After booking at a local hotel, Jiyo Kael spent the rest of the night calling several contacts he knew in mainland Cagayan, and Manila, arranging for a small group of builders to be sent to island soon in the next few days.

Jiyo Kael finally fell asleep around two in the morning, tired but satisfied that he had made a good start. He found sleep deprivation and woke up in the morning with dark eyes and thick headaches. Looking at the miniatures lined up in the bedside cabinet, he saw why that was. He had not drunk for several years and the alcohol had gone straight to his head. Brushing...