According to the plan Finn had drawn up in advance, the Loki Familia's expedition's primary objective today was to reach the last floor of the Middle Floors, the 24th Floor.
Clearly, this was a careful arrangement made with long-term resource consumption in mind.
Which meant that including Renjiro (Aether) and Lumine, none of the dozens in the party would be staying overnight on the 18th Floor.
Naturally, Aether, who had been very curious about the transit settlement of Rivira, lost his chance to stroll around that infamous "rogue town."
Well, no matter. With the experience I've gained from this expedition, I can always come back later on my own.
By now, after the long descent from the surface, Aether was nearly certain: even without calling on his Genshin Descent ability, as long as he transformed into his "Starlight Firefly" state, he could handle the trip between the surface and the 18th Floor alone, so long as the Floor Boss, Goliath, was in incubation.
Having confirmed that, there was no need to dwell on Rivira. Better to focus on the details of the journey ahead.
After all, among adventurers, simply being able to know the route was already a precious asset.
And right now,
"Hurry it up, everyone. Raul's group is back, pack everything up."
"Tiona, why are you still holding onto a roast skewer?"
"Lumine, don't spoil her."
"Mmm~"
Like a strict homeroom teacher herding students on a field trip, "Mama-san" Riveria handled the logistics, and the expedition party fell quickly into order.
Now that's authority.
During lunch, Finn had already arranged for Raul Nord, the Level 4 [Extraordinary Man], to lead a team to sell the magic stones and monster drops they'd collected on the way down the first 17 Floors.
Aether knew well enough that prices inside Rivira were sky-high, easily several times surface rates. Which meant that, on paper, the sale was a huge loss.
But what choice was there?
Rivira was the only supply outpost in the Dungeon. Maintaining such a settlement underground was difficult, not to mention it had already been destroyed and rebuilt more than a dozen times.
And the veterans running businesses there were cunning to the core.
"Oh? You think the price is too low? Then don't sell it to me."
"There'll always be someone willing to make a deal."
"Anything else? If not, stop blocking my storefront."
"You think the world would end without your magic stones?"
That was Rivira in a nutshell, lawless enough that even the Guild didn't fully control it. And one could be sure, not just suspect, that high-level criminals were hiding there.
Finn and the other famed veterans of the Loki Familia knew all of this.
But the truth was, adventurers needed this outpost.
Especially a Familia like Loki's, which frequently undertook "expeditions."
So…
Low EQ: We just have to swallow our losses.
High EQ: We're contributing to the stability of Orario as a whole.
And so it went.
"Polus really ripped us off. Those stones and drops were worth several hundred thousand valis, and he gave us thirteen crates of supplies."
"Quit complaining. It's not like this is the first time. Haven't you gotten used to it?"
"How could I ever get used to that?"
"By the way, what about the stones that Aether and Lumine asked you to trade in?"
"Oh, sold with the rest. Got us around five more crates."
"Write all of it down. Don't forget."
"Yes, Captain."
Before the march resumed, with Riveria and Gareth organizing the ranks, Finn discussed the supply haul with Raul's group, freshly returned.
As for Aether, he wasn't far away, his traveling sword flashing as he cut down a small monster attempting to sneak up on the group.
Nearby, Lumine, Tiona, and Ais, who had skipped lunch earlier, handled similar duties.
For Ais and Tiona, both Level 5s, the stray Middle Floor monsters were nothing more than snacks for post-meal exercise.
Speaking of Ais,
"By the way, where'd you disappear to? Didn't see you at lunch."
Lumine asked casually as the three walked together, radiating a "don't bother with big brother" mood.
"I went to Rivira."
"Hm? What for?"
"To buy red-bean cream Fried Potato Balls-kun."
Seriously, just how much do you love those things?
Had they not been best eaten fresh, Ais probably would have carried them around as rations.
"Did you manage to buy them?" Tiona, used to her quirks, asked without surprise.
"No~"
Her shoulders drooped, her entire figure radiating dejection.
Lumine could only sigh.
What a shame. Mond-style Potato Cakes are a three-star Divine Recipe… but they also need special Teyvat Jam. I can't make them yet.
Watching the expressionless girl beside her, Lumine felt a growing spark of curiosity.
Mmm… if I fed Ais her favorite food, what kind of face would she make?
I want to see!
================
The Loki Familia expedition marched with remarkable efficiency.
Clearly, countless past failures had honed these veterans into true experts of long-range expeditions.
Smooth and practiced.
As for those like Aether and Lumine, joining an expedition for the first time, they lacked experience and often fumbled. But their respect and trust in the "Three Commanders" kept them obedient, without complaint.
And so, with unity of purpose, having eaten, and having resupplied in Rivira, the expedition set out once more, deeper into the Dungeon.
From here on…
"It's time we gave our seedlings a chance to train properly."
So Gareth declared.
==========
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