A door on another side opened, and a thin old man with gray hair entered the kitchen. Yua drew her wakizashi, and Taka took his bow from his back.
"Relax, young people." The man raised his hands with a gloomy face. "I will not report you to the guards. I was expecting you here. You guys are lucky to meet me. I was one of those who agreed to the plan."
"The plan?" Yua raised an eyebrow.
"Plans on sending help request letters through merchants."
"Why can't I feel you coming?" Taka asked.
The man smiled. "I used to be a ninja too. However, because of this old body of mine, I can do nothing more to resist their oppression."
Yua and Taka exchanged glances. Taka nodded and lowered his bow, then bowed slightly. "My name is Taka, sir."
"And I'm Yua." The kunoichi added, putting her sword back in.
"I'm Tamaki. Tamaki Shoichi. Nice to meet you." The old man replied, bowing back. "Follow me, please."