TL: Rui88
At the entrance to Babor Village, several n dressed as knights sat on their horses, gazing far down the main road to the east.
“Lord Ferguson.”
A younger knight asked the man in the lead, “Do you think Paul Grayman will co?”
Ferguson glanced at him. “Chakon, Lord Grayman is a man who strictly keeps his promises. Since I received his reply, and it was an affirmative one, he will definitely co on the appointed date.”
The young knight said no more and continued to watch the end of the main road.
At that mont, a cloud of dust rose in the furthest distance their eyes could reach.
Gradually, the swirling dust grew thicker, as if a troop was heading in their direction.
“They’re coming, they’re coming! They’re flying the lord’s family banner,” soone with good eyesight shouted in confirmation.
Ferguson’s heart sank, as if a stone that had been hanging high above had finally crashed down, landing heavily on his heart.
He said in a low voice, “Gentlen, the lord is coming. Hide your intentions for now. Be careful in your reception in a mont, and don’t give anything away prematurely.”
“Don’t worry, Lord Ferguson.”
The n patted their chests and replied one after another.
The troop drew closer and closer, and everyone could finally see its size. Ferguson made a rough estimate…good heavens, there were more than fifty people.
His heart was gripped tightly once more. What was going on? Why had so many people co?
Had the lord co to hunt, or had he co to… to… to arrest soone?
He knew that the lord’s guards were all highly skilled fighters. These fifty n, if it ca to a fight, could take on five hundred of his own n.
But the arrow was already nocked on the bowstring; he had no way out.
Ferguson steeled himself and gently shook the reins. His mount, as if sensing its master’s complex mood, did not obediently step forward as usual, but instead paced restlessly on the spot.
“Shak! Easy now, listen to .”
Ferguson stroked the horse’s neck, calming his restless mount. Finally, the horse started to move, trotting forward.
When he was about a hundred yards from the troop, two knights galloped out from their ranks.
“Halt, you ahead! State your identity,” one of the knights shouted towards Ferguson.
“I am Ferguson, a knight of the Grayman family! The lord knows .”
Ferguson shouted back in reply, feeling slightly displeased. But he had been away from Lakeheart Town for several years; these two were probably new and didn’t recognise him.
The troop had stopped. Paul recognised Ferguson and called out, “It’s alright, let him approach.”
Only then did the two knights move aside, clearing a path for Ferguson.
Ferguson spurred his horse and soon arrived before Paul. He dismounted and bowed to Paul, using the traditional etiquette of a knight eting his liege lord.
“Thank you for coming to keep the appointnt, Lord Grayman. My friends and I will be honoured by your presence today.”
“It’s been a long ti, Ferguson!” Paul laughed heartily. He had intended to dismount and embrace Ferguson, but he imdiately received a sharp, warning glance from his Captain of the Guard, Victor.
For so ti now, the Head of Intelligence, Cecil, and the Captain of the Guard, Victor, had repeatedly reminded Paul not to get too close to people he did not interact with regularly, no matter how familiar or trustworthy they had been in the past.
Considering that what he had been doing recently was sowhat sensitive, Paul decided to follow their advice.
He gave his forr family knight a slightly apologetic look.
“It is I who should thank you for inviting to such an interesting event. Ah, I have been extrely busy lately, so I had to decline your previous invitations. My deepest apologies. Hahaha!”
“Not at all!” Ferguson replied with a laugh. “Your presence, Lord Grayman, is the greatest honour you could bestow upon . It’s just…”
He glanced at the long column of n, his words betraying a hint of confusion.
“Oh! It’s all Victor’s fault.”
Paul unhesitatingly placed the bla on the Captain of the Guard next to him. “I said we were just taking a trip within my own domain, not going to Crystal Shrine to have an audience with the king. There’s no need for such a grand display. But he wouldn’t listen and insisted on doing it this way.”
His tone even carried a hint of indignation.
Victor, his expression unchanged, dismounted and gave Ferguson a bear hug.
“It’s been a long ti, Lord Ferguson.”
“It really has been a long ti, Victor. You’ve matured. Are you in charge of Lord Grayman’s security detail now?”
“Yes!”
“And Russ?”
“Lord Hayden is now the head of the Departnt of Public Safety, so I was pushed into this position by him.”
Victor and Ferguson were old acquaintances. He explained the reason for bringing so many guards. “Lord Ferguson, you’ve been living in the countryside and haven’t had much contact with the outside world, but the Alda of today is not the remote and dilapidated Alda of the past. Who knows how many people out there, openly or secretly, covet Lord Grayman’s power and wealth, and of course, his life. That’s why I have no choice but to arrange for so many n whenever Lord Grayman travels.”
He put on an expression of grievance. “Sigh, you know, the pressure on is imnse now.” He then ruffled his hair. “Look at my hair now. Isn’t there much less of it than the last ti we t?”
Ferguson’s anxious heart relaxed a little. Hearing their words, it seed they hadn’t brought so many n specifically for him.
“This way, please, Lord Grayman. First, to my manor. I will host a reception for you to wash away the dust and fatigue from your journey.”
Ferguson invited Paul with a smile. “Oh, by the way,” he said, pointing to the people still waiting at the village entrance.
“There are a few other friends who have co with to welco you. Let introduce you in a mont.”
Paul nodded. “Good! Take to your manor for a visit, my dear Ferguson.”
Ferguson then remounted his horse and led Paul’s troop towards the village.
…
“Grayman is here!”
At the village entrance, the remaining knights watched the entire exchange as Ferguson rode out to et the lord’s troop.
The young man Ferguson had called Chakon said with so trepidation, “Why did he bring so many n? Could it be that he already knows sothing?”
“We’ll act according to Lord Ferguson’s lead in a mont.”
The one who answered him was another young man, slightly older than Chakon. “Hmph! What’s the use of bringing so many n? This is our territory. Once he’s here, he’s at our rcy. More n just ans more to accompany Grayman to his grave.”
The young man’s eyes were icy cold as he looked at the troop.
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