tracking progress (2)

"Internal affairs, you needn't worry about the butterfly hall too much. We know that they have hidden motives but according to Lord Mephisto, we can extort them for resources without issue. If they do turn violent, Legion will deal with them."

"Who is this Mephisto anyway? And since when can we influence the legion halls movements?"

"Lord Mephisto is none of your concern but I can tell you that he is a benefactor to all of humanity. As for the legion hall, it moves in the interest of humanity and not at our discretion. However, I have been assured that the butterfly hall has not been acknowledged as a human organization and the halfbreeds will be dealt with if they bite the hand that feeds them.

"Our responsibility is simply to get as many benefits as we possibly can. And to that end I would like the departments of internal affairs and justice to work together and ensure we receive adequate compensation."

"I'll handle the paperwork but don't blame me if they don't pay."

"I'm sure they will pay, minister of internal affairs. With that settled, both issues regarding finances have been dealt with for now. I'd like to have a full report of all the numbers on my desk as soon as you have them."

"The department of finance has never submitted paperwork late! And we won't start now."

"Good. Any other issues regarding the conquest of white tower?"

"Apart from the obvious one?"

"Sigh. Minister of adventuring, what are you referring to?"

"Don't you sigh at me! All of you bureaucrats have no clue about dungeon delving. We are trying to conquer the white tower, a nightmare level dungeon. A dungeon with upper floors we have no idea about. We don't know what we will face up there and that's if we get there. Has no one ever considered what we do if this happens again? A station being attacked is one thing but if we start losing trains this whole conquest will fall apart. And how is the adventurer among us the one noticing this? Do you not have someone for logistics?"

"There is an office of logistics under the department of internal and external affairs. But that is not the point. We know little of the inner workings of a dungeon which is why the ministry of adventuring was called to this meeting.

"And while I do not agree with your tone, you raise a valid point. We have to stop future mishaps like this from occurring. And the ones most suited for this would be the adventurers in charge of protecting the trains. Would you not agree, minister of adventuring?"

"Not if we are facing multiple unique monsters. Worse yet commander types who can use magic!"

"It has yet to be determined if the unique monster that cast earth magic was a commander type."

"Whatever it was, it managed to take over a train with the train still being operational! Adventurers aren't bodyguards, we explore dungeons and collect resources!"

"I understand your frustration but this project is important."

"If it's so important, why aren't the halls being involved?"

"The halls are preparing for something else. However, once we reach a certain floor, I can assure you that you needn't worry about the last few floors."

"And how will we know when we are close to those floors? Dungeons aren't exactly known for giving out maps."

"We have a device that can tell once the dungeon core enters its proximity. It can tell once it's within ten floors from the dungeons final floor where the dungeon core and its master reside. Once monsters on the floors we traverse reach above level 250, special trains will be deployed that have such devices installed."

"I suppose that makes things more manageable. But still, we need a solution for trains being taken over."

"And you will have your solution soon enough. However, first, we need more information. As my secretary has mentioned before, we are in the progress of taking the necessary steps to find out what happened. Once we know how those monsters managed to take over the train, we'll take countermeasures. Until then, we'll have to wait."

"Fine."

"Anyone else? No? Then this meeting is adjourned. We'll reconvene for another short term meeting once we have more information."

The figures rise and file out of the room in an orderly manner until only two are left in the room.

"Secretary."

"Yes, chairman?"

"The company that the minister of education mentioned. It's VR dungeons, isn't it?"

"It is indeed. With the recent events concerning lord Winter I have made some private inquiries and believe this company warrants some in depth investigation. There are far too many irregularities in their company records."

"That is unnecessary. Lord Mephisto has assured me that Darwin may do some sketchy things but he and his company will ultimately be of more use to us than harm. We don't have the time or resources to waste on an investigation."

"Can lord Mephisto be trusted? I have reasons to believe-"

"Silence! You will not question the credibility of lord Mephisto. Ever! Without Lord Mephisto we would be nothing! We would be savages, still eking out an existence at the bottom of the food chain. He saved us even after we betrayed him! He would never act against us."

"I see but that company…"

"What have they done?"

"Nothing concrete as of yet but the irregularities-"

"Enough of your irregularities. If we started investigating every organization that shows irregularities we would only create trouble. Do you think the divine vineyard has no irregularities? Do you think the halls are all regular? No, so long as VR dungeons provides services that support our goals we will ignore any of your irregularities."

"But what if their company activities are just a cover?"

"A cover for what? Besides, the adventurers who took trainings at VR dungeons have seen remarkable increases in their ability. I won't hear anymore of this."