Upper District

The castle itself occupies a huge area, and the designer seems to have deliberately made the lower-level passageways exceptionally complex.

To get from the blacksmith area to the stairwell, you need to navigate a winding passage that is hundreds of meters long.

After going up to the second floor.

You must then proceed to the central interactive area on the second floor to use the newly acquired [Blacksmith Key] to open the only staircase stone door leading to the Third Floor.

This is how you get to the Upper Zone of the castle.

The probability of encountering obstacles during the journey is relatively high, but I didn't expect to meet a squad of Knight-Errant.

A three-person team.

Everyone has reached the "Seed Breaking Stage" (their major career allocation points have reached 5 points, but they have not yet broken through).

Leading the group was a crusader of average build, clad in blood-red armor, exuding a heavy, menacing aura.

The eyes peeking out from the gaps in the helmet were also blood red... Just by Eye Contact, Han Dong and Wen Li felt very uncomfortable. Countless evil spirits and Wild Monster had died at the hands of this person.

This person is not the only one.

The two teammates following behind were no pushovers either.

One of the students, majoring in [Library Science], appeared even weaker than Han Dong.

The arms exposed outside the sleeves were withered and thin.

He held a Staff with a Skull Head Core.

His entire body emanated an aura of death.

The other was dressed as a typical assassin, wearing a dark Skull Mask.

Judging from her hair draped over her shoulders, her gait, and her figure, she should be a woman.

This encounter frightened Wenli, and she leaned against Han Dong's back.

The leading crusader asked in a relatively friendly manner, "Aren't you specially selected Newcomer? What are you doing here?"

"Hello, seniors! We just entered the Castle District and were ambushed by officers. We accidentally got separated from the rest of the team... I've been running through the passage with her, completely disoriented."

"Could you take both of us with you? We just need to be able to leave the castle with you."

Han Dong had already displayed a fearful, lost Newcomer- like demeanor in the corridor, which made his questioning seem perfectly natural.

"We will not leave, but will go to a more dangerous area. We don't have time to take you with us... You will have to follow this path yourselves. When you reach a fork in the road, turn left. The door at about the third fork will lead to the front hall area."

"Thank you... There shouldn't be any danger in this passage, right?"

"Not at the moment, but it will be uncertain after a while."

"Okay! Thank you, senior."

Han Dong held Wen Li's hand tightly, pretending to be in a hurry but also terrified, and continued forward... to separate from the team as quickly as possible.

According to Han Dong's observation.

These three are highly skilled, far surpassing Johnny's tank-like team... Moreover, none of them are righteous knights. If they cause trouble for Han Dong, his plans will be disrupted.

It had been shortly after Han Dong and the other person left.

Like a necromancer, the boy used his staff to create a skull enveloped in Nether Ghost Fire.

Two dark eyeballs gradually grew from the skull's eye sockets, providing vision for their owner as a means of investigation.

The skull was thrown out, and it immediately gave chase.

The leading Blood Knight said softly:

"You need to complete the area missions to gain access to the castle."

This area is located at the rear of the castle, far from the front hall. Even if the officers had gotten separated during the raid, they wouldn't have ended up here.

These Newcomer seem to be quite remarkable.

The Necromancy Apprentice from the library grinned and said:

"Among this batch of Newcomer, there was a junior student named Demps Martin who was very close to Hera, the Vice Curator of the library... It's a pity I didn't get to meet him."

Otherwise, I would like to have a proper conversation with such a genius.

The three of them walked for a short while and then arrived at the "blacksmith area".

Upon Door Opening, all that could be seen were apprentices scattered all over the floor, but the blacksmith's body was nowhere to be found.

Almost at the same time, the Necromancy Apprentice frowned.

"Captain, the skull I released has been discovered and destroyed by that idiot kid... according to their route."

The chances of them going to the lobby are slim; they'll probably go to the second floor.

"These freshmen are really something else... We need to speed things up a bit."

If I happen to meet these new students again, I'd like to spend a little time talking to them about the castle.

"No problem, Captain."

The Necromancy Apprentice has deployed his freely movable arms to collect bone material from the blacksmith apprentice's bodies; each additional corpse enhances the apprentice's Combat Power.

"How dangerous... Is this the elite squad of the Third Year? If they find out I have the ' Blacksmith Key ' on me, things could get quite troublesome."

This influencing factor must be incorporated into the plan.

If I encounter them again in the castle, I will definitely be targeted.

Han Dong held the severed skull, sensing the lingering deathly aura within, his brows furrowed.

Encountering such a knight squad increases the difficulty of the overall operation to some extent, and the variability affects the entire plan.

"That was... [Blood Knight - Lucius]," Winry said somewhat timidly.

"You know him?"

"Hmm... I've usually looked into the files of Knight-Errant entered with excellent grades."

This Lucius is quite famous. He, like you, entered as a top-ranking cadet Crusader, and the department head had high hopes for him.

Rumor has it that the Scarlet Knight Order had already issued him a recruitment order.

"Um."

"Vice Captain, we must not clash with them; let's try to avoid them."

"It depends on the situation..."

Han Dong finally found the stairs leading to the second floor.

They resorted to the same old trick.

During the forging process, Han Dong also took relevant actions regarding the [Blacksmith].

Upon reaching the second floor via the stairwell, the blacksmith's outer garment was placed over the two men, thus completing the "disguise."

As the blacksmith Atlus, head straight for the central elevator.

Along the way, they encountered various guards lingering in the area, as well as several special butlers who seemed to pass through walls and bodies like ghosts... but none of them could see through their disguises.

Click.

The key was inserted into the stone door.

Following the only staircase accessible only to cadres and their family members, we successfully reached the Upper Zone of the castle.

The narrow passageways of the lower level become spacious here... Red carpets are laid on the ground, and the sides of the road are illuminated by luxurious candlesticks.

There is also an Eyeball Device at the top that monitors the real-time situation in the passageway.

Han Dong was very interested in such an eyeball and felt it necessary to find out its owner... perhaps it could enhance Han Dong's Lesser Demon Eye.

Find the door with the word "Atlus" written on it and successfully sneak into this private room.

Here, we are no longer monitored by the eye.

"Wow! It's so hot!"

They quickly took off the thick, still-warm blacksmith's coat, as they were both drenched in sweat from the heat of the walk.

Fortunately, the blacksmith's bedroom was in a normal European style, rather than the scorching blacksmith's room design.

There is also a large private bathroom that can accommodate two people...