Black Iron Squad

"Damn it! Damn it!"

Inside the central castle of Margary Town, Lord Korien Os roared as he kicked over the table before him. Exquisite artworks from the Elf Kingdom shattered into pieces. Before him, Mark and the other three formal knights hung their heads, their faces filled with shame.

Meanwhile, Oliver, the mage, stood by the window with his arms crossed, watching Korien Os vent his anger without expression. As a formal mage, he was an assistant Korien Os had hired with money.

Unlike Mark and the other four, who were the lord's retainers, even though the dungeon-conquering party had suffered heavy losses, Korien Os did not dare vent his fury on Oliver.

The status of a formal mage was in no way inferior to that of a noble like Korien Os.

More than ten minutes passed before the trembling maid outside the door heard her master call for her. After entering and seeing the room in ruins, she began tidying it up with Korien Os's permission.

"Mark, tell me. What is your plan for conquering the dungeon next?"

Facing the knight who had caused him such terrible losses, Korien Os wanted nothing more than to kill him. But he knew that if he did not wish to personally venture into the dangerous dungeon, then the task of conquering it would still have to be entrusted to Mark.

Yet when he thought of the loss of more than twenty knights, Korien Os still felt his heart bleed. They were not common rabble growing like weeds outside; every one of them had been carefully chosen and raised by him from childhood.

These knights were the foundation that maintained his noble status and rule. Having lost so many, how could Korien Os not feel heartache and fury?

"Lord Korien, I have already considered a method for conquering the fourth floor." Mark took a deep breath, confidence in his eyes. "I plan to form an elite squad composed entirely of formal professionals."

"Then we will prepare various tools and alchemical potions suited to the environment and terrain of the fourth floor's poisonous swamp. As long as we make thorough preparations this time, we will definitely conquer the fourth floor."

Ever since fleeing from the fourth floor, Mark had been thinking about how to conquer it. In the end, he concluded that he needed to form an elite squad like adventurers did.

Unlike the first three floors, where the cave environment allowed a large knight squad to explore the dungeon at maximum speed while ensuring support and safety at all times, the environment of the fourth floor naturally restricted large-scale operations.

Moreover, an elite party made entirely of professionals would ensure that even in an emergency, no one would hold the team back due to being too weak.

"Good. Whether it is magical tools, alchemical potions, or even a party 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 report I hear to be another failed expedition with devastating losses."

"Yes, Lord Korien!"

Mark dropped to one knee and slammed his clenched fist heavily 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 what you need."

Korien Os waved his hand and watched Mark and the others depart. Once they vanished from sight, the gambler-like expression he had displayed disappeared, replaced by cunning and intelligence in his eyes.

News of the dungeon's emergence had already spread throughout the south around Margary Town. Countless adventurers and powerful individuals interested in the new dungeon were arriving without end. 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, everything indicated that this dungeon was far from simple. He needed to make preparations early.

Even if he could no longer monopolize the entire dungeon, he would still take the fattest piece of meat for himself.

Korien Os rose and entered his study, taking out a sheet of paper and beginning to write.

Dear Mother, it has been far too long since my last greeting.

Your thirteenth child, Korien Os, sends you his respects.

I believe you have already received news of the new dungeon in my territory. Here, your child will tell you some special information: this dungeon will be the hope for the Oss Family to rise even further.

After spending more than ten minutes writing the letter, Korien Os waved his 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 floor, a party of adventurers successfully found the entrance to the fourth floor. The assassin, wrapped from head to toe in a black robe, looked at the concealed entrance and curled her exposed lips into a disdainful smile.

Those foolish knights did not think their crude concealment could fool a professional assassin like her, did they?

"Sophia, did you find it?"

A burly man, built like an iron tower, appeared behind Sophia. He wore heavy armor from head to toe and carried a battleaxe forged from pure steel on his back, exuding a fierce and imposing aura.

"Captain, I found it." Sophia pointed at the hidden entrance.

"Good work."

"As expected of Sophia. You really are reliable."

The rest of the party praised her without holding back, every one of them wearing excited expressions. 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 guessed that they had encountered powerful, unknown monsters in its depths.

This party of adventurers had followed the traces Mark and the others left behind while fleeing, successfully entered the third floor, and then found this place.

"This time, it is our turn to make a fortune. A brand-new dungeon floor 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 the group. Including himself, the adventurer party had five members, every one of them 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 tools we might need are all ready."

The pale, gaunt middle-aged mage in the party replied. They had not merely followed Mark and the others' tracks to find the fourth floor.

Their long years of adventuring experience had allowed them to infer the fourth floor's environment, potential dangers, and possible monsters simply by observing the traces left on Mark and the others when they fled.

They had therefore made thorough preparations.

"Move out! Let those knights serving nobles see what real adventurers are!"

Lucas waved his hand, drew the battleaxe from his back, and smashed open the hidden entrance with a single blow. Brimming with confidence, he strode toward the fourth floor. They were an elite adventurer party from a major city.

Battleaxe Squad, a Black Iron Tier squad recognized by the Adventurers' Guild.