"You're late, Zanis."
In the dim room, a bald brute lounged in the corner, holding a bottle of alcohol.
"I need a reason."
"I took a detour to the wine storehouse."
Zanis raised the divine wine he had just taken.
"Good. You're forgiven."
Gran raised his brows, snatched the bottle, and chugged hard.
"Ahh! That's the real stuff!"
"Zanis, can't you use your position to get me more? One bottle isn't enough!"
"Unfortunately, true divine wine has a fixed output," Zanis said. "One bottle at a time is already the limit."
"Tch. Useless."
Zanis ignored the insult. "How was the haul?"
"Meh. Only caught two."
"Only two?"
"Yeah. Those beasts have started moving in groups. Smarter than before."
Gran drank again, scowling.
Intelligent monsters—Xenos—were extremely valuable outside Orario. Rich buyers with "monster fetishes" would pay obscene money for one.
But after the Xenos realized what was happening and began traveling in packs, capturing them became far harder than before.
Gran finished the bottle, then nodded toward the room's far corner.
"Catching them isn't your problem. We'll handle it."
"You find buyers for these two. We'll put your cut in the usual place."
"No problem."
Zanis looked at the two cages.
Inside were a siren-bird and a merfolk—monsters from the lower floors.
But unlike ordinary ones, these two had faces that were disturbingly beautiful, as if blessed by the Dungeon itself.
With their looks—and their bodies—finding buyers wouldn't be difficult.
After a few more words, Zanis left and returned to Soma Familia.
And shortly after, a graceful shadow slipped out of the building as well.
Ryuu glanced back at the two-story house, expression grave.
"A Level 4…"
Gran hadn't made a move, but Ryuu had felt danger radiating from him. He was not a weak Level 4.
"Monsters… moving in groups… getting smarter…"
The more she replayed their conversation, the more unsettled she became.
Was that truly how one described ordinary monsters?
Had the Dungeon begun birthing intelligent monsters?
Ryuu thought for a moment, then followed Zanis again.
Before she reported to Lin Dong, there was still more she needed to confirm.
She didn't notice—
The moment she left, a cloaked figure leapt out of the building as well.
"Smuggling intelligent monsters…"
Hedin turned to stare at the building.
His instincts told him the water here was deeper than it looked.
"Looks like we'll be busy."
Three days later.
After another day of Dungeon work, Lin Dong and Lili returned to the abandoned church as usual.
"Hm?"
Lin Dong noticed a beautiful figure sitting quietly in a corner.
"Long time no see, Ryuu."
"Why are you sitting up here? Didn't I show you the basement last time?"
"I don't want to be alone with that goddess," Ryuu said bluntly.
Just like Lili, Ryuu could feel warmth from Hestia.
Too much of it made Ryuu remember the Justice Goddess who had once left Orario at Ryuu's pleading—a warmth that hurt to recall.
"Captain Lin Dong… Lili will go down first and find Goddess Hestia."
Sensing serious business, Lili excused herself into the basement.
"That pallum is Soma Familia, isn't she?" Ryuu said, watching Lili's back.
After days of investigation, she recognized most Soma Familia members. That pallum girl matched what she knew.
"Why are you with Soma Familia?"
"I needed a supporter for Dungeon runs. Lili fits, so I hired her."
"Only that?"
"There are other reasons," Lin Dong said, "but explaining them is a hassle."
He wasn't going to mention borrowing money from Lili. It would invite misunderstandings.
"How's your investigation on Zanis?"
"Done."
Ryuu produced a crystal sphere—a rare magic item that could record images and audio.
To get it, she had even gone to Hermes Familia and asked Asfi for help.
When Ryuu activated it, Zanis appeared in mid-air:
Leaving Soma Familia… entering Daedalus Street… meeting Gran… their trafficking conversation…
Ryuu played everything from start to finish without holding anything back.
"This should be enough," she said.
"Yes," Lin Dong agreed. "More than enough."
"Then it's your turn."
Ryuu tossed him the sphere. "Tell me—where is Jura?"
"Daedalus Labyrinth."
"Daedalus Labyrinth… do you mean Daedalus Street?"
"No." Lin Dong shook his head. "Daedalus Labyrinth is inside the Dungeon. It's the base of the Evilus remnants."
"The base…"
Ryuu's eyes sharpened. "Then Gran—the man working with Zanis—he's from Daedalus Labyrinth?"
"That's not about Jura," Lin Dong said, refusing to answer directly.
But Ryuu didn't need the answer anymore.
She had been investigating Gran's identity too. Level 4 adventurers weren't common—yet she couldn't find him in Guild records.
She had assumed he was hiding his real status.
Now, "from Daedalus Labyrinth" explained everything.
"Where's the entrance?"
Ryuu's stare was cold.
"You're trying to freeload?"
"..."
"Don't rush, Ryuu."
Lin Dong pocketed the crystal sphere.
"I told you before: Jura's location is dangerous."
"Daedalus Labyrinth is the Evilus remnants' base. It's filled with lethal traps."
"Forget you—even a Level 6 going in alone might not come out alive."
"Charging in is suicide. The best choice is to wait for the right timing."
Ryuu fell silent.
She didn't know Daedalus Labyrinth well. If Lin Dong was telling the truth, walking in alone really would be throwing her life away.
She wanted revenge. But pointless sacrifice was stupidity, and Ryuu understood that.
After a moment, she forced down her agitation and asked:
"What do you mean by 'the right timing'?"
"About six months."
"Six months? Why?"
"Because by then I'll be Level 5," Lin Dong said calmly. "If things go well, I'll be able to fight a Level 7."
"Are you joking?"
Ryuu felt he was mocking her.
"I'm serious."
Lin Dong drew his blade and pointed it at her.
"Want to test it? My strength—right now."
....
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