Expedition Time

Beside him were Bete, a silver-haired werewolf boy, and Gareth, a dwarf. They were Lv5 and Lv6, respectively. Bete in particular, being a werewolf, worshipped the law of the jungle. In the original story, he had always looked down on Bell. The main reason, though, was that Ais paid too much attention to Bell, and Bete was jealous.

At the very end was Riveria, the vice-captain of the Loki Familia. She was of royal elven descent, was Lv6, and bore the title of Nine Hell. She was the strongest Mage in Orario, and a friend of Eina's mother.

"Lu Qiming, is it? Eina's mentioned you to me several times."

Riveria felt Lu Qiming looking her way and spoke with a slight smile.

"Hello, Sister Riveria. Eina's been very kind to me, too."

"Don't you go bullying Eina, or I won't let you off."

Riveria looked at Lu Qiming with an amused expression, like a mother sizing up her future son-in-law.

"Um, Eina and I are just friends."

Seeing Riveria's gaze, Lu Qiming hurried to explain. After all, he was only a passerby in this world. Even if he completed the system's mission, he could only stay here until the mission period ended—unless he gave up on completing it.

But Lu Qiming couldn't give up on the mission, so he was destined to remain a passerby. Even if he gained complete control of the system in the future and could return to this world, who knew how long it would take to reach that point? Besides, he and Eina were only friends.

He could also tell that Eina saw him only as a friend or younger brother. She didn't feel that way about him at all.

As for Tiya and the others, they simply lusted after his body—and he felt more or less the same way about them. After all the killing, he needed a way to vent. They were just seeking comfort from each other, and even if feelings developed later, things wouldn't go in that direction.

Still, before he left, he would make arrangements for Tiya and the others in advance. It would be his way of giving them an explanation.

While Lu Qiming was thinking about the future, the group had already returned to the Loki Familia's hall and taken their seats. Riveria pulled Lu Qiming down beside her.

"Finn, how are the preparations for your Expedition Team coming along?"

As soon as he sat down, Lu Qiming looked toward Finn, seated at the head of the table, and asked. He cleared his mind of all the random thoughts. Completing the mission was what mattered most right now, and the Loki Familia's preparations for their expedition would affect how quickly he could complete it.

"Our Expedition Team is nearly ready. We've added your share to the food and supplies, too, so we can set out tomorrow. Is everything ready on your end?"

After Finn finished speaking, everyone looked at Lu Qiming. The Familia's Expedition Team had been meant to leave today, but they'd postponed it until tomorrow because of him. If Lu Qiming couldn't get ready by the end of the day, they would have no choice but to make him wait until the next expedition.

"No problem. I can leave anytime."

Lu Qiming nodded. He didn't need to prepare much. Divine Judgment was inside his soul, and he always had the Stainless Steel Basin on his head. All he needed was to replenish his potions; the Loki Familia had taken care of everything else.

"Good. We'll meet at the Dungeon entrance tomorrow morning."

"Sure!"

With that, Lu Qiming stood up to leave. While he still had time, he planned to stop by Babel Tower and buy some potions. He didn't need any armor; wearing it would only get in the way.

"By the way, we're having a party tonight at the Hostess of Fertility. Lu Qiming, you should come, too, so everyone can get to know each other beforehand."

Finn suddenly called out as Lu Qiming headed for the door.

"Sure. I'll be there tonight."

Lu Qiming waved and walked straight out of the Loki Familia's hall.

After Lu Qiming left, Finn looked toward the Amazonian sisters below.

"Tione, apologize to Lu Qiming tonight. From now on, you'll all be fighting together, and you'll need to trust each other with your backs. No more squabbling."

"Yes, Captain!"

Tione nodded to show she would follow Finn's orders. As a top adventurer, she knew how important trust between teammates was in the Dungeon. Even if Finn hadn't said anything, she would have apologized to Lu Qiming that night.

"Good. Then everyone, go get ready. The expedition starts tomorrow."

Seeing that Tione wasn't putting up any resistance, Finn decided to go report tomorrow's expedition to Loki.

"Wait, Captain!"

Just as Finn was leaving, Tione called out to him, looking at him expectantly.

"What is it, Tione?"

"Captain, didn't you say I could go to your room? When are we going?"

"That won't be necessary. Just apologize to Lu Qiming tonight."

"No! We have to go!"

Tione hurriedly objected. She'd been looking forward to it for ages. How could she let it go just like that?

"...Fine. Wait in my room while I report to Loki. I'll come see you afterward."

Finn reluctantly agreed to Tione's request. Otherwise, he knew she would pester him all day.

"Yes! Then you'd better hurry, Captain!"

Tione happily ran toward Finn's room, not looking at all like someone who was about to be reprimanded.

Ais and the others nearby acted as if they were completely used to it. Things like this happened in front of them almost every day, and they had long since gotten used to it.

Babel Tower.

Lu Qiming walked straight inside. This was his second visit. The day before, he'd spent a hundred million Valis to buy Divine Judgment. This time, he planned to buy some potions.

He still had a few million Valis left. He'd given the remaining eighty million to Tiya, but a few million was more than enough to buy the potions he needed.

On the eighth floor of Babel Tower, Lu Qiming stepped out of the elevator.

This floor was devoted to selling potions. Every shop's counters were lined with all kinds of them.

Lu Qiming picked a potion shop that had a good reputation among adventurers and went inside.

"Welcome, esteemed adventurer! What can I help you with?"

A Pallum attendant came over to greet Lu Qiming.

"I need some top-quality Mana Recovery Potions, stamina potions, and healing potions."

Lu Qiming stated what he needed, then stared curiously at the young Pallum girl in front of him. Members of her race stayed that way even after reaching adulthood. They were basically legal little girls.

This place was paradise for lolicons!

A moment later, the legal little girl came out carrying a pile of potions and set them down in front of Lu Qiming.

"Esteemed adventurer, these are the best potions in our shop."

Lu Qiming casually picked up a bottle of mana potion. The deep-blue potion inside shimmered with an alluring light, as fathomless as the ocean.

The next second, Lu Qiming tossed the potion and its bottle into his mouth, crunched it up, and swallowed it. The bottles used for these top-quality potions were specially made and completely edible, unlike ordinary potion bottles.

After all, in the middle of a battle, there wasn't enough time to slowly drink a potion. That was why bottles like these had been made.

But because they were so expensive to produce, they were only used for top-quality potions.