Chapter 44

Nick didn't have to wait long. Ogden returned with Rhea close behind, and the old man's eyes immediately locked onto the core. He picked it up without a word, turning it over in his gnarled hands as if testing its weight. The faint shimmer of mana within the crystal reflected in his glasses, and he looked up expectantly. "Well?" he finally said, gesturing vaguely toward Nick. "Spit it out. You clearly have something to say."Nick glanced at Rhea, who was watching him closely, and then back at Ogden. "Do you have a way to ensure we're not overheard?"

Ogden raised an eyebrow. "Paranoid, are we?" But he didn't wait for a reply. Instead, he reached into a pouch at his waist, going much deeper than should have been possible. When he withdrew his hand, he held a pinch of fine black powder.

Ogden flicked his wrist and tossed the powder into the air. It scattered across the room, briefly catching the light before dissolving into nothingness. Nick felt its effects immediately—a strange, disorienting sensation as if the world had shrunk. His connection with the air outside the room was severed, leaving him feeling oddly confined.

He frowned, "What was that?"

"Erebrean Silence powder," Ogden said, tucking the pouch back into his belt. "Blocks scrying, farsight, and anything else nosy people might use. Expensive stuff, so don't waste my time."

Nick had meant something to keep the workers outside from overhearing them, but this worked too. He nodded, making a mental note to ask where he could get some for himself later. For now, he gestured toward the mana core still in Ogden's hand. "This isn't normal, and I'm guessing you've seen more of them today."

Ogden snorted. "Dozens. And I'm not the only one. The town's already buzzing about it. These things sell for a pretty copper, and we'll empty the caravan's coffers at the rate everybody's finding them."

Nick folded his arms. "And you've figured out what it means?"

"There are many different possibilities," Ogden admitted. "But I've got suspicions." He narrowed his eyes at Nick. "Which I assume you're about to confirm."

Nick took a deep breath. He never liked revealing anything, even if it technically had nothing to do with him. It was just a holdover from his time on Earth, and he hadn’t seen anything in this world that would make him change his habits. Still, this was obviously bigger than him, and he couldn't continue navigating it blindly. Ogden was the best option to obtain some much-needed information.

He couldn't predict how the old man would react, but there was no point in skirting around the truth. "The treasure Arthur's expedition was after," he began, "is not some ancient relic or legendary herb. It's a dungeon."

For a moment, the room was silent. Rhea's eyes widened, and she took a sharp breath. "A dungeon?" she whispered.

Ogden, in contrast, didn't appear surprised. He nodded as if this confirmed something he had already suspected. “I thought it might be that," he muttered. "I was hesitant to think that since the forest has been so in balance while I've been here, but nothing lasts forever."

Nick tilted his head, surprised at the lack of reaction. "You don't seem shocked."

Ogden gave him a wry look. "I've lived long enough to see a few dungeons pop up. It's not necessarily the end of the world if we don't allow it to run rampant."

Rhea, still looking stunned, turned to Ogden. "But that means the forest—the monsters—it's all going to get worse, isn't it?"

"Likely," Ogden nodded, appearing unfazed. "Dungeons don't just settle quietly. They grow. They influence their surroundings. And unless someone goes in to clear them out, they keep pushing until there's nothing left to push against."

Nick crossed his arms and leaned back against the workbench, studying Ogden. The old man had the kind of expression that could have been carved from stone—hard and unreadable.

"Did you already know?” Nick asked, narrowing his eyes.

Ogden gave a faint snort while rubbing his chin. "I suspected, but I didn't exactly know. There are many possible reasons for a stampede, and the increased mana levels in the forest could simply be explained by the appearance of a treasure. I've personally seen some that could reshape the land. But I've heard whispers—rumors circulating around town that hinted at something of the sort, and I reckon most of them were planted by that old coot Arthur."

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That caught Nick off guard. "Planted by Arthur? Why would he do that?"

Ogden raised an eyebrow as if the answer should be obvious. "The man's always been careful. He knows better than to just announce something like this outright—it would have caused chaos once people understood what it meant. But a little rumor among the better adventurers, a bit of suspicion spread through the shops that cater to their needs? That's his style. He gets people thinking about the possibility without stirring up a full-blown panic."

Nick frowned, turning the idea over in his mind. "If that's true… then he probably knew I'd overhear him talking to the innkeeper." His stomach twisted at the realization. "He wanted me to know."

Ogden nodded slowly, the ghost of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I wouldn't put it past him. Many people have underestimated him through the years, thinking he's a washed-up has been, but Arthur of the Thunder Legion is still sharp, boy. He knows exactly how much to say and to whom. You listening in probably fit right into his plan."

Nick sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "So I've been played. Great."

"It's not all bad," Ogden chuckled. "Arthur might have counted on you to share what you learned, spreading the word where it needed to go. Subtle. It's a smart move to raise awareness without stirring the pot. Given your family, he probably thought you'd just discuss it with your father. Of course, you never told him, did you?”

Nick stared at the floor, reflecting on the past few days. Arthur's actions suddenly seemed less like a careless slip of the tongue and more like a calculated maneuver. He had been arrogant, believing that the world revolved around him enough to never question how a basic tier spell could fool a Prestige adventurer.

"I overheard him at the guild. That's how I found out about the dungeon." Nick finally admitted.

Ogden grunted in acknowledgment but mercifully remained silent. Nick was busy reflecting on every other time he thought he was being sneaky, trying to understand if he had been as foolish as he felt now. His two victims had also noticed him in advance while he tailed them, which should have alerted him that wasn't as successful as he had thought. If they could see him, then Arthur must have known all along.

Rhea, who had remained silent throughout most of the exchange, finally erupted, pointing a finger at her mentor. "But why is there a dungeon here? The only ones I've ever heard of are either controlled by the kingdom or destroyed outright. What does it mean for one to exist out here? And why did you let me go into the forest if you knew there could be one?! If we had wandered into its territory, we would all be dead!"

Ogden's face darkened. "I am not your father, girl. You are here as my apprentice to learn the art. I do not control what you do in your spare time, and if you want to get yourself killed on a foolish adventure, you have every right to do so. I would simply send a letter to what remains of your family, and the guild would send me a new apprentice within the month."

The words struck Rhea like a physical blow, forcing her to lean against a nearby chair. After a moment of wide-eyed staring, she exhaled, "I'm sorry, Master. I didn't mean to accuse you of neglecting your duties.”

Nick watched the exchange mutely. He had been on the wrong end of his grandfather’s tongue many times and understood how old-timers were about their apprentices getting uppity. If anything, Rhea was getting off lightly.

After a moment of silence, Ogden nodded, returning to his usual calm demeanor. "What this means is that we should expect increased activity along the forest line, and as more people realize what's happening, we will become hosts to a wide variety of adventurers and fortune-seekers. News like this takes time to spread. By the time the King's people get involved, we'll have had months—perhaps longer—of free rein over the dungeon."

Nick caught the gleam in Ogden's eye and frowned. "You're already thinking about the ingredients it'll produce, aren't you?"

Ogden offered a wry grin. "Of course I am. Dungeons are treasure troves, lad. Rare herbs, powerful monster parts, and even materials that can't be found anywhere else. For someone like me, that's opportunity knocking."

"But," Nick pressed, "doesn't that mean more monster waves? If the dungeon is expanding, we'll be facing more stampedes, more attacks—"

Ogden cut him off with a raised hand. "Aye, it's possible. But dungeons don't deliberately send monsters after humans; it's a side effect. Increased mana levels in the area drive creatures into a frenzy and make them territorial. Once the dungeon stabilizes, the worst of it should stop."

Nick absorbed that, but it did little to ease his nerves. Given what he knew of Roberta's studies, it made sense, but he didn't like relying on hope. Especially since he suspected there was a will driving the dungeon's expansion.

Ogden seemed to sense his unease. With a heavy sigh, he straightened and motioned toward the back of the shop. "Come with me. Worrying like that won't do you any good."

Nick followed, with Rhea trailing closely behind. Ogden guided them through a narrow corridor to a second room, the air growing colder as they walked. When he opened the door, the scent of blood and charred flesh hit Nick instantly. Inside, a large table dominated the space, and on it lay the remnants of the wyvern Arthur had slain.

The beast's sheer size was staggering, even in pieces. A third of its body remained intact, covered in a dark, scaled hide that gleamed beautifully under the lantern light. Its wings were folded neatly to one side, their membranes tattered but still recognizable. Jagged claws jutted from its limbs, and its massive head, mostly intact aside from the melted remnants around its left eye, rested at the far end of the table.

Ogden turned to Nick, regarding him seriously. "You've done me a service today by sharing what you know. Even if the information isn't as fresh as you thought, it's still valuable. Consider this your reward."

Nick blinked, caught off guard. He'd expected to have to bargain more for it, "The wyvern?"

Ogden smirked. "Not all of it, of course. Most of it belongs to the man who brought it down. But I can spare you a piece. You can choose an organ—a portion of the heart, the liver, or whatever suits your fancy—or a handful of scales and bones."

Nick stepped closer to the table, examining the remnants. He immediately noticed that the wyvern’s core was missing but didn’t raise the issue—Arthur was likely to have taken it, after all. The scales practically radiated power to his air sense. The sturdy, almost metallic bones seemed like they could be forged into weapons or tools, and he had to fight the impulse to pick them up. And the organs—well, he could only envision their magical properties.

He reached out, hesitating as his hand hovered over the table. "What would you recommend?"

Ogden chuckled. "Depends on what you're after. The heart is good for raw power, and the liver is good for endurance. Scales and bones, on the other hand, are more versatile—good for crafting, reinforcing armor, or even trading. They also keep better."