Kingdom’s Bloodline

  Place a bet.

 Gamble?

Facing Zhan and Thales who were looking at him together, Federico was covered in cold sweat and muttered to himself.

 How does the topic go...

 Are you here?

"I know, cousin, I don't like this result either," Zhan said slowly, "but he is right about one thing: this is the option with the least loss for the three of us."

 Thales nodded slightly, trying his best to get rid of the non-existent trap while taking a deep breath.

"Minimal loss?" Federico looked at Zhan with bright eyes like a captain retrieving the compass in the fog.

“When I was a child, Priest Fabre said in politics class: Triangle equals balance.”

Zhan En picked up the tea cup, but did not taste it. He just rubbed the rim of the cup carefully:

“If one of the parties wants to lose less...”

"It means the other two parties will suffer greater losses," Federico interrupted. He glanced at the silent Thales and said in a daze, "You forgot, I also took his class, and you..."

"Before I went to the Eastern Continent to study," the Duke of Nan'an showed a dangerous smile on his lips, "Fortunately, fortunately you didn't forget."

Federico’s expression changed slightly.

 Triangle to Equilibrium…

Then the other two parties…

 “What do you say, Feder?”

 Thales looked at the Eternal Clock and checked today’s schedule:

 “Become a Viscount, or shall I find another place for you?”

Federico looked at Thales, who looked tense, and then at Zhan, who was ambitious, and suddenly found that he was the only person still standing in the study.

 Obvious and isolated.

Thinking about this, Federico's expression became even more ugly.

However, in just a few seconds, the exiled nobleman took a deep breath, calmed his expression, sat back in his seat with an upright posture, and thought seriously.

 Rebalance the height in the study room.

 As expected of Kevin Deere.

Seeing Federico quickly adjust his mentality and return to calm thinking, Thales couldn't help but admire him secretly.

He is worthy of being the person who can bring down Zhan En.

He is worthy of being someone who crawls back to the Emerald City for revenge even if he has been living in exile for more than ten years.

 If he was not born this way...

Recalling his past experience as a hostage to Exeter, Thales stared at Federico at this moment, understood something, and nodded slowly.

 A good opponent.

 The voice in the young man’s heart spoke out in approval:

 I just don’t know, is it also a good ally?

Tales’ mood sank.

"Don't worry, I don't mean to force you to put down your grudges and love each other." Thinking of this, Thales spoke again and tried to increase the pressure. "One day, you will have the opportunity to fight to the death again - then I will never Intervene."

 Perhaps even happy to fan the flames.

Kevin Dill brothers all frowned.

"After all," Thales sipped his tea and said again the words he once used to tease his opponent, "I am not a devil."

"That's true," Zhan said sarcastically, stroking the tea cup. "The devil is not as cruel as you."

 “Thank you for the compliment.” Thales was not angry at all, and even took a sip of yerba mate.

Well, once you get used to drinking it, the bitter taste will fade away.

 “But I have no chance of winning, right?”

 Fader, who was deep in thought, looked in a trance:

“As I said before: Returning to the Emerald City, to Kongming Palace, to the home ground where he has been ruling for more than ten years, it will be difficult for me to defeat him—even with the support of His Highness.”

 A meal with a teacup of Thales.

 “Is this why you don’t dare to place a bet?”

Zhan laughed at his cousin:

“When you come back in a rage to seek revenge, aren’t there still ‘noble people to help you’?”

 Helping noble people help…

Federico's expression changed slightly, but he didn't reply.

 “I understand, Feder, this decision is not easy to make.”

Thales observed his appearance, looked down at the schedule, and said gently:

"It doesn't matter, just think about it slowly. You have plenty of time before the praise banquet."

 “It’s not necessary to figure it out.” Zhan En added calmly.

"I suggest you shut up, Zhan." Thales turned to the Duke of South Bank and put down his good expression, "By the way, as a reward for you, from now on, you are free."

Federico frowned and turned to look at Zhan, who was also stunned.

“Reward? Freedom? Now? Even before the Tribute Feast?”

Zhan paused for a moment, then chuckled disdainfully:

"After word spreads, will people think that you decided that I won the case early on?"

Federico lowered his head and clenched his fists.

"Don't push your limits, Zhan." Thales said coldly, "I will still be the regent until the tribute banquet. If you think the Emerald City is too big and want to go to jail in the royal capital, I will welcome you at any time."

Zhan’s smile faltered.

"The meeting has timed out. You can go out." Thales lowered his head and pretended to circle a few more meaningless circles on the already marked schedule. "I still have a lot of things to do today. ”

 “This is unreasonable.”

Federico suddenly spoke, causing Thales and Zhan En to turn their heads.

"Your Highness, Zhan, you...the conversation just now, the bet..."

Federico took a deep breath and seemed to have thought of something, his expression kept changing:

 “None of this makes sense.”

Tales’ eyebrows jumped.

 “Bullshit.”

Zhan said in disgust:

"If there is a more reasonable way, who would be willing to accompany him and Xini and gamble with the Emerald City?"

"No!"

Federico raised his head suddenly and became emotional:

"You, Zhan En, are the gambler who is in desperate need of a comeback, and His Highness is the dealer who has other plans. You have reached a compromise and joined forces to cheat. The person you have to deal with is the owner of the gambling game - the banker!"

Taylors and Zhan En paused together.

"But you shouldn't, shouldn't drag me, another gambler at the gambling table, into your gambling game so easily and hastily."

Federico had an ugly expression and shook his head slightly:

“Especially when this gambler entered the game, he was so close to the dealer—what if after hearing the plot, he not only refused to join in the cheating, but even went to inform the dealer?”

Feder picked up the tea cup and emphasized in a daze:

 “This shouldn’t be done, and it’s not normal.”

Tiles squeezed the teacup with his fingers.

 “Ask this guy,” he pointed at Zhan and sighed: “He has to speak so straightforwardly.”

Zhan’s expression remained unchanged.

"unless…"

In an instant, Federico figured out something. He stared at Zhan in disbelief, and then looked at Thales:

 “Unless it’s intentional.”

 The study became quiet.

“He deliberately made his words clear, and then deliberately dragged me into the situation,” Federico’s eyes widened, “to force me to… choose.”

 The prince and the duke couldn't help but look at each other.

Tales had to cough:

 “Are you thinking too much…”

 But before he could finish his words, he was interrupted loudly by Zhan En:

 “What to choose?”

I saw the Duke of Nan'an staring at his cousin coldly:

 “At this point, Federico, do you think you still have a choice?”

Federico turned his head in confusion and looked at his brother of the same race and his biggest rival.

 “Choose…” He understood something while muttering to himself, and suddenly smiled, “That’s it, Zhan, that’s it.”

Federico turned the teacup in his hand:

"Now, as an insider of this 'cheating', if I don't compromise...even if it is only for our own safety, you and your highness will not let me leave this place alive."

He thinks quickly, and the more he thinks about it, the more certain he becomes:

“You have created this situation just to force everyone to this point and force me to figure this out: I will either compromise with you or be killed by you.”

Tales frowned when he heard this.

Zhan's eyes became colder and colder. He glanced at Thales:

 “Who knows? This useless dim sum has always been soft-hearted...”

Thales looked ugly:

 What snack?

 Which snack?

 Just listen to Zhan En say: "...even if you refuse to compromise, he will probably let you live and let you go back and surrender to the 'banker'?"

Federico’s eyes narrowed when he heard this.

“In contrast, the banker must know right from wrong.”

Zhan absently twirled the teaspoon and stirred the cup:

“He probably won’t doubt why you managed to survive from the Emerald City even though you failed, just to tell his subordinates a well-known secret and then continue to serve?”

　　咚!

Federico slammed the tea cup on the coaster.

His face was ashen and he stared at Zhan En.

"So, the triangle is equal to the balance...After you said this, as a third party, I have no choice."

 Federico suppressed his anger and tried his best to think:

 …“…Are you joining the gang, or are you bound to be out?”

Zhan said nothing.

Tales had to scratch his scalp:

 “It’s not so absolute…”

“In other words,” Federico said quietly, unable to conceal his disappointment, “you two have colluded long ago.”

Thales avoided his eyes awkwardly and scratched the back of his hand:

“Of course not! Otherwise, we just talked so much, wouldn’t it be...”

 “It’s all an act.”

Federico stared at Zhan with burning eyes, leaving the guilty Thales speechless for a moment.

"As for the shock, hesitation and struggle just now, and even the tense bargaining, you were all pretending to cooperate with His Highness... It was to create a situation and emphasize to me that he had won a complete victory, and you had no choice but to bow your head, leaving me alone. It’s better to assess the situation?”

Tales coughed repeatedly, but Zhan's expression remained unchanged.

Federico looked at Zhan with a solemn expression:

"That's right. I should have thought of it. It was so easy for His Highness to control the progress of Emerald City. Even before the kingdom's secret department... No, without your active cooperation, without your leakage of various secrets, without your help to get through With all the tricks I gave him, it’s simply impossible.”

 Federico shook his head slowly:

"So Zhan En, you gave up resistance a long time ago. You compromised completely in exchange for His Highness' leniency. As for why you should wait until the praise banquet, why you should kill the other one if something happens first, why you should get a discount for agreeing first, and why you should reward him. Freedom...haha, it’s all an act.”

Federico laughed sadly.

Tales was embarrassed, but Zhan remained silent.

“Because in today’s tripartite negotiation, the only person your Highness wants to convince is me from the beginning to the end.”

Federico took a deep breath, hiding anger in his eyes:

“Because to you, I am the person closest to the ‘banker’, the most difficult to compromise, the most dangerous and uneasy factor.”

 After the words fell, the study became quiet.

Tales gently covered his forehead and closed his eyes.

 Damn it.

 He hates smart people.

Zhan was right what he said before, there is another person in this palace...

Also Kevin Deere.

Then what should you do?

 The voice in his heart spoke to him:

 And you, Thales, do you have the ability to hook the thread again and force him back into your snare?

Tales clenched his fists unconsciously.

 “Listen, Feder.”

 Thales sighed, pointed at Zhan and told the truth:

“I originally wanted to have a frank showdown with you. It’s just that this guy Zhan can’t lose his face to the end, saying that he can’t agree too quickly and must leave him some dignity, otherwise he will never compromise...”

Federico kept staring at Zhan, the sneer on his face never diminishing.

“Did he also say that he knows me very well and that I will only agree to compromise if you create an atmosphere in which we compete with each other and arouse my competitiveness and resentment?”

Teres paused for a moment and was about to explain, but he thought of something and finally just sighed and looked away:

“It seems that he doesn’t know you that well either.”

 Especially after more than ten years of living in exile under the shelter of others.

 “Sorry, Feder.”

 At this moment, Zhan finally broke the silence.

 He ignored Thales’ gaze towards him and slowly turned to Federico:

"I apologize."

This actually impressed Thales.

 Hah, this guy will also apologize?

 And to the enemy?

 Until Zhan’s next words were full of disdain:

 “It’s me who thinks highly of you.”

 Thales raised his eyebrows slightly: No, I think highly of you.

 Sure enough, people don’t change.

Federico’s eyes turned cold.

"Yes, he and I, we colluded, tacitly understood, colluded, whatever you want to say - but so what?" Zhan said softly.

Federico frowned and met Zhan's eyes.

Only Thales was caught in the middle, scratching his head in embarrassment.

"so what?"

Federico narrowed his eyes and slowly repeated his cousin's words.

Zhan En nodded and said:

“It’s good that you saw through our plan. This made us embarrassed for a while, but do you have any other choice?”

Federico did not answer.

"If I were you, Fede, I should show my wisdom as an official in the Emerald City. Even if I find something fishy, ​​I should pretend not to know anything about it, cooperate with us and accept the conditions with gratitude."

Zhan raised his tea cup nonchalantly:

 “Why do you have to expose it and embarrass everyone?”

Federico curled his lips:

 “So I’m not you.”

Zhan nodded, shook his head again, and blew the tea that was not hot at all in a relaxed manner:

“It seems that you have really been away from the Emerald City for too long—so long that you have forgotten your last name.”

Federico’s expression changed.

Thales frowned:

 Is this really good?

 Their goal is to reach a compromise, isn't it?

At that moment, Federico stared at his cousin, the expression on his face first being angry, then surprised, and then relieved.

 “No, it’s not you, cousin.”

 Federico chuckled as if this was the most ridiculous thing in the world, in sharp contrast to the serious face of Jenn.

“You can’t compromise so easily and take risks so decisively…”

He glanced at Thales:

“I guess the idea I gave to His Highness worked?”

Tiles’ eyelids twitched, while Zhan’s face darkened.

"Tsk tsk, it seems to be more effective than expected - you probably vomited out of your **** for Xi Lai," Federico observed Zhan's expression and sneered, "Should I say you are too weak, or are you too weak? Too afraid of death?"

Zhan’s face became increasingly ugly.

 Oops—Tails instinctively felt something was wrong.

"And I still hope that you will fight to the death and die heroically, so that my great revenge can be avenged."

 Federico narrowed his eyes:

 “It’s me who thinks highly of you.”

Feder smiled and did not forget to look at Thales:

"You shouldn't hide it from me, Your Highness, you should let me enjoy it too. He was so panicked that he could only endure the humiliation and kowtow to you, just to save his sister's cowardly appearance."

Zhan clenched his fists, closed his eyes, and tried his best to suppress his anger.

Thales frowned, warning:

 “Fed, that’s enough.”

Perhaps the prince’s words took effect. Federico stopped smiling and stopped mentioning Hilley, but he was unyielding to Zhan:

"It's unbelievable, cousin, you have become more docile and obedient than Uncle Greg's hound. By the way, where did uncle go after changing his surname? Under the name of Iris Branch, you became bankrupt in a small town. Baron? Farming in a country manor? Living in a brothel? Traveling around the world on a ship?

Zhan suppressed his anger, took a deep breath, and shook his head:

 “He died of illness.”

“It’s no surprise,” Federico said with a malicious look in his eyes, “I don’t know when, but the blood relatives of the family branch who are qualified to leave their names on the Ancestral Rock have become fewer and fewer.”

“Uncle Sona was supposed to be up there,” Zhan said coldly, “and so are you, Feder.”

 Hearing the name, Federico's smile disappeared without a trace.

"As long as you are willing to compromise and take the overall situation into consideration," Zhan said seriously and returned to the topic, "I know this is difficult because it requires restraint and sacrifice."

Tales scratched his head:

 These words can come out of Zhan En’s mouth, and the style of painting is somewhat strange.

Federico sighed bitterly:

 “Sacrifice” like my father?”

 Feeling that the topic was leaning toward personal grudges again, Thales couldn't help but frown.

"Believe me, cousin," Zhan En said solemnly, "As long as Iris is unified again and the Emerald City is out of danger, we will solve the rest behind closed doors."

 “Solve it behind closed doors?”

Federico snorted coldly:

"that's all?"

Tales shrugged: "If you have any other requirements..."

 “What about the truth?”

Federico Youyoudao.

As soon as these words came out, Thales and Zhan En were both stunned.

Thales frowned:

"the truth?"

 “Yes, the truth.”

The next second, Federico looked at Zhan, whose expression remained unchanged, and then at Thales.

"Today, you talked about power, explained your interests clearly, and even arranged things for a few years and decades." He smiled ugly, and the unwillingness and anger in his eyes turned into resentment and indifference, "but you didn't say anything. …”

Federico’s tone became solemn:

"the truth."

the truth.

At that moment, Thales was a little distracted.

the truth?

 At this moment, this word was somewhat unfamiliar to him. Thales thought of the conversation he had with Marius:

The truth, Thor, is nothing to 'some people'. 】

 That’s right, the truth is nothing.

At this moment, the voice in his heart told him the essence coldly:

 It is just a way of saying.

   It's just the one that best suits power among the many versions.

Of course, as for what kind of power, what kind of power...

depends on you.

 Thales held his chest, instinctively feeling uncomfortable.

but…

　　　But you are not ‘someone’, Your Highness. 】

Marius's voice echoed in his ears, covering up the disturbing explanation deep in his heart:

　　　　To you, the truth means everything. 】

“What is the truth about the old case?”

 In reality, Federico raised his voice and looked resolutely:

“My father died in prison in an unknown way.”

He turned to the silent Jenn, full of indignation:

"Even Uncle Leinster - that's your father, Jenn - was assassinated in this mysterious way, and the truth continues to be unknown? If so...then why should I come back?"

Zhan’s face remained expressionless, like a stone sculpture.

Federico’s smile slowly disappeared.

He paused and shouted angrily:

 “Would you like to play house with you?”

　　Perhaps it was too loud, there was a knock on the door and Wyatt's worried inquiry.

 “I’m fine! No need to come in!”

Thales calmed his subordinates outside the door irritably, turned around and sighed.

I knew it.

"Fed, people break the cage in order to get out of the cage," Thales said softly, thinking of the killer prisoner in the corpse tunnel, "rather than reinforcing it, carrying it on your back, and only seeing it from now on."

Fader said nothing, not knowing what to think.

"And I said, Federico..." Thales paused here, and even he felt hypocritical in the rest of his words, "As long as you promise...your father will eventually be exonerated..."

"Why?"

Federico showed no appreciation:

“Is it because he is innocent to begin with, or is it because I compromised here and made a shady deal with you?”

 Taylors was speechless for a moment.

 “And what about him?”

Feder angrily turned to the opposite side and pointed directly at Zhan:

“Whether he is trying to usurp power, frame up, fabricate accusations, or cover up the truth, what punishment should he receive? Is he just gone after making the deal?”

Tales’ heart sank.

"Really?"

At this moment, Zhan En, who had been silent, with a stiff expression, and seemed to have let go of himself, suddenly spoke, attracting the attention of the two people:

 “Is that really the case?”

I saw Zhan En slowly turning his head, and his empty eyes gradually gathered light:

"Is the truth all you want, Feder?"

Federico couldn't help but be startled.

"how?"

He looked at Zhan like this and said warily:

 “What are you trying to quibble with?”

Zhan snorted coldly.

 “You are the quibbler, Feder.”

"What's the meaning?"

Zhan suddenly smiled:

"Tell me, for so many years, you have been hiding in the underground world of the Kingdom of Night, living under the shelter of others, in the dark. Isn't your life difficult?"

 Federico’s expression changed, and he looked gloomy:

"Thanks to you."

Zhan sneered:

"You must be tired of being manipulated as a bargaining chip, and you have to show off and sell value so that those inhuman old ghosts can reward you with leftovers?"

 The last trace of Federico's smile disappeared.

Zhan continued to say maliciously:

“And in order to escape from those days, to escape from that quagmire, to get back everything you once had, Federico, what price are you willing to pay?”

 Federico turned his head coldly:

"I've had enough of your nonsense, Jenn. Your Highness, I think..."

But Zhan refused to let him go. He shouted loudly:

 “Be honest! What you want is not the truth at all!”

Zhan En sneered, raised his hand slightly, and slowly made a fist:

 “But power.”

Federico shuddered slightly.

Taylors also raised his arms.

 “The power that allows you to change your situation, forget the past, and thereby numb yourself.”

Zhan En clicked his tongue, full of contempt:

“Perhaps there’s also the…status and importance of being able to return to center stage?”

Federico stared at Zhan in disbelief, with anger in his eyes.

Tales coughed:

 “Jane, maybe we should get back to the topic…”

 “That’s the theme!”

Zhan interrupted him unceremoniously:

“Since you keep saying you want the truth, Feder, and you still use it as your talisman to accuse me of hypocrisy and cruelty, then, dear cousin, let’s make it clear!”

He looked directly at Federico and said every word:

 “The truth, is, what?”

Federico looked sharply.

“All the scandals you’re trying to cover up, your father and my father…” he said softly.

Zhan sneered.

“Then why, Feder? Think about it with your ingenuity: our fathers, Leinster and Sona, those two brothers who once trusted each other, why did they turn against each other and fight among themselves?”

He raised his voice and shouted angrily:

"tell me!"

 Waia outside the door knocked on the door again and asked, and Thales had to continue to comfort his subordinates through the door.

Perhaps he was startled by his cousin's sudden change of attitude. Federico waited for a few seconds before speaking with difficulty:

 “Emerald City.”

He gritted his teeth and said:

“There was a fierce political dispute in Emerald City back then. They stood in different camps, representing different groups of people, and diametrically opposed interests…”

Zhan En asked coldly:

 “What camp, what group of people, what interests?”

Federico frowned and looked at Thales.

 “Don’t look at him! You’re a **** Kevin Deere!”

Zhan had a cold face and seemed to be scolding his younger brother:

 “Look at me and answer me!”

 Federico seemed shocked by Zhan's determination. He took a deep breath before continuing:

 “Your father, uncle Leinster, he made poor policies and was impatient and radical...”

"Really?"

"Yes!" As if he didn't want to show weakness in front of Zhan En, Federico couldn't help but increase his tone and speed up his speech, "Tax system, service, official system, land, business shares, Emerald Legion, Blood Bottle Gang...especially the Bloody Year Later, my uncle's measures were taken too hastily and too quickly, arousing a lot of opposition..."

 “Whose objection?”

 “Everyone!”

Federico roared in reply. He took a deep breath and adjusted his tone back to normal:

 “Everyone except those who benefit.”

 Thales listened to their words and felt a little uneasy for no reason.

Federico stared at Zhan:

"My father saw the hidden dangers of the Duke's behavior. He cared about old friendships and valued human relationships. He was not angry, unjust, and dissatisfied. So he stood up and took on his responsibilities, spoke out for them, and spoke for those who were knighted from Kevin Deere. Let’s support our old relatives, friends, loyal ministers and family members from now on!”

“Really? Speak out for justice?” Zhan quipped, “Speaking for a group of worms who are dreaming on their merit books, for a group that is destined to become obsolete?”

 Federico snorted and countered:

“Don’t forget, the Popon family your mother came from is in such a group! My mother’s family is also, and there are many original..."

 But Zhan continued maliciously:

“Or is it because if my uncle doesn’t oppose the duke, he will lose a lot of privileges and benefits if he changes his surname to enfeoffment one day? Because he can’t bear to go through with it, why not just get rid of the Duke of Nan’an and become the Duke himself?”

boom!

Federico punched the armrest of the seat with a cold gaze.

"My father is not you. He is not so narrow-minded and selfish, nor is he so cold and cruel."

 He said coldly:

“No matter what the outcome is or what the differences are, everything my father does is for the sake of the overall situation and proceeds step by step so that the Emerald City will not be in chaos and Iris will maintain its prosperity!”

boom!

This time it was Zhan who knocked on the armrest.

 Unexpectedly, he did not sarcastically or deny the other party as before, but agreed with him:

 “Then you’re right.”

Federico, who was ready to have another quarrel, was suddenly stunned.

 “Your father, Uncle Sona, he has never taken sides.”

Zhan En showed nostalgia and sadness:

"As the most outstanding male in the Iris family of the previous generation, as well as my father's closest brother and most trusted right-hand man, my uncle has never stood on the opposite side of the South Bank Guardian Duke, let alone become his enemy, never, even once. No."

Federico and Thales were both startled.

"And the reason why he is regarded as the spokesperson of those old aristocrats and old diehards - many of whom are Iris's in-laws and classmates who have been with him since childhood - and who even has to confront his eldest brother from time to time is because To appease them for the time being, in order to ensure that their actions do not go too far, in order to retain their little remaining sanity, in order to give their resentment and hatred an outlet, in order to prevent them from losing their lives in the future tide. !”

Zhan En closed his eyes, took a deep breath, opened them again, and said bitterly:

"Do you think that if they hadn't already made an agreement with Uncle Sona, those stinky lizards in Zedi who are extremely poor and still think about making a big business with no capital would have been able to escape my reckoning? All the men in the clan would be better off if they were tied together. How can a smart Popon family like an old grandmother who married from the East China get such a lucrative job in the funeral industry? As for our aunt who can’t even count coins and her husband who specializes in young male attendants, can they? Got the opportunity to join forces with Karabyan in mining? Can the little idiot from the Pintor family pay back the low-interest loan even if his father commits suicide? "

Tales frowned slightly.

"Not only that, Uncle Sona stood in the middle, easing the conflict between the two forces, and tried his best to support and maintain the Emerald City from falling apart! Even if my father was slandered as a witchcraft believer, insane, and my uncle was supported by supporters When our father-in-law recommended him to take office on his behalf, he refused."

Tiles was a little surprised by Zhan's attitude, but what shocked him even more was the role of Viscount Sonar in Zhan's mouth.

 Across the middle…

 Struggling to support…

 Maintain...and not...fall apart...

Tales lightly clenched his fists.

 So he died for it?

 The voice in the young man's heart sighed softly: What a pity.

 Just because you stand in the middle?

Federico looked at his cousin in surprise: "You..."

"That's right! Our fathers, whether they are Dukes or Viscounts, they have been in the same camp from the beginning to the end," Zhan said painfully, "Kevin Dill's camp."

The Duke of Nan'an suddenly raised his head and stared at Federico as if he was questioning a prisoner:

"You know all this, Feder, you know it, you know it from the beginning, you know your father."

Federico looked back at Zhan blankly.

"But you don't care, either about your father's wishes or his sacrifice as Kevin Deere."

Federico’s expression changed.

Zhan sneered and said:

 “Because all you care about is yourself and your own status and interests.”

"No!"

Federico subconsciously denied it.

 But Zhan ignored it and continued coldly:

“Do you know why the condition we offered you is Viscount Gonghai City?”

Federico clenched his fists.

"Because I know, Federico Kevin Dier: From the beginning, what you wanted was neither the truth, nor justice, nor even revenge. It was not to see me punished. What you wanted was not even a person. A happy ending!"

Federico’s eyelids twitched!

Zhan came to the conclusion coldly, even without caring about polite conversation:

"You're not a fool, but you tried your best to connect our father's old grudges with me and blame me for the murder, not because you really feel that way, nor because it concerns your father's innocence, but just because I-because I'm **** sitting in the seat of the current Duke of Southbank."

 Thales subconsciously looked at the expensive chair under his butt.

Unknown whether it was anger or shame, Federico trembled slightly.

Zhan En sneered and said:

"You don't accept the compromise just now, not because you hate me, nor because the truth is not revealed, but because you feel that the spoils are unevenly distributed: even if you become Viscount of Gonghai City, you are still a little lower than me. In any situation, listen to my orders, accept my control, and bow to me.”

Federico looked sullen.

“As for the old cases of our fathers, what you hate is not injustice, injustice, or the fact that justice and truth cannot be upheld.”

Zhan shook his head:

"What you really hate is that the unfair power does not belong to you. What you hate is that you can't benefit from the injustice. What you hate is that the justice and truth being upheld are not effective. Damn, I don't happen to be on your side. Side?"

Federico was stunned.

Zhan’s eyes became sharp:

"And you, Federico, I have seen through you. You are not worthy of being Uncle Sona's son, and you are not worthy of the surname Kevin Deere."

Federico was shocked!

"What did you say?"

He gnashed his teeth and was furious.

 “Come on, Federico Kevindil!”

Zhan suddenly raised his voice and laughed loudly:

“The so-called truth is how your father, Uncle Sonar, died, and even how my father, the Duke of Leinster, died…”

The Duke of Nan'an said bitterly:

“You really don’t know anything at all, aren’t you clear?”

Federico was shocked and angry, but he glanced at Zhan and Thales and hesitated:

"You, no, what excuses are you going to make..."

But Zhan continued, his eyes were cold and never left Federico:

"Yes, for our family and for my brother's ideals, Uncle Sona did his best, burned himself self-righteously, and ignited the last bundle of firewood left in the Emerald City in the old era - to prevent them from spreading to the entire city. Even if it means he himself will be killed in the fire."

Zhan paused, his voice hoarse:

 “It’s just that before that, an accident happened first.”

 The Duke of Nan'an shook his head tiredly:

“My father died at a time when the conflict was out of control, so my uncle became the most suspected suspect.”

"No!"

Federico couldn’t help but retort:

“My father, my father, he protested and explained... He did not murder the Duke, he did not murder his brother..."

 “Of course he didn’t!”

Zhan interrupted him abruptly.

“But if he insists on protesting, if his subordinates resist like you, just to put him on the throne of dukedom..."

Zhan glanced at Thales with a chilling look:

 “That will play into the enemy’s hands.”

Thales repeated subconsciously:

"enemy?"

Zhan ignored him and just continued to look at his stunned cousin:

"The Duke of Leinster was involved in a political dispute and was assassinated. As his political enemy, Viscount Sonar refused to admit the murder. As a result, the forces loyal to Kevin Dill split into two factions. The Emerald City was in danger, and the Eight-fingered King and Cohn were about to reappear. The old story of Duke Ke’s confrontation in court..."

 He sneered:

 “For a foreign enemy, what better time to intervene in the iris?”

Thales reacted and said in surprise:

“Wait a minute, you mean Viscount Sonar—”

boom!

Zhann Deng rang the teacup with cold eyes:

 “Shut up, Thales.”

  Thales couldn’t help but frown and think carefully.

“I don’t understand, why, what does this have to do with my father...” Federico was in a daze.

Zhan sneered.

 “Is there anything you don’t understand?”

He spoke bitterly, with repeated accents and a fierce attitude:

“The Duke of Southbank has been killed, Uncle Sona is speechless, the Emerald City is torn apart, and the enemy is at its gates—and they’re coming!”

 At the end of the sentence, Zhan's chest was heaving, his breathing was rapid, and he couldn't control himself.

 “Them?” Thales couldn’t help but interject.

 “Tiles, shut the **** up!”

This time, Zhan didn’t even look at Thales and almost shouted at the top of his lungs.

Feeling the other party's unusual anger, Thales could only remain silent.

Federico said nothing, just stunned.

 “The enemy is at hand, if we procrastinate and do nothing...”

Zhan noticed his gaffe and began to adjust himself consciously, but he still couldn't hide the trembling in his tone:

"Like today, they will condescendingly send an envoy to the Emerald City to label their uncle as a suspect of brother-killing, and bring out the 'Rhodri Regulation' to arbitrate the 'fratricide' of the Kevin Deere family and determine the punishment the family deserves. Determine the inheritance of Iris, and even go a step further to capture the Emerald City and even the South Bank. "

 “Them?” Feder struggled to speak, but he just repeated Thales’ question.

"At that time, the whole city was in panic, all the subordinates had their own agendas, and the major forces were at odds with each other. Even the lowest-level Blood Bottle Gang was completely dismantled by them. The situation is even worse now," Zhan En nodded with difficulty, "I want to explore Uncle Na, your father, he is sitting in a dilemma between his brother's body and the Duke's throne."

Just listen to Zhan En’s faint voice:

“So, after discussing with my mother, Uncle Sona, he made the bravest choice—before they launched a complete attack and took away the Emerald City.”

"What?"

Federico subconsciously clenched the tea cup in front of him.

It seems that the small cup ear is the only handle at the moment.

 “Yes, Feder.”

Zhan closed his eyes:

"Only your father sacrificed himself, only he confessed to this crime, only he died in prison, only he used justice and reason to force Judge Brennan to bend the law for personal gain, and ignored his conscience, so that this case could be stopped without any evidence. Only he could let this case stop. The coffin must be finalized without delay and quietly..."

Zhan said painfully:

“Only in danger can the iris flower survive by cutting off its wrist and withstand the vicious poison that the enemy has prepared for a long time and kills with one arrow.”

 At this moment, the entire Duke's study became completely silent.

 Hush.

Federico was motionless.

Taylors was unbelievable.

At this moment, he suddenly remembered the sincere suicide note from Grand Inquisitor Brennan.

There are several sentences in it that Thales can’t understand no matter how hard he reads them:

　　【Ever since the verdict was made eleven years ago, I knew that this day would eventually come...】

　　…Are the so-called justice, morality and law just tools that we use to unite ourselves and gather public support? Its meaning is to deceive the public, to maintain power, and to serve the rule. Its value is worse than nothing. Is its meaning clear or obscure? 】

　　…Where is the boundary between justice and public interest? Where are the people who have the authority to interpret them? 】(End of this chapter)