The dark-blue Quartzman standing in the middle of the road moved first.
He stepped forward, then folded his hands neatly in front of his chest. His posture straightened, and he bowed his head slightly.
When he raised it again, something unexpected appeared on his marble-like face.
A practiced smile.
His lips curved gently, though the movement looked slightly stiff—as if the expression had been rehearsed many times.
His voice came out soft and slightly hoarse, like gravel rubbing against glass.
"Good day, visitors."
The surrounding Quartzmen remained motionless, but their amethyst eyes shimmered faintly.
"I," the figure continued, "am Daiope, the leader of the Quartzmen—as you call us."
He spread his hands politely.
"Welcome to our humble domain."
Then his crystal eyes focused calmly on the group.
"May I ask your business here?"
Klaus, who had been standing at the front, simply glanced over his shoulder. His silver eyes met Shane's.
Shane nodded once.
Klaus stepped aside without protest, hands slipping casually into his pockets.
"Your stage," he muttered.
Shane moved forward.
His steps were measured, controlled.
He placed his right hand lightly across his abdomen while his left arm rested behind his back. Then he lowered his head slightly in a courteous bow.
"Good day," he said evenly. "Fellow Quartzmen."
His voice carried clearly through the cavern.
"We are searching for some friends of ours."
Daiope listened without interrupting.
"They have darker skin than us," Shane continued, "and crimson hair like one of ours here. They travel with wagons that was stationed at the entrance."
He gestured vaguely behind them.
"We have been looking for them for some time. May I ask if you have seen them?"
The reaction was immediate.
The Quartzmen around them began making noise.
At first it was faint.
A soft clink.
Then grrk.
Then more.
The sounds multiplied quickly, spreading through the crowd like ripples. Stone limbs shifted. Crystal eyes flickered. Grinding and clanking all around.
Grating noises echoed across the cavern as dozens of Quartzmen began murmuring among themselves.
Petra flinched slightly.
"That doesn't sound friendly," she whispered.
Shalotte leaned nervously toward the noise.
"Are they… arguing?"
Ulon leaned closer to Maddy and whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"You know… it almost looks like Shalotte's secret knock."
Shalotte blinked.
"My what?"
Ulon pointed toward the Quartzmen.
"All that tapping. Maybe you can understand what they're saying."
Maddy rolled her eyes.
"You don't need Shalotte to understand that," she said dryly.
Ulon scratched his chin.
"…You're right."
The noise grew louder.
Grinding stone on stone.
Several Quartzmen stepped forward, their movements sharper now.
Then suddenly—
KRRRRRNNNNNNG.
A sharp, deafening grinding sound rang out from Daiope.
It cut through the cavern like a blade.
The others immediately fell silent.
The leader lowered his head slightly again, as if embarrassed.
"I apologize for that," he said calmly.
His smile returned, faint but polite.
"Young men tend to have temper problems."
Ulon leaned toward Klaus.
"Did he just call rocks young men?"
Klaus shrugged lazily.
"Everyone has a rebellious phase."
Shane smiled faintly.
"Please call me Shane, Mr. Daiope." He relaxed his posture slightly, "even among us, disagreements happen from time to time."
He glanced briefly at Ulon and Maddy.
"It's normal."
Maddy crossed her arms.
"Don't drag me into that."
Daiope nodded thoughtfully.
"I see."
Then his gaze sharpened slightly.
"As for your friends…"
He paused.
"We hide them."
Shane's brows lifted a fraction.
"Hide?"
Daiope nodded.
"They came to us seeking refuge."
His voice remained calm and gentle.
"So we gave them shelter."
The words settled quietly among the group.
"They are currently in our sanctuary," Daiope finished.
Behind Shane, Kiel's grip tightened slightly on his revolver.
A flicker of relief crossed his face—but it was mixed with something uneasy.
He said nothing.
Daiope turned his head.
"Daiowon."
One Quartzman stepped forward from the crowd.
His skin was pale blue like most of the others, and his amethyst eyes glowed softly.
He stopped beside Daiope.
The leader gestured calmly.
"The rest of you—return to your duties."
He waved one hand lightly.
"These visitors mean no harm."
The reaction was unsettling.
The Quartzmen did not walk away.
Instead, they stepped backward—and simply melted into the cavern walls.
Stone swallowed them like water. Some slipped behind crystal clusters. Others passed directly through the rock itself.
Within seconds, the cavern was nearly empty again.
Ulon stared wide-eyed.
"…I'm never getting used to that."
Maddy muttered, "Same."
Daiope turned to Shane.
"I will bring you to your friends."
His tone remained polite, though something firm lay beneath it.
"But I must ask something in return."
Shane waited.
Daiope continued.
"Please restrain yourselves from violence."
His crystal eyes glimmered faintly.
"They came to us willingly."
A pause. "Let them choose what they want."
Shane held his gaze for a moment.
Then he nodded, "You have my word."
Daiope inclined his head, "Very well."
He looked down at the pavement road beneath their feet and toward the deep.
"Brace yourselves, then."
Ulon frowned. "Brace for what?"
He opened his mouth again. "What does tha—"
Daiope tapped his toe lightly against the stone.
Tok.
The pavement road suddenly lurched forward.
Not slowly—violently.
The entire stone path rolled like a massive conveyor belt, shooting deeper into the cavern.
"WOAH—!"
Ulon nearly flew backward as the ground dragged under his feet.
Petra grabbed his arm instinctively, her scythe planted into the pavement.
Shalotte yelped and clung to his staff as he slid two steps before regaining balance.
Maddy stabbed one dagger into the pavement to steady herself. "WHAT THE—"
Klaus didn't move.
He simply leaned slightly forward, letting the moving road carry him along like someone riding a river current.
"Convenient," he commented.
Shane planted his feet firmly and adjusted his stance as the group sped forward through the glowing crystal cavern.
The moving pavement made a constant rumbling glide beneath their boots.
Unexpectedly, the ride was smoother than what the expected after the initial velocity.
Ulon leaned forward slightly, balancing himself with his mace resting on his shoulder.
"This is still the strangest ride I've ever taken," he said loudly.
Petra kept both hands on her scythe as if the ground might suddenly disappear.
"I don't like moving floors," she murmured.
Shalotte almost stumbled again when the path slightly dipped.
"Careful," Maddy snapped, grabbing the back of his robe before he fell. "If you break your neck here, I'm leaving you."
"S-sorry!" Shalotte said quickly.
Klaus stood near the front, completely relaxed, letting the moving path carry him like someone strolling through a marketplace.
Shane noticed.
"Enjoying the ride?" Shane asked quietly.
Klaus tilted his head.
"I've had worse transport services."