Derek appeared calm even when he was faced with Count Lewis’ strange inquiry.

“The man who stands before you is Tha—”

However, Lewis immediately burst into laughter and interrupted Derek’s introduction with a wave of his hand.

“Do not worry. It is only a joke. Of course I know where he is…”

Derek’s face darkened when he was interrupted.

“Come, let me take a good look…”

In Derek’s silence, Lewis turned his horse around to size Thales up from his side. He had a profound expression on his face.

The prince inhaled deeply as he suppressed the discomfort he felt in his heart. He smiled under the Count of Black Lions’ stare.

A few seconds later, Count Lewis took a half-circle around Thales before he finally laughed out loud.

“Your Highness, I have long heard about your victories and achievements in Northland. Welcome, it is our greatest honor to receive you.”

He got closer to the prince and leaned back with an arrogant face.

“Perhaps you do not remember me—”

However, against his expectations, the prince raised his volume and interrupted him. “The Skillful Black Lion, would he still fight for the pride?”

The words startled Lewis.

“‘I swear I will fight to my death’ is what you promised my father.” Under everyone’s gazes, the second prince looked straight into the eyes of the man who held power over the Black Lion Family.

“If the alpha lion is still smart and brave, he will always care for the pride…'”

Lewis looked surprised.

Even Derek furrowed his eyebrows a little while he remained by the side.

“Yes, I remember you, Count Lewis Bozdorf from Brave Souls Fort. You were seated not too far away from me during the National Conference six years ago.”

Thales cleared his throat. His gaze grew cold under the setting sun.

“And I still remember that when they cast votes to decide my place as prince… you cast your vote against me.”

There was a warning tone in Thales’ voice.

Bozdorf’s expression instantly changed.

He immediately sat up straight and changed the way he looked at Thales.

Even Derek, who was beside him, pursed his lips.

Lewis coughed a little.

“Your Highness, in the past—”

However, the prince’s cold expression suddenly melted away like melting ice.

Thales snickered and laughed as he interrupted the count, “Do not worry, it is only a joke…”

As both Lewis and Derek frowned, Thales tugged his reins leisurely and rode past the Count of Black Lion.

“Come, let me take a good look…”

The prince calmly sized up the soldiers behind the count, who were all clad in black armor, as though he was inspecting his own army.

After a few seconds, Thales tugged his reins just like Lewis and turned his horse around. A smile soon appeared on his face.

“Your Grace, I have heard a lot about how well the Black Lion Family fights in battles.”

Once he finished speaking, he smiled amicably and extended his right hand to Count Lewis.

“It is such an honor to finally meet you today.”

Lewis stared at the prince in a daze.

The Black Lion Family of Brave Souls Fort.

Another family name that was known by everyone in Western Desert.

In history, Bozdorf’s ancestor was a heavy infantryman who joined the Battle of Eradication. He was promoted more than once by the King of Renaissance and rose steadily up the ranks because of his bravery as well as good battle tactics. He was finally conferred the status of count on the day Constellation was founded.

One of the reasons the Western borders could expand to such an extent in the present was due to the eagerness of the people of the Western borders in going to war, and also their might. At the beginning of the second century of the Calendar of Eradication, in the battle where the King of Blades, Tormond the Second conquered Dragon-Kissed Land and defeated Mist Dukedom, it was Bozdorf’s heavy infantry troops that beheaded the first and also the last Archduke of Mist.

After the first Peninsular War, Brave Souls Fort’s influence reached its peak. In Western Desert, the Black Lion Family even held more power than the guardian duke. That was until they, unfortunately, chose the wrong side like most families did during the Dual Star Confrontation in the late second century when ‘Cloud King’ Horace the Second died in the devastating internal strife where the forces of the two Jadestars fought for the throne.

The stunned Count Lewis stared at the right hand extended by the prince. He glanced at Thales’ smile and fell silent for a while.

Derek smirked a little as he watched Thales from the side. He did not say a word.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

After half a second, the Count of Black Lion put away his arrogant look. He urged the horse to go forth and did not hesitate to take off his iron gloves before he shook Thales’ hand firmly.

“You have my word that you will see us live up to our name.”

Thales felt the count give him a firm shake while he held his hand tightly.

‘The Count of Black Lion sure has a lot of strength in his hands.’

Count Lewis narrowed his eyes.

“The alpha lion is indeed extraordinary.”

Count Bozdorf released his hand and waved to the man behind him.

“Your Highness, meet my eldest son and heir, Paul.”

A quiet young man with brown hair, who kept a low-profile, urged his horse forward. He was wearing armor that had the black lion crest.

“Paul Bozdorf.” The young Paul kept a straight face and placed his clenched fist on his chest. He looked less sophisticated than his father. “Your Highness, it is my honor to be at your service.”

Thales smiled.

“It is my honor too.”

Count Lewis who had been studying Thales, let out a laugh. He waved at the black-armored soldiers behind him.

“Your Highness, my son, the Black Lion Family’s two hundred elite soldiers, the one hundred soldiers formed by the fourteen families around Brave Souls Fort, and Derek will escort you home.”

Lewis added, “Please forgive me, as I am unable to escort you personally. However, please do not doubt our passion and loyalty to Renaissance Palace.”

Thales looked at the Black Lion Flag behind Lewis and the other fourteen lower-ranked noblemen’s flags.

The prince creased his eyebrows before he smiled.

“I have never doubted it for a second.”

Lewis smiled as well.

“I have never suspected you of doubting us.”

However, in the next instant, the Count of Black Lion glanced to the east, and his tone changed. “But I suspect that there are people who do.”

Thales’ smile grew slightly tense.

‘I have to say, that was well said.’

Amid the awkward atmosphere, Derek coughed a couple of times, but no one knew whether it was intentional or unintentional.

Lewis did not seem to have understood him, and he suddenly said, “I heard that our Duke of Western Desert, Duke Cyril has visited you. Is that so, Your Highness? I heard that he has also given you a good sword?”

Thales, who had just relaxed a little, felt tense again when he heard that.

‘Sh*t. How did he find out about that?’

The prince felt incredibly troubled and changed the direction he faced. He instinctively wanted to block and hide Sentinel, which was on his saddle.

“About that, I was going to return…”

However, Lewis sighed and pointed at his troops with indignation in his eyes.

“With just one sword, the duke accomplished what Derek and I managed to do by first gathering countless citizens in our territory before mobilizing six to seven hundred elite personal guards.”

Count Bozdorf snorted lightly.

“What a good deal for him.”

He suddenly turned to face the master of the Single-Winged Crow.

“What do you think, Derek?”

The Count of Wing Fort looked up, but he did not answer. He only showed Lewis a friendly smile.

Thales suddenly realized something as he observed Derek’s expression.

In the next second, Count Lewis moved his gaze back to the prince, and he asked in a seemingly unintentional manner, “So, did he ‘wave’ his sword at you as well?”

Thales was startled.

“Wave?”

Derek coughed by the side again.

Yet, Count Lewis had apparently not heard it. He smiled in a fashion that suggested he was completely unbothered while he gesticulated at the prince from his steed.

“You know, this is about him intentionally swinging his sword in front of you. If you are frightened out of your wits, he would laugh and say, ‘You are not as good as I thought.’ If you do not have any response, he would act in a very profound manner and say, ‘All right, you passed the test.'”

Lewis waved his hand contemptuously.

“Naturally, after he intimidates someone, he can put on airs and give a lengthy speech.”

‘Intentionally swinging his sword in front of you…’

Thales was baffled at first, but he was completely stunned soon after.

‘What?’

The scene of the Duke of Western Desert and him in a room surged into the forefront of his mind like a tide.

“What?” the prince voiced his thoughts in surprise.

As if he had anticipated the prince’s reaction, Count Lewis giggled with an expression that said, “I knew it.”

“I bet the duke probably poured his heart out as he told you his inner feelings and deep concerns. Perhaps he also voiced how deeply and madly he loves Western Desert, as well as how justified and touching his love was, and how he could extract himself from loving the place. In the end, he must have also made it clear that everything was inevitable, and that amid the chaos, regardless of how great or small it was, he only wanted to remain neutral and did not want to choose a side?”

Thales blinked and felt dazed by the weight of the message he just heard.

‘What?’

Lewis continued, “Was he playing around with his words where he strang numerous words together, beat about the bush countless times and went back to the same point after rambling on in a long-winded fashion? Did he bewitch you with his nonsensical talk about how power comes from violence, and violence produces an awful lot of other things before it leads to power again?”

‘Power comes from violence… Playing around with words where he goes back to the same point after rambling on in a long-winded fashion…’

As he listened to the man, Thales was puzzled, and his eyebrows rose and fell.

The Count of Black Lion’s tone was mocking. “Did he make you feel like he was profound, had good visions, and stood out from the rest?”

Derek turned his head to the side and coughed loudly.

Thales finally found a chance to speak, and he asked doubtfully, “How did you”

But Lewis did not allow his to ask his question.

“You know, after all that nonsense, he would click his finger when it is time…”

Count Bozdorf waved in a scornful manner, and a snap could be heard between his fingers.

“He would then wink his eyes, tap his teeth, and say, ‘Rest assured, I will not tell others this, but I am on your side!'”

The way he shook his head with a mocking face actually made his style right then somewhat resemble that of Fakenhaz.

However, the prince was flabbergasted.

“Wh—What?

Lewis laughed coldly.

“Do not be surprised, Your Highness. We are talking about Duke Cyril the Unwelcomed. When we were young, he would do to everyone…” He put away his mocking expression, and his face turned cold. “…what he did to you.”

Thales was speechless and tried hard to control his expression.

‘What did he mean? Do to everyone… what he did to me? Then… What I heard from the Duke of Western Desert in Ghost Prince Tower yesterday…’

‘”Did you think I would pull any fourteen-year-old little brat on the street to tell him all this?”‘

Thales felt that his thoughts were slightly chaotic.

Lewis turned his head around in derision.

“Am I right, Derek?”

Derek bowed politely, but he still only smiled and did not say anything.

The Count of Black Lion snorted coldly in dissatisfaction as he watched Derek’s actions.

But at this moment, Thales was already incredibly confused.

‘That… That Duke of Western Desert who looked like a Boss from a game… How… did… he… but… no way… Then…’

“I am going to visit the duke in the camp today. I hope he will not just think about humoring me with his old ways.”

Lewis snorted and said, “But no matter what, regardless of whether it is the beginning or the end of this drama, we have a lot to thank you for, Your Highness.”

Count Bozdorf watched Thales as he tried to ponder upon the matter.

“If it were not because of your arrival, all of us, be it Duke Cyril or Derek, including the many suzerains affiliated to us in Western Desert, from the Ruins leading up to Wing Fort, would not be here. It is, in fact, rare for us to all be together. You must be our savior, Your Highness, regardless of whether it is six years ago or now. You have led us to come together, though we do not usually get along well. Is it not so, Derek?”

Derek curled his lips for the third time and smiled politely.

After he watched how stubbornly the Count of Wing Fort refused to say anything, Bozdorf shifted his gaze to Thales again.

“And I have a present.”

The Count of Black Lion waved his hand, and in the next second, a few strong and sturdy soldiers in black armor held up flag poles and spread an extraordinarily big flag that was held ridiculously high in the sky.

Thales was about to thank them, but his smile immediately froze.

“Do you miss your family emblem, Your Highness?”

As the citizens on both sides of the town cried out in surprise and stirred up a commotion, the flag spread in the wind.

It was the Nine-Pointed Star Flag.

However, the nine-pointed stars on the flag seemed to have been made with special material; when the flag moved slightly, silver light sparkled at a degree that was blinding to the eyes. It was as dazzling as a thousand stars in the sky, and it was hard to ignore it.

It was so glaring that even Thales subconsciously raised his hands to cover his eyes.

‘F*ck. This is too…’

Thales turned his head around in embarrassment.

“I appreciate your present, but is this not too flashy…”

“Flashy?”

Lewis immediately interrupted him. He raised his arms at the town and wild plains around him indignantly.

“In the name of the Goddess, this is your country and your home, we will be your vassals. When you move about at home, you should feel free to do anything you want—”

Thales whispered in an embarrassed manner, “I would rather keep a low-profile when I do things…”

Lewis appeared not to have heard what he said. He continued to speak loudly, “—If there is every a day that you, as a member of the Jadestar Royal Family, have to think twice and have doubts about revealing who you are, then maybe…”

Lewis leaned forward and pressed against Thales’ shoulder with one hand. The exaggerated expression on his face swiftly turned cold.

“… there is something wrong at home.”

He asked coldly, “What do you think?”

Thales trembled in his heart.

Lewis pushed down on Thales’ shoulder and revealed a jarring expression that caused great unease on others.

Thales took a deep breath.

A second later, he curled his lips but did not say anything. He only revealed an impeccable smile.

“Sorry to interrupt you.” Derek, who had been quiet for a long period of time, finally spoke up at this moment. “You should get going, Your Grace. It will take half a day to travel from here to Blade Fangs Camp.”

Thales appreciated his interruption very much.

It was unknown whether it was because of Derek’s help or because he had nothing else to say, Count Lewis only kept quiet for a while before he released Thales’ shoulder.

He put away his uncanny expression and smiled a little.

“Of course, do not let me be in your way. Paul, guard the prince with your life, just like how the prince guarded his home with his life in the past six years.” Lewis ordered his son, but he seemed to be referring to something else. “”

Paul pushed his hand against his chest and lowered his head solemnly.

“I will, father. I will.”

Count Bozdorf curled the corners of his lips and pointed at the flag with his thumb at the Nine-Pointed Star Flag that shone with a brilliant silver light.

“And remember, as heavy as the flag may be, be sure to keep it held high up in the air. Do not let it fall.”

Lewis clicked his tongue, and continued to speak, though it was not known to whom he was speaking to.

“If it did, it will injure someone.”

Thales’ expression did not change.

This time, Paul did not answer and merely nodded quietly.

“In that case… I wish you a good journey, Your Highness.”

The Count of Black Lion tugged the reins of his horse, put away his cold expression, and smiled confidently.

“The roads in Western Desert have fallen into disrepair, and it has always been unpleasant to travel on them.”

As he was escorted by his soldiers, Lewis Bozdorf rode past Thales while he swayed, and left behind his back in Thales’ vision, along with some profound words, “I suppose, the roads in Central Territory… will be smoother.”

As he watched the Count of Black Lion’s troops leave, Thales exhaled with relief.

He and Derek glanced at each other, and the both of them revealed an impeccable and resigned smile.