As the gates opened, and they heard Mejod's words, the group observed the people of Pinkertalia engaged in various tasks: harvesting fruits and vegetables, milking cows, raising other species, and dedicating themselves to crafts like weaving and embroidery. There were also those forging swords and weaponry.
It was strange to see that everyone seemed to be doing well, very different from what they had witnessed in the other kingdoms, where the residents were enslaved. Paltio and his group began to wonder what made this place so distinct. However, before they could say anything, Mejod interrupted their thoughts:
"You may be wondering how it's possible that no one will try to escape from here or why we don't enslave the inhabitants as the other kingdoms do. If that's your question, I'll tell you that here we provide them with everything they need. We encourage them to organize their own trades and activities, and in exchange for a modest compensation, we take care of them and ensure they live happily in this place. Even their king agreed to this arrangement."
"Wow! That's interesting," Ron commented, surprised.
"Is it true?" a small voice said.
Some of those present turned around, confused. "Did any of you say something?" Mejod asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No, no one, sir," Paltio quickly responded while covering Rykaru's mouth to prevent him from speaking again.
"Very well, you must be tired from your journey," Mejod continued, changing the subject as he observed the group. He called over one of his men. "Take them to a place where they can freshen up and rest. Tomorrow they can begin their search."
With nothing more to say, Mejod departed, accompanied by a group of soldiers.
The assigned soldier escorted Paltio and his group to what appeared to be a kind of restaurant. "Alright, you can stay here. If you need anything, I'll be outside patrolling," said the young soldier, whose thin and youthful appearance contrasted with his firm posture.
Once alone, Paltio broke the silence: "Something doesn't add up here. How is it possible that people aren't being oppressed and are instead working together with the purple shadows?"
"I think the same," Pax added. "This division of shadows is known for rejecting both technology and magic, but having some kind of symbiosis with the inhabitants they conquered seems suspicious to me."
"So, do you think we should investigate?" Alita interjected.
"I think so," Ron replied with determination.
"If you'd like, I can go talk to the locals and gather information," Mok offered.
"I should probably report this to Tejod," Pax reflected. "But... what would I say? That this damn leader of the blue shadows did something to us? No, without proof, Tejod wouldn't listen to me. It would be a waste of time, and he'd likely reprimand me instead."
What Pax said seemed frustrating, but there was no other choice. Mok decided to step out for a while once they were given food and drink. Paltio warned him to be careful before he left. Meanwhile, Alita, Ron, and Paltio went to ask the soldier who had escorted them where they could stay.
In the meantime, Pax headed toward what appeared to be a closed room to contact Tejod. He informed the great badger that they were already in the fourth kingdom. Though excited by the news, Tejod responded in his usual dry and merciless tone: "You must hurry. Seventeen days have already passed."
Upon exiting, Pax noticed that no one was waiting for him—neither the three youngsters nor Mok. It seemed as though they had forgotten about him.
"I need to go find these fools... I hope they don't get into trouble," he thought, recalling what Paltio had said earlier about something strange happening in the city.
Meanwhile, Mok began to move through the town. The guards watched him curiously, as no one in Pinkertalia dressed like him; it was as if they lived in the Stone Age. Although he felt their fixed gazes on him, the butler paid them no mind. However, he remained alert.
He started asking the locals for information. But everyone repeated the same thing: "We're all friends here, and Mejod is a great leader." This struck him as odd. No one seemed to have an independent opinion, as if they were programmed to respond that way.
The butler concluded that if he wanted to obtain more information, he would need to go directly to the source: the palace where Mejod resided.
He began walking through the town, gradually moving away from the center. He knew that to reunite with Paltio, he only had to look for the carriage. After a while, he arrived at a massive structure built from shipwrecks, forming what appeared to be the largest building in the area.
"This must be the palace," Mok thought. And he was correct, because just then, a large contingent of armed soldiers emerged from one of the doors, equipped with spears and shields, ready to patrol the area.
Mok quickly hid in one of the nearby passageways, observing carefully. He was searching for an entrance where he could slip in unnoticed. After a few minutes, he found what he was looking for: an unguarded window. He took out one of his magical rings and created a small gust of wind that stirred up dust, distracting the nearby guards. With stealth, he slipped through the window.
Once inside, Mok turned on his lantern. The place was dark and silent. He began to investigate, examining some books and documents he found on a desk. The notes appeared to be written in a strange language or some kind of code.
"What could these things be?" he wondered aloud as he examined the documents.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching one of the doors. Without wasting a moment, he returned the documents to where he had found them and quickly hid, preparing himself for whatever might come next.
The light flicked on suddenly, and one of the guards entered, carrying a tray of food. What Mok hadn't noticed until that moment was that in front of him there was a cell, and inside it, someone lay on their back, motionless. The guard placed the food on the floor and said to the prisoner in a cold tone: "It's only a matter of time... and you will cooperate."
The person didn't respond. They remained still, not even turning toward the guard, who, after a few moments of silence, left, closing the door behind him.
Intrigued by the scene, Mok decided to stealthily approach the bars of the cell to see who the prisoner was. However, before he could say anything or make a move, a voice behind him caught him off guard:
"I've got you."