The affairs of the steward had been settled.
Except for the king, all other candidates left. The soldiers remained outside, and the stone door opened, and Yu Xiaoxiao saw a middle-aged man walking out slowly.
He was dressed in black casual clothes, and Roko, standing beside him, stepped forward and draped a cloak over his shoulders.
"Miss Yu, this is our King."
Thinking of the noble lady's courtesy, Yu Xiaoxiao slightly lifted the corners of her skirt, bent her legs slightly, and said softly, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Girl, who are the people in your family?" The King looked at the girl with a smile in his eyes.
Yu Xiaoxiao was somewhat astonished.
Initially, she thought that rulers of such empires would be lofty, but he seemed very approachable.
She truthfully replied, "Only my mother."
Her parents divorced when she was very young, and she had always grown up with her mother.
"If you have the chance, you can invite your mother to visit us here." The King extended a warm invitation.
Slime also saw the King for the first time, a brave and heroic figure with numerous military accomplishments, a great hero of the Calia Empire.
Yu Xiaoxiao responded, "I really want to bring her, but she's been sick lately..."
"Is it serious?"
Yu Xiaoxiao nodded with a serious expression.
The last accident had turned her mother into a vegetable, and even the doctors didn't know when she would wake up.
Or perhaps she might never wake up in her lifetime.
"If there is anything you need help with, just ask."
Yu Xiaoxiao's heart warmed.
Although it was possible that it was just a polite remark, it felt good to be cared for by others.
Since her mother was hospitalized, she had experienced the warmth and coldness of human nature too much.
"I believe that everything will get better," the king said sincerely.
"Thank you."
The king's warmth made her unable to resist saying, "About the steward's matter..."
"You were personally chosen by Lord Lod, he believes in your competence, and so do I. The beginning is always difficult, I will have Rocco stay for a few more days. If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask him."
At this, Rocco beside them responded, "I am willing to serve you."
After giving his instructions, the king left.
Slime spoke up, "Xiaoxiao, let me take you somewhere first. Lord Rocco, I have assisted many stewards before, I have experience!"
Rocco smiled and said, "Take care."
The blue lights on the high platform gradually dimmed. Slime, with a small light above its head, slowly descended.
Yuxiaoxiao held her skirt with both hands, following behind it.
Rocco watched the two of them leave all the way.
After Yuxiaoxiao had gone far, he spoke, "Congratulations, Your Highness."
"What's there to be happy about?"
"Compared to others, Miss Yu is the most suitable candidate. She comes from a distant galaxy, unrelated to us in any way. Moreover, her weaknesses are quite apparent. With guidance, she will become a qualified follower."
Yuxiaoxiao is a blank slate.
She's an alien with a clean background, not bound by any force.
She has been caring for her sick mother, as long as this point is used well, she can be completely controlled.
The third prince needs someone like her by his side.
In other words—
His person.
The position of steward, so important, cannot be given to someone else at will, even if it's vacant all year round.
Rocco is very satisfied with this girl.
Slime led Yuxiaoxiao on a walk through a tunnel.
The tunnel was long, with no end in sight. Submerged in darkness, Yuxiaoxiao thought, "Many places are too dark, can we install lamps?"
"We can," Slime said, "You are the steward, your say holds here. The third prince rarely leaves his palace, as long as it doesn't affect the surroundings of his bedroom."
Steward.
This position that so many vie for, has fallen on her head. Yuxiaoxiao's face showed a nervous expression, but in her eyes, there was also a hint of anticipation.
Exiting the tunnel, they arrived at a vast indentation. At the bottom stood a circular fountain.
But there was not a drop of water inside.
Only a few layers of stone platforms remained in solitude, even the sculptures above were a third broken.
Slime slid down the accompanying stairs.
It arrived at the wishing pool and said, "The previous stewards all failed here."
"Failed? Why?"
"Because—they weren't recognized by the gods."
Yuxiaoxiao also arrived by the fountain, here it was damp and chilly, she couldn't help but hug herself.
"Xiaoxiao, put your hand here," Slime directed.
It had a small crystal light above its head, shining onto an area.
Without much thought, Yuxiaoxiao placed her palm on it. In an instant, a strange light emanated from the mark, illuminating the entire wishing pool.
The girl's skirt was blown by the wind.
She stared blankly at the fountain, as if it was rejuvenated with new life, and the sound of flowing water gradually started.
[Welcome, my master.]
Someone was speaking.
The voice blended with the sound of water, sounding like it had reverberation, making it indistinguishable as male or female.
"Victor, did you hear that? Someone is speaking!"
Slime blinked in confusion, "I didn't hear anything, I didn't hear anything at all. Should this be considered as successfully activating the crystal of Ino?"
Yuxiaoxiao waited for a while, but that voice did not appear again.
She asked, "Ino crystal?"
"Yes! It's the control center for the underground city. Wow, look—there really is a crystal!" Slime excitedly looked at the bottom of the pool, where the previously lifeless stones were gradually emitting light.
The wishing pool had completely "resurrected."
Like the crystal at the bottom of the pool, the sculpture above also looks brand new.
The sound of flowing water- when standing nearby, you can occasionally feel the water droplets falling on your face. The previous cold atmosphere has completely disappeared, and the entire pit has become soft and bright.
Yuxiaoxiao found an extra mechanism in the place where she pressed her hand.
Slime tapped it, and a transparent little screen appeared.
There was a panoramic map of the dungeon displayed on it.
"When you want to repair or create a place, just come here and use the Yining crystal to command the Rock Clan to do the work."
The Rock Clan.
The last time she met the Gray Dwarves.
The operation page is very simple, at least from the map, the only decent place in the dungeon is actually her "kitchen".
There are many places to be built.
Including the kitchen she uses, which she also wants to refurbish a bit.
The Slime sighed, "The previous crystal pool was not so obedient, is it because you are an Earthling? But these ancient materials do not come from the Milky Way."
The crystal pool has a long history, almost tracing back to the era of the creation of the Kalier Empire.
But in any case, the dungeon finally has a steward, and any place can be slowly transformed!
Yuxiaoxiao was still thinking about the voice she just heard.
She silently looked at the glowing crystals at the bottom of the pool, and a dark purple "stone" was particularly eye-catching.
"I heard that this console has its own soul. The previous steward could only operate on the surface. There are deeper things-" Slime hadn't finished speaking, and was shocked to see Yuxiaoxiao fishing out a piece of purple crystal from the bottom of the pool, and this little thing slowly transformed into a necklace, automatically wearing itself on the girl's fair neck.
"Yining Crystal, at your service."
This time, not only Yuxiaoxiao, but even Slime heard it!
It was shocked.
"What is the Yining Crystal?" Yuxiaoxiao curiously asked.
Slime swallowed, "It is said that the steward who has been recognized by Yining, in addition to building buildings, can also do many other things."
"Such as?"
"Such as... recruiting heroes! Organizing legions! Dividing areas! Setting boundaries! And so on-"
Slime "wow" and pounced, hugging Yuxiaoxiao's thigh, "Xiaoxiao! You must remember me! I know you have an old saying- if you become rich, take each other for a walk!"
She was recognized by the Yining Crystal!
The Yining Crystal is the essence of the dungeon!
Now, whether it is the king or the third prince, they cannot deprive her of her identity!
It has been 13,000 years since the last steward recognized by Yining.