[[[ Three Days Later / Near Sunset ]]]
[[[ Heart of the Desert / Near the Rocky Mountains Beyond the Sand Dunes Area ]]]
A lone vehicle sped across the empty sands, and 5 km away at the entrance to Desert Mountains Village, a sniper on a high mountain slope, 3 km above, observed the distant vehicle through his sniper scope and contacted the monitoring center.
Sniper: I've spotted a civilian vehicle approaching from the southeast.
(Monitoring Center): Keep your eyes on it. We'll alert the gate guards… if anything goes wrong, you're authorized to open fire.
Shortly after, the vehicle reached the mountain entrance where a burst of gunfire was shot in front of Zeus, who slammed the brakes and stopped immediately.
Dozens of armed men were sheltering behind manually placed stone barricades and some bulletproof curtains. One man stood openly, the one who had fired the warning shots, raising his hand and shouting clearly for the vehicle to stop.
(Sorai): Man, I told you not to rush!! ... Let's explain ourselves… Zeus, why haven't you put on your uniform yet!?
(Zeus, tired): Why are you two so cautious... you need to relax. It's not like we're enemies with these men. This is an official Union village.
"This idiot!" Beatrix thought as she saw Zeus recklessly exit the vehicle before Sorai and herself.
(Zeus, loudly): Lower your weapon, brother! Is this how you treat your guests, you bastards!?
The soldiers didn't lower their weapons, and the man in charge of the area spoke.
Who are you, where did you come from, and what's your purpose here?
(Sorai): We're just travelers looking to stock up on supplies and were planning to stay the night… but it seems strangers aren't welcome.
The man gave a signal for the soldiers to lower their weapons and approached Zeus and Sorai. When he reached them, he gave them a scrutinizing look, then spoke.
You don't look like you're from around here… did you come from the north? You seem northern.
(Sorai): Yes, we came from far away.
Show me your IDs… and also the girl's.
(Sorai): I'm afraid I'd rather not do that.
The man's expression turned clearly stern, his tone cold.
Then I'm afraid I'll have to kill you.
Sorai hesitated for a moment, then decided to present his ID upon seeing the tense situation in this village.
When the man saw the ID of a First Lieutenant officer, he was momentarily shocked before regaining composure.
Sir, Lieutenant, I truly apologize for our behavior... Our village has received permission from the Union to use weapons and establish basic defenses... I'm just informing you before you assume we're breaking the law.
(Sorai, smiling): It's fine. I don't care what you're doing. All I want is to spend a damn night here and leave in the morning… after that, do as you please, I'm not responsible for you.
The man became flustered and responded with a slightly nervous smile.
Of course… my apologies, you may enter… I'll send a soldier with you to guide you to the inn if you'd like.
I'd appreciate that.
(Zeus): What the hell just happened here?
"We don't want to know, you fool, just leave them alone," thought Sorai, slapping his face in frustration.
(Checkpoint Guard): Apologies, you may be an officer, but that doesn't mean I have to trust you… please understand my position and don't take it as disrespect.
Zeus wasn't offended by the man's refusal to explain, simply shrugged with a "Suit yourself," and got back in the vehicle with Sorai, driving through the long passage between the two mountains.
As they approached the barrier, a soldier on a motorcycle went ahead of them to guide them to the inn.
...
(One hour later)
(Inside the Dining Hall at the Inn)
The inn, like the rest of the buildings and structures, was carved into the mountain. A large main tunnel led deep inside, branching into many smaller tunnels that formed the village's streets.
More than 80% of the village consisted of tunnels and structures inside the mountain.
It was truly a unique sight, hard to find anywhere else.
The dining hall was the most famous tavern in the village and the wider region among the neighboring settlements.
It was very crowded — Zeus barely found a table to sit at.
The table had four seats, where Zeus, Sorai, and Beatrix sat.
As they settled in, Zeus noticed a man nearby eating while standing, having found no place to sit.
(Zeus): Hey brother, come sit here...
A young man with white hair approached and spoke politely and calmly.
I'm sorry for the inconvenience.
(Sorai): No problem.
The young man sat down. Neither Zeus nor Sorai started a conversation, as they had no interest in getting to know him — they were more focused on eating.
The white-haired man received a video call from an unknown caller. Without thinking, he answered it, and a small, semi-transparent screen floated in front of him.
The scream of a 15-year-old boy in pain came through the call. The live video showed the young boy, covered in blood, his face full of bruises.
The glass in the white-haired man's hand shattered from the intensity of his silent rage. On the other side, the camera turned to show the face of a grotesque, scarred man who laughed and said:
You're late… I told you not to mess with me… your time is up… all of your time is up, really.
Then the call ended.
Zeus looked at the young man next to him with raised brows, surprised. Sorai froze, his spoon still raised — rice topped with shattered glass.
Meanwhile, Beatrix was brushing shards of glass off her long hooded coat, picking up her plate and heading to the chef for a new one.
The white-haired man's hands trembled for a while before he took a deep breath, calming himself and containing his rage.
(White-haired Man): Sorry about that. I'll bring you fresh plates.
He took the plates from Zeus and the still-frozen Sorai and walked to the chef.
(Zeus): What do you think?
He didn't reply, so Zeus waved his hand in front of his face and laughed.
Hey man, the guy's bringing new food on his dime, no need to be mad.
Sorai suddenly snapped out of it, dropped his spoon, and spoke calmly.
Analysis complete. That man has a serious issue… likely a kidnapping case.
(Zeus, surprised): Are you a robot?
Zeus, what do you say we stay in this village a little longer?
You think I'd just let a problem like this pass me by without getting involved? Of course I'm in, partner.
(Beatrix): Just so you know, you can only have one partner.
No need to be jealous, you'll always be my first partner.
(Beatrix, with a poker face, calmly): Go to hell.
"Women!! Man, how do they think!?" thought Zeus with a fake angry smile before speaking seriously.
We shouldn't waste too much time here… let's resolve this matter as quickly as possible.
(Beatrix): What matter?
Zeus looked toward the white-haired young man approaching them again as his answer. Beatrix commented:
You want to get involved in this story… That man is very polite and respectful. I'm with you.
(Zeus, smiling with annoyance): Polite? Respectful? Anything else?
Beatrix clearly flustered at Zeus' reaction and, in her confusion, did something foolish — she stabbed Zeus' hand with a fork in response to his reaction, which had upset her for reasons even she didn't understand.
Ouch! Damn! Only dogs bite suddenly — are you a dog!? Wait! Hold on, Betty! Put the sword away, I'm the dog, not you…!! Damn it! What the hell!?
Zeus leaped over the tables, escaping the tavern as Beatrix chased him.
Sorai covered his face in embarrassment.
"I didn't realize I was babysitting!"
The white-haired man placed the food down and began to leave, dazed, before Sorai called out to him directly.
Wait a moment.
What do you want?
Sit here for a bit.
The young man ignored the invitation and stepped forward to continue walking. Sorai stood and grabbed his hand.
_Look here…
(White-haired Man, sarcastically): Decided to step in now? … Many of us died while we waited for your help… damn you all.
I'm not here on a mission. I'm just a passerby… I want to help you, but not as a military officer — as a man who hates bastards, especially those who use power to prey on the weak.
The white-haired man sat down silently, ready to listen.
What's your name?
Marwan.
I'm Sorai… Tell me everything.