With the emergence of Balak's three dungeons, the West was experiencing an unprecedented influx of raiders. The collapse of the Anti-Balak Alliance had wiped out most of the region's C-rank dungeons, but the appearance of a new, sprawling labyrinth was capturing everyone's attention. Furthermore, with the original Balak's ascension to B-rank, even elite raiders were now flocking to the once-neglected territory. The cities of the West buzzed with activity, and the local branches of the Raider Association were swamped.

"That new dungeon where Lasten used to be is supposed to be a decent challenge, right? I heard it's C-rank."

"I never realized the West had so many D-rank dungeons. I thought the Holy Kingdom invasion killed off most of the Dungeon Masters."

"What? No, it's because of all the newly summoned ones."

"There are a good number of B-rank dungeons, too. And now Balak is B-rank. That's why all these B-rank raiders are showing up."

"There aren't many C-rank dungeons left, but a C-rank labyrinth is more than enough to keep us busy. Let's head out now!"

For raiders from other regions, the West had become a new frontier, a paradise of unconquered dungeons they had long ignored. From D-rank novices to seasoned B-rank veterans, they settled in the various cities, preparing for their conquests. Even nobles and powerful raid guilds began to take notice, promising their full support to the local branch managers. The West was on the cusp of a new era.

---

The small city of Partren was a prime example of this newfound vitality. Of all the association branches, it was the closest to Balak and its labyrinth, making it a natural staging ground. The streets were perpetually crowded with raiders preparing to depart for their next challenge.

"Which dungeon should we hit today?"

"Look at all the B-rankers around. They must be getting ready to take a shot at Balak."

"Step right up! Get your gear here! Perfectly suited for any raider!"

The city was alive with the familiar sounds of adventure and commerce. Raiders scanned bulletin boards for quests and dungeon intel while merchants hawked their wares from every corner.

Suddenly, a hush fell over the street as a new group of raiders appeared at the city gates. All eyes turned toward them, and whispers of shock and awe rippled through the crowd.

"L-look! It's Draxler! He's one of the best B-rank raiders in the world!"

"It's not just him! That's Shape, Roquin, and Alex, too!"

"What are raiders on the verge of A-rank doing in a place like this?!"

These were the titans of the B-rank, legends who had each conquered over a hundred dungeons. They were the Raider Association's prized assets, the next generation of A-rank candidates, and they had just arrived in the backwater West.

Ignoring the stunned stares, the group strode directly into the Partren branch office, leaving a trail of murmurs in their wake. Something big was about to happen.

---

The door swung shut behind the last man. The four newcomers took their seats around a large table, their gazes fixed on the man waiting for them. It was Branch Manager Gelix, the very reason they had traveled all this way—the man who had captured the interest of Count Dinen himself.

'So these are the top-tier B-rank raiders,' Gelix thought, calmly meeting their scrutiny as he assessed each one in turn.

On the left sat Draxler. With a massive spear strapped to his back and a helmet that obscured his entire face, his appearance was as imposing as his reputation. 'A Spear Knight, they called him. Said he was a man of few words. His presence is anything but ordinary.'

Gelix met Draxler's piercing gaze for a moment before shifting his attention to the woman seated behind him: Roquin. With flowing blonde hair and an elegant dress, she seemed out of place, yet the playful smile on her face suggested she was thoroughly enjoying herself. 'The puppeteer, Roquin. Her hobbies are said to be quite… unpleasant. I wonder what she's really like.' Honestly, wearing a dress on a raid was strange enough.

He then turned to the young man on the right. Shape, a longbow resting against his back, was dressed in a light leather shirt and a white muffler. 'The Shadow Hunter, Shape. He looks young, but his skills are renowned across the continent. Wait… when did he fall asleep?'

Indeed, Shape's head was already bowed, lost to the world. Gelix suppressed a sigh and moved on to the final man. Alex, with his long white hair, sat leisurely, idly polishing one of his gauntlets. 'And this must be Alex, descendant of the Gariot tribe. They say no B-rank warrior can match him.' A warrior who fought with gauntlets was a peculiar raider, to be sure.

Having completed his brief assessment, Gelix cleared his throat. "Welcome. I am Gelix, the branch manager of Partren. I trust you've all been briefed on why you're here."

"Balak," Draxler stated, his voice flat.

"Precisely," Gelix confirmed. "Balak has recently ascended from C to B-rank. Though Partren once deemed it unconquerable, it is now expanding its influence and becoming a direct threat to the West. We must conquer it before it grows any more dangerous. And we will do it with your help."

Balak's expansion was inevitable. It had already claimed Hyrone Forest, and as a B-rank dungeon, its reach would only grow. This was a test from Count Dinen, but if they could neutralize Balak now, the stability of the entire region would be secured.

"By the way," Roquin chimed in, tilting her head. "I heard you split us into different raid parties. Why is that?"

Gelix had indeed divided the four top-tier raiders into three separate teams. Unless they were attacking multiple B-rank dungeons at once, such a strategy made little sense.

As if anticipating the question, Gelix explained smoothly. "While our primary target is the B-rank Balak, there are a total of three Balak dungeons. The original, the labyrinth you all know, and the one that has appeared where Lasten once stood."

"Ah, so it's confirmed Balak devoured Lasten," Roquin mused. "But why target all three at once? If we take down the B-rank dungeon, the others will fall on their own."

"To divide their forces," Draxler interjected before Gelix could speak.

"Divide their forces?"

"The B-rank Balak is estimated to have around a thousand soldiers," Draxler elaborated. "But the other two are C-rank. Their troops are weaker and fewer in number; they wouldn't stand a chance against a B-rank raider. If we split up, the Dungeon Master will be forced to divide his army to defend all three locations."

The battle against the Anti-Balak Alliance had revealed the dungeon's approximate strength. If they hit all three cores at once, the Dungeon Master would have no choice but to split his defenses, especially since he was drawing Zen from all three locations.

Roquin nodded, finally understanding. Gelix, for his part, was impressed. 'Hoh. For a Spear Knight, his insight is remarkable. I assumed B-rankers were all brawn and no brains, but I was mistaken.'

With raiders of this caliber, he felt a surge of confidence. He slid a document across the table. "This is the team composition. Draxler and Roquin, you will form one team. Shape and Alex, you will each lead a team to one of the other dungeons."

Draxler and Roquin would assault the main dungeon, supported by one hundred C-rank raiders. Shape and Alex would each take fifty C-rankers to the satellite dungeons. In terms of sheer force, it was more than enough.

"So the rest of us will be fighting C-rank supporters," Roquin noted.

"I don't care," Alex grunted, a grin spreading across his face. "As long as I get to fight, I'm satisfied."

Relieved that there were no objections, Gelix continued. "The operation is scheduled to last two weeks. Of course, if the teams at the C-rank dungeons succeed quickly, we can shorten that timeline."

"I see," Draxler said. "Once the C-rank dungeons fall, those teams can reinforce the assault on the main one. That makes sense."

"Exactly," Gelix affirmed. "For now, that is all. I will provide further details tomorrow. You must be exhausted from your journey. Please, rest. We have prepared rooms for you here at the branch."

"Wait," Draxler said, raising a hand. "I have a question."

"What is it?"

"From your explanation, it sounds as if you expect Balak to know we're coming. All this talk of dividing forces implies it. How?"

He was right. If the Dungeon Master was unaware of their arrival, there would be no need for such a strategy. Gelix was operating under the assumption that their plan was already known. He met Draxler's sharp, accusatory gaze and felt a bead of cold sweat trickle down his spine.

'This one is no fool.'

They didn't know about Sebastian, or the contract he'd signed with Balak's master. If he revealed that, he would lose the backing of the powerful Peyton Ducal Family. Of course, a successful conquest would earn him the favor of Count Dinen, but it was a risky gamble.

'Even with Count Dinen's support, I can't afford to lose the Peytons' backing right now.' With his ambition set on becoming the Association President, he needed all the support he could get.

Gelix let out a carefully crafted sigh of frustration. "A few days ago, a traitor I had planted within my branch escaped. He was one of my most trusted informants, but it turned out he was a disguised humanoid monster. He got away, so I must assume our plans have been compromised."

"…A place like this is a breeding ground for spies," Draxler conceded after a moment. "Very well. I understand for now."

"Yes. Then please, rest well."

The crisis seemed to be averted. Three of the raiders stood and left the room. Gelix finally allowed himself to relax, letting out a quiet sigh of relief.

"Phew. It seems he bought it for now. Though a man that sharp won't believe it completely. He'll still be suspicious."

But with no concrete evidence, there was nothing for Draxler to pursue. As Gelix turned to leave, his eyes fell on Shape, who was still fast asleep.

'Th-this guy! He's been sleeping this whole time?!'

A flash of panic shot through him. Had he heard his private thoughts? But a soft snore confirmed the archer was sound asleep. Gelix cautiously approached and gently shook his shoulder.

"Excuse me, Sir Shape. It's time to wake up. We're dismissed for the day."

"…Huh?" Shape mumbled, wiping a bit of drool from his chin as he groggily sat up. He blinked a few times, getting his bearings. "Ah, my apologies. I was so exhausted I must have drifted off."

"It's… it's quite all right," Gelix said, forcing a smile. "You've had a long journey. Please, go and get some rest."

"Well then." With a slight nod, Shape departed.

Alone at last, Gelix let out another long sigh and stared out the window into the bustling city.

'Now, what will you do, Dungeon Master of Balak?'

---

It was about time for the B-rank raid party to show up. News of the Anti-Balak Alliance's defeat had spread across the continent, drawing a flood of B-rank raiders to the West. But top-tier B-rankers were another matter entirely.

'Balak may have evolved, but it's still a freshly minted B-rank dungeon,' Taehyun mused. 'Even with a thousand soldiers, facing top-tier raiders will be a struggle.'

He remembered his fight with Lexner. From B-rank on, raiders were in a completely different league. And these were A-rank candidates, meaning they would be even stronger.

He sent an urgent message to Larkan, ordering the mass production of intermediate potions. Fortunately, he had enough Zen to cover the cost, and the alchemist began at once. As he made his preparations, Taehyun's thoughts turned to Gelix. Even with the backing of the Peyton Ducal Family, hiring four top-tier B-rank raiders seemed impossible.

'How did he pull them in?'

The Peytons had eyes everywhere. It was thanks to them that Junhyun could feed him information, but even that network hadn't uncovered how Gelix had recruited these raiders.

'If I were Gelix, how would I organize my forces to attack Balak?'

Slowly, a cold calm settled over Taehyun's features.

---

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