When Jasssper woke up it was in a cabin he did not recognize. The walls of ingredients and the muggy smell of the swamp tipped him off that this was likely the residence of one Azami the bog witch.

  He could hear Azami lightly humming as she tended to her garden while outside. When he rolled over in bed, he saw a sleeping Lord Kip next to him. The Dark Lord had an innocent snot bubble expand and contract. Kip must have stayed by his side all night and fallen asleep. Jasssper looked at the Dark Lord and a thought crossed his mind, “I could bite down on his neck and kill him dead.” Jasssper slithered out of bed and went outside.

  Azami was delicately balancing on Swiff, her broom, while she watered the plants. It wasn’t until the broom pivoted and she was on to the next row when she noticed him.

  “Well, hello!” Azami greeted, chipper, “And how are we feeling?”

  “Did I get stabbed by a man made of blades?’

  “That you did, or so I’m told!” Azami said.

  “I feel exsssactly like that just happened to me.”

  “Understandable. We should probably wake up Kip. He’s been waiting by your side for a long time.”

  Jasssper looked back at Kip through the window and back at Azami, “The kobold. How long have you known him?”

  Azami put her finger to her chin as she thought, “Hmmm. I first moved out here about four years ago. He was already head of traps, I think. He offered to show me around and explain which traps were where. I didn’t listen and got snagged. He helped me out of it. While he could not safely get me back to my cabin, he assisted me in bringing the necessary potions to help heal me enough to stand on my own.”

  “You trust him?” Jasssper asked.

  Azami nodded her head, “He came by every day after for the next month and made sure I knew where the traps were. He was insistent.”

  “Do you believe…” Jasssper stopped himself from saying anything.

  Azami stepped off her broom, “I believe he has the tools to figure things out. He just needs time.”

  “We both almost got killed.” Jasssper said, “By an outsider.”

  Azami nodded her head, “Why did you jump in the way and save him? Didn’t you believe in him too?”

  Jasssper stared out at the swamp, he could make out through the crook of a tree the rough area they all fought in. He lifted himself up, higher on his hind tail and could make out the spot that Blademan was still frozen on.

  “Seemed the thing to do for one’sss Dark Lord,” Jasssper said.

  “That’s loyal of you,” Azami said.

  Jasssper turned to her, a guilty expression on his face.

  “We all came here with a question in mind. One that needed answering. For me, it was simple. Can I find a little peace to tend to my herbs? Kip could give me that.”

  “And what if one day he promises the wrong person something, and he leads a ssnake to your garden?”

  Azami didn’t say anything to this. She merely hummed before Kip shouted from the inside of the cabin.

  “JAASSSSPER!” Kip ran out, stumbled over the porch and nearly fell down the stairs, then hugged Jasssper. Jasssper could not return the hug for he was a snake and possessed no arms, “I’m so sorry about that, Jasper.” Kip said, “I should have trusted you. You told me he was bad news and I didn’t believe you.”

  “Yesss,” Jasssper said, “Maybe now you will be quicker to trussst me,” He said.

  “Of course! And the way you jumped in my way! My lord, I owe you one!”

  Jasssper’s smile found its way back onto his face, “Yessss, Sire. I rather think you do.”

  “Within reason.”

  “What?!” Jasssper asked.

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  “I owe you a favor within reason.”

  “S-s-sire!” Jasssper said, “I beg you to reconsider!”

  ‘What?” Kip asked, “No. Jasssper. I owe you one but it’s not like I’m going to give you the keys to the kingdom.”

  Jasssper said with resignation, “Yesss, Sire. Thy will be done.”

  “Right. So, anyway. We’ve got some explaining to do. Come on!”

  Kip started to head down.

  “Where to, sire?” Jasssper asked.

  “We’ve got to deal with Blademan.”

  They said goodbye to Azami and walked back to the immbolized body of Blademan, still sealed shut and propped up.

  Muffled, Blademan said, “oil can.”

  “What?” Kip asked.

  “Oil can.”

  “I’m not sure I hear him.”

  Through gritted teeth he said, “Oy! Can you help me or not?”

  “Right,” Kip said, “Look, Blademan. I want to say that it was my fault I trusted you. And… I shouldn’t have done that. It was a little naive and it almost cost mine and Jasssper’s life.”

  “I agree.” Said Jasssper.

  “As do I!” Said, Blademan.

  “Right, thank you all,” Kip said, “As such, it would behoove me to listen to my advisor now. I’m sorry, Blademan. We’re going to pass. We’ll keep your resume on file.”

  “Sire, I have changed my recommendation.”

  Kip’s head whipped to look at Jasssper, “You have?”

  “I believe we should hire him to be the substitute mob boss for the third floor.”

  “What?!” Kip yelled.

  “Pardon my bladeself?” Blademan asked.

  “Sire,” The snake said, “I know a little bit more about who Blademan is now. I know that he likes power more than anything. And I know that he likes fighting more than anything.”

  “That’s true,” Blademan said, “More than my own children!”

  “Try not to say that so gleefully,” Kip said.

  “Can’t help it.”

  “Sire, he can’t challenge you again for two months. And more importantly, we can give him what he wants. Many powerful dungeoneers run through our labyrinth and Blademan will stop them.”

  “That’s correct.” Blademan said, studying this angle, “I’m… willing to hear this out, Kippo. If you are.”

  “So, you’ll be a mob boss until Zeke is healed. We have many places for someone of your calibre. Then, after two months you get to try again. You’ll have the ability to challenge me and then get even more power. It’s interesting.”

  Bladman tried to nod, but was immbolized, “What’s the catch?”

  Jasssper continued, “If you kill the Dark Lord outssside of a challenge, nobody will respect your authority. There is order here. You have to play by our rulesss. And that means more than just being a mob bossss.”

  Blademan let out a deep sigh, “Could you please get me out of here?”

  Kip thought about it. He looked back at the snake and said, “You’re sure?”

  “It would help you too, would it not?”

  Kip shrugged in the affirmative, “What do you think?”

  Blademan thought about it, “I haven’t spent a lot of time looking for a home, Kippo. Maybe I thought I could take one by force. But… I like the idea of a gig. Oh! There’s something higher than mob boss’ right? That vampire mentioned it. A Floor Lord?”

  “Yes. There are rules for that, but you can try to become a floor lord. May I ask, what is it that Davorin said?”

  “I met him at some bar. He was drunk and complaining about how he lost a challenge to you. I got him more drunk and pieced together some info from there.”

  “So he didn’t vet you at all?”

  “He had a strong distaste for me, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  Kip nodded, silently kicking himself, “So, I’ve agreed to let you in. But you owe Jasssper a huge debt of gratitude. Huge. He’s really pulling for you here.”

  “If I could bow I would. I am in your debt, snake.”

  Jasssper lit up, “You mean that?”

  “Within reason.”

  “I- oh. You play by those rulesss too. Fine.”

  Kip whispered to Jasssper, “I know how much you love having people owe you a favor.”

  Jasssper blushed, “Oh you noticed?”

  Kip took his oil can and spritzed them on his joints, “It’s like Jasssper said. It’s more than being a mob boss. It’s about being a part of a community. We have chores, and duties and we protect each other.”

  Kip grabbed his arm and looked over at Jasssper, “Help me pull.”

  Jasssper wrapped his leg around Blademan’s arm, Kip grabbed it too, and they both pulled hard. There was a brief moment of tension and then a crack was heard and his arm was free.

  “Ahh!” Blademan said, “That feels damn good. Other arm please?”

  They freed the other arm as well. Then they worked on the leg, for this they had to take both legs and, one leg each and pull him apart. Blademan was most nervous for this exercise.

  Blademan was free. He stretched his right arm, he stretched his left arm, he stretched his legs, and then he propelled himself behind Kip and Jasssper, wrapped his arms around them and placed his blades next to their necks.

  “One little problem, Kippo, what’s to stop me from betraying you both right now? Say that it was I who won the fight?”

  Kip activated his scroll. He found a tab that said ‘Results’ and pointed at it.

  Results:

  Kip 1 Blademan 0

  “If you killed me without the system’s approval, your win won’t be seen as legitimate. The leadership goes to someone else and you will be the number one enemy of the Dark Lord’s estate.

  Blademan kept his blades to Kip’s and Jasssper’s neck, then let out a chuckle, “You really got me, Kippo. I’ll be the sub until Zeke’s back on his feet. I’ll do a damn good job of it too.”

  He retracted his blades, turned his back to them and walked away, before turning back around and saying, “I think we can have a lot of fun together, Kippo.”

  Kip shook his head and whispered to Jasssper, “You think this will work?”

  “I think if you give someone exactly what they want, they’ll be happy for a time but sssoon want more. You’re giving him some of what he wants and keeping the other just out of reach. I think he’ll make the perfect ally.”

  Kip nodded.

  Kip clicked through his scroll to another part of his system, “That was a gimmie, now we really have to get to work.”

  “What do you mean, Sire?”

  Kip pointed at the part under Quest. Jasssper scrunched his eyes and looked.

  Quest: Gain 20 followers (1/20)

  47 hours, 45 minutes, 21 seconds remaining

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