In the following week, the king Midas XVI suspended meetings with the counselors, dedicating to his favorite activities, which included touring different places of the kingdom.
Although this time, without complying with the advisers' recommendations, he only visited the homes of the poorest people, listening to their testimonies and accompanying them to lunch or dinner. Of course, many subjects were honored and pleased by the presence of the monarch in their homes.
The king realized that it was necessary to improve the infrastructure of the popular sectors, and also, since their wages were not so high, it was also essential to give them some subsidy for food, transportation and education expenses.
Obviously, the powerful sovereign Midas XVI had matured and understood that his people deserved the best possible treatment, and as a ruler, despite the opposition of his counselors, he was responsible for fighting against the strong inequalities of social classes.
Certainly, his vision was broader than that of previous kings, and he cared about the rights of most needy ones.
Really, in that week, the monarch learned of many more problems than in previous years, and was able to glimpse the difficult situation of the kingdom, which was not so flattering, contrasting two realities: that of the king, the counselors and the rich subjects vs. that of the poor.
Once the term granted to the counselors Marina and May ended, he decided to summon them separately.
He first met privately with counselor May, in the main hall.
Kinder than usual, the cunning counselor May started the conversation:
-Your Excellency king Midas XVI!
-I am pleased to help you.
-I have done my duty!
-I went to the routes of the end of the world, consulted the religious books, and received the messages of the stars.
The king Midas XVI interrupted him:
-Counselor May...
-I don´t have much time!
-Please be brief!
The counselor May spoke again:
-Illustrious king Midas XVI...
-If you want to continue with the final test or last requirement, no matter how you call it, you must go to the site where we found the two manuscripts, with three advisers.
-Go down, there is a tunnel, and then you will reach the river that leads to the underworld.
-The demon is guarding the door of the dark world, and in order to pass, he will mention a riddle.
-If you or the advisers solve it, only one person can go to the underworld, without his soul being prisoner of Hades.
-But, if they fail, their souls will stay in the underworld for all eternity.
-I warn you again!
-This is very dangerous!
-I also recommend not talking to the poor subjects of the kingdom.
-Besides, they are not so poor!
-They always want more and more!
-And they will never be satisfied!
-That´s all!
Distrusting counselor May, the king Midas XVI asked him:
-Do you know what is the riddle?
-Or…
-Do you have any clues?
Not wanting to see the king's face, counselor May looked to other side, and answered:
-Your majesty!
-I don´t know!
The king Midas XVI continued with the questioning:
-Counselor May...
-If we overcome the challenge of the demon, and I manage to enter the underworld, what will happen?
Now looking at the sovereign, counselor May replied:
-You will go directly to talk to Hades!
-He will explain the final condition to you!
-But, I warn you again, no mortal has been able to communicate with Hades!
-You don´t understand what is at stake!
-If you don´t defeat Hades, all the souls of the kingdom will be condemned to submission and suffering!
The king Midas XVI indicated to the counselor that he would evaluate his position, and requested him to withdraw.
Then, after the counselor May left the room, certainly worried because he could not convince the king to give up his fight against the forces of evil, the counselor Marina entered.
She was extremely beautiful and intelligent.
However, in the kingdom of GoldMidas it was unprecedented that she had reached that position. Women could not testify in courts, and were treated as second-class citizens, almost as if they were slaves.
Paradoxically, as she witnessed some miracles, including seriously ill patients, who mysteriously recovered, the counselor May convinced the former monarch, Midas XV, to appoint her as a counselor, claiming that her presence in the court of counselors would mitigate the power of darkness.
Despite the great merits of the advisor Marina, who unlike the other counselors did meet with all the subjects of the kingdom, rich and poor, she was not taken into account by the other advisers and her proposals were rarely approved by them.
The king Midas XVI, who had never met her alone, said:
-Dear counselor Marina...
-Don´t be afraid of me!
-Feel free to express your opinions!
-Forget the impertinent comments of other advisers!
-I want the truth!
-It doesn´t matter what you have to say!
-I am not going to punish you for your statements!
-Rather, I want the truth!
A bit nervous, the counselor Marina explained:
-Honorable king Midas XVI...
-Your majesty!
-Please, listen well!
-It was an honor for me to work with your father for four years, and it is also an honor to have served you in these three years.
-It is also an honor that you placed your trust in me.
-This is the truth!
-Counselor May knows more than you think!
-He revealed to me how to get to the underworld!
-But, he refuses to tell the guardian's riddle.
-I am sure…
-He knows it!
-Your majesty!
-Please, listen well!
-I suspect that if you do not decipher the riddle, the demon can only take your soul.
-And this will favor May!
-Who aspires to be the new sovereign of the kingdom!
-Your majesty!
-Please, listen well!
-I investigated the riddle!
-The only thing I know is that it is a copy of one used by another guardian, but somehow it will be counted backwards.
-Your majesty!
-You must study the ancient texts.
-And devise answers for the guardian puzzles, if they are posed in a reverse order.
-Your majesty!
-This is my humble knowledge!
Trusting the advisor Marina, the king Midas XVI asked her:
-Who are the three counselors that must go to the door of the underworld?
The counselor Marina replied:
-Your majesty!
-My opinion has rarely been valuable!
-Why do you want to hear it?
The king Midas XVI answered:
-Counselor Marina, don´t underestimate yourself!
-You will decide about the three that will accompany me!
-Please, answer!
-This is an order!
A little embarrassed and surprised by the monarch's attitude, the counselor Marina replied:
-Your majesty!
-Febro, May and myself must accompany you.
The king Midas XVI continued the conversation:
-Counselor Marina...
-Excellent!
-So, it will be this way!
-Thanks for the great recommendation!
-In three days, we will leave for the routes of the end of the world.
-Tell the counselors Febro and May.
-I also ask you for a favor.
The counselor Marina expressed:
-Your majesty, which one?
The king Midas XVI stated:
-This is a secret!
-Counselor May must not know it!
-Neither can the other counselors know this!
-I know it´s hard…
-In these three days, you must find out what Hades can ask me.
-Now, if you can´t comply with this task, you are free to resign.
The counselor Marina took the floor:
-No!
-I will never disappoint a Midas king!
-I swear on the honor of my family!
-That was vindicated when I was appointed counselor!
-Your majesty!
-You can count on my full support!
-I am at your service!
Finally, bowing, counselor Marina withdrew from the main hall, being grateful for the votes of confidence received from king Midas XVI.
As ordered by the sovereign, at dawn on the third day, the team made up of the king, the counselors Febro, Marina and May, and several soldiers were ready for their trip to the caverns of the routes of the end of the world.
That day was sunny and despite the great heat, there was a feeling of peace and tranquility.
Before leaving the palace, king Midas XVI leaned out from the south balcony and greeted his subjects, who chanted:
-500 years and twenty-five days ago our beloved king Midas was born!
-Long live to the glorious king Midas!
-Long live to the glorious king Midas II!
-Long live to the glorious king Midas III!
-Long live to the glorious king Midas IV!
-Long live to the glorious king Midas V!
-Long live to the glorious king Midas VI!
-Long live to the glorious king Midas VII!
-Long live to the glorious king Midas VIII!
-Long live to the glorious king Midas IX!
-Long live to the glorious king Midas X!
-Long live to the glorious king Midas XI!
-Long live to the glorious king Midas XII!
-Long live to the glorious king Midas XIII!
-Long live to the glorious king Midas XIV!
-Long live to the glorious king Midas XV!
-Long live to the glorious king Midas XVI!
-Long live to all the Midas kings, who have brought peace, prosperity and wealth to our kingdom!
Cordially, the king Midas XVI told them:
-Dear subjects!
-I am going to visit the routes of the end of the world!
-We will review the work of the new mine!
-There will be prosperity for the whole kingdom!
-Go to work on this beautiful day!
-I say goodbye to you!
Almost at noon, they reached the gloomy cavern, and after a few hours of journey through the labyrinth of underground tunnels, they found the site where the two manuscripts were.
The wizard May spoke words that only he and the demons know. Quickly, a large hole opened in the ground. The king Midas XVI looked inside and saw the canoe and river that appeared in his previous dream. The soldiers were instructed to wait, while in this order, Marina, Febro, May, and king Midas XVI jumped towards the boat.
Unlike the dream, the canoe moved by itself and the currents were very fast. After almost an hour, the way divided into three channels. King Midas XVI ordered to take the middle one.
Suddenly, the counselors began to scream, as this path came to a waterfall, and the canoe was thrown into the air, falling rapidly into a dark blue lake. It gave the impression that the ceiling of the caves was covered with gray clouds, and in the middle of the lake, a tiny island emerged, which was no bigger than a carriage.
The stunned onlookers saw the small island, covered with beautiful bright, light and green grass, but with the unpleasant presence of the sinister Cerberus, highlighted by its dark gray fur, and several heads of dogs. Behind the monster was a wooden door, which was obviously the entrance to the underworld.
The canoe stopped on that island.
The demon Cerberus began to speak:
-King Midas XVI, I have been waiting for you...
-Do you dare to challenge me?
The king Midas XVI replied:
-Yes!
-What´s your riddle?
The demon said:
-There is a being, with a single voice, that has three legs in the morning, two at noon, and four in the afternoon.
-Who is he?
Remembering the enigma of another guardian and using reasoning in reverse, the clever and bold king Midas XVI managed to deduce this riddle, and expressed:
-He is a human being cursed by the gods, whose life goes backwards.
-He is born old and keeps getting younger...
-At first, he can walk with two legs, but he needs a cane.
-In the middle of his life, he walks with his two legs.
-And at the end of his life, he can only walk with his hands and feet.
Cerberus' heads began to bark, reflecting his deep disgust, and at the same time, confirming the exceptional victory of king Midas XVI. Likewise, the face of counselor May, who viewed Marina with suspicion, reflected anger and discomfort.
Finally, Cerberus expressed:
-King Midas XVI, you can enter the underworld!
The king Midas XVI replied:
-I am going in with my three advisers!
Both, Febro and May, were scared and began to shake.
After a brief silence, Cerberus stated:
-King Midas XVI, the counselors can´t enter!
-But…
-As you are the first human being who will enter the realm of darkness alive, I can make an exception, in exchange for a deal.
-You can only enter with one counselor!
-And if you don´t come back in three days, I will keep the souls of the other two counselors!
-Do you accept my conditions?
Febro and May were still terrified because they had already deduced the game of the audacious king Midas XVI.
The sovereign accepted the demon's proposal, saying:
-I agree!
-The counselor Marina will accompany me.
Then, the wooden door was opened, and king Midas XVI and the faithful counselor Marina began to walk through tunnels, which were increasingly sloping downward.
The fateful door closed and the demon said to the other two counselors:
-Ha! Ha! Ha!
-They will never leave here!
-Febro and May, I will keep tour souls, and Hades will be the owner of the GoldMidas kingdom...
-Ha! Ha! Ha!
It was all a matter of perspective. For Febro and May, they had already been condemned, while king Midas XVI and counselor Marina continued advancing, hoping to meet soon with the owner of the underworld, and trusting that they would triumph in this incredible challenge...