I am the Demon King of the Dungeon!

"Prices are clearly marked..." Arthas stared at the wooden sign for a full three seconds. There was a small window next to it, from which came the sound of chewing.

He walked to the window and looked inside.

Inside sat a goblin wearing small round glasses, clutching a roasted chicken leg in its paws, its mouth greasy. On the table beside it were a stack of forms, an abacus, and a steaming cup of black tea.

This setup looks exactly like an accountant's office.

"Cough cough."

Alsace knocked on the window frame.

The goblin accountant looked up, a professional smile spreading across his greasy lips: "Welcome to the first level of Dark Hemcas! How many are in your party?"

"Three people."

"For the three of you, one hundred and fifty magic crystals."

"I know." Arthas counted out magic crystals from his purse and neatly stacked them in front of the window.

The goblin accountant's eyes lit up immediately. He quickly collected the magic crystals and then made a note in the form.

"Thank you for your patronage! Please come in!" The goblin accountant beamed. "The welcome ceremony will begin shortly!"

Renn leaned close to Arthas's ear and said, "We had this when we came here last time. It was quite interesting."

Less than two minutes later, a commotion broke out.

The drumbeats approached from afar, interspersed with the mournful sound of some kind of wind instrument. The tones were uneven, but the overall effect was powerful.

The wooden door slowly opened, and goblins filed out.

Leading the procession was the honor guard, twelve goblins dressed in uniform red uniforms, with gleaming gold badges pinned to their chests, holding ceremonial staffs, and marching in perfect unison.

Following closely behind was the choir, with goblins dressed in blue uniforms and holding sheet music.

Further back were the standard-bearers, carrying enormous banners embroidered with the portrait of the goblin leader, below which were eight large characters:

"Wise and mighty, forever enduring."

Arthas: "..."

The portrait isn't even mine?

Finally, eight goblins carried a palanquin. On the palanquin was a huge goblin with dark red skin, wearing a magnificent cloak and a crown studded with jewels.

Goblin leader.

Arthas remained indifferent.

Decades ago, that guy was just a minor leader in the goblin tribe. He was quick-witted and efficient, so he was promoted to leader. I never expected him to turn out like this.

The sedan chair stopped in front of the crowd, and the goblin leader slowly stood up, placed a paw on his chest, and performed a standard noble salute.

"Respected adventurer."

Its voice was deep and resonant, with a deliberately practiced magnetism: "Welcome to the Goblin Tribe. I am the BOSS here, the Goblin Chieftain."

The honor guard immediately raised their batons and crossed them in unison to form an arch shape.

The choir opened the sheet music and began to sing.

It's called singing, but it's more like a goblin aria. The melody has big ups and downs, and it's occasionally off-key, but overall it sounds...not bad.

Alsace listened to a few lines of the lyrics:

"ah--

Dark Hemkas, the great dungeon!

Ah—the goblin tribe, the first stop for the brave!

You can pass by simply paying money; no blood or sweat required!

Fifty magic crystals, for your safety~

Ryan hummed along quietly beside him, seemingly having a strong impression of it after hearing it last time.

After the song ended, the choir members bowed in unison.

"This is just the appetizer! The main course is about to begin!"

The goblin leader clapped his hands.

Eight goblins carrying the palanquin pulled a large chest from under it. The chest was opened, revealing neatly stacked weapons and equipment: longswords, large shields, longbows, staves, double-edged axes, and more…

Everything you could want, from standard to premium quality.

"According to the rules of this floor," the goblin leader said, spreading his arms wide, "distinguished guests, you may choose any piece of equipment from these! Pick whatever you like!"

"Interesting..." Arthas finally understood why Renn was able to clear the first level.

"Ha! Let me see what we have this time." Renn's eyes lit up, and he leaned over to pick out a fine short sword, weighing it in his hand: "This one's not bad! Much better than mine."

Oris also stepped forward and took a longbow.

The goblin leader then pulled out a necklace from his pocket; the pendant was a miniature version of the goblin leader's head.

"Also! If you'd like to leave a positive review in the visitor's guestbook, you'll receive a limited-edition souvenir for this month: the Goblin Tribe Limited Edition - Chief's Blessing! It's said to bring good luck when worn!"

"Okay, okay! I'll leave a message." Ryan happily took the necklace and hung it around his neck.

At this moment, Arthas's mind was racing with a thousand thoughts.

The goblin leader noticed that Arthas hadn't spoken, and eagerly leaned closer, asking, "Aren't you going to pick out a piece of equipment? Or... do you have any complaints about the service?"

"No, it's fine." Arthas was sincere. Putting aside the subtle humiliation of "the Demon King paying tolls for his subordinates," the goblin leader's operational capabilities had indeed exceeded expectations.

After saying that, he stepped forward and casually picked up a longsword.

Seeing this, the goblin leader rubbed his hands together and chuckled with satisfaction, "That's good! That's good! Are you all going to the second level next? Do you need me to send someone to guide you?"

Renn shook his head and said, "No need, we know the way."

"Okay! Take care! Welcome back next time!"

The goblin leader tried to bow, but his round belly got stuck.

As Arthas turned to leave, the goblin leader looked up, and their eyes met.

In that instant, the goblin leader's smile froze on its face, for it saw something flash across the depths of those eyes, stirring memories etched into its genes—the oppressive aura emanating from the Demon King…

Appearances can be disguised, but a demon's instincts cannot be fooled. The goblin leader's body trembled violently.

Arthas's expression subtly changed, and the goblin leader instantly understood the meaning behind his gaze—

Shut up.

"Take care, sir."

Arthas followed the group into the passage, and the singing resumed behind him, while the goblin leader stood there blankly, motionless.

"Chief? What's wrong?"

The goblin leader did not answer. It stared at the back of the black-haired youth until he disappeared around the corner of the passageway, its body still trembling uncontrollably.

Demon Lord... why are you here...?

Still with human adventurers...

The goblin leader turned and walked back to his sedan chair, plopped down in it, and gripped the armrests tightly with both hands.

The sedan chair swayed and wobbled as it made its way deeper into the tribe.

"Today's team building activity is canceled!"

"Huh? Didn't we agree to go to the hot springs?"

"I said I'd cancel, so I'll cancel!"

The goblin leader's voice was sullen, as if it were angry with itself; it was very annoyed.

Pick out equipment?

The Demon King needs to choose equipment from me?

At this thought, the goblin leader broke out in a cold sweat.

It began to recall the details of what had just happened, trying to confirm whether it had said anything wrong, whether it had given anything away, or whether it had displeased the Demon King.

The entrance was fine, the honor guard was fine, the choir was fine, the souvenirs...

souvenir!

The goblin leader sat up abruptly; the souvenir it had just taken out was a necklace engraved with its own image.

Carved with oneself.

It's not the Demon King's.

Cold sweat instantly soaked through the cloak.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no..." the goblin leader muttered, "Will the Demon King think I've overstepped my bounds...?"

Its face turned pale and then red, and after a while, its tense emotions gradually relaxed.

wrong.

The Demon King just said, "That's good."

If you're unhappy, you won't say "It's fine".

The goblin leader took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Regardless of whether the Demon King cared or not, things had to be changed!

The new pendant needs to be engraved with the Demon King's portrait.

The front is engraved with the Demon King, and the back is engraved with yourself.

perfect!

The goblin leader leaned back in the sedan chair and finally revealed a relieved smile.