245 THE TOP OF THE BOSS RANK
"No wonder the magical ward in Dassa's room at the Inn was so powerful," Leo said, piecing things together. "It was designed to protect someone immensely powerful."
"What about the real Dassa? Is she still alive? Is she even the same Dassa?" Petunia asked curiously.
Leo paused to consider it, his mind rushed with feelings of regret and remorse. Dassa was Leo's first friend in this world and his feelings for her remain. But it was clear to him now his friend Dassa was gone. The Dassa they encountered wasn't his friend anymore. He could only mourn.
"It's likely the Dassa that I knew was gone. She was probably killed, and her body was revived by the System for a new player," he replied.
"Or alternatively she's being possessed by a powerful demon," Yun-Yun replied.
"Like how Lusifar tried to possess me?" Leo asked.
She nodded but there was no confirmation. "We don't have to worry about Dassa's identity. With her shadow minion trapped in the Jade Throne, we have all the time we need to extract the answers we're looking for."
"We can even extract information from shadow minions?" Sujira asked, surprised.
"That is possible. The Shadow minion possesses the memories of the host although what we've captured is only a part of her soul. The memories extracted may not be complete", Yun-Yun replied to her.
-----
[At the gates of Court La Mood]
"What is taking them so long to capture a damn dungeon?" Lord Aseran demanded.
"Something is amiss. They might have failed," Unna replied.
"What could possibly go wrong? You already have the keys to the fucking dungeon," Lord Aseran said.
"Many things could go wrong," Unna countered. "Powerful guardians could be meddling inside the dungeon, or they could have fallen into magic traps."
"Or perhaps your key failed to unlock the damn dungeon," Lord Aseran added, scowling.
Suddenly, several mages came running toward them. They were part of the team who previously entered Court La Mood with Dassa.
"What happened to your team?" Unna asked, her voice sharp with concern.
"They went inside to claim the dungeon while we remained outside to guard the perimeter. We waited a long time, but they did not return. Then soldiers arrived, and we had to retreat. Our people are still inside," one of the mages reported breathlessly.
"What should we do now? Should we charge into Court La Mood?" Lord Aseran asked.
Unna hesitated, torn between options as she stood amidst the tense silence. She waited, watching for a sign.
"What are we waiting for?" Lord Aseran asked, his impatience evident.
Before she could respond, a pigeon swooped down, landing on her outstretched arm. Attached to its leg was a sealed letter. Unna quickly untied it and scanned its contents.
"We retreat," she announced firmly, folding the letter.
"Retreat?" Lord Aseran's brows furrowed. "Are you serious? The brothel barely has any defenses—it's ripe for the taking."
"That's exactly the problem," Unna replied sharply. "It was too easy right from the start. Lilleo Gullee must have anticipated our attack and tampered with the Rose Scepter. Our forces are probably lost."
"What about Lady Dassa?" one of the operatives interjected.
Unna's expression darkened. "That's the most troubling part—we've completely lost contact with her."
"Damn it," Lord Aseran muttered, clenching his fists before turning to his men. "We're pulling out. This mission is a waste of time and resources."
And so, the attack on Court La Mood ended in failure, costing the Koresh Empire many of its most skilled mages and assassins.
------
"Congratulations, you've successfully repelled the first major assault on your dungeon," Vanessa said, appearing out of nowhere with a satisfied smile.
Leo exhaled sharply. "That was damn risky. Becoming a target like this isn't exactly my idea of fun."
Vanessa chuckled. "It's only the beginning. More challengers will come after this."
Before Leo could respond, a series of messages flashed before his eyes:
[GreatSage has joined the expedition to clear the dungeon of the Boss: Black Cock.]
[Slowpoke has joined the expedition to clear the dungeon of the Boss: Black Cock.]
[Cannonmaster has joined the expedition to clear the dungeon of the Boss: Black Cock.]
Leo's jaw tightened. "Who the hell are these idiots? And why are they coming after my dungeon all at once?"
Vanessa's expression turned serious. "The System's algorithm has placed you at the top of the 'Powerful Boss Dungeon' category. Now, even players you've never met will be gunning for you."
Leo scowled. "That's supposed to be good news?"
Vanessa smirked. "Well, in a way. The more challengers you attract, the stronger your dungeon will become. It's a double-edged sword."
"What kind of compensation does the System offer me for dealing with all these idiots attacking me?" Leo asked, his tone edged with frustration.
Vanessa tilted her head, thoughtful. "But I've already given you everything useful," she replied.
Leo wasn't convinced. He didn't know the System's full capabilities, so he decided to test his luck. "I'd like to have Shadow Minions," he said, his eyes narrowing.
Vanessa stiffened, her fingers fidgeting nervously. "Shadow Minions? Who told you about something like that?"
Leo smirked.
After spending enough time in this world, he realized that many of the System's features were modified versions of the magic already present in the Realm of Sins. If Shadow Minions existed here, then surely the System could offer something similar.
"Come on," he pressed. "Most bosses have Shadow Minions to protect themselves. It only makes sense for me to have them too, especially with so many enemies coming at me."
Vanessa hesitated for a moment but eventually sighed. "It is true that villains have this special feature. I can grant you the Shadow Minion feature, but there's a catch—you'll need to complete a mission first. Defeat a hundred hunters who attempt to breach your dungeon."
"A hundred? Are there that many players in this fucking world?" Leo folded his arms, considering the challenge.
"There are more players than you could imagine it in this world", she replied.
A slow grin spread across his face as he finally said, "Great. Those who live by the sword can't complain when they die by it."
------