[- Babe, I’m off]

- Be careful over there.

Elicia gave her husband a hug. It would be possible for her to go instead, or for both of them to go. But she didn’t have the same level of access to the game’s programming as him, and there were the children.

[ - Here]

- Thanks.

With a dim glow, the dungeon became hers. If anything happened, at least she could protect the children.

Jack turned to his human form. Elicia followed suit, and both shared a few moments of intimacy. It was difficult to show human emotion while being a dragon. Even hugging someone would be a tad difficult.

- Go now.

Jack smiled.

[ - Kicking me from home again?] - Jack’s tone was playful as he tried to crack a last-minute joke.

- What, no, I’d never… - Elicia’s face showed her confusion.

[- Hahaha. Just joking babe. I’ll be back for you. And for the kids.]

- I know.

***

Jack appeared at the first floor. Not many people had seen his human form before, so he walked unhindered amongst the wood and stone houses. Most of them were big and beautiful, and there were even green lawns and a small forest with big treehouses for those who liked nature.

The most impressive fact, however, was that none of those were made by Elicia. In fact, those were all temporary tenement built by the villagers themselves - as former players and people who had grinded for thirty years, they had more than enough power and resources to re-built their town from scratch thirty times.

What they didn’t had, however, was the power to make the buildings as sturdy and powerful as Jack’s dungeon. That was something the Council was discussing with Elicia, and something for the future as well.

- Sir, may I help you somehow? Sir?

The attendant at the entrance tried to stop Jack, but he just walked into the Council’s Chambers. Deterrent and binding spells were activated to trap him, but his stats alone were enough to undo them.

- Who are you?!

At the Inner Chamber, having been warned by the spell’s and array’s activation, the Council members readied their weapons and offensive apparatus.

Jack looked through the livid faces, and simply waited. It was but a few moments later that someone reacted.

- Jack?! - Yrwin blurted out.

***

Jack kept his human form while standing amongst two hundred other people. A mass teleportation formation was then activated, and the group disappeared from sight.

***

Demon Kingdom’s Ambassadorial Outpost City - Meredith.

One should be wary of what it meant to be a powerful empire like the Demon Kingdom. It meant being the center of attention and taking all the precautions needed to counter all kinds of plots and attempts at power take-overs by others.

It meant to rule, and a ruling kingdom wouldn’t let strangers and outsiders enter its borders, even if they came from foreign countries!

If you want to visit someone, then knock on their front door, don’t just go entering their backyard!

There were no excuses. All top-level existences in the game had more than enough power and resources to take a detour and go to the front door if they wanted to talk.

And such front door was the city of Meredith - so named in name of the previous Demon King’s real-world name.

Meredith was an Ambassadorial Outpost, the one meant for those who had no diplomacy relations to the Demon Kingdom - or those at odds with it, such as the Goblin Empire.

Other parties, such as those which had tighter ties with the Demon Kingdom, could then visit the Capital, Demon Kingdom Village, directly.

At the pearly, marble-and-gold adorned gates of the city of Meredith, a huge party appeared.

A couple of alarms sounded, and soldiers - both NPC and player ones - went to the walls.

No further hostilities, however, happened.

This was an Ambassadorial Outpost, after all, and such a place had not only been built to be disposable, but also to welcome guests - even if they came armed to the teeth.

- Who comes there?!

It was the second time in the day Jack had to answer to that question.