Chapter 910

There were 13 of us in total—four women and nine men. Each room accommodated two people, with Nico having his own room and one room designated as storage. The eight rooms were just enough.

By the time we arrived, night had fallen. The village chief had been waiting for us. When he saw our vehicle approaching, he immediately instructed someone to open the gate and started helping us unload our suitcases. He also organized dinner, insisting on giving us a proper welcome.

To my surprise, the village chief remembered me. He greeted me warmly and asked why Colin hadn't come, saying the children missed him.

I was baffled. During the rescue operation, which lasted a day and a night, we had barely contributed anything. The professional teams did the actual work while we merely played a supporting role.

The village chief and I had only seen each other twice in passing during the rescue efforts. What I remembered about him was his face full of worry, deep concern etched into every line. It l