"Tap, tap, tap..."
Richard walked down a quiet-looking street and stopped in front of the gates of a pitch-black manor.
"Knock, knock, knock..."
He raised a hand and knocked lightly on the door.
"Creak!"
Almost the moment he lowered his hand, the door was swiftly opened, as if someone inside had been listening for movement outside all along.
A young man in his twenties appeared, looking over with bright eyes.
Richard glanced at him and was about to introduce himself. In his previous communications with Black-Faced Old Man Oscar, Oscar had given him an address and told him to come to this manor upon arriving in Xia Ya. Once he gave his name, someone would naturally arrange for the two of them to meet.
Just as Richard was about to speak, the young man's eyes flashed. He beat him to it, blurting out with undisguised surprise and excitement, "You're Richard, aren't you?!"
"Uh..." Richard froze for a moment, unsure how to respond. Only after a second did he nod. "If you mean Richard from Faro, then that's me."
"It really is you, Richard! Please come in, quickly!" the young man said. Then he added, "Oh, right, just call me Mas. I'm responsible for receiving you."
The young man named Mas led Richard through the gate with an aggressively deferential enthusiasm that was slightly uncomfortable.
It reminded Richard of the waiters at a famous hotpot chain on Earth known for its service.
Beyond the gate was a huge courtyard with an emerald lawn and exquisite fountains. Richard noticed several young people in dark gray short garments standing in the corners. When they saw Mas lead him in, expressions of surprise and excitement appeared on their faces, and they truly did not seem feigned. The next moment, Mas gave a light wave