The Gazimon and two human guards led Ken to an ornate chamber in the east wing of the castle.
“This is your room,” the Gazimon said, pointing inside. “You can do what you wish in here. Should you decide to leave, press this button here, by the door, and wait for me to arrive and accompany you. Should you go anywhere unaccompanied--“
“I know, I know,” Ken said. “It’s the dungeon for me, right?”
“Right.” The Gazimon nodded. “I’m going now. I have other duties around the citadel. Remember, should you need to leave, call me first.”
Ken nodded and the Gazimon turned and left, flanked by the guards. Ken watched them go, then stepped in the room and closed the door. He stood for a moment with his back to the door, staring around the room. The Kaiser had crafted an elaborate setup. There was a large bed with silk crimson sheets in the corner, and two soft chairs nearby. There was also a long red rug with gold designs stretched out on the floor, and an overhead chandelier. Attached to the room was a small bathroom, also decorated in red.
“Crimson blood, eh?” Ken shook his head. “I should’ve known. Only I would put a prisoner in a room designed for a concubine.”
There was a noise behind him and Ken whirled, expecting to see one of the Kaiser’s creatures waiting for him. Instead, he was surprised to see Chibimon sneak inside.
“Chibimon?” Ken ran over to him. “What are you doing here? Is Daisuke here too?”
“I couldn’t find Daisuke,” Chibimon said. “I woke up in that main room with you and hid behind one of the big machines when I heard someone coming. Then I de-evolved followed you in here without being spotted.”
“So you heard everything? Including what the Kaiser said, about my being a guinea pig?”
“Yeah.” Chibimon nodded. “Are we going to escape, Ken? I need to find Daisuke, he needs me!”
“I know, I know.” Ken walked over to the bed and sat down, and Chibimon jumped up beside him. “But right now, I think our best bet is to stay here. I think I can guess the way this citadel is laid out. I had plans for a similar fortress back in the Digital World. But I’m sure he knows that and has guards placed around the wing. I need to convince him that I’ve accepted my fate, at least for now. Besides, if you’re here then I’m sure the others are too. If they’re in the citadel they may be able to save us. If not, maybe we can find some way to get a message outside. Worst case scenario, I stay here and send you out alone to find Daisuke and the others.”
“But if you stay here and I go you’ll--“
“I’ll only send you out if we can’t find some other way,” Ken assured him. “It’ll be difficult, though. I mean, he is me. The Kaiser has to know that I’m thinking of escaping. This room probably isn’t bugged because he thinks he knows what I’m planning. Arrogance was, after all, my greatest flaw as the Kaiser. And if the room is free of surveillance, then the Kaiser doesn’t know about you. You can be my secret weapon.”
“But I can’t evolve without Daisuke,” Chibimon said plaintively.
“Even a small Digimon is better than nothing,” Ken said. “I just hope that the others are okay. If they are here and it’s as dangerous as the Kaiser said, they could be in harm’s way.”
“You don’t think they’ve been captured already, do you?” Chibimon said. “The Kaiser could control them the way he has all the other humans in this place.”
“No.” Ken shook his head. “If the Kaiser knew where Daisuke and the others were, he would have said something. I told you, I know him. If they were slaves the Kaiser would have had them accompany me, not the faceless guards. It would be his way of twisting the knife.”