Conquering His Cold Heart

Ladius and Frost sat across from one another in one of the Niflheim camp's most popular restaurants. They'd had just finished a glorious meal and had concluded the wrap up of Ladius and her team's investigation.

Now the young dungeon core was in the midst of asking a favour from the federation of knowledge, one that would help him crush his naïve little brother Karrick as well as help set a useful precedent for future dungeon wars.

However the federation of knowledge was a strictly neutral party, an entity that did its best to steer clear of granting advantages to a single party over another. That said Ladius was certainly intrigued by the prospect of helping out Frost with a unique dungeon experience, so she demanded the details instead of rejecting him outright.

"As you are likely aware I'm not the only dungeon core in existence." The many inhabitants of the Yangmir (Northern) continent were already made aware of several possible dungeons appearing in their land let alone the envoys of the federation of knowledge who had a direct pipeline to the Dark God.

Ladius nodded her head in agreement, they knew from Lord Dark that 100 of such individuals were created and spread across Nova. Multiple teams like her own were currently travelling across the land and sea to investigate these newfound entities.

"Well our father has enacted several ways for us siblings to interact with one another as well as compete against each other." Ladius' eyes sparkled with clear interest as Frost uttered the word 'compete'. How would dungeon cores test who was better? Her instinctual thirst for knowledge flared as started to lean across the table, desperate for answers.

Frost knowing that he'd got her on the hook started to slowly reel her in.

"Our father established an activity that he has coined 'dungeon wars' wherein dungeon cores like myself and my siblings battle with our established dungeons.

Upon the start of such a war the entrances to our dungeons would be linked thus allowing our monster forces to invade one another with the aim being to reach the core room or eliminate all our opponent's monsters." Frost started to use hand gestures and ice chakra moulded into certain shapes to describe and embellish upon the activity that was a dungeon war which helped fuel Ladius' interest.

"Dungeon wars are well appreciated and even encouraged by our father, so you'll likely be hearing of situations wherein people are locked within a dungeon and or barred from entry for a period of time.

It is for this reason that I'd like the federation of knowledge to help set a precedent, to help avoid needless casualties when us dungeon cores are competing or at least shine a light on the reason for their entrapment." Though he said entrapment it's likely that those who were caged up during a dungeon war met a swift end.

"As compensation I'll allow your security team and perhaps you yourself to take part in this dungeon war thus granting you a seat at the front of the action. Of course whether Terrance and his team actively engage in the battle themselves will be completely optional.

I won't force you or even ask you to battle on my behalf however I can only control my own forces not those of my sibling's." Basically, they can get a prime seating position but will draw the ire of Karrick's forces by just being present. Knowing how devout Ladius is it'd be impossible for her to avoid interacting with the opponent's dungeon.

She wasn't the kind to blend into the background and take the safer yet less exciting approach. Terrance and his team would therefore be forced to participate in the war whether they wanted to or not….well as long as Ladius agrees to the favour.

The woman in question was at this moment about to erupt into giggles as her heart thumped away from unbridled excitement. Her eyes flashed with a radiant intensity that momentarily gave Frost the chills, perhaps he shouldn't have asked her for the favour. However despite Ladius' clear interest she was first and foremost an investigator for the federation of knowledge.

She forced herself to calm down and answer in her capacity as an investigator.

"The compensation is intriguing and technically neutral in a way since you're not forcing us to battle on your behalf however it's obvious that you'd be receiving our aid in one way or another while your sibling will be disadvantaged." It wouldn't look good for the federation to support one dungeon over another.

Frost did his best to hold back a tongue clicking instead showing a calm and amenable expression.

"You are correct Ladius, however even without your aid I'm set to win this war without much effort. My sibling is simply in over his head when challenging me. Your participation will do nothing to affect the end result." He spoke straight to the federation's neutrality.

"Bold and perhaps rather arrogant. On what basis am I to believe in your unquestionable superiority against this sibling of yours." Ladius wouldn't be fooled by Frost's handsome face and pretty words.

"….." The young dungeon core was caught off guard not expecting Ladius to be so professional. He wondered if his earlier description was lacking, wasn't she a knowledge nut with poor control over her emotions.

"Haaaaaa that's a fair point to you who knows nothing about my ranking as a dungeon core and the capabilities of my opponent it may seem like nothing more than arrogance." Regardless of being caught off guard he had prepared another measure.

"Ranking?" Ladius asked curiously, another thing she and the federation weren't aware of.

"Yes, during our last family gathering we dungeon core were given a ranking based on the development of our dungeons and how much energy we'd manage to amass from delvers and other sources." It would be rather uncouth to call it life energy harvested from victims, but Ladius was knowledgeable enough to read between the lines and understood the very nature of dungeons.

Just like monster lairs they feed on those who enter them to grow and create monsters.

"So what was your ranking if I may ask?" Ladius asked as a smile grew on her lips. This was exactly the angle/excuse she was looking for. The federation needed some measure of proof if it was to embark upon this favour for Frost.

"4th" A wide pride filled grin appeared on his face as he announced his ranking. He also pushed his chest forward slightly and his back straightened, he was quite proud of that achievement.

"Hooooohhh that's quite impressive Lord Frost, congratulations." Ladius clapped in support of his accomplishment before adding. "…..Now what about your upcoming opponent."

"43rd" Of course since this ranking was only based after the first month it didn't really mean much in reality, but it helped establish a distinction between Frost and Karrick from Ladius' point of view.

"That's quite the difference…but since this is a ranking that we the federation is unaware of I don't think it's enough to guarantee that you'll be victorious even if we don't intervene." Though she really, really wanted to take part in this unprecedented dungeon war she needed to follow proper protocol. Thankfully Frost wasn't finished.

"True then how about our track records for dungeon wars, though it's a bit sparse I've participated in one and came out victorious whereas he lost his first challenge and if that's not enough just remember that I successfully withstood the fabled monster stampede that plagues Northrend and the Glacial mountains every few years." It's a shame they didn't have much more of track record but what can you do.

Ladius was silent as she took in this reveal, biting her lip as she pondered back and forth on whether or not she could actually accept this offer on behalf of the federation. The federation were quite strict in their rules but given how invested they were in finding out every little thing they could about the new dungeons she in accordance with her rank was actually given a little leeway.

Should she take a little risk? What was the actual harm? It wasn't a true war after all just a competition between siblings, the fallout couldn't be that bad right?

"...Alright I think we can be onboard with this favour of yours as long as you provide the previous stated compensation and assure us that we don't have to actively participate in the war itself on your behalf if we chose not to." Eventually after mulling over the offer for a good ten minutes Ladius finally agreed.

"Of course, I won't ask for your aid at any point and will ensure that my own forces won't interfere in your actions throughout the war. You'll be given free reign." Frost gladly reiterated his promise before cementing the deal with a hearty handshake, now to go into the particulars of the bargain.

"So what exactly do you want us to do for this precedent?"

"That's actually really simple. I'll create some sort of signal within my dungeon as a precursor to the war and I want you to interpret it as a warning. On the lead up to the war you can use your background as the federation of knowledge to advise people to exit the dungeon and steer clear until the war begins, and the entrance is closed.

Then after the war is complete and the dungeon reopens you can announce your findings. How much you wish to reveal to the public will of course be up to you but now delvers will know of the danger and either chose to vamoose whenever the signal shows up, choose to hunker down until it's over or perhaps even choose to participate willingly.

Either way I'm sure the victims will be lessened, and we dungeon cores will find engaging in wars far less arduous." If all the delvers could be given notice to leave before a war begins there'd be less challenges in managing a growing territory for passive income. ƒreewebɳovel.com

"Hmmm that does sound rather simple yet perfect for the situation, but won't the signal only apply to your dungeon?"

"No I'll spread the word through my siblings using this scenario as an example. I'm sure most will agree to use it." The majority of his siblings were quite level-headed after all.

"Alright Lord Frost the federation of knowledge agrees to your request wholeheartedly, I'll inform Terrance and the rest immediately." Ladius thus left the table with a bounce in her step, eager to take part in this unique experience.

"Well that settles that." Frost let out a relieved breath, convincing Ladius was a little harder than expected, she really was a true blood investigator and not just some knowledge seeking fanatical.

"Guess I just need to accept Karrick's challenge and make my own war preparations now." Frost's lips stretched from ear to ear, revealing a set a sharp teeth, he was looking forward to crushing Karrick under his foot.