Capítulo 2: Well Prepared
Editor: Atlas Studios
To buy pickaxes, Sherlock had to go to a neutral Bazaar of a Freedom Town. The nearest one was at Winterfell. It took ten days to walk from Eternal Kingdom to Winterfell, and time was short. He could hardly wait for the Goblins to start his Dungeon construction, so he decided to use the most expensive traveling method—Teleport Scroll!
Only powerful Magicians were able to activate the Teleport Portals of other towns at will, and Sherlock was a Devil, not a Magician. However, he believed that money could solve all problems.
He endured the pain in his heart as he tore the Teleport Scroll. In the brilliance of magical light, he was teleported to a new location.
"Don't stand there like a fool! Leave once you have registered. There are other teleport customers behind you!"
The brutish Orc who was working at the Teleport Portal reception shoved a form violently into Sherlock's hands. Sherlock consoled himself that the Orc's work attitude was not boorish. Rather, it was the heavy workload and the Orc's nature that resulted in his poor treatment.
He came down from the Teleport Portal while holding the form as rows of Teleport Portals behind him emitted rays of brilliance. As he walked towards the reception, he filled out his form. Behind the reception, there was a short Gnome who was saying, "…I merely drank a bit more wine, but my wife gave me a violent beating. Do you see my ear? It was torn off by her! Ai, I was a legendary gladiator when I was young."
The Gnome showed the left side of his bloody and bandaged green skull while stamping on Sherlock's form.
Even the dark Underworld had its own rules. The neutral Freedom Towns were better as they were built by merchants. As long as one filled out the form and obtained a stamp, one could move freely.
Upon arrival, the traveler only had to submit the form to complete the process, but other dungeons were more restrictive. For example, if other dark races were to invade Sherlock's Eternal Kingdom, he would not hesitate to kill them if he could win the fight.
Holding the stamped form in his hand, Sherlock ran towards the Bazaar of Winterfell, which was located in a huge dug-out cavern. There were many makeshift stalls, trading Gnomes and Goblins who were mostly other Dungeon Lords. To set up a shop in Freedom Town for selling common items, they had to pay very high rental fees. However, in the eyes of the discriminating Devil Sherlock, their goods were all trash!
Tsk! Why is that silver-scaled breastplate so shiny? It must be a lure for me to spend money!
There were also other Devils like Sherlock there. They led five to six-meters-tall giants, who were carrying corpses of magical beasts. They were here to engage in large-scale trading.
Sherlock inhaled a gust of turbid air and puffed his chest out as he took his first step in his glorious Dungeon Lord career!
"How many Magic Stones did you bring?" the Dungeon Core, Bru, asked as Sherlock was feeling uplifted.
"A thousand! I mortgaged all my properties! They're substantial!" he said as he looked for a metal goods merchant.
Bru thought for a while before saying, "You are really… a thrifty person. I admire you!"
Sherlock pretended not to hear Bru's words. Those thousand Magic Stones had been obtained after a haggling session with the real estate salesgirl. Inflation was rampant these days, and life was hard!
It wasn't hard to find a metal goods merchant since there were so many of them in the Bazaar. Sherlock found a shop that looked slightly run-down and walked in. On the shop sign was written: "Don't have the most expensive stuff".
The shopkeeper was a short but muscular Stone Golem who was noisily banging his hammer. When he saw a customer enter, he put down the hammer and poured Sherlock a cup of bloody chrysanthemum tea. Then, he asked eagerly, "Are you buying Depression Cream or Ash Emissary? I'm selling high quality imitations that are as good as real!"
Sherlock shook his head and said, "I want to buy a hundred metal pickaxes."
"No problem! A thousand Magic Stones! Free delivery!" the Stone Golem said heartily.
Sherlock inhaled a gust of cold air. Since when had pickaxes become so expensive? He was able to afford the pickaxes, but if he spent all the Magic Stones on tools, what were the Goblins going to eat? How could he possibly let them starve to death?
The Stone Golem noticed Sherlock's dismayed expression and was not surprised. He asked warmly, "You look like a respectable Devil Lord buying pickaxes for your new Dungeon, right? Aiya, recently there are many new dungeon start-ups, which have caused the demand for pickaxes to surge. The price increase is normal. No problem! You don't have to buy that many pickaxes. We have special discounts for a noble Devil Lord like you. Please take a look!"
He placed a discount flyer in front of Sherlock.
"A hundred year anniversary sale: only eight hundred Magic Stones for a brand new Blacksmith Shop! Good for smelting, forging and even preparing meals and boiling water. Its usage is only limited by your imagination! What are you waiting for? Bring home a brand new Blacksmith Shop for just eight hundred Magic Stones! (If paid in full, twenty complementary pickaxes will be included!)"
Sherlock was tempted. If he had a blacksmith shop, would he not be able to make his own pickaxes? He would not have to come here to buy pickaxes. Eight hundred Magic Stones for a Blacksmith Shop and twenty pickaxes seemed quite worth it!
"What do you think? Bru?"
"Good. The only note is that with a Blacksmith Shop, we will need a Blacksmith. But, not only can we make pickaxes, we can also make weapons and armor to sell to those gamers! Those Goblins!"
"What? Aren't those items given to them? I can sell the items to them?"
"Of course! If they have money, they'll buy directly. If not, they'll complete missions. The items can be based on rewards for how many missions they complete. They even have to work for food. That is how the otherworld works."
Was that not going to save Sherlock a large sum of money? Or even earn a handsome profit? Sherlock had only heard of Dungeon Lords spending money to feed the hordes. Now, the otherworld's Goblins were going to feed him! He could not help but feel excited.
Sherlock slapped the counter and paid eight hundred Magic Stones for the deal. The shopkeeper said, "It will only require half a day to construct. The construction team will be ready to set off in half an hour! You may bring them back to your Dungeon!"
A professional Blacksmith was required to work the Blacksmith shop. Although he could send the gamers to learn Blacksmith knowledge and skills, that could only happen in the future. Sherlock hired a highly skilled Blacksmith from the shopkeeper for a hundred Magic Stones a month.
The Blacksmith could work as a chef and prepare meals. It was perfect. The Blacksmith would be reporting for work tomorrow.
The remaining Magic Stones could be used to buy the Goblins food, such as large intestines and various insects. In a single shopping spree, he spent all of his remaining Magic Stones.
Sherlock did not stay long and hurried immediately to the "Don't have the most expensive stuff" shop to lead the construction team back to his Dungeon.
Sherlock brought the stone golem workers to the Dungeon Core. Under his instruction, the stone golem workers started constructing the Blacksmith Shop at the designated location.
Sherlock used his Mana to move the Goblins' food to a corner since there were currently no Goblins to excavate rooms. The food would not spoil in one day.
All the preparations were completed, and Sherlock returned to the Dungeon Core. Bru suggested that Sherlock access the official website. Sherlock went through lots of doubtful, fawning, begging and angry comments left by the gamers. Sherlock created a new notice: ["Dungeon: Eternal Kingdom" Beta Testing starts tomorrow! A hundred lucky gamers obtained Beta Tester status!]
The main content was to announce the identities of the hundred gamers, remind them to sign their courier packages that would arrive tonight and teach them to use the virtual reality gaming capsule.
Sherlock was curious about this couriered "virtual reality gaming capsule", but Bru assured him that he had settled everything at the otherworld. Hence, Sherlock did not think too much more about the small matter.
Not long after the notice was published, a lot of comments were left on the official website.
[Casual look, mundane things: I only just applied this morning, and selection is already completed in the afternoon? This is the fastest game to start on Beta Testing in the history of games!]
[Weeding: Happy! (~^ᄌ^)~ successfully obtained Beta Tester status!]
[Kilbon Hard: It's only been half a day, and the game has already gone viral. My QQ group was discussing this game, and someone offered 50,000 yuan for Beta Tester status!]
[OneTwoMountain: Only 50,000 yuan? I know someone who offered 100,000 yuan!]
[Dragon Raja.Breaking Customs: Dragon Raja MMO is investing heavily in this game. 150,000 yuan for each Beta Tester status. The more the merrier! Contact via phone at 139XXXXX, QQ contact 4506XXXX. Dragon Raja MMO is willing to pay selected Beta Testers!]
…
Sherlock looked at other people's replies and continuously pressed F5 to refresh his screen. He was amused by their replies, though he was unable to understand many of the comments. Time passed quickly.
Aside from the comments under his own post, there were also other gamer-created threads. The threads ranged from strategy guides, buying Beta Tester statuses at high prices, selling Beta Tester statuses, various clans' recruitment to other irrelevant topics. Bru described them as insignificant posts!
As Sherlock was browsing through the different postings, the Stone Golems had completed the Blacksmith Shop. It wasn't large, but it would suffice. Furthermore, they had left behind twenty pickaxes. Once Sherlock certified that the furnace was complete and signed the acknowledgment form, the Stone Golems left using a Teleport Scroll.
Sherlock surveyed the surroundings and heaved a sigh of relief. He only had to wait for the otherworld's Goblins to start work!
"Right, we should discuss the newbie missions!" the Dungeon Core, Bru, suggested.
Capítulo 3: The First Batch of Beta Gamers
Editor: Atlas Studios
Sherlock did not know how to react to the suggestion of the beginner missions. After Bru explained them in detail, Sherlock was able to understand.
The otherworld's gamers did not require a monthly salary, but they wished for clear missions like "Tunnel through that wall!", "Construct a resting room for ten people!", "Hunt in the wilderness for five Underground Spiders!" and "Bring back a cart full of wood!".
Even if Bru did not specify, Sherlock would have given the otherworld's gamers similar missions. The only difference was that they had to be rewarded with a little money, weapons, equipment and food after they completed the missions.
Sherlock was starting to develop a headache as he did not expect the management of the missions to be so troublesome.
He did not have weapons, equipment or food. As for wealth… the Underworld's currency was Magic Stones. Sherlock was not willing to use them to reward the otherworld's gamers. Then, Bru suggested that he could use gold coins for rewards!
Gold coins were the currency of the Surface World. One thousand bronze coins were equivalent to one silver coin and one thousand silver coins were equivalent to one gold coin. The main point was that after the development of the Dungeon, they could lure the Surface World's adventurers into the Dungeon with the coins. In exchange, Sherlock could create Magic Stones.
The naturally occurring Magic Stones were limited. To create Magic Stones, Mana had to be extracted from the bodies of the Surface World's adventurers using a special technique. To lure the Surface World's adventurers into the Dungeons, only the shiny gold coins were required.
Sherlock did not understand why the Surface World's adventurers were fond of the gold coins that didn't have any Mana. He thought it was incredible.
Sherlock did not mind using the gold coins as rewards for the otherworld's gamers. But Sherlock knew that all the Underworld's creatures like Devils and such were not interested in gold coins. Would the otherworld's Goblins like gold coins?
Bru said confidently, "Yes they do! Actually, it's more like craving! If you reward them with bronze, silver or gold coins and use them as trading currency in the Dungeon, they will make the coin-based economy come to life. Believe me!"
Sherlock was doubtful about the effects of the gold coins, but he was glad that he did not have to pay the Goblins Magic Stones as salary. It was no issue for Sherlock to reward them with gold coins. A Magic Stone could be exchanged for a large chest of gold coins!
Sherlock's next task was to discuss with Bru the standardized reward for various missions. When the otherworld's gamers arrived at the Dungeon, he wanted them to work diligently and happily.
Making the gamers content was what a good Dungeon Lord ought to do. Most Underworld monsters sought employment with the Dungeon Lords. They were not puppets that Dungeon Lords created using Mana.
After finishing his work, Sherlock looked at the time and discovered that half a day had passed. It was almost time for the selected gamers to arrive at the Dungeon.
As a new Dungeon Lord, Sherlock was about to meet his first batch of workers. He was nervous. After checking the Goblins' food, the gold coins for reward and the Blacksmith Shop, Sherlock discovered an important issue. His Blacksmith had not arrived yet!
While he was fretting about when the Blacksmith would arrive, a magical ray appeared in the Dungeon and a Teleport Portal appeared in front of him. Without his approval, nobody could open up a Teleport Portal in his Dungeon. He only allowed one person to do that, and that was his employed Blacksmith!
A dark-skin Dwarf walked out from the Teleport Portal. He was a Blacksmith Dwarf living in the Underworld and not the cavern Dwarf. The Dwarves were extremely good in smithing and forging.
"A new developing Dungeon? You look pretty young for a Devil!"
The Dwarf walked out of the portal and looked around at the small Dungeon. He lifted his hammer and shouted at Sherlock with his bright voice, "I'm your newly recruited Blacksmith, Simba. This is our contract. The effective date is three months and the monthly salary is a hundred Magic Stones. Please verify the contract, young Devil Lord."
The Blacksmith took out a contract and gave it to Sherlock. He examined it carefully to ensure it was the contract he signed yesterday. He returned the contract to the Blacksmith and said formally, "Welcome, Simba! You're the first worker of this great Dungeon! That's your workplace!"
Sherlock pointed at the empty Blacksmith Shop and he suddenly recalled something. He pointed at the food in the corner and said, "Those are the raw food materials. There aren't any special warehouses for proper storage yet. Once the Goblins arrive, I will get them to construct a food warehouse. Please prepare portable meals like pies because the Goblins won't have the chance to sit down for a meal!"
Sherlock sounded like a cruel slave driver. The Blacksmith Simba was used to such things. It was obvious this was not his first time working for a Dungeon Lord. Entering the Blacksmith Shop, he immediately started a fire skilfully. Then, he prepared the metal pot and collected the food materials to cook the meals!
There were no ores, so there were no metals. The ores had to be mined by the Goblins!
Seeing the Blacksmith settling down, Sherlock tidied up his clothes and extended his huge Devil's wings as he watched himself in the mirror. Ensuring that his imposing image of a Devil Overlord was good, he went to the front of the Dungeon Core.
Next, he was going to summon the hundred selected gamers from the otherworld!
The summoning ritual was simple. Besides infusing Mana, he had to sign the otherworld's contract. For example, there was the "Dungeon: Eternal Kingdom, Virtual Reality web distribution rights contract", the "2019 MMO approval form", the "Disclaimers form" and other types of contracts. Sherlock signed without a word through the Dungeon Core. He didn't even look at the fineprints because the otherworld's agreements did not have binding power on a Devil.
After completing his contracts, Sherlock began his summoning work.
After infusing the required Mana into the Dungeon Core, a hundred half-human sized Teleport Portals appeared before him. Sherlock placed his hands behind his back and pushed out his chest while waiting for the gamers to pledge their loyalty. He waited for a few minutes, but there were no Goblins. Sherlock said impatiently, "Where are my workers? The gamers from the otherworld, why aren't they coming out?"
"They are molding their faces. They always pay attention to unimportant details like appearances, clothing and even accessories. The culture of the otherworld is like that," Bru explained.
Sherlock suppressed his impatience and waited. Sometimes a few senseless Devils would use Mana to change their looks. He did not expect the Goblins to have such a tendency and that it was common in the otherworld. The Mana to change their looks came from Sherlock. Each Goblin that came to his Dungeon required his Mana to sustain the link between his world with the otherworld. However, the Mana used was a small pittance. It was not a burden for Sherlock.
Sherlock did not have to wait for a long time before the first Goblin walked out from the Teleport Portal.
The Goblin was tall for his race and was almost at the upper limit. He reached the height of Sherlock's knees.
The Goblin was naked from the chest up and wore a pair of shorts. Sherlock was in a daze as the Goblin walked out from the Teleport Portal. The Goblin looked in astonishment at the surroundings. After surveying the environment, he muttered, "Is the technology that advanced? I initially thought the Virtual Reality MMO would feel fake, but it is actually real. My God, the game modeling, the quality of the materials, the feel of the skin and its accompanying pain feel so real. Can it be adjusted…?"
To Sherlock, the Goblin had gone into a feverish state which was abnormal. Normally, every dark creature that arrived in the Dungeon would pledge its loyalty to the Dungeon Lord.
"My lowly servant, why aren't you pledging your loyalty to the great Devil Lord Sherlock? You will obtain my mercy and bountiful rewards if you do so!" Sherlock straightened his back and said in a cool emotionless voice. He resisted showing his exhilaration and excitement.
The Goblin heard Sherlock's voice and turned his head to look at Sherlock. After that, he lifted his head in panic and screamed in a shrill voice, "NotWearingPants pledges loyalty to the great Devil Lord Sherlock!"
After screaming, the Goblin started to wander and look around. He said to himself, "This game's Dungeon Lord NPC is so real, and the oppressive aura is so strong that I almost knelt down. It is awesome. I'm going to the discussion forum to praise it to the heavens!"
Sherlock felt that the Goblin was acting weird. What was even more strange was that when the Goblin announced his name, the words NotWearingPants appeared above his head.
Correct! That was the name given to himself by the Goblin! The name would follow the Goblin as he moved around as though it was part of him.
As Sherlock was wondering why the Goblin would use Mana to show his strange name above his head, numerous different Goblins came out of the Teleport Portal. Some wore worn-out shirts and shorts that covered the essential three points. Others simply wore the same shorts as NotWearingPants. They had various faces, but they had a common feature—ugliness!
Did you expect Goblins to look good?
The Goblin started chatting in front of Sherlock!
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