Chapter 430 - 429: Going Back To The Dungeon

Chapter 430: Chapter 429: Going Back To The Dungeon

His calm voice echoed softly through the room.

"Our borders have fallen."

"Several cities have already been lost."

"The enemy continues advancing."

General Victor listened quietly without interrupting.

Ashan continued.

"I did not come to Estaral seeking luxury."

"I did not come seeking comfort."

His hands slowly clenched upon his knees.

"I came because I carry the future of my kingdom."

Victor’s expression became noticeably more serious.

Ashan took a slow breath before continuing.

"My father remained behind to defend our homeland."

"My soldiers remained behind knowing they might never return."

"They entrusted me with something far more important than fighting."

"They entrusted me with surviving."

For the first time... General Victor no longer saw merely a young prince.

He saw someone carrying the weight of an entire nation upon his shoulders.

Ashan’s voice remained steady despite the grief hidden beneath it.

"I understand that Estaral owes us nothing."

"No kingdom is obligated to involve itself in another nation’s war."

"So I will not make unreasonable demands."

He paused for a moment before speaking again.

"I ask only for the opportunity to meet His Majesty."

"I wish to explain our situation personally."

"If he chooses to reject us..."

"We will accept his decision without resentment."

The room fell silent.

General Victor stared at the young prince for a long moment.

When he had first entered the room. He intended to question him thoroughly.

To determine whether this was merely a desperate royal seeking shelter.

Now, those thoughts had completely disappeared.

Instead, he saw a prince forcing himself to mature because circumstances no longer allowed him to remain young.

War had taken that privilege from him.

A faint smile appeared on Victor’s weathered face.

"Your Highness..."

He slowly nodded.

"You’ve grown into someone your father would be proud of."

Ashan remained silent.

General Victor stood from his chair.

"I cannot promise what decision His Majesty will make."

"But I can promise this..."

He placed a hand over his chest.

"I will personally escort you to the capital."

"And I will ensure that you receive an audience before the royal court."

For the first time since crossing the border...

A small weight lifted from Ashan’s heart.

He stood and bowed respectfully.

"You have my gratitude, General Victor."

Victor smiled.

"No..."

"The gratitude belongs to those who still have the courage to stand after losing everything."

As he looked at the young prince standing before him, he couldn’t help but think that perhaps...

The Alnera Kingdom had not fallen completely.

As long as its future king still stood, hope had not yet died.

----

The bustling sounds of conversation filled his ears.

Alix had arrived at the Dungeon Hall.

Unlike the quiet palace... This place was overflowing with life.

Thousands of people moved through the enormous hall every hour.

Adventuring parties registered at long counters before entering the dungeon.

Merchants loudly advertised healing pills, spirit herbs, weapons, and freshly updated maps.

Porters carried crates of supplies toward nearby warehouses.

Some adventurers walked in with excited expressions.

Others emerged through the massive spatial gateway covered in dust and dried blood, their faces filled with either joy or disappointment.

The Dungeon Hall had become the busiest place in the entire kingdom.

Before walking any farther, Alix quietly activated one of his abilities.

The surrounding space distorted almost imperceptibly.

A thin veil of illusion settled over his body.

His handsome features gradually changed.

His crimson eyes became an ordinary amber color.

His imposing aura disappeared completely.

Even his appearance shifted into that of a common horned monster race citizen.

Nothing about him stood out anymore.

Anyone looking directly at him would simply see another ordinary resident of Noctaris.

After confirming the illusion was stable...

Alix casually began walking through the enormous hall.

As he passed the registration area, he overheard countless conversations.

A pair of young beastmen excitedly examined a freshly purchased map.

"This route leads to the Black Fang Ravine."

"I heard someone found a Tier 5 spear there yesterday."

His companion eagerly nodded.

"Then that’s where we’re going first."

Nearby, an elderly merchant was practically shouting himself hoarse.

"Fresh maps!"

"Updated this morning!"

"Known ruins!"

"Safe camping locations!"

"Only five gold coins!"

Several adventurers immediately surrounded his stall.

One carefully compared three different maps before asking,

"Which one has the most accurate monster locations?"

The merchant proudly puffed out his chest.

"Mine."

"My son has entered the dungeon eleven times."

"He personally marked every location."

"If there’s a mistake..."

"I’ll refund every coin."

The surrounding customers laughed.

Business was booming.

Alix continued walking at an unhurried pace.

Every few steps, he noticed something new.

Several blacksmiths had opened temporary workshops directly inside the Dungeon Hall.

The rhythmic sound of hammers striking hot metal echoed continuously.

Broken swords were repaired.

Bent armor was reforged.

Arrowheads were sharpened while anxious adventurers waited nearby.

Not far away, a line stretched outside an alchemy shop.

Healing pills had become one of the fastest-selling commodities in the capital.

A young alchemist repeatedly apologized to impatient customers.

"I’m sorry!"

"We’re completely sold out of Tier 3 recovery pills!"

"The next batch will be ready this afternoon!"

Groans immediately spread through the crowd.

"No way..."

"I leave for the dungeon in an hour."

"I should’ve come earlier."

Alix silently observed everything.

Even ordinary laborers transporting supplies were earning more than they had before the dungeon appeared.

The hall had become increasingly prosperous.

As he walked deeper into the hall, he eventually arrived at a large notice board.

Dozens of requests had been pinned to it.

[Wanted: Experienced scout familiar with the eastern wasteland.]

[Hiring Tier 4 cultivators for a long-term exploration team.]

[Reward offered for verified information regarding unexplored ruins.]

[Seeking mages capable of deciphering ancient inscriptions.]

The board was crowded with adventurers reading each notice carefully.

Some copied information into notebooks.

Others immediately negotiated with employers standing nearby.

A faint smile appeared on Alix’s disguised face.

"This is exactly what I wanted."

His original intention had never been limited to obtaining resources from the dungeon.

He wanted the dungeon to become this kingdom’s engine of growth.

A place where wealth circulated.

Where talented individuals gathered.

Where opportunities naturally attracted even more opportunities.

The bustling crowd gradually thinned as Alix left the commercial district of the Dungeon Hall.

The deafening voices of merchants faded behind him.

The ringing of blacksmiths’ hammers became more distant.

Even the laughter of successful adventurers slowly disappeared into the background.

Ahead of him... The colossal spatial crack floated silently within the center of the hall.

Its crimson surface rippled gently like a calm lake, releasing faint waves of ancient Qi that spread throughout the building.

Dozens of adventuring parties stood before it.

Some silently adjusted their armor.

Others offered prayers to whatever deity they believed in.

Several veterans gave final instructions to inexperienced recruits before entering.

No one truly knew where they would appear inside the dungeon.

That mystery alone kept everyone on edge.

Alix calmly walked toward the gateway.

A monster race official standing guard at the entrance noticed him and offered a respectful nod.

"Good luck."

Alix returned a small smile.

"You as well."

Without another word...

He stepped into the crimson gateway.

Ripples spread across its surface.

His figure disappeared instantly.

----