The prince took another bite of food and suddenly felt very uncomfortable.

Dean was still staring at him, seemingly interested in how he ate.

What's wrong? Thales swallowed a mouthful of food and suddenly wanted to ask.

But he didn't.

Fortunately, Louisa suddenly spoke, drawing Dean's attention and relieving Thales' discomfort.

"I feel like we offended him, Dean."

"You know, that Tomdin guy," Louisa sighed, with a sad look on her face: "Damn it, do you believe it? We tried to save his life, but we offended him."

"It doesn't matter, this is the last time we work for him," Dean sighed: "After this trip, we will never take Tomdin's business again."

"the last time?"

Kuai Sheng closed his eyes and let out a breath: "Bless the Desert God! I've really had enough of that guy! He keeps saying that I know so-and-so..."

"The last time, that's even worse. I can even imagine how he arranged it behind our back." Luisa said sarcastically.

"Told you, we shouldn't have come." McGee looked at Dean silently.

"It's my fault, brother," Dean smiled apologetically at the Bone Man: "We shouldn't have gone north."

The bald mercenary's eyes were burning.

"Don't worry about Tomdin. I think it's time for us to leave Sabertooth Sand Dunes... although we originally didn't plan to stay long."

This sentence caused all the mercenaries to stop what they were doing and look at Dean in unison.

Thales couldn't help but become curious: this bald mercenary seemed to have the courage to attract others' attention as soon as he opened his mouth.

"Leave Blade Ya...you mean, leave our current base camp?" Old Hammer repeated in surprise.

The mercenaries looked at each other, seemingly surprised by this suggestion.

Luisa asked cautiously: "Leave? Now? What did you think about it?"

Dean shook his head.

"First, the Freedom Alliance wanted to start a war, and then the Star People blocked the border at the Blade Tooth Dunes, and then something like this happened here..."

"I don't believe these things are unrelated to each other."

The bald mercenary took a sip of water and looked at several camps in the distance with a worried expression: "Whether it is the Blade Tooth Sand Dunes or the Western Front, this land is no longer suitable for mercenaries."

Quick Rope raised his hands in confusion.

"Wait a minute, why can't I understand? The Freedom Alliance, sealing the borders...what do these things have to do with whether they are suitable for mercenaries?"

"Shut up," Old Hammer glared at him seriously: "Listen carefully to Dean and learn from him."

Kuaisheng blinked, looking confused.

Thales also looked at Dean with interest.

"It has been several years since Qiyuan City has sent a cleaning team deep into the desert to maintain trade routes. According to Raymond, who specializes in business in the west, even the range of patrol cavalry has become more and more stingy," Dean stared at his feet.

The sandy ground, silently said:

"And now, the Freedom Alliance dares to openly challenge them and the Northlanders. This shows a lot of things."

Kanze, a Northlander, snorted coldly, seeming very dissatisfied.

Dean sighed.

"Not only Qiyuan City, but the Weiland Territory has also tightened its defense line. Kuolak, who specializes in running that front line, told me that from the Western Taipei Forest to the Ende Loess area, I haven't seen Exeter's rangers for a long time, but I do see them from time to time.

You will meet the Star People sent by Watch City to enclose the territory..."

Kuaisheng scratched his head and tilted his head: "So what do you mean?"

Everyone unanimously gave him a slap in the face and blamed him for interrupting.

But Dean smiled nonchalantly:

"Obviously, the influence and presence of the Northerners in the desert, whether in Qiyuan City or Welland Territory, is weakening. These things clearly indicate that the dragon intends to take back its claws, and the Kingdom of Exeter is in decline.

"

When Thales heard this, he couldn't help but feel moved in his heart.

so……

"Why?" Kuaisheng looked shocked: "Why can't I see it?"

"Politics, right?" This time, it was the unexpected Old Hammer who took over the conversation. He shook his head in disgust:

"Six years ago, Exeter re-elected the king."

Thales' heart sank.

That day six years ago flashed before his eyes.

That head.

That crown.

That... girl.

Dean sighed slightly.

"Yes, I guess that's the reason and whereabouts of the border troops from Qiyuan City and Weilan Territory. Maybe the new king, who killed his brother to seize the throne and became famous, poses a much higher threat to the princes than the desert border, so that

They don't have time to worry about what's going on in the sand."

Kanze sneered: "Parricide."

Dean nodded, frowned and continued talking.

"The forces in the desert, whether it is a large tribe of orcs or a tribe of desolate bones, they will definitely notice the retreat of the northerners and the changes at the northern end of the desert. Without the threat of an organized army, the people who have been hiding in the depths will

They will tentatively go north to fill the gap left by Exeter and strive for resources and space for survival."

The bald mercenary drew lines in the sand, and Thales could barely tell that they were maps:

"At the same time, the decline of the Dragon Kingdom will free up the Star People. The western front may expand, or it may not, but judging from their blockade this time, the former is more likely."

Kuai Sheng was stunned for a while after hearing this, and the others were similar, most of them were confused. Only Louisa still looked at Dean seriously.

Seeing this, Thales suddenly understood where Dean's status in this team came from.

Dean frowned and said cautiously: "Whether it's the big tribe moving north or the stars expanding westward, it's not something a small mercenary team like us can afford. The business will be less and less, and the journey will be longer and longer.

It’s difficult, there will be more and more accidents, and we can’t stay in the northern and eastern parts of the desert for at least five years.”

Old Hammer snorted helplessly: "Well, in the final analysis, we are still not strong enough. If we were an elite group of 100 people like the 'Blood Whistle'..."

But Dean interrupted him without any doubt: "No, then we will become cannon fodder in tribal conflicts or kingdom conquests, and die faster."

Old Hammer smiled awkwardly.

"Then where are we going?"

Kuaisheng's eyes widened: "Go back to the south again, back to where we came from, the Three Kingdoms in the Lost Sea?"

Dean shook his head in protest.

"Whether it is the Principality of Thera, the Principality of Norton or the Principality of Quill, they also face the same problem as the northern end of the desert. For the same reason, the decline and internal strife of Exeter will be followed by the revival of the Star Kingdom, even if

It's the Blade Collar that's been hit hardest by them."

"Without the threat and constraints of the northern dragon, the Kingdom of Stars will free up their hands and will definitely try to restore their influence and hegemonic privileges in the neighboring countries in the southwest. In the Three Kingdoms of the Lost Sea, among those businessmen, thugs, gangsters, and killers

, a free world where bounty hunters, free knights and mercenaries are popular, a smuggling paradise, a tax-free paradise, a sword fighting arena, a countryside of death...guess who will be unlucky first."

Thales breathed slowly and digested the knowledge in front of him step by step. The information obtained by these mercenaries was not the "little slippery guy looking at the world" in the study.

The fast rope almost fainted: "It's so complicated, so where are we going?"

"To put it simply," Dean said with a serious expression, silently lost in thought: "We have to find a place where the powers and forces are at odds with each other and are wary of each other. It is best to be severely injured and locked in a stalemate. That way, we can find both business and opportunities.

, and we don’t have to face the disaster of large-scale war.”

Louisa nodded: "So? Where is Dante's sword going to point?"

Dean smiled slightly and pointed to the map on the sand: "It's still the case that the Kingdom of Exeter has temporarily declined, and the Golden Corridor and the Camas Alliance will also be affected. There have always been many conflicts within Conmas. Once Exeter

Te is caught in internal fighting and has an in-law relationship with Longxiao City. Vine City, which has seized the right to speak in the alliance for more than ten years, will be the hardest hit. In turn, the pressure on the four northern cities in the north will drop sharply and usher in a period of growth."

"The four northern cities headed by Zenliu City, the coastal community that only looks up to Valir State, and even the southeastern states represented by Sunrast, which have been stable for a long time, will face a period of time with Vine City, which has lost its strong support.

During this small period of fighting, we don’t know what will happen to the internal fighting in Camas, but the infighting among merchants will inevitably involve people like us. And for places like Maple Point Coast, Kolonk, and the North Sea Kingdom,

There should also be a lot of opportunities in the small countries surrounding Conmas."

Speaking of Shanliu City, Thales thought of the impressive Marquis in Longxiao City who abided by the "spirit of contract".

Dean continued: "With the decline of Vine City, Conmas has lost the motivation and strength to get involved in the west and the co-governing land of Talundi. The Kingdom of Allenbia will not let go of this opportunity. They have always been looking forward to the opportunity in Conmas."

Before Mas infiltrated, he captured the Talundi Colony, but that could be a peaceful political evolution or a bloody war of conquest. Our future is uncertain if we go there."

"As for the Golden Corridor... I won't talk about the Freedom Alliance and White Mountain. I don't know about Feast Leader and Yemang Mountain. Levor is sandwiched between Camas and Allenbia. I can't say for sure. But one from
To be continued...