Clyde was quite surprised to see Samuel here. Not that he didn't expect it at all because Samuel must have heard about him going to the Ruins and returning with lots of materials.
However, Samuel's face did not look too happy. His face was stiff and his eyes were cold.
Clyde didn't know if it was because of an incident he had experienced while on the expedition, or because Samuel knew he had gone to the Ruins without his permission.
"I heard you went to the Ruin," said Samuel.
"Yes," Clyde answered without hesitation.
"I don't know what Hammer said to persuade you." He shook his head. "That's very dangerous."
"I did it of my own free will," Clyde replied. "You guys have shitty equipment and you know it. I did you a favor?"
Clyde looked at Samuel's face to see his reaction. The man stared back at him with a look that seemed to say that he didn't like what Clyde was doing.
Before Samuel spoke, Clyde preceded him.
"I'm already strong enough. The Ruins isn't a problem for me. I've also managed to bring back a lot of good materials. You've seen it yourself."
Of course, Samuel had seen what Clyde had brought. He couldn't deny that the materials were really good.
In addition to high-quality iron ores, Clyde also brings bones with good density and a collection of strange crystals that contain a fairly high concentration of Mana.
Samuel didn't know that the person he saved a month ago from that terrible stab wound was now this strong. He entered the Ruin alone and it was obvious that he had killed strong monsters to get the materials.
Clyde's strength increased greatly. He might even be strong enough to go to The All Territory.
'No.' Samuel shook his head to dispel the idea. 'I can't involve him in the expedition just yet.'
Clyde saw Samuel shake his head and immediately knew that Samuel had just pushed his thoughts away. But Clyde didn't know what it was.
"Anyway, I'm going to go see Hammer," Clyde said and then walked past Samuel. To his surprise, Samuel followed him.
Clyde entered Hammer's room after knocking on the door and saw the Dwarf greet him with his usual big smile. But that smile immediately disappeared when he saw Samuel standing behind him.
"Sam! I can explain." Hammer said as if he already knew that he would receive a scolding from Samuel.
But Samuel just sighed. "It's already happened."
That's all Samuel said. Hammer blinked rapidly because he didn't expect it. He was expecting quite a bad scolding but it turned out that Samuel don't seem to mind much about that.
Even though he had strictly told him not to try to send anyone to the Ruin. It was almost like a ban. Yet now, Samuel seemed to be able to accept it.
"How is your work going?" Clyde asked to break his daze.
Hammer looked at Clyde. 'Is it because of him?'
"Hey!"
"O-Oh! Right!" Hammer then ran to the back of the room and opened a big wooden box. Then he raised a sword that still had no hilt attached.
Hammer brought the sword towards Clyde and Samuel. "Look at this!"
Clyde stared at the sword. The blade looked like a normal sword blade. But Clyde could see there was a red mist when the sword was moved. He could also feel Mana flowing through the blade.
If Clyde could feel it. Automatically, Samuel can feel it as well.
"I worked non-stop after you left yesterday. And this is the result. You can rest assured because this sword will not break easily. In fact, maybe this will exceed your expectations," said Hammer.
Clyde took the sword and studied it. "It's pretty good."
"Hehehe." Pride was evident on Hammer's face.
Samuel also looked at the sword that didn't have a hilt. In one glance Samuel already knew that the quality of the sword was indeed far higher than all the weapons that had been here.
It was tempting for Samuel to ask Hammer to make a good spear for him.
"See? I told you it's good to find materials in the Ruins!" Hammer said to Samuel.
"I know. But we can't spare some time or members to look for materials and you know that," Samuel replied.
"Now we have." Hammer pointed at Clyde.
"I think good gears will also make the chance of survival in The All Territory even greater," Clyde said.
Samuel took a deep breath. "You have no idea what conditions we're in right now."
"Are you going to tell me?" Clyde asked while glancing at him. "I'm also going to that place. So I'd better have a bit of information in advance."
Samuel looked at him. There was a strange glint in the man's eyes. "You can't go there," he said.
"Why? You think I'm not strong enough yet?" Clyde replied in a calm tone.
"That place is different from the Selection Stage. What you encounter on the Selection Stage is only a replica of what actually exists in The All Territory."
"It doesn't matter." Clyde already figured out that much. "I will still go there and take revenge. The people who have betrayed me are in that place."
Even though Clyde said this in a calm tone, Samuel could see a deadly glint in his eyes. And at that moment Samuel realized that he couldn't stop Clyde from going there.
Samuel was sure that Clyde wanted to get to The All Territory as soon as possible despite not having been here very long. He had heard the news about his power and had seen for himself how Clyde, not only looked for materials but also slain monsters in the Ruin.
Samuel sighed. "Alright. Whatever."
"I heard one of your party members isn't coming back," said Clyde.
His words made Clyde look at him with a frown. "So?"
"Are you sure she's dead?" Clyde asked. Actually, he didn't really care about the party members that were left behind.
However, he thinks this could be an opportunity for him to join The All Territory by taking advantage of Samuel's feelings who have just been hit by a tragedy. He must still be feeling sad and probably wanted to retrieve the bodies of his party members who were left behind.
And he needs help to do that. But Clyde can't expect much because Samuel - or the other members probably don't want to take the risk. Yet, he wanted to try it.
Samuel pondered for a few moments. Then looked at Clyde. "I'll see you later."
After that Samuel left the room.
Clyde smiled slightly because Samuel didn't immediately reject his suggestion. That means there is still a chance for him.
"Ummm, are you sure?" Hammer asked.
"Of course. I can't be stuck in this place for too long," Clyde replied.
"Really? I actually enjoy living here," said Hammer. "Here I need not fear death."
"Until the time comes when the Celestials discover this place," Clyde said calmly. As if that was something that was certain to happen.
Hammer stopped in place as if his entire body was brought to a sudden stop by some unknown force.
"Fuck," said Hammer.
Clyde stared at him for a few moments before starting to swing the sword in his hand. Clyde held the part of the blade that should have gone into the hilt.
"You really think that this place will be safe forever?" Clyde asked.
"Yeah. That's because I heard this place was created by Celestials too," Hammer replied.
"Really?" Clyde looked surprised.
"Yeah. You know, there is a God known as the God of destruction. He created this place," said Hammer. "But I only heard it from a senior member. I don't know for sure about the truth."
Clyde frowned. A God of Destruction created this place? But what's the reason? Why would a Celestial create a place to live for a Resistance group tasked with fighting the Celestials?
Hammer saw the look on Clyde's face that looked full of astonishment. Before he opened his mouth to ask, Hammer said:
"If you have any questions. You should know that I don't have an answer to that. Like I said just now, I've only heard about it from a senior member."
"Who's that?" Clyde asked.
"His name is Eorgen. One of the oldest members in this fortress. But now he is away."
Clyde jotted down his name in memory. There are still so many mysteries that he doesn't know and Clyde must find out soon if he doesn't want to lose some important information.
'If it's true that this fortress was created by a Celestial, isn't there a possibility that he also hates other Celestials?' Clyde thought.
Clyde then handed the sword back to Hammer. "You can go on with your work. It's pretty good."
Hammer smiled again. "Yeah, I know." He received the sword back from Clyde.
Clyde left the smithy after seeing the satisfactory progress of Hammer and his crew's work. He returned to his quarters to wait for Samuel to meet him.
~~~
