At 10:00 AM, in the immigrant shacks on the eastern outskirts of Xicheng, eight hours before the dinner was to begin.
"Damn Muxi man! I swear in the name of God, if I catch that damned shopkeeper, I will personally shove a red-hot branding iron into his back door and make him taste my pain... Oh God, here we go again!"
One second Kaponodas was lying on the ground cursing, the next second he covered his buttocks, staggered to his feet, and ran desperately towards the door.
Amidst the gurgling sounds of diarrhea outside the door, Nelje lay on a pile of hay, his face gaunt and sallow from severe dehydration and a sleepless night. His eyes listlessly gazed at the blue sky outside the window, and he muttered, "I want to go home."
Gordon, the head of the delegation, listened to the agonizing howls of Kaponodas outside the door, then glanced at Dizzy, who was clutching his stomach and groaning on the ground, before finally fixing his gaze on Nerge, who looked dazed and miserable.
"How have I warned you all?! The more tempting something looks, the more likely it is to be a deadly trap!" Commander Gordon, who hadn't eaten for two days, sounded hoarse and weak, but his tone was unusually serious: "Have you all fed your brains to the dogs?! Free food and money—this low-class and ridiculous scam—and all three of you actually fell for it!"
The apprentice knight, Nelge, looked at Commander Gordon and whispered with chapped, trembling lips, "I was so hungry back then..."
The knight's squire and horseman, Mavdiz, said to Gordon with a bitter face, "My lord, we never expected it to be a trap! Besides, providing food and money just to make us take laxatives, that's just too illogical..."
Gordon stroked his thick beard, pondered for a moment, and his expression grew increasingly serious: "I think everything you've encountered is a pre-planned scheme to prevent us from completing our mission. But what is the purpose? And who is behind it all...?"
Gordon turned to Harry, the strategist and right-hand man of the delegation, and asked, "Harry, what's your opinion on the laxatives?"
The latter had his back to everyone, facing the wall, gently swaying his body, and slowly muttering something.
Gordon repeated the question, but Harry still didn't respond. Filled with doubt, Gordon crawled to Harry's side and listened carefully. He heard Harry repeating a single word over and over.
"Roast chicken, roast chicken, roast chicken..."
Gordon looked at Harry's swaying figure and sighed heavily.
The half-day felt like being in hell, slowly passing by in hunger, anger, and unease, before the Holy Guard delegation finally saw the last rays of the setting sun.
The weakened Nelge, gazing at the sunset over Twilight City, shouted to Commander Gordon with a beaming smile, "My lord, it's time to depart for the banquet!"
Gordon glanced at him, shook his head, and asked, "How's your stomach?"
With only the thought of eating on his mind, Nerger dared not show the slightest sign of discomfort. He quickly patted his chest and said confidently, "I'm completely healed!"
Gordon turned to Kaponodas and Dizzy: "And you guys?"
Afraid of missing the banquet, the two quickly nodded to indicate that they had recovered their health.
Gordon breathed on the Holy Guard City emblem on his clothes and carefully wiped it with his sleeve. Then, looking at the four people in front of him, he said seriously, "Before we set off, there are some things I need to make clear to you four. You all need to listen carefully! We are the Holy Guard City delegation, representing the glory and will of the kingdom! At the banquet, you must be mindful of your words and actions at all times, and never do anything that would damage the dignity of the nation!"
The group of five, mounted on warhorses and carrying the flag of the diplomatic mission, rode along the main road of Muxi City toward the royal palace.
Because Muxi City had been expanded several times, and the royal palace was built on the city's high ground, coupled with the surging crowds in the evening and the fact that the five people were weak and powerless, it took the Holy Guard City delegation more than an hour to see the gate of the inner city of the royal palace.
Glancing at the already pitch-black sky, the anxious Commander Gordon spurred his warhorse, speeding up to the square outside the inner city gate.
Gordon dismounted and, with his four men, ran through the long forest path, finally arriving at the entrance to the banquet hall.
Harkins, who had been waiting at the entrance steps, saw the five people appear, strode up to the delegation, and after confirming their identities, gestured to the attendants at the door.
"The Holy Guard City delegation has arrived!"
With a mix of excitement and trepidation, Gordon stepped through the gate. The hall, as bright as day, made him feel dizzy. The long period of hunger and exhaustion caused his vision to blur and he collapsed to the ground.
"Commander!"
"Sir! What's wrong?!"
Someone has fainted!
Seeing the chaotic scene at the door, Todd frowned and whispered a few words to the servant beside him.
Soon, medical scholars from Muxi Academy arrived at Gordon's side. After examining him, they concluded that he was just overworked and there was nothing seriously wrong.
With the help of the scholars, Gordon slowly regained consciousness and quickly realized what had happened.
Struggling to his feet, Gordon bowed deeply to Todd, his voice full of apology: "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, I was rude."
Todd smiled and waved his hand: "Emissary of Holy Guard City, don't worry about what just happened. Please take your seats with your subordinates."
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