'If I take the territory, its people automatically become mine,' Taehyun schemed. 'But if I move now, I'll just become a target for those two lords, and I won't be able to manage it anyway. I will bide my time.'

He could not make any major moves while he was still only C-rank. For now, he would focus on scouting the territory and expanding his line of sight. He dispatched his goblin scouts, sending them out in steady waves.

Meanwhile, Grai, now over level 30, began to produce tangible results from his training regimen. The outcome was impressive.

[Through Grai's training, the Strength of the High Goblins has increased by 1.]

[Through Grai's training, the Endurance of the High Minotaurs has increased by 1.]

[Through Grai's training, the High Orcs have mastered Lowest-Grade Swordsmanship.]

Seeing their stats rise after such a short time was a phenomenal result. The orcs, in particular, trusted Grai as one of their own and had eagerly taken to his instruction, even learning the basics of swordsmanship. Grai had become the de facto commander of Balak's army.

As good news poured in, so did the raid parties. Using the world map illuminated by his scouts, Taehyun sent his wyverns on aerial reconnaissance missions.

[A D-rank raid party has appeared from the edge of the Barren Plains.]

[A D-rank raid party has appeared from the edge of the Barren Plains.]

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

The raiders were now under the constant watch of his wyverns. Each time a party appeared, Taehyun dispatched Grai and his soldiers. At first, it was a test to see how they would fare, but Grai, the hero of his tribe, swept through the raiders with ease. It happened again and again; most D-rank parties were slaughtered before they even reached the forest.

"Storm Splitter!" Grai roared.

"Aaargh!"

"What the hell is that orc?!"

His signature skill, which cleaved through every enemy in its path, was nothing short of a massacre. Grai and his ambush squad now completely dominated the Barren Plains. The few C-rank parties that managed to breach the dungeon were met with a gruesome end, thanks to his new traps and installations. Balak had firmly cemented its reputation as a fearsome C-rank dungeon.

---

"You still have no intention of speaking with me?" Taehyun asked, trying to keep the frustration from his voice.

"…Get lost," Larkan spat from his icy prison.

"I will visit you again."

Taehyun bowed slightly, though the prince did not even turn to look at him. Sighing, Taehyun turned away. He had tried to reason with the cursed alchemist several times, but the man was an impenetrable wall of hostility.

'He must be royalty, because he's exceptionally difficult,' Taehyun thought bitterly. 'To ignore me just because I'm a Dungeon Master… is this NPC even recruitable?'

He had tried talking to him every time he came to the palace to grind for resources, but his patience was wearing thin. With no other choice, he returned to Balak.

[Dungeon Name: Balak]

[Master: Taehyun Yoo]

[Rank: C (Stage 2)]

[Location: A cave deep within the Silent Valley, on the western frontier of the Astral Continent.]

[Supporter: Riel of Healing (B)]

[Boss: Elite High Troll (2)]

[Mercenary: None]

[Guardian and Keeper: Orc Swordsman Grai]

[Soldiers: High Orc (30), High Lizardman (20), High Fenrir (5), High Goblin (33), High Imp (21), High Wild Dog (13), Highest Minotaur (2), High Minotaur (5), Dallas Village Resident (20), Intermediate Wyvern (3)]

[Monsters: High Orc (30), High Lizardman (20), High Fenrir (5), High Goblin (33), High Imp (21), High Wild Dog (13), Highest Minotaur (2), High Minotaur (5), Intermediate Wyvern (3)]

[Servants and Maids: Dallas Village Resident (20)]

[Traps: Sticky Trap, Hunting Trap × 2, Arrow Trap × 2, Deep Pit × 2, Mana Block Trap, Rolling Boulder, Wall Spikes, Binding Net]

[Installations: Abyss Flower Landrozel, Madria's Bookshelf, Ghastly Spider Egg, Glittering Sack, Thick Chest, Low-grade Mana Turret]

[Modifications: Corridor Change (Stage 2), Room Position Change (Stage 2), Corridor Length Change (Stage 2), Room Size Expansion (Stage 2), Forest Environment (Stage 1), Corridor Modification (Stage 2)]

[Rooms: 10]

[Dungeon Status: Balak's forest environment is ideal for its soldiers. Under the command of Orc Swordsman Grai, training is continuous, and morale and loyalty are increasing daily. The dungeon's interior has become a complex maze of modified rooms and corridors. With upgraded traps and installations, it is now a C-rank dungeon that even raiders have come to fear.]

In just one month, Balak had evolved dramatically.

[Fortress Name: Balak Fortress]

[Master: Taehyun Yoo]

[Rank: C]

[Location: Center of the Barren Plains, on the western frontier of the Astral Continent.]

[Soldiers: High Orc (15), High Goblin (20), High Wild Dog (13), High Imp (10), Intermediate Wyvern (3)]

[Modifications: Watchtower × 5 (Stage 2), Barricade × 4 (Stage 3), Mounted Crossbow × 5 (Stage 2), Double Fortress Gate (Stage 2), Sturdy Fortress Wall (Stage 1)]

The fortress, now also C-rank, served its purpose as an outpost perfectly.

Returning to his chambers, Taehyun reviewed the latest engagement report from Grai's ambush squad.

[You have thwarted the D-rank raid party.]

[Thwart Rank: B]

[You have acquired 3,000 Zen as a B-rank thwart bonus.]

[Experience of Balak's soldiers increases by 150.]

[Combat experience of Wild Dogs has slightly increased.]

[Combat experience of Goblins has slightly increased.]

[Combat experience of Imps has slightly increased.]

[Combat experience of Orcs has slightly increased.]

[Loyalty of Balak's soldiers increases by 1 for thwarting a D-rank raid.]

Victory, as expected. They had utterly annihilated the dozen D-rank raiders. Taehyun met Grai as he returned.

"Looks like you killed them all on the spot again," he commented.

"I attempted to capture a few, but they were not worth the effort," Grai stated flatly.

"Fair enough."

"How long must I continue to deal with these small fry?" Grai demanded, his face a mask of dissatisfaction. The recent raids clearly had not been a challenge for him.

'From your perspective, it's basically smurfing,' Taehyun thought. Grai was on another level, toying with beginners. No one short of another B-rank could hope to match him. But such an opponent was not entirely out of reach.

A slow, predatory smile spread across Taehyun's face. "Things will be different starting tomorrow."

Grai's eyes narrowed. "I look forward to it. You are not like other Dungeon Masters. I trust you do not make empty promises."

"You can count on it," Taehyun replied, his gaze fixed on the fairy-shaped icon that had just appeared on his world map. "It seems a rather large fish has just taken the bait."

A very large fish indeed. A C-rank dungeon that possessed its own B-rank Guardian.

---

At that same moment, Hyuntae, Master of the C-rank Dungeon Lasten, stared in disbelief as his long-stalked prey walked right into his territory.

"Is he an idiot, or is he doing this on purpose?" he muttered.

"Master Hyuntae, there is no chance this was intentional," his goblin supporter, Kinjo, simpered. "It appears Balak is targeting Viscount Crowley's territory."

"Why?"

"My sources say Viscount Crowley's forces invaded Balak recently and never returned. He likely plans to use the Viscount's life as leverage to seize the territory," the long-nosed goblin explained with a greasy smile.

Hyuntae let out a scornful laugh. Viscount Crowley's territory? The man had been a pillar of the neutral faction for years. While his forces were depleted, his lands could not be taken with the threat of one man's life, not with two rival lords circling like sharks. Hadn't Hyuntae himself been waiting for a better opportunity?

"And this rookie, who just hit C-rank, thinks he can take a whole territory with one captured Viscount?" Hyuntae scoffed. "It's so absurd I have to laugh. There is no way he was the one who stopped Sebastian."

He still burned with the humiliation from the last assembly. He had been the undisputed number one C-rank Master, a record shattered by this one newcomer who had somehow fended off the infamous Sebastian while still D-rank.

"I will never forgive him," Hyuntae snarled. "I will prove to everyone that Balak is nothing."

He had already sent a tracking party after Balak's scouting soldiers. According to Kinjo, his opponent did not even know Lasten's location.

"The fool," Hyuntae chuckled darkly. "He will die without ever knowing my dungeon was right next to Crowley's lands.

He had made sure the other Masters kept his location a secret. Even if this newcomer knew the name 'Lasten,' he would not have the connections to find it.

"Alright, Kinjo. What is our next move?"

"Yes, Master. In my opinion, Balak will soon dispatch his main force to seize the territory. If he is not a complete moron, he will leave a token defense, but his numbers will be drastically reduced."

It was the perfect trap. While Balak's army was away, Lasten would strike the dungeon itself. Once he had the Crystal Sphere, he could toy with its master to his heart's content.

"Brilliant, Kinjo! I could not have gotten this far without you!"

"You flatter me, Master! Muahaha!"

"Good. Handle the rest. I am going to see Mederia."

"Leave it all to me!"

Entrusting the final preparations to his supporter, Hyuntae went to Mederia's chambers.

"Mederia!" he called out.

She opened her eyes, roused from sleep. Emerald hair cascaded around a face of flawless, pale skin. Slender legs were tangled in the sheets. She was the very image of a fairy from a storybook, a perfect, human-sized doll lying on the bed.

She said nothing, her vacant eyes fixing on him. There was no light in their depths, but Hyuntae did not seem to notice or care. He pulled her into an embrace, whispering against her ear.

"Listen, Mederia. I am about to capture the Master of Balak. The one who humiliated me at the assembly. Can you believe it? He has walked right into my domain. Isn't it hilarious?"

"I am going to strike his dungeon while he's distracted with the territory. And you are going to help me. Understand?"

She did not answer, did not even nod. But Hyuntae beamed, lost in his own triumph.

"Do not worry. It will be easy. He's just a rookie who got lucky. And…" His hands began to move, slowly stripping away her clothes. She offered no resistance, her body limp and still. "As long as I have you, nothing can go wrong. I love you, Mederia."

It was not love, but a corrupted, one-sided obsession. The fairy, her purity stolen, had lost her emotions along with it. Oblivious, Hyuntae busied himself with her pliant body.

---

Four fairies were in pursuit. Five goblin scouts were on patrol.

On the surface, it was a simple game of cat and mouse. But the fairies could only see four goblins.

'That vision priority trick Junhyun used is damn useful,' Taehyun thought with a grim smile.

He was using the exact same tactic. One of his five goblins had vision priority, rendering it invisible to the enemy. The fairies, confident in their successful pursuit, were completely oblivious to the fact that they were the ones being watched.

'Now, how should I deal with this amateur who sent a tracking party without any countermeasures?'

Hyuntae was convinced Balak was scouting the Crowley territory, thinking, 'How much information could a brand-new C-rank Master possibly have?' He must have been certain his location was a secret.

'He'll wait for my main force to move toward the territory, then he'll strike my base.'

Hyuntae had made a fatal error: he had underestimated his opponent. Taehyun surveyed the map, tracing the terrain between Crowley's lands, Lasten, and the Barren Plains. A cold smile touched his lips.

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