As John meandered through the palace, deep in thought, he thought to Max and inquired, "Can you communicate with the dungeon from here?" She responded affirmatively, "Yes, I've been in conversation with it. It's never encountered someone who could converse with it before me." John suggested, "Ask if it oversees other entrances. If so, I have a strategy that could enable it to amass more energy with minimal effort. The additional power would facilitate its growth." Max relayed the information, "John, it confirms there are ten different entrances, each leading to a town. What's your proposal?"
What if you teleported people to different entrances in exchange for beast cores or mana stones? The cost could vary based on the distance traveled. Charging double the cost of teleportation could significantly increase your power. You could limit teleportation to the entrances and the same could apply to lower floors, with the restriction that they cannot access floors below their achievements. This way, you adhere to the rules while gaining more power. I can assist in setting this up; all you need is a display screen at the entrance. Additionally, offering individuals the choice to display their attempt could encourage them to take greater risks, especially if others are watching. Conversely, if someone prefers to keep their abilities secret, that option should be respected, as everyone has secrets, they wish to keep hidden.
"What do you want in exchange?" John replied, "I want to travel for free, just me. Additionally, if you encounter any issues in the future that require assistance, either Max or I can help." "Deal," was the response. John was not surprised that his offer was accepted. Now, he just needed to explain how it would work. John found his room and was eagerly anticipating his upgrades.
When John woke up, he sensed an unfamiliar change within himself. He felt an unusual surge of intelligence, and his hearing was acutely sharp. Leaping out of bed, he noticed a newfound strength coursing through his veins. Cultivation had always been a mystery to him, but now, he truly grasped the reason why people gambled everything for such power. Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. It was Will's voice calling out, "John, are you awake? There's an issue with the dungeon, and there's a window with a single word on it – 'John'."
Today, I'm excited to present a new feature proposal. After discussions with the dungeon authorities, we're considering transforming the entrance into a teleportation hub to other towns, with a nominal fee. This innovation promises safer and more efficient travel. Fees would be accepted in the form of spirit stones or beast cores. Moreover, in light of the frequent beast attacks on cities, this network could facilitate rapid deployment of aid, contingent upon fee payment. I'm also implementing measures to ensure accessibility for the illiterate. The potential impact of this service is vast; it could revolutionize our ability to attract talent from afar through instant teleportation. Will, taken aback by the concept, wondered about the logistics of conversing with the dungeon and establishing inter-city teleportation. He chose silence over inquiry, pondering the increased adoration John would garner if he succeeded.
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As Will and John made their way through the palace corridors toward the dungeon entrance, John's ears picked up a familiar voice—it was Anya calling out to him. Turning around, he saw Anya and Alana approaching. "Good morning," John greeted them cheerfully. "We're headed to the dungeon entrance. Would you like to join us?" "Sure," they replied in harmony. Departing from the palace, they noticed a contingent of twenty guards trailing them. John felt an odd sensation; as they neared their destination, all eyes seemed to fixate on him. "You'll get used to it," Will assured him, but John had his doubts. Reaching the entrance, John placed his hand on the new interface screen and closed his eyes. In that moment, he and Max communicated with the dungeon entity. "Is everything prepared?" John inquired. "Yes," the dungeon responded affirmatively, "I have a map ready for you. You can select any location and see the associated fee."
John suggested he may have another concept for the dungeon, but first, it's crucial to ensure there are no existing issues. If everything is stable after a week, I'll consider discussing further enhancement strategies with you. It seems prudent to let the other towns handle it independently. Moreover, the merchants' guild should be able to dispel any misunderstandings. The dungeon concurred and granted John free passage. With that resolved, John wishes to return to his cultivation. He turned to inform the dungeon of the recent changes. Many wished to express their gratitude to John, but he insisted he merely conveyed to the dungeon that by allowing this, it wouldn't suffer any loss; instead, it would benefit from the increased travel and fees, resulting in a win-win situation. John bid farewell and was escorted back to the palace.
The two girls followed him back, while Will remained in the dungeon to observe how the people adapted to the new changes. John inquired about beast cores from the girls, expressing his desire to acquire some without venturing into the dungeon that day. He explained his intention to experiment, having realized the futility of attending various magic classes due to the unique nature of his time magic. Alana responded first, offering her beast cores with the condition of future repayment. John, preferring solitude for cultivation as any distraction could prove fatal, agreed. Once the girls departed, John commenced a serious cultivation session alone.
The initial step he undertook was to ingest a beast core. As Max started the breakdown process, John felt a warmth spreading through his body. The sensation of mana fortifying his physique was beyond words. He noticed changes within himself but could not identify the specifics. With five first-level cores at his disposal, John continued to consume them, channeling the energy throughout his body. Max advised John that continuing this process would likely saturate his blood with mana. "We'll need around 20 more first-level cores, and then you should achieve the first level of body cultivation," Max suggested. John knew he had to approach this gradually. He resolved to gather more beast cores to enhance himself further and remembered he also needed to repay Alana.