EVEN AS A SLAVE, THE HEAVENLY DEMON'S MIGHT SHALL TAME THE BEAUTIES Chapter 32: BENEATH THE VEIL

The room was tense, the air heavy with an unspoken threat as Ash placed the ID badges back on the table, his eyes scanning Yomi, Aeloria, and Lirien. Around them, the rcenary adventurers shifted slightly, hands near weapons, ready to strike at a mont’s notice.

Aeloria and Lirien exchanged nervous glances, the weight of their situation pressing down on them. They knew they weren’t as high-ranking as Ash initially thought, and now that the truth was clear, the consequences lood over them like a dark shadow.

Ash finally broke the silence, his voice sharp but tinged with genuine confusion. "How?" he began, pausing to glance back at them.

Lirien frowned, her nervousness overtaking her curiosity. "How what?" she asked, her voice betraying a slight tremor.

Ash turned fully to face them, his tone carrying an edge of disbelief. "How were you able to conquer a red dungeon despite your low ranks?"

The question hung in the air like a blade. Yomi, seated calmly, silently interlaced his fingers, his sharp eyes observing every movent in the room. He felt his Ki ripple within him, depleted but still present, a comforting ember ready to ignite if needed. Yet, just as his body tensed to act, the system’s cold, clinical voice echoed in his mind:

"[Mild threat: Note, do not engage.]"

Yomi exhaled silently, relaxing his fingers but keeping his senses sharp. He didn’t trust the voice in his head, but for now, he would play along.

Aeloria cleared her throat, trying to muster the courage to speak, but before she could, Ash raised a hand to silence her. "Under normal circumstances," he began, his voice steady, "adventurers who break the Dungeon Suppression Decree for low-level rifts are heavily fined and put on trial. But your case..." He trailed off, studying them carefully. "You discovered a dungeon beyond your capacity. You not only survived, but you conquered it."

His words struck a nerve. Aeloria’s hands clenched on the arms of her chair, while Lirien’s shoulders visibly tensed. The reality of their actions weighed heavily on them. They had broken the law, no doubt about it, and the consequences could be severe. Yet, here they were, alive, sitting in the office of a branch guild master, waiting for judgnt.

The branch master leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Confiscate the gold," he suggested, his tone practical. "Send them off with a warning. We don’t need this escalating. If the upper guild catches wind that a group of low-ranked adventurers conquered a red dungeon, it’ll an more work for us while they reap all the benefits."

Ash narrowed his eyes, understanding the implication. Bureaucracy could be a nightmare, and he wasn’t eager to lose control of this situation. The branch master’s solution, though imperfect, would avoid complications. But Ash’s instincts told him there was more to this group than t the eye. His gaze lingered on Yomi, who sat unnervingly still, watching everything with sharp, calculating eyes.

"Fine," Ash said finally, addressing the group. "Hand over the gold you’ve collected, and we’ll call it even. You’ll leave with a warning, and I’ll ensure the report is filed cleanly."

Yomi’s lips twitched into a faint smile, but he said nothing, waiting to see how Aeloria and Lirien would react.

The room was filled with an air of uneasy relief as Aeloria and Lirien handed over the gold they carried to Ash. Yomi followed suit, his movents calm and deliberate. He wasn’t particularly attached to the treasure; material wealth held little aning to him. What concerned him was whether Ash and the guild would genuinely let them leave unscathed. His instincts told him to stay cautious.

Ash took the bags, feeling the heft of the gold in his hands. The weight was satisfying, a tangible reminder of the group’s unspoken desperation to comply. Placing the bags on the desk, he allowed himself a mont of satisfaction before heading to the door. He swung it open, gesturing toward the exit.

"You’re free to go," he announced, his voice sharp but void of malice. "But rember, stay out of our jurisdiction. Next ti, you might not be so lucky."

Yomi t Ash’s gaze briefly, his expression unreadable, before stepping past him. The others followed in silence, leaving the room without a word. The tension only began to ease once they were out of sight.

As the door closed behind them, the branch guild master leaned forward, folding his arms across his chest. "Do you really believe they conquered the dungeon?" he asked, his tone skeptical. "You should’ve pressed them for more information before letting them go. They’re hiding sothing."

Ash returned to the desk, the corner of his mouth curling into a sly grin. He untied the drawstring of one of the gold bags and peered inside, the gleam of freshly minted coins catching the dim light. He chuckled softly, setting the bag down as he spoke.

"There was no need," Ash said, his tone brimming with confidence. "I’m certain it wasn’t the won who conquered that dungeon."

The guild master raised an eyebrow, confusion etched across his face. "What are you saying?"

Ash leaned against the desk, his grin widening. "The slave," he said, almost as if savoring the words. "The one with the Dra’kesh features. It had to be him."

The guild master stared at Ash, dumbfounded. "Do you hear yourself?" he asked incredulously. "You’re talking nonsense! A slave conquering a red dungeon? Impossible."

Ash shrugged, clearly unbothered by the skepticism. "Believe what you want, but my gut tells I’m right." He pushed one of the bags of gold toward the guild master. "Take thirty percent of this for your cut. I’m heading back to Tethlan to report the incident."

The guild master hesitated before taking the bag. "And what if the main branch asks about the dungeon? What do I tell them?"

Ash smirked. "Tell them they were too late. Soone beat them to it, and we couldn’t track them down. By the ti they launch an investigation, there won’t be any traces left to find."

The guild master frowned, still uneasy. "You think that’ll work?"

"It’ll work," Ash replied confidently. "Besides, even if it doesn’t, it won’t be my problem anymore." He straightened up, his mind briefly wandering back to the Dra’kesh. Could a re slave have truly conquered a red dungeon? Or was it sothing more?

As he stepped out of the office, his thoughts lingered on the enigma that was Yomi. If the Dra’kesh had sohow reawakened, it would be an anomaly worth keeping an eye on. And Ash couldn’t shake the feeling that their paths might cross again.