Fists and palms intersect. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

Both Araka and Sonia trembled slightly.

"Poof. ”

There was a low, muffled sound, like the sound of sandbags falling to the ground.

But Tails was shocked in the heart, as if a dull hammer had struck him in the heart!

That's what it is...... The battle of the Arctic masters?

Quiet and simple.

There is no waste of power, no superfluous movements.

Tails saw the crowd whispering.

Many soldiers pointed at the two men.

"Oh, no—how many times?"

"Do they have to tear each other apart before they come from the north?"

The two commanders stood in place, unflinching, against each other's fists.

Sonya's eyes were cold, and Araka's face was fierce.

The soldiers behind both reacted.

"Boom!"

The old men behind Sonia drew their swords in unison and methodically gathered around the commander's side.

"Boom!"

The sword and shield soldiers around Araka had serious faces, and stepped forward neatly, and the sword and shield formed a wall to protect Araka's flanks.

The two teams were murderous, glaring at each other in raging rage.

The confusion in the crowd deepened:

"God, the Starlight Guard and the Fury Guard are here at the same time......"

"Didn't the officers on the shift deliberately stagger their duty hours?"

"Is this time going to die?"

"I have a bad premonition. ”

However, when almost all of them, with mixed emotions, watched the clash of the two commanders.

"Stop!"

Tails frowned and took a step forward.

Everyone turned their heads in unison to look at His Royal Highness the Prince, whose face was ugly.

Tails looked around.

What the hell is going on?

Sonia and Araka......

He sighed.

"That's what I'm trying to say. Putile whispered behind him, "Only you can come forward, little prince." ”

Tails shook his head.

"Stand back, soldiers," he shouted to the tense two groups:

"For the sake of fellow stars, put away your weapons. ”

But no one paid any attention to him.

Both Sonia and Alaka heard him, but the two with poor faces seemed to be more interested in each other.

The subordinates behind them—who seemed to be the Starlight Guards and the Fury Guards, according to the crowd—didn't squint, but stood loyally and attentively behind their superiors.

His Royal Highness was left hanging in the field, unheeded.

Putile closed his eyes and shook his head helplessly.

The whispers of onlookers began to grow louder, pointing at Tails.

There was a smile and contempt in the eyes of many people.

This kid is their new prince?

Tails only felt embarrassed.

It's especially embarrassing!

Uh, what should I do?

Rush up and pull them away?

However.

Sonia was in a state of extreme annoyance, and that Araka didn't seem to pay attention to him at all?

Gotta find something they care about.

His brain was racing.

The conversation between the two just came to mind.

Tails' heart moved, and he took a deep breath.

The traveler heard his own immature child's voice say, "I am Tails Bright Star, the second prince of the Kingdom of Stars. ”

Tails raised his right hand at the two centaurs, pointing north.

"Perhaps some people know - for the peace of the Kingdom of the Stars, and for the lives of all of you in the fortress. ”

"I will soon go north to Exeter to pay for their prince's life. ”

There was an uproar among the onlookers.

The Broken Dragon Fortress is not an isolated place, and the news of the national meeting has already reached here.

Many people looked at Tails with many different meanings, including pity, unwillingness, anger, and sighs.

But Sonia and Alaka's eyes were still locked on each other.

Tails adjusted his breathing, trying to be as casual as possible, and approached the area of their confrontation.

"And the two chiefs and your subordinates, before you dig out each other's hearts," Tails spread his hands and smiled helplessly, "To a prince of the stars who is about to die......"

"At least give some due respect, right?"

"Like fighting after I'm going to die?"

The onlookers exchanged heads and ears.

Putile nodded slightly.

Sonia and Alaka noticed that each other's eyebrows were slightly wrinkled.

But Tails then changed his tone and snorted sarcastically:

"Oh, of course, maybe you're used to it," Tails turned to look at the soldiers around him, and easily reached into his pocket.

He was about to take out the nine-pointed star badge pin of the Bright Star Royal Family and show it to everyone.

Tails' next sentence was to rely on his last name.

But he didn't touch the pin of the nine-pointed star.

The only thing in his pocket was the fanged bracelet, a token of the Corleone family that the Queen of Night had given him at parting.

Tails' smile froze for a fraction of a second.

Damn Koterina......

She didn't give me back the nine-pointed pin!

But the traverser immediately smiled with lightning speed.

He turned the helplessness of "empty pockets" into a pose of "taking pictures with insert pockets" and walked around.

Tails turned back to the two facing each other and laughed mockingly:

"After all, it's not the first time you've seen a bright star......"

"Died in front of you......"

As soon as the words fell.

The two of them who were facing each other were breathing a lot faster.

Sonia was shocked.

Alaka struggled.

The past came to the hearts of the two.

The voices of the onlookers grew louder and louder:

"So?"

"Yes, you've heard that, right? Both of them are ......."

"Well, it's all like that, so why bother......"

One, two, three...... Tails mentally counted the seconds.

Please, give me some face!

His embarrassment came up again.

Finally, the two commanders each snorted coldly and let go of each other abruptly.

The guards on both sides unsheathed their swords, but their faces were still ugly when they looked at each other.

Tails breathed a sigh of relief.

I saw Putirai on the side, showing a hateful smile, and winked at him.

Gilbert had never been so disrespectful.

Tails gave an angry look back.

But he knew that things weren't settled yet.

"Very good, we ...... Why don't you settle the matter at hand first?" Tails smiled and rubbed his hands, gesturing at Willow Ken, who was stunned.

Alaka snorted impatiently, "Are you going to come to judge yourself, little prince?"

"What, do you have an opinion?" Sonia snorted, "As His Highness, he is the most suitable here. ”

Tails sighed.

No.

It's not just a trial.

It may also be the friction and discord between the two commanders.

And—he looked at Vero, who looked pleadingly—it was a matter of life and death for a man.

He looked up at the officer in charge of the hanging:

"Can anyone prove his words? the people he saved?"

The officer in charge did not seem to have spoken to anyone in the royal family, he took a step back in flattery, and then shook his head: "Not a single one...... So we all suspect that he is lying. ”

Tails frowned.

Bad.

"If you want to know if it's a deserter...... Bring up his blade. ”

The officer nodded nervously.

Soon, under the eyes of everyone, a pair of wooden sticks of equal length, much shorter than the spears, were brought up—the broken sticks still had dried blood, and only the tip of the iron-clad was barely visible on one side.

On the surface, it does look like a broken spear.

However...... Tails looked at the young man with black hair:

"Can you use ...... Twin guns?"

Wei Luo nodded violently: "I, I can!"

"Another lie," said the officer, shaking his head, "there is no soldier with such training, let alone a fisherman!"

Tails exhaled deeply.

He looked at the burning soldiers around him, at Sonya's wistful gaze, at Alaka's compelling eyes, at Putilai's complicated expression.

"If only he could be proficient in using two guns......," Tails muttered:

But Araka interrupted him with a soft snort.

"Deserter or not, he disobeyed orders on the battlefield and ran back, there is no doubt about it," said the strong man sarcastically to the prince:

"What? If he can use two guns, are you going to use the privilege of Bright Star to declare him innocent?"

"Your Royal Highness, Your Royal Highness the Second Prince?"

Tails was stunned.

Violating the order?

Worst.

"Then are you going to execute him directly?" Sonia said in a-for-tat voice, and said coldly, "If he is innocent......"

"No one cares about you on the battlefield, you're all innocent!" Araka interrupted her stiffly:

"Whether it's to escape or save someone, if you disobey the order, you have to pay the price. ”

Sonya's words froze.

She could only turn her head and look at Tails hesitantly, "I respect your decision, Your Highness. ”

"Go on," Alaka said disdainfully, looking at Tails, "forgive him, and see if he will disobey the order next time—maybe then he will kill more than himself." ”

Willow's face was as earthy as he sweated, his gaze constantly moving back and forth between Araka and Tails.

Tails frowned.

Trouble.

Arakka, Sonya, Putile, and the soldiers around him, including the Willow, all had their eyes on him.

What to do?

Hang him.

What will Sonya, and the soldiers around her, think?

Forgive him.

Araka, what about military orders and military regulations?

Or simply, in exchange for other punishments.

No, it's not appropriate...... Damn it.

Gilbert didn't teach that......

Wait a minute.

Gilbert?

Tails groaned.

He had a decision.

"Willow Ken. ”

"I'm not sure if you're a deserter," the traverser said to him as he walked up to Willow, "Therefore, I can't convict you or hang you." ”

Willow breathed a sigh of relief.

"Look, that's where the war begins......" Araka snorted unsurprisingly, and unsurprisingly received a glaring glare from Sonya.

Some of the soldiers who agreed with Araka began to shake their heads.

But Tails' next sentence made Willow nervous again.

"But if you do break the order," Tails shook his head, "then I can't acquit you either." ”

"I can't give a verdict. ”

The audience was silent for a moment.

Then there was an uproar.

Sonia frowned fiercely: What does this mean?

"Ha, guilty and innocent?" Alaka chuckled:

"So what are you going to do, my prince?

Tails was expressionless.

He raised his hand slightly, clenching his fist.

Silence the audience.

"But you said it, Willow," Tails whispered, "you backed away to save your companions. ”

Willow raised his gaze and looked at the second prince with a shudder.

"Whether you actually did it or not - the spirit is noble. ”

Tails' voice echoed through the narrow crowd:

"So, I can't hang you. ”

Vero shook and looked at the prince in disbelief.

Just listen to Tails continue:

"It's not because you're innocent or not. ”

"It's that I can't let others hesitate to save their comrades because they're scared of what happened to you—that's not something to hesitate about. ”

Tails said lightly.

The eyes of the audience looking at Tails were different.

Sonya's face was beaming, and Araka frowned deeply.

Only Putilai, with complex and deep eyes.

"But!"

Tails' face was solemn, and he said sharply:

"That doesn't mean you're innocent, and you don't have to pay the price for breaking the order. ”

"Willow Ken!"

Willow's breathing began to rapid.

"In the battle ahead, you will have to save the lives of more than ten of your comrades," Tails said.

"As the price for not being hanged today, only in this way can you be pardoned for the sin of disobeying the order and clear your suspicion of desertion. ”

"Ten!"

Under everyone's gaze, Tails drew his JC dagger and walked behind Willow with a blank face, aiming his blade at the rope that bound his hands.

Tails took a deep breath and sliced hard with his hand.

One time......

Double-click......

Three......

Huh?

Tails was embarrassed to find that his hand strength was a little small.

At this rate, I'm afraid it will take more than ten seconds to cut the rope.

He felt the gaze of the people around him.

This, this, this......

It's very ruinous atmosphere, hey!

At that moment, that familiar wave surged into Tails's hands.

As if his blood was speeding up instantly, the muscles of his right hand trembled, and a force much greater than usual erupted!

"Whew!"

The rope on Willow's hand was cut in an instant.

Tails withdrew his dagger, forcing himself not to look at the bloody wound on the back of Willow's hand that he had unintentionally cut—ahem.

"So, I trade your future actions for your life and freedom at this moment. ”

"Do you understand?

He looked solemnly at Willow, who had regained his freedom.

Willow gasped and sat on his knees looking at Tails.

He opened his quivering lips.

"Yes......"

"Yes...... His Highness Tails!" he exclaimed, excitedly:

"Save 10 people!"

"There's one more request. Tails said indifferently.

Willow was stunned.

Tails suddenly smiled for the first time in a long time, and said, "Go and change your twin guns - they are worn out like this, they can't even poke the fish in the river." ”

Willow Ken took three breaths.

Then, with a smile that had escaped, he nodded desperately: "Respectfully, obey your orders!"

Tails turned his head and looked around.

Sonia laughed and looked at him with satisfaction.

"Very decent, Your Highness. ”

The Flower of the Fortress walked over unceremoniously and picked him up under Tails' ugly face!

I don't know who started first, and the soldiers around them applauded!

"Bang Bang Bang ......"

Some even began to cheer.

Someone else shouted, "Our prince!"

Sonia laughed, slung the earth-colored Tails over her shoulders, and rubbed his head vigorously: "A good star!"

"Cunning imp. Alaka looked at Tails coldly, muttered a wave of his hand, and left with his subordinates to the applause of the audience.

Only Eda asked Putirai, who was pondering, with a puzzled expression, "What did he just do?"

――――――

When Tails, who was already weak and even more dizzy after being shaken twice by Sonya, was put down, he could only pull on Putira's robe and retch.

Led by a few soldiers, Putirai followed him to the barracks prepared for the prince, followed by Edda, who was once again frozen by the weather.

Tails sighed, "I thought the trouble would come after we got to Exeter." ”

But Putile did not answer his words.

"Your Highness," Putile said silently, not noticing that he was using an honorific title:

"How did you come up with that?"

Tails was stunned: Huh?

"Don't kill that soldier for the time being, but let him contribute himself in the future?" said Putile, walking.

"Well, that's the idea," Tails let out a hot breath as he rubbed his red hands, "Actually Gilbert told me, and it has something to do with my uncle, Midil Bright Star." ”

Putirai's expression moved, and his brow furrowed.

"Gilbert said he had once screwed up a diplomatic mission because of his poor cooperation with his colleagues," Tails recalled, not noticing Putile's face, "but instead of punishing him, His Highness Midil made him a 'debt' to the stars, which he would later make up for with several times his merits." ”

Putile frowned tightly, while Tails raised an eyebrow:

"There is also a saying in the Far East that 'merit is used to make up for sins' - but that is limited to important people, and low-level soldiers like Willow cannot say this directly, so it is necessary to convince others with the reason of saving their comrades. ”

"But it's not a good idea after all," Tails spread his hands, "Think about it, if all the deserters came back and said: I was here to save my companions......"

"So, you're emulating His Highness Midir?" Putile didn't listen to him, but said slowly, "Gilbert probably wants you to be the next Middil. ”

Tails was stunned.

"Uh," he scratched his head, "this incident probably affects Gilbert a lot. ”

"Ah, yes," Putile sighed thoughtfully, "Gilbert did save the whole of the stars in the negotiation of the Peace of the Fortress, and atone for his sins in the city of Steel—otherwise, according to the laws of the time, it would have been enough to send him to prison." ”

Tails turned his head curiously, "Oh, Putira...... You know about it, too?"

"Of course, Your Highness," Putile seemed to be accustomed to addressing His Highness, and he said lightly, "Gilbert didn't mess up that incident because of his unfavorable cooperation with his colleagues. ”

Tails' eyes widened.

"Gilbert was only a descendant of a declining aristocracy, and when he first arrived at the Foreign Affairs Department as the prince's chamberlain, he was ostracized and even deliberately framed by his colleagues. Putile sighed.

"Huh?" Tails wondered, "yes." ”

Putilai nodded slowly: "That's why he worked hard for the stars later...... He thought it was a debt he owed to Midiel, to the stars. ”

"Everyone has their own life journey, and circumstances are unpredictable. Tails sighed, shrugging casually, "He told you about it?"

"No, he didn't," Putile's eyes were deep, and his words were tinged with sadness and remorse:

"But I know better than he does. ”

Tails looked up.

I saw Putilai take a deep breath and slowly spit out the words:

"Because ......"

"I was the one who excluded and framed him in the Foreign Affairs Department back then. ”

Tails froze.

It's embarrassing.

"Well, this," he said awkwardly, "perhaps, if you hadn't done that, Gilbert wouldn't have become the brilliant diplomat and political officer he is now." ”

"Yes, maybe," said Putile bitterly, "the stars are lucky to have such a brilliant and selfless ...... as him."

"No!"

A familiar voice came from behind him.

It seems to be holding back anger.

Tails and Putile turned their heads in surprise.

I saw the second prince's attendant, Huaiya Cassel, looking at them with an unswerving face.

"Waiya ......," Tails said strangely.

He's ...... Angry?

"Your Highness!" Waiya seemed to be trying his best to control his emotions, he took two deep breaths before returning to his normal expression and said slowly, "Jorah...... Jorah: He's dying. ”

Tails was furious.

――――――

Jorah, the leader of the Bright Star family's private army, was lying on the bed in the barracks with a pale face at the moment.

"I ...... I have a sister, Lucy," Jorah said in a distracted and delirious voice, "in the royal capital, in the royal capital......"

"Your Highness," said the bandaged Waiya Cassel with a look of regret, "the vampires have injured him too badly......"

Tails let out a long sigh, "Is there no way?"

"We've searched for the medic in the fortress. Huaiya shook his head, his face sad: "But they are only military doctors, I'm afraid they don't have such good medical skills......"

Tails frowned, "Are there any other doctors?"

Putile frowned: "Hanbao is the closest, but there is a doctor. But...... I'm afraid it's too late. ”

"Moreover, the Exeters emptied the ...... In short, the roads are unsafe. ”

"Accept it," Edda sighed under her cloak, "at least let him leave with peace of mind, and leave no regrets on the way to the Prison River." ”

Tails looked at Jorah on the bed, remembering the first time he had been poked and laughed at in Mindis Hall.

And he led the swordsmen to fight the mercenaries.

Together with his colleagues, stand between himself and Serena.

And also...... Fight against the Bloods in the birch forest......

He closed his eyes sadly.

Damn it.

"His Highness Tails!"

The crowd turned back.

I saw a young man with black hair and brown eyes standing at the door of the barracks.

It's Willow Ken.

The "deserter" who was almost hanged. ”

Willow bowed respectfully to Tails and smiled gratefully, "I'm so glad to see you! I've been sent to inform you of ......"

He glanced into the barracks and swept to Jorah, who was dying.

Wei Luo immediately restrained his smile and said tremblingly, "Uh...... That one...... Two commanders, please come and ...... Mr. Adjutant Envoy."

Tails sighed and couldn't bear to look at Jorah on the bed.

He nodded, and walked out of the room with Putirai and Edda.

"That's ......," Willow asked cautiously, "Your Highness, your subordinates?"

"Yes, but we can't save him. ”

"I hope he leaves in peace. Tails said absentmindedly, "Willow, how did you become a handyman?"

"Hey," Willow shrugged, helplessly, "after all...... A lot of people still think I'm a deserter......"

Tails nodded absentmindedly, but there was a pause at his feet.

No.

"Let the commanders wait, I'll give him one last ride. ”

"He died for me......"

Tails turned around mournfully and looked at Jorah as he lay dying.

Putile shook his head and waved at Vero.

Tails walked back to the bed, looked at Jorah who was muttering inexplicably, and clenched his fists.

If, Jorah, and the other Bright Star privates who died in the birch forest, they hadn't followed me......

Alas.

Right now.

"Your Highness...... That ......"

Vero couldn't help but speak.

Putirai and the others all looked at him dissatisfied.

"Please don't rush," said Wya, unhappily, "please give some dignity to death—even if you are the ferryman of the Prison River." ”

"No," Willow said anxiously, waving his hand:

"I was treated as a deserter yesterday and put in a dungeon...... That dungeon ......"

"Now is not the time to say thank you. Putile said with a frown.

"Oh, no," Willow shook his head, gasping for air:

"I met one in the dungeon, a man who was locked up as a suspicious person......"

The young soldier shouted:

"The man said......"

"He's a doctor!"

Tails and the others snapped and looked at Willow.

"Yes, he also said his name was ...... Ramon!"

Willow finally said what he had to say, he scratched his head and smiled heartily:

"It's still a doctor from the royal capital. ”

According to his own words...... Highly skilled in medicine. ”

(To be continued.) )