South and East
The southern part of the Barren Land World.
This basin, unusually, shows no signs of decay.
On the land, patches of dark water pools covered the area, forming swamps that brought a damp and rotten atmosphere to this vast region.
Amidst the puddles and mud, gaunt figures toiled. They planted a lotus-like plant in the water, remaining unmoved even as their feet were twisted and deformed from being soaked.
These Human God and dull eyes.
They seemed to be working normally as they walked across the swamp, but their bodies were more like puppets being manipulated. They saw no hope, no future.
Deep in the swamp basin.
The tall and sturdy wall was built of blue square stones.
This is Green Island City, the core of the Green Swamp, and the largest power in the Barren Land World.
Even after entering the city, most people were still dressed in rags.
Even though they were in better condition than the laborers outside, numbness and lethargy were still their main expressions.
Only a few Awakened Ones with Essence can walk peacefully within the city and look down on these ordinary people with an arrogant attitude.
Then we arrived at the center of Green Island City.
Within the city lies a murky green lake, on which a low Palace is built of bluestone on a solitary island.
Almost no one approaches the lake.
Only two men dressed in black robes stood side by side. One had a scorpion painted on his robe, and the other had an eagle.
They gazed at the Palace on the island in the lake.
The one on the left, the one with the eagle on his clothes, spoke first:
"How long has it been since our informants in the east sent back any news?"
The man on the right replied:
"About half a year?"
"It's been over six months!" the man on the left emphasized. "Our scouts report every six months. Besides, the people in the east have never had this kind of delayed reporting before; they've probably encountered an accident!"
The man on the right seemed somewhat disdainful of this:
"So what? Isn't it normal for a few people to die in the Wasteland?"
"Let's wait another six months, until we have a full year, then we'll send people out to investigate according to the rules."
The man on the left did not take it lightly; instead, he said in a serious tone:
"Of course, there's no problem handling it this way normally."
"But don't forget what we just did in the east."
The man on the right raised an eyebrow:
"Yarrow Camp?"
"Even that Law Knight can only work as our slave now. What kind of trouble can those ordinary people who remain cause?"
"Don't tell me that someone suddenly becomes an Awakened in broad daylight, for no reason. Even Harvest Day is still two years away!"
The man on the left fell silent, while the man on the right continued to raise his voice:
"Of course you can be worried."
"Then let's go inside and report the news to our great king."
The man on the left responded and looked at the Palace on the island in the lake.
His points were merely cautious speculations, but to suggest troubling their Lord, the Snake King, for something like this...
No one would be that stupid.
The man on the right saw through the man's thoughts and laughed heartily.
"Right? Wouldn't that solve the problem?"
I know you're worried.
"But less is more, so let's follow the rules. When the time comes, we'll send scouts to check the situation. As long as we go before the Harvest Day and organize another sweep, all the trouble will disappear!"
After he finished speaking, the man on the right suddenly sighed.
He glanced mockingly at the Palace on the island in the lake, then looked out into the distance towards the city:
"The world has become such a mess."
What else can we do?
"Go west to fight to the death against the catastrophic world? Or go to the Dust Road World and challenge those mad law Defender?"
"We're just lucky to be alive!"
"..."
The East of the World.
Linsey and Vivian are speeding along the deserted World Avenue.
This time, there were no ordinary people to drag us down.
Linsey is extremely fast.
Even considering the speed at which Vivian's body could handle, he shortened the two-month journey to half.
It's not yet June.
The hill where the Teleportation Courtyard is located in the distance is faintly visible in the field of vision.
Petite Vivian nestled on Linsey's back, and under the starry night, she noticed Linsey slowing her pace:
"Lord Linsey, are we almost there?"
Linsey replied:
"We're not there yet. We're just using this place as a reference point."
"If we change direction now, we'll arrive at our destination in two more days."
Linsey should change her orientation as advised by Elder Ryan.
Just as he promised.
What would take an ordinary person a week to travel, Linsey quickened her pace and arrived at her destination in just over two days.
On the desolate land, there is a city ruin that has been demolished and is now in disarray.
The dim and somber Essence undulated among the ruins, and no living person remained on the dilapidated streets.
On the broken earthen embankment of the house, there are still some well-preserved buildings.
They are also the source of these Essence forces.
"It's too dangerous for ordinary people..."
Linsey remarked.
With his abilities, identifying danger is not difficult for him; he can easily find a safe path.
It is not difficult to distinguish the functions of these buildings.
Because atop the Messenger Hall stands an octagonal symbol resembling the North Star. No one would impersonate the mark of World Main City, let alone a messenger whose influence extends throughout the universe.
Vivian followed Linsey to the front of the Messenger Hall.
"This is... the Messenger Hall..."
The child raised her head, and the massive building came into view in her azure pupils.
The architecture and nature of the Banyan Forest blend together, creating a unique artistic aesthetic. The Messenger Hall, a magnificent building entirely man-made with a striking style, also gave Vivian a profound aesthetic experience.
"That's right, next we need to figure out how to get in."
Linsey took a breath.
He switched modules, first focusing his Scouting Skill on the building in front of him.
[Architecture - Guardian Word-Spirit - Tuning Admonition]
[A building with a vast footprint, designed to ensure wide access for people, with a clearly defined interior space and extremely high utilization rate...]
[The letter uses the power of words to communicate with the world, causing everything within the building's perimeter to tend towards protecting and sealing it, allowing only qualified individuals to enter. Unless one is immune to this influence, it is virtually impossible to destroy it through mere violence.]
"..."
"The qualified person..."
Linsey originally intended to think of a way to break the deadlock.
But just before he could act, an item from his memory resurfaced:
"This thing might be useful?"
Linsey produced the iron plaque that the messenger had given him when he investigated Red.
Brush--
For a fleeting moment, a flash of light illuminated the gate of the Messenger Hall.
This small token actually served as a pass, and the Messenger Hall, which had been closed for decades, opened its doors to Linsey on its own initiative!