"Those two were the only important ones. There are a lot of teams with only two infiltrators in those positions, and they have cleared many difficult dungeons too. But I would suggest you all form a perfect seven-member team. It's the unbeatable combination that we have come up with after observing and experimenting with everything at our disposal. Every role has a critical purpose, and together, they make the best possible synergy for dungeons."
I still need three more members to complete the team...
The lecture hall was wide, with about three hundred seats arranged in neat rows that gave a clear view of the stage. Xerxes glanced around at the other infiltrators seated throughout the hall, his eyes scanning the faces of those present. Despite his best efforts, there was no way to tell which position each person held without asking them directly, which was awkward in such a formal setting.
"The next positions aren't in any particular order of importance; I'll just go over them at random. Challengers are usually the fighters of the team. Most of them are aggressive, cold, and egoistic, but they also end up getting the best damage-dealing skills. The monsters and creatures in dungeons can't be killed easily, so a strong fighter is absolutely essential to obliterate them. Also, do not forget this crucial point: the people you encounter in the dungeon might look like real humans, but they are created by the dungeon as characters. They cannot, under any circumstances, be compared to real people. Many infiltrators hesitate to kill them because of their lifelike appearance. This hesitation is the single most common reason why new infiltrators end up dying in the dungeons. So I would strongly suggest you give up right now if you cannot protect yourself and harm them before they harm you."
Raia's stern expression grew even harsher as she scanned the room. Her piercing gaze made it feel as if she could see right through every person sitting there. The tension in the air was palpable, and no one dared to whisper or shift in their seats.
"That brings us to our next position: Protector. If you have the will to protect yourself but lack the physical strength or resilience to do so, make sure your team includes a protector. Protectors are incredibly self-sacrificing individuals who will go to great lengths to shield others from harm. You can rely on them to defend the weaker members of your team. For example, most Analyzers are nerds with absolutely zero defensive or offensive skills, so they rely heavily on Protectors. This is also why I suggested earlier the importance of forming a complete team—every role is complementary and supports the others in some way."
She paused briefly, pointing to the next position on the screen with her nightstick. The image of an infiltrator appeared—a young man with striking features. His photo, taken from a high-end magazine photoshoot, exuded confidence. His shiny blonde hair sparkled under the lights, practically blinding the audience. Among the rough gems of the infiltrators, this one shone like a pure, polished crystal. It was none other than Nova Harrington.
Everyone had been eyeing Nova since he entered the hall, but those stares were even more intensified now. Xerxes hated the attention, but Nova basked in his glory.
"They are really keeping up with the trends," said Nova.
Of course, Nova had wasted no time announcing his achievement. He had tweeted immediately upon receiving his results, proudly proclaiming himself as an escapologist. The internet exploded with the news, and it had even been covered by various TV channels. It was impossible for anyone in the room not to know who Nova was.
"Nova, do you want to sit next to me? I have a lot more room here," a girl on a lower bench asked, eagerly removing her handbag from her side to make space for him.
"Thank you, but I am very comfortable sitting with my team members," Nova replied smoothly, flashing one of his signature fan-made smiles. The girl turned away with a red face, unable to say anything more.
Ugh...
Nova's mention of his team members only attracted more unwanted attention to them. While most of his teammates remained unfazed by the spotlight, Xerxes felt like crawling out of his seat. His discomfort was written all over his face. He stared at Raia, desperately trying to focus all his attention on her explanations, hoping to block out the unwanted stares and whispers.
"Escapologists are tricky people; even I never fully understand them. However, they are undoubtedly excellent at staying alive. They thrive in dungeons like cockroaches—unkillable, annoying, immune-to-everything jerks. Oops, that might have been a bit personal. Anyway, they're far from useless. Escapologists also help others escape from dangerous situations. They possess an uncanny intuition, which allows them to sense threats long before anyone else notices them. This makes them incredibly valuable. However, I strongly recommend conducting a thorough and serious interview before making an escapologist a member of your team."
Right... noted...
"And the next one, yes—the Peacekeeper. This is a must-have role if you want your team to avoid tearing itself apart. I've actually witnessed many team kills in my career as an infiltrator. Dungeons are the most dangerous places on Earth, and humans are the most dangerous species on Earth. Never forget that. There are no laws in dungeons, and we can't see everything that happens in there either. You're completely on your own. Unless, of course, you have a Peacekeeper in your team and a strong sense of teamwork. But do not underestimate them—they are powerful enough to blow up anyone who dares to disrupt the team dynamic. That's how they keep the peace. I highly suggest you recruit one as soon as possible."
"Lastly, we have resource investigators, who are assigned the most time-consuming tasks, like reporting everything to HR. They get thrown into things like teaching baby infiltrators how to walk and talk when they've just returned from a dungeon and haven't eaten or slept for days."
At that moment, the nightstick in Raia's hands snapped with a loud crack, startling everyone. The broken pieces fell to her heels. Without missing a beat, Raia kicked them to the side, pretending as if nothing had happened.
"Let's move on to the dungeons now, shall we? Any questions before we proceed?" She asked, forcing a smile that only made her appear more intimidating.
Xerxes was so immersed in paying attention to the information that he hadn't picked up on any hints. He had always been a good student in school and got good grades because of his excellent focus. Densely, he raised his hand and asked a question like a good boy paying attention in class.
"What kind of skills do leaders usually get? Are they on the defensive side or the offensive side?" he asked.
Raia tilted her head, her gaze softening slightly as she replied. "They are always a mix of both. It's a 50/50 chance," she said, her tone unexpectedly calm.