"Booking the entire dungeon?"

This statement left all the adventurers present completely dumbfounded.

They had spent considerable effort assembling their teams and waited patiently for an hour before the Monster Rift opened, all hoping to gain some benefits from within. Yet Viktor appeared and, with just one sentence, intended to waste their entire day's preparation?

Who wouldn't be stunned by such a situation?

As free adventurers, they weren't known for their gentle temperaments. They gathered around, demanding an explanation from Viktor.

Angry expressions and tense atmosphere permeated the air, creating a suffocating environment.

However, in the next second.

A mysterious barrier suddenly emerged beneath Viktor's feet, gleaming like purple flowing light, instantly spreading outward and isolating the crowd.

The heavy purple light emanating from the barrier created an inexplicable sense of pressure, as if anyone who approached would fade into insignificance under its influence.

The adventurers, feeling this powerful magical force, stood stunned and immobilized.

"Since you can't accept my kind explanation, then..." Viktor slowly extended one slender finger, gently pressing downward in the air.

His eyes suddenly filled with an azure glow, like jewels twinkling in the starry sky.

Instantly, space was compressed by an invisible force, transparent power penetrating into every adventurer's body.

The ground beneath their feet shattered from the sudden pressure, cracks spreading out like ripples.

[Second-tier Magic: Gravity]

Carrying vast and mighty magical power, a terrifying pressure descended upon thousands of adventurers, pressing them forcefully toward the cracking ground.

Their legs began to tremble uncontrollably, their entire bodies pressing against the ground. It felt as if their lungs were being squeezed tight, making even breathing difficult.

Only a few adventurers managed to remain on one knee, barely supporting their bodies.

"It seems you prefer to communicate through force," Viktor spoke coldly, scanning everyone present with detached eyes.

Health bars and varying levels gradually appeared above the adventurers' heads. Most were only first or second-tier levels, with a few possessing third-tier power.

Like that blonde man from earlier - Level 39. These were independent adventurers.

In the game's lore, the Adventurers' City was divided into three major factions:

First was the supreme Imperial Army, responsible for defending against monster frontlines.

Second were the teams formed by independent adventurers - the most numerous but not particularly strong on average. They were mostly fixed members who gathered together to tackle Monster Rifts for minor gains, currently lacking unified leadership.

Finally, there were several Adventurers' Guilds focused on investigating deep within the Monster Rifts.

The Adventurers' Guilds regularly recruited powerful adventurers, gathering them together. Their mission was to continuously explore deeper into the constantly monster-spawning rifts, attempting to reach their depths.

There was a well-established balance between the Guilds' exploration and independent teams.

Usually, the Guilds would delve deep inside, clearing out the powerful respawned monsters, ensuring these creatures wouldn't appear in the real world.

Afterward, Guild members would rest for a few days.

That's when independent adventurers would enter, hunting simple monsters and gathering what meager resources they could find.

In other words, they had come at an awkward time - just after the powerful monsters had been cleared and independent adventurers were preparing to enter.

But it didn't matter anymore.

Viktor's voice rang out calmly.

"I'll say it again - today, we're booking the entire place."

With those words, Viktor withdrew his hand into his coat pocket.

Immediately, the adventurers felt the crushing gravity dissipate from their bodies.

They stood up again, their bodies trembling uncontrollably, sweat and tears mixing together.

The man before them hadn't harmed them - he had merely demonstrated the overwhelming gap between their powers with a single gesture.

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Strong enough to crush them all.

Yet they felt unwilling to accept it. Today, they would have to return without any income, dismissed by the man before them.

Some had families to support. But now, they could only clench their fists in silence, not daring to resist.

In the Adventurers' City, rules had long since faded.

Here, it was truly survival of the fittest - the strong defined everything.

As they stood there dejectedly, the sky seemed to begin raining - but not with water.

Instead, hard gold coins began falling.

The adventurers let the coins hit their faces.

The denomination on these coins left them incredulous.

100 Geo each.

They stood dazed, slowly raising their heads to watch Viktor's retreating figure behind the barrier.

His cold voice echoed in their ears:

"This is Her Highness the Princess's kindness and gift to you. Thank her."

At this point, many adventurers, seeing the Geo on the ground, hastily knelt to gather them.

Some even turned their fists against the weak, forcefully snatching coins.

But the moment they grabbed the coins, their bodies convulsed as if electrocuted, turning to charred husks smoking on the ground.

Seeing this, the other adventurers jumped in fright.

"Five coins maximum per person. Don't say I didn't give you a chance."

Viktor's voice faded as he disappeared into the rift. The adventurers stood frozen, watching his vanishing figure.

They suddenly recalled the noble girl surrounded by the crowd.

The Empire's... Princess.

The blonde-haired Pia watched Viktor leave, feeling the terrifying hostility gradually dissipate.

Even now, he couldn't understand why that person had shown such intense hostility toward him.

At this moment, an elderly mage slowly approached.

Pia recognized him - he was another third-tier mage among the independents, and he had visited the City of Mages before.

"Quite an extraordinary person has arrived," the old mage remarked.

Pia looked at him questioningly. "You know him?"

"Of course. I don't think there's a mage who hasn't heard of his reputation."

The elder stroked his white beard, eyes narrowing as he continued thoughtfully.

"You should know that mages like us value talent and knowledge above all else."

Talent and knowledge were a mage's most important assets.

Lacking either made it impossible to become a powerful mage.

Having talent but lacking knowledge might allow a mage to quickly reach second-tier, but without sufficient knowledge, reaching third-tier would be difficult.

Let alone the mighty fourth-tier realm.

And having knowledge without talent meant likely spending one's life in mediocrity.

This was why powerful mages were always fewer in number compared to warriors of similar levels.

Moreover, the more powerful the mages, the older they usually were.

Warriors relied on physical strength, benefiting from youthful bodies, but their physical condition would rapidly decline in old age.

Knights emphasized technique - the stronger their skills, the more powerful they became.

Only mages required both talent and knowledge - neither could be lacking.

"But this person, younger than you, has magic powerful enough to crush all of us," the old mage's voice continued softly.

Pia suddenly froze as realization struck him.

That person's power just now... was magic?

Someone so powerful, so young... was actually a mage!?

In his daze, he seemed to recall a name, though the memory was hazy.

A name that had once spread throughout the Empire.

Who was it again?

The old mage spoke softly, revealing the other's identity.

"Did you see the insignia on his chest?"

"That's a symbol only the highest ranks of the City of Mages - Endymion - possess."

Pia froze.

"Let me tell you something common knowledge - a Councilor's insignia can never be forged."

A chilling thought crept up his spine as the old mage's words continued.

"The youngest Mage Councilor - Viktor Kravina - has arrived."

...

The Crown Prince sat in a spacious room, wearing golden armor, sitting majestically in his chair.

He pressed a hand to his forehead, eyes tightly closed,

Recalling Aurelianne's behavior then made him feel cold to his core.

His sister, who had once been so gentle and obedient, but now...

"So it was Viktor's influence after all..."

The Crown Prince exhaled heavily, narrowing his eyes as his thoughts gradually cleared.

He couldn't stop Viktor and Aurelianne from entering the Monster Rift - they hadn't even given him time to prepare.

They hadn't even allowed him time to hide his secrets.

"I must keep them away from the lower levels."

So he picked up a crystal ball from the table. As light flickered within, a voice transmitted through.

"Your Highness? How rare for you to contact me directly."

"No need for small talk, Hela," the Crown Prince said wearily, rubbing his temples.

"I need you to lead your guild into the Monster Rift."

"Of course, you'd better contact other guilds as well."

After a moment, the voice from the crystal came through with a hint of mockery.

"My, this isn't an easy task, Your Highness."

"You know today is the independents' time, guild members are resting."

The Crown Prince simply listened silently to the other's words, then spoke calmly:

"Then what if an extremely powerful monster appeared in the rift that needed your attention?"

Silence suddenly fell on the other end of the crystal, accompanied by notably rapid breathing.

"You really can't refuse me." The Crown Prince smiled slightly.

"Miss Hela."