Chapter 34 – The Feast of Stars.

The return of the Arcane Greed Faction to the south sector of the Ivory Citadel occurred beneath the morning's first ray of silvery mist.

After twenty-four unbroken hours of deep dungeon combat, the squad wore the marks of battle on their bodies: coal dust, boss bloodstains, and cloaks shredded by the impact of frost spells. But on every face shone the invincible pride of those who had just dominated the Fallen King's Ruins.

As soon as they crossed the oak door of the duplex apartment at the Ivory & Silk Residence, Kael unslung his volcanic steel shield from his back and leaned it against the hallway wall with a long sigh of relief.

Diana turned to the three members of her team.

"Attention everyone." Diana declared, taking off her leather jacket and tossing it onto the armchair. "Today and tomorrow will be days of mandatory rest for the entire faction. Forbidden to touch weapons, forbidden to study spells, and forbidden to step into any dungeon."

Kael and Lyra let out a muffled shout of joy, hugging each other in celebration, while Rhea chuckled softly, her silver ears perked with satisfaction.

"Thermal baths first." Diana said with a small smile. "Then we eat."

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Two hours later, completely clean, fresh-smelling, and dressed in soft civilian clothes of cotton and velvet, the group gathered at the large dining table on the apartment balcony.

The table was covered with a hearty meal provided by room service: roasted beast meat with medicinal herbs, braided loaves of white wheat bread, seasoned butter, and pitchers of iced sweet fruit juice.

Kael stared at his own hand while eating a piece of roasted meat, still unable to believe his new numbers.

"Over… two hundred and seventy HP…" Kael said, shaking his head in joyful shock. "Commander Diana, I feel like a walking iron wall! I held the direct blow from the Level 20 Throne Guardian yesterday without my feet even flinching!"

"And my MP capacity shot up to two hundred points!" Lyra hugged her Mana Crystal Staff, her eyes sparkling. "I can keep two protection barriers active simultaneously throughout an entire fight!"

Rhea poured iced tea for Diana and smiled at the two recruits. "And my Agility rose to forty-six points. I don't even need to touch the ground when using Phantom Step."

Diana took a sip of her juice, observing the three with a look of genuine, calm approval.

That was no longer a group of improvised strangers. It was her squad. Her faction.

"You worked hard yesterday." Diana said, her voice soft, devoid of its usual sharpness. "Kael held the vanguard flawlessly, Lyra maintained coverage without wasting MP, and Rhea was relentless in stealth damage. You all earned every attribute point gained."

Kael and Lyra flushed with pride upon hearing the Commander's praise, bowing their heads in deep respect.

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Around three in the afternoon, Diana and Rhea walked to the Second Circle's Central Plaza to collect the automated revenue from the Arcane Greed Workshop commercial stall.

The brand's reputation in the commercial sector was at the absolute top. The inventory of 85% purity healing potions and vigor elixirs produced by Diana had sold out completely to two veteran mercenary guilds preparing to ascend to the Third Circle.

The daily automated sales revenue brought in another 4 Silver Coins and 50 Bronze straight into the faction pouch.

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With money in her pocket and the afternoon free, Diana decided to take the entire faction out to enjoy the best the Ivory Citadel had to offer in terms of relaxation and quality of life.

They spent four hours at the Celestial Ivory Baths, a luxury thermal bath complex with mineralized volcanic water pools that restored stamina and relaxed deep muscle tissue.

At night, they dined at the sector's most prestigious high-society restaurant, The Feast of Stars, reserving a private balcony table with a panoramic view of the citadel's illuminated towers.

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— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

[FULL FINANCIAL AUDIT]

Previous Balance: 80 Silver Coins (8 Gold Coins).

REST DAY AND CELEBRATION EXPENSES:

- Luxury Celestial Baths Admissions (4 People): -1 Silver Coin and 50 Bronze Coins (150 Bronze).

- Festive Dinner at 'The Feast of Stars' Restaurant (4 People): -3 Silver Coins and 50 Bronze Coins (350 Bronze).

(Included roasted prime cuts of Lesser Dragon meat, aged mana wine, and fire fruit desserts).

TOTAL SPENT TODAY: 5 Silver Coins (500 Bronze).

SUBTOTAL AFTER EXPENSES: 75 Silver Coins.

ARCANE GREED WORKSHOP AUTOMATED EARNINGS:

- Daily Pure Potion Sales: +4 Silver Coins and 50 Bronze Coins.

[NEW ABSOLUTE NET WORTH: 79 SILVER COINS AND 50 BRONZE COINS (7,950 Bronze! / NEARLY 8 GOLD COINS!)]

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Night fell peacefully over the Ivory Citadel.

Back at the duplex apartment, Kael and Lyra had already retired to their bedrooms, sleeping the heavy, restorative sleep of victors.

Diana and Rhea sat on the balcony's wooden benches, watching the silvery mist float between the city's illuminated towers beneath Hell's purple sky. The cold night wind brought a gentle scent of medicinal flowers.

Rhea took a sip of her hot tea, resting her head affectionately on Diana's shoulder.

"It was a perfect day, Diana…" Rhea whispered, her gaze fixed on the citadel's lights. "A month ago, I was in a cage in the dark thinking my life was over. And today… today we have a home, an incredible team, and enough money to live like nobles."

Diana looked at Rhea, then down at the palm of her right hand, feeling the energy of her Intelligence 54 and the calm pulse of her Aura of Arcane Domain.

She put her left arm around Rhea's shoulder, pulling her friend closer against the night chill.

"This is only the beginning, Rhea." Diana said, her voice low, firm, laden with quiet admiration. "Level 20 is just one step away. And when we cross that portal into the Third Circle, we are going to build an even greater empire."

Rhea smiled, closing her eyes against Diana's shoulder, feeling like the safest, most protected person in all of Hell.

In the balcony's gloom, the System window floated in silence for a second, displaying the progress notification: Diana - Level 19 (2,400 / 5,000 EXP).

Very little remained to reach Level 20. And the Arcane Greed Faction was ready for the next level.

Final Notes:

A chill chapter, more comedy! Heheeheheh-