Chapter 96: The Mad Wolves Group (part 2)

Chapter 96: Chapter 96: The Mad Wolves Group (part 2)

He paused, allowing his words to settle before continuing.

"That said, I have some personal experience with this dungeon. I know what it’s capable of, and I can tell you that the rumors aren’t entirely exaggerated. If we encounter something beyond our ability to defeat, we’ll retreat and report our findings rather than throw away our lives for nothing. I expect everyone to follow that order, regardless of how tempting the rewards might be."

The other nine adventurers exchanged glances before nodding. They had joined Kyle’s group because they trusted his judgment, and his performance during the dungeon outbreak had only strengthened that trust.

Kyle nodded in satisfaction, then turned his gaze toward the window. Beyond the glass, Lufast City bustled with activity, its streets filled with merchants, travelers, and adventurers going about their daily business. The sight should have been reassuring, yet it only reminded him of how much he had gained since the last time he entered the dungeon near Hetin Town.

Back then, he had been weaker. His team had been different, too.

He remembered the faces of the people who had accompanied him on that expedition, their expressions as they prepared to enter the dungeon, and the confidence they had carried with them. They had believed that their strength would be enough to overcome whatever monsters awaited them.

They had joked with one another, discussed the treasures they might discover, and talked about how much their lives would improve if they returned with valuable loot.

Kyle’s expression gradually darkened as the memories surfaced. He could still remember the panic that had spread through the group when their expedition began to fall apart, the desperate sounds of battle echoing through the corridors, and the moment he realized that their situation had become far worse than he had anticipated.

One by one, his companions had fallen.

Even now, thinking about them left a bitter taste in his mouth.

He slowly clenched his fists.

’I’m finally going back to that dungeon.’

The thought had lingered in the back of his mind ever since he received the mission, but now that the expedition was officially confirmed, it felt far more real.

This wasn’t merely another assignment from the Adventurers Guild, nor was it an opportunity to collect rewards and increase his level. For Kyle, returning to that dungeon meant confronting the place where he had lost his former companions.

He had grown stronger since then, and the battle against the dungeon outbreak had given him experience that he hadn’t possessed during his previous expedition. The nine adventurers standing behind him were also capable fighters, and together, they had a far better chance of surviving than his previous team.

Nevertheless, Kyle refused to let his newfound strength cloud his judgment.

He turned away from the window and faced his companions again. The sadness in his eyes had disappeared beneath a firm, determined expression.

"Prepare your equipment and check your supplies. We’ll depart for Hetin Town as soon as everything is ready. I want everyone to inspect their weapons, armor, potions, and other essentials before we leave. Once we’re inside that dungeon, we won’t have the luxury of returning to the city whenever something goes wrong."

One of the adventurers raised a hand. "Boss, do you think we’ll be able to reach the deeper floors? With our current strength, we should at least be able to investigate how far we can go, shouldn’t we?"

Kyle glanced at the adventurer who had asked the question before slowly shaking his head.

"We don’t know enough about this dungeon yet to make that kind of decision. We don’t even know how many floors it has, let alone what kind of monsters might be waiting beyond the areas we’ve already explored. The information we have is incomplete, and I don’t want anyone making assumptions that could get us killed."

He paused, letting his gaze travel across the nine members of his hunting team. "According to the reports I’ve gathered from adventurers in Hetin Town, the final boss of the first floor is a goblin village led by a goblin shaman. And anyone who wants to reach the end of that floor must get past them."

----

After a brief discussion, the team finished reviewing the information they had collected about the dungeon. They checked their weapons, replenished their supplies, and made certain that everyone had enough potions and other necessities for the journey. Since the city lord had personally assigned them the mission, they couldn’t afford to return empty-handed simply because they had failed to prepare properly.

Once everything was ready, Kyle led his team out of Lufast City.

The journey to Hetin Town took an entire day. Along the way, they passed through several stretches of open countryside, traveled along roads frequented by merchants, and encountered a few other adventurers heading toward different settlements. The trip was relatively uneventful, giving Kyle plenty of time to think about the dungeon they were approaching.

Every so often, his thoughts returned to his former companions.

By the time Hetin Town came into view, Kyle had already made up his mind.

He would investigate the dungeon carefully, learn everything he could about its monsters, and uncover the truth behind the deaths of his former companions. If the dungeon had grown more dangerous since his last visit, he would find out why.

When the gates of Hetin Town came into view, the guards stationed there immediately noticed the approaching group of adventurers. Their equipment was well maintained, their movements showed considerable discipline, and the insignias they carried identified them as members of a recognized adventurers team from Lufast City.

The guards exchanged surprised glances before one of them stepped forward to greet the visitors.

"Welcome to Hetin Town. May I ask the purpose of your visit?"

Kyle stepped forward and presented the official document bearing the city lord’s authorization.

"We’ve been assigned a mission by the city lord of Lufast. We’re here to investigate the dungeon near your town, and we’ve come to speak with the mayor about the information you’ve gathered so far."