For some time, Kenji spent his time staring mindlessly into the sky from the back of the empty wagon, reevaluating his memories from the past day. It was nice of Adam to give him the same room where he first awoke in this world but he sure knows how to make Kenji work. It's only been a day since Kenji was brought to this world and he's already doing cheap labour for a man that he'd just met.

Most of the labour is basic for Kenji, cleaning up the stables, milking the cows, and last night he helped Mrs Blanc with preparing a meal. Kenji could remember the face Adam made when he saw Kenji in the kitchen with his wife. It was like a mix of shock and confusion.

Kenji chuckles to himself as he refreshes the memory.

He then brought out his phone and switched on the screen to see the time had turned past mid-day. Even in another world, his phone is still in sync with the time of day. Maybe his phone will not be so useless after all. Even though this world has no concept of wifi, Kenji could still make use of it. But his mind was brought to an abrupt pause when he remembered what Jester had told him yesterday.

He's technically dead.

But what does that mean? Kenji knows that he's not dead, he could feel, taste, and smell. Worse of all, Kenji can't remember what happened before he was brought to this world.

Kenji tried suppressing his discomfort as the Symbols started to illuminate. Unlike his usual Japanese Kanji, the current symbols are like nothing Kenji has seen before. The symbol is alien to Kenji, almost like a different type of language.

Kenji could only sigh as he watched the symbols flash over his face, curious what it could mean.

Now with his mind settled and the symbol disappeared, Kenji again thought of this world.

It was all so strange for Kenji. This world is like something out of a movie or a fantasy book. Unlike the world that he grew up knowing, this world has magic and creatures that scientifically should not exist.

All of this may seem foolish, yet it's real. Kenji has no word to describe it.

Kenji looked at his phone yet again, seeing that half an hour had just passed. He took a long sigh, frowning. Kenji knew he would not be relaxing on this bumpy trip, knowing his mind was in a state of constant unrest.

Kenji sighs, shutting down his phone in the process.

"What is my life now?" He mutters.

Kenji thought hard about his new life. His reliability on the internet is gone. Electricity gone. His phone is useless.

It was like he had travelled back in time like his arrival in this world. Both are mysteries that Kenji wants to solve but he knows he can't find the answer. Because his answer was that woman, Jester. She knows all the answers but she says she can't remember. Kenji can't say he trusts her but something in his mind keeps telling him that she's telling the truth.

Also, this world is like a dream. As much Kenji wants to tell himself that is all a lie but no matter where he looks, reality will bring him back to his senses.

"Mr Gordon, how are you doing back there?" a voice asked. Kenji jerked his head towards the voice, it was Adam. he was still dressed in his farming clothes and was still wearing his slouch hat.

"I'm doing alright, Adam," Kenji replied.

"It's Mr Blanc, Kenji. We consider it to be rude to be so formal to an Acquaintance." Adam explains.

"Sorry, Mr Blanc." Kenji apologised. "This is all new to me, I get laxative when I relax."

Adam gave a joyful chuckle, "Relax eh? You've only done light work so far."

"I wasn't talking about work Mr Blanc. I'm still trying to comprehend what happened to me." Kenji said, turning his attention to the left hand where an embedded crystal lay and placing his right hand to cover it.

Seeing the increased discomfort building, Adam chuckles and changes the subject. "So have you ever been to Ruhal, Mr Gordon?"

"Ruhal? No, I have not." Kenji parroted. That's right, that was the place Kenji was heading to now. Apparently to Melody, Ruhal is a large massive trading centre where all foreign goods are supplied, but slowly the city is turning into a large industrial centre of the country. Kenji only found that out from one of Melody's many rants. She'd made it quite clear that she hates the change.

Kenji also remembers that Mr Blanc is heading into the City only to get a massive stock of fertilizer from a sale that Mrs Blanc could not stop talking about when she returned with the fresh stock on yesterday's evening.

Soon Kenji spotted a sign that was placed outside the outskirts of a town.

'Welcome to Ruhal.'

It looks calm and joyful like any city Kenji's been to. It wasn't too busy or empty just enough for it to look lively. On occasion, Kenji laid his upon a gigantic beast that looks like a dragon, it was strapped with cargo and good for selling in its local market.

A few miles of travelling was a Great Wall that circled the inner city. Like a medieval castle, it was covered with towers and guards who patrol the walls. The city must have outgrown the limits of the wall and had spread outward. And beyond the wall was a giant black cloud that escaped into the skies. This was the proof of the city's industrial might, making thousands upon thousands of goods and machinery every hour. The gate was huge, almost as if it was built to fit a giant through. It made sense after seeing the dragon on the outside, it must've been one hell of a job caring for such a beast.

Inside the wall was unlike the outside, it was the opposite of what the outside was. The inner city is like a dystopian fantasy. Streets were filled with rubbish and waste and beggars were on every corner of the streets. The smoke from the factory was exiting the entrance of the door which slowly polluted the air. Kenji though aback by what Melody had told him,

'Industry is catching up.'

For Kenji, it's like he's been transported back to Victorian London during the industrial revolution. It is also frightening how similar it is despite being in another world.

"No! Stop, I'm not going back!" a voice screamed.

Kenji turned his head to investigate. He found it to be a kid who was being chased by some warden who exited the entrance of the factory. Kenji was conflicted about whether he should intervene but knew this will do more harm than good, so he carried on watching. He watched as the kid was apprehended by the warden and quickly he was dragging back the crying kid into the factory.

'Jesus.' Kenji could never imagine his life being like that kid. Knowing some historical context from history class in secondary school he could assume the boy was sold off to work by his family. It was horrifying to watch but it was simply their way of life.

"Are you alright back there, Mr Gordon?" Adam said. "You seem silent over there, so you have something in mind?"

Kenji turns to face Adam, "It's one rough place here."

"Oh, you have no idea, Mr Gordon." Adam chuckled. "Ruhal's inner city is the crime capital in the region. Poverty is very high in here, families first come here hoping for high pay jobs but only to find scams and misfortune."

"Yeah, sounds about right…" Kenji said as he witnessed two men being hung on the gallows that were constructed in the middle of the city square. Kenji managed to hold back his stomach from throwing up; that was the first public execution he'd ever witnessed.

Soon the wagon would come to a halt near a large market in the city square. It looks cleaner than most of the place but yet it still smells of garbage.

Kenji got off the wagon and walked to the front to meet Adam as he got down from the wagon with a musket-like weapon in hand. Kenji was shocked to see Adam carrying a gun. Is he going to rob someone or is this town that dangerous that he needs to defend himself with it?

"Mr Blanc, are you sure it's wise to bring that gun with you?"

Adam only smiled at Kenji and handed him the gun. "Have you ever used a gun before?"

"I've used one once. But I'm not exactly an expert. Why do I need this?"

"That's good enough for me," he chuckles, "I want you to stay here, guard the wagon and prevent anyone from taking it, Mr Gordon. There are little to no city guards around these parts, so be vigilant."

Kenji gave a nod. "Ok,"

"I'll be back soon, don't be afraid to shoot anyone trying to take the wagon." Adam remained as he walked into the market, dispersing into the cluster of crowds.

Kenji waved his boss goodbye and sat back down on the wagon in its driver's seat. Kenji took the time to inspect the gun. It was a flintlock design weapon but it seems to have a lever on the bottom of the trigger. Kenji tried to move the leaves but he found them to be locked in their place.

"That's a fine-looking weapon." a familiar voice spoke.

Kenji whipped his head to the side, guns raised. But he only finds Jester who was sitting patiently next to him, playing with her straw hat.

"Jester! What the hell, don't jump me like that!" Kenji shouted which gathered some unnecessary attention. With this Kenji quickly calmed down.

"Look you see that I'm busy right now." Kenji said aggressively, "I don't need any distractions."

"Oh, so you're a guard dog now. Good for you, Kenji." Jester joyfully giggles. "I thought you're just a farm boy. That man's very kind to you, especially when you're just a stranger to him."

"Yes, I know I'm glad. And that's why I'm here. Helping."

Jester cheekily smirked, "Helping? You're only sitting around."

Kenji sighs in annoyance. "I'm guarding the bloody wagon, what else should I be doing?"

Jester couldn't help but laugh at Kenji's reaction; she was enjoying the conversation.

"Oh, I'm just teasing you, Kenji." she smiled. Jester got off her seat and walked around the wagon, slowly taking in the new Scenery. Although the surrounding was not the most astounding, she found the place to be lively. Kenji watches her passing through people like a ghost, he didn't know if anyone could see Jester walking aimlessly around the wagon.

Kenji tried to keep an eye on Jester but he eventually lost her in the crowd.

"Jester? Jester!" Kenji cried, but there was no response. His somewhat imaginary friend is gone.

"Mr Gordon?" another voice called him. Kenji turned his head only to find Adam and another man who both were carrying Wheelbarrows full of sacks of fertilisers.

"Mr Blanc. What's with the rush, and who is that feller?" Kenji's curiosity asked as the two men hastily loaded the wagon with the sacks.

"Mr Gordon, it is not very important right now." Suddenly a group of armed men forced their way through the crowd. Kenji was both confused and frightened of what was going on.

"Shit." Adam cursed, seeing the armed group coming at him. "Mr Miller, it appears our time is running out so I'll be on my way now." the man nodded and rushed into the crowd. Adam rushes to the driver's seat after fully loading the sacks. Kenji shifted aside to let Adam take control of the horses.

"Mr Blanc, what's going on?" Kenji worryingly asked.

Unexpectedly, a group of men in horses appear in front of the wagon. Kenji could see that not all of them are human, some of them are like Mrs Blanc, a half-human- half-wolf, while some had long eyes like an elf. But more worryingly most of them were armed with swords, bows, and muskets. One of them dismounted from his horse as approached Adam.

He was a bearded Caucasian male who wore a torn up linen shirt which was contrasted by his white pants. He wore a black tricorn hat that bears a distinctive dragon emblem on the right side the hat. Adam would roll his eyes in disgust at this man's presence near him.

"Mr Blanc. What with the rush?" The man said. "We had such a lovely chat."

"Mr Louis, I'm afraid that these sacks are mine. I bought fair and square, before you."

"You don't want to do this, Mr Blanc. Just give me the fertilisers!" He demanded.

A loud bang was heard from the rear of the wagon, causing the crowd to scatter in fear. Kenji looked back to see the group of hostile men firing their muskets at him.

"Jesus! Mr Blanc! What is this?!"

Adam did not respond to Kenji but instead, he took the rien and slapped it to which the horses immediately ran onto the streets. Adam navigates through the dense street as he focuses on making his escape.

"It's just heated business arguments… With guns." Adam said almost jokingly.

Suddenly, one round hit one of the sacks. Kenji turned around to see the men on horseback chasing the wagon. At this moment Kenji was panicking, he was shaking in fear as multiple musket rounds flew past him. Kenji ducked with every round that flew past him, not wanting to get hit.

"Mr Gordon! Mr Gordon!" Kenji raised his head to face Adam. "Mr Gordon you have a gun shot back!"

"Shoot them?! As in killing them?!"

"Do we have a choice, Mr Gordon?! Either they kill us or we kill them first!"

Kenji let Adam's words sink deeply into his mind. He is right, either he dies or they die. Kenji slowly turned back to see the daunting situation he was in, he tightly gripped the rifle and laid the barrel on the back seat.

Nervously, Kenji took a deep breath and aimed the gun. Though the rocking of the wagon was putting off his aim Kenji waited patiently for the correct moment to fire. He waited and waited until.

Bang!

His first shot hit a horse in the eye, quickly killing the animal. This causes a massive chain reaction as the other horses tripped over the dead horse. Kenji witnesses most of the men fall off their horses, some are possibly dead while many others are critically injured.

One-shot was all it took, Kenji wasn't sure if he should be celebrating, he'd possibly killed multiple people in from that shot but if he never made that crack shot then he and Adam might die from the stray rounds.

"Nice shot, Mr Gordon! " Adam cried excitedly.

Kenji didn't respond. He only laid back and tried to compare what he had done. The symbols started to scatter around his face, showing a Japanese kanji that translates to 'death'. Kenji glanced around to distract himself from the situation and hoped that this would ease up the tension. But he then caught an eye on Jester, who was sitting on the top balcony smiling at him, watching his every move.

"Kenji," Adam said chuckling, snapping Kenji for his trance. "Not the most civilised first impression isn't it?"

"No. No, it was not."