Chapter 542 121.2 - Another one

Chapter 542 121.2 - Another one

The team entered the dungeon at a steady pace, the air growing colder as they disappeared into the linear gate. Liana stayed at the entrance for a moment longer, ensuring the team moved safely into the dungeon's depths. Her eyes swept over the layout displayed on her tablet. She nodded to herself, confident in their ability to handle the incoming threats.

Once she was satisfied, she turned and left the dungeon, heading back to the guild headquarters to deliver her report to the Guild Master, Toren.

********

Liana arrived at the Vanguard Haven Guild's main hall, a sleek, futuristic building that stood out among the older structures of the city. The guild had a reputation for taking on high-risk, high-reward dungeons, and its resources reflected that—backed by the powerful organization that sponsored them, they had access to cutting-edge technology.

As she entered the Guild Master's office, the cool, metallic sheen of the room gave off a professional and efficient atmosphere. Guild Master Toren sat behind a large desk, his sharp eyes scanning through several mission reports. He was a tall, imposing figure with dark hair peppered with gray and a presence that demanded respect.

Liana approached, giving a respectful nod. "Guild Master."

Toren looked up from his reports, his gaze settling on Liana with keen interest. "Liana. How did the team perform in the dungeon?"

"They've entered the Linear Gate as planned," she began, handing him her tablet with a detailed map of the dungeon. "It's a straightforward layout, and the enemies are numerous but manageable. I have no doubt they'll handle it."

Toren nodded but didn't look entirely surprised. "Good. I expected as much. But I imagine there's more?"

Liana's expression shifted slightly, a glint of something deeper in her eyes. "Yes, Guild Master. The Infernal Nexus mission was completed earlier than expected."

Toren raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Earlier? That's impressive. I assume you're going to show me why."

"Indeed," Liana said, tapping a few buttons on her tablet. A large screen on the wall behind Toren lit up, displaying footage from the Infernal Nexus.

They were able to capture footage thanks to the advanced tech provided by the organization. These devices adapt to the mana wavelengths within the gates, allowing the users to record their performance.

Toren leaned back in his chair as the footage played. The screen showed the team in action—Astron issuing commands with precision, Dorian and Elena working in perfect tandem to strike at the Fire Spirit's weak points, as well as the coordination of the entire squad.

The footage highlighted Astron's critical moment when he unleashed his seven green arrows, each one striking with impeccable accuracy as they followed the trails of mana threads he had laid down earlier. The scene captured the controlled chaos of the battle, with Astron directing the fight in a way that was both methodical and devastatingly effective.

Toren watched the footage closely, his keen eyes narrowing as Astron's performance played out on the screen. He had expected to see the typical hallmarks of an exceptional Hunter candidate from the Arcadia Hunter Academy—overwhelming strength, raw power, or sheer aggression. Yet, what he witnessed was far from the usual spectacle of brute force. It was something else entirely.

The door opened to reveal a man in his mid-thirties, tall and lean, with sharp eyes that conveyed intelligence and focus. He wore the formal attire of the guild's analytical department and a small holographic display projected from his wrist. This was Alric, the head of the analysis team.

"Guild Master, Liana," Alric greeted them with a respectful nod before stepping forward. "I have the data you've been waiting for."

Toren motioned for him to continue, and Alric tapped a few buttons on his device, causing a series of holographic charts and graphs to materialize above the desk.

"As you can see," Alric began, his voice steady and confident, "the Infernal Nexus was cleared 40% faster than projected. The team worked in perfect coordination, which drastically reduced downtime between engagements. According to our calculations, if the team continues at this pace, all of the dungeons assigned to Vanguard Haven could be cleared by Sunday—three days from now."

"All of the dungeons?"

Alric nodded; his expression was neutral but professional. "Indeed. This level of efficiency has accelerated the rate at which we can clear these high-level dungeons. The teamwork on display was exceptional, and the lack of significant delays during combat operations allowed them to maintain a pace we haven't seen in recent months."

Alric was not aware of the footage inside the gate as such members did not have access to such data. After all, there were many spies in the guilds who would leak important information, and the organizations would prefer their agents to stay undercover.

Toren's eyes flickered with a hint of excitement as he processed Alric's report. The speed at which Astron and his team were clearing dungeons wasn't just impressive—it was an opportunity.

"All of the dungeons cleared by Sunday..." Toren repeated thoughtfully, his gaze shifting back to Liana. "That leaves us with a lot of leeway, not just in operations but in perception as well. This efficiency can be turned into more than just a number on a report. It can be a message—a marketing strategy."

Alric raised an eyebrow slightly, clearly intrigued but unaware of the full scope of what Toren had in mind. His access to the intricacies of the footage was limited, but he understood the implications of what the Guild Master was hinting at.

Toren leaned forward, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"We shall make this a cornerstone of our next campaign. The speed and precision at which Vanguard Haven operates—highlight the team's ability to clear high-level dungeons with efficiency and minimal delay. As you know, reporters and officers from the Hunter Association are present at every cleared dungeon. They see it all, and they'll report on it."

That was already the plan from the start, but Liana was not informed about that for the time being.

But she was still fast to catch onto his thought process, and she gave him a small nod.

"Indeed, Guild Master. If we position this correctly, it will not only solidify our reputation but also attract higher-caliber recruits and possibly even additional resources. We can leverage the presence of the Hunter Association's officers to verify our claims. Their involvement adds credibility."

Toren turned to her fully, his expression one of a clear one. "Contact Rong Shin Media Company. I want them on this immediately. Let's make sure the right people are talking about Vanguard Haven's success by the time the final dungeon is cleared."

The plan was on the motion now.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om