The moment they arrived Severin noticed just how different the whole atmosphere in this encampment was compared to the one he was coming from; moreso even than he had expected.

Managed by multiple guilds and a local branch of the Adventurers Society, it was far more open and welcoming to an outsider like him.

After docking at one of the designates towers, the stationed guards didn’t bother him with questions about the purpose of his visit. Not even an entrance fee was required of him. That, Samuel had explained, was one of the Society’s usual stipulations. Every newly created branch would have to be freely accessible to everyone, and charging for entrance into the outpost would violate that imperative. It was because of this reason that no chapter of the Society could be found in the more secretive guilds’ outposts like that of the Malcos Eagles.

Feeling uneasy departing on his own, knowing that his assistant was about to enter an actual dungeon, Severin took his time making his way through the streets and towards the impossible to miss building with the familiar green tinted windows. He wasn’t in a hurry and took in every sight he could in an attempt to distract and calm himself.

Quickly, the impression that this was more of a trading hub than anything else further solidified.

All kinds of people, just like him, were strolling through the streets, stopping Infront of the various stores and stalls which openly advertised their wares.

Some of these stores, but by far not all, displayed small, colored emblems next to, or above their entrances, in a way to declare their affiliation to a respective guild, or so Severin assumed; if he had paid more attention to Samuel's lesson, he probably would have known for certain.

Most of these store vendors, barring his initial curiosity, however, were not of particular interest to him; he looked at most all of them, but most of the time did not actually stop to take a closer look and instead continued his way to his actual destination.

Only near some food stalls and one surprisingly fancy looking eatery did he linger for a moment to mentally note their locations so that maybe later on, together with Emily, he might return and have a taste of their wares.

Even though this whole situation didn't quite fit his idea of a quiet day off to relax and distract himself, the atmosphere was at least pleasant enough. Until he reached his destination.

The moment he stepped inside, he felt out of place. An impression with which he was not alone, judging by the many looks he attracted.

When outside on the streets, the crowd had seemed to be somewhat evenly split between adventurers and non-adventurers; even the number of people he suspected to be non-classbearers had been much higher than he had expected.

Now, there was no sight of those people. The vast majority of patrons were clad in armor and worn like a second skin, leaving no doubt as to their profession.

The small amount of people who didn’t fit that description, either wore some guild’s colors and probably held some managerial position, or they wore sturdy aprons which betrayed them to Severin to be craftsmen who relied on the Society and its rough patrons to acquire the rarer materials necessary for their craft.

Still, no one actually cared enough about his unusual appearance to pay him attention for longer than just a few moments, let alone approach and call him out directly.

Severin lined up in the line he estimated to be the shortest and began waiting, looking around, and comparing; not to the branch he had visited in Hanvia -that one was on a whole different level to begin with, not just in size, but simply in its layout, with no business other than that of the information desks actually being conducted on the ground floor- but to the one managed by Magda back on his mountain.

More precisely, it was the amount of people in here that surprised him the most. At Magda’s, even at its busiest, it was nothing compared to the bustle surrounding him right now. And it didn’t make much sense to him.

Not with the newest influx of people visiting his mountain-thanks to the now fully operational portal station.

Why was there such a difference in busyness?

‘Maybe because of the portal station, not despite. Easier to take their business to the main branch instead,’ Severin mused, but had the feeling that explanation wasn’t quite it.

‘Or maybe it is because of the lack of dungeons in the immediate vicinity. Meaning there aren’t many people looking for groups. Not much information broking to be done either, I would assume.’

Severin felt this was closer to the actual truth, feeling a pang of pity for the ever smiling woman since with his mountain now situated right above the area with the- according to the locals- highest dungeon density on the continent, they should soon find out.

After a shorter time than he initially expected given the circumstances, it was finally Severin’s turn at the counter.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The clerk was of advanced age and more likely than not had once been an adventurer herself. Either way, she was experienced enough to not even raise her eyebrows at Severin’s rather unusual request, and professional enough not to ask any prying follow-up questions either.

Instead, he was first asked to provide his name. Then, optionally, to state his guild affiliation and to produce a guarantor.

Since he could not and would not do either one of those two, it meant firstly, that there was no way for him to be contacted upon completion of his issued task and that he would have to check up on the progress in person, and, secondly, that he was required to pay the renumeration in advance. The whole thing, and under the assumption the retrieved core would be of pristine quality; any deductions due to inadequacies of the actual retrieved object would only be refunded afterwards.

At least the woman was accommodating enough to provide him with a publicly accessible list of similar tasks that had been issued in the past, including the compensation that had been offered as a reference point for the price he was going to tender, however outdated and short the list had been.

All the more surprising just how low those prices had been even in the past. Severin had expected worse. Though after a closer look…

“I guess that explains the long completion times. Maybe I should raise the price. I don’t intend to have to wait for months. Much less years.”

“If I may,” the helpful clerk interjected. “You are, of course, free to further increase the reward money as you see fit. However, since I am obligated to assist you to the best of my abilities, I have to advise you from doing so.”

“Oh?” that got his attention. “And why is that?”

“Because, realistically speaking, it will simply not result in a more timely completion of the issued task. Nor will it likely increase the odds that it will be completed at all.

I have to assume you know that removing a core from its dungeon effectively destroys the dungeon itself? Most self-respecting adventurers will not even consider accepting such a task. Especially not since any group that had the capabilities to actually do so in the first place would be far better served keeping it intact and treat said dungeon as their golden goose. Assuming they don’t vastly out-level the dungeon and its inhabitants.

And even then...

Well. Of course, there are other reasons as well. Such as our regulations with which you are, of course, familiar.”

“Of course,” he lied sheepishly, but was ignored.

“Or the resentment these people would inevitably incur from most, if not all, other groups and guilds in the area.

No one sane wants to be responsible for setting off the second Dungeon Wars.

Therefore dungeon cores usually only become available under circumstances where they have to be removed, not because someone actively chooses to do so. And at that point, basically, any coin such a core can earn is a net positive; after all, there is hardly any demand for those things - and therefore no competition that would drive up those prices.

Not here at least, where the dungeon dense ecosystem and the economies of guilds and even whole countries are so tightly interconnected.”

Pretending familiarity with the key points the clerk had brought up and which apparently constituted common knowledge, and nervously insuring her that there was no hurry and that of course it was not his intention to violate the local rules, Severin quickly excused himself and left the scene; the Society had accepted his issued task, but he could not resist the impression of having attracted some unwelcome attention to himself.

For the next three quarters of an hour, Severin impatiently paced up and down in front of the docking tower he had been dropped off at and which had been designated as their meeting place.

“Seev!”

“There you are! How-”

“It was soo much fun!” the girl’s excited, high-pitched voice immediately reassured Severin and made him forget all the other issues that had been on his mind.

“It was incredible! At first it was a bit scary, but then... we just fleeew through the trees. And we saw soo many strange animals and creatures. Even the plants were alive! It was amazing!

But Severin…?” Abruptly the girl’s bright demeanor changed. “Now, please don’t be angry, but…uhm the ring you have given me...”

Abashed, Emily stretched out her little hands and revealed several fragments within in.

“I swear I didn’t do anything. Once we were in the camp, it just suddenly broke! On its own! I swear. But it’s okay! I promise I will replace it. I still have some savings, so please don’t be angry.”

With a feeling of sudden dread, Severin felt all color leave his face. He felt lightheaded and didn’t know how to respond - apparently giving the girl the impression that everything was just fine, that her promise and her appeasement efforts had been successful in avoiding a scolding, and quickly continued with the recount of her adventures.

“Ah! But right after I noticed it breaking, we saw this biiig cat! You should have seen it! It was really cool. And really close too.”

Slowly and with a twitching eyelid, Severin turned towards a fidgeting half-giant trying to hide behind the little girl.