Asfi quickly finished going through the records from a thousand years ago and continued reviewing the construction projects from the past century.
Just a brief glance was enough for her to confirm it—the problem indeed originated from the time when Orario was first built a thousand years ago.
"The more recent construction projects were all done on the upper floors, and most of them were designed to make things more convenient for lower-level Adventurers. All of the work was limited to the first eight floors, stopping just before the Orcs."
"But the upper floors are definitely outside the range of activity for the Evilus."
"Lv. 1 Adventurers make up more than half of Orario's entire Adventurer population, and the first eight floors are the best area for them. The daily traffic there is massive—setting up a secret base in that kind of area would be way too risky."
In other words, for nearly a hundred years, the Guild's construction efforts in the Dungeon were all in places the Evilus would never choose.
"So, the real issue lies in the construction data and blueprints Daedalus took with him a thousand years ago."
"I suspect that Daedalus made use of the secret passages built back then to carry out Dungeon construction. In fact, the reason Evilus can move so freely between the surface and the Dungeon is likely because Daedalus had already prepared those routes."
At this point, Asfi was nearly certain the root of the problem was Daedalus. She rolled her stiff shoulders and turned toward Royman, who stood nearby, drenched in sweat.
"Royman, I've found the lead. The issue doesn't lie in the past hundred years—it goes back to the time when Orario was first built."
Royman let out a heavy sigh of relief. That meant it had nothing to do with him.
"The problem goes back a thousand years? 'Perseus,' are you saying it's Daedalus?"
"Yes. That's where the trail leads. This part of the data needs to be preserved carefully."
"Of course. I'll classify it as top-secret immediately."
Now that he knew the matter was tied to Daedalus, Royman didn't ask any more questions. This information definitely needed to be locked away.
Then it suddenly hit him.
What Daedalus took was extremely important!
A jolt of urgency ran through Royman—he needed to inform Ouranos right away.
Seeing his tense expression, Asfi pushed up her glasses. There was no need to say anything more.
"Well then, Royman, I'll head back and report."
"Thank you for your hard work, 'Perseus'."
Royman hurriedly wiped the sweat from his forehead. The dark circles under his eyes were starting to show, but he couldn't afford to rest just yet.
Now that 'Perseus' had finished her investigation and he knew the conclusion, he had to make his own report as well.
After personally seeing her out of the Guild, Royman immediately went to find the god Ouranos and deliver his report.
He stood outside the prayer room and called out in a loud voice.
"Ouranos-sama, I have a report."
"Come in."
Royman straightened up his appearance. Though overweight, he still had to maintain a proper demeanor before the Familia God.
Once composed, he stepped inside slowly.
In the dimly lit prayer room, Ouranos sat high upon his stone throne. Only two torches illuminated the chamber, leaving much of it shrouded in shadow.
"Ouranos-sama, the captain of Hermes Familia, 'Perseus,' has discovered a link between Evilus and those targeting the Xenos."
"Daedalus."
"Perseus reviewed Orario's construction records and found significant issues in the data Daedalus took with him. After his death, his descendants seem to have been conducting some kind of special construction within the Dungeon. That same project now appears to be sustaining Evilus's operations."
Ouranos furrowed his brows.
"Daedalus..."
In an instant, memories from a thousand years ago resurfaced—Daedalus's initial shock and madness upon encountering the Dungeon.
"Was he swallowed by the sense of accomplishment that desire brings? I didn't think his obsession would persist even after death."
"Ouranos-sama, are you saying..."
"I know what Daedalus was chasing back then—a desire called 'the will to win.'"
Back then, Ouranos had seen straight through Daedalus's affliction. When Daedalus requested to keep the documents himself, Ouranos had silently hoped he would bury that obsession deep underground along with them.
Time erodes many things.
Ouranos knew Daedalus was brilliant, but he also knew Daedalus could never overcome the Dungeon—something shaped by the rules of the world itself.
The Dungeon wasn't created by any god; it was born from the world's very framework. It followed the laws of existence, beyond what any individual, no matter how gifted, could surpass.
Children of Genkai, no matter how talented, always had limits. But the creations of the world knew no such bounds.
From the beginning, Daedalus's so-called competitiveness was nothing more than a delusion.
"I once believed Daedalus would take his obsession with him to the grave. I never imagined he would entrust that obsession to his descendants."
"Using them to finish what he could not..."
At times, even Ouranos found the children of Genkai to be truly maddening.
Their lives might be short, but within those brief years, they often managed to achieve things that astonished even the gods.
"Royman, seal those documents and isolate them. They are not to be accessed again."
"Understood. I'll take care of it immediately."
"Also, have someone else take your shift. When Loki and the others arrive, you'll be the one to receive them."
"Yes, sir."
At the mention of Loki-sama, Royman suddenly understood. Hermes-sama rarely moved on his own—but if Loki-sama was involved, it was a different story.
This incident involved the Xenos. Loki-sama's involvement was all but certain.
In fact, Hermes-sama might've only taken action because of Loki-sama.
Now that 'Perseus' had reported back, it was highly likely Loki-sama, Hermes-sama, and Ganesha-sama would all be drawn in.
Realizing this, Royman left the prayer room at once to rest.
He wasn't in the best condition, and if he didn't get some sleep, he might embarrass himself when receiving the other gods later.
And judging by 'Perseus's attitude, this matter could escalate significantly. The Guild would need to prepare for what was coming.
Back in the prayer room, Ouranos let out a long sigh.
"Fels, what do you think?"
...
For more chapters, feel free to follow me on P@treon.
(100 Chapters Ahead)
[email protected]/PinkSnake