"I haven't seen that loud guy in a while, have you?"

"The red-head?"

"That's the one."

"Now that you mention it, neither have I. He might be out in the forest with one of the patrols. I'm sure he's part of the guard of something."

"Don't tell anyone I told you this, but I'm pretty sure he's part of an undercover shadow gang... Or something like that."

"Don't be daft. If it was any other city, I might agree with you. But this one?"

"Especially this one. I'm telling ya. That's the reason why it's so peaceful here."

"Naa. I'm not buying it. We've been here for how long now? I'm sure I'd have noticed something."

"You have and it's right in front of your eyes yet you can't even see it. Did you hear about old Ewan?"

"The Stuck-up head of the Howser's, how could I forget that prick."

"Disappeared not long after we arrived. Was constantly complaining about the lack of hospitality until he just wasn't anymore."

"It's not strange for a mouthy noble to be killed because of their sharp tongue."

"Alright. What about Lady Illanoir?"

"What about her? She used to torture people for the guard back in Cowley. To be frank, I'd be better off not knowing someone like that. This place seems to let you just... Forget your past transgressions somehow. It's almost mystical."

"That's another example of what I'm talking about! Also, Lady Illanoir disappeared just like old Ewan did. One morning she just wasn't here anymore."

"She could have gone back North. Stupid as that sound, crazy bitch does have more than a few screws loose."

"She could have, but it's not likely."

"If you have something to say then just spit it out. I don't need you beating around the bush while I'm trying to enjoy my lunch break."

"Ok. So the other week, I was at Talia's place. Granted, I'd had a few drinks, but I swear to god I know what I saw."

"Fuck sake. Go on then. What did you see?"

"I shit you not, as I stumbled outta the door, that same red-head dropped into the shadows beneath his feet. He wasn't alone either, he dragged some other poor souls down with him before he was gone. No hole or nothing. Just gone."

"I'm calling bullshit on that one. You must've been really pissed to have thought you saw that."

"I did see it! And it's not the first time I've seen someone do something suspicious either. Honestly!"

"Aww. Whatever. To be honest, I'm not even bothered."

"Why? After what I've just told you don't you feel like there's something going on here?"

"Yeah. I do. I reckon, there's a bunch of people protecting this lovely little city that we've been so graciously allowed to live in. Free of charge still, I might add. That's not going to last forever, but for the moment it's still a blessing we can't overlook. That said, most of the able-bodied men joined the guards just as we did. Pay isn't bad and the fact that we get three square meals a day means this is the only place I spend any coin. Well, between here and Lucinda's that is."

"Have you tried her energy potion yet?"

"Of course. I've got three on me."

"Mate, I swear. They're the best thing since... In fact, nevermind them. I'm telling you something shady is going on here."

"Really? Again? All you've got is speculation and drunken admissions."

"What about that chef then? The head chef at the Crescent Cafe. They call her Ali."

"The one behind you?"

"Where!"

"You fucking idiot. I was just messing with you."

"I'm being serious man. Don't downplay this."

"Im not. You're over-playing it, if anything. I fucking love it here."

"I'm not saying I don't. I just need you to see what I'm seeing."

"I'm seeing the same as shit as you. You're just going a bit loco. Maybe if you don't keep quiet, you'll be the next person to drop through a shadow."

"Don't say that... I wasn't joking. I really saw it."

"Yeah. Yeah."

"Ok then. This one you can't dispute. What's up with Talia's brother?"

"You mean Light?"

"I-Is that his name?"

"Yeah. I asked him. He's not Talia's brother either by the way."

"He isn't?"

"No. They just look similar. They must be from the same region or something like that. Sky blue hair isn't exactly common around these parts."

"That... Would make sense. That's good though. I might actually ask her out now."

"Ha. I wouldn't bother. She's into someone else. Light told me."

"What? Are you two like best friends or something?"

"He was in here the other day drinking and I was feeling quite brave. I'd already had a few so I marched up to him and said 'I wanna date Talia!'. Do you know what he did?"

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

"What? What did he do?"

"Laughed in my face. Afterwards he explained things to me, but go for it if you think you have a chance."

"No... I'll er... Leave it at that. Nevermind. There are plenty of fish in the sea, or fine women in Varona I should say."

"Now that's a nice change of tune."

"Well there are. Don't get me wrong though, that's also another one of those things that they're involved in."

"Oh my gods, will you give it a rest. Who are these 'they' you keep going on about?"

"I've just told you!"

"Who? Talia, Light, Ali, and the redhead?"

"Yeah! It's not just them though, there are lots of them."

"Fuck off, I'm going back to work."

"But Max..."

"Listen Sam. We're friends, have been since we were kids and I'm telling you now to stop it. Do you hear me?"

"But..."

"So fucking help me. Do you hear me!?"

"I hear you, Max."

"Good. Because if any part of what you're saying is right, I don't need you disappearing on me. So, let's just go to work and forget this conversation ever happened. OK?"

"OK."

Conversations from Varona

Sam and Max

----------------------------------------

The image of the Lady-Slimes, fawning around in a meadow before giving me a good grilling, is glued to my brain. In fact, I'm quite surprised that I made it out of there that soon as I gaze at stars.

The night can be argued to be even more gorgeous than the day as stars twinkle away in melody, painting the perfect picture of beauty. It eases my soul as not a single cloud is present in the sky and the entirety of the heavens are on show as the citizens of Varona sleep soundly in the city beneath them.

As I enjoy the view, a quick browse through my status shows that the building-less feature that once caused an old man to travel to my dungeon, with a gift that's still in my tower, has almost reached the next level.

The Syndicate:

Level 5

All associates earn a 50% boost to all stats regardless of location

All associates are able to use Dark Magic fluently even if they are unattuned to the darkness element

All associates physical and mental skills inflict an extra 30% damage and status effects last longer regardless of enemy buffs

All associates are now able to return to the dungeon by shadowport once a day

Cloak of Night:

Turn invisible for 60 minutes once a day

Does not cost mana to cast and has no upkeep

Does not require a physical skill to use

Once activated can be deactivated at will

Once deactivated cannot be used again until the cool down period is over

Contracts until next level:

1

Contracts can be acquired from:

Taskmaster Talia

The Chef Ali

Potion Master Lucinda

The Swindler Jack

Commanders Hana and Mira

Cloak and Dagger

Mayor Kana

Deputy Mayor Sacha

Cardinal Carn

...

The list went on.

Almost anyone in my family that holds some type of position can offer contracts to the scouts and adventurers. They're able to earn experience by completing missions for each other and those exact tasks benefit the dungeon. Me says they still need my connection, but I reckon these guys would do just fine without me.

If anything, it's the other way around and I would be lost without them.

As I contemplate how well my family has grown, the sight of my city growing as the night passes peacefully and a new day arrives isn't lost on me. Morning's first rays light up Varona from the top of my tower. From there shadows are slowly chased away all the way down the main street until the fountain glimmers in the sun.

As the center of city wakes up to a new day, so do the streets running of to the residential and commercial human districts. Further away, stable workers, farmers and some kids messing with the Hay Bale, also enjoy the morning's warmth.

Speaking of residents, Me is sitting in the garden of the Academy, enjoying the sun with a cup of tea.

The Academy of Dark Arts:

The dark arts care little for titles or trivialities and only serve those strong enough to wield them

Courses are available for those wishing to aspire to greater heights

Novice Teachers: 4

Intermediate Teachers: 4

Advanced Teachers: 0

Masters: 0

Students: 58

The building that conceals the entrance to my dungeon is now fully up and running. Turns out, I did earn the teacher sub-class, I'd just forgotten about it due to everything happening all at once. Even with amazing skills in delegation, I'm still rushed off my feet.

Needing someone to run the building, I chose Mystique, one of my oldest family members that's still unassigned to a feature or job other than scouting. The Assassin was granted the title Headmaster and her partner Coral is set as the deputy. I certainly couldn't see Tweedledum and Tweedledee being in charge of the Academy. Knowing that the majority of my buildings have one or more Assassins assigned to, or close by, them, is a very comforting feeling and I don't think I've ever felt so safe.

The Academy of Dark Arts has been open for a few hours now and there is already a queue leading through the courtyard outside. It snakes all the way to the gate, with more and more people waiting to enrol as they line up down main street.

With its low admission costs for novice and intermediate level courses, alongside those already applying, I'm sure the Academy is going to become a major hit in my city. Everyone has the capability for magic after all. Some more than others but that's not important in the least. Not in Varona anyway. It's not as though I'll be depending on the civilians learning magic to defend the city, is it?

Watching potential mages chat eagerly with each other from my spot on top of the Academy's tower, some people step out of line to pop into Ali's as that's how popular the educational feature is. The queue has almost reached the fountain in the city center.

Thinking about the numbers, I summon a few more Mages, Arch Mages and Magi and have them specialise at the Mages Guild. Setting their subclasses to teachers, I assign them to the Academy to increasing the faculty staff to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Or as smooth as bunch on Necromancer's teaching Dark Magic to humans can.

Classes officially start tomorrow, once everyone has finished enrolling. The extra additions are a just-in-case, more than anything. Plus, with how many people are still to enrol, eight teachers didn't seem like it would be enough to handle everyone. The Academy has many rooms for classes and a even grand hall for lecturers to hold talks on subjects of choice, but it never hurts to be prepared.

That's right. I saw a problem and solved it before it grew.

Abi the Diligent is on the ball.

No more shirking responsibilities for this Dungeon Core.

Now that the magic school is taken care of, it's another problem off my mind. For the most part it will run itself, if not that's what Mystique and Coral are for. That's not me avoiding responsibilities though. It's the Headmaster's job to ensure their school runs provides results, educational opportunities and most importantly, graduates. Even if they won't be used in city defence, it will still raise human confidence levels aswell as the overall tally of Dungeon Points per day.

As I'm thinking about a city full of Necromancers, a malicious presence near the border of the residential district catches my attention. A guard detail arrives shortly after myself and I'm quite pleased at their response times. Their detection abilities are almost as good as mine these days.

The woman at the forest line is screaming profanities at no one in particular. Through her delirious ramblings, I'm able to discern two things. First, she's experienced a harrowing, traumatic journey and second, both of her children have died. This is a truly unpleasant situation as her soul is dark orange, bordering the territory with red.

I definitely don't actually want to kill the woman. Not after sprouting off about how I'm going to start helping people overcome shit.

She may have done something to have been branded the colour, but she definitely doesn't deserve it. This is one of those prime examples on how The System's shitty logic is screwing the planet over. After what this woman's been through, I'm more than willing to try and help her. This is exactly the type of situation I've prepared for after all.

Well, not exactly. But it's close enough.

I have the guards escort the woman to a holding-cell beneath the Barracks for now. If she shows improvement today, awesome. If not... Even though she's lost her kids and life's kicking her in the vaginas, the devastated soul will have to be sent to the dungeon for some Samantula therapy. Almost dead-red, I'm hoping the sight of out Scariest Mary might slow, stop or best-case scenario reverse, her condition.

That would be fantastic and we might even be able to get some answers from her then, opposed to the gibberish curses she keeps throwing out. I don't know what I'll do with her afterwards, I mean... She'll have been in the dungeon, in the fourth floor no less.

Whatever.

We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Now that the excitement has died down, what shall I do?