Chapter 268: Unexpected Help (1/2)

But working on something nice to wear would have to wait. I turned towards the restroom's doors, waiting for Helios to walk out. As he did, the cape-wearing albony looked no worse for wear. He gave me a nonchalant wave,

”I see you and Obolis have finished your talk. Should we go to rest?”

”Yeah. You guys need it.”

Obolis warped us into Mt. Verner, the mountain night shift working a few of the machines on the second floor. Beneath us, the residents slept soundly in their beds as essential workers kept this place up and running. I gave them thanks before we made our way to the top floor.

The others passed out, all of them exhausted from the day's work. With a full night ahead of me, I started trotting out to work on my golems. Interrupting me as I made my way there, a message from Isa cropped up in the corner of my eye.

Isa Benett(lvl 1,802) - Hello Guildleader. We'd like to have a meeting with you about your golems and their goodness. This would be in order to develop them furtherer as well as discussing details about the operations and stuff. Take your time in responding because we know how busy you is.

Thank you for your time and considerings.

Sincerely, Isa Benett

I raised my eyebrows, the message written strangely. After sending a quick reply that I'd meet right now rather than later, Isa sent a reply.

Isa Benett(lvl 1,802) - Hello Guildleader. Right now? Like, right now? I didn't want to impose upon you in a way that isn't good.

I made a reply that waiting would impose more than having the meeting right now, mainly because I'd have to remember it. I mentioned needing their location as well. Isa sent me her position, a bar called A Gambler's Paradise. It was actually on the fifth floor of Mt. Verner, being a pretty fancy place to get drinks.

In fact, it was damn close to where I already was. I hadn't entirely made it out of the fifth floor where my suite was, and I just began walking past a few of the fancier shops on my way to the main elevator. I walked across two other eateries, reaching the Gambler's Paradise on my left. As I walked in, I noticed the saloon doors and stylized visuals.

The first part I noticed was how rugged everything was. It was like someone took old, worn down antiques and upcycled them into this new place. Barrels were made into cushioned seats, worn boards converted into bar stools, and cowboy gear made into props. They even had gambling tables fashioned out on the edges of the main room.

One one of those tables, I found three people there: Isa, Lester, and Bryan.

They were playing a card game I'd never seen, quite a few empty bottles surrounding them. They gawked at me, utterly horrified that I showed up in just a few seconds after her message. As I stepped up, I leaned against the table and turned to them, ”So what's up?”

They glanced at each other, each of them trying to get the other to talk in their place. It was kind of like a strange staring competition. Eventually, Isa cracked. She whipped her head towards me and stiffened up,

”It's...it's good to see you, commander, sir, commander.”

My brows furrowed, ”Uh...you too. What did you need me for?”

They once again stared at each other, another silent staring competition ensuing. This time Lester cracked, ”Would you like a drink?”

I shrugged, ”I could, but it would be wasted. My body burns through alcohol like its nothing.”

Lester stared down, appearing disappointed. Bryan gestured towards one of the unopened bottles, ”Uh, please partake of the beverage.”

I lifted a finger, shuttling the bottle towards my hand with a telekinetic push. It snapped into my hand before I flicked off the bottle cap and drank some. It tasted awful, like most alcoholic beverages. Anyone I talked with about the stuff before the culling always said I'd get used to it. So far, that wasn't the case.

That being said, it might be because I wasn't giving it a fair chance. I gave it another sip, different flavors popping out from the awful. I honed in on a few orangey tones and a hoppy fullness. I finished it, the tiny bottle barely enough to get my mouth wet. I crunched the bottle in my hand before deconstructing the matter.

I gave it a nod, ”There's some citrus in there. It's...good.”

Lester perked up, his eyes widening, ”You noticed the orange peel?”

I nodded. Lester grinned ear to ear as he shoved Isa, ”I told you. It's delicious.”

I peered between them, ”Wait a minute, did you make this?”

Lester's chest rose, ”I did. Since Schema came around, everyone has forgotten what a good brew tastes like. I figured someone had to remind them.”

I stared down, noting the strange cards they played with. They were rough around the edges, cut by hand most likely. On top of that, they had a signature style on them. I turned to Bryan,

”And you made this card game?”

Bryan leaned back, overwhelmed that I noticed, ”How...how did you know?”

”Your runic carving and the lettering on the cards were the same styles. I put two and two together.”

Isa coughed into her hand, wobbling a bit, ”Ahem, we didn't come here to tell you about ourselves. Or did we?”

I smirked, ”It looks like you guys came here for reasons unrelated to work.”

”Uhm. Yes. We did. Now that you're here, we...we can handle it though. So, we're handling it. Right now...” She blinked, ”So your golems. They are good. Good.”

Man, she was trying to keep her shit together, but it was hard to not laugh out loud. I covered my mouth, trying to look thoughtful,

”Mh, hmm.”

”So...We thought, 'Hey! Why not get someone to help out since the golems worked so good.' So...I figured why not start that conversation before I forgot about it.”

She frowned, reaching out her hands, ”And then you're here...like...thirty seconds later. I mean, like shit. Wow. Fast.”

Bryan laid his head down, snickering while Lester kept on his poker face. I nodded, and she continued,

”So we called over a good engineer buddy who wanted to work on golems. He finished his other contract a week back...and he wanted to work on something new. I put two and two together, and I got four...which was him working with you.”

I raised my eyebrows, ”Who is the guy?”

”He'll be here...in like thirty seconds...Not guildleader seconds, though. It'll be normal seconds. Guildleader seconds are, like...fast.”

Behind me, the saloon doors opened. I turned around, finding Diesel of all people stepping into the bar. He changed his outfit from before, the military fatigues gone. He wore multiple satchels and backpacks on him, draped with eldritch leather belts. He looked like a tinkerer who didn't have time for a desk, so he brought his desk with him wherever he went.

I spread out my arms, ”Hey, it's good to see you, man.”

Diesel did the same,

”Hey Daniel, it's been a while.”

We gave each other a quick hug before I turned towards Isa, ”So this is the guy?”

She looked between us, confused as could be, ”Wait a minute...Diesel, you know the guildleader?”

Diesel scratched the back of his head, looking down, ”I do, I do. He and I met when I was still a part of the Steel Legion. We were prepping to take down Yawm, I think. I helped design Althea Tolstoy some cannons, and I still help her out from time to time these days.”

He pointed at me, ”We catch up from time to time, but we're both busy.”

Bryan gawked at us as if we were aliens,

”I...Why didn't you ever say anything, Diesel?”