The town of Vortex has become exceedingly lively due to the arrival of many adventurers and relevant personnel.
Of course, this liveliness is a recent phenomenon; if we were to roll the timeline back a month, the town was almost desolate, with hardly a soul to be seen.
But perhaps this is the norm for an adventure land; its bustle entirely depends on whether it can attract enough adventurers.
The prime locations on either side of the road in front of the maze entrance are almost completely occupied by various shops.
The clerks at the doors are using all their skills to peddle their wares.
Some are selling protective gear and weapons, some are selling various ointments and potions, and others are selling assorted miscellaneous items like gunpowder, fire oil, explosives, poisons, etc.
Unexpectedly, the best-selling item isn’t any of the above but the most common and easily overlooked food and water.
"Pure wheat beer, 30 copper coins per can, clearance sale, don’t miss out!"
"Black bread, selling black bread!"
"Oatmeal, convenient and easy to carry."
As the saying goes, you need to be full to have the strength to work.
This holds true for adventurers as well.
Despite the ordinary nature of food, it’s indispensable for the vast majority of adventurers.
After all, without food and water, a person will die.
And given the complex environment of the maze, one might get stuck inside due to an accident and be unable to exit, so preparing sufficient food and water in advance is key to long-term exploration of the underground maze.
Even for Gauss’s group, they are not an exception.
However, they don’t need to buy high-priced food and water in front of the maze; they had already procured enough before setting out.
As to why they still purchase basic dry food and drinks despite Serdur mastering the Grain Creation Skill and the team’s casters having water magic, it’s not because they have money to burn.
Serdur’s use of the Grain Creation Skill also consumes his energy, and with his capability, he is insufficient to supply a squad of hundreds; the Grain Creation Skill is more of an emergency option than a routine choice.
And for the latter, ordinary water attribute magic produces water that cannot be directly consumed.
It contains a large amount of magic power, which most people cannot absorb, and excessive intake will cause the accumulated abnormal magic power to clog the body’s organs and suffocate the person.
Of course, if the person drinking is Gauss, with the support of the talent [Feast], there shouldn’t be any abnormal situations.
Gauss’s group waits in formation at the swirling maze entrance.
Ivan and others start the final checks, including tallying people and resources.
Even though these tasks seem cumbersome, they are indispensable.
Once the numbers reach three digits, missing one or two people may be hard to detect in the short term.
This is why adventure groups are divided into squads internally, with larger squads further divided into smaller groups; the aim is to refine the structure so that group members can check on each other’s condition.
"Captain Gauss, the tally is complete; people and resources are intact."
"Then let’s enter the maze."
Gauss nodded.
He led the way at the front while the long line behind him slowly descended the giant steps.
Perhaps infected by their orderly and unified momentum, other lone wolf adventurers and adventurer squads unconsciously followed behind them.
For a moment, the team marching under the Red Dragon Banner appeared a dense mass, like an army of hundreds.
————
Timbel Maze, underground first floor.
After emerging from the deep, long staircase, there is an incredibly vast hall.
Gauss lifted his head to look around.
"Compared to last time, the hall seems larger." Aaliyah exclaimed, her light silver-blue eyes sparkling beautifully in the dim environment like radiant stars.
Gauss turned his head at her voice and couldn’t help but glance at her eyes again.
The hall has indeed expanded, and with visible signs of being "refreshed," traces left by previous human adventurers have been wiped away, with new constructions and camps set up on the ground.
There is still an Adventurer’s Guild building on the underground first floor.
Some bottom adventurers are around it, checking for suitable commissions to take on.
"Investigate the intelligence of the western passage."
"Kill 10 slimes and submit the corresponding cores."
"There is a mutant python occupying the east, requiring an adventurer squad to eliminate it."
"..."
Perhaps because it’s still early in the second phase of maze opening, the number of commissions is many, with adventurers excitedly discussing and sharing commission information.
This is the significance of the Adventurer’s Guild; the situation is entirely different for bottom adventurers with or without it.
The guild provides basic order and safety; under normal circumstances, no matter how strong the adventurer, they must restrain their edge and malice in front of the guild building.
Unless someone is confident enough to instantly wipe out everyone present and seal all information; if leaked, he will face severe punishment from the continent’s strongest human institutions.
Gauss only glanced for a moment before retracting his gaze.
As mentioned earlier, he is uninterested in the commissions on the maze’s first floor.
Rewards of a few copper or silver coins are mosquito legs to him, not even considered as chicken ribs.
"Captain, we’ve located the entrance to the second floor."