“So, we meet again.” Frost Echo greeted Sol, who bowed slightly in return. Hundreds of eager adventurers were awaiting the opening of the Dungeon Cave. Each one equally afraid to enter too late, fearing that others might clear out the cave within a single trip given their vast numbers at the adventurer’s base camp.
Though the town criers and even the Kings had assured them repeatedly that the half masked humanoids promised the Cave would be filled with wonders and surprise regardless of their adventurers, it was hard to believe.
Jin had initially proposed the first party to be led by the respective Kings, but many in their council spoke out against such an endeavour. What might be seen as the most powerful sign of cooperation would definitely threaten the minor humanoid towns as well as the humans who were staying at the side of the Goblins.
Both sides agreed that assassins and spies from other countries would be within the adventurer camp just waiting for an opportunity to sabotage such an act should the kings enter the dungeon cave. Thus, the kings had decided to heed their council’s advice and solely be present for the opening of this Dungeon Cave.
“No fun…” Kraft had already been looking forward to collecting some more ‘volunteers’ amongst any wannabe assassins, but Jin consoled him by reminding him about his new responsibilities. He himself was comforted by the fact that the two kings preferred the event to proceed with success rather than risk any interruptions.
Before the opening of the Dungeon Cave, both of the Kings were given a chance to address the audience. Groups of adventurers were already speculating which king would be the first to give their speech as it was basically an extension of power emphasising for all how the power balance really was.
However, all this speculation was for nought as Jin, who had been on site as soon as the System informed him about their arrival, proposed to decide everything with ‘the will of the Gods’.
A simple coin toss would decide which king would speak first. Everyone in the vicinity disagreed with the way it was handled but also accepted that it was a rather ‘fair’ idea to get things done without any political implications.
The coin tossed by Jin as a (relatively) neutral party landed with on tails, which represented the Orc King’s choice, and so Frost Echo went up the temporary podium and gave his speech to both Orcs and Goblins and the visiting Humans. It was rather short rhetoric but filled with emotions that he hoped that the Orcs could learn to cooperate alongside the goblins. He ended by using himself as an example with his life entrusted to a Goblin, their current Spymaster.
Most of the Orcs may have been sceptical by this in the past, but the Goblins had already proven their superiority by winning the war. (And Orcs who always loved a good fight will respect the champion.) Therefore they were at least willing to give it a try, seeing how the Dungeon Cave somehow required a variety of races to enter.
The subsequent speech by the Goblin King was more factual and reminded both races that in that cave, the only one watching their backs would be their fellow comrades. “It’s like a trial of fire, to see if the bonds of Orcs, Goblins and maybe even Humans and Humanoids can be forged and tempered through the cave, giving rise to a better understanding among all our races.”
Goblin King Sol admitted that it would not be an easy task but used the examples of the Orc and Goblin merchants at the adventurer camp who came together regardless of race so they could do one job. To service the adventurers through the cave and grow rich with them. His speech was surprisingly well received, especially that last particular line made both races simultaneously cheer because that was what they all wanted to accomplish.
At the end of these two short speeches, Jin came forward to activate the Altar right in front of them. The Panda Altar with a plate right in front of it shone brightly and spoke in a strange sounding voice (Chinese) since it was governed by the System. (In fact, the whole piece of land between the two kingdoms had been bought by Qiu Yue for dirt cheap, giving the System control of the place.)
“Worthy Adventurers! Heed my warning. This cave is filled with treacherous traps and monsters! Offer a tribute if you wish to enter this perilous place, and you will be protected by my blessing!'” Jin translated for the confused looking adventurers.
“From our personal experience, the tribute required consists of at least two copper coins for each adventurer before the Dungeon Cave will allow anyone entry. Upon noting that the adventurers have placed their tribute, the Panda Statue will glow slightly to see whether the tribute was genuine.” Jin explained briefly how they had set it up to work.
“Any outsiders who attempt to enter without paying any tribute will be attacked by heavenly flames without any mercy.” Jin continued and warned them, leading to murmuring among themselves.
“Do not worry, the Panda Statue and the Dungeon Cave are in a way sentient like how certain mages can speak to animals and trees. So you can be sure that you guys won’t have to risk your lives unless stated clearly.”
“Venerated Masked One, I have heard, that one does not die inside the cave, is that not true? Are there parts of the cave where death is unavoidable?” One of the Orcs asked, and Jin nodded his head.
“Our race has studied this sort of Dungeon Cave back in our homeland. We have managed to place a spell for the first ten floors ensuring that none of you may be killed as long as you do not venture further down.” The half masked panda cultivator assured the masses.
“However, we cannot guarantee anything below the tenth floor because our magic seems unable to reach deeper. Perhaps in the future, when we find a way to purify a particular floor of the Dungeon Cave without too many expenses, we will do so. Some of the materials you may find could prove quite helpful for our research.” Jin created an impromptu excuse.
While Jin could have made the dungeon participants unkillable for every part of this new Dungeon experience, he figured that this could potentially create an imbalance in their societies. Seasoned adventurers might grow to the point where they could band together sparking wars.
Both kings agreed to the idea that sometimes death was necessary for the kingdoms to maintain the balance of power. Still, the only things that would not die were Jin’s monsters, and those were dying for fights especially the ones who had stayed in the Sanctum of Worlds for the longest time and had no other work to do.
Even the Orcs who were working in the construction had been permitted to take turns in order to enter the dungeons and let out some frustration. On the condition that their skins ought to be tainted with other colours so they would be unrecognisable as the former orcs that dwelled in their country.
Customised helmets were also made to protect their identity, and the System had provided them with weapons and armour which it had collected from killing Demon Rats.
“So, beware of this dungeon, for after the tenth floor, even some of our Humanoids have been unable to make it back to the surface. It’s regrettable, but our kind is not as numerous as your two races. For the glory of exploration and the endless amount of rewards, we have opened this Dungeon Cave for the rest to enter!” Jin stopped dramatically as his last statement resulted in a lot of cheerful applause.
“To help our kind learn even more about these caves, and to help you accomplish this, we have prepared a dozen of counters right over there. That one will create an adventurer license card. This ordinary looking card shall give you the most important ability in that dungeon. The ability to escape at any time.” Jin announced, and everyone started to chat loudly. Most had assumed they would have to climb back to the top to return from the dungeon cave, but if what Jin shared was true, it would change everything.
“This card can act as your identification keeping track of how many floors of the dungeon you have conquered as well as the number of times it has taken you to conquer each floor. Additionally, you can use the card as magical storage for the items you receive or are rewarded inside the cave. Should you ever lose this, nobody else can open it. Even if someone dares to kill you within the cave to try and steal something from you, it will be in vain” Jin said, and everyone was delighted at that particular fact.
“Speaking of killing! Let me be perfectly clear so that none of you succumbs to the temptation of greed. Like I said, the Dungeon Cave is sentient! Not only can it place one party on a different first floor compared to another party, it despises the act of betrayal. Should one of you kill your own party members, the Dungeon Cave will haunt you forever! If you do not believe me, then try it! Some of those who went before you were trapped in the Dungeon Cave eternally, for their insolence.” Jin warned in a dead serious tone, and both races felt that something similar might have happened with the Humanoids.
“Then what if one of our comrades dies during a fight?” The goblin wanna be adventurer asked loudly.
“If your comrade dies a swift death, we recommend recovering the fallen body so that he can be handled by our specialists (Panda Nurses) after your fight. The Dungeon Cave may reward such an act of benevolence in the future. For it is ever watching, ever remembering the acts of the adventurers in the cave.”
“However! If a fight proves too challenging and you feel the need to escape with the license card, then it might be advisable to do so instead. Eventually, the license card will automatically teleport the fallen to the adventurer’s guild we have set up. It’s a spell mechanism that we have put in place to account and set a memorial up for them. So, there is no shame in retreating, for you live another day to take your revenge in this ruthless Dungeon Cave.” Jin replied.
“Esteemed masked one, you said the card will teleport the dead, but what if someone stole that card instead?” An Orc queried, and Jin smirked at him.
“Any of you can give it a try. Trust me, it won’t be something pleasant.” Jin concluded his explanation to the masses and a large number of Orcs and Goblins had begun rushing towards the counters filled with half masked pandas humanoids to get their adventurer cards.
They were all the farming Humans which Jin used to have the counters operational. It would feel unnatural to use Orcs and goblins for this particular case. Some of them were excited to work for their new master while others were just curious how the Orc’s world looked like based on their conversations in the Guest Instance.
Without further ado, Jin had Adventurer 001, while the Kings received 002 and 002 as part of the ceremonial courtesy of the adventurer base camp. The next card started with 004 and the first 300 would later become as the ‘First Generation of Adventurers’.
“And thus begins the great Adventurer Age.” Kraft who had been at the sidelines to spy on any suspicious looking characters, teased his master as he patted him on his shoulder.
“Hopefully. I’m already happy if we can earn some money from all this fake economy.” Jin sighed in his transmission to Kraft since he did not want anyone else to know what this whole scheme was about.
Right now, the adventurers had brought some cash with them and with any luck, they would be buying the services provided in his place. Registration to be an adventurer, food, accommodation were the things Jin was trying to earn from them.
But the most important thing was that people from all over the kingdoms would bring their goods to most likely banter, buy and sell which allowed the System to earn money. The adventurers were just the lure in Jin’s eyes.
It’s the economy of both kingdoms, with hopefully soon even the humans and maybe some humanoids, but ultimately the purchasing power of those kingdoms combined was the deal behind this Dungeon Cave scheme. Jin might not be a business student, but he believed that this particular scheme was an excellent way to control the economy of this world.
And if that was not enough? The Dungeon Cave would be collating data from all the adventurers, and any adventurers who died would technically come into the possession of the System which it will gladly use to increase the workforce for both the Dungeon Cave or the Dungeon Fortress City.
No matter the outcome, the System always wins!
