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Chapter 12: Preparing for the Worst

"Did you see that? It just jumped from F to A rank!"

"Whoever went in there is doomed! They wouldn't stand a chance."

"They were probably all F or E ranks."

"An A-rank dungeon is way out of their league. It's a death trap now."

In the growing chaos, someone shouted urgently, "Get a Union official here! We need an explaination!"

Minutes passed, and the atmosphere grew tense. The crowd watched anxiously, their eyes darting between the portal and the distant horizon, raid teams that were about to raid before couldn't help but pause, hoping for an explaination from a Union official so they wouldn't meet the same fate. Finally, two figures approached, pushing through the crowd.

The first was a tall man with a stern expression, his black hair neatly combed and his Union insignia prominently displayed on his suite. He had a sword sheathed attached to a belt by his side. He gave of the aura of someone used to taking charge in crisis situations. His name was Viktor Anders, a high-ranking Union officer known for his decisiveness and calm under pressure.

Beside him walked a woman whose demeanor was very different when compared to his. She gave off this playful confidence, her ample curves were perfectly complimented by her form-fitting attire.

Her bright green eyes seemed to sparkle with a mischievous glint in them, and a teasing smile could be seen on her lips, though one could tell a sharp mind lay beneath her playful exterior. This was Celia Marlowe, another Union official, known for her quick wit and unconventional approach to problem-solving.

As they reached the front of the crowd, Viktor looked around the scene with a calm but serious expression, his gaze shifting sharply from person to person. "What's the situation?"

A member of the crowd stepped forward, wiping sweat from their brow, and pointed frantically towards the portal. "The dungeon's rank just spiked from F to A. There are people inside—probably low-rank raiders."

Viktor's eyes narrowed, as he focused on the red portal. He took a step closer, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "This isn't good,"

"How could a dungeon's rank spike up all the way like that? This contradicts all the data we were sent. Those inside... won't survive."

Celia, standing next to Viktor, let out a low whistle. Her eyes widened, and she raised an eyebrow as she slowly understood the wight of the situation. "Well, this is unfortunate," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice as she folded her arms across her chest.

"We were just about to deliver the new orders from headquarters over the channel." She glanced at Viktor, then at the crowd, tapping her fingers lightly against her elbow. "Seems like we missed the mark by just a hair."

The crowd turned to her, a murmur of anxiety practically filled the air. She cleared her throat and took a step forward, then began by saying. "From now on, all dungeon raids must be conducted by teams at least two ranks above the dungeon's rank. This is to prevent exactly this kind of scenario—where a dungeon's rank suddenly spikes, leaving underprepared raiders trapped in a nightmare."

A voice from the crowd broke through the silence. "What's the point of telling us that now?" someone snapped, throwing their hands in the air in frustration. "Those people are already in there, and they were probably counting on it being just an F-rank dungeon! The Union should have told us about this eariler."

Viktor stepped forward, his expression still composed. He raised up a hand to calm the rising agitation. "There's nothing we can do for them now," he said firmly. "We can't intervene until the dungeon is cleared or they're all dead."

The crowd fell silent as Viktor's words sunk in. The reality of the situation was grim. The raiders inside were on their own, facing dangers far beyond their capabilities.

Celia placed a hand on her hip and looked around the anxious faces her. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, her voice cutting through the mummers. "Listen up," she said, her tone more serious now. "Our job is to monitor and manage these situations. We can't change what's happened, but we can ensure it doesn't happen again. An announcement would be made over the Union channel shortly."

Celia, Then turned to face Viktor, "So, what's the plan, Viktor?" she asked, leaning slightly toward him.

Viktor, who had been staring intently at the portal, turned his gaze to meet Celia's. "Given the situation, once the people inside die... And the rift opens again, we'll have to step in and clear it ourselves,"

"We can't afford to let this A-rank dungeon pose a threat to the city."

Once a dungeon failed to be cleared, there was a very high chance for it to break because the earlier team would have already expended the time limit. This meant the monsters inside could pass through the rift and enter their world. Given that the portal was within the city, this was not a welcome thought.

Celia nodded, her expression thoughtful. "And what about the Berserker Guild? Aren't they usually the first to handle these high-risk situations?"

Viktor sighed, a look of frustration crossing his face. "Normally, yes. But they've been issued another mission out in the wastelands. Most of their top-ranking members are engaged there, dealing with a surge of high-tier monsters. That leaves the city with only a handful of their lower-ranking members, who frankly lack the experience and strength to handle an A-rank dungeon."

A high-tier talent didn't make someone a combat genius or a battle warlord; it simply meant they had a lot of power. However, power without the proper skill to wield it was often pointless. It's not that the low-ranking members were unskilled; they simply lacked the experience in fighting monsters that their seniors had.

They were primarily trained to fight humans and had sparring sessions with other humans. It's very obvious that monsters and humans fought differently; therefore, it was always best to let them try their hands at low-ranking dungeons while being supervised.

Celia's brows furrowed as she listened to what Viktor said, her fingers drumming lightly against her arm. "So, it's just us then? We'll have to handle the cleanup once this rift resolves?"

Viktor nodded grimly. "Yup, it shouldn't take too long if we put in a bit more effort than we usually do."

Celia let out a slow sigh, then straightened up, her playful expression returning just a bit as she gave Viktor a confident smile. "Well, at least it won't be boring. So, now we play the waiting game."