It was her!
It was that woman!
This was insane—how could she dare!
Fete tried to drink some tea to steady his nerves, but his trembling hand knocked the cup over, sending red tea spilling across the table.
"Mr. Fete, are you alright?"
"Ah? Yes."
Fete's ears were ringing.
Just how strong was that Zeno? Was the power she displayed that day not even her full strength?
Stealing a masterpiece grade magical artifact from two bishops and an entire knight order?
Was that even something a human could do?
Was she a fourth-rank?
Or even stronger? That was no longer the realm of humanity.
No, she likely wasn't human to begin with.
Furthermore, the Grey family's masterpiece grade magical artifact had actually been stolen?
That was a masterpiece grade magical artifact; in the entire Alchemist Association of the Lanxi Kingdom, only the president and vice-president had managed to craft one at the peak of their careers.
In the dungeons of the entire Northern Territory, only one might appear every few decades.
Even for the Grey family, they likely didn't possess more than a few.
This was a true accumulation of family heritage, a family's foundation, a magical artifact that could even be called a treasure of humanity.
And it had been stolen just like that.
That terrifying woman had even met with him before she committed the theft.
"Mr. Fete, I shall take my leave then."
Corwin could see Fete's shock.
As a merchant, he was tactful; he knew to maintain respect and favor toward a true alchemist, so he stood up to depart.
"...Yes, my apologies. I won't be entertaining guests today."
After seeing Corwin out, Fete closed the door and began pacing back and forth anxiously.
One moment he would rush to pack his things, the next he would stop in his tracks, hesitating.
He wanted to run.
He wanted to run!
He really wanted to run!!
But he didn't dare. He didn't dare defy the orders of that terrifying Zeno.
Even if that woman was likely a fugitive fleeing with a magical artifact right now.
He still didn't dare to disobey her previous commands.
In the entire Northern Territory, she had made an enemy of the Grey family and even stolen from the Church of Light.
How could a weak alchemist like him dare to offend such a powerful and ruthless person?
As for reporting her to the Grey family...
That was nonsense.
Fete knew exactly what those nobles were like.
If he went to report it, he might very well be framed as an accomplice, walking right into the tiger's den to be imprisoned and forced to perform alchemy.
To be honest, if he had to choose between Zeno and the nobles, his heart actually leaned toward that terrifyingly powerful woman.
After all, since Zeno saved him, she had never asked him to do anything or interfered with him, other than telling him not to leave the dungeon.
She had even given him a faint sense of security, allowing him to stay in the dungeon with peace of mind.
He could research various monster materials and hone his alchemy skills.
Fete finally slumped into his chair, his mind made up.
He couldn't run.
Running would show a guilty conscience and would offend that powerful woman.
He knew Zeno was strong, but he hadn't expected her to be so monstrously powerful—and not just strong, but ruthless.
At this moment, he felt only obedience and fear toward Zeno, along with a strange, inexplicable sense of reverence.
This dungeon was the safest place for him now.
"Oh, my lady..."
With a trembling hand, Fete poured himself another cup of tea and drank it shakily.
If that woman dared to do such a thing, it meant she had some degree of confidence.
No, no, he shouldn't refer to her as 'that woman'.
Since Lady Zeno dared to do this, it meant she definitely had the backing to back it up.
Even though Fete thought this way, for the next three days, he remained restless as he heard the terrifying feats of his 'lady' Zeno spreading throughout the dungeon.
During this time, Dalun Li had already created the 13th floor using the guaranteed Earth Vein Power from the Life Casket.
The Earth Vein Power required to create the 14th floor had increased to 8,000.
However, relying on the powerful Earth Vein Power absorption effect of the Life Casket, combined with the adventurers in the dungeon essentially delivering themselves as offerings.
He would only need to wait another four days to create the 14th floor.
The 13th floor was just a standard Lava Stratum; though it was more expansive than the 12th floor, it was far less unique.
While it had lava rivers and lakes, it hadn't yielded any special items or terrain.
Meanwhile, in the outside world.
Neither Bishop Claude nor Knight Commander Caiman had found any trace of Zeno.
Even after Zeno's wanted posters were plastered all over Gray City, not a single lead was found.
It was as if she had suddenly vanished.
Or rather, she had hidden herself in the deep mountains and forests, avoiding all contact with the outside world to deny them any opportunity.
Claude, disheartened, was visibly haggard.
Part of the reason was the massive drain on his vitality from forcibly using the forbidden holy light technique.
But the greater reason was that his heart was as cold as ash.
As a fourth-rank priest and one of the bishops of the Church of Light.
The Grey family wouldn't execute him, but he was now completely alienated from the family's inner circle.
He might spend the rest of his life atoning for the crime of losing the Life Casket.
A fourth-rank priest and bishop of light could live for two hundred years.
In the Northern Territory and even the entire Lanxi Kingdom, they were at the top tier of human combat power.
They were objects of reverence.
Though it was cruel, Claude knew that his value was far less than that of a masterpiece grade magical artifact.
The Life Casket could serve as a foundation passed down for ten thousand generations.
He only had a lifespan of 200 years.
Elsa had come to visit Claude.
But in Claude's eyes, Elsa's hypocritical concern was nothing more than mockery.
Damn it, damn it all!
It was all because of that woman, Zeno! That Zeno!
Even now, Claude couldn't understand how Zeno had detected the location of the Life Casket.
How could she have stolen the Life Casket with such precision?
It simply wasn't logical.
Only three days ago, he was a prestigious, fourth-rank bishop with a bright future.
Now, he had fallen into the darkest valley of his life...
And as the knight order's commander, Caiman Grey had to cease the search for Zeno in the surrounding areas after three fruitless days.
His primary mission was to enter the dungeon to capture or kill the rebellious Manfred and his group.
Therefore, on the afternoon of the third day, Caiman stopped the search and assembled his troops to enter the dungeon.
Inside the dungeon, maps from the first to the sixth floors had already been completely drafted.
Of course, ordinary adventurers could only access the maps up to the fifth floor.
The map of the sixth floor was still held by only a few people.
"We strike directly into the deepest floor and settle the battle swiftly."
"Our goal is not the treasures along the way, but to capture the traitor Manfred at the highest possible speed."
"Then, we shall completely conquer this dungeon!"
"The objective of this battle is speed!"
Caiman shouted his orders to the troop.
The strength of the knight order could not be delayed here for too long.
But since they had been deployed, they had to use their full power to end the battle as quickly as possible.
"Yes, sir!"
The knights shouted in unison.
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