Damn it! Damn it!
Inside Central Castle in Margary Town, Lord Korien Os roared as he kicked over the table before him. Exquisite artworks from the Elf Kingdom shattered into pieces one after another. Before him, Mark and the other three Official Knights hung their heads in shame.
Oliver, the mage, stood by the window with his arms crossed, expressionlessly watching Korien Os vent his fury. As an official mage, he was a helper Korien Os had paid to hire.
Unlike Mark and the other four, who were the lord's retainers, Oliver was not one of Korien Os's men. Even though the Dungeon expedition team had suffered severe losses, Korien Os did not dare vent his anger on Oliver.
The status of an official mage was in no way inferior to that of a noble like Korien Os.
More than ten minutes passed before the trembling maid waiting outside heard her master's summons. She opened the door and entered, staring at the room that had become a complete mess. After receiving Korien Os's permission, she began tidying it up.
"Mark, tell me. What is your plan for conquering the Dungeon next?"
Facing the knight who had caused him such devastating losses, Korien Os wanted nothing more than to kill him. But he knew that if he did not want to personally venture into the dangerous Dungeon, the task of conquering it would still have to be entrusted to Mark.
Yet when he thought of the more than twenty knights he had lost, Korien Os felt his heart bleed. They were not lowly commoners outside, as worthless as weeds. Every one of them had been carefully selected and raised by him since childhood.
These knights were the foundation that upheld his noble status and rule. Having lost so many, how could Korien Os not feel heartbroken and furious?
"Lord Korien, I have considered a method for conquering the Fourth Layer." Mark took a deep breath, confidence filling his gaze. "I intend to form an elite squad made entirely of Formal Professionals."
"Then we will prepare all kinds of items and alchemical potions suited to the environment and terrain of the Venomous Swamp on the Fourth Layer. As long as we make thorough preparations this time, we will certainly be able to conquer the Fourth Layer."
Ever since fleeing back from the Fourth Layer, Mark had been thinking about how to conquer it. In the end, he concluded that he needed to form an elite squad like the adventurers did.
Unlike the first three layers, where a large number of knight squad members could rapidly explore the Dungeon in the cavern environment while supporting one another to ensure safety, the Fourth Layer's environment naturally restricted large-scale operations.
Moreover, an elite squad composed entirely of professionals would ensure that, even if they encountered an unexpected situation, no one weak would hold the team back.
"Good. Whether it is magical items, alchemical potions, or even a team made entirely of professionals, I can provide them all!" Korien Os stared at Mark, his eyes bloodshot, like a gambler staking everything on one throw. "But I do not want the next news I hear to be another failed expedition with devastating losses."
"Yes, Lord Korien!"
Mark dropped to one knee and slammed his clenched fist against his chest. His eyes were filled with loyalty and determination. He had not expected the lord to still trust him after he had caused such enormous losses.
"Leave. I will have someone prepare everything you need."
Korien Os waved his hand and watched Mark and the others leave. Once they vanished from sight, the gambler-like expression he had displayed disappeared, replaced by a shrewd and intelligent gleam in his eyes.
News of the Dungeon's appearance had already spread throughout the south where Margery Town was located. Adventurers and powerful individuals interested in the new Dungeon were continuously arriving. He could no longer conquer this new Dungeon by relying solely on himself.
Furthermore, based on the information Mark and the others had brought back, every aspect indicated that this Dungeon was far from simple. He needed to make arrangements early.
Even if he could no longer monopolize the entire Dungeon, he would still claim the fattest piece of meat.
Korien Os stood and entered his study, taking out a sheet of paper and beginning to write.
Dear Mother, it has been a long time since I last wrote.
Your thirteenth child, Korien Os, sends you his respects.
I believe you have already received news about the new Dungeon in my territory. Here, your child will tell you some special information. This Dungeon will be the Oss Family's hope of advancing further.
After spending more than ten minutes writing the letter, Korien Os waved a hand and summoned an owl familiar. He sealed the letter with wax and placed it in the pouch beneath the owl's neck.
"Go."
The owl flapped its wings and flew into the sky, disappearing into the clouds.
Elsewhere, inside the Dungeon.
On the Third Layer, a party of adventurers successfully found the entrance to the Fourth Layer. The assassin, completely shrouded in a black robe, looked at the concealed entrance and curled her exposed lips into a disdainful smile.
Did those foolish knights really think their clumsy concealment could fool her, a professional assassin?
"Sophia, did you find it?"
A burly man, like an iron tower, appeared behind Sophia. He wore a full suit of heavy armor and carried a Battle Axe forged from pure steel on his back. His entire body radiated a fierce aura.
"Captain, I found it." Sophia pointed to the concealed entrance.
"Well done."
"As expected of Sophia. You really are reliable."
The rest of the party praised her without hesitation, excitement written across every face. Just yesterday evening, many adventurers had witnessed Mark and the others fleeing the Dungeon in a miserable state.
Everyone knew that Mark's group had explored deeper into the Dungeon than anyone else so far. People had all guessed that they had encountered powerful, unknown monsters in the depths of the Dungeon.
This party of adventurers had followed the traces left behind by Mark and the others as they fled, successfully entered the Third Layer, and then found this place.
"This time, it is our turn to make a fortune. A brand-new Dungeon layer that no one has ever conquered—who knows how many treasures are inside?"
"Brothers, have you prepared everything I told you to get ready?"
Lucas swept his gaze across everyone present. Including himself, the adventurer party had five members, and every one of them was a Formal Professional. As the captain, he was an experienced warrior only one final step away from breaking through to become an intermediate warrior.
"The gas masks, antidotes, and any other items we might need are all ready," replied the pale, gaunt middle-aged mage in the party.
They had not merely found the Fourth Layer by following Mark and the others' trail.
Their long lives as adventurers had allowed them to infer the Fourth Layer's environment, possible dangers, and monsters merely by observing the traces left on Mark and the others when they escaped.
They had therefore made thorough preparations.
"Move out! Let those knights who serve nobles see what real adventurers are!"
Lucas waved a hand, drew the Battle Axe from his back, and smashed open the concealed entrance with a single blow. Brimming with confidence, he headed toward the Fourth Layer. They were an elite adventurer party from a major city.
Battleaxe Squad, a Black Iron Tier squad recognized by the Adventurers' Guild.
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