Chapter 54 - Chapter 54 Telossi's Movements

In the center of the city-state of Telosi, there stands a huge palace with brilliant colors. The entire palace is like a huge reef rising from the deep sea, made of countless huge and solid gray-white marbles. These boulders are finely polished to reflect a bright and brilliant luster. The Telosi people are extremely obsessed with color. The corners, lintels, and pedestals of the palace are inlaid with sparkling mother-of-pearl, deep lapis lazuli and colorful glass by skilled craftsmen, like treasures left behind by the crashing of solidified waves. It is not only the maharajah's sleeping quarters and thrones of power, but also the crystallization of the sea soul of Telosi. At this moment, in the magnificent main hall, the ruler of Telosi is caught in the storm of the Stone Steps Islands. The Maharaja was over fifty years old, short, and bloated almost devoured the huge chair that could be called the throne under him. The chair was made of dark hardwood, wrapped in priceless silk and velvet, soft as clouds. But this luxury was not exclusive. Several young and charming mistresses snuggled up to him like lazy cats, their pearl-like nails running through his luxurious robes, and their warm breaths tugged at his ears and temples with a sweet aroma. But the Maharajah's mind was clearly not on these living colors. His astonishingly thick hair and beard, dyed a dazzling azure color, now trembled slightly with his furrowed brows. His gaze, like a sapphire quenched in ice, scanned the quarrelsome officials below. These courtiers, dressed in magnificent brocade robes, blushed under the towering dome and among the columns inlaid with mother-of-pearl and colored glass, over whether Telosi should now intervene in the maelstrom of the Stone Steps. The sound echoed on the polished serpentine floor covered with mill carpets and patterns of sea monsters and sailboats. "Enough!" The Maharajah's roar was like thunder, instantly overpowering all the noise. He slammed a heavy silver goblet at hand and threw it to the ground. The cup bounced dull on the thick and fine mill carpet, and finally stopped, the seahorse pattern carved into the wall glowing in the flickering candlelight. A maid in a light gauze skirt gracefully picked up the cup and quickly presented the enraged monarch with a brand new, equally luxurious set of drinking utensils on an ebony table inlaid with snails and ivory. The palace was instantly silent, leaving only the expensive incense rising from the incense burner. Looking at the silent courtiers, the anger in the king's chest almost erupted. At that moment, the two heavy bronze gates of the palace, covered in gold leaf and carved with the emblems of the three gods, were pushed open, and a figure strode in. The visitor was stout, most striking of his green hair and beard, which grew like seaweed. "My dear brother, where have you just been?" The haze on Lord Telossi's face was instantly dispelled by joy, and his fat body even leaned forward: "The gods bless you to come at this moment, give me an idea, the oriental people who came out of nowhere in the Stone Steps Islands have almost swallowed up all the pirate dens, and the soldiers are pointing straight at the gateway of Telossi, how should we deal with it?" " His voice was full of dependence. Although the Maharaja of Telosi was the ruler of the city-state, he had been indulging in wine and lust since he became the Maharajah, and he had no mind to trouble the miscellaneous administrative affairs, so he formed a large clerk to assist him in handling the affairs of the city-state. But the most important thing was the Maharajah's Greenbeard brother, who had always been by the Maharajah's side to advise. The maid quickly brought the Maharajah's Greenbeard brother an equally luxurious wooden chair covered with bright green velvet. Greenbeard sat down calmly and took the silver cup offered by another maid, which was filled with crystal clear pear brandy with a clear fruity aroma. He took a sip comfortably, let the mellow taste on the tip of his tongue for a moment, and then slowly spoke: "Just out of a boring farce, the beggar king has held his ridiculous 'court banquet' again, the gods are on top, that place is not even as good as the cheapest brothel in our port area, and a few merchants who don't know where to pop up are peddling goods, and they dare to call themselves the 'Restoration Parliament'?" In the so-called 'banquet', the wine was sour, the bread was hard, and even the dancing 'court lady' smelled of cheap powder powder of a dock prostitute. " He did not hide his contempt, and his voice echoed in the empty hall. On weekdays, Lord Telosi might join his green-bearded brother in laughing at the beggar king. But now he was worried about the situation in the Stonestep Islands. Greenbeard saw the Maharajah's worry, changed the subject, and said in a low and determined voice: "The Maharaja doesn't have to worry, although the Oriental has captured many islands, but he has not made any moves on the Spearhandle Village controlled by Telossi, I came back from there a few days ago, and the Orientals' men made a few big orders there, and thanks to him, we have made a lot of money." " The Maharaja rubbed his fat fingers worriedly, and Bluebeard shook: "I am worried that in the future, this oriental person will have unnecessary thoughts about Telossi. " "Thoughts?" Greenbeard sneered, the corners of his mouth curled up in a cunning arc, "The three gods are above, he will never have this leisure and guts, don't forget, his biggest trouble at the moment is Salado Thorn, the old fox has assembled the remaining pirates in the narrow sea, to fight with this Oriental, just the ship equipped with heavy crossbows, nearly a hundred ships, that scene, enough for the Oriental to drink a pot." " The Maharaja took a breath, and then suddenly said: "The gods are above, where did Salado get such a big handiwork... You mean, the people of Rees have ended up in person? " "Exactly." Greenbeard smiled sadly, his eyes flashing with a cold light of calculation, "The foreigner doesn't understand the depth of the Stone Steps Islands at all, we Telosi dominate the northern island chain, and Reese supports Salado's old octopus entrenched in the western reefs, this golden waterway is the lifeblood of our trading city-states, and he is at war with Salado, which is openly an enemy of Reese and seeking his own death." " The Maharaja was still a little worried: "Then... what if Salado loses?" " The smile on Greenbeard's face became cold and cruel: "Then let these Easterners who don't know the heights of the sky, taste the taste of the Telosi fleet, if we really want to go to war, in addition to our invincible galley warships, we can also hire those mercenary fleets that are begging for a living in the narrow sea, gold, we have." " He added meaningfully. The tense nerves of Lord Telosi finally relaxed, and his fat body sank back into the soft cushions, allowing the mistress beside him to get into his arms: "It's okay, it's okay.... Let the Orientals and the Reese fight to the death, and we just reap the benefits. " Greenbeard looked at the Maharaja and his mistress, and a trace of unfathomable contempt flashed in his eyes: "It's best to fight a lose-lose battle, and the corpses will be everywhere, and by then ..." He lowered his voice, like a sea serpent's whisper, "The entire sea will truly surrender to the banner of Telosi." " His gaze swept over the scattered eyes of the Maharajah, which had already drifted towards his mistress's plump chest, and only cold contempt remained in his heart.