Ruler of the Supreme

The next morning, as promised, Asmodeus, Lucifer, and Alpha gathered in front of the Adventurers' Guild. A buzz of excitement filled the air as other adventurers, eager for glory and riches, began to arrive.

Asmodeus, his eyes scanning the crowd, noticed a group of high-ranking adventurers approaching. These were seasoned veterans, their armor gleaming with age and their faces etched with the scars of countless battles. One of them, a burly man with a thick white beard and a menacing aura, seemed to be the leader. Asmodeus suspected this was Lord Valerius, the organizer of the dungeon expedition.

"Luci" Asmodeus whispered, "gather information about that group. I want to know everything about them: their strengths, their weaknesses, their political affiliations."

Lucifer, ever the schemer, nodded and began to mingle with the other adventurers, his charm and wit quickly making him a welcome presence in the crowd.

This is the time to learn new things from alpha , her observation skills are truly exceptional , i would like to learn a thing or two.

Asmodeus turned to Alpha. 

"While Lucifer gathers intelligence, I would like to learn from you."

Alpha, her expression unchanged, simply nodded. 

"What is it you wish to learn, my Lord?"

"The art of cold reading and reading Body language." Asmodeus replied. 

"I want to learn to read people, to understand their motivations, their fears, their desires. You, of all people, should be a master at this."

Alpha, despite her lack of overt emotion, possessed an uncanny ability to read people. Her observations were sharp, her assessments accurate.

"Very well," she said. 

"Observe their body language. Their posture, their gestures, their eye movements. These subtle cues can reveal a great deal about a person's true intentions."

She then proceeded to demonstrate, pointing out the subtle nuances in the body language of the other adventurers – the nervous twitch of a hand, the slight hesitation in a glance, the subtle shift in weight.

"What is the most honest part of our body , my lord"

"Well it has to be our face, it reveals tension when we are tense , and it shows lot of emotions ,so it must be it."

"No , our honest part of our body is our legs"

"Our face can be easily be masked , because we always lie with our face and we also know people always see our face , not our legs."

"From early childhood most parents say "don't make that face" and "greet guest with a smiling face"etc , so we get really good at lying with our face"

"For example , look at the two adventurers they seem to be having nice conversation , their face smiling but look at their feet , one person has all his feet towards the person he is talking to , but the other person has one feet towards the person he is talking to but the second leg is towards another direction"

"This behaviour indicates that people wants to leave the convseration but can't be rude at the same time , so he is puting a friendly smile but he has to really go somewhere."

Lucifer, having gathered his intelligence, returned to Asmodeus. 

"Lord Valerius is indeed a formidable opponent. He is known for his ruthless ambition and his disregard for the lives of his rivals. However, he is also known for his generosity towards those who prove their loyalty."

Asmodeus, absorbing the information, nodded. 

"Good. We shall use this to our advantage."

Soon, Lord Valerius addressed the assembled adventurers. "Welcome, brave souls," he boomed, his voice echoing through the hall. 

"Today, you have the opportunity to prove your worth. A series of ancient dungeons has been discovered, filled with untold riches and unimaginable dangers. Only the strongest and most skilled adventurers will survive. Are you ready?"

A wave of excitement swept through the crowd. Asmodeus, his eyes gleaming with anticipation, felt a surge of adrenaline. This was the moment he had been waiting for.

And so, the expedition began. The adventurers, a motley crew of warriors, mages, and rogues, set off into the unknown, their fate hanging in the balance.

The journey to the dungeon was uneventful, a steady march through the verdant countryside. After a two-kilometer trek, they arrived at the designated location: a clearing in the woods, where a makeshift camp had already been established.

Around twenty adventurers, a motley crew of warriors, mages, and rogues, were already present, their tents forming a makeshift village. Lord Valerius, a imposing figure with a thick white beard and a menacing aura, stood at the center of the camp, addressing the assembled adventurers.

Asmodeus, ever the observer, noted the various factions within the group – the arrogant nobles, the gruff mercenaries, the nervous novices. He also noted the presence of several other powerful figures, their eyes gleaming with ambition.

While Lucifer mingled with the other adventurers, gathering information and gauging their strength, Asmodeus and Alpha began to set up their own camp.

 Asmodeus, despite not knowing how to set up the camp, proved surprisingly adept at pitching the tent, his movements surprisingly graceful for someone of his build. Alpha, ever efficient, assisted him, her movements precise and methodical.

"A rather small entrance for such a formidable dungeon," Lucifer remarked, surveying the narrow opening in the rock face. "One would expect something more grand."

"Appearances can be deceiving, Lucifer," Asmodeus replied, "Perhaps the true challenge lies within."

Alpha, her voice devoid of emotion, simply stated, "We shall soon find out."

While Asmodeus and Lucifer prepared their equipment, Alpha approached the Guildmaster, her demeanor as stoic as ever. 

"I have a few questions regarding the dungeon exploration," she stated.

The Guildmaster, impressed by her directness, nodded. 

"Ask away, young adventurer."

"What is the nature of these dungeons?" Alpha inquired. 

"How were they formed?"

The Guildmaster stroked his beard thoughtfully. 

"Ah, an inquisitive mind. These dungeons, my dear, are said to be formed by powerful magic, rifts in reality that connect this world to other planes of existence. Some say they are remnants of ancient battles, others believe they are gateways to the underworld itself."

"Are there any known dangers within these dungeons, besides the obvious monsters?" Alpha pressed.

"Indeed," the Guildmaster replied. 

"Traps, illusions, and ancient curses are not uncommon. One must proceed with caution."

"And the monsters?" Alpha inquired. 

"What kind of creatures can we expect to encounter?"

"A variety of creatures, I suspect," the Guildmaster replied. 

"Goblins, snakes,orges,rock monsters and many more perhaps even some minor demons. But worry not, only lesser demons, not the truly powerful ones. To summon a high-level demon requires a significant amount of magical energy, and such powerful rituals are rarely performed."

The Guildmaster, stroking his beard thoughtfully, continued, 

"You should also know that these dungeons can be privately rented. Noble houses, or even wealthy individuals, can pay a hefty sum to the kingdom for exclusive exploration rights. They often employ their own private adventurers to delve into these depths and claim the treasures for themselves."

He paused, a mischievous glint in his eyes. 

"But this expedition," he declared,

"is a public venture, open to all adventurers. The kingdom benefits from the Guild's efforts, while adventurers like yourselves have the opportunity to gain fame and fortune."

"And the rewards?" Alpha inquired. 

"Are we free to keep the items we acquire within the dungeon?"

"Certainly," the Guildmaster replied. 

"You are free to sell them, use them yourselves, or even trade them for other valuable items. However, the Guild takes a small commission for facilitating the expedition."

Alpha, having gathered the necessary information, returned to Asmodeus and Lucifer. 

"The Guildmaster provided additional information," she reported.

 "These dungeons can be privately rented by nobles or wealthy individuals. This expedition, however, is a public venture organized by the Guild."

"Interesting," Asmodeus mused. 

"So, essentially, we are competing with the nobles for these treasures."

"Precisely," Lucifer added. 

"This could be a lucrative endeavor, especially if we can outmaneuver the competition."

Alpha, her voice devoid of emotion, simply stated, "We will proceed with caution."

Asmodeus's attention drifted, settling on Lord Valerius. A subtle detail caught his eye: the bandaged hand. "That wound," he murmured, his gaze narrowing. "Fresh. One or two days old, at most."

Alpha, her perception as sharp as his, acknowledged, "You noticed as well, my lord."

"He tried to conceal it," Asmodeus continued, a flicker of intrigue in his eyes. "But it's too obvious."

A sudden realization dawned on him. "Wait," he said, his voice laced with a knowing tone. "If you found a dungeon, and you were the strongest in town, wouldn't you keep it to yourself? Try to clear it, claim all the loot?"

He paused, letting his words sink in. "Maybe he did just that. Ran into something powerful. Something that left that wound. A high-level monster, perhaps? Those marks… they look like deep punctures, sharp fangs or claws."

Alpha's eyes, usually devoid of emotion, flickered with a hint of understanding. "Indeed, master. The wound is significant. And the skin around it… it has a bluish tinge. Perhaps venom? A spider, or some other poisonous creature?"

"Exactly," Asmodeus said, a predatory smile playing on his lips. "He couldn't handle it alone. Now, he's using adventurers as bait. Sending them in to weaken the monster, clear the traps. Then, he'll swoop in and claim the prize."

He chuckled, a low, resonant sound that carried a hint of dark amusement. "A classic strategy. And one we can exploit."

Luciifer said "this guy is clearly cunning and strong ".