It’s 4 hours cart ride from Cordville to Houzz. I wore my best clothes, a checkered long blue shirt & black docker pant along with my favorite black shoes. Rowan borrows a brown jacket and black t-shirts because his clothes are dirty. He also brings some big backpacks along. On the cart, there are only me, Rowan, and two other strangers on board. The weather is pretty chill and since I don't have many things to do, I start a conversation.

Hey Rowan, where did you find that things?” asked me.

Rowan is taken aback by my question. He paused, looking a bit worried, and answer my question carefully. He said that he is found it in the further area where he usually tries his luck to find some treasure around a big pile of junks on a dead land but didn’t get any result until today. He assumes these things don't come from the past civilization, but someone from a richer city, or perhaps Gwendolyn hides it there. No wonder it looks kinda new.

"It seems there is a brawl that took place before I arrived... so maybe some person lose or hide it so they can retrieve it later." Tim assume.

The further area, called district 31, is a vicious place where many bad sinners and criminals are hiding with no rule of what is right and what is wrong. So, not anyone is brave enough to go there. All the sinners who live there aren't afraid nor abide by the central government and keep making more sins. If they get caught by some officers, most of them will get the death penalty. But somehow, the central government has given up to control that area. Only people like Rowan who is physically fit-yet crazy enough to wander around there can go back and forth.

I have gone there once, and it still left me with a bitter feeling because of what have happened there. I lost one of my friends, Oslo, who died when we tried to go there looking for treasure. Instead, we got caught by bandits so Rowan needed to save us. Unfortunately, only me who succeed to escape from there, while Oslo.... probably died because of our foolishness, thinking that we could be like Rowan, who is a licensed traveler.

Story note: Back then Ilios was still green, he underestimate how hideous the outer area is. He used to think that he is a good fighter, a good runner, and smart enough for treasure hunting. It turns out that you need more than that to be able to survive in district 31. Moreover, it’s not that easy to find any treasure worth the risk of being dead. Ilios underestimate it and persuade his friend, Oslo, to do some treasure hunting. This leads to some bitter incidents.

"Then, is it called stealing? You know... you can get your birthmark reduced?"

“Well, not, since it was left in district 31.... anyone who finds it can be the owner. Moreover, no one knows besides you, so don't worry." Rowan argues.

"By the way, do you have anyone that you’re interested in from our orphanage? You look very close with your roommate lately….with Ben... Bene...” Rowan tries to change the subject.

"Huh? Do you mean Benedict? Well, he is very friendly so we get along as roommates. But I don't like him that way, moreover, he is also like someone else from the orphanage.” Ilios explains.

"Oh, I see… I have never seen you so close with anyone before besides me after what happened to Os...… so! I am glad you made a new friend.” Rowan looks satisfied and somewhat happy with my answer. It seems he almost mentions Oslo's name, but stop since he doesn't want to make me feel bad.

“Ilios, you know that you're the closest friend I have, right? And I know you’re a trustworthy person” Rowan said to me quietly.

“Yes, you can trust me.”

“Well… umm… I just told you this because it’s you, no one else. To be honest, I didn’t show you something that I found along with that makeup. I found something…… something more valuable than that……. something that can change my life……” his talk becomes too quiet and it’s hard for me to listen to what he said with some wind noise outside the cart, so I bring myself closer to him. He notices my approach: “Later… you will eventually know when we arrive at Jack & Jill, it’s saver there.”