Chapter 32: BENEATH THE VEIL
The room was tense, the air heavy with an unspoken threat as Ash placed the ID badges back on the table, his eyes scanning Yomi, Aeloria, and Lirien. Around them, the mercenary adventurers shifted slightly, hands near weapons, ready to strike at a moment’s notice.
Aeloria and Lirien exchanged nervous glances, the weight of their situation pressing down on them. They knew they weren’t as high-ranking as Ash initially thought, and now that the truth was clear, the consequences loomed over them like a dark shadow.
Ash finally broke the silence, his voice sharp but tinged with genuine confusion. "How?" he began, pausing to glance back at them.
Lirien frowned, her nervousness overtaking her curiosity. "How what?" she asked, her voice betraying a slight tremor.
Ash turned fully to face them, his tone carrying an edge of disbelief. "How were you able to conquer a red dungeon despite your low ranks?"
The question hung in the air like a blade. Yomi, seated calmly, silently interlaced his fingers, his sharp eyes observing every movement in the room. He felt his Ki ripple within him, depleted but still present, a comforting ember ready to ignite if needed. Yet, just as his body tensed to act, the system’s cold, clinical voice echoed in his mind:
"[Mild threat: Note, do not engage.]"
Yomi exhaled silently, relaxing his fingers but keeping his senses sharp. He didn’t trust the voice in his head, but for now, he would play along.
Aeloria cleared her throat, trying to muster the courage to speak, but before she could, Ash raised a hand to silence her. "Under normal circumstances," he began, his voice steady, "adventurers who break the Dungeon Suppression Decree for low-level rifts are heavily fined and put on trial. But your case..." He trailed off, studying them carefully. "You discovered a dungeon beyond your capacity. You not only survived, but you conquered it."