[Locked to Eggman]

[lvl9finalboss]

Hey, Eggman.

I know you're alive. You're not the only one who's pulled the "I saw him die, it can't be!" plot before.

I need to pick your brain for a moment. The levels of villainy in the world are stuck hovering at "incompetent minion" and "psychopath who makes villains look bad," and it is driving me to new levels of irritation that I wouldn't have thought possible outside of the CD-i.

Comments

[robotnik_mkii]

Ohohohoho!

Of course, Bowser. I would never think such a thing could be put past the likes of yourself that easily. It is just giving me a good moment of down time to ... better prepare in light of recent events.

By all means, pick away.

[lvl9finalboss]

I well and truly hope you have some good, forbodeing minions lined up to herald your imminent return. Too many of our ilk just don't know the proper way of doing things.

But speaking of the proper way of doing things...

My wide-reaching plans have been going beyond well. The only reason I have yet to publicly gloat about is because my new neighbor made quite the impression on me. I can't gloat until he does.

I hate being the smaller fish...

While we're on that topic, I have quite a bit of land available for rent at very reasonable rates. But since I haven't seen you scrounging for territory yet, I suspect my offer will go unfulfilled.

ANYWAY!

My problem lies in the fact that while my larger schemes are going swimmingly, the larger schemes have always bored me. I'm prepared to offer Wily's lieutenants positions in my empire since their leader has vanished, I'm still recruiting to fill up my new bases, and I have throngs of new minions who actually seem to have embraced my rule.

That's not the problem.

My smaller schemes, the ones I have for entertainment, have not been bearing the fruit that I'd hope. Financially, they've been fine, but I have yet to really draw out a single good rival from the lot of heroes in this world.

My problem, dear Doctor...

[lvl9finalboss]

IS THAT I'M BORED OUT OF MY WITS!

[robotnik_mkii]

A rival's not just going to come to you, in most cases, dear sir.

Sometimes, you just have to make a targeted effort!

But I can understand the other sentiments. My own preparations are going quite well. And I will keep the land off in mind - but for the moment, as you can understand, I'm trying to keep a low profile.

[lvl9finalboss]

I know you've seen my schemes. After the broadcast crew dropped the signal for my race, I had to call the whole plan a wash.

And that's just one of them! All of my large-scale operations have gone off without a hitch, but the ones for my personal enjoyment have gone nowhere. I've got a couple more schemes in the works, but given my targets, I don't have high hopes for them. Certainly not enough to alleviate the boredom that comes from having accomplished all of my major goals.

And THEN, the Dragon that I'd expected to turn against me before the year's end went home. AFTER luring my spymaster away from me! It's as though Yggdrasil is out to personally sabotage my enjoyment!

At least you've got your little blue menace. My red one went home before we'd even completed our Digital World rumble... I have no idea what I'm going to do with the completed schemes I had waiting for HIM!

[robotnik_mkii]

Yes, I do indeed have the hedgehog for now. He has, after all, yet to serve his predictable use.

Again, what you need to find is just ... a suitable target, my friend. Assuredly, there must be one among all these do gooders that would fit that bill, hmm?

[lvl9finalboss]

One would assume. The trouble is finding that diamond in the rough.

I've had my eye on a couple, but many of them are on reserve to other ne'er-do-wells. I almost felt hesitant about challenging your hedgehog to a race so many years back!

And the other trouble is, the grand rules are different here. So few of them play as they should, and it takes the fun out of it. I have to overplan, and it generally does not prove worth it in the end.

I'm half-tempted to enact three of my Take-Over-The-Continent schemes, but the time is still not right for them...