[CH598+ Continued] Dungeon Diver: Stealing A Monster's Power

A transmission is sent to a district six blocks away while Ember and Torvak continue to speak for a few minutes, catching up on current events in the lower and upper realms.

"Yes, even in the Lower Realm, the Demon's influence is spreading. Their newest fifth royal family branch popped up about a dozen lifetimes ago. I managed to bond with the Vermillion's Demons a few times, and in one life I bonded with the Morvale Family, but their selection process is even tougher—and information is airtight. No one speaks of the Upper Realm down there anymore."

Torvak nods, staring straight ahead at the door.

"Makes sense. They've taken control of all of the Citadels in the Green Zone. It all started about 12,000 years back; mine was the last to fall just 4,000 years ago. The Wyverns, High Orcs, a Berserker King Race, and, of course, the Ogre Conglomeration still hold enough higher-grade worlds to hold on, but the Demon Families continue chipping away at us, keeping us just out of reach from fighting back."

Ember nods slowly, thinking to himself with his eyes closed.

"If it's that bad even here, the Grand Citadel and higher Zones must be far worse..."

Silence fills the room before Torvak replies.

"One can only assume. We rarely get updates from our higher reps; you know how much it costs to even send transmissions down."

Before Ember thinks of a reply, the doors of the shop shimmer green, and a light chiming sound echoes through the shop to notify those inside that there are visitors.

Ember smiles and turns his attention to this. "Very well, that is more than enough of a broad update. I'd like to see things for myself to get a true feel of the action."

The doors then open, and two eight-meter-tall Red Ogres walk in. One has two silver horns, while the other has one black horn. Both have a bright green [50] on their palms.

The black-horned Red Ogre, with a bit more muscle on his avatar, speaks up as the doors shut.

"Randel and Syl, at your service, Lord Torvak. You put up a job offer for a bodyguard gig needed for an indefinite time frame in the Volterra District? Fifty Low Quality Ether upfront and ten Ether per month is too great an offer to even try negotiating higher."

Torvak smiles.

"Indeed. Good to see you, Randel."

He turns to the silver-horned slimmer, more feminine looking Red Ogre.

"Good to see you too, Syl. I'd like to introduce you to the new manager and consultant at our Dungeon Trade Palace. I want you two to show him around and guard him if he's ever talking with customers. Humans aren't well respected in our territories, but make sure people know he is off-limits for duels or exploitation."

Both of the Red Ogres look down toward the overly confident human between them and want to burst out laughing on instinct, but don't. If Torvak is being this respectful with a human, it must mean he is really someone they don't want to mess with.

There must be something in it for him that far outweighs the stigma and short timeframe of this deal.

The human puts out a hand to shake.

"The name is Ember. I look forward to working with you."

Both of the Ogres shake Ember's hand, confused even further that, even while making contact with them and the clear glowing [1] on his palm, he hasn't fallen from the pressure of Second-Class beings like themselves.

This only makes them more respectful while sharing niceties.

Ember casually walks to the side of the room afterward while Torvak and the two guards sign contracts and transfer pure Low Quality Ether through their system interfaces.