"Sh*t!"
Ethan looked at the destroyed dungeon in shock. The entire structure had completely collapsed, now buried underground.
"Hey, what just happened? How did the dungeon collapse all of a sudden?"
"Oh heavens! How did this happen?"
"I don't know, I just got here."
The commotion drew the attention of a lot of people. Hunters, townsfolk, and curious onlookers gathered, their voices rising in a chorus of confusion and concern.
Ethan quickly blended into the crowd to avoid suspicion, his heart still erratic from the frantic escape of dungeon collapse. He kept his head down and moved with the flow of people, listening to their bewildered conversations while trying to steady his breathing.
"This kind of thing has never happened before. It's really a mystery."
Taking a deep breath, Ethan quietly slipped away from the place. His presence was inconspicuous as it could be. He walked like nothing happened.
"Neigh, Neigh!"
"Hee...hah!"
As he neared the inn, he noticed a lot of horses and carriages heading towards the collapsed dungeon site. They must be officials from the city government, likely having just received the news.
Fortunate timing, he thought, exhaling a sigh of relief. He was lucky to have escaped before their arrival. Blending into the evening shadows, he made his way to his living quarters.
Once inside, he locked the door behind him and leaned against it, finally allowing himself a moment of respite.
...
In the City Lord's mansion:
"My Lord, we have just received a report of an unusual disappearance of an F-class dungeon within the city," the butler announced, his voice steady yet urgent.
The city lord, a middle-aged man exuding an air of authority, looked up from his work, his attention immediately captured by the unexpected news.
"A dungeon disappeared? What kind of joke is this? Did you verify it yourself, Butler Jeffrey?" The city lord chuckled lightly, finding the report hard to believe.
"No, my lord. But the news is 100% true. We got it directly from the Night Patrol Division. Moreover, other citizens also discovered it with their very own eyes," Butler Jeffrey replied calmly.
City Lord Longus frowned at the confirmation, finding the situation very critical. He asked with raised brows, "Which one disappeared, Jeffrey?"
"It's the F-class dungeon, Fire Toad's Den at the riverside to the west. We haven't identified any specific suspect yet."
The city lord's expression grew serious, his mind racing through the potential ramifications.
"Okay, immediately investigate the matter using all the resources we have. Handle this with special care. This matter is really serious."
"Yes, my lord. As you wish," the butler replied, bowing deeply.
As the butler left, Longus Emberion fell into deep thought.
"What could be the reason for this sudden disturbance? Is there some kind of deep conspiracy against humans? If this happens more frequently, won't it spell the end for the human race?" he pondered, gazing at the serene lakeside view from the mansion.
"Dad, I saw Butler Jeffrey leaving in a hurry. Did something serious happen?" came the crisp voice of a young girl with red hair.
"Ah, Lenora, my dear, why are you here?" City Lord Longus asked, returning from his reverie as he noticed his daughter standing in the room.
"Forget about me, Dad. Tell me what's going on with you. You looked so worried. And don't try to lie to me; I noticed you spacing out earlier." Lenora asked with some worry.
With a heavy sigh, City Lord Longus patted his daughter's head and answered slowly, "Lenora, an F-class dungeon disappeared just a while ago. I suspect the demons are behind it.
They've been making a lot of moves lately. If these disappearances become more frequent, it could be catastrophic for us. While we don't know if they can do it on a large scale, it's still very concerning. Humanity relies on these dungeons for improvement after all."
Lenora's beautiful face frowned with worry, her green eyes reflecting the gravity of the situation. "A dungeon disappeared! Which one, Dad?"
"It's called Fire Toad's Den," City Lord Longus replied, his voice tinged with unease. "It was a crucial training ground for our young adventurers and a source of rare resources. The loss is a significant blow to our city's future."
"Fire Toad's Den? Isn't that the place where Ethan was grinding?" Lenora Emberion's thoughts moved to a certain person with black hair. "Is he okay?"
Seeing his daughter in an absentminded state, he called out to her, "What are you thinking so deeply, my dear?"
Lenora bit her lip before answering, "Dad, didn't I tell you about a black-haired boy with high potential? He was also grinding there. I haven't seen him since yesterday, where we were supposed to meet. I'm a little worried."
"Ohh..You should go and look for the boy. Make sure he's safe."
"Alright, Dad. I will do as you say."
"Wait, don't go now. Look for him tomorrow," her father reminded.
"By the way, what was that boy's potential again? I forgot; my attention must have been elsewhere."
"Dad, how can you forget such an important detail? It's S+ grade. I saw it with my inherent skill, Ember's Eyes."
"Wh-What? S+ grade? That boy has transcendental potential? Is it true?" Longus asked, astonished. City Lord Longus was an S-Rank powerhouse, so he knew what S+ potential means. That's why he was excited a little.
He was trying hard all the while to reach to Transcendental level himself. But he failed many time due to exhausting all of his potential.
Lenora nodded confidently. "Yes."
"If that's true, why didn't you invite him to join our clan?" City Lord Longus asked impatiently.
Lenora rolled her eyes. "Dad, we just met. You want me to invite him right away? You're hopeless."
Embarrassed, the city lord apologized, "Sorry, sorry, dear. But be sure to invite him next time, alright?
"Okay, Dad. I will invite him to join our after we get to know each other.