Chapter 138
Conflict at the Post Station
Chapter 138 Conflict at the Post Station
Raine didn't speak, but just quietly looked at the captain of the guard.
That gaze was calm, seemingly devoid of any emotion, as if he were looking at a tree.
But it was that gaze that made the guard captain feel inexplicably cold!
He felt as if he were being watched by a ferocious beast.
A chill ran through his entire body. He instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword, but his palms were already damp with cold sweat.
He found himself unable to meet that gaze.
"What? You want to make a move?" the guard captain shouted, trying to hide his nervousness with his voice.
Renn remained silent.
He simply took a slow step forward.
The captain of the guard's sneer froze.
Suddenly, he seemed to sense a chilling aura emanating from Renn, feeling as if he weren't facing a weary mercenary, but rather a colossal beast just awakened from hibernation. He instinctively placed his hand on...
On the hilt of the sword, but his fingers trembled slightly with nervousness.
The guards behind him also sensed that something was wrong.
Although they couldn't discern Renn's true strength, their captain's alarmed reaction quickly wiped the playful smiles from their faces, and they all stood up, looking at Renn with serious expressions.
"What? You country bumpkin think you can mess with the falcons of the Erin family?" the captain of the guard shouted, trying to use the name of his master's family to dispel his fear.
At the same time, as if to bolster his courage, he took a step forward, his right hand already drawing half of his longsword.
"Stop, Caswell!"
Just as tensions were rising, a clear, young male voice came from inside the carriage.
The sound wasn't loud, but it instantly froze the guard captain named Caswell.
The fierce look on his face quickly faded, replaced by a respectful expression, and he bowed slightly to the carriage.
"I apologize, Lord Royce, for disturbing you."
The carriage curtain was gently lifted by a hand wearing white gloves, and a young man stepped out of the carriage.
He was in his early twenties, with a head of brilliant short blond hair and handsome features as if sculpted.
He was dressed in a sky-blue riding outfit, with the coat of arms of the Erin family embroidered on his chest.
He ignored his own captain of the guard and instead turned his gaze to Karen and the other two.
This sight surprised the young nobleman.
As a direct descendant of the Erin family, he received the most rigorous elite education from a young age.
He may not be a powerful warrior, but his insight is far more discerning than that of ordinary people.
He could clearly sense that these people in front of him were no pushovers.
These three not only had remarkably good equipment, but they also exuded an aura of having killed countless people. This aura couldn't be faked; it came from their very bones, a result of countless life-or-death battles.
He had only ever sensed such an aura from the most elite soldiers or knights in the valley.
This is definitely not an ordinary mercenary.
"Good evening, gentlemen." The young nobleman bowed slightly to the three of them. "I am Royce Erin. I offer my sincerest apologies for the rudeness and disrespect of my guards."
He adopted a very humble posture and spoke with utmost sincerity, making it impossible for anyone to be angry with him.
When Captain Caswell saw this, he roughly realized that he had probably offended someone he shouldn't have. He didn't dare to say a word, just kept his head down, his face turning pale and then red.
You can't hit someone who's smiling.
Sir Karen nodded slightly to Royce in return, and said calmly, "It's nothing, Lord Erin. It's just a small misunderstanding."
"No, this is not a misunderstanding; it's my fault for not disciplining them properly." Royce shook his head, glancing back at Caswell. His eyes were gentle, but his tone was quite serious: "Caswell, apologize to these three gentlemen. Then, take your men to the stables at the very back of the post station and give the best seats to their mounts."
Caswell's body trembled violently. He dared not raise any further objections and could only walk quickly to the three of them, giving a stiff bow to express his apology.
Ella made a face at him, looking smug.
Royce looked at the three of them and smiled warmly again: "You three must be on your way to the capital after a long journey. I am Royce Erin, and it is a pleasure to meet you here. May I ask your names?"
His words were quite appropriate, expressing his intention to make friends without being too abrupt.
"Karen." The old knight's reply was as concise as ever.
"Ella," the red-haired girl introduced herself.
"Raine".
When Royce heard the name Karen, he seemed to think for a moment, but didn't react much. After all, it was a very common name.
He bowed to the three of them again: "Mr. Karen, Miss Ella, Mr. Ryan. Please put all your expenses at the inn tonight on the Erin family's tab as a small apology. I hope this has not disturbed your journey."
Having said that, he stopped arguing and turned back to his carriage.
Throughout the entire process, he acted with composure and grace, resolving the conflict and demonstrating his own demeanor without damaging his family's reputation. He can be described as a young man who is very skilled in social interaction.
As the Erin family's caravan sheepishly made way for the stables at the back, the courtyard of the post station returned to its tranquility.
The groom quickly stepped forward and eagerly led the horses for them.
"That's more like it." Ella snorted, quite satisfied with the result.
"That Royce guy is actually quite smart," she remarked as she walked toward the hotel lobby.
"He's not clever, he's astute," Ryan added from the side. "He realized we weren't to be trifled with, so he chose the most dignified way to defuse the situation. That kind of person is far more dangerous than that simple-minded guard captain."
Karen nodded in agreement: "Remember his face and emblem. When you get to the capital, you'll meet many people like him. They wear the kindest smiles, but may be hiding the deadliest vipers in their sleeves."
That evening, by the fireplace in the tavern, they indeed enjoyed a dinner paid for by the Erin family.
The nobleman named Royce did not bother them again, showing a very proper sense of propriety.