“Have you heard anything from your friend called Hamster?”
On the way out of the Dungeon, Reg was discussing money laundering with Anderson.
As a backup Hero, Reg figured he would be leaving Deya City soon, so he needed to quickly secure a good sum of money on him.
“He’s leading people to carve out a new route, but it won’t be resolved anytime soon. After all, the Mist Route is completely blocked now.”
The large pack on Anderson’s back felt even heavier.
After Suna left first, the two of them had spent another twenty minutes exploring a side path inside the Dungeon and finally found a valuable Magic Ring.
Unlike the heavily worn items from the Mist, this ring was very new. Wearing it seemed to increase the user’s stealth ability.
It looked perfect for sneaky business—just what Anderson needed.
It could be sold for a lot of money.
Unfortunately, they didn’t get the BOSS rewards. The BOSS likely dropped magical items related to speed or invisibility, but Suna had incinerated them outright…
After a while, a dazzling light appeared ahead—the exit was just there.
Squinting, they stepped out of the Dungeon, where Suna’s black carriage was already waiting at the entrance.
Suna looked a bit tired as she leaned against the side, chatting casually with a strange stranger.
“Who’s that?”
Anderson eyed the figure warily—a man holding a peculiar curved weapon.
The man was dressed inconspicuously, half his face hidden by a scarf, looking relaxed without any hint of hostility.
“Ah, you two finally came out.” Suna greeted them and then introduced the strange man beside her: “This is Senior Adrian, the Saintess’s bodyguard.”
“Good day.”
Adrian’s deep, steady middle-aged voice sounded as he revealed the Life Brooch of the Goddess of Life and an Adventurer Badge from under his scarf to prove his identity.
The silver brooch emitted a faint pale glow—an emblem of faith.
The Adventurer Badge bore eight intricate patterns, indicating his strength was at the Eight-level.
Reg and the others didn’t know what the power of faith looked like, but they understood the meaning of the eight patterns on the badge—it meant this man could crush them with one hand.
Anderson cautiously asked, “If you’re the Saintess’s bodyguard… where’s the Saintess?”
“The Saintess has already gone to Deya City. She told me to stay here and deal with the Rebellion of Watcher Fortress. Right now, I’m searching nearby for several of the rebellion’s ringleaders who have gone into hiding. I happened to run into you, so I came to check on the situation.”
Unexpectedly, there was a Hidden Mini-Dungeon here. Judging by your looks, you seem to have gathered quite a haul… “Hmm? And who might you be?”
As if sensing something, Adrian’s sharp eyes suddenly fixed on Reg, as if seeing right through him, making Reg tighten his grip on his sword.
Was he going to attack?
The atmosphere instantly tensed, but soon Adrian placed his right hand on his chest, bowed his head, and knelt on one knee before Reg.
“Huh?”
Suna and Anderson stared dumbfounded at Adrian and Reg, utterly confused—how could an Eight-level senior suddenly kneel before a Second-level junior?
“Sorry, I didn’t recognize your identity at first, honorable Sun of the…”
“Wait, wait! Senior, what are you talking about!” Reg hurriedly interrupted Adrian’s words.
Damn, how did this man recognize me? I don’t even remember him! Could he have seen me somewhere before?
Indeed, he had. A few years ago, when Adrian was still Seventh-level, he had traveled to the eastern city of Sun City in Sylvia Kingdom.
There, he met several young Hero descendants who hadn’t yet grown into their powers—including Reg.
“Hmm…” Seeing Reg’s strong reaction, Adrian hesitated for a moment, then understood Reg’s situation.
So he was hiding his identity and starting from the bottom as an Adventurer to train himself. Truly worthy of a Hero’s bloodline.
After a brief, secretive exchange of glances, Adrian stood up again and awkwardly changed the subject:
“Ah, sorry for the confusion. By the way, Suna, where were we in our conversation? Oh yes, your father, Count Suhuo, is not in any immediate danger. I saw his name on the Departure List. He’s probably trying to escape Watchfort right now.”
“Uh… okay, I’ll stop by to check on him later.”
Suna nodded slightly. She had been discussing the Rebellion of Watcher Fortress with Adrian earlier.
Some time ago, she had sent her father there to lay low.
Nothing happened in Deya City, but Watchfort was the first to see trouble.
So what exactly was Reg’s identity? Suna and Anderson had just witnessed the way Adrian and Reg exchanged looks—could Reg be someone of special status?
Neither of them fully believed Adrian’s claim of mistaking Reg for someone else. There was definitely a big secret there.
“All right, I need to get back to work. Stay safe, and oh…”
Adrian suddenly turned, snatching the Fire Emblem staff from Suna’s hands without warning.
“I don’t know where you got this staff from, but it’s not something you’re allowed to use. It contains a certain Taboo Power. As a member of the Church, it’s my duty to take it and deal with it.”
“What?!” Suna’s mouth dropped open, her eyes helplessly fixed on the Fire Pattern Staff in Adrian’s hands.
No, that’s my future!
The staff was a Disaster-class Mage’s weapon—interesting. Adrian examined the Fire Pattern Staff carefully.
He didn’t intend to keep this treasure for himself but planned to have the Saintess identify whether the Taboo Power embedded in it posed any danger.
Some powerful beings like to seal their strength in magical items or weapons for ordinary people to use, which could severely disrupt social order.
Thirty years ago, a classic incident happened—a shepherd got into a dispute in a tavern and hit someone with a walking stick he found in the mountains.
That stick contained a trace of the Disaster “Earthquake” power. During the fight, the shepherd accidentally triggered it, causing a mountain next to the village to collapse onto the village itself.
In the end, no one in the village survived, and there wasn’t even anyone left to handle the White Event.
Such incidents have occurred repeatedly for hundreds of years, causing widespread panic. This is why the ruling class decided ordinary people must not gain powers beyond their own.
The Church of the Goddess of Life follows the same rule and constantly recovers items imbued with Taboo Power.
With that, Adrian left with the Fire Pattern Staff, completely ignoring Suna trembling behind him, her hands clenched tightly, tears beginning to well in her eyes:
“Hate it, hate it so much…”
What do you mean “as a member of the Church”? You just wanted my staff and made up a fancy excuse to take it! How dare you—thinking being Eight-level makes you so great!
Very well, then… Suna gave Adrian’s retreating figure a sharp glance, then lightly touched the Hunting Mark on her neck, making a difficult decision.
She planned to play the role of the Little Dog and have a powerful existence help her retrieve her staff!