Jimbo realized two important things: First, the king and his inner circle are currently inaccessible to him; second, without a constant source of ether, he won't get far with any plan.
To summon, he needs ether. To move or modify rooms, he needs ether. To level up, he needs ether. Jimbo questions the system about reactive ways to obtain the precious energy.
Note: Living beings generate ether automatically. To increase this production, stimuli are necessary, with one of the most used being moments of danger, combat, or tension.
This means that doing what Dungeon Cores are supposed to do—building places where the lives and skills of invaders are tested—would be the natural process. But Jimbo is not in a natural situation; he is in one where if the king and his people detect the slightest sign of treason, they will tear him to pieces.
«Dowmy, you've been living here a while. Can you think of a way to earn the trust of the castle people?»
"Generate trust?" Dowmy is sitting on the floor, too distracted picking her nose. The girl pulls her finger out of her nostril and then places that same hand under her chin. "By giving out free food?"
Jimbo arches an eyebrow, unable to decide if Dowmy's idea is idiocy or a stroke of genius. He asks himself if he is capable of creating food, and the system answers by showing one of the environment options. One of those he can only get once every 20 levels.
-Environment: Green Space.
Requirement: Humid area, or water source.
Cost: 5 ether per hour.
Description: Incentivizes the creation of special, fast-growing plants and fungi capable of existing without sunlight, fed instead by the core's ether. The variety of plants and fungi generated is usually linked to the core's knowledge.
When Jimbo asks the system about how to create sources of humidity, it presents him with a list of options, from a leaky roof to hot springs. Some variations are more expensive or cheaper than others, but in general, they all consume an energy that Jim currently cannot afford to spend without grinding his ethereal teeth in frustration.
«Even if I could summon the best pizza in the world, there's no way the king would agree to eat it. Jeez, even those two idiots at the door might hesitate to try it.»
And if they do accept, perhaps the expense wouldn't bring a reward.
«Is there a way to stress the soldiers out without them thinking I'm declaring war on them?»
After a couple of minutes of meditation, an idea comes to mind. If anything became clear after his short stay in this magical world, it is that battle is a familiar and constant face. Training is part of the soldiers' lives.
Wouldn't it be irresistible to offer a unique, controlled, and varied training?
Like exploring a dungeon, but without the pesky risk of dying.
It would be a perfect business. Practically a budding monopoly. What other Dungeon is there like him? None! Humanity would have an invaluable ally on their hands.
In Jimbo's mind, the image becomes sharper and more defined, just like his smile. But then he falters at the thought: what if they don't accept the idea, just as they are unlikely to accept the food? He imagines Hilda yelling, complaining, and convincing the rest that Jim is preparing a trap or studying them to discover their combat secrets.
«If only that guy were here... He seems to be the only one who actually likes me.» He thinks of the weirdo who acted as if he were standing before an altar.
But Jimbo understands he won't get anywhere by complaining, and instead asks the system if there are other ways to increase ether production.
Note: By producing happiness and pleasure.
Jimbo's eyes widen.
Happiness depends on the individual, but pleasure is universal, and it is much easier to sell than experimental combat training.
«Though it's not like I can cause much pleasure the way I am right now. I'm a crystal; I don't have hands or genitals. The more I think about it, the more it depresses me. Actually, I shouldn't think about it at all. It's not like I was some massive heartthrob in my previous life anyway.»
And even if he could be a ladies' man, Hilda—currently the only recurring human woman in his life—hates him. If only he had more to choose from.
"Are you looking at me, Master? I feel like you're looking at me."
Jimbo snorts in frustration. He wishes Dowmy were one of those succubi with a knockout body that appear in fantasy novels, at least to feel more motivated. But instead, she is... Dowmy. Jim decides to stop thinking about that too to avoid getting depressed, and instead returns to browsing the options offered by the system.
The hot springs catch his attention. Jimbo asks if the pleasure generated by relaxation also works.
Note: Yes.
«Finally, some good news!»
Jimbo shifts the throne room until he leaves about 30 meters of solid stone between himself and the laboratory, more than enough space to maneuver without causing accidents. He opens a new chamber, clearing away the dirt and rock. The new place is as dark as a wolf's mouth. Even with the promise of infinite treasures, only a madman would enter.
He needs light.
Inside the crystal's blue space, opening the Construction list, compact rotating 3D models of the objects he can create appear. From fur beds to two-meter bonfires. The catalog is limited by Jimbo's Age, all elements being tied to humanity's most primitive periods.
The skull torches don't inspire confidence, but Jimbo understands they are preferable to absolute darkness, and he places four in the chamber, pushing back and twisting the shadows.
It looks like the entrance to an ominous cavern.
He connects the throne room with the initial chamber. Dowmy enters the chamber looking everywhere, cautious as if she feared something would jump out from the darkest shadows. Jimbo asks for her opinion.
"Reminds me of home..."
«I thought your home was the cage.»
"I meant where I was born," Dowmy says without stopping her exploration of the scenery, jumping, fluttering, and touching the cavernous ceiling with her fingertips. Upon landing, she directs her attention to where she senses Jimbo's presence. "Just smaller and quieter, and also without the sea of blood where our eggs rest."
«Sea of blood?»
Dowmy nods and gets distracted looking at the skull torches.
When Jim thinks about how unpleasant a bloody sea would be, a system notification pops up warning him that the option is available, and that he can even decide the type of blood that composes it.
«Yeah, no thanks. I'm trying to seduce these people, not give them reasons to destroy me.»
But even if Jimbo went crazy and wanted to drown them all under a sea of horse blood, he couldn't. He sighs as he discovers his ether bar scraping zero.
While waiting for it to recharge, Jimbo distracts himself by studying the system's options and talking to Dowmy. Also, to avoid problems, as soon as he gets a little ether, he hides the chamber and puts the throne room back in its original place.
The doors are opened, and one of the guards peeks inside. Catching nothing out of the ordinary, he nods and closes them.