Poison and Cheese

When Zhang Tie heard that people from the Balas Family had arrived, he followed Kita to the castle gate to see what those oddballs looked like. But they had barely reached the entrance when Zhang Tie heard an unpleasant voice outside the castle loudly cursing.

"You bastards, do you know who I am? These are the guards I brought. What right do you have to make them put down their weapons before entering Sea Blue Castle? Who gave you that authority? Where's Olina? Tell her to come out and explain herself! Why should members of the Balas Family suffer such rude treatment on the Balas Merchant Guild's own territory?"

The moment that voice fell silent, a wave of jeering rose from outside the castle.

"That's right! Why do we have to put down our weapons to enter Sea Blue Castle? And why aren't all of us allowed in?"

"Let's go back to Gray Rock Castle. I told you this place didn't welcome us, but you insisted on coming..."

"I heard that woman was assassinated last night. She sent word to us, so we kindly came to see her, yet now she's shutting us out. What does that mean?"

As the crowd clamored, Perif's roar rang out. "Those are Sea Blue Castle's rules! I don't give a damn whether you're from the Balas Family or not. Have any of you ever seen a castle that lets several hundred fully armed soldiers walk in carrying weapons without being searched? Anyone entering the castle must put down their weapons, and there can be no more than ten people! Everyone else waits outside!"

As soon as Perif finished speaking, a barrage of curses erupted outside the castle.

Rather than going to the castle gate to join the commotion, Zhang Tie and Kita climbed one