"A… ghost?"

Van's crossed eyes were filled with confusion as Latanya's finger was almost directly in front of his nose.

​​

"I will explain once I have the full plan in my hands, but be ready to move anytime."

"..."

"Since we had a deal, tell me everything you know." Latanya's tone once again turned serious as she remembered the Stranger that entered their village, Hercules. Even she, who had feared nothing in her life, couldn't help but hold her breath as Hercules stood amongst them earlier. Eugene's description of him being a deity was right, it was as if they were in the presence of a god earlier; it was a fear that she couldn't explain.

"...But I don't even know what my part will be in attacking the City, how is this a fair deal?" Van let out a short breath.

"Don't dwell on the minor details, boy. It's not cool." Latanya let out a light scoff as she returned back to her seat, "Now…

...tell me everything."

"..."

In the end, Van had no choice but to tell Latanya a thing or two about his System. It took almost an hour, with Van choosing carefully what to reveal to her.

"...Olympus?" Latanya lightly hummed, crossing her legs to make herself more comfortable, "That sounds somewhat familiar."

"You've heard of it!?"

"I don't quite recall… But wait, that's it? That's all? One of your skills lets you harness the speed and durability of this so-called… Messenger of the Gods?"

Hearing Latanya's words, Van could only shrug his shoulders. Even to him, his System was a complete mystery. It did bother him before with all this Olympus nonsense popping out in front of him… but other than that, it didn't really affect his life. All he could think of his System was how it was able to let him escape from his previous life, and for that, he owed everything to it.

"So… does that mean you have the power of a god?"

"..."

Latanya then started flicking her fingers into the empty air, presumably checking her System. But after a while of waving her hand in the air, she let out a long and deep sigh as she stood up from her seat.

"So he approached you just because you have that Skill…" Latanya then walked closer to Van as she placed her hand on her chin, "...Just what do you think he wants?"

"I have no idea."

"Hm…" Latanya then closed her eyes as a light groan of frustration came out of her mouth, "Van…"

"Hm?"

"No matter what you do, do not try to provoke him."

"..."

"He has killed the previous Chief and Reed already… and based on what I felt earlier, no matter how you pride your speed, he…

...is above us all."

Van could only nod from Latanya's statement. He has seen what Hercules was capable of earlier and he would have to agree… and it wasn't just speed, if Hercules was able to punch through the Wall; then he could only be an Enhancer-type.

Could he be as strong as Charlotte?

Van immediately gulped at the thought of fighting someone similar to Charlotte. Even though his level now was almost 10 times more than when he first met her, he still could not imagine him winning against Charlotte.

"...Are you sure you're telling me everything?" Latanya asked, quickly waking Van up from his thoughts.

"...I don't know what else to tell you." Of course, Van did not tell her about the fact that he could send Souls to the Afterlife and gain EXP from doing it.

If people knew that he could gain EXP from killing other people, then what would be the difference between him… and a Portal monster?

"...Alright. I will trust you for now."

"...Then what is my part in attacking the City?"

"I will tell you once I have it all planned out."

"..." Van could only twitch his eyes as he watched Latanya walk towards the door.

"Want to come with me to visit Reed's burial?"

"No, I didn't really know him."

"Hm… alright. Get ready at any time, we'll attack the City soon."

"..."

***

A few days have passed, and surprisingly, Hercules has not shown himself in front of Van again even once. Everything was going so peaceful for him…

...until it wasn't.

Van now found himself in the company of two women, Latanya and Nisha.

"...I thought we were attacking the City?" Van let out a long and deep sigh as he slightly adjusted the huge bag that he was currently carrying on his back; a huge bag that was as almost as big as him.

The three of them were currently on their way to the City and have been walking for a few hours now. They were going to take a carriage first, but Latanya said that it might draw all sorts of attention.

Van was surprised to see that they even had carriages in the Village in the first place. It was drawn by some kind of huge pig; which was the first non-human creature that Van had seen in this overgrown Portal.

There was also a 6 legged-lizard the size of a man, but it didn't even react to his touch. It would seem that some of the monsters have become completely domesticated throughout the years.

"...I thought we were attacking the City?" Van once again repeated his question.

"We are," Latanya said as she adjusted the cloak that covered her entire body.

"With just the three of us? Why did the two of you drag me to this nonsense anyway?" Nisha, who was covered in a cloak as well, could not help but click her tongue in frustration, "Just what exactly is this plan?"

"You didn't tell her, Van?"

"...No."

Hearing Van's nonchalant answer, Latanya could only let out a sigh, "While I distract them outside the gates, the two of you will infiltrate the City."

"..."

"...That's not a plan," Nisha almost stopped in her tracks as soon as she heard Latanya's words, "What do we do once we're inside?"

"You find the castle and kill everyone inside… once we kill the President, we will be the rulers of the City." Latanya said, no sign of hesitation in her tone.

"...What? How is that even a plan?"

Nisha, however, could not help but stutter in disbelief with what she heard again. "...Also, won't they just lock us up if we assassinate their leader?"

"What? No," Latanya let out a light scoff, "It's how things have always been done here. The highest position is always decided through power, you get what you kill."

"So… in this case, we get the City?"

"Hm."

Nisha didn't know where to look as her face was filled with bewilderment. It made her realize once again that no matter how similar this place is to the outside world, they have a completely different set of rules here.

She then looked at Van to see if he was as confused as she was, only to see Van nodding his head in agreement.

Was she… actually the odd one here?

"So, is everyone in agreement with my plan?"

"Ye--"

"No! It's suicide!"

Before Van could open his mouth, Nisha's voice of disagreement echoed through the air.

"Don't worry, I don't die easily."

"Then what about us!?" Nisha once again groaned in frustration as she heard Latanya's words, afterwards, she let out a long and deep sigh as she grabbed Latanya's arm.

"I have a better plan," Nisha said before turning her eyes towards Van.

"...I am not going to like this, am I?"