, led by Jon to Abigail Zimmerman’s current residence, Titus Zane finally learned what they meant by "the compound".
It was a residential area for high-ranking military officers, guarded by sentries, completely inaccessible to ordinary people.
Jon said someone forbade Abigail from contacting them, so he dared not rashly inquire with the guards about her whereabouts, and could only wait in the car as before, hoping for a chance encounter.
But Jon’s idea was somewhat naïve; military compounds are not like ordinary courtyards where one can park or stroll around at will.
All the residents in the compound were leading figures, and a strange car blatantly parked in front of the compound would naturally attract the attention of the guards.
The sentry left the guardhouse, stood chest out, head up, and approached the car, bending over to knock on the window, Jon was elated thinking they were being allowed to pass, and hurriedly rolled down the window.
"Hello, may I ask if..." before he could finish saying ’let us in,’ he saw the guard salute them and started speaking formally.
"Please show your ID cards."
"Please show me your ID cards." Seeing no response from the two of them, the guard raised his voice, looking stern.
"I suspect you are international spies, please take out your ID cards to cooperate with our inspection."
"What should we do?" Jon turned to look at Titus Zane, feeling the label of being suspected international spies was a bit heavy.
"Then show it to him." Titus Zane said indifferently, looking down to unzip his shoulder bag and start searching.
"But my identity is special."
Jon spoke anxiously, Titus Zane stopped searching, holding a wallet in his hand, looking puzzled.
"I am the Crown Prince of E-country, it could end up really bad if they take me for a spy and deport me."
"Is that printed on your ID card?" Titus Zane raised an eyelid impatiently looking at Jon, his expression somewhat indescribable.
"No," Jon shook his head, then rushed to say, "But when they see my surname, they will think of it."
"You’re overthinking," Titus Zane said flatly, but with a hint of contempt, and took out his ID card from the wallet to hand it over to the guard.
The two had been conversing in French, and neither the guard nor the driver could understand what they were saying.
"But what if they find out?" Jon was still worried, his handsome face becoming slightly flushed with anxiety.
Titus Zane gave him a dismissive glance and said bluntly, "The YL surname of E-country isn’t exclusively owned by the Imperial Family, don’t flatter yourself too much!"
"Sir, your ID card!" The guard returned Titus Zane’s ID card and reached out a hand towards Jon.
The latter fumbled in his casual jacket pocket for his wallet and handed over his ID card to the guard reluctantly.
The guard took it, brought it close to look at the photo on the ID card and then at Jon himself, back and forth several times, but did not return Jon’s ID card, instead he said,
"Sir, please step out of the car."
Something seemed to explode in his head, he spread his hands towards the guard through the rolled-down window, "Why?"
"Sir, please step out of the car!" The young face of the guard was serious, showing no deference or providing special treatment because Jon was a foreigner, he held Jon’s ID card in his palm, with one hand on the long gun hanging on his shoulder.
The atmosphere was tense, Titus Zane, who was indifferent just moments ago, now also looked nervous seeing the guard taking the matter seriously.
A foreign national, lurking outside a military compound, it would seem questionable to argue there was no ulterior motive.
Jon got out of the car slowly, the guard rested the slung long gun off his shoulder and pointed it at Jon, scaring him into instinctively covering his head.