Chapter 41: Someone Is Still Inside

The area outside the dungeon was crowded. Emergency vehicles, agents from the Awakened Association, and reporters swarming around anyone in an official uniform like leeches. The noise didn’t stop for a second.

The ambulances were filled with healers, ready to act quickly in case of any abnormal situation or emergency.

After all, this was the most famous dungeon in Sancits and one of the most well-known in the country. The number of reporters present wasn’t unusual.

At that moment, a black armored car with the special insignia of the Awakened Association slowly pulled up in front of the area. Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted.

The car door opened, and August, head of the city’s Awakened Association, stepped out calmly. Naya followed him out of the car quietly.

The agents who had been busy organizing the scene immediately lined up and saluted as soon as they saw August.

But August just nodded slightly in acknowledgment and continued walking.

"Why are we here?" Naya frowned and asked him.

"Aren’t you curious?" August replied with a faint smirk.

"I’m more curious why you sent that kid to clear this dungeon. He’s just a priest. He can’t do anything here." Naya replied.

She was familiar with the dungeon’s contents and knew healers couldn’t do much inside.

"A priest? Him? I thought you’d have more information about him since you seem to pay attention to him." August chuckled quietly. Clearly, Naya’s words sounded foolish to him.

"He’s not a priest?" Naya frowned. She knew Daniel was special, but that was because of her spirits.

She didn’t exactly know why Daniel was special.

"Who knows?" August shrugged.

"Mr. Chairman, this way please!"

"I’m from the provincial news agency! Can you please answer a few of our questions?"

At the same time, the reporters, who had now noticed the presence of the Association’s chairman, rushed forward with cameras and microphones. The agents tried to block them, but the crowd was too much.

"You. Come here." August looked at one of the nearby agents without hurry.

"Yes, sir? Is something wrong?" The agent quickly stepped forward and gave a short bow.

He was still processing why the president himself had come here. That never happened. Usually, regional managers handled such matters.

Though there had been exceptions — only when very important individuals were involved.

"How long has it been since the team entered the dungeon?" August asked directly.

"About an hour, sir." The agent checked his watch.

August nodded and turned back to Naya.

"What do you think? Will they fail or succeed?"

Naya stared at the crowd, the dungeon entrance, and the emergency vehicles. Her mind was troubled.

Her own sister had come here with a stronger team and still failed to clear the dungeon.

This team? Maybe its members were known as the best talents in the city, but to her, they were average at best.

She couldn’t imagine they’d do any better. Only one person made her uncertain. Daniel.

He was an anomaly. She had little information on him and couldn’t say anything for sure. A guy who reached Rank D in a ridiculously short time. But how useful he could actually be in the field — she didn’t know.

"I don’t know. I’m not sure." she finally answered in a low voice.

"I’m optimistic about them." August smiled calmly but firmly.

That one sentence was enough.

The reporters’ noise, the murmurs of the crowd, all that endless chaos...

For a moment, it was as if the world fell silent.

Those who heard it could hardly believe it.

The head of the Awakened Association placing hope in such an average team, especially for this dungeon?

All eyes turned to the dungeon entrance. For a moment, they thought they misheard—but that faint smile on August’s face confirmed they hadn’t.

"Huh?"

At that moment, the dungeon entrance shook with a loud rumble. The ground cracked underfoot and the air became oddly heavy.

Seconds later, a battered, bloodied group was thrown out of the portal. Linor, covered in blood and torn clothes, was carrying Kruger on his back. Kruger’s body was nearly shredded, and he was barely breathing.

Silo, with a dangling arm and an injured leg, came out behind them.

Two or three others followed, gray-faced and severely wounded, barely able to walk.

The Association agents immediately rushed to them. One began checking wounds, another shouted for reinforcements and medical teams.

"What the hell happened?!"

"Hurry! Call the medics! They failed!"

"Another damn failure—expected." Reporters turned to look at the Association head.

He had just expressed confidence in this team — and now they’d returned, defeated.

"Look at Kruger..."

But amid the chaos, August’s gaze remained fixed. His eyes locked onto the group of the wounded.

"So where’s that boy?" he muttered under his breath.

Moments later, the medical team arrived and began treating Kruger and the others. Healing potions and spells were used one after another.

Once the situation stabilized a bit, August stepped forward, his frown deeper than before.

"What happened?" he asked seriously.

Linor froze for a second when he saw the Association president. He hadn’t expected to see him here. He quickly stood at attention.

"Answer me. What happened?" August gestured that he didn’t need the salute.

Linor took a deep breath and began explaining in a hoarse voice. He spoke of the golden knights appearing, how the situation got out of hand, how they were forced to retreat.

"What about Daniel?" August asked directly once Linor finished.

The atmosphere turned heavy. Linor lowered his head. Guilt was clear on his face. His lips trembled, but eventually, he said with a pained voice:

"He... sacrificed himself to save us." A few tears ran down his cheeks.

For several seconds, silence fell.

"Daniel... is dead?" Naya was shocked.

She hadn’t expected that. She didn’t know him well, but still, they were familiar.

More importantly, she needed Daniel’s blood.

But now he was just... gone?

August, though... his face had hardened more than ever. For the first time, doubt — maybe even defeat — was visible in his eyes.

His mind was spinning.

"Did I make a mistake?" It had never happened before. He had never chosen the wrong person. But this time...

This time, he had. And the price was a boy’s life.

August let out a deep sigh and stepped toward the dungeon entrance. His gaze locked onto the red portal.

On the way back, he’d have to order the Association to take care of Daniel’s family — at least make sure they wouldn’t suffer financially.

He raised his head to turn away—

But then he noticed something.

The portal was still red?

That wasn’t right.

The entrance should be blue by default. It turns red only when a team is inside. But if the entire team is out, it should return to its natural color.

"Did all of you come out?" he asked Linor firmly.

Linor hesitated. He looked around at the wounded who had come with him.

"All the living ones are out..."

"Then why is it still red?" August gave a bitter smile.

That sentence was enough to make all eyes turn back to the entrance. A brief silence followed, then...

"That means..." Naya whispered.

"Yeah. Someone is still inside." August confirmed.