After the rank 4 material was taken away, the excitement around the stall gradually died down. Most onlookers slowly scattered. Only sporadically did Lilly and Iain manage to sell some materials.
The siblings were inwardly glad though. The attention had slightly overwhelmed them. After all it was hard to ignore that all the adventurers here were battle hardened veterans stronger than the young Rottals.
At least Groob stayed at the booth instead of changing with other group members. Lilly and Iain misunderstood his concern though. While the siblings thought Groob was here to give them confidence, the adventurer was still searching for the source of danger he felt. Unfortunately, he didn’t find anything.
Deciding that it was better not to stay in one place, Groob told the siblings that they had sold enough after a few hours.
Just as the trio were packing away their things, a burly man hastily approached their stall. In his arms he carried another adventurer.
The latter’s complexion looked terrifying. Green veins protruded form his face. His body showed obvious weakness. From time to time a shudder ran through him, as pain clouded his expression.
A loud shout left the burly adventurer’s mouth, his eyes containing a pleading look:
“Groob! Groob! Please wait! I need your help, please.”
Some conversations from the surrounding merchants reached the siblings’ ears. They quickly understood that the sickly man seemed to have been poisoned by Bisera slime.
“Remij, what are you causing such a ruckus here?”, answered Groob with displeasure.
“Groob. Please help me. Don’t you see that Retfij is suffering from Bisera poison. You know how precious my little brother is to me.”
Some sympathy appeared on the siblings’ faces. Who could understand those feelings better than them?
Meanwhile Groob frowned slightly. The seasoned adventurer wouldn’t forget about the lurking danger.
“What does this have to do with me? If he hasn’t died already, the dosage wasn’t lethal. He will only endure some pain.”
“But Groob. Haven’t we always been good friends? You know that one needs slime of a higher rank to suppress the poison. Please sell me some. I wouldn’t beg you if it wasn’t important!”
“Just look for a healer!”
Following the conversation, the siblings were slightly surprised by Groob’s rejection. They felt disappointed as they observed the older brother’s despaired eyes.
Iain couldn’t hold himself back as he carefully asked Groob:
“Groob. Why don’t… you give him some slime. It’s not worth that much, right?”
While the bald adventurer angrily turned towards Iian, a happy voice quickly followed:
“Thank you, young man. You hear it Groob? Please. I beg you.”
A loud snort left Groob’s nose. His eyes dangerously eyed Iain. A second later he finally caved in. Under Remij’s pestering, he took out a small bottle with a greenish liquid. Not paying any attention, he threw it in Remij’s direction.
“You owe me one! Don’t forget it this time!”
“Thank you, Groob. Thank you. Of course I won’t forget this!”
Supporting his brother with one hand, Remij skillfully caught the bottle with the other. Observing his skilled moves, Lilly frowned slightly. It seemed this man should be a master warrior as well.
The clever woman seemed to figure out the reason for Groob’s displeasure. Remij could have gone hunting a Bisera himself, but he came here and begged Groob instead. His behavior was at least dishonorable.
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Staring at Remij’s leaving back, Groob ordered the siblings to pack up. He didn’t speak a word as the trio left the market. After a successful few hours, they finally arrived back at their temporary homes.
Still in a bad mood the bald adventurer informed Lilly and Iain:
“We will be setting off in 10 hours. Rest until then!”
“In ten hours? Why not tomorrow?”
“I have already realized this earlier, but you guys are too constrained by days. What different does it make if we leave in ten hours or tomorrow?”
Iain opened his mouth, but couldn’t give an answer. The siblings were still used to a day and night cycle, but this concept was foreign to many inhabitants of planet Hex. They realized that time might play an increasingly diminishing role in their lives. Once their need for food and sleep shrank, their schedule would change drastically.
Observing the siblings’ understanding, Groob didn’t add anything. He simple turned away, leaving the siblings alone.
While the newbies rested or learned, Groob gathered the rest of his team. With a solemn face he informed them about the danger he felt. Voro, Forgoz, and Uramant took it seriously.
Together the team began to search through the whole base camp. They kept their attention on all those adventurers they had trouble with in the past. After not finding anything specific, they scanned the crowd for unfamiliar faces.
Unfortunately, their investigation didn’t bear fruits. They could only discuss their next steps. The thought of returning to the city came up, but they dismissed it in the end. As mercenaries they were used to dangerous situations. They wouldn’t have reached their current standings if they ran from danger each time.
Therefore, a strained mood reigned when the adventurers fetched Lilly and Iain ten hours later. Not wanting the siblings to panic, the team didn’t explain themselves. Lilly and Iain could only feel that something was off.
Under those unfavorable conditions the team once again arrived at the Church of Light’s temple. The same stern priest judged everyone with his eyes, seemingly never tiring. Lilly and Iain were used to it by now. Compared to the strange musician the priest didn’t appear scary anymore.
Following some other adventurers the fully equipped group entered the temple’s solemn main hall. While everyone routinely passed this place, Lilly suddenly noticed Forgoz falling slightly behind. She noticed in surprise as the swordsman silently bowed towards the God of Light’s statue.
Naturally this wasn’t uncommon in the Luminous Empire, but Lilly hadn’t found any particularly devoted adventurer so far. Thus, Forgoz behavior was slightly deviating from the norm.
If the rest of their team noticed his actions, they obviously didn’t care. Seriously adjusting their mindset, the adventurers approached the elevator.
Somehow a suppressive atmosphere settled in when everyone descended. The elevator’s griding sound appeared louder than usual. The adventurers’ bodies seemed tenser than before. Even the suddenly spreading darkness felt denser than during their last trip.
The siblings instinctively stood closer, not sure where their feelings stemmed from.
Soon the EFM team 5 approached the tunnels again under Groob’s lead. Cold winds raged against the stony cliff. They whipped against the hardened rocks, constantly trying to bring the unmovable obstacle to fall.
As they walked closer to the wall of no return than normal, the siblings found some trees growing on its steep sides. Connected by their roots and their branches intertwined they endured the cold storms.
Arriving at the tunnels Lilly and Iain breathed deeply to get rid of their complicated mood. Their minds focused on the upcoming fights.
As the continued the team once again encountered groups of rockrats and other beasts. Fortunately, nothing dangerous appeared.
The seasoned adventurers had put their suspicions at the back of their mind for now, focusing on the fights before them. They wouldn’t make the mistake of underestimating any beasts. Such a mindset had already claimed too many lives.
Advancing steadily, the team soon reached the checkpoint. After a short rest they left it behind and once again entered the gloomy plains below the cliff of no return.
Only now did Groob inform the siblings that they had to change their target to another mine. The bald adventurer didn’t announce the reason, however. After all he did so to stay less predictable.
Thus, the team fought their way through the Frozen Hell towards a different target. Groob hoped to find another Bisera worker, earning the EFM and himself another big junk of money.
After journeying for a whole day another monolith finally entered their view. Even the seasoned adventurers felt the exhaustion in their bones this time.
Voro, Forgoz, and even Uramant couldn’t avoid some injuries, while keeping Lilly and Iain save. The former expressed her thankfulness while she meticulously treated their wounds.
Reading the sign saying ‘Hequarium #234’, the team knew they had finally reached their target.
They hastily scouted the surroundings. Since nothing seemed different from the information they had about this mine, Groob ordered everyone to finish their preparations. Since they didn’t find obvious signs of Biseras here, they didn’t have a choice but to cover all mine entrances in traps.
On top of that they had to use manually activated traps, in order to thit a Bisera worker after it had filled its stomach. Since they didn’t know when a beast would arrive, Groob pushed the team to hurry up.
Even Lilly and Iain had to help with setting up traps around the biggest mine entrance this time.
Lilly’s stomach suddenly turned as an uneasy feeling settled in. She involuntarily looked at the black hole next to the mines path. It looked like even the sturdy rock had caved in here sometime in the past.