Victim, Please Take the Stage

Adventurer was a versatile profession. At the top end, they could assist the Brave in slaying the Demon King and forge new legends; at the bottom, they could stoop to stealing chickens and dogs just to scrape by.

For a single Silver Coin, anyone could buy an adventurer's certificate from the Adventurers Association and become the lowest-ranked adventurer: wanderers concealing their identities, wanted criminals, innocent country boys, idle city Thugs, even—

A new day had arrived, and crowds thronged the entrance to Zane Dungeon. People streamed in without end, all gathered before the Portal as they waited for the dungeon to open.

Many people made their living around this place. Besides the adventurers who fought monsters inside and gathered materials, there were small vendors hawking goods on the outskirts, as well as large numbers of Miners organized by the nobles to enter the dungeon and mine ore. Looking closely, there were even more ordinary people than adventurers.

Speaking of ore, Zane Dungeon produced a unique red mineral called Bloodstone, an important raw material for one of the local lord's industries.

Every day, hundreds of Miners under the lord's command entered the dungeon to mine. These ores were more important to the local lord than his own life; there was no way he would ever give them up.

At its busiest, a dungeon like this could see thousands of people passing through. It was truly unbelievable.

"This is the place, right? The legendary easiest beginner dungeon where even an idiot can clear it in one go!"

At the entrance Portal of Zane Dungeon, an energetic young girl waved her slender arm. Her cascading golden curls gleamed beneath the sunlight, and even plain leather armor could not hide her natural elegance.

In short, she was a noble young lady who had run away from home. Who knew why she had come to become an adventurer? She was probably just bored.

"Please don't run so fast, Miss Hai Nisi!"

Normally, a noble young lady's attendant would either be a peerless beauty or an incredibly handsome man. Fei Li belonged to the former. At six feet tall, she possessed a pair of enviably long legs, while her sea-blue hair shone like jewels. Unfortunately, her cool and beautiful face was currently filled with helplessness.

"We agreed that once we cleared this dungeon, we'd obediently go home. Madam will worry."

"I know, I know," Hai Nisi replied absentmindedly. Taking advantage of her attendant's lapse in attention, she dashed straight into the Portal!

"Ah, wait!"

Fei Li stomped her foot in frustration and hurried after her.

She had suffered from teleportation sickness since childhood. Whether she passed through a Portal or was teleported by magic, she always needed a few seconds afterward to recover.

"Ugh, why is it so dark?"

Fei Li raised her head groggily, then froze when she saw the sight before her.

It was a ruined Village—desolate, bleak, and devoid of light. Scattered torches provided illumination, but they only revealed a tiny portion of the surroundings.

Black, withered branches resembled ghostly claws, waving maliciously at those who entered.

A chill ran down Fei Li's spine. The information had clearly said Zane Dungeon was a sunlit complex of ancient buildings. Why did it look like a haunted house now?

"That damned Information Broker must have scammed us."

She tightened her grip on her curved sword and called out, "Miss, where are you?"

It looked creepy, but since Zane Dungeon was known as "the easiest dungeon in history," this appearance had to be nothing more than a facade. There was nothing to worry about.

With that thought, Fei Li immediately stopped feeling afraid.

She passed through the collapsed gate at the Village entrance and entered inside. Most of the houses had already crumbled, making them impossible to explore. At the end of the main road stood a church.

"Miss?"

No matter how Fei Li called, Hai Nisi did not answer, and a trace of doubt rose in her heart.

There had not been much of a gap between them entering. How had she failed to find her?

"Could she be hiding in the church?" She came to the church at the end of the main road and pushed hard against the door, but it would not budge.

"Eek!"

Just then, a piercing scream tore through the air. Fei Li jolted and rushed toward its source.

"Miss, where are you? Answer me if you can hear me!"

The place was silent. A gust of wind came from nowhere, and a rusted door creaked before crashing to the ground.

The instant the door made its sound, Fei Li had already rushed into the ruined house. Yet there was nothing inside, aside from an ordinary wooden chest in the center.

"There's no mistake. Miss's scent is here. She came here before," she said, removing her hood to reveal a pair of furry beast ears. Her nose twitched a few times before locking onto the wooden chest.

Hai Nisi had touched it just now. She could smell it.

Fei Li flung open the chest, but—

Triggered a teleportation trap!!!

"Haah!?"

A thick mist suddenly enveloped Fei Li, making her cough uncontrollably. By the time she opened her eyes, the scene before her had changed completely!

As she was still dazed, something warm suddenly leaped into her arms.

"M-Miss?" She carefully sniffed the scent and confirmed that it really was Hai Nisi.

The latter looked up at her with teary eyes and sobbed, "That scared me to death! W-why was there a trap inside the chest?!"

Fei Li sighed helplessly and rubbed Hai Nisi's head. "Don't run around next time. Stay close to me."

"Mm." The noble young lady nodded obediently, and only then did Fei Li begin examining their surroundings.

They had been teleported into a ruined underground house. Outside the door were uneven rocks, with blood-red ore visible everywhere. Even the rock formations overhead were covered in crystals.

"This seems to be some kind of Underground Mine."

Fei Li took Hai Nisi's little hand and cautiously stepped out of the ruined house. Only then did she realize they were in a rather vast mine. The excavated tunnels stretched in every direction; with a quick glance alone, she spotted no fewer than five tunnels.

"This is troublesome. Which path leads back?"

Just as she was racking her brains, several Skeleton Monsters carrying pickaxes shuffled toward them. With a casual swing of her hand, Fei Li sent out a blade of sword energy that smashed the Skeleton Monsters into pieces, scattering their bones across the ground.

"Fei Li is amazing!" Hai Nisi's eyes sparkled.

"Let's go this way first."

In the end, Fei Li chose the largest mine tunnel by instinct, and the two entered it.

A few minutes after they left, blue ghostfire rose from the eye sockets of the skulls on the ground. Their jaws hung wide open as though they were laughing soundlessly.

"Fei Li, look! There's a light spot over there!"

Hai Nisi pointed toward a White Light Spot shining brightly not far down the tunnel.

Besides being hidden in chests, dungeon treasures could also appear scattered in corners and out-of-the-way places. When they did, they would emit light. Ordinary items were white, rarer ones were purple, and the most precious were gold.

Thus, light spots were no less tempting to adventurers than a peerless beauty suddenly appearing before an old bachelor!

A Goblin crouched before the White Light Spot, digging at the ground with its back to them, seemingly completely unaware of their presence.

Can I go? Hai Nisi asked with her eyes.

Fei Li considered it and nodded. Hai Nisi drew her short sword and crept over on tiptoe, then slit the Goblin's throat with one swift, clean strike!

"There was a Flying Dagger in the light spot!"

Hai Nisi proudly displayed her spoils. Though it was only an insignificant Flying Dagger, it was the first loot she had obtained in a dungeon, making it extraordinarily meaningful.

Fei Li smiled fondly, just about to speak when she glimpsed something from the corner of her eye. Her expression changed instantly as she shouted, "Come back!"

"What?"

Before Hai Nisi could react, she heard snickering from all around her. One, two, three.

Three Goblins suddenly sprang out from the shadows!

"Ah! Where did they come from?!"

In her panic, she killed two of them, but the remaining one bit her left arm.

Fei Li hurriedly killed the Goblin, pulled out a bottle of potion from her bag, and poured it over Hai Nisi's wound. The instant the wound touched the potion, it healed completely, not even leaving behind a scar!

"That scared me to death! Where were those things hiding?!" Hai Nisi angrily kicked the Goblin corpses twice. Using the dim surroundings and irregular terrain, these creatures had perfectly hidden their small bodies and silently ambushed their enemies.

They had even used one of their companions as bait!

To be honest, even Fei Li had let down her guard when she saw the Goblin facing away from her. Her sense of smell had not detected any other Goblins either.

"There's something wrong with this dungeon."

Remembering the earlier Teleportation Trap, Fei Li came to her senses as well. Wasn't this supposed to be the easiest dungeon? Wasn't this far too devious?!

Either everyone had lied to her, or this dungeon had undergone some kind of abnormal change!

"Let's go. We need to be more careful from now on."

This time, she truly calmed herself down. She could no longer underestimate Zane Dungeon.

Come to think of it, why were there so many recessed holes along both sides of the tunnel? They looked just large enough to fit two or three people.

Smack!

The moment she took her first step, she stepped on something. A rumbling sound followed, and some kind of mechanism was triggered.

"What? What's happening?"

When Hai Nisi saw a huge iron ball rolling toward them from deeper in the tunnel, her fur stood on end.

"Run!"

Fei Li scooped Hai Nisi up and ran back the way they had come. They had not gone far into the tunnel, so they would definitely be able to get out safely—

Clack, clack!

After the eerie sounds of collision, Fei Li saw a sight she would never forget for the rest of her life.

Dozens of deathly pale Ghost Hands were linked together, forming an unbreakable line of defense at the tunnel entrance!

The leading Skeleton Monster was laughing wildly, a wound visible across its ribcage.

It was from Fei Li's sword energy!

The Skeleton Monster she had smashed apart had revived?!