After leaving the team, the adventurer ladies regretted it deeply

The front page of the newspaper featured a group photo of four adventurers.

Usually, this spot was reserved for articles about rock-level adventure teams, which floors they had conquered, and what kind of equipment they had looted...

Or about some teams who had reached level 20, but fell short in layer count, just a step away from promotion to the rock level.

However, the group photo this time featured four unfamiliar faces. The one in the middle named Lin Da was relatively more known, while the adventurers named Monica, Kafni, and Lulu had never been heard of before.

With curiosity piqued, the adventurers eagerly read on.

Seeing the White Dove reporter's unreserved praise for Phoenix Tail Flower Adventure Team's strategy guide, everyone's expressions gradually changed.

Hidden Magical Creatures, Orange Equipment, strategies detailed to the extreme...

Each was enough to make that Lin Da a sought-after top-tier adventurer.

But in the interview with the reporter, Lin Da expressed his intention to create more strategies for everyone with a firm, steady, serious, honest, and reflective attitude.

This show of humility conjured up an image in everyone's mind of a towering figure for the greater adventurer community, carrying the weight of responsibility, earning their utmost admiration.

Lin Da's story spread like wildfire throughout White Dove City.

"Hey, have you heard about Phoenix Tail Flower's Lin Da..."

"I know, the Eye of True Knowledge. The tenth person to receive the Glorious Adventurer Badge personally awarded by the mayor!"

"Tsk tsk, the last one to get the badge was the captain of the White Dove Adventure Group, Mind's Eye Abner, right?"

"I've heard that besides the badge, the city hall has rewarded Phoenix Tail Flower with a grand villa in the Goldfinch District."

"Goldfinch District? Those villas must be worth a million Gold Coins each."

In the market, on Secret Realm Square, inside taverns, adventurers were discussing the matters of the Phoenix Tail Flower Adventure Team with relish.

Some were full of admiration, others green with envy.

But one thing they all agreed on was that when it came to Phoenix Tail Flower's old adventure team, Snow Goose, everyone had the same opinion: Now, Lia truly became the 'Clown Captain'.

If Lin Da had not left the team, Snow Goose would have been the next most likely to become an Iron-level Adventure Team.

In front of a bakery, an adventurer suddenly remembered: "Right, today there seems to be a live strategy guide from the Ice Flower Adventure Team. I remember Lin Da mentioned he would be giving remote instructions, right?"

Simultaneously.

At the headquarters of the Ice Flower Adventure Team, outside the main gate, a silver-haired lady Swordsman stood imposingly, giving a speech to her team members.

"Our motto is—"

Isa cast a stern gaze over the seven team members before her.

The Armor shone brightly, the Magic robes emitted a faint glow, and even the weakest member was level 23.

"Help each other and progress together!"

"Work hand in hand to defeat Magical Creatures!"

Their voices rose in unison, revealing an unstoppable momentum.

"Very good," Isa nodded seriously, cleared her throat, and said, "Next, I would like to introduce someone familiar. He will be assisting Ice Flower with off-site support as they navigate the 13th floor. Everyone, be sure to follow his orders!"

With that, Isa took a step back, allowing Lin Da to step forward.

Lin Da wore a practical adventurer's outfit, with white trousers and a brown jacket full of pockets.

He was tall and straight, a Mage by definition, but with a build akin to that of a warrior, standing there like a stable mountain peak.

Just by looking at Lin Da, the members of Ice Flower had an inkling: This strategy guide was going to be rock-solid!

"I only have one thing to say. Pay attention to safety in the Mystic Realm and follow instructions. Everyone must return safely," Lin Da said earnestly.

"Yes!"

A chorus of uniform affirmations rose.

...

Lia was awakened by a cacophony of noise coming from outside.

Her villa was not far from Ice Flower's, and their shouting had roused her from her slumber.

Lia sat up from her white princess bed, her red hair slightly frizzled, sticking up here and there in disarray, her expression somewhat dazed.

She had dreamed of another 'Snow Goose Adventure Team,' where everyone was harmonious and friendly, and a certain someone was still with them.

"True strength always stands alone," Lia silently murmured to herself, recalling the phrase her idol had once said. She clenched her fist, looking resolutely at the wall in front of her, where a newspaper clipping of the Primitive Adventure Team, with their captain Dai Lian at the forefront, was displayed.

The power of Primitive was like a beacon to Lia.

Dai Lian * Zhao Wo showed her through their actions that the strength of a captain was the most crucial element in building a top-tier adventure team; as long as the captain was strong, they would inevitably attract more talented members.

All her failures, the reason she was referred to as the 'Clown Captain,' was only one: not strong enough!

Lia took a deep breath, her gaze sharp as she entered the washroom. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she whispered to herself, "Lia, you don't need companions. You yourself are the most formidable!"

The cold treatment she received from Lin Da the previous day made the young girl keenly aware that without strength, one didn't even have the right to make their voice heard in a crowd.

A bunch of rock-level adventurers had sided with Lin Da, treating her coldly, but she had no power to respond.

In the end, power was everything.

With power... she could even make Lin Da apologize to her by pressing his head down.

Lia grabbed the Greatsword 'Flame Devourer' leaning against the wall, taking her beautiful red hair in her left hand. With an easy swing of the sword—*snip*!

The long hair she had kept for years was sliced off.

With no expression, Lia took the cut lock of fiery hair and tossed it into the trash can.

Discarded there were her timidity and her past.

Lia took out an elastic band and tied her short hair into a ponytail.

In the mirror, she looked much fresher, and her always furrowed brow also smoothed out.

Move forward,

To a place they couldn't reach!

After washing up, Lia simply ate some bread, drank a nutritional beverage, and threw her favorite strawberry cake from the fridge into the trash can—she had no need for such useless sweets anymore.

She also cleared away the Magic Puppet game console on the sofa and many unfinished comic books, packing up several bags of useless items.

Then Lia began frantically watching level 12 strategy videos, gripping her greatsword and imagining Magical Creatures before her, she embarked on an intense sweating training regimen.

"The Ice Flower Adventure Team's level 13 strategy live broadcast is about to start, aren't you coming?"

Aiko pushed open the door and walked in.

The sight that greeted her was startling—what was with all these huge trash bags? They seemed to be filled with Lia's favorite things!

"I won't go. Record it for me, I'll watch it later."

Lia turned her back to her, the Flame Devourer in her hand glowed red-hot under the surging infusion of Fire Fighting Qi.

"You, your hair... Are you crazy?"

Aiko's face wore an expression of disbelief. Lia, that vain little dwarf, cherished her red hair so much—who had cut it off... could it have been Dawen sneaking around?

"I cut it myself," said Lia, pausing her movements and speaking indifferently: "It's more comfortable this way."

Aiko was even more shocked. The sudden change in Lia felt as unreal as if the sun had risen from the west—what sort of blow had driven Lia to the decision to cut her hair?

Speaking of which, when Lia returned from Lin Da the other night, she wasn't obstinate and actually thanked her, which she found quite incredible at the time.

Had Lia broken down that day?

A damaged powder keg would not explode but instead fall silent?

Aiko found it hard to calm her feelings for a long time.

She looked at Lia's small ponytail with complex eyes and said, "Lin Da likes long hair, right? Did you grow it out for him? You..."

"Lin Da? What does he have to do with it? I just thought it was bothersome and cut it off," Lia glanced at her and said: "You should also focus on your training. Don't get lost in cooking and fall behind in your spell proficiency."

"Oru is almost recovered from his injuries, and the materials for the level 12 strategy are also ready. Phyllis said that the strategy can be handed over to us the day after tomorrow at the latest. This time, Snow Goose cannot afford any mistakes."

"How do you know Oru is healed?"

Aiko felt even weirder. Who was this composed powder keg, unrecognizable?

A fool would speak foolish words, jump around in a fit of rage, and say 'You haven't passed level 12 because you're not trying hard enough'!

Lia took a bottled water from the table, drank it, wiped the sweat with a towel, and said somewhat strangely, "Of course I went to visit him, didn't I?"

"Oru and Phyllis?"

"Hmm."

"Are you sick?"

"What are you talking about! Even I would visit my teammates!" Lia said, clearly annoyed.

Bless me,

Aiko couldn't help but exclaim it.

It seemed that Lin Da's departure had indeed struck the red-haired dwarf hard—so much so that she had completely changed.

Lia then said, "Right, tell everyone that the person who performs the worst in the level 12 Mystic Realm will get no reward."

"What?" Aiko was taken aback, "No reward, what do you mean?"

"The reward of the useless person will be given to other members who perform well," Lia mentioned it as if it were a trivial matter.

Aiko frowned, "That's not very fair, is it?"

"What do you know, this is called a wolfish competition."

Lia huffed and said, "If you don't want your 'food' stolen, then become stronger and instill fear in the others!"

"What if the person who performs the worst is you?"

"How could it be me."

"But what if?"

"Then... I'll step down as team leader," Lia pondered for a moment and said slowly.

"That's not necessary," Aiko's eyebrows rose in surprise.

The person who loved the adventure team the most was Lia. Asking her to give up the position of team leader was like asking for her life, wasn't it?

Just how much pressure was this little dwarf willing to put on herself?

In the past,

Aiko was a top student,

Then she figured it out, gave up, and came to White Dove City to live a happy life.

Now looking at Lia's determined expression, she really wanted to say: ahead lies hell!

After thinking about it, ever since Lin Da left, Lia indeed faced a lot of pressure, even though the pressure was deservedly self-inflicted.

But this person seemed not to think she had done anything wrong, which meant that in Lia's eyes... she truly believed, from the bottom of her heart, that she had done right by Lin Da!