Dawn broke.
The sleepers awoke from their slumber, while those who had stayed awake finally drifted off.
Whispers filled the once-silent village.
As the first rays of sunlight slipped through the gaps in the tent, Ethan opened his eyes and realized he was the last one awake.
He rubbed his tired eyes, swung himself away from the bed, and walked outside the tent.
No one was there to greet him. There was only the green grass and the heavy silence that had settled over the area—apart from the distant whispers that came and went with the gentle morning breeze.
Ethan looked around, searching for Jenny or Nicholas, but found no trace of either of them nearby.
He walked with slow, sluggish steps, trying to drive the remnants of sleep from his mind as he headed toward the area where they had been told to leave their wagons the previous night.
On the way, he barely encountered any villagers. The only people he saw were the guards.
Some whispered among themselves, while others remained completely silent. The atmosphere left Ethan puzzled; he was used to the constant noise of his own village.
Then he noticed a tent that differed from the rest. It was slightly larger than the others and covered in a deep black fabric.
Curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to step inside for a quick look.
He pushed aside the heavy black curtain. The moment he stepped inside, a sudden chill washed over him, as though the tent were completely isolated from the warmth of the dawn outside.
Hundreds of books were stacked throughout the tent, forming massive towers.
Dozens of chairs and tables had been arranged in an orderly manner.
Four men and six women sat scattered around the room, each quietly reading their own book and ignoring everyone else.
Ethan scanned the tent and noticed Jenny among the readers. He began walking toward her quietly.
He stopped beside her, but she did not notice him.
He tried to see what she was reading, but he couldn't understand a single word.
Curious, he sat beside her, his eyes fixed on the letters and words without understanding their meaning.
An hour and twenty-four minutes passed.
Jenny's eyes suddenly lit up. She slammed the book shut, excitement shining in her gaze.
"This is amazing," she whispered. "I never thought it could be caught this way."
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Ethan watching her curiously.
The tension immediately returned to her expression, and she placed the book on the table in alarm.
"Ah, E-Ethan… I didn't see you come in," she said hesitantly, glancing at the book.
Ethan reached out and calmly placed a finger on it.
Jenny raised her eyes toward him and noticed the curiosity and confusion plainly visible in his expression.
"I-it's a detective novel," she said shyly. "Y-you know… stories about detectives and mysterious crimes…"
Ethan opened the book to a random page, then pointed toward the text.
Jenny didn't understand what he wanted at first. But after a few moments, she realized what he was asking.
"Do you want me to read it to you?"
Ethan quickly nodded.
At first, she grew nervous and didn't know how to respond. But a faint spark of happiness began to glow inside her.
She flipped back to the first page, then spoke in her usual hesitant tone.
"…It might be tiring to read it from the beginning, but I don't mind…"
She began reading the novel to Ethan from the start.
As she did, a strange, comforting, and beautiful feeling filled her chest.
Elsewhere…
Marcus sat in the same chair the man had occupied earlier.
His attention was focused on the scattered documents spread out before him.
A brief explanation of the place for you, dear reader:
The village stood in the middle of a vast green expanse covered in enormous grass that stretched for ten kilometers.
It was divided into three main sections, with half a kilometer separating each one from the next.
Each section served its own purpose, giving it a distinct role from the others.
The First Section: "The Residential Area"
This was the main section, where most of the residents gathered.
It consisted of a vast stretch of green land covered with simple tents.
Its population totaled twenty-four people.
The Second Section: "The Hospital"
This was the safest section, and the one farthest from danger, due to its importance.
Eighteen doctors lived there, responsible for treating the people's various illnesses and injuries.
The Third Section: "The Agricultural Sector"
This section was used to store food and supplies brought in from the city or elsewhere. At the same time, it was used to grow wheat, thanks to the fertility of its soil.
Everyone from the different sections worked together to protect the crops and ensure their continued growth.
The investigation continues in the next chapter.