Chapter 711: will

  Chapter 711 will
   "1.17 million?"
  The Duke of Xinghu, and—although it must not be said in public—the current regent of the Emerald City, Thales Canxing was shocked. He turned up the volume uncontrollably, making everyone in the study tremble.
  The Duke's voice fell, the study was silent and the atmosphere was oppressive.
   After a while, Thales finally recovered from the blankness. He closed his mouth, put down the ledger with difficulty, and looked at the two rows of people in front of the desk in disbelief:
  On the left are the three high-ranking personal guards, Mallos, Shi Tuo and Hugo. They have calm expressions and serious eyes.
  On the right stood six current officials of the Emerald City Finance and Taxation Department. They bowed their heads deeply, nervously, from time to time secretly raised their eyes to glance at the Duke, and then quickly lowered their heads to look at the ground.
"Honorable Your Highness Thales, to be precise," the Chief Financial Officer standing in the front row - from Ligur State, who has settled in the Emerald City for many years, but who still has a hard-to-get-together Eastland dialect, sniffed, A look before execution, "One hundred and seventy-eight thousand and six hundred and fifty-three Tormund gold coins."
  Thales' expression remained unchanged, dull and numb.
   "And it's only part, Your Highness," a financial officer couldn't help reminding, "it's the biggest one."
   "Also, this is an early repayment," another humble assistant financial officer added in a low voice, "it is an initial amount with a guarantee nature."
   "Yes, if you count the total, it's almost..." A younger examiner was held down by his colleagues before he finished speaking, begging him to shut up with his eyes.
  Thales was stunned for a few seconds, then silently let go of the ledger in his hand.
  If, just if...
  If he sells the entire Xinghu Castle, all the fields and property, including the pile of cats and dogs, can he get 1.17 million gold coins?
"Tell me, my lords," Thales said with blank eyes and a hollow voice, "How did you manage to make the prosperous and thriving Queen's City owe so much debt and turn it into a pile of bad debts? A bottomless black hole?"
  Compared to this, Anke Bailar, the Western Wilderness Assassin, the tens of thousands of foreign debts his father owed the Doyle family are nothing, what are they! Just sprinkle water, okay? Why is it necessary for tm to go to the royal banquet to find Thales to kill and kill and shout loudly like the sky is falling!
You know, a certain guardian duke of the South Bank, who owes millions or even tens of millions of gold coins to different creditors and business groups, runs around outside every day, spends extravagantly and spends money like water, making everyone in the kingdom think that there is someone in his family. Oil and mines will never end in trouble for a lifetime! Hey!
  The officials looked at each other, anxious.
   Under the questioning of the prince and the aggressive eyes of Mallos, the officials present trembled and dared not speak.
   After a long while, under the eyes of Manager Melahovic, an old accountant of some age stood up, trembling and heartbroken, and told Duke Thales:
  Originally, Queen City is one of the few kingdoms that does not owe foreign debts, a model of healthy financial governance, balanced income and expenditure, and a wealthy party.
  Until the year, the situation in the kingdom changed suddenly, and the situation took a turn for the worse. The rebel army was like wildfire, and the foreign enemies were also eyeing.
In order to support the kingdom's war, and also for the safety of the territory itself, the old Duke Leinster Cavendir urgently needed a large amount of funds to prepare his army for war. For this reason, he raised funds from various parties, borrowed foreign debts, and even re-established the Emerald City and its surrounding areas. The overall budget of the fiefdom.
   "But that happened more than 20 years ago," Shi Tuo's logistics officer couldn't believe it. "Don't tell me, you borrowed debts for 20 years in one go?"
   "Of course not." Speaking of this, Melahovich said righteously, "Since the crowning of His Majesty Kessel, the kingdom has ushered in peace and prosperity. We also quickly paid off our debts until the Desert War."
Another financial officer who was in his prime took over the conversation and talked eloquently, saying that His Majesty Kessel asked the vassals across the country to contribute to the war on the western front, but the old duke was kind and unwilling to recruit Therefore, they had to re-borrow money, most of which were used in the form of military funds to support the kingdom's war, and the rest was used for the construction of facilities and order maintenance in Emerald City and South Coast Territory.
   "But even the desert war was more than ten years ago." The flag officer Hugo pointed out with a frown.
   "Yes, the debt of the desert war is almost paid off," Melahovich rubbed his forehead, "If there is no unexpected situation..."
The finance and taxation officials burst into tears immediately, and you said something to each other. First, the old duke was assassinated, the iris flowers fought among themselves, the south bank led the world to collapse, and everyone in Emerald City was panicked. The towns on the south bank are also increasingly depressed.
   Therefore, after the Duke of Jain succeeded to suppress the rebellion, he had to borrow money again to reorganize the market, maintain order, and win back confidence and business for the Emerald City.
However, the good times didn’t last long, Lord Zhan En ruled for a long time, and various measures only saw a slight improvement. The industrious and hospitable citizens of Emerald City waited for a new round of thunderbolts—the shocking general edict of the Star Kingdom, Hastily came from the king's capital, and once again sounded the horn of war:
  The Exeter mission was killed on the way, the army of the Northland Chen Bing border, the Broken Dragon Fortress was in a hurry day and night, and the state of the stars was crumbling.
Seeing that the war between the two countries was about to break out, the tragic year of blood was about to repeat itself, and the leaders of the South Bank panicked, the courageous Duke Zhann ordered decisively before going to the capital to participate in politics, urging the emerald city to immediately raise funds to prepare for the war, in order to serve His Majesty, As for the method of raising funds, the benevolent Duke thought of his father and was unwilling to raise taxes on the people, so naturally it was just borrowing—
   "As far as I know," Thales interrupted him, "that battle didn't start."
   "Yes, it's thanks to His Highness..." Myrahovich smiled all over his face, "But the financial budget has already been made, and the loan contract and IOUs have also been signed, and the subsequent financial and economic crisis has proved the Duke's foresight..."
   "Crisis?"
  Financial and tax officials speak out again:
Not long after Exeter's retreat, in order to celebrate the establishment of an heir to the kingdom, Duke Jann donated a large area of ​​mineral deposits, fields and corresponding industries to the royal family. That was not a small source of income, which seriously affected the financial health of the South Coast Territory. The timing of the donation probably at-
   "After I went to Exeter," said the prince, his face was ugly. "Believe me, Jann's gift of land to the royal family is not just for congratulations."
Melahovic told him with a troubled face, so they had to borrow again to fill the shortfall. In the past 30 years, after experiencing the above-mentioned countless crises and disasters, the debts of Emerald City have been continuously updated and increased day by day, until today , with profit...
  Thales glanced at the number, feeling dizzy for a while.
   "So everyone, what is the schedule and arrangement for repaying the debt?" Mallos asked softly.
  The officials looked at each other in blank dismay.
   "Such a large debt," Mallos said with unquestionable firmness, "you must have arranged a repayment plan early, instead of waiting until the last day to rush to raise money for repayment?"
  Thales reacted, his eyes lit up.
"Of course, of course, thing, in fact, Duke Jann was busy with this matter before the celebration, planning to settle it one by one..." Lord Melahovich hurriedly said, "And now you have His Royal Highness sitting in the center, wise Depending on the matter, how about paying off the debt, we will naturally have more confidence!"
  Thales took a deep breath, reminding himself that life is still beautiful, and he cannot be defeated by reality.
"Then, my lords," Thales raised his head, crossed his hands, and calmed down his voice, looking very professional and knowledgeable, with a strategy worth ten thousand gold, "Currently, the treasury reserves of the Emerald City, How much money can be used to pay off debts?"
   "Not a lot, Your Highness, not a lot," an examiner raised his chest and raised his head, "You must know that Emerald City is the capital of one party, with a solid family background and a lot of income..."
  Thales nodded in satisfaction.
   "Compared with debts?" Shi Tuo said sadly.
  The finance chief instantly retracted his head.
   "Not enough, Your Highness, not enough," the old-eyed accountant tremblingly said, "You must know that Emerald City is the capital of a party, and the expenses are complicated and the expenditure is very high..."
  Thales' smile froze slightly.
   Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, Manager Myrahović quickly said:
"In fact, we still have a variety of means to raise sufficient funds, such as flexibly changing the budget, advancing or even misappropriating other less urgent accounts, such as urban construction, disaster construction and relief fund reserves, or delaying the release of some temporary outsourced funds. The salary subsidy for the officials, after the event, when the turnover is sufficient, we will find an opportunity to make up for it..."
"Let's downsize some redundant and unnecessary urban posts," the assistant financial officer quickly answered, "Of course, posts above a certain level, such as finance and tax collection staff posts, are related to the operation of the city, and they still cannot be lightly moved. of."
   "We can find a reason - such as celebrating the visit of the prince - to collect transaction tax and property tax in advance for this quarter." A tax official also joined.
"Just take the previous year's income record of each business as the standard, and increase the tax by 10 to 20% on this basis, and collect taxes in advance?" Another tax official whispered, "After all, people's lives are getting better and better. Prices are rising steadily.

   "A few days ago, a disaster relief fund was allocated. We can suspend the implementation and let the group of farmers wait..."
   "Save the expenses of various public banquets during the Emerald Festival..."
   "There is also the Emerald Legion's equipment order plan, which can be postponed until next year, although I think the guys copied by the green hats can still be used for a few more years, wrapping up the rusty place..."
   "Of course, we can still discuss with the creditors and reach an agreement on the extension of certain debts, but we must pay more interest."
   "In the northeast of Shimmering Sun Town, there is a piece of wasteland that has just been taken back from a bankrupt lord. There are already buyers asking. We might as well urge you to speed up the process..."
   "Including the sale of franchises in certain industries, as well as the prospecting and mining rights of the newly discovered asphalt deposits, the fishing rights of ocean-going permanent whales, and of course, there are a few frontier lands where taxes are not easy to collect, so we might as well contract them all out..."
  Financial and tax officials chattered to discuss ways to raise money to repay debts. Thales' head was like a fight, and the three of Mallos frowned.
  But Thales quickly thought of something.
"Well, gentlemen, let me put it this way," the prince interrupted them, asking tentatively, "well, using all the means you mentioned - no matter how many bad ideas there are - to raise funds, After repaying the 1.17 million..."
   "One hundred and seventy-eight thousand six hundred and fifty-three, Your Highness."
  Thales frowned and changed his words:
   "Very well, after we pay off this total debt of 1,178,653..."
   "Part of the debt, Your Highness," a treasurer reminded, "is only the biggest one."
  Thales took a deep breath and spoke again:
   "So, after we repay this part, the total debt of 1,178,653..."
   "And it's just a pre-debt..."
   "If you count the total..."
"boom!"
  The unbearable Thales slapped the table hard, startling everyone.
   "Enough," His Royal Highness gritted his teeth, and the officials all bowed their heads. "Just tell me, after that, how much money is left in Emerald City?"
  The officials exchanged glances with each other, looking left and right, seeming suspicious.
   Mallos and Shi Tuo also looked at each other.
  Until an old accountant trembled:
   "Actually, Your Highness, we don't have—"
   Melahovich observed his words and quickly stopped his subordinates: "I don't know how much you want to have left, Your Highness?"
  Thales exhaled.
   Well, there are still people who know how to do it.
  He scratched his chin and sniffed his nose like a cat smelling fish:
"If, just to say if, if the kingdom is about to go to war, and Emerald City wants to show its heart to serve the country, for example, update the fury guards of the kingdom's wrath, repair equipment, change horses, and buy him a double height increase boots, or equip Broken Dragon Fortress with twenty magic guns, strengthen the city walls, and import tobacco for Fortress Flower..."
   Or help a king who loves his people like his son and his country like his family to gather a new standing army capable of conscripting and fighting?
  Including Melahovich, the expressions of the finance and taxation officials changed, and they shrank one after another, not daring to raise their heads or answer.
  Thales looked expectant at first, but gradually, his smile became stiffer and more embarrassing.
   Isn't it?
   "Your Highness," Myrahovich said cautiously in the end, "I don't know what kind of tobacco Ms. Sonia of Dragon Fortress likes?"
   Looking at him, Thales understood.
"I understand…"
  Thales took a deep breath and stared at the account report on the table with a grim expression.
…
  If the debt still needs to be repaid, then the Kongming Palace will not be able to dig out extra money to give to a certain talented supreme king.
  Unfortunately, one of the conditions he used to persuade Kessel V to let himself go to participate in the chess game was...
  Thales swallowed.
   Not good.
   Pretty bad.
unless…
  Thales quietly said:
   "You said, the royal family shouldn't have a saying that 'the Canxing family must repay their debts'?"
   Mallos frowned:
"what?"
  Thales reacted and squeezed out a smile again:
   "It's nothing, don't worry about it, it's just rural slang in the Northland."
  He quickly cheered up and said tentatively:
   "So, if, my lords, what if, if we don't pay back the 1.17 million due to various irresistible reasons, what will happen?"
  As soon as the words came out, the officials all froze and looked at each other.
  Master Melahovich coughed:
"Your Highness, the creditors of most of the debts are big names in and out of Nan'an Territory who can influence Emerald City: property owners of several major guilds, big businessmen, several long-established vassal families, big money lords from abroad, Oh, yes, even Royal Bank..."
"Of course, of course, they are all big men, rich men, but," Thales waved his hand, "but what if I tell them to 'give more grace'? They can't force me to repay the debt, right? Like pulling an army to beat me, 'The creditor doesn't die from Lao Lai'?"
  The finance officials were speechless, and they looked at each other again, as if they had encountered such a ruler for the first time.
   "They, they...but our credit..." Manager Melahović couldn't react.
   Seeing the other party's reaction, Thales rolled his eyes.
"They can't force you, Your Highness," Mallos coughed, interrupting the conversation, "after all, they have no army, no authority, and they can't do anything about your breach of contract, and I remember the history of the kingdom. Such a precedent..."
  Thales' momentum changed, and he nodded solemnly: "Then we might as well study—"
   Hugo Fubi, the flag officer, interrupted coldly:
   "The last one to do this was Red King John."
  Thales' expression froze on his face.
"Yes, he borrowed money to organize a coup d'état, and after he succeeded in assuming power, he sent all the creditors to prison as a king, threatening them to postpone, reduce or even cancel their debts," Mallos added softly, "If you don't want to, just Let Mi Keluo be accused of being a traitor, ransack his home and behead him, and in this way, the debt of the Red King will naturally be written off."
  Financial and taxation officials tensed up, hesitated to speak.
  Thales frowned tightly.
   Mallos picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea calmly.
   "Why don't you continue to ask questions?"
   Mallos turned his head in surprise: "Your Highness?"
   "Go on, according to your usual habits, you should ask me back," Thales said with a displeased face, "'Guess, Your Highness Thales, what happened to the Red King after that'?"
   Mallos froze.
   A few seconds later, he lightly raised his teacup to the prince and smiled apologetically.
   "Okay, I understand what you mean," Thales covered his face with his hands before he could answer, and sighed, "Iron Bank cannot be in arrears."
  Everyone present looked at each other in blank dismay.
   "It's nothing, it's just the mantra of the Westland folks... Now, yes, pay back the money..." Thales came back to his senses, looked at the numbers on the account, and felt uncomfortable all over.
   "Actually, Your Highness," Manager Melahovich reminded worriedly, "If our overdue breach of the contract becomes a fact, then don't worry, we still have other solutions, and we don't have to go to the step of... the Red King."
   "Oh?" Thales became energetic when he heard it.
  The manager nodded:
   "According to the loan contract and the old rules left by the Xianjun era, when we borrowed money, we mortgaged the future taxes of the Emerald City and even the South Bank..."
   "Future taxes?"
  Thales was taken aback: "What are there?"
"There are many kinds, Your Highness," said another tax official thoughtfully, "In addition to the traditional land rent of the fiefs directly under the Emerald City, as well as the land tax, agricultural and forestry mu tax, and labor tax paid by the vassals, we The collection also includes transaction tax, real estate tax, property tax, security tax, water and land toll tax, customs duty, franchise tax, deed tax, notary fee, recognition fee...a total of 13 major taxes, which are divided into different categories. Forty-four sub-tax items, each tax item is divided into detailed categories..."
   "Enough is enough!" Thales heard his ears hurt, "God, I will never understand finances."
  But when he reacted, his complexion changed again!
   "Wait, you mean, if we breach the contract, we will have to hand over the income of the entire territory of Nan'an Territory for the next few quarters or even years in the future?"
"Not all of them, Your Highness, no," the old accountant tremblingly said, "According to the amount of principal owed, the degree of late payment due to default, and the level of fines for each debt contract, there is also an approximate percentage of mortgage taxes. ..."
   "Approximate ratio? How much?"
   "Not much, Your Highness, after all, the Emerald City is the capital of one side..." The treasurer looked heroic and waved his hand.
  Thales moved his mind again: "Then if, or if, if the Western Front needs money to—"
   "Not enough, Your Highness," the tax official replied quickly, cutting off the last trace of Thales' luck. "After all, Emerald City is the capital of one side."
  Thales' smile disappeared, and the study became quiet.
"Well, to put it simply, because of the part of the pre-debt," Thales tried not to think more, "Emerald City is currently in debt, and it is also cash-strapped, so it is impossible to withdraw a large amount of funds in a short period of time. To support the great cause of national construction and rejuvenation?"
  The officials hurriedly turned their heads and looked away.
"And if I can't pay off the debt, it will be even worse," Thales said, his face becoming more and more ugly, "Because the income of the Nan'an leaders will not be stable for several years in the future, let alone free up their hands to serve the kingdom in the future? "
   After the words fell, the officials bowed their heads deeply, not daring to speak out.
  Thales stared at each of their heads or hats, and waited for several seconds without waiting for an answer.
  Thales pressed his heart, took a deep breath, and then let it out forcefully.
   "Then I—"
  Thales tried hard to suppress his irritability, and suppressed what he was about to say:
  Then what am I doing sitting here?
   "Hold on, I'm sorry, the Department of Finance and Taxation is not capable enough, and your Highness has been disappointed." Manager Myrahovich was ashamed.
"disappointment?"
  Thales suppressed his temper and squeezed out the arc of the corner of his mouth:
   "No, no, no, how could I be disappointed, the disappointment should be someone else..."
  The prince's smile gradually disappeared, and he numbly looked at the account report in front of him:
   "Haha, haha, as for me..."
I'm doomed.
  Seeing the Duke sitting on the seat with an ugly expression on his face and saying nothing, the atmosphere in the study became more gloomy and oppressive.
until-
   "Wait," Thales remembered something, and came to his senses, "These debts, they are all borrowed in the name of Kevin Dill's family with Jann's signature and approval, right?"
   All the officials were startled.
  Lord Melahovich rolled his eyes:
   "Well, Duke Jann himself did guarantee the repayment of the debt when it is due..."
"Thank goodness!" Thales waved his fist vigorously, and then realized that he was a bit too much, and quickly sat upright, "I mean, even if you default on the debt, it's Calvin Dill's credit damage, right?" Kai Wendell is in debt and will die'?"
  Everyone was stunned again.
  Looking at everyone's expressions, Thales put away his awkward smile and coughed.
   "Don't be nervous, just kidding, the debt still has to be repaid, it's just... how much money does Kevin Dill have?"
   "Your Highness, Your Highness?" Melahovich thought of something, with a terrified expression.
   Mallos also turned cold.
"If, I mean if," Thales scratched his chin, "From the inventory of Kongming Palace, to the property under the name of Iris, or Xiaohuahua's private money, how much are these various things worth? "
  The expression of the old accountant changed greatly: "Your Highness, you are going to confiscate Kevin Dill's house..."
   All the officials turned pale!
  Thales shrugged:
   "Why, the mess he left behind, the debt he signed, I used his money to pay back, and helped him stabilize the financial situation of Emerald City. Isn't this justified, thank God?"
  The treasurer trembled and said:
   "But Master Zhan..."
  Thales waved his hand:
   "I believe that he is loyal to the country and considers the overall situation, so he will definitely not object."
Bar?
   After the voice fell, the entire study room was suddenly silent.
   Both the Finance and Taxation Department officials and Mallos looked at him with strange expressions.
  Thales' smile froze on his face.
"Okay, just kidding, I didn't intend to steal Kongming Palace's home," the prince coughed and waved his hands repeatedly, as if to drag back time, "I wrote to His Majesty, don't worry, Fuxing Palace will reply soon , to decide on related matters..."
  At that time, whether it is to sell the ancestral property or repay the mortgage, it will not be up to Zhan En or himself to decide.
  Thinking of this, Thales' expression darkened.
   At that time, it was also time for him to turn around and face King Kessel.
   His eyes rolled:
   "But, of course, whether it is for arbitration or finance, it is also necessary to find out how much money is in the private books of the Kevin Dill family, right?"
  The study room was quiet, and no one dared to answer him.
  Thales had no choice but to put away his smile, and waved:
   "Go ahead, go about your business, routine, raise money to pay off debts, and..."
  Looking at the submissive finance and taxation officials in front of him, Thales sighed:
"So be it."
  Under the urging of the prince, Shi Tuo and Hugo sent all the officials away and sent them back to work, the sooner the better.
   After all, there are still many things to worry about.
   As soon as the door was closed, Thales collapsed on the chair:
   "What a mess this tm is."
   Mallos who stayed behind was thoughtful, and he paced slowly with his arms still wrapped in bandages.
   "With one order, one of the border dukes will be deprived of their titles, and their homes will be confiscated." The watchman said quietly, "Do you know who was the last person to do this?"
   "Ha, let me guess," Thales picked up the teacup and sarcastically listlessly, "Is it a king? The one who died a miserable death? Can you compare it to me?"
   "No, not the king."
   "Thank God, there's nothing like that."
   "It's an emperor," Mallos said softly, "the last emperor in the world."
  Thales' hand holding the teacup froze.
   "Hey, Thor, how's your injury?"
   A second later, Thales smiled, and changed the topic in time before the other party told him about the tragic end of the 'Last Emperor' Sebastian IX.
   Mallos looked at the bandages on his body.
   "It's okay, thank you for your concern, Your Highness. By the way, congratulations, you have successfully taken charge of Kongming Palace without a single soldier."
   "It's nothing, it's not my credit anyway," Thales closed the account report on the table with a headache, "and I just made the best of the situation and made a temporary transition to guard Kongming Palace."
   Fuck that impromptu decision.
  He remembered something, raised his head and said:
   "By the way, thank you, Thor, if you hadn't arrived at the arena in time, Jen would have..."
   "He won't."
  Thales looked up in doubt.
  I saw Mallos with firm eyes:
   "Even if I didn't carry that flag to the scene, Duke Zhann would still give in. At most, the process would be more difficult and the way more embarrassing, but you will still sit in this position safely and smoothly, and take charge of Kongming Palace."
  Thales' expression froze.
"how do you know?"
   Mallos glanced at the ledger on the table.
  Thales frowned and fell silent.
   "If, I mean if," Thales snorted after a long while, "If I hang those financial officers who have no use for their corpses just now..."
  He looked up:
   "Then you say, the rest of the Financial Secretary will do their best to help me solve my debts and bring in income?"
   Mallos frowned slightly.
   "Guess what, Your Highness," he said quietly after a few seconds, "how did the Red King do after that?"
  Thales stared at him for several seconds and snorted coldly.
"All right!"
  Thales no longer struggled with this topic, he opened his hands:
   "You know, compared to this, what surprises me more is the Emerald City Finance and Taxation Department. Their size and manpower are more than three times that of the Kingdom's Finance and Taxation Department."
   He mused.
  Look at that Melahovich and his men, no wonder Chief Joke and his accountants and tax collectors can't handle them.
   "Not only this, but also city officials, trading officers, judges, police officers..." Thales murmured ecstatically.
   "Indeed," Mallos looked at the account report on the table: "It's amazing."
"Tell you, Thor, from administration to law and order to market to finance, I held four meetings in one morning alone." Thales came back to his senses, looking bored, "Most of the time I can only smile Nodding, watching officials come in and out respectfully, talking nonsense that is correct but useless..."
   "Thanks for your trouble," Mallos replied respectfully, "I don't know how many meetings Duke Jann had in a day before."
  Tils was speechless for a moment.
   After a few seconds, he sighed deeply.
   "Waya will come over later, Thor, I will write another letter to the person in the Fuxing Palace to remind me."
   "You mean a letter asking for money to pay a debt?"
  Thales' fingers froze.
how is this possible.
  Even if you want money, you can only mention it in the next letter.
   Mallos narrowed his eyes:
   "Your Majesty may not be too satisfied."
  Thales turned to Mallos, sighing helplessly.
"Yes. But he won't be satisfied anyway, Thor, at least not with this ledger," the prince patted the table and explained to the watchman, "but if he thinks it's like the North , only sending a team of inspectors and special envoys of the royal family can easily take over and take the money happily, then he is wrong, very wrong, very wrong..."
"uh-huh."
"What's worse, he is not a person who can face his mistakes calmly and tolerantly," Thales said to himself, "instead, as a ruler, he will only persevere and persevere until he puts himself in the wrong place." His fault becomes the world's."
  As for the price, everyone has to bear it with him.
   "Because it doesn't look like he's wrong?"
  Thales raised his head and glanced at Mallos unexpectedly.
  He really didn't expect the other party to answer, and it was so... lacking in decent words.
"Yes, if the cow doesn't drink water, he won't force his head," Thales chuckled, "but he will dig the dam until the flood is raging, and then point to the sunken cow, 'Look, it doesn't Just drink water'."
   "And I'm full." Mallos said softly.
  Thales looked at him and smiled softly.
   "Exactly."
   "Then, Your Highness," Mallos changed his tone, "Have you figured out how to mediate for those two Kevin Dill who are 'at home'?"
  Thales' complexion sank.
"No."
   "But the matter has come to this point, I'm afraid it's beyond my decision," Thales pointed to the top of his head, "at least until the Fuxing Palace replies, there is nothing we can do."
  At that time, his battle really began.
   "But they have," Mallos said, "so I suggest you better get ready and do something first."
  Thales frowned.
   "You mean..."
   "Finding out the truth about the assassination of the Duke of Leinster," Mallos said, "This is the key to arbitrating the case."
  Mallos looked at the account report on the table:
   "Maybe, it's not just this case."
  Thales' expression darkened upon hearing this, and he remained silent for a long time.
   "Thor, do you really think that Jann killed his father and seized the throne, and blamed his uncle?"
   "I'm not sure, Your Highness."
   "So Federico framed him to avenge his father?"
"I am also not certain."
   "Then you would rather the truth be the former or the latter?" Thales asked softly.
   Mallos noticed something different: "Your Highness?"
   "Anyway, we searched and checked, nothing more than these two results," Thales said in a daze, "Federico wants the former, and Jann wants the latter."
   Mallos frowned:
   "They all only want results that are beneficial to themselves, Your Highness, this is human nature."
  Thales sneered.
"In that case, what's the point of finding out the truth? It's true or false. What's the point? You just need to know that many years ago, Jann became a position because of this incident. Many years later, Federico Is it enough to use this matter to overthrow him again?"
  The prince thought of all the things these days, from the murder case to the changes in the arena, and felt extremely bored and nauseated:
   "Truth, Thor, truth is nothing to some."
   It was quiet in the study.
   "But you are not 'someone', Your Highness," Mallos said softly, "for you, the truth means everything."
  Thales was slightly moved.
   "No matter what the outcome will be, only those who know the truth can truly take the initiative."
   This time, Thales was silent for a long time.
"Well, Thor, send someone to investigate the old case back then and find out the truth," Thales sighed, "especially the grievances between the old Duke of Leinster and his brother, the Viscount Sona, although I highly I wonder how many clues and evidence Jen will leave us after so many years."
   "Yes, Your Highness," Mallos bowed slightly, "In fact, I have already sent someone to take care of this matter."
  Thales was taken aback for a moment, and immediately said unhappily:
   "Hmph, I knew it."
   Mallos turned expressionless and left.
   "But, Thor," Thales said suddenly before Mallos walked out of the study, "You and I both know what kind of result the one in the Renaissance Palace wants."
   Mallos had a serious look on his face.
   "You know, even if we find out the truth, it will not be worth a letter from the Fuxing Palace, or a decree."
  Thales said in a trance:
  
That’s us, no, the hardest battle I’ve ever had to fight.

   Mallos was silent for a while:
   "You really think so? Should we worry about the Fuxing Palace?"
  Thales laughed when he heard this:
"if not?"
   Mallos turned around with a solemn face: "Where are you, Your Highness?"
  Thales was taken aback, he looked around:
   "Uh, VIP study? The study used by Xian Jun more than a hundred years ago?"
   "No," Mallos shook his head and paused every word, "What I'm asking is: where are you, right now?"
  Thales was stunned.
   "Kongming Palace," he pondered for a long time, and finally understood: "I am in Kongming Palace—the residence palace of 'Iris' Kevin Dill's family."
   Mallos nodded:
   "It is better to die because of friends than to die because of enemies."
  Thales looked at his expression and unconsciously became nervous.
"which one?"
  The prince solemnly said:
   "In this palace, Thor, which Kevin Dill are you really worried about?"
   Mallos didn't answer, he just asked rhetorically:
   "Which one is not Kevin Dill?"
  Tel was startled for a moment.
   But they were quickly interrupted. Wyatt and several guards came to the study room, and told Duke Xinghu excitedly and respectfully:
  From yesterday evening to now, after several of the fastest military crows flew around the clock without sleep, the reply letter from the Fuxing Palace to His Highness Thales finally arrived.
  Thales, with a heavy heart and a mood to welcome the battle, took the letter box that Huayer protected as if he was protecting his life, pulled out the letter volume with the will of the Supreme King, and slowly unfolded it.
But this time, the king neither wrote him a lengthy and complicated guide to seizing power, nor sent him a long list of officials who took over the Emerald City, nor did he even give him a stern and harsh sentence ( Nor did accusations and lessons, as Thales was used to.
Under the full expectation of everyone in the Star Lake Guards, and under Thales' wide-eyed gaze, only a few words—not even as wide as the nine-pointed star wax paint printed on the outside—were written in this surprisingly short letter from the king. :
【It's up to you. 】
  (end of this chapter)