It might seem strange but it wasn't that difficult to have simple conversation. Good food can work wonders.

The Feralassian chicken egg were great to begin with but with just a a sprinkle of cheese made from Varagian milk. Excellent.

The bacon was cut thick and took a deft touch to get crispy without burning the edges.

I even toasted up a few slices of bread for each of us. The butter spread like a dream.

Served with fruit infused Moon Well water, it went over quite well.

When it was done everyone helped with the dishes. Yes there was a dishwasher, but I've always preferred to hand wash.

Everything clean we settled back into the dining table while coffee brewed

"Alright, you guys have let me run around like a chicken with it's head cut off long enough. We need a long term plan, and it should be obvious I don't have a much of a clue."

"Hoss, you are doing fine. Stop with all the disparaging yapping."

"Could you have been more focused, sure, but no one's perfect." Really, Amanda. You were the last person I would have expect to blow smoke up my ass.

"My Lord, perhaps it would be best to clearly define our goals. It might make plans for the future far simpler." Jaina's advice was solid. Had I even shared what the overall goal was here?

"Keep striking the targets. Everything will sort itself out." What kind of advice was that John? That would literally have me killing everyone other person I cam.. oh, right. John Wick.

"Before all that. Sorry Amanda, I have to ask. Do you want to do anything about the agents and Militech? I figure you have the right to ask for help with dealing with those assholes." I really wanted to know and I really didn't.

"Yes. I very much want you to help get some pay back against those Corpo scopmunchers. But I think we should wait till you have the upper hand. One day you'll have the preemest iron. On that day, I'll ask for your help to get even." She grimaced. "Just don't take too long."

"Fair enough. That's a plan and a promise right there." Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jaina jotting down notes on a roll of parchment. With a quill. A magical self inking quill. Neat.

"We need more human troops geared up and ready to deploy. More vehicles with heavy weaponry. Finally we really need air power." Raynor listed out his thoughts.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"Better iron and chrome." John added. Uh oh, somebody liked his cyberware. Let's not turn John into a Borg beast.

"Time to train mages and priests." Jaina added.

"That reminds me. What do you think of Mauris?" I remembered the priest as when he stopped us what was it three days ago now?

"He is the best of the clergy. Devoted without being self-righteous. He has made himself very helpful with healing and blessings, my Lord." Jaina seemed to think about it, "However he wouldn't be the first to betray our trust."

"Hmm." A beep rang out. "Coffee's ready."

I got up to fix everyone a cup.

With that out of the way, we got back to it.

"Amanda, do you think Militech going to retaliate for their agents?" Jaina asked.

"No, at least not quickly, it's not their way. All agents are considered expendable. That's pretty universal with the Corpos. They'll pour over the data they obtained, maybe try to insert more agents at some point. Direct confrontation over this is unlikely." She rocked her head back and forth, "They might try to tank any business we are conducting, but it is not a certainty. I've seen them wait years, even decades before striking."

"Hmm we need more business then, more money coming in. If we can't fight then one way we can fight them another. We can ramp up food production and corner the fresh food market." Make sure the folks of Night City could get better healthier food cheaper. That has been in my head for a long time now.

"We have reached the point we should no longer need the subscription services my Lord. However we would need more expansion before we could make a dent in the Night City food markets." Jaina tapped the tip of the quill on the parchment. "One month perhaps two before we could really afford to enter the food industry. That is accounting for the expansion of our own forces up to 400%. The Moon Wells are the greatest blessing anyone could have hoped for."

"So we can round up, what another 60 footmen?" Raynor asked not very impressed.

"Also some mages and priests but yes, that's about the size of it." Jaina responded while obviously running the numbers in her head.

"Not enough." John said.

"In two months, we'll have better arms and armor if I have to chain myself to the forges. Also by that time we'll have the Starport up and running, that will change everything." I was sure of it.

There was an urgent knock on the door.

"Who could it be?" Everyone got up to answer the door.

It was a farmer. He looked exhausted.

"My Lord, something is forming in the corn field on my farm. It looks similar to what the Probes do but the energy feels wrong."

That got our attention.

We all ran for our gear and met up near the farm not long after.

A swirling vortex of dark purple energies hovered above the field.

My BTC shook...

[ Congratulations your ambient mana has reach the first threshold ]

[ Woe betide you the first Mana Sink forms ]

[ Explore the extra dimensional realm of the Mana Sink to gain great rewards ]

[ Fail to tame the chaotic currents and be drowned in corrupt mana ]

[ The realm in the Mana Sink will draw from your themes to present challenges ]

[ Defeat all challenges to temporarily close the Mana Sink ]

I read the description to everyone.

"Fuck!" yelled Jaina, "It's a bloody Dungeon!"

"What the hell is a Dungeon?" I asked.

"They suck up aspected and pure mana and spew out corrupted energies. Also if you don't deal with them quickly enough they erupt and throw monsters everywhere."

We all looked at each other. Then looked at the Vortex.

"Fuck." We all said.