Sonia looked at Thales in a daze, thoughtfully.

"You know, when I returned to the capital this time, I found that everyone was very comfortable." After a moment, she hummed softly, took out her cigarette bag and cigarette roll again, and started rolling a cigarette. "People are no longer as popular as they were a few years ago."

We are in panic, ready to move and flee at any time, and we are always worried about the day when the northerners will come again."

"This is a good thing," Thales nodded, "and you guard the fortress and take the greatest credit."

But the flower of the fortress snorted softly, with sarcasm in her voice:

"In fact, a few months ago, I took people north to the Black Sand Territory and went to Lumba for 'camping'. To put it bluntly, it was for reconnaissance."

Thales didn't look back, he just looked at the Star Lake in the distance: "How brave."

"It's, um, very quiet there now." Sonia's hand rolling the cigarette was very steady and meticulous, and she didn't look like she had drunk too much.

"The Black Sand Territory has just fought a civil war and everything is still recovering, but the taxes on farmers and herdsmen are reduced, the customs fees for merchants crossing the border are also reduced, and there are fewer illegal bandits on the road. Including the villages, the rough guys in the north are enjoying it.

There are not many quarrels anymore. I heard that no matter what disputes there are, they are resolved by new officials or a lot of king's decrees that I can't understand."

King's decree.

Thales didn't speak, but his thoughts slowly broke away from the sadness and lamentation.

"Most of the rotten and stinking northern lords I have dealt with before, such as Levan, Mende, Devinson, Peruno and Ika, have also disappeared. Some of them were in the civil war.

After losing their heads, some moved to Black Sand City, some were replaced by new heads who obeyed the king's words, and the rest huddled in the castle, staying closed and trying to survive."

Follow your advice.

Thales' brows slowly frowned.

"Many young people from the Northland have also left in the countryside. I heard that some of them joined the king's army during the civil war, and some went to live in the city after the war. Those who stayed behind were talking excitedly about how they could do it.

Go to a farther place, such as Black Sand City, and try to get an official position or even a title like other common people who are successful and come back.

"And our detailed work further north, including the secret agents who occasionally come to rest, also said that every day, even every hour, from the fallen nobles and wandering knights to the common people's ruffians, there are new people coming there in a lively manner.

Heisha City, I want to make a career there."

To succeed.

Achieve career.

Thales' eyes became sharper: "Really?"

Sonia nodded, she finally rolled up a cigarette and was licking the cigarette butt carefully:

"To be honest, I have been fighting for a long time. I am not afraid of the heavy cavalry in the north, nor their heavy sword infantry or heavy armored sword and axemen. I even have the Broken Dragon Fortress in my hand. I can fight one against ten or even more.

, it’s not a big problem, but..."

Having said this, Sonia paused.

After a few seconds, she rubbed the crystal flint and lit the cigarette in her hand.

"But I can feel that something is different in the north, and this is definitely not a question I can answer on the battlefield with swords and magic guns."

As Thales listened to her words, the words of his "old friend" appeared in front of his eyes:

[Tiles, you know better than anyone else that in the past six years, the ideal Exeter has become further and further away from me. 】

Now it seems that it may not be so far away. After experiencing the ups and downs after returning to China, Thales started to sigh:

Just like the weak Cohen and the unshakable Downtown, those who persist in forgetting may not have accomplished the work, but there will definitely be repercussions.

And how do you do it, Charmaine Lombard?

What did you pay for during this journey?

The Fortress Flower took a deep breath and exhaled endless smoke.

"What do you think, His Highness Polaris is coming back from the north?"

Thales came back to his senses.

A voice from Polar Star said silently in Thales's heart, No, you don't like this nickname.

It looks majestic, but it also contains ridicule, as well as imperceptible rejection and alienation.

It gives you a lot, but takes away even more.

"I know."

Duke Xinghu nodded slowly: "Seven years ago, I was there, at the center of the storm."

Thales turned around to avoid the smoke, only to feel that everything in front of him was blurred by Sonia's curled smoke and full of unknowns.

"So I know better than anyone else what kind of beast I have unleashed in Exeter and Longxiao City, and what kind of fire it will ignite."

beast.

The Flower of Fortress was silent for a while, then slowly said:

"So, can you put it back in the cage?"

Thales smiled.

Put back in the cage.

"No one can lock it," he shook his head and sighed, "It was destined to be like this when it was born more than a hundred years ago."

Maybe, maybe more than a hundred years, he said quietly in his heart:

It has quietly landed since the birth of mankind.

Sonia snorted sarcastically, took a puff of her cigarette, and leaned against the observation deck with a serious expression.

"Now, many people in Yongxing City feel that Exeter is trapped in internal strife, divided and declining. It will no longer be possible to launch a national expedition like the Year of Blood, and it cannot threaten us."

Thales pursed his lips:

"At least the first half is right."

Sonia ignored his words and continued:

"In the past seven years, the border between the two countries has been calm, and the Broken Dragon Fortress has been deserted. Both His Majesty and the important figures in the imperial court, and even many families who have been enemies of Exeter in the north for generations, feel that the great enemy has gone to invade foreign countries.

It's been eliminated, don't worry, turn around and go find your own people.

"Even old man Soduo was no exception. He rejected my proposal to strengthen the fortress defense, saying that he had more important things to do.

"Some people at the Royal Council even thought that I was alarmist."

After Sonia finished speaking, her eyes were pointed at Thales, sharp and threatening.

Thales also looked back at her with deep eyes.

The only thing between them was a wisp of white smoke from the cigarette between Sonia's fingers.

After a few seconds, Thales grinned and shook his head.

"Only a fool would think that Exeter's decline would not be a problem, let alone the adults of the Royal Council. I think they just can't help themselves in many cases."

"Can't help myself?"

Sonia disagreed:

"When old man Soduo asked me for reserve troops, saying he was going to the Western Wilderness to rob nobles, he looked very interested, and it didn't look like he was being forced by the king."

Western Wasteland.

Sand King Plan.

Thales was silent for a while.

"It's not the king," Thales looked at the night sky in ecstasy. "The thing that persecutes them is not the king, not even an individual, but 'things'. Fame, position, ideals, interests, power, everything in the net they are in, persecution

This leads them to make decisions that may not be rational or long-term from another perspective."

Sonia's cigarette butt flickered, and she frowned in the smoke.

"And this is the most terrifying thing." Thales unconsciously held the ring and dagger in his pocket, feeling that they were full of weight. "The most sophisticated persecution is often subtle and silent, which makes

You thought you were volunteering."

The watchtower under the moon returned to silence.

After a while, the flower of the fortress dusted off the cigarette butts and coldly snorted:

"Listen, I don't know what happened in Fuxing Palace, and I don't know what 'beast' you let loose, but what I saw here gives me a bad feeling. When Broken Dragon Fortress becomes lively again next time, we will have to

What we face may be far beyond our imagination.”

Thales raised his eyes:

"so?"

"I need more."

"More what?"

"Everything," Sonia answered without hesitation, "everything to prevent my bad premonition from coming true."

She took a puff of cigarette and blew it out to Thales:
To be continued...