4.Feast

Often in the relentless pursuit of one's goals, an individual will bravely push through all obstacles; yet, when those goals are within reach, they may become sluggish, doubtful, and indecisive. This was the very situation that Klaw found himself in. Perhaps by the time the sun rose again, he would be among the ranks of the wealthiest, but what if he failed? He had to contemplate the risks involved. Despite his bold declarations in front of Eric and Rat Eyes, the foul-smelling dungeon would not be so easily provoked; it treated all failures with equal disregard, no matter how grand their justifications.

Thus, even though Klaw had honed the skills of deception and thievery to an art form, he could not hide his reverence when faced with the grand luxury of the mansions in the lower city.

"Yemir, stand up straight, don't panic, don't look around. You don't look like a servant of a wealthy young master at all!" he said, in an attempt to ease his own tension. Yemir, on the other hand, was already too nervous. Despite his best efforts to tidy up at the guild's place, the aura of the streets could not be washed away with a bucket of water. Yemir was sweating profusely and instinctively hunched over, making him appear even smaller than the average ten-year-old child.

"I don't think I can do this, Klaw," he said, his voice trembling.

"Hey, Yemir, don't be afraid. Tell me again, what is your dream?" Klaw comforted.

"I want to learn to read and write a lot, and maybe become a teacher one day."

"What a noble profession," Klaw muttered, thinking that Yemir likely didn't have the fortune for such a path.

"But we have to get through tonight, right?" Yemir clenched his fists, staring at Klaw with eyes eager for an answer.

"Yes... But we don't have to think too far ahead. At least, if we can successfully blend in, a full meal is guaranteed."

Yemir felt a bit more at ease. For these homeless little beggars, the temptation of a meal was far greater than lofty ideals. Klaw let out a sigh of relief and re-examined Lord Bard's mansion. Since the lower city was still lively at night, there were not many onlookers, and Klaw's actions would not arouse suspicion.

This was a grand mansion that occupied a vast expanse of land. From the faint night lights, it could be seen that its exterior had recently been renovated; the white walls were flawless, adorned with iron railings, and countless green plants extended from the courtyard, entwined around the railings. Only the strong light and the noise leaking through the gaps were painting a picture of opulence. No doubt, many wealthy individuals had already arrived. Looking in from the main entrance, one could see round tables scattered throughout the courtyard, laden with food and wine glasses. Some guests were chatting in front of the tables, savoring the red wine in their hands and continuously praising the generosity of their host.

"Do not speak, and follow me closely," Klaw said to Yemir. He smoothed the hem of his garment while observing the two guards at the gate. Unlike the tightly wrapped lobster soldiers, they were dressed in loose black leather vests, which looked particularly comfortable on this breezy night, perhaps allowing them to greet the arriving guests with smiles.

Klaw composed his emotions and walked straight towards the guards, with Yemir closely following behind, fearful of being left behind.

"Good evening!" Klaw greeted the guards.

"Good evening, sir. Please present your invitation, thank you," the guard said respectfully.

"Invitation?" Klaw feigned confusion, then continued in a suddenly enlightened tone: "Ah, that thing, I've long lost it. Kind sirs, let me pass."

The guards looked at each other, seemingly not having encountered such a situation. One of them said, "I'm afraid we can't let you in without an invitation; we can't confirm your identity."

"Oh?" Klaw sneered, "Speaking of identity, I believe my face is well-known. I assume you all know Governor Chabot?"

"The governor? No, he's just the lieutenant governor of Jamaica, the mayor of Silver Port. But what does that matter?"

"... Are you new here? I am his son. Everyone here knows the face of Chabot the Second. You two unknown fellows should be aware of the consequences of angering me."

He had correctly deduced their identities; the local guards of Silver Port would never dress in such a manner, just as Klaw, the leader of the beggars, would never dress as he did now.

"Ah, I smell the scent of red wine, gentlemen?"

Somehow, even though they had not yet shaken off the label of "unidentified identities," the two guards felt tremendous pressure. After a moment, one guard finally spoke: "I think, since it's Mr. Chabot, he would naturally have been invited..."

The other pulled him aside and whispered:

"But what if he's a liar?"

"What if he's not?"

"Perhaps we should consult the lord."

"You've also heard the rumors... This Chabot the Second is notorious for being a playboy, usually arrogant and unruly, never following rules. If we don't let him in immediately, he will make our lives miserable..."

Klaw did not hear their conversation, but from their anxious expressions, he felt the time was right. He rudely cursed a couple of times, viciously swung his skirt, and turned to leave.

The two guards quickly stopped him; they were now sweating profusely, but their smiles were even more brilliant. They competed to apologize to Klaw and warmly invited him in.

"Spoilsport!" Klaw said, then strode into the courtyard with Yemir, leaving the two embarrassed guards standing foolishly in place.

"Klaw, that was quite a scolding," Yemir said in awe.

"This is an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; we've been scolded like this more than once, so we shouldn't sympathize with others," Klaw said gloomily.

This was the courtyard of a truly wealthy household, and Klaw discovered that the scene he had seen from outside was but a tiny fragment of this colorful world. There was an endless array of delicacies and drinks, and the host had spared no expense in inviting singers and acrobats. Everyone was immersed in the fireworks and song, having long forgotten the meaning of the night. Many guests had already arrived, and they were clearly people of importance, including local officials, industry elites, and pleasure-loving noble offspring. Klaw prayed that the real Chabot the Second would not make an appearance while he greedily savored the coppery stench of this extravagant lifestyle, thinking to himself that this feast was indeed "rich in gold content."

The two carefully made their way through the courtyard, trying not to attract too much attention. It turned out that Klaw's eccentric attire was quite popular among the wealthy young crowd, and the fine wines and gourmet delicacies had captured most people's attention. So although Klaw was cautious with every step, in reality, no one really noticed him. Unlike Klaw's careful caution, as soon as Yemir arrived at the banquet, his mischievous youthful spirit was unleashed. He was a very perceptive child, and the cheerful atmosphere of the banquet quickly affected him. He still followed closely behind Klaw but could no longer focus on what lay ahead. He looked around curiously and kept grabbing any food within reach to stuff into his mouth, causing many ladies to frown and dodge out of the way. In this manner, they made their way to the deepest part of the courtyard and entered the interior of the mansion.