Not long after, Pascoe led the group up the ramp.
Xiao Chen followed silently. When they reached the city gate, many figures holding bows and arrows appeared from the tower above. Xiao Chen could feel that the fat merchant in front of him was frightened by the tense atmosphere, and his legs could not help but tremble.
Pascoe raised his head and shouted, "The residents selected by Lord Avali to enter the city have been delivered. Open the door!"
After a while, the city gate rumbled open, leaving a hole wide enough for only one person to pass through. A man who looked like an officer of the city guards came out and nodded to Pascoe, who handed him a list written on a piece of paper.
The officer walked past the residents one by one, asking them their names and comparing them with the list. When it was Xiao Chen's turn, he reported the name that Pascoe had told him: Patin.
The officer had no doubt at all and continued to check the people behind him with the list.
However, when Xiao Chen heard his name, the fat man in front of him let out a long sigh. When the fat man saw him looking at him, he smiled, and there was actually some gratitude in his smile.
Meeting his gaze, the businessman said in a mosquito-like voice: "Thank you."
Xiao Chen didn't know what the other party meant. But this was obviously not the place to ask questions. He could only remain quiet and wait for the inspection to be over.
The officer checked the list until the last person, then walked back to the front from the other end of the line and said to Pascoe, "No problem! Take them in."
Pascoe said to the people at the door, "Hurry up and follow me into the city. Don't run around after you enter. It's wartime now. Anyone who disturbs the guards on the city wall may be beheaded. I'll take you to the inner city square. You can separate there. If you want to stay in a hotel, you can find one nearby."
Naturally, everyone had no objection and followed Pascoe into the city.
After being some distance away from the city gate, the fat man in front of Xiao Chen deliberately slowed down his pace, came to Xiao Chen's side, calmly took out a golden shield from his pocket, and put it in Xiao Chen's hand.
"What is this?" Xiao Chen was confused.
"Thanks to you for playing Patin. This damn guy actually disappeared at the most critical moment today. If the city guards found out that there was an error in the number of people, we would definitely not be able to enter, and we would be left behind to be investigated. My whole family was almost killed by him. But fortunately, Pascoe helped and found you to replace him. I just swore to the God of Nature that if we can enter the city smoothly, I will give you a golden shield as a reward. Thank the God of Nature, this golden shield is yours."
Xiao Chen came to his senses at this time. It turned out that he had entered the city under someone else's identity. He pretended to ask casually: "Who is this Patin?"
"Ah, he's my favorite cook. My stomach is in pain when he doesn't come in."
"When did he disappear?" Xiao Chen asked.
"About an hour ago. I told him that Suerone was the safest place, but he always felt that he should leave here. He said he had a stomachache before, and he left for a while and never came back. Well, I guess he ran away on his own."
An hour should be the time it takes for Ivo to find Pascoe and for Pascoe to think of a solution. It seems that the cook named Patin is in danger.
The fat merchant continued, "But he doesn't know that the outside world is in chaos right now! What if we run into Chinese troops or bandits on the road with a lot of valuables? Even if we escape to other cities, those lords will not be easy to deal with. They will not let us, the foreign merchants who are seeking refuge, go unless they peel off a layer of skin."
"Don't you have to pay to come to the inner city?" Xiao Chen asked.
"That's different. Marquis Baldini's price is not too excessive. Besides, as long as we survive this attack, he will look at us differently," said the fat businessman.
Xiao Chen asked, "Aren't you afraid that the Chinese will invade?"
"Suero is the most solid city in the western part of the kingdom. Even when the Black Dragon Empire was destroyed, it was not taken down. Besides, we have Master Ikasa in charge. I have confidence that they can defend the city." The fat merchant vowed.
But Xiao Chen noticed that when he said these words, a hint of worry still appeared on his face.
The businessman didn't know that Master Ikasa had already moved the entrance to the Tower of the Spirit Eye outside the city, and he could no longer be contacted through the original house.
Xiao Chen walked on the street and felt that the atmosphere in the inner city was more tense than that in the outer city. Groups of soldiers could be seen coming and going on the street from time to time, and there were also officers who looked like knights, training soldiers on how to use weapons to fight in some open spaces. Although the condition of these soldiers could not be compared with that of the guards, under the high pressure, they had already become somewhat capable. Xiao Chen even saw some soldiers building walls or towers on the corners of the street, which clearly showed that they were preparing for street fighting.
Pascoe led everyone to the small square in the center of the inner city, and then asked everyone to go their separate ways. But when Xiao Chen was about to leave, he stopped him.
Finding a place where no one was around, Pascoe said, "I have completed the deal with Ivo. I know very well that you are not his nephew at all, and your purpose of coming here is not simple."
Xiao Chen's heart skipped a beat. He pretended to be confused, but secretly prepared to take action.
However, Pascoe seemed very calm. He said, "Don't be nervous. This is not my concern. Someone like you who dares to sneak in alone must be an expert. If I want to report to the Marquis for a reward, there is no need to say anything to you in person. Now, you should be able to kill me at any time. I will not die for the Marquis."
"What do you want?"
"After sending this team off, I should leave this damn place. But before I leave, I want to make a deal. I want to ask if you are interested."
Xiao Chen waved his hand, and a silent barrier enveloped the two of them. At the same time, he prepared a spiritual arrow in his other hand, ready to hit the man in front of him silently at any time, "Tell me, what's the deal."
"You are actually a magician!" Pascoe was a little surprised, and his expression became more respectful. "I don't know what you are going to do here, but I guess you don't have a place to stay in the inner city. I have a small house here. If you are willing to pay some money, I can sell it to you. Otherwise, there will be a curfew in the inner city at night. And there are too many people in the hotel, and it is inconvenient to do anything."
"How much is it? I want it."
"Ten gold coins. If you have any news you want to know, you can also ask me. I will tell you everything I know..."