They say there aren’t that many coincidences in this world.
But right now, Letia felt like everything was a coincidence.
It was as if everything had been arranged in advance…
No, damn it, this is totally following a script, isn’t it?
“The price is four hundred Luen coins, and the area is fairly standard. With a bit of renovation, you could use it right away. I think it fits your requirements pretty well, Red.”
This was the most suitable shop space Arian could find for Red.
After pondering for a while, Red spoke to Arian.
“Thanks. I’ll take this one. Next time you have some free time, let me treat you to a meal.”
“No need for that,” Arian shook his head.
“Compared to helping you find a shop, you’ve done way more for me. Honestly, I should be thanking you.”
It was true—finding a shop for Red, even if Arian did it himself, would just cost him a bit more time.
But trying to conquer the twenty-first floor without Red’s help?
He’d probably need to sacrifice a lot of people.
Right now, the most important thing was to bring back what Red had given him and let the others study it.
As long as they understood the plan thoroughly, conquering the twenty-first floor wouldn’t be a problem.
“As for checking out the place, you don’t need to trouble yourself over it.”
After a bit more small talk, the two said their goodbyes.
Red stood up, ready to check out the shop Arian had mentioned.
He had barely taken a couple of steps before he realized there was a little tail following him.
“Letia…”
“What?”
The girl just followed right behind Red, blinking her eyes as she looked at him.
“Aren’t you guys going to keep exploring the dungeon?”
To be honest, Red was a little surprised to see Letia so relaxed.
Based on what he knew about Liz, after a week of rest in Yeming Town—ten days at most—they should have been setting out again.
And now, it had already been a week since he left the team.
By rights, Dawn’s Edge should be packed and ready to resume their dungeon conquest.
Or was it because they couldn’t recruit anyone?
If that was the case…
Would Liz be regretting it by now?
Would their progress be as smooth as before?
Whatever…
He had nothing to do with Dawn’s Edge anymore.
Whether they thrived or struggled, he couldn’t care less.
“Liz said we’re regrouping for now,” Letia shrugged, helpless.
“Honestly, I don’t see much point.”
They definitely couldn’t recruit anyone.
Getting Red back was even more unrealistic.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place, with nowhere to go.
“…With Liz’s background, finding people shouldn’t be difficult.”
Liz was a major noble from the Imperial Capital.
If she really wanted to recruit people, all she’d need to do was make a call home.
“If Liz wants, she could easily find people way better than me.”
“I doubt it.”
Letia was fully aware of how important Red was to Dawn’s Edge.
Even without the script’s hints, she knew that after Red left, this hero team wouldn’t last long.
She really had thought about leaving herself.
But then the script—this damned plot device—showed up.
It spooked her.
Whether she ran or not, the script would settle accounts with her in the end.
After all, in those refreshing “leaving the party” stories, what fun would it be if the protagonist’s former teammates didn’t get the short end of the stick?
So why didn’t she try to persuade Red to stay?
Simple.
For one, she was just a wage slave.
How could she have any say in the boss’s decisions?
And even if she did speak to Liz now, would Liz even listen?
Not to mention Liz was angry at the time.
If she’d spoken up, she’d have been scolded too.
Better to keep quiet.
“Come on, come on, let’s check out your new shop.”
“You’re not afraid Liz will find out?”
“What’s there to be afraid of?”
Liz had sent her to keep an eye on Red and Litte anyway.
She had a clear conscience.
“Jessica, how do you think we should handle this situation with Red?”
Bethany gnawed on her nails.
Ever since that banquet, she’d felt a strange sense of crisis.
There’s an old saying:
You don’t mind your friends being poor, but you do mind them driving a Land Rover.
From the way Red acted at that banquet, even after leaving Dawn’s Edge, he seemed poised to make a comeback.
Bethany had thought that after Red left, he’d run into money troubles and, after hitting a few walls, obediently come back.
But things weren’t going as she’d imagined.
Plus, Liz was unwilling to compromise, so Bethany had to admit—she was starting to panic.
Jessica pondered the question for a moment, then silently pulled a wad of bills from her pocket.
“I don’t think money’s the issue here.”
Even though Letia said she’d paid Red to handle things, Bethany clearly didn’t believe Red could be bought back just by throwing money at him.
From what she knew, after the Gilded Chamber of Commerce launched the Bloodhunting Spider, it was an instant hit among adventurers.
And with such high repurchase rates, it meant Red’s profits would be considerable.
Money…wasn’t going to bring Red back.
“Then this.”
Jessica, expressionless, pulled a length of rope from beneath her skirt.
“Tie him up, lock him in the basement.”
The loli mage said the most terrifying words in the calmest tone.
“If talking doesn’t work, put him to sleep. If that doesn’t work, use drugs. As long as you’re flexible, there’s always a way.”
“…That’s illegal.”
Bethany’s mouth twitched.
“And honestly, even if we wanted to, who’d do it? You can’t expect Liz to, right?”
“Letia, obviously. Isn’t that her specialty?”
“…That’s true.”
Letia had never said it directly, but everyone on the team knew she was a combat priest from the Tribunal.
These folks specialized in dealing with heretics.
They were certainly good at kidnapping and assassination.
“Wait, look over there.”
“Over there?”
Bethany looked in the direction Jessica pointed.
And saw a girl in a black priest’s robe, following closely behind Red.
Wasn’t that Letia?
Why was she with Red?
The two exchanged glances for a long moment.
“Jessica, what do you make of this?”
“I think it’s a honey trap.”
“Not sure yet. Let’s keep watching…”
Meanwhile, Letia and Red had entered a general store.
Soon, as Bethany and Jessica watched in horror from the shadows, Letia grabbed a coil of rope from a shelf.
“There’s still a lot of boards left in the shop that haven’t been moved. Let’s grab some rope to tie things up for now?”
“Alright.”
Because they were too far away, Bethany and Jessica couldn’t hear their conversation.
“Tie-up play?”
“No, no, Red doesn’t seem like the type to be into that, does he?”
Bethany couldn’t believe it.
“Maybe we’re just misunderstanding.”
Still suspicious, the two kept watching.
Soon, they saw Letia smiling as she picked up a box of candles from the shelf.
“……”
“……”
Bethany’s eyes widened in shock.