Reject Humanity, Return to Monke

{So, Jionni, I take it you have some questions?}

Oshurkova practically asked me that question with a grin on her face. I can tell, she's enjoying this.

"Eh, pretty much." I shrugged, my mind finally able to process this shit without having to hang, lag, or even the dreaded blue screen. Shaking my head off of those thoughts, I regarded the video call (I'm calling it that) with my entire focus. "About that Linkage Orb, I'm pretty sure our Dungeons aren't connected via the Dungeon Menu only."

{Based on your answer, I can confidently say that you're correct.} Oshurkova said with a wider grin, her red eyes practically glowing in delight. {Our Dungeons aren't only connected through our menus. Our Dungeons are also connected physically. To cut a long story short, you can enter my dungeon and I can enter yours simply by walking.}

I did a spit-take, causing Domino to once more topple in surprise. I issued a quick apology to her, not that it caused her pout to go away at having her nap disturbed once more.

"How do we do that though? Crossing over to each other's Dungeons?" I asked, my body once again falling flat against my hammock.

{Simple, really. You felt the shaking, didn't you?} I nodded in response to her question. {That was the sign of a permanent portal forming on the first floor of your Dungeon, right next to the entrance.}

Her answer gave me a lot of possibilities that could happen if this portal is permanent as she says.

"Does the portal disappear if a hostile invader comes knocking?" I had to ask that question, because it wasn't true, then I can probably expect reinforcements if I will be having trouble against an invading group.

{No. The portal stays, whether you want it to or not.} I had to force myself to not do a victory dance right in front of the vampire lady, the main reason being that Domino was once more sound asleep on top of my chest. {So yes, what you're thinking about reinforcements coming to you if ever there was an invader you couldn't repel, it is entirely possible.}

"That's actually good to hear." I nodded, a smile gracing my lips as I proceeded to ask another question. "By the way, care to open up for trades?"

{What kind of trades?} Oshurkova leaned in from her chair, her full attentiveness hanging on my every word.

"Simple trading. Are you regulating a town inside your Dungeon?"

{If you could determine that from the stacks of paperwork I had to do back in the Battle Royale, then yes, I do run a town for monsters here.} The vampire scowled as the memory of the stacks of paperwork flooded both our minds. I shivered.

Yeah, once I get the town running, I'm delegating all of that shit to the Bentley's.

"I can provide some types of food that you may not have heard of yet." I thought of the various foods back on Earth. The instant type ones, like instant noodles, those foods in a can, as well as a childhood favorite, hotdogs.

{Any type of food is appreciated, what with the diverse species of monsters living inside my Dungeon.} Oshurkova said with a tired smile. I smiled in return, my mind listing off the various food that would be soon heading their way towards my fellow Dungeon Master's Dungeon.

"Wonderful. Now, as for our payments, how do we do this?" I asked with a tilt of my head. Oshurkova shrugged and replied with her answer.

{Depends on what you want, really. I have a bit of everything in here, and frankly, I'm too lazy to keep stock of everything going around my Dungeon here.} Oshurkova shook her head with a sigh.

"Then, how about some crafting materials. You know, leather, metals, silk, those types of stuff."

{Oh, you mean production class items? Sure, I can supply you with them. It depends on the quality and quantity of the food you will be supplying my Dungeon, though.}

"Not to worry, I'm sure your monsters will love them." We both chuckled at the same time. "I have to go now. Even if I look like I'm resting right now, I still have a lot to do."

{Heh, you're not the only one.} Oshurkova and I exchanged smirks. {Anyway, nice talking with you. I'll call you back later, damn paperwork just won't leave me alone.}

And with that, our conversation was cut short, with Oshurkova cutting the connection first. Looking at the Dungeon Menu, I spotted the portal hovering in place inside the first floor of the Forest/Monster Town area. It was a ways away from the town, but nonetheless, incredibly visible to the untrained eye.

I gave all the primates inside my Dungeon to notify those living with us about the appearance of the swirling portal and why it was not to be harmed, touched, or even tinkered with. I also warned them about the possibility of another one appearing in a few minutes.

After my commands, my eyes then landed on the next container, the one given to me by Catalina after our night together.

Taking the same steps as earlier, I slowly opened the lid and scanned its contents. Once I was sure it was the same [Linkage Orb] as earlier, I gripped it tightly in my hand as it shattered into dust and fell to the ground, where it was promptly absorbed by my Dungeon to form a new link with another Dungeon Master.

[Linkage Orb discovered! Linking Dungeon with the designated Dungeon found inside Linkage Orb's database!]

Once the lightshow subsided, I braced for another earthquake, and lo and behold, the earthquake did indeed come with the same intensity as the one earlier.

Looking at the Dungeon Menu, I spotted another portal, a few ways away from the other portal leading towards the Dungeon of Oshurkova, hovering above the ground.

Incoming Transmission…

"Well, that was quick." I commented teasingly towards the catwoman who decided to give me a call the moment I crushed the orb.

{Says the man who quickly released the first time during our night together.} Catalina teased back, her eyebrows wiggling, giving me the famous Lenny face.

"Touche. Anyway, I would like to discuss some things…"