Just like the empire of old."

Thales was in a heavy mood and was about to speak, but Zhan didn't stop:

"But why?"

The owner of the iris turned his head, his eyes sharp as a knife:

"The system of Emerald City has been established by us over the years. The wealth of the South Coast people has been accumulated bit by bit by us. The prestige and status of the Kevin Deere family here has been earned through hard work."

"Why should we pay, let us contribute, let us cooperate, let us sacrifice, let us destroy our families to help the people in trouble, let us be loyal to the public, let us hand over all the territory we have gained, and let us hand over more

To pay taxes, to serve more, to bear more debts, to support the royal family's soldiers, to help the officials of the royal capital, to write the history of the Brilliant Star, to strengthen the authority of the Fuxing Palace, to achieve the glory of the Nine-Star Crown,

To realize the ambition of the Supreme King, to share the disasters brought by them with the dignitaries from the central government, such as the Year of Blood?"

Thales wanted to say something, but he still gritted his teeth.

The Duke continued with a sneer: "Why, why should we let the people of the south coast, who live the best, best and prosperous life in the stars, take the initiative to retreat and support the idle people of the whole star for no reason, so that the mountain savages of the cliff land, north

The vulgar barbarians from the border, the profiteers and lazy people from the East China Sea, the unruly sand people from the Western Wilderness, the bandits and robbers from the Blade Leader, and the group of people from the Central Leader who have eyes above their heads and despise everything, looking at everyone like a king from the remote countryside.

You gentlemen, let them take away everything we have, share our dividends, and drag down our lives?"

"Just because a certain person from countless generations of your ancestors drank too much one day, except when he was peeing, he fainted and shouted, 'If the stars are here'?"

Facing Zhan like this, Thales took a deep breath.

"You just said, 'Everyone looks like they come from a remote place,' right?"

The prince looked at the Duke and showed a weak smile.

"But you, you talk as if the South Coast Territory is a person, a fisherman living on a deserted island without any friends, no one to rely on, and relying on his own efforts. You talk as if Kevin Deer has always been isolated from the world, as if he has been isolated from the world for the past seven hundred years.

It doesn’t exist. It’s as if you single-handedly built today’s Emerald City.”

Zhan frowned.

"But there are no islands in this world, Zhan En. You are no different from the stars, the kingdom, or the world."

"Without the developed transportation lines of the southern coast territorial water system, the population, territory, history, culture, market of the entire Star Kingdom... How do you think the trans-oceanic trade that you are proud of can be achieved? The resource goods you are transporting need to be

Where are you going? Every Queen’s Day, how can the Jade Celebration have so many visitors from foreign countries looking for business opportunities and profits?”

Thales raised his head and said decisively:

"Business, market, raw materials, supply, land, system, history, politics, immigration, culture, there are too many... The South Coast Territory is not only drawn on the territory of the kingdom, but also deeply embedded in the huge system called stars.

They interact back and forth and become one, making it difficult to tell them apart."

Zhan En was silent for a while, then sneered disdainfully.

"How long have you lived in Fuxing Palace since you grew up, Your Highness?"

Thales was startled.

"Long enough to think that the kingdom is you and you are the kingdom?"

Zhan En's words turned cold:

"According to what you just said, Xingchen and Exeter have been fighting for many years, with fits and starts. They have the same history and experience, and they have already interacted back and forth to form an indistinguishable whole. Why don't you go to Black Sand City and offer Nine Stars

Crown and staff of stars, kneel down on your knees and call Charmaine Lombard dad with tears of gratitude? Or cross the sea of ​​​​terminus to the City of Hope to swear allegiance to the 'Kadir of the distant mountains and the earth', maybe he will be merciful and let him

The Canxing family becomes the eighth clan to serve him?"

Thales swallowed his throat.

"I don't make such sophistry, but you understand what I mean," the prince felt tired. He shook his head, "Sometimes, for peace, stability, and balance, maybe we have to pay a price."

"who?"

Duke Iris asked fiercely:

"When you say that, when you always say, 'We have to pay a price,' who are we?"

"Is it you? Is it the king? Is it the Star Kingdom? Is it the Central Territory? Is it the Royal Capital? Is it the Bright Star Royal Family? Or are those who can have enough food, clothing and warmth in these words, so they pretend to be righteous and move it out everywhere?

Someone else said that?”

Thales didn't answer.

Because he doesn't have an answer either.

He just held the "Gortaksa" tightly in his pocket.

He knew that his answer would seem pale no matter what.

"And who is the 'price'?"

Zhan En said disdainfully:

"Is it me? Is it the South Coast Territory? Is it the Emerald City? Is it the Kevin Dill family? Or are they just ordinary people who are living in a state of confusion and can only be manipulated by this huge mechanism called the stars?"

Thales gasped:

"A commoner?"

He shook his head feebly:

"These words should be spoken by the ordinary people who are struggling to make a living, not by a high-ranking feudal prince with a magnificent palace."

"When you face the Bright Star royal family with a long history and eternal authority, and the descendants of the Imperial line who have climbed to the top and overlooked the stars," Zhan En snorted coldly, "Who can say that he is not a commoner, just allowed to be slaughtered?"

Thales was silent.

He sighed finally:

"To be honest, after what I have seen and heard these days, I quite like the Emerald City..."

"Does your father like it?" Zhan interrupted him unceremoniously.

Thales frowned: "So, is there really no room left?"

Zhan looked at him seriously and smiled.

"When I was a child, at a family dinner, my father once said: 'As long as someone is willing to take the initiative to retreat, there will always be room.'"

Thales squeezed the bone ring "covenant" tightly again, feeling a glimmer of hope.

"Your father, the old Duke is a wise man."

But there was a mocking look on Zhan's face:

"Until my uncle added coldly: 'These words are only useful to the strong.'"

The words fell, and Thales understood.

The two were silent for a long time.

"Your uncle, he is also very interesting." Thales said bitterly.

“Not interesting enough.”

"Then do you think my father will take the initiative to retreat?"

Zhan En sneered: "What do you think?"

Thales looked at him, his eyes flickering: "What if he was forced?"

The Duke of Nan'an paused for a moment. He raised the cup, only to find that it was empty.

"Who in this country can force him, the supreme king?" he said quietly.

Thales turned his head.

"Believe it or not, Zhan," the prince said seriously, "he also has the kind of fear we face."

Zhan En snorted coldly:

"I will not participate in rebellion, especially one that is doomed to fail."

The two of them looked at each other in silence, without saying a word.

After a few seconds, Thales took a deep breath and stood up.

"I understand. So, wish us good luck."

But just when Thales was about to walk out of the dining room, Zhan suddenly stopped him.

"Tiles, if, I mean if, if things really come to that point, can I trust you?"

Thales stopped and thought for a while.

"No, we can't."

Zhan En frowned deeply.

Thales turned around:

"You know this yourself."

But the next second, Thales smiled slightly.

"But at least you can believe in interests," he nodded, "and now, our interests are aligned."
To be continued...