Kingdom’s Bloodline

The Hall of Heroes was silent for a few seconds, and everyone was thinking about the meaning of this sentence.

Luba didn't speak, but he looked at Thales, unable to hide the shock on his face.

cost.

Is this boy...

No, how would he know, how would he understand...

Even these grand dukes who have been immersed in power for a lifetime can't see things...

Grand Duke Heisha's hands tightened unconsciously again.

"What are you guys talking about?" Trudida gritted his teeth, his eyes wandering back and forth between Rumba and Lecco: "What change, what price?"

Thales lowered his head and looked at JC's dagger lying quietly on the ground after being thrown away by him.

His eyes wandered into the distance.

A handwritten letter from his teacher, Gilbert Cassel, popped into his mind.

[Exter's political system...is very different...King Nunn is not just a king...he is also a prince of Dragon Clouds... Exeter's interests and Walton's interests are different He is completely different...]

I see.

You are not only talking about King Nun, but also about every grand duke family.

The interests of the Kingdom of Exeter are completely different from those of the Grand Dukes themselves.

Thank you, Gilbert.

I understand.

Thales's eyes were like a torch, and he scanned the family emblems on the princes one by one, and said lightly:

"Lyco of silver chains..."

"Ronnie of the Code of Knights..."

"Olsio of the Chavin Ancient Emblem..."

"Trudida of the Shining Blade..."

Following his roll call, the grand dukes turned their heads and looked at this foreign prince solemnly.

I don't know when it started,

Their habit of underestimating the boy had completely disappeared.

"The reason why you are willing to cooperate with Luba, even at the expense of covering up his crimes," Thales said softly, "is to resolutely solve the unformed threat and protect your future before the stars become stronger."

The prince sighed, and then became serious: "But please believe me, before Exeter and the Star Kingdom, who are about the same size, are completely separated, and the grievances and grievances are finally settled..."

The Grand Dukes stared at Thales intently.

Only Rumba, he stared at the sword in his hand, his attention seemed to be completely attracted by the sword.

"The family that you all cherish, the blood that you are proud of, the lofty and noble status, the territory that you painstakingly guard, and the stable and long-lasting rule..." There was a wave of waves in Thales' eyes, and then it turned into a firm flame .

Just listen to his unquestionable words: "Everything you are enjoying and taking for granted will be completely annihilated and will cease to exist."

At that moment, the breathing of the Grand Dukes stagnated in unison, and their eye sockets widened.

It was like hearing the most ridiculous news.

Thales' voice continued to sound: "From the moment you accept Rumba, your respective families... have no so-called future."

With a soft sound, another brazier in the hall was extinguished.

A thick chill hit out of nowhere.

Thelma, who was so cold behind her, hugged her body tightly.

Olsio opened his mouth in surprise and exchanged glances with Trudida. Lecco sighed slowly, as if he already knew something.

Rumba closed his eyes.

An unspeakable emotion spread from his chest.

"Speak clearly, boy." Grand Duke Ronnie stretched out his hand and touched the scar on his neck that was scratched by Croesch. The wound that had been poured with strong wine still had pain, and he said solemnly: "What is non-existence?" ?”

A family bloodline that has been passed down for hundreds of years, or even thousands of years, is enough to rival a country's vast territory...

how come……

Thales exhaled and watched it form a white mist in front of him.

"Once you follow Lunba to the south, the co-government oath exists in name only, and before war and interests, your power balance will inevitably be out of balance, and it will be too easy to bring about conflicts between you," Thales gritted his teeth: "When you think you are suppressing The moment when the stars are lost and you start fighting for each other is the time for him to quietly start to change—it’s not just as simple as building an Exeter’s Starlight Legion.”

He suddenly felt dizzy.

It's that familiar feeling.

"I don't know how much Luba has told you about Xianjun," the prince rubbed his hands together, breathing hot air in front of his chin, "but..."

"Efficient management, refined power, increased taxes, and a standardized system," Thales felt more and more dizzy. He had to stretch out his right hand, press his forehead, and close his eyes at the same time: "These are all There is a price."

The moment he closed his eyes, he seemed to have left the Hall of Heroes.

In front of him was a row of familiar white tables and chairs, with seven or eight laptops placed on them, and their respective owners were sitting quietly.

He cleared his throat, lowered his head, and had the neatly printed report in his hand.

【So, in his view, as a transitional stage from the old feudal rule to the absolutist rule, the hierarchical state was formed at this time...】

Wu Qiren's voice sounded slowly, gentle and flat.

[The city is an autonomous political whole, an aggregation of powerless people united according to their wishes. As a new political force, they have entered the Lord-vassal mode, making the typical feudal relationship no longer A purely dual framework of power—in other words, the rise of cities supporting rulers against feudal lords...]

The next second, Thales opened his eyes and returned to Dragon Clouds City in Errol's world, back to the dim hall illuminated by the brazier.

"Whether it is a professional official, a qualification examination or a national meeting, it means..."

"First of all, in the cities and suburbs, the low-level nobles and commoners," Thales said tremblingly, covering his forehead, "the best of them... will carry money, craftsmanship, knowledge and aspirations for the future. Climb up the ladder of the new nobility... the King will rejoice at their arrival, wield their power, and turn his back on his domineering vassals."

Trudida hung her head thoughtfully.

The light and shadow in the hall changed again, Thales sat in the bright classroom again, moved the mouse, and kept talking.

[The city group will form a new political organization such as the hierarchical meeting. The monarch intends to collect taxes, and they intend to supervise the use of this tax, so as to financially expand the power of the feudal nobles...]

Thales endured the dizziness of switching between the virtual and the real between the two scenes, and continued painfully:

"Take the State Council of the Stars as an example. The new stage for these common people to participate in politics will cover groups such as handicrafts, commerce, the army, and new aristocrats. It will become the king's home field, which will greatly weaken the power of both the prince of a place and the earl of a city. Power and prestige, whether in imposing tax laws or declaring war, the king will have the greatest convenience."

Hearing this, Grand Duke Olsio couldn't help casting a glance at Lumba.

[European universities are the earliest nourishment: Germanic monarchs hired these college students as officials in order to shape the bureaucracy, among which the military_bureaucracy and civil_bureaucracy of Prussia are the most efficient, but they are not serving the people, but only serving the country. That is, service power...]

"More and more new officials will come into the king's field of vision, their qualifications will replace the blood of the nobility, they will fight against the general with prudence, cover their background with their profession, and gradually take over the authority within the country," Thales gasped, experiencing a piece of The strange feeling of a fragment of memory entering my mind reminds me of the former star tax collector named Urad: "So the old nobles, including your relatives, will no longer be reused, and their taxation and judicial privileges will be gradually deprived. Even you have to admit that they are no longer fit for duty."

Grand Duke Lecco sat motionless, listening quietly.

[What the citizens want is to establish ruling conditions and a legal environment to ensure the city's industrial, commercial and economic development, which is a peaceful ruling order, which cannot be satisfied by the feudal system based on the manor economy and small markets , which requires the ruler to expand power and centralize power to ensure the interests of the so-called "bourgeois"...]

"Similarly, the king will allocate funds from the increasingly full treasury to support and expand the standing army, and maintain domestic order and border security by himself." Thales shook slightly, and Selma quickly supported him: "He will not No longer rely on the conscripted army in your territory, no longer rely on the self-sufficient supplies in your manor and fields, and no longer look at the faces of the grand dukes."

Ronnie suddenly remembered Broken Dragon Fortress, he frowned deeply, and looked at Thales with strange eyes.

[With the development of time, the feudal aristocrats in the hierarchical country could neither maintain their lives nor lose their military significance, nor could they maintain their political influence nor their ruling power. Under such circumstances, they must move closer to the ruler and perform their duties according to the latter's conditions—that is, the rise of the city brought a devastating blow to the feudal system...]

Finally, those strange fragments calmed down in his mind and stopped causing trouble.

Thales panted slightly, and patted Thelma's hand.

At that moment, he suddenly found that Rumba looked at him with eyes mixed with strange emotions such as surprise, doubt, pain, hatred, and relief.

"Have you felt it? Once this kind of change takes place over time, whether it's you, the Grand Dukes of the separatist party, or the traditional earls of various cities, from taxation to the army, from justice to talents, from privileges to status," said the Grand Duke With their increasingly ugly faces, he turned his head with difficulty and looked at the Grand Dukes: "The premise you rely on for a living will gradually melt away, and your advantages will gradually disappear."

"All the means and changes envisioned by Rumba, whatever their original intention, will lead to an end."

Thales took a deep breath and said solemnly: "And that's you—you, the rest of you nine distinguished grand dukes who ruled the Northland together. This is the beginning of the loss of your power and the decline of your family."

The Grand Duke of Lombard's face sank like water, and the eyes he looked at Thales became more and more complicated.

The grand dukes were as motionless as stone sculptures, and they didn't know how much they had listened to.

"One day, you will change from the great vassals of one side, to the great nobles with only glory left, and then to the rich with only wealth, and even to the common people with nothing, and finally reduced to a situation where only the descendants can rise from the dust. The day the family history was dug out of the ashes..."

"And the Nakaru Oath, which has protected Ext from being divided for six hundred years and stipulated that ten great princes rule the North, will become the oldest page of history in the museum," Thales sighed deeply, shaking his head road:

"Just like your family, it will slowly turn yellow over time, and it will never return."

"That's the price to be paid for what Lombard calls 'saving Exeter'."

After Thales finished speaking, he slowly raised his head.

At that moment, the Grand Dukes finally recovered from the state of the stone sculpture, but everyone's expression was extremely delicate.

Rumba looked down at his old sword.

The unbelievable Trudida cast a questioning look at Olsio and Ronnie, but the owner of the Welland Territory just shook his head silently, and the lord of Qiyuan City's expression sank, and he didn't care.

"Charman," Grand Duke Lecco's eyes seemed to turn cloudy, the old man said with his deepest and hoarse voice today: "Tell me, all you want is an army that can defeat the stars, right?"

"Have you thought about anything else?"

"For example, the Covenant of Governance?"

The eyes of the grand dukes shot at Rumba in unison.

one second.

two seconds.

Grand Duke Heisha finally raised his gaze from his saber.

He forced a smile at first, and then let out a chill.

"Everything this kid said is based on selfish lies," Luba said with a complex expression in a bad tone: "As long as you arouse even the slightest suspicion in your hearts, he will win—— Stir up the rift between us, disintegrate our efforts to fight against the stars, and give the increasingly powerful star kingdom a chance to breathe!"

Thales sighed silently in his heart.

"Leave aside a lot of his deceptive words, and his inexplicable hypotheses that never happened—don't you think it's ridiculous?" Rumba gritted his teeth, as if insulted, "For Akers Especially, the grand dukes are united as one, going south to defeat the stars, is it actually the root cause of our own destruction?"

After listening to Luba's words, the grand dukes looked suspicious and began to think about it.

Seeing the reactions of the grand dukes, Selma was shocked.

at this moment.

"Inaccurate."

The prince's words came steadily.

Rumba frowned: "What?"

"'We' killed ourselves?" Thales let out a breath, and said seriously: "The only ones who killed themselves are the other nine."

"In this game of change initiated by Rumba, Exter is like a dragon with ten heads, devouring each other in the raging tide," Thales sighed: "If it goes well, only one of them will One of the heads, that is, the most powerful, the most prepared, the most adaptable to the game, and the quickest response, the Grand Duke can survive to the end."

Grand Duke Lecco suddenly raised his head and stared at Thales.

Grand Duke Ronnie looked serious.

"As I said above, he will be the last ruler to rein in his power, and by taking advantage of the fierce force after the reform, he will devour the other nine princes as nourishment and food, so as to create his own unprecedented and supreme Eke. Sturt Crown."

Thales' eyes were covered with a haze that is hard for ordinary people to see, and he said dullly: "Who do you think the only person, the person closest to the truth, will be in Lumbard's plan?"

He looked at the expressions of the princes, shook his head slightly, walked around the brazier that had just been knocked down, and slowly squatted down.

The prince reached into the cold firewood and fiddled with it, and fished out the thrown dagger.

"But regardless of whether Lombard will succeed or not, except for the last ruler in the newly-born Kingdom of Exeter," his words continued, hitting the hearts of several grand dukes like a hammer: "There will be no more There's room for another nine."

Thales shook the JC dagger, untied the sheath that Yoddle gave him from his belt without changing his expression, and blew gently.

"Please keep in mind, everyone, maybe ten years, maybe decades, maybe hundreds of years..."

"But if there comes a day when your family fades away, your descendants are displaced, and your status ceases to exist," Thales slowly stood up and turned to the grand dukes:

"That must start from today, from the conditions you agreed to Rumba."

Thales' eyes lit up, and he thrust the dagger into the sheath: "Clang!"

Amidst the crisp sound of metal rubbing against each other, the grand dukes looked at him with gloomy faces, motionless.

"This is the answer," Thales said in a deep voice, "This is the reason why Rumba refused to reveal his real motives to you at the beginning. It was the cruel truth behind his relentless gathering of you to 'save Exeter'."

"In order to defeat the stars, Rumba will work together with you," he finished his words softly, "but the irony is that you will be wiped out just before the stars are defeated."

There was another silence in the hall.

"Charmain, I have to say, this is really..." Trudida, who was full of disbelief, hesitated to speak, and finally sighed: "Forget it, I don't know how to describe this feeling."

"It's really disturbing." Grand Duke Ronnie added his words coldly, looking at the leader Lecco - the latter just frowned and said nothing.

Grand Duke Olsio crossed his arms and propped his chin, and spoke with difficulty: "Charman..."

But Rumba's words were faster than his.

"It's all unfounded rumors, all things that never happened, all alarmist speculation!"

"But he used it as an excuse? And you really believe it?" Grand Duke Heisha's voice was still cold, but the irritability in it could already be heard: "Don't forget, the threat of the stars is real! "

Lunba strode forward, put his hands on the square table, his face was like ice and snow: "What we saw and heard twelve years ago, and what King Kessel has done in the past twelve years, can't you see it all?" in?"

"Why would you rather be shaken by illusory words than act for undeniable facts?"

The person who answered him was still Thales.

"The undeniable fact?" the prince asked quietly.

This time, Rumba turned his head, his eyes were full of resentment and killing intent.

Thales didn't care about his eyes, he asked softly: "Your Excellencies, if you succeed in attacking the stars, what will Rumba do next?"

The Grand Dukes looked at each other, their emotions unknown.

Rumba stared and clenched his fists.

"He wants the northern region of the stars." Grand Duke Ronnie said softly.

"He wants to guard the frontier for us, monitor and suppress the stars," Ronnie said slowly and coldly, but full of strength: "For this reason, he can give up whether it's the joint throne or even the black sand collar."

Thales exhaled lightly.

"It's that simple." The prince smiled maliciously, staring at the ashen-faced Lunba: "Your Excellency, Grand Duke Heisha, if you also think my words are unreasonable, then prove it with undeniable facts."

"For the stars, the northern border is an area of ​​incomplete change, and traditional power and old habits are still shrouded in it, but for Exeter, the northern border, which also belongs to the Great Northern Region, has already begun the harbinger of change. It is the best base for change.”

Thales said indifferently: "Grand Duke Lombard, for the sake of your unity, give up the northern border."

Rumba raised his head sharply and stared at him intently.

The Grand Dukes also looked up one after another, with different expressions.

Thales still has a calm expression - this is what he learned from Raphael, the attitude of that little boy can always piss people off.

Shiles complained that among the many conditions given to him by Lombard, whether it was preferential tariffs or resource contracts, the northern border was excluded.

Isn't it obvious?

"Of course, you can also make a guarantee," Thales continued, with the corners of his lips curled up, "Whether it's the reforms that follow the example of the virtuous monarch, or the things that endanger the families of the grand dukes... nothing will happen in your hands. .”

"In this way, you don't have the soil and opportunity in your hands to set off a change that may bring disaster, and you will be cleared of suspicion." Thales looked solemn, "The other princes can rest assured to continue to cooperate with you Alright."

As soon as this remark came out, the hall ushered in the longest silence.

Rumba froze in place.

His hand rested unconsciously on the hilt of the sword, motionless.

The Grand Dukes exchanged information in each other's eyes.

No one moved or made a sound.

A gust of cold wind poured into the hall, and as the flames flickered, the shadows of everyone swayed.

Thelma bit her lower lip and looked anxiously at the princes with different expressions.

Finally, as after centuries, a voice broke the silence.

"Actually, we would like to believe you, Charmain," said Grand Duke Lycco's gloomy voice, "but I also have to admit that this child's words make me very worried."

Trudida shrugged: "There is some truth to that."

Rumba slightly raised his head, under the shadow, his stiff face was even more vicissitudes.

"Tell me, Charmain."

"As our sworn alliance, in order to refute the words of this arrogant prince, in order to let go of each other's worries and apprehensions, and to prove that we are still advancing and retreating as one," Grand Duke Lecco looked directly at Rumba and sighed softly: "In the coming war In, would you like to..."

"Abandon the northern border?"

Rumba didn't speak, but just looked at Lecco blankly.

"Of course, we will compensate you with a considerable amount of land and benefits to express our apology - Olesiu, Trudida, or even my land, you can choose, just a little more," the old man coughed With a sound, it seemed a little sad: "You know, based on the northern border, guarding the frontier and monitoring the stars, other people can also take on the responsibility."

The voice fell.

Rumba raised his head and glanced at each of the Grand Dukes one by one with the most incredible gaze.

Thales pursed his lips, staring at Rumba intently.

Looking at his frozen face.

Rumba gritted his teeth, frowned deeply, and anger burst out of his eyes.

"I know, this is too much, but," Ol' Xiu looked sour, he shook his head apologetically, "I swear, as long as you prove yourself, I will do it myself and make this poisonous snake of the stars pay the price."

Rumba's face twitched slightly, like a smile, but not a smile.

"You know," Grand Duke Ronnie raised his eyes sharply at this moment: "This is for Exeter."

Rumba clenched his fists.

Trudida shrugged, avoiding Rumba's gaze, and said nothing.

Only Grand Duke Lecco looked at Rumba without flinching from the beginning to the end.

"How is it, Charmain?" The old man's bald head looked particularly glaring, his voice was very soft and slow, but he had an aggressive aura: "Your answer?"

Rumba grinned his lips and clenched his teeth, like a wild beast showing its prey.

"Charmain," Trudida said in a contradictory tone, as if he was very nervous, he slightly moved his lips: "One word is enough."

Thales frowned: he saw the fists around Lunba's waist began to tremble.

Grand Duke Heisha's face became increasingly ugly - like a lion whose territory has been violated.

Thales' heart also rose and fell following his expression.

Finally, after several seconds, Rumba closed his eyes and let out a long breath.

The Grand Dukes stared at him intently.

As if it was the most important moment in the world.

The next second, Rumba opened his eyes and spoke.

But what came was not a single word.

"Hahaha……"

Rumba raised his head, grinned his lips, and let out a sad and uncontrollable laugh.

"Hahahahaha..."

The laughter grew louder.

The grand dukes looked at his performance, their eyes gradually dimmed.

Thales stretched out his hand gently, and held the flustered Thelma instead.

Rumba's laughter finally stopped.

"Forget it, it's time now," Lunba turned his head, showing an expression of indifference and relief: "No matter what I say, there is no difference, is there?"

"Even if we reach Eternal Star City," Grand Duke Heisha turned around, looked at his sword, and said in a cold tone, "You will continue to monitor me and be vigilant about my every move, lest I shake your interests."

"You will not allow any so-called seeds or flames of change to appear on the land of Exeter."

Grand Duke Olsio gritted his teeth unwillingly: "So, your choice..."

"I just find it ironic," Rumba's face changed, and he suddenly raised his voice: "Why don't you understand?"

"Obviously the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is right in front of you, when the opportunity to defeat the stars and change history is within reach," Lunba gritted his teeth, looked at the heavy expressions of each Grand Duke, and growled depressingly: "Why do you all behave like that?" Like a coward!"

He suddenly turned around and faced the four princes, his face was full of disbelief: "The ending has not happened at all, and the matter has not reached the final step at all, just listening to a child talking nonsense, you are like a group of frightened people Like an antelope, it hides here and there, hiding its head and shrinking its tail."

The princes looked at each other, speechless.

"You are so stupid that you can't see through the truth that even a little boy knows, and you are so cowardly that you dare not even touch the most shabby stereotype..."

"Then get out of the way!"

Rumba's face was contorted, and he raised his scabbard violently: "The covenant of co-governance, the collapse of the family, the severance of blood, the loss of power, and the decline of status—what the hell are these reasons!"

"Exter, what is it in your eyes?"

"Aren't we from the Northland?" Grand Duke Heisha gritted his teeth, waved his scabbard, and pulled his cloak: "Don't ask 'can you', just ask 'do or not'—Northern people who are more afraid of failure than death !"

"Is not it!"

The voice of his painful and difficult questioning echoed in the hall.

Grand Duke Lecco closed his eyes.

Trudida covered her forehead and sighed deeply.

Ronnie let out a faint chuckle.

Olsius looked sad.

Thales closed his eyes gently, only feeling that the boulder pressing him in his heart had been loosened.

He looked at Rumba with an abnormal expression on the field, let out a sigh of relief, and said silently in his heart:

This game is over.

General.