Naomi met with King Alduin two weeks after finishing her floor. He and Itylara immediately saw her diminished chirfulness. After the dinner, he decided to ask.

  “I have a feeling that something happened last month. Naomi, can you tell me what bothers you?”

  “Yes, I also wanted to ask you about that.” Itylara joined in.

  “It’s just mental fatigue after building my last floor.” Naomi tries to dodge the question. However, their gaze made her capitulate. “Ok. I can’t tell much before the last floor is explored, but there is something that should end this invasion much faster than anyone thinks. And with much fewer casualties than anyone could imagine.” Naomi sighted.

  “That is excellent news. So where is the problem?” Alduin asked.

  “The problem is in what will happen after the war. This weapon changed my world significantly. There is a saying that it made peasants equal to the knights. Some argue that it made people bold enough to question everything. I made precautions to slow down its proliferation, and in this world, you have magic, so the impact hopefully won’t be so severe.”

  “That is worrisome news. But the gods approved your choice. Who knows, maybe we need those hardships to learn something.” Alduin tries to cheer her up.

  “And if I understand it correctly, you and other dungeon masters know about them. That means you can guide us and teach us. You will help us avoid the worst mistakes.” Iltara added.

  “And like I told you, when we met for the first time. People like us are constantly required to make hard choices. And those choices frequently mean that someone will die. Until your decisions are made to ensure the safety of people, they are good choices. You feel guilt, remorse? That’s good. It means that you are aware of the price. However, you shouldn’t allow yourself to be overwhelmed by them. Many people, including us, are counting on you. And that means we expect that you will be decisive when needed.”

  “Great. No pressure.” Naomi slumped on the chair.

  “Don’t worry. You can count on us.” Itylara told her.

  “Thanks.”

  “I need to ask your permission to discuss this secret of the sixteenth floor with the grand priests and the General Serator. We need to prepare properly before we enter the new floor.” King Alduin asked.

  “Right. Please do. It will be a great help. I promise to be ready to answer any question after your return.” Naomi thanked him.

  In the Citadel of the Undead, different kinds of talks were taking place.

  Grand Lich Joana asked for a private audience with Arch Lich. Contrary to the other three grand liches, she was spending a lot of effort to keep her dead body well-preserved. She even calls herself the Grand Lich of Eternal Beauty. No one knows the moment when, and why she became so obsessed with how she looks. But news that she squanders her magic talents and position as the second princess to join cultists was shocking to all. Her mother, the queen, abdicated the very next day and disappeared shortly after. Rumors claimed that she traveled to one of the monasteries where she started working as a common helper for the sick and dying.

  The king, her father, would sit on the throne for only a few years more. He needed to be sure that his eldest son would be a proper new king. He also makes sure that all cultists in his kingdom will be hunted down. His son later continued that mission, and this kingdom became one of the most vocal about their hatred of the cultists and most supportive of any endeavors against the Arch Lich. The old king also vanished soon after abdication. It was said he ventured north to find his daughter, or at least slay as many cultists as he could. No one knows if they ever met. He never returns, and Joana never makes any statement. However, it was known that she climbed in cultist ranks fast, and after ten years, she became a lich. And not just any lich but the second grand lich ever.

  “So, Lady Joana. Tell me what is so important that you requested a private audience with me?” Arch Lich asked.

  “My Great Lord. I asked this privilege because I wanted to present to you, my Lord, a plan on how to destroy, or maybe even take control over the On Taram dungeon.” She bowed gracefully.

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  “It’s good to see someone loyal and hard-working like you, Lady. However, for now, we need to concentrate on breaking their defence to open the road for our legions.”

  “And I will obey your orders, my Lord, and wait for that day. Time is on our side, our numbers grow, and we get stronger, while mortals get old and weak. It’s evident, however, that false gods are cheating and using any underhanded method they could find to delay the inevitable. While in the end our win is assured, their defiance will destroy many beautiful souls. Souls we swore to rescue from the false god's hands.”

  “True. Then please tell me your plan. Let me see if it fits with my other plans.”

  “Ot once my Lord.”

  It takes her time to present her idea properly and answer Arch Lich's questions, but in the end, her Lord was pleased.

  “It’s a good plan.” He nodded. “No one will suspect it. They won’t be able to call for reinforcements in time, not even the sun elves. But I see two major issues. The first one is that we don’t know what's there. We don’t know how many troops they have there.”

  “My servant gathered all relevant information and gossip. This is the final result of my work.” She presented a scroll. Arch Lich, take it and read carefully.

  “Those numbers don’t make sense. How is it possible that such an important place can be defended by seven thousand warriors at best?”

  “That is the total number of people, my Lord.” Lady Joana answered. “The number of warriors is more likely half of it, if not less. And my reaction was the same at first. However, I realized one important error in our assumptions. The On Taram is in the middle of the desert. The dungeon in question is the only source of food and water. No matter how favorable a deal the dungeon core struck with sun elves, there is a hard limit on how many people it can feed. So, besides the garrison of the sun elves, which is most likely quite numerous, some paladins, around one thousand at best, and the adventurers, most of the people are artisans who are building those wretched golems, and supporting adventurers.”

  “You are right. They most likely forget that our legions don’t need to eat. They think that the desert can stop us.”

  “To be precise, my Lord, necromancers regrettably need food. But one decent necromancer can order a hundred zombies or more. Each undead can carry quite a big backpack full of supplies. Even considering that one zombie can carry food and water only for one day, it gives us enough time to reach the oasis, establish camp, and organize raiding parties, which will be bringing more food for necromancers.”

  “Yes, you mentioned that. Most importantly, it will force them to split their forces. They will need to choose between supporting the border or the sun elves.”

  “They won’t be able to support the oasis. Armies forage while marching, and in the desert, there is nothing to eat.”

  “Right. I’m very inclined to agree with this plan. However, the second problem arises. I need someone competent to enact such a bold plan.”

  “Yes, my Lord. That's why it should be me, my Lord.”

  “Your loyalty and intelligence cannot be questioned, but you are too valuable.”

  “I cannot express my gratitude for this praise, my Lord. However, my responsibilities required me to mention that I’m just a tool and should be used when necessary. Sending regular liches will not be enough, no matter how smart and loyal they are. Some necromancers are overambitious and like to question their orders. My rank as grand lich will ensure loyalty and obedience among the ranks. And as the person who came up with the idea, I, after you, my Lord, have the best idea about how this plan should be prosecuted.”

  “Hmm.” Arch Lich had been thinking intensively for some time. “Let’s do that.” He finally decided. “But with one important change. Conquering the dungeon will be a secondary objective. If you realize it’s a trap, or the number of troops there is too numerous for your army, you must retreat. Knowledge about what's truly there will allow us to prepare properly for the second attack if this plan fails.”

  “Understood, my Lord. I swear that I will fulfill this order to the letter.”

  “Good. How fast can you depart?”

  Within a week, everything should be ready. I already planned the best road to the south, with two alternative routes if scouts found it blocked.”

  “Excellent. The whole journey will take three to four months. Winter begins, which should help you avoid enemy scouts.”

  “Yes, my Lord. I was also counting on the weather to ensure the success of this plan.”

  “I will order preparation for the summer campaign. It will divert attention from you to the border. It should help you with siege or retreat, depending on what you will find there.”

  “Understood, my Lord. Once again, I promise to return with news or with the head of the dungeon core.”

  “Good. But before you kill her, check if you can persuade her to work with us. Her oasis could be useful as a forward base. Their holy desert will become our own shield and sword against followers of the false gods.”

  “Oh, what a beautiful idea, my Lord. They will never see that coming. I make sure that it will happen.”

  “But remember that not at the cost of your own life. This dungeon will be conquered one way or another. For now, concentrate on instilling fear in heretics' hearts and obtaining as much intel about the On Taram as you can. If your prediction about defences is right, then proceed with conquering it. Otherwise, return immediately.”

  “It will be done, my Lord.”