Kingdom’s Bloodline Chapter 218: Black eye

"It seems that you treated yourself well."

With mixed feelings, Thales came across to Zhan En and pulled out a precious armchair.

"Both each other," the Duke of South Bank didn't even look at him, he opened the pot of wine made by Duke Sera on the coffee table, "Be careful, Your Highness, that chair is not easy to sit on."

Tell paused.

He patted the armchair, his face turned cold, and he sat on it without hesitation.

"How can such an expensive chair be difficult to sit on?"

"Because of this," Zhan En poured two glasses of wine, watching him sit on the chair with thought-provoking eyes, "Precious things are often uncomfortable to use."

"Since that's the case," Thales rubbed the smooth and warm armrest, felt the leather material, and said, "I didn't see you throwing it away?"

Jen picked up a glass of wine and gestured to Telstor.

"As you said."

The Duke chuckled, pushed another glass of wine to Thales, and stretched out his hand to signal, with a deep tone:

"It's expensive."

Thales didn't reply immediately, he stared at the other party for a long time.

"You really have to be more careful," Thales leaned over to the coffee table, and pushed the glass of wine back lightly but unquestionably. "Otherwise, the chair is broken by me, and it will be difficult to repair."

Jenn watched Thales reject the wine, his eyes froze slightly.

"It's not impossible to repair." He smiled slightly, retracted his palm, raised his wine glass indifferently, and took a deep breath, "Just find the right craftsman."

Thales leaned back, silently watching Zhan En enjoying the mellow aroma of the wine, and hummed lightly:

"Since it is such an expensive chair, no matter who the master is, it will cost a lot of money to repair it?"

Jen En shook his wine glass, took a sip of the wine, and praised:

"It's cheaper than the chair itself."

"Would you rather pay to fix it, or keep it intact?"

Zhan En stared.

"That depends on where the chair is placed," Duke Iris said quietly, "Whether it is placed in the hall for others to see, or in the bedroom to sit on."

Thales was silent, and Jen En didn't speak, and the two of them just faced each other quietly in the bedroom.

After a while, Zhan En put down his glass and spoke first.

"So, the current regent of Emerald City came to find me, a prisoner, but he refused to drink my wine." He stared at Thales' face, implying, "but the rule is not going well? "

Thales snorted lightly.

"As a prisoner who never leaves home, how do you know that my 'government is not going well'?"

Jen En smiled, and he turned to the direction of the balcony.

"Please, there is such a big smoke column and fire in the Glory District, even the mouse that hides the deepest in the Kongming Palace can smell it."

Thales frowned.

And Zhan En closed his eyes with an expression of enjoyment, as if he was still savoring the aroma of the wine just now.

"You know, Star Lake Castle has been plagued by rats for a while," Thales stared at the jug on the table, "until I cleaned up all the rats, and there was not one left."

After speaking, he stared at Zhan En.

Jane was silent for a while.

"Not one left?"

Duke Iris nodded:

"That would require a lot of mousecatchers, quite a few."

"There are indeed quite a few," Thales said unwillingly, "but I found out later that there is actually only one cat that is really useful."

Jen En sneered:

"Oh, which one?"

Thales and Jann looked at each other for a while.

The next moment, Thales suddenly put on a smile:

"You misunderstood just now, Your Excellency."

Thales leaned forward and picked up the glass of wine that belonged to him.

This time it was Zhan En who frowned lightly.

"The rule of the Emerald City is going smoothly, there are no waves, the citizens live and work in peace and contentment, and the officers and soldiers are dedicated to their duties." Thales swung his glass freely and greeted Zhan En, "Like the fire accident on Luhsan Street, there is no I don’t need to worry about it, the officials at all levels can solve it by themselves.”

Zhan En's eyes froze.

"I think so," he leaned back, and instantly became indifferent, with a repulsive attitude, "otherwise, you would have been too busy to come to me for a drink, chatting about chairs and mice things."

"Is your father in pain?" Thales still smiled, but changed the subject abruptly, "When he died?"

Jen En's expression changed.

Thales continued calmly:

"Especially when you know that you have been betrayed and that the murderer who killed you is a blood relative you can't trust?"

Jen stared blankly at Thales' wine glass, but just when Thales thought he was going to change his face after all, Jen raised his head without changing his expression:

"Excuse me?"

Thales looked at the other party and hummed softly:

"As I said, the Emerald City is peaceful, it should be said that it is too peaceful. Because of this, I have nothing to do all day, so I have time to work on this--for the dispute between you and Federico Conduct arbitration to find out the truth and return justice for the late Old Duke of Leinster and Viscount Sona."

His Royal Highness especially re-read the last few words, narrowing his eyes:

"What, is there a problem?"

For several seconds, Jen remained motionless, like a statue.

Until he let out a sigh of relief and refilled himself with wine.

"You just said that this is the only mousetrap cat that needs to be used?"

Zhan En poured wine calmly as usual, nothing wrong:

"It's a bit too monotonous and lacks new ideas."

"However, when the mice were cornered and had nowhere to go," Thales shook the wine glass, keeping his eyes on Zhan En's face, "this is really the way to go."

Jane put down the flagon heavily.

"But are you sure the only thing you want to clean up is rats?"

The duke raised his glass and carefully observed the color of the wine under the light:

"If there are more ferocious beasts hidden in the castle, a mousetrap alone is far from enough."

On Zhan En's wine glass, Thales' face was reflected in the wine, appearing crimson and distorted.

"Actually, my cat's claws are ruthless, but it's ferocious," Thales also raised his glass to him, "Enough."

Jane's expression turned cold.

He looked down at Thales' wine glass:

"The wine is almost spilled by you, do you really not drink a sip?"

"The glass is in my hand," Thales said coldly, continuing to shake the glass, "I can drink it whenever I want."

Jane was silent.

A few seconds later, he held his wine glass and walked slowly to the window.

"Of course, then you can drink it when you want, and drink it when you want," Zhan En looked out of the window with a frosty attitude, "but the wine has been opened, and I don't know how long it can be kept."

In front of his eyes, the lights of thousands of families in the Emerald City were dotted like stars.

The two were silent for a while, each thinking.

"I should have thought of it earlier." Thales said suddenly after a while.

"What do you think?"

"You elected me to be regent, but you strongly opposed Xi Lai's participation in the rule, not only because you love my sister," Thales narrowed his eyes, "but also because you are still in the chess game, and one of the vacant city lords It's just another **** for you, the goal is to eat anyone who sits on it."

Jane never looked back:

"It is not in line with your usual image to attribute the inadequacy and failure of governance to a prisoner."

Thales snorted coldly.

"The letter."

"What letter?"

Thales raised his gaze.

"Not long ago, you gave my father the "Replacement Petition", saying that paying taxes and reducing the number of soldiers, it seems to be obedient and obedient, but in fact it is full of hidden mysteries and traps."

"You said it in the arena," Zhan En said coldly, "You tore up that letter."

"Yes. But if you are 'not to die with the enemy', you dare to defy even the letter of peace to the Supreme Iron Fist King, so be careful, then when you face me, you will be forced to step down from the position of the city lord and take the emerald When the leaders of the south bank of the city handed over," Thales questioned harshly and disdainfully, "how could it be possible not to hide the backhand, not to lay traps, not to leave the vacant seat full of thorns for the successor?"

The room was quiet for a while, only the breathing of the two could be heard for a while.

"Then have you ever thought about it," Zhan En looked at the night scene of the city that once belonged to him, with sharp and deep eyes, "Maybe, if you want to sit firmly on that chair, you should have to overcome obstacles?"

"Should it be?"

Thales said disdainfully, and put down his glass heavily.

"My people spent the whole day, and they kindly persuaded many financial officials to work overtime. Only then did they sort out the accounts of Emerald City, especially the pile of debts."

"Congratulations." Jen was not without irony.

Thales leaned back in the chair and folded his arms:

"In fact, the huge public debt is not a bad thing for Emerald City, but it has been a common practice for many years, and it is also a means of drawing future development and governance."

"I really hope that all the financial officers under me have your vision." Zhan En still seemed to be sarcastic.

But Taylor's eyes moved:

"But the strange thing is that Emerald City has been sorting out and reorganizing its debts since seven or eight years ago. In the end, all kinds of debts were concentrated into three batches: the first batch alone included millions of advance debts, which had to be paid off within two years from now.”

The prince said coldly:

"The second batch of debt repayment period is about ten years, and the third batch is around fifteen years."

Jen En didn't speak, but he finally shifted his focus from the window, turned around slowly, and faced Thales.

"As you said before, you have long expected that the Fuxing Palace will attack Iris, but you don't know when and how they will come, so you simply prepare for the battle early and plan ahead."

Thales continued calmly:

"The three batches of huge debts are actually the triple insurance you left for yourself by using the finances of the Emerald City-in the past fifteen years or even longer, no matter who subverts your rule in any way, If you seize the Emerald City, you have to face a dangerous debt trap..."

"It's just a matter of money," Zhan En interrupted him, turning the wine in his hand into a scarlet vortex, "The Canxing royal family is rich in the world, you must have a solution, right?"

Thales frowned.

"A money problem?" The prince snorted coldly, "The Emerald City has changed hands. It is already experiencing political turmoil. Merchants who are used to the trading order of the Emerald City began to sell in panic, causing price instability and market disorder..."

Plus all kinds of rumors such as 'the prince wants to squeeze out the Emerald City', 'the prince wants to raise taxes to collect money' or 'the prince wants to clean up the house'...

he wondered apprehensively.

"And when I started tearing down the east wall to make up for the west wall, and trying to find ways to increase revenue and reduce expenditure to pay off debts, more troubles came," Thales said coldly, "There are dozens of ideas to reduce expenses and move the budget. The efficiency of the officials has declined visibly, and the Seychelles knight—whether he has received your instruction or not—even quietly threatened our army to go on strike. The accident on Luhsan Street, let’s just treat it as an accident , It is these reasons combined with the inefficiency of the police officers and the chaos and turmoil of the blood bottle gang."

Jen En listened quietly, staring at him with palpitating eyes, without a gloating smile.

"Then there is panic, people lose trust in the future of Emerald City, people with some family backgrounds flee one after another, and there are frequent security cases in the market." Thales stared at the other party closely, "If you don't do something else , the once prosperous Emerald City is probably about to begin to decline."

Jen En didn't have any more expressions, he just took a deep breath and slowly raised his glass:

"Are you drinking?"

Thales frowned deeply, but he ignored him and continued:

"I originally planned to summon the powerful vassals and big businessmen of the South Bank Territory, and even foreign business group tycoons, to intimidate them and ask them to lend money to help Emerald City fill the shortfall and temporarily bail out..."

Jen En snorted, meaning unknown.

"But before that, I received a ledger from the Ashford steward, which was about the status of the Kevin Dill family's private property."

Jane's eyes moved:

"Sure enough, you put your mind on Kevin Dill."

Thales sighed.

"My people have just roughly figured out that the Iris family is indeed rich and powerful. Just in the field of asphalt mine exploration and mining, your asset valuation is as high as one million, and all of them are rich. The living assets of the cash cow, which is constantly generating money, do not include smelting and trade," the prince said sullenly, "Even if only half of it is squeezed out, it will be enough for the Emerald City to tide over the difficulties for the time being."

Jen En didn't answer, but just stared at him intriguingly.

"But therein lies the problem."

Thales left the back of the chair and stared at the other party.

"I rummaged through the ledgers, searched all over Kongming Palace, and found that the Calvin Dill family can spare very little cash, which adds up to less than 50,000."

Jane raised the corner of his mouth.

"Because as early as seven or eight years ago, you started to operate, and invested most of the family cash in major industries-for example, the Emerald City Cotton and Wool Chamber of Commerce, you have 20% of the shares, and many cities in the north The crystal mines are all jointly invested by Kevin Dill and the Lasia family. Half of the business groups in the Yongshi Oil Industry in Gonghai City have signed contracts with Iris, and these are only available, such as Dagori Moss. I’m afraid there are still quite a few businessmen here, and everyone is your property white glove, covering all walks of life in the south bank of the Emerald City, and even in the Star Kingdom.”

The more Thales spoke, the more serious he became, gritting his teeth:

"So, if I want to use Kevin Deere's money, the first thing I have to do is to transfer and sell the assets from the dozens of rich industries led by the South Bank, and once I do this, for example, at a low price Sell ​​the dozens of workshops, dozens of warehouses of raw materials, hundreds of shops, and thousands of looms that you left in the textile industry all over the South Bank..."

"Drain from the bottom of the pot, pull out the source," Zhan En took his words, looking relaxed, "The already unstable industry order and economic conditions will only become more panic, more chaotic, and more turbulent in the short term. It confirmed the rumor that 'the prince is going to drain the Emerald City'."

Thales took a deep breath and suppressed his emotions.

How did he know this?

Forget it, it's not important.

"What's worse," Thales continued with difficulty, "if I get through the difficulties by selling your family's assets at a low price, which leads to economic turmoil and industry crisis, then those who have colluded with you and entrenched themselves in the industry There are countless big business groups and rich men in the upper and lower reaches, noble forces, and vassal families, such as the Karabyan family who invested in the textile industry with you. These giants and predators all over the South Bank Territory will also suffer joint damage. .”

Thales clenched his fist.

"So, I canceled my meeting with these people, and I canceled my plan to borrow money from them."

Jen En silently took a sip of wine:

"Why?"

"Why? Because they have long been in the economy and industry, and they are tightly bound to you and the Iris family, and they cannot be separated," Thales said disdainfully, "Why should I make enemies for no reason? Not fast?"

Jane didn't speak.

"Anyway, after this round, finances, debts, taxes, commerce, public security, people's livelihood..."

Thales suppressed his anger:

"From the beginning to the end, no matter where I start, I will be blamed, no matter who gains and who loses in essence, no matter how complicated the process is, the final price and infamy will be the responsibility of me who came to power Commitment."

Thales took a deep breath and calmed down.

"But I guess these people, if you asked, they would be willing to lend, right?"

He looked at Zhan En with sharp eyes:

"Why? Because you have a cooperative operation with them, and the interests are intertwined?"

Jen En sneered.

"I think you can call it trust," the Duke of South Bank shook his head, "but it is based on institutions and habits: they believe in me and Iris, not only by faith and loyalty, habits and obligations, but also by position and interests, rely on institutions and systems.”

Jane's eyes moved:

"So that once they leave us, they will inevitably lose their trust in this city."

Thales snorted disdainfully.

Jen raises the volume:

"And these 'trusts', Thales, can't be exchanged no matter how many times you repeat 'Imperial Blood' or 'Revival of the Kingdom'."

Thales' eyes became colder and colder.

"So, not only the city lord, you, you turned the entire Emerald City into a trap."

The prince said coldly:

"Anyone who grabs it by unconventional means will trigger a chain reaction of a whole chain and bear the price behind it."

Zhan En was silent, and Thales did not continue.

The two faced each other in silence for a full minute.

Until sporadic fireworks exploded in the night sky, throwing light into the room, celebrating Queen's Day feebly.

Finally, Zhan En walked back to the sofa and sat down slowly.

He knocked on the flagon and looked at Thales meaningfully:

"So, it's all up to now, are you still refusing to drink my wine?"

Thales took a deep breath.

He looked at the wine glass on the coffee table and thought for a long time.

Finally, the Duke of Xinghu gently stretched out his hand and took his own wine glass.

Jane smiled.

Thales raised his glass and smelled the aroma of the wine.

The next second, he raised his head, his eyes stern.

"The result of this arbitration, Jen, is that you will get away safely, clean and untainted, and Kevin Dill will continue to rule, and you will get back the title of duke and city lord, and continue to be your iris Lord of Flowers."

Zhan En's eyes lit up, his eyes approving.

"Fine," he picked up the flagon, "but?"

"But Federico will be pardoned. Not only is he innocent, he will also regain his property rights and inheritance rights as the son of Sona, and become the new Viscount of Gonghai City—don't worry, he is an honorary Viscount."

Boom.

Jen En's flagon was heavy.

The Duke of South Bank raised his head and looked coldly: "Then why don't you just say 'I'm going to put a nail in your ass'?"

"I'm not done yet."

Thales said indifferently:

"The Emerald Legion will be crowned with the name of the 'Royal Family', and the number and cost will remain the same, but the maintenance costs will first be turned over to the Fuxing Palace in the form of taxes, and then issued in the name of the kingdom, forming a military and national defense routine. The military officers at all levels who lead the legion must be informed by the Kingdom Military Affairs Department in advance..."

The more Zhan En listened, the more ugly his expression became.

"Let's forget about this year and the past, but starting from next year, all the villages, manors, and towns in the South Shore Territory will have to recalculate their tax revenue every year. If you understand what I mean, the Fuxing Palace will have full authority... "

"Do you still want to drink?"

Jen En suddenly spoke and interrupted Thales.

He has a grim expression and a dangerous gaze.

"And I haven't talked about ports, trade and tariffs yet." Thales was expressionless.

"Then you don't need to talk about it," Zhan En said coldly, "It saves time and effort, and saves me a pot of good wine."

"But I have to say! And you too!" Thales suddenly raised the volume.

Jen frowned.

Thales adjusted his breathing and tried his best to speak sincerely

"I believe, Zhan En, you left a trap for your successor early, or a problem-a problem that only Kevin Dill can solve. The purpose is definitely not to kill the fish."

Jane's eyes moved slightly.

"It's about creating chips for negotiation," Thales stared at him, "and that's exactly what we're doing."

Thales sighed:

"Please, even for the sake of the Emerald City - I believe that it is not your intention to let it decline."

Zhan En stared at him fixedly, and was silent for a while.

"Those conditions, are your father's intentions?"

Thales' mood tensed.

"As long as you agree," the prince said in a deep voice, "the Fuxing Palace, I will handle it."

Jen snorted and laughed.

Thales frowned:

"I'm serious, the specific terms and conditions can be discussed again, but I can take full responsibility for—"

Jane suddenly interrupted him:

"Why did you come to me?"

Thales paused.

Jen approached him with aggressive eyes:

"Tell me, Thales, from debt to taxes, from the market to law and order, you sat in that seat, you encountered so many things back and forth, and even checked Kevin Dill's family property, Xiao I know how the industries in the Emerald City work, but the conditions you gave are still the same?"

"And you even think that all the problems can be solved as long as you threaten me with arbitration and borrow enough money?"

Thales frowned:

"What do you mean?"

"What do you mean?"

Jane shook his head and laughed.

"You are the Duke of Xinghu Castle, Thales, you should know the architectural structure of the kingdom's rule: the monarch, princes and princes, officials, cadres, civilians of all walks of life, from top to bottom... "

Thales looked puzzled.

Jane leaned back and opened his arms across the room:

"But here, in the Emerald City, you can see something different: merchants' transactions and status are guaranteed, farmers are exempted from military service and heavy tax burdens, and craftsmen from all walks of life organize their own The bureaucrats will unite to speak out, bureaucrats at all levels are conscientious and step-by-step, and even foreigners will be respected here, and no matter how big the vassal or the noble noble step into the city gate, he must recognize all the above rules: he must understand, Why can a lowly farmer in his own land yell at the lords in the courtroom with impunity."

Thales' eyes moved, thinking deeply.

Jen En patted his chest:

"Because, because all the powers of these people are guaranteed by us, the Iris family, and the guardian duke. Whether it was the peasants clamoring to set a tax quota, or the artisans uniting to ask the city lord to severely punish the deduction of wages, we all appropriated, bestowed, and shared from the authority of the duke.

"Under such a new order, the nobles are sealed off their desire to exploit layer upon layer, officials have the power to formulate rules, merchants show generosity from greed, farmers rise up to work hard for themselves, All the money from inside and outside the country comes here for my use.

"But it is also under this new order that we, the noble duke family, made an unprecedented compromise. We stepped out of the Kongming Palace from top to bottom, and stepped down from the supreme throne, setting an example and restraining Vassals, do things that most rulers can't understand - we not only undertake security defense, but also worry about market order, residents' welfare, business operations, and law enforcement. For this reason, we will not hesitate to borrow debts that cannot be paid off for generations He doesn’t hesitate to personally participate in the operation of shares, he doesn’t hesitate to invest and promote all kinds of businesses that cost money but can’t be heard, he doesn’t hesitate to set rules that even a country baron would find humiliating and embarrassing, and he has to be the first to bow his head to abide by!”

Thales recalled every detail of what he saw and heard after arriving in the Emerald City, his complexion changed slightly.

Jane's eyes flickered:

"Imagine it: the High King is supremely powerful in Eternal Star City, the King of Exeter is feared by everyone, the Supreme Councilors of Commus are powerful and corrupt, and the powerful and powerful from all over the world are ruling. The highest link in the village, dominating your own land!

"But we, every generation of Duke Cavendir walking in our own city, must be careful not to step on even one of the stalls, and even spend money to hire blood bottle gangs if we do something bad, a farmer picked his nose Shit scolded us for our poor work, and we had to smile and wave our hands to say sorry, a businessman was robbed five miles outside the city, we have to spend a lot of money to mobilize the army, and chase the criminal to the ends of the earth at any cost In order to restore the lost trust!

"This is what makes the Emerald City and even the South Bank different. Starting from the "Parrot" more than a hundred years ago, my ancestors followed the example of the virtuous king, but after several generations, they went one step further than Mindis: we give up power , giving up interests, sacrificing status, and establishing not only rules for the people and outsiders to abide by, but also cages and barriers that bind ourselves, chains that even we dare not touch, let alone break!"

Hearing this, Thales couldn't help being moved.

He suddenly understood why Jann Cavendir was the most famous, best-looking, and most "approachable" guardian duke in the kingdom.

The logic, conditions, and principles behind this, as well as the inevitability and necessity embedded in history and the environment, cannot be simply explained by simply saying "Zhan En is a man of hypocrisy and sanctimoniousness".

As a ruler, King Nunn can be domineering, King Charman can be ruthless, King Kessel can be ruthless, even Prime Minister Cullen can be old-fashioned, Cyril Falkenhauser can be a rascal, and the one-eyed dragon Kost Arrogant and unpopular, the Duke of Vaal in the north can be extremely extreme...

But Jen can't.

The reason why Zhan En is like this is not because he likes it, but because he likes it.

But he had to.

It's the Emerald City.

Just like ancient swords, they cannot escape their sheaths.

"As for these things, your father, the iron-handed king who said that one thing is unquestionable, only knows how to take but not give, can he do it?" Zhan En said softly.

Thales raised his head with a solemn expression.

"So, as the highest link in the ruling chain," the prince couldn't help but sigh, "The Iris family used the authority of the duke to guarantee this city and the entire South Bank: you establish order, set rules, and form system, abide by the law, and even sacrifice authority..."

Jane smiled, and he nodded slightly:

"To be precise, we cast ourselves as the cornerstone of order, from the highest link of the old building, willingly, to the bottom link of the new chain."

Old building, new chain...

Thales sighed:

"So the new chain has been running since then: ensuring security, attracting commerce, leveraging the economy, liberating labor, encouraging production, driving the people, affecting the land, changing the way of life of the vassals, and then reversing the nature of their positions..."

Real information about the Emerald City, military, economics, politics, class, history... They turned into abstract pictures and shapes one by one, circulating and piled up before his eyes.

The more Thales talked, the more fascinated he became:

"So this chain goes up layer by layer, one link after another, and one link spawns another link. After a hundred years in such a hurry, the Emerald City quietly rises: it feeds back the Iris family, so that everyone who lives by it and benefits from it, Both the princes and nobles and the common people all believed in the guarantee of the Duke of South Bank, got used to the rules of the emerald city lord, and obeyed the order of Kevin Dill.

"In this way, the Kevin Dill family has returned from the bottom link to the highest link: the chain turns, forming a loop, revitalizing the overall situation, and completing the order change from old to new."

Thales took a deep breath and became more serious:

"More importantly, after more than a century, Iris has donated part of the Emerald City to all kinds of people from officials, farmers, businessmen, etc., so that they can truly become a part of the Emerald City. This binds itself firmly to every part of the Emerald City: it is both the guarantor and the beneficiary, both the leader and the escort, both the cornerstone of the base and the top of the pinnacle, and is an indispensable link."

Thales gritted his teeth:

"And if one day, this link is broken..."

Hearing this, Zhan En, who had been silent all the time, sneered and said:

"Just like what you experienced in this chair, this set of chains will be disconnected from this link, and the layers will be disjointed and collapsed one after another, because it is not only the top that is pulled away, but also the cornerstone: power The source of human resources, the formulation of rules, the enforcement of laws, the guarantee of order, the choice of commerce, the flow of money, the form of economy, the content of production, the lives of the people, the rule of vassals, and finally the prosperity and stability of the Emerald City— ——They will have chain reactions one after another, a vicious circle, and they will be shattered inch by inch."

Thales frowned deeply:

"If I don't want to break, but just replace this link—"

"Then you also have to dismantle it first, dismantle this set of chains," Zhan En interrupted him unceremoniously, "then copy our history, and use the same or even more effort to run another set of chains. "

"Because this is a set of chains, not an old-style building - the lord of the manor changed his surname, and the farmers in the field didn't feel the difference. Anyway, the whip on his head was still vicious. A brick was taken away from the roof," Zhan En sneered, "but here, the 'farmers' in Emerald City will worry about how to ensure safety, who will enforce the rules, whether the industry will change, and whether the new lords will Share with them, share the joys and sorrows—because you don't take a brick from the roof, you take a link from a taut chain.”

At that moment, Thales breathed up and down. He stared at Zhan En in front of him, but felt that he was not facing a person alone.

It is a city.

"Then I will rebuild this chain, win back trust, and even let the royal family invest, set rules, and build an order that everyone can trust, to prove that Kevin Dill is not irreplaceable..." He gritted his teeth.

Just, if that's the case...

"How long?"

Jen En said coldly:

"Even if you are a genius, you can act well. Even if you have learned the experience of the previous two hundred years and have hindsight. Your six generations have paid so well... But how long will it take? After the decline of the Emerald City, how long will it take you to rebuild trust and rebuild the chain based on the Canxing royal family, and then lead to today's South Bank?"

The Duke of South Bank sneered:

"Five years? Ten years? Twenty years? Thirty years?"

Thales hesitated to speak.

"The premise is that you and the royal family restrain yourself and your vassals, don't **** blood from the Emerald City, don't take needles and threads, don't repeat the bad habit of nobles' exploitation, and wait patiently, so that it can finally prosper, A day to feed back the reign."

Jen En said with a smile:

"Actually, I have quite a lot of confidence in you - thirty years or so?"

Jen narrowed his eyes: "But how long do you have left?"

"I mean, how long did he give you?"

Thales' breathing was stagnant.

"Now, do you understand?"

Jen stared at him, but Thales felt like a city was oppressing him.

"As for the conditions you just sat here and proposed to me: taxation, army, trade, industry, almost every link in the chain."

The Duke of South Bank shook his head:

"I know your father is jealous of this, but does he really know what we exchanged for our wealth? Do you really think I can give you what he asks for?"

Thales turned his head with difficulty.

"And as a monarch who is high above and doesn't know what respect is, he wants to have the efforts of six generations and seven dukes of the Kevin Dill family, from the highest ring to the bottom ring, and then from the bottom One ring returns to the highest ring, the reward for the hard work..."

"Kessel Canxing V," the Duke said coldly, looking at the lights of thousands of houses, "is he qualified?"

Thales was silent for a long time, not knowing what to think.

Jen En remained silent, sat back in his seat, and drank silently.

"I see."

Jane turned his head.

"The Emerald City wasn't built overnight, Jann," Thales looked at the Duke with sincere eyes, "then it shouldn't be destroyed overnight, no."

Jen En frowned first, then sneered disdainfully.

"Threat? Really? You?"

Thales shook his head with a sad face.

"Do you know you're lucky?"

"What?" Jen En asked puzzled.

"Imagine, if it was my father, if he discovered these...situations in the Emerald City after he succeeded," Thales looked at the furnishings in the room and sighed, "Then maybe I should do it for You, pray for your city."

"So now, you are so lucky to meet me first."

Jane's eyes moved.

He stared at Thales for a long time.

"I've made it very clear," finally, the Guardian Duke of South Bank snorted, "Believe it or not—"

"Then you will allow the Emerald City to decline, or even be destroyed?" Thales raised his head sharply and raised his voice.

There was a moment of silence in the prisoner's room.

"It's not me, it's you," Jen En looked at Thales with hatred in his eyes, "You."

Thales frowned.

"I know you are upset, Jen, because this is your city," he said earnestly, "but because of this, because this is your Emerald City, your people, not Star Lake Fort, let alone Eternal Star City!"

Jane's expression gradually froze.

Thales took a deep breath.

"I swear, I will get the best for you, but only if..."

"You know, when I just looked out the window and saw the lights of thousands of households in the Emerald City, what did I think of?" Zhan En interrupted him softly.

Thales frowned.

Jen En raised his head and hummed softly.

"It is said that six hundred years ago, King John I insisted on going his own way and decided to march north to Extres, 'to complete the unfinished business of his father'."

Thales remembered something, and his expression changed:

"Jane..."

"At that time, the stars were martial arts, and the whole country was jubilant, but the old "Wisdom Minister" Halwa got up from the sick bed, caught up with the king's team overnight, and vowed to die."

Jane's voice is very soft:

"'If you don't see it, there are thousands of lights in the house, and the soul has no calculations, so how can you bear to burn it?'"

Thales looked at him with an increasingly sad expression.

"And the majestic, the conquered countless King John rode on the horse, looking up at the lights of thousands of houses in front of him."

Zhan En's eyes wandered, as if he really saw that scene:

"'All I see is darkness.'"

Thales closed his eyes.

"That's right, these are the exact words of 'Black Eyed' John."

Jane paused for a moment, then looked at Thales quietly, with complicated emotions:

"Your ancestors."

No one spoke, and the room was silent for a full minute.

Until Thales stood up abruptly and walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Zhan En looked at his wine glass, "Stop drinking?"

Thales paused.

"You forgot a little."

The prince sighed:

"That's right, Zhan En, what you use as a bargaining chip to protect yourself is the foundation laid by the Kevin Dill family for generations."

He turned around.

"But don't forget," Thales said coldly, "in this palace, who is not Kevin Dill?"

When Zhan En heard this, his expression changed slightly.

"D.D!"

The door was flung open.

"Your Highness!"

Officer Doyle, who was covered in bandages, rushed into the room in an instant, looking loyal and on call:

"The guard wing has been assembled, I don't know what you want to do—"

"Open Federico's room door," Thales interrupted D.D without any nonsense, "I want to see him, now."

"Ah, yes!"

Jen frowned.

Thales was about to go out when Jann spoke:

"You will regret it."

Thales turned around.

"Because I went to find another Kevin Dill?"

"No," Zhan En narrowed his eyes, with a dangerous light in his eyes, "because the other person you went to find..."

He turned his head:

"Kevin Dill too."

Thales' complexion sank.

The next second.

"Danny Doyle First Class Security Officer!"

D.D was majestic at first, passing by a group of guards, thinking about how to open the opposite door with a majestic posture, when he heard the prince rarely calling his full name, he suddenly slipped in fright, but he didn't care. Not to be embarrassed, he rushed back scrambling.

"His Highness, Your Highness?"

"From now on, you will send in and out all of Jann Cavendir's food expenses and external communications. You will be responsible for it and check it carefully," Thales ordered with a blank expression, "I will I don't want to see anyone again, and pass him any news outside this room."

Jane paused while holding the wine glass.

"Yes, I obey—ah, me, me?" D.D was flattered at first, and then worried~IndoMTL.com~ But Your Highness, I'm worried that I can't do it..."

"Remember the assassin at the royal banquet?"

D.D was taken aback when he heard the words.

Jane's complexion changed slightly.

"The one who held your father hostage with a sword and forced you to a duel, almost ruining your family?"

Thales turned his head to the side, glanced coldly at Zhan En, and pouted his chin:

"He sent it."

Doyle shuddered.

He turned his head in disbelief and looked at Zhan En who was frowning deeply.

The next second, Thales stepped out of the room without looking back.

Only Zhan En was left with a long sigh.

As well as D.D, who was staring at him with an ugly expression.