"You're saying no one can leave the city? On whose orders?"
Faced with Renato's questioning, George raised a hand to his helmet and said awkwardly:
"Baron Atwood personally led his men here at dusk and declared martial law. We're just following orders..." The guard lowered his voice and gestured behind him with his chin. "Besides, sir, even if we let you through, you couldn't get out. The city gate isn't under our Security Department's control anymore."
Wooden barricades blocked the road. Several Noble Mercenary soldiers stood on either side, holding halberds and watching what was happening.
On the nearby walls and towers, the silhouettes of a dozen or so crossbowmen were faintly visible, keeping a wary watch outside the city.
"Why was martial law declared?"
"How would I know, sir? You'd better hurry back to the Security Department and ask the chief. The whole city's in chaos now, and none of us knows where we stand."
With no hope of leaving the city, Renato could only turn back.
He couldn't help regretting it. If he hadn't wasted the afternoon talking nonsense with Aldo, he might already have been outside the city.
"Don't worry, Renato. I-I'll help you." Perly stood beside him, sounding rather uncertain. "I'm a mage, after all. Whatever trouble we run into, there's always a way to solve it..."
The little mage didn't even know the real reason Renato was so desperate to leave. She had no idea what to say and merely wanted to comfort him on instinct.
Renato mocked himself inwardly. At a moment of crisis, he was actually less composed than a little girl.
He took a deep breath and forced himself to collect his thoughts.
"Perly, I'll take you back to Fragrant Words first. Do we still have enough food in the Bag of