Twilight Manor, Front Yard.
Familia members gathered in this place, busy moving things in and out of the manor's entrance gate, creating a constant flow of people.
Large cargo boxes filled with supplies were placed on carts, and the three top executives directed everyone for the final inspection of items. Even several executives joined in to organize tents and other supplies.
Tiona, however, stealthily snacked on some emergency rations, getting caught by Bete and Tione, resulting in a barrage of scolding.
Everyone had their respective tasks at hand. Even Lefiya was by Riveria's side, helping check the list of items. The only exception was Ais, standing alone with a look of wanting to help but not sure how, truly a breath of fresh air in the crowd.
Riezel happened to walk out of the manor and immediately caught Ais's eye.
"Riezel." Ais called out with a sigh of relief as if finding solace. But her call also drew the attention of others present.
"Mr. Riezel!" Lefiya instinctively wanted to run over but then remembered she had work to do and stopped abruptly.
"Hmph." Bete released Tiona and coldly snorted. "Don't go too far."
After all, he was their junior, their family, and their comrade. The more outstanding he was, the stronger their familia became, which was a good thing for them.
It must be said that Loki, despite being unreliable, didn't choose anyone with a problematic character and personality. No wonder Allen sarcastically referred to them as a loving familia.
In just over a month, Riezel had observed the behaviors of these familia seniors and kept them in mind.
This was something he hadn't experienced even in his previous life, in a family with blood ties.
The affection he never experienced, in the end, wasn't obtained in the family with blood ties but in this familia connected by a goddess.
Perhaps, it was a kind of irony.
Since he wasn't someone with many words, he silently kept all of this in his heart and began to approach everyone in silence.
"You're late, Riezel!" Tiona immediately jumped out, teasing him with a playful grin.
"Sorry." Riezel replied and glanced around, realizing he was indeed the last one to arrive. Even though it wasn't past the departing time, he still apologized sincerely.
"Just ignore her; she just wants to change the topic from her snack stealing." Tione exposed her sister's intentions.
Finn, Riveria, and Gareth also approached.
"How's it going?" Finn asked with a slight smile. "Are you ready?"
Riezel responded with a smile and nodded. He knew Finn wasn't asking about preparations for the expedition but rather about his updated status for the upcoming journey.
Clearly, he had visited the divine room to update his status before departure, and all three top executives could tell.
"Haha, this is really something to look forward to!" Gareth exclaimed loudly. "After accumulating for over a dozen days, with your growth speed, you should have gained a lot, yes?"
"Judging by your reaction, you must have made quite some progress." Riveria observed his expression and smiled. "Could it be that you're already Level 5?"
With that sentence, all the surrounding members held their breath and fell silent, especially the familia executives, even Ais and Bete couldn't help but unconsciously perk up their ears.
"How can it be that simple?" Riezel, seeing their reaction, smiled wryly.
The accumulation of over a dozen days had indeed greatly improved his status. He was now at Level 4, and logically, the development of basic abilities should have become much more difficult.
Still, in just over ten days, he managed to train 'DEX', 'AGI', and 'MAG' to S-rank, while 'STR' reached A-rank. This growth speed was still astonishing.
However, no matter how one looked at it, in just over ten days, it was impossible for him to level up to Level 5.
"Without achieving any exploits and accumulating high-rank excelia, at most, it can only make me go further on Level 4. There's no way I can level up, right?" Riezel stated calmly, making many people secretly sigh with relief.
They were somewhat nervous, afraid that he would say he was already Level 5.
It was not that they didn't want him to progress, but the fact was too challenging for their heart, easily causing people to lose confidence in continuing to strive.
Unfortunately, it seemed like the top executives of the familia felt the excitement was not enough. One after another, they spoke up, shattering the silent celebration and relief in everyone's hearts.
"For this expedition, our goal is the super-deep floors you've never reached, perhaps even unknown floors that no one has ever reached." Finn explained with a smile. "Along the way, there are plenty of opportunities for you to accumulate high-rank excelia."
"Yeah, not to mention there are also the floor bosses. Just defeating them and gaining high-rank excelia, even if it doesn't let you level up, should help you complete a large part of the exploit accumulation, right?" Gareth added while stroking his beard.
"Although fighting in parties will distribute the excelia, it's safe." Riveria looked at Riezel with a solemn expression. "This time, you can't act recklessly like before. Remember to cooperate well with everyone; don't be like some misbehaving kid, rushing out at every opportunity."
As she mentioned 'misbehaving kid', her gaze subtly shifted to Ais.
"..." Ais felt extremely embarrassed and awkward, quickly turning her head away, looking guilty.
Riezel also hesitated to speak. He really couldn't guarantee whether he could control himself or not, suddenly bursting out like that.
Lefiya really wanted to assert that she had a say on this point. It wasn't without reason; during the time Riezel and she were in a party, not once did he give a heads up before suddenly charging out.
"Ah~ah, looks like we're adding another Ais to our party." Tiona reveled in other people's misfortune.
"I'm telling you guys, don't cause trouble for Captain, okay?" Tione warned while shaking her head as she gazed toward the reckless duo.
"Small fry is just small fry; you better not slow us down, boy." Bete even threw a cold remark from the side.
Riezel and Ais immediately looked at each other in bewilderment, completely clueless as to how they suddenly became targets. But the two dared not say anything, just standing there in silence, one scratching his head, the other looking down.
"Okay, that's enough all of you, let them off." Finn chuckled, turned, and looked in the direction of the central tower of Twilight Manor.
There, in the highest room, Loki, not behaving properly as always, was sprawled over the window, gazing in the expedition party's direction with a loose smile on her face.
However, for some reason, everyone could sense encouragement, care, and a subtle trace of indiscernible affection in the goddess's gaze directed towards them.
"Go..."
It was as if everyone heard Loki's faint whisper carried by the wind. This whispered encouragement, riding on the wind, ignited a flame in everyone's hearts. Including Riezel, who was no exception.
"Alright!"
Finn's childish face began to look serious, becoming more dignified. From this moment on, this Pallum was no longer the amiable familia senior but the captain of the strongest familia in Orario.
And the captain's command was only one.
"Let's set off!"
""OOOHHH—!!!""
With Finn's command, a neat and tidy shout soared to the sky, echoing throughout Orario.
That was a battle cry.
That was a trumpet call.
All the people busy in the city, whether civilians or adventurers, were drawn to that magnificent shout in that split second, turning their heads to look in the direction of Loki Familia's base.
Before long, many saw a fully armed and imposing group marching through the streets, heading towards Babel.
"Loki Familia is going on an expedition!"
"It's Loki Familia!"
"Loki Familia is heading into the dungeon!"
People hurriedly informed each other, causing pedestrians on the way to automatically split, moving to the sides, making way for Loki Familia.
At that moment, what people saw was the strongest adventurer party in Orario, with countless experts renowned worldwide. The envy, admiration, and awe hidden in their eyes were almost impossible to conceal.
Riezel blended in, attracting the attention of many, being watched.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Riezel keenly sensed that among the countless gazes coming from all directions, there seemed to be one that was different.
He became aware of this particular gaze and unconsciously turned his head to look.
At that moment, he saw, saw someone familiar.
In the crowd gathered on the side, there was a youth.
The youth had red eyes and white hair that seemed too old for his age, with a face carrying innocence and a hint of childishness, probably only about thirteen to fourteen years old.
In the crowd, that youth was particularly inconspicuous.
But in those red eyes of his, there was a more intense sense of envy, awe, and yearning than anyone else.
And finally, as if making a decision, the youth, after a lingering glance in the Loki Familia expedition party's direction, squeezed out of the crowd and headed towards the entrance of what seemed to be the base of a certain familia.
Seeing this scene, Riezel almost immediately concluded that the youth was looking for a familia to join.
"What are you looking at, Mr. Riezel?"
Walking alongside him, Lefiya noticed his unusual behavior and asked with doubt.
Only then did Riezel come back to his senses and see the puzzled look from Lefiya and Ais nearby.
"Nah, it's nothing."
Riezel shook his head, but suddenly smiled, a particularly bright one. This smile made the hearts of Ais and Lefiya, who had never seen him smile like that, skip a beat.
Shortly afterward, the two girls heard his voice.
"I'm just looking forward to the future..."
"Looking forward to my future..."
"Looking forward to his future..."
Apart from Riezel himself, no one could understand the meaning of his words. However, that wasn't important since the gate to the dungeon began to appear before his eyes.
Riezel stared at the massive tower, and the flame in his heart burned even more fiercely.