Kingdom’s Bloodline

Chapter 15: The Dragon's Blood Is Not Dry

When Thales half-understood, as if he felt that he had caught something, Puttilai took out the pipe again and started to refill the tobacco.

"As you said, once the staunch Grand Duke Ronnie does not compromise with the Black Sands, does not rely on the king's call-up order, and does not rely on the name of King Charman, he decides to clean up the mess of the Freedom Alliance." Facing the prince's eyes, Putilei didn't hide it, he said happily: "But if he wants to continue to denounce and fight against King Charman..."

Thales took a deep breath.

"Ronnie must find additional helpers to win the Freedom Alliance at the least cost," the logical clues in the prince's mind became clearer and clearer: "For example, Dragon Clouds City, such as the Walton family who sent troops to support Qiyuan City. "

Thales raised his head, his face solemn: "I'm beginning to understand."

Puttilai nodded and lit his pipe.

"As long as Ronnie has the support of Dragon Clouds City, as long as the Grand Duchess promises to send troops to support the battle of Qiyuan City like it did twenty years ago," Puttilai said calmly, "then Ronnie will be able to reject it with confidence." Rumba's scheming with malicious intentions, while doing his best to clean up the Liberty League, he said 'no' to the king without flinching."

"I see, after Ronnie made a choice," Thales thought of the young grand duchess, pinching his chin with a headache: "It's Selma's turn to choose: whether to support Ronnie, whether to join him against the king camp."

Putilai snorted softly.

"But this time, compared with the previous simple signature support, it is completely different: supporting Qiyuan City means taking out chips, paying a price, and making a promise: recruiting troops when necessary, and making a large-scale move to the West Go ahead and go to war with the Liberty League and its supporters."

"The current situation is like when Prince Moral was assassinated, King Kessel faced the choice of war or peace." While puffing, Putilei let go of the pipe in his mouth, "On behalf of Long Xiao The Grand Duchess of the city must make a decision: should we fight or make peace? Should we pay the price and firmly support Qiyuan City in dealing with the alliance matters, or sit back and watch the situation develop?"

The prince raised his head slowly.

When Prince Moral was assassinated, what choice did King Kessel face?

Thales recalled six years ago, facing the persecution of his vassals in the Fuxing Palace, the Star Supreme King who coldly raised the scepter in his hand.

"Wait, it's fine if it's someone else." Thales couldn't help being slightly startled when he recalled the grievances and past between the two countries that Putilei told him just now: "But Dragon Clouds City..."

"Ah," Puttilai was a little surprised by the prince's reaction, but he still nodded expressionlessly: "For ordinary Exeters, facing the Liberty Alliance, this is just a matter of 'fighting or not'. question."

"But for Dragon Clouds City and the Walton family, this is not only the honor and disgrace of the dragon, but also the face of the family."

"You know, twenty years ago, on the day when the letter from the governor of the Freedom Alliance arrived in Dragon Clouds City, before the snow on the messenger's boots dried up," Putilei breathed out smoke, his eyes sharp: "Nuen The Seventh Emperor, without hesitation, blew the call-up order for the kingdom."

"Bingfa Freedom Alliance."

Thales' face became extremely serious.

"One year later, King Nunn's eldest son, Suriel Walton, in the Fort of Liberty that surrendered the city, in front of the trembling alliance elders, chopped off ten of the alliance governor's life with one knife after another. finger," Puttilai's tone slowly became heavy: "It is said that every time he chopped off a finger of the other party, he would loudly ask one of the elders: 'Can you write a letter?'"

"After chopping off the last finger, Prince Suriel returned the disrespectful letter of credence to the governor who was about to faint."

"'No, you won't,' Suriel said with a smile, and then hanged all the elders who didn't answer 'no'."

"Suriel Walton," Thales frowned, "sounds like a brutal commander."

Putillai narrowed his eyes,

His head was slightly lowered: "But he also succeeded in making the Freedom Alliance remember the anger and terror of the dragon. On the golden corridor in those years, Suriel's name was more useful than King Nun, even Walton's in-laws Commus Vine City has also received benefits: even the most difficult enemy in the alliance, they dare not embarrass their goods."

Thales clenched his fists.

"Do you understand?" Puttilai stared at the prince: "King Nunn ordered troops to be dispatched, and Suriel won the victory. In this way, the Walton family maintained the dignity of Exeter."

"And twenty years later, if the Grand Duchess, who has been criticized and questioned, faced the same problem with the Freedom Alliance, but chose to be neutral and on the sidelines, and chose to retreat and avoid the war..."

Thales exhaled and figured out the key to the matter.

"She has no choice." The prince said decisively: "In order to prove that she will not fall into the honor of her father and ancestors, and to maintain the majesty and rule of the Dragonlance family, Selma must send troops."

"So, in the game between King Charman and Grand Duke Ronnie caused by the instability of the Liberty Alliance, Dragon Sky City is the key. Bring King Charmain back to an awkward turning point."

Thales frowned: "That's why the Black Sand Leader sent people to Dragon Clouds City, because it is indeed located in the center of the storm and is the key point of the game between the major forces."

However, Puttilai shook his head at this moment: "It would be great if things were that simple."

Thales raised his head in surprise: "What do you mean?"

"As I said, this situation is very similar to the predicament that King Kessel faced back then."

Putilei took a puff of cigarette, and his eyes showed shrewdness and vigilance: "If the Grand Duchess made a promise to Qiyuan City and supported Ronnie's western expedition against the Freedom Alliance at the critical moment... The question is, how many people are there in Dragon Clouds City? Will the vassals support? How many soldiers can be called up and should they be called up? How will the benefits and costs be distributed? If only Walton’s immediate territories are willing to respond, should this battle be fought? Which respected vassal will lead the army?"

Thales was stunned.

Similar to the predicament King Kessel faced back then...

Kessel faced...

That means……

A terrible idea came out of his heart.

"If the Grand Duchess fails to make a promise to Qiyuan City, she will only get a reputation of being 'indecisive and indecisive'," Puttilai's words were interrupted, with a disturbing rhythm, and he continued: "But if The Grand Duchess made a promise, but at the critical moment, she was unable to fulfill it due to internal reasons in Dragon Clouds City: such as opposition from vassals, shortage of troops, lack of funds, and even the troops recruited by Dragon Clouds City returned due to low quality or even failure..."

"Then, under the eyes of the entire Exeter, the impact of this matter on the Grand Duchess' rule will be devastating."

Thales frowned: "If Selma only dispatched Walton's direct troops without relying on the strength of the vassals..."

"When a powerful Grand Duke with countless vassals can only send his own direct army to the battlefield alone," Puttilai snorted coldly and shook his head: "In the eyes of countless people, that Grand Duke's rule , it’s probably coming to an end.”

Thales sighed deeply.

Finally, with Puttilai's help, he found the clue that runs through it.

turn out to be……

"In short, all the questions converge into one sentence." Putilei took a deep puff from his pipe, and the wrinkles on his thin face slowly tightened: "Is the current Dragon Cloud City still like the Dragon Cloud City under the command of King Nuen back then?" Like a city, from top to bottom, like arms and fingers, integrated into one body, indestructible from inside to outside, and united with one heart?"

"At the moment when the famous Dragon Clouds City and the Walton family need to stand up, the grand dukes are watching her, and the vassals are also watching her. The time has come to test the prestige of the grand duchess."

Putillai snorted coldly and said: "In order to maintain the family's reputation, to defend the dignity of the country, and to fight against King Charman, the Grand Duchess must make a promise on behalf of Dragon Clouds City, and ensure that this promise can be fulfilled."

Thales stared at Putillai dumbfounded.

Puttilai's eyes were focused on Thales' gray eyes, and his tone was scary: "And to ensure that the vassals support this promise, the grand duchess who has been on the throne for six years..."

"How much are you willing to pay?"

Thales took a deep breath and clenched his fists.

Thales let out a sigh of relief, and said with difficulty: "Pay the price?"

"for example……"

Puttilai nodded. He silently observed the prince's expression, and said softly after sighing: "For example, is she willing to show her sincerity and trust to the vassals?"

"For example, the Grand Duchess married one of the vassals..."

"To maintain the cohesion of Dragon Clouds City in exchange for the trust and cooperation of the vassals."

"With the support of the husband and the inheritance of the blood, by breaking away from the 'grand duchess' and becoming a 'grand duchess', we can restore the glory of the Walton family."

Putilei's voice was very soft, but it was so heavy in the prince's ears, muffled like thunder.

Thales closed his eyes weakly.

He frowned and gritted his teeth.

The little cunning six years ago appeared in front of the prince...

He remembered that day six years ago, that dirty little girl was reading a book fascinatedly in the library.

He thought of the tearful girl trembling in the Hall of Heroes, looking helplessly at the ring of triumph on her hand.

He thought of the streets in the Shield Zone, the little girl screaming and trying to pull him out of her tentacles.

he remembered...

"Tell me, Putilai," Thales opened his eyes and said weakly, "The struggle between the king and the grand dukes is intensifying, there is chaos in the Freedom Alliance, in Qiyuan City, Dragon Clouds City may be called for help, and in Serre The moment when Ma needs the support of her vassals the most..."

"During Longxiao City's hearing, someone took the opportunity to make a fuss about the grand duchess' marriage, reminding everyone that their lord is unmarried..."

Thales raised his head and said with a weary sigh: "Is this really a coincidence?"

Putillai didn't answer right away.

He turned his head slightly, looked at a towering tree in the courtyard, and looked at its roots that had begun to decay.

In the end, Puttilai sighed: "Although there is a saying that is arbitrary, it is true most of the time. Please write it down."

"That's it," the lord squeezed his pipe tightly, his eyes cold:

"There are no coincidences in politics."

Thales lowered his head sadly.

The breeze blew across the Garden of Blood, and Huai Ya in the distance seemed to be complaining to Rolf again, only to see the Wind Follower folded his arms again, with a look of contempt on his face.

"So that's how it is," the prince said softly, "All these things are connected."

He raised his head and looked at the sun above his head.

"From Qiyuan City's denunciation of the king, to the troublesome King Charman, to the turmoil of the Adjudication Day, to the envoy of Cambida, to the Freedom Alliance..."

Putilei looked at the prince quietly, listening to his words.

"Externally, this is the conflict of interests between the Freedom Alliance and Exeter caused by the internal struggle in the Dragon Kingdom in the past six years."

Only Thales said lightly:

"In essence, this is the rift left by the special king election meeting six years ago. It is Charmain and Ronnie, it is the Black Sand Territory and Qiyuan City, and it is the unending death between the king and the princes. The game of loosing..."

Thales held down his saber and took a step forward with an ugly expression on his face.

"Inside, this is the turmoil caused by the death of Nuen in Dragon Clouds City, the turmoil caused by the succession of the Grand Duchess Walton, and the wave suppressed by Lisbane's prestige and the endorsement of the Grand Dukes. Afterwards, the madness surged back," the prince gritted his teeth, and his tone gradually became tense:

"Lisban must be very angry. No matter who it is, someone bypassed the biggest vassal of him, the Grand Duchess, and the regent who is actually in charge of Dragon Clouds City, trying to interfere in the succession of Dragon Clouds City's power."

Standing behind him, Puttilai curled the corners of his mouth imperceptibly.

"You see clearly."

"Even if someone might interfere with it, this is indeed the seed we sowed in Dragon Clouds City and the Heroic Spirit Palace six years ago," the thin Lord said with emotion, as if he had returned to the time when he ran for his life in Dragon Clouds City in panic. , the days of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds:

"Backlash after six years."

Thales gritted his teeth with a sullen face, almost scratching his fist.

Falk.

Things are not over.

Poisonous dragon blood...

Not only is it far from dry.

and.

Still flowing.

There was another silence between the two.

Just when Puttilai thought that the prince was agitated by the sudden news...

"There is one more thing that I really don't understand," Thales turned his head, looked at Puttilai, and asked abruptly but calmly:

"why me?"

The Lord looked at Thales' expression in surprise.

Contrary to his previous expectations: the prince at this moment is not flustered, not excited, not even a big emotional change, not even nervous.

this little guy...

Compared to six years ago...

Thales pursed his mouth tightly, his eyebrows moved slightly, and he was thinking about something seriously.

"This is the struggle between King Charman and Grand Duke Ronnie, and it's the storm that Dragon Cloud City was involved in," Thales' eyes began to become sharp, which made Putilei uncomfortable, and even wanted to turn his head away. **, "But why."

Thales asked succinctly: "Why did Cambida propose to give me a special opinion? Meet a Star Prince?"

Looking at the prince's gaze, Puttilai took a deep breath, raised his stiff hand, and held his pipe in his mouth.

"I don't know," Puttilai blinked and turned his head:

"Maybe it's...a coincidence."

coincide?

At that moment, Thales narrowed his eyes.

As if to see something from the other person's eyes.

Puttilai smiled and took a deep puff. The old pipe smoker who was addicted to tobacco like his life suddenly realized that his pipe had been extinguished.

He sighed: "I suggest you ignore these things in Dragon Clouds City and tell the truth, because of the turmoil a few days ago, your position is very awkward now."

"After all, this matter has nothing to do with you for the time being," Puttilai shrugged: "Unless you can't stand my little lover..."

Thales was slightly taken aback.

Puti Lai smiled slightly.

The prince's face was very ugly. He frowned and looked at the Lord with suspicion: "Little lover?"

Puttilai blinked again: "Just kidding, Your Highness."

Thales folded his arms and snorted dissatisfiedly.

But he was taken aback immediately.

"Wait, Puttilai."

"The words you just used..."

The prince looked at the thin lord with an ugly face, and his tone was full of doubts: "What is called..."

"'Temporary' has nothing to do with me?"

In Thales' questioning eyes, the thin Lord coughed with a serious face.