Willowdale's slums were a revolting place. Filth lined the crudely paved streets, beggars and pickpockets outnumbered those who actually had money ten to one, and a persistent aura of hopelessness covered the area.

All of this made it perfect for Tobias. An old abandoned tavern served as a hideout for his boys, and the city guards were loath to leave the town proper. Not to mention, unless he was directly caught by the guards, they would likely leave him alone. A good tenth of their salary came from all the information he paid for.

When all else abandons and betrays, turn to coin. It was a harsh sentiment, but an honest one. And the [LIEUTENANT] sent by the Core seemed to agree. It had not only used the guards' greed to slip past them, but made a profit off it! The lizard would make an excellent thief, should guarding the [DUNGEON] ever grow boring.

It was an interesting creature. About as long as his arm, it was split fairly evenly between gray and blue. Blue was the color of its back, eyes, and fangs. Two blue tear tracks connected its jaws and eyes, giving the look of eternal mourning.

The gray covered its underbelly and tail. Despite the usual dullness of the color, the scales there shimmered like freshly polished steel, and seemed just as sharp.

Its last obvious aspect were the horns and spines. Two stubby horns sprouted from its head, and a row of spikes trailed down its back and tail. They were all composed of an almost clear crystal, tinged slightly white. Sporadically, they would pulse with blue light, casting the rest of its body in an ethereal glow.

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It could slip through the world faster than even a [PORTAL] spell. Not to mention, it stopped a fully powered spear from someone with [GREATER CRYOMANCY]. By biting it!

He opened the door to the hideout, home at last.

All forty of his boys were inside, seated at the various tables around the tavern. Mateo was waiting by the door, nervously biting his lip, and rushed forward when Tobias entered.

"Did you pass through the bazaar? Please say no. The entire guard has been hysterical! Lord Sullivan got attacked by a demon of the Legion of Nightmares! It could still be in town!"

Tobias took in the boys fear. His pallid face, his darting eyes, his shallow breathing. And he chuckled.

"Well, you're right about the still in town part. There was no demon. Let's just say that I met the [DUNGEON], and it gives rather interesting gifts."

The entire room had gone quieter at Mateo's outburst, but you could hear a pin drop after Tobias responded. Every eye was locked on him, and the silence turned into a barrage of questions.

"Did you get a class?"

"What level are you now?"

"Neat. Did you bring back any beer?"

"Was it violent? Are you hurt?"

"YOU ATTACKED A NOBLE!?!"

Tobias waited until the questions stopped, and sent a disappointed glare towards the already drunk form of Sam slumped in the corner.

"[CORE'S SPYMASTER], six, no Sam I did not, no, no, and yes."

At the mention of four new levels and a completely unique class, the boys got even more shocked. Tobias grinned, and lifted his hand to his shoulder, clutching a single copper coin. A blue and grey lizard materialized from thin air and began chewing on it like a treat.

"This is a [LIEUTENANT] from the core. He can bite spells. Don't know why he's here, but he seems to be good company."

Geoff fainted.

Tobias had to hold back another laugh. This meeting of the Willowdale Thieves Guild was going to be a long night.