Ryu and his team passed through the portal and found themselves in a large meadow that led up to a rocky slope where they would find Harlin Heights. "Alright, we will first make our way around the town before actually entering it. From what I read, the dungeon does not start until you enter the town."
Ryu's main goal was to take a trip around the dungeon to see if there were any hidden secrets. By finding something new, they may have a chance at a rare item. This was especially so since they were in hell mode.
The group did not rush into anything. They made sure to take things slow so that they did not end up getting wiped by a surprise trap or some other kind of raid wipe mechanic. But they saw nothing. The entire area was clear of any kind of ruins or other quest areas. This meant that these areas were inaccessible before the quest actually started. "Ryu, what now?"