You promised to wreak havoc on the dungeon, but instead you've got Dragon Slime!

"Miss Carolina."

He looked directly at the other person:

"Actually... you want me to help you build an underground city, right?"

Carolina, whose thoughts had been exposed, instinctively wanted to deny it, but before she could speak, Ron interrupted her.

"I am truly grateful for your care during this time, and I should repay you in return."

Ron tried his best to make his tone sound sincere:

“If you need, I can design dungeons for you part-time. I think given your relationship with Miss Lilith, she shouldn’t mind. After all, part-time work won’t affect my ability to complete her commission.”

Carolina's thoughts were completely exposed.

Since the other party offered her a part-time job... that was exactly what she had been dreaming of!

There is no longer any need to hide it.

"So...how much budget do you need?"

she asked directly.

"Just like Miss Lilith's, a basic budget of 100 gold coins is enough."

As Ron spoke, he stirred the bowl of "Abyss Cuisine" with a spoon, but showed no intention of putting it in his mouth.

Carolina hesitated for a moment, then waved her hand.

"Here's what I'll do: I'll give you 2000 gold coins! Make sure you make it spectacular!"

She generously increased the stakes.

2000 gold coins? That's way beyond my expectations!

Ron immediately agreed:

"make a deal!"

Ron did not mention payment, because in the underworld, no lord would delay a designer's payment unless he wanted to destroy the dungeon.

"Great!"

Carolina was so excited she almost jumped for joy:

"Then I'll cook delicious food for you every day from now on!"

Do it every day?!

Ron felt a chill run down his spine and straight to the top of his head!

This is even more terrifying than the monsters in the Black Language Cave!

A sudden inspiration struck him, and he immediately thought of his savior—

Glossary system!

He quickly brought up the floating panel and used his mind to rapidly search through the numerous LV1 entries stored in the database.

Soon, a term he had initially considered "useless" was locked:

[Soup Mastery LV1]:

It can greatly enhance the color, aroma, taste, and magical harmony of various soups when the user makes them.

He turned his gaze to Carolina, who was immersed in joy.

Name: Carolina

Race: Vampire

[Level: LV10]

[Experience: 26/103]

[Racial Trait: Extra-long Lifespan]

Skill Slot 1: Advanced Night Vision, Skill Slot 2: Bat Transformation, Skill Slot 3: Empty

Without hesitation, Ron dragged out the [Soup Mastery LV1] skill and gently "stuck" it onto the [Skill Slot 3] on Carolina's information panel.

A barely perceptible, soft light flashed across Carolina's body and disappeared as if nothing had happened.

But Ron knew the entry was already in effect.

"it is good!"

Ron immediately put on an expression of "extreme anticipation":

"Then I'll just need you to make me soup every day from now on! Nothing else is needed, I love soup the most!"

If we can get rid of other "creative dishes" and just drink the soup... maybe it will be edible with the help of this entry?

Having successfully "resolved" the fish soup crisis, Ron breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bid farewell to Carolina, who was still brainstorming new soup recipes, before striding towards the magnificent and imposing Duke of Flame's castle.

Fire Duke's Castle - Molten Core Hall

Meanwhile, Lilith is experiencing the most devastating news of her life.

"Bankruptcy?!"

Lilith's voice was shrill and distorted with extreme shock as she looked at her father, Cedric the Fire Duke, in disbelief.

Duke Cedric's face was etched with "sorrow" and "weariness." He looked around the magnificent castle hall, which had been passed down through generations and was engraved with countless runes of glory, his eyes filled with "reluctance to leave."

“Yes, Lilith…”

His voice was deep and hoarse, as if he had aged a hundred years in an instant:

"A...disastrous investment mistake. I invested the vast majority of my family's liquid capital, even mortgaging some of the mineral vein's revenue rights, into Duke Stanislavsky's supposedly 'guaranteed profit' S-class dungeon, 'Molten Heart'...and the result..."

He closed his eyes in pain:

"The core of the ore vein is depleted, the value of the dungeon has plummeted... We... are completely bankrupt. This castle... will soon no longer belong to us."

Of course, all of this was a carefully orchestrated play by Cedric and his close friend, the Duke of Stanislavsky.

All the “investment” and “mortgage” documents are genuine and can withstand scrutiny by any top accountant or magic contractor in the underworld.

There is only one goal—

Make Lilith absolutely believe that her father is unable to pay the 1 million gold coin penalty for breach of contract!

Lilith felt as if all her strength had been drained away. Her legs went weak, and she collapsed onto the cold obsidian floor, clutching her most cherished water elemental magic doll tightly in her arms, her mind blank.

Fire Ron?

Liquidated damages?

Rebates for abandoning a business?

All plans vanished like laughable bubbles in the face of bankruptcy!

"Miss……"

The maid, Alyssa, stepped forward at the opportune moment, and with just the right amount of sorrow, gently helped the distraught Lilith to her feet.

"The Duke's liquidator and bank executives... will be arriving soon. We... need to pack some personal belongings and leave as soon as possible..."

Lilith, like a puppet, was mechanically led by Alyssa to her room.

The boudoir, filled with all sorts of luxurious toys and magical treasures, had lost all its luster in her eyes at that moment.

She looked around blankly, and finally hugged the water elemental doll that had been with her for many years, discarding all the other toys, jewelry, and clothes that she had once treasured.

When she reappeared at the castle's magnificent entrance, clutching her only "companion" and looking utterly dejected, her frail figure appeared particularly forlorn against the backdrop of the massive doors.

Seeing Lilith's state, Alyssa couldn't bear it. She quietly approached Duke Cedric and asked in a low voice:

"Your Grace...isn't this...a bit too cruel to the young lady?"

Cedric gazed at his daughter's forlorn figure, a flicker of barely suppressed pity crossing his eyes.

But the next second, that tenderness was replaced by a deeper resolve.

He tilted his head slightly, his voice low yet carrying an undeniable power, reaching Alyssa's ears:

"My cruelty towards her at this moment is to teach her to face the storms of life independently."

"This... is better than someday in the future when the real storm arrives and the world reveals a hundred times more cruelty to her!"

……

The moving wagon rolled over the uneven, gravel road of the slums and finally stopped in front of a low house that looked as if it were crawling on the ground.

The air was filled with the scents of decaying wood and damp earth, carrying an indescribable sense of antiquity.

Duke Cedric frowned, gazing at the dwelling that seemed poised to be swallowed by the surrounding shadows at any moment, and asked his housekeeper, Alyssa, in a low voice:

"Isn't this place... a bit too rudimentary?"

It was he who instructed Alyssa to find a place that would fit her bankrupt status and be able to hide it from the outside world.

However, at this moment, the degree of decay in this place far exceeded his expectations.

A slightly embarrassed smile appeared on Alyssa's face, and she gave a slight bow:

“Your Grace, in the eyes of the world, bankrupt people only deserve to live in such corners. To be honest, this is the most stable place I can find. Deeper down... there are even more wretched places.”

Her words carried a hint of helplessness.

Chapter 28 Dungeon Settlement

Okay, I'll put up with it so that my daughter Lilith can grow up quickly and become independent and resilient!

Cedric convinced himself.

Pushing open the wooden door, which was covered with wormholes and mottled, a strong, pungent musty smell hit you.

Lilith looked around the room:

The furniture was so old it was almost falling apart, the space was cramped, and only a few rays of light struggled to get through the dusty little window.

"Is this... the house I'll be living in from now on?"

She murmured to herself, her voice filled with disbelief.