"Okay… So let me get this story straight." – said the man in the hood as he and other 5 adventures were walking through the snow covered forest.
"We investigated that dungeon multiple times after the mayor's son disappearance."
"We looked inside the dungeon and outside the dungeon, but we found nothing in the end."
"So, it is suspected that the murderer mayor's son alongside the guards were murdered inside the dungeon and then the murderer used the dungeon to get rid of evidence."
"That is currently widely believed theory…. But now the guild master is saying that the two previous unresolved cases from over 5 months ago, the Arthur party case and Adam disappearance case may be connected?"
"It does sound like big stretch…. But as the guild master laid down the facts…. It did somewhat made sense." – said one of the Adam companions with brown hair.
"It would explain how both Adam and Arthur party disappeared in thin air without being noticed anywhere. The puppet dungeon was the crime scene."
"But the problem is "why" and "who?"."
"Why all the supposably murdered victims killed in the dungeon and was there by any chance some sort of connection we are not aware of."
"And the second problem is who murdered them all and what would be their motive?"
"The current suspects are the adventures that were both present in the area when the mayor's son went missing, as well as were present during the undead extermination quest."
"…"
"Okay… I get this, but something isn't still right." – said the girl with wooly hat.
"The guild master said that he will deal with the suspects, but he also said that there is another possibility."
"An possibility of the murderer hiding inside the dungeon."
"Specifically in the dungeon master room or maybe the core room."
"But how would the murderer even do that?"
"Wouldn't the dungeon master try to kill invader as soon as they tried to that kind of stuff?"
"Yes…. Guild master said that…. But he also said that the dungeon masters aren't just mindless monsters and they are born with some level of intelligence and that said intelligence can develop." – said the man with large backpack.
"So, what do you think would happened if the dungeon master is smart enough to understand the situation like "hostage situation" for example?"
"Honestly, we have not confirmed how smart the dungeon master is, maybe it is idiot…. Or maybe it can think."
"…."
"So…. The invader was able to get past the dungeon master, take the dungeon core hostage, and force the dungeon master to let him stay hidden?" – said the girl with woolly hat.
"That is the possibility." – said the man with brown hair.
"And that is why we are going into the dungeon and try to find out if the dungeon had been taken hostage or not."
"The chances are small, but not zero."
"There is also the fact that the dungeon was under constant watch after mayor's son death and there were also adventures in the area, so there would be some leads or something."
"But there was nothing."
"There was also the snowstorm and there is no way the murder would travel during that shitty weather, meaning that the only way to deal with it was to get to safe location, like an settlement, but that would obviously leave leads."
"So, if the culprit isn't one of the current suspects, then that leaves only one option."
"Dungeon."
"The suspect is hiding in the dungeon."
"The chances are low, but even so, there is an chance is still there…. Something we cannot ignore."
(After Mar and his party left the town, us 6 are consider as one of the strongest adventurers in the town. We maybe be just E rank adventures, but 3 of us are closely reaching for the D rank.) – though the brown haired man.
(In this area there are no strong monsters at all.)
[G rank: Weed slimes.]
[G+ rank: Big Weed Slime.]
[F rank: Horned Rabbit.]
[F+ rank: Murder Rabbit]
[E rank: Grey Wolves]
[E rank: Forest Boar]
(That is, it. There are no high ranking monsters in this area and pretty much difference between each rank for the low ranking adventures and monsters is low like hell, meaning that this area is not dangerous at all.)
(The same goes to the puppet dungeon, it is not too dangerous. The puppet dungeon itself is consider as an F+ rank dungeon, while the dungeon master is theorized to be an E rank.)
(If the murdered is an E rank or D rank, then we can easily beat them up with our current lineup.)
"…"
(Still, why would anybody murder them all? THAT part does not make any sense at all….)
(Arthur only recently became adventure, but he was climbing up fast with his friends, the same goes to the Arthur who was about to reach D rank if not was already considered as one with his level of strength.)
(These two were promising adventures that were climbing high and could possibly become high ranking adventurers…..And there is the mayor's son…. An piece of trash…. It is just not clicking at all in my head.)
(….)
(And I don't like this…. Since I can already tell that we are dealing with something not normal.) – though the brown haired man as the group arrived at the dungeon entrance where an guard was standing on duty.
"…"
"This area is off limits." – said the guard.
"Leave- "
"We have permit." – said the man with an scar as he took out an document and handed it over to the guard, who then inspected the document, before moments later nodding with his head and giving back the document.
"I understand." – said the guard as he moved away, allowing the group to enter the dungeon.
"…"
(Invaders…. This time the group isn't small….6… I recognize them…. All 6…. These two at the front, they were the ones that came before predators.) – though the dungeon master who was noticed about the group arrival that also started taking off some layer of their winter clothing.
(….)
The dungeon master observed the group of the adventures that had entered dungeon began their exploration, finding the monsters and cutting them down, while also heading deeper and deeper into the dungeon….. Before then finally arriving at the dungeon master room where the fake dungeon master was waiting right at the entrance of the room.
"…"
"Okay. You remember the plan, right?" – said the man with brown hair.
"Yea. We will hold it down." – said the man with the scar as he took out his shield.
"[Shield Art: Charge]!" – the man with the scar launched himself at the puppet, hitting it and pushing it back, with in turn allowed the other party members to enter the room.
The puppet thrusted its claws towards the man, aiming for his neck, but he managed to quickly use his shield to block the incoming attack.
"[Earth Bind]!" – the man with the backpack fired off an earth spell, causing the earth around the puppet leg to move on its own and wrap itself around the puppet leg, binding it, blocking its movement.
This gave the three adventures, the girl, the man in the hood as well as the man with an helmet to rush past the dungeon master.
Puppet tried to stop them, but the warrior alongside the brown haired man as well as the man with backpack were able to hold off the puppet movements, allowing the trio to run straight towards the path ahead.
"!"
"The core isn't here! The path is stretching forward!" – shouted the man with the hood.
"THEN GO FORWARD! THE CORE CANNOT BE TOO FAR! IT'S DEFINITLY THERE!" – shouted the man with brown hair.
"AND THE MURDERER COULD BE THERE AS WELL! SO BE CAREFUL!"
"GOT IT!" – shouted back the man in the hood as the trio started running, leaving the boss room.
However, as soon as they left the boss room... It caused an reaction.
(The enemy has breached the defenses.)
(The enemy is heading towards the core room.)
(Does enemy know?)
(High chance.)
(Do they wish to destroy the dungeon?)
(High chance.)
(Change of plans.)
(Eliminate all.)
"!?"
"Hey!? W-what is going on!?" – said the man with the backpack as the boss room walls started shaking, alarming the entire group, as well the trio that went ahead, immediately stopping upon hearing the commotion.
"!?"
"BEHIND YOU!" – shouted the man with the backpack, alarming the man with the brown hair as he quickly leaped away as, before the giant fist of dirt came crushing down, almost hitting the man.
"!?"
"GET AWAY FROM THE WALLS!" – shouted the man with brown hair, alarming all adventurers, while the walls of the dungeon started moving around, activating the hidden golems that surrounding everybody while also completely blocking the exit.
(Exterminate all invaders.)
(By any means necessary.)