Gamers of the Underworld

When Sherlock was planning the excavation of Eternal Kingdom, he used the Dungeon Core as the origin. In the southern direction, the regional blocks were connected to form a tunnel. In the direction opposite the Dungeon Core Main Hall, there was a two-hundred-meter wide tunnel that was used as a central tunnel.

The two-hundred-meter tunnel looked more like a plaza since the length was less than a hundred meters.

Though the gamers worked day and night over the course of a month, excavating, carrying bricks, and leveling ground and walls, Sherlock’s priority was to create functional rooms or regional blocks.

For example, Food Storage, a Goods Warehouse, Seedbeds, a Carpenter Workshop, Training Grounds, and the gamers’ Residential Area.

The space behind the Dungeon Core Main Hall could be developed, and there was a tunnel leading to the outside world.

Developing a Dungeon wasn’t merely about excavation. Sherlock’s plan wasn’t like that.

His goal was to become the greatest Devil King of all time and construct the grandest Dungeon.

He had to construct an Underworld focal point that could sustain millions of creatures, massive wealth, and a notable reputation!

Proper Dungeon planning was crucial to his goal.

Sherlock’s original plan for the gamers’ Residential Area was to let them build a pigeon-type house that could hold a bed and a private storage box. That would suffice. What else would the gamers want?

Combining the private lands in order to build a large mansion? Were they expecting to decorate the mansion with furniture, grand doors, independent gardens, balconies, and a swimming pool?

“I can understand Lord Sherlock’s concern. If we don’t restrict the gamers’ activities, they will construct illegal buildings and affect the future development of the Dungeon,” Bru said as Sherlock walked to the Residential Area.

“These gamers are able to accept the harsh environment and benefits. Their only desire is to have as large a house as possible with furniture, grand doors, independent gardens, balconies, and swimming pools. Why don’t we accede to their desires and let them combine the lands and construct their dream home or even high rise buildings? Lord Sherlock won’t have any losses, and it will satisfy their needs.”

“You’re right… but they have gone too far this time.”

Sherlock had arrived at the Residential Area. When he saw the house, he couldn’t describe how he felt.

Sherlock’s original planned Residential Area had wide paths surrounding the two hundred square meters of space. Walls were constructed at the perimeter of the empty space, and within the walls, there were tens of Goblins who were lying all over the place and sleeping peacefully. They didn’t react to Sherlock’s presence.

Sherlock wasn’t unhappy with the sleeping Goblins or the surrounding walls. He was unhappy with the construction diagram drawn on the walls using stones.

On the construction diagram was a 3D building with many 2D diagrams that were professionally drafted. Even the length was denoted on every line. There was a thickened line on the wall with the words—Heavy Duty Wall.

The diagram depicted a single-story building that occupied the two hundred square meters. The top part of the building was like the shape [凸] that was inverted. The protruded floors were designed to integrate into the sides of the wall. The space above the ten-meter pathway that was designated by Sherlock was occupied by the building.

There was a basement below the building that had the same shape [凸]. The protrusion was as high as the first storey.

One of the [凸] was inverted and joined with the other at the protrusions. The protrusions became the connectors.

The final shape looked like a standing dumbbell.

On the top part of the plan was the word “Dream”, while the bottom was filled with gamers’ signatures carved with stone.

There was a pile of wall body at the perimeter. Chisels, hammers without handles, pickaxes, small tools that had Spider Silk twirled around stones, various kinds of rocks, grassroots items, Ore Stones, and all sorts of tools were placed neatly by the side.

The hundred Beta Gamers were serious!

“There are civil engineering students in this batch of gamers, and they are good! The diagrams are professional.”

Bru didn’t know why he said that.

“Why are the chisels and hammers used in missions placed here?” Sherlock frowned and asked.

Sherlock remembered that the chisels and the hammers were loaned out during missions. After completing the missions, the gamers were to return the tools.

The gamers not only used the tools to complete missions, but they also used them to construct their own houses.

“I’ll check the server statistics and check historical records…” Bru was puzzled and started checking. Ten seconds later, Bru said, “After gamers accepted their missions, they stalled them and used the mission tools to construct their house. Tsk, these horrible standing apes took advantage of loopholes.”

Bru seemed to be praising the gamers. Sherlock, on the other hand, wanted them to be more manageable. He didn’t want them taking advantage of loopholes. He didn’t want them to build nice houses. Instead, developing Eternal Kingdom should be their first priority. Was the pigeon-type housing not sufficient?

Sherlock thought for a while and felt he needed to amend the mission mechanics. He said to Bru, “Bru, retrieve all the chisels, pickaxes, and hammers. Leave the tools of the gamers alone. Cancel all the current missions and update them with an additional time restriction. Missions not completed within the time limit will have the rewards halved. Missions that take more than two times the time limit will have a Reputation Points penalty. Those who cancel their construction missions will have a Reputation Points penalty.”

“If we implement the changes, won’t it increase the burden on the gamers? Lord Sherlock has to empathize with their desire to build their homes,” Bru said with concern after some pondering.

“I haven’t finished yet. We’ll add a tool rental service, with a week as the rental period. The gamers can rent the tools from Simba by using their Reputation Points and coins. Each gamer is limited to a set of tools,” Sherlock said.

“In this way, the gamers won’t make use of my valuable resources to build their house while slacking on their assigned missions. I’m a reasonable Devil. If they wish to build their homes, they have to develop the Dungeon first. After earning Reputation Points and coins, they can use them to rent the tools for their own construction. This forms a positive feedback loop!”

“Lord Sherlock, what about the combining of private lands by the gamers? Should we enforce new rules?” Bru asked.

“It’s not necessary. Since they like to build large houses, let them be. Buildings with protrusions are not allowed as they are ugly. High rise buildings and basements are not allowed. If they really want to have them, charge them accordingly. The size and shape of the buildings have to stay within the restricted perimeter. We will limit buildings to three levels above and below the ground. I’ll publish everything in an addendum.”

Sherlock waved at the wall with the diagrams and added the following words to it—”Work Hard”.

The words “Work Hard” appeared next to “Dream”. Looking at the words, Sherlock sighed.

Of course, if they really want to build private villas, once the Dungeon is fully developed, they can do so with Reputation Points and coins! They can build dumbbell-shaped houses or even Beetlemon shaped houses. I have no qualms about that as long as they can afford them!

Ai, I’m so generous, just, and compassionate. I’m the shame of the Devils!