"We're all set and ready to depart."
Zecht told me in front of the rift of space-time.
Norn, Tarran, and Jordane were right beside him.
Each of them were equipped with their armors and weapons, as well as items useful for travelling.
The Chief Crafter Gerrits was also standing there with the members of Party 2. He was equipped for travel as well.
"Shanny and Trudy said a lot of good things about the Exploration Dungeon. I'm so excited for the trip that I could barely sleep last night!"
Norn said cheerily.
Since we had celebrated the fifteenth floor's victory last night, the entire lobby resumed with their duties the next day.
This morning I was deploying most of Party 2 to the Exploration Dungeon.
We needed to gather more information about what happened on the third Quintal Trial.
If events in the Exploration Dungeon developed as they did after we cleared the tenth floor, then we should be able to learn new things in there now that we had cleared the fifteenth floor.
Damai might be far from the Khandera region where the third Quintal Trial took place.
But news travelled fast across the empire.
We should be able to hear something about Tsuchi's aftermath even all the way in Seraphold.
I initially wanted to deploy Party 1 for the investigation, but our enemies had seen our faces.
I doubted there was any survivor left in Tsuchi after the Dragon Dome was activated. But we could never be too careful.
And so, I decided to send Party 2 instead.
First thing in the morning I sent a report to Sigyn asking to improve the Dungeon Depth Research and deploy the listed heroes to the Exploration Dungeon.
From what the fairy told me, the improvement on the Dungeon Depth Research could extend the deployment duration inside the Exploration Dungeon.
If Party 2 was going to investigate what exactly happened on the fifteenth floor, they needed more than two days to come up with useful results.
There was also another reason we extended the duration of the exploration.
"So this Miss Caramille will get everything we need, right?"
Gerrits asked me.
I nodded.
"Tell her that you were sent by the mage that purchased a lot of maps from her. If she doesn't remember, then just shove her the money and she would have no choice but to accept the order."
Gerrits would be leaving to find materials for the great weapons he intended to make with the remaining subquest crystal.
He had been consulting with Djhotti the dwarf regarding the types of material he must use for the forging.
Dwarfs were known as the most excellent crafters in the world, after all.
The only people that came close to their ability, or maybe even matched them, were the Tadosin family, one of the Great Houses. Some imperials even believed the Tadosin had surpassed the dwarfs' craftsmanship.
Of course, all the materials Djhotti mentioned could not be found in the Weekday Dungeons. Some of the items that Gerrits thought of himself were not available as well.
The only way for us to obtain those rare resources would be through the Exploration Dungeon.
Jeanine should be able to find everything Gerrits needed for the crafting.
And while we had the chance, I also ordered Gerrits to purchase alchemy materials that we could not obtain at the moment. As well as some records and reading materials that would be useful for the lobby's operation.
Mannalite was the most important item I wanted Gerrits to obtain for me.
But given the current timeline in the Exploration Dungeon, I was not sure that material had been discovered in Dunia yet.
It would be difficult even for Jeanine to acquire it. But I had provided information on where to look, so it should not be impossible.
"Don't forget to procure the items that Master tasked you to find as well."
I told the explorers.
Since the Dungeon Depth Research had been improved, Sigyn was now able to order us to find specific things in the Exploration Dungeon.
For this trip, Sigyn requested mostly elemental stones and certain resources that were very scarce in the Weekday Dungeons currently.
But I could see Master wanting to replenish them.
After all, they were used to craft golems and enchanted weapons. Not to mention, hero promotion in regards of the elemental stones.
Sigyn even provided the party with one hundred thousand gold as allowance.
I initially suggested fifty thousand in my report. But Master doubled it in the end.
"Eight days of exploration, huh? That is way longer than when your party went last time."
Zecht told me.
That was the duration I suggested to Sigyn, which they approved.
"You should have plenty of time investigating the Quintal Trial and finding all the materials we need."
"Doesn't the time in the Exploration Dungeon and the lobby flows differently?"
"That's right. Around twenty-four days would have passed in the lobby once you return."
I told the Party 2 leader.
Norn winced at the reveal.
"That is quite a while. You would probably already be preparing for the fourth Quintal Trial by then."
"I doubt it. The lobby has plenty to do before we could resume our climb. We would still probably be on the sixteenth or the seventeenth floor when you return."
"We should still use our exploration time to the fullest. Our party would still likely have a lot of catching up to do once we get back."
Zecht told his comrades.
"If you need to train during your exploration, then you may try exploring the first stratum of the ruin inside Seraphold. The enemy levels there are on par to the ones on the thirteenth to the fourteenth floor."
I advised the explorers.
I went on with cautioning tone.
"But don't explore further. Remember, Party 2 isn't bringing its full force in this exploration trip. And we will likely need your strength for the twentieth floor climb."
Zecht and the other Party 2 members nodded back to me.
I trusted them to not do anything foolish.
"Okay then! Let's go, everyone!"
Zecht said to his exploration party.
The five of them walked through the rift of space-time and vanished inside the bluish-white light of the gate.
I could not help but develop an idea of forming a new team tasked only to visit the Exploration Dungeon.
An Exploration Team as I would call it, consisted of three to five parties.
They would be in charge of gathering intel and resources. Deployed for extensive duration ranged from one to two months in lobby's time.
The fairy had informed me of the extent of the functions of the Dungeon Depth Research.
If we improve the research even further, several parties could be deployed into the Exploration Dungeon at once.
We could arrange a new post according to that idea of mine.
I would see the result of Zecht's exploration first.
If their trip proved fruitful, then I would write a recommendation to Master.
"I can't believe you won't let me go with them!"
Yuxia suddenly snapped from behind me.
I did think it was odd he was being very quiet this morning.
"There is no need for you to go to the Exploration Dungeon."
I told the elementalist.
The silver-haired man stomped his feet, ruffling his colorful eastern dress.
"But I could help with the investigation! Or, at least, let me take a nice vacation in your hometown! I could use a good rest after all the overtime you made me do to create those enchanted weapons!"
"What you need is more practice on your prime elements. And didn't I tell you today we would start learning advanced sub-elemental magic?"
I stated to my 4-star pupil.
I went on while gesturing to the rift.
"Have you forgotten what went down on the fifteenth floor? Do you think you could take on that Kali sorceress and her army of undead with your current strength? Are you certain you could replicate what I did should Party 2 faces similar situation on the twentieth floor?"
Hearing my words, the elementalist grunted.
His face was filled with hatred. Mostly to himself.
A hint of regret was displayed as well.
"Fine! I'll see you in the magic hall."