Chapter 660: Hey! Mantis

When Da Wang was surrounded by the Secluded Prefecture Guard, that guy still hadn't reacted.

He immediately touched his face, making sure it was still those fierce eyes before he relaxed. As long as they didn't recognize him, his disguise would still hold.

Thus he felt justified and emboldened; Da Wang stood up, hands on hips: "What do you want! Did you mistake someone? Or are you afraid this young master has no money to pay?"

The leader of the Secluded Prefecture Guard cleared up his confusion: "Someone reported you for abducting children! What's your relation to this kid?"

Da Wang was about to speak when hearing this almost made him choke. He flared up in anger: "Who slandered this young master! This is my brother!"

The nearby soldier sized them up back and forth, then blurted: "Do you believe that? Look, do you two even look alike?!"

Da Wang looked at Lao Qi, discovering that guy had already slid off the chair, now hiding behind the chair legs, timidly glancing at him…

This traitor!

Da Wang glanced at the stairs, felt it wasn't good, needed to hurry and send them away.

"It's a misunderstanding. He's just my younger brother from a concubine; I've always been stricter with him, and it's perfectly normal for siblings not to look alike even with the same mother! Do you enforce law based on looks? Whoever falsely accused you, go find them~"

The onlooking shopkeeper jumped out upon seeing this: "Hey, even more suspicious! You say this kid is born of a concubine, why is he wearing cloud-pattern brocade while you, as his legitimate older brother, wear moon-shadow gauze?"

Da Wang glanced at Lao Qi's plain little robe, thinking, "Fine, when he went out he thought it was low-key and ordinary, so he didn't look closely; the color was too low-key, he truly didn't notice it was woven brocade. Going back he'll criticize his aunt for dressing this idiot so nicely—what a waste, he'll grow out of it in just a few days!"

Da Wang glared angrily at the shopkeeper, "You've got sharp eyes, you're just an inn keeper yet you recognize cloud-pattern brocade."

"I respect the elderly and love the young, I can't do without disliking luxury!"

The shopkeeper ignored him, directly explaining to the Secluded Prefecture Guard: "This kid is really afraid of him, instinctively calling him 'Old Brother Huang'; if they were real brothers he'd just say 'Old Brother', but adding a surname definitely means they're not brothers, yet he says the kid also surnamed Huang! Moreover, when he talks to me he's absent-minded, constantly looking around, especially at the stairway and doorway, I don't know if he's casing the place or what, altogether very suspicious."

Da Wang: ……

After hearing the shopkeeper's baseless analysis, the leader nodded and barked at Da Wang: "Produce your household register or travel permit!" The onlookers grew more numerous; the Secluded Prefecture Guard's intervention not only stirred the whole inn but also drew passersby who craned their necks, the first-floor lobby instantly turned into a market, and he became the center of everyone's pointing fingers.

At that moment, a squad of the Secluded Prefecture Guard that had rushed upstairs returned, saying they hadn't found the two adult companions the shopkeeper mentioned.

Da Wang: ……

Surprisingly delightful, His Majesty the Emperor doesn't have a household register.

A glance at his gold-medal bodyguard, Ling the Great Hero and the onlookers crowding together at the periphery, as if they didn't know him at all…

Likewise, Ling Yin also lacks this household register thing; coming out they'd also be rounded up in one net.

Da Wang muttered: "I'm from Secluded Prefecture, what travel permit would I have, who would carry a household register around……"

The shopkeeper jumped up shouting: "Look, look! He's from Secluded Prefecture yet staying at an inn! He's definitely a kidnapper!"

Da Wang: ……

This shop belongs to Manager Zhu; the Secluded Prefecture Guard wouldn't not know. Compared to Da Wang of unknown origin, they'd surely trust this shopkeeper's character more—this is one of their own.

The leader gestured to his subordinates: "Take them away!"

Da Wang: ……

Da Wang dragged Lao Qi out from behind the chair, leading him: "Don't move, I'll walk myself!" This was his last stubbornness as the emperor.

A half-grown kid, still dragging a little one in hand, the Secluded Prefecture Guard didn't quibble with him—let him walk if he wants. Four Secluded Prefecture Guards surrounded the two brothers in the middle, eliminating any chance of escape.

As Da Wang left, he glared angrily at the shopkeeper one eye: "You'll pay for this, I'll deduct your monthly wage as soon as I'm out!"

When Bai Li Hu came down, the 'human traffickers' had already been 'brought to justice', the two groups met at the rosewood staircase entrance of the inn's hall.

Bai Li Hu shook his head: "... also pitiful, I heard the adult accomplices ran away?"

"I heard that……"

Da Wang casually glanced at him, and actually saw sympathy in the eyes of this 'thorn'? Da Wang was displeased, you're as skinny as a mantis, who are you sympathizing with! Do you even deserve it! The spiky-headed Da Wang, after glaring at the shopkeeper, also glanced at him.

After walking two steps, Da Wang inexplicably felt that mantis was somewhat…… familiar?

He abruptly turned his head to look at the other's eyes; that pair of fierce triangular eyes blinked unnaturally. A huge surge welled up in his heart, ah ah ah!

The world truly is fantastical, Fatty Four has shrunk down to a mantis!

Moreover, he looks about the same height as him!

Da Wang has been especially honest all the way, his mind full of Fatty Four's deflating.

This guy racked his brains but couldn't figure it out: what's wrong with the feng shui of Thorny Prefecture? Is the situation really that dire? Can Thorny Prefecture still have him be poor? How could he starve like that! Pitiful, pitiful!

Vermilion Bird Avenue is not far from the City Warden Office; Da Wang arrived at the gate and finally came to his senses, first forget about Fatty Four—he's already been caught!

Fortunately he had dressed up a bit; otherwise today he'd lose face badly in front of Fatty Four!

Things have come to this…… This guy looked at the gate of the City Warden Office, having come all this way, might as well check the Secluded Prefecture Guard's work efficiency. If it's on par with Long Peace's Tranquil Peace Bureau…… don't blame me for launching the wage‑deduction‑for‑nothing scheme!

The one who arrested Da Wang was a Gatekeeper Clerk named Shi Shun. In Long Peace, a Gatekeeper Clerk just stays at the gate he's responsible for; in Secluded Prefecture it's different—he also has to maintain patrols and security in the corresponding area.

Shi Shun entered the gate and immediately asked his colleagues whether any kids had been reported missing these past two days.

His direct superior, the Gate Commander, was also there, smiling and asking if he'd picked up a child. Shi Shun shook his head: "No, it's that Shopkeeper Qiu reported they'd had a kidnapping gang show up; we rushed over, two adults escaped, and we only brought back two not‑big‑not‑small kids."

"Are they both abducted?"

"No, the older one is part of the kidnapping gang."

Da Wang: ……

The Gate Commander cursed, "... xxx just loves making old folks and kids do this dirty work, not attracting attention while gaining sympathy! Did those two adults send people to keep looking?"

"... they've already sent people to inquire nearby."

Da Wang coughed, beginning his performance: "Advise you to quickly release me; you believed one‑sided words and arrested people—hurry up and apologize, then send me home."

Shi Shun hurriedly gave his superior a rundown of the origins and context.

"Hey～ you're still quite arrogant! Which place did you abduct this kid from? Not Secluded Prefecture, right? Is the buyer in Secluded Prefecture? How many have you abducted, say!"

Da Wang: ……

"In this world there are plenty of kids who can't be afforded; a sack of millet can buy one—why would I bother kidnapping a rich family's child? Use your brain."

Nearby Shi Shun hurriedly scolded him: "Impudent!"

Da Wang rolled his eyes: "Can't you handle losing? This is just you getting angry from embarrassment."

City Gate Marquis: ……