No one knew the true intention behind Ais's final question.
However, the good news was that Riveria acknowledged the existence of the Xenos. In her assessment, the threat posed by the Xenos to Orario was even less significant than the dark factions hidden deep within Orario. And Riveria, as the representative of the Loki Familia, also represented the Loki Familia's stance.
As for the Hestia Familia, Nana was taken away.
Although Nana didn't want to leave at all, and Kiana was very reluctant, everyone had already discussed the pros and cons of the matter with Kiana several days prior.
So, for Nana's future, Kiana chose to let go, no matter how much she disliked it.
Of course, the result was…
"Are those two stimulated?"
Gareth grumbled, watching the two charging at the very front, instantly slaying any monster they encountered with a single sword strike.
Finn could only give a helpless smile. He had already learned the details of the situation from Riveria, so he could guess some of the reasons.
Mei, however, was a bit worried about Kiana.
"Is Kiana okay?"
"She's fine. She just needs some way to vent. Don't worry, I'm here watching."
Takatsuki watched Kiana vent and didn't stop her. Kiana was someone who liked to bear burdens alone, always saving smiles for others and bringing vitality to them. Now that she had an opportunity to vent, he let her be.
Thus, the true purpose of the group's expedition had been achieved.
However, the expedition still had to continue. If nothing else, just for the sake of having finally 'kidnapped' Takatsuki once and forcing him to provide spatial assistance, Loki would have to thoroughly exploit him.
Every night, Finn would report the day's expedition progress to Loki through the "[Close at Hand Yet Worlds Apart] passage opened by Takatsuki, and obtain a batch of supplies from the surface, while also transporting the day's exploration gains to the surface.
Because Takatsuki was maintaining the passage nearby, Finn and Loki didn't chat too much. However, they did complete the transfer of information regarding the existence and attitude of the Xenos directly in front of Takatsuki.
Perhaps sensing that Takatsuki cared deeply about the Xenos, they discussed it directly in front of him to reassure him.
On the second day of the expedition, a group of LV4s from the Loki Familia, together with the big three, collectively defeated the newly spawned Amphisbaena.
However, compared to the time the big three challenged it before, this time the big three did not reveal any trump cards, merely cooperating with others in a conventional manner to kill it.
During this time, Takatsuki also specifically asked Fu Hua to guide others on combat-related issues and led those the Loki Familia adventurers to hunt monsters for a period.
This way, when they returned, their stats would grow much higher than originally.
Takatsuki was truly racking his brains to appease Loki.
On the fifth night of the expedition, the expeditionary force had already reached the 50th Floor, much faster than before. So, without bringing any 'baggage,' the marching speed was incredibly fast.
Of course, with Takatsuki's current strength, if he traveled at full speed, he could reach the 50th Floor in a single day. The current him was incomparable to the him who first came to the deep levels.
The next plan was to raid the 58th Floor, because the cannon dragon on the 58th Floor had an attack range that could reach the 52nd Floor, making it impossible to stay on floors between Fifty-two and Fifty-eight.
So, everyone decided to rest for a day before proceeding.
But before that…
"Are you all going to the 58th Floor together?"
Finn confirmed with everyone the day before departure.
"Of course! It's just the 58th Floor; I has long since…"
Kiana was cut off before she could finish by Mei covering her mouth. Mei smiled awkwardly at Finn: "Finn… sir, don't worry, we do have the strength."
Apparently, calling Finn, who looked like a child, "sir" was quite unaccustomed, especially since Takatsuki had privately told them that Finn was actually over forty years old.
Hearing Kiana almost reveal that they had been here before, Takatsuki also sighed helplessly and changed the subject, saying, "Finn, you don't have to worry about us. I know the strength of my Familia members."
"Hmm, since you've said so, I won't say anything more."
Finn looked at his team again: "In that case, it wouldn't be good if only a few of our Familia's LV4s stayed behind. Let's just have everyone go together."
Originally, Finn's plan was for only those at LV5 and above to go down, while Kiana and the others would stay with the Loki Familia's LV4s.
However, the Hestia Familia's arrangement at this time shattered his original idea.
Although it was a joint expedition, he couldn't dictate the arrangements of other Familias, so he could only temporarily change the plan.
After a night of rest, the group, fully refreshed, began their exploration below the 50th Floor.
At the entrance to the 52nd Floor, Finn was about to let the fierce wolf Bete lead the way, when Takatsuki stepped forward and said.
"This time, let Fu Hua of our Familia lead the way."
Takatsuki stepped forward and said, and Fu Hua also took a step forward. Takatsuki asking Fu Hua to lead was not a sudden decision, so he had already informed Fu Hua last night.
"Ah!? Let her lead? Don't think that just because you defeated me last time, you can lead the way. This isn't something you can do just by being fast."
Bete, who had not interacted with them at all along the way, seemed to be unable to hold back because his task was taken.
"Bete!"
Finn, however, rationally called out to Bete. Although the latter still looked disgruntled, he temporarily said nothing.
"Takatsuki, leading the way requires strong intuition. Otherwise, you won't be able to predict the cannon dragon's attacks, which would be very dangerous for the team."
Finn said to Takatsuki. Takatsuki, of course, knew this. But the difference was that Finn and Bete both relied on the adventurers' experience and intuition to determine the attack's location and timing.
As for Fu Hua…
She has Observation Haki!
"Finn, of course I know that. Don't forget, I've been to the 52nd Floor before."
Takatsuki didn't explain in detail, but Finn was a smart man and naturally understood Takatsuki's meaning. If it were anyone else, Finn might have considered him arrogant, but there was already the extremely unusual Takatsuki.
What about Fu Hua, who was even stronger than Takatsuki?
Finn didn't ask further, but instead suppressed Bete's dissatisfaction and agreed to Fu Hua's request to lead the way.
In the following time, Finn understood why Takatsuki wanted Fu Hua to lead the way.
The reason for letting Bete lead was that the Valgang Dragon's attacks were pre-emptive strikes against the first person in front. Bete had the fastest reactions and the most accurate instincts, so he could dodge just before being hit.
Coupled with his judgment from behind based on experience and intuition, he could barely avoid the Valgang Dragon's attacks.
But what about Fu Hua?
Finn couldn't understand. Fu Hua often made sudden turns in strange places, causing Bete, who was running behind, to constantly grumble and complain that Fu Hua didn't know how to lead.
However, Finn discovered that not far ahead of where Fu Hua turned, the area was covered by the Valgang Dragon's flames after they left.
He realized Takatsuki's reason for letting Fu Hua lead the way.
"She can detect and evade the Valgang Dragon's attacks as soon as they are launched!"
Actually, Takatsuki could also do this, but he had more methods. So, instead of leading, he supported others from behind, preventing unexpected situations like someone being attacked during their run, as happened last time.