Mathew waited patiently to talk to Major General Payne alone. He had requested to speak to him when he first showed up to work in the morning. Now it was after lunch, and he was growing impatient.

Luckily, Payne walked into Mathew’s office and closed the door behind him. “You better have good news, otherwise I am going to be upset.”

“I do. However, it has a price.”

“You and your damn prices. Can’t just tell me something to help out can you?” Payne said with aggravation in his voice.

“We could always nullify the contract. Do that and I’ll tell you everything for free.” Mathew teased. He knew Payne would never want to do that.

“Fine, what do you want?”

“Permission to leave the base and train, be extra nice to even join the fight against the Infernals. I want to join Henderson’s team again and gain more levels and improve my skills.”

“Outrageous, denied. Have a good day Mathew.” Payne started to walk out of the room, but Mathew stopped him.

“Wait! You won't even negotiate?” Mathew asked with a slight tinge of worry in his voice.

“Ha, as if.” Payne said. “You are up to something with that dungeon, and I don't like it.” Payne looked Mathew up and down, trying to figure out his game. He grinned at the Contract Scribe, “However, if you are willing to make a written agreement, we can discuss it.”

Mathew nodded. “That works for me, what do you have in mind?”

“Firstly, you can’t go near the Infernal Dungeon. I don’t want you trying to mess with my attack and steal more power for yourself. Plus, I don’t want you to die. I still don’t have another person here with your unique ability.”

Mathew nodded and started to speak out what he wrote. “I can’t go near the Infernal Dungeon to mess with your plans to attack them, plus I can’t do anything to attempt to take over the Dungeon for myself. Hopefully you don’t need me to write out the ‘try not to die’ part.”

“No, that’s fine. Secondly, you can’t join Henderson’s team, or any team. If you want to go out there and train, fine. Just do it safely and don’t bother anyone. I still expect you to keep up with your other required duties.” He eyed a stack of finished contracts and humphed in annoyance as Mathew had already finished everything for the week.

“I can’t join any teams participating in the upcoming battle, got it. Any other specific details?”

Payne narrowed his eyes. “No attempts to run away from here either. I expect you to return.”

Mathew returned a facial expression of annoyance of his own. “Really? Where would I go? Out in the wild constantly having to look over my shoulder for bears or other people? This base is a safe zone, literally. I have zero wishes to leave.”

Payne seemed to accept that. “Lastly, whatever you are going to tell me, you have to tell me everything, including any ideas, thoughts, or whatever.”

Mathew nodded and wrote it down, hiding a pained expression. “Done.”

They both signed the small contract and Mathew dismissed the notification. “Mana cores, heard of them?”

Payne nodded, “Damien showed them to me. Let me guess, you know what they do?”

“They are a crystalline form of mana used to power Hearth Crystals, Magical items, Mana Cores, Rituals, Spells, and other things.” Mathew repeated from the results of the ritual. “Additionally, they have ranks. The red ones seem to be Novice. Which makes sense. It was a reward from a Novice Dungeon.”

Paynes eyes grew slightly larger. “I see. Anything else?”

“Apparently people can craft with them, use them to charge items, and this one is a hunch on my end, but use them to power vehicles. They seem to be a battery, so it makes sense.”

Payne for once had an expression of delight. “That might be the best news I heard recently, Mathew. Thank you.” He stood up and walked to the door. “Do try and not die out there. Don’t think your victory over the wolves was anything special.”

Mathew refrained from groaning as he left. “Damn it. I didn’t want the deal to end up that way, but it’s better than nothing.”

His original plan was to join Henderson and the others when they returned to the Goblin Dungeon. He really didn’t want to try and battle it alone, but now he was forced to. “Well, I don’t have to fight the Dungeon, but I am going to. I can’t risk such a prime place to test my skills.” He thought to himself.

A quick hunch appeared in his mind, and after checking his menu, he did notice his [Negotiation] skill increased by a single level. “I guess it wasn’t all that bad. I wonder why it still improved even though it didn’t go how I wanted it to? Was it a lesson learned, or simply because we did come to an agreement?”

He had today and four more days till the Dungeon reset. Eight more till Payne went to battle. It would be close, but he could easily gain a level or two in that time. Possibly more if he had others to help him.

The problem there was he couldn’t join any teams. “At least, none that are going to battle.” Mathew pursed his lips together in thought. “Who do I know that can join me to fight…”

A few people came to mind, and he left the office. “Time for this monkey to break out of his cage along with some other inhabitants.”

Mathew headed off to the training area to find his soon to be new best flaming fisted friend.

He found Madison where he knows she often resides. The Training Grounds. After showing up daily for a couple weeks at this point, he was instantly recognized by others. A few waves or nods of the head were exchanged.

He found her sitting down and resting. A few welts of bruises covered her arms. “Hello Madison, how are you doing?”

She looked up at him, “I’m doing fine. Bored out of my mind, but I’m okay. Whatcha need?”

Mathew didn’t want to dance around his reasons, “Well, I plan on going out and training. Fighting some monsters, and a few other tasks. You want to join?”

A hopeful expression covered her face then a devilish glint showed in her eyes. “Really Mathew? I thought you and I had nothing in common. At least Leo comes by and says hello. He’s a good friend, unlike you.”

Mathew stopped himself from groaning in annoyance. “Listen, no bullshit okay?” He looked around and knelt next to her. “I don’t want to go outside the walls alone. Be stupid to do so. I have weight here, I can get you outside. You join me, and maybe one or two others, and I can help you get to Level 10 in less than three days.”

Madison tried to keep a cool and collected face, but it was so overly done it was obvious that she was excited. “And why me?”

“Can’t have anyone who is going to battle against the Infernals join me. Which, based on that wording, anyone else can by order of General Payne. That means, you can go outside now and nobody can stop you.”

Her eyes widened. “Really? You are being serious? Why me? Like you said, I’m not even Level 10. There are plenty of adults or other people who could better help you out, no?”

“Nobody I trust enough to watch my back. Plus, Leo trusts you. If I didn’t at least offer the chance to you, he would be upset.”

Madison nodded, accepting that answer. “Alright then. When do we leave?”

“Tomorrow morning, meet me by the south gate. I’m going to go around and find one, maybe two more to join.”

Madison pumped her arm in victory. “Yes! See you then, I have to go and get ready!” She soon ran off heading toward whatever room she stayed in.

Mathew hummed to himself, “She is not a normal teenager, but still young. I hope she doesn’t accidentally get herself killed, Leo would not forgive me for that.”

Next on his list was to visit the Library. At this time of day, it was a bit more empty than usual. It’s only been two days since Phase 1 started, and he expected more people to be constantly trying to understand the new rules if any.

Lindsey was there and waved at him. “Heyo Mathew, what brings you back here so soon?”

“Ah, well two things. Firstly, where is everyone at? I expected more to be here.” He said as he looked around.

“Most people are getting ready for the big fight. Everyone attending received a quest from General Payne himself. A whopping 5,000 UC for each person who attends, plus additional rewards based on position. It’s kinda crazy how he can spark such a huge uptick in productivity by dangling a little reward.”

“You think it’s not worth it?” Mathew asked.

She shook her head. “There are no shops. Some people still use bartering to trade. Resources for resources. If we had somewhere to use the stuff then sure, it might be worth something. I just wonder what Payne plans to buy if not a shop. The System said he could buy things, so where are the things he is buying?”

Mathew hadn’t thought of that yet. She had an excellent point and that train of thought almost distracted him from his main reason for being in the Library. “Right, so I take it you are not going?”

“Nope, I am staying here and focusing on other important things. Primarily why there are Dungeons in the first place.”

“To take over our planet and steal it’s resources probably. Also to fight Humans to gain experience themselves. Maybe colonize our planet as an outpost or something. The list is endless, why does any society go to war?”

She chewed on the end of her thumb while she thought. “But why have different Dungeons? We know of a few. So far no two are alike out of the eight Payne has told us about, including the two near us. The Infernal Dungeon is the only one we know that is Beginner rank. It just frustrates me, even more so when Zack came by and updated me on what they learned.”

She leaned back in her chair, rubbing at her face. “Why did the shops have to go away, such a prime area of knowledge! My damn profession is borderline useless now.”

Mathew raised an eyebrow, “What profession is that?”

“Bah, a useless upgrade of the scout class called Inquisitor. I have a skill that helps me connect dots to information. Additionally, I have an ability to remember anything I ever read within the last month.”

Mathew was impressed. “That’s a great profession, how did you snag that?”

“I imagine a skill I received before receiving my Profession. It’s called [Reading]. Zack has it too, funny enough. Giant egg head wants to be a living wall, but keeps getting knowledge based skills and professions listed.”

Mathew really wanted that skill for himself, it’s the second time he heard of it, and now had to wait till he ranked up his class to earn a new skill. “So what about your class? Anything good?”

“Meh, Not even 10 yet myself. I hit Level 9 during the Imp invasion. I spend too much time inside.”

“What if I had an offer for you? One where you could gain your class, along with learning more about Dungeons?”

Lindsey eyed Mathew up and down. “I’d say yes. At the same time wondering why you are inviting me and not any of your friends. You and I are merely acquaintances.”

“Because you are one of a very short list of options. You understand The System stuff better than me, plus I need at least two more sets of eyes to help ensure I don't die.”

“What crazy plan do you have Mr. Mathew?”

Mathew smiled. “I have many plans, and the crazy ones are not the ones you should be wondering about. It’s the ones you don’t know about that you should worry about.”

“Count me in then. Zack talks about you all the time, calling you a natural genius like some protagonist from a story. I’m sure you are much more human than he lets on.”

“Sounds like a plan, however I need a favor.”

“If you can help me, I’m down to help you.” She said with a playful tone.

“Know anyone who didn’t receive that quest that can heal?”

She thought it over for a moment and nodded. “I know someone. She won’t go into the Dungeon, but she wants to level up.”

Mathew internally frowned. “I really was hoping for a guy. It’s going to look weird with me walking out the gate with three women with me. I don’t want to let people get the wrong idea.”

“Know anyone else? A tank like Henderson or Zack?”

She shook her head. “No one that isn’t taking the quest. I thought you just wanted one more person?”

Mathew scratched at the back of his head, slightly embarrassed. “Well, it’s just going to be awkward with three women and just me. I don’t want any of you to think I’m trying to create a harem or a personal girl squad who answers my command.”

Lindsey choked on air as she broke out in laughter. “Oh Mat, you are adorable. You think you can command me.”

Mathew was starting to regret inviting Lindsey, but said nothing. “Are you a mage or something?”

She shook her head. “Archer actually. I own a bow. The healer is that, a healer. Hopefully you have someone in the front line for us, otherwise we are in trouble.”

“Madison can take care of it. I don’t plan on us taking on anything too deadly. Plus I have that wolf. If I can get him to behave, then we should be fine.”

“Oh right! I forgot about that. Have you tried to summon it since then?” She asked, curiously.

“Once. See you in the morning, can you bring your friend?”

She nodded, “Yup, our rooms are just three doors apart. See you then, I hope you keep your promise, Mathew.”