Gathering the Team

Tower: "Hmm? Why isn't it clear?"

Justice: "The mountain looks close, but it's a long way off. The scouts weren't combatants, so they didn't dare venture deep into the forest."

Tower: "...Was it Sophia who did the identification?"

Lan Qingyou had a deep impression of that witch, who possessed a low-tier version of her own Magic Eye.

In fact, the original leader of the witch squad currently under her command was this very 【Analytic Witch】.

Justice: "I knew I couldn't hide it from you."

Tower: "I figured."

Justice: "However, the level of the monsters inside is generally quite high. Even at the dungeon entrance, they're Level 30. They should be higher inside, and the dungeon area is likely quite vast. If you're going, it's best to bring plenty of experts and supplies."

Tower: "What attributes are the monsters at the entrance?"

Justice: "Earth, wood, water, and dark—they're all there."

Tower: "Quite a mix. I have the general idea. Send me the specific location later. It would be best to have a guide lead the way so we don't waste time."

Chu Yuan's description was a bit vague, but Lan Qingyou could roughly guess the dungeon's layout.

Although she wasn't certain if this 'Beast Emperor' was the 'Beast Emperor' she needed...

Having a direction was much better than wandering around like a headless fly.

So, in the end, Lan Qingyou decided to go and see for herself.

After all, the Supreme Council's stance was clear: we can help you find it.

But if you want it, you have to fight for it yourself.

It just so happened that many of her subordinates had recently learned some magic, so taking them along for some real combat practice would be good.

Justice: "That's no problem, of course."

High Priestess: "The dungeon you're talking about sounds interesting. I want to go too."

Justice: "I don't mind. You two can discuss it."

He wasn't going to any dungeon anyway; anyone who wanted to go could go.

High Priestess: "@Tower, we split the drops evenly, and I won't take the things you need."

Tower: "I don't mind either."

High Priestess: "Then it's settled. Get ready, and we'll head over tomorrow?"

Tower: "Sure. I need to notify my people as well."

High Priestess: "Then it's a happy decision. Who else wants to go?"

The Emperor: "I want to go, I want to go! Count me in!"

High Priestess: "What's a non-combatant like you going for?"

The Emperor: "Didn't you say it was a forest? I'm going to see if I can find some wild vegetables we haven't seen before for the Empress to cultivate."

Death: "A hill named Beast Emperor? Sounds quite interesting. Count me in."

High Priestess: "So enthusiastic. Anyone else?"

Empress: "You guys go ahead. I'm very busy here right now."

Lovers: "Me too."

The Star: "+1"

High Priestess: "Alright, everyone's busy. Being busy is good. Tower, Death, The Emperor—each of you get your things ready, and I'll see you tomorrow."

Tower: "Understood."

The Emperor: "No problem. I'll just post a note on my homepage saying I'm going out to search for ingredients."

Since Delight Restaurant was now entirely a place for team-building and high-end reservations, she had the luxury of being capricious.

After all, Gu Xiaobei's skills were there for all to see.

As long as she didn't have some bloodline awakening and whip up a feast of insects, plenty of people were willing to wait.

...

Dream Witch: "Going to a dungeon? Sounds fun."

Flame Witch: "We can't go, can we? We'd have to leave the magic barrier."

Witch of the Tower: "No, you can go, but at most only 22 of you."

Steel Witch: "A single squad? Sounds interesting. Sign me up."

Dream Witch: "I won't go this time. The seven mountain bluebirds aren't ready for real combat yet; they need more training."

Flame Witch: "Me neither. It'll take some time for the fire elementals to become combat-ready, and my research has reached a critical stage."

Nightmare Witch: "Since the Dream Witch isn't going, let me, the Nightmare Witch, go instead."

【Nightmare Witch】 Catherine.

Although her title was only a word apart from Alice's 【Dream Witch】, the two were very similar in both talent and magic.

However, their methods of attack were completely different.

One could say that their relationship was even more antagonistic than the one between Alice and Pandora.

Dream Witch: "Oh, sure, sure, you go. Work hard in my place and don't drag the boss down."

Nightmare Witch: "Of course. I won't end up like a certain someone who couldn't even make it into the top four."

Dream Witch: "You're as annoying as ever."

Thorn Witch: "I really envy you lot with so much free time."

Meanwhile, Cynthia, the 【Thorn Witch】 who had only gone out once to the Perching Giant Tree to find a flying familiar, could only sigh with frustration.

Planting, harvesting, processing, assembling.

Although many processes had been simplified, making hundreds of thousands of flying brooms was no easy task for Cynthia.

Witch of the Tower: "That's fine. Those who want to go, go ahead, but the limit is 22 people. Otherwise, the magic circle won't be able to maintain itself."

Moonlight Witch: "Is that 22 people in total? Or is the total for the dungeon run more than 22?"

Witch of the Tower: "I plan to form a hundred-man group. Plus, the clan leaders of the Phantom Mist Vampires and Forest Elves will also be leading teams."

Silent Witch: "That's a lot of people."

Witch of the Tower: "This dungeon is quite large. I heard it's an entire forest and hills and such."

Silent Witch: "That makes sense then. Unfortunately, my research has reached a critical point, otherwise I'd go with you."

Although they knew Lan Qingyou needed a certain material to upgrade her shelter...

The members of the Witch Group didn't have any resistance to the idea of Lan Qingyou taking them on a dungeon run.

Leveling up, experimenting, and obtaining drops—these were all paths the dungeon could provide them.

To put it simply, for the witches, a dungeon run wasn't just about experience and loot.

Instead, the dungeon itself was more like a large-scale testing ground.

Whenever a witch researched something new, she would go to the portal near Typhon City to enter a dungeon and conduct experiments.

After all, these dungeons allowed for easy entry and exit. If they discovered a problem, they could clear it up immediately and then withdraw to continue their research.

Of course, this wasn't just true for the members of the Witch Group.

Other witches did the same.

This practice had basically become the norm for witches.

So, under Lan Qingyou's inquiry, it didn't take long for the 22-witch roster to be filled.

Afterward, Lan Qingyou went to the management group and explained the same situation.

"Materials for a Level 7 shelter..."

Upon learning the specifics, Diana frowned slightly.

To be honest, she wanted to go along too.

Although she wasn't much of a combatant overall, she still wanted to experience the novelty of hunting for rare materials.

But as the administrator of the entire Abandoned Land, she knew she couldn't leave.

So, she could only watch the heated discussion in the group.