The binding process is just as quick as it was with the spider sisters, which gets us right back to the question that is still lingering: Who's making the decisions.
"So, what is the claim Li has on this land? We figured it would belong solely to the lycans since they are the ones who bargained for it with Draxxonicus." Glimmer eyes both me and Gene intensely, waiting for an answer. The rest of the people all look at me. I know it isn't much of a secret that I'm a lich, and I have no reason not to share the information other than keeping some information to myself.
"Well, all the lycans were gone, and I sorta called dibs on the land. I didn't think the claim would work, but now I'm tied to the land and am heavily invested in its development." My answer is murky truth. We can discuss it if the demons or spiders want more information. For now, I've revealed enough.
"Damn, dibs is powerful. I've got to remember that." Bones removes any room for questions by laying a layer of support for my claim. For the most part, the sisters aren't objecting to the poor logic. The young lycans look to argue with my claims, but a stern look from Gene keeps them all silent.
"So, does that make you a king or some type of ruler?" Noth asks.
"He's not a king." Bones is quick to pull back his support. "No way can he be a king."
"Technically, he kind of is a king…." Gene says. "But that is much more information than we want to get into. If anyone questions him on his power level, they don't have to look any further than his bound companions. He has you, Bones, as his summoned companion, who now stands at the sage rank and has the dungeon's power behind him, including Annette's spiders, the Synth Sisters, and a dragon. If that isn't enough to back his claim as ruler, he has me as his totem, and I'm queen rank."
"The answer is simple," Fury speaks loudly. "We have three rulers. Bones is the dungeon boss and has the final say there. Gene is the queen of the lycans and has authority over her people except when it comes to dungeon matters. Li is the authority over this land. The three of them will rule over their prospective dominions, respectively."
"Let's just call Bones the boss of defense. Gene is the boss of people, and Li is the boss of everything else." Noth's words are followed by a room full of head nods. While her words don't cover the intricacies of the new rule, and I have my objections, I keep silent so that we can move on to more pressing matters. I can dissolve my monarchy and set up a council later.
"OK, we will go with what Noth and Fury proposed. Though I plan to set up a more formal council later. That brings us to the big question: what do we need to do?"
"Our fortress is shite." A lycan youth quips quickly before being silenced by Gene and Fury with low and scary growls. The kid soon cowers and blends into the surrounding pack, full of agreeing smiles.
"The lad is right. We have a delicate defense structure and a house full of kids," Nette says. "On top of that, we are greatly outnumbered by youth to adults, the kids need to be watched, entertained, and trained, and we need food."
"It would also be nice to get eyes around your kingdom. Who knows what is happening with the demons and the horde. Having such a large threat looming in our vicinity is unsettling." Cher speaks quietly as if she is unsure about her words. A small nod from Nette is all she needs to back her concerns with a confident posture.
"I agree with Cody. We will need to do a much better job with our defense to protect us. It's only a matter of time before some hungry bear starts farming us for power. Or worse, annihilating us and taking our core for themselves." Bones' tone reflects the weight of responsibility he must be feeling.
"So, three priorities so far. Taking care of the children. Supplying our needs. And defending our nation. Is there anything else?" I wait for a short moment and accept the silence as the answer. "Then let's move on to our first task. How do we take care of the children?" All eyes follow mine as we lock onto Gene.
"The children deserve to have a childhood. Whatever we have in mind, we must let them grow and develop as normally as possible. I suggest we expand the academy plan. We can create a school with dorms to house them and fill their schedule with instructive and fun activities. The only problem is that we will be short on instructors. We will have to recruit. Fortunately, we will have some heavy recruiting power. Especially if we focus on those in the decline of their life expectancy."
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"We know some demons that would be enticed with the teaching role. Abyss knows they love hearing the sound of their own voice. Sometimes when they speak, it isn't utter garbage they are spewing." Bloom says.
"We don't want to go to school." The youth next to Cole can't hold back his objection and fights through the intense gaze of Fury. “Let us fight for our land. Our parents died so we can live. Let us take advantage of our immortality and reap our revenge." The muscular youth has light-gray tinted fur with dark patches that give him a look that he's always ready for war.
"Bronson is right. We don't need to be protected. We need to fight so that we can gain experience and grow strong. What you all suggest is no better than coddling us for life." The tinted red fur lycan is among the taller of the bunch, standing slightly taller than Bronson. Unlike Bronson's muscular build, this tall lycan resembles a twig.
"Fighting is not a way of life. It is not a lifestyle I want to instill in my people. It is not a lifestyle any of your parents wanted. We all wanted more. We wanted peace. If I can bring the life your parents sacrificed for, I will do it,” says Gene.
"Doesn't Bones get a say in this? Based on your rule structure, he gets to decide on the dungeon, and we also fall under the dungeon." Bronson tries to counter Gene's notion.
"You will get to fight," says Bones. "But that is after your instructors have approved that your skills and knowledge are satisfactory." Bones delivers a fierce death stare at the end of speaking and doesn't relent until Bronson and the strawberry furred lycan accept his decision.
"This is utter crap." A small whisper delivered audibly manifests from the youth group at the wrong time. More whispers from the kids follow. "We want to fight." "We deserve to fight." "We need justice." "Where is the honor in hiding?"
"That's enough. I thought you kids would be wise enough to listen during this meeting." Gene's words are stern, and her presence is fierce. "You are all dismissed until we call for you."
"But Nana…"
"No, Remny. If you wanted to stay, you should have kept your friends in line."
"Don't leave us in the dark again. We have a right to know about our future…."
Gene tries to counter her granddaughter but finds no words. Our meeting comes to a silent standstill.
"Maybe some of the classes for the older kids can be combat training." Bones' words pacify the kids, and Gene doesn't object.
"Along with the academy," Gene's fierce tone is thoroughly simmered, and the murmurings are silenced. "I think the best way to organize the kids is to create packs. Bones, is there any way to promote individuals in the dungeon?"
"Besides assigning the limited number of boss ranks,” says Bones. “There are other options of leadership that have more privileges but none of the big upgrades from being a boss. It seems bosses can have sub-bosses, and with a little energy expenditure, we can create as many as we want."
"Here's what I propose. We have fifty teenage lycans, around one hundred lycans around ten to twelve in age, and just over three hundred kids ranging from four to nine. Let's create a team composed of three pups and one cub. Each of the teens will oversee one pack that composes two teams. Does this work for you, Bones?"
"The promotions have been assigned." Upon Bones' words, the fifty teenagers involved in our meeting all glow with shadowy mana. The youth inspect their body as unnatural changes occur. Less noticeable, a bunch of the bigger kids busy playing also shine with a shadow glow, just not as prominent as the teenagers.
The teens are still glowing when Gene speaks again. "Thank you. We will sort out our groups when we finish the rest of our plans."
"Actually, Nana, if it is OK with you all, we would like to form our packs based on your organization. We can take care of that now if you let us." Remny's voice is full of enthusiasm. Judging by the reaction of the rest of the teens, they are all equally excited about the promotion they received.
"You can form your packs, but it will be up to Bones and me to decide whether we approve them. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Nana!" As one, fifty teenagers hurry off to organize their packs.
"That leaves us with security and supplies," says Nette.