His jaw tightened. He hugged the packet to his chest. "No. I can't sell it."
The people shouted again, but he forced himself to push past them, ignoring their cries. He hurried down the narrow paths until he reached the small house where his wife was waiting.
He quickly stepped inside and shut the door, locking it.
His wife, a thin woman with tired eyes, looked up in surprise. "Marco? What is it?"
Marco lowered his voice, his expression serious. "I need to tell you something important."
Her brow furrowed. "What could it be?"
Marco leaned closer and whispered, "We should leave this place. I found another base."
Her eyes widened. She stared at him as if he had gone crazy. "Leave the military base? Do you know what you are saying?"
Marco nodded quickly. "I know. But listen first. That place… it is safe. They are selling permanent residency for ten gold bars. Once we buy it, we can live there forever. And the base is completely protected."
