We dragged the thieves along as we headed for the exit of the dungeon.
On the way, we discovered two swordsmen who had been moving with this group, but upon hearing the situation, it turned out they had only met today. They had been camping near the entrance to the third floor when they were asked to form a temporary team.
After explaining the situation, they offered to help, so I asked them to inform the guild in advance, after getting confirmation from Aila.
"Still, I wonder if these guys didn't know Aila's rank? If they knew, they probably wouldn't have dared to challenge her, let alone me."
I don't know much about her rank either.
"My rank is completely private, so there's no way they could have known. Also, the team's rank is generally treated the same as the leader's rank. So, they probably judged it to be the same."
Regardless of the members' ranks, the team leader's rank takes precedence as the team's rank.
That doesn't mean they can do whatever they want, though.
However, if that's the case, both Aila and Ayane would be treated as A-rank.
These guys are D-rank probably because they are not suitable for higher ranks in terms of personality. I don't know if their skills meet the criteria, but they probably wouldn't have made it to C-rank even without my involvement.
D-rank adventurers stealing A-rank prey illegally. I wonder what kind of punishment awaits them.
"Still, Aila also seemed experienced in dealing with these guys. Has she had this kind of experience before?"
"The dungeon is almost completely cut off from the outside world, making it a lawless area. And becoming an adventurer only requires attending a single training session, which is very easy. Therefore, since anyone can become one, such incidents happen frequently. Low-rank adventurers are valued for their labor in collecting magic stones and as potential combatants in emergencies. While higher-level dungeons naturally weed out such individuals, it's not absolute. Therefore, in less crowded floors or hunting grounds, new faces are considered suspicious. High-rank adventurers all have their own countermeasures."
"Is that so... I need to study this area more. Aila, can you teach me?"
"Of course, Master."
Aila smiled. Her face looked very beautiful.
I averted my gaze to the terminal to hide my admiration.
"Still, this app is convenient, but most of its functions go offline as soon as we enter the dungeon. It's a hassle. Information updates automatically while we're outside, so we don't have trouble searching for items... But it's tough not being able to contact the outside world immediately."
"No, Master. There is a slight misunderstanding in your perception. First, have you noticed the black pillars built at the stairs of the first and second floors?"
I recalled what Aila said.
Come to think of it, I saw them at the entrance to the first floor, near the stairs to the second floor, and at the entrance to the second floor.
"Yeah, I remember seeing them in 'Heart Dungeon' too, though not in 'Unlucky Hole'..."
"Yes. Those are like magic stone-based radio towers. They are still in the development stage, but they allow text-only communication methods like the 'Bulletin Board' to be used in their vicinity. However, the connection is very weak, so voice calls and large data updates are impossible. Since normal radio waves do not reach between the dungeon and the surface, such devices are necessary. Last year, a system for voice communication within the same floor of the dungeon was developed, but it is still impractical and has many inconveniences."
A communication device limited to within the dungeon... Wasn't that the one I used in 'Heart Dungeon'?
It was convenient, but it broadcast to everyone with the same terminal. Also, there was some large specialized equipment installed at the entrance, so it might be a while before it becomes widespread.
"Therefore, if these guys were in the third floor this morning, it's understandable that they didn't know about the promotion. If they had been diligently checking the 'Bulletin Board,' it might have been different."
Aila looked down at her terminal.
The 'Bulletin Board.' I don't usually check it, but it seems to be quite active with promotion news.
"Changing the subject, those two said they were camping. But do they really need to do that? The third floor isn't that far away."
"The third floor yields treasure chests, and many people stay there to earn a steady income."
"Wow."
Come to think of it, the 'First Star' group's equipment was very dirty when we first met them, which didn't seem like just half a day. They might have been camping for a few days and were on their way back.
"Camping. Places where people gather like that seem like prime spots for these guys to cause trouble."
"Adventurers using camping sites understand and are wary of this. If discovered, they would be immediately beaten up, so such individuals don't take risky actions. Are you interested in camping, Master?"
"Hmm... Long-term hunting means working until your inventory is full, right? I fill up instantly, so I don't think I need to stay overnight."
"Hehe, that's true."
Besides, with 'Swift II' and 'Rapid II,' I can easily run through, and the distance isn't a big issue.
We talked casually while quickly moving through the second floor.
If we ran at full speed, the guys we were dragging might die, so we had to be careful.
The second floor is a gentle grassland, but the first floor has a rocky, uneven terrain.
As we moved, the guys kept bumping into things. The pain woke them up, but they couldn't untie the ropes, and of course, we had to gag them to prevent noise.
According to Aila, the ropes are made from special dungeon materials. They are unimpressive in appearance and unpopular among adventurers, but they perform well and are used for such purposes.
We were looked at strangely on the way, but thanks to the advance notice, we managed to escape the dungeon without much fuss.
āāāāāāāā
When we arrived at the guild, we were greeted by the branch manager, Hana, Aki, Maki, and some people who looked like security guards.
The branch manager, who usually doesn't show such a fierce expression, glared at the four guys, who shrank like frogs being stared at by a snake.
"Challenging A-rank adventurers, what a bunch of fools."
"!? !? !? !?"
The guys' gazes turned to me. Ah, the secret is out.
"We will take custody of these individuals."
"Please do."
The guys looked like they wanted to say something, but I handed them over to the security guards without hesitation. As I watched them being taken away, Maki couldn't hold back and jumped at me.
"Shota!"
"Whoa. Hehe, did I make you worry?"
"Yes... Uh..."
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
As I calmed Maki, the branch manager cleared his throat.
"Ahem. Amachi, let's talk over there."
"Sure."
We moved to the usual conference room. There, Aila played the recordings in order and explained the situation in detail.
"Speak of the devil... To meet such a group of fools who use their adventurer ranks as a shield so soon. What incredible 'luck.'"
"Amachi, Aila, both of you have done a great job. Such individuals do exist in 'Beginner Dungeons,' but they rarely show their true colors unless they are sure of their superiority. They usually put on a good face, making them hard to spot. You've done us a great service, thank you."
...Hmm.
At first, I thought our encounter was 'unlucky,' but from this reaction, it seems these guys were a significant hindrance to the guild's operations.
So, capturing them would be beneficial for them.
Yeah, this was lucky!
"We will pursue their other crimes and impose severe penalties to set an example. I will also try to expedite the temporary closure of the first floor as an apology for this incident. Thank you very much."
Wow, this is a bonus.
According to them, the possible punishments include 'permanent revocation of the adventurer license,' which is certain.
If other crimes are discovered, they might also face 'forced labor in magic stone collection,' 'experimental punishment in the laboratory for skills and items,' and other severe penalties.
Well, since they are D-rank, their stats are much higher than those of ordinary people, and they might have skills. As valuable and dangerous resources, they can't be released into the wild or placed in regular prisons.
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