Who Designed This Underworld Dungeon?

"Shoot me!"

"Are you sure?"

"I'm ready—"

"Bang!"

With a loud gunshot in Fran Fort, the sound of bullets and steel scraping followed, then the sound of Fingerley falling into the muddy puddle.

"Why did you suddenly shoot!"

Fingerley choked on two gulps of Fran Fort's nectar and quickly got up from the mud, picking up the breastplate used to test the power of the handgun.

A deep dent appeared on the breastplate, the hit part about to shatter but not yet there; the impact was enough to make someone stagger, which suggested it had quite decent power.

However, a knight with the breastplate used for testing was about to cry.

On the other side, Matilda, who fired a gun for the first time, completely lost the mature stability of an adventurer. Unprepared for the recoil, she unexpectedly lost hold of the Hunter's Pistol, which spun in her hand, ultimately pointing its muzzle at her own head.

"Bang!"

In the blink of an eye, two Gold Level adventurers were lying on the ground.

Selene thought Matilda was in danger and immediately called for a magician to heal, but Matilda, realigning her Hell Marching Helmet twisted by the impact, got up herself.

This weapon called "Hunter's Pistol" was really something!

People were eager to test it as soon as the weapon arrived, concluding it was very suitable for both new and veteran adventurers.

It's suitable for newcomers because it delivers good damage to low-level monsters, providing a useful means of attack for beginners.

Veterans benefit because they better understand the timing and weaknesses of monster attacks, making it easier to execute Gun Counters.

A weapon with a high ceiling and floor.

The only drawback is the limited number of Mercury Bullets, which makes it hard to fire them to their heart's content before a craftsman produces replicas.

Looking at this Hunter's Pistol, people were still worried, as the Yarn Hunter's accurate shots seemed fresh in their memories.

The Gun Counter, indeed a horror to them, while direct shots didn't seem very damaging, felt similar to being struck by stones formed from Earth Attribute Magic [Flying Shattered Stone]; the physical sensation suggested bullets had slightly more power.

Though direct damage generally wasn't a concern for experts, people were still interested in the construction of this thing named a pistol. Sain Dungeon's products always felt inimitable outside, but perhaps simple mechanical structures could be replicated.

Many were interested for a while yet never got their hands on the genuine piece; even with enough storyline support lacking, its stylish appearance proved lovable, as evidenced by the decent sales of the Bed Family's 1/8th scale "Hunter" articulated sculptures.

Some tried creating magic tools that visually and functionally imitated the Hunter's Pistol, using a magic array to convert magic power into propulsion to launch metal balls or another object as bullets.

The imitation's power was decent, but many similar magic tools existed. The inability to perform "Gun Counters" significantly reduced its appeal; however, it could still work for ordinary people as a defense and, if priced right, widely arm low-tier adventurers.

But indeed, only when wielding a genuine Sain pistol does an adventurer find fulfillment and satisfaction.

Six Mercury Bullets remained, very precious; as for the two Blood Collection Bottles, nobody glanced at them, because injecting them to restore life required a needle, which had a lower priority than directly drinking a Healing Potion that worked instantly.

Out of politeness, these items were presented to Ainz III; the King decisively decided to heavily reward those involved in the battle. Of course, the spoils of war would belong to him.

"I'd love to try shooting just once..."

Stroking the Hunter's Pistol, Ainz III wore a very conflicted expression, wanting to shoot for fun but feeling the six remaining Mercury Bullets were too precious to use carelessly, which left him in a dilemma.

He awkwardly looked like an old boy who got a new toy but was reluctant to play with it.

Ultimately, he coughed twice to adjust his demeanor, regaining the composure suitable for a mature male adult.

"Then, let us go... Wait a minute."

Just as he was about to order the return to the palace, he noticed Luluwo sneaking away, remembering there was this infiltrator still unresolved.

With one command, Hasavi's team surrounded Luluwo, who ultimately failed to escape.

[Our King wants to see you be brave and not embarrass us; we'll make it quick.]

That's what she read from Fingerley's lips, but—

"Who's going to believe you!"

She threw a smoke bomb to the ground; as smoke filled the air, numerous flying knives shot across. While Hasavi's team blocked, dozens of chains transformed into agile mountain snakes, lashing or binding, coordinated quite well.

With a successful strike, Luluwo hurried towards the spot with the most gollums she recalled, finding herself squared off against three Gold Level adventurers. She believed today might be one of the peaks of her career.

Fingerley chased after, but as soon as he stepped into the smoke bomb's area, a tingly sensation arose from his sole. He looked down to find, whoa, a portable lightning trap wasn't too much for Luluwo, a dirty field master, setting traps rapidly.

Yet, the more a prey struggled, the more it could stir a hunter's desire to hunt, and Fingerley quickened his pace after breaking free.

She ran, he chased, with her having no chance to escape.

"What kind of combat style is this?"

The observing Ainz III asked puzzled; he saw Luluwo rush into a gollum crowd, cooperating with monsters against Fingerley, even throwing toxic mud seized from the ground, invoking local adaptability to an extreme.

It's just, appeared a bit too dirty.

"Uh, this is a tactic popular in a specific infiltrator clique, used by very few. Most people disdain this tactic."

Princess Selene, who had long conspired with Fingerley, spoke in such a misleading manner.

"Oh..."

Ainz III nodded in a somewhat understanding manner and commented with a slight frown:

"Not quite knightly, nor warrior-like."

Indeed, the intruder was not a knight either, Princess Selene thought to herself, but this tactic really could win.

In the end, Lady Black Bat didn't escape the crowd's siege and gloriously died in battle after leaving behind an upright middle finger.

Although her fight seemed a bit strange to Ainz III, the Yarn Hunter made up for the shortcomings well, so overall, the adventure went smoothly.

In the evening, the group returned to the Royal Palace under heavy guard.

Ainz III first returned to his bedchamber; he had been outside long enough today, and although he felt energetic, his court doctor had a resolute look, threatening to run his head into a pillar if he didn't rest in bed, so he had no choice but to return to rest.

Princess Selene entertained her friends with a sumptuous dinner, and as Fingerley and the others left and the stars gradually appeared in the night sky, her expression grew slightly tense as she headed to Ainz III's bedchamber under guard escort.

The reason they chose today to enter the Sain Dungeon was that it was a perfect day to test the Sain Dungeon's Fire Injection Secret Ceremony and the upgrade against the Evil God's power.

It was observed that the influence of the Hidden Dull Star on the world changes with the number and brightness of stars in the night sky. The court astrologer found that today was a bright starry night, and the Evil God's influence might reach a peak.

The court magicians were ready, and the Spiritual Protection Magic Array was as steady as a mountain, looking fully prepared.

Everyone inside the bedchamber was very tense, but Ainz III, as the person involved, brushed away his usual worries and even seemed a bit optimistic. His inner unease had been dispelled by today's dungeon journey.

Even a second before detecting the anomaly from the night sky, Ainz III was still playing with the Hunter's Pistol and Blood Collection Bottle, as if appreciating a new toy.

The Spiritual Protection Magic Array emitted a strange noise, bringing everyone's tension to a peak. This signified the Evil God's influence had arrived, and the King closed his eyes, sitting upright to resist the strange feeling from within his body.

As time passed by, his body had a slight sway, yet showed no signs of beastification. Princess Selene watched the clock; at this time on the previous starry day, Ainz III had already displayed obvious beastly appearances, but not now!

Great, the Fire Injection Secret Ceremony truly works!

Beads of sweat rolled down Ainz III's forehead, looking very strained, yet a smile spread on his lips. He too was delighted by his success.

Then, he became cocky.

Feeling that Sain's method could resist the Evil God, he recalled the feat of "piercing" the Evil God with his spirit that night, provoking it into a reaction, and couldn't help but display a contemptuous smile towards it.

This unknowingly incited the Evil God, who didn't hesitate to expend its stored rare power to attack him. Ainz III's face changed, and the magicians exerted their full power to help protect his mind.

However, after a brief standoff, his body was overgrown with beast fur, and the situation deteriorated in the blink of an eye!

"Not good, help His Majesty with everything you've got!"

"The Magic Array is on the brink of overload!"

"We have the last bottle of Goddess' Blessing; we can't get more!"

Understanding that his contempt had made the Evil God serious, Ainz III did not regret it; instead, he vowed to resist the opponent's erosion. Although his appearance was evidently beastified, his spirit was very resilient, and the Fire Injection Secret Ceremony indeed worked!

But suddenly, Ainz III felt his life force continuously decreasing. Excessive beastification was sapping his life force, requiring replenishment!

Before the magicians could cast magic, he jabbed two Blood Collection Bottles by his bedside into his thigh with such force that it looked painful.

As the crimson liquid flowed into his body, his life force quickly replenished, but he lowered his head, his body ceasing to tremble.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?!" The magician was in shock, thinking something went wrong, and was about to summon someone to administer the Goddess' Blessing.

However, a gust of wind blew past, and the fur on the King's body scattered to the ground, restoring his normal appearance.

He lifted his head and met Princess Selene's eyes, a nameless beast seemed to flash in his gaze, but then it immediately became clearer than ever.

"I feel... very well?"

Meanwhile, in the Sain Dungeon.

Gong Qiying was examining the Blood Collection Bottle and the Yarn Hunter on the City Lord Panel.

This character and tool were a special "pickle-filled dumpling" made for the King, but using them only once was a waste; they might as well appear randomly as a rare character in the future.

"I wonder how Blood Therapy would work for the King's symptoms."

Gong Qiying eagerly anticipated the scene of winning the heart of a nation, and lately everything seemed smooth, with hardly any troubles—

All doctors know that "isn't everything going too smoothly" is a forbidden phrase in hospitals.

A letter from the Bonds Dungeon appeared on the altar.

"No way, I just said it casually, don't really bring me trouble."

He felt that his mouth must have been blessed somewhere and opened the letter while vowing never to speak carelessly again.

Although the letter was still a mass send-out from the Bonds Dungeon, its contents were worthy of attention.

[To all City Lords]

[The operation to reseal the escaped Sealed Item "Hidden Blood Parasite" has failed]

[I sincerely request your help]