A few days passed by, and Latanya has fully established herself as the Chief of the Wall Village. She quickly ordered to seal the huge Gap in the Wall, and also increased the defenses of their fragile Village in case someone from the City decides to attack them.

Life in the Pit for the Prisoners has once again become peaceful; with more and more Prisoners getting along with some of the Locals. There were others who, however, chose to explore the Pit.

​​

The Pit is, after all, still a Portal no matter how abnormal it was. There should be monsters roaming around, even if it's just a Rank F Portal, it should provide more entertainment than just lying listlessly inside the Village.

And maybe, if they were lucky, they would be able to stumble on the Portal Boss… if there was even one. No objectives popped out in front of them when they were thrown in the Pit, it truly was a weird place.

No one tried to stop the Prisoners who wanted to explore the Pit, even Latanya did not stop them. They were, after all, free to do whatever they wanted as long as it wasn't in the Village. She just warned them that if they meet someone from the City, they should tell them that they were just adventurers from another City and not from the Wall or the Village.

The Prisoners, of course, were shocked to hear that there were more Cities out there. Until now, they still had no idea how big this place was… But one could only guess how a thousand years of history has built this place.

"Should… we also explore the Pit?"

"Sounds like a drag."

Nisha could not help but let out a long sigh as she heard Gil's suggestion.

"But aren't you also curious about what's out there!?"

"I already had my fair share of Portals, thank you very much," Nisha just shook her head, "I just want to rest for now."

"W… what about you, Cynthia?"

"I am with Nisha on this one."

"Even you!? There's a world out there waiting for us to explore!"

"Say that to us again after you just participated in a little war where more than a dozen people died," Nisha slightly clicked her tongue as she looked at Gil, "Come to think of it, you spent most of it lying on the ground like a peacock."

"..."

"Even that spoiled golden-haired kid participated in it," Nisha then let out a sigh, "Come to think of it, where is he, Van?"

"...Why are you asking me?" Van could not help but blink a couple of times as he was suddenly dragged into the conversation.

"...Isn't he your best friend?"

"Tch," Van only clicked his tongue as he looked to the side. If everything worked out, he should have been outside by now… but alas, all he could do was wait for another opportunity.

"He's going to the Encampment to check the Portal last I saw him," Gil was the one to answer Nisha's teasing question.

"...How do you even know that?"

"I know everything that's going--"

"Greetings, citizens."

The group could not help but turn their heads as a raspy voice interrupted their conversation.

"!!!"

Their eyes, however, quickly widened as they slightly looked up at the owner of the voice. It was an abnormally tall man, with probably the most unique features they have seen in their lives.

Van quickly recognized who this was, it was the man who killed Grant. Come to think of it, that was the first and last time he has ever seen him.

"H… Hello?" Gil was the first to greet the man back. However, he could not help but stutter as he looked at the freakishly tall man from head to toe. He had brown skin, with slightly blond curly hair that almost reached the soles of his feet.

Not to mention that his bones were almost sticking out with how skinny he was, add that to the fact that he looked almost taller than 3 meters… it was hard not to stare.

"Sorry for disturbing your menial talks," the man then let out a smile. The group could not help but feel a bit uncomfortable as they heard his raspy, almost scratching voice.

"No, it's--"

Gil was about to walk closer and shake hands with the man, but before he could do so, Nisha blocked him with her arm.

"Nisha, what--"

Once again, before he could even say anything, Gil finally noticed the unusual atmosphere surrounding them. The children and women that were walking around were now gone, and more than a dozen men were slowly closing in on them in a circle.

Eugene, as well as Latanya, were also there, staring at the Stranger with their eyebrows furrowed.

"W… what?" Gil could only gulp as confusion slowly rose in his mind.

"There's no need to be so alarmed, citizens." The man said in a very calm tone. His raspy voice, however, seemed ominous as it scratched the ears of those around him, "I am just here to talk to an old friend."

"..."

"...Is that him, Eugene?" Latanya whispered to Eugene's ears, her eyes not leaving the Stranger one bit.

"...Yes."

Latanya furrowed her eyebrows even further, someone that skinny… destroyed the Wall?

"Ah! Of course, where are my manners?" the Stranger cleared his throat as he slowly stepped forward towards Van and his group, "I seem to have forgotten everything I learned, forgive me…

...Messenger."

"!!!"

Latanya took in a deep breath as she heard the Stranger's words. There's that word again… Van is this Messenger? Just… What is he hiding?

Van's eyes instantly widened as he heard the Stranger's words. "You… are the one who is calling for me?"

"Yes," the Stranger let out a wry smile, "I am sorry for all the cloak and dagger. I had to make sure it was you."

"..."

"I have waited a very long time for you, Messenger." The Stranger then bowed his head towards Van. "My name…

...is Hercules."