Arthur folded his arms, standing at ease as he waited. The other guards didn't move a muscle, their stern faces unflinching as they remained at attention.
He glanced around casually, noting the players wandering nearby. A few of them cast curious glances his way, their whispers just barely audible over the faint hum of village activity. Arthur's sharp eyes flicked to them briefly before returning to the closed door of the office.
'They're already watching,' he thought.
Arthur could've ended the wait instantly. All it would've taken was revealing the Village Protector Insignia—the ultimate proof of his authority. With it, the guards would've stepped aside without hesitation, no questions asked. But this wasn't the time.
"No need to make a spectacle," he muttered under his breath. Keeping a low profile was better for now. There were too many eyes, too many rumors already swirling around his name.
