It feels like a long time has passed.

But Tails still looked at Putileh in a daze, unable to utter a word.

Putile also gave him a smile full of vicissitudes and wrinkles.

"So, it's all for me," Tails said slowly, with a faint look of surprise and sadness in his eyes, "the whole starry army...... The turmoil that stirred up the nerves of Exeter's nation, the Liberal League...... The sudden frequent communication of the Kingdom Secret Department is, all of them, all of them are ......"

Tails stared blankly at the dusty inner walls around him.

It's connected.

It's all connected again.

The centralization of power by King Chaman, the infighting in Longxiao City, the provocation of Qiyuan City, and the abrupt birth of the Freedom Alliance ******* insisted on bringing Tails to the Black Sand Territory in order to grasp the chips of the war in the west.

For he may have guessed, perhaps he had guessed the moment he heard that the stars were marching into the desert......

In addition to the chaotic and complicated relationship between Longxiao City, Black Sand Collar, and Qiyuan City, the factors that really introduced the Star Kingdom into this foggy chess game and triggered the entry of the Western Continent Shield into the game......

It was himself - the second prince, Tails Bright Star.

Tails fell silent.

Raphael looked at the prince's appearance and sneered softly from his nose: "What, are you flattered?" ”

Putirai coughed and cast a displeased look at Raphael.

Tails took a deep breath and came to his senses.

"yes, a little. ”

"It's strange to say, but ......"

Tails slowly leaned against the wall, as if to soothe the mood of the big ups and downs, only to see him smile reluctantly, as if speaking into the air that did not exist: "Hehe, it's been six years since I became some unlucky prince, and I really didn't expect ......"

"I can have such a grand day. ”

Tails, who was sitting on the ground, absentmindedly squeezed the corners of his mouth: "Hehe." ”

Listening to Tails' tone full of mixed emotions, Putile frowned slightly.

"Anyway," Putile continued casually, "after dark, we'll start ......."

But Tails suddenly raised his head and interrupted him.

"So," the prince sighed slightly, "the secret department sacrificed almost all of the intelligence resources in Longxiao City, and perhaps took a lot of lives. ”

Raphael's brow tightened as he heard this.

"The kingdom has even sent thousands of elite troops to sweep the desert like never before, just to make the way for me to return alone. ”

Tails' rather stiff tone made it difficult for Putile to get used to it for a while.

Tails, who was sitting on the ground, slowly raised his head, and there was an unknown glint in his eyes.

"Moreover, at this time, you have sent troops to the desert and entered the border of Qiyuan City," the prince took a slow breath, and his face returned to normal, but it made the other two feel more and more uneasy:

"It was tantamount to helping Rumba: he not only escaped, but also defeated the city of Qiyuan, and subdued the Black Sand Lord, shocked the dragon kingdom, and obtained power that the whole of Axtri, and the other nine archdukes could not match. ”

"And as a result......"

Tails tightened his expression, his gaze solemn: "The true enemy of the stars, Charman Rumba, the ambitious and terrifying monarch, the co-king who aims to recreate Exeter and set foot on the kingdom of the stars, will become stronger and stronger from today onwards, especially than in the past." ”

"Intelligence, military, political, diplomatic, and even future...... So many sacrifices just to get me, a transparent prince who has been silent in a foreign country for six years?"

At that moment, Tails seemed to be talking to himself:

"Is it worth it?"

The prince turned to the two vassals, his gaze calm.

Raphael's face tightened, and Putile's eyebrows were lowered and he didn't say a word.

The silence lasted for a long time.

The shadows reflected by the inextinguishable lamp swayed back and forth on the wall, indicating the atmosphere of the moment.

"Hmph. ”

The Arcane Skeleton shook his head disdainfully.

"Since the accident six years ago," Raphael looked at the prince who was not very easy to deal with six years ago, and said in a cold tone, "We are very clear: it is simply impossible to exchange you, the only heir who will affect the future of the kingdom, from Exeter without paying any price." ”

His words changed sharply:

"However, after so many sacrifices, after we have come to this point, we have received such a sentence from you: Is it worth it?"

Tails' face darkened slightly.

Raphael folded his arms, his eyes sharp, and glanced at him condescendingly: "Don't you think, this is too ......"

But Putile suddenly spoke, cutting off Raphael's words.

"I don't know. ”

Both of them were attracted to Putira, and looked at him suspiciously.

I saw that Putilai was still bowing his head, but in his rare serious tone, he slowly spit out the words: "But you need to ask yourself." ”

"Ask yourself, Tails Bright Star. ”

Tails paused slightly.

"You have taken yourself hostage alone, and you have wasted six years in vain for the lives and well-being of thousands of people on the border between the two countries, and for the long-term peace and recuperation within the kingdom," Putirai sighed.

"Is it worth it?"

Tails froze, and he looked at Putile, trying to see something in his face.

The former deputy envoy of the mission slowly raised his head, and in the light of the lamplight, Putilai's face looked serious and sharp.

It's not like the old-fashioned, ruthless, and weird middle-aged uncle in the past.

In the same way, the question you just asked can only be answered by yourself. ”

"Yes, we have paid a great price to save you, and in the face of these costs that cannot be ignored," Putile stared at him intently, "If you feel puzzled, feel pity, feel hesitant, and even feel guilty. ”

"Then it's up to you to tell us. ”

Tails' breathing slowed down.

"It's up to you to tell us about these people in the future......"

Putilai's tone was serious: "Tell those who died in Longxiao City, tell those who swore to die in the desert, tell the entire Star Kingdom and even the whole world......"

"Tell us that in the summer of that year, countless people worked hard and wasted money, suffered casualties, gave everything they had, abandoned their ears and eyes, and even did not hesitate to raise tigers to create a strong enemy in the future, and also rescued Prince Tails Bright Star from the besieged Longxiao City, and from the copper-cast and iron-cast Exetry......"

Tails subconsciously held his breath and sat up straight, leaning his back against the cold, rough earthen wall, staring at Putile.

I saw Putilai take a deep breath and cut it out:

"It's the most worthwhile thing we've ever done in our lives. ”

The tone is heavy and meaningful.

Tails' expression froze for this moment.

On the other side, Raphael lowered his eyelids, pursed his lips, and did not speak again.

The familiar silence returned to the passageway.

————

"If you follow the plan and get out of the boundary of Longxiao City safely, the person we will receive locally will join you at the border of Qiyuan City and Longxiao City, and he will protect you all the way to the southeast, crossing the barren rocks of Qiyuan City, until you are sent into the Great Desert ......"

In a secret room at the end of the passage, Raphael laid a yellowed map on a dusty triangular wooden table, and explained his next journey to Tails in the dim light.

Putile leaned silently against the door, watching the prince listen intently to their next plans.

Raphael's hand was pulled downward, closer to the Kingdom of Stars in the lower right corner.

Tails' gaze shifted.

"When you enter the Great Desert, your greatest enemy is no longer the pursuers, but the weather and geography," Raphael's gaze showed a subtle discoloration:

"But don't worry. ”

"First, the northeast end of the Great Desert has been cleared by the expeditionary force that has penetrated deep into the desert by the stars, and no boneless tribes, orcs or sand thieves with more than twenty people dare to stay in our sweeping line, at most there are some scattered unlucky people who have no time to escape......;

Connect?

Tails exhaled helplessly.

So, am I really some kind of cargo?

Raphael spoke freely, not noticing the slightest unnaturalness in Tails: "We will make sure that you have a trustworthy force and manpower to protect you all the way from outside Longxiao City to the Great Desert - of course, there are not too many people, but they are all rare elites in the world, and we will ensure that accidents in the desert will not pose a threat to you......"

"In the Great Desert, our cavalry will patrol day and night, sweeping away threats, and at the same time maintaining the supply line between several large oases," Raphael tapped the map and pulled a dotted line on several small green dots: "If you encounter them, as long as you show your identity, you can be escorted to the nearest military camp or supply point, don't worry if you can't touch them, the people escorting you know the route, as long as you pass through the oases one by one as planned, and always stay within our patrol range, it is safe......"

"Until we escort you back to the Blade Tooth Dunes, the farthest point of the Western Front of the Star Kingdom, one of our largest military strongholds in the Desert, which is already our territory, and further east, you have entered the Western Wilderness Realm. ”

Raphael raised his head, and a glimmer flashed in his red eyes: "Your Majesty has already negotiated with the three major families of the Western Wilderness, including the Duke of Falkenhause, from the Blade Tooth Dunes to the Ruins, from the Wing Fort to the Heroic Soul Castle, you can get all the help you need from the three major families to their vassals - the safe return of the prince is their first priority." ”

Hearing this, Tails' eyes froze.

Falkenhaus.

Duke of the Guardian of the Western Wilderness, Lord of the Ruins, Cyril Falkenhause.

His memories went back to the Hall of the Stars long ago, the middle-aged duke who limped in on crutches, his hair thin, his description withered, almost ghostly, and his sinister smile, cold, shrill voice, and merciless sarcasm.

It's the "persona non grata".

“...... Heading east through the ruins, the Royal Guard and some of the standing army will greet you on the east-west Bounty Avenue and escort you safely back to Eternal Star City. Still have questions?" Raphael ended his words.

Tails nodded.

"You mean, the most mysterious of the six giants, the four-eyed skull family, the ruined Falkenhaus?" Tails pulled his mind back to his eyes and said solemnly:

"Can they be trusted?"

Raphael's moving finger stopped on the map.

Tails tugged at the corners of his mouth, "Maybe they didn't welcome me as much as they thought they would?"

"I remember when I set out six years ago, the Honourable Jenn Cavendil, who was also a fellow Duke of the Sixth Rank, and he was so friendly that he came to see me off. ”

The prince raised an eyebrow, slightly sarcastic: "Putirai, do you remember?"

Putile laughed dumbly.

Raphael paused slightly.

"Your Majesty will make sure of this," but the Bones Man paused for less than a second, his tone resolute:

"The lords of the Western Wilderness, whether Fakenhause, Bozdorf, or the Cromar family, can be trusted, and their soldiers are also in this group of armies that have moved west into the desert, and the royal standing army in the Bladetooth camp alone is not enough to sweep the desert. ”

"Can you be trusted?" Tails shrugged noncommittally, "It's not often heard. ”

Raphael frowned.

Putile smiled softly.

"Tails, I know that six years of exceptional life have made you quite cautious. Putile interjected into the conversation.

"This is not unreasonable—after all, the return of the heir will not only affect you, but also a political storm for the whole country, affecting all parties. ”

Tails snorted.

The thin Lord spoke slowly: "But, please believe me, in order for you to return to the stars unharmed, the nobles who are hidden behind the scenes in Yongxing City and play back and forth are no easier and simpler than these rough iron men on the surface of Longxiao City - Gilbert is among them." ”

Hearing the familiar name, Tails moved slightly.

I saw Putilai looking at him seriously: "They have paid a lot of effort, even a great price, to ensure that the Western Wilderness is completely on our side. ”

"And what you need to do, the ...... you need to worry about the most at the moment"

Putile didn't go on.

Tails stared at him from afar, silent for a few seconds.

The prince nodded and closed his eyes.

"I see. ”

Desert and aristocracy.

This trip......

He sighed inwardly.

Raphael and Putile looked at each other and said nothing.

"Very good, the rest is how you want to get out of the city, this is the top priority," Raphael said lightly: "Your Excellency Lord will tell you in detail, after all, it is his way." ”

Raphael glanced at Putirai: "Should it be reliable?"

Putile gently pulled out his pipe and shook his head helplessly.

The Bones Man turned his head back.

"Well, I think, it's time for us to say goodbye. ”

Tails was still thinking with his eyes closed, and was taken aback when he heard this, and hurriedly looked at Raphael:

"Now, you're leaving?"

But Raphael ignored the prince's surprise, he still had that relaxed smile on his face, and seemed to care.

"Your Highness, although I always say that it will be fine," Raphael tightened his collar and pulled the sleeves on his hand a little higher, "But, in terms of your character and experiences over the past few years, it would not be unexpected if you really encountered an accident in the desert......

Tails' face immediately darkened.

You wait.

What does it mean to be "not surprised when you encounter an accident?"

He muttered silently.

Raphael was obviously smiling, but Tails was speechless for a while.

"But ......"

"Since the time of the Empire, there has been a saying in the Great Desert. ”

Tails was stunned for a few seconds.

"Words spread in the Great Desert?" Tails looked at the other party's red eyes, limited knowledge and doubts flooded into his heart: "Is ......it the proverbs and legends of the Deserted Bones?"

Putile coughed inexplicably.

Raphael seemed to have just come back to his senses, and his frozen expression moved again: "No, the Great Desert is not anyone's homeland—anyone is just a passerby to the desert. ”

"If you are going to the desert, Your Highness, remember," Raphael's tone became cold, and his gaze was sharp and sharp:

"There is no disaster in the desert, there is a disaster in the world, there is no forgiveness in the desert, and the desert is forgiven. ”

What the?

Desert gods?

Tails blinked, trying to understand.

"Listen...... It's not like a lingua franca," Tails searched his mind for this particular phrase, and suddenly found something familiar with the familiarity of studying in the Middleis Hall: "Well, it's very similar to the ancient verse in the Collected Poems of Cahill Yelo, what does it mean?"

Raphael smiled slightly, put his hand into his pocket, and his eyes were slightly melancholy: "Desert God, this is one of the most primitive beliefs in the Great Desert, representing the legendary ruthless existence that is one with the desert, and the inhabitants of the Great Desert love and hate, respect and awe. ”

Putirai was coughing again.

The boneless's dark red eyes slowly focused, but the next moment he lowered his head slightly, covering his eyes with the hands stretched out from his coat pockets:

"The weak fear disaster, and the lucky beg for forgiveness. ”

"Only those who abandon weakness and luck at the same time can find a foothold in the unforgiving desert. ”

As the words fell, Raphael slowly raised his head.

Tails was shocked:

The moment Raphael put down his hand, the strange red eyes of the boneless man had turned into the most ordinary dark brown, bland and impermanent.

"Your Highness, we'll see you in Yongxing City. ”

In Tails' slight astonishment, Raphael, with a pair of camouflaged, new brown eyes, turned away without hesitation, leaving only a white robe, which also faded into the darkness.

Silent, unreal.

As he appeared.

"Young people always like to pretend to be cool and deep......"

Putirai shook his head, pulled out the flint, and muttered to himself, "Don't follow him, Tails, or you deserve to be ......single on Singles' Day."

Tails ignored Putile.

He frowned as he looked at the darkness that had drowned Raphael.

"It's so dark around and that guy doesn't carry a lamp, how does he see the road?" the prince whispered.

Tails thought his complaints were not heard.

Until in that deep darkness, Raphael's words came with a smile: "Just eat more liver and fruit...... In the dark, you can also find the light. ”

Tails' smile froze on his face.

Damn it.

It's not funny at all.

(End of chapter)