v3 612 Far from enough

Chapter 612 is not enough

"You, you can't do this."

Thales's desperate voice sounded in Ballard's room.

But what greeted the boy was the king's indifferent answer, as if this thrilling confrontation had ended:

"Get out."

Thales' breathing was stagnant, his nails pierced into his palms, causing pain.

Do not.

It's not over yet.

Can't end...

Thales took a deep breath and did his last effort:

"The orphan girl, who said she was a bargaining chip to order the Western Wilds, was actually just an excuse-although the excuse was shocking."

He leaned forward against the table and gritted his teeth and said:

"And the real bargaining chip, as you said, is me."

But the king was indifferent, his expression indifferent:

"Do you keep your dignity and go out by yourself, or wait for the royal guard to come in and drag you out?"

Thales tried his best to ignore the other party's words and re-engaged the topic:

"Without me, Falkenhauser would not go downhill to cooperate with you."

"Without me, Emory's orphan, she is worthless in your hands."

But King Kessel had obviously lost his interest, and he lowered his head to ponder again and stopped responding.

Damn, damn, damn.

Thales felt anxious as he watched the other party's lack of oil and salt.

"The Duke of Western Wilderness won't let you get what you want."

Thales raised the volume unconsciously:

"Since he dared to take the risk and give a bargaining chip, he must be prepared, and he may even bring the Xihuang people to a fierce rebound, leading to a rotten situation..."

But he was disappointed.

King Kessel remained unresponsive.

"At that time..." Thales stopped. He looked at the king who closed his eyes and thought, only feeling tired and annoyed.

How to do.

How to do?

Anxiety and resentment ignited in his chest at the same time, driving the crime of Hell River to excite untimely, making Thales more irritable.

The man in front of him was stubborn, self-serving, free from threats, unwilling to compromise, on his own terms, and refused to listen to criticism.

The hard ones are not convinced, and the soft ones are not hooked.

Stabbed all over, annoying.

How could such a person not be beaten to death when he was young?

Why did he become a king?

Were the nobles who made him king back then all blind?

"Hey!"

The king's attitude caused the young man to become nameless. He stood up abruptly and thumped the tabletop: "Hey! Man!"

"Don't you hear what I'm talking about?"

King Kessel seemed to have turned back into a statue, motionless.

"I'm **** talking to you!"

Thales discarded all manners and yelled rudely:

"Kaiser **** star!"

There was a click behind him.

The door to Ballard's room opened.

What followed was a cold wind, and a cautious request: "Your Majesty, we are ready to—"

"The king is alive!"

The prince interrupted the visitors furiously.

"If you really want to kill the king and father, it's for the sake of the goddess of sunset."

Without looking back, he roared loudly:

"I'll tell you before I do it, your son, Maric Pioneer, son of a bitch!"

Thales' roar echoed in the corridor, evoking a whisper from the royal guard outside the door.

After a few seconds, someone should have prompted something, and the air was completely quiet.

Across the long table, King Kessel, who heard this, finally opened his eyes and frowned.

"Very well," Thales looked at the king and let out a sigh of anger.

"I thought you had a stroke, father."

There was a friendly cough behind him, but it was not Marico.

"Sorry, Your Highness."

The voice of Lord Adrian, the chief commander of the Royal Guard, accompanied his footsteps:

"I just came... to bring dinner."

Thales turned his head and saw the captain of the general guard steadily walking into the room with two sets of dinner plates expertly.

The royal guards stayed outside, still vigilant.

Thales was a little surprised, but he slowly woke up, and after he calmed his breath, his heart became more disappointed.

ended.

The royal guard came in.

That means...

"I know, dinner, this should be Baron Quentin's job."

Lord Adrian walked to the king's side and flexibly served his meal, making the atmosphere a little slower:

"But when he came back from checkout with a few glass merchants, he got a headache and took sick leave..."

King Kessel interrupted him directly:

"No, Adrian."

The king glanced at Thales coldly, then looked at the guards outside the door:

"We have finished talking."

Thales felt a chill.

Captain Adrian's guard had just prepared the king's meal, and he was also stagnant when he heard the words.

He put away his smile, turned to Thales, thoughtfully:

"Is that so fast?"

King Kessel remained motionless.

Thales took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

His heart gradually became cold.

"You really don't care, do you?"

With despair and exhaustion, Thales said in a loss:

"I don't understand. If the whole kingdom is destroyed, what are the things you have done-levy, reform, and tax increase, what is the meaning of them?"

"What's the point?"

His bleak questioning was extremely loud, and his words echoed in the corridor.

Facing the prince’s questioning, King Kessel turned a deaf ear to it, only a tick at the corner of his mouth.

Adrian's expression changed, he turned to the door anxiously and motioned to his subordinates to close the door.

After doing this, Adrian sighed and came to Thales with the dinner plate.

"Don't bother, Adrian, he won't dine here anymore."

The king said coldly.

"Of course, but..."

Adrian put down the dinner plate, raised a small hip flask, filled Thales' glass, and forced a smile:

"As far as I know, you haven't had a good meal in one day, Your Highness. At least refresh yourself with a glass of wine."

"Northland rye from the North Territory, I hope it suits your taste."

But at the moment Thales has no interest in dinner. He just stared at King Kessel, his eyes bloodshot:

"I do not drink."

"Oh, yes, I heard Mallos say it."

Hearing this, Adrian had to carry the flask and sighed:

"It's a pity, from picking raw materials, brewing cellars, long-distance shipping, and then choosing meals for the kitchen, countless people have overcome all difficulties and went on to succeed, just to deliver it to you..."

Countless people have overcome all difficulties and went on... just for... to be in front of you...

Just like himself, fighting hard just to sit here.

but……

Listening to Adrian's words, Thales looked at the expressionless king, but felt very sad.

Snapped!

There was a crisp sound.

Adrian turned his head in surprise: The wine glass in front of Thales was swept to the ground by him, smashed to pieces.

"His Royal Highness—"

Adrian was stunned again before he finished speaking: Thales stretched out his hand somehow, clasped the flask in his hand, and drew it undoubtedly.

The prince still stared at the king, he lifted the lid of the pot, aimed at the spout, and poured his head up!

"puff!"

Thales swallowed the wine in his throat and sprayed it embarrassingly.

Damn it.

"This wine is definitely not made in the north." Feeling the taste that he would never get used to, the prince coughed painfully, while staring at King Kessel with red eyes:

"It's farther north, **** Exter's goods!"

"Really," Adrian was slightly surprised.

"Then I admire them even more, how far it has to go..."

"Adrian."

The king interrupted the captain of the guard with a cold expression:

"Escort Prince Thales back to Mindis Hall."

Tyles, panting, clenched his fists.

Adrian smiled, turned and bowed:

"Yes?"

The captain of the General Guard, who has been in office for many years, has a clear heart, and the tone of his reply hangs in the air, waiting for the next instructions.

King Kessel paused for a while, and cast a deep look at Thales.

"My son is young and frivolous, and he is in love with him at the beginning. He is dissatisfied with the marriage arrangements, and he rushes to the palace recklessly, asking for an explanation.

Thales was breathing in a trance.

Seeing that a catastrophe that shook the throne was determined to be a love affair after dinner, Adrian suddenly smiled:

"That's it."

Until the next words of the king:

"I was so furious that I ordered heavy punishments and never gave up."

Severe punishment.

Thales's heart beats up.

The captain of the general guard also frowned:

"His Majesty?"

King Kessel snorted and then continued:

"Fortunately, the court officials persuaded us to talk face to face and finally clarified the misunderstanding."

Clarified the misunderstanding.

Adrian nodded and let out a faint breath:

"That's it."

"The royal guards who witnessed the incident today, the private soldiers of the stars, the court servants, and the visiting officials and nobles," King Kessel said in a playful tone:

"Make sure they can speak'accurately' when asked by others."

"Of course," Adrian's smile diminished slightly. "They have a good memory, they can't remember it wrong."

Listening to their arrangements for the "future", Thales sneered when he knew the situation was over.

"The correct collective memory?"

Thales looked at the king, and what he said made Adrian looked at him:

"I can't persuade you with state justice, can I?"

"Even if the Scarlet Year is pulled out as a swordsman, you are still indifferent."

Thales closed his smile and said coldly:

"When will you understand that the stars are not yours alone?"

"tyrant?"

Adrian suddenly changed his face.

The King of Iron Fist finally raised his head and looked at Thales.

"Adrian."

This time, the king’s answer did not fluctuate:

"The entourage who instigated the prince to break the ban and flocked him to the palace today..."

Thales felt tight,

"Whether it is a guard servant or a lover, civilians, nobles, seven servants, or imperial family, you make a list and give it to the aristocratic affairs institute, guard hall, customs hall, flag wing and secretaries. Branch."

The king looked at Thales, squinting his eyes:

"They know what to do."

Thales trembled slightly.

Wyeah, Rolf, Glover, D.D, Cohen...

"Yes, Your Majesty," Adrian did not hesitate:

"Now do it."

The prince stared at King Kessel, breathing disorderly.

But this is not over yet.

"As for the negligence of the Mindis Hall, allowing the assassins to enter the royal banquet," the king lifted his chin and glanced down at Thales:

"Tell Vogel the banner officer: It's about the prince's safety and the royal family's face..."

"Be sure to investigate and examine strictly."

The king said, his eyes were cold:

"punish severely."

punish severely.

Thales's feeling gradually fell into a trance.

"Also, let Mallos return to work, maybe you are right, he is not suitable for this position."

King Kessel retracted his gaze and hummed softly:

"The captain of the prince's guard, we have another choice: Vogel or Marico are good."

Adrian did not speak, but bowed again.

At that moment, Thales' nails clasped tighter and tighter in his palm, almost torn apart the flesh and blood.

"You will not succeed."

The prince's voice rang coldly in the room, full of resentment and anger.

"You will only drag the whole star to hell."

"Like the first king."

As soon as the words came out, the temperature in the room seemed to drop again.

The king was silent for a while, and Adrian lowered his head and said nothing.

"That's it, Adrian."

King Kessel said plain but unquestionable:

"Now, take him and get out."

Thales chuckled and lowered his head.

"Yes."

Adrian bowed, but was suddenly taken aback:

"Oh, Your Majesty, I remember one thing..."

The captain of the guard raised his head, and the king looked back at him lightly.

I saw Adrian hesitating and authentic:

"Just on this road, everyone saw me coming in with dinner."

King Kessel frowned:

"and so?"

"So, if the misunderstanding of going to the palace is really solved, make things happen..."

Adrian tentatively said:

"At this time, His Highness Thales should have no self-confidence, shame and embarrassment, but you are tolerant and loving to invite him to dinner?"

have dinner together.

King Kessel frowned.

Thales also looked up in confusion.

what.

Adrian smiled warmly and waved his finger to the door:

"So that everyone can remember'accurate'?"

accurate.

The king was silent for a while, while Thales looked at Adrian in surprise.

"The imperial meeting is not over," King Kessel said coldly:

"I didn't stay with him all night."

Adrian's eyes lit up.

"Oh, speaking of this, your Majesty, please don't worry."

"Half an hour ago, Baron Quentin had arranged the board and lodging in the palace tonight for all the adults in the Imperial Conference, so that you can summon it at any time if you need it for government affairs."

King Kessel's expression changed slightly.

Lord Adrian nodded with a smile and motioned to the food on the table:

"Relax, Your Majesty, you did have a whole night."

King Kessel paused for a few seconds, frowning and questioning:

"You just said that Quentin was unwell after paying the glass bill and took leave."

Adrian frowned:

"Is it?"

Facing the cold eyes at the king, the captain of the guard smiled, with a pierced expression, helpless and embarrassed:

"Well, then I will take your Highness out to see if I can keep a low profile and let less people see..."

Adrian sighed and walked towards Thales, smiling sorryly.

Just now.

"okay."

The king interrupted him coldly.

King Kessel glanced at Thales, disdainfully said:

"He stayed."

"You weigh the time and take him away later."

Adrian's eyes lit up and the answer was fluent:

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Thales stared at Adrian blankly.

what is this?

"But before leaving."

The king's words changed in due course.

King Kessel gave Thales a chin:

"You take this idiot to Marico and tell him that the king will teach his son strictly and order him to replace Penal Wing and execute the punishment on the royal family."

Strictly teach children?

Thales gritted his teeth.

He stared at the king, and his heart was full of thoughts.

Adrian was silent for a while, then suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, I'm sorry to talk about this, Your Majesty, I just remembered..."

The captain of the guard raised his head with a smile on his face:

"Marico left for some reason-he was just sent by me to Mindis Hall to join the flag wing to show condolences to the Star Lake Guard brothers detained for some reason."

The king sneered:

"Just? Leaving for some reason? Like Quentin on vacation due to illness?"

"Yes, just like Quentin—" Adrian replied without thinking, but he didn't realize it was right until halfway through, and he laughed:

"Ah, maybe it's still different."

The room was silent for a while.

The king turned his head and glanced at Thales with a complicated expression:

"You take good care of him."

"of course."

Adrian didn't blink his eyes, and answered without hesitation, as if he couldn't hear the meaning:

"Marico is still young, so she should run more errands and exercise more."

boom!

The king slapped the chair with a palm.

"Adrian."

King Kessel snorted angrily, his eyes forced like a sword:

"You have made up your mind, against my wish?"

Adrian looked down.

"My fault, Your Majesty."

He took a step back and bowed deeply.

"Maybe it's against your wishes."

The captain of the guard respectfully said:

"But it suits your needs."

King Kessel stared coldly at his captain of the guard, his eyes rolling angrily.

Meet your needs.

Thales silently watched the confrontation between Adrian and the king.

have dinner together.

He suddenly understood what the other party was doing.

But, but what good is this.

His battle in the Fuxing Palace...

Ten seconds of silence.

King Kessel did not answer, but the anger in his eyes slowly faded.

"It's Gilbert, he begged you to ease your cheeks?"

Adrian raised his head, confused at first, and then suddenly realized:

"What? Oh, Your Majesty, if you want to summon Count Caso, I will..."

King Kessel exhaled, feeling helpless and bored.

"Enough, get out."

The king waved his hand impatiently:

"I'll give you five minutes, come back and take him away."

Lord Adrian nodded, obediently:

"As you wish."

But the captain of the guard stalled:

"But in the eyes of outsiders, your Highness is here to finish the meal at ease, finish speaking, and then leave with me, at least..."

Adrian was embarrassed:

"A quarter of an hour?"

One quarter of an hour?

The king and Thales froze for a second.

Cang!

In the next second, King Kessel, who could no longer stand it, overturned the glass with a palm and glared at Adrian: "Ed--"

"Your Majesty!"

Lord Adrian bowed and hurried back before the king:

"Then a quarter of an hour!"

After speaking, without waiting for the king to respond, Adrian turned and left, but stopped halfway through the journey.

"Sorry, my lord, but I must take your knife and fork."

The captain of the guard walked up to Thales, glanced at the startled prince, and took away the knife and fork beside the dinner plate apologetically:

"I believe the spoon is enough-you know, the Far Easterners can eat with only two thin wooden sticks."

Thales looked at the captain of the guard with a complicated expression.

"Thank you, Lord," he said hoarsely.

Thank you and Gilbert for fighting for me...

One quarter of an hour.

But the matter has ended.

What else can he... do?

"You're welcome, Your Highness," Adrian smiled and weighed the knife and fork in his hand:

"By the way, your sword is really heavy, it's really hard to hold it in your hand."

Thales gave a wry smile, ignoring the king whose face was almost frozen into ice.

"That's not mine, it's Karabyan..."

But Adrian didn't let him go on, but said to himself:

"But after we found its scabbard, it was much more convenient."

The captain of the royal guard nodded meaningfully:

"After all, the ancient sword..."

"It's hard to escape its sheath."

Can't escape its sheath.

In the next second, Thales looked up suddenly!

"what?"

He looked at Adrian in surprise.

Lord Adrian smiled slightly, blinked, and then drew away, stepping out of the Ballard room between the opening and closing of the door.

Thales stared blankly in the direction he was leaving.

Tormund Mallos.

You **** watchman, captain of the guard I hate most.

Isn't it just being interrogated by the flag wing and overwhelmed with care?

Are you free to take care of me?

Thales clenched his fists.

The gate is closed.

Silence returned to the room.

"It seems you are very popular." The king looked at the door thoughtfully.

"And this makes you uneasy?" Thales took a deep breath, returned to reality, and looked at his father.

The king snorted.

"Eat," King Kessel grabbed his knife and fork indifferently:

"Unless you want to get a whip hungry, it doesn't feel good."

Thales grabbed the spoon and looked at his soup bowl.

He cannot fight the king.

He cannot become another sword.

Just like the temple and the emperor wind, the origin of their formation fundamentally determines that they are bound to compete with each other, and fire and water are incompatible.

Either one will not easily bow to the other side.

And he, Thales looked at his reflection in the bowl.

Therefore, he could not take the bargaining chip given by Falkenhauser to negotiate terms in front of King Kessel.

He couldn't hold the sword sent by the people from the Western Wilderness and appeal to the Fuxing Palace.

That doesn't work.

Thales squeezed the spoon in his hand and frowned slightly.

not enough.

He has not paid enough.

not enough.

Far from enough.

The crime of the river of prison came surging, flooding his brain, but it made him think more clearly.

He has to pay more.

More.

[The ancient sword cannot escape its sheath.

Sealing a thousand blades is evil. 】

Thales looked at King Kessel who was eating silently, slowly fascinated, and gradually realized.

Are you ready?

Deep in my heart, a voice reminded him:

Thales?

In the next second, the prince looked up suddenly!

"I know."

Thales fixedly looked at King Kessel, his tone was steady and calm:

"I know Emore can't hide things from you."

"As long as I want to use it as a bargaining chip, I can't hide it from you, let alone convince you."

But Thales changed his tone:

"But you will not succeed, even if you have that orphan girl in your hands."

"But it's neither because Falkenhausen won't compromise, nor because you have insufficient means."

Kessel V said nothing, but just bowed his head to eat.

Thales took a deep breath, and his next sentence said to himself as well as the king:

"It's because: it's destined."

What responded to him was the cold hum of the king.

But Thales was not discouraged, nor impatient, he stabbed something that looked like a sausage with a spoon:

"Your Majesty, I just wanted to understand one thing."

"That is, whether there is a'Sand King', or a'Sand King', whether you want to centralize power, expand the army, reform, or rich the country, no matter how young you are, you are doomed-everything lose."

Opposite the long table, King Kessel was cutting meat with a dinner knife.

The prince's expression remained unchanged, and continued to concentrate on his dinner plate:

"Remind me: How did'Sand King' fail?"

"From vision, purpose to idea, from planning, preparation to execution, it was grand and precise, but it fell short at the last moment, and was forced to retreat, fold to stop losses, and lose less when you win."

"Where is the problem?"

The king did not answer, but he slowly raised his eyes and looked at Thales.

"Is the Imperial Conference dragging each other back? The Kingdom's Secret Science is more than defeated? The standing army is eager for quick success and quick gain? The legendary wings are short-sighted? The princes of the Western Wilderness are shrewd and vigilant? Or the desert forces are rebellious and do not cooperate with your performance?"

The prince chuckled and tore a bite of the sausage, but he couldn't taste it at all:

"Or, no one has a problem here, or everyone has a problem?"

King Kessel did not move, only his eyes were fixed on Thales.

"Wait," Thales narrowed his eyes.

"You don't really think it's my fault, do you?"

The king still did not respond.

But Thales didn't expect the other party to answer.

"Do not……"

The young man grinned:

"The fact is: even if the'Sand King' goes well everywhere, everyone is responsible for their duties..."

The second prince's eyes sharpened:

"It is also destined to fail."

"Because it has a link, it is the biggest problem in itself."

Thales gave up table manners completely, chewing, and pointed at King Kessel with a spoon:

"you."

happy New Year!

Three shifts today.

(End of this chapter)