For the rest of the day, the territory remained relatively quiet.

Aside from the heated clash near the border, nothing else stood out. 

Business went on as usual.

Far beneath the surface, in the depths of the underground dungeon, Mize’s clones moved tirelessly, fleshing out the dungeon’s structure with speed.

Stone walls took shape, chambers grew intricate, and faint magical traces began to form a network beneath the earth, each detail crafted to make the entire place feel believable, as if it had always been here.

"Add the mold!"

"Add the vines!" 

"Make it as believable as possible!"

Now and then, she sensed movement from the surface, tier five Awakeners entering through the entrance. 

They came one by one, testing their luck.

What caught her attention, though, was their preparation.

The moment they emerged from the watery ceiling at the tunnel’s end, something activated, some strange device, and within seconds, a floating platform materialized in the air.

Huge and metallic, it hovered steadily, as if weight meant nothing.

Mize blinked. “What the hell…”

She watched from a distance, jaw slightly slack, as more Awakeners arrived.

Eavesdropping on a few brief conversations, it didn’t take long to figure out who they were. 

Independent Awakeners, unaffiliated with any major factions. 

Just lone wolves but worked under the Adventurer guild, strange... 

Like contracted workers?

And yet, their intentions were coordinated.

They were building something, an aerial hub?

Suspended right under the dungeon’s entrance, meant to serve as a staging ground. 

It was clever. 

Really clever. 

But still, it caught her completely off guard.

She phased closer to the circular platform midair, drifting silently above the busy crowd.

Hidden from their senses unless they were on her level, which none of them were, she hovered above them like a ghost. 

One by one, more tier five Awakeners descended from the water tunnel, joining the construction efforts. 

Runic arrays flared to life beneath their feet, and Mize’s eyes narrowed. 

It didn’t take long to see how it all worked.

A mix of formation arrays and enchantments kept the whole thing afloat, no conventional power source involved.

Instead, the platform fed off the dense warp energy suspended in the air, like it had been designed specifically for this dungeon’s environment.

She floated lower, her presence still cloaked, listening in.

“Adventurer Guild initiative, huh?” she muttered, a small smile tugging at her lips. “They’re faster than I thought.”

And frankly, she didn’t blame them. 

The resources she had scattered throughout the dungeon were priceless by their standards, strange ores, evolving monsters, warped relics with treasures inside them. 

It was an absolute "temptation incarnate" for them. 

"There were even broken weapons I created" 

"Strange stones"

"Tameable monsters" 

"Random skill books, derivation from my elemental skill into countless simple skills"

She nodded to herself, slowly, watching the bustle unfold below.

To support the regeneration of the dungeon’s inner ecosystem, she had transformed all her active clones into tiny points of light. 

They flickered in and out of view beneath the shimmering reflection of the water ceiling, drifting like fireflies in the air. 

Silent workers, blending seamlessly into the environment.

With her current mental reserves, sustaining this setup was barely an effort.

A peaceful, godlike lifestyle, easygoing and without pressure. 

Here, within the bounds of this trial world, she doubted anything could pose a threat to her. 

She was untouchable.

Except for Liam, that being behind those monsters, and perhaps those few hidden protagonists in the rankings. 

Outside, once the trial ended? 

That was another story. Like Liam had said: don’t get comfortable. There’s always a bigger ocean.

So for now, she simply observed.

By the time the sun dipped past the horizon, clocking in at around 6 PM, the platform had grown exponentially, over ten kilometers wide now.

Not enormous by worldly standards, but for a floating hub tethered to a dungeon entrance, it was impressive.

A small city in the sky.

More Awakeners continued arriving, most of them above tier three. 

She did a rough count, hundreds, easily. 

The rest of the curious ones, mostly low-tiers, lingered on the surface. 

The rumors of a hidden tier five boss in the dungeon’s depths still kept most of them cautious.

Mize hovered high above the expanding structure, arms folded, staring down at the platform with a conflicted look.

A town? A market? It wasn’t just the platform anymore. 

Somehow, buildings had appeared, real ones. 

Not crude tents or pop-up stalls, but proper structures: inns with glowing lanterns, taverns with music and noise spilling out, and... a brothel?

Her eye twitched slightly. “What the hell…?”

Her eyes locked onto the sign of a building. 

Reading the word slowly, totally flabbergasted.

"Just what the hell? Really now? A brothel?"

She squinted at the skyline. “Where did they even get these buildings?”

"And how did those businesses owners came here so fast?"

They’d sprouted out of nowhere over the course of just a few hours. 

Like they’d been summoned fully formed. Maybe they were. Either way, it was fast.

Judging by how many more people were streaming in, this setup wasn’t going to hold for long. 

The current size already looked like it was nearing capacity.

And just as she was beginning to lose interest, something on the far end of the platform caught her attention.

Docked near the edge was a large airborne vessel, something between a sailing ship and a flying shuttle. 

It hovered slightly above the platform, anchored in place by glowing mooring spells.

Its wooden frame gleamed under the magical lights, old-fashioned and elegant, similar to those old sailing ships. 

Onboard, several figures were visible.

One stood out immediately: a woman clad in a flowing purple dress, the lower half of her face hidden behind a translucent veil. 

She moved with grace, posture poised like a noble, every gestures obviously pointing to her status. 

Next to her, an elderly man stood watchfully, strong by most standards, though still laughably weak in Mize’s eyes. 

Around them, a group of independent Awakeners clustered, chatting, pointing at the dungeon below with clear excitement.

More were boarding by the minute.

Then, her eyes landed on a familiar figure among the crowd.

“Oh,” she said, blinking once. “He’s here too?”

Klein stood near the edge of the deck, casually observing the crowd with that same laid-back demeanor she remembered.

"And I thought he was already living his best life by selling all of those informations, getting a lot of money"

Among the passengers, tier threes were the most common. 

There were a few dozen tier fours, and a handful of tier fives scattered among them.

Quite a lineup, she thought.

As she watched, the woman in the purple dress approached Klein at the corner of the deck. 

Her silk sleeves fluttered slightly with each step, and when she reached him, she offered a polite smile. 

Her dress shifted softly in the breeze as she leaned forward and greeted him.

Klein caught sight of the woman approaching him.

His heart skipped a beat, panic flickered beneath his calm surface. 

The old man beside him let out a low chuckle, shaking his head as he leaned in with a teasing smirk. “What’s this now? Trying to cheat on the ice-cold beauty from before?”

Ignoring the jab, Klein hastily straightened himself, brushing imaginary dust off his clothes, and adjusted his posture like someone expecting a royal inspection.

Before he could say a word, her voice came, light, the kind that lingered in the air like the distant chime of a silver bell.

“Klein, is it?”

“A-ah—” he stammered, trying not to choke on his own tongue. 

He caught himself quickly, forcing a polite smile, posture stiff. 

“Yes, that’s me. My name is Klein,” he said, the words coming out a little too fast.

The woman’s smile deepened as she stepped closer, her presence poised and graceful.

"I’ve heard your name. The one who discovered this place,” she said, extending her hand, “I’m Esmeralda, an emissary of the Adventurer Guild. I will be counting on you for this expedition"

Klein swallowed down his nerves and reached out to meet her hand. 

Her palm was soft, cool to the touch, but the contact lasted only a breath before both retreated.

Compared to the ice berg beauty, her hand was a little bit "low grade" in his opinion. 

“Also, I came to thank you on behalf of the Guild,” Esmeralda continued, her tone polite, almost warm. “And also to reward you for your daring decision to share the information to the public with us"

Her eyes crinkled slightly above the veil covering her face. 

Whatever was hidden beneath that thin fabric, she wasn’t showing her full hand.

Klein nodded, doing his best to stay composed. 

There was something veiled in her words, something cryptic? He wasn't a fool. 

But he wasn’t in a position to question it. 

Not here, not now. 

He played along, silently weighing his options behind his calm expression.

Without further delay, she handed him a small storage ring.

Klein accepted it without hesitation, sliding it into his pocket. Still, a quick peek through his divine sense had his breath catching in his throat.

The contents were… far more than he expected.

A flicker of surprise crossed his face, but he masked it quickly. 

People were watching.

He could feel their stares, even if no one dared step closer. 

Her status alone was enough to keep any bold fools at bay. Trying anything here would be no different than slapping her directly in the face.

That would be suicide.

Klein offered a respectful nod, just as he was about to take his leave, but Esmeralda gestured toward the ship’s main cabin.

“Would you care to join me inside?”

His feet faltered. He hesitated, unsure whether to accept or decline. 

But then, the old man’s voice rang in his ears with a lazy laugh, “Go on. When will you ever get this kind of opportunity again?”

"Old bastard"

With a quiet breath, Klein stepped forward and followed her, feeling the weight of dozens of jealous eyes drilling into his back.

“Who was that just now?”

“No clue. But she clearly holds a high position in the Adventurer Guild.”

“That old man next to her? He’s no joke. His aura’s overwhelming.”

“Tier 5?”

“Peak Tier 5.”

A low gasp swept through the onlookers as one of the nearby Tier 5 experts muttered under his breath.

“Then what about the boy?”

“Someone important, obviously. You don’t get talked to like that by accident.”

“No, that’s the kid who discovered this place. Didn’t you hear?”

“Wait, seriously? How’d he even survive the fall and make it back up?”

“Beats me. But he’s smart. Word is he got busted in the middle of the marketplace, and instead of hoarding the info, he sold it. Leveled the playing field.”

“Heh. Smart move. Keeping this place secret would’ve turned the entire Guild against him.”

“Says the guy who’d kill over a single gold coin.”

The whispers faded as Klein entered the ship’s cabin.

Inside, the space was quiet and refined.

Dim golden light framed the polished interior, walls carved from enchanted wood, the faint scent of tea and spice in the air.

Esmeralda gestured casually, and the two of them sat across from each other on either side of a low table.

The old man, still as a statue, stood just off to the side. 

No emotion, no comment. 

Standing still on the side. 

Klein shifted slightly in his seat, trying not to fidget. 

The air here felt heavier than outside, though it was likely just the pressure of her gaze.

Mostly likely and undoubtedly her gaze.

In one smooth motion, the butler stepped forward and placed a porcelain tea set onto the table. 

The cups gave off faint steam. Everything about the scene was deliberate.

“I’ll take my leave, my lady,” the butler said with a bow. “Call me if you need anything.”

With that, he turned and exited, the door closing quietly behind him.

Esmeralda reached forward with a delicate motion, lifting her cup with one palm beneath and the other gently cupping the side.

Her gaze never left Klein’s face.

She took a sip, an unhurried gesture. 

“Please,” she said softly, “feel free to drink.”

“Ah… yes, of course.” Klein mimicked her movement carefully, raising the cup and taking a cautious sip.

His eyes widened almost immediately.

The flavor was sharp, bright, with a deep herbal aftertaste that lingered on the tongue.

It warmed his throat and buzzed slightly in the chest. “This is… incredible,” he said without thinking.

She let out a soft laugh. “Thank you. I enjoy hunting down rare tea herbs in my spare time. This one came from a rather unusual place, it has a curious taste, doesn’t it?”

Her cup returned to the plate with a light clink, and she sat straighter, her chin rising slightly as her gaze sharpened.

Their eyes met.

“I have… a few questions, if you wouldn’t mind,” she said, her voice still polite, but carrying a different meaning. 

Klein’s fingers curled slightly around the base of his cup.

‘Here it comes.’

Of course she wasn’t here just to chat.

He studied her carefully, masking his thoughts behind a neutral smile. “Please, ask away. I’ll answer to the best of my abilities.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” Her head tilted, veil brushing against her collar as she smiled again, eyes squinting ever so slightly.

And then she asked.

Her voice was calm, but her gaze was fixed on his face like a hawk. “How did you escape from this place, if you don’t mind me asking?”

She paused only briefly before continuing.

“According to the reports you sold, the land beneath us is supposed to be the most dangerous layer of this island. The deepest part.” Her tone never wavered. “You claimed to have fallen into a river, pure chance, according to your story.”

A beat.

“Then how, exactly, did you manage to cross three entire layers and find the teleportation slate that brought you back to the surface?”

The air in the room suddenly dropped. 

A full stop in the middle of the road, a brake being pressed. 

Klein didn’t respond. 

His eyes cloudy, just slightly. 

He hadn’t expected her to go straight for the jugular, but perhaps he should have.

Silence settled between them.

And he knew he couldn’t afford to slip.