John wanted to find Arya and Alana. He was hoping to get some fresh fish with them, and he also thought this would be a good time to talk to Bob. He knew Bob didn't have any ill will towards him; he'd just gotten really into personal training lately. "Hey, Max," John asked, "where are Arya and Alana?"

  "Alana is in training room 3 on the second floor," Max replied. "I'll display a heads-up arrow for you."

  John started walking towards her room, then paused. "Can you check if she's available without disturbing her?" he asked. "I chewed out, Seraphina for doing that the other day."

  "No problem," Max replied. "It looks like she just finished her session and is resting now. I can ask her if you'd like me to."

  John nodded. "Sure thing."

  Max relayed the message, and a moment later, Alana's voice filled the room. "Send him in!"

  John entered the training room, finding Alana stretching on a mat. Her eyes held an almost mesmerizing sparkle, and she was breathing heavily. She wore tight leather armor dyed a dark brown, almost black, with what looked like runes etched into the hardened leather. John wasn't sure what they meant.

  "Well, this is a surprise," Alana said, a hint of worry in her tone. "You came looking for me? Is something wrong?"

  "No, nothing's wrong," John reassured her. "Well, I'm out of fish, so I'm going up to the surface to go fishing. I was wondering if you'd like to join me? Also, do you happen to know where Arya is?"

  Alana replied that Arya had to go home for a meeting with her father. She said it might be a day or two until she got back. Since the teleportation system was now open, Arya wanted to check on her family. "The trip before would have taken at least a week each way," Alana explained. "I know it would save me at least two weeks to visit home, but I don't think I will be going back for a while."

  John wasn't oblivious; he could tell that Alana didn't have fond feelings for her old home.

  Alana then asked, "Can I take a bath first? If you want, you can join me." She winked at John.

  John just smiled and said, "Go hurry up. I'll be waiting for you. Just let Max know when you're done."

  John hurried back out the door, just making out the sound of Alana's giggle as he left. He went downstairs and asked Max, "If I give Jinn some of the spices I have, can he make more if the cost is covered? Of course, he can make something off the deal."

  "He can," Max confirmed. "Why? What did you have in mind?"

  "Let's just go one step at a time," John explained. "First, give him some of each of the spices I have. We shouldn't have to pay for it since he's not making it now. This will be just for him to have it available. Also, I plan to catch some fish today, then we can start adding rivers and lakes for him to add to the floors. We can talk more in detail after I get the supplies. I will see if I can catch different kinds of fish today. I'll bring them back alive so we can add them to be used later. I may have another way to help Jinn gain new resources. Just give me some time to figure out a fair way to incorporate it."

  "While you're making the new kitchen," John instructed Max, "make it so I'll have access to any cooking tool I might need. Nothing high-tech, just a stove, oven, and a flat iron. We can also make a smoker."

  Max nodded, adding, "I've already included a fridge and a spice rack. We can add a brewing station later, but first, I want to make a kitchen specifically for your use."

  John's eyes lit up. "I'm thinking of making a cooking guild," he revealed. "I've noticed that the food here is very simple. Let's see what changes it will bring if people have access to good food. Then, we can set up basic kitchens on the surface. This will draw more people in, and Jinn can generate free energy from the cooks. It's just one idea I have to start making this world more flavorful. A little sweetness can change a person. I know with me, eating can help me to just to enjoy a moment of bliss. This normally will help put me in a much better mood.

  Max's processing unit whirred as it analyzed the possibilities. "That's an intriguing concept, John. Providing a wider variety of culinary experiences could indeed have a profound impact on the inhabitants of this world. It could lead to cultural exchange, improved morale, and even stimulate economic growth."

  "Exactly!" John exclaimed, energized by Max's enthusiasm. "Imagine, we could introduce them to things like different types of baking bread, making pizza, subs, brewing different kinds of drinks, and creating complex dishes with layers of flavor. It could open up a whole new world for them."

  We can also setup a way of payment. We will need to make it so people pay for the meals with beast cores. If the cook can make the meal first then he can present it to jinn. then jinn can deconstruct the offered plate. then he will recreate that meal for an example or a taste test. the cook can approve it or retry. each one can cost one core for a simple meal. the more complex the more the cost. this is a way for jinn to get free energy for a cook messing up. then if the cook like his meal or dish. he can save it and have jinn sell that for him. this is so jinn and the cook can both make something for the work they did. let's be real the people will work harder at making better meals if they can get paid for doing it.

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  They can only sell food at a stall that is in the dungeons safe floor or entrance market space. They must be in the shops to sell what they can cook. I don't want fast food chains popping up here. The point is for a cook to have one store at a time. We can have a max of say 10 people per stall, 50 per Building. This can make a great cooks stall become more popular. This gets other people to work harder wanting the same chance for wealth. The more people do this the bigger it will grow with jinn only needing to invest into building the stalls at first. Then each day it is used afterwards he can just charge a set daily fee.

  If a person wants his own stall at a same location then, they can pay to build one at twice the cost. They will still need to pay the daily amount of rent. This can be one fourth of what it costs to build the stall or building they want. If that person does not pay then the shop will just be closed until he returns or pays the daily fee. This will be that person shop unless they agree to let another person run that shop. So if a good cook wants to train people he can. Or if family want to run it that day its fine but the key is that the shop can only make what that cook can make.

  Each stall or building will be called the same as the head cook. This can help people know who is the person cooking and where. Some people will only like certain cook's and that's ok. If a owned building hasn't been used for more than a month then at that point it can be re rented at the same daily cost to a new cook. We can put a sign above the stalls with the name of the cook so people can tell if it has a new owner. This way jinn doesn't have a bunch of unused stalls or buildings he could just change the sign.

  "I will begin construction of the kitchen immediately," Max declared, a holographic blueprint of the space materializing before them. "It will be equipped with everything you require to pursue your culinary ambitions."

  "We can work out the details for the general kitchen when I'm back," John said to Max, finalizing their plans for now. Just then, Alana walked into the main hall. She was wearing the same outfit, which John made a mental note to address later. Tailors, that's who I need to speak to later.

  "And Max," John added, his mind already jumping ahead, "don't forget about my idea for incorporating rivers and lakes into the dungeon. I want to be able to stock them with fish so we can have a sustainable source right here. No more trips to the surface just for a decent meal!"

  "An excellent idea, John," Max replied. "I will factor that into the dungeon's expansion plans. We can create a variety of aquatic environments to support different species of fish and other aquatic life. It will be a fascinating project. We just need to bring in the live specimen. we could even have the cooks bring in different type of food. They would just need the live animal first then we can add that to the different livestock."

  "After we get the recipe we can have jinn make then for a cost. the more we refine it the more everybody can win. I think this will also make people feel more comfortable interacting with jinn. Maybe he can see a different side of people he never noticed before. We can setup protocols for certain things ordered, this should make this very easy on jinn. I can't think of any reason not to try this. Worse case he can just stop offering that service if it doesn't work out."

  As she walked up to John, he noticed an earthy scent clinging to her. It wasn't unpleasant; quite the opposite. It reminded him of freshly tilled soil.

  "Let's go to the royal capital," Alana suggested. "I want to find Bob and grab a few guards to go on our outing. I don't need them, but I like some of them, and it would be good to build camaraderie... and maybe even scout some new recruits for the higher floors."

  She looked at John expectantly. "Okay," he replied, reaching out and taking her hand. "Max, teleport us to the royal capital entrance."

  A flash of light engulfed them, and they were gone.

  Alana emerged from the showers feeling refreshed, but her anxiety remained. She tugged at the edges of her leather armor, wishing she had something else to wear. Anything but this. It was practical, designed for battle, but hardly what she would choose for... well, she wasn't quite sure what to call this outing with John. But it felt significant, like a first date perhaps. And here she was, clad in armor, feeling utterly unfeminine.

  A wave of self-consciousness washed over her. She had come to this dungeon to fight, to prove herself, not to worry about such frivolous things as clothes. But she couldn't deny the flutter in her stomach every time she thought about spending time with John, exploring the world outside the dungeon walls.

  As she entered the main hall, she saw John deep in conversation with Max. He was so engrossed in his plans, his brow furrowed in concentration. Alana couldn't help but admire his dedication. He seemed determined to make this world a better place, and she found herself drawn to his passion.

  John turned to her, a smile lighting up his face. "Ready to go?" he asked. "I thought we could head to the royal capital. I want to talk to Bob, and it would be good to have a few guards with us."

  "Sounds good," Alana replied, trying to project confidence despite her inner turmoil.

  "Max, teleport us to the royal capital entrance," John commanded.

  A flash of light engulfed them, and Alana felt a surge of excitement mixed with apprehension. This is going to be fun, she thought, trying to push aside her insecurities as they materialized in the bustling city.

  Deep within the earth, the dungeon hummed with a quiet satisfaction. It had been eons since it had felt such a surge of activity, such a spark of innovation. This John, this human with his strange ideas and boundless enthusiasm, was proving to be quite the catalyst for change.

  The dungeon chuckled to itself, a low rumble that echoed through its corridors. A cooking guild? What a novel concept! The dungeon had never considered the culinary potential of its inhabitants. It had been content with providing the bare necessities, the simple sustenance needed to fuel their battles. But John's vision, with its promise of diverse flavors and culinary delights, painted a tantalizing picture. And the prospect of renting out kitchen spaces? Pure genius! The dungeon could already envision the influx of beast cores, the energy flowing through its veins.

  John's other suggestion, the one about adding rivers and lakes, was equally intriguing. The dungeon had always been fond of its mazes and monsters, its traps and trials. But the idea of introducing aquatic environments, of teeming fish and shimmering water, was a welcome change of pace. It would be a delightful challenge, a new puzzle to solve.

  And the best part? All of this came with no risk to the dungeon. John was offering these ideas freely, without demanding anything in return. He seemed genuinely invested in improving this world, in making it a more vibrant and interesting place. The dungeon found itself growing rather fond of the human.

  Yes, John was proving to be a most valuable asset. The dungeon eagerly anticipated the changes he would bring, the new life he would breathe into its ancient depths.