’It is too good to be true.’

This was the first reaction Michael had after understanding the offer.

’... he mentioned a share in the dungeon core, which means we don’t just have to clear a floor but have to kill the dungeon boss as well. Claiming the core in their first dive, isn’t this too much to ask here?..’

He knew how time-consuming clearing a dungeon can be. Even clearing a single floor cleanly requires strict preparation and caution, not to mention the manpower. The food, potions, keeping the armor and weapons at their best, make the logistics a nightmare as well.

’Forget about being too good, it’s just straight up impossible to clear a dungeon with just this team...’

Michael thought assuming that only these ten would participate in the diving. But as he looked at the unknown person sitting beside the director, he couldn’t help but reevaluate everything.

The director, he is no fool. He had called us here and knew our capabilities well enough to not waste either of our times. There must be a reason for that, he can’t be sending us to our death... not when the academy’s best lineup is here...’

’...Unless there is something I’m missing here.’

Instead of speaking his mind, Michael decided to remain silent for the time being.

"I’m sure all of you have something on your mind. Please feel free to speak out about it. There shouldn’t be any secrecy between the students and teachers."

The director said, looking for any reaction from the bunch.

’Bullshit... why don’t you start with speaking the truth then...’ Shaking his head, Michael waited for a moment. Seeing nobody was speaking, he was about to ask a question when someone spoke.

"Sir, you mentioned we can have a share of the core. Does this mean we have to clear all the floors to get the rewards?" One of the girls, Vaidya, asked the director.

"Naturally."

The director replied without any hesitation.

"Ohhh!!"

Hearing this, Michael found the opportunity to speak his mind.

"Sir, as you know, the difficulty between the floors only increases. Clearing a single floor can sometimes take a couple of days, and here we are talking about the whole dungeon. Don’t you think with this team, it is impossible? And if I’m not crossing my line, can I ask which dungeon we are to clear here?"

Knowing the question was about to come, the director addressed the problem with a smile.

"I know your capabilities more than anyone else. And the reason I propose this to you because the dungeon we are talking about is a new one, which only has a single floor."

"...In fact, the boss we are talking about isn’t even a day old. You know what that means... it hasn’t even completed its first evolution... and there won’t be that many monsters as well... if we hurry up, he would be dead before knowing what hit him."

Pausing for a bit, the director pointed toward the Templar sitting beside him and muttered.

"You can doubt my words, but let me reassure you, as this information had directly come from the bishop himself."

Hearing all this, instead of being calm, an alarm began ringing in Michael’s head. With the addition of ’new dungeon,’ ’only first floor,’ and ’bishop’. He knew this was more complicated than he had initially thought.

These were things he had no right to know at the moment. Forget about him. This was something even veteran hunters should be oblivious of, but here the director himself was blabbering about it all without any care in the world.

If that weren’t unbelievable enough, a member of the church that should hide these things is present in the room. Silent and seemingly agreeing to all this ordeal.

[You can feel something isn’t right? Right?]

Suddenly, a voice was heard in his head. Without making it obvious, Michael turned to look in a certain direction. Seeing him nod his head as well, Michael spoke.

[That’s right.]

It was Adam who had created a mind bridge between the two. Both had agreed that there might be something fishy about this deal and were to voice their disagreement when the director spoke.

"Before proceeding any further, I want to have your agreement at least. You know how sensitive the news about a new dungeon is? And now that you know about it, there are two choices you can follow."

[He is trying to lure us into a corner.]

Adam expressed his thought, to which Michael agreed as well.

[So it’s like that]

Michael said to which Adam asked.

[What is?]

[We aren’t paying attention to it, but from the beginning, the moment we have entered the room, the director is slowly reducing our options. And now we only had two... or maybe these two were only options from the very beginning.]

Michael said, sharing a glimpse of the scheme the director was playing.

[We were negotiating on the director’s terms from the beginning.]

Adam sighed, nodding his head.

"It may sound threatening, but you don’t have to worry about the options. They are simple."

Smiling, the director reassured the hunters and began laying out their options.

"First... you take an oath of not repeating anything you hear in this room, and you can get out without any problem... but I doubt most of you will take this route." He emphasizes the last part.

"...You know the consequences of breaking the oath, right?"

Everyone nodded their head.

"...Right... the second option is that you agree to enter the dungeon and we will give you artifacts, potions, suitable weapons and armors, tell you the location of the dungeon, take you there, and everything else that will help you in clearing the dungeon. Expect for manpower. Only you ten will enter the dungeon."

Hearing their options, everybody thought about the consequences of each option. Even knowing there was something fishy about the deal, nobody had voiced their disagreement.

After all, they knew if they were to go dungeon diving with their own funds, procuring any one of these facilities would be a hard task. And now that everything was being provided for free, they were being tempted, and rightfully so.

Because the moment they had chosen the path of hunters, they knew their lives were at risk. This was certain; the only uncertain part was whether the reward was worth their life or not.

And here, the reward was certainly worth the risk. Well above even.

Instead of danger, all they were thinking about the what if.

What if they managed to kill the dungeon boss?

The fortune they would receive from selling the core would be enough that they wouldn’t have to do anything for their entire life.

The fame brought from closing a dungeon is no joke either. They would be able to enter any noble house just from this alone.

"Sir, can I ask you something?" While everyone was thinking, Adam asked the question.

[Should I add everyone to the mind bridge?]

Simultaneously, he asked Michael.

[Sure, why not?]

Michael agreed, finding no reason to disagree.

"Go ahead." The director said.

"Can you tell me the rank of the dungeon?"

On the outside, Adam asked this question while adding everyone to his mind bridge.

[So, what do you guys think about the proposal? I think something is fishy about the deal.] Adam said to everyone.

"It will most likely be at a common rank. There is an ever so slight chance of it being an uncommon rank... but once again, the rank means nothing when the monsters are of a lower tier." The director replied.

[I think so too. And didn’t we study that it is the duty of Inquisitors to tackle a dungeon first and make a report on it before anyone should enter it.] Dirham added to the conversation.

[Yeah! Without any prior knowledge, entering the dungeon is highly dangerous.] Soren added.

"Ohh!! How far is the dungeon.."

"It’s two days’ worth of travel."

Adam and others pretended to ask questions while having the real conversation inside their minds.

After a while, a silence enclosed the room, and the director began to get impatient, or that’s how it looked at least.

"Considering your silence, should I take it as you won’t be able to do it."

[Guys, it’s time to give him the answer.] Adam said.

Everyone was silent at his words. Every one of them had something on their mind, but no one was eager to share theirs first.

After hearing the conversation between Adam and the director, even Michael was slightly leaning toward agreeing to go into the dungeon. But that was it... it was only slightly.

A moment later, Adam was the first one to speak his mind.

[Everyone, I think we should accept the proposal. I mean, there is nothing free in the world. We have to take some risks here and there.]

Looking slightly toward Misha, he added.

[If it weren’t for the best healer in the academy, then I would have certainly chosen not to go there, but as luck would have it, she is here, and if she were to agree, then I don’t think there should be any obstacle in our way to a guaranteed victory.]

’T-That... is true...’ Even Michael couldn’t find any fault in the argument.

As she was already thinking about going into a dungeon, and now that things had come to this, Misha found no reason to decline.

’...this will give us some more time as well...’ Hoping Michael would be there as well, she said inside her mind.

[I think this is worth the shot.]

[That’s what I’m talking about.]

Saying so, Adam didn’t even wait any longer. Looking at the director, he opened his mouth hastily.

"I will go, Sir." Pausing, he looked at Misha and added, "She will go as well."

"Good. What about you bunch?"

"I will go as well." After thinking for a while, Dirham agreed as well.

"Me too."

"Count me in as well." One by one, others agreed as well, and lastly, even Michael caved in. Looking at Misha, Michael nodded his head.

"Me too, Sir."