Throughout the morning, the stifling heat in the cell caused Jacob and Hal to fall asleep. They didn't know how much time had passed until late afternoon, when officers in white uniforms brought them food.
"Eat. I don't want anyone to starve to death in prison."
The officer yelled at him while rolling a water bottle and dropping a clear plastic bag containing something onto the ground.
The inmates' food consisted only of a small bottle of water and a small packet of flatbread per person, placed there to quench their hunger. The thin flatbread and plain water were insufficient to fill the stomachs of two growing teenagers.
We don't know how much longer we have to wait, or when the court will release us. Thinking about it won't speed up the process. We can only sit and look at each other from opposite sides of the cell. As we both lean against the wall, utterly hopeless, the iron cell door burst open with a loud bang.
The same officer walked in, but his demeanor had changed drastically. He seemed unusually submissive.
"Mr. Jacobella... Mr. Halberdus... Please come in."
"Are you taking me for questioning again?" Jacob asked curtly, irritated because he was hungry, sun-exhausted, and sleepy.
"No... they have been released on bail."
The heavy iron door slid open with a resounding bang. Jacob and Hal exchanged bewildered yet relieved glances. Officers led them through the stuffy hallway and out into the security center. The air outside was much fresher than inside, even in the tower. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the market and the crowds, their attention was diverted by a sight that made them stop in their tracks.
A sleek, black limousine glided low to the ground and pulled up, flanked by two hulking men in black suits. But the most striking figure was a tall, thin elderly man with dark skin contrasting sharply with his meticulously styled, curly white hair. He wore an expensive, deep purple velvet coat over his suit, and equally eye-catching was a gold brooch with the Solan monogram, adorned with a deep purple jewel, pinned to his right breast. He wore dark sunglasses to conceal his eyes, a common practice among the upper class in the tower—avoiding eye contact with the lower classes by wearing tinted or black spectacles. He stood still, hands in his pockets. His tall, slender frame and attire, though seemingly out of place in this setting, somehow enhanced his imposing presence, making him appear like a king descending to visit the slums.
"Get in the car," the strange old man ordered in a flat voice.
"Who are you?" Jacob asked cautiously.
"I told you to get in the car!"
The old man retorted, his once calm eyes turning fierce.His voice was powerful. Hal, who was standing next to him, flinched and shrank back.
"Unless you want to go back to sniffing urine in that prison!" The old man turned to look, his eyes cold and a smirk playing on his lips.
The threat worked wonders. Jacob froze. He glanced back at the prison door he had just walked out of, the memory of the stench and humiliation still fresh, then turned to look at the luxury car in front of him.
"Go, Jake…" Hal whispered, his voice trembling. "Anyone. Better than going back in there."
Jacob gritted his teeth and decided to walk straight to the car. But when Hal moved to follow, a muscular arm from a man in black immediately rose and blocked his chest like an iron clamp.
"You may leave now," the man in black ordered sternly. "The master only needs one person."
"Huh? But…" Hal's face turned pale, and he met Jacob's pleading gaze.
Jacob stopped walking, turning back to look at his friend. He saw fear in Hal's eyes, but he also knew this old man was no joke, and resistance could mean a worse end.
Jacob nodded and winked at Hal as if to say goodbye. "Go back to my room and check... uh... make sure everything is in order."
Hal swallowed hard, nodded reluctantly, and slowly backed away.
The car doors slammed shut, instantly cutting off the outside noise. Jacob peered through the tinted windows and saw Hal standing awkwardly behind him. The limousine smoothly ascended the ramp, heading towards the gold-framed elevator with its brightly lit neon sign:"For residents on the 100th floor and above only."
"Come down," the old man commanded curtly.
Jacob followed the tall man into the elevator. The air pressure from the rapid ascent made his ears ring, but what weighed down his senses even more was the imposing, upright back in front of him. It radiated a menacing aura that made the young man feel even smaller than when he faced the giant nymph.
The elevator doors opened into a luxurious restaurant. Transparent glass walls all around revealed a golden horizon above the Bledicico forest.
The moment they stepped through the door, the receptionist froze, her nose wrinkling slightly at the musty smell of Jacob's shabby old clothes. But when her gaze met the tall, slender figure following him, her expression of disgust instantly changed to one of flustered agitation, as she bowed so low her head almost touched the ground.
"Ah... please come this way, Solmaster Jardino. Your table is ready," the waiter said, his voice trembling.
Jadino strode inside. The moment his leather shoes touched the marble floor, the previously lively chatter and clinking of chopping boards instantly fell silent, as if a switch had been flipped.
The well-dressed guests froze, some even putting down their wine glasses and rising to bow their heads to the old man. However, hundreds of pairs of eyes were fixed on the dark-skinned young man in the wrinkled turtleneck. Jacob felt the disdainful gazes scanning him from head to toe. They probably wanted to call security to drag this 'slum kid' away, but the imposing aura of the old man leading the way forced all their disgust to be swallowed back down in silence.
Jadino settled into the best corner table that had been reserved, nodding for Jacob to sit opposite him.
As the waiter placed the plate of Nimson steak with a fragrant, spicy sauce in front of Jacob, he secretly swallowed hard. His stomach rumbled in protest, making him grip his knife and fork tightly, but he still didn't dare to eat, all while Jadino leaned back, calmly sipping his expensive, purplish-red wine.
"If you're hungry, then eat."
As soon as permission was given, Jacob immediately cut a piece of meat and put it in his mouth. The tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture was a world away from the bland, synthetic meat and tough scraps he'd found in the slums. He devoured it greedily, forgetting himself until the silver knife clinked softly against the ceramic plate.
"Is it delicious?" Jadino asked, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Jacob looked up, his mouth still chewing on the exquisite nim zest, yet the juicy sweetness left a deep, bitter aftertaste in his throat... No explanation was needed; the taste of this meal was reaffirming to the slum boy the stark class divide that clearly separated his world from the old man's.