The Royal Capital of Kingsford was not merely the political and commercial center of Westmark. It was also surrounded by one of the kingdom's most valuable concentrations of privately controlled dungeons.
For generations, noble households, wealthy merchants, and powerful organizations had competed to secure ownership or operating rights over these dungeons.
Some dungeons produced valuable ores and magical materials, while others contained rare monster resources that could command enormous prices in the capital's markets.
However, possessing a dungeon did not necessarily guarantee profitability.
Maintaining security, organizing expeditions, managing access, and collecting revenue required considerable resources.
Some owners earned substantial fortunes, while others struggled to attract enough Warriors to justify their operating expenses.
And with the Adventurer Guild's influence continuing to expand, several dungeon owners had begun reconsidering their arrangements.
