"Call it," I said over to Lenox.

Fras dropped his sword to his side, the flames extinguishing, and kneeled, placing one arm over his chest. "Well fought young Lord. There is no doubt you had us outclassed, without any spells nonetheless."

"This isn't over, I can still fight!" Renora roared, holding up her ax.

"It isn't necessary, I got what I needed thank you." I gave her a bow, then raising my voice I addressed the gathered group. "Those who fought today are free to go, everyone else is free to return to their sentences."

"Wait, I'll fight." One of the prisoners who had backed out shouted, followed by several others.

I looked over to Renora. She had lost some of the anger on her face but didn't look ready to back down. Summoning a Health potion from my ring I walked over and handed it to her.

"Those who wish to still fight me for their freedom, I more than welcome the practice. Before you make your decision, however, know that I no longer need to test anything specific, so there is no reason for me to hold back."

Most of the people who had voiced their desire to fight sat back down in unison, with a few stragglers slightly slower to the ground than the others. Apparently, they thought I was here to be some sort of judge or something, here to grant their freedom for a bit of sparing practice. Not completely untrue, but it wasn't in my plans to sit around and beat up prisoners all day.

"From the outside, it could look like you were going easy on these two. It appeared like you hit each other a few times, broke the Dwarf's ankle, and then granted them their freedom. I'd take a broken leg over being executed any day." Mel said, standing next to me.

I'm only willing to do this because I won't have files on the people I'm fighting out there, I need an understanding of my Abilities before I use them in a real fight. I'm only repaying a debt to those who helped me with that task. Besides, they were willing to fight me after the Snakekin died, that takes courage or stupidity. That was not a pretty way to go. They haven't done anything besides kill a couple of people including some noble brat who couldn't keep it in his pants. I'm not a judge or a lawyer, it's not my business. The other two; were an exception, I would have sent them back anyway. Two birds, one stone, and all that. The ones that fought for their freedom can go and the rest can face the consequences of their own decisions. I said to Mel, definitely not trying to justify my actions to myself.

"Thank you, young Lord," Fras said, still kneeling, as he processed what I had said. "Truly, thank you."

Speaking to him and both dwarves; Isamaar and the woman who was currently downing the potion I had given her, I said. "Please speak to Lenox about your release, and I commend each of you for your determination."

I walked off the platform and started toward the door to the manor. Before I could make it halfway, Isamaar cut off my path.

"Thank you again, young Lord, for your mercy. If you were to permit it, I would ask a favor of you before you go."

"It depends on the favor."

"Most gracious, young Lord." He stood up straight, with his hands glued to his sides. "Regardless of my freedom, I have been stripped of my title of Adventurer. I have no authority to investigate what happened to my team. My only family is gone, and I have no idea why. I would ask to borrow the young Lord's authority to dig deeper into these matters. I will sign a contract, and I will be indebted to you for as long as you think is equal to such a request."

Mel waltzed up to the Dwarf and pretended to prop herself up against his shoulder. "That's not a bad deal. You were going to need to find members of your delver's team somehow. At least you already know you can't trust him. Makes it harder for him to stab you in the back, both literally and figuratively."

Do I have the authority to do that?

"As the Marquess? Yes. All you would need is to send him with a written letter that has the old man's seal on it. You have them in both studies of the laboratories.

Is it the best option, though?

"You could always hold tryouts in Arani or Requara, and be waited on hand and foot by servants while high-level Adventurers try to curry favor with you by getting a spot on your team and hogging all the experience," Mel said in a jaunty tone, knowing what my thoughts on that would be.

"I will be clearing the five dungeons west of here, including a Journeyman dungeon, over the next eleven weeks. If you join me for ten hours each day as part of my team, I will send you with my seal to investigate on your own time. You will have this seal until you find out what happened. I will specify that it is only to be used in this manner. It would be prudent of you not to think of it as a get-out-of-jail-free card." I told Isamaar, before adding. "And Typhen is just fine, I'm not big on titles."

"Lo- er… Typhen, sir. I would be honored to join your personal team. How many are in your battalion?"

"No battalion, currently it's two from the Farmer's Protection Guild, and myself. I have one more in mind but I haven't had a chance to ask yet."

The rustling in the background halted as everybody looked at me.

After visibly steeling himself, he replied. "Nevertheless, I will still accept on the condition that I be allowed to return the seal and decline further assistance upon my discretion. I cannot find out what happened to my brother if I am dead."

"That seems reasonable. I'm not trying to drag anybody off to their deaths. I would do it by myself if I had more time, but I'm on a deadline."

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"And you said you're going to clear five dungeons with a team of four?" Fras asked, walking down the steps toward me.

"My goal is to clear the first three levels of three Novice dungeons by myself eventually. My Uncle advised me to assemble a small team for the remainder of the floors until I have reached an acceptable level. With too many people, the Experience is split thinly amongst those who participated. I want to limit it as much as possible without dying."

Fras held my gaze for a moment, then burst out in a deep laugh. "I would like to offer my services to your little team if you'll have me of course."

"I did just beat you, do you think you will be much use in a dungeon?"

"My class is as a Fire Affinity Trap-smith. Spotting them mostly, but I have a few trap spells. I'm more of a preparation support type than direct combat, as you saw before. But Trap-smith's are usually either thieves, assassins, or Adventurers. I assure you, I can be of service and great benefit in a dungeon." He explained, slightly offended.

"Why?" I asked, curious as to why he would risk his life so soon after saving it.

"There is nothing behind me, only what is in front of me. Currently, that is you and your crazy plan to hoard massive amounts of Experience and loot. I'm confident you aren't going to die, at least not right away. I've never been one for dungeon delving, I always thought there was too much risk for loot when it was much easier to get from some wealthy noble's house. And I never had a reason to try and slog through levels, but like you said, with so much Experience, and a small group. I might never find someone crazy enough to try it again." He said, noticeably more formal since he began speaking of loot with a glint in his eyes.

"You all are insane, you'll be dead within a week," Renora said, still standing over by Lenox.

"That may be true, but it'll be fun in the meantime," Fras said.

"Quite right you are, young man," Osiph said, appearing wearing his cloak that had the face mask pulled up to the bridge of his nose and the hood back, revealing his silver hair tied in place with that Jade pin. "It will be something entertaining, to be sure. Now then, boy. Are you prepared to start? You are burning daylight. Only nine hours remain before you must get back to crafting. There is a teleportation array assembled in the front of the building that will take you to the village. You may use it anytime you are not practicing your crafting and wish to head towards the dungeons. I have some business to attend to elsewhere, I will return when I am able. I spoke to the Duke and persuaded him to give his grandson an opportunity to join you. If the boy has accepted, then he will be waiting for you with the others there."

"I think we'll take a short break to recover, then head out. What about the prisoners?" I asked.

"I have sent word to a liaison of the Dukedom informing them of those who were freed. The rest will return in the carriages they came in." He gestured to Lenox, who bowed and then began ushering the group toward the Cart-house.

"Do you know when you'll be back?"

"Not in the slightest, could be tomorrow, could be five years." He answered.

"Helpful."

"Just get those dungeons cleared and keep your crafting up, if I have not returned by the time you have met your goal of clearing the first three floors of three of the dungeons, then reduce your time spent here and focus on the rest of the dungeons. Continue Meditating, once you have access to your Lab, you will not be required to return to the estate to fulfill your crafting hours."

"Alright, I think we'll be off shortly then." Turning to the two who would be joining my team. "We can rest up, get some food, and leave in half an hour. What about gear? Is what you have suitable to go directly into a fight?"

"Are you kidding me? Some of this gear is better than what I had when I was arrested." Fras said.

"Aye. It is sufficient." Isamaar agreed.

Looking back I noticed that Osiph had disappeared once more.

Heading into the house, I asked Iyema to inform the kitchen to make two plates up for the Dwarf and human.

The teleportation array from the estate to the village was smoother than the hundreds of miles we had come from Arani, this time traveling a much shorter distance of around thirty or so. I arrived in a small room, with two guards wearing Farmers Protection Guild emblems on their cloaks.

"Day, young Lord. Please follow me to the Elder's study." The guard to my right said. He had black hair that reflected the light and a stern face of a middle-aged soldier.

[Human- Level 68 (Novice)]

Nodding I followed him out and into a building a few spaces down. Inside I found the Elder I had made the agreement with before. Also, there was Kira the scout, Isaac the Journeyman Dwarf, two other Elders, and Trennel who was giving nervous looks at Kira when she wasn't looking. They were all seated at the large circular table in the center of the room. Behind them, lining the walls were shelves laden with scrolls and books of different sizes and colors.

"Elders. The young Lord has arrived." The guard leading me stepped back out of the room and closed the door behind him.

"Ah. Young Lord, thank you for coming. There have been a few issues arise that I believe we need to address before any other matters are handled." Elder Bainer said, gesturing at an empty seat.

Everyone had looked at me during the announcement of my arrival. Kira looked me up and down, then at my two companions. Trennel let out a small wave, and the other Elders sat straight in their high-backed chairs, belying their old age.

The one who stood out however was Isaac, staring at Isamaar behind my right shoulder, murder in his eyes and his knuckles white. I could audibly make out the grinding of his teeth.

"Greetings once more Elders. Thank you for having my way prepared for me. I have to ask. Does this have something to do with the expression on Isaac's face right now?" I said, sitting down. Ushering Fras to my left and Isamaar the furthest from Isaac to my right.

"It does indeed" Elder Bainer explained. "It appears he has an unpleasant relationship with your companion, and there have been some unsavory words passed in his direction. I wish to resolve this peacefully and with the Lord's respect in mind, I recognized it was not my place to decide such things for your team. Isaac, would you please calmly explain to the young Lord your stance on this arranged mission?"

He held eye contact with Isamaar, not looking away, but spoke to me in a stifled manner. "I apologize young Lord, but I will not be on, what is ostensibly, already a dangerous mission, with a party-killer at my back. It is not wise to add more foolish risks to what is already an inane idea. I advise you to send him back to rot for his crimes. It will do us no good to have such filth in our presence."

"I have done nothing!" Isamaar said back, nearly yelling. "Who are you to say those things to me? You are not one of my kin. I owe you nothing. I earned my freedom from an unjust verdict."

"No, you owe Remalin." Isaac growled.

Isamaar's face fell from one of anger to one of fear and grief. One of his team members, I assumed, by how shocked he appeared at the mere mention of the name.

"For more than forty years; Mrs. Nahir has been my landlady. She owns the land on which my wife Gwenth and I built our house upon. She is a blessing of a woman. To check on us during storms and help Gwenth with the little ones when she fell ill while I was away. She is more family than I have ever deserved. Just by merely existing, she makes this world a better place to live in. I cannot tell you the grief I witnessed on her face when news of her only son being butchered by a member of his own team, reached her. She has been beside herself with sorrow and is withering away. That is your fault, you owe her for the life of her beloved only child. You owe her your death, in recompense."