40

The area they arrived at was incredibly dark, with only the car's headlights providing illumination. Matthew handed Sorn a flashlight, while Peter rummaged through his massive bag—so large it reminded Sorn of a mountaineer's pack. From it, he pulled out a thick jacket, struggling slightly to put it on himself.

Noticing Sorn watching him, Peter flashed a wide grin and gave him a thumbs-up. "It's for safety," he said. Sorn merely shrugged.

What puzzled him was that Ralf was the only one without a flashlight. Instead, he bounced over to Sorn, leaning in close. Sorn nearly pulled away before the man quickly whispered to him, "There's a weapons stash in this area. So we're focusing on finding that first—keep your gun holstered, Sorn."

Without a word, Sorn gave a small nod of understanding. He walked alongside Ralf, while Matthew and Peter had already gone ahead into the settlement.

"How do you know about this weapons stash?"