Walking over the bridge made from huge, circular tree trunks, crossing the lake, and arriving at the island where Rivira town was located, Shirou and his party couldn't help but look down at the floor's scenery from above.
"It feels like ages since I last came to this street."
"For me, it's probably my first time," Shirou said to Lefiya beside him, surveying the surroundings.
"Actually, I haven't come here much either, Brother."
Lefiya didn't become an adventurer in Orario and grow up gradually; she came to Orario when she was LV.3 and then joined the Loki Familia. Therefore, she hadn't been in the Loki Familia much longer than Shirou. The "rookie duo" exchanged a small smile and continued to follow the others forward.
Soon, everyone arrived at the highest point of the island, which was where Rivira town was located. At the town's entrance, Lefiya pointed at the gate and suddenly asked, "Um, something I've always wondered, does the '334' written on the door mean..."
"That's right, that's the number of times Rivira town has been rebuilt. It means this town has been destroyed 333 times before."
"Th-Three hundred thirty-three times!" Lefiya was instantly dumbfounded by Riveria's reply.
Although this was a safe floor where monsters didn't spawn, it was still within the Dungeon. There was no telling when an Anomalous State might occur. And once danger was detected, the adventurers here would immediately evacuate, and then return to rebuild after everything was safe. This was why there had been so many instances of rebuilding here.
Walking into Rivira town, looking at the buildings connected to the mountainside, Shirou couldn't help but marvel at human ingenuity.
"We need to process the magic stones and materials now."
"And after that? Are we going to camp out in the forest as usual?"
"No, this time, let's stay at an inn in the town. After all, we didn't bring any camping gear."
"But Captain, staying here for a week would probably cost a lot of money, wouldn't it? This is Rivira, after all!"
As the only supply point in the Dungeon, prices in Rivira were extremely high. Not only could you not sell the magic stones and materials you obtained here at surface prices, but even a casual food item or weapon here would have four zeros or more. This shows how much they ripped people off. And from this, one could also see how expensive the inns here would be.
"Tione is so stingy; what's wrong with staying once in a while!"
"Don't call me stingy; you're just too thick-headed."
Hearing Tiona and Tione's argument, Finn chuckled and said, "No problem, I'll cover the accommodation fees this time! Besides, Ais and the others seem to be trying to save money!"
"...Sorry, Finn." To Ais, who felt embarrassed, Finn smiled and said, "This is the only time I get to use money, so it's fine!"
Hearing Finn's humble-bragging remark, Shirou couldn't help but click his tongue. I wish I could say something like that so nonchalantly right now! Damn it, it's all those damned Magic Swords that held me back.
"Don't you think the atmosphere on this street is a bit strange?"
"There are too few pedestrians here." As the only supply point in the Dungeon, many adventurers used it as their base for exploration. Therefore, while it wouldn't be bustling with noise, it certainly wouldn't be this quiet.
Hearing Riveria's observation, everyone finally noticed the anomaly. Finn thought for a moment and said, "It seems we need to gather some information." Walking down the desolate street, everyone noticed that many stalls still had goods, but the owners were gone. After some searching, they finally found an acquisition center with a shopkeeper present. Through exchanges and inquiries, they learned that someone had actually been killed here.
Considering that they themselves would be staying here, Finn ultimately decided to go to the victim's place to see if there were any clues.
At Billie's Inn
"So many people, there's no way to squeeze in!" Looking at Billie's Inn and the crowded adventurers in front of it, the Loki Familia members were all a bit dumbfounded.
"I'll go in and check first. You all wait here, Riveria." With a simple remark, Finn used his small, agile body to slip inside. Then, to the exclamations of "Oh-oh-oh!" from Shirou, Ais, and Tiona, Tione beside them panicked.
"Captain, wait a minute!"
"Hey, you all, get out of the way!"
"Ugh, it's the Loki Familia!"
Under Tione's intimidation, the adventurers immediately cleared a path. Although feeling a bit sorry, Shirou and the others followed Tione into the inn. Passing through several door-like passages, the group of six arrived at the deceased's room. Upon entering the room, everyone was speechless.
The room deep inside the cave was stained with blood, and a male corpse, missing its head, lay on the ground.
"Don't look, Lefiya!" Shirou, with a forceful tone, unceremoniously covered Lefiya's eyes, then pushed her out of the room before returning.
"That's disgusting!" Looking at the various tissues and organs splattered on the ground and walls, Tiona couldn't help but frown. Inside the room, Finn was conversing with Bolus Elder, the boss of Rivira town. Across from them, Billie, the owner of the inn, looked dejected.
"What exactly happened? Have you learned the adventurer's identity and any information about the killer?"
"The deceased was a man wearing full-body armor, accompanied by a woman. Since he also wore a helmet, no one knows his identity. However, the woman he brought is missing. So, that woman must be the culprit, right?"
"Right, Billie?"
"Yes, at least I only let that pair of men and women in."
The somewhat dejected beast-man youth added, "They came at night, both concealing their faces, and asked me to reserve the entire inn."
"Two people reserving all the rooms? ...Ah, so that's what it was about!"
"Yeah, it was that kind of thing. Our inn doesn't have convenient things like doors, so if you yell, the entire cave can hear you, and if you want to watch, you can sneak a peek." Finn, who was inquiring, immediately understood what the other party meant. Lefiya, who was listening in nearby, also seemed to comprehend something and turned completely red. This made Shirou, who was standing by the door watching her, click his tongue in wonder. This sister seems to know a bit too much! Truly worthy of you, Yamabuki-colored Elf, Lefiya.
The Interrogation Continues
Meanwhile, the interrogation in the room continued.
"As the innkeeper, you don't even know what happened in the room?"
"Ha! If I were to eavesdrop on him bringing such a well-built woman into the room, I would go insane with jealousy. So I put up the 'No Vacancy' sign and went to drink."
"Are there no clues about her anywhere in Rivira now?"
"None!"
The situation reached a stalemate here. After a discussion that yielded no results, everyone fell silent.
"Indeed, we first need to identify the deceased. Has the unlocking potion arrived yet?"
"Coming, coming!" Receiving the unlocking potion from an adventurer who had just arrived, Bolus eagerly dripped it onto the deceased's back. After some manipulation, the Divine Blessing on the deceased's back appeared before everyone's eyes.
"Damn it, I don't know Divine Script!"
"Wait, I can read Divine Script."
"I can too!" Riveria and Ais said simultaneously.
After speaking, Riveria leaned in, looking at the Divine Script on the deceased's back, and slowly deciphered it. "His name is Hashana Dullia. He belongs to..."
"...the Ganesha Familia!"
"What?! You mean the deceased is Hashana, the Steel-Fisted Fighter of the Ganesha Familia? That guy was LV.4!" Bolus roared, hearing Riveria's deciphering.
A LV.4 adventurer had died here so silently, meaning the perpetrator's strength was at least LV.4 or higher. The thought of a killer with strength equivalent to a First-Class Adventurer potentially still lurking on the street sent a chilling murderous intent through Bolus. This place was too dangerous.
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--------More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter