Reborn As Noble Chapter 1304: The Name is Mentioned ( 1304 )

An hour later.

Outside the gate.

Mikhail found himself standing before the captain of the elven guard, who was meticulously scrutinizing the travel documents. Jaigar, Gorak, and their companions were positioned by the carriages, some exhibiting boredom while others subtly surveyed their surroundings.

"Hmm..." The captain peered at the document, then shifted his gaze back to Mikhail.

"Your documentation appears to be in order, but there is a single discrepancy. You are missing the requisite travel stamp from the Beastkin Nation. Only the Dwarven stamp is present, which is insufficient for entry into Elven territory without further verification."

Mikhail ran a hand over the back of his head, offering a sheepish grin and a smooth, apologetic tone.

"Ah, I see... My apologies for the oversight, Captain. We were previously inspected by one of your patrol leaders. He thoroughly examined our documents and our wares before permitting us to proceed. I believe he was satisfied with our papers."

The captain’s eyebrow arched. "Oh? You refer to Warden Faelar having already inspected you?"

"Yes, sir." Mikhail nodded, maintaining his affable and easygoing facade. "I did not ascertain his name at the moment, but he was remarkably thorough. He inspected our cargo and all our personnel before allowing us passage."

The captain gave a nod and then looked at Mikhail. "Very well. I shall confirm your claim with Warden Faelar. If he did indeed clear you, then there should be no issue."

Mikhail tilted his head, a hint of confusion on his face, before nodding. "Yes, sir. Naturally."

"Mm... Remain here while I confirm this." The captain gestured for Mikhail to stay put before turning and making his way toward the guard post.

The moment the captain turned and departed for their post, Mikhail's thoughts began to quicken.

How precisely will he verify this?

Is Warden Faelar and his contingent not currently out on patrol?

Does this imply the captain intends to dispatch a messenger to locate him?

If that is the case... our wait here will be considerably lengthy.

He released a quiet sigh.

It appears we have no alternative but to wait. I should inform Sir Jaigar and Sir Gorak of this delay.

He cast a somewhat anxious glance toward the carriages.

Let's hope they do not succumb to excessive anger due to the inconvenience.

Just as Mikhail was about to turn, one of the elven guards called out.

"Halt, human, where do you believe you are heading?"

Mikhail turned and offered a sheepish grin. "Ah... well... your captain mentioned he needed to verify the information with Warden Faelar. I surmised it might require some time, so I was merely intending to apprise my people of the delay."

"Huh? Did the captain convey that information?" Another guard tilted his head, displaying perplexity.

Mikhail nervously scratched his cheek. "Ah... no, he did not explicitly state that. But it is a reasonable assumption, is it not? It could take several hours to dispatch a messenger, locate the warden, and receive confirmation.

The elven guards exchanged glances before erupting into peals of laughter, one even dabbing at his eyes.

"Bwahahahahaha!"

"Oi, oi!" The other guard admonished his friend, attempting to regain composure. "You must remember your decorum! We are elves! Refinement is our hallmark!"

The first guard continued to laugh, shaking his head. "I am aware, I am aware! But that was truly amusing! He imagined we would require hours merely to confirm a straightforward check!"

Mikhail tilted his head, his expression polite yet genuinely puzzled. "I beg your pardon... what do you precisely mean?"

The nearby elf simply shook his head and exhaled, observing his companions who were now convulsing on the ground, clutching their stomachs in mirth.

"Just wait there. This verification will not consume even a few minutes."

Mikhail appeared even more bewildered, his brow furrowing. "Did the captain possess a flying skill? Or did he simply... teleport, perhaps?"

The third guard valiantly suppressed his laughter, his shoulders trembling. "Pfft! Captain... fly?"

The other two guards intensified their laughter, their voices echoing across the gateway, drawing the attention of sentries on the tower and even those on the battlements.

"No, no..." The third guard smirked, his voice laced with amusement. "The captain does not fly. He ascends to the heavens and summons the wind to convey his voice."

Laughter erupted universally once more, the sound resonating throughout the open expanse.

From a distance, Jaigar and Gorak, accompanied by their party members, observed the unfolding scene with mounting displeasure. Jaigar’s jaw clenched, and Gorak’s eyes narrowed as they viewed the elves' communal amusement.

Jaigar muttered under his breath, his voice low and tinged with malice.

"I genuinely wish to annihilate them all..."

Gorak cast a sidelong glare, his tone sharp yet restrained.

"Stop. Such actions are not possible for us. Though I desire it, we must maintain patience as these inferior races are provoking me. Rushing things now would prevent us from entering or meeting this 'Beggar Jee.' We must remain composed and adhere to the mission directives."

Jaigar’s companion, another member of their group, drew closer and murmured soothingly, attempting to quell his agitation.

"Please, Leader, compose yourself. Keep your focus on the mission. Sir Vane will undoubtedly be enraged if we falter due to unchecked anger."

"I... I comprehend... yet still..."

Gorak let out a breath, his voice tinged with a chilling undertone. "For the moment, simply exercise patience, Jaigar. Once we have encountered this 'Beggar Jee' and proceed towards Armand, we will have ample opportunity to dispatch any elves we encounter. But not here. Not now."

"Hmph..." Jaigar clenched his jaw, his gaze burning with contained fury. "I require no admonishment from you, Gorak. However, due to the mission’s imperative, I shall restrain myself. For the present."

The captain arrived shortly thereafter, his expression growing grim as he observed his guards engaged in amusement. Some were convulsed by suppressed laughter, their shoulders shaking violently, while others turned away, attempting to conceal their mirth.

"What is transpiring here?" the captain inquired, his eyes flicking towards an elven guard standing nearby. "What has occurred? Why is everyone finding this so amusing?"

The guards merely shook their heads, their efforts to stifle their laughter intensifying, which only deepened the captain’s perplexity. He sighed, shaking his head before redirecting his attention to Mikhail.

"I have already made contact and confirmed the particulars with Warden Faelar. Your account aligns with the truth. He affirmed that he personally inspected your documentation and merchandise."

Mikhail’s eyes brightened significantly, and a hopeful smile began to grace his features. "So... may we enter now?"

The captain responded with a slow shake of his head. "Regrettably, I cannot grant passage without a proper guarantee. The documents are still missing the official Beastkin stamp, and its absence prevents me from authorizing entry."

Mikhail let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping with evident disappointment before he looked back up at the captain. "Is there no alternative method to resolve this situation?"

The captain shook his head with unwavering finality. "My apologies, but there is nothing within my capacity to do. The regulations are unambiguous."

Mikhail cast a brief glance back towards Jaigar and Gorak, then turned his attention once more to the captain.

"Might we at least have an audience with someone inside? I believe his name is Jee."

The captain’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Ah... you refer to Beggar Jee?"