CHAPTER 427: UNDERGROUND POOL

The water in the pool was crystal clear. However, due to the only sources of light being the lanterns that they had brought, they could only see the bottom in the shallows at the very edge, while the rest was shrouded in darkness.

As a result, it wasn’t very inviting, as far as Ethan was concerned. Not to mention, it was a dungeon water (or a liquid resembling water). The Guild that had been here before might have said that it was perfectly safe, even to drink, but Ethan still had his reservations.

Thus, he didn’t rush to take a dip. Instead, he lifted his lantern, examining his surroundings...

"I’m not sure if this place is really safe," he muttered, staring at the tall wall of rocks in front of him. "It feels like a rockfall hazard..."

Lane only rolled his eyes at his remark. "Then go back if you’re so scared," he scoffed. "But don’t think that you will get to bathe with Damien if you do... Cause I’ll make sure that you won’t. And Clara will surely support me. You can either wash up now, or come back alone after everyone else is done, your choice."

Then, he slid his uniform shirt off his shoulders, tossing it aside, and moved on to take off his pants, paying no mind to Ethan.

Or at least pretending to do so. He was only trying to make it seem as if he didn’t care whether Ethan stayed or went back to the main chamber, even though he was actually attentively listening to the Guide’s every step and sigh. His words were also calculated, trying to inspire a desired response.

And it worked. Ethan hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he didn’t leave. Lane’s nonchalance towards his presence, combined with the threat of having to return to the chamber completely alone, resulted in Ethan assessing that washing up together with Lane and the other two men was the best choice. He watched as Lane undressed and jumped into the pool, his eyes lingering on the man’s naked form perhaps a bit longer than they should have...

Before he finally let out a sigh, and undressed as well. He might have avoided getting injured, but he had still been soaked in the monsters’ blood like everyone else. It felt disgusting and sticky, and he wanted nothing more but to wash it all off and change into fresh clothes. After seeing the other two men, one of whom was a Guide just like Ethan, safely enter the pool without being affected by the water in any way, he no longer had any reason to hold back either. Whatever the water might contain, it wasn’t harmful in the short term, and if there were any aftereffects later... Ethan was a member of the Allen Guild, he had access to many skilled healers, so there was no need for him to be too concerned.

He stepped in, first slowly, before taking a full dip, submerging himself in the lukewarm water. After a few hours of fighting and stress, it felt so relaxing... Letting a satisfied sigh, he allowed himself to close his eyes, leaning back against some rocks.

Meanwhile, some distance away, Lane was also lounging on the rocks, seemingly relaxing. However, unlike Ethan, he was constantly throwing surreptitious glances, analyzing his surroundings and his team members’ actions.

They were all washing up or relaxing, paying no attention to him. On top of that, they left all the lanterns on the shore. Although they were bright enough to enlighten the whole chamber of the cave, the corner where he was lounging was still pretty dim. As long as he didn’t make any big moves, splashing the water around or something like that, no one should notice anything.

Perfect.

Lane turned his eyes to the wall of rocks on the other side, and slowly started moving his hand, trying to be as delicate as possible.

Ethan was right, there WAS a risk of a rockfall in this cave.

A very high risk, at that.

And it was at least partially artificially manufactured. The truth was, there was more to this cave system than what the Guild had reported to the Association... And Lane had taken advantage of this knowledge, visiting this place a few hours earlier, when the team had been busy dealing with the first wave of monsters. He had set everything up using his telekinetic ability and the Toxic Ooze...

Even how he ended up going to the pool first with Ethan had been planned by him. His earlier behavior had been intended to spark an argument with Clara, after which he had been supposed to go wash up, ’too annoyed to deal with it’...

In the end, it worked even better than he could have expected. Who would have thought that Clara would bring up the pool herself? That should lessen the suspicion on Lane, when the incident was going to be investigated later.

Clack, clack, clack, thud!

A small rock rolled down from the wall, falling on the ground.

Everyone immediately paused washing up, staring at the wall.

It was just a small rock. However, they still all had in mind that comment made by Ethan when they had first entered the chamber. Thus, even the tiniest loose rock could make them a bit uneasy...

"Let’s wash up quickly, yeah?" Adrian, the A-rank Guide from Easton Cruz’s Team, suggested. "The meal will probably be ready soon..."

The others agreed, rubbing their skin with their scrubs and sponges. Even if they wanted to leave soon, they still needed to wash up, right? Or else they might not get another chance anytime soon... And they were probably overreacting anyway.

Lane was also washing up in a hurry. This rock that had just fallen...

It hadn’t been intended. It was difficult to gauge how much force to use. It was as if playing Jenga with rocks, but you couldn’t even feel how much pressure each piece was under, since it was all done with a subpar telekinesis! And when it came to destroying rock walls this way, Lane lacked experience.

And, while he wanted the wall to collapse, this happening while he was still naked in the pool was not the most optimal!

He just climbed out of the pool, when a low rumble-like noise could be heard, as if the wall was letting out a pained groan. Swearing under his nose, he started pulling on a fresh change of clothes without even bothering to dry himself first...

But some of the others didn’t even bother to dress at all, it seemed. Ethan grabbed his stuff, and was about to rush out of the chamber, not minding that he was butt naked. Well, his safety was more important than some embarrassment, after all.

...Lane couldn’t have that, though, now could he? Ignoring the fact that he was still shirtless and shoeless, he made a grabbing motion with his hand, pulling at one of the lower rocks with all of his might. His telekinetic ability wasn’t strong enough to pull it out...

Luckily, that wasn’t necessary. The wall was already so unbalanced, that shifting one of the lower rocks ever so slightly was more than enough. The whole construction instantly collapsed...

"Watch out!" Lane yelled, rushing to the front and creating a Mana shield to ’try to protect his team mates’...

But it was of no use (obviously!). Because the wall was not the only fragile part of the cave.

Under the weight of the falling rocks, the ground underneath their feet also collapsed, swallowing the four unsuspecting (or, three unsuspecting and one culprit) men into the dark corridors below...