Underhero Mysterious Dungeons: Enter the Dungeon

Chapter 8: First Lead

Grey and Oaken started searching the castle to see where Stitches and T. Bur could have gone to.

"Besides, I owe it to them, do you know what stitches said after he and T. Bur left?" Grey asked.

"Not that I can remember..." The former hero scratched his head.

The duo took an elevator down to the cloning laboratory. It has since been converted into research lab and infirmary.

Grey went down to T. Bur's office and speed read the files and notes. Thankfully, they have a skeleton key for the whole castle. But still no closer to the two's whereabouts.

What were they missing?!

"Your highness?" Grey's head whipped up to see Frankie. "No such luck?"

Grey shook their head. "Not even his files say where they went. Oaken is someplace else looking and I doubt he's having better luck."

Frankie looked around and whispered to Grey and hands them a small black key. "Professor T. Bur told me not to give it to you unless you need it. But since you're looking for the little masked kid and Elizabeth..."

Grey takes the key and looks at it. I've never seen this key... They thought.

"Where does this go?" Grey asks.

"This way, princess." Frankie leads them to a messy room. There was a desk with papers scattered across the top. Grey carefully scanned the whole desk, for any crease.

Their gloved thumb glossed over a keyhole on the side. Grey took the key out of their pocket and slid the key into the slot. They and Frankie heard a click, and a tiny compartment opened. Grey opened it more and revealed a small hard drive.

"Want me to set up the computer for you?" Frankie asked. Grey nodded. Frankie started up the computer and entered the password. Grey gently pushed the drive in it's port, and a window opened up, revealing binary code. Something the princess can't read.

"Great..." The grey hooded child huffed.

"Not to worry, your majesty. I can translate this code, but it's going to take some time." The lizard reassured them. "I suggest waiting with Oaken for a bit."

Grey nods and and joins Oaken outside T. Bur's office.

The former hero looked up from file searching, and sees the princess. "Still no lead?"

"Actually... I think we just might have one." Grey smiles.

"Wait, really?!" Oaken's eyes widened, as Grey nodded yes.

"Yes, but it's going to be a while. Frankie is currently translating the binary code." Grey explained. "And we should wait a while. Fingers crossed it tells us about T. Bur and Stitches' current location."

Suddenly, loud grumbling came from Grey's stomach. "It is around lunch time anyway. Let's head to the mess hall and see what's being served to day." The former hero offers.

Grey wanted to decline and wait but eating something was the best option. "I'll be able to think better after a good meal."

Up to the cafeteria, it was loud with chatter from monsters as they ate with an acquaintance, a friend, or a significant other. Since she took charge and turned the minions around for the better, the food got a drastic improvement from the gross slop that was served previously! Well, the food wasn't that bad, but the cooking was still in desperate need of improvements.

Seems like the lunch choices were a verity of soups, tomato with a side if grilled cheese, potato, chicken and dumplings, and seafood. Oaken got himself a bowl of tomato soup and grilled cheese, and Grey got some seafood with a slice of bread. Looking for a place to sit, the disguised princess started walking towards Macho Poncho.

The pudgy masked kid looks up from his potato soup, and waves to Grey and Oaken. "Hi, Princess, Oaken. What are you guys doing here?"

"Finding Green Boots and Elizabeth." Grey stated.

Macho tilted his head at this. "Who's Green Boots?"

"Um... 745." Macho continued to stare at Grey. "The shy masked kid. I never got to know their name."

"Oh! You mean Mouse." Macho said. "I knew about Elizabeth, only by name, but I had no idea that the smallest and quiet kid would be her new chosen hero."

"To be honest... I've had dreams about a masked hero prophecy." Grey said.

"I don't wear a mask." Oaken said, pointing to his face. "And I don't think I wore one before I died."

Grey shook their head. "I wanted to tell you when you were the hero, but I knew I had to keep quiet. Don't tell a soul, my aunt said."

"Nurse Lillie knew?" Macho asked.

"She was the only person I told." Grey nodded. "But I haven't told her about the Grey Kid thing."

"How much did you know about... Mouse, right?" Grey had a moment to remember the name.

Macho nodded. "I only talked to them a few time, but never really got to know them." The chubby kid sighs. "Which makes me feel bad. I wish I spoke to them more before this whole dead hero thing. How close are you to finding Lord Stitches and T. Bur?"

"Hopefully once Frankie comes back with the decoded message, we'll be closer." Grey said.

Oaken dipped the grilled cheese into the tomato soup, and ate it. Grey poured a small pepper packet into their soup, mixing with a spoon and took a bite of the soup with a shrimp piece in it. The grey hooded child knew that there was more work to be done now, but they knew their belly would thank them for filling up, before they continued the search. Macho continued chattering with the princess in disguise and the former hero.

As Grey scraped the last of his soup with his bread, Frankie came running in with a piece of paper. "Your majesty! Your majesty!" Frankie panted. "Grey!"

Grey turned in their chair, facing the lizard. "What is it, Frankie?" Frankie had her claws to her knees as she handed Grey the paper.

"Princess Cereza, if you're reading this. It means that I'm close to locating Masked Kid 745 and Elizabeth. Mr. Stitches should still be with me. I knew you couldn't wait for our heroes to return home. You can find us in our hidden laboratory on Long Woods. You may bring one guest, but I'd prefer if you come alone.

-T. Bur.

P.S. I recommend going at night, where visibility is limited. And proclaim your name, and the name of your guest if you bring one, when you arrive."

They read the letter out loud, so Oaken heard it. "So, we're heading to Long Woods?"

Grey nodded. "But we have to go at night. Less people will see us." He took his bowl and spoon and placed it in the dirty dishes tray. "I'll see of I could convince Cookie to give me a few rolls of bread and water for the trip."

"What am I going to tell my boss..." Oaken asked himself.

"I'll send Bachi a doctor's note saying you aren't feeling well." Frankie suggested.

"Thanks, Frankie."

Grey filled their bag with as much bottled water and bread as they could. After that, he slung the bag over his shoulder and motioned to Oaken that it was time to go.

"Off we go to Long Woods!" Grey said with determination.