Mandy, Marcus and Alice were in the bar at the Paradise Motel watching a few construction workers getting drunk. Mandy approved of the Bloody Mary the ugly bartender had dispensed.

“So Alice, any idea when Manfred will be able to claim that white elephant that lot are producing?”

Alice looked up. “Moonbright thinks he will have to reach level six first, he’s level four at the moment. How about clearing those LARP tours. At least Manfred won’t be trying to kill them and with their enthusiasm they should help.”

“And where is this dungeon they will be playing in. We will have to get it vetted,” said Markus.

Alice’s jaw dropped. “We’re sitting in it. Where did you think this place came from?”

“What? How? I somehow thought it was always here.” Mandy looked round really seeing the bartender and waitress for the first time. “It’s almost like it affects the mind, it just exudes an aura of age and seems as if it has always been here.”

“But... But it’s less than a week old!” exclaimed Alice wide eyed.

“For that matter where does the gasoline for that antique pump come from?” asked Marcus.

Alice lifted an eyebrow, “Manfred makes it.”

“Makes it!” ejaculated Marcus.

Two days later the Paradise Motel was inspected within an inch of its life, and a sizable sample of the gasoline it sold was taken for analysis. To everyone’s surprise including Manfred’s it passed.

When he mentioned it to his grandfather Antonio laughed. « You used what I taught you, no? My hotel has five stars why should yours be any different. No bugs or other vermin will exist in our hotels that we don’t want and haven’t placed there on purpose. And your liquor and ingredients if you’re using my templates is of the best. »

« Why don’t you sell gasoline? »

« Because I don’t want to annoy the local companies that refine and sell it. And with the portals I don’t need it. »

Then Manfred explained about his possible future problems with stretching his domain.

« You have capacity you haven’t disclosed I hope? If so save some energy then send Moonbright with some guards when nobody’s around and open a portal and claim the structure through that portal, then create a small hidden room and move that portal and hide it. »

« That should work, I think. Thanks Gramps. »

The first LARP section was highly popular and the second sold out almost before it was advertised. Manfred and Moonbright were happy with the energy and experience they were getting, admittedly the experience quickly vanished while the influx of energy, if anything increased.

Alice, Manfred and Moonbright were astounded when the chambermaid managed to seduce another two guests. This times LARPers. The experience from that flipped Manfred into level five and he managed to persuade the system to grant him Lovecraftian Ghouls as a second monster type.

* * *

Antor, Tessarra and João were playing with Isabella. They had actually obtained permission, thanks to Isabella, and were having fun in Antonio’s public underwater caves. When they were finally asked to leave they did so and headed deeper as Isabella wanted to see Antonio and Otavio.

Otavio took the opportunity to test them. He pushed them hard but managed to make it appear like play. Otavio taught them several new tricks with Isabella’s help.

While the four friends napped Antonio decided to help, he had noted that the three sea elves just needed a little help to open a whole new level of potential, so after wrestling with his conscience for a short while he linked to Moonbeam and they went to work.

When the dungeon and his companion were satisfied and carefully withdrew from the three children they felt the system’s interest, and both gained a full level.

Antonio, worried inspected the children. Their race was now Ocean Elf. Antonio manifested his avatar and looked at Moonbeam and Felicia. Felicia handed him his phone. He looked at her and sighed.

“Silverfin?”

“Yes! What is it this time Antonio?”

“Two things. You know I hope that Antor, Tessarra and João are playing with my Isabella today?”

“Yes, so?”

“Well they have been through my dungeon from the shore, through the deeps and through the underwater caves, all the caves. Isabella was thorough. Then they came to see me and Otavio decided to teach them some things, so he put them through their paces. In fact they’re still sleeping in my heart cave. The system seems to think that they are the first party to have conquered my dungeon.”

Silverfin almost dropped his phone, his jaw almost hit the floor. His wives looked up, becoming worried.

“The System has... has awarded them... But that’s preposterous... Insane. Did you reward them?”

“But yes, they lasted almost two hours with Otavio. Of course I rewarded them.”

Silverfin sighed, so what level are they now?” he asked with a certain resignation.

“Um, Antor and Tessara are level ten, João is level fourteen and four. Oh and they are now Ocean Elves.”

Silverfin closed his eyes. “Ocean Elves? What are Ocean Elves?”

“Well, all I can say is that what I can see they could plumb the deepest levels of the ocean without help and they seem to have picked up some affinities from Isabella. And vice versa. The downside seems to be that they are more dependant on the sea than before. I suspect they need to breath water more often than before.”

* * *

In the US California through the 9th circuit was defying the president again. This time they were insisting that the two world gates in the state should not be fortified and that the army had to withdraw and dismantle the work that had already been done.

Reluctantly the army did so while the executive launched an appeal that they hoped to fast track to the Supreme Court.

After the report on Fox News, Ashes turned to her father, “are they crazy, anything could come through those World Gates, the one in the Rockies is fairly remote, which is bad in it’s own way, but the other is actually in Los Angeles.”

Henry eyed his adopted daughter and lifted his hands in a gesture of helplessness.

Ashes narrowed her eyes, “Father please file a... a report with the various agencies stating that I’m... well I hope it’s we’re worried. Unguarded gates can lead to monster or other invasions but the most common danger is raids by bandits or slavers. Or monsters. That big one in the Rockies might even allow a dragon through.”

Henry Erickson nodded thoughtfully, “I think I understand, but just to be sure, why?”

“If we don’t and something happens we’ll be blamed for it by those gutless wonders in Sacramento.”

Henry got up and headed for his office, “come on Ashes, we’ve got a report to write and file.”