"Benar and the Thirty Heroes..."

In just a short period of time, Edgar had already gathered recent information from two soldiers.

"Interesting."

The affairs concerning Sain Dungeon and Glory Dungeon have become widespread topics, with people not even attempting to hide it. Even if Edgar hadn’t gotten his answers from the soldiers, he would have found out eventually.

People’s enthusiasm for this matter is quite high. The first thing they say when meeting is, "Did you hear? Glory Dungeon has transformed and can now interact with Sain Dungeon!"

If it were adventurers saying these things, it might just be sharing information.

But in fact, among those talking about it, adventurers aren’t the majority; rather, common people from the Warrior Country are!

The way they discuss it feels like talking about an old brand that suddenly releases a new product that carries their childhood memories, like if White Rabbit creamy candies suddenly started selling lip balm.

There’s no profit-seeking intention; they’re simply speaking out of curiosity.

In general, while chatting, they’ll start reminiscing about their childhood, eventually sighing about the changes in life.

This shows the significant place Glory Dungeon holds in people’s hearts. Many ordinary people who haven’t been following dungeons recently got to know Sain Dungeon through this news.

It’s fair to say Sain Dungeon rode a wave of Glory’s popularity, or more accurately, it’s mutual; Sain directed adventurers to Glory, while Glory heightened Sain’s celebrity among ordinary people.

A double win!

"Sain Dungeon always brings unexpected actions, but this time it seems a bit too restless."

Having left the two soldiers, Edgar pondered over the information he’d gathered.

The message from his teacher revealed no emotions, only instructing them to find the source of the anomaly. He found it so quickly, which made him somewhat proud.

"However, even if two dungeons join forces, they can’t surpass the years of planning between my teacher and me, just a fleeting moment."

Could a sudden anomaly in a dungeon erase their years of effort?

"But just in case, it’s still necessary to go and inspect the situation."

Hence, Edgar didn’t seek out Lanle to chat about recent research results. Instead, he changed into less conspicuous clothing and walked straight out to a bustling street.

First, he went to the adventurer’s guild, and sure enough, adventurers were discussing the two dungeons, Sain and Glory, occasionally mentioning Giant Stone Dungeon but only about boring mining techniques.

"Everyone in the adventurer’s guild is discussing this, which is normal; in a few days, it’ll calm down."

Edgar left the guild and deliberately chose streets far from Sain Dungeon, randomly entering a tavern.

Inside, idlers were already drinking during the day, reminiscing while discussing Glory Dungeon and the new heroes.

"Why are these drunkards talking about dungeons too? Hmm... well, it’s acceptable; drunk people can talk about anything."

Though he said it was acceptable, his expression changed, and he immediately went to a flower shop where there seemed to be no connection with adventurers.

Once inside, he heard people discussing Glory and Sain again.

His expression turned displeased as if he had swallowed a fly, and he immediately headed to a more remote street, only to still hear topics about dungeons.

He ran, then ran again, continuing until he actually ended up outside the city.

"Have you heard about Sain and Glory Dungeons?" A young man farming chatted with his companion.

This time, Edgar stopped running, as there was nowhere left to run.

Suddenly, everyone, from old to young, seemed to be aware of the Glory Dungeon’s transformation overnight.

"Is this topic really that popular?"

Now, he couldn’t stay calm. He wasn’t prepared mentally for this situation, and it deeply shocked him.

The streets were bustling with discussions about dungeons!?

Though he was born in the Warrior Country, his childhood focus on learning magic with Younka left him uninterested in worldly matters, so he couldn’t connect with the majority’s sentiments.

"Dad, have you heard? Now in Glory Dungeon, you can transform into a hero for the experience. Didn’t you always say your favorite hero was ’Justice Ironman’?"

"Is that so? Then I must go try it out!"

"You’re at this age, can you still venture into dungeons? I’m leaving for the dungeon tomorrow to become the ’Emperor’s Battle Demon’~"

"Don’t underestimate my dedication to childhood dreams!"

A father and son’s conversation on the street reached Edgar, freezing him in place.

For people from the Warrior Country, turning into a hero might mean becoming the Light Giant, Card Face Fighter, or Magnetic Field Strongman—any childhood hero.

Even crawling out of the grave, they’d have to give it a try!

This transformation in Glory Dungeon brought festive joy to those who once admired heroes.

But witnessing this joyous scene sent a chill down Edgar’s spine. Despite the scorching sun, cold sweat dripped from his body.

What concerned him wasn’t how happy people were discussing heroes, but every conversation inevitably included the term he dreaded hearing—"combat skill".

This scenario... is exactly like when he was young!

At that time, the warrior reform had not yet appeared, and people like him, who basically couldn’t learn combat skills, were weak in the body, and only good at magic, were the object of ridicule!

From a young age, he felt inferior because he couldn’t understand combat skills. In his eyes, although those around him said nothing, he could keenly perceive the "mocking" gaze projected at him by others, and he felt that every sigh from his family was because of him.

That’s why Edgar became a staunch supporter of warrior reform and the supremacy of pure magic!

That’s why he couldn’t even accept the combat skill-like luminous stone magic gravel!

"I can’t let this continue!"

He turned around and walked back hurriedly, thinking that the influence caused by the Glory Dungeon would indeed be somewhat troublesome, but after on-site inspection, he realized that the impact would be as great as it is now.

This absolutely cannot continue! It’s for him and for people like him!

"I need to hurry to find His Highness Lanle! I must also report to my teacher!"

Since the two dungeons have brought about a resurgence of combat skills, opposing forces will naturally appear.

Now is the time.

Meanwhile, at the headquarters of the Golden Lion Commerce located in Black Stone City, chaos was brewing inside.

"Where on earth has Mr. Basque gone? A big business opportunity has come, and if we don’t act quickly, it’ll be too late!"

"The Madness Qi Dragon has appeared at the border again, causing massive destruction. Both crops and other things have suffered severe blows, and the border has sent a significant list of resource demands. If we don’t seize this business, we’ll fall behind other companies!"

Faced with the anxious businessman, the headquarters staff could only sigh helplessly:

"If there’s anything, you should find our company’s deputy. Mr. Tepi Basque hasn’t shown up in the company for a long time."

"What? Why?" the businessman asked, confused.

"He... has recently become addicted to the Thirty Heroes."

In the Thirty Heroes area of the Glory Dungeon.

"I’ve already said, you can’t defeat me."

Tepi, having transformed into one of the heroes, raised his chin at the adventurer opposite him and said, "How many times have you challenged me now? I’m sick of it."

"I just don’t believe I can’t beat you! How about we make a bet?" the adventurer said furiously, now looking like an esports competitor who had been thoroughly beaten by his opponent.

Tepi’s lips curled into a smile, finally catching him on the hook, and nonchalantly said, "All right then, how about betting your Hound Step? It’s probably the only thing of value you have on you."

"Hound Step? This..."

"What? Weren’t you so sure about betting just now, and now you’re chickening out?"

"Who’s chickening out? So what’s your wager?"

"How about the shares of my company."

Under the temptation of great profits, the adventurer hesitated for a moment before agreeing, hesitated just once.

The soldiers on both sides seemed to have timed it perfectly, rushing out just as the bet was established, heating up the battlefield atmosphere, and Tepi and the adventurer started fighting.

"How is this possible? I can’t hit him at all!"

Every attack the adventurer made was deftly dodged by Tepi, while he was always getting hit by the opponent, even using Hound Step didn’t work!

It seemed during this time Tepi had learned many combat skills and had undergone rigorous training, even able to catch the adventurer’s use of Hound Step with a steady Vacuum Slash!

This was not something that ordinary training could achieve.

If it were just these things, the adventurer wouldn’t be angry. What really drove him over the edge was that every time he was about to hit Tepi, the latter would duck under the Mage Tower!

If he got hit by the attack magic released by the Mage Tower, he’d lose half his life, while that shameless Tepi would sneak in to rest and recover, then come out to fight again!

More annoyingly, Tepi actually understood the appearance and movement patterns of the monsters in the forest beside the Mage Tower and could deliberately lead the adventurer to the monsters!

Not to mention feigning retreat, then suddenly turning for a blade or bypassing the Mage Tower to cut off the adventurer’s lines.

Throughout the battle, Tepi’s craftiness outmatched all the wit the adventurer had amassed in his lifetime.

"I, I lost..."

At the end of the match, the adventurer collapsed to his knees powerlessly, with his crumbling base behind him, he was beyond redemption.

"I’ll take that Hound Step then."

Tepi happily accepted the dagger containing the War Ash Hound Step, finally obtaining this combat skill he longed for.

He gripped the dagger tightly, his gaze directed towards the distance, in the direction of the Sain Dungeon.

During these days, he had tirelessly forged himself, training in a way that was almost self-damaging to become stronger, while actively learning all the heroes’ combat skills in the Glory Dungeon. Now, he had reached an unprecedented peak of power and would become even stronger in the future.

As for why he did this, it all stemmed from a premonition he recently had.

"I have a feeling."

He stared in the direction of the Sain Dungeon, mumbling to himself:

"The Sain Dungeon might soon undergo new changes, and among these changes..."

"Leon is very likely to appear before me once again!"