Chapter 60: Next Steps
The Olawale residence was quiet that evening.
The estate was considerably larger than the modest manor Folami had taken the four young adventurers to. Its outer courtyard alone was large enough to accommodate several training grounds, and the polished stone corridors were lit by rows of lanterns whose flames never seemed to flicker.
Bolaji sat in a private room overlooking one of the inner courtyards.
A cup of tea rested untouched beside him.
He was dressed in fine clothing, the sort that made it immediately obvious that he belonged to a wealthy family. The fabric was expensive without being excessively decorated, and a small gold emblem bearing the Olawale crest was embroidered near his collar.
His expression was relaxed.
Almost bored.
The door opened.
His butler entered.
The older man closed the door behind him before approaching. "Sir."
Bolaji glanced up. "What did you find?"
The butler stopped a few steps away. "The group you asked me to watch has been hired."
Bolaji’s eyebrows rose slightly.
"Already?"
"Yes, sir."
"By whom?"
The butler hesitated for half a second.
"Folami."
Bolaji’s expression changed.
Not dramatically.
Just enough for the boredom to disappear from his eyes.
"Folami?"
"Yes, sir."
Bolaji leaned back in his chair.
"The Kolades’ prodigal son?"
"Yes, sir."
A small smile appeared on Bolaji’s lips.
"So he noticed them."
"It would seem so."
Bolaji tapped one finger against the armrest.
"What did he hire them for?"
"We don’t know."
Bolaji’s smile disappeared.
"You don’t know?"
"We’ve made inquiries, sir, but the information has not reached us yet."
Bolaji stared at him for a moment.
Then he chuckled.
"Interesting."
The butler remained silent.
Bolaji turned his attention toward the window.
The courtyard below was nearly empty.
A few servants crossed it carrying baskets.
Two guards stood near the entrance.
Everything was orderly.
Everything was under control.
Yet a small group of poor adventurers had somehow managed to become the subject of interest between two families.
Bolaji’s smile returned.
"So Folami has decided to interfere."
"I wouldn’t necessarily call it interference, sir."
"No?"
"He may simply have taken an interest in them."
"They are hardworking novices and he might see potential in them. As you know.he has little in his faction."
The butler’s expression remained neutral.
"We don’t know his intentions."
Bolaji leaned forward.
"Find out."
"Yes, sir."
"And the group?"
"We’ll continue watching them."
"Good."
Bolaji picked up his cup and finally took a sip.
His thoughts returned to Temi.
He remembered the first time he had seen her.
The fire in her eyes.
The confidence.
The way she had rejected his invitation without hesitation.
Most people knew the name Olawale.
Most people understood what it meant.
Even those who didn’t like him usually understood that refusing him could create problems.
Yet she had simply looked at his messenger and said no.
Not because she couldn’t understand what was being offered.
She simply didn’t care.
That was what made her interesting.
And frustrating.
Bolaji placed the cup down.
"How strong are they now?"
"Stronger than when you first encountered them, according to our information."
"That isn’t surprising."
"They also have access to Folami’s training."
Bolaji laughed softly.
"Then perhaps they’ll become troublesome."
The butler said nothing.
Bolaji looked at him.
"Does that concern you?"
"It is my responsibility to consider every possibility, sir."
"Of course."
Bolaji smiled.
"But I don’t mind a challenge."
He stood from his chair and walked toward the window.
The evening light stretched across the courtyard.
"Actually..."
He folded his arms.
"This makes things more interesting."
The butler watched him.
Bolaji continued.
"If Folami wants them, then there must be something about them he finds valuable."
"That is possible."
"And if they’re valuable to him..."
Bolaji’s smile became sharper.
"...then they may be worth more than we originally thought."
The butler understood immediately.
"You still want the girl."
Bolaji turned toward him.
"I never stopped."
The room became quiet.
Bolaji walked back to the table and picked up his cup.
"But don’t approach them yet."
"Yes, sir."
"I don’t want another direct confrontation."
The butler nodded.
"Understood."
"Watch them."
"Yes, sir."
"Learn their routines. Learn where they train. Who they speak to. Who they work for."
Bolaji’s eyes narrowed.
"And most importantly..."
He paused.
"Find out everything you can about Folami."
The butler bowed his head.
"Everything, sir?"
"Everything."
Bolaji’s voice remained calm.
"Where he has been. What he learned while he was away. Who trained him. What cultivation realm he’s reached. What connections he has within the Kolade family."
He took another sip of tea.
"And find out why he came back."
The butler’s expression became slightly more serious.
"Yes, sir."
Bolaji walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
"One more thing."
The butler looked up.
"Sir?"
"If Folami is protecting those four..."
Bolaji smiled.
"Don’t challenge him directly."
"Understood."
"I don’t want a pointless conflict between the Olawale and Kolade families over four adventurers."
The butler nodded.
"But if we understand what Folami wants..."
Bolaji’s smile returned.
"...then we’ll know how to take it from him."
The butler bowed.
"I’ll begin immediately."
He turned toward the door.
"Sir."
Bolaji glanced at him.
"Yes?"
"The girl."
"What about her?"
"If Folami has taken them under his protection, approaching her may become considerably more difficult."
Bolaji laughed.
"Then I’ll simply have to become more patient."
The butler nodded.
He opened the door.
Before leaving, he heard Bolaji speak again.
"Keep your eyes on them."
"Yes, sir."
"And don’t underestimate them."
The butler paused.
Bolaji’s expression had become thoughtful.
"They were poor independent adventurers two months ago."
His gaze hardened.
"Now they’re under the protection of a member of the Kolade family."
He looked toward the darkening sky beyond the window.
"People don’t change their circumstances that quickly without someone noticing."
The door closed behind the butler.
Bolaji was left alone.
For a moment, he simply stood there.
Then he smiled.
The situation had become more complicated.
But he didn’t see that as a problem.
He saw it as a game.
And for the first time since Temi had rejected him, Bolaji finally had an opponent standing between him and what he wanted.
Folami of the Kolade family.
The carefree young man who had appeared out of nowhere.
The prodigal son who had returned from another kingdom.
And apparently, the new master of the four people Bolaji had already taken an interest in.
Bolaji’s smile widened.
"Let’s see what you’re hiding, Folami."
.....
That night, Tolu lay awake.
The room was quiet.
For the first time since arriving in Ilebi, he wasn’t lying on a hard mattress wondering whether the money in his pocket would last until the next day.
He had a proper bed.
Food was guaranteed.
His friends had their own rooms.
They had a master who was willing to train them.
And, most importantly, they finally had money.
Two gold coins every month.
It wasn’t a fortune by the standards of the people who ruled Ilebi, but compared to the life they had been living before, it felt almost unreal.
Tolu stared at the ceiling.
For months, the dungeon had been little more than a secret he had desperately tried to survive with.
He had barely understood what being a Dungeon Lord meant.
He had been too poor to experiment.
Too weak to explore.
Too afraid that someone would discover what he was.
But now things were different.
He finally had room to breathe.
And with that breathing room came a thought that had been growing in his mind since he first received the dungeon.
If this really was his dungeon...
Then why was he treating it like something he was simply trying to keep alive?
He wanted to develop it.
He wanted to see what it could become.
Tolu closed his eyes. "Are you awake?"
For several seconds, there was no response.
Then the familiar woman’s voice echoed inside his mind.
"I am always awake, my Lord."
Tolu smiled faintly. "I want to ask you something."
"You may."
"The dungeon."
A brief silence followed.
"What about it?"
"I want to develop it."
The response came immediately.
"Finally."
Tolu opened his eyes. "Finally?"
"You have possessed a dungeon for months, yet you have spent most of your time worrying about surviving your next meal."
"I had reasons."
"I know."
The voice sounded almost amused.
"But your circumstances have changed."
Tolu sat up. "That’s why I’m asking."
He looked toward the window.
"We have money now. We have somewhere to live. Folami can train us. We’re not struggling to survive every single day anymore."
His expression became serious. "So I want to know exactly what I’m working toward."
The dungeon heart remained silent.
Tolu frowned.
"Well?"
"You wish to know the path?"
"Yes."
"Then listen carefully, my Lord."
Tolu leaned back.
The voice changed.
It was still gentle, but there was something more serious beneath it.
"The dungeon is currently at its peak first stage."
"Level One."
"Yes."
"And I’m a Novice."
"Yes."
Tolu nodded.
"So when I become an Adept..."
"The dungeon will advance with you."
Tolu’s eyes widened.
"Just like that?"
"No."
The answer was immediate.
"Your advancement unlocks the potential for the next dungeon stage. It does not build the dungeon for you."
Tolu thought about it.
"So if I become an Adept, I’ll be able to develop it into a Level Two dungeon?"
"Correct."
"And when I become Advanced?"
"Level Three."
"Master?"
"Level Four."
Tolu’s eyes widened slightly.
"And Grandmaster?"
"Level Five."
He slowly nodded.
"What about Venerable?"
"Level Six."
"And Divine?"
The heart paused.
"Level Seven."
Tolu stared into the darkness.
Seven levels.
The number suddenly felt enormous.
"That’s it?"
"No."
Tolu blinked.
"No?"
"The seventh level is not the end of what your dungeon can become."
Tolu sat upright.
"Then why did you say Divine is Level Seven?"
"Because that is the highest stage that can be unlocked through your cultivation."
She paused.
"Anything beyond that will require something else."
"What?"
"You will know when the time comes."
Tolu sighed.
"You really enjoy doing that."
"I enjoy keeping you alive."
"That’s not the same thing."
"It often is."
Tolu chuckled.
Then his expression became serious again.
"Tell me what each level gives me."
The heart’s voice became clearer.
"Very well."
"The first level gives you the foundation."
Tolu listened carefully.
"At Level One, the dungeon possesses basic dungeon consciousness, limited environmental manipulation, a small amount of dungeon energy, and the ability to nurture simple life within its territory."
Tolu nodded.
"That’s what I’ve been using."
"Yes."
"Slimes, herbs..."
"Among other things."
"And Level Two?"
"When you reach the Adept realm, you will unlock the authority of the second level."
Tolu waited.
"You will gain the ability to establish a stronger connection with your dungeon."
"Meaning?"
"Teleportation."
Tolu froze. "What?"