In the council chamber of the Adventurer's Guild, the atmosphere was heavy.

The same "4+1" core members were present: Fa'er, Solalin, Shi Wu, Edin, and Lillian standing behind Fa'er.

Solalin clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles slightly whitened, and spoke first, her voice low and filled with self-reproach: "It's my fault. When we encountered casualties on the second floor, I should have been alert to the situation spiraling out of control and led a retreat immediately. My underestimation and aggressiveness led to this disastrous defeat."

Shi Wu spoke next, his tone carrying an unmistakable hint of regret: "The responsibility is mine. There was an opportunity to kill that 'King of Puki,' but I failed to seize it, allowing it to escape."

Edin's gaze swept over the two, pondering whether he should also symbolically admit to a fault?

But upon reflection, aside from fleeing faster than anyone during the retreat... it seemed he hadn't made any fatal mistakes?

In the end, he remained silent.

"Alas," Fa'er raised his hand, stopping the self-examinations of the two, "the root cause lies in my misjudgment. The sheer number of over two thousand Puki, the King of Puki with Diamond level strength, plus the carefully arranged ambushes and traps... these far exceeded my initial estimates."

He looked around the room, admitting, "I was too impatient, hastily making plans based on false or outdated information, leading to this defeat. The primary responsibility rests with me."

"What about after that...?" Edin asked tentatively.

"We will gather and reorganize intelligence and formulate a new raiding plan," Fa'er answered decisively.

At this moment, Lillian, standing behind Edin, spoke softly, with a hint of doubt: "Can't we... try negotiating and seeking peaceful coexistence with them? Since they possess considerable intelligence, shouldn't communication through 'telepathy' be possible? This time, the Puki released all the people back, why not try to communicate?"

Fa'er turned his gaze to Lillian, his expression complicated, with understanding, but more with an unshakeable sense of realism: "Regrettably, Lillian, that won't work."

His voice was clear and calm, reasoning piece by piece:

"The Purple Crystal Dungeon is not some insignificant overseas island that can be occupied without consequences.

It's a source of various resources, Demon Crystals, herbs, demon materials...

These Puki haven't just occupied one floor, they've infiltrated the entire Underground City and are still expanding!

If left unchecked, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Even putting aside the resource production issue—"

Fa'er paused, raising his voice: "This location is at the rear of the United Kingdom! The friction with the Hermit Empire is intensifying, and war could break out any day. If we don't deal with these Puki before that, they will become a huge unstable factor once the war starts."

He looked directly at Lillian, delivering a cold conclusion: "Unless that King of Puki came out of the dungeon right now and placed itself under human control, we must find a way to resolve it. Do you think a demon leader who just defeated a human raiding party, displaying great strength and intelligence, would accept such humiliating terms?"

Lillian was silent for a moment, then lightly shook her head.

Just after achieving victory, to surrender unconditionally?

That indeed seems unlikely.

"Yes, absolutely impossible," Fa'er's voice was decisive, "So, any so-called communication is redundant now. We can talk after we've defeated it!"

Solalin nodded silently, although the Puki had just spared her life, reality is far more complex.

She was, first and foremost, the Church's sharpest sword, and her cold duty always outweighed personal feelings.

It could only be said that if the King of Puki fell into her hands in the end, she would try to offer it a choice rather than kill it directly...

Then she raised the most immediate issue: "But right now, our manpower is insufficient to support a new wave of attacks, right?"

In terms of regular forces, adventurers can't be relied upon anymore. With more than one-third either dead or seriously injured from the horrific mission, high rewards aside, few would be willing to undertake it.

Issuing another guild mission would be a waste of effort.

In terms of elite forces, the terrifying strength exhibited by the Puki is nerve-wracking.

Even with Maid Lillian included, against the Diamond Level King of Puki and its massive Fungal Army, their little strength seems like a drop in the ocean.

Fa'er was fully aware of this: "Therefore, I will wait for the 'expert' team heading to the core to take action, and in the meantime, I will attempt to recruit a few more Diamond Level adventurers through special channels."

"Um..." Edin suddenly spoke, considering his words, suggested, "Why not consider seeking more external aid?"

"External aid?" Fa'er instinctively looked at Solalin; the Church was defined as the most important external aid for this operation, but—

Solalin shook her head slightly, her tone apologetic: "I'm afraid not. The Church's current core forces are all focused on capturing spies from the Empire, and they are stretched too thin."

Edin: "I wasn't referring to the Church, but to Duke Alama and the Saint Claire Family. The Purple Crystal Dungeon is located on their fief, and while it falls under Guild jurisdiction, should anything happen causing disastrous consequences, their territory would be hit first! Why not seek some support from them?"

Fa'er sighed softly: "The logic isn't wrong. But Duke Alama is currently leading the main forces at the border, confronting the Hermit Empire. The forces left behind in the fief, I suppose, are similarly bogged down in the quagmire of spy-cleansing like the Church is, extracting manpower to aid us is uncertain."

Edin stepped forward, with a barely noticeable sense of certainty: "To be honest, I am somewhat acquainted with the Duke's daughter. I could send a letter, and if something comes of it, we'd be pleasantly surprised; even if it doesn't, we lose nothing."

"You know the Duke's daughter?" Fa'er's eyes flashed brilliantly, murmuring.

That is not altogether impossible.

Edin's usual sophisticated, noble demeanor isn't without basis.

Fa'er knew he was a genuine noble—although only a viscount of a long-declined, unlanded title.

But a Diamond Level adventurer and nobleman could well have met the Duke's daughter at some social gathering.

After all, as Edin said, sending a letter and receiving even a squad of soldiers' aid from the Duke would be a worthwhile trade.

If it sinks without a trace, there's no cost.

"Good!" Fa'er decisively said, "Then I'll trouble you, Lord Edin, to send a letter. If we succeed, you'll be duly rewarded!"

-----------------

[Level Up: LV56→LV57]

[Seven Sins of Greed Activated]

[Plundered Skill: Divine Barrier LV2]

[Plundered Skill: Heavy Armor Mastery LV4→LV5]

[Plundered Skill: Light Magic LV3→LV4]

[Plundered Skill: Universal Language LV8→LV9]

...

...

...

In the sixth layer of the Underground City, a certain green mushroom was reviewing its plans.

If things were handled properly this time, maybe it could expand smoothly to the surface.

Although the main goal remains the capture of the Dungeon Core.

But... what if it fails?

What if this Underground City is too far gone, and even the core cannot be salvaged?

Plan for failure before victory, giving oneself more escape routes is always right!

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