Chapter 61: GOODBYE FUHREN!
Ivan stared out the window of the luxurious hotel as a band of soldiers clad in uniform marched down the streets. Like he had guessed the safety department took several hours to muster up a force before beginning their siege. Though he wasn't entirely sure he had heard rumors of the Freidhof headquarters being in the outskirts of the business district guised as a place that managed part timers. So long as the troops kept heading in the direction they were they'd inevitably reach it..
He turned towards Yue, Tio, and Ari who all slipped on their matching white masks. Each an identical copy of his. Yue in her black mantle, Tio in her red, and Ari in a green one, hopefully this would be enough to seal their identities. Though Ivan had no doubts they seemed like a particular group that showed up on children's' tv to fight aliens. He shivered for a bit before leading the three to the lobby of the hotel, signing them out as they made their way to the streets.
The option of sneaking outside the city existed, however Ivan knew it'd be a bit naïve of him to assume that the entries and exits wouldn't be heavily guarded to stop escapees of the Freidhof. That's assuming they weren't under total lockdown and already closed. Climbing the walls was another existing option, though he was sure his group would seem very suspicious if they mysteriously left during an excursion on one of the largest crime groups in Fuhren. The same went for the sewer tunnels that connected to the art museum, that was the first place he asked them to raid in his note so he was sure there were already guards waiting.
So currently the best option for them was to wait. As long as they didn't recognize Ari as the one who delivered the children they shouldn't be stopped for anything. Ivan gave a side eye to the adventurers that joined the march, it would seem the adventurer's guild had gotten involved as well. Not strange considering it is their city after all. He was sure Ilwa wouldn't just sit by as this was a great opportunity for the guild to earn rep as a participant of the destruction of a major slave trading ring.
With that in mind the four strolled leisurely down the streets of Fuhren. While most traders and merchants hid in fear of getting involved in the battle there were still those who stood out to seek profit. Though their wares were pretty meh, it was likely they stood out as a means of necessity and not bravery. Since they had time to kill he saw this as a good opportunity to get to know Ari, well as best as he could without the other party being able to speak. In which case he only had the option of asking some yes or no questions, even having her write down answers didn't seem to work as she seemed to have not received any education at all.
Something her previous master made sure of as to not allow her to ask for help. Ivan noted her outstanding physical abilities, and while she had no status plate he could only discern her physical parameters were off the charts. The odds she possessed a combat based job were quite high, surprising as people who had combat based jobs were considered the rarest of the rare. This sparked his curiosity, who is she? Where did she come from? Why did she obey the words of a man she could kill in a single kick?
In any case these were all questions he'd have to wait to ask until he felt she was trustworthy enough to know his group's secrets. He threw an apple toward her as he paid for it with his other hand. She grabbed it timely without a flinch, tilting her mask up as she made motions to eat it. This moved them onto a different topic, that being what gear should she be equipped with. He imagined she wouldn't like anything that restricted her movements seeing as she was a brawler type.
Though her translucent dancer clothes wouldn't work as that just left her with far too many openings. What seemed the most important to her was that her midriff was exposed, that she absolutely wouldn't bend. She agreed pretty easily to protection for her arms, chest, and legs so at least that was covered. While the importance of her midriff being exposed was still a question to him, he didn't pry any further and moved on to other gear.
And to say the relief he felt when she agreed to boots and gauntlets was grand would be an understatement. Having her bare feet step on sharp objects was his greatest concern as he winced just thinking about it. And well the gauntlets were just something he already thought of making previous to meeting her so this just acted as more fuel to his fire.
It didn't seem she had a problem with the mask or mantle so that was good. Ivan eagerly treaded down the streets as he couldn't help but show his excitement. He thought of the many possibilities as he realized it's been quite a while since he last went all out in the process of creation. The last time really being the time they spent in Oscar's lair. Thinking about that he was quite ashamed to call himself an alchemist.
A concern Yue rested as she comforted him. After these travels and experiences he had that eager fire in his heart he held his first days being summoned here. Quite an odd feeling to him as it made him nostalgic though that was only less than a year ago. Though he was sure the others would be quite annoyed with him the moment he started locking himself up in the workshop, then again he was technically their boss.
Yue sighed as Tio threw her a questioning gaze, remarking that Tio had yet to see the full Ivan. An answer that made her shake with excitement, much to the disgust of Ivan and regret of Yue. Ari on the other hand watched this exchange silently, no one knowing what was going on in her head as the mask only exacerbated the problem.
Ivan took out a leather book and custom made pen as he started scribbling things down, Yue nudging or pushing him the moment he was about to walk into someone or something. Ari copied these actions as she joined in on the mini game of making sure he didn't cause an accident in his distraction. With Tio either intimidating or talking down those that had been offended by his carelessness.
".... More mana capacity accessories…. Clothing with more attributes… Weapons imbued with magical properties…. A vehicle…The soul of a mana crystal…" While the muttering was of no surprise to Yue it was the last bit that had particularly caught her attention. It was those words that made her stare in concern at Ivan as she remembered their first fight. Worried there might be a replay of that situation she shook Ivan out of his stupor, if he really did rebel again she wasn't sure if she could stop him with the arm tattoos and that ice giant he could make now.
She had no doubts he could obliterate her if he went all out, if anything Ivan was now the perfect mage killer. It was this change in attitude that attracted the attention of Tio and Ari who had been playing around until now. Ivan woke up from his brainstorming to a concerned Yue and nervous Tio and Ari. Looking back at the last thing he wrote he realized that the idea of it may have triggered Yue a bit after what had happened. The soul, or really consciousness, of a powerful monster's mana crystal. It was something he played around with before his 'death.'
An experiment that sort of backfired on him after the soul corrupted him in his time of weakness. He brushed Yue's heah with his hand as he looked down at her. Though they couldn't lock eyes as the masks covered their faces he was sure his intent got across. That's when he decided to speak a little to rest her uneasiness.
"Don't worry, Yue… This time things will be a little different. Since then I've come up with a little idea I want to test out, and compared to last time I'll be in a lot less danger. As the soul won't be something I will be holding onto. Rest assured that this time I've thought far ahead concerning this matter. I just don't want to give up on it yet… at least not after realizing the possibilities of its usefulness. Though… I'm probably going to have to have a chat with Miledi before I begin… Ugh."
Yue caught on to what he wanted to try out as he finished his statement, in the end while she was a bit concerned she decided to place her faith in that he wouldn't needlessly cause her distress. If anything went wrong then she wanted to make sure to point him back on track, even if it meant resisting him to the end.
When Tio and Ari inquired as to what they were talking about Ivan and Yue decided to explain the story. Starting from his descent into the dungeon, making it beyond the 100th floor, relying on his alchemically made amulet, meeting Yue in her tomb, and finally destroying the amulet to save him. It was a short story that only took about thirty minutes of explaining but in the end managed to sate the two's curiosity.
Though in the end this just caused them to show the same concern Yue had shown when he first mentioned it. This time Ivan didn't bother laying their concerns as it was better to prove it by doing rather than with his words. A rather bold statement from someone who had failed the first time and has no idea if he'll succeed the second.
After enough time the sun began to sink, seeing that Ivan led the three in the direction of Fuhren's gate. He found a small inn near the gate and booked the four of them a single double bedded room, thankfully it would seem that Tio and Ari held no complaints in sharing a bed. Ivan would've rented another room if this inn didn't only have five rooms in total, each of which was already occupied besides this one.
Seeing as how money was already not a problem tomorrow the four of them would rent out a carriage before heading out to the workshop's construction site. In the estimated time of arrival it should already be done the day before they arrive so there was no problem there. While there was a chance of a delay he had confidence in the construction crew's skills as that particular company had a reputation to upkeep.
With that the Ivan dimmed out the lights with three claps as they succumbed to the silence of the night. Peaceful breaths emanated as the four rested for tomorrow.
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Sorry for the short one today my dear readers. However next time will be the grand reveal I suppose. When I mean grand reveal I mean really that we can begin on the next arc. Also I'll be taking a suggestion left by a reader long ago, I'll mention who it was that came up with it once it is revealed.
Aside from all that I wanna thank you all for reading, may you have a great evening and I'll see you all soon!
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