episode_0166

The Guild Leader’s shocking declaration.

To release all of the Guild’s supplies and distribute them freely to the explorers.

Is he going to do something so nonsensical?

Blinking once. After rubbing my eyes a few times, I look at the Guild Leader again, but.

As if firmly resolved, he continues speaking with a serious expression.

“If I had made the decision a little faster and released the Guild supplies in all districts. There would have been no reason for District 3 to be pushed back so futilely.”

Indeed, they say that District 3, which had been holding out, was pushed back helplessly simultaneously with District 0 being pushed back.

Is he feeling responsible for that.

“…There were many excellent people in District 3. And it is also where I was born. To only be able to make such a judgment after that place was pushed back.”

The Guild Leader, seemingly blaming himself for hesitating in a desperate situation and ultimately messing things up.

He then seemed to have made a decision, looked at us and said.

“Perhaps the hundreds, thousands of years the Guild has accumulated were for this very moment.”

It certainly must have been a difficult choice.

Couldn’t they have just blocked it appropriately for now and released supplies in the ruined Labyrinth City to gain profit?

Instead, the decision to release everything for free in the most difficult situation showed that the Guild as a group was more serious about the Labyrinth City than about profit.

Furthermore, unlike the Empire which operates at the Emperor’s will, the Guild has a complex governance structure with numerous intertwined interests, making it even more so.

“Indeed, the Labyrinth City has never been in such a crisis before.”

“Even during the District 11 incident, we didn’t know if something like this would happen again, but it certainly seems like a critical time where the fate of the world hangs in the balance.”

While respecting the Guild’s decision, a question arose for the Crown Prince.

“Wouldn’t it be more efficient to concentrate resources on stronger explorers instead?”

“What is lacking now is not strong individuals, but the absolute number of people who can fight. Did you know this? That about half of the Labyrinth City’s population were at least 1-2 floor explorers.”

“Of course, that would be the case. Since they came to the Labyrinth City with the intention of entering the labyrinth in the first place.”

“They are all individuals with the courage to fight. If only power can be secured.”

“……. You said some of the people who fled from District 3 are coming here.”

“A desire for revenge can sometimes be a good motivator.”

The supplies brought up from the basement of the Guild Headquarters began to pile up in large quantities.

The tremendous amount of cards is impressive.

It is such a vast quantity that it makes one wonder if we could obtain it even by hunting in the labyrinth all day for about 100 years.

The Guild’s potential, accumulated over countless explorers, was even greater than imagined.

Furthermore, this is not the end.

Because resources are also accumulated in Guild buildings in other districts, not just each Guild Headquarters.

“I have ordered the resources in Guild buildings in all districts to be released. And from now on, we will relay the news to all citizens in District 6.”

As soon as the Guild Leader gave a signal, prepared Guild guides used magical tools to relay the news in all directions.

The unbelievable news that the Guild would distribute cards for free for everyone.

Of course, there was the condition that they must participate in subsequent battles.

What does it matter.

Explorers who wish to become stronger easily.

Citizens who desire strength to at least look after themselves later.

And even those who seek revenge for their dead friends.

For whatever reason, for whatever purpose, as countless people began to gather.

Truly, all of the Guild’s assets began to be emptied.

As if with the mindset of personally saving this city they live in.

The participation rate of ordinary citizens is gradually increasing.

There were also people who heard the news and came from neighboring districts.

Finally, nearly half of the citizens who had fled from District 3 arrived.

Countless people wearing tremendous amounts of cards and high-grade equipment.

Among them, those who were retired explorers adapt faster than anyone else.

And those who had no experience as explorers.

Even they, despite lacking combat experience, can participate in battle.

Because by engraving only cards with ranged attack capabilities, shooting just that from a distance is sufficient.

After using it once or twice and starting to get the hang of it, they became quite presentable.

In such a way, everyone prepares to fight at any time to the best of their ability.

As the Knights quickly instructed simple tactics, distributed roles, and conducted light training, a rough estimate began to emerge.

“Roughly the level of a 5th-floor explorer.”

It was the moment when thousands of 5th-floor explorers were born in an instant.

Of course, one might say that a 5th-floor explorer is nothing special.

Furthermore, their specs are only 5th floor, and due to the lack of practical experience, it would be lower than that.

But if you equip such 5th-floor explorers with equipment that high-floor explorers would use.

An explorer capable of at least 6th-floor level firepower is born.

Truly, a single soldier created by pouring money into them.

What is most lacking in our current strength is numbers.

Each Spirit individually might not be much, but their tenacity and sturdiness, like Holy Knights, are bound to be troublesome.

However, fighting while ignoring them is impossible because they can swarm from all sides like bees encountering hornets, immobilize and pressure you to death.

Truly, in a situation where a small number of elites have finally reached their limit.

This massive number of troops is bound to be of great help.

But it is still just a taste.

What has been distributed to ordinary citizens so far are purple cards.

That is, only cards that appear in the mid-levels have been supplied.

Gold cards, each worth the price of a decent house, were truly piled up here, and there were even a fair number of sky-blue cards.

These are not for ordinary people.

Starting from gold cards, cards are now distributed based on the existing strong explorers of the 6th floor and higher, specifically focusing on the vanguards whose numbers are currently insufficient.

Explorers using them immediately.

Among them, there were people happy to get something good, and some who were unlucky and got cursed cards, but.

As a result, on average, their power increased by at least 1 floor, and up to 2 floors in many cases.

Our party members also received valuable items, leading to a slight increase in power.

Half a day passed like that.

Before long, District 6 was full of people ready to fight at any moment.

The Guild Leader, who was looking at the sight with satisfaction, then revealed his plan.

“From now on, we will launch the District 0 reclamation operation.”

At the Guild Leader’s words, the Crown Prince and I could only nod.

The importance of District 0 is so great that no amount of emphasis is sufficient.

Now, while the enemy is pouring attacks everywhere, launching an attack could instead cut off their middle and inflict greater damage.

I don’t know if Spirits have a concept of supply. But at least we can gain the upper hand by executing a pincer strategy from front and back.

“Before we depart, Evan, I have something to give to your party.”

The Guild Leader immediately took me and my party members somewhere.

Of course, the Crown Prince also followed.

The place we arrived at was the Guild Leader’s personal office.

Somewhere in that place, the Guild Leader opened a subspace and then took out a firmly locked safe.

“It probably won’t be needed anymore.”

Crack.

The Guild Leader, tearing the safe open instead of bothering to unlock it.

Then, 5 black cards came out from inside.

Everyone who saw them had their eyes widen.

It was natural as the real black cards, which had only been heard of in rumors, were before their eyes.

“How in the world did you obtain black cards?”

“Do you know that after you obtained a black card from the Leviathan, the depth explorers have caught the Leviathan almost once a week?”

“…I heard the news roughly. The news that the 5th floor is controlled all the time.”

“Perhaps because hunting the Leviathan was bothersome, they also said they found another monster that drops black cards. Although they didn’t tell me.”

“What kind of people are they, really. The depth explorers.”

“They are humanity’s last bastion.”

The Guild Leader then handed one black card each to our party members.

Kairek, Grace, Luca, and Jack.

Noah and I did not receive them because we could not benefit from the cards’ effects.

He handed the remaining 1 to the Crown Prince, but.

“It doesn’t seem like I’ll need it. There will be a better owner.”

The Crown Prince handing the remaining 1 card to me.

There was no reason not to accept it.

To whom among the 4 should I give it, or should I save it and use it later.

My choice was only one.

“Grace.”

“As expected, my usual dedication comes back like this.”

Everyone immediately using the black cards.

They each tested the power they gained, and then completed preparations for sortie.

The sun rising once again.

News arrived that District 4 had half collapsed, and District 11 was slowly reaching its limit.

Even if it was the Magic Tower where all the mages were.

They said there is bound to be a limit to such a tremendous amount of attrition warfare.

Therefore, this District 0 reclamation operation will be a decisive match wagering the fate of the Labyrinth City.

“Let us protect our city!!!!!”

This time, the Guild Leader himself steps forward to the front line, not the Crown Prince.

It was the Crown Prince’s judgment that, as the Guild was wagering all its power, the command authority should be with the Guild this time.

“Go and return safely.”

The Crown Prince decided to remain here and command the reinforcements coming to the Labyrinth City.

It is the most appropriate personnel choice.

We immediately head towards the place between District 6 and District 0.

Countless explorers packed tightly in a wide plaza.

At the very front was the Guild Leader.

“Open the gate.”

At the Guild Leader’s plain words, the soil that had filled the collapsed wall began to be removed, and soon it became a massive passage.

Immediately, the Knights including the Guild Leader charged out first, followed by the high-floor explorers.

Countless people immediately rushed into District 0, which was filled with Spirits.

People running while shouting without realizing it.

Around the time when we were buried in those voices, we entered District 0.

District 0 Reclamation Operation, begins.