Leon soon found out exactly what kind of gift Loki was referring to.
"I heard that after defeating Goliath, you fell straight into a coma due to mental exhaustion, so you probably didn't know that a drop item appeared when Goliath was defeated by you."
Hearing Loki's words, Leon was surprised.
"A drop item? Do you mean Goliath's Hide?"
That was the drop item that most frequently appeared from the 17th floor's Floor Boss, Goliath, and it was currently the most common Floor Boss drop material.
Because Goliath was the very first Floor Boss that adventurers would encounter, and since it blocked the sole entrance to the 18th floor, obstructing the path of all adventurers preparing to delve deeper, this Floor Boss had been defeated more times than any other.
With so many defeats, there would always be opportunities for its materials to drop.
Goliath's Hide was the most famous piece, and while it was considered the most common, it was still a drop item from a Floor Boss, meaning its rarity and quality were undeniably high.
If nothing else, taking this hide to the market would easily fetch several million Valis. During times of market shortage or high demand, it could even sell for over ten million Valis, which was no less than a piece of second-tier special armament.
To think that such an item had actually dropped after he defeated Goliath.
"That truly is lucky."
Leon spoke from the heart.
"It certainly was a stroke of good luck, and Raul even helped retrieve it for you." Loki giggled and said, "Originally, I planned to leave it for you to handle yourself. After all, you defeated the Floor Boss alone, so this is your personal spoil of war."
"But once I found out about it, I asked for it directly."
"Right now, that hide has already been crafted into protective gear by a skilled artisan I trust."
With that, Loki unwrapped the bundle, bringing the item within into Leon's line of sight.
It was an entire set of combat attire.
The combat suit was entirely black, styled like a tactical uniform, low-key and inconspicuous. Both the top and bottom were form-fitting, tight yet filled with resilience. It also came with a dedicated belt equipped with several clasps, clearly meant for hanging weapons and pouches.
Resting beneath the combat suit was a hooded cloak. The cloak was slightly longer than half-length but didn't extend down to cover the entire body. Its color was also black, embroidered with a few golden stripes that added a touch of elegance.
Loki's voice chimed in at the perfect moment.
"This combat suit uses Goliath's Hide as the primary material, supplemented by other leather materials dropped from high-level monsters."
"Goliath's Hide inherently possesses incredible durability, capable of deflecting both physical and magical attacks. However, it cannot negate impact force. So, I commissioned the artisan to remold it. Through the artisan's own techniques and the supplementary materials, its defensive performance has been enhanced while also gaining the ability to negate impact force."
"That cloak also uses Goliath's Hide as its primary material, but a different selection of craftsmanship and auxiliary materials was used, allowing it to possess excellent defensive capabilities while resisting high and low temperatures. Neither fire nor ice can destroy it."
Hearing this, Leon understood.
This combat suit was undeniably a defensive gear equivalent to a first-tier armament—a top-class piece of equipment.
"Don't blame me for being nosy. It's just that you grow far too quickly, and there's no telling when you'll shoot right up to the position of a first-class adventurer. Plus, you act incredibly reckless, to the point where you might be even more nerve-wracking than Ais."
Seeing Leon look toward her, Loki snorted a few times and spoke.
"Your first expedition is about to begin, and I am truly worried that you might accidentally leave your life behind in the Dungeon. That's why I took the initiative this time to prepare this protective gear for you."
With this set of gear equivalent to a first-tier equipment piece, the survival rate of this kid should increase significantly, right?
Although Loki didn't voice this sentence aloud, her words practically carried that exact meaning.
"How much did this cost?"
Leon remained silent for a moment before asking this question.
"Not much." Loki gave a sly smile and said, "Just about fifty million Valis."
Fifty million Valis—even if this wasn't the cost price, it shouldn't be too far off.
For the first-tier equipment used by first-class adventurers, which piece wasn't worth over a hundred million Valis?
Ais's Desperate Sword was worth ninety-nine million Valis, and this special protective gear equivalent to a first-tier armament would definitely not be cheaper than that.
As for why Loki quoted a price of fifty million Valis, it remained to be seen whether she had negotiated a discount, or if the price of materials had been deducted because Goliath's Hide and the auxiliary materials were provided by Loki herself.
Leon wanted to say something, but seeing Loki's face that clearly read "don't be melodramatic," he dismissed the idea.
"I will find a way to pay back this sum."
Leon simply said this.
However, Loki waved her hand.
"I already said it's a gift, so I naturally won't take money from you." Loki spoke with her hands on her hips, "You defeated a Floor Boss solo, achieving a grand feat that others couldn't accomplish and building a resounding reputation for our family. As the parent, I can't be too stingy, so consider this your reward."
"Besides, the primary material was your own spoil of war, so I am merely using your own gift to present to you. It's not like you're taking a massive advantage."
"As long as you take it easy and stop being so reckless, this gear should last you for a very long time."
This was also the expectation that Loki and Finn's group held for Leon; they hoped he could live a long life and not throw his life away so easily.
Although providing a Level 3 member with first-tier equipment was somewhat absurd, considering Leon's growth rate and level of recklessness, Loki had decided to prepare such a reliable piece of protective gear for him after discussing it with Finn and the others.
"We don't usually say this to your face, but you should know that whether it's me or Finn and the others, we actually harbor great expectations for you."
Loki opened her narrowed divine eyes, gazing at Leon with the corners of her mouth curling up.
"This expectation isn't merely from the perspective of the Familia, hoping you can become talented and a pillar of this home. It's also an expectation held from the perspective of the entire mortal realm."
"We hope you can become a hero."
"The stalemate in the mortal realm has lasted long enough, and everyone is waiting for the appearance of a hero."
"And you have the hope of becoming that person."
Loki spoke words she would absolutely never utter on ordinary days, yet the anticipation and longing in her voice were so evident and profound.
If the mortal realm was destined to produce a hero to rewrite the situation of the entire world, why couldn't that person be her child?
Loki prayed for exactly this.
In the past, Loki had placed this kind of expectation on Finn, on Riveria and Gareth, and also on Ais.
She never felt her children were inferior to anyone else; in fact, she always felt her children were more outstanding than anyone, taking deep pride and honor in them.
Now, Leon had also become a person she placed her hopes upon, and this time, the expectation was greater than for anyone else.
His absurd growth rate, his special skill that remained unexplained to this day, and his obviously extraordinary origins all told Loki just how special and unique her child was.
Therefore, including Finn and the others, the leaders of this Familia were all silently placing high hopes on Leon.
In their hearts, Leon's future was destined to surpass theirs, and he might even leave Ais—whom they had always favored in the past—unable to keep up.
His existence itself might just be the miracle this world had long been waiting for.
The hero the people of the mortal realm and the gods of the heavens had been waiting for might very well be him.
Of course, Leon himself didn't think he could become a hero.
He knew he wasn't that grand, and he knew exactly who the true hero was.
Counting the time, that person should be arriving in Orario soon, right?
When that time came, the title of the world's fastest white rabbit would surely resound across the entire world.
Yet, Leon didn't feel he would be inferior to him.
If it were the past, he certainly wouldn't possess such confidence. But with the special skill "Outworlder" and the exaggerated progress of leveling up twice in a mere month and a half, it would be far too embarrassing if he still lacked such confidence.
Perhaps he wouldn't become a hero, but he hoped he could become the strongest.
Not weaker than anyone, not inferior to anyone. He wouldn't claim he could shoulder the desires of the entire mortal realm, but he hoped he could become a true pillar of the large family that was the Loki Familia.
Under Loki's gaze, Leon reached out and touched the combat suit before him.
The texture was very soft, and it would undoubtedly be very comfortable to wear.
He had heard that Goliath's Hide was extremely heavy, and even when crafted into protective gear or items, it would retain a significant weight. For this piece to feel so soft and lightweight, it must have required the specialized techniques of a high-level artisan to achieve.
A set of gear like this truly was as Loki said—something that could be used continuously, even when Leon became a first-class adventurer in the future.
First-tier equipment was originally a configuration meant only for first-class adventurers, yet he possessed such an item at Level 3. Looking through the entirety of Orario, this was likely the sole instance.
This also represented just how immense Loki and Finn's expectations for him were.
"Does it have a name?"
Leon suddenly asked this question.
"Why don't you give it one?"
Loki spoke with a smile.
"Then let's call it the 'Goliath Suit'."
Without much deliberation, Leon settled on this name.
Since it used Goliath's Hide as the primary material, calling it the Goliath Suit was fitting.
Carrying this set of armor, Leon left Loki's room and returned to his own quarters.
Gazing at the night sky outside the window, Leon suddenly felt a surge of anticipation.
He looked forward to the arrival of tomorrow's expedition.
The next morning, at dawn.
The weather on this day was exceptionally beautiful.
There wasn't a hint of gloom in the sky, and barely any clouds could be seen. It was a completely cloudless, clear blue sky.
Sunlight spilled from the horizon, illuminating the entirety of Orario and lighting up the long estate of the Twilight Manor.
The members of the Loki Familia all woke up exceptionally early, creating a bustling, fiery atmosphere the moment they arose.
They were either counting resources or moving large cargo crates in the courtyard, making the area lively with activity.
The low-level members of the Familia mobilized entirely. Some were organizing tents, some were inspecting the condition of various supplies and backup weapons, and others were categorizing and preparing food, water, and various tools. As they prepared, they conversed with nervous excitement, showing exactly what their state of mind was right now.
The elite members about to set out on the expedition verified each other's status, while the low-level members who couldn't participate and could only stay behind to guard the home looked at them with faces full of envy, fantasizing in their hearts about the scene when they would become one of them in the future.
At the same time, inside a room in one of the towers, Leon was also fully prepared.
He stood before a full-length mirror, which reflected his image at this very moment.
The Dragon-Fang Sword was strapped to his right waist, the Jade Staff was strapped to his left waist, and there were two pouches containing elixirs, though all of these were concealed beneath the golden-striped cloak he wore.
The black combat suit was fully put on, fitting tightly and feeling just as soft and lightweight as he had imagined, completely unhindered for movement.
The impression Leon gave off now was no longer that of a green, novice adventurer, but a battle-hardened warrior.
His posture was upright, and the black combat attire and cloak created a mysterious aura around him, faintly exuding the temperament of a noble young master heading out to a battlefield.
"Alright."
Examining his appearance in the full-length mirror, Leon smiled slightly.
Everything was ready; all that was left was to set out.
Leon took a sweeping look at the entire room, engraving its appearance deeply into his memory before finally departing.
The next time he returned would be when the expedition concluded.
An expedition could last from half a month to nearly a month, and Leon didn't know what the situation would be when he returned next time.
Perhaps he would return in triumphant glory.
Perhaps he would retreat in shameful defeat.
But for certain, he absolutely did not want to leave his life there forever.
He would definitely return.
Carrying this conviction, Leon walked out of the room, but he paused his steps as he passed through the open-air corridor.
Ahead, the gold-haired, gold-eyed female swordswoman seemed to be waiting for him, standing there with her gaze locked straight onto his body.
They hadn't made an appointment.
Yet, Leon still walked forward, speaking with a smile.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, let's go."
Leon's words drew a nodding motion from the young girl.
"New equipment?"
Ais looked at the Goliath Suit on Leon, a rare trace of novelty surfacing in her eyes.
"It is an expedition, after all."
Leon didn't say too much, offering a light laugh as he replied.
Ais nodded as if understanding, walking right to Leon's side.
The two left the tower together and arrived in the courtyard.
"Leon! Ais! Over here!"
Tiona also seemed to have been waiting for them all along. The moment she spotted them, she immediately waved happily.
"Where's the Captain? Why hasn't the Captain arrived yet?"
Tione waited anxiously for the man of her heart.
"Hmph."
Bete leaned against a tree with his arms crossed. Looking at Leon in his brand-new equipment and Ais following closely by his side, he let out a slightly displeased, cold snort.
Raul and the rest of the Familia members looked at Leon as he walked over with Ais, their eyes shining with either envy or anticipation.
Very soon, Finn's trio made their appearance together.
"Move out!"
The Pallum captain offered no superfluous words, directly giving the order with a grand wave of his hand.
Cheers erupted, and the troops departed from the headquarters.
Their destination: the Tower of Babel.
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