Chapter 34: The Danger of Dong-San City

However, the situation in Dong-San City was not a secret known only to the Black Dragon Guild.

In Thunder’s shop, a teleportation gate suddenly opened in midair. Pale blue magical light slowly swirled, emitting waves of fluctuation that made the surrounding air feel heavier.

Thunder was rearranging some items in the shop when he immediately looked up. He stared at the gate, his expression turning slightly serious.

Right after, a figure stepped out of the gate. It was Moon So Yeon, the vice guild master of the Crying Ghost Guild.

Almost at the same time, another teleportation gate appeared on the opposite side. Lucas from the Zootopia Guild also stepped out from within.

The two of them appeared at his shop at the same time.

Thunder looked at Moon So Yeon, then at Lucas. A sense of unease immediately rose in his heart.

If only one person had come, he could have assumed it was an ordinary visit. But two members of two major guilds using teleportation gates to arrive at his shop at the same time, this was definitely not simple.

Moon So Yeon also saw Lucas. She showed no sign of surprise, only smiled faintly and spoke up first:

"I didn’t expect to run into you here, Lucas."

Lucas nodded politely as well.

"What a coincidence. It’s been a while, Miss Moon So Yeon."

The two greeted each other very naturally, their tones so calm that Thunder couldn’t detect any tension between them.

However, Thunder quickly realized that their conversation was not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

Moon So Yeon tilted her head slightly and asked with a smile:

"Is the Zootopia Guild starting to pay attention to Dong-San City too?"

Lucas looked at her, his gaze shifting slightly, but the smile on his face didn’t disappear.

"Perhaps so. What about your Crying Ghost Guild? Surely you’re not just passing through this place?"

"Of course not."

Moon So Yeon glanced around Thunder’s shop, then looked back at Lucas.

"Recently, the situation in Dong-San City seems quite interesting. I just wanted to come here and confirm it myself. I won’t interfere with your business, Thunder-nim."

Lucas chuckled softly.

"Then it seems we share the same purpose."

"Is that so?"

Moon So Yeon smiled lightly.

"At least for now, I’d also like to know how much information the Crying Ghost Guild has gathered."

The two looked at each other, still keeping gentle smiles on their lips. Yet every word they spoke seemed like an attempt to probe the limits of the other’s knowledge.

Moon So Yeon asked about the fluctuations appearing around the Dungeons of Dong-San City. Lucas didn’t answer directly, only saying that the Zootopia Guild had noticed the energy of this place changing. Moon So Yeon also didn’t specify what the Crying Ghost Guild knew, only tactfully revealing that they had long noticed this abnormality.

Neither side was willing to reveal the full extent of the information they held.

The conversation was very cordial, but Thunder standing nearby felt the atmosphere growing stranger by the moment.

The two seemed to be greeting each other, yet also seemed to be silently testing one another. Every sentence could be concealing a different meaning.

After a while, Moon So Yeon smiled.

"It seems we won’t be able to learn anything more from each other today."

Lucas didn’t deny it.

"Perhaps not."

"Then I’ll take my leave first. I want to take a walk and look around."

"Alright. See you again."

Moon So Yeon nodded to Lucas, then turned to greet Thunder. She didn’t stay any longer and immediately turned to leave Thunder’s shop.

The pale blue light quickly closed, leaving the shop to return to its original quiet.

Thunder stood staring at the spot where Moon So Yeon had just vanished, his expression still bewildered. From start to finish, he still couldn’t understand what the two had been talking about.

After Moon So Yeon left, Thunder finally turned to Lucas. He stepped closer and couldn’t help asking:

"Wait, what exactly were you two talking about just now?"

Lucas looked at Thunder.

"You don’t understand?"

"Of course I don’t understand. The two of you greeted each other very politely, but I just had the feeling both of them were hiding something."

"It’s not just a feeling."

Lucas wiped the smile off his face, his expression turning serious.

"We really were probing each other. To be precise, Guild Crying Ghost and Guild Zootopia will be competing with each other in the future over this city."

Thunder was slightly taken aback.

"Competing with each other over this city?"

"That’s right. The situation in Dong-San city is no longer normal."

Lucas said slowly:

"Recently, the energy in Dong-San city has been rising at a very high rate. At first, the fluctuation was still within a trackable range. But the current growth rate has far exceeded Guild Zootopia’s predictions."

Thunder frowned.

"What does that mean?"

"It means the Dungeon gates in this city will soon upgrade their levels to higher ones."

Lucas looked straight at Thunder, each word growing heavier.

"Not just one gate. All the Dungeons experiencing fluctuations have the potential to be upgraded."

Thunder fell silent.

He knew what that meant.

Once a Dungeon’s rank increased, the monsters inside would also become stronger. Hunting teams that could safely enter lower-level Dungeons would immediately face danger beyond their capabilities.

If they weren’t prepared in time, the death toll would definitely rise.

Lucas continued:

"Guild Zootopia has conducted an assessment of the overall situation in Dong-San city. According to the current results, this city may soon have its danger rating upgraded from B-level to A-level."

Thunder’s eyes widened in silence.

"A-level? Are you sure?"

Lucas nodded.

"Even more, if the energy continues to rise at its current rate, the final rating could eventually reach S-level."

Thunder stared at Lucas in a daze.

S level!

Just those two words were enough to make his mind go blank.