The man in the pink dress approached with an air of theatricality, his every step deliberate and exaggerated. The guards, caught between laughter and a strange sense of foreboding, couldn’t tear their eyes away from the unexpected sight.
“Uh, is this part of the act?” one guard whispered to the other, his voice tinged with both humor and unease.
The other guard, trying to maintain his composure, replied, “I have no idea, but I think we’re about to find out.”
With a mischievous grin, Diego launched into an impromptu solo comedy show, his booming voice and exaggerated gestures captivating the guards.
“Hey there, fellas!” Diego greeted, effortlessly draping an arm around each guard’s shoulder, pulling them into a playful bear hug. His towering height and broad frame made the gesture both comical and endearing. “You look like you could use a little fun!”
The guards, caught off guard by Diego’s unexpected embrace, couldn’t help but chuckle nervously, their earlier apprehension momentarily forgotten.
Just then, a loud, unexpected moan echoed from the nearby house, where Jenny and Joy were. The sound caught everyone’s attention, and the guards instinctively turned their heads towards the source, curiosity piqued.
Diego, seizing the moment, flashed a knowing grin at the guards. “Sounds like someone’s having a good time,” he quipped, waggling his eyebrows suggestively. “What do you say, boys? Want to join in on the fun like Boss Dexter?”
The guards’ faces turned pale, their imaginations running wild with Diego’s insinuation. The thought of being part of such a scene was both terrifying and absurd to them.
Frozen for a moment, the guards exchanged a glance, their minds racing with the implications. Finally, they shook their heads vigorously, their expressions a mix of fear and disbelief.
“No, no, we’re good here,” one of them stammered, trying to regain his composure.
“Yeah, we’re just fine,” the other added, nodding emphatically, eager to distance themselves from the unexpected proposition.
Diego, seeing their reaction, burst into laughter, releasing them from his playful grip. “Relax, guys! Just messing with you,” he said, his laughter infectious.
Diego’s attention was drawn to the weary workers emerging from the cave, their exhaustion evident in their every step. Concerned, he approached the guards, his expression serious. “Why do these workers look so worn out?” he asked, his voice tinged with genuine curiosity.
One of the guards shrugged nonchalantly. “They’re just slaves,” he replied, his tone dismissive. “They don’t have the right to rest.”
Diego’s eyes narrowed, a sharp edge to his gaze as he pressed further. “And where do these people come from?”
The other guard hesitated before answering, “They’re brought here by a source to work.”
Diego’s expression hardened. “Isn’t this supposed to be forbidden land? Did you set this up?”
The first guard nodded, a hint of pride in his voice. “Yeah, the big boss set it up. His family is feared, so no authority dares to drive us away.”
Just then, one of the workers collapsed from exhaustion, the clatter of gold hitting the ground echoing in the air. A guard with a dark expression approached, and instead of helping, he kicked the fallen worker. “Get up and stop being lazy!” he barked harshly.
Moments later, another worker stumbled, weakly voicing his hunger. The second guard spoke up, his tone cold. “It’s not meal time yet.”
Diego watched the scene unfold, his heart heavy with the inhumanity of it all. He turned back to the guards, his voice steady but laced with anger. “Do these people even get to eat properly?”
The guard smirked, his expression taunting. “They eat what we don’t finish. They’re lucky if they get enough to fill a small plate,” he said, laughing derisively.
“How exactly are these people treated here?” Diego asked.
The first guard leaned back, a smug grin spreading across his face. “We treat them just like they deserve,” he replied, his tone dripping with arrogance. “They’re here to work, not to be pampered.”
Diego’s eyes flashed with indignation. “And what about their basic needs? Do they get any rest or medical attention when they’re sick?”
The second guard chuckled darkly, clearly relishing the power he held over the workers. “Rest? Medical attention? You’re funny,” he sneered. “They work until they drop. If they can’t keep up, they’re replaced. Simple as that.”
Diego’s frustration grew, but he kept his composure, pressing on. “What about their living conditions? Do they have proper shelter?”
The first guard shrugged, his indifference palpable. “They have a roof over their heads. That’s more than enough for them,” he said dismissively. “They’re not here for comfort.”
“And food?” Diego continued, refusing to back down. “You mentioned they eat your leftovers. Is that really all they get?”
The second guard laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. “Yeah, and they should be grateful for it,” he replied, his eyes gleaming with a cruel satisfaction. “We decide what they get and when they get it. It’s not like they have a choice.”
Diego’s voice growing more serious and resolute. “Do you ever consider the humanity of these workers?” he asked, his tone now carrying a weight that demanded attention.
The first guard snorted, clearly unfazed by Diego’s intensity. “Humanity? They’re not here for us to worry about that,” he replied with a dismissive wave of his hand. “They’re tools, nothing more.”
Diego’s eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin. “Tools? These are people with lives, families, and rights. How can you justify treating them like this?”
The second guard leaned in, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “Justify? We don’t need to justify anything,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain. “They’re here to serve us. That’s all there is to it.”
Diego’s frustration was palpable, but he pressed on. “What happens when they can’t work anymore? When they’re too sick or too weak to continue?”
The first guard smirked, his response chilling in its casualness. “We don’t let them die or become completely useless,” he said, as if discussing a routine task. “It’s hard to find replacements, after all. But if they really can’t go on, we just toss them over the cliff out back.”
Diego’s heart clenched at the guard’s words, the inhumanity of it all hitting him like a physical blow. The guards’ complete lack of empathy was staggering, and he struggled to maintain his composure in the face of such blatant cruelty.
He took a deep breath, his resolve only strengthening. “And you think this is acceptable? That this is how people should be treated?” he asked, his voice steady but filled with a quiet fury.
The second guard shrugged, clearly unmoved. “It’s not about what’s acceptable. It’s about what’s necessary,” he replied, his tone matter-of-fact. “This is how we keep things running.”
Diego’s heart sank at the callousness of their words, but he refused to back down. “And you feel no remorse for this? No guilt for treating them as less than human?”
The second guard laughed, a harsh, grating sound. “Remorse? Guilt? You’re barking up the wrong tree, friend,” he said, clearly enjoying the power he held. “This is how things are done. It’s not our problem if you don’t like it.”
Diego could no longer contain his anger and disgust. He nodded, having made up his mind about what he needed to do. Approaching the two guards, his presence suddenly became heavy and intimidating. “Well, in that case,” he said, his voice cold and filled with determination, “tell Satan I said hi.”
In an instant, Diego grabbed the heads of the two guards and slammed them forcefully onto the ground. The sound of their skulls hitting the earth echoed around them, and blood immediately began to flow from their wounds. Not satisfied, Diego lifted their heads again and slammed them down once more, his rage and hatred fueling an unstoppable strength.
In the end, the two guards lay motionless, their bodies lifeless. Diego dusted off his hands before standing up and looking at Lucas. Lucas nodded in approval, understanding the necessity of Diego’s actions, before giving the order to release all the civilians.
At that moment, Jenny and Joy emerged from a small house, fixing their hair as they stepped out, clearly having finished their task. Inside, Boss Dexter lay lifeless, the cause of death evident from the potent poison that had taken its toll. Jenny had simply handed him a drink laced with a high dose of poison, telling him it was a tonic to boost his energy, which he had eagerly consumed.