At the edge of the Swamp Forest outpost.
Compared to the brewing storm and clamor at the Gray Mist Lake Dungeon, this place was much more tranquil.
Bright sunlight poured down, piercing through the sparse tree canopy, casting dappled, swaying spots of light onto the soft, damp black soil.
"Thump, thump, thump..."
A slime sat slumped on the edge of the unfinished low wall, earnestly wielding an oak branch like a diligent little craftsman, building the outpost's final wall.
Beside the outpost lay a newly cultivated flower bed, planted with daisies, wild lilies of the valley, several clumps of unnamed little purple star-shaped flowers, and butterflies and bees attracted by the floral scent.
The flower bed wasn't large, but it was vibrant and full of life, like a freshly washed colorful rug embroidered on the edge of the dark green forest.
At this moment, Arthur was kneeling on one knee beside the flower bed, carefully planting a pale blue flower, then watering and fertilizing it.
His movements were clumsy yet exceptionally earnest, as if performing a pious ritual.
Tranquility... contentment...
These words belonging to the living were now so clearly branded into his perception.
Perhaps... His Majesty was right.
Protecting this vitality, witnessing life sprouting and blooming from the soil, farming itself was also a kind of trial.
Just then, the clamor of clashing weapons came from beyond the Swamp Forest, interrupting his thoughts.
Arthur turned to look at the Civil Engineering Slime still diligently building the outpost on the wall with its "thump, thump, thumping," and asked in his serious tone:
"Your Majesty, outside... it seems someone is fighting."
The little slime stopped its work, thought for a moment, then jumped into his arms.
"Fighting?"
"Oh, it's nothing, probably just the adventurers from Gray Mist Lake having a party."
"You know how those guys can never stay idle all year round, it's normal for them to be a bit noisy."
Arthur: "..."
He tried hard to understand the connection between "party" and the weapon clashes and roars he'd just heard.
Ultimately, he chose to absolutely trust His Majesty's unfathomable wisdom.
"Understood, Your Majesty." He nodded gravely, his gaze returning to his flower bed, focusing on the trial of farming.
Chen Yu shook his body contentedly.
What a worry-free employee.
And these flowers are planted really well, I should have Count Bran come learn later, instead of always coveting my spirit stones all day.
As for the dungeon side, the "gift" he prepared for the Rusty Key thieves was almost ready.
...
Dungeon.
In the damp, dim underground passage, two figures moved pressed against the cold stone walls, like geckos blending into the shadows.
A thief with a scarred face lowered his voice.
"Hey, Jimmy, that 'Miracle' Yano guy deliberately provoked the guild to lure us in, he's probably already set up traps."
"The guild master already gave advance notice, forbidding us from entering the dungeon."
"If we go in, wouldn't we..."
The thief he called "Jimmy" shook his head.
"Traps? Scarface, your courage is smaller than a goblin's asshole, can you eat the guild master's words?"
"Think about it, how much is 'Miracle' Yano's head worth, think about the gold coins he's carrying, that's enough for our brothers to clean our identities and live comfortably back in the Kingdom for half our lives."
"Isn't that ten thousand times better than living on edge in this damned place? Guild master? Fuck the guild master! Gold coins in hand are the real guild master!"
"As for risk... heh, Scarface, you know our status, for rats like us walking in the gutters, which mission doesn't have risk? Wiping out is inevitable, might as well take the chance to pull off a big score and retire early."
"And that guy fled into the 'Swamp Mist Zone,' thinking he's safe hiding in the mist, what an idiot, that place is practically made for thieves as a hunting ground."
"A knight squire didn't scare you, did he?"
Scarface thought about the beautiful future Jimmy described, his Adam's apple bobbing. He gritted his teeth and said fiercely:
"You're right, let's do it!"
"Let's go."
The two merged silently back into the passage shadows like phantoms, sneaking toward that ominous thick mist zone.
Shortly after their figures disappeared, two other figures emerged from a fork in the passage on the other side.
One was tall and straight, wearing lightweight leather armor suitable for movement, with chestnut-brown long hair tied back—it was Alice.
Beside her followed an equally capable young adjutant, Karen.
Karen looked in the direction the thieves had disappeared, his face showing a trace of surprise and emotion:
"That Yano kid is so impressive now? Daring to single-handedly provoke those mad dogs of 'Rusty Key'?"
Alice's gaze was calm as water.
"People always change, but courage alone isn't enough. He's luring the snake out of its hole, but he also needs the ability to beat the snake."
"Though 'Rusty Key' can't even control their subordinates, letting their underlings come out to seek death, it seems they're rotten to the core internally too."
Karen asked: "Yano entered the mist zone and is being targeted by 'Rusty Key's rats, he might be in danger, should we..."
Alice stepped forward, heading toward that same churning thick mist.
"Let's follow and see, 'Weasel' Moriarty, our wanted target, might very well be targeting him too."
Deep within the dungeon mist zone.
White mist permeated everywhere.
Yano leaned against a cold giant mushroom rock, carefully placing the final small white stone carved with strange patterns into specific rock crevices as instructed by the boss.
Then he prepared to return to his original position.
But just as he turned around, he saw a tall, straight black shadow through the mist.
It was a fortress.
In just over ten short minutes, a small fortress constructed from mud, stone, fungal wood, and vines had astonishingly risen from the muddy ground.
Although it was only a rather flimsy temporary fortress, the construction speed was simply jaw-dropping.
"Yano, are the little gadgets I asked you to set up done?"
Yano snapped out of his daze and quickly pointed around: "Done, done, all placed according to your instructions."
"Boss, is... is this a magic formation?"
Magic formations weren't common, he was incredibly curious, his eyes fixed on the fortress and the places where the stones were buried.
Chen Yu didn't answer, simply placing four gray gravel spirit stones into a reserved groove in the fortress center.
"Hum—!"
A deep hum, as if from underground, sounded.
In that instant, the formation foundations Yano had placed around the fortress, all carved with runes, simultaneously lit up.
Outside the fortress range, the already dense white mist seemed strongly attracted, frantically surging toward the magic formation.
The mist density instantly doubled, transforming into an impenetrably thick mist wall.
But inside the mist wall.
Within the fortress itself and this core area where Yano stood—the mist was rapidly dissipating and thinning at a visible rate.
Within a few breaths, the area within over ten meters around the fortress actually became clear and visible, as if an invisible dome was keeping the deadly thick mist outside, leaving only clarity within.
"This... this is amazing!"
Yano was completely stunned, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit a duck egg.
"Whoo, mission accomplished."
"Everything is ready, now we just wait for those thieves to visit."
"Bo... Boss, is this a defensive structure to resist the thieves' attacks?"
"What defensive structure, this is the little black room prepared for them."
"Little black room?"