253 THE UNIQUE CONSTITUTION OF DOPPEL
Sujira crossed her arms, her brow furrowed in confusion. "But why possess Dassa? She's not some influential figure or a powerful mage. Why would the Godmother need her body?"
Unna hesitated, her form flickering uneasily. But the Jade Throne's influence compelled her to tell the truth.
"Because… Dassa possesses a unique constitution. A rare trait that the Godmother requires."
Yun-Yun leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "What kind of constitution?"
Unna's voice trembled as she answered, her existence tethered to the throne's demand for honesty.
"Dassa has the hidden ability to create doppelgangers, Shadow minions, though her own magic is too weak to fully awaken the power yet. With the Godmother's power, she could master this constitution and wield it to its full potential."
"A special constitution…" Sujira murmured.
Leo's expression darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. "Shadow minions? What the hell are those?"
Unna's form shimmered as she explained. "They are doppelgangers, but not mere copies. They are independent beings—more like twins than doubles. They share a connection to their creator, yet they act on their own will but would be recombined eventually."
Petunia's eyes gleamed with realization. "So, it's true. The Godmother can't control the… fake Dassa."
"Fake Dassa?" Unna echoed, confusion flickering across her spectral face.
At that moment, the ethereal presence of the Shadow minion of Dassa's doppelganger materialized in the room. But her form was hazy, her mind fragmented and incomplete.
Unna's eyes widened in shock. "You've captured the Shadow minion of Lady Dassa? Then why are you interrogating me? You already know everything."
Yun-Yun stepped forward, her tone calm but firm. "To confirm her story and fill in the gaps. Much of her memory was lost during her… consummation."
"I understand now", Unna muttered to herself.
"What do you understand?" Leo asked.
"Its… its about Lady Dassa," she muttered before she paused to gather her thoughts about the matter.
"When the shadow summon did not return to Lady Dassa, the minion's independent nature sown doubt in her mind: She became suspicious of her minion's motive. Was this doppelganger truly loyal, or was she pursuing her own agenda? Had she taken control of the dungeon for herself, betraying Godmother's plans?" she explained.
"Shouldn't Godmother know the loyalty of her own shadow summon?" Sujira asked.
"Doppelganger magic was the original Dassa's constitutional power. Godmother may not have known every aspect of her power. It was possible the Shadow Minion could betray her."
"So, to uncover the truth, Lady Dassa sent Unna into the dungeon to verify the shadow minion's loyalty besides taking over the dungeon?" Leo asked.
That answer to that question was obvious.
But now, Unna is lost too. The Godmother would never have her answers.
"What should we do now?" Sujira asked with uncertainty, changing to a pressing matter. "Should we keep the Rose Dungeon open for challenges?"
Yun-Yun frowned, her expression was serious. "It's too risky. Today's battle was a wake-up call. Our dungeon isn't ready to face Man-tier challengers, and there are plenty of beings or means in this realm that is beyond what we faced today. We need to reconsider our strategy."
"Yes, the Hunter Association of Luxor is monitoring us closely. Its possible stronger mages from the association are on their way here to raid our dungeon," Petunia added.
Leo crossed his arms, deep in thought. "What are our options?" he muttered before calling out, "Vanessa!"
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"Congratulations, Leo. You've defeated your first Man-tier challenger in your dungeon. Your dungeon's threat level has been raised. Stronger opponents will come for you now," Vanessa replied with congratulations.
Leo rolled his eyes. "Fuck you, Vanessa. I'm not in the mood for your shit. I need answers. Can I uproot my dungeon? Is that even possible?"
Vanessa paused, as if considering the question. "Yes, it's possible. But there's a cost. If you uproot your dungeon, you'll lose all the magic generated from accumulating sins in this realm..the brothel!!."
When the dungeon was rooted, it could gather all the lust in Court La Mood to replenish its power requirements. Once uprooted, that ability is gone.
Leo waved a hand dismissively. "I don't need a brothel to generate magic anymore. The Jade Throne with its absorbed Cakras gives me more than enough magic."
Vanessa's voice took on a slightly annoyed tone. "True. That's a loophole in the System. It should be patched."
"What happens to the dungeon if I uproot it?" Leo pressed.
"The dungeon itself remains intact, it exists not here but is a realm of its own, what you control is merely its entrance or portal," Vanessa explained.
"My Rose Dungeon is merely an entrance to the dungeon of Lust?" Leo asked.
"Yes, that's the advantage of being a villain—your dungeon is permanently yours now. It becomes a part of you as long as you control its entry and exit."
Leo raised an eyebrow thinking of a possibility.
"So, my friends can stay inside the dungeon even without an entrance? How would they enter or leave?" he asked.
"As the dungeon's master, you'll have complete control," Vanessa said. "You can bring people in or kick them out at will. Think of it as a magical storage space. You're the gatekeeper."
Leo grinned. "Damn, that's way better than keeping it rooted. But there's always a catch, isn't there?"
"Of course," Vanessa replied, her tone dripping with mock sweetness.
"If you uproot your dungeon, it follows you wherever you go. Adventurers and hunters will be able to track your dungeon..em… you.. more easily. You'll become a walking target. You can't hide your dungeon anymore."
Leo groaned. "So, I'm trading safety for convenience. Great."
"You gain some, you lose some," Vanessa said with a shrug in her voice. "That's the deal."
Leo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. I'll uproot the dungeon."
"As you wish," Vanessa said.
"Wait," Leo said, holding up a hand. "There's one more thing. Where's the Shadow Minion you promised me? Don't tell me you forgot."
Vanessa chuckled. "Relax, Leo. I never break my promises."
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