"Regardless of interests, situations, and conflicts, in the struggle for power, Turnbull can always see through the key nodes," Lausanne II said with a confused expression. "Faced with different opponents, he always takes advantage, relies on and betrays him.

His freedom, well-founded advance and retreat, his sophisticated means, and his proficiency in actions are beyond my reach. It seems that he was born to wave the tide of power. I even sometimes thought: If it had been him who had been in the position of little attendant,

I think I can walk higher, more steadily, and more smoothly."

At least it won’t be such a...failure?"

"Do you really think so?" Thales expressed doubt.

Lausanne II glanced at him with a playful expression.

"At least Turnbull used his attitude and methods to help me understand certain truths."

The vampire killer sneered:

"Whether it's hypocrisy, sincerity, kindness, or insidious, what happened to me has nothing to do with my immediate boss or the kind of person Midiel is.

"Even if he is really a good man, a great saint, even if he is not a guy who can use an apologetic smile, a gentle and generous tone, and force people to die by playing with moral principles that crush people...

"Will my experience be better, and will I be saved and protected? Will my destiny change?

"Could it be that those flies that surrounded him and his family and the throne, both inside and outside the court, wouldn't they squat in the dirty sewers and plot as always, just waiting for people like me to approach?

After he was injured and fell down, did he pounce on him and eat his corpse?"

Lausanne II's series of rhetorical questions made both Thales and Hilley frown.

"After I have figured this out, I no longer need the perfect Crown Prince Midir, whom everyone praises and wishes to die for, to take pity on me and save me."

"And I also thought of what Horace said to me on that day," Lausanne II said coldly, "on the field where the election will take place."

Thales and Hilley were stunned and looked at each other blankly.

Only the vampire killer had a gloomy expression, staring at the endless darkness on the ceiling.

[Use all your strength... to prove... to prove that you can become the sword of our family... the chess piece of our kingdom... and become a... knight who is qualified to serve me, us, and the kingdom...]

"I lost that duel."

Lausanne II said softly:

"But I don't know since when, words and gestures like Midir's, no matter how sincere the speaker is, how courteous the corporal, or how charming, can no longer make me willing to bow down, but can only make me feel sick to my stomach.

Gagging.”

Thales remained silent.

"Even... the more Midir is a saint, a perfect man, a good person, and... then in that position, he will attract more people - whether they are moths to the fire or food.

Rotting flies bring more and worse tragedies.”

He paused for a moment and closed his eyes.

It was quiet in the dungeon.

"So this is the reason why you won't go back," Thales said slowly, "You won't go back to the Crown Prince, or even to Joaquin."

No more returning to the world of knights.

No more going back to the old life.

"You know, I once envied Turnbull. I thought that his contemptuous attitude and his flexible methods were the best way to face power." Lausanne II suddenly said.

"Once?" Hilley raised an eyebrow.

"Until I see his end—and mine."

Lausanne II said quietly.

"So now I understand better: Even if you leave the heights, even if you hide in the lowest corner, even the smartest people, those who are comfortable in the wave of power," Lausanne II sneered, "can't escape the power.

curse."

It is inevitable to be involved in it and be polished beyond recognition.

Thales couldn't help but feel emotional.

"Or worse."

"Swimmers drown in water," Miss Kevin Deere sighed. "Turnbull cannot escape the curse of power and capsizes in the wave of power. Perhaps it is because he is so comfortable in the wave of power."

Perhaps, whether it is successful or embarrassing, it is the curse of power.

The voice in Thales' heart sounded silently:

It's just two sides of the same body.

"It's not just power, it's not just strings that control a spouse or chains that imprison..."

Thales opened his mouth slowly and said what was deep in his heart:

"It's more of a system, a system, a structure, an environment, a context, a field, a domain... whatever you want to call it."

Hilley and Lausanne II were both silent.

Thales sighed:

"Because it is everywhere, even if no one knows it."

Don't take a break because you are a king or a beggar.

There is no exemption based on whether you are wise or foolish.

"Tiles?"

Hilley's call brought Thales out of his thoughts.

Damn, I got distracted.

The prince looked at the miserable-looking vampire captive in front of him and quickly gathered his thoughts.

"So, after leaving Mindis Hall, you were disheartened and joined Turnbull's army. However, you and Turnbull were defeated long before the Emerald City changed hands." Thales sorted out the time clues.

"Then I guess that neither you nor Turnbull have anything to do with the inside story of the assassination of the old Duke of Leinster, or at least know very little about it?"

Lausanne II's eyes were gray and motionless.

"Is there any need to ask?" Xi Lai crossed his arms, but his words were no longer as aggressive as before, but more helpless and pitiful. "You see, he doesn't know anything about this question..."

"The murderer."

Unexpectedly, Lausanne II suddenly spoke up and interrupted Shilay.

"The murderer who was bribed by Viscount Sonar to assassinate the old Duke, but was eventually caught and confessed, Bolwin," the vampire killer said slowly, "I knew him - I knew him before he died."

Before death...

When you were alive or when he was alive?

Thales choked off these inappropriate words in his throat.

"Is this the gangster boxer you killed when you came back this time? Little Bolwin's father?" Thales recalled the clues.

"For the sake of the past, I wanted to spare his son's life," Lausanne II admitted, "but it seems that Federico didn't think so."

Thales and Hilley looked at each other.

"Very well, you know the murderer of the old Duke, so?"

"Old Bolwin, he was originally a hired killer contacted by Turnbull from outside," Lausanne II said, "the purpose is to share the business pressure - or as people say: to contain me."

"The Blood Bottle Gang was once managed by Uncle Sona...so he had a way to bribe this murderer?" Shilai asked.

"A hired killer who can be used to contain you must be very powerful?" Thales asked.

Lausanne II looked at the prince and then at the eldest lady. Faced with two questions with different emphasis, he finally only answered the one he knew the answer to:

"It's okay."

Thales and Hilley looked at each other.

Before they had time to wonder which question the other party was answering, the vampire killer spoke again.

"But considering the Kongming Palace at that time, especially the Duke's living room, which seemed loose but was actually heavily guarded..." He snorted coldly, "With Old Bolwyn's skills, let alone breaking through the defense, he even sneaked in

It’s hard to even get close.”

"how do you know?"

"I tried."

Thales and Hille nodded simultaneously, but were immediately startled.

"you……"

"Don't worry," Lausanne II said calmly in the face of Xi Lai's surprise, "I'm not going to your house to kill anyone."

At least it's not someone who kills your family.

Hilley's face brightened slightly.

"So you're saying that old Bolwyn, the official murderer, didn't kill my father?"

Lausanne II sneered.

"Unless the old Duke hired him to kill him, no matter how much money Sonar gave him, Old Bolwyn couldn't do it," he said disdainfully, "He can't be the murderer."

Both Thales and Hilley were silent.

Therefore, in the Duke's assassination case, at least the conclusion about the real culprit was wrong.

Then old Bolwin's confession was just...

very good.

Thales said silently:
To be continued...