After my usual routine, I just ended waiting in the barracks for the return of my friends. It was a terrible decision as I didn't have anything to do, and was well-rested, so even a nap was out of the question. I started wondering if maybe I should upgrade myself a bit in the device, but I was also a bit hesitant towards this idea.

I was not too far away from getting enough class points to get the shadow knight upgrade, and having plenty of regular points would allow me to get a bunch of probably really powerful skills.

Suddenly somebody knocked on my door.

- Yes?

- It's Blue. May I come in?

- Blue? Sure...

He entered the room with confidence. He was wearing casual clothes, but still elegant. Black turtleneck with a navy blue long sweater on it.

- What do you want?

- I just spoke with Hatta, apparently, you suddenly got interested in the gate leading towards the wastelands.

- Seriously? I already explained...

- Stop it, Peter - he rose his hand. - I didn't need your explanation. I know you are hiding something. I noticed the chicken on your cart. The same one Aisha, at the same time, had in Velvet Lotus. I know you don't have two of them.

He stopped talking, and looked at me for a moment before he continued:

- I am probably the last person you would want to share your secrets with. I know that much. I also don't want to play any games with you. I would like you to share the information, though, but If you want, I'm not going to push it any further.

I didn't know what to say. There were absolutely zero chances of me telling him anything, but he got me, and I didn't trust his assurance at all.historical

- Fine. I do know something, but I still need to confirm few things before I speak about it with anybody.

- I just hope you know what you are doing. I already told Hatta that I agree with you, and we should keep an eye on the wastelands.

- What do you want, Blue? Just say it.

- I already told you. I don't want anything, but I would appreciate it if you could tell me, approximately, how much longer are you going to occupy the canyon?

- So that's what it is about...

- No. I know you lost your women in the invasion, and probably right now you are taking your revenge, and earning a lot of class points, but it will come to an end sooner or later, and you will move to a better hunting spot. I want to take over the canyon then, as your friends are already hunting bears. It's a natural progression.

- Four months.

He nodded.

- Very well - then he turned around and left.

I waiter for a bit, focusing on my hearing. I could hear the faint sound of footsteps, slowly getting quieter and quieter.

- Fuck - I mumbled to myself.

Working with Blue was like having a snake in your own pocket. You never know when he will bite you. But I couldn't do anything about that.

I went outside, to hang out in the city center, waiting for the evening. It was super boring, but eventually, just like Amit said, my friends returned. They grabbed a lot of attention, with the carts filled with crystals. It was gray, and the weather was nice. The city center was crowded, so it wasn't easy to spot me.

I waited patiently until they shared the score, and sold it, then I approached them.

- Welcome back.

- Look who is alive and back! - shouted Martin. - How did it go?

All of them smiled upon seeing me.

- Yeah, tell us. Did you kind that orc's butt? - asked Will.

- Yes. I did.

He came closer to slap me on the shoulder a few times, grinning widely.

- Ok, stop - I said eventually. - How about we grab a beer, and talk some?

- Sure - replied Hailwic. - I want to know the details.

- We all want to know the details - said Boris.

That's how we ended in the pub. There were few unoccupied tables, so we put them together, and sat there. Martin had to sit on the floor as he was just too big for any chair.

I bought beer for everybody and started telling my story. In the same manner, as I did a day before.

- I'll be honest. I thought you are gonna die, but even before I noticed you are back, as we were selling the crystals, I changed my mind. There are so many damn points out there, and you got it all for yourself for how long? Several months?

- Yep. I told you guys that I'm strong enough. You all soon will also be.

- Exactly. Soon we will conquer all of this shithole - said Nil with a wide smile, then he took a big sip from his mug.

- And then we will open a pathway to earth - said Nobuo.

His disciples nodded in silence.

- I can't wait for that. New life. A new awesome life... - said Will. - A sports car, and a mansion. That's what I'm gonna get for myself.

- I can see that - said Alice. - When we will open a path to earth, all those wealthy people will want to get crystals. Prices will be very high, at least at the beginning.

- Yeah, and then every single country will start fighting over this place. We will be raided by soldiers with guns - said Ryuu. - And that will be the end of the dream.

- We will figure something out - said Boris. - It's still a long time. Who knows how strong we will by then? Look at Peter now. He probably could be shot, and survive. In a year he will be bulletproof.

That started a long discussion about politics and speculations about what would happen if we really managed to open a pathway to earth. Then a new discussion emerged from the old one. Where on earth should we put the gate to this place.

That one was even longer than the previous one. We spend hours arguing.

The day came to an end with 50 943 705 points remaining on my account, and seventy-two class points.