[Elven Village, 1st Dungeon, 4th Floor.]
The village seemed more crowded than usual. The main streets were filled with hunters looking around. Some were seen haggling with the vendors by the roadside. Some filled the bridge that hung between one tree and another until it swayed slightly.
Since the dungeon in Tianjin collapsed, there had been a drastic increase in visitors. Hunters who lost their hunting grounds had to move to other dungeons. One of their destinations was the dungeon on the tripoint border.
Moreover, with rumors of a dungeon that was 'friendly' to humans circulating, more and more hunters visited Isaac's dungeon.
Elven Village became the most visited place.
In the middle of the crowded main street, a group of armor with red ornaments was seen walking through the sea of people. A man with gray hair and heart-red armor led the group. Although he was old, his skin was still firm. Aura of enthusiasm radiated strongly from his face. They attracted the attention of people along the way.
"Blood Oath? Isn't that them?"
"Looks like he's going to do some more recruiting."
"They just got back from the Dire Area? Tch, they're crazy."
Whispers started buzzing like flies as they passed through the swarm of hunters.
The Blood Oath group stopped in front of a building with the signboard 'Tree Leaf'.
The gray-haired man inhaled a deep breath. He opened the door with both hands.
Everyone inside was watching him. Without paying attention to them, he walked in with confidence.
The female elf who had been busy cutting her nails behind the administration desk immediately gasped as dozens of armored hunters swarmed towards her.
"Uh, Mr. Zhang Gang! Have you returned from completing the Level IX mission?" The female receptionist quickly put on a friendly face. Her smile was wide, almost touching her ears.
However, the gray-haired man turned sour. The receptionist immediately winced. She realized she had said the wrong thing.
"Uh... It doesn't seem like a good day," she said.
"Yes, you're right. Sometimes a good day can turn into a bad day. Like today." Zhang Gang sighed. "I came here because I got a message from an elf while hunting in the Dire Area. He said that Miss Adelia wanted to see me."
The receptionist lady flicked a finger. "Ah. It turns out that you are the important guest. Come here, come with me."
The Blood Oath Guild leader ordered his men to take a break. While he followed the female elf.
The two of them went to the upper floor.
The second floor of the office guild contained a row of doors. The receptionist lady escorted him to the door at the end of the hallway. The door looked different from the others.
"Miss Adelia has been waiting for you. Please come in."
She opened the door. Inside was a large and unique room. The scent of jasmine wafted through the air. A beautiful woman was busy styling her long golden hair. Her jewel-like eyes stared into the small mirror she held for a long time. Either due to focus or not wanting to ruin her hairdo, she did not notice Zhan Gang's presence.
The old man cleared his throat.
Adelia glanced at him. Instantly the woman put down the mirror and stopped doing her hair.
"Mr. Zhang Gang. Forgive me for being rude. Please have a seat."
The young-hearted old man laughed. "No problem. I don't mind waiting for a beautiful woman like you to finish your hair."
Adelia widened her smile.
For some reason, the woman's appearance was so special. Her lips were as red as strawberries. Her hair, which was usually in a ponytail, was left down. She was wearing a beautiful green dress.
Zhang Gang felt honored.
"So, for what reason did you invite me here, Miss Adelia? I'm sure you didn't invite me here to charm this old man," Zhang Gang joked.
The High Elf smiled. "If you don't mind?" She returned the joke.
The two laughed together. Especially Zhang Gang. He laughed for quite a while.
He sighed. The look on his face turned serious. "Enough for the joke. So, what business does Miss Adelia have calling me?"
"Actually, there is still one more person who needs to come to this meeting. Before we start business, please wait a moment."
Zhang Gang raised both eyebrows. "Oh, I see. Alright. Let's wait." He did not know that there would be other guests at this meeting.
He thought it would be just him.
Not long after, the door opened. Suddenly, the host stood up. Spontaneously, Zhang Gang also follow suit.
"Welcome, my lord. It is an honor to receive you."
The gray-haired man squinted. "Lord...?"
A man in a demon mask with a unique pattern appeared in front of them. He was wearing a black long coat. His hair blazed like black flames. Red seemed to glow in both of his eyes.
Looking at the newly arrived figure, Zhang Gang's face stiffened. His spine chilled. He had seen the man before him once. It was when he was at home and relaxing in the living room. He was watching the breaking news about the dungeon break at the tripoint border.
Vladistosvok, the largest port city in Russia, was attacked by hundreds of monsters. The leader of those monsters was now standing in front of him.
The dungeon master.
Zhang Gang gulped. Naturally, his hand squeezed the hilt of the sword.
The Blood Oath leader was preparing to kill him. The terrifying scourge that was the cause of Earth being on the brink of destruction.
"If I were you, I wouldn't draw your sword. We know what happens next."
A soft, but very intimidating tone escaped from the masked man's mouth.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The heart of the middle-aged man thumped loudly like a drum. Nervousness began to creep into him. Zhang Gang squeezed the hilt of the sword even tighter, to the point that his hands trembled.
"Relax, Mr. Zhang Gang. Lord Isaac will not harm you, as long as there are no foolish actions. I'm sure you understand that, right?"
Adelia spoke. Her face looked flat. No friendliness at all.
For the first time, the woman who had always looked friendly and smiling looked threatening. Her eyes stared with displeasure.
Now, Zhang Gang realized that Adelia had been hiding her true side all along. He had been deceived by the beauty and comfort of this small village.
This was a mistake. A big mistake.
Zhang Gang inhaled deeply and released the sword grip.
"Apparently, I was mistaken. You're dressing up not for me, but for someone else," he said to Adelia.
The high elf smiled kindly again. "Of course not. I dressed up for you too."
Zhang Gang smiled with a snort. He knew the hypocrisy spoken from the woman's mouth.
The masked man walked over to him. He extended a hand.
"My name is Caasi. The owner of this dungeon. You don't need to be nervous, I invited you to meet for business. I promise not to harm you, and your men."
Zhang Gang gulped. His eyes glanced at that man's hand. His instincts screamed to shake it, but he refused to do so.
"How do I know if you won't kill me. Inside the dungeon, anything can happen. Maybe not today, but we don't know what will happen tomorrow," he said.
The masked man chuckled softly for a moment. This made Zhang Gang raise one of his eyebrows.
"If I wanted to, you would already be dead. All of you."
Zhang Gang gulped for the umpteenth time. The words spoken by the masked man sounded exaggerated, but he could feel that there was no bluff at all.
The man before him was completely serious.
At that moment, Zhang Gang realized, he would not win against him. He had already lost before the fight even started.
The difference in their strength was too great.
Tap.
The two of them shook hands.
The middle-aged man put on a fake smile.
"Please forgive my impoliteness, Lord Caasi. My name is Zhang Gang." He laughed loudly.
For a moment, the atmosphere between them thawed. However, all of a sudden, Zhang Gang squeezed Caasi's hand.
"But, I will be frank, Lord Caasi. If this meeting is to annihilate my race, you better kill me right here and right now. I will not trade millions of human lives for my life!"
Zhang Gang was probably selfish. He sacrificed dozen hunter lives to keep his members safe. But he knew the boundaries that should not be crossed.
After all, there was only one enemy of mankind. The dungeon.
Suddenly, Caasi laughed loudly. Naturally, it raised questions for Zhang Gang.
"You are truly unique, Zhang Gang. Take it easy, you don't have to worry. I won't make you betray your own people."
Hearing the shocking answer, Zhang Gang's eyes crinkled.
"If not sacrificing humans, then what you want?"
Lord Caasi patted his shoulder.
"Destroying every dungeon on earth."
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