In the study, Old Ford's hand, which had been tapping the tabletop, froze in midair.
His thoughts raced.
The old royal fossil had only been dead for a few days. That bunch of royalists who usually went out of their way to avoid Red Leaf Manor were now making a grand show of bringing more than a dozen cartloads of gifts to his door. They clearly meant no good.
They must have heard the rumors spreading through the city—that the Iris Family had somehow found several fourth-tier knights—and gotten scared. So they had hurriedly sent this old dog, the Chief Inspector, to probe out the truth.
Old Ford rose to his feet and straightened the collar of his everyday coat.
"Come. Let's go meet that old dog out front."
Outside the main doors of the manor's front hall, more than a dozen heavy carriages drawn by black horses stood in the square, their compartments draped in bright red silk.
A gaunt old man in gray-white robes, holding a silver scepter, stood below the steps with a group of royal guards. This old man was Philip, the royal family's Chief Inspector.
At the sight of Old Ford emerging, Philip's shriveled face immediately broke into a broad smile.
"Your Grace, I heard that your daughter will soon be wed. The royal family has specially prepared a few humble gifts."
Leaning on his cane, Old Ford made his way down the steps.
"You are too kind, Inspector. To trouble you with making the trip personally in such cold weather."
Philip rubbed his withered fingers together.
This time, he had come under a death order. The upper circles of the royal capital had been thrown into complete chaos over the past two days. Rumors were everywhere that Old Ford had dug up three monsters,