Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Preparing for the Dungeon Competition
Kaito had begun preparations for the upcoming dungeon competition. As part of the process, he instructed the guild master to check each adventurer's party before allowing them to participate. Meanwhile, he oversaw the construction of the arena and audience hall, which would display the competition happening inside the dungeon in real-time. His goal was to make the event a major attraction, drawing merchants and adventurers to NeoNexus, thereby promoting its development.
While Kaito was inspecting the construction progress, he received a message from Renji. Renji was asking about the shop's location, something he had inquired about earlier. Kaito promptly sent him the location and instructed him to escort any guests from other nations to their designated rooms. After handling that, Kaito decided to visit his fiancées and check if they needed anything for the competition.
Upon arriving, Althea immediately voiced her concern. "Why are there so many food stalls on the streets?" she asked, looking puzzled.
Kaito smiled and explained, "I taught the civilians various recipes and asked the chefs to set up stalls. There are many different food items and goods available for visitors. Even Renji is opening a shop."
Lilia raised an eyebrow and asked skeptically, "Can he handle it? From our first meeting, he didn't seem like someone who enjoys conversations."
Kaito chuckled and reassured her, "Don't worry about him. He can handle himself just fine."
Althea then asked, "Is anyone from your family coming?"
Kaito sighed and replied, "I don't know. They're busy. If they have time, they might come."
With that, he decided to check on Renji's progress with his shop. Upon arriving, Kaito was amazed to see that Renji had already created numerous glass accessories, including necklaces, bracelets, and decorative ornaments. In addition to that, there were pastries, cakes, donuts, and even ice creams displayed in the shop. It was an impressive sight, especially considering the short amount of time Renji had spent setting up.
However, Kaito noticed something odd—Pixie was nowhere to be seen. Curious, he asked Renji about her whereabouts. Without saying a word, Renji simply handed Kaito a message. The note explained that the Renji standing before him was actually a clone.
Kaito was stunned. The clone looked exactly like Renji, with no visible differences. He couldn't believe it was just a duplicate.
Before he could ask more questions, Nova with an important update. "The envoys and royal families from other nations have started their journey to NeoNexus," He reported.
Kaito nodded, understanding that this was a crucial moment. However, what surprised him more was Nova's next statement. "Renji has accepted a quest to accompany one of the nations."
Kaito's eyes widened in shock. "Accompanying quests are red-rank and above! Renji just registered as an adventurer a few hours ago!"
Realizing he needed answers, Kaito hurried to the Adventurer's Guild. There, he learned that Renji had hunted down numerous monsters while completing his beginner quests. Due to his remarkable performance, the guild had promoted him to red rank far sooner than expected.
Kaito pondered for a moment. He knew that the gods had placed seals on Renji's abilities, but despite that, Renji was advancing at an incredible pace. However, Kaito quickly dismissed those thoughts and refocused on his responsibilities. He had many tasks ahead of him, and with the dungeon competition nearing, there was no time to dwell on uncertainties.
With the competition preparations in full swing, the arrival of foreign dignitaries, and Renji's unexpected rise in rank, Kaito knew that NeoNexus was on the verge of something monumental. The days ahead would be filled with challenges and surprises, but he was determined to see everything through to success.