yourselves to mediate and guarantee, supervise and enforce, is rather unsightly, is it not?"

Amid the voices of suspicion and questioning, Thales did not say a word. He only quietly observed how the old priest would respond.

At last, bearing the audience's gazes, each with their own thoughts, the deputy chief priest remained silent for a long while, hesitated several times, and still let out a long sigh.

"Your Highness, Young Master Federico is right."

Priest Fable turned toward Thales and bowed deeply.

"Then change it."

What?

Many members of the audience were shocked, and Thales's brow moved as well.

Change it?

"To avoid suspicion, let us replace Sunset Temple in the covenant with other knowledgeable people," the deputy chief priest said quietly. "For instance... our missionary department colleagues, the Sunset Church? Let them sign and assume the responsibilities of guarantee, countersignature, and supervision. How would that be?"

"Ah?"

Bishop Ledoue, the representative sent by the Sunset Church who had been sitting in a middle corner and wandering beyond the heavens, reacted with surprise.

But he immediately became overjoyed, desperately tightening the corners of his rising mouth. He stood up and rubbed his hands.

"I, I also need to sign? Then, then... then our Sunset Church shall naturally act impartially..."

Amid everyone's discussions, Thales frowned fiercely.

Strange.

Too strange.

Even in religiously tolerant Jade City, Sunset Temple and Sunset Church, priests and clerics, had completely different foundations and clear positions. Especially when reputation and faith were involved, they gave one another not an inch.

As for giving this great gift out of thin air to a powerful rival within the same faith... Mm, one had to know that several centuries ago, the temple chief priests called these "missionary department colleagues" heretics.

But this made Thales even more puzzled about the deputy chief priest's intention.

Could it be... that he was truly that sort of selfless idealist who petitioned on behalf of the people?

"Must it be someone from your profession, Mr. Fable?"

After his surprise, Federico reacted. He looked at Deputy Chief Priest Fable and Bishop Ledoue with a complicated expression.

"For example, let some highly respected chartered count replace Sunset Temple's position in your covenant, Count Lasia, or Count Karabeyan?"

Bishop Ledoue's smile froze.

"What?"

Count Lasia stood in surprise, forcing down a smile as he adjusted his collar.

"Ah, how should one say this... supervising and even recommending the regent is a matter of great importance, not easy to do... speaking of which, the Four-Winged Basilisk has served as Jade City's shield for generations, bearing hardships without complaint, no matter how much suffering..."

"Father!"

But before the old count could finish, his eldest son interrupted him and pressed him down by force.

"Careful," the Lasia family's eldest son quietly said, though Thales's Hell's senses heard it clearly. "He may be testing."

Count Lasia's expression changed slightly, and he glanced toward Federico, whose gaze was dark.

But another pair of sisters' voices rang out happily.

"How could we be so embarrassed?"

Kasha took a deep breath, fanned herself, and put on a generous and righteous appearance.

"But since His Highness regards us so favorably..."

Qina sighed, wearing an expression of 'if not me, then who?'

"If Jade City entrusts us with such heavy responsibility..."

"Letting our daddy sacrifice a little reputation..."

"Would not be impossible..."

"After all, the Karabeyans and the Cavendills have been related for generations..."

"Very related..."

"Returning to Emerald Palace..."

"Would be just like returning to our own home..."

The smiling Karabeyan sisters were about to open their folding fans when they met Thales's scrutinizing gaze.

The next second, the two young women choked on their words, sat down together with false smiles, and suddenly became interested in the skylights around the council hall.

"Naturally, there is no reason they cannot!"

Deputy Chief Priest Fable spoke loudly.

"Sunset Temple, the church, counts, and even other knowledgeable people who care for Jade City and can represent Jade City may all shoulder this heavy responsibility."

His words again stirred whispers, and many people grew eager to try.

"Since that is so, Your Highness, this covenant..."

With countless gazes from the audience behind him, the old priest turned toward Thales on the high seat. This time, he carried a relieved decisiveness.

"Are you willing to sign it?"

Thales frowned deeply.

He suddenly had an illusion:

Every strange gaze cast from the audience behind the deputy chief priest, carrying complicated emotions, was a part of the old priest.

They came from one place, piling together densely, blinking ceaselessly like waves, carrying countless unspeakable thoughts and desires, staring fixedly at Thales.

Their countless eyes were irregularly stacked around the deputy chief priest, front and back, left and right, without a gap, forcibly building a hundred-eyed giant of writhing flesh and unending blinks.

It made Thales shudder.

"But please be at ease, Your Highness. After signing this covenant, you will have no need for misgivings," perhaps noticing his own aggressiveness, the deputy chief priest paused and spoke gently. "Because from then on, Jade City will know: you are not our enemy."

Because the enemy is someone else.

Thales drew a difficult breath.

"Enemy?"

Federico scoffed.

"Absurd. Who is the enemy?"

He stepped forward and waved toward the audience, making that imagined, hideous, blinking hundred-eyed giant tremble and turn its eyes away one after another.

"Or perhaps, when you say this, what kind of enemy are you trying to establish for us?"

"Who is the enemy?"

But the old priest did not flinch at all.

"Whoever has been stirring wind and rain in Jade City, whoever discards the livelihood of the common people for private gain, whoever destroys His Highness's painstaking efforts to run about for peace, whoever intends to turn the South Bank Territory into a stepping stone for ambition, whoever cannot bear to see His Highness and us share one heart, that person is the enemy of Jade City and the South Bank people!"

These words were righteous, yet contained hidden references. As expected, the hall again erupted in uproar and arguments.

Even Thales had no choice but to close his eyes and rub his forehead, pretending exhaustion.

At the same time, he avoided that imagined hundred-eyed giant.

I truly wish you were here to hear these words yourself, Your Majesty.

Instead of throwing this rotten mess of seizing Jade City to your heir and leaving behind only, "handle it yourself."

"You..."

Fed froze, both shocked and furious.

"Do you know what you are saying?"

"I know what I am saying more clearly than ever," Fable yielded not an inch, yet seemed earnest and well-meaning. "What about you, Fedi? Are you prepared? Have you truly found your enemies and allies?"

The old priest's words left Federico silent for a good while.

The latter looked at his former teacher with a complicated expression, as if he no longer recognized him at all.

"When Zayen still held power and covered the sky with one hand, teacher," Federico's tone unexpectedly carried some pain and disappointment, "why did you not have such courage to speak righteously then?"

The deputy chief priest trembled slightly.

"That is why he received the end he deserved," Fable turned his head, his voice weary. "Now, it is the turn of others."

Federico stared at him for a long while before taking a deep breath and making up his mind.

"The fourth point you just mentioned, sir."

Fed turned around, facing the doubtful and tense audience, and returned to the role of a cold conspirator.

"You said you would support His Highness's coronation as king?"

"I said, if he is willing to sign the covenant..."

"His Highness Thales is the undisputed heir to the throne."

Federico coldly interrupted him.

"And you, Deputy Chief Priest, or anyone in this hall, or even all of Jade City, what qualifications do you have to dare recklessly discuss the next king's legitimacy?"

As soon as these words came out, the noise in the hall instantly vanished, until even a dropped needle could be heard.