At two in the morning, Hesta followed behind Fatima, leading a palace guard squad of more than a dozen people and six hounds as they began the search.
Fatima walked at the front. Hesta could tell that she was very familiar with this place—when a tractor pulled up before them, Fatima immediately jumped aboard. Hesta went around to the other side of the cab and waved for the driver to get out.
"Can you drive this?"
"A little."
The moment she finished speaking, the tractor's headlights suddenly flared on, illuminating the road ahead. The engine roared to life. Fatima gave directions while Hesta followed the route she indicated, with two palace guards riding motorcycles behind them.
The commotion woke the Shelter Dwellers along the way. Across the rolling fields, people emerged from their wooden huts and cast curious glances at Hesta's party. Some nosier ones followed at a distance, wanting to see what they were doing.
"I think I know where you're going," Hesta said softly. "Turn left up ahead. There's a ballot box there, and beyond it is a residential area for the old farm employees' families—is that it, ma'am?"
"...Yes."
"I'm rather curious. Why did you come here first to look for someone?"
Fatima did not answer.
Hesta parked the vehicle beside the ballot box. Fatima got out herself, then immediately turned around and instructed the two guards behind her to take the dogs into the residential compound ahead.
Hesta brought up the rear, watching Fatima lead the group inside. Two shrill whistles tore through the night, and windows that had already gone dark lit up again one after another. This was Hesta's second time here. Last time, she had come to collect voting letters and had not ventured any deeper.
Two men appeared on a gentle slope