The morning after the distribution of positions was complete, Pablo summoned one of his trusted n. His na was Darin. A man in his forties, silent, efficient, who did not ask many questions. He was among the first to join Pablo in Naraka, and he had proven his worth in battle. After the revolution, Pablo appointed him as his personal assistant. Darin was the man who carried out sensitive missions without hesitation.
"Darin, I have three tasks for you."
"I'm listening."
"First: I want you to summon Kuma and Jinny. Send one of your comrades to the southern church. Tell them I want to see them tomorrow."
"It will be done."
"Second: Count the number of palaces abandoned by the fleeing nobles. I want an exact number."
"I will go myself and count them."
"Third: Count the number of lands whose owners, the farrs, died in the revolution. This task may take ti. Send soone trustworthy to accomplish it."
Darin nodded. He left the room.
---
Darin contacted one of his comrades in the south. "Go to the church. Tell Kuma and Jinny that Pablo wants to see them tomorrow."
The man left imdiately.
At the southern church, Kuma sat on his massive chair. He was still treating the sick, but their numbers were fewer than usual. The people were beginning to get better. They were beginning to hope.
Jinny was by his side. She wore her simple clothes, but her eyes sparkled.
The ssenger entered. He delivered the ssage.
Kuma looked at Jinny. She looked at him.
"Tomorrow." said Kuma.
"Tomorrow." Jinny replied.
They did not ask why. They knew Pablo did not summon them without reason.
---
anwhile, Darin went himself to count the palaces. He wandered the streets of the capital and the suburbs. He counted. He recorded.
He returned hours later. He entered Pablo's presence.
"Thirty-four palaces. All empty. The nobles fled and left everything."
Pablo nodded. "And the lands?"
"We are still counting. It will take a few days. The dead farrs left their lands without heirs. We will obtain large numbers."
"Good. Continue."
Darin left.
Pablo decided to see the palaces for himself. He left the royal palace and wandered through the capital. He saw the nobles' palaces. They were large. They were beautiful. They were magnificent.
But he was not impressed.
All of them were lesser than the royal palace. Less magnificent. Less well-located. Less historic.
He returned to the royal palace. He stood in its vast courtyard. He looked at its high towers. At its green gardens. At its strategic location overlooking the port, the forest, and the capital all at once.
He summoned Darin.
"Go to King Baldog. Tell him that I will take the current royal palace as the headquarters of the Pablo Family. He must choose another palace for himself. A suitable noble's palace."
Darin paused for a mont. "He will be angry."
"It doesn't matter. This is my decision."
Darin went to Baldog. He told him.
Baldog was shocked. "What? This palace... my ancestors' palace. My family's palace for hundreds of years."
"This is not negotiable."
Baldog was silent for a long ti. His eyes were tearful. But he knew he had no choice.
"Alright." he whispered. "I will choose another palace."
He went with a few of his n (those who had been his companions in his days of glory, whom he had summoned again to help him). He wandered through the empty nobles' palaces. He chose a suitable palace. It was less magnificent, but it was habitable.
He said nothing. He just moved there in silence.
---
After the palace was empty of Baldog, Pablo began to explore it.
He wandered through its vast halls. He walked on its white marble floors, polished like mirrors. The walls were covered with golden engravings and rare oil paintings, depicting ancient battles and forr kings. The giant crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, sparkling even in daylight.
Its halls were nurous: the throne room, the banquet hall, the hall of mirrors, the music hall. Each hall was larger than the last, and more magnificent.
The rooms were countless. Huge bedrooms with hand-carved wooden beds and thick silk curtains that blocked even the faintest ray of light. Reception rooms with velvet-upholstered sofas. Studies with antique desks and luxurious leather chairs.
The kitchens were enormous, enough to feed hundreds of people. The stone ovens were still warm from the king's days. The storerooms were full of provisions and rare materials.
The royal baths were a marvel in themselves. Large tubs of white marble, shiny brass faucets, and heated floors. There were steam baths and relaxation rooms.
Beneath the palace were royal dungeons. Dark, damp cells. They still bore the marks of chains and dried blood.
The palace towers were very high, overlooking the port on one side, the forest on another, and the capital on a third. The walls were thick, towering, not easily breached.
Pablo looked at all of this. He did not just like it. He loved it.
"We will begin restoring it." he said to Darin. "I want everything cleaned. Every room furnished. Every garden trimd. This will be the new headquarters of the Pablo Family."
Darin nodded. He began to carry out the orders.
---
The next day, Kuma and Jinny arrived at the palace.
Jinny wore her beautiful clothes. Her pink hair cascaded over her shoulders. She was happy. Her eyes sparkled.
Kuma was beside her. He was smiling. A small smile, but genuine. His face was less wrinkled than it had been months ago. He wore his simple black cloak and his bear-eared hat.
Pablo welcod them in the grand reception hall. It was still empty of furniture, but it was majestic.
"Kuma. Jinny. Welco."
"Thank you for the invitation." said Kuma in his deep voice.
"I am the one who should thank you." Pablo replied. "Without your help, the revolution would not have succeeded."
Jinny shook her head. "Nonsense. You planned. You fought. You risked your life. We only helped. We are the ones who should thank you."
Kuma added: "You saved the south. This is what I have dread of for years."
They were silent for a mont. The atmosphere was warm, emotional, different from all their previous etings.
Then Pablo changed his tone. He beca more serious.
"I did not invite you here for pleasantries."
Kuma looked at him. Jinny looked at him.
"I will be honest with you. My question to you is: do you want to spend your lives here? In a small church in the south? Treating the poor, yes. But is that everything?"
Kuma was silent. Jinny was thinking.
"I am not asking you to leave your holand. Not now, at least. But I am offering you sothing bigger."
He paused. He looked at them.
"Join my family."
Kuma was silent. Jinny was not surprised. She had expected this.
"The Pablo Family is not just a gang. You have seen. One kingdom is now under our control. Soon, there will be another kingdom. Then another. I will help hundreds of thousands of people improve their lives. I will embark on adventures you cannot imagine."
He winked at Jinny.
Jinny smiled. A small, light smile in response to his wink. She knew this was a fateful mont.
"I am not asking you to fight in my wars. I am asking you to be with . To help achieve what no one can achieve alone."
Kuma was silent. He was thinking. Weighing matters.
Jinny spoke first.
"I agree."
Kuma looked at her. He was not surprised. He knew she would agree.
Kuma sighed. He was still hesitant. He hated fighting. He hated violence. He loved peace, simplicity, serving the poor.
But he looked at Jinny. He saw her happiness. He saw her faith.
Then he looked at Pablo. He saw his sincere eyes. He saw the man who had risked his life for people he did not know.
"I also agree." he said finally.
Pablo smiled. A wide, sincere smile that had not appeared on his face for a long ti.
"Welco to the family."
He extended his hand. He shook Kuma's hand. Then he shook Jinny's hand.
It was a historic mont. Pablo had not co to Sorbet only for the revolution. He had co for this. Kuma and Jinny joining him. Control of the kingdom.
And he had achieved both.
---
After they finished shaking hands, Pablo said:
"I have a gift for you both."
Kuma and Jinny looked at each other. "A gift?"
"A palace. From the empty nobles' palaces."
Kuma raised his hand. "I cannot accept this. I do not need a palace. The small church is enough for ."
"Listen to , Kuma. I am not forcing you to live in it as a king. You can turn it into a hospital. Into a church. Into a shelter for the poor. Treat whom you wish there. Feed the hungry there. Shelter the holess there."
He paused.
"And I will support you financially. Everything you need, I will provide."
Kuma was silent. He was thinking. He knew also that this gift would change the lives of the poor in Sorbet.
"Alright." said Kuma. "I will accept. Not for myself. For them."
Kuma looked at Pablo with different eyes. Admiration. Respect. Gratitude.
This young man was not as he had imagined. He was not a gang leader. He was not an exploiter. He was more than that.
Pablo smiled.
"A wise decision."
He looked at Jinny.
"And for you, I will set aside a room in the royal palace. You will be close to . To help manage affairs."
Jinny smiled. "I have always wanted to live in a palace."
Pablo laughed. Then he said:
"Now, let us begin work. There is much ahead of us."
They left the hall together.
Pablo was happy. He had achieved everything he had co for.
Kuma and Jinny were with him.
And Sorbet was under his control.
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