207: Chapter 207 So, what is the price?

Chen You looked at the massive throne, noting that his small frame was completely out of proportion.

"If I could grow to over ten meters tall, I bet that would look quite imposing," he mused to himself, but quickly dismissed the thought.

No, no, no, who wants to be a dungeon BOSS!

Being trapped here, waiting for players to farm him every day—wouldn't that make him a 'sitting duck'?

Furthermore, his mission was to be the 'New Monarch,' not to take over the position of the 'Shadow Monarch.'

This sounded exactly like the trope where the 'predecessor runs away and dumps the mess on the newcomer.'

Chen You waved at Shadow Monarch Dai, signaling him to come closer.

"Xiao Dai, the coronation isn't urgent. Let's first understand the composition of our organization—I mean, our team."

"How many BOSSes are there in this dungeon in total?"

He wanted to confirm if his special teleportation had skipped any BOSSes.

Shadow Monarch Dai immediately bowed again. His massive, black-armored body looked somewhat clumsy, but his movements were extremely swift.

Even while bent over, he resembled a small mountain.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, currently... uh, including your subordinate, there are four in total."

Shadow Monarch Dai counted on his fingers as if genuinely tallying them. The two scarlet lights flickering within his helmet armor revealed a hint of awkwardness.

Chen You chuckled inwardly.

Only four?

It seemed they were short on talent here too. It must have been tough for the game company to manage this much while rushing production!

He nodded and continued his confirmation: "So, besides the Warlord, the Arena, and the Mirror, there's only you left?"

"Precisely! Your Majesty is wise!"

Shadow Monarch Dai immediately responded, his tone carrying a hint of excitement from 'being understood.'

Then, his voice lowered slightly, tinged with a somewhat bashful complaint.

"It is true that our talent allocation is lacking, but Your Majesty, you don't know."

"As long as you are crowned King, then inevitably all the worthy figures will arrive, and various talents will flock here..."

"Stop, stop, stop!" Chen You interrupted him in time.

Why was this starting to feel increasingly wrong?

Was 'all the worthy figures will arrive' even used this way?

Could this be some new type of pyramid scheme?

First, they trick someone into becoming the 'New King,' then they make the New King 'recruit talent' to build the 'base.'

In the end, the person becomes a hands-off manager, continuing to hide behind the scenes?

This script... damn it, it was too familiar!

Chen You's gaze fell upon the crown again, then shifted to Xiao Dai's enormous figure, and his internal alarm bells began ringing loudly.

He could now confirm that he had cleared all the previous BOSSes without missing any.

Therefore, this 'coronation' and 'New King' setup was very likely the core of the entire Mythic Quest.

He stared directly at the two scarlet lights in Xiao Dai's eyes, his tone becoming serious.

"So, after I am crowned King, I will become the final BOSS and be trapped in this dungeon, unable to leave?"

Shadow Monarch Dai's massive body jolted violently, seemingly surprised that Chen You would ask so directly.

He hastily waved his hands, the armor clashing, appearing somewhat flustered.

"No, no, no! Your Majesty, you misunderstand! Who could possibly trap you!"

His voice became rushed and fast, carrying a sense of wronged grievance.

"Your Majesty, this is just a step the New King must take, it is a ritual, a procedure! After the coronation, you are still you!"

"I... I will still be the final BOSS here."

As he finished speaking, he seemed to regain a bit of pride, but he immediately realized he had overstepped. His massive body immediately became more subservient.

"Of course, your subordinate will still respectfully obey Your Majesty's command. Everything will be prioritized according to Your Majesty's will!"

Listening to Shadow Monarch Dai's disjointed explanation, Chen You had a general idea.

"So, essentially, I am still a player who can move freely, just with the added identity of 'Shadow Monarch'?"

His tone was flat, but it made Shadow Monarch Dai feel utterly relieved.

"Exactly! Precisely so! Your Majesty is truly exceptionally intelligent, understanding things at a glance!"

Shadow Monarch Dai nodded repeatedly, wishing he could praise Chen You profusely.

"That puts my mind at ease." Chen You let out a sigh of relief, then immediately became vigilant again.

The more a 'good thing' seems too easy, the larger the trap hidden behind it.

He narrowed his eyes and posed the most crucial question: "Then, what is the price?"

This time, Shadow Monarch Dai did not answer immediately.

The two scarlet lights flickered faster than ever before, and his massive body seemed to freeze for an instant.

The entire hall fell into a strange silence, only the faint glow emanating from the crown reminded Chen You of the weighty artifact he held.

Shadow Monarch Dai seemed to be performing some complex internal calculation.

Or perhaps, he was desperately searching for information the system allowed him to disclose.

After a long pause, he finally spoke in a low voice, his tone carrying an unprecedented confusion and helplessness.

"The price? I... I don't know either!"

Chen You: "..."

The corner of his mouth twitched. Looking at Xiao Dai's expression of 'I am also desperate,' Chen You suddenly found it a bit amusing.

"Are you sure you don't know?" Chen You's tone deepened.

"Your Majesty, please see clearly!" Shadow Monarch Dai almost knelt down, his voice laced with a sob.

"Everything your subordinate says is the truth! Your subordinate is only acting as an agent; what the true King intends to do, your subordinate truly does not know."

The implication was that only Chen You, upon ascending the throne, would know the answer.

Chen You nodded, realizing there was no other choice.

Giving up was impossible.

It was just a clone here anyway; if things went wrong, he could just dismiss it.

His gaze returned to the enormous throne.

It was just... was the size a bit too outrageous?

That throne must be three or four meters high. Sitting on it with his small frame, he would probably look like an ornament.

It would ruin his image.

He represented Huaxia!

"Um..."

Chen You pointed at the throne and asked in a negotiating tone.

"Does this throne come in a smaller size?"

"Or, it's fine if the size can be adjusted."

Shadow Monarch Dai followed the direction of his finger, and the two scarlet lights on his face flickered.

It was like he blinked.

"Oh!"

"Your Majesty, that is not the throne."

"Huh?" Chen You froze.

"That is my stool," Shadow Monarch Dai stated righteously.

"Your subordinate... your subordinate would never dare sit on the real throne! I just sit there to rest my feet normally."

The corner of Chen You's mouth twitched violently.

Good heavens!

The hierarchy system was quite strict!

So, he had just been analyzing the aura and studying the dimensions of someone else's stool, making up a whole host of unrelated theories?

"Ahem." Chen You coughed dryly to cover his embarrassment and maintained a composed demeanor. "Then where is the real throne?"

"Please wait a moment."

Shadow Monarch Dai responded, then stepped forward, reaching out toward the massive 'stool' and slapping it hard.

"Open!"

Rumble—

Accompanied by a dull, heavy sound, the entire hall began to tremble slightly.

The giant black crystal 'stool' actually split down the middle, slowly rotating sideways and receding.

It finally embedded itself seamlessly into the rear wall, becoming a... magnificent backdrop.

And in its original position, a brand new throne slowly rose from beneath the ground.