Arriving back at the Princess's room, I noticed she had just woke up and was doing some stretching.
It seemed like she didn't notice me so she took her time stretching her arms and legs in the bed like a little kitty playing around. Meanwhile I watched her by the door curiously waiting to see her face when she finally found me.
A minute or two later the situation I was waiting for finally happens, she turns to the door and see me smiling at her as if I catch her doing some immoral act. Her face slowly turns bright red as she desperately turns around looking for some pillow or sheet to cover her face, unfortunately there was none so she jumps out of the bed, pushes me away and closes the door.
I hold back my laughs as I hear her rolling inside the room in a panicked state while cursing right and left.
"Idiot! Pervert! Peeping tom!"
"Hehehe, nice! This teasing was worth it!"
After waiting another five minutes to let her calm down, I knock on the door.
The princess opens it with a pouting face.
I smile at her and ask:
"Good Morning Sleeping Princess, have you had nice dreams?"
She turns her face to me, refusing to answer.
"So, how is your voice now? Are you able to speak?"
"Yes, it came back..."
"Oh my! That's a lovely voice you got there!"
Her face turns bright red again.
Damn it, if she keeps reacting cute like this I won't be able to stop teasing her!
But I need to push the talk forward so please control yourself dear me!
"While you were sleeping I talked to those twins who were with you and they explained what happened. So what are your plans from now on?"
"I-I need to go to Otro City to ask for help."
"Hmm, I see. What about the refugees?"
"The kids?"
"No, the bunch of elves who decided it was a good idea to do some camping by my door."
The Princess tilted her head confused.
So I extended my hand to her and said.
"Please accompany me."
She nodded and shyly gave her hand to me.
I grabbed her hand and led us to the upper level of the wall I had made yesterday.
On the other side of the wall, occupying almost the whole corridor, a bunch of tents had been erected and close to us a big cauldron of soup was been prepared for their morning meal.
Geo, on the other side, noticed our movements and shouted out loud.
"Attention!"
The elves at the camp stopped what they were doing and turned to Dia.
"All Hail to the Second Princess Alice Brightstar!"
"""All hail the Princess!!!"""
Seeing Alice overwhelmed by the crowd, I stepped forward and spoke in a loud voice:
"That's enough, you may continue!"
Hearing my statement, all the elves bow once and continued their work....that is, all expect for one of them.
"Hey! Mr. Dungeon Lord! Over here!"
The annoying elf who just gave a huge scare to his Princess seemed to want to talk to me.
Sigh...
Ok, ok, I will hear him out!
Manipulating mana to rise the ground below him I pulled him up the wall.
"Thank you, Mr. Dungeon Lord! My name is Geo and I am the one in charge of the tenth refugees group that departed our capital."
"Just call me Plate, no need for formalities."
"As you wish, Mr. Plate!"
What did I just say about no need for formalities? Is this guy deaf??
"So, Mr. Plate. I wonder if you have heard of our situation from one of our comrades?"
"Yes, I heard of your unfortunate encounter with the orcs."
"More than unfortunate, it was a complete disaster!"
"Yeah, looking at your people over here, I can imagine that, so?"
"Well, before anything let me explain to you the root of the problem so you can have a better understanding in why we must face it together."
Sigh...I have a feeling this will take a long long time...
"Long time ago a huge battle happened where today is located the Earth Dragon Swamp..."
.
..
...
"And that's why we must unite to fight of the orc's army!"
ZzZzZzZzZzZzZz...
"Do you agree with me, Mr. Plate?"
ZzZzZzZzZzZzZz...
"Mr. Plate!?"
"!? Oh! Yeah, I heard it! But it's still a bit confusing, can't you summarize it in five sentences?"
"Hmm...that will be hard but I will try my best..."
Geo lifted his right hand and picking with his fingers one by one with his left hand.
"First! Due to the Earthquake a huge amount of Miasma that was buried below the swamp started leaking to out, covering the whole forest."
"Second! The Blood Moon that happens every fifty or so years happened again a few days ago."
"Third! Those factors made the Orcs, who are already normally blood thirst creatures even more blood thirst and stronger, joining all together to make a huge war."
"Forth! The Orc's army will keep fighting until they lose, attacking indiscriminately anyone who stands on their way, no matter if it's elf, human or any other race."
"Fifth! Alone, we won't be able to resist! They have more than two thousands orcs blessed by the Blood Moon and drunken in Miasma, and even a huge Black Orc who we couldn't identify that is as strong as an Rank S creature!"
Geo lifted his hand to pick another finger when he noticed there was none left, but he didn't let that stop him and he finished by putting his hand over his closed fist to symbolize the closure of all five points.
"That's why we must join forces in this time of danger and resist their invasion together!"
"OK, that was a lot easier to understand! But what do I have to gain in joining forces with you?"
"Didn't you hear what I said? It's impossible to beat them alone!"
"While I find it too exaggerated the way you express their power, I am aware that we need at least twice their numbers to fight on par, and yes there is no way we can reach such numbers without uniting many powers..."
"Then you agree in joining us?"
"Let me finish first! As I was saying, most people only choice would be running away or uniting to fight back but that's not true to me! Considering my capabilities, I can just bunker up, closing the Dungeon entrance. Then no matter if its a single orc or a million orcs army it will make no difference to me as they won't be able to get inside and actually they won't even know of my existence if no one leaks the info to them."
"H-hmm...."
"So, I am asking you, why should I risk my life and waste my resources on a war that I can simple ignore?"
Yes, I am being quite heartless here, but I can't simply accept whatever they ask of me with a smile as if saying use me to your heart's content. That wouldn't be kindness, that would be foolishness akin to suicide. If I am to participate in this war, I need at least some guarantees ensuring my survival and full payment for my services or else I will be worse than broken by the end of this war.
"Well, Mr. Plate, if you have any conditions of your own to join us, please state them clearly so we can negotiate."
Great! Those were the words I was waiting for!
With the green signal to state my demands, I pushed them forward all at once.
"My conditions are the following:"
"First, I and my subordinates will act as an independent force. We may accept advices but we won't accept orders and we will be free to retreat if we deem necessary."
This will ensure I'm not used as cannon folder, and allow us freedom of movement.
"Second, we will allow your civilians inside our Dungeon first floor, but all other floors are off limits. If they need anything inside the Dungeon they shall send a request through my skeleton lancers to me."
This will keep the order inside the dungeon.
"Third, we will make you a list of possible summons the Dungeon has available for summoning along their summoning price. If you deem necessary you can summon anything in the list as long as you pay the full price for the summon."
This will ensure my wallet safety.
"Fourth, the corpses of the orcs killed by both our forces shall be taken to the Dungeon to be recycled."
This will accelerate the growth of the Dungeon.
"Fifth, our agreement will be written and signed by me, you, and our cute Princess Alice here. In case you break the agreement in anyway, we shall be taking the Princess with us, to ensure that, we shall ask that she remains here until the end of the War. As for our side, we shall lend you my second in command, Ruyk, in your care. Please treat him well."
This won't be accepted, but I need them to over me some guarantee, so asking like this he will surely propose a trade with someone or something of similar importance...
"I see Mr. Plate has thought this thoroughly... Well, we have no problems with the first to fourth conditions you stated, but the fifth-"
Suddenly a voice from behind me shouts out.
"We accept it!"
I turn around and see Alice with a red face and trembling arms looking at me in the eyes.
"Princess, you..."
"As I said, we accept it!"
Wait, no princess, you are not supposed to accept this condition, just leave some royal pendent or whatever in it's place.
"But..."
"WE ACCEPT IT!!!!"
For a moment I think I saw something dangerous in her eyes, but it was so fast I was convinced it was my mistake...
"But Alice, if you stay here, who is going to negotiate with the Lord for reinforcements?"
While I felt odd asking this, considering it was me who proposed it and all, she answered it plainly as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Geo will."
"But my Princess, my identity won't allow me to talk to the Lord. Such right is reserved only to members of the elven royal family, which means you and your sisters."
"Here, take this pendant. As long as you have it, you will be treated as my representative so there won't be a problem."
Seeing as she wouldn't accept no as an answer, both me and him have no option but to resign ourselves and accept it as fate.
Geo looks helpless at me, bows his head and says.
"Mr. Plate, it was a pleasure negotiating with you. Now, excuse me, I need to go prepare the necessary documents for the formalization of the alliance."
I helplessly look at him turning around and jumping off the wall back to the refugees camp.
Sigh...
Well, not exactly as I imagined but this should be fine as well...
Right?