Babel

With limited Soul Kindling between them, there wasn't much reason to explore the middle district other than with the intent of gathering information and evaluating the market. This didn't stop Eliza from dragging off Emilia to peruse various clothing stores, however. As for Linnaeus, he spent a bit of time mapping their immediate surrounding before wandering toward the markets closest to the Central District, home to Briggs Fortress.While exploring, he only places worth noting, at least in Linnaeus' opinion, were the Monster Association and, to a lesser extent, the Debtor's Guild. He had taken an interest in tamed beasts after discussing them with Yorgen and Cyrus so, with several hours before nightfall, he decided to gather more information about them.As the name suggested, the Monster Association dealt with the acquisition, exchange, breeding, and distribution of various monsters. So long as you had the funds, it was possible to obtain a variety of different monsters, many of which were useful as either battle companions or mounts. The only real downside was, without a Blessing related to taming, it could take several years to build the requisite rapport to have a monster fight loyally at your side.This was where the second organization of interest came in, the Debtor's Guild. Here, people that had fallen into debt could be contracted and, so long as you had the funds, they would effectively become your faux-slave.Despite their apparent status, contracting someone from the Debtor's Guild didn't mean you could treat them however you wanted. The purpose of the Guild was to repay debts, not get their debtees killed, so, unless the debtee had agreed to an unrestricted contract, it was the obligation of the one who had purchased their services to care for them.Since he was interested in expanding his Party without the threat of being backstabbed, Linnaeus had taken an interest in the Debtor's Guild the moment he heard about it from a stall vendor. He had seen a young woman walking around with two burly individuals, each with collars around their necks so, after purchasing a few skewers for Emilia, Linnaeus followed the vendor's directions to one of the tallest buildings in the entire middle district.As could be expected, the Debtor's Guild was operated by the Briggs Familia, indicated by a massive emblem depicting a castle wall and a lion's head could be seen. This was important for a number of reasons as, not only did the Brigg's Familia serve as a Guarantor of the facility but, if you violated the terms of your contract, it was the same as offending one of the most powerful factions on the Fifth Floor.Linnaeus had no intention of making even more enemies but, with a two-week window to earn a position with the Main Expedition, it didn't hurt to take a look. His Party was in desperate need of ranged attackers so, unless he or Emilia wanted to pick up a new specialty, they needed to scout a competent archer or someone with precision magic.Since forming a secondary Party and establishing a Company was a high hurdle, at least for the time being, supplementing their needs with temporary members was the next best option.It was with this mentality that Linnaeus first stepped into the Debtor's Guild, a surprisingly orderly place with a prim and lavish interior. There, dozens of uniformed staff were waiting to happily deal with any customers that wandered in, much like an Auction House. The main difference was, rather than be ignored, it took less than thirty seconds for an intelligent-looking woman with sharp eyes and even sharper ears approached him, asking, "Have you come with the intent to purchase or sell?"When he heard the woman's question, Linnaeus quickly realized why she hadn't ignored him, despite his rather slovenly attire. He imagined it wasn't all that uncommon for people to take the initiative to sell their debt directly to the Guild, likely to escape whoever they had indebted themselves to in the first place...Without letting the woman's words bother him, Linnaeus stared back at her with a calm expression on his face, plainly stating, "I am interested in acquiring the contract of someone competent with a bow or precision magics. Please, show me what you have available."Hearing Linnaeus' response, the woman gave an understanding nod, her expression never changing from the professional smile she had been wearing since the beginning. Then, after a courteous bow, she gestured toward the side, stating, "If you'll follow me, I would be happy to facilitate your needs, Young Master."Linnaeus wasn't fond of the way the woman addressed him but, with a mask of his own, the woman was unable to see through him as they alighted to a private room. There, Linnaeus was invited to sit in a surprisingly comfortable chair while the woman rang a small silver bell that had been sitting on the large wooden table separating them.In response to the bell, a door at the back of the room quickly opened to reveal two neatly-dressed servants, each wearing fitted dresses with relatively short skirts. From this, Linnaeus assumed that the golden bell, positioned next to its silver counterpart, likely summoned male servants.Seeing her client remain unfazed even in the face of two beauties, the female Broker couldn't help but squint her eyes slightly as she tried, and failed, to get a read on him. Even when he was offered tea by the bustier of the two women, the young boy just gave a small nod in response, observing the contents of the cup before immediately setting them aside...Realizing she had yet to learn the boy's name, the female Broker gestured for the servants to stand at the side before saying, "You have impressive bearing for someone so young. Despite being taught never to judge a book by its cover, it would seem I still need a bit of practice. Please, might I ask for your name, Young Master? As for my own, you may refer to me as Rune."Though he would have to sign his name on a contract if he wanted to obtain a debtee, Linnaeus had misgivings about arbitrarily giving his name to random people. Thus, without necessarily lying, he gave a curt nod before answering, "Hearing someone call me Young Master is unpleasant. You may refer to me as Finn, Ms. Rune."Hearing Linnaeus' response, Rune answered with a curt nod of her own before saying, "I hope we are able to enjoy a lasting partnership, Mr. Finn. As this seems to be your first time visiting the Debtor's Guild, there are a few matters of varying importance to discuss. First of all, I am obligated to inform you that, should you choose to move forward with the acquisition of a contract, I will become your permanant Broker. Secondly, before I can show you any of the contracts we have available, there is a 100 Soul Kindling consultation fee that must be paid in advance..."As information was never free, Linnaeus' wasn't too surprised by Rune's words. What he did question was whether or not the fee was actually 100 Soul Kindling but, knowing he would lose all leverage by footing around the issue, he opted to simply pay it. If he couldn't even fork over 100 Soul Kindling, it was unlikely Rune, or any Broker for that matter, would treat him as a serious customer.Seeing Linnaeus unhesitantly pay the consultation fee, Rune's evaluation of the poorly-dressed youth went up by a few points. He was difficult to read but, based on his words and behavior, she got the impression he specifically dressed as such to lower the guard of others. This wasn't all that uncommon amongst affluent people who liked to see how people treated them based solely on appearance so, rather than offend a potentially powerful individual, Rune decided to play it safe by bowing politely as she accepted Linnaeus' payment.Linnaeus could feel a change in the way Rune and the two servant women looked at him but, with the same neutral expression as always, he sat quietly as the former listed off various contracts. Most of them had exorbitant prices, ranging between 3,500-5,000 Soul Kindling per month but, every now and then, a relatively cheap contract, around 800-1,500, would come up. Linnaeus felt Rune was just throwing these in to gauge his reaction but, without revealing his actual thoughts on the matter, he had her run through a list of thirty-seven individuals without pause.What was worth noting was that the fact that the listed rate was just to obtain the contract of the person. From there, epending on the terms agreed upon, the contract could easily exceed several tens-of-thousands of Soul Kindling per month as a liability clause. Most of these clauses determined the treatment of the debtee and, if you wanted to have them risk their lives, there was even a clause that required you to continue paying off their debt, even if they died...Most debtees didn't include the option to risk their lives but, in exchange, they would have to agree to various other 'services', some of which were arguably worse than death. Though this all depended on how much the person buying them was willing to pay, it was something to consider if he wanted to acquire someone's contract.What bothered Linnaeus was the fact that, due to his status as a 'Potentiate', meaning he could still climb the Crucible of Souls, he needed to pay upwards of 30% of the person's total debt upfront as a precaution against people amassing debtees to farm Soul Kindling and then simply departing the Floor.Worse still was the fact that, if he left the Floor with an active contract, it would still be in effect if he ended up failing his trial. As a result, he would be shackled with a massive debt if he was sent back to the Fifth Floor, essentially becoming a debtee himself for several decades.This seemed to be a surprisingly common outcome as, among the thirty-seven contract detailed by Rune, twenty-nine belonged to people who had failed their trials. In a way, this system was a trap to ensure they always had a stable supply of debtees as, due to time constraints, Potentiates would be desperate to acquire Soul Kindling by any means necessary. As a result, they would readily violate the clause as, if they ended up leaving the Crucible behind, their debt within didn't matter at all...As someone in the same boat as these individuals, Linnaeus wasn't deterred by the overbearing clause as, if he failed to return to the Tower, his life would have lost all meaning. If he had to spend a few decades as someone's servant, that was merely penance for his failure.Fortunately, even if he did fail, Linnaeus had the distinct impression that Eliza would fail alongside him. He could easily imagine her purchasing his contract and, though this would make things a little awkward between them, it wasn't the absolute worst outcome.With this in mind, Linnaeus ended up paying a holding fee on a Level 31 Dáilin male with the [Child of Wind] Blessing. He didn't want the stigma of purchasing a female's contract as, with Eliza and Emilia opting to share a room with him, it would put him in a difficult position. Males were also a lot cheaper, on average, so it was also the most economical choice given his current financial status...Since it wasn't uncommon for people to place holding fees, as purchasing a contract outright was only something a wastrel would do, Rune's evaluation of Linnaeus didn't drop all that much. Rather, after learning he was a Potentiate, she became even more eager to complete a transaction with him as it guaranteed a higher commission. She would also be the one to obtain his contract if he failed his future trials so, with very little to lose, Rune happily carried out her duties as Linnaeus' Broker.(A/N: I am very sick right now. I wasn't going to write a chapter today but, as it felt awkward to post a notice after failing to publish one yesterday, I opted to write a chapter to let everyone know what is going on.)

Though not entirely unexpected, Linnaeus found himself on the receiving end of a lecture shortly after reuniting with Eliza back at the Inn. The fact he had thought about making such a decision on his own left a bad taste in her mouth and, though she didn't want to control Linnaeus' actions, she at least wanted him to consult her on such matters.Understanding why Eliza was upset, Linnaeus didn't hesitate to spend a fair amount of time coaxing her into forgiving him. In truth, he knew she would be upset even before he took action but, as it was often easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, he opted to follow his gut instincts on the matter. After all, he was now armed with knowledge pertaining to the Debtees, making it a lot easier to convince her of his rationale.After a long discussion, coinciding with Linnaeus being forced to brush Eliza's hair, the latter finally forgave him for going behind her back on the matter. It helped when Linnaeus admitted the only reason he was comfortable with potentially indebting himself was because he believed she would purchase his contract. He promised that, if it came down to that, he would dedicate himself to doing everything in his power to make her happy, even if it took the rest of his life...With his words basically amounting to a proposal, Eliza was beside herself for the rest of the night and, while she ultimately forgave him, things became pretty tense until she finally fell asleep. Even this took a lot longer than usual as, despite the relatively low temperature within the room, it felt a lot warmer beneath the blankets than normal.Fortunately, by the time Eliza was lazily waking the next morning, she seemed to have recovered completely. Though Linnaeus still had to help her prepare for the day, Emilia had started to help out once they all started living together. This left him with the singular task of helping to comb her ever-disobedient hair.Linnaeus had actually gotten pretty decent at combing and styling hair but, fortunately, he hadn't awakened any Skills related to the task. His current loadout was already rather unique so, even if it gave him benefits related to Dexterity or Wisdom, he would rather avoid obtaining such Skills. Just imagining how his future comrades would react upon discovering them sent shivers along his spine so, for the time being, he only absentmindedly helped the two girls rather than putting a concerted effort into improving...By the time everyone had gathered in the dining area of the Inn, it was a little after 0600, just after the first light of day. They had already discussed their findings the previous evening so, with their course already set, Linnaeus stated, "We'll make a detour around Briggs Fortress before exiting out on the north-eastern side of the settlement. There are eight Guild Branches where we can register, so, after securing temporary lodgings, we'll sign up and accept a few posted quests. Our goal is to increase our reputation within the Guild over the next two weeks so, please, everyone do your best. Depending on our results, we may not even have to venture to the Hell Hole..."Though they had varying levels of motivation, everyone had already agreed to Linnaeus' method so, after a brief exchange, they checked out of their rooms before setting out.Despite how early it was, the settlement was already alive with people making preparations for their own adventures. To accommodate them, various stalls and shops were already open, many leaving their doors or windows cracked in order to let the fragrance of various foodstuffs entice potential customers.Emilia, ever the glutton, was one of the people affected by this aroma so, despite their relative haste, they ended up stopping a few times when an especially sweet or savory aroma tickled their senses.Since there was always a chance they would find themselves stranded at some point, it was always better to prepare extra food. Thus, while it was certainly troublesome, it wasn't that big a deal that they made a couple of stops along the way. Eliza, in particular, didn't seem to mind and, after he got a taste of a buttery glazed doughnut, Linnaeus couldn't really complain either.Fortunately, despite their detour, it only took a little over an hour and a half to reach the Guild on the north-eastern section of the settlement. This ended up being for the better as, while there were still a number of people present, the morning rush had already faded. Most of the more proactive Parties had already set out early in the morning so, until around noon, the Guild would generally be pretty empty.As a result of their timing, there had only been two people ahead of them at the main registry desk so, after a few short minutes, the Party found themselves face-to-face with a rather intimidating red-haired beauty.Though looks could be deceiving, the woman's wild hairstyle, her confident demeanor, the sharpness of her emerald-green eyes, and her sunkissed skin all radiated strength. Even the men who had been speaking with her before Linnaeus' group had spoken in subdued tones, indicating the woman at the desk wasn't someone they wanted to antagonize.Linnaeus had heard the woman's voice during her conversations with the preceding groups but it was a very different feeling to be separated by nothing more than a desk. He suddenly felt smaller than normal as the woman briefly cast her gaze over his entire Party before asking in a confident and husky tone, "Another group eager to make a name for themselves before the next expedition? Well, if you want to join the Guild, even temporarily, you'll have to undergo a basic evaluation first."Without waiting for a response, the red-haired woman grabbed a piece of paper amongst a tall pile of documents, shoving it towards Linnaeus as she added, "You should at least be familiar with things like Guild Ranks and such, right? This is a D-Rank request. If you can't even do this much, don't waste my time. This isn't a Daycare Guild. If you've got the strength, prove it with your actions."Since he already knew about the assessment test from his previous investigation, Linnaeus retained his usual calm as he accepted the document without a word. The woman didn't seem interesting in conversing so, rather than deal with such an aggressive personality, he opted to just move on and complete the request.Though Eliza looked like she had a few choice words for the red-haired woman, she chose to follow Linnaeus' example and hold her tongue. Emilia and Krone followed immediately after her so, for a brief moment, it appeared as if the matter had been settled.Unfortunately, the red-haired woman hadn't missed the glance cast by Eliza so, after the latter had already turned away, she mused, "That's a good little girl. At least you have enough sense to avoid causing trouble for your allies~."Hearing the woman's remark, Eliza's pace slowed until she came to a complete stop. This caused the atmosphere within the Guild Hall to become palpable but, in spite of her fury, Eliza managed to keep her calm by taking a few deep breaths through her nose. It helped that, just as she was thinking of a response, Linnaeus smiled gently and said, "Come, we do not need the approval of someone we just met. Let our actions as a Party speak for us."As there were absolutely no benefits to making enemies within the very Guild they were trying to join, Linnaeus' words allowed Eliza to quickly regain her calm. Then, after a small nod, she accepted his outstretched hand before alighting from the Guild. This left the red-haired woman sitting at her desk, a smile on her face as she scribbled down a few notes into a journal she kept at her side.---Finding a place to stay when there was an expedition coming up was a bit harder than expected but, after spending most of the morning searching, Linnaeus and Co managed to find a place just outside a disorderly bazaar. Though it would be hard to get a peaceful night's rest in the area, as the market operated through the night, it was better than nothing.With their housing situated, Eliza was finally given the opportunity to release her pent up frustrations as, after an hour-long trek, they reached the destination mentioned in their request. Essentially, their only objective was to obtain a material known as Blacksweed, a medicinal herb that was mixed into wheat and grain stores to repel various pests.Agriculture on the Fifth Floor wasn't exactly easy so, when it came to making sure their harvest was well-preserved, cities and settlements spared no expense. After all, while not absolutely necessary, it was very unpleasant to live without a variety of staple foods.Though Blacksweed was relatively common throughout the entirety of the Fifth Floor, the Monster Ants actually cultivated the herb along the periphery of their territory. They used it in small amounts to prevent mites and other troublesome insects from infesting their own food stores. They were one of many monsters that practiced a form of nascent agriculture and, if not for them, early settlers of the Fifth Floor would have had a lot of trouble establishing themselves in the relatively inhospitable environment.Unfortunately for the Monster Ant Workers, Linnaeus' Party hadn't arrived to thank them for their contribution to the early settlers of the Floor. Rather, as a result of her earlier anger, Eliza was far more proactive than normal, using her [Crush] Magic to flatten a number of Workers that had been minding their own business.Monster Ants were surprisingly resistant to Gravity Magic but, with a few well-placed spears of ice, Emilia was able to finish off the majority of the crippled ants. This served as a learning experience for them all as, while Linnaeus had already asked about the various weak spots from Yorgen, theoretical knowledge was useless unless you could put it into practice.Though there were differences between each sub-species of Monster Ant, the vast majority had a weak spot between the plating between their head and alitrunk. It was also possible to cripple the ant if you cut them along their petiole, the section that connected to the abdominal region, known as the gaster.Monster Ants could be divided into Scouts, Workers, Soldiers, Majors, Super-Majors, Royal Guards, and Queens, each demonstrably more powerful than the group preceding them. As a result, it was pretty easy to determine which kind of Ants were suitable for your Level but, so long as you fought cleverly, even powerful Ants could be killed by relatively weak individuals.The key to success was understanding the habits of the Monster Ants and knowing when and where to strike their weak spots. These were things that could only be learned from personal experience so, after Eliza's preliminary onslaught, Linnaeus had everyone practice using weapons that allowed them to conserve SP.Since Emilia was skilled in the use of a spear, Linnaeus felt she would be a suitable teacher so, much to the Vangardandr's satisfaction, he elected to learn how to use one. It provided him with the reach he sorely lacked and, though it wouldn't be that useful within subterranean tunnels, it would be very useful against monsters on the surface.Though Eliza was initially tempted to try and learn how to use a spear herself, she quickly gave up that idea after stabbing into an ant's gaster. It had been filled with a viscous green liquid and, due to hitting one of the main tubes that fed nutrients into the ant's body, Eliza ended up getting covered in the pungent plant refuse. Afterward, she opted to make use of a heavy crossbow, borrowing the one Linnaeus had obtained after learning how to use it from Cyrus.Eliza had always been proficient at judging distance and trajectory so, while it took a bit of time to get used to, she actually managed to learn [Archery] in a relatively short period of time. This had dealt a small blow to Linnaeus' pride as he had actually been the one to show her how to use it, despite not having the Skill himself.With Eliza fitting into the role of a mid-range support specialist without much issue, this left only Krone to choose a weapon. He would normally never rely on such things but, after nearly losing his leg to the extremely powerful mandibles of the Monster Ants, he elected to use the Warhammer that Linnaeus had picked up in anticipation of this event. Krone had given him a hard stare when he first brought the object out but, rather than comment about Linnaeus being a busy-body, he ended up crushing the heads of a few Ants in silence...(A/N: We're back &gt;:D)

Though there were some hiccups along the way, the rest of the journey to the Monster Ant Colony went without any major issues. The only real setback occurred when a monstrous three-legged avian creature attacked the convoy, damaging one of the carriages and killing several Dumbswallows. Its speed was unlike anything Linnaeus had ever experienced but, when it came around a second time, a man with a large halberd was waiting to meet it. He managed to cleave off one of the hypersonic creature's wings in a single strike, bringing it down to the ground for his Party to finish off.From Yorgen, Linnaeus learned the massive flying creature, covered in black metallic feathers, was known colloquially as the King of the Skies. Though the Akashic system referred to it as an Onyx Bomber, the number of victims created by the creature, with a wingspan extending almost fifteen meters, earned it quite the reputation.Fortunately, most convoys prepared to an encounter against the infamous solitary hunters so, while six Dumbswallows ended up becoming casualties, they were only set back for the brief interval it took to repair the damaged carriage...---Much like the Southern Forest Settlement, the Monster Ant Colony also had a place where people gathered together. Unlike the former, however, the settlement near the Monster Ant Colony had the appearance of a massive fortress rather than a homely village.Rather than a single defensive wall on their outer perimeter, the settlement was surrounded by a total of three, each growing progressively taller as you neared a castle-like fortification at the very center.In between each wall, various Inns, Hostels, shops, and other facilities could be found. Unlike normal buildings, however, they were made from extremely durable materials and, for reasons that weren't immediately clear, covered in sloping roofs.While the buildings themselves were rather strange, what really stood out were the large defensive towers that were evenly spaced within the general residential and commerce areas. Each of these structures was around 30m in diameter, covered in smooth metallic sheets, and outfitted with a total of sixteen large ballistae. Around the base, a wide moat lined with metal spikes and filled with a substance similar to boiling tar deterred anyone from getting anywhere near the structures, turning it into a veritable fortress all its own.Even without gathering information, it was easy to deduce that the rather spacious settlement was subject to monster attacks on a regular basis. Despite this, hundreds-of-thousands gathered in this area, each seeking their fortune against the plentiful Monster Ants located in the distant mountains.At a glance, these Mountains looked like normal geological formations but, if you observed closely, it quickly became apparent they were anything but 'normal'. Rather, the entire mountain range was an artificial construct, painstakingly built over millennia by the Monster Ants calling it home.Linnaeus had never encountered a Monster Ant but he knew normal ant colonies could sometimes have millions of individual worker ants. This made the distant colony mildly terrifying as it wasn't all that difficult to imagine an endless swarm of the creatures sweeping across the settlement, wiping it away in a single evening...---Though there were several small Merchant companies in the outer wall, most convoys had clearance to enter within the second set of walls. Here, the fortifications were even more noticeable than those outside and, as could be expected, so too were the various buildings lining the interior. They were of a much higher quality than their counterparts in the outer region, a testament to the wealth disparity between those living further in and those forced into the periphery.After passing through a series of security checkpoints, navigating 100m long tunnel, and crossing a large bridge, the convoy finally began staging its carriages outside a large warehouse. Here, a team of workers was already waiting to unload all the equipment and supplies while, near the exit of the staging area, the former convoy leader was waiting with payment for each Party. From there, they could either retrace their steps, moving to the outskirts where prices were significantly reduced, or move further inside the second middle district, taking advantage of the fact they had already been able to pass through checkpoint, something which generally required a heavy fee to be paid.When it came time to make this decision, Linnaeus was somewhat hesitant as, for the last few days, he had gotten along relatively well with Yorgen's Party. As a result, once they moved over to gather their reward, he asked the stoutly Dwarf, "What are your intentions, Yorgen? Will you head outside or explore the middle district?"While weighing the cloth purse he had received in his left hand, Yorgen gave Linnaeus a wry grin before saying, "This ain't our firs' time venturin' to these lands, lad. We'll be headin' outside to find more agreeable pricin'. You 'n your lot should explore around for a bit, though. If fate be willin', we'll meet again durin' the upcomin' expedition."Since it wasn't a simple matter, finding a Party you could mesh well with, Linnaeus was somewhat disappointed by Yorgen's words. He didn't allow this to show on his face, however, as he gave an understanding nod and said, "We'll meet again; I'm certain of it." Then, shaking hands with the kind Dwarf, Linnaeus forced a smile as Yorgen's much larger hand crushed his own...While Linnaeus was sharing parting words with Yorgen, Krone somewhat awkwardly ruffled the fur of Cyrus' head while Eliza and Emilia had a staredown with Amanda. The only one without someone to talk to was Zezim but, with an aloof smile on his face, he just looked around the area before finding a Dumbswallow staring at him. This caused his smile and wings to twitch slightly as a strong desire to visit a pub or brothel swelled up inside of him...When the time for their parting came, Linnaeus' Party saw off Yorgen's until the latter crossed the large mechanical bridge and passed through the first checkpoint. Afterward, Linnaeus turned to his cohorts and said, "We'll most likely be able to gather more information here in the middle district than outside. Let's find a place to stay for the evening before splitting up to search the various shops present within. Try to gather information about the upcoming Expedition while preserving as much of your Soul Kindling as possible. Tomorrow morning, we'll head to the outer district to cut on living expenses until we get a better grasp on our income..."Since it was the best course of action, given their current circumstances, none of Linnaeus' Party members had a problem with his suggestion. As a result, they quickly found a place to stay away from the outskirts of the middle district, avoiding the 'cheap' room and board offered by various Merchant Companies near the checkpoints.Merchants, even those that operated above-board, were all somewhat shady by virtue of their trade. If they could make some extra profit, they didn't mind falsely advertising their rates as being cheaper than others, even if venturing just a few blocks inward proved this claim to be false.Linnaeus was a skeptic by nature so, if something seemed too good to be true, his default mentality was to confirm it for himself. As a result, they found a place that was nearly 30% cheaper, despite the accommodations being far superior...After securing two small rooms for themselves, Linnaeus had Eliza accompany him as they spent a bit of time making small talk with the Proprietor. He had already learned that Inn owners were rather fond of conversing with their guests as they spent most of their time tending to the Inn. This could get rather boring so, whenever they got the chance, they were more than happy to share what they knew in exchange for interesting news or a few Soul Kindling.Eliza was surprisingly good at getting people to talk so, with his own social skills lacking, Linnaeus had come to rely on her for things like this. All that was required from him was appearing interested during the conversation and grateful for the information provided. This was enough to make a good impression on the various Proprietors they had met, often resulting in extra benefits like cookies or other baked goods during their meals.From the Proprietor, a middle-aged man with ram-like horns and a massive build, Linnaeus learned that the Expedition was always hosted by the ruling family that presided over the 'Briggs Fortress' at the very center of the territory. There, the Briggs Familia had been ruling over the region since it was first settled more than eight-hundred years prior.In order to prevent the Monster Ants from building up enough forces to sweep across the entire region, the Briggs Familia sponsored the creation of a Guild specifically for contending against the Monster Ant swarm. They were charged with organizing monthly Expeditions to sweep through the area, dealing as much damage to the ant population as possible while reserve forces and groups specializing in the harvesting of raw materials followed in their wake.Unfortunately, even with these monthly Expeditions, the Monster Ant Colony would swell in size once or twice each year. This always coincided with a phenomenon known as the Monster Ant Nuptial Flight, a period where some Monster Ants suddenly sprouted wings and tried to settle in other regions. Many of these ants were nascent Queens and virile males so, if they weren't taken care of quickly, new colonies would erupt throughout the surrounding regions, leaving nothing but havoc and devastation in their wake.To prevent a major outbreak, the Briggs Familia would personally lead an Expedition directly into the heart of the Monster Ant Colony, their goal to kill as many Queens and brood as possible. By dealing a crippling blow to the existing ant infrastructure, the Nuptial Flight could be interrupted as, without a Queen, the existing colony would eventually collapse. As a result, the Monster Ants would fall back into their burrows, shoring up their defenses for several months for fear of being wiped out...This was all important information as, if they wanted to try and secure a place for themselves among the main Expeditionary Forces, Linnaeus and co had less than two weeks to prove themselves at the nearby Guild. Though they could make a decent profit by serving with the reserve forces, joining the main forces guaranteed a lump payment of 50,000 Soul Kindling just for participation.Joining the main expedition was a dangerous task but, at the same time, the rewards far exceeded those of the reserve forces. After all, the most coveted materials could only be obtained by entering the brood chambers and fighting against the various Majors and Super Majors. There, they could obtain the coveted Golden Honey and, if they managed to actually kill one of the Majors, harvesting their gem-like eyes guaranteed massive profits.Though obtaining a place with the main expedition would be difficult, the benefits far outweighed the potential danger. This was especially true for Linnaeus and his Party as, after the completion of a large expedition, the number of Monster Ants would generally thin out considerably. This meant, if they didn't take advantage of this opportunity, their trip to the Monster Ant Colony itself could turn out to be a waste of time.Since there was a very real chance they could earn enough Soul Kindling to move on to the next series of challenges, Linnaeus managed to convince Eliza, Emilia, and Krone to take the risk with him. They would register at the Guild's main office before heading to the northern section of the outer district. From there, they would venture into the Monster Ant Colony, gaining experience against the ferocious creatures while completing various Guild Quests.It wouldn't be easy but, if they were able to distinguish themselves, there was a fair chance their Party would be accepted as part of the main expedition. After all, various Parties would migrate to the fortress city around this time so, while the competition was fierce, the chances of joining, even as a relatively new Party, were quite high.

Chapter 78: Snare