CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33: BOSS, DO YOU KNOW HOW DARK IT IS HERE?

"Dylan, do you know how the Underground City came about?"

The Old Bat can’t be dealt with for now, and everything else is on track; Lin Jun, having some free time, thought again about the questions surrounding the Underground City.

Under the torchlight, Dylan, who was trimming the edges of a coffin board, stopped and scratched his head:

"How did it come about?

Sorry, boss, I haven’t really thought about this issue.

When I was a kid, I did hear stories that said the Hero battled the Demon King and opened a passage connecting the Abyss, forming the Underground City.

But this explanation contains a lot of logical gaps and is evidently just a simple story.

As for other explanations, I am not sure."

This story really sounds like two supreme beings battling until the galaxy shatters...

"Then hasn’t anyone studied these things?"

"Yes, people from the Relic Association deal with these, and they even continuously post bounties for related clues.

Unfortunately, those tasks are just to observe; valuable clues were discovered ages ago.

I’ve never heard of anyone getting rich off of it."

"Can you get this information from that association?"

Upon hearing this, Dylan shook his head repeatedly.

"Impossible, boss, the Relic Association is an official organization under the United Kingdom.

Someone like me at the bottom can’t even get through the door.

I’m not a Thief, so I can’t sneak out the documents you want."

As expected, Lin Jun wasn’t surprised and was only asking casually.

Unlike natives like Dylan, who are accustomed to treating the Underground City as a normal part of the world.

Lin Jun views the Underground City as being overly organized in many areas, clearly deliberately arranged.

There must be many secrets behind it.

But it seems he hasn’t had the opportunity to access them yet.

Speaking of not being able to get in as a bottom-tier Adventurer, maybe the Duke’s Daughter can?

Should he try to have Dylan contact Inanna?

After thinking for a while, Lin Jun decided there’s no need to rush and can take his time.

He doesn’t even know Inanna’s situation right now, better ask Dylan to investigate first.

"Boss, there’s something I want to ask."

Dylan’s slightly hesitant words brought Lin Jun’s attention back.

"What is it?"

"Well... why has the fifth layer been getting darker recently?"

Darker?

Really?

Lin Jun hadn’t really felt this, as his sensory perception differs.

Upon careful discernment, Lin Jun realized Dylan was being quite tactful.

Not just darker; the entire layer is almost completely dark...

Although there is no sun in the Underground City, there are hardly any entirely dark layers.

Firefly Grass or some cliffside Glowstones provide a degree of brightness.

The dome of the fifth layer is entirely covered with Firefly Grass, making it bright among most layers.

So where did the Firefly Grass go?

Why has it all turned into mushrooms on the dome...

He hadn’t noticed when his fungal mat climbed the dome.

The Firefly Grass in the fifth layer looks nearly extinct.

Seems it’s his fault...

Even though pitch darkness doesn’t affect him much, it’s evidently inconvenient for Adventurers trading, and Dylan seems quite troubled.

No idea how long it will take to replant the Firefly Grass back to its original scale?

Should he use the Glowing Mushrooms instead?

Because of skill compatibility, Glowing Mushrooms aren’t as bright as Firefly Grass.

But since the place is covered with mushrooms big and small, adding glow will certainly end the darkness.

Looks like this is the only option for now.

-----------------

"Collect Slime Core... ten bunches of Firefly Grass... Two-headed Snake Venom Sac..."

In the Adventurer’s Guild hall, Vera was picking tasks on the bounty board.

A pair of childhood friends sat on a nearby bench, with Fei Yin noticeably downcast.

The last few were attacked by Raiders, losing a significant amount of gear and supplies, and almost their lives.

If those two Raiders hadn’t provoked Puki, they wouldn’t have made it back.

Since returning, Fei Yin had been very reluctant to venture into the Underground City.

Vera understood, but living costs have to be earned, especially after such a huge loss.

After discussing with Fei Ling, they decided to take on some simple tasks on the upper layers to sustain themselves.

Depending on Fei Yin’s recovery status, further decisions will be made.

As a last resort, switching to guarding caravans isn’t impossible.

The chatter echoed continuously, though the Guild was always lively; today seemed exceptionally noisy.

Vera noticed a crowd gathering around the exclusive task board for official missions.

Is there a new official task released?

Just as Vera was about to squeeze into the crowd, a giant furry paw forcefully parted the group of onlookers.

The unexpected shove staggered him back a few steps, leaving a strand of tawny hair stuck to his lip.

"Ptooey! Ptooey!"

Some shedding fellow...

A muscular tiger-man strode toward the task board, his lustrous fur gleaming amber under the light.

The surrounding people sneered but reflexively retreated half a step.

The tiger-man glanced at the task board, then reached out and grabbed the latest A Level task.

Arriving at the counter on the hall’s right side, the tiger-man slapped down his adventurer identification and task slip.

"Register the task."

Behind the counter was the Guild’s emblematic receptionist, Helena—a lady with comely features and long red hair.

The two seemed to know each other.

Helena picked up the ID, glanced at the tiger-man and his Leopard Man teammate behind him, and casually asked:

"Inigo, why are you back at Dumb Wind? Where’s Parsi, didn’t see him?"

"Annoying, this isn’t city inspection, just register me quickly." Inigo looked impatient.

"Looks like things are indeed dangerous in the Archipelago..."

Muttering completed, Helena ignored the tiger-man’s grim expression, and reminded him according to Guild regulations.

"Inigo, the recommended number for this A Level task is 3 to 4 Gold Level adventurers, I’d suggest you first find..."

Bang—

The tiger-man slammed his palm on the counter, cutting Helena off.

"Don’t treat me like a newbie, advising this and that, and two of us are enough. Hurry and register!"

Helena raised her eyebrows, unfazed by the shout, but didn’t hand the ID back after registering.

"What do you mean?"

Helena pointed out the cracked counter.

"%@#&*%&*..."

Inigo tossed seven silver coins on the counter, then angrily retrieved his ID, signaling his Leopard Man companion to leave the Guild Hall.

After the tiger-man’s departure, Vera grabbed a nearby adventurer to inquire about what task was drawing so much interest.

"What else but those mushrooms everyone talks about lately!

The Guild finally issued a task to investigate the cause of the anomaly."

"What about those two Beastmen just now..."

"I don’t know them, but anyone taking on an A Level task must be Gold Level experts."

Vera recalled the various Pukis he encountered on the fifth layer.

To thoroughly investigate, they surely had to enter the swamp area strictly guarded by Pukis?

Can two Gold Level adventurers really handle it?