I Hate Systems

After resting for eight hours, the group prepared themselves, ensuring they were well fed and all their Darlac was replenished.

"Let's enter now." Regriel said as the group entered the Mohart Dungeon, "Princess Raecha and Wakuta should ride Chikon while us three will travel on foot. We'll change tactics based on the situation."

Their hearts were in trepidation as they entered the infamous Mohart Dungeon, one of the three Level 5 Dungeons on their continent. And, all three Level 5 Dungeons were situated in the Great Megwest Empire.

Even Rikune was alert, after all, it was her first time entering a Level 5 Dungeon. Even she wasn't capable of fending off a horde of Haggons. If they were just the Regular Haggons, then it was still fine, for she would be able to increase her Darlac expenditure and condense strong energy blades to sever their tough bodies.

But, if they were unlucky to encounter a Haggon that had reached Transcendence, then they would be screwed. They were what Rikune was apprehensive against.

Though, nothing happened once they entered the Dungeon, looking around as they failed to spot any Haggons in their vicinity.

"Wait, what's this?" General Artica noticed a scroll peeking out from the side of a boulder near the entrance, gently pulling it out to see that it had withered a lot due to the elements.

She opened it and read through the contents, "To anyone that sees this in the future, remember to turn around and leave. The treasure you are seeking is on the fifth level, but it is inaccessible. Forget about it and just leave the place as quickly as you can—Parlut!"

"It's this guy again." Regriel snorted, "He really wants us to return."

"Did you share some history with this Parlut guy?" Rikune asked.

"Parlut was a descendant of the Great Megwest Empire. He and Grister sought out to solve their Great Empire's issue once they became Transcendents. But, they were defeated and fled from the place, returning to Peckle City to live out the rest of their lives. They died shortly after due to the injuries they sustained." Regriel then gave her a short account of all the information he had dug up.

"When I visited their house to get the key to the treasure, Parlut's trap severed my hands. If I didn't have my healing ability, I would have had to live the rest of my life as a cripple." He snorted, then recalling another incident he had encountered there, thinking, 'I have arrived here, Domino Plottopia. You promised the Secret Society would help me once I think of you.'

…

Compass Carburettor and group were now running through Level 2 when he suddenly stopped, sensing a Mental Energy stream land on him, laughing immediately, "He actually went and did it."

The source of the Mental Energy stream was obviously Regriel, allowing him to sense the other party's mental state through the starlight stream. He then relayed his command through telepathy, "Hekatra, send in the first letter."

"Will do, Lord Spirit," Hekatra replied through telepathy before transmitting the respective information to a Haggon that was stationed in Level 1. This Haggon had once been her subordinate, so he was well versed with her schemes.

He still maintained his Haggon form, acting like he was sleeping in an area where numerous Haggons slept. Held in his hand was a letter that Compass Carburettor had hurriedly prepared. He handed that letter to a Wood Puppet that he made just an hour ago.

Its workmanship was rough, but in the end, it moved. And, that was all its intended use was, so he made the Wood Puppet run through a forest terrain while carrying the letter in its hands. Within ten minutes, it had reached the place where Regriel's group was moving about.

"Maybe I was fooled…?" Regriel frowned when he didn't receive any response from the Secret Society.

"As if just your thoughts can alert them." Rikune rolled her eyes, "Unless this Domino Plottopia you talk about is a Spirit, having such an ability is impossible."

"When I was in the capital…" Regriel said, "I heard faint rumours about the Secret Society."

"Even I heard about them." Princess Raecha interjected, "I've seen one of my servants pray towards a certain symbol discretely. If I wasn't using my Puppet, I wouldn't have found about that. Though, when I interrogated her about it, she seemed to have no idea."

"It feels like a cult." Rikune frowned.

"I thought so too," Regriel said, "But if they have the same objective as us, we can use them to our advantage."

And right as he said so, they heard some rustling in the leaves beside, turning alert as they looked in the direction of the sounds. The rustling sounds continued to increase in intensity before a semi-broken Wood Puppet exited, barely dragging its limbs that seemed to have suffered a lot of damage.

Tree sap covered its body from head to toe while the stab mark of something sharp was apparent in its chest, a sign that it had been injured by a Haggon.

"Wait, don't attack it," Regriel said upon noticing a letter it was carrying.

The Wood Puppet dragged itself, stumbling to the ground a couple of times in the process before it eventually arrived before Regriel, handing out a letter.

Regriel grabbed it, opening it to read through the contents, "The Secret Society has already infiltrated Mohart Dungeon. If you wish to cooperate, prove yourselves worthy first. Reach Level 3 within three days. But first, find the clues within the worn-out Wood Puppet before you."

"Catch it!" Regriel shouted in alarm, watching the Wood Puppet casually retreating into the woods while all of them were attentive to the letter's contents.

Rikune instantly sent out her Crescent Moon energy blade, intending to pierce through the Wood Puppet's leg and stop it in its tracks. But suddenly, the moment its thigh was pierced, it detached its head and sent it flying deep into the forest, surprising everyone.

Like a puppet with its strings cut, the Wood Puppet became unresponsive after that, slumping down as the group arrived before it. And, just as Rikune intended to rush into the forest to retrieve the Wood Puppet's head, a couple of Haggons emerged from the forest, stomping through the trees in their way, intending to ram into the group of people before them.