The names, the alliances, the tension between factions… He listened to all of it as he pieced together the bigger picture.

Just like what the Guildmaster had mentioned, the 17th Dungeon wasn't just a local discovery anymore. It was becoming a battlefield of influence of those large organizations from the capital.

'Even Crown Prince himself is sending people…' he mused silently.

He was sure that there would be a lot of local adventurer recruitment to fill their numbers soon.

In any case, he dipped the last piece of bread into his stew and finished the meal, still pretending not to care…

'Well, if they see my mayonnaise, maybe I can collaborate with them to earn more or something?' He thought.

When he finished, he stacked his dishes neatly and stood up.

"How much?" he asked the woman.

"Sixty coppers…" she said with a smile while wiping the counter. "A bit pricey for some, but the meat's fresh today."

Rayven nodded and carefully counted out the coins from his pouch.

"Worth it…" he said honestly.

The woman seemed surprised. "You're polite for a mage. Most just toss their money and leave."

Rayven didn't expect that reply.

The mages truly had a terrible reputation.

Well, most of them were probably unbothered to socialize with ordinary people, while those who bothered were most likely arrogant Mages who grew up in a sheltered environment.

Rayven then left the shop quietly…

Whoosh~

The night breeze then greeted him as soon as he stepped outside. It was getting cold…

As he looked around, he noticed that the streets were bright thanks to lampposts with luminescent crystals.

The crystals seemed to be newly replaced as they were brighter than usual.

"Hmm… It's already late… I wonder if the preparation is already complete." He muttered, referring to the Mayonnaise's Free Samples…

He then adjusted his cloak and started walking back to the Golden Coast's estate.

Behind him, the woman in the eatery shook her head softly.

"A mage eating pork stew and counting coppers…" she muttered with a laugh. "The world really is changing."

***

The next day, Rayven asked Gene about the progress they had made regarding their mayonnaise business and confirmed that everything was going well.

They just had to wait for four more days, and they could open the shop!

After checking on his Pen and Mayonnaise business, Rayven checked his current mission.

[ Mission 2: Trial of Insight - Path Synchronization (Mystic Explorer) ]

Objective: Successfully uncover a hidden anomaly, secret chamber, or sealed relic using your own abilities.

Requirement: Use a sensory-type or detection-type spell during the process.

[ Reward:

Tier Advancement Qualification +1

1 Rare-Grade Spell Ticket

300 Gold Bonus ]

He then looked at the paper that Stella had given him for this mission.

[ Guild Commission Report: Unidentified Ruins in Headhunt Valley ]

[ Status: Incomplete Exploration ]

[ Description: A hidden underground structure discovered near Headhunt Valley after a minor quake. The first exploration team reported unusual mana surges from the site, but further investigation was halted due to toxic fumes and a faint distortion field in the air. The phenomenon caused mild disorientation and nausea among the members. The team retreated without completing the survey. ]

[ Objective: Confirm the nature of the structure. Determine whether it is an abandoned shelter, a tomb, or a remnant of an ancient settlement, or something else. ]

[ Reward: 10 silver coins. ]

"Hmm… I should form a team on this one…" He muttered.

Of course, going alone into an unknown ruin filled with miasma wasn't ideal.

So he decided to form a small team.

After a few hours, three familiar figures met him outside the northern gate.

"Rayven, you're late…"

Rayven chuckled as he saw Miki, Nara, and Thyruz waiting, all in light travel gear.

"I have to prepare some snacks for us." Rayven replied as he looked at the group.

Miki's long black hair was tied in a neat ponytail, with her sword sheathed across her back.

"You really took your time," she muttered.

"Didn't know I was on a timer." He replied with a chuckle.

Nara, on the other hand, noticed that bag Rayven was carrying.

"Let me guess… Did you bring your mayonnaise experiments?"

Rayven smirked. "Actually, yes. Sandwich with mayo, ham, and crisp greens. I brought extras."

"Of course you did." Nara said with excitement. Anything Rayven made was delicious.

"Do you ever get tired of your own creations?"

Thyruz, the gray-bearded enchanter, chuckled at their conversation.

Rayven grinned and handed them each a wrapped sandwich.

The old man took it gratefully. "Hmm… good aroma. Reminds me of the markets in Helmoria. Though I doubt they use this… mayonnaise thing of yours."

"Because they lack the vision to create this miracle…" Rayven said proudly.

Miki shook her head with a soft laugh. "You and your condiments. Anyway, are we ready to go?"

Rayven nodded. "Headhunt Valley's not that far north. I'm even guessing that the appearance of that thing was related to the 17th Dungeon nearby, so we have to be cautious, even if it wasn't noted as a dangerous mission."

Got it…

The group then boarded a prepared wagon and traveled north.

However, it only took them a few minutes before they were dropped off near the valley. They still had to walk for half an hour or so.

As they got closer, Miki finally asked Rayven about the full contents of their mission. She only knew about the exploration after all.

"So, what's the real objective here? The Guild's mission post mentioned 'strange mana fluctuations' but didn't specify."

Rayven looked at the paper slip tucked in his sleeve.

"Yeah. It says low-level monsters have been appearing near the Headhunt Quarry, mostly Feral Beasts with a few Lesser Beasts… I asked around, and a few adventurers suspect residual dungeon energy was leaking from the fissures or something similar."

Of course, it was only speculation because the dungeon was in another space… If there was a leak of energy aside from the known entrance. It would be a huge problem.

"In any case… We're not here to fight anything strong. Just investigate the source, record the mana patterns, and collect samples if possible."

Nara yawned… "Sounds easy enough."

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