The Audience Takes Their Seats

West City, New Moon Hotel

"Captain of the Guard, tell me what exactly happened in the city? Why won't they let us leave?"

The captain of the guard glanced at the servant who had spoken, then said coldly, "Going out? What are you planning to do going out? Are you looking for death?"

Upon hearing the captain of the guard's words, the waiter glared at him and said sarcastically, "I'm sorry, captain of the guard! I was reckless. I shouldn't have gone out to die. I should have stayed in the inn with the warriors of your guard and protected our own safety."

Hearing the waiter's sarcastic remarks, the captain of the guard's hand slowly climbed to the hilt of his sword. He intended to use the blood of this ignorant fool to soothe the damage that the man's rude words and actions had caused to his and the guard's reputation. Just as he was about to strike, a crisp, complaining voice came from behind the two men.

"Xiao Qi, didn't I tell you to go buy some pastries? Why are you still here? Haven't you left yet?"

Faced with the visitor's complaints, the waiter who was confronting the captain of the guard immediately put on a smiling face and said obsequiously, "Miss Diphiya, it's not that I don't want to go, but I simply can't get out of this door!"

Upon hearing Xiao Qi's reply, Diphiya glanced at the captain of the guard standing opposite Xiao Qi and scolded, "Xiao Qi, did you upset the captain of the guard, which is why he won't let you go out? If so, quickly apologize to the captain of the guard and ask him to forgive you. Then hurry out and go buy me some pastries!"

Xiao Qi stared blankly at Diphiya, who was throwing a tantrum at him. He couldn't understand why Diphiya, who was his right-hand woman, would help the captain of the guard, an outsider. But Diphiya's status was not one he could afford to offend, so Xiao Qi could only lower his head in grievance and apologize to the captain of the guard.

"Captain of the Guard, I'm sorry! It was my fault. I shouldn't have made sarcastic remarks about the brothers in the guard."

The captain of the guard was extremely grateful for Diphiya's kindness, and he withdrew his hand from the hilt of his sword. After accepting Xiao Qi's apology, the captain of the guard first gave Diphiya a knightly salute to express his gratitude, and then explained in a gentle tone, "Miss Diphiya, you have misunderstood! Xiao Qi and I did have an argument about going out, but it wasn't me who stopped Xiao Qi from going out, but the soldiers of the Western Border Army who were guarding outside."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing the captain of the guard's words, Diphiya looked towards the gate in surprise, then instructed him, "In that case, I'd like to trouble you to call the soldier at the gate in. I want to ask him why he's preventing us from leaving!"

"Yes!"

The captain of the guard bowed respectfully to Diphiya, then backed out of the hall and headed for the door. After the captain left, Diphiya walked up to the aggrieved Xiao Qi and said in a low voice, "Are you feeling wronged right now? Do you think I'm favoring outsiders? But let me tell you, if I had arrived even half a step later, you wouldn't just be feeling wronged!"

As soon as Diphiya finished speaking, Xiao Qi suddenly raised her head and looked at her with a puzzled expression.

"What? You don't understand? Fine! Let me tell you, if I hadn't stopped you in time and made you apologize, the captain of the guard would have chopped your head off already!"

Hearing this, Xiao Qi's eyes widened, staring incredulously at the doorway, before stammering, "He... he... how... how dare he...?"

"What doesn't he dare to do! Don't forget, we're not in Philiers right now, we're on our way to Dragunov. As long as he does things cleanly and comes up with a plausible excuse, who can do anything to him?"

"Thud"

A bead of cold sweat slid down Xiao Qi's forehead, fell to the ground, and splashed up a little dust. She rolled up her sleeves and hurriedly wiped her face, which was itchy from the sweat, before quickly walking to Diphiya Xiao Qi kneeling down.

"Xiao Qi Miss Diphiya for saving my life. From now on, Xiao Qi's life belongs to Miss Diphiya!"

Diphiya hurriedly stepped forward and helped Xiao Qi, who was kneeling on the ground, to his feet. While brushing the dust off his clothes, she scolded him, "What are you doing? I'm helping you because we get along well, and I don't want you to die like this, not to take your life from me. If you say something like that again, I won't talk to you anymore!"

Xiao Qi wanted to say something more, but his experience with Diphiya over this period of time made him swallow his words and keep them to himself.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from the direction of the gate, and both of them knew that the captain of the guard had returned. Diphiya quickly pulled Xiao Qi behind her and whispered, "Nothing happened just now, you don't know anything, remember?"

"I've got it!"

As soon as Xiao Qi finished speaking, the captain of the guard led in a soldier clad in fiery red armor. The captain first saluted Diphiya, then said to the soldier beside him, "This is the deputy envoy of the Peace Negotiation Delegation, and also the younger sister of your Western Border Army Commander, General Oddek, Miss Diphiya!"

Upon hearing that Diphiya was Sordil's sister, the soldier immediately saluted Diphiya and respectfully asked, "Miss Diphiya, what are your orders for summoning me here?"

"I have no instructions, but there is one question I need you to answer."

"Miss, may I ask?"

Why won't you let us leave the hotel?

Upon hearing Diphiya's question, the soldier looked troubled, unsure how to answer.

Is this question difficult to answer?

The soldier wanted to answer "difficult," but was afraid of offending Diphiya, and his face turned red with anxiety. Just as the situation was about to collapse, a melodious voice came from the direction of the gate.

"Sister Diphiya, I'll answer this question for him, so please don't make things difficult for him!"

Everyone in the hall immediately looked towards the entrance, where a blonde woman was walking briskly towards them. Upon seeing her, Diphiya breathed a sigh of relief, but her face was filled with surprise.

"Anna, you've come at the right time! Could you please explain to us why we're not allowed to leave the house?"

As a professional and skilled actress, Anna, after taking over the performance, realistically portrayed the tense situation outside and the entire Western Border Army's concern for the Peace Negotiation Delegation to Diphiya and the others.

"Sister Diphiya, we're keeping you indoors for your own good! You don't know, do you? The former commander of the Western Border Army, Langu, dissatisfied with the king's reassignment, openly rebelled with the Second Division and Fourth Division of the former Western Border Army. The Rebel Army are currently attacking West City, and soldiers are fighting everywhere inside and outside the city. Out of concern for the safety of the delegation, our teacher ordered that you are strictly forbidden from going out!"

After hearing this unreliable explanation, Diphiya stared at Anna with a suspicious look, then asked softly, "Is what you said true?"

"It's absolutely true! If you don't believe me, you can come outside with me and see for yourself!"

Unable to bear Diphiya's suspicions, Anna pointed to the door and spoke frankly. Seeing Anna's flushed face, Diphiya nodded, and then, accompanied by the captain of the guard and Xiao Qi, walked towards the city. After the three of Diphiya left, Anna breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time shouted a shout to Sordil in her heart.

"Teacher, I've completed the task you gave me. The audience is all in place. Now it's time for you, the star of the show, to perform!"