“Treasure Chest, huh… Looks like we ended up making it easy for someone else.”
Reg’s expression was a bit regretful.
They were already too exhausted to fight for any more loot.
Even though they’d contributed the most, all they could do now was watch as other adventurers scrambled for the Treasure Chest.
As an adventurer, he really wanted to bring back some treasures before leaving.
Now, the only one among them with any combat strength left was Senior Gadelia, who hadn’t moved at all from start to finish.
Was it because she thought the BOSS was too weak to bother, or was she worried about making a scene and exposing herself?
Near the Treasure Chest, the four remaining adventurers broke out into a brawl, while the Enforcer, Reg, and the others watched from a distance.
And behind a giant boulder, the Level 2 wanted criminal Adam was also plotting his escape, planning to use anything valuable from the Treasure Chest to bribe the Border Garrison.
His companion had gotten his neck twisted by the Soundseeker for screaming too loudly, so now he could only rely on himself.
After silently waiting for five minutes, the battle among the four adventurers finally reached its conclusion.
The winner was a level eighteen warrior.
Relying on his massive warhammer, he overpowered the other three.
After confirming that the three adventurers before him had all lost their fighting strength, the warrior adventurer turned and flipped off the distant Enforcer, Reg, and the others:
“Cowards, hahaha!”
You’re not like you pampered students raised in a greenhouse— me, Tragus, I’ve been licking blood off blades since I was a kid.
I’d never give up on treasure just because I’m a little tired!
Tragus strode toward the Treasure Chest and reached out his right hand…
“What do you think, should we go and cut him off now? I feel like I can still fight.” Reg asked Suna coolly, thinking that guy was getting a bit too cocky.
“Huh? That doesn’t seem right. I don’t like being mocked either, but…”
Suna quietly pointed at the Enforcers beside her.
It always felt so stressful to break the law right in front of them, but Vice Director Koster quickly caught on to her worries:
“Miss, did you forget that Enforcers can only deal with things inside the city? We can’t do anything about what happens outside.”
Infighting among wild adventurers was far too common— no country could possibly keep up with it all.
So Koster’s meaning was clear: just go and snatch it.
“Argh!”
A low, pained cry suddenly rang out in everyone’s ears— it was Tragus’s voice.
In front of the Treasure Chest, Tragus, who had just reached out his hand, froze in place.
He felt a chill run through his body, followed by searing pain.
Turning his head, he saw that Adams had stabbed him with a Bayonet:
“You…”
Thanks to the Stealth Bracer, Tragus hadn’t noticed Adams sneaking up behind him.
Adams’s lips curled into a faint smile, and he didn’t say much before kicking Tragus aside.
Heh, you didn’t even remember how many people were still here— just a brute with no brains!
Alright, now I just need to grab the loot and escape the Mist.
With Reg and the others watching, Adams opened the Treasure Chest.
As golden light flashed, his expression instantly froze in shock.
“What’s inside that’s so valuable?”
Suna was getting anxious too. Hurry up and show us already!
Just then, two slender thorny vines shot out from the Treasure Chest and gave Adams two hard slaps!
Clutching his face, Adams stumbled back, utterly bewildered:
“What the hell?!”
Why was there a little monster hiding inside the Treasure Chest?!
The Small Thornflower Sprite crawled out of the Treasure Chest and continued to attack Adams out of instinct, leaving him trembling with rage.
From afar, Reg and the others were also dumbfounded.
So the Treasure Chest was part of the trap, too?
It was because of this Treasure Chest that the two teams of adventurers had risked everything, clashing in the BOSS’s territory and making such a ruckus that Koster, Reg, and the others had been drawn in.
And now you’re telling them the Treasure Chest was just a trap?
The adventurers schemed against each other, turned on their allies, and suffered casualties— only to end up getting slapped by a little monster…
“Looks like the Curse of the Mist punishes every greedy adventurer.”
Suna started to feel a bit of awe for the newly changed Mist.
Even a Newbie Dungeon was this full of danger.
Truth also felt a bit embarrassed and quietly added this Treasure Chest to the Optimization List:
“Ehehe, well, we’re just too poor right now, so I just tossed a little monster in the Treasure Chest at the start. Looks like we really do need a proper Treasure Chest to attract adventurers— sorry about that.”
After hacking the Thornflower Sprite to pieces, Adams was still furious.
There was no treasure, but he still had to run.
Casting one last glance at the Enforcers, he dashed at full speed toward the Mist Exit.
“You four, hurry to the exit and stop him!”
Due to his heavy injuries, Koster could only quickly order his four subordinates to intercept Adams, then leaned on Reg to slowly make his own way out of the Mist.
Suna and Gadelia followed behind, the atmosphere between the two of them a bit awkward—they barely spoke along the way…
This won’t do.
I’ll need to find a way to get her and Reg to the Royal Academy later— their relationship can’t stay strained.
So Gadelia took the initiative to break the ice:
“Suna, you actually awakened Elemental Power at the First-Tier Mist stage. That’s amazing— a lot of mages can’t even do that.”
“Mm.”
Suna nodded, not saying anything more.
So perfunctory… Looks like the junior really is mad.
But I’m not good at this social stuff— what should I do? Should I explain?
But if I said I was forced by a monster in the Mist, Suna definitely wouldn’t believe it!
Or maybe say, “Actually, I didn’t help on purpose to motivate you”?
That would probably make Suna hate me even more… So I just have to apologize?
After thinking for a long time, Gadelia finally decided to apologize:
“Um, I’m sorry.”
It’s rare for a senior to apologize to a junior.
Gadelia had barely ever apologized since she was a child, so she sounded stiff and awkward, making Suna feel a bit brushed off:
“Uh-huh.”
As the Suna Family’s heiress, Suna had her pride, but she hadn’t expected her senior to apologize.
Was this all part of some play?
Whatever the reason, since her senior had taken the initiative, she couldn’t refuse— after all, Gadelia was a fifth-tier Airwing:
“It’s fine.”
After that, Suna and Gadelia fell into a long silence again, and the atmosphere got even more awkward.
“Uh…”
Guess I really am no good at apologizing.
Maybe I’ll ask Her Highness for some tips after we get out.
As they neared the exit, the Mist ahead grew thinner and thinner, making everyone’s emotions run high.
Just then, Gadelia suddenly stopped, her face blank.
Because a raspy voice echoed in her mind:
[Heh, trying to run? Your debt isn’t paid off yet!]
“What’s wrong, Senior?” Suna asked. What was she up to now?
“I…” Gadelia had just started to speak when that voice rang out again:
[If you dare tell anyone about me, I’ll turn you into **!]
“I… I still have some things to take care of. I’m not leaving yet.”
Gadelia replied, nearly forgetting she still couldn’t leave the Mist.
She quickly borrowed some paper and a pen, wrote a Secret Message, and handed it to Suna, saying seriously:
“Please give this to Princess Wilona at the Border Garrison. It’s very important. Lastly, let me apologize to you once again!”
With that, Gadelia turned and headed back into the Mist.
“Ah, my jacket—that was expensive!” Reg looked back, only for Suna to roll her eyes and shove him out of the Mist, making them the first adventurers to walk out of the restarted Mist.
“We finally made it out!”
Outside the Mist, Enforcers and adventurers all looked their way, and the place erupted in applause.
A swarm of reporters rushed over, bombarding them with questions—they instantly became today’s headline news.
Suna didn’t linger and hurried off to the Academy—her panties were still there.
Reg, on the other hand, kindly told the reporters exactly how to leave the Mist, while Koster’s face darkened:
“We’re the first ones out? That shouldn’t be…”
The first out should’ve been the wanted criminal Adams or his four subordinates, but none of them had emerged.
Did something bad happen to them?
I’d better get back to the office and report…
Two hours later, a Secret Message arrived at the Border Garrison camp and was handed to Wilona:
“A Feathered Symbol—it’s from Gadelia. Did she already find that priest?”
Gadelia was the strongest shadow guard at Wilona’s side.
Wilona always trusted her work, but hoped she wouldn’t rough up that priest too badly.
After all, the priest had done something unforgivable to her.
Although, honestly, she didn’t really dislike him… but he had scared her, so he still needed to be punished!
Wilona opened the Secret Message and happily read Gadelia’s “victory report”:
“Encountered a mysterious ancient monster in the Mist, defenses broken in one blow, even high-tiers couldn’t win despite going all out… what?”
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