So ti ago, in a private room within Gravene Tower, a clandestine eting was underway.
"This is highly inappropriate, Mr. Wang," said a man with swept-back, semi-long brown hair. His red eyes narrowed, filled with a mix of curiosity, wariness, and barely concealed fear. "Coming to our land unannounced is a blatant violation of the global non-interference law."
Across from him sat a towering figure—broad, imposing, and exuding an air of unshakable confidence. His clean-shaven head and fierce brown eyes complented his muscular fra, which strained against the fabric of his suit.
"What law violation?" Wang Xu Chen smirked, his tone dripping with overconfidence. "Mayor Magnus, you're overreacting. I'm simply here to assist with your little problem."
Though his words were casual, a faint impatience seeped into his voice. The delay caused by an infamous individual had already pushed his schedule back by weeks.
Magnus leaned back against the plush sofa, letting out a weary sigh. "If you an the Aracelli Race threat, we're already at a standstill with them. There's been no movent on their part just yet, and as such, we don't need your so-called help, Mr. Wang."
Despite the mayor's rejection, Wang's grin only widened, as if everything was going exactly as he planned. He leaned forward, resting his chin on one hand, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"What's wrong, Mayor Magnus? You seem unusually defensive today," he teased. "Normally, you'd fake a polite agreent and delay matters like a seasoned politician. Could it be because of… that?"
Magnus's expression darkened, but he remained silent, unwilling to rise to the bait.
Wang Xu Chen's grin turned sharper as he delivered his next line. "I'm talking about that 100% human brat you're so desperately protecting."
"You…!"
Magnus moved in a flash, leaping from his seat and grabbing Wang by the scruff of his strained suit. His intense killing intent flooded the room, so potent that several guards nearby collapsed, their consciousness snuffed out like candles in a gale.
"Oh, how scary!" Wang quipped playfully, though his confident smile remained unfazed. "If the Bloodless Count gets serious, even I might break a sweat."
"Cut the crap, Wang Xu Chen," Magnus growled, his crimson eyes blazing with fury. "I know I can't match you, the Great Wall, but I can guarantee one thing—I'll wipe out your lackeys and hold you off long enough for reinforcents to arrive."
The room fell silent, save for the muffled groans of the guards who hadn't fainted outright. For the first ti, Wang's smile faltered, replaced by a deep frown.
Magnus's killing intent was no joke, and two of Wang's elite bodyguards—ranked 11 and 16 in his nation's power hierarchy—had already succumbed to it. The rest were visibly shaken. Even Wang knew better than to underestimate the Bloodless Count.
Raising his hands in mock surrender, Wang sighed. "All right, all right. Calm down, you damn bat. I swear I won't lay a hand on the kid you're protecting. Satisfied?"
Magnus's glare remained icy, his grip on Wang's suit tightening before he finally let go. "I'll trust your word for now," he muttered, though his tone carried a sharp warning. "But if anything happens to Aster… you know what'll follow."
"I know, I know," Wang replied with a wry smile, dusting off his suit. "So stop glaring at like that."
Without waiting for a farewell, Wang rose to his full height, his 2.5-ter fra towering over even Magnus. The private room suddenly seed narrow, despite being the largest one in Gravene Tower. Wang strode toward the exit, his every step reverberating through the floor.
After the door closed, Magnus slumped back onto the sofa, draping an arm over his eyes. He let out a long, exhausted sigh. "Once again, trouble cos knocking for you, Aster," he muttered under his breath.
anwhile, down the hallway, Wang Xu Chen walked with brisk, steady strides, his imnse figure making the corridor feel narrower with each step.
*BEEP!*
The phone in his coat pocket buzzed. With practiced ease, he retrieved it and held it to his ear—though in his massive hand, it looked more like a toy.
A cold, cautious voice ca through the speaker.
{Numbers 3, 5, and 7, along with 17 through 25, have surrounded the Gate. Numbers 0 and 1 are in position, targeting Orinfeld City's strongest—the leader of the Hit Squad. Currently awaiting the target's appearance.}
Hearing the report, a grin spread across Wang's face. Without hesitation, he pinched the phone between his fingers, crushing it into fine powder.
"I promised not to lay a hand on him," Wang murmured, his grin widening into sothing far more sinister. "But I never said anything about my subordinates."
His booming laughter echoed down the corridor as a dark shadow lood over Orinfeld City.
---
"The danger got stronger?" Aster muttered, his voice tinged with confusion.
They had just defeated the boss. There shouldn't be any more threats looming nearby, at least not inside the dungeon.
"Could it be a Rogue Boss?" Via suggested, tilting her head as she pondered. "But that little boulder shouldn't spawn for another week..."
Unlike regular monsters with fast respawn rates, Field Bosses and Rogue Bosses took significantly longer—anywhere from 10 to 50 tis as much, depending on their strength. The Rogue Boss of the 101st floor, a variant of the Magma Golem, had been subjugated just a week ago. By that logic, it wouldn't reappear for another week at least.
"Mmm…" Cassy shook her head firmly. "I don't think it's that."
"Then it might be coming from outside the dungeon," Kali reasoned with a shrug. "That's where we're heading anyway." Stay updated through empire
"Outside, huh..."
Aster's gaze sharpened. Kali's reasoning struck a chord. It made sense—after all, weeks had passed without any activity from the Aracelli Race. They were unlikely to have given up on Cassy, and given enough ti to prepare, it wasn't unreasonable to suspect they would make their move now.
"The danger Cassy feels might be coming from Lorelai and her group," Aster voiced his thoughts, his eyes scanning the group. "If that's the case, we won't be able to handle it with our current strength."
The grim reality hit everyone like a weight. Lorelai's power dwarfed theirs, the gap too vast to bridge without reinforcents from soone above level 1000.
"At this rate, they'll take Cassy from us again," Liz murmured, voicing the fear weighing on everyone's hearts. Her words cast a heavy silence over the group.
But staying inside the dungeon wasn't an option either. If another swarm like the one earlier ca at them while they camped near the entrance, their depleted resources would leave them vulnerable. Without potions, their chances of survival were slim. They couldn't afford to delay resupplying, yet neither could they ignore the danger aboveground.
Aster remained silent, his mind racing as he weighed their options. After a mont, he raised his head, his gaze steady and determined.
"I've got a plan," he announced, his voice firm and clear. "Everyone, listen up…"
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