"Monsters! They were attracted to the mana signature of the dungeon and the city was often under the attack from the monsters. At the beginning, it wasn't a problem. In fact, it played into the King's hand. Not long after, a monster surge happened that devastated most of the city. You see, the mana signature of a dungeon that size, had an impact on the immediate surroundings. One of them being the increased frequency at which wild dungeons appeared. Back then, they didn't have adventurers actively patrolling the kingdom and clearing wild dungeons. So when a dozen wild dungeons around the kingdom had a break…well, you can imagine the size of that monster surge!"

"Soon after, the King had walls built around the dungeon. The formation was set up and eventually, after the last monster surge, he raised high walls around the city."

Finishing a brief history of the dungeon of Hagos, Silva asked… "You probably haven't read about the growing dungeons, or dungeon cores for that matter?" Receiving the nod from Bones, he continued. "Right, the books you read in Westbrook wouldn't have it written in there." *sips*

"Dungeon cores are the power source of the dungeons. They are all naturally made. We still don't know how, but you can find all sorts of theories. Some dungeon cores are naturally…let's say aggressive and are the reason we have wild dungeons. If you were to conquer the dungeon and find the core, you could claim it for yourself and the dungeon would collapse! Disappear! The core could be used for many different things like powering up large airships, cars or even personal strength. Think mana core, only far more efficient and with more functions available."

Bones opened his mouth, wanting to ask about airships and cars, but decided to hold his questions for later.

"You could also do nothing, like the King did, build a city with a dungeon at its core and pick up the benefits for centuries to come."

"This dungeon has multiple floors, from low level monsters at the ground floor all the way to the third tier gold rank monsters at the top.

“The thi-” Bones was about to ask something but couldn’t find the right timing as Silva continued…

"Now then, why don't you tell me what you've been up to? You made your way to level 23 pretty quickly!"

Bones grinned. "Very well, pour me another drink and I'll tell you."

"I see you’re fine with normal drinks now?" Silva noted. Bones nodded and explained that in his empowered state, he was now able to dissolve drinks and food he digested.

Bringing them both drinks, Silva sat down and listened as Bones narrated his journey since they last met in the guild's library. Leaving some parts, like the dungeon he discovered, out of the story.

"...and then I met Solin, waiting for me outside the guild."

Silva started laughing coarsely when he heard about Guntar. "Hah that boy, well that’s all good and fine but do be careful. You're not yet at that level of power yet so you won't have to worry about characters like that. Hell, I'm not at that level of power! You saw the wanted posters right?" Bones nodded. "Me and Tivaara are confined inside the tavern and The Underground."

"Underground?" asked Bones, puzzled.

"Right, you wouldn't know. The first thing you should know is that the layout of Westbrook was inspired by the capital Hagos, hence the tower of trials in the center of the town. The western district of Westbrook you had the time to explore was also inspired by the Nightingale Row, the western part of Hagos."

It dawned on Bones where Silva was going with this." Meaning…"

"Yes, the western part of the city is the western district of Westbrook, only a lot bigger and nicer. Instead of the three so-called bosses, it is led by one man and his subordinates. An ascendant Domino."

"What? Why would an ascendant lead an underground…"

"I know, I know Bones. Domino and Wezar were party members back in the day and rumor has it, he owes a debt to Wezar. Don't ask me what debt, no one knows. He is an assassin, pledged to protect the throne from the shadows.

“It's getting late Bones, how about we pick up where we left off, tomorrow?"

Bones nodded."Sure." He wasn’t aware how late it was.

"Oh and, Bones, could I offer you a piece of advice?"

"Of course."

"I know you are eager to level up, but I'd advise you to advance your skills before you do. I can't imagine your skills keeping up with your leveling speed. Level your skills Bones, they will make a difference in what the system has to offer you at level 25.”

"I know. I will consider your advice. Thank you."

Silva nodded and left, having said good night. Bones stayed seated for a while, mulling over Silva's words and what he should do.

I did consider leveling up skills before level 25. *sips* I need to put leveling on hold for now. At least until I advance my skills.

Bones slowly spread his senses throughout the casino, trying to get a feel of the people around. It was still crowded. He could faintly sense the "orc" by the door but nothing from Silva or Solin, if they were still around. They are good at suppressing their aura. *sigh* Downing his drink, he got up and left for the bar where the key to his room was waiting. His room was the last room on the upper floor.

The room was spacious, far more than he really needed. The room renting part of the tavern was the front for an illegal gambling den and the only people staying here were Silva's people and himself.

He spent the night in meditation, which now became his routine. Early in the morning, he put on his white enchanted shirt, pants, boots and after a pause, decided to take his mask with him. He left his room and went downstairs. There were already people on the ground floor, drinking coffee. It was weird seeing people drinking coffee in a tavern but he wasn't the one to judge, since that's what he came down for as well.

"Hey man." Solin greeted him as he was about to order a coffee.

"Hi! Isn't it a bit early to drink ale?” Bones greeted back and asked, guessing by the look of a bottle in Solin's hands.

"Never too early! Besides, how can it be early if I hadn't stopped drinking since last night?"

"Ah, how profound." Bones replied, smirking at the assassin in front of him. I haven’t noticed him approaching.

"I didn't sense you approaching.” Bones stated then added. “I can faintly sense you're here right now?" Solin grinned and winked at him, keeping mum.

*hmph* “Fine, keep your secrets to yourself!”

"What about me? Can you feeeel meeee?" someone whispered behind Bones. Chills ran down his spine as he gulped and asked: "Uh, Silva, is that you?"

…

Solin choked on his drink, tears welling up in his eyes. The hand spun Bones around and he saw a dark elf huntress staring at him, one eyebrow raised. "Do I look like Silva?" she asked.

"I can't say, I've never saw him wearing leather tights," Bones replied.

Both the huntress and Solin paused, stunned. Solin was shaking by now, ale leaking down his nose while the huntress grinned.

"I'm Tivaara, you can call me Tiv. I'm a fan of your work!"

"Pleasure to meet you Tiv! How much of my "work" have you seen?"

"I've seen enough." She winked at him and left them smiling.

"Uh oh!" Solin exclaimed by side.

"What?"

"You know how some females devour their males after they mate?" asked Solin.

…

"Truly profound…" Bones replied, watching Tiv disappear in the back room behind the bar.

"Silva isn't here?" he asked, turning his head back to Solin.

"Not at this time of the day. He spends most of the day down below if you know what I mean. He'll be here by the evening." Solin replied after taking another swing at the bottle.

"Well alright, I'll be sightseeing the city till then. I'll see you later, Solin. Take it easy on the drinks." Bones said as he finished his cup of coffee and turned to leave. A coat appeared on him and he put his mask on. He didn't need the attention and people throwing looks his way all the time.

"Later man!" Solin waved his hand goodbye.

The city was crowded and was best described as very loud. Bones found his way back to The Guild where he checked the quest board. He was surprised to see so many wanted and bounty contracts. Outside the city walls and out of influence of city guards, numerous hijackings, robberies and killings were taking place on a daily basis. Many merchants and wealthier people traversing larger distances were in need of an escort and those that couldn’t afford to employ one, were easy targets. He noted most contracts required bronze rank or higher which also meant higher risk involved but better rewards. There were a handful of contracts for lower levels involving extermination of Ratmen in the sewers beneath the city. Contracts ranged from escorting, protection or subjugation to contracts he hadn't seen yet, like monster hunting contracts. He didn't know the difference.

Inside the main hall of the guild, he saw adventurers recruiting others to join their guild. Some even had brochures they were giving out. Out of curiosity, Bones approached and the man practically shoved one in his hand.

Looking at the front page of the brochure, Bones walked around the main hall and down the hallway where he entered another hall. The man at the entrance greeted Bones. "Hi, are you here to register for a class?"

Bones wasn't sure what the class entailed, so he just kind of pointed towards the brochure in his hand for the man to see. "Would you like a brochure sir?"

Thankfully the man took the hint and Bones quickly replied that he would very much like one and received another brochure containing information about taking a class, not learning a new class, like he thought.

With brochures in his hands, he walked out of the guild and headed towards the tower in the distance. After a short walk, Bones was standing in front of a large park between the stone paved square and the tower. The park was filled with people relaxing and having a good time. A weird sight to see in front of the dungeon filled with monsters. Do these people not fear the monsters? Perhaps living in peace behind the city walls made them oblivious to the dangers outside?

He walked over and sat on one of the benches with a clear view of the tower. He watched as adventurers constantly walked back and forth, having conversations. The entrance to the first floor wasn't from this side of the tower but he did see the platform that elevated a group of adventurers until it stopped at a lobby on the second floor. Manavator huh? Manavators were stationed in intervals at every few hundred meters and had an operator that would manually operate on which floor a manavator would stop.

The dungeon had a dozen floors and at every floor a so-called hub was constructed for adventurers to relax, do their trading and even stay the night. The manavator was built so that dungeon delvers, or climbers, wouldn't have to climb from the ground floor and had an easier access to the dungeon. Needless to say, the fee for the manavator was overpriced, but for any adventurer looking to climb the tower, it was a price worth paying. At higher levels copper, silver and gold weren't used as currency for most things adventurer related. Everything was priced in mana stones or in some cases, mana crystals. Including the fee for the dungeon.

As a general rule, the fee was strictly regulated and the price was fixed at a dozen or more mana stones per entry depending on the selected floor and how far the party planned to climb. Anything gained inside was for the adventurers to keep. Well, everything apart from the dungeon core, which was impossible to obtain without a third tier gold rank party. Only the royal family and those trustworthy and loyal to the King, had unlimited access to the tower. If someone would conquer the tower and obtain the dungeon core, it would spell disaster for the kingdom.

Bones wanted to enter, see and compare the dungeon with the one he's been in, but now was not the time. He will heed Silva’s advice and raise his skills first. After one last look at the tower, he stood up and left back for the tavern. Once he got back, seeing as no one but the orc, the burly man was there, he went up to his room and sat down in meditation.

Some time later *knock knock*

Bones slowly stood up and opened the door. Solin was waiting for him outside the door. "Hey man, Silva's back and he sent me for you."

"He does that a lot?"

"Not really, besides, I just got back too."

Solin led Bones back to the casino, through another backdoor Bones hadn't seen before and down the stairs. "Come." Solin hurried Bones and led him through the door at the end of the stairs and into a small courtyard. Silva was sitting cross legged on the stone bench, waiting.

"You came! Show me what you got!" Silva exclaimed.