Chapter 23: Provoking

The Great Hall, Main Lobby

As they moved across the hallway into the main lobby at the centre of The Great Hall, Sung Li stares at the soldiers, frowning.

"I wonder why Sir Wennen seems so reluctant towards us? Is it because he didn't bring along enough guards?"

Ijohen stares at the soldiers, his heart beating harder. "I'm not sure, but there's no need to worry. There are plenty of soldiers surrounding the main hall and the surrounding areas."

They looked around and sure enough, there are at least a few hundred guards and soldiers stationed everywhere.

The soldiers were differentiated by their silver armour which signifies their rank—and the Royal emblem stitched onto their chests.

Even the lowest ranking soldiers wore this kind of armour while the highest-ranked ones had golden armours stitched with various symbols and patterns.

While the Hall guard wore light brown leather jerkins stitched with the Hall of Land and Border's symbol.

"Is this the first time you've seen the Royal insignia stitched onto the uniforms of the royal guard?" the soldier escorting their muses.

"No, I have." Ijohen stares back at the man. "I have met the King before."

The man stares back at him, a smile forming on his face. "The King!? Do you have the honour of meeting the king?

That must have been a great experience for you, young man." he mockingly stares at him.

Ijohen stares back at the man, his face formed in a stony mask, his eyes stinging with anger.

"What's the matter, kid?" the soldier stares at him, his eyes widening in amusement. "Did you forget your manners?" he pauses, his eyes narrowing.

Ijohen stares at the man, pausing, trying to hold back his emotions.

"Man, these full-grown men sure know how to talk bullshit!" Sung Li stares at the man, pausing, stifling a laugh.

"Why don't you go and fight some monsters or something, instead of escorting young boys like us?" he stares at the man, pausing.

"What are you? A pervert?" his piercing words stinging the man.

"What did you say?" the guard stares back at him, his eyes quivering with fury.

"Ah, you're a cheeky little brat, aren't you?" another guard stares back at him, his eyes twitching. "I'll teach you a lesson."

"Why? Do you have a fetish with little boys?" Sung Li retorted.

The crowd in the hall stares at them, whispering amongst themselves.

The commotion attracts the attention of Sir Wennen, who stares at them with his brows pinched. "Shut up back there! What do you think you're doing?" he stares at the guard, glaring at him. "Don't make trouble here!"

Sung Li stares back at the old man, his eyes glimmering with laughter.

"I'll show you after Sir Wennen is done with you boys." the man stares back at him, his eyes narrowing.

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"Bleh~" Sung Li stuck out his tongue, stifling a giggle.

"You're really getting on my nerves. Don't make me lose my temper," the guard stares at Sung Li, pausing. "I can tell that you have no respect for authority." he stares down at the boy, his nostrils flaring.

Rihan ignores the exchange, stifling a yawn while observing the surroundings. He stares at the people strolling past the open windows, watching the bustling streets below.

The soldiers bearing the royal insignia stares back at them with hard gazes, their stances firm.

"Hey," he whispers to Ijohen. "What do you think of the soldiers posted here? Are they the elite corps of the Royal Guard, or are they the regulars posted around the Halls?"

Ijohen stares at the soldiers nearby, pausing, his gaze stumbling upon Sir Wennen's office.

He pauses, thinking. "I guess they're probably the former," he stares at Rihan. "There should be an elite division for the Royal Guard hidden somewhere."

"Really? Where?" Rihan stares at Ijohen. "I'm curious to find out more about them, but I don't want to get into any unnecessary troubles."

Ijohen rolled his eye. "You're a rascal, you know that?"

"So what's wrong with that?."

"You're too eager to take risks." Ijohen stares at the boy, pausing and sighing deeply. "I'm sorry to say this but you're too reckless."

Nearby a man with a silver beard stares at them, his eyes prying at the group of kids being led by the hall guards, stumbling to keep up with the pace of the man in front of them.

The man wore a dark blue cloak, his hair was short, and a single white strip was stitched diagonally on the sword-like blade stashed behind his back.

The old man raised his brow, his gaze stumbling upon a braid hanging on Sung Li's shoulder.

"Hm? That's the-?" he stutters, while watching the group exit the large hall through a side door decorated with intricate carvings of a dragon stitched on the wood.

"So what do you want?" Sir Wennen stares at the boy, he pours a cup of tea for himself, "You're not going to ask me for a job or anything, are you?" he pauses, stifling a yawn.

Rihan looks around the room, "Oh, no, we're not," he replied. In front of the desk, a golden metal tag writes 'The Great Hall, Chief of the Golden Pavilion Room'.

"Then why did you come here?" Sir Wennen stares at the boy, pausing. "Do you want me to recommend you to the Royal Guard?" he pauses, stifling a snicker. "I don't think they would welcome a bunch of rascals like you." he pauses, stifling another snicker.

Rihan sighs, patting his chest. "Actually, I came here to tell you about the Golden Contracts." he paused. "You see, I won't be handing that over to you, so you should give it back to us."

Sir Wennen scowls, his hand gripping the edge of the table. "I won't give you the Golden Contracts, no matter what." he scowls, his hand trembling.

"If you're not going to hand over the other contract, I'll take it over your dead body. You should know that you're not going out of this room alive." he scowls, his eyes narrowing.

Rihan sighs, shaking his head. "It's not going to happen. You'll regret it if you put your hands on us." he looks distracted by the decoration in Sir Wennen's room. "We're going to make sure you regret it."

Sir Wennen's face quivers, his lips quivering. "How dare you threaten me?

"Hmph, threats? You think I'm afraid of you?!" Rihan scoffs, his eye focused on a replica of the Golden Pavilion on a cabinet nearby.

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