Live Dungeon! Chapter 355: Apathy in High Places

"Whew…"

The hooded man, one of Ealdred Crow’s informants who had become infamous as of late for his known soft spot for Eunice, downed a cup of chilled lemon water, letting the citrus tang bite sharply against the fatigue in his throat. Though his face was hidden, the weariness in his voice was unmistakable.

Behind him, a line of similarly dressed informants waited their turn to order from the same street vendor. The sight of hooded figures queuing for lemon water might have seemed surreal elsewhere, but here in Dungeon City, both locals and the Security Team had grown too accustomed to such oddities to give them a second glance.

As he returned the metal cup to the stall, the informant glanced toward the nearest Monitor and let out another sigh.

[Those idiots in upper management… I never thought they’d waste the main team’s time on something so pointless.]

They’d ordered Stephanie’s team to search for a hypothetical hidden passageway on the ninety-sixth layer, the very existence of which remained unconfirmed, and the operation had been going on for five full days. That time could have been spent bringing in a torrent of profit. After all, anyone could see that Stephanie’s team was Ealdred Crow’s primary breadwinner.

Their performance in the Dungeon directly impacted the Clan’s bottom line, and the stakes were growing. Following Amy’s lead, individual sponsorships were beginning to pop up with increasing frequency. Stephanie herself had received no shortage of offers. For now, they were funneled through the Clan, but it was anyone’s guess when those offers might tempt a member to strike out independently.

So who, in their right mind, thought it wise to assign the Clan’s most valuable team to sift through dust and cobwebs for a hidden passageway no one would ever see on a public broadcast? To make matters worse, the search directive had been categorized as low priority. From the footage of the ninety-sixth layer alone, the informant network had already extracted far more actionable intelligence. But instead of capitalizing on that, management had ignored the data they were provided and pressed ahead with their own misguided plans.

He had raised eyebrows at leadership decisions before, but never had their disregard for the informants’ work been so blatant. He couldn’t overlook this, neither as an informant nor as someone who had bled time and sleep gathering what they needed to win.

So he had dug deep into the ones in charge… and what he found was damning. Several individuals who had clawed their way up the hierarchy in the wake of the Stampede incident, riding waves of popular backlash, had insinuated themselves into the upper ranks. It was they who had championed the absurd decisions as of late, and even the official records of meetings’ finer details had been tampered with.

When he confronted a friend within the inner circle for clarity, he learned that some arrogant former clerk from the Royal Capital had spent half a meeting waxing poetic about hidden escape tunnels in the capital’s castle. The others, apparently dazzled, had followed his lead without question. It was political maneuvering at its worst.

[I can’t just keep burying myself in fieldwork forever…]

His specialty had always been observation, analyzing broadcast footage and compiling information. But perhaps if he had stayed more engaged with internal politics, this could have been avoided. He wasn’t just any informant running around the city; he had been part of the dungeoneering business even before Ealdred Crow was officially formed. His connections ran deep.

Fortunately, he’d already begun using those connections. The necessary moves had been made, and countermeasures were in place. Still, a cloud of bitterness lingered over him.

Later, joined by other trusted Clan members, he made his way to the Guild and stood by the Monitors, watching footage of Bittman, Dorssia, and Rook gathering materials on the ninety-first layer. The moment the trio emerged from the Black Gate, he called out to them, prompting Rook to blink in surprise.

"Oh? What’s up, guys? You don’t usually come all the way here."

He smirked and flicked Rook lightly on the forehead. As rude as it may seem, they actually were old acquaintances, what with him being scouted by Rook to join the Clan in their early days.

"Don’t play dumb. You’ve noticed, haven’t you? The upper brass is rotten. Stop using the Dungeon to escape reality and start acting like a real Clan Leader."

"Wha…? Wait, I don’t–"

"No excuses. We’re going to the Clan House right now."

With that, he gestured, and the secretary beside him swooped, lifting Rook by the arms and carrying him off before he could protest. Bittman looked a touch surprised, but recognizing both the informant and the secretary, he saw no reason for concern and made no move to intervene.

"Bittman. Dorssia. Once your break’s over, I want you exploring the ninety-sixth layer instead. Try this method from the top down."

"…I'm inclined to agree to that," Bittman stated, though he observed the other person with care. "Are your arrangements completely secure?"

"Every contingency has been addressed. Rest assured."

"Understood. We shall proceed with the endeavor immediately. Is this acceptable to you, Dorssia?"

"Yes."

With eyes as vacant as a doll's, Dorssia commenced preparations without delay; her silence was more than sufficient. Shortly thereafter, the pair re-entered the Dungeon. Following the directions provided by the informant, they methodically tested each suggested method in sequence. The second approach, in particular, yielded outcomes that were notably different and held significant promise.

Among the informants affiliated with Ealdred Crow, particularly those focusing on Monitor surveillance, the rivalry was exceptionally intense. After all, the broadcasts were accessible free of charge to every inhabitant of Dungeon City.

Should an individual possess sufficient leisure and dedication, even a casual observer could evolve into a Dungeon Maniac. While the designation might sound amusing, this demographic commanded considerable influence and could not be disregarded. Indeed, numerous informants drew intelligence from this very group, and their numbers were continuously expanding. It was only a matter of time before these enthusiastic amateurs would rival even the most seasoned informants.

This escalating competition necessitated that the work could no longer be treated with complacency. Informants now poured their efforts into their tasks with a heightened sense of urgency, dedicating countless hours to scrutinizing broadcasts day and night, striving to extract valuable intelligence for the Explorers. The era of effortless triumphs was drawing to a close; those who neglected to hone their abilities would inevitably be left behind.

…And then there was Tsutomu. His audacious attempts to obfuscate information had ignited a ferocious competition amongst the informant ranks. He showed no hesitation in concealing everything, even if it meant attracting criticism from the viewers. His methods of concealment were executed with such precision and complexity that even informants who dedicated more viewing hours than anyone else could barely discern a trace of useful information.

Even he, a veteran observer, had been caught off guard. This singular fact had galvanized every informant throughout Ealdred Crow. In contrast to many Dungeon Maniacs who, succumbing to frustration, shifted to denouncing Tsutomu, the informants perceived this challenge as a crucial proving ground. It presented an unparalleled opportunity to validate their expertise, and they embraced it with unyielding determination. They collaborated, combined their extensive experience, and meticulously examined every fragment of data until, bit by bit, the enigma of the ninety-sixth layer began to surrender its secrets.

Although certain members of the upper echelons exhibited palpable unease as Team 1 disregarded their directives and proceeded with an unauthorized strategy, it had become too late to enact any form of intervention. Countermeasures had been strategically deployed beforehand, alliances meticulously solidified, and objections effectively neutralized. From that juncture, Bittman and Dorssia advanced, validating the strategy through direct experimentation. Within the Clan House, documentation detailing the methodologies for conquering the ninety-sixth layer was already in the process of compilation.

[…Such a unique pairing.]

Amidst these unfolding events, the informant caught a fleeting, almost ethereal glimpse within the Guild: Eunice and Lorena were sharing a meal at the same table. For a mere instant, he lost all awareness of his surroundings, captivated by the sight. However, it was a transient moment. He swiftly returned to his duties, shaking off the distraction as if dispelling mist from his attire.

"You have returned," he greeted Stephanie and Sova upon their reappearance from their reconnaissance of the ninety-sixth layer.

Without any preamble, he presented them with the definitive conclusions derived from their collective deductions and subsequent verification.

▽▽

"Oh? My impression was that you wouldn't exhibit any signs of sympathy, Amira."

"…Utter such words again, and you shall face my wrath."

As a consequence of their cohesive teamwork and rigorous training regimen, Tsutomu's contingent had successfully breached the Goblin forces guarding the Black Gate of the ninety-first layer. The ninety-second layer was conquered with comparable facility, precisely as Tsutomu had anticipated. After all, it presented no insurmountable obstacles, provided they abstained from the temptation to rescue the Fenrir.

Nevertheless, Amira had clearly been deeply affected by the manifestation of primal maternal instinct displayed by the creature—sacrificing its own existence to safeguard its offspring. Considering her personal circumstances, the event resonated profoundly with her. Observing her palpable emotional turmoil, her gaze burning with repressed fury, Tsutomu merely offered a grin, finding her anger more amusing than alarming… although he could not entirely dismiss her, given that he himself had orchestrated the predicament of the Fenrir pair, all for the ultimate benefit of his team.

But then…

"Ah."

His demeanor shifted the instant his gaze fell upon Monitor #1, which depicted Ealdred Crow's team on the ninety-sixth layer, offering Magic Stones to one of the Dragon statues. Tsutomu immediately ceased his playful taunting of Amira, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward.

[They have finally grasped the concept. It would have spared us considerable effort if they had persisted in seeking hidden passages, however…]

The ninety-sixth layer, fundamentally, was a test of defense. Two colossal Dragon statues, stationed at the northern and southern extremities of a circular passage within the Ancient Castle, served as defensive armaments. These required powering with Magic Stones to intercept monster waves and defeat the boss, thereby opening the path forward.

Within Live Dungeon, the system UI had explicitly detailed this mechanic. However, this world lacked such convenient interfaces. Consequently, Tsutomu had taken great pains to conceal the layer’s true nature, enforcing absolute information control within Absolute Helix and sealing any potential breaches. This action stalled Ealdred Crow’s progress, leaving their main team perplexed for a considerable period.

[Now the true test begins. They still have a considerable journey ahead.]

The ninety-first layer had focused on offensive prowess in an open field engagement. The ninety-sixth layer presented the opposite challenge: a defensive siege. Both scenarios necessitated tactical approaches unfamiliar to most Explorers, and neither could be surmounted through sheer brute force.

Stephanie's contingent would likely commence their concerted assault on the ninety-sixth layer tomorrow. This would undoubtedly initiate a cascade of complications, as the engagement demanded coordinated defense—a feat that would stump the majority of adventuring parties. Nevertheless, Tsutomu could not afford complacency. With a former soldier like Bittman in their ranks, they might adapt with unexpected speed.

[We must advance ourselves. Our descent has proceeded without major incident, so we should reach the ninety-sixth layer soon. It will serve as an opportune moment to motivate Daryl and the others. And once Hannah has recuperated, we shall commence in earnest.]

This marked the inaugural instance of a Clan member taking leave due to illness. While initially concerning, the physician had diagnosed Hannah with nothing more severe than a common cold. Under the attentive care of Korinna, a former nurse, she would undoubtedly recover swiftly.

"Hey, idiot. Why are you lost in thought like that?"

"Ah, my apologies. I was contemplating the heartfelt connection between a Fenrir and its offspring. OW! What the devil!? You struck me with such force!?"

"I WILL kill you."

Amira, entirely unperturbed by Tsutomu’s dramatic outcry, cracked her knuckles and turned away, her words as severe as the blow she had just delivered.