Skill Extraction: Exploring Dungeons-Chapter 668 - 590 Gathering and Communication

In the spacious stone pillar hall, the floating white ball flickers with light, helping to illuminate the entire hall through the transparent structure at the top.

Inside the hall surrounded by stone pillars, only 4 people remain seated at the round table out of the dozen chairs.

They are the initiator of the council, Orochi, who guided Kane into the hall, along with the President of the Food Guild, Bagri.

As well as Kane, and not far from Kane sits a little boy who can't distinguish his gender; his name is Archie.

Kane sits in his position, looking at Archie, who is one seat away, while Archie's hands, through his sleeves, hold a drink cup. He slowly sips, his eyes also fixed on Kane.

Seeing him constantly staring, Kane thought for a moment and passed the dessert in front of him over to Archie.

Only then did Archie smile happily and shifted his gaze.

At that moment, the round table was already filled with various desserts similar to after-tea sweets.

All were brought out by Bagri, and then the four of them enjoyed the desserts with tea, as if they were really at a certain small gathering.

Thinking of this, Kane finally asked his first question.

"Dungeon Masters, are they really only us here?"

The reason Kane asked this question is that even counting those who didn't come, there are only 13 positions without a glow.

This means that there are a total of 13 people at this gathering, only these people are Dungeon Masters.

13 people seemed quite small to Kane, considering the numbers he had in mind.

Kane already pondered whether this gathering only attracted some Dungeon Masters, while many others hadn't joined yet.

This world is extremely vast, just like the western borderlands they are currently situated in.

According to incomplete statistics, there are about seven to eight hundred million people here. This is just the western borderlands, relatively sparsely populated.

With each expansion of the world, the total population has become difficult to calculate, conservatively estimated to exceed one or two billion.

Such a large population has produced explorers in the billions.

However, only having a dozen or so Dungeon Masters is somewhat beyond Kane's imagination.

Upon hearing Kane's question, Orochi quickly swallowed the dessert in his mouth, drank some tea, and said.

"Of course, there aren't that few, but not many either. This meeting's members are those who became Dungeon Masters in this era."

"As for more ancient eras, they also have similar gatherings. I've attended one or two times.

Their existence time is so old that their experiences don't necessarily apply, as the Mist is always changing.

So, almost every one or two eras, a new gathering emerges to absorb new members, while the old gatherings become closed private circles, no longer recruiting new members."

After listening to Orochi, Kane nodded.

If seen this way, it's indeed slightly better. Although only a dozen Dungeon Masters emerged over the past thousand years, it's really rare, almost beyond the term rare, more of extremely scarce.

"You've just stepped into the gold level, so you mastered the dungeon at the silver level?"

Orochi suddenly said.

Upon hearing his words, Kane nodded and replied, "Yes, I indeed mastered the dungeon at the silver level."

"Those two who argued and left are like you, mastering the dungeon at the silver stage. You might have common ground." Orochi said.

This means those two arguing women mentioned by Bagri were the members who obtained a personal dungeon at the silver level.

At this moment, Archie suddenly said, "I mastered the dungeon at the gold stage."

After saying this, he paused suddenly, then turned his head to ask Orochi and Bagri, "I mastered the dungeon at the gold stage, right?"

Upon hearing his question, Bagri nodded helplessly.

Perhaps sensing Kane's puzzled expression, Bagri explained, "His personal dungeon is quite famous. If you've slightly researched, you might know, it's the dungeon selling teleportation scrolls."

Upon hearing Bagri's words, Kane nodded.

This little boy was the owner of Rogue Camp.

But why was he showing signs of having memory issues?

"Due to certain special reasons, he chooses not to remember some things, only those deemed important, like names." Bagri further explained.

So his gender doesn't count as an important thing? Kane couldn't help but think. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

But probing too much into others' privacy isn't good; understanding the general context is enough.

After listening to Bagri's explanation, Kane nodded and then shifted the topic by saying, "I've just acquired my personal dungeon, and I'm almost completely unfamiliar with everything."

He hoped to learn more about personal dungeons from Bagri and Orochi's lips.

After all, being just one person, even if he knows some information, he doesn't know whether that is characteristic only of him or if it applies to all Dungeon Masters.

"I see, then it's indeed necessary to thoroughly understand the situation regarding some capital," Orochi nodded understandingly and said.

Afterward, Orochi began to tell Kane some of the most basic information.

"The opportunity to own a dungeon is only available to those at or below the Golden level."

"The Golden level is a very long phase, and most people spend a lot of time consolidating here, so most dungeon owners emerge during this phase."

Aside from Burton, Kane hardly communicated with many Golden-level Explorers, so his understanding of this phase was rather superficial.

Orochi suddenly asked, "Is your dungeon inhabited by a sentient race, or is it a resource-type dungeon like Bagri's?"

"A dungeon inhabited by a sentient race."

"If it's this kind of dungeon, it'll be more labor-intensive because a sentient race is living there, so it actually counts as a part of the Mist World, and the life race inside can also come out to become Explorers."

After speaking, Orochi thought for a moment and said, "Actually, owning such a dungeon, the master is practically like the king of that dungeon. So never think of yourself as the Kingdom's god, arbitrarily treating your subjects with impunity, or the Mist may strip you of your Controller status."

Upon hearing Orochi's warning, Kane nodded, having already noticed that the Mist protects ordinary people very well.

Whether in the ordinary world or private dungeons, even within the World Ring, it's the same.

Many established rules bear the intention of protecting ordinary people.

However, Kane wasn't psychologically twisted to that extent.

Then Orochi continued, "For such a dungeon, you need to enact policies like a king, promoting important officials to make the entire country stronger."

"The stronger the country becomes, the more resources you, as the controller of the country, have access to. As the country grows stronger, your power may also increase accordingly."

"Boldly delegate power downwards. As a Dungeon Master, over time, your control over the dungeon can become like that of a Creator God, so there's no need to fear being overshadowed by delegating authority. Such a scenario won't happen."

"Not abusing ordinary people doesn't mean being overly benevolent to them. The necessary rules and laws must still be in place."

Orochi's advice was indeed what Kane was thinking; being a hands-off boss was the best approach.

The world is in Kane's hands, so even if he delegates all the authority, there's no fear of any issues.

So, after hearing Orochi's words, Kane nodded approvingly.

Seeing Kane's response, Orochi smiled and said, "It seems you've implemented such policies, so let me tell you one last point."

Then Orochi said solemnly, "Do not hinder the people in your dungeon from becoming Explorers. Encourage them, teach them how to become Explorers."

This point was entirely new to Kane, who turned around and asked, "Why do that?"

"Because the Mist will reward you. The more and stronger Explorers you cultivate, the more meaningful things they accomplish, and all their success will count in your favor."

Upon hearing this, Kane was somewhat pleased, but remembering the limited population of the Platinum Country, he felt dejected again.

That small population couldn't even fill the entire world; the homeland of the Platinum Country couldn't develop, let alone send Explorers out into the world.

Such matters can only be resolved with time.

"If you're looking for short-term gains, you can trade some unique resources from your dungeon, which is the fastest way," Bagri suddenly suggested from the side.

At this point, Orochi also said, "If there are such resources that need trading, you can directly go to the Radiant Commerce Association. Brilliant Monarch cooperates with our gatherings, so transactions are secure."

As he said this, Orochi took out a small card made from a purple radiant Crystal Stone from his Space Equipment and handed it to Kane.

"Consider this a token for VIPs. Take good care of it; it's quite valuable and can be considered a perk of joining the gathering."

Upon hearing Orochi's words, Kane took the card.

This thing turned out to be a piece of Golden Equipment, with Soul Binding and extraordinarily sturdy characteristics.

While everyone chatted casually, a sudden light flashed beside Kane.

Lily the succubus had returned to her seat.

However, only she returned; the other female member, who was about to fight her, did not come back.

Looking at Bagri and the others, they seemed quite accustomed to such a scene, showing no surprise at all.

After entering, Lily adjusted her posture, then picked up the hot tea and desserts in front of her and began to eat.

Taking a bite, her eyes narrowed slightly in delight.

"The cook's skills are indeed excellent; every time I attend the gathering, it's for these snacks." Lily said with satisfaction.

Upon hearing Lily's words, Bagri smiled amiably, while Orochi shook his head helplessly.

Orochi then said to Lily, "Lily, you can share some of your dungeon experiences with Kane. Like you, he also became a dungeon owner at the Silver level."

Hearing Orochi's words, Lily quickly finished the pastry in her hand, then turned around with a look of surprise at Kane.

"So, the little brother is that formidable?"