In this chaotic world, it all started when they found an elf girl

　"What's going on? Where are those guys from the Astrea Familia?!" one of the officers demanded.

　"I do not know!"

　The group stared at each other, unable to come up with a coherent answer, before finally managing to utter this sentence after a long while.

　They had set up numerous traps on the thirty-sixth floor, waiting for Roy and his companions to take the bait. However, after the explosion that day, Roy and the others seemed to have vanished. The thirty-seventh floor, the "White Palace," was enormous, covering almost half of Orario. It was impossible for them to go down there to search for them; it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Moreover, the dangers of the deeper levels were undeniable.

　At first, they were very optimistic.

　But as time passed, nothing happened. The main force of the Ishtar Familia guarding the thirty-eighth floor also reported that Roy and the others hadn't appeared. Their plan was that since the upper floors were impassable, Roy and the others should head to the safe thirty-ninth floor, which they were capable of doing. At this rate, their food supplies would run out. The entrance to the artificial maze was on the eighteenth floor, and transporting supplies to the thirty-sixth floor would be quite difficult.

　With the patron (Ishtar Familia) pressing them repeatedly, everyone was getting anxious. Could Roy and his group have somehow managed to dig a tunnel and escape from the dungeon? "How about we send a few people in to search?" someone suggested.

　"Go quickly!"

　Inside the cave of the arena.

　While playing games with the girls, Roy used the materials he obtained on this trip to maintain everyone's equipment. With a top-notch blacksmith, there was no shortage of equipment when exploring the dungeon, as there were so many materials here.

　"You're ready to win? You're ready to win too? You're all ready to win?" Roy's gaze swept over the three girls.

　Tiony, Daphne, and Lily grinned maliciously. Roy had won too much these days, so the three girls decided to team up. Even if Roy was the only one left, they couldn't withstand this kind of play and soon lost everything except their underwear.

　The girls were both curious and shy about the captain's large cannon, covering their faces with their hands while their eyes couldn't help but peek through their fingers. "Let's stop playing then, let's get down to business!" Roy slammed his cards face down and pushed them forward.

　"The commander is really cunning!"

　Tiony, Daphne, and Lily pouted.

　"You can't leave even if you win, but you can't leave even if you lose?" Roy laughed. It was terrifying; these girls were so engrossed in their losses. He really wanted to rip off his last pair of underwear. With that, Roy moved with lightning speed, putting on his clothes and equipment. He approached the beautiful elf girl and said solemnly, "Miss Liu, I've got it! We can't let life continue like this. We have to go out and deal with those bastards!"

　Liu smiled insincerely, "Hehe!"

Chapter 246 Keeping Your Word and the Sprouts of Justice

　After hiding in the cave below the arena for ten days, Roy figured those guys were getting impatient.

　Aside from people like him with spatial rings, basically no one can stay in the deep realm for more than ten days. People are made of iron, and food is steel. Without food, even that dead pig Ota would die in the underground city.

　Just as Roy was about to leave, the timid blue-haired girl in the group timidly grabbed Roy's arm.

　Roy turned around, looking puzzled.

　Cassandra wrapped her slender arms around the delicate body, her voice trembling, "Captain, I was dreaming."

　Roy was taken aback at first, then his expression changed slightly. He pulled Cassandra aside to prevent the power of the "premonition dream" from affecting others. Even he had to simulate a sense of crisis in his mind, activate the "adventure" development ability, and increase his luck value in order to resist the power of the curse.

　"Adventure" development ability activated!

　Roy's overall stats are boosted, including hidden attributes such as luck, curse resistance, and charm resistance.

　Since being alerted by "Intuition", "Adventure" has become an active skill. Although the amplification effect is halved, it is extremely convenient and much more useful than before.

　"When did this happen?" Roy's expression was not good. He was about to go out and deal with those scumbags when he suddenly had a "premonition dream." As everyone knows, "premonition dreams" are not a good thing; they represent impending desperate danger.

　"Three days ago, I'm so sorry, Commander..."

　Cassandra said somewhat embarrassedly that this dream was even more bizarre than before, and she wasn't even sure if it was a "premonition" or if Roy was about to leave the cave. She felt a chill run down her spine and had to speak up.

　Hearing Cassandra's explanation, Roy's expression softened. If she had deliberately not told him, he would have to reassess Cassandra's value.

　Roy asked, "What was the content of the dream?"

　“I don’t know, I can’t see anything, it’s all dark,” Cassandra said, her voice choked with emotion.

　Unlike before, Cassandra remembered the content of this "prophetic dream" very clearly: a deep darkness, a hazy chaos.

　Similar to sleep paralysis, after waking up, it felt as if a long spear had pierced her chest, causing excruciating pain.

　“Oh, right, Captain, I heard crying.” Cassandra gripped Roy’s clothes tightly.

　Roy's brow furrowed; darkness and the sound of weeping?

　Roy then patiently questioned Cassandra for nearly half an hour, but didn't get any useful information. This is also a characteristic of "precognitive dreams"—absurd and bizarre, and the content can only be understood after the event has occurred.

　However, the content will include hints on how to escape danger.

　Roy said softly, "Anything is fine. Just tell me what you saw in your dream."

　Cassandra clutched her head, racking her brains. Her pained expression evoked pity, but Roy dared not be careless; everyone's lives were at stake. After a long while, Cassandra seemed to have thought of something, her eyes lighting up. "Captain, in the depths of darkness, there is a small light, seemingly about to disappear at any moment, but it is also slowly expanding, radiating a dazzling light. The revived light of justice will dispel the darkness."

　"The resurgence of the light of justice?"

　Roy lowered his head in thought, his gaze shifting to the girls and settling on Ryu. If there was anyone in the group who was related to "justice," it was only Ryu.

　Cassandra's delicate shoulders trembled slightly; in the chaotic darkness, she felt as if she were about to be swallowed up.

　Snapped!Snapped!

　Roy clapped his hands to attract everyone's attention. "Now we'll split into two teams. Ryu and I will go out and deal with those troublemakers. The rest of you will stay in the cave. It's safe enough here."

　"Hey hey hey"

　Tione and Tiona looked somewhat disappointed. They remembered the explosion of the circular wall ten days ago very clearly and wanted to go out and seek revenge. "Stop complaining. Ryu and I won't go too far. We'll catch a few guys and come back. First, we need to figure out who they are," Roy said. If it weren't for Cassandra's "precognitive dream," he would have even planned to go out alone, without even taking the elven girl with him.

　"Okay," the girls could only accept.

　“Lily, after Ms. Ryu and I leave, you will be the commander of the team,” Roy said.

　"I understand!" Lily's little face was tense.

　Roy was also saying this to others.

　Tiony, Tiona, Daphne, and Cassandra knew that Roy was grooming Lily as his second-in-command, so they couldn't possibly object. "Little Lily, we're counting on you. If anything happens, you must lead us well," Tiony said with a smile, hugging Lily tightly. "Lord Tiony, I can't breathe," Lily patted Tiony, feeling suffocated. She preferred Tiona, who shared her predicament.

　That pair of Da Lei is so hateful.

　After spending ten days in the cave, the group's friendship developed faster than expected, and they became as close as sisters.

　Roy smiled and looked at the elf girl on the other side, "Let's go, Miss Ryu."

　"Ok!"

　Ryu nodded slightly, her sky-blue eyes lingering on Cassandra for a second longer. She could tell that Roy hadn't initially intended to take her along. Under the expectant gazes of Tiony, Tiona, Daphne, Cassandra, and Lily, Roy and Ryu headed towards the passage leading out of the cave. This cave led directly to the center of the arena, proving the saying that the most dangerous place is the safest. Roy tossed a piece of skeletal sheepskin to Ryu, then donned one himself, concealing himself in the darkness—a near-invisibility effect. The two hid along the edge of the circular wall, lurking in the shadows, moving silently forward.

　"What happened?" Ryu asked in a low voice.

　"We don't know yet, but we're probably in a bit of trouble." Roy shook his head.

　With their tacit understanding, there was no need for much explanation; a single sentence was enough for them to understand.

　Looking at Roy's resolute and serious face, Liu pursed her lips and made up her mind that no matter what kind of monster it was, she would definitely protect it.

　Suddenly, a faint sound of footsteps came from around the corner ahead. Roy and Ryu fell silent, lowering their bodies and almost perfectly concealing themselves in the darkness. The dim light from the dungeon walls illuminated several figures flashing by. Three burly men with rugged faces appeared before Roy and Ryu, adhering to the rules of dungeon exploration—a standard three-person team.

　One LV.4 and two LV.3! With this kind of combat power, as long as they don't enter the third circular wall, they can still manage to stay on the outer perimeter of the thirty-seventh floor. The Ikeros Familia!

　Roy and Ryu immediately recognized the three as executives of the Ikeros Familia, whom they had seen during the Monster Festival battle. "What the hell? Where did Justice Sprout and Gale go?"

　"The women of the Ishtar Familia are getting impatient!"

　"Hopefully they'll pay!"

　The three burly men, grumbling as they cleared away the monsters around them, were completely unaware that two people were watching them from a dark corner. This was the result of Roy and his companions' ten days of hiding; they had turned the tables, the enemy was far more impatient than they were, and now they were in the open while the enemy was in the shadows. In a battle between people, it's not about who has better strategy, but who makes fewer mistakes.

　Sometimes it's better to stay still than to move around.

　Roy and Liu exchanged a glance and nodded secretly.

　Just as the three had cleared out the surrounding monsters and relaxed, Roy and Ryu seized the opportunity, charging out like tigers with ferocious momentum. "Who are you?"

　The three immediately noticed Roy and Liu, and were shocked, caught off guard.

　The two figures swept past like a whirlwind, both activating the special effects of their boots, boosting their agility and overwhelming their opponent. They flashed out like phantoms, barely visible to the naked eye.

　Pitter-patter! Pitter-patter!

　Roy aimed at the two Level 3 adventurers, golden lightning crackling and surging from his palms—his incantation-free magic. The surging golden lightning transformed into orbs of light, and Roy thrust his palms forward, sending the orbs slamming into the faces of the two men, an electric current instantly spreading outwards. With his overwhelming stats and the incantation-free magic, if Roy couldn't instantly kill them, he would truly lose face.

　"Ah ah ah"

　A series of piercing screams rang out as the two men were enveloped in a golden ball of lightning, feeling as if countless electric snakes were tearing at their bodies, causing excruciating pain everywhere. Roy's fists struck mercilessly, landing squarely on their mouths, shattering their teeth and leaving their faces covered in blood. The screams abruptly ceased. "Thump!"

　The two lay on the ground, barely alive.

　Ryu's chances of defeating that LV.4 officer were completely slim, given the absolute difference in their ranks.

　In the blink of an eye, the three were captured alive.

　Roy dragged the three, who lay there like dead dogs, into the shadows to avoid trouble from the dungeon monsters. "The Ikeros Familia, we meet again. The budding of justice!"

　"blast!"

　The three were, after all, high-level adventurers with astonishing physiques. A moment later, they slowly awoke, their eyes filled with terror upon seeing Roy and Ryu. Roy coldly said, "Tell me, what were you planning to do about that explosion ten days ago?"

　The LV.4 officer gritted his teeth and said, "Sprout of Justice, what are you talking about? We don't understand, we're just exploring the dungeon normally!" Roy sneered, "As if I didn't hear your conversation, huh?"

　Upon hearing this, all three broke out in a cold sweat, wishing they could slap themselves twice for their foul mouths!

　Roy's tone was chilling, "Fine, since you won't admit to what happened ten days ago, what about before that? You've caused me a lot of trouble. Do you think I'd let you off the hook?"

　The three exchanged a glance, their expressions resolute.

　One of them said coldly, "Sprouts of justice? Don't be delusional. We won't tell you anything."

　The level 4 adventurer was even more defiant, his eyes filled with resentment. "You brat, I'm just unlucky to have fallen into your hands today. Go ahead and do it, it's just a matter of dying!"

　Trying to scare high-level adventurers with death is unrealistic. Every level up requires achieving great feats and emerging from mountains of corpses. For these ruthless individuals who risk their lives, death is commonplace.

　A hint of curiosity flashed deep in Ryu's eyes. What should Roy do in the face of this group of high-level adventurers who were determined to die rather than submit? To be honest, she didn't know what to do.

　Back on the surface, they might be able to slowly pry open the other person's mouth, but this was deep underground, and they wouldn't have much time to interrogate them. Roy's fierce look vanished, replaced by a warm smile. "Look at what you're saying, do you think I'm some kind of bloodthirsty person?" The three sneered inwardly. Wasn't he?

　Since Roy's debut, how many people who have fallen into his hands have had a good ending?

　Roy laughed and said, "Whoever tells me the information, I will release them. I swear on my beliefs that if I harm them after the deal is completed, my ability will never be able to improve again, and I will never be able to level up!"

　The three of them suddenly widened their eyes.

　Ryu also looked at Roy in astonishment.

　Adventurers swear oaths, and this is no joke. Low-level adventurers might swear it today and forget it tomorrow. But the higher the adventurer's rank, the stronger their conviction, forged in blood and fire.

　Like Ota, they fought for Freya with unwavering faith, enduring even the most agonizing trials and battles. Such adventurers, once they swore an oath, had to keep it; otherwise, a deep-seated resentment would remain, shaking their beliefs and affecting their entire lives. For example, Ota could swear in Freya's name that even at the cost of his life, he would complete that task, otherwise he would have no face to return to Freya. Therefore, the three had no doubt that as long as they revealed the information, Roy would definitely release them.

　Compared to these insignificant figures, Roy was hailed as the "Child of Miracles" by the gods and had a bright future ahead of him. There was no need for him to ruin his own future because of them. A subtle, strange light appeared in the eyes of the three.

　Roy's next words were like pouring gasoline on a fire: "But note, first come, first served! There's only one spot, and I'll only let one person in." A sense of urgency rose in the hearts of the three.

　Roy's voice, like the whisper of a devil, surrounded the three of them, tempting them madly.

　The three, who had originally stood firmly on the same side, began to waver. Their eyes darted around, and they would steal glances at each other from time to time, filled with fear and unease.

　Seeing this, Ryu already knew the outcome; Roy's move was too ruthless! Everyone knew the nature of the Dark Faction members; now they were bound to be suspicious of each other. Let alone the Dark Faction, how many members of other clans could withstand such a tactic? You can't see into someone's heart; no one could guarantee that a friend who was drinking and eating with them just a moment ago wouldn't betray them.

　There are too many fake brotherhoods in Orario.

　They were convinced they were doomed, so they preferred death to revealing information.

　But Roy vowed to spare the person who revealed the information. Given a chance to live, how many people would be willing to die? Especially the dark faction, who valued their lives. "I'll talk!"

　Finally, one of the level 3 adventurers couldn't withstand the pressure, fearing that the other two would get there first.

　The two men's eyes widened, and another LV.3 adventurer quickly chimed in, "Me too!"

　"You bastards, how dare you betray your clan!"

　The LV.4 burly man trembled with rage and roared, "Sprout of Justice, kill them for me, and I'll tell you all the information!" *Bang!*

　Roy grabbed the arrogant LV.4 burly man, slammed his head into the ground, burying it deep in the earth, and laughed, "Don't scare him. If you scare him to death, wouldn't that make me look like I broke my promise?"

　Then, Roy activated his magic, grasped the golden lightning in his palm, materialized it into a sharp sword, and with a gentle swing, the sharp edge severed the head of the second LV.3 adventurer who was willing to reveal information, and blood gushed out.

　The man's head rolled several times on the ground, his eyes glazed over, incredulous.

　After doing all this, Roy smiled and looked at the remaining person, "Speak, as long as the information you give is correct, I will not harm you in any way!" Seeing that LV.4 had been suppressed and another LV.3 had been killed, the man was so frightened that his face turned pale.

　Roy broke through the other party's psychological defenses step by step. Once the pent-up anger in his heart was released, this person was no longer a determined high-level adventurer, but just an ordinary person who longed to live.

　The man, trembling with fear, recounted their entire plan. After all, he was a Level 3, a cadre-level figure, and had a comprehensive understanding of the situation. Roy's expression grew increasingly grim as he listened. At first, he thought it was some force targeting them.

　Good heavens, it's actually a joint hunt launched by the three great clans of Thanatos, Ikelos, and Ishtar. They think so highly of him? The thirty-sixth and thirty-eighth floors have laid a net, just waiting for them to walk right into it.

　Ryu clenched her small fists tightly, a hint of anger flashing in her sky-blue eyes. Luckily, Roy knew that safe zone, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable. "We were just doing our jobs for money. This was planned by the Ishtar Familia. It really has nothing to do with me!" The man knelt down in front of Roy, weeping bitterly.

　“The thirty-eighth floor is the main force of the Ishtar Familia, but what about the thirty-sixth floor?” Roy pondered, knowing that to stop them from returning to the upper floors, they must have even stronger combat power.