Misty and I kept walking and finally reached the police station. An old stone building, and two constables standing outside—it all looked exactly like what you'd expect from a capital's police station. We both went inside. I stepped a little to the side, stayed slightly behind, and quietly observed everything. Misty walked forward and started talking to the policeman sitting at the desk in front.
"Sir… has there been any information about my father?"
The policeman lifted his gaze from the file and looked at Misty. His voice sounded tired as he said to her, "Look, we are trying to find him." Misty's fingers unconsciously intertwined with each other. The policeman continued, explaining that often such alcoholic people are first made unconscious by luring them with money and liquor, and then they are 'sold.' After that, they are sent to places where no one ever returns. And behind all of this, most of the time, the hand of the "Iron Serpent Gang" is involved. But the policeman immediately added, "Still, we are doing our best from our side." "As soon as we find him," he said, "we will send him back home."
Misty stayed silent for a few moments. Then she slowly lowered her head. "Thank you, sir." There was a little hope in her voice, but more fear than that. She turned and came back toward me. I looked at her face. She didn't say anything, but everything was clear in her eyes. The policeman's words hadn't reassured her.
Then we both quietly walked out of the police station. The light outside was very different from the heavy atmosphere inside. But the burden on Misty's face was still clearly visible. Sadness was evident in her eyes. She didn't say much, just looked at me with a faint smile and said, "Thank you… for coming with me, Master Jona." There was formality in her words, but beneath her voice, both exhaustion and fear were hidden.
Then, with a little hesitation, she said, "If you'd like… please come to my home. I'll make tea for you." I wanted to refuse. But the very next moment, I looked at her face. If I refused now, she would probably feel even worse. And if I went with her, then maybe… she could get a little comfort. Thinking this, I nodded. "Alright," I said. "Let's go."
A faint sense of relief appeared on Misty's face. "My home isn't very far from here," she said. "If we walk straight, we'll reach the Middle Province in a short while." We both started walking toward her home. As we walked, my attention went to a bitter truth of this city. This capital was divided into three parts—three tiers.
Tier-1: Golden Peak District. This was the area where the most powerful people of the Empire lived. The Royal Family, Senator Council, Noble Families, big merchants, and some High Middle Class people. This was the most developed and safest part of the city.
Tier-2: Middle Province District . Middle class, lower middle class, and government employees. This area was the backbone of the entire capital. Most self-employed businesses, 3-star hotels, restaurants—all were here. Security was good here as well, and this area also had the city's only shipping port, a port that was a necessity for the entire Empire. This area covered the largest portion of the city.
Tier-3: Patal-Puri District. Where most poor and lower-class people lived. Small self-employed jobs were available here too, but most hotels were only 2-star. In the lanes there, beggars ruled—every alley had beggars or people who had no homes and slept on the roads. Due to poverty, they also became part of the bad gangs operating there, and then they distributed narcotics in those lanes and did all the bad things that an evil gang does. Then I realized that even though the city was quite prosperous, with huge palaces and amazing architectural structures, all of that was meant to show the city's beauty from the outside and hide such things inside—so that most people could be shown how prosperous this city was.
Misty's home was in the Middle Province. The roads here weren't as wide as Golden peak, but life could be felt here. People, shops, voices—everything. Walking along, we stopped in front of a three-story building. Misty said, "This is it." The place where she lived was on the second floor.
As we climbed the stairs, I felt a little strange. On one side, I had Paragon powers—strength I myself hadn't fully understood yet. And on the other side, I was standing in the middle of a completely ordinary human problem. Misty opened the door. As soon as the door opened, a bitter smell of medicines entered my nose from inside the house. It didn't take me long to understand—this bitter smell was because of her sick mother. That smell had spread throughout the house.
I then entered her house. Misty said to me, "Please sit, I'll bring tea," and went toward the kitchen. She placed the bag of vegetables in the kitchen and started making tea for me. I was sitting there, lost in thought, when suddenly I heard the sound of coughing from one of the rooms. Light… but continuous. I understood. That sound was Misty's mother. And at that very moment, I realized—this house wasn't just poor. This house was tired.
The coughing sound came again, louder than before. Misty immediately came out of the kitchen. Embarrassment and worry were both clearly visible on her face. She said in a soft voice, "I'm sorry, Master Jona… Mother's health has worsened in the past few days." She paused for a moment and took a deep breath. "The weather has changed… and Father's trouble has made her even weaker." Her words were calm, but helplessness was clearly visible behind them.
And then, like lightning, a thought flashed through my mind. The Cyclic Quadrilateral question. If Historia solves that question—then the reward will be 13 Gold Coins. From that money, at least 3… or maybe 4 Gold Coins, I could give for Misty's mother's medicines. I remembered Misty's condition very well. She couldn't even earn more than two Silver Coins a month. With that much money, how strictly could a person survive? If she got even a little help, her life could become much better. And me? I already get five Gold Coins every month as pocket money. That much money was already more than enough for me.
Thinking this, a strange determination rose within me. At that moment, Misty brought tea for me. She placed the cup in front of me. "Here," she said. I picked up the tea and took a sip. The tea was really good. Simple, but comforting. I thought to myself how well Misty managed all the household work. Then, with a little hesitation, she asked, "How is the tea?" Without thinking, I said calmly, "The tea is very good." Hearing this, a faint smile appeared on her face.
But then, from the inner room, the coughing sound came again. This time, a bit longer. Misty's face became serious again. "I'm sorry," she said. "I'll be back in a moment." She slightly bowed her head toward me and went inside the room. I stayed seated there. For a few seconds. Then I slowly placed the cup down and stood up. Without making any noise, I went toward the kitchen. The vegetable bag was lying there. I took out one Gold Coin from my pocket and quietly placed it inside the bag. No show. No words. Then I slowly walked out of the house.
As I went down the stairs, there was a strange sense of peace in my heart. Stepping outside the house, I realized that today, I had truly done something good. And that feeling felt really nice. I thought to myself—Misty completely deserves this much for her behavior. And anyway, that reward is going to come to me. There's no loss for me in this.
As I walked, my next task became clear in my mind once I reached home. First, I need to put that notebook back in its place. In the basement. And then… maybe after some time, Den will also return from the Underworld. After coming back, he might tell me some more things about the Paragon world, and I also have many important questions to ask him. With these thoughts, I started walking toward home. The sky was calm. And I kept walking along my path.