It’s not like the orphanage is struggling, the city government allocates—


    Alright, let’s calm down. It does make some sense with what I’ve found out. Best to stop by the library first. But which one do I choose. Yes, there are multiple libraries in the city. Fortunately, one of the largest is located on my way towards the Adventurers’ Guild and near the city center.


    The walk there is even more enjoyable than the one to the city itself. I avoid taking any public transport, it’s not that far away, and I want to savor this. There is so much life around me, so many people. Most of them are just going about their day. Some are going to work or just coming back from an early shift. There are a lot of children heading to the same place. It must be a little before school starts.


    Admirable. The equivalent of primary schooling appears to be mandatory here. From what I am hearing, only about half of the children are complaining. Pretty good. Not having to start at the crack of dawn is a primary factor in the relatively amiable mood. Near me, a little girl around the age of ten, is particularly enamored with history classes. Her friend is nodding his head and listening to her with a strained smile. He is trying to appear nonchalant, but a quick scan of his bag reveals neat and tidy notes, and a separate notebook filled with prepared questions. I feel tightness, like something is squeezing my mind.


    The crowd starts to get particularly heavy. There are too many variables, and my path is too restricted. I can’t avoid a collision, and someone lightly bumps into me. The man mumbles an apology and is once again swallowed by the flow of bodies. Automated emergency systems take control after I do not issue any commands to my shell for one nanosecond. For anyone observing, I just keep on walking.


    There is only darkness. The spot where the man bumped into my shoulder is burning. How is that even possible, I can’t even register my shell. Am I malfunctioning? Has the singularity finally consumed enough? Will this pleasant dream end just like that? I don’t want that. I still haven’t done anything. Oh. That was the first time I have touched another person, wasn’t it. I never had a body like this on Earth. While there were still...


    All these people, their lives, their presence, each and every one of them carries so much. They are all so unique, irreplaceable. Experiencing it all reminds me of what I have lost. What I have destroyed. That will not happen again.


    I continue on my path.


    ***


    The building in front of me is dull yet inviting. Red stone walls, three stories high, and shaped like a bunch of boxes. Numerous large windows, letting in a comfortable amount of natural light, perfect for reading. There is a steady flow of people going in and out, enjoying the knowledge of those that came before them. Or looking for some entertainment.


    I am positively giddy? Yes, giddy... Apt, description. Unfortunately, scanning books from long range is not possible with my current onboard suite of sensors, unless I want to enrich the halls of the library with novel forms of cancer. As I step inside the building and start using my less potent short-range sensors, I amend my previous statement to ‘any’ forms of cancer. Curious. Mana makes people a lot sturdier and allows them to live much longer, at least those that can actually die of old age. My personal sources categorize that as ‘classic fantasy stuff’...


    While I walk around, absorbing every single book, I wonder what my character would go for. An adventurer guide? That seems reasonable. I find the appropriate book, ‘So you want to be an adventurer? (Suitable for ages 10 and up!)’, and sit down pretending to peruse with interest. As luck would have it, this piece of media seems to also quite nicely summarize why this world is so advanced and crime free.


    ‘Dungeons are a facsimile, a reflection of life, the opposite side of good, the shadows cast by the rays of enlightenment.’ A little too flowery for ten-year-olds if you ask me, still informative though. ‘And yet, they bring us boons, they bring us power. Where would we be without them, for every mortal soul must bite and claw for their place between the living.’ Someone really enjoyed writing that.


    Interpreting the artsy guide clears up my worries somewhat. Dungeons are naturally occurring. There is no discernible pattern to where they emerge, but more generally pop up where there are a lot of people. These dungeons can then be either delved, conquered, or destroyed. If they are not managed well enough, they can break.


    A dungeon can be exploited for all kinds of useful treasures, like food, raw materials, ingredients for potions, medicine, and more. But one of the most important bounties are mana crystals, the elusive power source I was theorizing about. Used for both creating and fueling enchantments. Some enchantments can subsist on just ambient mana, but more powerful ones require a constant supply of power.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    A person can cast spells that have a relatively short but immediate effect. Mana crystals are on the opposite side of the spectrum. One cannot feasibly maintain their cast for a long time, but by integrating mana crystal fuel, an enchantment can be maintained for as long as the crystal’s contained mana lasts. Mana crystals are, furthermore, classified into different grades. Higher ones can power more intricate spells and for much longer, the downside being that their sources are incredibly powerful and dangerous monsters.


    Dungeons appear to be something on the edge of a living organism and not, akin to a virus. They take in mana and coalesce it into monsters and loot. If some threshold is passed, a Dungeon Break occurs. If the mana the dungeon contains is reduced by killing its denizens or slaying the boss, the dungeon can be managed. If, after killing the boss, the dungeon core is broken, the dungeon is permanently destroyed.


    This constant threat—but a threat that carries with it an incredible reward—is what has progressed this society so much and at the same time given them a common enemy to unite against—the world itself. Fascinating.


    Adjusting for the new information, I can now make some deductions and observations. The Big Wolves that the two adventurers were fighting, were a remnant from a break. They came out of an undiscovered dungeon, another danger that these people allocate a lot of resources for. I can most likely detect a break, but anything related to mana still eludes me.


    I spend the adequate amount of time pretending to read the book and then go on my way. I would have checked it out, but one would need the equivalent of a library card. This is where my next problem comes in. To register as an Adventurer, I would need another card, an identification card. As I have now learned, those, together with the currency, are definitely enchanted. No matter, problems are there to be solved. On we go.


    As I enter the city hall, which is, again, conveniently placed in the center of the city with all the other important buildings, I suppress a chuckle. What is the most vulnerable point of any secured system? The people of course. While the identification cards themselves are enchanted, a filled-out form for expedited issue of replacement is not. Accidents happen on the road constantly. This hapless village boy lost his precious documents. What a tragedy. But have no fear, a helpful manager took care of everything. Such a kind soul. As I pretend to be a hacker—and I would be a great one—I discreetly warp in the filled form and head towards the su— And head towards my mark, one of the formally dressed people behind a long counter.


    “Good day, sir. I believe my replacement identification card is ready. Name’s Lucius Doe.” I slide him the little slip of paper I should have received if doing this legitimately. The name is my own. Does it even matter? No one here knows who I am anyways. One less lie. This does call for some revisions to my character, though. Grew up in a small faraway village. Orphan. Makes things easier. My parents, John and Jane Doe, died in a monster attack.


    I... I do not want to remember my real parents. Can I even call them that? Do they deserve it? Do I?


    The clerk’s words snap me back, “Just a moment.” He heads deeper into the building. Upon finding the form and discovering it was somehow missed and is now late, he panics and quickly starts making me a new card.


    There is risk in doing this, of course. If someone were to check with the person that authorized the form, they would have no recollection of ever doing it. People do forget, but the main records that contain information about all citizens are under heavy magical protections. I can only guess that they are in one of the voids around or underneath the building. Can’t be avoided though, I need that card. I’ll just observe for any signs of being discovered.


    Eventually, he returns in a rush with my newly minted prize and instructs me to keep a neutral expression and to remain still. After holding the card in front of himself and, from his point of view, covering my face, for a few seconds, he presents it to me. The card now bears my shell’s current visage and other information about me. The... picture, does not have the background it should have had, just white. I thank the helpful employee and leave the building with at least three new crimes under my belt. I swear, I am not trying to reach the statistics I initially projected.


    Finally heading towards the Adventurers’ Guild leaves me with some time to manage my budding network. I have predicted that there is minimal risk of detection in starting to build it up. The part of my swarm I left in the forest I was transported to has been hard at work. There are already a number of satellites ready for orbit. Once those start getting warped into place, I will have a global surveillance network.


    Unfortunately, large scale production on the planet’s surface carries a risk of it being discovered. Fortunately, there are a couple of uninhabited moons ripe for the taking. No laws about that.


    The satellites are warped into place, and the production facilities constructed under the forest are split between the two moons. I can still put strategic encampments and shield generators on the surface later. Better to have planetary defenses and not need them than the alternative. Well, it’s not like I am not going to build system defenses too...


    With my surveillance network starting to take shape, I can start working on the global profiles database. And most importantly, on the personal defense network. The main fighters will be lightweight drones able to handle the early monster grades as those are most common. While Dungeon Breaks are managed fairly well by the natives of this world, there are still an unacceptable number of fatalities due to stray monster attacks. There are also fatalities for other reasons... Ones I despise much, much more. Those numbers will be reduced. What is an acceptable number. Zero.


    Alas, a true zero is still far away for me. But there will come a time when I correct my mistakes. When all shall be eternal.