Near Home, Yet Afraid

Meanwhile, the carriage carrying Xia Fan slowly came to a stop as well.

"Ambassador, we have arrived at your lodging," the butler said, knocking on the carriage door.

Xia Fan jumped down from the carriage and whistled at the luxurious villa before him. "Are you sure you brought us to the right place? I thought it would be some heavily guarded compound surrounded by high walls."

"Uh... what did you say?" the man asked blankly.

"Nothing, just a joke." Xia Fan patted him on the shoulder.

He had noticed it the moment Taxisis was called away—rather than coming to receive him, the Inquisition's commander seemed to have come for the Dragon Girl. Beyond that, not a single high-ranking member of the Church had appeared. By any measure of etiquette, that could hardly be called respectful, at least not as respectful as the letter of thanks had claimed.

Of course, the situation was not impossible to understand. Things like thanks and rewards could be made up later, but the Church's troubles were already pressing at its doorstep.

What truly concerned him was Saidaro's remark that West City was more secluded—keeping them away from the Foreign Affairs District could be framed as preventing other forces from disturbing them, but it could also mean they were not trusted and needed to be kept apart from those other forces. At the same time, secluded meant easier surveillance. In other words, it would not have been strange for the Church to place the delegation in a tightly guarded, enclosed residence.

Xia Fan had not objected immediately purely out of consideration for Taxisis.

"Looks like these people haven't sunk so low as to repay kindness with enmity," Li muttered softly.

"What a pity," Feleton suddenly leaned over and said.

"Too close." Xia Fan stepped away from