The guide choked up.
Piyu did not press further. She turned and headed for the temporary wooden cabin the guide had arranged for them. She found Milluki and explained the situation.
Milluki dug a few packs of snacks out of the supply crate and casually grabbed two cans of cola.
"Going to use them to get him talking?"
"Yeah."
"You're already bribing people?"
"You have a better idea?"
Milluki handed her the snacks. "Find out his name, where he came from, and how long he's been here."
Piyu returned to the courtyard with the food and set instant noodles, fried chicken-flavored chips, and cola in front of the guide.
The man reached out, then stopped. He picked up a can of cola first and turned it over several times. He pulled the tab and took a huge gulp, his Adam's apple bobbing repeatedly.
"My name is Shak." Hugging the cola can, he sat on the steps. "I'm from a small city in the southern Mittel Federation. I worked as a porter. That night, I went home after work, slept, and woke up here."
"Did someone bring you here?"
"I don't know. When I woke up, I was already here."
"Have you tried to escape?"
Shak tore open the bag of chips. "I did. Not far outside the village, my head started hurting, and my legs went weak. If I went back to sleep in my room, I could get medicine the next day. Once I took it, nothing hurt anymore."
Piyu's pen stopped over the paper.
"You take it every day?"
"I have to. If I don't, I feel awful."
After saying that, Shak grabbed a handful of chips and stuffed them into his mouth. Several nearby villagers stopped working and slowly gathered around.
One of them stared at the