"Van, are you crazy!?"

"Yes."

​​

With Van's inauguration officially done, a looming stench of unease filled the entire City; but with the unease, a sort of excitement was also given birth. With the promise of a brand new land and unlimited resources, almost all of the City prepared for an adventure.

Even the men of the simplest of families volunteered to be a soldier or a guard without even knowing what really awaited them out there.

Gil and the group were currently in Van's office, with Van looking at the window behind his desk, watching as the people made themselves busy for their own… exploration.

"This is not the right way to do this!" Gil has been trying to talk to Van and convince him to stop his plans for almost an hour now.

"..."

"You already know the result of war!" Gil raised his voice, glancing at Cynthia who was calmly sitting on a sofa behind him, "And you want to incite a new one? An even bigger one!?"

"..."

"It won't just be criminals that will die here, Van. Fathers, brothers, and even daughters are starting to stand behind this cause of yours! Most of them will die fighting for something they know nothing about!"

"..."

Nisha and Latanya were also in the office but chose to remain quiet. Gil was right, but at the same time… Van also had a point.

"Do not drag other people with your anger to the world, Van!"

Hearing Gil's words, Van finally turned his eyes towards him. But still, he remained quiet.

Seeing the look of resolution in Van's eyes, Gil knew that he now could do nothing to convince him to stop this madness. And so… he finally gave up.

With a sigh, he turned around and walked away, "...The world outside is not any better than this one, Van. I could argue that it's even worse. Even if we were successful in going outside, those who died will die only for a chance just to live in another shit hole."

"..."

"I thought out of everyone here, you would be the one to understand that best," Gil muttered before leaving the room.

"I'll watch over him," Cynthia could not help but sigh as she stood up from the comforts of the sofa, following Gil out of the office.

"..."

"..."

"He is right, you know." A few seconds after the three of them were left in the office, Nisha walked closer to Van, "Our friends here would really be disappointed to find out that their promised world is nothing but a wasteland…

...maybe it's best for them to stay here."

"But it is too late for that," Latanya intruded as she too walked closer to Van, "They are already aware of the existence of your world…

...The real world. Whatever that means, the longing for truth has already clouded their minds. I too have been consumed by that for years. Won't you want to see the world hidden from you?"

"Not if it's just another sad place."

"Even so, we are curious. Is that not why your people opted to call yourselves Explorers in the first place?"

"..."

The room was filled with sudden silence, but it was a short one as a knock permeated through the door.

"Sir, there's a Gerald here wanting to seek an audience with you," a guard then slightly opened the door and bowed respectfully towards Van, "He said he was your senior, should we let him in?"

"No."

"Ok--"

"What do you mean no!?"

Before the guard could close the door, a thunderous clap echoed throughout the office as Gerald slammed the door open. The guards quickly raised their weapons and cast their skills, but before they could subdue the rowdy golden-haired young man, Van raised his hand to gesture to them that it was alright.

Nisha, who saw the display of the guards, could not help but let out a sigh. They should really tighten the security here, she thought. That was why their former President died that easily in the first place…

...this place was too lax.

"What do you want, Harvey's brother?"

Seeing Van slowly taking a seat at his desk, Gerald could not help but twitch his eyes. This beggar is really looking down on him, isn't he? He thought. But after a while, he calmed himself down with a sigh.

"I wanted to ask about your plans… but that's not why I am here," Gerald said, "A friend of mine wishes to talk with you."

"You have a friend?" A genuine surprise reflected in Van's eyes.

"Tch… It's her," Gerald pointed his thumb towards the door.

And as soon as he did so, Xinyan entered the office.

"Greetings, President Evans," Xinyan quickly saluted as she stood in front of Van. Van, on the other hand, could not help but raise an eyebrow as he was quickly reminded of Ah Sahm and the others from the Chinese restaurant he and Andrea used to frequently visit.

"I… wish to tell you about what is happening outside, President Evans," Xinyan said in a low voice as she relaxed her hands, "...And about what the Circle has been doing."

Hearing the Circle being mentioned, Van could not help but lean in closer, placing his elbows on the desk.

"...Report."

***

Van was now alone in the room provided to him as the President. Suffice to say, this room alone seemed to be bigger than even the house he had back in Newer York city. Numerous thoughts lingered and echoed inside his mind as he walked out to his room's terrace.

Feeling the slightly calm breeze hitting on his face made him relax his eyes, taking in a deep breath as he recalled Xinyan's story about the super-powered humans, and how the Circle has dozens of them with even more coming in the future.

But he didn't really know what to do with that new information. For Van, they just gained more enemies, and that was it.

The thing that shouted in his mind were Nisha and Gil's words. Van opened his eyes as he released his breath. He once again looked at the City, now shrouded in darkness and bathed with only the light of the moon. It…

...seemed peaceful. What if he just stayed here with them?

Van quickly shook his head as he thought of that. There were people waiting for him out there… or at least he hoped.

"Conquering a city in less than 30 moons… I would have to say, you are putting the other Heroes to shame."

"!!!"

Van quickly backed away as his thoughts were disrupted by a very familiar and ominous voice. He then looked towards the voice, only to see a towering figure leaning against the railing of the terrace.

"...Mister Hercules," Van said as he continued to slightly back away.

"Greetings again, Messenger. There is no need for you to be so alarmed," Hercules said as he slowly stepped forward.

Hercules, even with his bones almost sticking out of his skin, was still a towering figure. For Van to not even notice his presence was truly… a dreadful feeling. What if Hercules wanted to smash his head in just now? He could have done it without him even knowing.

"I know you are busy with your mortal affairs and I hate to intrude on your toils," Hercules' hoarse voice continued to whisper into the night, "But it is time for you to do your job…

...There's a message I wish sent."