The sixth room fell just as easily as the first five had. Lillia didn’t even have to do anything special for it. The Menagerie cleared out all the monsters within it in short order, then sat down for a few minutes to recover the magical energy they’d spent so far in the dungeon.
Arwin didn’t even need the rest. He hadn’t done anything thus far — much to both his and Verdant Inferno’s disappointment. The short break just served as a moment for him to take a look around the room they were waiting in, and it really wasn’t all that much different from the other ones in the dungeon.
Red brick made up the floor and walls. Thick brown vines crawled over the walls and across the ground, rough and jagged like the bark of an old tree. A few tiny shoots of greenery had poked out from the vines. None were fortunate enough to have made it far.
There was only a single pathway forward in the room. It was a doorway, carved from a solid brick of stone and hanging from invisible hinges, nestled among the vines on the far wall. It was lit from either side by a torch that crackled with purple flame.
Arwin was in the midst of wondering just how nothing had caught fire when the torches were in such close proximity to the dry vines when the rest of the Menagerie started to stand. He automatically pushed himself to his feet with the aid of Verdant Inferno, rising together with them.
“Is everyone ready?” Lillia asked.
“I’ve got all my magic back. I really haven’t used that much of it,” Anna confirmed.
“Same here. Just about all my energy has returned. I’m ready to go,” Rodrick said. “My equipment did a lot of the heavy lifting for me. I didn’t really have to expend that much effort or extra power.”
The others all voiced their readiness. There was no reason to delay any longer — much to Yonas’ discomfort. The Adept ranked adventurer had been steadily growing more nervous with their progress.
“You were trying to slow us down so you’d win a bit?” Arwin asked in disbelief. “You’re risking your chance to get rid of the Ardent Guild because of a bet?”
Yonas let out a snort. “The Dawnseekers were founded to make money, smith. And every single person in the guild is very good at that. It’s what we do. This is no different. It’s just business. It’s not like it affects the mission.”
“You were trying to slow us down, then?” Lillia asked.
“Bah. I was telling you to move like normal adventurers. We aren’t that pressed for time. The Dawnseekers have the Ardent Guild’s attention elsewhere. I make calculated bets, not stupid ones.”
“And the mercenaries?” Olive asked.
“On commission,” Yonas replied without a hint of shame. “Would have earned a fair bit of coin if the guild hired them.”
“Have to respect the honesty,” Rodrick said. “How much did you bet on us failing?”
“Eight thousand gold.”
Reya’s eyes practically bulged out of her head. “Eight thousand gold? Why?”
“It seemed like a good bet.” Yonas pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a weary sigh. “Mistake, I fear.”
“Did you take us the long way through the dungeon or something?” Lillia asked.
Yonas shot her an offended look. “Excuse me. I have professional standards, innkeeper. I made a bet. I am not a liar and a cheat. A merchant is nothing but his word. I said I would lead you to the boss. That is what I did. There have been no delays. I just never said I wouldn’t try to profit off something else on the side.”
I might be with Rodrick on this one. I think he’s telling the truth. An honest merchant in name only. Well, he wasn’t actually interfering with our work, so I can’t complain too much.
“Hey, maybe the boss kills all of us and you still make your money,” Reya said with a cheerful grin.
Yonas shot her a dour look. “If only I could be so lucky.”
“I wouldn’t hold your breath,” Anna said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m not a fan of betting against people you’re working with.”
“Hence why I did not reveal my standing earlier,” Yonas said. “I would be more than happy to continue discussing this for the foreseeable future, though. I am certain you have quite the number of questions.”
“About an hour of the future, I take it?” Arwin asked dryly. “I think that answers my questions. No more objections from me. Stay out here during the fight, would you? At least that will give us a chance to get warning if someone does show up at our backs.”
“I will wait for thirty minutes.”
That was enough for Arwin. He looked to Lillia.
“Sorry. Back to you. Interruption done.”
Lillia inclined her head in appreciation, then walked over to the door at the end of the room. The rest of the Menagerie followed after her, grouping up at the entrance.
“What’s the strategy?” Reya asked.
“Arwin and Rodrick go first,” Lillia said. “We don’t know what we’re up against. They both remain defensive until we’ve seen what kind of enemy this is. Reya and Anna go in together with Olive. Reya — your job is to back Arwin and Rodrick up with your magic. Don’t go close range yet. Olive, you keep anything from getting the jump on the backline. I’ll figure out where I’m needed and provide backup appropriately.”