Velkharion stood in the featureless white void, his fiery eyes meeting the calm, analytical gaze of Kiruna, one of the senior developers of Yggdrasil Online. Her sharp yet subtle presence carried an air of authority, enhanced by her neatly tied silver hair and piercing blue eyes. She leaned back in her chair, her fingertips pressed together in thought as she considered the boldness of Velkharion's request.
"A floating dungeon," Kiruna said slowly, her voice calm yet laced with intrigue. "A fully mobile, player-owned fortress designed in your image… And placed in Nephilheim, no less. You really don't do anything by halves, do you?"
Velkharion smirked but kept silent, letting her process the details. Kiruna tilted her head slightly, her sharp eyes narrowing as she tapped her fingers against the polished table in front of her. "I'll be honest, Velkharion—this isn't an easy ask. Something on this scale would require approval from the higher-ups. I'll need to step out for a moment and discuss it with them." She stood, straightening her jacket with a sigh. "Don't go anywhere. I'll be back."
With that, she turned and vanished into a doorway of light that materialized behind her. The void was silent once more, leaving Velkharion alone with his thoughts.
Velkharion sat back in his chair, his fingers drumming lightly against the armrest. "A floating dungeon," he murmured to himself, a faint smile playing on his lips. "What are the odds they'll actually approve it?" Despite his confidence, the uncertainty of waiting began to creep in.
His thoughts wandered to the upcoming World Champion Tournament, an event that brought the strongest players in Yggdrasil together to compete across various worlds and realms. Velkharion had yet to decide which world he wanted to participate in.
"I wonder…" he muttered, leaning his head back. "Which world should I choose? Nephilheim would be interesting, but it might be too close to home."
His mind shifted to another familiar name—Ainz Ooal Gown and its leader, Momonga. Velkharion hadn't interacted much with Momonga, but he respected the sheer effort and coordination behind their guild. Momonga himself was a name whispered with respect and caution throughout the community.
"I haven't checked on how far they've come," Velkharion mused, his smirk deepening. "Momonga and I will probably see each other in the new world soon enough. Better to establish and maintain good relations now, especially with someone like him."
Time seemed to stretch in the silence of the void as Velkharion let his thoughts drift. The idea of competing in the tournament alongside—or perhaps against—other legends of Yggdrasil brought a spark of excitement to his mind. But for now, his focus was on the request he had made.
After what felt like an eternity, the doorway of light reappeared, and Kiruna stepped back into the void. Her expression was one of exasperation, and she let out a dramatic sigh as she returned to her seat. Velkharion raised an eyebrow, amused by the display.
"Well," Kiruna began, her tone sharp but not unkind, "I've talked with my superiors. Turns out, someone had already pleaded your case long before you made this request. It seems your… 'financial contributions' to the company didn't go unnoticed." Her lips quirked into a wry smile. "So, your little request was basically guaranteed from the start."
Velkharion couldn't help but smile, though he kept his expression carefully neutral. "Oh? I have no idea what you're talking about."
Kiruna snorted, crossing her arms as she leaned back in her chair. "Right. You're practically dripping in subtlety. Anyway, the request has been approved, but there's a catch—it'll take some time to implement. With the World Champion Tournament coming up, we're prioritizing certain updates, so expect a delay of a few months."
Velkharion nodded, his grin widening slightly. "That's fine. I'm a patient man." He paused, leaning forward slightly. "Besides, I might have a few other requests for you down the line."
Kiruna raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but unwilling to let her curiosity show. "Let's see how well you behave with this dungeon before we entertain more requests."
Velkharion chuckled softly. "Fair enough."
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