Chapter 184

The Dungeon of Lamentation.

It was a place so heavily guarded that it was said to be more difficult to enter than Camilton Empire's imperial palace.

Although not vast in area, its depth reached an astonishing 30 stories underground.

Particularly, since it housed only the most serious criminals, the quality of the guard personnel was as formidable as a small country's knighthood.

The internal structure was also far from ordinary.

Even the people working here often got lost within its complex layout if they strayed off from their designated areas.

And at the very bottom…

The 30th floor, with the most elite security and the most intricate design, was where the adventurers were kept.

"I need to get out of here."

"How?"

"Somehow. I didn't come here to work with NPCs. I'm leaving the Empire."

"What about these shackles?"

"I'll remove them. Somehow."

One person per cell, but the proximity and lack of special soundproofing allowed for conversation between them.

Mutterings filled the air - plans to escape, frustrations, and declarations that this wasn't why they started playing the game. Then, silence returned, as stress led some to disconnect.

Day after day, the only activity they had was counting the bricks of the worn prison walls.

'When can I get out of here?'

Conis, the adventurer in cell number 6, pondered.

His recently conversing companion had returned to reality. He could do the same, but having invested his life in the game, he had nothing to do in real life.

Yet, the prison was equally dull. There was only one way out.

'Should I surrender?'

Becoming a pawn of Emperor Kalus. Joining the Empire's system, doing as he was told, and accepting what was given to him—It wasn't a bad deal, actually. The chat was constantly filled with persuasive messages. Players who had already become Kalus's pawns boasted of their conditions, trying to recruit Conis, as it would also give them a bonus.

'Cowards. They said they'd never surrender.'

Conis recalled their earlier resolve. They'd even enjoyed being dragged to prison, making their escape a primary goal. Their faces became silent from a certain point. They murmured that this wasn't why they came to Midgard, lost in deep skepticism. Those faces disappeared one by one, accepting Kalus's offer, boasting of better treatment in this dark place than they'd thought.

'He'll be next.'

Conis thought of the player who had just logged off. He had seen that many adventurers went through this process, eventually succumbing in the end.

The man would soon ascend to the surface, marked as a slave of Kalus. Conis approached the bars and poked his head out slightly by holding them with hands.

"Guard."

"Yes, adventurer."

"Who's visiting today?"

"A messenger from Lord Alio is expected to visit. Unlike others, he genuinely cares for the adventurers. I hope you'll like him, Conis."

"Ah… we'll see."

Conis returned to the corner of his cell.

Alio. He was more well known by his moniker, Golden King. Conis had researched him before being dragged here, never imagining he'd actually encounter him. Back when he was a top-ranking player in his own country, he thought of Alio as just another NPC.

'If I have to choose, maybe the wealthy Alio… No, to hell with it.'

Even Conis was wavering. Those who left the prison were enjoying the game, albeit in a different way. Choosing not what they wanted, but doing as they were told. Receiving not what they earned, but only what was given.

If they excluded these two differences, there wasn't much change, was there?

'…Ah, I can't just leave the Empire as I please either.'

If only he could return to his homeland, he might even organize a resistance.

But for now, even using the community was problematic, and there was nowhere to seek help.

Would you like to log out?

He decided to log out. But just then,

"The messenger from Lord Alio has arrived!"

"All adventurers, please wait in your cells!"

"Those leaving their cells now will be sent to solitary confinement! We really don't want to do this!"

Echoing through the corridor, the loud announcements caused Conis to rest his forehead on his hand in resignation.

* * *

Golden King Alio's messenger. The identity that he used when meeting with the first young lord of the Ferret House, was the one Seojin chose to use again this time.

Although this place had tight security, befitting of its name the Dungeon of Lamentation, the identity provided to him by the Morrison worked wonders.

"Pleasure to meet you. I'm the supervisor, Viktor. We are always grateful for the esteemed one's attention our facility receives."

Viktor, the man with full authority over the Dungeon of Lamentation, welcomed Seojin cordially. The esteemed one referred to was Golden King Alio, and naturally, the more adventurers who left this place, the better Viktor's achievements looked.

"Great work as always. Thanks to your diligent management of the adventurers, we can operate smoothly."

"We strive to prevent any disturbances during your visits."

Viktor was consistently polite and deferential. This was because Alio had relayed a message as well, which stated that this messenger was very talented, and was the best person in persuading the adventurers.

As the seal of the Golden King on the letter, Viktor had high expectations for Seojin.

"Let's go down. You must stay close to me. The facility is very complex, to the extent that even the guards sometimes lose their way."

"I've heard it's in the deepest part."

"No others navigate the underground as freely as we do, aside from dwarves."

A hint of pride tinged his words.

"I've been briefed by my predecessor, but adapting isn't easy. The deepest part… Do the adventurers ever cause trouble?"

"His Imperial Majesty personally oversaw the design."

"Then it must be perfectly safe. It's fortunate that His Majesty's grace reaches even places where sunlight does not."

This was unexpected. The emperor himself had designed the prison.

'He must consider the adventurers to be quite important.'

Unfortunately, his concern was negative, culminating in the current strict control.

Viktor, patting his chest, boasted, "I assure you that no criminal can escape this place without His Majesty's consent. The guards were also selected based on standards that His Majesty has personally erected, so there's no room for error."

"Truly a place worthy of being called the Dungeon of Lamentation. Even the strongest adventurers cannot exert their power here."

"Of course," Viktor nodded vigorously, a hint of scorn in his eyes.

"Those wretches can't even manage a meal without my permission once they're here."

"You seem displeased with the existence of adventurers."

"Naturally. They defy the natural order, acting as if they are gods themselves. But as you see, they end up unable to escape even a single room."

"I can understand that perspective."

"Honestly, I think it's better to kill them all. They may resurrect endlessly, like demons, but with our Empire's might…"

"Keeping tabs of where they revive and continuously executing them is also an option."

"Exactly. It's unfortunate and admirable that His Majesty extends his mercy even to such beings."

As they navigated the complex corridors, Viktor clicked his tongue. His disdain for the adventurers was evident, and Seojin probed deeper.

"You don't seem to like the idea of keeping these adventurers alive."

"As I said, I see no reason why we should rely on them…"

"Even if it's His Majesty's will?"

"…?"

"Then you must also disapprove of the Golden King using the power of these adventurers. Why bother with adventurers for tasks we can handle ourselves, right? Is that what you mean?"

Viktor was flustered, glancing at Seojin with wavering eyes, and moistened his dry lips.

"It seems I misspoke."

"Misspoke? You're in charge of this place. It's natural to have pride and opinions, especially when you've seen the ugly truth of the adventurers up close."

"No, I didn't mean to misinterpret His Majesty's will…"

"Do you truly think so?"

"Of course! If His Imperial Majesty wishes it, I must comply without question. Even if they are such beings, if the Golden King finds use for them, they can contribute greatly to the Empire's endless prosperity…"

"I understand, let's continue on our way."

Viktor fell silent. His earlier cordiality was gone, replaced by a taut nervousness. He remained quiet until they reached the end of the corridor.

"We're here."

"Stay here, warden. I will handle this."

"I'm sorry, but visitors must be accompanied by me…"

"I wasn't aware you valued principles so highly."

Viktor clammed up, clearly unwilling to concede this point. Seojin pressed further.

"Do you know what I am about to do now?"

"Yes."

"I must take these wretched adventurers out of here. His Imperial Majesty desires it, and the Golden King has ordered it. Unfortunately, I don't have the power to force them."

The official stance was strict control, but outwardly, it was about paying the right price for cooperation, as per Emperor Kalus's wishes.

"But you seem quite dissatisfied with this situation, and it's natural for one's true thoughts to slip out, as you did with me."

"I've caused a misunderstanding. That was not my intention."

"I'm concerned the adventurers might misunderstand as well. Imagine yourself in their shoes. If they hear me speaking ill of you, how would they feel?"

Viktor fell silent again. He felt uneasy, but excluding his principles, he had to admit that Seojin's points were valid. He was confident that without his involvement, nobody could escape from this place, even if they harbored ill intentions.

"…I will wait outside."

"A wise choice. I will ensure a successful outcome."

Seojin ordered Viktor to have the other guards leave, while he asserted the adventurers couldn't use any abilities here anyway.

And finally.

"Sending a player as a messenger. How loyal have you been?"

Seojin stood before the remaining adventurers.

"I'll get straight to the point. Golden King Alio desires your services. Anyone willing to leave?"