Chapter 260: Beast Horde Attacks

The greatest difficulty in exploring underground ruins, labyrinths, and architectural complexes has always been logistics.

Even with a spatial bag, its storage remains quite limited; if an accident occurs, the most painful death for an explorer or adventurer is not being killed by a monster, but being trapped underground and tortured to death by hunger and thirst.

For this reason, unlike the adventurers in stories and games who run as far as possible, the actions of real-world explorers are often quite conservative.

Let alone considering a return after consuming a small portion of supplies; once a casualty appears, they will basically return immediately.

After all, a casualty means the team's functionality is weakened, creating a shortcoming in certain aspects, which then leads to major oversights causing further casualties. The chain reaction of death in the underground world often starts with a member getting hurt due to meddling.

One person is injured, one person guards them, and others must bear several work responsibilities that do not belong to them; the result is constantly increasing intensity, leading to a series of accidents.

But the result of everyone exploring conservatively is that progress is almost non-existent; everyone wanders in the safe zone and returns once they have gathered enough profit.

This does not happen in normal underground labyrinth or ruin exploration.

Because once the shallow layers are stripped clean, later arrivals must, either voluntarily or forcibly, go to the deeper layers.

And the labyrinth here can "regenerate"; as long as one hunts in the safe zone, one can steadily obtain supernatural materials. What a profitable deal.

"We must completely clear the underground ruins within two years and cut off the hidden danger threatening this city."

At the beginning, the Princess's speech was resisted by all the adventurers.

They were very satisfied with their current stable life and did not expect adventure, but with the changing times, it is not something individuals can subjectively resist.

The influx of a large number of powerful outsiders—noble bodyguards, Grand Mages from the Mage Tower, and even noble priests from the Church District—actively flooded this mud pit, squeezing the "lazy pigs" who were originally rolling and rotting in the mud until they could no longer bear it. The shallow areas no longer have valuable monsters, yet they must hunt to survive.

However, their lives have clearly improved; the inferior equipment they had before was directly paid for and replaced by the big shots.

All they needed was to serve as guides with low risk.

"Can people in our line of work become famous?!" More news gradually activated this dead water.

Contrary to what most people expect, adventurers, especially underground explorers, actually find it very difficult to gain fame; even if they perform brilliantly in the underground world, they will still be looked down upon by most "regular armies" when they return to the surface.

And in this era, fame can obtain everything: the appreciation of high-ranking nobles and the granting of low-level titles, credit and positions from large organizations, and even becoming famous enough to date a girl without anyone looking down on it.

"What's the point of the hard work of adventuring to the deep layers? You might just die inside."

But now, the live broadcast by the "Mirror Demon" has caused a clear change in the situation; even great nobles like the City Lord frequently watch the exploration work within it.

If one can "appear on screen" or even stand out at this moment, one might gain the appreciation of certain big shots and completely escape the miserable fate of risking one's life to make a living.

Organized exploration and the adventures of scattered soldiers and wandering heroes are not on the same level in terms of profit and stability.

"Progress has clearly increased significantly; someone encountered a Manticore. The one who beheaded it not only gained over 300 gold coins but was also hired by the Labol family to serve as a professional bodyguard."

Encountering a powerful monster often means venturing deeper into the labyrinth.

News of the occasional lucky ones spread throughout the entire industry, while the unlucky ones who died below remained unknown.

It is just that what is about to happen today seems to be somewhat of an exception.

"What is that..."

At the same time, at least five adventurer teams encountered some strange people.

It was a tall figure, draped in a massive gray cloak and wearing a white one-eyed mask; behind it often followed small, snow-white beasts.

"Stop!!"

In the underground world, encountering someone dressed so strangely is abnormal no matter how you look at it, even if he appears harmless.