"What? Are you crazy?!"Amel's outburst echoed in the small inn room, her eyes wide with shock.John shifted awkwardly, realizing his idea of taking on noble quests had stirred up more concern than he'd anticipated.He'd just returned from the guild, his mind buzzing with thoughts of noble quests and the rewards they could bring. But as soon as he mentioned his intentions, Amel's response had been... intense. Well, all of them actually.Irene, Marik, and Amel exchanged glances before Irene cleared her throat, trying to settle the tension."Look, John," she began gently, "noble quests aren't like the others quests you saw in the guild. They're not just a higher level, they're dangerous in a different way. Nobles... sometimes they just put up these quests to see adventurers struggle. They enjoy watching people get in over their heads or even dying. It's almost like a sport to them."John frowned, genuinely surprised by the revelation. The idea that some nobles might treat life-or-death missions as mere amusement left a bitter taste in his mouth.He'd known nobles could be difficult, but this added a layer of complexity he hadn't considered.Marik chimed in, his tone weary."You'd be dealing with more than just beasts or bandits on these jobs. Some nobles like to pile on obstacles, things that aren't even in the quest details. Then they'll mock you for struggling or punish you if you don't succeed to their liking." He shook his head, looking at John with genuine concern. "Trust me, I've seen seasoned adventurers barely escape these kinds of quests. Those damned jerks think that we are just lesser creatures."Amel folded her arms, a fierce frown on her face."I've heard horror stories, too. Some nobles sent adventurers into hopeless situations just for the thrill of it. They don't care if you're talented or if you have strong Beasts. All they want is a show. You'll be nothing more than entertainment to them."John took in their words, a thoughtful expression on his face. He knew they meant well, trying to protect him from potential harm. But the allure of earning enough to train with Regina and become stronger still lingered in his mind."I get what you're saying," he replied after a moment. "But I have to get stronger. And if these quests are the only way to earn enough coin quickly, then maybe I can handle the risks."The group fell silent, each of them struggling to accept John's resolve. Finally, Irene sighed, her expression softening."If you're set on this, at least let us help you prepare. Know what you're getting into and have a plan."Marik nodded firmly. "Agreed. We may not be able to talk you out of it, but we can make sure you're not walking into this blindly."John's brow furrowed in thought. After a long pause, he looked up at his friends, his tone uncertain but hopeful."Well... what if you all just joined me for these noble quests? With you guys by my side, maybe it wouldn't be so bad.""Haha." Amel let out a dry laugh. "Not a chance. We don't want anything to do with those nobles," she said. "Minimal exposure to them is best, less risk of getting caught up in their twisted games."John sat back, silently digesting their words. If his friends hate nobles this strongly, maybe there was more to their warnings than he'd first thought.His gaze drifted as he recalled Gervas and his group of noble adventurers, their smug expressions and disdainful glances. They acted as if they were leagues above everyone else, and John wondered if he really wanted to be around people like that.His resolve wavered, and after another moment, he gave a slow nod."You know what? Maybe you're right. And... If I'm already managing C+ quests, maybe I don't need the noble jobs after all. They're risky and I'd rather avoid all the drama that comes with them." He looked at his friends, a spark of excitement lighting up his face. "Instead, why don't we keep taking guild quests together? Or... explore that Dungeon we found last time?"Irene, Marik, and Amel exchanged glances, a small smile appearing on Irene's face."That sounds like a much better plan," she said. "Besides, the guild has plenty of challenging quests, and the dungeon still has layers we haven't even touched. And you, turns out, are stronger than I thought."Marik clapped a hand on John's shoulder with a grin. He seems to have a habit of clapping someone on the shoulder."Good call, my friend. Let's stick with what we know and build up our skills together. There's no need to go running to nobles for coin."Amel nodded in agreement "I agree with that."John's earlier doubts faded as their enthusiasm filled the room.---After some quick bargaining in the bustling market, they managed to sell the meat from the rat beasts they'd hunted on their last dungeon trip with nice price. Irene did the most bargaining.John counted out the payment and realized he'd earned about 20 bronze coins, which was decent, but not exactly a fortune.As they browsed the stalls, he overheard a merchant explaining currency conversions to a customer: one gold coin was worth 100 silver, and one silver was worth 100 bronze.John blinked in surprise, realizing how wide the gap between the denominations was. With his current stash, he did a quick calculation: he had 5 gold coins, which equaled 500 silver, or 50,000 bronze coins, a staggering number when converted down."Still a long way to go if I want to save up for training. That Regina woman must have some heaven- defying technique that she charge for that much!" John thought to himself.With his funds in mind, John stocked up on a few essentials that his friends said he will need. Five healing potions and enough rations to last a few days. Once everyone was prepared, they left the market.As they reached the familiar entrance to the Dungeon, the atmosphere shifted. The shadows seemed thicker and the air held a chilling, damp scent.Entering cautiously, they fought off the smaller rat beasts that scurried toward them in the tunnel, then moved deeper in. After some time, they reached the massive metal door, its surface etched with intricate snake patterns that seemed to writhe in the dim light."Ready?" Irene asked, glancing back at her companions.They all nodded, and with a deep breath, John and Irene pushed open the door.---