Reborn As Noble

The elven guard glanced at Mikhail before nodding.

”You may approach him, but do not step past the gate. Wait for the captain to give permission before you proceed any further.”

”Thank you, sir.”

Mikhail walked toward ’Beggar Jee’ with a friendly, open expression.

”Um... hello?”

Javier glanced at the man, scanning him from head to toe with a wary, cautious look.

”What do you want? I’m busy here.”

”Ah... actually... I’m the one who was looking for you. I was told you could help me.”

Javier let go of the gate and pretended to be careful about his steps, staying firmly inside the gate to avoid being ”kicked out” by the elves.

”Help with what?”

”Ah...” Mikhail rubbed the back of his head. ”Actually... there was a guy who said you could help us with safe passage. He mentioned you know the roads well.”

”Huh?” Javier tilted his head. ”I don’t know what you’re talking about. Who told you that?”

”A man wearing full plate silver armor,” Mikhail said, lowering his voice slightly. ”He said you were the one to talk to if we needed safe passage.”

”A guy wearing full silver armor?” Javier rubbed his chin, pretending to think hard. ”Who is it... hmm...”

He snapped his fingers, his eyes lighting up as if he’d just remembered something. ”Ah! You mean the weirdo who never takes off his helmet and always walks around in full plate armor?”

Mikhail smiled, rubbing his palms together in a friendly manner. ”Yes, that’s the one!”

”Tch.” Javier mumbled, turning his head away with a look of clear dislike. ”It’s been so long since we last met, and that weirdo still acts like he owns me just because he bought me a meal once.”

He lifted his bread and tore off a small piece, eating it slowly in front of Mikhail, his movements casual but deliberate, as if savoring every bite.

”Did that weirdo really say that?”

Mikhail gave him a friendly smile, his eyes briefly fixed on the bread in Javier’s hand. ”Yes. He said if we needed help passing through here, we just needed to meet you and ask.”

”Tch!”

Javier glanced away, sitting down on the ground and crossing his legs as he continued eating his ’meal.’ He mumbled between bites, his voice carrying a tone of complaint.

”I don’t have the energy to walk that far, and I’m hungry. I’m not doing it just because that weirdo said I can. You’ve already wasted my time. If I were sitting by the fountain right now, I might have gotten a few more copper coins to buy food for me and my pet.”

Mikhail smiled, rubbing his palms together in a friendly, eager manner.

”Ah... about that... we’re willing to pay you a generous sum for your trouble.”

”Oh?” Javier’s eyes lit up. He stood up quickly, his movements eager as he continued eating his bread in front of Mikhail. ”How much are you willing to pay?”

Mikhail glanced over his shoulder, subtly looking at Jaigar and Gorak in the distance. They nodded while crossing their arms, giving silent approval.

”Well... how about one silver coin?”

”Huh?” Javier narrowed his eyes, pretending to be surprised by the small amount. ”Do you think I’m going to waste my time just to get that much? Just so you know, if I sat by the fountain or in the area where Armand carriage merchants trade, I could get that much easily. Do you think I’m dumb?”

”Ah...” Mikhail panicked, his hands waving in a placating gesture. ”No, no, good sir Jee! I didn’t mean to insult you!”

Javier turned away, making a shooing motion with his hand. ”Don’t waste my time. If you don’t have any real business, then leave me alone.”

”Ah, good Sir Jee! Please hear me out first!”

Javier paused and turned back, glancing at Buddy, who was excitedly scratching the ground outside the gate, his talon kicking up dust, his beak digging into the dirt, like a chicken searching for food.

”You better make a good deal,” Javier said, his tone sharp. ”I’m hungry, and this job better be worth my time.”

Mikhail fell silent for a moment, his expression thoughtful, before giving ’Jee’ a friendly, apologetic smile.

”Please, give me a moment to discuss this with my partners. I’ll be right back.”

Javier let out an exaggerated sigh, rolling his eyes as he looked at Mikhail with impatience. ”Yeah, yeah... five minutes. I won’t wait any longer. The longer I stand here, the more coins I’m losing by not begging at the fountain.”

Mikhail nodded and quickly walked over to Jaigar and Gorak, huddling with them in a low discussion.

From a distance.

Guard post.

The elven guard who had escorted Javier stood beside the captain, both of them watching the scene unfold with quiet amusement.

The captain chuckled softly, shaking his head. ”Look at the Sovereign King Garius’s youngest son. His acting is so convincing, even I almost believed he was a real beggar. All Armand personnel are already highly skilled, but the Armand prince is on a completely different level.”

”True, Captain,” the guard said with a smirk.

”I had to make it look real when I grabbed him earlier. If Prince Javier hadn’t given me permission beforehand, and Elder Queen found out I laid a hand on him without authorization...”

He shook his head, a nervous chuckle escaping his lips. ”My head would already be rolling on the floor, or hanging from the gallows. I’d be breaking my seventy-ninth year early.”

The captain laughed, shaking his head.

”Don’t worry about that. This mission has already been approved by the palace, and everything has been coordinated with the highest authority. We’re just following orders, and Prince Javier is fully aware of the role we’re playing. No one’s head is going to roll.”

The captain glanced at the guard and smirked.

”After this, we just need to make sure we assist in any way we can to ensure the plan runs smoothly. Keep the act convincing and support Prince Javier without drawing suspicion.”

”Yes, Captain.”

The captain nodded, his eyes fixed on the group from the guard post window. He gestured with his lips toward Jaigar and Gorak’s party.

”Those two and their party members must be watched closely once I give permission for them to enter. Our shadow units will be informed to monitor them as long as they remain within Elven territory. We need to ensure the safety of our people, even if Prince Javier is more than capable of handling them himself.”

”As you command, Captain.”

( End Of Chapter )