Worried about alerting the enemy, she didn't dare go deeper.
She had the unmistakable sense that if she got any closer she'd be discovered; something strange hung in the air, like a magical barrier drifting over everything.
Shadow gathered what intel she could and retraced her route, memorizing the way in.
By the time she surfaced and returned to Gauss and the others, nearly two hours had passed since she'd gone underground.
"You were in there a long time," Gauss exhaled. "We were about to think something happened and go in after you."
"There was a hiccup."
"So—what did you find?"
Gauss pressed, and Shadow described what she'd seen below.
"Lots of kobolds—looks like a monster town."
"I couldn't count them exactly. The terrain is very complicated, with lots of cover and structures."
"Mm."
Gauss rubbed his chin, thinking. If even Shadow called it "a lot" and chose not to push further, the underground "monster town" beneath Brennan Mine was no small thing.
"Let's back off and talk."
He led the team away from the overlook to a safer spot. They made a quick camp and analyzed what they had.
Facts so far:
First, the tunnels were complex. Their simple mine map was outdated and nearly useless. According to Shadow, the passages crisscrossed everywhere—many newly dug by monsters—forming a maze-like network. The ceilings weren't too low, which was one mercy—still room to fight.
The place Shadow reached was the convergence point of all those passages—the stronghold of the nest—already rebuilt into a structured habitation.
Second, some of Guildmaster Jon's intel was off. He'd said the monsters were fighting among themselves—that's what the Guild had seen on past expeditions. Either Jon had fed them a dud, or the "fighting" had been a mask—and he'd never mentioned a subterranean town. Given what Gauss had seen of Gold & Silver Town, he doubted past expeditions went very deep: short on manpower, no obvious threat, clear the outskirts, then go home.
Shadow's results were thanks to her gifts. She could meld into shadow—born scout and assassin—with a nose for danger and the unknown. Her recon didn't stir the nest. Two hours of her work was worth days of wandering to an ordinary rogue. And she admitted stumbling on the converging "entrance" had been luck.
Conclusion: they faced an organized, disciplined monster society. The barrier-like magic Shadow sensed also meant the monsters had real arcane capacity.
"Any room for Fireball?" Gauss asked.
"In the tunnels, definitely not—we'd get buried," Shadow said. "In the big cavern, maybe—but cave-in's a risk."
"Right," Gauss nodded. In a sealed space, one Fireball would be devastating—to both sides. A chain collapse would make escape hard. Shadow could pass through matter, but mostly by riding its surface—she still needed to breathe, and dragging others spiked the cost. Buried alive, she wouldn't get far.
"And underground, Fly loses a lot of value."
Bottom line: don't rush it.
"We need to go back to Gold & Silver and prepare."
"Agreed."
Their prep was for the old plan; the enemy picture had changed—so should they. Charging a known thorn patch straight after recon was MMO logic from Gauss's old life. In reality, you pack a deeper plan and kit.
They mounted up and soon returned to Gold & Silver. Straight to the Guild. Guided by staff, Gauss knocked on Guildmaster Jon's door.
"Come in."
Gauss pushed it open.
"You again, brother Gauss?" Jon was behind his desk, tea in one hand and the Guild journal in the other. He blinked—surprised to see them back so soon. Clear the mines already? Not even a hidden Guild ace would be that fast…
"Sit."
They took the cushioned seats. They'd come to share what they'd found—a responsible thing to do. If they won—great. If they stirred something they couldn't contain and put a town at risk, they'd be in the wrong.
When he heard there was a self-sufficient, unknown monster town under Brennan, Jon's face turned grave. Gold & Silver wasn't far; if those things ever surged up, this town would be on the front line. A nest like that was a bone in the throat.
"Thank you—this intel is precious," he said, springing up. Whatever excuses he could make—stable surface, few traveling adventurers, people draining away—the fact remained: allowing a nest like that to grow nearby was dereliction of duty.
"How about I log this as a 3-star recon contract for now—forty gold on confirmation? That's just for the scouting; there'll be more later."
"That's fine," Gauss nodded. It hadn't been difficult—thanks to Shadow.
"Thousands of monsters—and in a mine… that's rough," Jon scratched his head. Uncertain numbers, treacherous terrain. If it were outside the walls, with towers and defenses, he wouldn't worry. But this was their den—another story.
Even if he rallied local adventurers, many wouldn't take something this dangerous. He could muster soldiers—but cramped tunnels made numbers moot.
He had another option—ask the higher Guild for aid—but for various reasons, he wanted to try first. He looked at Gauss and company like a drowning man spying a reed. They were not small fry. He could feel a pressure from Gauss he couldn't quite place.
"Brother Gauss—would you take the Brennan Mine nest-clearing job?"
"Of course," Gauss said. That was why he'd come. Piled-up monsters were his bread and butter—even without a contract. With pay? All the better.
Jon let out a breath. "Tell me what you need—manpower, supplies—anything we can provide."
He read the room: Gauss had been cool and assured from the start—he had a plan. "We don't need low-levels," Gauss said. "Fewer, better. More bodies just mean more noise—and an early alarm."
"Of course," Jon nodded. "If you want, I can come along. I'm a level 6 ranger."
Gauss's eyes flicked—barely—to the man's beer belly. A ranger, on paper—likely a little soft in practice. He filed it away: prepare as if Jon were weaker than a typical 6.
"Guildmaster, better you hold Gold & Silver—if anything happens…"
Jon looked relieved. "In that case, I do have someone else I can introduce."
"Oh?" Gauss gestured for him to go on. He didn't mind taking on a capable extra blade. Yes, it split the head count—but safety came first.
"Forget talking here—come with me. If I'm right, they'll be there. I can't promise they'll agree, but… if it's you, maybe," he muttered, getting up with a glance at Gauss.
Gauss and the others traded looks. Jon didn't sound thrilled with this "someone." Hard to handle?
They followed him downstairs, through the tavern, and out to the street. He cut through alleys until they reached a smithy on the edge of town.
"A blacksmith?" Gauss thought. He saw why Jon wasn't sure. With a shop—a livelihood—most smiths, even with a class, wouldn't risk a job like this unless they were chasing rank.
"Jon! You again!"
"When's your Guild going to settle the balance on that last weapons order?" a rough, thunderous woman's voice boomed from inside—before they'd even stepped in. Then Jon's roundish frame was… thrown out.
Yes—thrown.
Gauss moved on reflex to avoid him; Jon landed on his backside with a thump. "Oww—my back!"
He rubbed it, looked up, saw their eyes on him, and flushed, scrambling upright. "Heh—contract deadline isn't up yet; we're a bit past due, but it's fine."
"Like hell! You old geezer!" the voice roared again. "You told me this week. Pay up or I'll tear down your tavern and your Guild with it!"
Gauss looked to the doorway. A towering woman strode out—built like a wall. The air seemed to press down around her. She was half a head taller than Gauss—but far broader, all thick, corded muscle under a leather apron pocked with burn holes.
Arms knotted and ash-stained; brown-red hair tied up carelessly with sweaty strands stuck to her brow; not ugly—handsome, in a plain way. Fire-rouged cheeks; eyes sharp, brows drawn, wiping her hands with a rag, visibly impatient.
"Jon! Stop mumbling!" she barked. "What do you want? Spit it out—I've got heat in the forge!"
"I brought you some people," Jon said, pointing at Gauss's party. "There's a well-paid contract. Interested in joining?"
"Get lost! I've got enough work here—take your people and—"
She followed Jon's pointing and turned. Her eyes blinked once—and the words died in her throat.