The faint golden light in Leo's palm sputtered and died as his concentration wavered, plunging the lobby back into its familiar, dim twilight. But the warmth lingered. It wasn't just in his hand; it was a deep, thrumming heat in the center of his chest, a pilot light of potential that had just been ignited. He was no longer just a man in a strange room; he was the Master of this Inn, and for the first time, he had a power that was truly his own, one he could carry with him even if he were to step outside the front door.
A new kind of confidence, quiet but solid, settled over him. Fear and confusion still swirled at the edges of his mind, but they were no longer in control. He was a landlord, a manager, and it was high time he conducted a full inspection of his property. He needed to know exactly what assets he was working with.
He started with the grand staircase, its wide, dark steps barely creaking under his weight. The second-floor landing was a long, carpeted hallway, the runner so thick that it swallowed all sound. Small, inert crystal lanterns, identical to the ones downstairs, were mounted between the doors. He walked to the first door on the right, the one he had assigned to Lyra. He placed a hand on the wood, feeling a faint, protective warmth emanating from it. It seemed the Inn was already treating her as a resident to be protected. Good. Client security was paramount.
The other rooms on the floor were all variations on the same theme: clean, spacious, and well-built, furnished with a sturdy bed, a simple wardrobe, and a small desk. They were also covered in the same fine layer of dust as the lobby, waiting patiently for occupants. He made a mental note: potential for at least a dozen tenants on this floor alone. High occupancy potential, pending client acquisition.
Downstairs, he bypassed the main lobby and found his way to a large kitchen behind the bar. It was a chef's dream, equipped with a massive stone hearth, a huge butcher's block for a central island, and rows of gleaming copper pots and pans hanging from the ceiling. He opened a large, walk-in pantry, expecting to find it empty. Instead, he was greeted by shelves neatly stocked with basic, fresh ingredients. Loaves of bread, wheels of cheese, sacks of flour and potatoes, fresh vegetables, and cuts of meat wrapped in wax paper. There was no chill in the air, yet everything was perfectly preserved.
He picked up an apple. It was cool to the touch and felt perfectly crisp. The Guide's voice echoed gently in his mind. The Inn provides for the basic needs of its Master and registered tenants. Sustenance is a prerequisite for stability.
A self-stocking pantry. Leo couldn't help but let out a low whistle. That was a perk no property on Earth could ever offer. The overhead on this place was practically zero.
His next discovery was a large room connected to the main hall. He pushed open the double doors to reveal a magnificent, two-story library. A circular balcony ran along the upper level, and the walls from floor to ceiling were covered in beautiful, empty shelves. Thousands of them. A grand, unlit fireplace stood at one end, and comfortable-looking armchairs were dotted around the room, draped in dusty cloths. The air smelled of old paper and leather, even though there wasn't a single book in sight.
It wasn't empty; it was waiting. It was an asset waiting to be developed, a space designed to be filled with the 'Value' of knowledge. A new ambition took root in Leo's mind: he would fill these shelves.
Satisfied with his initial survey, he returned to the main lobby, sat down at one of the sturdy tables, and steepled his fingers, falling back into the familiar posture of a business meeting. "Guide," he said to the empty air. "I have some questions."
The orb of light coalesced silently in front of him, hovering just above the table. I am here, Master.
"This is a fantastic property," Leo began, "but it's a bit… rustic. The rooms are basic. The facilities are non-existent beyond the essentials. You said the Inn grows with 'Value.' Can I use the Value I've acquired to… renovate?"
Of course, the Guide replied. Value is the currency of creation within this domain. It can be expended to repair, renovate, or construct new facilities. The greater the complexity and power of the facility, the higher the Value cost.
As it spoke, Leo's blue system screen appeared before him again. A new tab, previously unnoticed, was now glowing. It was labeled [Renovations]. He mentally focused on it, and the tab expanded into a long, scrollable list. Most of it was greyed out, the text unreadable, but he could see the first few options:
[Basic Guest Room Upgrade - Cost: 10 Value Units]
[Kitchen Expansion: Alchemy Station - Cost: 150 Value Units]
[Library Upgrade: Scribe's Desk (Allows for copying of non-magical texts) - Cost: 200 Value Units] [NEW FACILITY: Training Hall (Grade F) - Cost: 500 Value Units]
[NEW FACILITY: Ashen Baths (Healing Hot Springs) - Cost: 1000 Value Units] ...and many more locked options.
At the top right of his screen, a new line had appeared: [Current Value: 185 Units]. He assumed the bulk of that had come from the Duke's disintegrated carriage.
His heart beat a little faster. This was the part of the job he truly loved: the development, the growth, turning a raw property into a high-yield asset. He had a budget, a list of potential upgrades, and a clear path to increasing the Inn's appeal and, therefore, its earning potential.
He spent another few minutes discussing the finer points with the Guide, his mind racing with possibilities. After the 'meeting,' he stood up, feeling energized and full of purpose. He decided to take one last look around the ground floor, his eyes now open to potential renovation space rather than just existing features.
That's when he saw it.
It was a door he hadn't noticed before, tucked away in a short, shadowed hallway behind the main staircase. It was different from the others. It was made of a strange, pale stone that seemed to absorb the light, and its surface was not bare. It was covered in faint, interlocking runes that shifted and writhed like sleeping snakes. They glowed with a soft, pulsing violet light, a silent warning.
Intrigued, he walked over and placed a hand on its surface. It was cold, with a faint vibration humming through it. There was no handle, no lock, no knob. He pushed, but it was like pushing against the foundation of a mountain. It didn't even acknowledge his effort.
"Guide," he asked, his eyes fixed on the shifting runes. "What is this door?"
The orb of light appeared beside him. Its glow seemed a little dimmer here, as if it were wary of the stone door.
That is a Sealed Chamber, Master, the Guide explained, a new note of caution in its tone. It is a part of the Inn that was sealed away by a previous authority. Its contents are unknown.
"Unknown? Can I open it?" Leo asked, his curiosity piqued.
You can attempt to. Unsealing the chamber does not require a key, but an expenditure of immense Value. The seal is ancient and powerful. It will resist.
The [Renovations] menu popped back into Leo's vision. A new, single option appeared at the very bottom of the list, glowing in an ominous purple text.
[Unseal Chamber 01 - Cost: 10,000 Value Units]
Leo's eyes widened. Ten thousand. It was an astronomical sum, more than fifty times what he currently possessed. He stared at the door, at the slow, hypnotic dance of the violet runes. A locked room, a hidden treasure, a secret from the Inn's past. The cost was staggering, but the implication was clear: whatever lay behind that door was powerful. Exceptionally powerful.
He had his first long-term goal. He would see what was inside.