Chapter 167: SFDI: Chapter 167
"The Guard"
After seeing Tsubaki off, Drake imdiately found Hephaestus and told her he wanted to participate in the Loki Familia’s expedition.
Hephaestus didn’t object; she had confidence in Drake’s abilities.
Next ca the preparations. For Drake, there wasn’t much to prepare.
Even when venturing into the Dungeon alone, he didn’t carry much, let alone this ti, accompanying the Loki Familia as a blacksmith.
The Loki Familia would provide consumables, so besides a portable blacksmithing kit, Drake planned to bring only one item:
A cloak made from the hide of a Strong Dragon, a deep-level monster; its defensive capabilities were excellent. Naturally, it was of his own making.
He needed sothing to explain his presence with the Loki Familia.
A week passed quickly, and the Loki Familia’s second expedition arrived.
Drake t with his Familia mbers early in the morning and headed to the Babel Tower to rendezvous with the Loki Familia.
While Tsubaki was unreliable, she had done one good thing: introducing Drake to most of his Familia mbers.
The Hephaestus Familia consisted mostly of blacksmiths engrossed in their craft, and their single-mindedness made them easy to get along with.
After Tsubaki revealed Drake’s ability to craft top-tier equipnt, he quickly bonded with them.
He beca particularly close to a dwarf nad Zard.
Zard, Level 3, titled 〈Fla Beard〉, a title derived from his red, fluffy beard, was also a skilled blacksmith capable of crafting top-tier equipnt and magic swords.
They chatted as they walked, soon arriving at the base of the Babel Tower and eting the waiting Loki Familia.
As expected, the Loki Familia was again split into three squads, planning to converge on the 37th floor.
By the ti Drake and the others arrived, the first two squads had already departed, leaving only Finn’s squad.
Perhaps to protect the Hephaestus Familia’s blacksmiths, this squad’s composition was quite luxurious.
Besides Finn, Drake saw Ais Wallenstein, 〈Sword Princess〉, and her attendant, Lefiya Viridis, 〈Thousand Elf〉.
The Amazonian sisters were also present; this composition could easily venture into the deep levels.
The ostensibly strongest mber from the Hephaestus Familia was Zard, so Finn approached him. "Zard, we’ll be relying on you again!"
Zard shook Finn’s hand. "Not at all. For that 10% of the spoils, we’ll maintain your equipnt as good as new!"
"Then I’m relieved!" Finn said, his gaze shifting to Drake. "I didn’t expect you to join this expedition, Drake. It seems I’ll have the chance to see your prized magic sword!"
If it had been re speculation before, Drake was now certain Finn had intentionally included him in the expedition.
Dealing with such a person required absolute precision!
Though inwardly criticizing Finn, Drake remained outwardly polite. "Of course, Finn, you can look forward to it!"
Drake imdiately felt that gaze on him again. Just as he was about to ntion it to Finn, Finn spoke with a smile.
"By the way, for everyone’s protection, I’ve assigned Ais to guard you."
Zard, before Drake could respond, exclaid, "The Sword Princess will protect us? What an honor!"
Drake looked at Zard impassively; with that statent, any attempt at refusal was futile.
Finn nodded in satisfaction and announced the expedition’s comncent.
The two Familias, having cooperated before, quickly ford their formation and entered the Dungeon.
Adventuring in the Dungeon isn’t like a battlefield; various formations aren’t feasible.
Due to the Dungeon’s complex terrain and the unpredictable appearance of monsters, formations are generally simple: vanguard, midguard, and rearguard.
The rearguard typically consists of support personnel, ranged mages, or adventurers using bows and crossbows. There are also so warrior guards.
Finn occupied the midguard position, responsible for overseeing and coordinating the squad, ready to support the vanguard and rearguard if needed.
The vanguard, naturally, bears the brunt of the monster attacks and launches counterattacks.
The Loki Familia’s strength ensured the formation’s integrity, even as a smaller expedition force. Finn’s command ability impressed Drake.
In the upper and middle levels of the Dungeon, Finn constantly shifted personnel, sotis even swapping vanguard and midguard mbers.
Drake realized Finn was training his junior mbers. Those frequently engaging monsters were young adventurers around Level 3.
They were likely new recruits without prior expedition experience; Finn was training them for teamwork.
Drake looked at Finn with respect; no wonder everyone envied large Familias; having such a reliable captain was a significant advantage.
However... Drake frowned and turned to Ais. "Excuse , Miss Sword Princess, is there sothing you need?"
In Drake’s mory, Ais, once battle comnced, was unstoppable, even by Finn. He wondered why she was constantly following him, especially since he was in the rearguard.
"Ais."
Hearing Ais say his na, Drake looked at her questioningly.
"Call
Ais." Ais looked at Drake and said.
Drake paused, then said, "Then I won’t be formal, Miss Ais. You don’t need to protect ; you can go to another position."
Drake practically said, "Stay away from ," but Ais rely tilted her head and said, "Finn told
to protect you; I can’t leave!"
Drake looked at Zard for help, only to see Zard give him a knowing smirk and a thumbs-up, his teeth gleaming in a way that made Drake want to knock them out.
Zard was no help; Drake could only say to Ais, "Look, we’ve just entered the middle levels; everyone here is a reliable adventurer; you don’t need to be so serious."
Ais replied, "No, if I don’t complete Finn’s task, he’ll lecture !"
Drake raised an eyebrow. Ais was afraid of lectures? She hadn’t been lectured for her recklessness after returning from the Dungeon!
But since she said that, Drake couldn’t continue to dismiss her.
Sighing, Drake said, "Just tell , what exactly did Finn instruct you to do?"
Ais’s expression changed; Drake knew what she was thinking—sothing along the lines of "How did you know Finn had other instructions?"
After a mont, Ais said, "Finn wants to know how strong you are, and I want to know too!"
Drake frowned. Finn hadn’t even tried to hide his intentions in assigning Ais to him. This ant he wouldn’t resort to underhanded tactics; the extent of the revelation depended on Drake’s own choices.
Indeed, these renowned adventurers weren’t simple.
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