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Heir of the White Lotus (Web Novel) - Chapter 1913: Suspicious
Chapter 1913: Suspicious
This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl
The party of seven soon arrived at their next destination.Adam noticed that as they drew closer to the City Hall, patrols steadily increased.
Not on the streets below, of course. But there were Magi and Paldins inside buildings, looking out of the windows. Some patrolled the terraces, scanning the surroundings like hawks.
There were many more that he couldn’t directly see, but could sense through the Sphere of Resonance.
Many of them noticed him, Genevieve, and Michael. But seeing as Daerona and her men were with the group, they didn’t move to intercept.
Security is tight, he thought.
This is good.
Hopefully, not too tight. Otherwise...
A walled boundary surrounded the five-story building. People patrolled the battlements, preventing monsters from scaling the wall during the daytime. Despite the moon disappearing, some monsters still remained, after all.
These guards looked tough and menacing, hardened by the years spent in this accursed place. Their numbers increased a little around the main entrance.
There were over a dozen of them concentrated by the iron gates. The large majority of them were Paladins, wielding all kinds of weapons. Only a few were Magi.
"Daerona," a middle-aged man with a burly physique stepped in front of the group. His eyes swept over the elf and her men first.
Then they bore into Adam and his group, not bothering to hide the hostility.
"I see you’ve brought fresh blood."
"Found them outside the city walls trying to get through," she said. "It’s a good thing they didn’t try to scale the walls like the previous group."
The Paladin scoffed. Then he looked at Daerona’s men and said, "You know the drill. Separate."
At once, the three men approached three different guards, then spoke something to them in hushed whispers.
Adam immediately grew wary. But when he noticed Daerona whisper something akin to a password to the burly Paladin, he relaxed slightly.
A type of precaution against those mutated ghouls, perhaps, he wondered.
This led him to think that the ghouls must have pretended to be adventurers in the past and sneaked into the City Hall.
"Did you take their weapons?" the Paladin asked. He then turned to Genveieve. "And her material components?"
The elf nodded. She gestured to Adam and said with slight amusement, "And his too."
"He’s a Magus?" The man quirked a brow. "Doesn’t look like one."
The corner of Adam’s lips twitched.
"Did you do the initial vetting?" the Paladin asked.
"I did," Daerona replied sincerely. "We’ve spent an entire night with the three. They don’t show any odd signs. They should be good. I’ll leave the rest to you, Ivan."
"Fine. Head to the second security checkpoint," said the man.
Daerona nodded. She then cast Adam a glance. "Cooperate with him. I’ll see you all inside."
Adam nodded. He watched Daerona and her men pass through the gates, then arrive at the second checkpoint.
"All right, then." The burly Paladin, Ivan, drew his attention.
"You and you. Follow me," he said while pointing at Adam and Michael.
"And you, young lady, head to Asha over there. She’s the one with the red hair," he said to Genevieve.
Genevieve turned to Adam, and he nodded imperceptibly. Then she separated from the group.
Adam and Michael were led through the gates, whereupon they were subjected to a thorough body search.
A few artifacts were used that were capable of seeing beyond the surface level. It became evident that the guards stationed by the gates were very serious about who they allowed entry.
Michael was the first one to be searched. A few minutes later, he passed without any problems.
But when it was Adam’s turn, he realized that he would not be allowed to pass through.
He closed his eyes and silently cursed.
Dragonshit!
"Remove those handwraps," said one of the guards.
Adam sighed, shaking his head. "I can’t."
The guard frowned. So did the few others who were nearby.
"The hell do you mean you can’t?" The guard pressed. "Put aside your belongings, take off those damend handwraps, and go through security just like everyone else!"
Toward the end, the guard’s voice rose a notch, drawing the attention of people nearby.
"What’s the matter?" Ivan was drawn by the sudden commotion.
"He’s acting highly suspicious. He won’t remove those handwraps."
The burly Paladin turned to Adam and frowned. "What’s your problem? Anything you’re hiding from us?"
Adam sighed helplessly. He didn’t expect the security protocols to be this thorough. If he removed the handwraps, the Brand of Evil would be visible for all to see.
Now, although Hannibal’s Handwraps prevented creatures related to Hell from being attracted to Adam’s Brand, would these people even understand?
No, they would never be comfortable with having someone like Adam, who was marked by the Brand, anywhere near them or the City Hall. His existence put everyone else’s lives at risk.
"It’s just—" Adam tried to explain.
"Stay right there. Don’t move." Ivan’s eyes narrowed. A few more guards encircled Adam, looking at him warily.
"Calm down." Adam slowly raised his hands in a show of surrender. "I don’t mean—"
"I said DON’T MOVE!!"
At once, the guards had drawn their weapons, pointing them at the raven-haired youth.
Fuck! Adam cursed silently.
Now, I’ve made things worse for Michael and Genveieve. Damn it!
"What’s going on?!" Daerona arrived by the gates. She looked at the commotion with stunned eyes. "Everyone, calm down!"
"This guy’s acting very suspicious," one of the guards explained. "He won’t remove those handwraps. He’s hiding something!"
The elf stepped forward and warily gazed at Adam.
"This is unlike you, Adam," she began. "Cooperate with them and then come inside. What is wrong with you?"
Adam glanced at all the guards in the vicinity. One wrong move and they would pounce on him. He wasn’t really bothered about his own safety, for he was certain he’d make it out of the exchange alive.
It was Genevieve and Michael he was worried about.
"Okay." He nodded.
There was no other way.
"I’m going to slowly remove my handraps, okay?"
He didn’t do so immediately. Instead, he waited for their response.
Daerona and Ivan exchanged glances before nodding. The elf then said, "Go ahead. Slow movements and... just don’t try anything funny."
Adam sighed with relief. Thankfully, he’d made a good impression on the elf earlier.
He couldn’t help but think to himself bitterly:
There goes any hope for a peaceful night.
