Even with the help of the other Prisoners, it took a few hours before all the blood inside Van's new house was cleaned. Initially, the other Prisoners that Boss tasked to clean his new house were surprised that Van was helping them. They told him they could handle it, but Van insisted that he will help since it was his house.

After that, the other Prisoners seemed to have livened up, causing them to be faster. one even called his friend who was a Mage-type to shower the entire house with water.

​​

It still took a few hours, but still, in just a span of a single day, Van has already obtained his own house in the Pit.

And so, with a sigh, he let his whole body relax as he sat down and fell on the newly washed bed… which was unexpectedly soft.

"...You really did it."

He was about to close his eyes, but a voice suddenly resounded in the house, followed by a knock on the door.

"...Miss Nisha," Van could only sit back up as he looked at the woman that just suddenly entered his new house.

Nisha, as if not seeing the frown on Van's face, casually walked deeper into the house, taking a seat at the table.

"You really got the house you wanted," Nisha let out a long sigh as her eyes traveled across the house. It was only earlier that Van asked her that if he killed someone, would he gain their house.

And here he was, seated on a bed in the same house that he pointed to earlier. The house nearest to the Portal.

"...I was just lucky," Van said as he stood up.

"Pft. How convenient is that? You even deceived the Locals just to get what you wanted," Nisha once again sighed, "I guess being a professional liar has its merits."

"...This place is no different from the slums, miss Nisha. A man has to do everything in order to survive."

"A man wanting to survive would have stayed with the Locals." Nisha squinted her eyes as she looked straight at Van's eyes.

"..."

"Tell me, why did you truly come back? You chose a house near a Portal as well…

...are you perhaps planning to escape?"

"Not at all. I just wanted to see you again."

"Ugh," Nisha could only pinch the bridge of her nose, "I can no longer tell if you're lying or telling the truth." She then stood up for her seat and slowly walked towards the door.

"But whatever it is… expect me to be on your side, Van."

"..."

The truth is… even Van himself does not know why he truly came back. He just thought that if ever his friends came to rescue him, or if Victoria's grandmother comes with them, it would be for the best if he stayed near the Portal where he could quickly run towards them.

If there was one thing that he was doing now that he will never do when he was still living in the Relic Graveyard…

...It was clinging to hope.

***

"Van has been there for an entire day already!"

"Ugh… This again? All of you really need to be in the Academy!"

Victoria's mother, Paris, could not help but let out a sigh of frustration as he looked at the children in front of her.

Harvey, Beatrice, and her daughter have been staying in the guest hall ever since they arrived last night. They even spent the night there and all she and the servants could do was give them mattresses and blankets to sleep on.

They have been coming up with all sorts of ridiculous plans on how to rescue Van, but none concrete enough to actually be viable.

She and her mother… no, her whole family owes a huge debt to Van for what he did to Edward. So she wasn't really trying to stop the three that much, but still… they were no longer thinking clearly. Or at least Harvey isn't.

"It should be alright, miss Paris," Beatrice said as she fixed her glasses, "With what happened yesterday, the Academy would surely have postponed the classes."

And amongst all of them, the bags under Beatrice's eyes were the most noticeable. She was not able to sleep even a wink, how could she?

She betrayed Van. Even if she did it for her family, even if she was threatened… she knew that what she did was inexcusable. She will tell Harvey and Victoria of her guilt, but not now.

What matters now is that they must rescue Van. She will apologize to them then, and what happens after that… she was sure she deserves it.

"Where… is grandma, mother?" Victoria let out a small sigh as her sedated voice whispered in the hall.

Paris, however, could only close her eyes. She wanted to ask that herself. Where could her mother-in-law be at this crucial time?

She thought that they would finally get the chance to become a normal family. But alas, it would seem that they still have a long way to go.

Her son was being privately tutored on how to live normally as a human, so she has not really spent that much time with him.

His husband… still had not shown himself even with the news of their son reverting back into a human and was only sending letters.

And now, the boy that made their reunion possible was currently locked up.

"Ugh!" Once again, Paris could not help but groan in frustration. Just where could her mother-in-law be!?

***

"Have you decided if you want to join us, Charlotte?"

"No. I just need your help. I promise you that if you help me, I will be in your debt."

"No, do not believe her, Hans. You know full well she doesn't pay her debts, she's a snake! A demonic snake with muscles! She will slither her way in your life and then stab you in the back! Yes, yes she would!"

"Are you still on about that? It's been years, I already have grandkids."

Charlotte was currently in the Academy. Beatrice was right, the Academy has suspended their classes due to the events that transpired the other day.

Charlotte was with Hans in his office, with Angela sitting on top of his desk with her legs crossed.

"...Can you step off my desk first, Angela?"

"No, I am here to stop you from making bad decisions… again." Angela shook her head a couple of times, "I told you never to involve this demonic biceps, she is not interested in our cause."

Seeing Angela snarling at her, Charlotte could only let out another sigh, "Why is it so hard to ask a favor from my friends?"

"Tch! Friends!? Since when were we friends!"

"Aren't you my best friend?"

"Heee!? Who is your best friend!?" Angela quickly jumped off from the desk and stood directly in front of Charlotte, looking at her eye to eye.

However, Charlotte stood up from her seat, and now the only thing that was on Angela's eye level was Charlotte's belly button.

"..."

"Hahaha!" Hans' sudden burst of laughter echoed through the room, "How long has it been since the 3 of us have been together like this?" He then said, "Seeing the two of you arguing like this really brings me back to the old days."

"I am not here to reminisce, Hans." Charlotte let out a breath, "Just help me get the boy out of the Pit… I can't muscle my way in there without alarming the government. There are too many risks involved."

"Oh wow, something the great Charlotte could not barge her way in," Angela leaped back to stand on top of Hans' desk, her eyes now slightly higher than Charlotte's, "And here I thought I would die first before I get to see you say something like that."

"..." Charlotte completely ignored Angela as she leaned to the side to look at Hans.

Hans, however, could only shake his head, "I am afraid I truly can't help you with this matter."

"...Then perhaps I should just go to the Circle and make a deal with them. Surely, they will let the boy out if I do a favor for them." Charlotte's tone started to turn cold.

"Pft, you?"

Her cold tone, however, was met with a snort as Angela sat down on the desk, "That'd be a sight to see. Knowing you, you will kill the first Circle jerk that tries to lay their eyes on you."

"And you won't do the same?" Charlotte clicked her tongue before smirking at Angela.

Seeing this, Hans once again let out a sorrowful sigh, "I truly can't help you, Charlotte."

"Why not!? If anyone will know a way to rescue someone from the Pit, it's you!"

"And I am telling you, I can't."

"But your father was born in the Pit! I am sure he told you something before he died!"

As soon as Charlotte said that, even Angela, who was scoffing at Charlotte's every word, became quiet.

"..."

The room became completely silent for a while, but after a few seconds, Hans' sighs once again echoed throughout the air.

"Even if I do know a way, I still can't help you." He breathed.

"What?" A frown immediately crept onto Charlotte's face, "What do you mean by that? You let a student of the Academy get dragged around like a pinata and you will do nothing!?"

"Of course not!" Hans' who had been calm throughout the conversation, stood up and slammed his palm on his desk.

"Then why!?"

"It's because of the boy's mother! His mother…

...wants him to remain there."