NOVEL NEXT Chapter 15: Slimy Past
The Vampire closed its eyes, a sigh escaping its lips more like a hiss. Taki waited, his tail coiled tightly, unease gnawing at him. This wasn't just an annoying tax collector – this was something more.
Bluesy rolled close to Taki, its frown seemingly growing frownier. Taki unconsciously rubbed affectionately the blue Slime's shell.
"Where are you from, Young Devil? How new are you to Gaia?" Francesco asked, his eyes still closed.
"New enough to not know what you're talking about - and my whereabouts are of no concern to you. But if you are to explain a threat to my Kingdom, be throughout." Taki said in an authoritative tone - as much as he could muster.
"Tell me, young devil," Francesco's voice cut through the silence, "Have you noticed the change in your domain? The decay seeping into the very air?"
Taki hesitated. He hadn't noticed anything, but it was probably due to his only recent presence in this strange world. "None whatsoever."
"Mana," Francesco continued, his eyes still closed, "It's the lifeblood of Gaia, and it's fading. For over a century now. It disrupts the natural order… and breeds desperation. Hrystals began to form more rarely, monsters grew weaker, and magic spells lost their full potency. This, of course, strongly upset the balance of both the overworld and the underworld. Nuestra facción, la Intendencia Real de Sangre, has greatly suffered to maintain the order in our region. Besides affecting the magical world, it also affected the natural world. Magical thunderstorms devastated regions, and there were earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, and the worst of all that covered the mainland: una sequía everlasting."
A drought. Taki gulped.
"And this drought drove famine, famine drives war, and war drives the economy. The overworld regions had to adapt, and adapt quickly they did. They invaded dungeons across all of the mainland. Pillaging. Ransacking. Stealing and Devouring." Francesco's voice hardened, the pain and anger flaring through his demeanor. "Their hunger for Hrystals was equal to none. Elves, Humans, Dwarves, Beastfolk, all of them fought against each other and fought against us for our resources. It's morally good to take mana from us, mere monsters and demons, ¿verdad?"
"And so, our hrystals they wanted, and our hrystals they took. The dungeon you stand on was, the skulls and bodies your slimes cleaned up, were from their last effort before auto-destruction - A World-Spell cast in the 'Earth's Staff' to bring back rain to the mainland. It worked, but the blood they spilled won't soon be forgotten." Francesco spread his arm
Bluesy interjected. "Human mages. They enter dungeon. Fire, lightning, ice, rock. All turn against monsters, poyo. It Horrible, It disaster."
Taki gulped. It appears he and his slimes were indeed just a tiny part of the equation. But still... 25% taxes. Vampires. Mages. World Spells. Hrystals. Fading Mana. He had to learn more, or he would soon be mere dust in the avalanche this world could bring onto him.
First things first. Taki steeled himself, attempting to let his colder, more rational side take control of the situation.
"What is the Intendencia going to do about the overworld? We are not well protected if they could invade all the dungeons under your control immediately."
"You don't understand the scale of the situation, amigo." The word Amigo flared with a mixture of sarcasm and dismissal. "Stopping one faction's invasion is easy. Try stopping an entire world from invading hundreds of dungeons, realms, kingdoms, and villages simultaneously. The dungeons were ransacked, but las grandes cidades were burnt to the ground."
"Very well. The Kingdom of Azuera will stay under the IRS's protection for now." Taki approached Francesco, his tail coiling from adrenaline. He forcibly uncoiled it with his desire to appear... negotiable. "25% taxes under gross Hrystal and Gold revenue, right? What about now, when we have no Hrystals and no Gold? How will we pay for your 'protection'?"
Francesco straightened his collar, cape, and emblem, all in this order. The Vampire took a deep breath and adjusted his posture. Back to business.
"You won't. We pride ourselves on helping los novatos stand on their feet. You are exempt from taxes until you are generating a sum worth 1000 Gold a month, both in actual Gold and Hrystals for their wholesale value. You must still fill out our monthly reports and allow for routine inspections. And worry not, amigo; your kingdom will be under the best protection on the mainland. The IRS has grown stronger than ever."
Taki extended his hand, and Francesco shook it. A magic circle appeared under both of them.
"A deal is a deal, señor. Do you agree?"
"I agree."
The magic circle grew and shined, the Vampire's eye glowing a bright red.
And then, Taki's zDungeonPhone rang.