"Let's explore this unknown ruin—but if we're just going to get the same pay as last time, that's hardly acceptable for us as workers."
Workers were far more profit-driven than adventurers. Even knowing their client was the Emperor of the Empire, they wouldn't give up a single coin of what they could rightfully earn.
"I understand exactly what kind of profession you are," Ren Kuroda said calmly. "I have no intention of making things difficult. For this mission, you'll only need to hand over fifty percent of the profits you gain from the ruin.
"If anyone from the Kingdom causes trouble, I'll handle it personally. And the payment from the previous job will still be honored. How does that sound?
"Of course, the prerequisite is that all of you return safely from the ruin."
The workers' team leaders froze for a moment. None of them had expected Ren to be so reasonable—so unexpectedly accommodating—when they had anticipated a much harder negotiation.
"Hekkeran… maybe we should just forget it this time. I have a bad feeling about this ruin, and the Empire's attitude seems… off," said the half-elf Imina, her eyes flicking nervously toward her boyfriend and captain. Something in Ren's words didn't sit right with her instinct.
"Didn't we already agree? One last job, then we retire. Forget the past; the deposit alone was generous enough. And if we find treasure in this ruin, it'll secure our future. Both Arshe and we could really use this money.
"As for why the Empire isn't sending its own forces… that's just because they don't want to risk a diplomatic incident with the Kingdom."
Workers were opportunistic—more so than adventurers—and greed was part of their nature.
When Ren agreed to only take fifty percent of the loot, even though something felt off, these top-tier Imperial workers had no intention of backing out.
They had been worried that the ruin being inside Kingdom territory might attract intervention—but now that Ren promised to cover any complications, they had no more concerns.
Ruins were common enough in this world, but ones that were both unexplored and massive in scale were extremely rare.
Every expedition carried risk, yes—but the potential wealth was staggering. Top-class workers like these weren't about to pass that up.
In the outer zones of the Nazarik Tombs, the Empire's workers, relying on their extensive experience, had already swept the perimeter and uncovered astonishing treasure.
That only reinforced their confidence: the inner ruins must hold treasures beyond imagining.
The sheer amount of wealth outside was piled up like garbage, with not even a single guarding monster in sight. What then could lie within the deeper layers of the ruin?
Because the haul was so massive, the workers first transported the treasure they had gathered back to their camp, then prepared to delve further into the ruin.
"Have you considered that maybe you should just take what you've got and leave?"
Ren's voice appeared suddenly, echoing through the workers' minds as he emerged before them. His calm, composed presence drew their attention.
"Take what we've got? Are you joking? This is just the outer zone—and look at what we've found!
"There's no question the deeper layers will contain far more valuable items. Legendary artifacts, high-level magical tools… we can't just stop here."
Tenbu, already irritated by Ren's presence, scoffed audibly.
"You're seriously telling me the Knight Commander suddenly regrets hiring us because we acquired some treasure too easily? Now you want to kick us out so you can go in and take it all for yourself?"
Anyone with eyes could see how extraordinary this ruin was. No monsters, piles of treasure lying in plain sight. Being told to leave now? That was absurd.
The other workers shared Tenbu's attitude. If they had explored the perimeter and found nothing, they might have lost interest. But now, after seeing the bounty, their curiosity for the inner ruins had only grown.
Retreat was not an option—they were determined to walk away with fortunes.
"Those who insist on courting death can't be stopped. Those blinded by greed don't deserve sympathy… a shame for the families waiting for them to return.
"Yes, there are legendary artifacts and even world-altering magical tools within this ruin—but what awaits them is death."
As expected, the Nazarik Tombs had long since gone on full alert in anticipation of intruders.
Though the Flies—creatures tasked with guarding the tomb—might have seemed overkill for this level of intruder, this was Nazarik's first invasion in the otherworld. Practicing now could only help them prepare.
On the first floor, swarms of skeletal soldiers bolstered the workers' confidence. The ruin appeared… manageable.
But that confidence was quickly shattered.
Triggers and traps in the Nazarik Tombs teleported them to multiple zones. And what they faced next was the true horror of Nazarik—a world of despair and death.
To be blunt: at the level these workers were, except for the level-1 artificial maid, they were doomed against almost any adversary in the tomb.
Their survival now relied purely on luck—who they got teleported against could be ruthless beyond measure.
'The Weight Crusher' had the terrifying fortune of facing the top prize winner. Tenbu was lucky, landing against lawful-aligned lizardmen and Kurasuke.
'Dragon Hunt' should have stayed in the outer ruins, but since Ren's group had already scouted there, they had no excuse and had to follow inside.
Meanwhile, the unlucky replacement for the 'Four Strategists' drew the top prize, teleporting straight to the sixth-floor battle arena, facing the Bone King Fly-Mouse head-on.
As for the actual Four Strategists… the teleportation brought them to a breathtakingly beautiful location.
A wide open field stretched before them, dominated by a single, massive cherry blossom tree, dazzling in its size. A gentle breeze scattered petals like a pink rain from the sky.
Beneath the towering tree, the torii of a shrine chimed softly in the wind, its bells ringing in delicate harmony.
And then, the ground darkened as if rippling, and a girl appeared silently before the Four Strategists—dressed in a traditional miko outfit, red and white, her presence silent yet utterly commanding.