Without hesitating, he stepped forward.
His right hand gripped the [Green Pine] wooden sword, better suited for exerting force, while his left hand lightly held the rungs of the ladder above.
His waist and abdomen were tense, ready at any moment to leap off the ladder.
His right knee bent, thigh lifted, the sole of his boot firmly landed on the rung.
The calf muscles exerted strength, about to propel his entire body upwards.
And just at the lowest point, the moment the supporting leg of his entire body, the tip of his left foot, left the ground.
The encounter he had upon arriving in this Secret Realm from the Neum Slums happened once more.
Without any premonition.
The wide open plaza surrounding his body vanished in an instant.
In its place was tightly drawn, multi-layered silk curtains that let no outside light in, and marble walls on either side adorned with cold, chilling lamps.
A small room of modest size.
The clock hands hanging on the wall stood still in place;
