She knew better than anyone that this man's level was completely useless as a metric for his combat power.
Those inconceivable trials and that "dancing on a knife's edge" fighting style had already completely overturned her understanding of what it meant to be strong.
"Miss Ais!" Lefiya looked like she was on the verge of tears.
"I'm going too!" Tiona suddenly raised her hand high and announced loudly. "That sounds like so much fun! New trials! Strong monsters! I want in!"
"Tiona, don't start acting up!" Tione pressed her hand to her temple, feeling a headache coming on.
"I'm not acting up!" Tiona puffed out her modest chest with righteous indignation. "Of course I'm going where Ais goes! We're best friends! Besides, I want to see for myself what kind of trial could make even Ais look this serious!"
"Exactly!" Lefiya, feeling like she had finally found an ally, instantly changed her tune. She clenched her fist with newfound determination. "To protect Miss Ais from being deceived by certain individuals with ulterior motives, I must go as well!"
As she spoke, she shot Linn a vicious glare.
Linn: "..."
Is this little elf's imagination a bit too overactive?
Finally, everyone's gaze shifted to Tione.
Tione let out a long, weary sigh. What else could she say?
"Good grief..." Tione rubbed her forehead helplessly before finally nodding. "Since you've all decided, I suppose I have no choice but to follow. Someone sane needs to keep an eye on you lot."
And so, a temporary party that could only be described as "lavish" was formed in an incredibly haphazard and dramatic fashion.
"Excellent. The party is complete." Linn clapped his hands and turned back toward the Guild. "Let's go prepare. I need a map of the Middle Floors."
"Hey! You just took it for granted that we're included?!" Lefiya shouted behind him, exasperated.
Linn waved a hand without looking back. "Why wouldn't I? Didn't you all say you were coming?"
"Not because we want to follow you!"
Behind him came Lefiya's huffy protest and Tione's exhausted sigh.
Ignoring the commotion, Linn walked straight back into the Guild hall, making a beeline for Eina's counter as if he owned the place.
By now, the collective appearance of four major members of the Loki Familia had caused quite a stir in the hall. Adventurers were casting curious, reverent, and envious glances, whispering among themselves.
"Isn't that the Sword Princess and her team?"
"Why are they with that rookie?"
"Gods, who is that guy? He was staring down the Flashing Wolf this morning, and now he's partying up with the Sword Princess?"
Eina had also noticed the commotion at the entrance. When she saw Linn leading Ais and the others toward her, her expression was one of pure bewilderment.
"Mr. Linn? You're..." She started to speak, preparing to ask if he had gotten into trouble again.
Linn leaned his elbows on the counter, looking relaxed, and gave her a brilliant smile.
"Miss Eina, I've come back to report."
"Report?" Eina blinked.
"That's right." Linn nodded solemnly, then stepped aside, gesturing toward Ais and the others with an open palm as if presenting a rare treasure. "Didn't you say I could only go to the Middle Floors if I found a 'reliable party'?"
His tone was incredibly sincere, his eyes as clear as an obedient child's.
"Well, I found one. I think... this party should be reliable enough."
Linn turned back to Eina and spread his hands. "So, can I have the map for the 15th Floor and the relevant intel now?"
"..."
Eina stood there with her mouth agape, staring blankly at Linn, then at the four Loki Familia executives behind him—who, despite their various expressions, were undeniably the real deal.
She felt her brain... lag.
Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine the "reliable party" he mentioned would be of this caliber!
Was this even "finding a party"?
This was basically kidnapping the core expedition force of a top-tier Familia!
Eina adjusted her glasses, feeling as though a crack had appeared in the lenses. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to regain her composure.
"Mr... Linn..." Her voice sounded dry, with a faint, almost imperceptible tremor. "May I ask... how exactly did you pull this off?"
In the end, Eina gave up on thinking entirely.
With a deadpan expression, she pulled the Middle Floor maps and a thick stack of monster files from under the counter, mechanically stamped them with the Guild's approval seal, and pushed them toward Linn.
"...Mr. Linn. Please... make absolutely sure you come back alive."
"Don't worry, I won't stay dead."
Linn grabbed the maps, gave Eina a reassuring gesture, and then waved grandly.
"Alright, my reliable teammates. Let's head out."
"Yeah!" Tiona was the first to respond, hoisting her massive dual-bladed sword, Urga.
Ais followed closely, her steps light.
Lefiya and Tione exchanged a look, seeing nothing but mutual helplessness in each other's eyes, and followed suit.
They left behind a hall full of adventurers whose eyes were practically popping out of their heads.
The moment they entered Babel and stepped into the Dungeon, the air became damp and heavy.
From the first floor to the fourteenth, for this high-end makeshift party, the journey was less of an adventure and more of a lethal stroll.
"Hah!"
Tiona was like a runaway tank. A single swing of her giant sword Urga created a wind pressure that sent a swarm of Killer Ants flying into the air, where they shattered into a rain of magic stone fragments.
"Too weak! Next!" She looked around excitedly, searching for an opponent that could actually make her work.
On the other side, Tione's movements were far more elegant. Her kukris were like living vipers; every flick of her wrist precisely claimed the life of a monster.
Lefiya clutched her staff, chanting spells. Fireballs landed accurately on the heads of any stragglers, though her eyes were mostly glued to Linn, as if she were waiting for him to make a suspicious move.
As for Ais, she simply walked in the middle of the group. Her silver rapier, Desperate Sword, didn't even leave its sheath.
And Linn? From beginning to end, he did only one thing: he took a walk.
With his hands in his pockets, he followed leisurely. Occasionally, when a monster was stupid enough to charge him, he didn't even bother to draw his blade.
A slight sidestep or a perfectly timed backstep was all it took for the monster's claws to whistle past the tip of his nose.
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Danmachi: My Primary God is Hidetaka Miyazaki? (Simulpub – Ongoing)
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