"'Luminous Star' Theodora. ”

"This is the daughter of the Oath Keeper, the noble princess of the royal family," Nobb paused for a moment, and looked at Tails with deep meaning:

"And the Duchess of Star Lake. ”

The daughter of the Oath Keeper?

Tails breathed slightly, looking at the female knight with sharp eyebrows and thin lips and a chuckle.

"She has never been married in her life, but she is the longest-serving head of secret intelligence - the blood of the elves makes her live and healthy - so long that she has to retire into the background early and set up another director, so as not to cause controversy between the government and the opposition. ”

Tyre looked curiously at the heroic princess and the Duchess of Star Lake.

His...... Ancestors.

【Theodora · E· M. Bright Star, 354-?]

Her temperament is reminiscent of the Fortress Flower, but the latter is far from the domineering aura of Theodora's body that seems to be dazzling with silver brilliance and makes people bow their heads.

However, the year of her death is not written on it. Tails wondered.

Nobu smiled:

"Because we—Mykoe himself doesn't know. ”

"It is said that when Princess Theodora actually left the secret department at the age of one hundred and one, the reigning 'surviving king' Elam III was already a member of her great-grandchildren. ”

In contrast, her brothers were much shorter-lived.

Nobu mused.

Tails looked downward, and then saw the princess's quotation embroidered with gold thread:

[Look, look, look, you look at a ** stupid thing.] 】

Tails petrified in place.

What the heck?

Tails looked at this neatly embroidered but full of dirty words, his face twitched in disbelief.

That's what it is......

Princess of the stars?

"Can't you just change the sentence?"

Nobu showed an embarrassed expression and hesitated:

"This, because it is her own will, so that is not, inconvenient. ”

What if she came back someday—he bit the words in his mouth.

Tails narrowed his eyes, understood.

He was so good that he no longer looked at the portrait of Theodora.

"You see, although she is a woman, Theodora's attitude and domineering methods during her reign can be described as the best of the secret science. ”

Nobu explains:

"Since her beginning, the secret department of the kingdom has looked at the world and spread secret agents, and the ruthless and radical eyes will be retribution. ”

If necessary, she would not hesitate to issue the much-maligned overseas assassination mission, even if it might lead to a war. ”

Assassinations outside the borders.

Tails was stunned.

He remembered what King Nunn had told him that night about the fate of his firstborn.

"But it is said that in those years, the Dark Room delusionally could cross the Great Needle Forest, and Quintana did not dare to cross the End Sea, even if he hated itchy, no one dared to touch even a single hair of the spies of the secret department. ”

Norbu looked at this special princess of the stars, and did not hide the admiration and longing in his eyes.

Tails let out a sigh.

Damn the secret department.

How many pieces of ink in this place have not been written in the history books?

"Oh, I'm afraid the next three will have to be watched together. ”

Nobu leaned on his crutches with great interest, as if he was still slowly getting acquainted with the new third leg.

He pointed out another painting to Tails, which showed a tall, handsome, sunny and beautiful man:

【Noah S. C. P. Armond, 434-462]

"'Lone Sail', Noah Armond. ”

"It is rumored that he is one of the mistresses of Queen Eliga, the 'Conqueror of the North'. ”

The Queen's Mistress......

So.

Is this the king's man?

Norbu lowered his head and blinked, changing his previous solemnity:

Of course, there are also people who say that the northern conqueror likes to hunt for beauty, and there is no one in her court who the queen has not slept with—both men and women. ”

Hearing the gossip, Tails looked at the beautiful man Noah's eyes differently.

From a distance, Noah on the painting has a healthy posture and a handsome face, which is indeed outstanding and is the choice of the moment.

Norbu shook his head and said:

But alas, as Queen Eriga lost power, Lone Sail was guillotined by his deputy and successor. ”

"Deputy, by your own deputy?"

Tails frowned, remembering my tavern at Camp Bladetooth and its thought-provoking sign.

Nobu nodded and sighed:

"It's true that not every pair is as happy and cooperative as Leinster and Halva. ”

He looked at the next painting.

"And this is Lone Sail's deputy. ”

There is a faint awe in Norbu's words:

"Pale Baron, Sancho. ”

Tails looked up and saw a man with a bloodless face and deep eyes.

Sancho had a good face, an elegant posture, and slender fingers that plucked the strings, and he looked like a talented man with a book of poetry.

Not the Intelligence Supervisor of the Underworld.

【Sancho S. D. D. Doyle, 438-489]

Seeing the surname, Tails was stunned for a moment:

"Doyle?

Norbu wondered:

"yes, what's wrong?"

Pale Baron, Doyle.

"Nothing. Tails shook his head, remembering the previous "wise minister" Karabiyan:

"That is, whenever you put such a combination of nouns together......"

Tyers struggled to get another personal guard out of his head who was just as strange as his father, and sighed:

"It's always going to make people wonder, 'History, what have you done to them?'" ”

"Please go ahead. ”

Nobu was a little puzzled, but continued:

"Sancho was once the head of the cool officials under the throne of King John II of the Red, the pinnacle of power, the power was monstrous, and his hands were full of blood. ”

"Before him, the secret department was just an intelligence agency, but in his hands, it has become a terrifying monster integrating supervision, control, trial, law enforcement, violence, propaganda, censorship, and stability maintenance. ”

Nobu was stunned, as if he were telling a ghost story.

"As the most powerful intelligence director in history, he sowed the anger and tyranny of the Red King to his heart's content, doing whatever he wanted, and the power was difficult to control, ending the historical inheritance of countless famous families. ”

Tails frowned, and looked again at the different Doyle: he was noble and elegant, and he didn't look like a blood-laden executioner in any way.

Nobu's tone became urgent, as if he had seen the blood of those years:

"Until Baron Pale also died at the hands of his lieutenant and successor, the 'Black Messenger' Mason Zonevid. ”

Tails raised an eyebrow.

Died again by the deputy.

He followed Nobu's gaze and saw a third man:

【Mason M. H· A. Zonevid, 443-506]

This person is alone in the dark, his eyes are gloomy, and his face is not bad but he looks mean and unkind, like a beast in the corner that chooses people to devour.

If you only look at the portrait, Lone Sail Amund is a brave young man with righteousness and brightness, Doyle, the Pale Baron is a gentle and talented man who admires himself, and the Black Messenger Zonevid ......

There is no doubt that he is eerie and terrifying, and he is like a villain in temperament.

Nobu's voice came:

"The Black Messenger betrayed his lord for glory, but after killing Sancho, he failed to surrender, and was fortunate enough to receive the first warrant issued by the 'Virtuous King' Mindis III after his succession to the throne: to spend the rest of his life in the prison of bones. ”

Tails exhaled a long breath:

"In this way, from the Northern Conqueror to the Red King period, the three intelligence chiefs of the secret department in the past were all damaged by internal disasters and could not die well. ”

Why, is backstabbing also popular in the kingdom's secret department?

As if sensing the duke's emotion, Nobu said slowly:

"It was a time when the kingdom was in turmoil. ”

Tails nodded.

"A little gossip," perhaps to liven up the atmosphere, Nobu lowered his voice and smiled slightly:

"It is said that these three stewards have slept with Queen Eliga, or rather, by the queen. ”

Slept with by the Queen.

Tails raised his eyebrows, swept over the portraits of Lone Sail, the Pale Baron, and the Black Courier, and suddenly found that they were either heroic, gentle, or gloomy, but they were all prime men with their own characteristics.

Okay.

Taking advantage of his position...... This queen really knows how to enjoy.

"It's messy," Tails winked:

"In every sense of the word. ”

Right now.

"Enough. ”

They turned in unison and found Raphael standing behind them, looking uncertain.

He stared gloomily at Nobu, and then at the prince reproachfully.

"I said, don't move. ”

The barren bone man said coldly:

"Especially with strangers. ”

Tails looked at Nobu, who bowed his head apologetically.

Duke Xinghu tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"Sorry, I thought ......"

Tails glanced at the room behind Raphael:

"It's not that fast. ”

Raphael and Tails' eyes met in the air, exchanging a wave of sword light and sword shadows in the air.

Norbucha looked at his words and came forward at the right time to salute:

"Raphael. ”

Raphael seemed to notice the man on crutches at this point, and replied coldly:

"Nobu. ”

For some reason, Tails sensed that the relationship between the two of them was a little stiff.

Nobu smiled slightly:

"So, I heard that there was a sudden big case involving the nobles of the Western Wilderness?"

Raphael nodded, and there was a faint detachment in his statement:

"Yes. ”

Nobu shook his head, and he looked at Raphael's red eyes:

"Well, it's not my case, but if you need help......"

Raphael interrupted him without hesitation:

"If I need help. ”

Seeing that the other party did not want to say more, Nobu no longer spoke to him, but turned to Tails.

"I haven't had time to thank you, Your Highness Tyers," said Nobu respectfully.

"If you look at your face, I'd like to visit ...... later"

"Your Highness has something to do," Raphael suddenly stopped in front of Tails, and said with a warning:

"And he's private. ”

Nobu stopped indifferently.

"Of course," he looked at Raphael, who was not giving an inch, and nodded in disappointment:

"Of course. ”

Nobu saluted Tails again, limped away with his unskilled cane.

The figure is lonely and a little pitiful.

Tails couldn't bear to see it.

"What did Nobu do?"

After Nobu left, Tails asked suddenly.

Raphael frowned:

"What?"

Tails follows in the footsteps of the Bones:

"What did he do wrong in the bloody year to let him be stationed in the Western Wilderness, which is like exile?"

Raphael's face tightened:

"You'll have to ask himself, or the Lord. ”

"Really?" Tails snorted as he observed Raphael's face.

"If you want to take a day trip to the secret department, Your Highness," Raphael said unhappily:

"I was totally available for your needs. ”

"Why, you're jealous of seeing me so popular?" Tails was pleased to see Raphael's upset.

Raphael snorted softly and continued on his way.

"Okay, so, Raphael guide, who is this?"

Tails gestured casually.

Raphael glanced at it:

"Lisandro Esposito, no nickname. ”

Or rather, there are too many nicknames, so they simply don't report it.

Tails approached the portrait, a middle-aged man with a humble smile and a kind and humble face:

[Lisandro Esposito, 530-602]

When you know you're wrong, you're doing it right. 】

"Born in the year of the death of the virtuous king, as the son of a lowly tanner, he passed a literacy test to change his fate, and eventually became the chief of intelligence of Sume IV the 'Silencer', attending the Imperial Council. ”

Raphael moved forward steadily, not caring about Tails being left behind in the slightest:

"Since his beginning, the Kingdom Secret Department has swept away the old traditions, and is no longer the king's personal toy, but a national intelligence department with clear powers and responsibilities, efficient operation, sufficient budget, and important status, little by little, step by step, to regain the disadvantages we have faced in the dark room for a hundred years. ”

"So there is today's secret department. ”

Raphael's tone was respectful.

Tails had to pick up his pace all the way to keep up with Raphael's inconsiderate steps.

"And he was also Lord Moratt Hansen's teacher. ”

Raphael stepped out of the corridor and came to a specially shaped iron door, and with the same fingers, he opened the magic lock in the ripples of the air and turned into a dimly lit inner room.

"You mean the Black Prophet?"

Tails quickly followed, and walked into the inner room:

"His teacher?"

But the moment he stepped inside, Tails suddenly panicked!

The Sin of the River of Hell's restlessness stirred, but unlike any danger that had preceded it, it felt ethereal and creepy.

The faint sound of "hiss......hiss" rings in my ears, reminiscent of the way snakes slide.

Thankfully, it felt fleeting.

If it was shorter, Tails would even think it was an illusion.

What's going on?

Tails adjusted to the dimness of the inner chamber and fearfully followed in Raphael's footsteps.

"You know, we don't usually mention this nickname, Your Highness. ”

The Bones Man's tone became cautious:

"Especially in Mykori. ”

"Why?" In the dim light, they walked forward more than ten meters, and Tails was still immersed in the horror of Fang Cai, and subconsciously replied:

"Why didn't you mention it?"

In the next second, a hoarse voice that had been absent for six years sounded from the darkness:

"Just like we don't usually mention the 'upskirt star' in front of you. ”

"His Highness Tails. ”

This is......

Hearing this voice, Wang Zisheng stopped, and he didn't even have time to understand the ridicule in the other party's words.

The feeling of panic struck again, especially just now.

The sin of the River of Hellland is restless.

Raphael stopped a few steps in front of him and turned around.

Revealing the man behind him.

Tails' eyes widened.

He had expected it, but ......

"Lord Hansen," Tails stared at the thin dark figure in front of him:

"Long time no see. ”

In front of him, King Kessel's current head of intelligence, the head of the secret department who had faded from the sight of the government and the opposition for many years, the Black Prophet, Lord Morat Hansen, sat in a pitch-black wheelchair, facing him.

I saw the old man in front of him gasping for pain as he lifted the hateful face of the wind candle and only skin and bones, and showed a terrifying smile to Tails.

Tails looked at Morat in amazement.

How......

He remembered six years ago, when the Black Prophet, despite his advanced age, was in good spirits and imposing, and could threaten Gilbert and Genie with a cane.

But now......

Tails stared blankly at the wheelchair under the other party's seat.

How could he be so dying?

But Tails soon sensed that something was wrong.

"Hiss...... Hiss ......"

Infernal senses feed back to him a myriad of hair-curding sounds—from the pitch-black and colorless "wheelchair".

The sin of the River of Hellwater spilled over Tails' eyes, allowing him to see through the dimly lit interior.

Tails instinctively looked down: he saw that the Black Prophet's wheelchair was "wrapped" in countless sticky and wet black veins, like muscle textures, and also wrapped Morat's legs in it.

From time to time, he squirmed, contracted, and breathed.

That's not a wheelchair.

At that moment, Tails really stood on end.

That's a ...... Living creatures.

Like branches, like vines, like tentacles.

Its rear part extends to the walls of the interior, covering half of the room like vines, all the way to the ceiling.

And Morat, sitting in a "wheelchair", seems to have "grown" out of these vines.

Tails breathed in a daze, suddenly remembering the former Blood Magi.

This is......

"Don't be afraid," Morat breathed hard, raising his withered arm to connect the thousands of squirming black vines like thousands of snakes:

"Some necessary means, like taking medicine to cure the disease. ”

Raphael stood aside, his face unchanged.

Take medicine to cure the disease?

It took Tails a few seconds to calm down.

"Your Excellency, you, what's wrong with you?"

Morat laughed, causing the black-veined vines around him to stir.

"It's old. ”

"Your Excellency Duke of Xinghu," the Black Prophet's voice was a little ethereal, but it was still chilling: "The years have caught me. ”

"It's like it caught Teacher Lisandro and His Majesty Eddie. ”

"It's like it's going to catch everybody. ”

The Black Prophet's eyes froze, revealing yearning:

"Except, of course, elves. ”

Tails breathed in a trance, and at that moment, he didn't know how to face the monster other party.

"I'm sure you see, Your Highness, the Kingdom Secret Section has gone through fifty-seven governors," Morat came back to his senses:

"They are all related to the stars, and they share honor and disgrace. ”

"Inseparable. ”

"We are not your enemies, Tails," Morat called out the Duke's name, looking at the disgusting creatures that were wrapped around half of his body, with emotion:

"In fact, we struggle just as much as you do. ”

Tails stared at the black vines, his eyebrows twitching.

The Black Prophet raised his hand, not knowing what he had done, and the black veined vines that spread half of his body immediately trembled in unison, and they broke away from the back of his "wheelchair" one after another, "freeing Morat".

"Hiss-hiss......" The sound of vines contracting was terrifying.

Only the part that is still wrapped in the wheelchair is still moving back and forth, like maggots surging and pupa twitching.

Looking at this scene, Tails felt some discomfort in his abdomen.

Morat closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths before he opened his eyes weakly and nodded to Raphael.

"Let's get started. ”

The Skeleton Man bowed his head respectfully, turned to open another door, and disappeared into the darkness behind it.

Seeing Raphael leave, Tails suddenly realized that he and the Black Prophet were the only ones left in the room at this time, as well as ...... Those black "things".

The thought made him nervous.

"Mind pushing me, Your Highness?"

Morat stretched out his withered hand to Tails, opened his inhuman-shaped mouth, and smiled like a dead man in a coffin:

"Don't worry, don't read minds this time. ”