Gilbert had already put some distance between himself and Aski and was about to fly beyond Warren City when Han Shuo's order forced him to turn back. He grumbled, "Honored master, even the great Gilbert can't hold off an entire Griffin Legion! If we return to the city making this much commotion, we're bound to be spotted!"
"Cut the chatter and fly back to the inn as fast as you can. We'll pick up the people we need to take before leaving." Han Shuo snorted softly as he spoke to Gilbert beneath him.
As a Black Dragon, Gilbert did not have much room on his back for people to stand. Even if Han Shuo returned to the inn, he could not take everyone away in one trip. He began considering what to do.
His mind raced. As the Black Dragon Gilbert approached Warren City from the wilderness they had just left, the sharp-eyed Han Shuo spotted griffin knights patrolling high above, swooping past on their griffins.
With Gilbert presenting such a large target, there was no way they could return to the inn from here without the griffin knights noticing. Han Shuo pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "Gilbert, land immediately, before the griffin knights spot us. We'll return to the inn on foot."
At Han Shuo's instruction, Gilbert flew low for a stretch without another word, and everyone climbed down from his back in turn. Once they had all landed, his enormous body gradually shrank within a glossy black radiance, until he once again became Gilbert, a dark-skinned, reasonably handsome young man.
"We all wore masks at Aski Manor. If we enter the city with our real faces now, they might not recognize us," Han Shuo said, looking at Emily.
"True, but if a group of strangers like