54. The Walled City of Retupmoc

"The beginning is the most important part of the work." — Plato

When the trio of Lazarus, Holly, and High Sovereign Irene arrived at the building that corresponded to the teleportation gates connected to cities that the Emerald Enclave was occupying, they were met by the sight of many people moving around rapidly.

Compared to the other highly trafficked areas where people were advertising various things, the large hall looked like the central area of an ant colony; every foot of floor space was occupied by a monstrous number of people trying to get to different places. 

The hall was a cacophony of movement and sound, a sight that could be likened to a train station during rush hour, with people jostling for space and the air thick with anticipation.