The Achievement Junkie

With nothing to do but walk on what they assumed was the first floor, the councilmen wandered until they came across the next teleportation circle.

Now on the next floor, the four men even more careful to not be seen since this floor had artificial lighting.

They stuck close to the walls and allowed one of Vixus's scouting beasts to scan the area for them. He chose to use a small, speedy lizard as Vixus felt it was most befitting of the cave environment.

Traveling slower than on the first floor, the councilmen made sure to be extremely cautious. They had no desire of getting caught on the "second floor", long before they reached their goal. In their minds, the best way of clearing the mysterious, unpredictable dungeon was to allow Tralon, who they assumed had traversed the dungeon long ago, to lead the way.

"Hmmm… interesting…"

"What is it, Vixus?" Quallace asked in the world's softest whisper.

Seeing through the eye of his lizard, Vixus described the sight before the lizard. "There's a roughly built city here, but it's just as quiet as the empty floor we just passed. It's possibly abandoned."

"How large is it?" Bikkem asked.

"Small. Even its walls aren't much taller than us. It was probably a small civilization of some race that those men have wiped out," deduced Vixus.

"Makes sense. Check the city, please. I want to know if they've left yet or if they're resting with the city as their camp."

"Right." Vixus sent his lizard companion over the short city walls in search of any signs of life. "Nothing so far…"

After scouring the city and taking its time, the lizard reached the chief's home.

"I see a light inside one of the buildings. I think they're camping for the night after successfully clearing the two floors," stated Vixus.

"Good, then we'll let them rest for now. We'll consider what to do about Tralon once Kaldor arrives tomorrow. Till then, let them do whatever they want," Bikkem reasoned.

"Then I'll just have my lizard-- Hey!"

"Shh…" Bikkem and Quallace both tried to silence Vixus's sudden shout.

"That fox…"

"What about the fox?" asked Quallace.

"That fox just ate my lizard."

Not sure how to feel, the other councilmen looked to the annoyed Vixus. They were all smiling, hiding their laughter about their fellow councilman's poor luck.

"We'll check on them in a few hours with a different beast. Now we know not to get to close or that fox might get hungry again."

*****

After Sterfen ended their conversation, Jack wasn't able to focus on much else beyond the mysterious events he knew nothing about. So, to get his mind off of what he wasn't able to learn at the moment, Jack cast God's Eye and paid close attention to their followers.

Jack enjoyed watching the four councilmen wander around the third floor so carefully. He would check on them every ten minutes or so, keeping track of their speed and location at all times.

Once they were teleported to the fourth floor, Jack paid extra close attention. To make sure they were found but not seen, Jack had Argyle and Bowzer join Tralon in the chief's house.

When Jack noticed that the councilmen were no longer moving, he searched for anything that might be foreign to the dungeon that could be used to scout them out. Jack quickly found a lizard coming from the direction of the councilmen. As the lizard gradually entered the city, Jack snickered.

The hero waited for quite some time for the lizard to get close to the chief's house and spot the light they set. As soon as Jack was sure the lizard saw them, Jack chuckled.

'Hey, Bowzer, you hungry?'

'Yeah!'

'Sadly, most of the creatures on this floor are insects, but you got lucky.' Jack pointed to the outside wall. 'On the other side of this wall is a tasty lizard. But you'll have to catch it by surprise or it will run away from you.'

'Really? Thanks, Jack!'

All smiles, the Hell-flame Fox silently got up and trotted through the halls. He swiftly exited the house and located his dinner. The poor lizard didn't stand a chance against Bowzer's speed or his powerful fangs.

'That should do it.'

'What are you talking about, Jack'

Jack smiled at Argyle motioned to the outside where they could hear Bowzer loudly chewing and crunching on the lizard. 'If I'm not mistaken, Bowzer's dinner was a beast scout sent out by the councilmen.'

'Oh… Nice move, Jack,' Argyle laughed. 'Then we should be fine for another day so long as they know we're in here.'

'I just hope a full day's rest will be enough for Tralon.'

'Knowing him, he'll be a bit sore but he'll muster through it for now. By the way, what in Halmut's beard is on the tenth floor?'

'Oh, I should warn you about that,' Jack laughed. 'It's almost as big as the third floor with the jakals, but I only placed a handful of monsters on that floor.'

'So what makes it so fearful?'

'Also like the third floor it's pitch-black down there, but unlike the third floor, it had illusory mists and mobs specializing in illusions and charms. If you don't know the layout of the floor, then you'll be forced to wander aimlessly until you happen to step on the teleportation circle.'

Startled, Argyle gave Jack a crazy look. 'It's that bad?'

'Yeah but it's probably much worse now. The beasts on that floor were actually some of the weakest in the entire dungeon, they just made the tenth floor impossible to navigate. There's no telling how many of them there are now,' explained Jack. 'Also, if you can't properly understand teleportation circles, then you might end up going somewhere you don't want to go.'

'You put more than one kind of circle down there, didn't you?'

'Guilty as charged,' Jack laughed. 'Without our mental link, it would almost be impossible to travel together. Even if we're tied together or holding hands, we wouldn't be able to see ourselves down there. And I don't want to use Bowzer's flames either, otherwise, we may not be able to trick the councilmen.'

'And what if the councilmen decide to attack us before we reach the tenth floor?' Argyle asked.

'Well… In that case, we fight. And since they may try to eliminate Tralon, then I wouldn't be against eliminating them if necessary.'

'Oh, so you wouldn't care if I killed them?' Argyle smiled. 'Even if some getaway and they can prove we did it?'

'Even then, because they entered uninvited into our guild's storehouse. And since they would be forced to explain why the dared to try that, then I think our arguments would balance out,' reasoned Jack. 'As for the upcoming election, I think once we reveal ourselves as the culprits behind success in both Limneer and Prachten. And by then I'll also have an alliance with Korten, hopefully.'

'If you can prove all that public and you get the treaty with Korten, then I can see why you would be a shoo-in for the council.'

'Also, I may be able to get a god to move to Trodar by then, I think.'

'Seriously?! Which one?' Argyle's eyes were filled with excitement.

'It would be a Neutral God that most people have forgotten, but he's still a god,' stated Jack. 'His name is Eedaj. I should be able to meet him in Kortan, and if I'm thinking correctly I might be able to convince him to relocate to the Leisure Guild.'

'You and your wild schemes… I'm glad I'm getting mixed up in them,' laughed Argyle. 'This is far more exciting than just preparing for auctions or making business deals.'

'Well, you're always welcome to participate in them when you're able, and under certain circumstances, I might request it.'

'Consider it done.'

Jack and Argyle proudly shook hands, not as son-in-law and father-in-law but as future partners both anxious for adventure.