Chapter 19 (2/2)
The Panther retorted.
“Just hold your tongue.”
The grumpy Xuan Tian walked towards the gatekeeper while staring straight into his eyes and shouted again.
“You there!”
“…?”
As he was yelling too close to the gatekeeper, the latter could not help but ask.
“Who are you. This is the castle of the Grand Duke of Lyonne.”
“I see that I have reached the right destination.”
“The Grand Duke’s castle, you say. Did someone from this place really summon you, Master?”
“They did, okay? This personage has come to meet your lord. Open the gates.”
The gatekeeper took stock of their appearance then declared sternly,
“The Lady shall not receive lunatics.”
“Lu… Lunatics!”
“What? Lunatics?”
The Panther knitted his brows, and something lit up in his eyes.
Oop, the gatekeeper gave a start and shut his mouth at the man’s fierce glower.
“O Gatekeeper, I wish to inquire something of you.”
“W-What might that be.”
“Am I included in what you termed as lunatics?”
“Is that important right now?!”
“Very much so, sir.”
Xuan Tian snapped crossly, but Law merely replied unflinchingly.
“I shall inquire of you anew, O Gatekeeper. Am I included amongst those lunatics?”
“Y-You are not.”
The gatekeeper answered in a slightly timid voice. The Panther then raised his hand.
“All is well then.”
“What part of it is well!”
The Panther returned to being expressionless as he stroked the cat while the Fox next to him fumed silently. As they could no longer pretend to turn a blind eye to the men, the gatekeepers surrounded them, spears at the ready.
“Suspicious men, present to us your proof of identification.”
“…!”
Proof of identification! Xuan Tian clamped the tobacco between his teeth in surprise.
“I shall repeat myself. Suspicious men, present your proof of identification.”
“…”
With skittish eyes, he blew out a puff before he replied.
“…I possess none.”
Xuan Tian Xinghai was an illegal immigrant; he had no means of identification.
“If that is so, you are prohibited from entry into the castle.”
“Ha!”
With a snort, he began rummaging inside his breast pockets, thereby spooking the gatekeepers and causing them to make a fuss.
“Draw your hand out of your chest!”
“Draw your hand out and freeze!”
His expression fell.
“No, I… have an invitation…”
His actions, having been misconstrued by the gatekeepers who assumed he was drawing a weapon when in fact he was only trying to take out the letter from the lord of the castle, prompted them to blow the horn. It was a signal to summon the other knights in the castle—or all of them should the need arise.
“What is going on?”
Just then, two knights who were on watch duty asked from above the walls.
“We must capture these men!”
“They’re suspicious!”
“What?!”
At the gatekeepers’ words, the knights swiftly leapt down the walls. They examined Xuan Tian and Law closely and nodded because sure enough, the men did indeed bear a suspicious appearance.