The mine of Mongkant was bustling and crowded this morning, but on their return on the same evening, it looked bleak and cheerless with deserted streets—even the street lamps looked dimmer.
Gu Yu and Xiaojin had yet to figure out what had happened, but the three soldiers paled at the scene, for they could see none of their patrolling comrades. They ran hastily to the jade-gambling casino and were relieved to see that the old master was still there.
"Ge Thantwe's troops are coming. Mia Lwin is gone," said the old man, caressing a piece of jadeite without even looking up.
"Gone?"
The three soldiers were greatly disturbed by the news. They did not receive any orders regarding the retreat, which meant they had been abandoned by their senior officer. Although the three forces had a ceasefire agreement in Hpakant, all troops would be more than happy to "clean away" such stray sheep of the other two sides.
"It's all your fault!"
