After returning from the Ice Palace, Taehyun's Dungeon Balak was stronger than ever. His D-rank dungeon was now teeming with C-rank soldiers: Orcs, Minotaurs, Fenrirs, and Lizardmen had joined his ranks, and he even had two B-rank trolls. While this made dealing with raiders easier, he was far from invincible.

'The D-rank parties I've faced made three critical mistakes,' he analyzed. 'First, they assumed there was no Dungeon Master. Second, they were unprepared for the Minotaurs. Third, they underestimated the fortress. Now that the Raider Association is aware of my existence, things won't be so simple.'

His new C-rank and B-rank soldiers were still level 1 and not yet combat-ready. Unless he took them back to the Ice Palace to power-level them, they would have to remain in reserve.

'Besides, even with a full C-rank and B-rank army, I now have to worry about C-rank raiders. And if a truly powerful D-rank party shows up, that's a different problem entirely.'

Even D-rank raiders could defeat C-rank soldiers. The mage Roman, for instance, had come prepared with a 2nd-circle magic scroll. If not for the Minotaurs' resilience, the dungeon would have fallen.

Taehyun was just about to take his new recruits back to the Ice Palace when a crimson message flared to life before him.

[A C-rank raid party has appeared from the edge of the Arid Plains.]

It was the very threat he had been dreading.

'Damn it. I only have forty-five combat-ready soldiers, and of all the rotten luck, a C-rank party shows up now.'

He urgently purchased a new set of raid-deterrent items. He couldn't afford a war of attrition; he would have to bleed them dry with guerrilla tactics.

"Master, a C-rank raid party has appeared," Riel said, her voice tense.

"I see it. This must be the party Gelix sent."

"The situation looks unfavorable, doesn't it?"

"We don't know that yet," Taehyun countered. "Half my soldiers died in the ruin, but the ones who survived are stronger than ever."

Considering the C-rank gear they now wore and their increased levels, the situation wasn't entirely hopeless. His Minotaurs had even been promoted to Prime Elite. From this point on, everything would depend on his strategy. He pulled up the raid party's information.

[Sebastian (?)]

[Rank: C (Top-Tier)]

[Level: 34]

[Class: Swordsman (?)]

[Title: Rookie Raider]

[Affiliation: Peyton Ducal Family]

[Stress: 0/100]

[Status: At ease]

[Relationship with Comrades: Millisha (Hostile), Kelburn (Hostile), Isaac (Hostile), Bernard (Hostile), Coldron (Hostile), Ryu (Hostile), Zinus (Hostile)]

[Description: A C-rank rookie raider personally hired by Viscount Crowley. He has currently formed a raid party with raiders put together by Branch Manager Gelix. Detailed information about Sebastian is completely hidden.]

'Eight members in total. The leader, Sebastian, is a top-tier C-rank rookie. The rest are D-rank, but his presence is clearly significant. But why are all his relationships marked as hostile?'

From the very first glance, Sebastian's party was an anomaly. Taehyun quickly sorted the members by class.

[Sebastian - Swordsman (?)]

[Millisha - Archer]

[Kelburn - Warrior]

[Isaac - Shieldbearer]

[Bernard - Rogue]

[Coldron - Priest]

[Ryu - Swordsman (?)]

[Zinus – Mage]

Four melee classes, including the shieldbearer. Taehyun set his new recruits aside and began deploying his veterans.

'Something feels wrong,' he thought, a knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach. 'Especially that Sebastian. His face is hidden by a hood, so I can't even read his expression.'

Taehyun pushed down his unease and focused on the approaching raiders.

---

Meanwhile, Sebastian's party had halted just outside the fortress.

"There's the fortress. What are your orders?" one of the raiders asked.

"Hmm," Sebastian hummed. "You wouldn't listen to my orders anyway. Why bother asking?"

The raider said nothing.

The raiders flinched. Sebastian gave a slight shrug and gazed up at the fortress walls.

'Let's see now.'

His old habit kicked in, one ingrained from years of living as a raider.

'First: Why is there a fortress here?'

'Second: Why are there signs of life?'

'Third: Who is its current master?'

He always asked himself three questions before acting. The answers began to form in his mind.

'It's likely a stronghold for monsters from the Arid Plains. Orcs, perhaps. But the watchtower and barricades show signs of human construction. Enslaving humans is beyond the capabilities of even intelligent orcs. Someone else must be pulling the strings. Then there are the familiars in the sky and the unsettling feeling of being watched. The fortress has been recently reinforced. The master is almost certainly…'

A smirk played on his lips as he reached the conclusion.

'A Dungeon Master.'

Gelix had warned him about one before he left, and now he was certain.

'Alright then. What's the plan? Normally, I'd bypass it to avoid delays.'

Considering the schedule, the potential waste of items, and the drain on stamina, simply ignoring the fortress was the logical choice. But Sebastian didn't think logically.

'If I were the Dungeon Master, I'd have soldiers positioned inside that fortress right now.'

His decision made, Sebastian drew his sword and addressed the party.

"Alright, I'll give you an order. Let's hit the fortress, shall we?"

"Attacking the fortress now is a poor strategic—"

"Hey, hey," Sebastian cut him off, his voice dangerously low. "Don't talk back. You know who's backing me, don't you? Besides, you're the ones who asked for an order. When an order is given, you follow it. Right?"

By invoking Viscount Crowley's name, he immediately asserted his dominance. The raiders gritted their teeth but reluctantly drew their weapons.

"There we go. That's the spirit," Sebastian drawled. "Now, listen up. The oh-so-great Dungeon Master of Balak is probably watching us through those familiars in the sky. It doesn't matter if we fail to take the fortress. This is just a show. All for appearances. Got it?"

"Understood," Ryu, the other swordsman, said, stepping forward.

"H-hey!" another raider protested.

But Ryu had already set an example. Swept up in the moment, the others began preparing for the assault.

"Alright. Attack!" Sebastian commanded.

At his signal, the raiders charged. Their first target was the barricades blocking the main gate.

"Just two stage-2 barricades. Let's make this quick, shall we?" Sebastian called out.

"We know!" one of the warriors snapped back.

"I like that fire!"

The melee raiders vented their frustration on the wooden structures. The mage, Zinus, moved to join them, but Sebastian stopped him.

"Not you. Conserve your mana."

"Wh-what!"

"I said conserve it," Sebastian repeated, his eyes flashing with killing intent.

"A-alright," Zinus stammered, intimidated into falling back.

With the mage in reserve, Sebastian looked up at the fortress walls and hummed a cheerful, predatory tune.

"Now then. It's about time for them to make their appearance."

---

[The barricades of Balak Fortress are under attack.]

[The first barricade of Balak Fortress has been destroyed.]

"They're attacking the fortress?!"

The red message jolted Taehyun from his seat. Any C-rank raider with a shred of sense would bypass the fortress. Yet this Sebastian had ordered a direct assault. Even if he knew a Dungeon Master was present, it was a reckless move.

'Did he do it knowing the risks? Or is he just an idiot?' The question hung in his mind for a second before the answer became chillingly clear. 'No. He knew.'

The proof was Sebastian's relaxed, almost bored posture on the monitor. Taehyun bit his lip and issued a command to the scout goblins stationed on the fortress walls.

[The scout goblins of Balak Fortress begin to respond.]

[Ten elite high-rank scout goblins draw their bowstrings.]

[Accuracy 70%]

Firing from the high ground of the fortress walls gave them a significant accuracy bonus. But as the arrows flew, the unexpected happened.

[Mage Zinus has used the 1st Circle Mana Skill 'Barrier'.]

[Mage Zinus has used the 1st Circle Mana Skill 'Barrier'.]

[Mage Zinus has used the 1st Circle Mana Skill 'Barrier'.]

[Mage Zinus has used the 1st Circle Mana Skill 'Barrier'.]

[Mage Zinus has used the 1st Circle Mana Skill 'Barrier'.]

[Mage Zinus has used the 1st Circle Mana Skill 'Barrier'.]

[Mage Zinus has used the 1st Circle Mana Skill 'Barrier'.]

[Mage Zinus has used the 1st Circle Mana Skill 'Barrier'.]

Eight shimmering shields of magic materialized in an instant, one for each raider.

"No way," Taehyun breathed, his eyes wide with disbelief. "The mage wasn't attacking the barricade?"

After casting the spells in rapid succession, Zinus collapsed from exhaustion, but it was too late. Every single raider had deflected the arrows, completely unharmed.

Taehyun's blood ran cold as he watched the raid party, completely unscathed.

'He planned for this, too?' The confidence in his eyes wavered, replaced by a flicker of doubt. Sebastian's party had already broken through the barricades and was now hammering at the fortress gate. Grinding his teeth, Taehyun ordered the mounted crossbows to fire. 'It's not over yet. If you saw one move ahead, I saw two.'

But at that very moment, the raiders were rapidly retreating from the fortress.

[The C-rank Sebastian Raid Party is fleeing from battle.]

[You have won the battle to defend the fortress.]

[The battle experience of the Elite Advanced Scout Goblins has increased slightly.]

[Loyalty has increased by 1.]

He had won, but it was a pyrrhic victory. The fortress was heavily damaged, its gate shattered. Taehyun stared at the icons of his celebrating goblins, his fists trembling with rage. 'I fell for that bastard's mind games.' His first foray into psychological warfare had ended in a resounding defeat.

He tried to repair the fortress, but the System Shop had been locked the moment the raid began. With no other choice, he dispatched his scout goblins and remaining soldiers in pursuit. Just then, more crimson messages flared to life.

[The C-rank Sebastian Raid Party is eliminating the familiar summons in the Barren Plains.]

[Screen sharing with the D-rank familiar summons has been disconnected.]

"…Damn it."

He was blind, with no way of tracking their movements. Only then did the full weight of Sebastian's strategy crash down on him; he had been thoroughly outplayed at every turn. 'What is he planning? Is he trying to provoke me by cutting off my vision right after he retreated?' According to the intel he'd gathered, not even seasoned C-rank raiders employed such sophisticated tactics. This was all Sebastian. 'A 'rookie raider,' my ass.'

The raid party would undoubtedly use this opportunity to cross the Barren Plains and enter the Forest of Silence. Acting quickly, Taehyun sent his scout goblins ahead into the woods. From this point on, it was a pure battle of wits. 'It's not over,' he told himself, refusing to give up. 'I can still make them pay.' His eyes remained glued to the goblins' screens, searching for any sign of his enemy.

---

Meanwhile, Sebastian brought his party to a halt after swiftly crossing the plains.

"We'll rest here."

"Hold on," one of the raiders protested. "Shouldn't we push into the forest while we have the chance?"

"We could," Sebastian allowed, "but we're fated to spend a night in the forest regardless. The monsters he sends after us will catch up eventually."

"So what's the plan?"

"What do you think?" Sebastian settled onto the ground and flicked a finger dismissively. "We create a diversion."

---

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