71 Dungeon Keeper

A discussion broke out, as people had questions for Zanir about the dungeon course. Answering the crowd, he settled the various coaches, athletes, and bystanders. The bravest competitors wanted to be the first to try it out.

Urging their coaches, they approached to find out how much it was to run the course. Since no one knew if it were any good, he offered the first run of the course for free to the competitors. It's not like he would be losing out.

Several of the guards had already manned the refreshment stands, where basic food and drinks were sold to the crowd. He was already making money before the race even started, due to the large crowd gathered.

Hearing that it was free, they jumped on the offer to secure spots. The racers wouldn't suffer any permanent damage, and it could be great training for them. Some of the racers who weren't sure yet went into the stands to observe.

Once everyone had been gathered up, the official gave the signal to start the race. As he did, the dungeon walls became transparent, allowing the spectators to see what was happening inside. It was only one-directional though, the racers couldn't see outside at all.

Amazed, the crowd was instantly captivated. Such great special effects were very effective against people that didn't have a significant entertainment industry. People were on the edge of their seats, and some were even standing up.

Cautiously, the racers made their way through a few simple obstacles. Meant to build up confidence, the course would slowly get harder and harder. Happening over time, the process was devious, as it lured the racers into a false sense of security.

As the obstacles started to get more complex, the first monster appeared. A lone goblin, standing in the middle of the corridor. The racers tried to pass quickly but were surprised when he batted them with the foam bat.

Unexpectedly, the small goblin child didn't go for a direct confrontational hit, instead, he ducked and hit the passing racers legs in the direction they were running. Being caught off-guard, the force caused the leading racers to stumble and fall over.

Blocking the narrow hallway, it quickly brought the race to a temporary halt. Jamming up the whole hallway, the goblin snuck into a nearby crack in the hallway. Laughing as it ran off, the racers could only get back and move on to the next obstacle.

Moving on, the obstacles got tougher and stranger. There were narrow hallways they had to squeeze through, parts where the ground was replaced with quicksand, and eventually even a few basic swinging blades on a timer.

A few of the unlucky competitors were eliminated by the course, sending notifications directly to Zanir.

[Your dungeon has defeated a challenger. 10 dimensional points awarded]

Hearing the system make the same announcement over and over would drive him crazy, so he changed the settings to just compress and log this particular notification. It would save him a lot of effort down the road.

While the majority were eliminated a few of the toughest managed to clear a lap through the course. At the end of the race, they found a small room where goblins handed out the prize medals for winning.

Drenched in sweat, the victors were transported outside. After the audience was done cheering, they saw that the prize medals could be exchanged at the refreshment stands. The athletes would be able to trade them for exclusive gear and merchandise.

If that didn't interest them, they could change it out for gold coins, or even gemstones. They could also use it to pay for services, like weapon sharpening or armor alterations. From custom-fitted armor to sports equipment, there was something for everyone.

The racers who had been hesitant, were sad that they missed out on the oppurtunity. Chatting with the contestants who completed the first run, they also checked on their friends who didn't make it. Soon, they confirmed it was Zanir said, they were just unconsious.

Announcing the price, he kept it intentionally low, since he was getting dimensional points if they lost, and half if they won. For the first week, each racer would only be charged a gold coin per race. With the prize medals, they could acutally make money if they completed the course.

With these rates he could make plenty of money and points at the same time, without having to actually do anything. If he established a brand, he could take the dungeon with him, making money anywhere he went.

Filling up the dungeon to it's current ten racer capacity, the audience watched as the course twisted and shifted around. A new course was eventually laid out, for now, he'd keep it at the same basic level.

As the race was going on, word quickly spread. More people kept coming, filling up the stands. Even people from the bazaar started coming over, attracted by the excited cheers from the crowd. Finally, the elders and department heads showed up.

Invited up to the VIP section, he didn't hesitate, letting the crowd know to contact the staff at the refreshment stand if there were any issues. Following the Ranger, he was lead to a plush room where he saw several familiar faces.

Greeting Oscar, he assured him that he could sell several more medical items after taking care of business here. Nathan called him over, introducing him to a large man in a military uniform.

"Zanir, there you are, come meet Raul. He's the general."

Shaking hands, he felt that the general had a strong, firm grip, but wasn't overbearing.

A man of few words, Raul asked directly what was on his mind. His deep voice matched the image that he projected, along with his serious demeanor.

"Can we use this for combat training?"

Waving his hand at the course, he idicated that he was referring to the dungeon. Hearing his request, the others nearby held their breath. They were afraid that the slightest distraction might cost them the oppurtunity.

Waving his hand in response, Zanir produced two glasses of cold beer from his dragon hand. Handing one to Raul, he toasted, giving his response.

"Yes, but it will cost more than a gold coin!"

Everyone in the VIP room broke out into laughter, including Raul.

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