Adventurers Working Together

A brand-new dungeon!

If he could take control of this dungeon... Korien Os, as the lord, knew better than anyone what that meant.

"Someone!"

"My lord Viscount, what are your orders?"

"Have Knight Mark lead an elite squad of knights to investigate the dungeon."

"Your will, my lord Viscount."

"Wait." Korien Os suddenly called out to the guard who had turned to leave, adding, "Tell Mark that if anything unexpected happens during this operation, he may decide how to act on his own."

"Yes."

From the watchtower, Korien Os watched the castle gates open as a group of elite knights charged out. Their horses' hooves rang crisply against the stone pavement as they raced toward the dungeon outside the city.

Meanwhile, outside the dungeon.

Small groups of adventurers had already gathered there. They had arrived even earlier than the local lord's knights. As seasoned adventurers who traveled far and wide, they had guessed the moment the tremors began that a new dungeon had appeared.

This was especially true for adventurer parties with mages. The disturbance in mana caused by the appearance of a dungeon could not escape their senses.

A newly appeared, undeveloped dungeon contained countless treasures, new magical resources, and all manner of rare artifacts. Like the hoard of a legendary dragon, it was filled with unknowns and temptations.

At the entrance, the adventurers gathered there paced back and forth, their faces full of hesitation. Margery Town was not a particularly large settlement, and most adventurers who made their living here were merely low-ranking adventurers.

Among them, those who had become professionals were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Most had only mastered one or two professional skills and were merely somewhat stronger than ordinary commoners.

"Should we go in?"

"Get lost. If you're afraid of dying, why become an adventurer? Don't block my path to fortune."

"You weaklings, go back and suck at your mommy's tits!"

Those who dared not enter and blocked the entrance were roughly shoved aside. After giving them disdainful looks, the adventurers poured into the dungeon one after another. Their desire for wealth and treasure had made them unable to suppress the greed in their hearts any longer.

As the leading adventurers entered the dungeon, the rest stopped waiting as well. Some novice adventurers even rushed straight inside, terrified that if they were too slow, someone else would take all the treasures.

When Mark arrived with the elite knight squad, the sight before him was of adventurers streaming into the dungeon like ants.

"Damn it. These lowborn wretches, who aren't even worthy of having surnames, dare enter the dungeon without the lord's permission!"

"Send one man to report this information to Lord Korien. The rest of you, enter the dungeon with me."

Given Mark's temperament, these wretches who had dared enter the dungeon without the lord's permission should all have been executed. But when he thought of the Adventurers' Guild behind them, he could only forcibly suppress his anger.

The most important thing now was to explore the dungeon. If they were too slow, who knew what valuable things those adventurers who had entered ahead of them might snatch away.

However, Mark was not overly worried. Compared to this bunch of adventurers, every elite knight under his command was a Knight Apprentice who had mastered at least two skills. Mark himself was already a Formal Professional, a true knight.

"Move out!"

Mark, clad in magnificent silver-white armor and carrying a greatsword on his back, waved his hand. The nine knights behind him followed at once. The adventurers blocking their path instinctively stepped aside and watched the knights pass.

Dungeon, first floor.

The first several dozen adventurers to enter were observing their surroundings. Mushrooms grew throughout the low, oppressive cave, and their faint glow illuminated the cavern.

"A very common cave environment. The height is roughly three meters, the air is damp, and no monsters have been found yet."

"Also, because of all the glowing mushrooms, visibility is fairly good."

After scouting the nearby area, an assassin completely shrouded in a black robe shared the information he had observed with the adventurers present.

"Not bad luck. It's actually the most common type of dungeon environment."

"Don't let your guard down. Who knows what monsters might be lurking in the dark?"

The adventurers who had rushed here the moment the dungeon appeared and entered in the first group were all experienced individuals with at least one special skill. Most of them were only a single step away from becoming true professionals.

There were even two Formal Professionals among them.

"What do we do next? Cooperate or split up?"

A man with neat short hair, a build as imposing as an iron tower, and a massive tower shield in hand spoke in a deep, muffled voice. His gaze fell on the assassin who had spoken first. The two of them were the only Formal Professionals among the adventurers present.

"Cooperate. Splitting up would be too inefficient." The assassin, hidden beneath his black robe, looked toward the dungeon entrance behind them and said quietly, "The local lord has definitely noticed the commotion here."

"The lord's knight squad must already be on its way. If we want enough treasures and wealth, cooperation is the best choice."

"Until we find the entrance to the next floor, we'll cooperate for now."

"Fine."

Tucker nodded and agreed without hesitation. He strode to the front of the group. His tall, burly figure made people worry that he might accidentally strike his head against the ceiling, while his broad back filled them with a sense of security.

There were nearly a dozen adventurers present. As the strongest group of adventurers in Margery Town, they more or less knew one another, so their cooperation proceeded smoothly enough.

Before long, the adventurers left the first entrance area and casually chose a passage to enter.

"They're actually exploring the dungeon together?"

Since the dungeon had appeared, Luo Ao had been watching the first floor. From the very second these adventurers stepped into the dungeon, his gaze had remained fixed on them.

"They all look like fairly capable and experienced adventurers. Perfect for testing my little darlings' strength."

Although these adventurers appeared experienced and capable, Luo Ao was not worried in the slightest. He was even filled with anticipation.

"Go, my little darlings!"

In the dim cave, the adventurers advanced cautiously. Along the way, the party's only mage collected samples of the various mushrooms they encountered and the spores drifting through the air, leaving a marker every dozen meters or so.

They had already walked down this passage for nearly five minutes. Aside from a few simple traps, they had only found traces left behind by monsters.