The polished mahogany of the oval table gleamed under the soft, diffused light of the council chamber. Deputy Mayor Sacha, her expression a mask of serene satisfaction, closed her report with a flourish. "That neatly ties up the last of our outstanding issues. It's been a longer haul than anticipated, but thanks to everyone's dedication, Varona has never been more prosperous." Her smile, though warm, held a subtle edge of weariness.

  The room, a symphony of rich fabrics and hushed anticipation, housed Varona's city council. Among them sat Goode, Ishda's ex-treasurer, his initial terror replaced by an almost disconcerting tranquility. The man who had arrived a trembling wreck, his trousers perpetually damp, now exuded a newfound composure that bordered on the ethereal. Weeks of meticulous document review, his findings relayed directly to Sacha, had earned him a reprieve. The Deputy Mayor, ever pragmatic, had instructed Carrie to ease her grip, recognizing the value of a living asset.

  Goode’s life had undergone a startling transformation. Not only was he generously compensated for his contributions, his earnings far exceeding his needs and allowing him to support his family in Ishda, but he had also experienced a remarkable physical rejuvenation. The chronic pain that had plagued his knee for a decade had vanished, replaced by an unexpected lightness. His other ailments, the aches and pains of aging, had similarly disappeared. His vision had sharpened, his hearing improved, and a genuine sense of well-being had taken root.

  He had become a reluctant convert to Varona's peculiar brand of hospitality, a land where manhandling by a beautiful woman and forced relocation could lead to such profound benefits. The thought of being expelled from this idyllic existence filled him with dread. Would he even obey such an order, or would he plead for his newfound peace?

  "Are there any further matters requiring the council's attention? Or perhaps some oversight that Abi might have missed?" Sacha's query was met with a chorus of impatient sighs. Goode, however, rose to his feet, a determined glint in his eyes.

  "Not again, Goode. Please sit down. We know your refrain," grumbled Michael, the head of agriculture, a stout man with close-cropped dark hair and a perpetually furrowed brow. His practical, earth-toned clothing stood in stark contrast to the elegant attire of his colleagues.

  "Indeed, Goode," chimed in Pam, the head of planning and development, her voice laced with exasperation. "Agri's right. The allocation is more than adequate. Are we truly going to rehash this yet again?" She exchanged a conspiratorial wink with Michael, further fueling Goode's indignation.

  "I merely suggest," Goode began, his voice slightly trembling, "that the dungeon core could, if she so chose, increase her revenue by slightly reducing our stipends. I, for one, find it difficult to expend even half of the generous sum you allocate, particularly given my… Unique circumstances." He had reiterated this point at every meeting, a strange paradox given his history of embezzlement.

  "Our master," intoned the head of the religious sector, his voice filled with reverent awe, "is not concerned with such mundane matters as finances. She provides for us out of pure benevolence, allowing us to flourish and live fulfilling lives. She is a force for good, a divine presence embodied in the form of a dungeon."

  "How many times must I tell you, Pamela, Argi is not my name!" Michael, his face flushed crimson, erupted in protest. Pam, her expression a mixture of amusement and annoyance, rolled her eyes. The other council members watched the familiar spectacle with detached amusement.

  Sacha, however, had reached her limit. "Argi! Pam! This incessant bickering! You're as tiresome as Goode and his self-sacrificing generosity. Either you two resolve your differences, or I'll request the master to arrange a… Personal session." The threat hung heavy in the air, causing both Argi and Pam to blanch.

  Kana, the Mayor, stirred from her slumber, her eyes fluttering open. "Did I miss something?" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

  "Goode!" Sacha's voice, sharp and commanding, cut through the lingering tension. Both Goode and the still-drowsy Mayor snapped to attention, eliciting a wave of suppressed laughter from the council. "Yes, ma'am!" they chorused.

  Sacha fixed Kana with a disappointed glare. "You need to spend some time with Simon," she said, her voice laced with irony. "Perhaps you'll develop a healthier appreciation for gold. One that doesn't involve misappropriation, of course." Goode's face drained of color, joining the ranks of the pale-faced.

  "Now," Sacha continued, her voice regaining its professional tone, "if there are no further matters, this meeting is adjourned. Mayor Kana, let's go." With a swift, decisive movement, she rose from her chair, Kana trailing behind her like a chastened child. The council chamber, once filled with tension and discord, was left in a stunned silence.

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  Varona's City Council

  Dungeon Stories Volume 3

  I never imagined that one day I would end up owning as much land as I currently do. Not that I have the paperwork to support such claims, but my ownership is on a much more fundamental level so I suppose I don't really need it. As long as people occupy the space above it, they will continue to contribute towards the awesomeness that is their local Dungeon Core Landlord Service, helping expand her business and providing income on the daily.

  Hell, it doesn't even need to be people staying on the land. Monsters that find themselves passing through any particular stretch of Abi-owned expanse also add their share to the stockpile of points that rolls in like royalties.

  I'm a fair landlord though. I don't overcharge and only ask that people offer up a percentage of what they can afford. I think a 1% contribution of a person's accumulated XP is a ridiculously cheap price. Those who happen to be higher up on the level chart offer that more than your average Tina, which also helps my balance grow.

  Adding to my portfolio, I end up going off-track once again with a second detour. One day I'll make a plan and follow through on it, I swear. This time I begin purchasing land in the direction of Tune. The city by the sea is the closest neighbor Orad has and instead of backtracking to add it to my collection later, it makes more sense to just snap it up now.

  Easy peasy.

  Being North-East from Orad puts Tune directly east of Varona and not too far away either. Ishda is easily three times the distance from my former home which means it will take a week or two to reach by purchasing land whereas I could be in the coastal city the day after tomorrow.

  It's a no-brainer.

  Acquire land, obtain Tune, increase profits. With the extra Dungeon Points I'll get from the people of the fishing community, I should be able to reach the capital a lot faster than if I were to head there straight away.

  Abi the Clever.

  Abi the Wise.

  Abi the Potentially-Getting-Ahead-Of-Herself.

  Relax. Breathe.

  Remember, I can breathe now. Calming breaths are the best. Especially when panic creeps its ugly face through the window. That bastard hasn't been around in a while and isn't welcome here. But I'm just fretting over nothing.

  More points mean more land. More land means more points. It's a cycle of growth that only ends when there's nothing left to purchase. This also incites a massive question for the future.

  What the fuck am I going to spend all that future DP on!?

  If I end up owning the planet, then my DP will be a truly-ridiculous figure. One so unfathomable that I have absolutely no idea what I would do with it. I mean, could I build myself a gigantic statue made of pure Jade?

  No. That would be way too much.

  Even for Abi the Egomaniac.

  Nobody should have an over-sized statue of themselves on their own mountain. That would just be silly. Right?

  Ahem.

  Anyway, to Tune.

  Just under an hour later and I'm almost broke. I can't believe close to 100,000DP can disappear as quickly as it does. Magnificent and grand one moment, gone the next and I'm back home before I know.

  "Maybe when I have millions of points, it won't all disappear in a day?"

  The 10,000DP I decided to keep is a 'just in case someone decides to attack us today fund.'

  Sitting at a table in Ali's, I try to calculate how long it will take me to bring the continent of Tira under my dungeon umbrella. I give up as soon as my meal arrives though as my brain begins to hurt and my belly growls fiercely.

  That's some complex math.

  I'm definitely never going to be Abi The Mathematician, that's for sure.

  I guess I'll have to see if Me can work it out later. He's good with numbers. If not, I'll try Sacha and the council.

  Why Sacha and the council? Because Mayor Kana is about as sharp as a butter knife. Seriously, I don't know what to do with that one. The council and city are still running fine though, mainly thanks to the Deputy Mayor, so I suppose it's fine for now.

  Enjoying my meal slowly, I watch as people come and go. Some eat in while others take their food and leave. All are full of smiles and happiness because their lives would have been much worse if they had chosen to migrate anywhere other than Varona. The fact that we let them live here for free the first few months was something no other city could have offered them.

  Well they could, but probably wouldn't have. People are greedy, which is a straight up fact! And it only ever seems to get worse the higher up you go. There's no profit to be made in helping the masses the way we did, and instead is a major drain on financial resources. Unless you happen to be a Dungeon Core that is. Also one whose main priority is the betterment of Tironia at that.

  To be honest I'm starting to think other Dungeon Cores aren't all that. I mean really, how have none of them picked up on the fact that people mean points? Seriously. It's more ridiculous than Barry plowing away even though he has no need to anymore.

  His efforts are still appreciated though and at least I see him taking frequent breaks now. Still, his work ethic is second to none. He's a straight up do'er, that Golem.

  "Can I get you anything else, Master?" Ali appears and asks, noticing that I finished my dinner and dessert quite a while ago and have just been idling over my own thoughts.

  "No thank you, Ali. I'm good and that was delicious as always. I was just imagining how different life would be for the people that moved here if they would have decided to go elsewhere." I'm always honest with my family. Secrets are the first step on the path of distrust and that's the last place I want to end up. I would hate to ruin the bond we have, the closeness I feel to them.

  "Thank you, Master. Your praise is always a compliment. Regarding your other matter, why don't you ask Noir? He was talking about the refugees from Gorn the other night so I assume he might know what became of them."

  Honesty is always the best policy.

  I give Ali a quick peck on the cheek and she flushes red. I leave her holding her cheek and head off to find the loudest Assassin I've ever met.