"Okay, he's awake......"

Tails wakes up in the midst of a chaotic crowd and wakes up to see Ramon's big nose. Pen Fun Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 ｉｎfo

What just happened?

The Magic Gun shot me......

Another "out of control"?

He gasped as Ramon was squeezed out of view, followed by Putirai's thin face, Waiya's anxious expression, and half of Ada's face under his cloak.

"What's wrong?" Tails asked feebly.

"Get out of the way, get out of the way! Respect the doctor!" Ramon's disgruntled voice came from the side: "Give us a clearing! Your Highness needs further examination!"

The three faces in view disappear, and Ramon's large nose reappears.

"How am I?" Tails asked softly, feeling his whole body.

"You're fine now, in fact, ordinary people don't have the vitality and resilience of you......" Ramon frowned with an embarrassed face, "But your body ......"

"Alright," Tails interrupted, struggling to sit up, moving his right arm and looking around, "now is not the time to talk about this. ”

Ramon clearly felt something unusual in his body...... But how can it be talked about in such a place?

But Ramon didn't seem to give up, and his next words made Tails clench his fists.

"Listen, Your Highness the Prince," Ramon whispered, gritting his teeth, bandaging the shoulder he had just injured in the scuffle, "others may not know, but I can feel it: those magic guns didn't miss...... It's what you've done to make them inaccurate......"

What the?

Tails struggled to keep his astonishment under control, not to appear overly surprised.

What did he know?

"I don't know what you're talking about. Tails replied unceremoniously, "It's time for me to get up...... Tell them that the prince is fine. ”

But Ramon still chattered dissatisfiedly, "Whether it's an ability or something...... Judging by their reactions, I guess it's not something that everyone knows, but that's okay, I'm not interested in your secrets either, just a little ......"

He bowed his head and said viciously, "Let me go when you cross the border, and I won't take part in your damn journey again......!"

"How else?" Tails turned his head sharply and glared angrily, "Use your resurrection power against me?"

Ramon was slightly stunned.

"You're not a doctor, Ramon," Tails whispered coldly, "yes, I know that very well: what you use to heal and save people is another power......"

"I'm guessing it's not something everyone knows, is it?" he nodded his forehead as Ramon looked at his incredulous expression.

"We'll talk about that later. ”

Tails stood up, leaving Ramon stunned.

The Magic Gun troops in the distance have withdrawn. The Angry Guards were cleaning up the battlefield, tying the bodies of their comrades to ropes, and everyone had a grief and anger on their faces.

Damn it.

Tails sighed and clenched his fists: If that's all I'm going to face in the future......

Damn it.

He looked up, and Exeter's barracks were close at hand.

"What's going on?" Tails struggled as he walked over to Putile, waving his hand to signal that he was okay, "Exeters...... Leave us alone?"

"They retreated after the first failed shot," Putile frowned at Tails, "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine, I just lost my strength...... It feels good now. Tails was unquestionably authentic.

"What the hell is a magic gun?" Tails asked, clutching his chest.

"A powerful weapon for siege and defense," Putile shook his head, "but each shot is expensive, from a rare source, and inefficient. ”

No.

Wrong.

It's not that simple - from the quirky name to the mysterious workings.

Tails said secretly.

"With all due respect, Your Highness, are you really okay? You just ......stopped breathing," Wya's head shook worriedly and walked over to him.

"I said, I'm fine now. Tails interrupted him coldly, "We have more important things to do." ”

Waiya frowned.

It's a secret I have to keep.

I'm sorry.

Tails looked up with an apology for Wya, looking ahead.

"What's that?" Tails narrowed.

Not far ahead, a scarred Araka stared angrily at a knight in the Grey Helmet, riding a horse.

"One of Exeter's 'Five Warriors' and the wielder of the legendary anti-demon armed 'Rising Japanese Sword'," Putileh said vigilantly, "The Burning Knight, Rom Tulha." ”

"Rumba sent him alone, as if to make peace," Putile shook his head: "If Rumba really goes crazy and wants to kill us all, why give up halfway?"

Oh, yes.

At the end of the day, Rumba had no reason to kill me.

So why......

"But we've come this far," Putile said slowly, "there's no turning back." ”

Tails nodded slightly.

"Are you His Highness Tyres?" Tulha saw Tails from afar.

"In Lower Rom Fort Tulha," said the Grey-Helmeted Knight, looking warily at Alaka, "Lord Charman Rumba has invited you to meet him. ”

Tails sighed and strode forward.

"Grand Duke of Black Sand...... I thought he would be a little friendlier," Tails looked around, looking at the charred corpses on the ground and the bruised soldiers and members of the mission, and resisted the resentment in his heart, "instead of pretending to invite after killing most of us. ”

Tulha raised his head and looked at the Broken Dragon Fortress in the distance.

"If you have any opinions, you can ask the Grand Duke himself," the Fire Knight's eyes under the Grey Helmet were sharp and profound, "I am only responsible for bringing you to him." ”

Tails gritted his teeth and exhaled.

At this moment, the hideous Araka strode towards Tulha: "Have you forgotten something?

The wrath of the kingdom is filled with rage.

"Forget it, Alaka, go back," Tuleha looked at the unkind eyes of the kingdom's anger and turned his horse's head: "You are not welcome in the Grand Duke...... Either you, or your guards. ”

"You're just here to escort the prince, aren't you?"

"Rumba doesn't welcome me, what's the joke?" said Araka viciously, "his brother died at his hands, and his father died at my hands - we should have a good conversation about this common ground." ”

Tails frowned.

"Especially, I killed so many of his soldiers, and he killed so many of my soldiers......" Araka said coldly, "We will definitely become 'good friends'." ”

"The battle is over, and you can't change its outcome. Tuleha replied indifferently, as if accustomed to the provocation of the other side: "The dead who died in battle are certainly worthy of remembrance, but the living must not forget their mission." ”

"What is your mission? Alaka?"

Alaka lowered his head and watched as a charred corpse not far away was tied to a makeshift tow rope, his fists clenching tighter and tighter.

"You fought bravely, but your mission is accomplished. Tulha looked coldly at his opponent: "You should be glad that we didn't take the opportunity to rob the unmoved bow. ”

"Why don't you give it a try?" Araka fiercely grabbed the immovable bow and held one end in the snow, "You brought the knife with you anyway, didn't you?"

"Someday, I will," said Tulha, shaking his head, "but not now." ”

"One day," he said slowly, "we will settle all our blood debts." ”

Alaka stared at him with an unsettling sneer.

"Your Highness?" Tuleha did not look at Alaka again, he nodded slightly on his horse, and then stretched out his hand in the direction of the barracks.

Tails looked at Putira, who gave him a supportive look.

"I don't think we have any other choice, do we?" Tails looked at the Grey Helmet Knight, who smiled at him.

"Alright," Tails looked at the messy battlefield, exhaled, and walked forward, "Let's go see the organizer of this welcome ceremony." ”

Tails looked at Alaka, whose expression was indiscernible: "Thank you, Baron Mu. ”

"And yours...... Kingdom Fury. Tails hesitantly added.

Araka didn't respond, he just silently watched his guards clean up the battlefield.

Tails sighed and bowed his head, he turned and walked towards the barracks.

Putile was the first to follow Tails, followed by Wyaya and Rolf, and Eda looked around at the bodies and walked to the back of the group.

Vero held Jenard, and Ramon followed in dissatisfaction with the push of several soldiers.

"Kid!"

Tails looked back in surprise,

Seeing that on the snow, Araka lowered his head and stuck his immovable bow back into his back.

"More than half of my soldiers, including your mission, are dead," Kingdom Fury said silently, "just to get you here." ”

Araka Mu raised his head, his eyes full of emotions that Tails couldn't read:

"Don't let them die in vain. ”

Tails was stunned.

But Kingdom Fury has turned.

Alaka grabbed a rope and dragged the bodies of four or five soldiers with him, walking without looking back.

He was followed by the remaining Angry Guards, and the remains of their comrades, intact or mutilated, who had been dragged in the snow with ropes tied to their ropes.

The back is lonely.

――――

The Exeters barracks were wild and rough, the walls were simply made of tree trunks cut from the nearby needle forest, and the tents where the soldiers rested were made of thick branches, but it was the Exeters who were more impressed by Tails.

They are just too "enthusiastic".

Tails even suspected that if it weren't for Tulha leading the horse to lead the way, the people of Exeter would have pounced.

The Exeter soldiers standing guard stared at the Planetarians with unkind expressions, and even one of the sentries spat viciously at his feet.

A group of cavalrymen who had just returned to the camp passed by them, looked at their flags of the stars, and laughed defiantly at them.

"Go back, Southerners," an Exeter soldier with heavy armor and a great sword shouted to the mission in disgust, "Imperials are not welcome in the Northlands!"

"Dream of your empire!" said a man with a huge axe sharpening his chest while sitting by the fire, beating his chest and roaring, "First we must spit out our territory!

"They killed our prince, but let a child come and sue for peace!" they walked past a circle of soldiers sitting on the left, and one of the leading soldiers pointed at the mission and shouted, "This is the shamelessness of the 'Empire'!"

The people around them responded angrily and glared at them.

"Do you know why?" the soldier exclaimed, "because all the men in their country were killed by us twelve years ago!"

The people around him burst into laughter and echoed him: "Let them send a princess!"

"Little boys, too," one soldier mocked, "as long as it's beautiful enough - we don't care if it's in front or behind!"

Another burst of laughter.

"Should I be surprised," Tails looked up and sighed, "Or is this the Exeter's way of saying 'hello' to the Starmen?"

"Don't be surprised, Your Highness the Prince," said Putile lightly to the stiff-faced Tails:

"For more than 600 years since the founding of the country, the relationship between the stars and Exeter has always been poor, and both the history of the empire and the rivalry in the Western Continent are enough to justify our hostility - the Hanbao was snatched from Exeter four hundred years ago. ”

"History first brewed hatred, and hatred rewrote history. ”

Putile sighed:

"Only the Continental War can make us forget our perception of each other for a moment, and fight side by side on a rare occasion - during the Third Continental War, the hero Sara and the Oath King Midir were close friends, and together with the prophet of the Commath Alliance, Kaipeng, they joined forces to fight against the expeditionary forces of the Eastern Continent. But unfortunately, they finally broke up, and the rare opportunity for the dragon and the stars to be reconciled was lost. ”

"But this is a barracks, other places will be much better, many Northlanders don't care about those nihilistic things," Wyaa nodded: "Civilians running for life are not the same as soldiers who have tasted blood. ”

"Why do they call us 'Imperials'?" Tails asked with a frown, "Isn't the final empire more than 600 years old?

"It's their sarcasm at us. Putilai shook his head and said with a complicated expression: "The Xingchen people have always been proud of the blood and inheritance of the empire, but unfortunately, the impression left by the empire to the world is not good. ”

"Not only the people of the Northlands, but also the kingdom of Alembia in the Thornlands, and the Duchy of Anrenzo in the Dragon's Kiss Basin, where the people have a bad opinion of us, and whenever there is a need, such as war, this ancient sentiment that has been passed down from generation to generation is exaggerated and amplified, and it is much more effective than increasing the reward of the soldiers. ”

Imperial.

Imperials.

Tails sighed and hid the information in his mind.

Speaking of which, the conscription and mobilization of more than 10,000 people is almost the limit of the Black Sand Collar. Putilai looked at the dense military camp in front of him: "I think Rumba's supplies and expenses are enough, and the Black Sand Territory is not a rich place." ”

"For the north. They must have been planning for a long time, and the cost was huge. ”

The stars finally followed Tulha to a huge tent.

A tall nobleman in military uniform, who had been waiting in front of the tent, stepped forward and nodded lightly at Tulha.

The tall nobleman bowed to Tails and said, "Is this His Highness Tails, the first time we met, I was Lhasa Kambida." ”

"Viscount of the Kingdom of Exeter, fief in the city of Gunton in the Black Sand Territory. ”

"Please come with me to rest, as for Your Highness," Viscount Cambida nodded and looked at Tails, "The Great Justice awaits your visit." ”

Tails furrowed an eyebrow.

"This is a separate meeting," Cambida looked at Tails with burning eyes, "the Grand Duke of the Black Sand and the Prince of the Stars." ”

"Don't worry," Viscount Kambida raised his hand, stopping Putirai and Huaiya who were about to speak, and said in a resolute tone: "Your Highness is already here, at least until he arrives in Longxiao City to meet His Majesty, he will be fine." ”

Tails sighed softly and smiled, "I don't think we still have much choice, do we?"

"You know, Your Highness, I suddenly figured it out. Putile said silently, his eyes shining: "Rumba is not crazy. ”

Tails' heart moved.

Cambida frowned and made a "please" gesture to Tails.

――――

The tent of the Grand Duke himself was tall and spacious, but not bright, and the floor was covered with a thick carpet embroidered with powerful iron fist motifs.

At a thick square table full of food sat a rugged man, about forty years old, gray-haired and blue-eyed, with a stubble on his chin, dressed in fine chain mail with iron rings, munching on a plate of roast meat on the table.

An iron brazier burned on one side, illuminating the man's face more mysteriously.

Tails noticed that a saber with a polished leather scabbard was also lying across the table.

He calmly looked at the de facto ruler of the Black Sand Realm, Grand Duke Charman Rumba.

Rumba put a ball of roast meat into his mouth and looked at him steadily, making Tails uncomfortable for a moment.

"You're a little more relaxed than I thought. ”

The Grand Duke said slowly.

Tails sighed.

"Perhaps," he said, as he walked over to the table and climbed into his chair and sat down, "but I can't think of any other expression in the face of an enemy who owes me hundreds of lives and blood...... Even anger seems superfluous. ”

Rumba picked up a wooden wine glass and poured it into his mouth, his Adam's apple surging in his swallow.

The Grand Duke put down the wine glass, wiped the wine flowing out with the back of his left hand, grabbed a piece of hind leg meat, and took a bite.

"According to the news that came from the stars...... You really don't look like a seven-year-old. ”

"When life isn't easy, you have to learn to mature early. Tails shrugged.

"Eat, good venison," Rumba pushed a plate of roasted meat over, "the prince of the stars cannot starve to death in my barracks." ”

Tails looked at the rude-style roast and frowned.

"You guys are very kind, and the reverse shock is really beyond my expectations," Lombard said coldly:

"Who made this decision? Maybe I should reward him and ruin all my years of planning. ”

"You. Tails pulled the plate in front of him, drew his dagger without raising his head, and began to cut the meat.

Rumba raised his eyebrows.

"It's your decision, Your Excellency," Tails said calmly, cutting the venison, "you killed half of us on the first day I stepped into the border of Exeter...... Forcing us to choose only one path that is most unfavorable to you. ”

"How long have you been standing here every day looking at the fortress across the street, two weeks, three weeks?"

"I guess it's not easy to sustain more than 10,000 people with supplies and food?" Tails shrugged, "I'm really worried about the Black Sand Collar's finances. ”

He picked up a thumb-sized piece of venison and put it in his mouth.

Tastes good.

Rumba stopped eating and drinking, and he looked straight at Tails, his eyes full of fierceness.

"You know," said the Grand Duke slowly, "I had intended to spare your life, and it would be enough to kill the people around you." ”

Tails frowned.

His venison wasn't cut well.

"But we've run into the Magic Gun Force...... That level of attack," Tails snorted lightly, and he began to cut off a piece of flesh, "I want my life." ”

"It was an accident. Rumba said lightly.

"Accident......" Tails laughed angrily, he put down the dagger in his hand: "You ...... magic gun"

But he was stunned.

Wait a minute.

Putile said that Rumba did not go crazy.

To put it this way......

Tails looked at Rumba in a daze.

Could it be said.

"Was that an accident?" Tails asked incredulously.

"It was an accident. Rumba rested his arms on the table, his eyes burning.

Tails closed his eyes and let out a deep breath.

Half a day.

"You didn't send out a force of magic guns. Tails opened his eyes, affirmatively.

"I didn't. Rumba put down his glass and shook his head slowly.

"You didn't intend to kill me, either. Tails continued.

"I didn't. Rumba's eyes burned.

Tails gritted his teeth.

"I see. He exhaled and laughed out loud, "There is someone else who commands the Magic Gun troops. ”

Rumba had no reason to kill himself from beginning to end.

The Magic Gun Unit is an uncontrollable weapon of destruction...... No matter how stupid he is, he won't use this kind of thing against me.

Tails sighed.

Rumba grabbed the wooden plate of venison, pulled it in front of him, and grabbed a piece of meat.

"You're a lot smarter than I thought. Rumba's face was ugly, he put the meat into his mouth, and his eyes narrowed slightly: "You understand the reason why we met here."

"yes, I see. Tails wiped the dagger with his sleeve, inserted it back into his waist, and sighed: "It's just that I really didn't expect that the famous Grand Duke of Black Sand, the magic spear unit under his command, was easily deceived into commanding. ”

Rumba suppressed his anger: "That officer's name is Hardy, he has been in charge of training my magic gun unit since three years ago, and the commander of the unit fell ill in bed this morning, he is only temporarily in charge. ”

"How is he?" said Tails silently.

"After the trumpet of retreat sounded, he still gave the order for a second shot, but immediately some soldiers questioned his order," said Rumba gloomily, "and Hardy immediately committed suicide by slitting his neck without hesitation...... We're still looking at who is behind him. ”

"This also explains why you have sounded the trumpet of retreat in a hurry. Tails sneered: "Even the command can fail...... Sorry, I really don't know what to use at this time. ”

The Grand Duke of Rumba pursed his lips tightly and said nothing.

"Their goal should be to kill me by your hand, or to use my death to calculate you. Tails sneered: "I think the latter is the majority, and my enemies are all in the country." ”

"The higher you stand," Rumba said silently, "the more enemies there will be." ”

"So, the sudden accident also made you thwart your plans," Tails snorted, "Were you going to humiliate me and see if the fortress would shake?"

Silent.

Rumba opened the rye wine bottle next to him and filled his empty glass.

"I hate to say that, but King Kessel made a good move, and he pushed you out," said the Grand Duke of Rumba calmly, "and when you step into my barracks, I will never again be able to take the fortress and the north." ”

"And the oath he made in the Fuxing Palace is equivalent to using the ownership of royal power to create a pair of armor for you," Lombard raised his wine glass and said silently: "If you die in Exeter, no matter who does it, the bordering Black Sand Collar will only suffer." ”

"So, as soon as you find that you can't take the Broken Dragon Fortress, and you find that someone is actually eyeing you, you will immediately change your posture and try to win me over, right?" Tails said coldly.

Rumba took a sip of wine with an expressionless face and said, "Kessel's oath has dispelled the desire of some people to take your life, but it has also aroused the ambition of others to take your life. ”

"Today's magic gun is just the beginning - we have a common enemy lurking in the shadows, whether it's for the throne of Exeter or the throne of the stars," the voice of the Grand Duke of Black Sand was steady and solemn, "From the moment you stepped into Exeter, the Northlands, our interests were tied together. ”

"Yes," Tails lowered his head, his voice steady and indifferent, "that my death in Exeter is not a good thing for either of us. ”

"I will send two thousand men, led by Kambida, my most trusted vassal, to escort you to Longxiao City," the Grand Duke of Rumba's expression softened a little, "and you will reach the territory of the Walton family directly - the King's messenger is already waiting for you." ”

"But my men died on the battlefield, and they stood in front of me one by one, pierced by knives, by swords, by spears," Tails looked up, his face gloomy: "Your people have also been killed by us. ”

Rumba closed his eyes and groaned for a moment.

Tails stared at him with a blank expression.

"Those fighters...... Neither my soldiers nor your subordinates will die in vain, they will die as they deserve," Rumba opened his eyes: "It is because of their efforts that we can understand each other, sit here, and make difficult choices for the future fate of our two countries...... Even if it's incredibly difficult. ”

"We are not enemies in the first place, and hostility on the battlefield is only forced by the situation," Rumba said softly, "for the sake of the future, for the sake of such senseless bloodshed today, we should leave behind the grudges of the past, and it is rightly so." ”

"War is all about peace, isn't it?"

Tails suddenly laughed.

"Well said, Your Excellency. He chuckled with an uncertain expression: "There are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests." ”

"As you say, from now on we have no reason to be enemies of each other. The Grand Duke nodded and raised his glass, "You have eaten my venison, and according to the customs of the Northlands, you are my guest." ”

"It's the best rye wine," Rumba said, pushing his glass over with a deep gaze, "and according to Northland custom, when we drink the same wine, we are allies." ”

"From manpower, intelligence, resources, and financial resources, I will provide you with everything that is convenient in Exeter, and our enemies will not stand a chance. Archduke Rumba nodded: "Until you leave Exeter and return to the stars." ”

"Even until you ...... someday"

Rumba gave a strange look: "Coronation as king." ”

Silent.

Tails suddenly laughed.

"My experience has taught me to be cautious of those who want to be your allies, no matter how sweet and sincere they may be," Tails said lightly, "and I can't trust you, Your Excellency the Grand Duke of Rumba." ”

"Hmph," Grand Duke Rumba's face became gloomy, and he snorted coldly, "Just because so many of your men died?"

"And that's not all. ”

"And because of the indifference and hypocrisy you have shown to the deaths and sacrifices of your men," Tails said coldly, "and with your alliance, our covenant is doomed to betrayal, and I can safely say that when the covenant is broken, the losses will far outweigh the benefits I have gained. ”

"And I feel a lot about it. ”

Tails looked at Rumba and watched as the other man's expression slowly turned gloomy.

"And, I hate what you say," Tails gritted his teeth and shook his head as he remembered Alaka's lonely back, "those on the battlefield...... They were meant to die for your own selfish desires. ”

"And the nonsense of 'death is deserved' and 'war is for peace,'" Tails grabbed his glass and sneered, "I'd better keep it to yourself." ”

Silent.

"At first I thought you were mature and steady, with a mind beyond your years," Rumba snorted coldly and shook his head, "but now you behave like a child." ”

"That's right. Tails said coldly.

He poured the wine from the glass and said to the gloomy Rumba:

"And small children can't drink. ”

Tails jumped out of his chair and walked out of the tent without looking back. (To be continued.) )