“What an interesting question,” the announcer said, his tone both amused and intrigued. He glanced toward the panel, then pointed directly at the man who had been unusually quiet during the last exchange. “T.C., care to weigh in on this one?”

  T.C. leaned forward, folding his hands neatly in front of him as the lights cast a soft glow across his face.

  “The Steelheart family isn’t just a noble house—they’re an institution, a guild with deep roots and a name that carries weight. and Leon didn’t just bruise their pride—he stepped on it, and walked away holding something they considered overly valuable. That kind of humiliation doesn’t get swept under the rug.”

  He sat back, voice steady. “Now, while the contract protects him for thirty days, it’s not a shield—it’s a timer. And once it runs out? Yes, I believe they’ll move. The real question is how Leon plans to stay ahead once the target’s back on him. In a way, when those thirty days are over, it won’t just be danger he’s facing—it’ll be isolation. No safe place to land, no easy trust from potential allies.”

  The announcer, clearly intrigued, leaned in just a bit closer, his voice dropping to a more serious tone.

  “Then let me push that thought a little further, T.C. If you believe the Steelhearts are going to make a move the moment that clause expires… what do you think Leon should do? Should he run? Hide? Face them directly?”

  T.C. exhaled through his nose, slowly shaking his head. “Facing them head-on? That’s suicide. Let’s be realistic—this isn’t just a noble house. The Steelhearts are a guild, and not a minor one. Leon, for all his progress, is still just one man in the lower level. He wouldn’t stand a chance in a straight conflict. Against a guild full of high leveled individuals.”

  He paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully.

  “Hiding might seem like the obvious play, but he can’t just hole up in his rundown home or vanish into the forest and expect to be safe. The Steelhearts most likely have eyes everywhere. There’s nowhere on the surface he can disappear to for long.”

  The lights dimmed slightly behind the panel as the broadcast camera zoomed in, framing T.C.’s serious expression.

  “No,” he said firmly. “His best option? Stay inside the dungeon. Even if it fully closes and traps him for another month—until the next gate opens. That’s where the Steelhearts can’t reach him so easily. The deeper he goes, the more dangerous it gets… but those dangers are also opportunities. They’ll force him to grow. And if they do send an assassin—or the entire guild—he’ll need every bit of that strength to stand a chance.”

  He looked toward the host and his fellow guests. “If I were Leon, I’d treat that dungeon like a fortress—and I wouldn’t come out until I was strong enough to make them fear me.”

  Codex leaned forward, seizing the opening in T.C.’s logic like a hawk spotting a crack in a shield.

  “Alright, let’s say Leon does stay in the dungeon,” Codex said. “Then riddle me this—how exactly is he supposed to survive long-term over there? Dungeons aren’t self-sustaining havens. They’re deathtraps. How does he upgrade his gear? How does he replenish potions or rations when they run dry?”

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  The studio lights flickered slightly as the tension in the room shifted back to debate.

  “He’s not invincible,” Codex continued, tone pressing. “Eventually he’s going to take a wound too deep or run out of food. You can’t just scavenge your way through a dungeon forever. Even if he’s smart, even if his slimes can help him scrape by for a while, it’s not sustainable. What happens when he runs into a boss that doesn’t give him time to recover? When he needs a cleric or a blacksmith and there’s no one around?”

  Codex looked toward T.C., firm in his stance now. “The idea of hiding in the dungeon sounds strategic, sure. But it’s a temporary fix—not a long-term solution. Eventually, he has to come back. And when he does, the Steelhearts will be waiting.”

  Rex leaned forward, cutting in smoothly before the back-and-forth could escalate further. His tone was calm but carried a confident edge.

  “That would’ve been the case—a few hours ago,” he said, flashing a knowing smirk. “But it’s not anymore.”

  Both Codex and T.C. turned toward him, expressions mixed with curiosity and caution. Rex let the silence stretch for just a heartbeat before continuing.

  “That’s because of Leon’s newly acquired ability,” he said. “During his time on the fourth floor, I kept wondering—why would he tell Lila he planned to stay there until he got an Awakened Crystallized Heart? What kind of ability would those Eyebats give him that made him so sure he could remain in that place for an extended period?”

  He leaned back slightly, letting the dramatic pause settle in.

  “And then I saw it. The moment I read the name of the skill and its description, I knew exactly what he was planning.”

  T.C., who had been watching with growing realization, suddenly sat up straighter, eyes wide. “Shared Vision of Blinking,” he said, almost under his breath.

  Rex smiled and nodded. “Exactly.”

  He turned to the others, folding his arms. “Shared Vision of Blinking. A spatial link skill that lets Leon see through the eyes of his slime—and teleport to its location. So if he keeps one slime outside the dungeon and another inside…”

  T.C picked up where he left off, voice steady. “He’s got a two-way door. A way in—and out.”

  Just as the debate reached a fever pitch, the announcer abruptly raised his hand, signaling for silence. His earpiece lit up, and he turned sharply toward the production crew behind the cameras, eyebrows lifting as he processed the rapid stream of information being relayed to him.

  “Ah—hold on,” he said, cutting through the heated exchange with a sudden, infectious urgency. His voice rose slightly, the practiced tone of a showman shifting into something far more immediate. “Sorry, gentlemen, but I’m going to have to interrupt this very compelling exchange.”

  The guests all turned toward him, startled. Even Rex’s smirk faltered slightly.

  “We’ve just received breaking news,” the announcer continued, nearly standing from his seat now. “And it ties directly into what you’ve all been discussing. The timing couldn’t be more perfect.”

  The screens behind them lit up with flashing red graphics:

  LIVE ALERT — LEON ACTIVE.

  Camera feeds around the studio shifted focus as the lights intensified, framing the host and the panel with dramatic flair. The announcer turned toward the camera, the thrill in his voice palpable.

  “This just in—from our monitoring feed on the live broadcast interface. Moments ago, Leon has officially woken up from his rest period… and sources confirm he’s about to test his newly acquired skill, Shared Vision of Blinking!”

  Gasps echoed softly through the studio audience. Codex blinked in surprise. T.C. leaned forward, eyes gleaming with curiosity. Rex simply rested his elbows on the sofa and smiled like a man who had just watched the pieces of his theory slot perfectly into place.

  The announcer motioned toward the screen behind them, which now showed a live feed from Leon’s perspective. The camera hovered just behind him, showing the flickering torchlight of the fourth floor’s halls. His slimes could be seen stationed nearby, watching him quietly.

  “We’re watching this unfold live, folks,” He turned toward the panel one last time, practically vibrating with anticipation. “So, dear guests, dear viewers... let’s not theorize anymore. Let’s witness it. Together.”