[The Abyssal Academy - The Principal's Office]
The storm outside finally broke, leaving the Abyssal Academy eerily quiet. Down in the courtyard, the remaining four thousand, five hundred Paladins had surrendered. They were currently standing in perfectly organized "checkout lines," shivering in their tunics as the Orc and Vampire students systematically processed their blessed armor into the Academy's overflowing vaults.
Inside the Principal's Office, the scent of fresh black coffee cut through the lingering smell of ozone.
Victor Thorne sat behind his mahogany desk, his midnight-blue suit perfectly pressed. He tapped his gold-nibbed pen against the Tycoon's Ledger.
"Final quarterly projections, Seraphina," Victor said smoothly.
Standing by the fireplace, the Dark Elf adjusted her glasses. "With the confiscated holy artifacts, the micro-loan interest, and the Pantheon+ subscription revenue, our net operating profit for the month sits at precisely forty-two point eight Million Gold, Principal Thorne. The Academy is entirely solvent."
"Good," Victor checked his gold Rolex. "Now, we expand."
Suddenly, the flames in the massive stone fireplace turned a violent, sickening shade of emerald green. The temperature in the room spiked, smelling of pure brimstone and burnt sugar.
Stepping directly out of the green hellfire was a towering figure. He wore a cape of woven shadow and a crown of obsidian horns. It was Duke Malphas, the Grand Vizier of the Demon Realm, and the right hand of the Demon King.
Princess Ignis, bound by her golden debt chain, immediately knelt on the stone floor. Elara, the Paladin intern, backed against the wall, terrified by the sheer, suffocating dark magic radiating from the Duke.
"Principal Thorne," Duke Malphas's voice was a low, rumbling earthquake. He stepped onto the plush carpet, looking down at Victor with aristocratic arrogance. "The Demon King watched your broadcast. He was highly entertained by the humiliation of the Holy Vanguard."
"I am glad my product met his expectations," Victor didn't stand up. He took a slow sip of his coffee.
"The King wishes to reward you, human," Malphas sneered, tossing a heavy, black velvet bag onto the desk. It landed with a massive clinking sound. "Ten Million Gold. The Demon Realm is officially purchasing the Abyssal Academy. You will serve as our vassal, and this dungeon will become a military outpost for our empire."
The room went dead silent. Ignis winced, knowing how much her father had just underestimated the human sitting behind the desk.
Victor looked at the bag of gold. He didn't touch it.
"Duke Malphas," Victor sighed, a sound of profound corporate disappointment. "You fundamentally misunderstand my business model. I do not sell equity. And I certainly do not become an employee."
Victor pushed the bag of gold back across the desk with the tip of his fountain pen.
"I am not selling my academy," Victor's Tycoon Aura flared, a cold, heavy pressure that instantly matched the demon's dark magic. "But I am willing to offer the Demon King a localized Franchise License. We will open the Abyssal Academy: Infernal Branch in your capital city."
Malphas's red eyes narrowed. "A franchise?"
"Yes," Victor smiled a ruthless, predatory smile. "The initial franchising fee is fifty Million Gold upfront, plus a perpetual twenty percent royalty on all gross revenue generated by the dungeon. In exchange, you get to use my branding."