"The incident on the 20th floor…someone from Moebius caused it, wasn't it?"
The woman that reversed the effects of the tactical objects and endangered the entire Raid Team.
What was sickening was the fact that she did it simply out of boredom.
She was not someone that cared about Dunia's fate.
That woman was not like Samesta that believed our world should not be saved and tried to stop our effort.
No.
She put our lives at risk just because she thought it would be fun.
That woman appeared in my Floor 0 vision as well.
The Twin Goddesses suggested she came from Moebius. Likely one of the beings in the Moebius Company that created the entire forged land.
To think someone as twisted as her was also the reason we had a chance in saving our world.
[It's best that you forget about her, Serafina.]
Alam pleaded to me.
Forget about her?
She was the reason Darius and the others died in the 20th floor!
If she had not intervened, they would still—
[She's not someone that mere heroes like you can touch! Even with your powerful seal!]
Alam urgently spoke up with a concerned voice.
She must had noticed my furious expression and tried to calm me down.
[Besides, I don't think she'll be able to bother us anymore. The pact limits Moebius Company's authority over our lobby. So you should just focus on climbing the tower!]
That lined up with what I heard on both the 20th floor and Floor 0.
Alam was right, unfortunately.
There was no way I would be able to avenge my fallen comrades against a transcendent being like that mysterious woman.
Tel, I believed to be her name. The Samsaran goddesses called her that.
Yes. A mere 4-star hero like me did not have a hope against someone like her.
But the bitch still disgusted me and boiled my blood!
Something must be done to her by someone, some way or another.
She must pay!
[Is there anything else you would like to know, Serafina?]
Alam suddenly asked with worried eyes.
She had done very well in answering my questions so far.
My threat on our relationship earlier must had concerned her that much.
I would like to indulge in her cooperation a little more.
"What do you know about Eden?"
[It's the Moebius Company's headquarter. The fairy academy I went to is located there. But that is all I can tell you about it. My visit there was quite restricted since I was just a transfer student. And I'm physically restricted to reveal any more about the place.]
"What about the Seven Star Project?"
[All I know about seven star is the fact that it's the final star promotion a hero could receive.]
"Why did the Samsaran goddesses had to rely on the Moebius Company? Why couldn't they just build the entire forged land system themselves?"
[I…I don't know. They don't share that kind of information with me.]
"Where are the Twin Goddesses now? If they wanted to save the world, couldn't they come and help us directly?"
[I'm not s-sure. I was only told to mind the lobby.]
"What about the Eternal Serpent? The one that bestowed me with my seal?"
[I don't have useful information about it as well. You need to figure that out on your own as you climb the tower. I'm certain you'll find the answer as you develop your seal and become stronger as a hero.]
These remaining mysteries were important in the grand scheme of the forged land and Dunia.
As expected, Alam could not provide me much help with them.
My investigation was not over.
But I at least had obtained all the information I needed for now.
The design of the forged land had become clearer to me.
I now knew where everything generally stood within the forged land.
From the heroes, Dunia's missions, the lobby, Master, the Twin Goddesses, and Moebius.
This should help us navigate through the battles that needed to be won to save our world.
But everything was surely complicated.
What a tangled web Dunia had stuck itself in.
"Thank you for answering my questions, Alam. You've surely helped me."
I told the fairy.
Her face suddenly lit up.
[D-does this mean I've got your confidence back?]
I nodded to her.
"Naturally. I'll be relying on you much more given all the information you just revealed to me."
The level 257 fairy curtseyed midair upon my words.
[I shall gladly help you, my angel. With your new power, I've no doubt you'll bring us to the top of the tower.]
"Be it with a powerful seal or not, I intend to reach the top of the tower either way. Nothing will stop us, Alam."
The fairy suddenly shrieked like I had never heard before.
[KYAA!!! WHAT A THING TO SAY BY MY INVINCIBLE ANGEL! I CAN'T WAIT TO BRAG ABOUT YOU TO MY ACADEMY FRIENDS! SERAFINA, A NEW RISING STAR AFTER SIRRIS! KYAAAA!!!]
Invincible angel?
Alam had been calling me angel a lot.
Was that why she changed her appearance?
And who was Sirris? Probably a hero from another lobby.
"Alright. Time to get to work, Alam."
I told the fairy, ceasing her disturbing shriek.
I went on while searching for a dress to wear.
"Jonah told me it's been fifteen days since we cleared the 20th floor. So I need you to brief me on what had happened since then."
[That shepherd can brief you better than me. He's been taking over your Vice-Master duties while you were asleep.]
Her words made me raise my eyebrows in surprise.
"Jonah had been managing the lobby?"
Alam nodded.
[Uh-huh! He's been pretty diligent with all the works too. Master is quite satisfied with what he accomplished. Though he's not doing things as perfect as you, of course.]
What a nice surprise.
The shepherd had grown to become a leader.
Why didn't he tell me about it earlier?
I must think of something to properly thank him for his deed.
"Jonah told me all the facility construction orders had been carried out. So I supposed the next urgent matter I could attend to is regarding the Raid Team's vacancies. We lost a lot of people on the twentieth floor, after all."
Alam suddenly jumped with excitement.
[I don't think you need to worry on that front. Master performed a bunch of advanced summoning after you cleared the 20th floor!]
I raised my eyebrows in surprise again.
A wise move by Sigyn.
In total, we lost twelve 3-star heroes in the fourth Quintal Trial. Two of them were from the Main Forces.
We needed to replace them with heroes that had as much potential.
Advanced summoning would provide us with the necessary pool of talent.
"Were the summoned heroes any good?"
I asked the warden.
[Remember when the three 4-star heroes arrived and I said Master had struck a huge lode of diamond?]
Alam asked back.
It was truly a great blessing for Master to summon Ulrica, Djhotti, and Graihan at once.
The Raid Team truly benefited from their presence.
So I nodded to the fairy.
"What about it?"
Alam then put on a proud smirk over her face.
[Well this time Master struck a whole mine.]