A week later, the construction of the Death Knight’s fake dungeon was completed.
The minor disturbance in the forest had now become an uncontrollable rumor, beginning to spread across the continent.
It started with the innocent eyewitness accounts of Leo, Tommy, and Ellie.
“We went into the forest at night, and a scary skeleton man gave us gold coins and asked for help digging!”
The adults in the village laughed it off as the children’s nonsense, but the word “gold coins” lingered in the ears of a few.
The ones who fanned that small spark into a blaze were Dambi and Rills.
In a lively tavern in the Sail Empire.
Dambi, with his hood pulled deep, was leaning over his drink and whispering to the adventurers at the next table.
“Did you hear? An ancient dungeon was discovered in the former territory of the Free City Alliance. That’s why the Sail Empire soldiers have sealed off the entire forest.”
Dambi’s words were cunning.
He mixed a lie, “ancient dungeon,” with a sliver of truth, “soldiers are blocking the forest.”
Since the soldiers were indeed controlling the forest, the adventurers had no choice but to believe him.
Moreover, Dambi’s identity as a Diamond-rank adventurer added to the rumor, instantly transforming it into highly credible information.
“Oh, is that true?”
The old adventurer at the next table asked, his eyes gleaming. He was a veteran Platinum-rank adventurer with years of experience.
As the adventurers took the bait, Rills, the mage who was with Dambi, sighed and chimed in.
“Is it just true? This is top-secret information. The Sail Empire’s imperial family will soon be secretly selecting a few adventurers to monopolize the dungeon’s information. They intend to snatch all the credit and offload the dangerous work onto us.”
“Oh!”
“As expected of the imperial family…!”
Rills’ words stirred up the tavern.
Dungeons were dangerous. How much more dangerous an ancient dungeon would be was unimaginable.
But adventurers were by nature those who risked their lives in pursuit of wealth and honor.
To them, the word “danger” was synonymous with “immense reward.”
All the adventurers in the tavern were now listening intently to Dambi and Rills’ story.
Dambi, not missing this opportunity, struck the final blow.
“Tch, we freelancers won’t even get a chance. All that immense treasure will go straight into the empire’s warehouses.”
Dambi downed his drink as if disappointed and stood up.
Of course, it was all an act, but no one could see through it.
After Dambi and Rills left, the tavern was filled with greed, jealousy, and impatience.
The rumor was complete.
‘The Sail Empire intends to monopolize the treasures of the ancient dungeon discovered in the former territory of the Free City Alliance.’
***
As the rumor spread uncontrollably, Empress Irena reluctantly issued an official statement.
– Recently, an anomaly in magic with an unknown cause has been detected in a forest. For the safety of its citizens, the empire has temporarily closed off the area and is conducting a detailed investigation to determine the cause. All entry and exit are strictly prohibited until the investigation is complete.
Naturally, this was all according to Celia’s will.
Empress Irena was merely a chess piece faithfully executing Celia’s orders.
Ultimately, the major powers of the El Dorado Continent sat around the White Church’s round table once more.
However, the atmosphere of this meeting was vastly different from the last.
Polite diplomatic rhetoric had disappeared, and blatant desires floated across the table.
“Look here, Priest Uriel!”
Duke Dorian of the Kalrn Empire slammed his hand on the table, initiating the discussion.
“The Sail Empire is trying to monopolize an ancient dungeon that could become a public asset for the continent! This is a blatant greed that threatens the peace of the entire El Dorado Continent!”
Although the Sail Empire had not officially announced it as an ancient dungeon, everyone present was convinced it was.
After Duke Dorian opened the discussion, Count Markov of the Orbis Empire adjusted his glasses and calmly continued.
“The sovereignty of the Free City Alliance’s territory is still undecided, making it a disputed region. The ownership of any dungeon discovered there should rightfully be determined through fair negotiation with neighboring countries.”
Priest Uriel, who had been silently listening to all the claims, inwardly smiled with satisfaction.
Everything was flowing perfectly as he desired, in a direction that would check the Sail Empire, as the White Church wished.
He opened his mouth with a benevolent expression.
“A dungeon is an unknown space. It would be a disaster if something that threatens the continent were discovered there. In the name of the Church, it would be best to propose sending a joint investigation team to the Sail Empire.”
Uriel had, under the guise of an investigation, granted all countries legal rights to set foot in the dungeon.
After the Round Table meeting, the White Church acted swiftly.
They immediately requested a joint exploration of the ancient dungeon from the Sail Empire.
Though called a request, it was more of a notification.
Even the mighty Sail Empire could not refuse the White Church’s notification.
Refusing would make them the common enemy of all nations, and who would defy the White Church’s opinion?
In fact, Empress Irena of the Sail Empire had no intention of refusing the White Church’s notification.
On the contrary, she had been hoping for the White Church to make such a move.
In the end, the Sail Empire accepted the White Church’s request, and each country on the El Dorado Continent began assembling elite exploration teams composed of their best adventurers and knights, each with their own hidden agendas.
***
Deep in the night at the Sail Empire’s imperial palace.
Only a dim candlelight flickered in Empress Irena’s office.
She stood before a large continental map, her sharp eyes scanning the pawns representing each country’s territory.
Kalrn Empire, Orbis Empire, Adonil Kingdom, Velus Principality. And the White Church.
She could sense the greedy hands reaching out from all directions.
Just then, a woman appeared behind her without making a sound.
It was Celia, who had appeared like a shadow.
“You seem to have many worries, Irena.”
A cold yet gentle touch enveloped Irena’s cheek.
Though the contact was sudden, Irena was not startled.
Rather, as if accustomed to the touch, she relaxed and closed her eyes.
“Lady Celia… their greed is directed at the empire. Under the flimsy pretext of a ‘joint investigation team,’ they will flock like a pack of wolves.”
Irena’s voice carried an unavoidable worry.
The Sail Empire had not yet fully integrated the Free City Alliance.
In such a situation, the arrival of adventurers and knights from other countries was unwelcome news for Irena.
“Don’t worry, Irena.”
But Celia whispered into Irena’s ear like sweet poison.
“Everything is simply unfolding according to the plan of the Great One.”
Celia wrapped her arms around Irena’s shoulders and looked down at the pawns on the map with her.
It was a gaze as if a deity were looking down upon the children’s games of humans.
“Look, Irena.”
Her red lips curved into an alluring smile.
“Behold these foolish creatures, bringing themselves as sacrifices for the Great One.”
Celia’s finger gently traced the spot in the forest where the ‘fake dungeon’ was located.
“They will think they’ve come for treasure. They will believe it’s an opportunity to gain honor. But all that awaits them at the end is the fate of becoming a handful of sacrifices for His great undertaking.”
Celia gently turned Irena’s chin, making her look at her. Her red eyes peered deeply into Irena’s.
“And you are His most loyal ‘pawn’ who will make all of this possible.”
Pawn.
It was not an insult.
It was the most glorious role and the very reason for Irena’s existence.
Irena’s cheeks flushed red, and her eyes began to burn with loyalty.
“For Him, I willingly will.”
Celia smiled with satisfaction at Irena’s response. Then, she turned her gaze back to the map.
“Yes. Soon, this entire continent will become His grand theater.”
Celia’s smile deepened, filled with a more profound and ecstatic joy as she felt Irena’s awestruck gaze.
*Whoosh-*
And with a puff of breath towards the candle, it was extinguished, plunging the office into complete darkness.
***
Celia returned to the dungeon.
Dambi and Rills appeared before her and knelt on one knee.
“Lady Celia, you summoned us?”
Dambi’s voice was contained, unlike when he was spreading rumors in the tavern.
“Please stand up. The seeds you and Rills sowed have sprouted wonderfully.”
Celia’s voice was filled with satisfaction. Her gaze was also gentle, as if commending the efforts of the two monsters.
“Your praise is too much. It is all thanks to Lady Celia’s great plan.”
Dambi and Rills stood up respectfully.
“Now, we must move on to the next stage.”
Celia turned her gaze and met Dambi’s eyes.
“Since you, Dambi and Rills, have mingled with adventurers for so long, you understand their ways better than anyone.”
It was an obvious statement.
Dambi and Rills were already like veteran adventurers.
“Soon, the Sail Empire will announce the list of the joint exploration team. Of course, your names, Dambi and Rills, will be included in that list. Please be prepared in advance.”
“Understood.”
“As Lady Celia wishes.”
Dambi and Rills replied respectively.
They were now adventurers who would enter the fake dungeon, and observers who would witness everything that happened within.
The next step was to prepare the actors who would guard the fake dungeon.
While Celia could have handled everything herself by stepping in from the start, she had no intention of doing so.
With such a good opportunity, she couldn’t miss the chance to assess the skills of the elites from each country and test the combat abilities of the dungeon monsters.
“The entrance of the dungeon will be handled by the Death Knight and the undead legion.”
Celia’s gaze then turned to the Death Knight.
The Death Knight, holding a pickaxe and shovel, nodded.
‘A Death Knight from the very entrance…?’
Dambi inwardly recoiled.
A being comparable to a final boss appearing from the beginning of a dungeon?
In a normal dungeon, a 5-star Death Knight would be the owner and the apex.
In fact, this dungeon, with its 5-star monsters and 7-star Celia, was already beyond common sense.
Although he understood at first, this was the result of Dambi’s experience as an adventurer.
But Dambi dared not question it.
He figured Lady Celia must have had a plan if she said so.
Dambi simply closed his eyes quietly and offered a prayer for the adventurers who would enter the fake dungeon.
“And this time, Left and Right will also go.”
At Celia’s words, a dull sound echoed from a corner of the dungeon center, and a massive shadow rose.
An ogre with two heads on one body. Each head grinned at the other.
“Celia-nim has ordered us, Right.”
“I heard, Left. Will there be more fun toys than last time?”
Left and Right spoke while brandishing their wicked torture instruments.
“Of course, that’s not all.”
Celia’s smile deepened.
