Chapter 62: Liching for a Living: The Dungeon Grindset

Chapter 62: Liching for a Living: The Dungeon Grindset The Necro Market had been open for just over a week, and it already felt like it had a heartbeat of its own, pulsing with the ebb and flow of footsteps and conversation. Seven days of steady traffic had turned the once-quiet commercial floor into a living, shifting maze of voices, smells, and clinking coin. Beastkin from nearby territories mingled with traveling traders, their reasons for coming blurring together once the scent of sizzling meat and sweet juice pulled them toward the canteen. A young harefolk boy clutched his father’s sleeve, pointing excitedly at a display of carved wooden animals, while two older lupen debated whether to buy a puzzle or spend the coins on another round of burgers. A pair of lupen merchants leaned over a table, burgers in hand, talking with their mouths full. "You ever tried this before?" one asked between bites, leaning forward to keep grease from dripping on his tunic. "First time," the other said, a blissful expression on his face as he licked grease from his fingers. "And I forgot why I even came here. I think it was to buy a new sword for my journey, but... who cares now? This is a journey all on its own." At another table, a frogfolk trader swirled the ice in her drink and looked around like she couldn’t quite believe what she was seeing. "Cold air indoors," she murmured to her traveling partner. "Feels like a rich noble’s summer house in the north. Except cheaper, and the food’s better. I haven’t even paid for a room yet, and I’m already comfortable." The source was no secret—stone vents along the walls breathed a constant draft of chill air, courtesy of frost stones paired with flow stones. A trio of young beastkin stood under one, arms spread wide like they were basking in the cool. A bearfolk chuckled as he passed them, muttering, "First time seeing magic chill your furs, eh?" Near the center of the floor, stalls overflowed with goods: armor polished to a mirror sheen, furniture built from dark-stained hardwood, racks of carved toys, and puzzles that drew curious hands. A small crowd gathered at one table where two foxkin argued over a chess match. "You can’t move your knight like that. It doesn’t go straight, it hops in an L. We’ve been over this, you cheating rascal," the lanky russet foxkin said, jabbing a claw at the board. "I know how it moves, you old bag of bones," the vixen replied, her arms crossed and a sly smirk on her face. "I’m setting up a fork, you just don’t see it yet. You’re too slow." A goatfolk leaning over their shoulders chuckled. "She’s right, you’re about to lose your queen. I can see the move from here." "That’s what you said last game," the russet foxkin grumbled. "And I still beat her. You think you’re so smart." "You cheated!" she shot back, a flash of mock fury in her eyes. "You distracted me in the middle of my move, you coward." "It worked, didn’t it? Just don’t be so easily distracted next time, my love," he said, winking at her. The onlookers laughed, tossing in amateur advice and pointing to pieces. At another table, three kobolds laughed as their Jenga tower swayed dangerously. A few stalls over, two wolfkin were trying out the new checker boards, both claiming they’d figured out the winning move in three turns or less. By the front entrance, Mina and Orkesh manned the inquiry desk. Mina leaned on the counter as a harefolk visitor peppered her with questions. "So the burgers, they’re made here? What kind of beef is it? The texture is amazing." "Yep, fresh every day," Mina said with a practiced smile. "We don’t use any cow meat, actually. It’s a special recipe. But if you’re thinking of taking some home, they don’t travel well. Yet." "Yet? Does that mean you’re working on a way to get them to us?" "A delivery system’s in the works," Mina said, her smile widening. "Don’t worry, you’ll hear when it’s ready. We’re working on making the Necro Market the most convenient place to shop." Behind her, Orkesh scribbled notes for a group asking about export deals. "Yes, we take dried leather, dried meats... you’ll need to speak with the manager for bulk rates and yes, we buy live animals and animal corpse as long as it it’s freshly hunted." A loud thump from the canteen broke the market’s rhythm. A lupen, clearly drunk, staggered back from a table, knocking over a chair with a loud clatter. He pounded a fist on the table next to him. "My burger’s not cooked!" he snarled, his voice slurred and thick with ale. "It’s red inside! You think I’m some kind of animal?" A nearby goatfolk flinched, clutching his own meal. "It’s supposed to be like that," he mumbled. "That’s how they make them here." The lupen ignored him, glaring at the kitchen entrance. "I want a new one! And I want it NOW!" He kicked at the chair he’d knocked over, sending it scraping across the stone floor. Startled diners watched him warily. "What’s he even saying?" a goatfolk muttered. "I don’t know, but he’s fucked." her friend replied. "Bet he’s just looking for a fight," a young foxkin whispered to his friend. An older lupen shook his head. "He’s about to regret that tone in this place. I’ve seen what their security does." Two skeletons dressed in suit and tie moved before anyone else could react. One slipped behind the lupen, the other stepped in front. The drunk snarled, took a half step back— —and went limp as the rear skeleton chopped the back of his neck with a practiced, swift motion. The other caught him before he hit the floor, hoisted him over a shoulder, and marched toward the exit. A harefolk’s eyes were wide. "Did you see that? So fast..." he whispered, a hint of fear in his voice. "They didn’t even hesitate," a frogfolk replied, his voice low. "Just... unnerving. Like they were made for it." "It’s like a well-oiled machine," a foxkin chimed in. "You don’t think they’d just knock someone out like that by accident, do you?" "That lupen didn’t even have time to flinch," a foxkin added. "One second he’s barking, the next he’s drooling. He’s already on his way out of the dungeon." A frogfolk whistled low. "Makes you think twice about starting trouble here. Blink, and you’re on the floor." The hum returned, quieter. Word would spread: the Necro Market’s rules weren’t just words. Beneath the bustle, on the -2nd floor, Karl sat hunched over his desk. Order slips covered the surface—chess boards, checker sets, puzzles, Jenga towers, thick playing cards. He shuffled them into piles, muttering about deadlines and how the artisan center would riot if he didn’t feed them more raw materials. His eyes flicked to the interface: [ Necro Points: 3,453 ] [ Dungeon Mana: 873∣PerDayAvg: 67 ] "It’s not enough," he muttered. "But I have no choice." The 3D map of the dungeon bloomed in front of him, four floors in pale blue. Below, floors were still locked. Motes marked moving people. The first floor pulsed with activity; tiny clusters gathered at the canteen icon, others drifted between shop stalls. Karl tapped [ Expand ] on the second floor. -50 Dungeon Mana was deducted. The walls then stretched. But Karl wasn’t satisfied. "It’s still too small." Another tap, -100 mana was deducted this time. The entire 2nd floor doubled in size compared to the first floor. "Now that’s better." Karl smiled. He then zoomed to the artisan center and tapped it. Then, the upgrade interface appeared: ???? Upgrade Paths Production Efficiency Upgrades: Dual-Line Workflow Expansion (300 NP): Adds a second processing line for hides and wood simultaneously. Multi-Material Bench Systems (210 NP): Allows leather and wood work on the same bench, reducing switching time. Quick-Cure Tanning Drums (190 NP): Cuts leather processing time by 25%. Production Speed Upgrades: Elemental Stone Drive Integration (240 NP): Adds Ember stone-heated drying racks and Flow stone shapers. Material Feed Chutes (160 NP): Channeled delivery of wood logs, planks, and leather rolls directly to benches from overhead storage racks. Dual-Hand Skeleton Harness (120 NP): A special frame that mounts extra tools in fixed positions, letting skeleton artisans use both hands efficiently without tool searching. Output Quality Upgrades: Fine-Carve Kit (140 NP): Enables high-precision engraving and embossing on both leather and wood. Premium Finish Station (165 NP): A high-grade polish and dye finish for luxury goods. Armor Fit Customizer (90 NP): Tailors leather armor to skeleton warriors for increased comfort and durability. Storage & Handling Upgrades: Roller-Track Distribution Line (200 NP): Sends finished products directly to the Distribution Center. Secure Goods Vault (100 NP): Stores high-value crafted goods safely. Karl stared at the list, his mind racing through the calculations of cost versus benefit. He needed to be ruthless in his prioritization. "Dual-Line Workflow Expansion," he muttered, "That’s too important to pass up." He selected it. Then, with a series of quick taps, he purchased the Quick-Cure Tanning Drums, Elemental Stone Drive Integration, Material Feed Chutes, Fine-Carve Kit, Premium Finish Station, and the Roller-Track Distribution Line. He slumped in his chair, the feeling of his Necro Points plummeting hitting him with a familiar pang. "Ahhh... half of my NP goes down the drain very fast," he sighed. "This still feels like me on payday after paying all of my bills." "The next thing on my list is upgrading the metallurgy center," he said to himself. "Right now, I can’t cast the complex parts needed for my first vehicle’s engine without it." He couldn’t help but smile at the irony. "Now I get why CEOs usually ignore lowlife employees’ complaints and issues," he mused. "There’s too much to prioritize. Thankfully, the manager bears the burden of facing traders and meetings. So, I can focus on expanding my manufacturing industry." He knew it was still far from a true factory, but with these upgrades, he was getting closer every day. The real game had just begun.