We spend two weeks in the dungeon and got back to sell our loot. Among magic stones and monster materials that we got in the dungeon, I included some monster materials, which I got during monster stampede.

  At first receptionist asked me to take everything out and pce on the table in front of her, but after first few dozen monster stones, we became important customers and were taken to a private room, where Tom soon joined us.

  - You've been busy. Sorry, but we will need some time to appraise everything. Can you come back tomorrow?

  - Yes. We are used to it by now.

  - Next time I'll tell my girls to take you to private room right away, - he sighed: - To be honest, I did not believe rumors about your party until now. But you did surprised even me.

  - Good to be appreciated.

  - Sure. Anything else I can do for you.

  - Yes. Usually we prefer to stay unnoticed, but this time could you spread rumors about our successes in the dungeon?

  - I was pnning to keep your loot out of people ears, but I can do as you ask. Anyone's specific ears you want to reach?

  - Yes, - I smiled: - But do not worry about that. I am sure he will find out, as soon as time will be right.

  - Do I even want to ask or know?

  - Probably not. But do not worry, we do not pn to cause any trouble.

  Tom shook his head, but left the room without commenting my words.

  Several dungeon hunts ter I received a message, inviting me to dinner in archduke's pace.

  We arrived in a carriage that archduke send after us. Trevor stepped outside and extended his arm to help me get down. He was wearing white clothe that were fitting to an aristocrat, while I had long bck dress which emphasized my figure. Dress was custom made and costed me a small fortune of thirty gold coins. Not to mention a matching jewelry that costed me additional eighteen gold coins. I also had to spend several hours with a hairdresser and now had a haircut. My hair were gathered above my head and then felt down behind my back and had a thread ornamented with pearls in them. My neck, shoulders and also my elven ears were left for everyone to see. Unlike beast-men, humans did not have prejudices against elves. Even more many humans admired elves, so that was a risk that I could take. Trevor also received new haircut, but apart from his artifact ring, he did not had any jewelry. I considered getting him enormous golden chain, but could not find one in time.

  We arrived alone and left our other party members behind. At first I considered taking Nelly with us, since she and Trevor where the only ones who were taught proper manners, but then decided that a couple would make more favorable impression.

  - You look very beautiful, - said Trevor and blushed.

  I sighed: - You need to be more confident. We are meeting archduke, if you won't be more imposing he will eat you alive.

  - Why are we even going? You always hated such meetings and avoided them at all cost.

  - Do not worry. I have a pn.

  Even archduke's servants were wearing custom made matching uniforms. They accompanied us into rge hall and, when guard opened the door, one of them introduced us to other guests.

  - B rank adventurer Avone and her companion Trevor the brave.

  - Welcome to my home, adventurers. Please join us.

  Archduke was sitting in the end of a long table. Alongside table were sitting other of his guests. If I had to guess, then I would say that they were local aristocrats or loyal dogs of archduke Kurgan.

  We took empty seats, and servant filled our cups with wine. Table was covered with white tablecloth and archduke preferred candle that illuminated the room instead or magic nterns. Perhaps this was a way for him to show his wealth. In long run magic nterns were less expensive, and most people used them. Only people who could not afford magic nterns used candles. Or in case of archduke, people who wanted to show their wealth by demonstrating expensive gold chandeliers.

  After us several more aristocrats, ranging from barons to counts arrived, and when all seats were occupied, servants brought out food. There was enough food to feed a small army and servants exchanged ptes as soon as they got half empty. Whole roasted baby pigs, all kind of fishes, even caviar was served to archduke's guests.

  After we eat our fill archduke invited us to neighboring room were musicians pyed music and guests could invite their dies to dance.

  Trevor blushed and invited me to dance, but I refused. He knew how to dance, but I had no idea how to do that and did not wanted to embarrass myself. But I did whispered to Trevor that it was a right move on his side.

  Soon guests got occupied, either on dance floor or with conversations, and one of the servants asked me to follow him. Trevor wanted to come along, but I stopped him and ordered him to invite another dy to dance, and if asked expin my absence with me powdering my nose.

  - Or use some another appropriate excuse, - he nodded and I followed the servant.

  Archduke was waiting for me and invited me to take a seat. He was missing a cigar and cognac cup in his hand to complete my world stereotype.

  - Adventurer Avone. You came here less than three month ago, but already people are talking about your accomplishments.

  - Thank you archduke. It is an honor that someone like you know my name.

  - Are you surprised that I invited you?

  - I am surprised that you took your time. Did your children were saying bad things about me.

  - Ha-ha-ha, Graig did say some comments about your companion and you. Mortana also mentioned you, but was more careful in her expressions. But why were you expecting my invitation?

  - I guessed that it will happen sooner or ter, after I saw your adventurer guild.

  - Anything about it that you did not like?

  - Lack of appropriate parties. Not a single mage or priest. Just scum among them. Some pretty strong, but not dungeon conquering type. So, either all descent adventurers were on a mission, or they left, or died already. Most likely in a dungeon.

  - Hmpf, there were come casualties. But you have a reputation with dungeons. And hero Milligan spoke highly about you and your adventurer party.

  - Didn't great hero married your daughter. Was not he eager to help his father-in-w?

  - He did ventured into the dungeon, but reached only floor three. Not what I expected from a hero. And I do not want to risk my daughter's life.

  - He did well, considering that most adventurer barely can reach second floor.

  - Not well enough.

  - I see. So what do you want me to do?

  - Straight to the point. I like people who do not waste time. Fine. Have you ever heard about ouroboros?

  - Great monster. Looks likes snake. Floor guardian in the dungeon. Rare.

  - Yes. And also floor guardian who lives between floors fifteen to twenty in Taingor dungeon. In ancient times many heroes, even King of Iron Mountains tried to conquer my dungeon, but none of them got past ouroboros.

  - How did guild ranked him.

  - They are undecided. Either middle or high ranking floor guardian.

  - I see. Sounds strong. And why are we talking about him?

  - Because I want you to kill him and bring me his heart and magic gem.

  I ughed.

  - Really? You want me to kill an ancient monster and also do that without damaging his magic gem or organs? Is that all.

  - I will reward you accordingly. Do it and even noble title will not be out of your reach.

  - No. I have no interest in noble titles. Neither money. In just two month I earned ten orichalcum coins. If I would have wanted, I could buy myself a castle and couple of vilges in a few years time.

  - Then what do you want? You came here and spend a lot of effort to make sure that I hear about you and your successes. And since you expected my invitation you clearly want something. So stop pretending. Why are you here?

  Oh, he was not just a title and wealth, he also had a head on his shoulders.

  - Why do you want this ouroboros so much?

  - That is my business. But someone like you will find that out anyway. So I do not mind telling you. You are high elf right?

  - Yes.

  - How do I look to you?

  I wanted to answer something sarcastic, but bite my tong. I looked him over.

  - For and old man you look young.

  - I do. Don't I? You probably heard that gods blessed me with second youth?

  - Yes. Convenient rumors, for a man who used potion that made you young again.

  - You seem sure that I did, - he grinned.

  - Was not hard to figure it out. I did not realized it at first, but then I remembered reading how King of Iron Mountains returned youth to his loyal adviser. Your son was so helpful buying all potions that we found in King's castle. Was not difficult to figure out what he was after, when I heard rumors that you regained your youth with god's blessing. I should have asked him more coins.

  - Yes. You should have. And yet you did not said anything to my enemies.

  - Why should I? You are not my enemy.

  - I see. Wise choice. For an ancient elf who will never age, youth my not mean much, but it does mean much to me. I also want to be young forever.

  - And you think that eternal snake can help you. But even so, that monster is way too powerful.

  - Even for you?

  - Even for me. The way I am right now. But I might stand a chance with a better weapon.

  - Is that all? Then say what you need. That is why you need my help after all.

  - Sword Kdenets.

  - Is that it? That weapon is kingdom's most powerful artifact. Passed down through my family for almost thousand years.

  - And yet neither you or your children are using it. Neither is hero Milligan. Which tells me that no matter how powerful it is, sword is useless to you.

  - There are restrictions to its use.

  - And what are they?

  Kurgan felt silent, thinking about something.

  - No harm to tell you. In order to use it you need skills that are more powerful than the ones than even hero Milligan has. Sword will be useless to you.

  - What kind of skills?

  - Warrior and magic skills that surpass power of the ones that people can learn in academies. Both of them.

  - Good. Then as long as you give me the sword, I promise to deliver you ouroboros heart and magic gem.

  - What makes you even think that you can use it. Lowly adventurer. I did ask about you. You have warrior and magic skills, but nothing that makes you better than Milligan or my children.

  - You should have asked better.

  - Is that so. Why don't you enlighten me?

  - Well, you were honest with me, so, as you said, no harm in telling you. Skills that you speak of, probably require a word master in them. And I do have Weapon master skill.

  - That may work. But you learned only ordinary magic skills in Magic academy.

  - Except that for my participation in stopping goblin army that attacked Grimsburg, goddess of Light rewarded me with Light magic skill.

  Kurgan felt silent again.

  - No. That sword is too powerful. It might be useless to me now, but it could serve my descendants.

  - What descendants? You are pnning to live forever.

  - Still no. If you want a sword I will need more from you.

  - What would that be? - I asked carefully.

  - I want your help to overthrow the king.

  I think I was supposed to be shocked, but not like I did not have my suspicions about archduke's ambitions.

  - No. Not enough of the reward for both jobs.

  - Is that so. Then what else would you like? After all you are not interested in money, nd or title.

  - Four things from your treasury and king's as well. I want magic gems of high ranking floor guardians.

  - I do have two in my possession. King has one more, and st one belongs to Agron lord. But why would you need them?

  - Does not matter. Also I want sword and two of yours now, and other two after you will have the throne. And you will have my help. Not my party members.

  - Why is that?

  - Because reward will be mine, not theirs. And if we fail and get executed, I want them to live. And also they will not agree to help you.

  Kurgan ughed: - I would have expected to hear those words from an elf. And yet your friends have more honor than you do.

  - You knew that Trevor would never agree to help you already.

  - I did. That is why I trust you, - he stroke his chin: - Fine. I agree to your terms. But since you will be acting alone I will need one more thing from you. Seven thousand magic stones. I do not care about quality just number.

  - What a strange number. Does that mean that you already got three thousand?

  - Nothing gets past you.

  - Very well, but I should warn you that killing ouroboros will take time, maybe years. And cannot promise you how long it will take me to collect stones. That will depend on our income from monster materials.

  - Why? Do you want to level up first.

  - That too, but mostly we will need to use the same strategy that we used to conquer Mina dungeon.

  - And what is that, if it is not a secret?

  - Easy enough. We will explore all floors on our way and kill all monsters on our way. Dungeon will create new ones, but only decades ter it will repce all of them. That way before we challenge ouroboros we will go through empty floors, and there will be almost no surprises during our return. Many adventurers get tired and are overwhelmed by monsters, because they go too deep and many are killed on their way back, when they run out of potions and are too tired or chased by other monsters. I want to avoid such fate.

  - That does make some sense. But I will not wait forever.

  - It will take years. No more than three, but I cannot promise more.

  - Three years. I waited a long time. Three years, but if you do not deliver by then I will accept your head. Yours and your party members.

  - I will keep my word.He nodded and then got up.

  - Wait here.

  Soon archduke returned with a rge key in his hands.

  - Follow me.

  We were accompanied by four guards and Kurgan's personal servant. He took me to basement and used his key to open steel door.

  Guards stayed outside, when we went inside. Servant used magic ntern to light us the way. It was archdukes treasury. Filled with closed chests, and with many different weapons hanged on the walls. They all probably were artifacts, and there were dozen of them. If all those chests were filled with coins, Kurgan could be richer than king.

  He opened two chests and showed me a sign to approach. Inside the chests were two magic gems the size of melons. I nodded and pced them inside my purse.

  Sword was locked inside separate room and was only thing inside it. I looked like a simple steel sword, but, when I took it, I felt its power.

  - What do you feel? - asked Kurgan.

  - Mana. A lot of it. Feels like I can use it. It greatly increase the amount that I have.

  - So you can use it after all. There is a reason why I called it most powerful of kingdom's weapons. It increases your mana by six hundred. Also it increases your strength stats by sixty percents and your Spell power by six.

  - Excellent. As powerful as I expected.

  - Good. Use it well and do not waste any time.