Chapter 705: choose one

   After listening to Miranda's words, the rest of the team were stunned.
In front of   , Thales stood beside Jenn, staring at Federico, who seemed to be desperate and gave up on himself, still puzzled in his heart.
   "That's right, cousin, well said...everyone has to pay for what they do..."
   Under the brutal suppression of the guards, Federico gasped:
   "So, you, you onlookers, you have to understand: if you don't stand up, if you really let him, let Jen have his way..."
  The surrounding vassals and guests looked at each other.
   The prisoner raised his head with difficulty and looked at Thales by coincidence.
"Then he won! Jenn Kevin Dill, he has won everything, no flaws, no flaws! And I, I will die without a place to be buried, never turn over, and lose everything. , everything! Haha, hahahaha..."
   Federico let out an unpleasant laugh, and there were whispers among the vassals and guests, and many people began to doubt each other's mental state.
   Thales couldn't help frowning when he met Federico's eyes.
strangeness.
   Unlike Anker Bailar at the royal banquet, the former is desperate and gloomy…
   But Federico, in addition to being dark, his smile gave Thales a faint sense of unease.
   As if behind his deep and desperate smile, as if he could see through everything, there was a more terrifying power hidden behind him.
  Be careful, Thales.
   The voice in the boy's heart faintly came out:
   This is a person who is willing, even willing to be a pawn.
Be careful.
   "The chess game is completely over and irreversible."
   Federico stared straight at Thales with a weird smile.
"Enough, stop talking crazy, take him down, and let the relevant departments take care of the follow-up," Zhan En responded, turning around, "The election will continue—by the way, the next round of the last round Does it count?"
  Seychelles snorted softly, waved his hand, and immediately sergeants stepped forward. Roughly dragged Federico up.
   "In this way, justice will be trampled on, the law will be tainted, the kingdom's hopes will be dashed, and we will all be doomed," Federico roared as he struggled.
   At that moment, Thales trembled slightly.
   Xilai reacted, and the same color changed!
What?
what did he say?
   Thales subconsciously looked at Federico, but the latter had already been pushed around by the sergeants, leaving only his back.
Wait a moment…
strangeness…
"Wait a moment!"
   Thales subconsciously shouted.
   The second prince, who had been silent for a while, suddenly spoke up, immediately attracting a lot of attention.
  Zhan's expression moved slightly, his smile did not diminish, and he asked in a low voice:
   "Tales?"
   Xilai looked at him with the same concern:
   "Tales..."
   "Your Highness..."
  Wiya hurriedly came up and asked before Rolfe, "What are your orders?"
   But Thales ignored them, he just stared blankly at Federico's back.
  Boom!
   In the next second, the crime of Hell River burned and hit his eardrums.
   In Thales' senses, time seemed to be slowed down. …
  The world is silent.
   Thales quietly watched Federico being dragged away, his brain racing.
Why?
  Why did Federico do this?
  Why did he appear on stage and accuse Jenn?
  Why did he take the risk and surrender foolishly?
  Why is he so confident, but he has nothing to do?
  Why does he keep his hands tied, but speak madly?
  Why would King Kessel and the Secret Branch expect such a person, a fugitive, a desperate exiled noble, to shake the indestructible and flawless Emerald City?
Why?
why!
boom!
   The crime of Hell River made a light sound, and the burning became more and more vigorous.
   Thales had an idea and began to recall the other party's previous words intermittently.
   and that weird smile.
  【A power system that covers the sky with one hand...some are...means...】
  【I threw myself into the net, and I have no chance of winning... I lost terribly... 】
  【As long as Jenn...is the city owner...judgment...it is impossible to be fair...】
  【You...stand by...don't stand up...Jane succeeded...just won...great victory...】
  【So...the kingdom...failed...we...finished...it's all because of some people...immediate decision, discretion! 】
   At that moment, Thales shuddered and trembled!
   That means… no, no, no…
  Boom!
  The Crime of Hell River crackled.
   He understood.
   At that moment, he suddenly understood.
   Thales stood firm and looked at Federico's back in disbelief.
   In the next second, the crime of Hell River was so hot that it drowned all of Thales' senses.
   "What's the matter, Your Highness Thales?"
The flow rate of    time returned to normal, and the noise of the surrounding crowd returned to his ears instantly.
  Jane's voice sounded, and he grabbed Thales, who was shaky due to the aftermath of the power of the end:
   "If you have no other questions, then we might as well come back..."
   "It's me." Thales suddenly said.
   "What?" Jenn was startled.
   "It's me, it's all me."
"what are you?"
"It's me! Jen, you're right, what you should be worried about is me, it's always me," Thales grabbed Jen's shoulders, looking complicated and incoherent, "From beginning to end, it's me Me! It's all just me!"
  Yes, it was him.
   Thales thought blankly.
   Federico, or the Secret Service or even King Kessel, their trump card…
It's him.
   Yes - Thales Shining Star.
   has always been him.
   is his choice.
   Or, in the face of Federico's defeat, "he had to make a choice".
   Thales stared blankly at Jenn.
  Jane was still at a loss, but Xilai came forward, worried.
   "Tales? Don't worry, I know what you found, but calm down, we will find the answer, just not now..."
   Thales took a deep breath and was about to explain, but when he saw Federico's team drifting away, he couldn't help shouting:
   "No...no, don't let him go! Let Federico come back!"
  Jane's complexion changed:…
   "Tales?"
  The surrounding vassals began to whisper.
   Thales trembled slightly.
   That's right, maybe it's beyond the expectations of many people, but, Federico Kevin Dier, there is no other move.
  From the strange fate to the shocking appearance, this is all Federico's means.
When the exiled Kevin Deere stepped on the stage, raised the battle flag to Jenn Kevin Deere, announced his return to the entire Emerald City, and by the way exposed his whereabouts and weaknesses to Jenn's vision, Federico has no way out.
   There is no other back-up.
  Because he had already chosen his back.
  Because everyone has to pay for what they do.
   Thales breathed suddenly.
   "I'm sorry, Jenn."
sorry?
  Jann looked at Federico and then at Thales, what he understood.
   "Tales, please, not now."
  The Duke's words carried an uncertain warning.
   "No, I understand," Thales shook his head and said bitterly, "It's now, only now."
   "Don't make any more mess!"
  Xi looked at the people around, and whispered to Thales, "Can't you be quiet for a few seconds, wait for this trouble to be resolved, and then get angry again..."
Do not.
cannot.
   Thales thought bitterly.
  If this trouble is "solved" as they expected...
   "His Royal Highness?" Wiya cautiously and tentatively cared, but was quickly interrupted by the Duke of South Bank.
   "Can't you see?"
  Zhan frowned: "The overall situation is set, Feder can't make waves... He misjudged the situation..."
   Thales turned his head and adjusted his breathing with difficulty.
   "That's why," Thales didn't dare to look into the other's eyes, "Jane, I'm sorry."
Therefore.
  Because the overall situation has been decided, because Federico chose to capture it without a hitch, and suffered a crushing defeat, because Jenn will soon sweep away the decline and win a big victory...
   Thales was pushed to the center of the balance.
   The only person who can stop Jann from winning, save Federico from defeat, and control the King's game at the same time, right now, then and now.
   And at this moment, he had to make a choice.
   "Federico!"
   Thales subconsciously said:
   "Let him come back!"
   Under the eyes of all the people, Thales heard that his voice was extremely difficult and bitter:
   "Let me hear... his accusations!"
The voice of    fell, and the surrounding crowd was in a commotion!
   Thales closed his eyes and roared the last sentence almost with a willing attitude:
   "In the name of the Duke of Star Lake! Now!"
   Behind him, Wyah and the Star Lake Guard looked at each other, and then their expressions changed drastically!
   "What-His Royal Highness?" Wyya looked at him in surprise.
   When they reacted, they turned around suddenly, only to find that the Emerald Legion headed by Seychelles had already surrounded them, full of hostility.
   "It seems," only Miranda sighed and flashed her saber, "Ace has found himself."
   "Wait, Thales, what are you doing?" Xilai grabbed Thales and was shocked. …
   Thales didn't have time to answer, and Jen grabbed him from the other side. The duke looked around, lowered his voice, and warned Thales angrily:
   "Don't forget, we talked, we have an agreement!"
   "Yes, I know, I know, sorry."
   Thales said blankly.
   "But he, Federico, he's not targeting you, Jenn, not just you, but me."
he.
  Jane's frowning eyebrows gradually loosened.
   After a second, he understood something, and his expression changed from anger and dissatisfaction to shock.
"you you?"
   Thales nodded and said with difficulty:
   "I just realized that the reason why Federico surrendered so decisively and gave up everything...because he chose me as his trump card."
  Jane was stunned.
   "He's forcing me. He made a bet with himself, bet his life, bet on the outcome of the overall situation, and created the most extreme conditions to force me to make a move, to force me to choose."
   Xilai's eyes widened.
   "At this moment, if I choose not to stand up and help Federico, then he will definitely lose, you will definitely win, and it will be irreversible!"
   "But you..." Jenn said subconsciously.
   Yes, but.
   Thales subconsciously buckled the hideous bone ring in his pocket.
   But if he chooses so...
At this moment, if the second prince, according to the agreement with Jenn, chose to help secretly, chose to keep silent, and let Federico be taken away, imprisoned, imprisoned, forgotten, and sent to Jenn's house The system of power, cast down the bottomless abyss of the Emerald City...
   Then this matter will be calm and disappear.
  The game that started from Fuxing Palace and ended in Kongming Palace, Zhan En won completely.
   Winner takes all.
   Big win.
   His rule was as firm as ever, and his position of power stood firm.
  The Emerald City is still independent and impregnable.
   also means that the king lost completely.
   And the purpose, process, and effort of Thales coming here are meaningless.
When the    celebration was over, he had no choice but to leave the Emerald City and return to Xinghu Fort.
  Tales' trip to the Emerald City, his attempt to find a balance between the King and the South Bank, was a complete failure.
   There is not even a single chance to make up for it.
But…
   Thales rubbed the Gortaksa in his hand, feeling that it was getting heavier and piercing his hand.
   But if his first mission, his first mission, just failed like this, he would return to life empty-handed...
   Then what would the king, Kessel V, think of him?
   What to do with him?
  【How can I trust you? 】
  The king's voice resounded in his head:
  【How do I know what you say is true? 】
  【How do I know that you really want to use me instead of secretly growing yourself, accumulating fame, and gathering support? 】
  【How do I know that this move is not to breed tigers and make you an unprecedented threat? 】
   Thales swallowed his throat.
   And even worse…
  If he returns without success, let Zhan En stand still, the Emerald City is as stable as a mountain of sighs, and the South Bank Leader is as solid as a golden soup...
  The next time, the next time, the next time...
   What would the king do?
   Next time you come to Emerald City, will it be Kingdom Wrath?
   or Legendary Wings?
  【A person like your father will accept the reality and give up, or will he be impressed by me and Xihuang's strength...]
   Falkenhauser’s words were still in his ears when he returned home:
  【Go all out and give back a hundredfold? 】
"Trust me, Jen, Xilai," Thales opened his eyes, he had to take a few deep breaths to calm down and at the same time give himself the motivation to speak, "I have to, I have to, I have to do this Do, but trust me, I'll turn things around, it's just a stopgap, just to get the initiative, otherwise my father, my father he..."
   Xilai looked at him blankly:
   "Tales, no, no..."
  Jane reacted. He shook his head and stared at Thales in disbelief, as if he was staring at a stranger:
   "No, don't, you can't... As for your father, we will have a way, me and you, Emerald City and Star Lake Castle, we will fight against him together..."
   "This is the end, this is the only way..." Thales shook his head weakly.
"We can give him a little sweetness first. After killing Federico, lie to him that you have successfully threatened me... What does he want? Finance? Tax? Sea trade..." Jenn grabbed Thales' sleeve tightly, and he lowered the pressure The voice, the rapidity of speech.
  No, not possible.
   Federico's choice was too decisive.
   And the king's mind was too cold.
   Thales closed his eyes, isolating Jenn's protest and pain.
   The crime of Hell River burned, and time seemed to slow down again.
  Only in this way can he feel a little relaxed.
   Does the king know?
   Thales thought bitterly.
  King Kessel, did he know that Federico would use this method to force himself into the game?
  What if his chess game, his plan to win the Emerald City, was ruined by Federico's impulsive means?
and many more.
   Thales's mind trembled.
  What if the king knew?
   A voice sounded quietly from the bottom of Thales' heart, which made him think.
   Thales felt a chill in his heart.
   The voice in his heart asked him:
   If your father had anticipated all this from start to finish, what would Federico do, what choices would you face?
   Even, is he deliberately letting the other party do this, forcing you to make a choice?
What?
   Thales was surprised.
Why?
   Oh, you know why, Thales.
   The voice in his heart answered him:
  Because of King Kessel, he guessed, he guessed that you would communicate with Jen privately and even reach an agreement.
   He even knows that you're going to be trying to be clever and operate in the middle, trying to find wiggle room.
   Thales only felt that the bone ring in his hand became heavier and colder.
  Yes, the king knew it early on.
   Your Majesty knows you too well.
   So he set the game, letting Federico force you to choose:
  Or, completely hostile to the Emerald City.
  Or, ruin the king's plan.
  Choose one of the two. He pushes the conditions to the extreme, puts you in a dilemma, does not leave you the slightest wiggle room and intermediate options, and forces you to make a choice between "make a decisive move" and "lose everything". …
   Thales opened his eyes and stared blankly at the almost slow-motion scene in front of him, watching the expressions and movements of everyone:
  Jane glared at each other, Xilai couldn't believe it, d.d was panicked, Wyya was anxious, Miranda was on guard, Federico was smiling...
   Suddenly, Thales seemed to see King Kessel sitting in the Ballard Room of Fuxing Palace, with lights projected on him, black and white, alternating between light and dark.
Why?
   Thales asked himself feebly.
   because he wants to test you.
   The voice in my heart quietly replied:
   He wants to test you, to try this sword, whether it really blows hair and breaks hair, cuts iron like mud, and is willing to be the king's precursor.
   Or against the hidden heart, against the early casting of the bones, and finally against the blade and hurt the master?
Now…
  Or, you go all out and join the ranks, he will use you with confidence
  Or, you lose everything and you are out, and he will abandon you decisively.
I see.
   Thales thought blankly.
  【Ad hoc decision, discretion. 】
   So, this is what that sentence means.
  When the time came.
  The king will set himself free.
   Freedom of decision.
   Or go all out.
   or complete failure.
   There is no middle way.
   There is no compromise.
   zero, or one.
   Left, or right.
   after, or before.
   Retreat, or advance.
  Death, or life.
   Dark, or bright.
  A legend, or a throne?
  Thinking of this, Thales suddenly remembered the story he heard in Kaslan's tavern many years ago.
[The servants of the empire came up with a way: to find the most famous person in the Northland—Quisuo, the commander of the Northland Legion who was returning home to recuperate while the Legion was on vacation, and let him persuade his hometown people... But Queso without nodding...]
   [Quizuo said: "I am loyal to the Empire, but I am a Northlander."]
  [This matter was finally known to the emperor, and the emperor sent an edict with only two words on it...]
"select…"
  In the almost stagnant time and the chaos of the outside world, Thales dully recounted the emperor's edict, revealing the final ending of the story:
"…choose one."