Acting

Having made a guess, Lumian's gaze subconsciously swept over "Rat" Christo and "Giant" Simon.

He felt that the "cannon fodder" option was not very likely, because Beyonder grow by consuming Potion are different from those Evil God’s Favored who rely on Gift. They are not like cabbages in the ground, which can be produced in large quantities. First, one needs the corresponding materials, and second, one needs enough time. And in the Mid-Sequence, one also needs to be lucky enough, or whether one has mastered the "Acting Method".

If this mission really uses the three of them as cannon fodder, then it's highly likely that the Beyonder Characteristic won't be recovered, and these account for half of Gardner Martin's power controlling the Market District's Underground World.

As a member of the Concealment organization "Iron and Blood Cross Order," Gardner Martin could certainly afford such a loss, but he wouldn't make such a huge sacrifice for something unimportant.

If the mission is important enough, sending only one Sequence 7 and two Sequence 8 is clearly insufficient. Wouldn't Gardner Martin be worried about failure?

With this understanding, Lumian quickly revised his conjecture:

This could be either a low-risk mission as a preliminary test for him, and it's irrelevant whether "Rat" Christo and "Giant" Simon are aware of it, or it could be a very important and dangerous operation, using the three of them as cannon fodder while having a stronger person provide final protection, which is also a test.

With this in mind, Lumian's first reaction was to look at Gardner Martin, accept the task in a passionate and confident voice, and portray himself as a young man striving for advancement.

If it's the first possibility, this is his best chance to show himself. But if it's the second possibility, Lumian still has Mr. K's finger lying quietly in his pocket as a trump card. If he really has to expose his secret of being a member of the "Aurora Order" in order to survive, he can simply give up the "Iron and Blood Cross Order" mission.

As long as you're not dead, there's still another chance!

--After the Calamity brought about by the "Shadow Tree," Lumian rushed to the headquarters of The Spiritism Magazine Agency and met with Mr. K before Gardner Martin could launch an investigation.

He concealed his experiences inside the "Shadow Tree," only saying that a sudden Mutation occurred in the Market District, and he and the others were trapped in a strange Wilderness. Afterward, the giant brown-green Giant Tree there sank, and Suzanne Matisse appeared, beginning to drain everyone's energy. In order to fight against this "Fallen Dryad," he used that finger to create a "Flesh Robe" with powerful defensive capabilities, but no additional help came his way.

Later, thanks to the further sinking of the brown-green Giant Tree, Suzanne Matisse's extreme weakness, the distraction of the other two Beyonder present, and his newly acquired "Pyromaniac" ability and the "Fallen Mercury" he brought from Cordou Village, he barely managed to defeat the enemy and eliminate her.

It was all true, only the order, time, place, and a few details were blurred. Logically, there was nothing wrong with it. After listening, Mr. K not only did not doubt it, but also sighed and reminded Lumian not to rely too much on his fingers, because there were many ways to sever the Mysticism connection between him and his fingers.

After confirming that Lumian's promotion to "Pyromaniac" was due to Gardner Martin's help, Mr. K was very satisfied and plucked another finger for him.

This made Lumian feel that as long as he didn't encounter special environments such as the "Otherworld" or the interior of the "Shadow Tree," or get involved in terrifying events that required facing Divinity beings, he still had a good chance of escaping, even if he couldn't turn the tide, thanks to Mr. K's finger.

Just then, Lumian, who was about to express his attitude to the Boss, suddenly felt that he shouldn't overdo the performance.

This is a phrase that Jenna often says.

According to Franca, the Boss is at least Sequence 6 ' Conspirer,' and his intelligence and insight should not be underestimated..."

"My background is indeed very clear: young, from the countryside, once involved in an extraordinary Calamity, not very knowledgeable, wanting to change my Destiny, but I have been in the Market District for a while, doing a lot of things openly and secretly. Even if only the Boss knows about them, it is enough for him to see that I am not a mindless country bumpkin who does things by being reckless and ruthless."

"As for today's matter, the Boss should be able to sense the unusual nature of the mission and the potential dangers it may contain. If I agree to it without asking questions or making any observations, it will only make him suspect that I have other motives or reliance."

"That's troublesome..."

A series of thoughts flashed through Lumian's mind. He instantly changed the direction of his gaze, turning his attention to "Giant" Simon and "Rat" Christo, as if wanting to see how they would react and their attitude towards the mission.

"Rat" Christo, perhaps thinking of the "Person in the Mirror" and his brother who died because of it, had a grim expression, a mixture of fear and unease.

Giant look of doubt and wariness flashed across Simon's face, but he did not raise any objections.

A few seconds later, the two spoke almost simultaneously:

"Yes, Boss!"

Seeing this, Lumian deliberately hesitated for a moment before replying, "Okay, Boss!"

Gardner Martin's gaze kept shifting between Lumian, Christo, and Simon, observing their expressions and states.

Once they had all agreed, the Boss of the Savoie Gang smiled with satisfaction and said, "I'll explain the details of the mission to you."

He opened the drawer, took out a roll of Imitation Sheepskin Paper, and unfolded it on the Desk.

Lumian and the others went Past and saw that it was a map, depicting a part of the Underground Trier area!

It is one meter long and fifty centimeters wide. The top layer is the Underground Trier formed by the municipal department after opening up various Tunnel and reinforcing the Quarry Cavern, which corresponds one-to-one with the streets and Square on the surface.

This map only includes the Underground areas of the Market District, Memorial Hall District, Botanical Garden District, and Observatory District, but it is drawn in great detail, as if it were copied from the original documents by someone who infiltrated the municipal department.

Lumian clearly shows that there are extensions on both sides, but he didn't draw them any further.

The middle layer of the map consists of Quarry Cavern, sites marked as Ancient Tombs, and Underground River tributaries, scattered haphazardly and connected to the layer above through Tunnel that are either conspicuous or Concealment.

This section has many blank spaces and missing parts, with words such as "to be investigated," "to be explored," and "to be found" written next to it.

The lower levels of the map contain some long-collapsed Mine and many more missing sections, as if shrouded in mist, so even a Concealment organization like the "Iron and Blood Cross Order" doesn't know much about them.

This floor extends downwards into several passageways, but the map does not show which areas they connect to.

"That Trier from the Fourth Epoch? The place officially designated as an 'Ancient Ruins Protected Zone '?"

"It's clear that this map was copied from a more complete map..."

"The more complete section depicts Trier from the Fourth Epoch?"

"The Iron and Blood Cross Order really knows a lot about what's Underground..." Lumian muttered as he memorized the incomplete map and made his own guesses.

After the three men and their book Subordinate had roughly looked through the map, Gardner Martin pointed to a place and said, "Your destination is here."

It was a collapsed Mine, but some space remained.

It is located at the bottom of the map, near Trier in the Fourth Epoch.

Above it lies Serb Boulevard, Bad Child Street, and Forest Square, which mark the intersection of the Observatory District and the Botanical Garden District.

"It's called the Albert Mine," Gardner Martin explained. "It can only be reached through two privately dug, Hidden Tunnel, unknown to the authorities and to most people who travel Underground."

As Gardner Martin spoke, he traced the two dotted lines of the Tunnel with his finger and explained the correct way to enter to Lumian, Christo, and Simon.

Finally, he said with great emotion, "Six years ago, Albert Goncourt, the leader of the rebels and the mastermind of the great uprising, survived the search of the Underground by the army, the Police, and the Official Beyonder thanks to this Mine that he discovered and named."

Six years ago... rebels... a massive uprising... Upon hearing these words, Lumian instantly recalled what he had seen and heard:

During the war with the Kingdom of Loen, prices in Trier skyrocketed, and food became so expensive that it was Despair, which sparked a massive protest that swept the entire city, leading to a series of conflicts.

Judging from Gardner Martin's words, it wasn't purely a spontaneous protest; someone had planned and orchestrated it. "Was the Iron and Blood Cross Order also involved?" Lumian thoughtfully continued to focus his gaze on the map.

Gardner Martin then summarized:

"All you need to do is arrive at the Albert Mine before noon, wait for the Trader to come over, and take a box from him."

"You don't need to give him anything, and you shouldn't have any verbal communication with him."

"You must not open that box on the way back, otherwise it will bring you immeasurable danger."

"As long as you strictly follow my instructions, the risk of this mission is not high. Although you may encounter some Anomalies lurking Underground or Monster from beyond the ordinary, these can all be resolved through good cooperation."

After giving these instructions, Lumian, Christo, and Simon each took a Carbide Lamp, left Number 11 Springwater Street, and headed towards the nearest Underground Trier Entrance.

Looking back at the Gray-White Villa that had disappeared from sight, Lumian began to Acting that Gardner Martin knew him to be.

With a smile, he casually inquired about "Rat" Christo and "Giant" Simon:

Have you done similar tasks before?

"Rat," Christo paused for a few seconds, then said, "Three times."

"Once." "The Giant," Simon replied, his voice slightly booming.

Lumian laughed:

"The fact that you're all still alive means that these kinds of missions aren't really that risky."

"Rat" Christo didn't respond, seemingly lost in unpleasant memories, while "Giant" Simon echoed Lumian's words as if trying to console himself:

"Yes, this might be a test from the Boss. Those who pass will have the opportunity for further promotion."

Lumian smiled:

"What if they can't pass? Do they die on the spot?"