Lucas took the head as it was passed to him and then held it up like a trophy in front of him. “Hopefully, I’ll get ahead,” Lucas answered, unable to help himself from making the pun.

“Dad jokes are forbidden,” Bonnie quickly replied.

“What? That smarts!” Lucas tossed the head into the air. He was still holding his staff with his left hand, but the cadaverous cranium was light and shaped perfectly for him to keep tossing it up and down in his hand like he was playing with a basketball. “But it’s what I mean: This head is my backup plan. You remember what he said, right? He took advantage of Sir Kegan’s wife, and now we have his head. It’ll be perfect for—”

“But what’s to stop him from just killing you before you get a chance to say something?” Bonnie asked. “They hate my kind, remember?”

“Ah, right . . .” If Lucas wanted to talk to someone from the Imperium, he needed the appropriate outfit. “Here, hold this again.” He passed the head back to Nick and then swung his backpack over in front of him, taking out his Imperium uniform. Given it was just a game, he didn’t think twice about the company around him as he began taking off his current clothes.

“Umm . . . boss . . . I’m right here. Are you . . .? You’re sure you should be . . .” Bonnie went silent, staring slack-jawed at Lucas as he finished taking off his pants and shirt and stuffed them in the backpack before swapping them out for the Imperium Soldier’s uniform.

“What are you staring at him while he changes for?” Nick snapped. “Turn around, stop blushing, and show some decency!”

“Right! Right!” Bonnie quickly spun around, putting her puffy fox tail, which was happily wagging back and forth, right in front of him. “I didn’t see anything, boss. I didn’t stare at those abs of yours at all. I promise, I didn’t even check out your bu—”

“Rude!” Nick exclaimed, interrupting her. “What happened to showing him some decency? Do you want to keep working for him? You should know employees can’t go around harassing their employer. Be respectful!”

“You’re just mad I didn’t stare at you,” Bonnie shot back snidely.

“Psh. Like you could be so lucky,” Nick mumbled in return.

It seemed to Lucas that Bonnie had hit the nail on the head given the way Nick was moping. “Okay, now I’m ready,” Lucas said, signaling for Nick to give him back the Dwarven trophy.