They might have been desperate for resources, but they weren't dumb enough to walk into a trap. "Fine. Let's move," Thor finally said. The moment the words left his mouth, Aiden felt a spark of excitement burn through his calm mask. The Dwarves. A race that could forge artifacts. Living treasure troves. Wherever they went, entire kingdoms would claw for their loyalty. And they knew where the Lost Temple was. No matter how he looked at it, he couldn't let them slip away. "Lead the way," Aiden said, steadying his breath as he turned toward the guard captain. "Yes, sir!" The captain saluted sharply, admiration flickering in his eyes.Only Nighthale could manage something like this—escorting an entire Dwarven clan into a human city. A line of knights rode ahead, their armor gleaming as they cleared the path. Behind them, hundreds of Dwarves marched toward Leafport in one massive wave. "Holy crap! He's not fighting them—he's bringing them in?" "This is insane. Is this what a real top-tier player looks like?" "I can't even wrap my head around it. But hey, maybe now we'll get a shot at having the Dwarves forge our gear." "You're not wrong. That could actually happen." The crowd gawked, phones up, recording every second as the impossible played out before them. By the time the clips hit the internet, the news spread like wildfire. Players everywhere were already packing up and heading straight for Leafport. Everyone knew what Dwarves represented. Even NPCs would sell their souls for access to them.It wasn't hard to predict what would come next. Once the word spread, Leafport's property prices would explode overnight. And when that happened, Aiden's investments would turn to gold. … Three hours later... Leafport, Westhand District. Inside a lavish banquet hall... Sienna had been ready from the moment Aiden called. She'd planned for everything, every possible scenario. When he arrived, long tables were already stacked with steaming platters of roasted meat, bread, and rice. Aiden walked in with the Dwarves trailing behind him, and the entire hall erupted. They didn't just eat—they attacked the food like an army starved for decades. Thor collapsed into his chair, cheeks flushed, smiling like he'd just found heaven. Thurinn went completely feral. He climbed onto the table, shoveling food into his mouth as if he hadn't eaten in a century. The Dwarves didn't care about etiquette. Eating was their religion. Table manners meant nothing. Forks and knives were optional. Thurinn spun in circles on the table, sweeping up entire dishes with his hands. He buried his face into bowls of rice and chewed straight through a wooden spoon before grabbing the next platter. Bite. Gulp. Repeat. "Mr. Nighthale," Thor managed to say through a groan, his tone caught between awe and panic. "With all this food… are you sure one million marks can cover it?" He glanced around at his kin, who were roaring, laughing, and play-fighting with chunks of meat. The place was a battlefield of gluttony. It was like a dream. Before Aiden could respond, one of the silver-armored guards stepped forward and announced loudly, "No need to worry! Tonight's feast is entirely on Mr. Nighthale!" "Wait, what?" Thor froze, looking guilty. "You gave us marks, you brought us here, and now you're feeding us like kings. This is too much. All we did was appraise an artifact." Aiden waved it off with a cool smile. "Don't think about it." The Dwarves might have eaten enough to bankrupt a small nation, but for him, it was nothing. Compared to what he'd just gained, their loyalty was priceless. Aiden leaned forward, his voice low and steady. "Then tell me, where's the Lost Temple?" "Of course!" Thor slapped his chest, his face lighting up. "You're family now, Mr. Nighthale. Between friends, there's no need for secrets. But…" He glanced around the banquet hall, his gaze wary. Aiden caught on instantly. "I see." He waved a hand, and the guards stepped out one by one, closing the doors behind them. The room fell into silence. "Now we can talk," Aiden said.Thor nodded, then reached into his coat and pulled out a small bronze compass. He handed it to Aiden carefully, almost reverently. "This is the temple detector. It's been passed down through generations. Whenever you get close to the Temple of Hephaestus, it reacts. "The closer you are, the stronger it gets," he explained. "With this, you'll have no trouble finding the place." He hesitated, his voice suddenly grave. "But Nighthale, as a friend, I have to say this. Don't go there." Aiden arched an eyebrow. "And why not?" Thor's expression darkened. "Because there's something inside that temple. Something beyond terrifying." … Aiden's eyes narrowed slightly. He had known anything tied to the threshold of divinity wouldn't come without risk. "What kind of creature are we talking about?" he asked. Thor shook his head. "I don't know. The records never said. But they were clear about one thing. Until we receive the blessing of the old divine, we are forbidden to return to the Temple of Hephaestus."