Tune is the largest city on the Ishda coastline and most of the fish distributed to the region comes from there. There are two other exporters, but both combined send out less seafood than Tune does. That's probably the main reason the town is so corrupt. It's rife for seedy business negotiations and back room deals. I wouldn't even be surprised if the mayor was in on most of them. His soul is orange after all.

There were that many problems in Tune, I'm still working on them. Reaching Ishda's capital still seems like a dream as I walk down the dirty streets of my third city. Getting more annoyed with each step.

Fuck this.

Absorbing anything not living, even a few corpses if my notifications are anything to go on, which they are, the streets become free from clutter, dirt, blood and grime as I breathe a sigh of relief. My absorption doesn't fix broken buildings obviously, but that's a task for a different day.

Today is a clean up day.

Councilman Raff is here and I'm overseeing his choices for soul redemption. The problem with delegating this task is that I'm the only person able to use Soul Guide. I have full confidence in Sacha though. The Deputy Mayor always pulls through, and she recommended him for the job. Now we'll see if he's up to the task.

Among all the different walks of life in Tune, there are no ideal choices unfortunately. Each element comes with its own problems and there are just too many to count. Instead, by the time I arrived at his location, Council member Raff had already selectively chosen individuals from all different manners of groups. Children, men, woman, old folk, prostitutes, guards, officials, laborers, fishermen and even a few adventurers were included in his selection.

"A little bit of everything," he said as I approached. I nodded in response, but didn't comment. I had an opinion, of course I did. I didn't know if I would have been correct saying it however so I kept my mouth shut for once. Also, I had already palmed this job onto Raff and if I had wanted to do it myself, I would have done.

All great leaders utilise their subordinates. It doesn't make me lazy.

Instead I looked at everyone lined up in a trance-like state. Shadows covered their eyes making them look a little creepy, but other than that, Raff's choices were all fine. Mostly yellow with a few oranges. I don't know how he worked out who was where, but it was a great job and I felt happy leaving him in charge.

Soul Guide is useful in many different ways as I've recently learned. Gaining understanding over my own skills was something I've been lacking due to a chain of continuous events. Even the fleeting moments of down time that find their way into my life get used up on rest.

Maybe I should visit the Coliseum myself? If I had any offensive skills other than destruction through points then I'd consider it. Fact is I have no means of offense other than that. Even my Dungeon Mist as I also recently learnt only boosts my family and not myself.

Where's the master's power, eh?

Currently, I am in Tune by myself. I know, right? Where are the triplets? They're still in the Coliseum and I have a sneaky suspicion that Bear will be ready to evolve by the time I get back. That and the girls will still be level 1.

Maybe I should order them to transform? For the greater good? I don't want to be mean, but is it okay to be cruel to be kind? I doubt it and will ignore that for now. The main point is that they're trying and you never know, they could get lucky.

That said, I'm about to have a meeting with the Mayor of Tune and could probably use some luck myself. If not, I have another trick up my sleeve that's guaranteed to work today. One that has changed many a mind over the last few centuries.

I don't bother myself with the two guards stationed at the door. Nor the four men ambling around inside pretending to look busy. Instead I port straight into the Mayor's office as he's counting gold. Just like a certain Categoriser I know.

"Yeah, I know. How did I do that? Amazing, right? Here's the deal," I pause for a second to let his mind catch on to the fact that I'm offering him a proposition. "I have a shit load of gold that I'm willing to give you. What do you think about that?"

The mayor's face shows his disbelief as he scoffs at my words. The overweight man has definitely been doing well for himself as he's covered in gold. Rings, bracelets, necklaces, and even the stitching in his clothes is made of the stuff.

"Why? No one gives away gold for free. There's obviously something you want me to do so get to it. I'm very busy as you can see." He goes back to counting his coins as though I didn't just offer his ass a load more gold.

Seeing how he's covered in the stuff, I thought he'd have dived on my offer. It almost threw me off a little, but what I wanted wasn't anything he couldn't deliver.

"Well there is one thing I want you to do," I sigh. Acting as though the mayor's a clever guy, and that he's seen through me like glass.

"There always is. I should know. Continue." I hate this guy already, I don't know why we haven't thrown him in a cell yet. Probably not a good look to kidnap the mayor of a city as I'm coming out as a dungeon though. That's probably it. Either way, I don't like him. He's nothing like Baldur.

"I'm going to give you an abundance of food so that you can feed every single person in this city twelve times a day if you want to and that's exactly what I want you to do. Feed them."

The large man seems puzzled by my proposition. It shouldn't be that hard to understand though. I'm basically paying him to do the job he was originally supposed to be doing. Only this time I'm offering an abundance of food and the same in payment.

"Not twelve times a day of course and obviously not you personally, but I need you to set it up. Look like the guy for once," hell it might even drop you a colour.

If it goes well, he might not need any time in rehab. He probably will, though, and I wouldn't count my chickens just yet.

"Okay," he says suspiciously. Now he's wondering why I'm offering gold and food. Time to lay it out there.

"Oh. And I'm a Dungeon Core by the way. Not a Space Mage. I own this city now. Bought it and everything. I can see everything that goes on everywhere. It doesn't matter if it's the guard downstairs picking his nose or the fact that beneath your desk your leg is beating away furiously, I see it all. If you don't feed everyone -and I mean everyone- I'll know."

Now he's starting to look a little white, like he's somehow made a deal with the devil. Instead it's just me, your friendly-neighbourhood core.

"Before I leave for the day, I'll be setting up food production sites outside of the city. They should be ready to harvest as early as tomorrow, but I'll spare you the details. I'm sure you have people who know their stuff."

The Mayor's mouth is moving, but no sound is coming out so I take the opportunity to continue. It's nice having the room. "They take about three hours to replenish since I upgraded them. Your guys need to know that so tell them. Other than that, keep doing what you have been doing. Well, maybe alter it slightly. I don't wanna have to throw you in my dungeon," I frown.

"Anyway, I'll be back in a week. Make sure you feed your citizens or you'll be seeing me a lot sooner and it won't be for a friendly chat like this." The growling of a tummy catches my attention and immediately turns around to eye no one. Amber isn't with me and it was in fact my own stomach that interrupted my speech. Turning red, I return my attention to the Mayor and bid him a prompt goodbye before disappearing.

Hopefully he won't mess it up. I don't have high expectations, but what will be will be. Right now I'm too embarrassed with myself to care and port back to the Coliseum. If I'm hungry, Amber must be starving.

On arrival, I find the girls being lectured by Randy rather than fighting Golems and it's no surprise to see their level unchanged whereas Bear is ready for an evolution. The Ringmaster shakes his head when he sees me and the triplets look depressed.

Is it that bad? Can they just not fight or something?

"Don't worry, girls," I offer them some words of encouragement, "I'm sure we can find something else for you to fight." What that is, I have no idea, but I'll think of something.

"Until then, let's go get some dinner." Amber jumps up full of excitement. Motivating her sisters to do the same, we port out of the Coliseum and move straight to Ali's.

While we're there, I debate whether or not to purchase some land after we've finished, but I'm too tired as usual tonight and tomorrow is a new day. I don't have any visits that need my attention and neither do I have to go anywhere. There are still a few people left to reward for their service and efforts in the war, but that's nothing major like cleaning up Tune is.

It would be nice if the domino effect kicked in, at least that's what I'm hoping for. Once the majority of souls have reverted back to neutral, hopefully the minority will follow suit.

Hopefully.

I mean, being good can be infectious in its own way after all.