Genesis Code: The Genetic Awakening-Chapter 57: Progress (1)

Outside the sealed dungeon, the knights and guards stationed there continued to monitor the dungeon and from time to time, ventured into the dungeon to check its status.

However, since Caleb was sent in, things were slightly different.

None of the men here believed Caleb would make it far. He was bound to die there, alone.

Unfortunately, that was not what their checks brought back. A few floors, it was expected the prisoner would do well.

But as they monitored the floors, they noticed the prisoner was doing really well.

Great news.

Caleb was contributing to delaying a dungeon break and they wouldn’t have to go in so many times a week.

"Captain," A walked into the Captain’s tent. "The 15th to 17th floors have been cleared."

"Really?" The captain lifted his head with a bit of surprise. "What did you see?"

"Like the others we’ve seen, the Caleb fellow seems to use physical force more than cutting force.

"From all accounts, that man is very strong." The knight gulped slightly. "Dare I say, he is even stronger than the..."

The knight ended it there, but the captain got the message. He put that aside for the time being.

"And the monster cores?" The captain inquired, already feeling he knew the answer.

"Sadly, they’re all gone." The knight lowered his head slightly. "He takes them all."

"As expected." The captain leaned in his chair. "But where is he keeping the cores?"

It puzzled all the men stationed there. They remembered giving Caleb a small storage artefact with enough space to hold a single horse.

Yet, Caleb seemed to take all of them without leaving any behind. The cores were very valuable and while the killer takes all, those resources could benefit the kingdom and its forces.

"Do we send men to approach him?" The knight suggested and the captain shook his head.

"No. We have our orders. Sooner or later, he might just meet his end. Let’s be patient and wait."

While his words seemed harsh, there was also a part of him that wished Caleb succeeded.

Unfortunately, reason triumphed over those feelings. Clearing the dungeon solo was next to impossible. Everyone knew that.

After all, that was a Tier 3 dungeon.

...

Back in the capital, the first day of the continent went well. Most adventurers were able to prove themselves and while some fell, they were still selected.

Jess was able to defeat her energy after solving the riddle faster than her opponent, another beastkin of the fox lineage.

Had she been a male, it would have been more difficult as the foxkin were known to be powerful charmers, especially the females.

With her quick thinking and agile movements, she was able to make her opponent yield after an intense clash of claws.

The tournament came to a successful close after a hectic day. While the tournament was not yet over, some were already guaranteed to be chosen for the king’s list.

Unfortunately, Jess wasn’t sure she made that list and had to continue till she made it.

Jess and the others headed back home for the night. She expected to get some updates on the investigation she commissioned.

It was a dark and rowdy night with the streets packed with people, all celebrating and talking about the tournament that happened.

The moon was out and the air was slightly cold when Jess sensed someone appear at her door.

Already knowing who it was, she went to open the door for her guest.

"Come in." The man covered in a cloak nodded and walked inside and Jess closed the door.

"What did you find?" She went straight to business, ignoring all courtesy.

The man ignored all as he too was only here for business. The man gathered his thoughts and reported his findings.

"The noble you’re looking for is a Count of the Therindor duchy: Count David Seres."

Jess furrowed her brows as she immediately knew who the man was referring to. She knew about the nobles in her home duchy, but she didn’t think that the Count would be responsible for all that.

"The man you showed me was a distant relative of the Count who was there for a visit."

Suddenly, things began to make sense. That was why the punk wasn’t familiar. No one knew him around.

Jess could see the rest of the story. As the host, losing the punk looked bad on him and his relatives. The Count had to do something.

’So he hired someone to kill me and my party members.’ Jess sighed. ’Still, he didn’t have to do that.’

She was still hellbent on her revenge. However, going after a noble also spelt its own troubles.

Caleb was paying for that mistake right now. Doing the same might even send her straight to the guillotine.

"But there’s more." The man suddenly added, catching her attention. "It’s not related to your case, but my investigation uncovered something big happening within the shadows of the city."

Jess didn’t like the sound of that. Of course, she didn’t care, but when things happened in the shadows, it usually meant bad things were not far behind.

"You don’t have to say anything if it’s not related." Jess tried to get the man to stop.

"It’s fine." The man shook his head. "Take it as a bonus for coming to us with your request."

Jess nodded and the man continued, his tone serious and composed.

"A group of nobles are gathering and plotting something. And from what we gathered, they seem to be targeting someone."

Jess furrowed her brows in thought. A group of nobles targeting someone? It usually meant...

’The Royals...’ Jess figured. ’But why?’

The current ruler was loved by the people and was doing so much to protect its citizens.

For his own nobles to target him, he must have done something that went against their interest.

’This could get messy real quick and I don’t want to find myself in the middle of it.’

"I see." Jess actually said. "I’ll reach your company again when I need something."

She reached into her storage and paid the rest of her fees. The man thanked her and left her room shortly after.