UNKNOWN LAND - CHAPTER 13: FACES OF DECEPTION

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Chapter 13: Faces of Deception

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"The snake does not announce its poison, and deception rarely introduces itself by its true name."

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The Unknown Land welcomed them with bright lights, crowded streets, and endless noise.

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Everything felt different.

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The buildings were taller.

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The roads were wider.

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The people moved faster.

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For Tunde, Musa, and Emeka, it felt like stepping into another world.

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The city they had dreamed about for years was finally before them.

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Yet beneath its beauty lay dangers they could not see.

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Dangers hidden behind smiling faces.

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Dangers wearing the appearance of opportunity.

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Three days after crossing the border, the friends arrived in a busy commercial district.

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Thousands of people filled the streets.

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Vendors shouted from every corner.

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Cars honked endlessly.

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Workers hurried between offices and shops.

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The energy of the city was overwhelming.

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For a while, the boys simply stared.

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"This place never sleeps," Musa whispered.

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Tunde nodded.

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"It feels alive."

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Emeka smiled.

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"Maybe this is where our future begins."

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They believed it.

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They wanted to believe it.

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After everything they had endured, hope still burned brightly inside them.

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Unfortunately, hope can sometimes blind people to danger.

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A Yoruba proverb says:

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"The goat that becomes too excited while eating may not notice the rope around its neck."

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The lesson would soon become painfully relevant.

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That afternoon, while searching for affordable accommodation, they met a young man named Victor.

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Victor appeared friendly.

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Helpful.

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Confident.

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He dressed well.

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Spoke politely.

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And seemed eager to assist them.

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"You boys are new here, aren't you?"

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Emeka nodded.

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"Is it that obvious?"

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Victor laughed.

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"Very."

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The friends smiled.

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For the first time in days, they felt fortunate.

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Perhaps fate had finally sent them someone trustworthy.

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Victor offered to show them around the city.

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He introduced them to cheap restaurants.

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Explained transportation routes.

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And pointed out areas where newcomers should be careful.

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His knowledge impressed them.

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His kindness earned their trust.

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Within a short time, he felt like a friend.

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Or so they thought.

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Days passed.

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The boys continued searching for work.

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The process proved far more difficult than expected.

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Every company wanted experience.

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Every employer wanted qualifications.

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Every opportunity seemed to require something they lacked.

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The reality was frustrating.

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Discouraging.

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Humbling.

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One evening, Victor approached them with exciting news.

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"I found something."

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The three friends immediately paid attention.

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"What?"

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"A job opportunity."

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Their hearts raced.

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"What kind of job?"

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Victor smiled.

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"Construction work."

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The boys exchanged hopeful glances.

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Construction was hard work.

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But they were not afraid of hard work.

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"What is the pay?"

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Victor named an amount.

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The figure sounded unbelievable.

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Far more than they expected.

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Almost too good to be true.

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Yet desperation has a way of silencing caution.

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"When do we start?" Musa asked.

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Victor's smile widened.

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"Tomorrow."

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That night, excitement filled the small room they rented.

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For the first time since arriving in the city, the future seemed brighter.

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Tunde imagined helping his father.

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Musa imagined supporting his family.

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Emeka imagined saving money for school.

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Hope returned stronger than ever.

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The next morning, Victor led them through unfamiliar streets.

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The farther they walked, the quieter the surroundings became.

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Eventually, they reached an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city.

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The building looked strange.

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Too quiet.

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Too isolated.

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Tunde frowned.

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"Are you sure this is the place?"

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Victor forced a smile.

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"Of course."

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Something felt wrong.

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Very wrong.

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But before anyone could react, several men emerged from the building.

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Large men.

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Dangerous-looking men.

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Their faces carried no friendliness.

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No warmth.

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No welcome.

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Only menace.

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Fear immediately gripped the three friends.

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Victor stepped backward.

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Slowly.

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Deliberately.

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And suddenly everything became clear.

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The smiles.

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The kindness.

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The friendship.

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The help.

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It had all been a lie.

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A trap.

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Musa stared at him.

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"Victor?"

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The young man's eyes avoided theirs.

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For the first time, guilt appeared on his face.

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"You should have stayed in your village."

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The words felt like a knife.

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Tunde's heart sank.

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Emeka's fists clenched.

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Betrayal hurts most when it comes from someone you trust.

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A Yoruba proverb says:

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"The axe forgets, but the tree remembers."

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Victor might eventually forget what he had done.

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But the wound he created would remain.

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One of the larger men stepped forward.

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"Hand over everything."

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The command was cold.

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Threatening.

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The three friends exchanged glances.

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Not again.

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After surviving thieves on the highway.

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After surviving the wilderness.

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After crossing the border.

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Now this.

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The city was proving far more dangerous than they imagined.

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The leader moved closer.

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His eyes fixed on their belongings.

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Before he could act, a loud police siren suddenly pierced the air.

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Everyone froze.

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The sound grew louder.

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Closer.

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Panic spread instantly among the criminals.

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"Police!"

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Within seconds, chaos erupted.

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The men scattered in every direction.

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Running.

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Shouting.

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Disappearing.

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Victor fled with them.

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Without looking back.

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Without apologizing.

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Without regret.

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The three friends stood motionless.

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Stunned.

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Confused.

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Relieved.

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Within moments, the area became quiet again.

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The danger had vanished as quickly as it appeared.

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The police vehicle never actually arrived.

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The siren had simply come from a distant road.

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Yet it had saved them.

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Perhaps by coincidence.

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Perhaps by destiny.

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Neither explanation mattered.

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They were safe.

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As they slowly walked back toward the city, nobody spoke.

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The betrayal weighed heavily upon them.

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Finally, Musa broke the silence.

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"How do people become like that?"

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Nobody answered immediately.

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Because there was no simple answer.

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Eventually, Emeka spoke.

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"Not everyone who smiles wishes you well."

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The lesson felt painful.

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But necessary.

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The city had revealed another truth.

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Danger does not always wear an angry face.

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Sometimes it arrives with kindness.

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Sometimes it offers help.

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Sometimes it pretends to be a friend.

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That evening, the three friends sat quietly in their room.

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The city lights glowed beyond the window.

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The sounds of traffic echoed outside.

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Yet inside, all was silent.

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Emeka opened his notebook.

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Slowly, he wrote:

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"Today we learned that deception often wears the face of friendship. Trust is valuable, but wisdom is priceless. The city has many faces, and not all of them are honest."

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He closed the notebook.

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The room remained silent.

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But something had changed.

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The boys were no longer innocent travelers.

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The road had hardened them.

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The city was teaching them.

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And the Unknown Land was revealing its true nature.

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One lesson at a time.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWOjeruqQJ

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