It’s fine to follow strangers if you know the emergency exit
The priests who walked toward us were rather old, perhaps around fifty or sixty. Perhaps they tasked the younger ones to guard the place and the older ones to greet the guests? Anyway, the oldest among them led the priests and stopped in front of me.
"Welcome, Sir."
He bowed politely, more than the time he greeted Jin--unless he had done so before I could see it. His voice and tone, however, were flat and businesslike; like a customer service staff during midday. It was rather unsettling, but I also preffered this to excessive friendliness from a stranger.
At least this one did not look and act like a street scammer.
"Hello," I nodded back.
One advantage of carrying a child in your arms was that you could get away with not being polite enough--because how could I bow with Jade clinging to me?
The priest behind the oldest one looked more uplifting, however, cracking a sweet smile as he stepped forward. "You finally come, Sir."