The newspaper was printed on poor-quality stock paper and was produced the day after the last visitors had arrived and mostly departed. It did not overtly mention the deaths, but numerous innuendos existed throughout the text of the main story. The author was doing everything they could to dance around my existence and the questions it would raise. The stories outside the main were of poor quality, covering local events, and I suspected there was a lot of gossip.

I read the whole thing multiple times. I was starved for information about the outside world.

McGregor was right if this paper's main story was to be believed. It acknowledged the town's need for a new sheriff, as the last had been lost in a "cursed place". I was not insulted, as it was a rather apt description. The fact that they were not openly discussing what had happened here, not once but twice now, was very telling. Crossway lost two sheriffs in my Dungeon within the last few years. I expected they would try to call in the army, but they did not.

"If not, then why?"

This question had me thinking for many days. I watched the travellers' comings and goings along the road but saw no sign of a mob. The longer I waited and watched, the more convinced I was that they were not coming. Such mobs were driven by anger and fear. These emotions often led to rapid reactions within groups, which sometimes escalated into mobs. Delays allowed uncertainty to creep in and rob people of agency.

I could send McGregor out again, but he had pushed himself last time to get to Crossway and back. As soon as they pass the first level in the Dungeon, Hunters become weary of leaving. Doing tasks around it was fine, but they soon grew to despise leaving the Dungeon for long periods.

"Another problem."

[A Hunter has made a Kill.]

"Eh?"

This took me by surprise at first. I looked around and found McGregor carrying a body to a grave he had dug. Then I remembered the girl who had started the whole event last time. He had finished with her and was getting rid of the body. I looked her over and wished I had not. It was almost impossible to match what was before me with how she had once looked. It was hard even to identify her as having once been a person; he had wrecked her body so thoroughly. I departed from the scene, not wanting to see more.

Soon after, I was at the top of the bubble. A storm was in the distance across the plains, but it was not heading my way. I watched the flashing of lightning in the clouds. The travellers below moved more purposefully, not wanting to be caught in a downpour. Many wagons and riders were weaving along the road. I noticed a gap in the traffic had developed.

"Probably seeking shelter in case the weather changes."

I looked down and noticed movement in the trees. A rider navigated the woods and avoided the path my Hunters maintained. It seemed he was trying to be stealthy. I thought it was a man, as he was wearing trousers and riding a horse. All the women I had seen had ridden in wagons or coaches. He was approaching the gates, and I shifted my view to them.

As the rider approached, I got a better look. It was a teenager, about seventeen or eighteen—almost an adult by the standards of the time. He was pale and nervously licking his mouth. The horse sensed his mood and was a bit more jittery than usual. I suspected the weather was not helping. He was dressed in poor but sturdy clothing, a person from town rather than a frontiersman. He was not armed, as far as I could see. Tall and gangly, his features would not cause any womenfolk to swoon anytime soon or at all, to be honest.

He stopped the horse and dismounted. He tied it to a tree nearby. My idea for a hitching post came back to me, but I dismissed it again. He walked slowly and cautiously towards the open gates. He was so nervous that he was almost twitching, and his eyes were open and as wide as they could be. I suspected that if a rabbit jumped in front of him, he would scream and run for his life. I was so tempted to slam the gates for this reason.

He inched forward to the gates and stepped over the threshold into the courtyard. He looked around, expecting a demon just to pop out and attack him, but nothing happened. I have not received any messages yet, as this was the safe area where the system that helped me run the Dungeon was figuring him out.

He walked a bit further in, about halfway into the courtyard.

"Er… um … hello?" He spoke.

Okay, this was new.

"Um… hello… is there anyone here?" The youth continued to ask.

I took the bait and formed my avatar behind him. This might be fun.

"Be careful, boy, where you ask such questions."

He jumped in fright and screamed in the highest pitch outside a man getting stabbed in the testicles I had ever heard. He turned and backed up to the plinth, looking terrified. He had gone white and was breathing hard. I was a little impressed he had not pissed himself.

"I recommend you do not go any further. The results will be most unpleasant for you."

He was breathing so fast that I feared he might start hyperventilating. I waited for him to calm down, which took a few minutes. I just waited as he composed himself before speaking again.

"So, pray tell, why are you gracing my domain with your presence?"

I waited for the boy to gather himself and answer my question. The sound seemed to have a steadying effect on him, and he stood up a little straighter.

"I-I reckon I-I might come and work for ya if ya have me." He stammered out.

Now, that was not the answer I was expecting. Or I had even considered.

"Why should I entertain this idea?"

I could just call up a Hunter and kill him, but since I had so few opportunities for conversation, I chose to humour him.

"I seek employment. I reckon ya might be the best choice for me." He spoke.

"Interesting. Again, I ask, why here?"

He seemed confused but pressed on. I sensed he was desperate, but he needed to know why he was there.

"I have dreams about this place. I reckon that means something." I got the impression he was holding back. After I asked again, he started fidgeting, and I looked at him. He was holding something back.

"And what happens in them?"

I prompted him. He shifted around, more unwilling to speak, but I had learned patience. I watched him.

"The dream takes me through the forest. I come to the gates…. Every time I approach the gates…. Close." He finally came out with.

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What did that mean? I had no idea, but I had been thinking about his offer. Maybe I could use him. I was willing to take the risk as my options were limited.

"What do they say about this place in Crossway?"

"Folks… folks just don't know. They reckon they must get rid of this place, but don't know how. Some want to come and do it. Others want to get the army but don't know what to tell them."

As McGregor reported, they are indecisive, which explains their lack of action against the Dungeon. I could not rely on this forever. One strong leader could rally them against me or seek aid from the US military, posing a significant problem. I had almost reached a decision, but needed more information.

"What do you do in town?"

"Odd jobs. Mostly shoeing horses when I can with the blacksmith."

"Can you make them?"

"A bit, but I'm not very good."

A plan had formed in my mind.

"I might have use for you."

The youth perked up at this, but I still had questions.

"How did you find out that you can talk to me?"

"I overheard Augustus talking to the town preacher. Ma had me helping at the church with my standing in the town." The more he spoke, the more he revealed his lack of education and intelligence, giving away more than he should have.

"What's your name?"

"Herbert Driver."

"Well, Herbert, I am going to test you. If you pass, I will have you work for me, and if you are good enough, the gates will open in your dreams."

I could see the gleam of hunger in his eyes and knew I had him.

"But! If you lie to me or break faith, you will pay the price in this life and the next. If you accept, take my hand. If not, leave this place and never return."

I offered him my hand. My little speech caused him to tense up, and as I spoke, he got paler to the point that he was deathly white by the end. He looked at my hand like I was holding a gun in it. I was bluffing for all I was worth.

He tentatively reached out and took it. I would have to be careful how I dealt with him.

"Go forth and find out your total worth. If available, buy the most current newspaper and a land map of this area with prices."

He blinked, looking confused and worried.

"What is it?"

"I don't have much. Ma and I are poor. We have not had much since Pa died, " he admitted.

"That's no issue. Do as I ask, and I will ensure you have the money. You may address me as the Keeper in future. Now go."

He nodded and left. I watched him untie and remount his horse. He soon went off into the trees, still avoiding the road. Well, that is something, at least. I ended my avatar form and returned to the church to organise a few things. If he comes through, I could use him to deflect some of the heat from the Dungeon in the future.

I placed a few items just off the courtyard in some spare saddlebags and waited.

Two days later, Mr Driver reappeared. I watched as he dismounted and tied up his horse again. At first, he walked with more purpose and less hesitation, but it crept back as he approached the gates. He was carrying his saddlebags.

I waited for him to walk into the courtyard and took form behind him again.

"Well?"

He jumped again but did not scream this time. Progress?

"I-I-I did what you asked, Mr Keeper." He stammered, still recovering. I did not bother to correct him.

"Show me."

He opened one of the bags slung over his shoulder and produced a crumpled newspaper. I opened it and checked the date. It was a new addition. It was printed special, as the paper typically appears once a week. Next, he handed me a folded large piece of paper.

I opened it and found what I was looking for, as requested. It was a topical map of the area around Crossway. The Dungeon was in the woods in the bottom left corner. Some plots were marked for sale. I reviewed the numbers and became even more excited, but I controlled my outward appearance.

I heard shuffling and looked up at Herbert.

"What is it?"

"S- Sorry to ask, sir. But this saw me use up all the money I had. If my Ma finds out I had to use some of hers, she will be mad." He was highly uncomfortable telling me this. I got the hint.

"I promised that if you do well, you will be rewarded. Look over there."

I pointed out where the saddlebags were hidden behind, but they were peeking out from where he was standing. He started smiling, looking at what was there, and retrieved them, bringing them back to where I was standing.

"As you can see, the pistol and gun belt are attached to the bags. The bags are of better quality than yours so that you can keep them. You will find more ammunition in the bags and a wallet containing $104.71."

I watched him go through the bag as if it were Christmas. The money was a total of notes and coins I still had, not precious metal ones. The last group I wiped out had produced a small haul of notes and a few more coins.

"That will need to cover your expenses for a time, so do not squander it."

He looked up from examining the money, his eyes wide, and nodded. I suspected he had never encountered that much money before in his life at a single time. This was dangerous, as young people receiving large sums of cash rarely turn out well.

"Return in another two days, and I will send you further instructions. Do not make me send someone to retrieve you."

He nodded and walked off in a bit of a daze. I watched him go. The gun and saddlebags had no link to the town, so they should not raise too much suspicion if they were seen. I walked back to the church, looking over the map. My avatar made the journey without any issues.

I placed the map on the altar and began to think. I had to take action to secure my future.

I had the resources, but it would mean giving up all my silver dollars. I was strangely attached to those coins, especially the twenty-dollar gold ones. Examining the land plots, I found the best one and began laying out additional plans.

This could work. But Herber thad to follow my instructs and not fuck it up. He was the weak link in the entire situation.

Herbert returned two days later, much better dressed and sporting his new firearm. I sighed, looking him over. I should have driven home to the point of not spending the money. I hoped he had not spent too much.

Once he was in the courtyard, I appeared.

"Here are your instructions, Mr Driver. Come over here."

I led him to the map I had placed next to a gravestone with a small pouch. I picked both up and handed him the folded map.

"Open it. Plot 34-45. See it?"

He opened it and found the plot I named.

"That is a bit further down the road." He was reading the map correctly.

"Yes, it is. Here."

I handed him the pouch full of coins, even to the most casual observer.

"Inside is one hundred and thirty-seven silver dollar coins. I would like you to purchase that plot of land. Do not spend that money on anything I do not tell you, and do not spend more than one hundred dollars on the plot."

His eyes bulged at the money in his hand, but my warning got through to him. He looked back at the map and then at me.

"But, Mr Keeper, those plots are listed for one-fifty. It's thirty-five acres." He noticed that fact, which I took as a good sign. He could read and count, which was a plus for me.

"Indeed, it does. Now listen to me, Mr Driver. If you are asked where the money you will spend comes from, you will tell anyone who asks that you have gained a benefactor who has decided to help you in your life. That includes your mother. She must never know of our arrangement. You will offer to buy the plot for one hundred as it is close to this place. If they refuse, remind them that no one else will give them such a good price and that you plan to establish a home there. You are also planning to offer a shoeing service to anyone travelling on the road and who will warn them from taking the turn. I will send someone with you to help you do all this. If you feel unsure, they will do all the talking."

At this, McGregor stepped out, revealing himself. I had been planning and knew that Herbert would be unable to do what I wanted. McGregor could. He had secured a new horse the previous day and had been briefed on the requirements. He had spent the rest of the day digging a new grave for its former owner. Herbert was scared by the appearance of my Hunter and was shaking a little.

"Excellent. Off you both go. I would like this to be completed by the end of the day. Mr McGregor has additional instructions for you when it is all done."

McGregor led the boy away. It was still early, and McGregor was confident he could get everything done before he had to return. The additional instructions were for the boy to use the remaining money to build his home and business. It would not be big, but it was doable.

McGregor returned later that day and informed me it was done. He had even managed to reduce the price to eighty-five dollars off my Dungeons reputation. The locals had bought into the story of Herbert warning travellers away from the turning.

The truth was that Herbert was going to do the opposite. He was, in time, going to be taught to identify small groups or individuals that could be guided to the Dungeon for elimination. I planned to make sure that he could upgrade the business. In the future, if they develop cars, I would change my building into a fuel station. If I were lucky, if he had any children, they would also come to serve my Dungeon in this capacity.

The money to fund this would come from my Hunter's kills.

I had also told McGregor to put the fear of hell into the boy to make sure he would not cross me. But not to hurt him, as I needed him alive and healthy. He reported that both were done. I knew he had enjoyed terrorising the young man.

I was back at the top of my bubble. The skies were clear, and the sun was setting behind the mountains. The sky was covered in colours and very impressive. I have always enjoyed watching sunsets over the hills and settled in to watch this one.

As the sunset approached, I felt the Dungeon was in a good place.

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