When Alaric passed the gatekeeper, the old man looked at him with a stink eye. He was probably jealous cause even a saint would know what he had been doing.
Alaric flashed a smile and winked at him.
The man's face went red with anger.
Alaric after seeing his reaction chuckled and got into the car that was waiting for him and Left.
The moment he settled down, the system interface appeared Infront of him.
( Rewards: +10 stamina, +10 seduction+2 control,+1 reputation)
( Upgrade: street level servant 0- street level servant 1)
Well this wasn't a quest, he mused to himself. At least he got something.He had anticipated this day where sleeping around was eventually going to be normal for the system. He didn't even know what the quests he will be given would involve.
A half and hour later he was at the brothel. The place was deserted with only few people around.
A man came to him, " hey man you also coming for a chick here?"
" No," he said wondering what he was talking about.
" Ooh, so you are just one of those poor simps who can onlylook," he said wn laughter. Alaric found him amusing.
" And what are you doing here? " He asked pushing the question back to him.
" I came for Celey but someone got here faster than me, " he said clearly frustrated then he started to wiggle his fingers in the air, " her rack is awsesome."
His face was already telling what he was thinking. But Alaric nodded alongside him.
" You ever been with any of them?" He asked his voice carrying that smug.
" No, I just can't. Work policy, " he said trying to see if the man would get it.
" What, don't tell me you are those virgins of waiting for marriage or girlfriend, " he said looking at him in pity.
Alaric felt like rolling his eyes. The conversation was going no where. It was just Soo silly that he was entertaining them.
" Yes, my mum thought me that, " he was never.
" Ooh man poor you. I'm telling you, you'll get married and she gets impregnated with the holy spirit. That little wife stealer. I don't even know why God talks about not to commit adultery when he went a head and got a married woman pregnant, " he said blubbering.
" So why don't you go home, " he said trying to get him to leave, he was done with the conversation and wanted to go to sleep.
" I'm stressed right now. Dungeons are reopening," he man said suddenly and flopped on the sofas that was nearby and fell asleep.
" What!" Alaric tried to wake him up to get the other news but nothing. The man was dead to the world.
He didn't get what he was saying about the dungeons but from the way he spoke, it must be a dangerous thing.
He tried to search online but nothing. He was terribly hyper aware of anything regarding dungeons.
He left the man to sleep their and headed to his room. After a bit of toss and turn he eventually fell asleep.
....
In the national awakened association deep underground a blue light flashed and twelve people appeared on the platform. The place was four floors below the surface and entry was only through a teleportation stone.
There were only dfe of those and only the top of the top could access them.
In the middle of the room a huge oval table was glowing with hologramic vedios, maps and surveillance footages that would cause a national outrage if it was ever know.
The figures each walked to the table and sat on their designated chairs. Two federal ministers , four S rank awakeners representative s, two guild masters of the largest guilds, two military officers and two arcane top researchers.
One could feel the tension in the air as this powerhouses each looked at each other. Most of them didn't get along since they clashed on a matter of interest a lot.
On of the arcane research, Director Maloy, stood up and walked into the center of the oval table where the project were.
He connected his tablet to it and a map appeared, the map of the whole federation divided into regions.
There were red dots scattered around different areas on the map.
"Let's begin," he said pointing at the man,"we recorded several mana fluctuations in seven locations within the last seventy two hours."
Immediately the room stirred as everyone tried to make sense of the absurdity. Mana was what was in the dungeon that helped in the creation of awakening stone. Mana released into the outside world was violent and it is what creates the dungeons.
Guildmaster Rowan leaned forward his eyes scanning the map throughly. He was a tall man past seven feet and was known for his violent tendencies and a dislike for organizations.
He hated this meeting especially.
" You have seen mana signatures in a span of a week," he said shaking his head clearly in disbelief," that's absolutely impossible."
The second arcane researcher, doctor linnet,a small woman piped in adjusting her glasses," unprecedented yes, but it being impossible no."
Director Maloy zoomed into the images the red dots becoming larger.
He opened another data next to the map with different graphs and calculations showing a spike in mana density," we've cross refereed it with the thirty years of dungeon data . None of the signatures match know categories. This is completely new."
Minister John frowned," Meaning?".
Dr. Linnet breathed out slowly," meaning they don't naturally occur."
This time everyone in the room was shocked. This was something absolutely serious and new.
General Rohan scoffed at that,"Are you suggesting someone is manufacturing dungeons? That's the most absurd thing I have ever heard."
" We're not saying that," Director Maloy said his face grim," we are saying something is interfering with the dungeon cycles. They will become unpredictable."
Rowan tapped the table impatiently and said his voice low and serious,"interfering how ?"
Maloy hesitated looking a bit unsure. His hesitation was enough to creat more tension in the room.
Finally he said," They are multiplying faster like duplicating themselves."
That was enough to make the table erupt in shouts of disbelief. That was just so unbelievable .
" That's not scientific.."
"Dungeons don't replicate..."
" This theory again.."
"Show the data!"
Dr. Linnet raised her voice over the others uncharacteristically sharp and firm,"we are showing the data." She pointed to the hologram image.
She enlarged the graphics, it showed the old dungeon sequence, the current one and the abnormal one. The sequence were following each other overlapping.
"These energy curves mimic high-density mana fission. Splitting. Replicating. Like cells dividing. Not exactly biological, but the structure is eerily similar."
Minister brook shook his head after reading the data,"this looks like misinterpreted noise, the research institution has overreacted again."
" And if they are not overreacting," Rowan snapped. The ministers were probably thinking from the political sides. Clearly not having ever stepped into a dungeon.
Brook's lips tightened his eyes cold,"you want to start global panic? Cause this is where the news will lead." " We are not at global," Dr Maloy said," we are just going local. Centering around the capital and the surrounding districts."
General Derik folded his arms and leaned backwards," I have not seen a single physical anomaly from my scouts. Not one. If the dungeons were really multiplying we could have come across it or just a sign on the ground."
Dr linnet waved her hands dismissing his claim," the flactuations are underground, physical manifestation may come later."
" Or never," Derik countered clearly set on opposing any of their claims.
After that the room fell into chaotic madness as those who supported and those who opposed argued against each other.
The s rank awakeners looked on smiling inwardly. They knew the benefits of extra dungeon to awakeners. Rewards. The ratio of dungeons and awakeners were probably.
One to fifty. A very small amount.
" Look, mana turbulence isn't new," minister Derik argued," we had similar flactuations thirteen years ago and it resolved itself."
Rowan scoffed at his claim,"thirteen years ago, the flactuations didn't triple in seventy two hours."
" It's still not grounds for panic."
" No one is asking for panic," doctor linnet chimed in," we are asking for precautions just to be on the safe side."
" And I'm saying precautions are expensive? Shutting down districts are expensive! Evacuations are expensive.."
" Then perhaps you should focus less on budget and more on surviva," Rowan growled in frustration. That's why he hated politicians. Slimy little fuckers. They could every cent.
" Enough!" General Derik shouted banging the table," without solid proof of an immediate threat, the military would not mobilize."
" Give me a week," director Maloy said coldly," at this rate, we'll all have proof you need."
Everyone fell silent.
They all understood the gravity of the situation and her implications.
If the patterns continued, the threat would be undeniable.
And far worse.