A few days later, on the main road leading to Volcano Manor, a strange man rode backward on a horse.
Take a look at him:
On his head was a broad conical hat with an iron frame covered in waterproof cloth, a fiery red horsehair tassel flicking from its tip. A string of glintstone stars dangled from either side of its wide brim.
He wore a blue satin robe with fitted archer's sleeves and auspicious-cloud edging, with a black hero's cloak patterned with lightning and trimmed in gold thread draped over it. His trousers had a deep, loose crotch, and his swift boots, styled as four ground-gripping tigers, were secured with white crossed straps. A calfskin belt with a subtle pattern, rivets, and a brass plate buckle cinched his waist.
An embossed leather holster hung on his left, with the Glintstone Firearm tucked inside. The hilt of the Cipher Pata hung on his right.
A knight's greatsword hung from his saddle.
There was no second outfit like this anywhere in the Lands Between.
This was the persona Zhao Si had devised for himself. Just having the outfit custom-made had given Godrick endless trouble. Zhao Si had drawn sketches and explained it aloud, while Godrick had searched all over Leyndell for skilled artisans before finally getting these styles of clothing, which did not exist in this world, made.
Once he put it on, no one could tell, from the tips of his hair to the ends of his toenails, that he was someone from the Lands Between. Even Godrick, who knew Zhao Si very well, could not recognize him without looking closely.
At the time, Godrick had held up the conical hat and asked, "Where did these strange clothes come from?"
Zhao Si's eyes darted as he began making things up.