Normally, messengers can go to most places, and there are even some like the Toad who can cross planes.

But some places are not so easy to enter. For example, some important locations have special witch arrays for protection, which makes it impossible for regular messengers to enter.

Most wizard organizations in the Barren Land have such defense mechanisms. Generally, a messenger can't get in unless there's a pre-registered cooperation.

Dream Island naturally has such a witch array, and it's not an ordinary one.

Dream Island is situated in the sea, leveraging the power of the sea to greatly enhance the effectiveness of its defensive witch array, far surpassing normal defensive effects.

Of course, this kind of defense is useless against the Toad; he can get in if he wants to.

The problem is, this time it's not about delivering a letter, but sending a person.

If the Toad directly breaks through Dream Island's defenses and sends Herag inside...

As soon as the Dream Island wizards discover it, they will inevitably launch an attack.

They won't care who you are; if you intrude into their base, they'll definitely strike first.

Herag is not confident enough to face a wizard organization alone, even if it's a Barren Land wizard organization.

It's essential not to underestimate the foundation of any wizard organization; the Barren Land's organizations were once part of the Land of Dawn's wizard organizations.

Although they failed in competition, they survived, unlike many organizations that disappeared in the river of history.

Any wizard organization that has survived until today is not simple.

Moreover, Herag is visiting a friend, not picking a fight, so there's no need to force entry.

Thinking this through, directly reaching Erza's side is not feasible; another target must be found.

The Staven found by the Nightingale Commerce Association won't do either, because Herag has never met this person.

According to the messenger's rules, one must have seen the person to deliver a message successfully.

The target should be as close to Dream Island as possible.

After a moment's thought, Herag quickly came up with an idea—that's Ed.

Ed was the coachman who once drove him to Ryan City.

When Herag left Ryan City back then, he left his house to Ed and his wife Judy.

More than ten years have passed in a flash; Herag wonders if Ed is still alive.

Herag decides to try and tells the Toad Ed's name.

After the Toad closes his eyes and senses for a moment, he says, "No problem, I can locate him; he's far to the west."

...

Ryan City.

Ed holds a pair of scissors, trimming the lawn in the yard.

The whole yard looks neat and tidy, spotless.

Considering there are three children at home, maintaining such cleanliness and orderliness is not easy.

Ed trims the lawn carefully and meticulously, just as he did when he served that gentleman in the past.

This house belongs to the gentleman.

Ed has always believed so, even though the gentleman said he was giving the house to him.

All these years, he has maintained the yard well, never stopping.

The house where Herag once practiced alchemy, Ed still considers it forbidden ground, not allowing his three children to set foot inside.

Ed himself only goes in at specified times to clean the outside, but never enters inside.

He clearly remembers that the gentleman often did some very important things inside, spending entire days there.

This indicates that it's a significant place and he shouldn't enter casually.

Even though the gentleman has left, and there's probably nothing important inside anymore, Ed has always abided by his duty.

Ed wipes the sweat from his forehead and looks at the sky.

Sometimes, he wonders when the gentleman might return and when he might drive for him again.

"Oh! I guess I really am getting old. A little lawn trimming and I'm dizzy with hallucinations." Ed hears a noise in front of the yard, looks over, and sees the unbelievable.

He sees Herag.

Ed doesn't really believe he's seeing Herag; it must be his imagination.

Over a decade has passed, and no one stays unchanged.

"Ed! What are you daydreaming about?"

Only when Herag called out to him did Ed realize that this might not be an illusion.

"Is it really you, sir?"

Ed feels extremely emotional, bending over and running to kneel on the ground.

"Your most loyal servant, Ed, greets you, sir!"

Herag asks, "How has life been these years?"

He notices Ed has aged a bit, but his complexion is rosy, and his heartbeat sounds strong and healthy, indicating a decent quality of life.

"Thanks to you, sir, the City Lord helped me open a blacksmith shop, and life has been good. Oh, and sir, I have three children now, all sons!"

Ed briefly recounts his life over the years and feels particularly proud mentioning his three sons.

His oldest son is already eight years old and is said to have great knight talent, having taken a knight from the City Lord's Mansion as his teacher.

The second son is younger, only six, but extraordinarily smart, learning everything quickly. He's currently a student of an old scholar in Ryan City.

The youngest son is still too young to show much, being only two years old.

Ed never imagined he could have a wife and three sons in his lifetime.

Even more unexpected is that his sons would turn out so well.

Ed always feels this is because he once served beside Herag and was blessed by Herag's noble aura, bringing him such fortune.

Judy once said it's the gods' blessing, and Ed fiercely rebuked her right then and there.

In Ed's view, in front of the gentleman, no gods matter.

Gods? Nonsense!

"Where's Judy?" Herag asks.

Judy was a woman from the slums who originally came to do laundry and cooking for Herag.

Later, Judy and Ed became interested in each other and naturally got together.

"The Light Church is holding a blessing ceremony today, and she took the kids there to pray." Ed laughs.

Today, with his wife and kids out, Ed finally has some time to himself, hence he started trimming the lawn.

Ed doesn't know why, but trimming the lawn always makes him feel particularly at ease.

Herag nods without saying anything, glancing at the yard, and comments, "This yard looks just like when I left."

Ed grins at these words as if he has received the greatest praise.

"How long do you plan to stay this time, sir? By the way, City Lord hasn't been in the city for the past few years."

Ed assumes Herag has returned to find City Lord Erza; otherwise, he wouldn't suddenly come back.

But Erza left Ryan City years ago, and no one knows where she went.

"Yes, I know. I just came by to see you on my way; I'm leaving soon." Herag says.

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