NDM-1

NDM-1

Hesta, Ligo, and Simoya stood in a row, watching the man rush over to shake hands with them. Their expressions turned subtly awkward.

Eucali forcibly swallowed the words that had nearly slipped out—I'm not Hesta. They had swapped identities before in Saint Lom, but now they were in Emangria, and someone had specifically come over to greet them. Was there really any need to keep pretending?

Eucali looked at Hesta questioningly.

Hesta returned the same solemn look. "Is there something you need, Ms. Hesta?"

Eucali sighed softly. "Nothing... I just suddenly remembered that my wheelchair is still in Saint Lom."

"Not a problem at all!" the man said warmly. "Considering that you may not have fully recovered yet, we prepared a wheelchair for you as well!"

Simoya turned to look at Ligo and Hesta, who were standing aside watching the show. Her gaze clearly asked: What are you two doing?

Ligo and Hesta glanced at her in unison, their mouths tightening: Don't get involved.

In the silence, another man pushed a wheelchair over.

"The news of your arrival in Emangria was so sudden. We had originally planned to hold a welcome ceremony for you at the airport. It would have been more formal than this—this place is too small to do much. Who could have expected you to suddenly arrive today?"

Eucali nodded. "And you are...?"

"Trivier Trion," the man replied with a smile. "You—"

"Then wouldn't the people waiting at the airport today have gone there for nothing?" Ligo asked. "If they made a big enough show of it, we could take a detour and go have a look, so they don't wait around for nothing."

"No." Trion waved a hand dismissively, clearly displeased that Ligo had interrupted him. "That was originally scheduled for two weeks from now."