The adventurers made their way to the new buildings with Nymira leading. They saw several dungeon knights standing guard outside the buildings. It was becoming apparent who was responsible for this mess. This was the first time anyone had seen a dungeon knight outside the dungeon and it made the m quite nervous, most people thought that these things weren’t even human considering the size and power, and seeing them outside the dungeon didn’t bode well.

As if unconcerned Nymira walked right up to the knight. Her stature childlike in comparison, and demanded, “what happened here. Where did these buildings come from and what happened to the nobles villas”.

The dungeon knights helm angled downward as he briefly answered before staring off into the horizon again, “The dungeon master has decided to take a more active approach to governing his city, so he created this theatre” he gestured to the round building behind him, “and that court” pointing towards the new rectangular structure.

“his city, since when is Morningstar city the dungeons masters city--”

“further questions will be answered inside the theatre, gather those in power because it starts at noon” the dungeon knight interrupted.

Any further questions were completely ignored and the other dungeon knights proved to be far less talkative. Instead Nymira went to enter the “theatre” only to stopped by a dungeon knight, “who are you” he asked in a voice too deep to be human.

“Nymira the adventurer guild master, you know, one of those in power” she sharply replied.

The dungeon knight moved back into his guard position and didn’t make a move again when she entered the building.

Inside was a simple but effective stage set up. The stage was in the center of the building and was empty, surrounding the stage were rows of chairs, each row slightly taller the further from the center they were. This would mean that everyone would be able to see the people on the stage clearly, unless one was very short.

Nymira chose a seat closest to the stage out of the 1000 seats and waited. Soon people started filing in, most were nobles judging by their clothing, but surprisingly some looked to be the few high ranking adventurers in this city, she even spotted the cities master blacksmith along with his friend the craftsman guild leader.

Noon was fast approaching and only a quarter of the seats had been filled, most chose seats close to the center with obvious anticipation for what was to come, others sat on the highest seats. Probably to distance themselves from the others in some show of pride.

It seemed as if anyone and everyone important in the city was in this building, some of the cautious nobles decided to leave and listen to what happened later. The idea that the dungeon had all the cities power in one of its controlled buildings didn’t sit right with them.

Just before the sun reached its zenith commoners flooded the building and took up the remaining seats, some were even sitting in the stairways either because the dungeon knights didn’t count right or didn’t care. Although they didn’t seem to want any empty seats here even if it rubbed some of the nobles the wrong way.

Lucifer stepped out of the dungeon with Ahri, Selenia, Ellora and the rest of the dungeon knights in tow. The soldiers protecting the dungeon entrance were given quite a scare, but they didn’t move. It wasn’t their jobs to stop humans from exiting, only dungeon creatures.

Then a giant black panther stalked out behind the two with a fairy sitting on its head. A few of the soldiers went in to move, but their superior officer put a hand up and stopped them. Instead they sent a messenger to Wolfram.

Lucifer had altered his appearance somewhat, now he was almost half the size of the dungeon knights rather than bigger. This was for image purposes as was his “enhanced face”.

Ahri was wearing her university robes, more of an implication that the university sided with the dungeon than anything.

Selenia was in her full battle gear. Which now consisted of a midnight black set of fully enchanted plate armor. It was far lighter than it looked, but the special material it was made from offered excellent protection without effecting mobility much.

Ellora wore a vivid red dress that Lucifer styled from his own worlds fashion industry, it matched perfectly with her fiery red hair and tightly hugged her now “perfect” body. Lucifer was surprised when she asked for such a thing, but he thought she might be trying to make up for her previously hulk like appearance. Or she was just trying to spend more time in his bed, who knows, and he certainly didn’t care.

Kuro and Lucky tagging along wasn’t initially in Lucifer's plans, but it would certainly help with his claims of being the dungeon. Them being dungeon bosses and all. He couldn’t take cuddles with him, and taking snappy with him would mean they wouldn’t get there until nightfall. One because it was too big to fit thought the entrance, and the other because it was a turtle. So a sadistic cat and mischievous fairy it was. Although he was doubtful about bringing along the troublesome fairy.

He and his group went went the relatively short distance uninterrupted, until he go the theatre entrance, it was packed full of people trying get in. Lucifer didn’t think of adding a dungeon entrance because he was occupied with other things. So he had his dungeon knights part the crowd which they did with ease. Mostly because they were just that intimidating and part because of their absurd strength.

Once inside he saw people sitting in the isles and sighed, once again his dungeon knights made way for him until he was on the stage. Screams and yells followed his steps and he realized it would have been more effective to have Kuro lead with how people avoided her.

Once on the stage he frowned. No chairs. Another thing he didn’t think of. So he walked over to Kuro mounted her as a less than comfortable seat. Lucky did the same with his head and he instantly regretted bringing her along.

The image of a attractive powerful man on a horse sized panther was quite something, and he didn’t want to ruin it by sitting there swiping at a naughty fairy.

It took some time before it quietened down enough for his liking and he began, “I AM LUCIFER MORNINGSTAR, THE DUNGEON MASTER AND OWNER OF THIS CITY. FIRSTLY WELCOME TO MY PARADISE. ANY AND ALL ARE WELCOME IN MY DEPTHS. He didn’t need to yell because the stage had amplifying magic he personally enchanted onto it, but public speaking wasn’t his best ability so he started off strong.

The moment he paused a noble from the front row yelled back, “what are you going to do about my villa you destroyed”, although it was noticeably quieter because he didn’t have the benefit of the amplification.

Lucifer glared at the man and the man flinched when the dungeon knights gripped their weapons. “I don’t like to be interrupted” Lucifer coldly said. “now as I was saying, the reason I have appeared before you is because “certain people” he glared at the man once again, “have been trying to get into contact with me, and by burning down my dungeon no less.

Some have sent people after my dungeon knights although met with little success.” people started glancing to each-other in the crown, but Lucifer only paid attention to a few people in the front row. “So since you people are so interested in me taking a more active role in governing my land then here I am.

These are a few changes I’m going to make.

First I will be setting up public schools which can be attended by any child for free.” he looked toward the adventurer guild leader and asked, “Nymira I take it you have a few retired adventurers who wouldn’t mind taking up a paid teaching job”

Nymira jolted at suddenly being called upon but quickly replied, “if the conditions are good I don’t mind giving a few “teachers” to you, although what would they be taught exactly, because my people tend towards the physical side of life”

Lucifer replied, “basic mathematics, reading, writing, life skills and adventuring”

“Your just trying to teach kids to go to their death in your dungeon” the same noble yelled.

Lucifer rolled his eyes, “so you think the guild would send teachers that would try to get their students to die in the dungeon”

The noble was about to yell in the affirmative, but the glares of the high ranking adventurers made him rethink that. It was a bad idea to piss off all the adventurers not only because they were strong, but also because a large part of the economy worked off of them so they had no small amount of power when working together.

Ahri stepped next to Lucifer and added, “the arcane university will also be sending teachers to these schools to teach magic”

Discussion erupted from the crowd and when it died down the noble taunted, “nothing in life is free, as if you can receive magic instruction for nothing, even us nobles can have a hard time getting lessons from the university. You obviously have an agenda”

This time the discussion was much quieter and died down everywhere Lucifer looked. With a barely noticeable tinge of annoyance in his tone he said, “of course I have an agenda, who doesn’t” eliciting more reactions form the crowd, “I am making my public image better which as you can imagine would be rather important for a dungeon ruler. I also want an educated population because it will make my city prosperous thus making me more powerful as its leader”

The noble countered, “if you cared so much about the cities prosperity than you would conjure up gold for everyone”

Lucifer laughed, “then why aren't you giving all your wealth to your people MR noble, or perhaps it's you who don’t care about your people's prosperity” the mans face heated up somewhat and took on a red tinge, but he held his tongue.

However, just before Lucifer continued he suddenly said, “YOU keep saying this is your city, but this is King Arthus’ land, and is managed by lord Albus D’ellinoris--”

Lucifer interrupted, “I can see why your such an ass, its obvious that your family doesn’t give a crap about you and sent you to this far off place to rot, they didn’t even tell you that King Arthus has given me this land as a reward for helping take the duchies back, and now this land is not under his rule. Also Albus is just managing this city for me. Probably as an informant for the king too, but I don’t care he does his job well enough”

small spats of muffled laughter filled the room and the noble wasn’t speaking. Probably too infuriated at being called an ass in public to come up with a good retort. So Lucifer continued his on with his changes.

“Secondly the other new building is a court and I am its judge jury and executioner, there are no distinctions between nobles and commoners there. Anyone can go there and ask for justice, however, when you issue a claim its your life against theirs. If you lose the case or it is frivolous then I will have you killed in my dungeon in whatever manner I see fit. If you win then the other persons life is forfeit. Remember, vengeance can be a beautiful thing.

Oh and if you think that you are immune to my law because of your status or think you can just go back to Swadia you are wrong. Arthus considers anyone I deem a criminal in my city to be a criminal in his Kingdom.

Third I w--”

The noble interrupted again, “you are no--”

“SHUT THE FUCK UP” Lucifer roared, “if you make another sound you will be debating me in the new court weather your interruptions are justified”

‘but your the judge and executioner’ thought the crowd.

Third, I will be lowering taxes to a third of what they currently are--”

The crowd once again burst into discussion and this time Lucifer wasn’t annoyed at the interruption.

After it died down he continued, “I pay my army myself and only have to pay for the cities day to day expenses so a lower tax rate doesn't bother me. It will also increase the cities prosperity due to increased trade and business opportunities.

Which brings me to my next change, trade is no longer taxed in this city, you will pay a flat sum at the start of the season and that's it, this will lower the amount of “bean counters” needed thus lowering expenses further and will also make this place a trade capital of the continent.

Fifth, I am going to be making a few changes to the city.

The buildings that have gone against the city planners plans will be demolished, the rules are there for a reason and I’ve noticed several buildings that have seriously harmed traffic between the dungeon and the city” he looked towards the nobles and they were grumbling amongst themselves, it appears that most of those “miss placed” buildings were owned by them.

Although the nobles keeping quiet surprised him Lucifer continued, “I will also cover over the water system and make several outlets. I made that river for a reason and it wasn’t so the people higher on the mountain could pollute the waters for those below. Also a separate sewage system will be made.

There will be a few other minor changes, I plan to build a hospital… which is a building where you can be healed for a small price… and that's about it, NOW it’s the time for questions.

It took a little while before someone spoke up, but once they did the questioned kept lowing, some wanted to know the specifics of the tax. Merchants mostly. Others wanted to know more about the school and its curriculum. Probably parents. And a small group wanted to know more about the court and how exactly its used. These were probably people who were wronged and Lucifer could see the nobles practically wiping off sweat when he spoke to some people.

After several hours and hundreds of questions some of which he ignored he was finally done, or at least leaving. He briefly spoke to the building planner about his city changes and Nymira about the teaching specifics. (mostly the pay)

Lucifer made it back to his lab and sat down exhausted, public speaking wasn’t exactly one of his skills and being a dungeon only helped so much. At least the improved intelligence made the questions easier to answer and it seemed that most people left satisfied.

inevitability tomorrow will be a mass exodus of the city as people leave the city in fear, he wasn’t exactly subtle about his intentions. Some of which involved people dying. It probably didn’t help that his reasons for making a hospital was, less cripples taking up resources because they would be healed and die properly in the dungeon.

Haah, Lucifer sighed again, he was already busy enough with his own experiments and governing a city won’t help. But, that is what he wanted to do, so he did it.

Now that he was involving himself with the city he needed information. He is already getting his merchant up and running with a new underground shop which will open soon, however, he was doubtful about its information gathering abilities. He needed spies.

Lucifer wanted to just create them, however, this was more difficult than he initially thought. The creature has to be cheap mana wise, But smart enough to identify and collect useful information, then give that information to him somehow.

He thought about making a sentient race because he had used demons before, however, the coast would be astronomical, there is a reason he doesn’t have thousands of demons creating golems.

Eventually he came to the conclusion that he needed to make cheap telepathic creatures, this would mean that he could use small creatures because they wouldn’t need a large brain to decipher the information, he could just have the information sent to a larger, hive-mind creature which could sort it form him. He had done something similar before with a peculiar demon during his experiments.

there problem of how to make a creature telepathic which was in of itself a huge problem, Lucifer could enhance something that was already there and make minor additions like an acid gland in the ants, but new abilities were expensive and his only test on that was Kuro.

Then Lucifer suddenly realized the solution, he already had a creature capable of affecting minds. At least he was reasonably sure it could.