Chapter 1305: A Sly Grin Behind Pitiful Eyes ( 1305 )

Mikhail smiled and clasped his hands together with a friendly expression.

"Yes. I didn’t know everyone here calls him that, but we have some business to discuss with him. A mutual acquaintance recommended his services."

The captain crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes at Mikhail.

"If you truly know about him, surely you can describe this ’Jee’ you wish to meet."

Mikhail rubbed the back of his head and let out a sheepish laugh. "Well... I’ve heard he’s always accompanied by a huge orange monster bird. That’s what people in my nation say, at least."

The captain nodded, hiding a faint smirk before glancing at one of his guards. "Go find Beggar Jee. He should be at the town square near the fountain, as usual, with his pekko."

"Yes, Captain!"

The guard turned and rushed inside, moving quickly toward the town square.

The captain glanced at the other guards. "Please escort our guest to the rest area to wait."

"This way, sir." The guards gestured for Mikhail to follow them toward a shaded rest area near the gate.

"Ah... what about my guards?" Mikhail asked, glancing back at Jaigar and Gorak.

"Hmm?" The captain smirked. "Sorry, but your ’guards’ can wait at the carriage. They’ll be fine there."

He turned and walked away, leaving Mikhail to follow the guard toward the rest area.

Jaigar and Gorak gritted their jaws, muttering under their breath.

"How dare those lowly races call us... guards?" Gorak growled.

"Just wait," Jaigar hissed, his eyes burning with cold fury. "Once this is finished, that asshole captain will be the first one on my list. I’ll make sure his head hangs as my trophy."

Meanwhile.

Inside the Elven border.

Town square, near the fountain.

Javier sat cross-legged on the ground, holding his cracked wooden bowl, his expression pitiful as he played the role of a beggar.

"Oh, please help this poor soul... I haven’t eaten in days... A single coin would be enough to buy a piece of bread..."

The guard who had been sent by the captain approached, slowing his pace and walking casually toward Javier, pretended to drop a coin into the bowl, leaning in slightly as he whispered.

"Sir. The target has arrived and is requesting to meet ’Beggar Jee.’"

Javier’s lips curled into a faint smirk. "Ah... so the outsiders have finally arrived."

"Yes, Sir Javier. But they look hostile. Best to be careful."

"Hmm... don’t worry about that. I know how to handle them. It’s best if we can bring them out of the Elven Nation as soon as possible."

"Understood, Sir Javier. We’ve already done our best to ensure everything goes smoothly, from the questioning to the verification process."

"Very well..." Javier smirked, glancing up at the sky before turning his gaze toward Buddy. "Don’t cause a scene for now, Buddy. Proceed as planned. Pretend you’re just a dumb monster bird who doesn’t understand anything."

"Cuquawked~" Buddy let out a low squawk, lowering his head slightly and settling into a relaxed posture, his eyes dulled to look less sharp and more docile.

"Woo~ Look at my Buddy here." Javier said, nudging the massive pekko with his elbow, a playful grin on his face. "He’s so well-behaved, isn’t he? Just a big, dumb, harmless bird~"

The elven guard just shook his head and smiled.

"Sir, what would the outsiders think if they notice Buddy and the other pekko-drawn carriage look different?"

"Well, that’s more reason for them to believe that I, a beggar with a dull, lazy pekko, am exactly who I appear to be. A poor soul who can barely afford to feed himself, let alone own a well-trained pekko."

He glanced around and leaned in, whispering in a low voice. "Could you help me buy half a portion of bread?"

The elven guard tilted his head, confused but nodded, taking the money from Javier’s bowl before walking toward a nearby stall. He returned shortly with a half portion of bread and handed it to Javier.

"May I ask what you’re going to do with this, sir?"

Javier took the bread with a grateful nod, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Well... let’s just say, to make it look even more convincing. A beggar who hasn’t eaten in days would be desperate for food, right? And if a guard buys him bread out of pity, it makes the act even more believable."

He glanced at the guard. "Now proceed with the plan. Make it look convincing."

The elven guard nodded, then reached out, gripping Javier’s arm firmly and pulling him to his feet, pushing him forward.

"Now, Beggar Jee... there’s someone who wants to meet you."

"Eh!? I didn’t finish my bread yet!"

"Don’t talk. Just move."

"Fine... ugh!" Javier stumbled forward, clutching his half-eaten bread as he was escorted through the town square. Buddy followed behind, his tongue sticking out slightly to the side of his beak, his head bobbing with a dumb, happy expression, playing the part of a simple-minded pekko perfectly.

After a while.

Mikhail kept his eyes fixed on the gate, his posture tense with anticipation.

He then spotted the guard from before escorting a human in ragged clothes, with a huge, dumb-looking orange monster bird following behind, its tongue sticking out slightly from the side of its massive beak, its head bobbing with happy expression.

"Eeeeppp!! Don’t push! My bread will fall on the ground!" Javier whined, stumbling as the guard nudged him forward.

"Just move. There’s someone who wants to meet you!"

"I don’t know anyone! I know you’re just trying to chase me out!" Javier stopped abruptly, turning to face the guard with a sheepish grin. "I haven’t caused any trouble! I just sleep by the fountain and beg for food! That’s all!"

"Ugh! I’m not chasing you out! The captain said to bring you here, so just meet these people and don’t cause trouble!"

"Really? REALLY?" Javier’s eyes widened, his expression shifting to one of exaggerated hope and relief. "You’re not going to kick me out?"

"Yeah, yeah! Now, just meet these guys who wish to see you, and don’t cause trouble!"

"Yay! Ehehehe! Thank you, thank you!" Javier grinned, his eyes gleaming with a mix of mischief and relief as he clutched his bread tightly.

After he reached the gate, Javier stopped and glanced around warily, his eyes darting between the carriages and the guards, his body tense with exaggerated suspicion.

"Err... I’ll stop here."

"What?" The elven guard rolled his eyes. "Just step outside."

"No!" Javier clutched the huge gate, his fingers gripping the bars tightly. "I know once I step outside, you’re all going to chase me out!"

"No, we don’t!"

Javier clutched the gate even tighter, his knuckles turning white. "No! I saw those carriages! Those carriages are to bring me back to the Human Nation, aren’t they!? You’re going to send me away!"

The guard sighed heavily and looked at the other guard. "Can you please go get the captain? This beggar doesn’t believe what I said about him just needing to meet someone."

Javier gave them a sharp side glare, still clinging to the gate like his life depended on it.

Mikhail slowly stood up from the rest area and glanced at the guard nearby. "Can I at least meet him there, at the gate? I don’t want to cause any trouble. I just need to talk to him."

( End Of Chapter )