Even as Nicole all but wept silently as she ate good food for the first time in years, apparently that didn't come from a mom-and-pop restaurant. I was pulling on the two gold and a single silver ticket real quick.
And first came the silver ticket, which was not bad at all. Honestly, a fairly damned good item all things told!
[Ring of Sustenance]
|Rare Item|
A ring that, when worn, constantly and steadily provides sustenance for the wearer. No matter what dietary needs they have.
So at least I didn't need to worry about going hungry if I got lost in a particularly messed up Hollow.
And the gold tickets... The first one was rather low-ranked, even if it would still be somewhat useful.
[Iron Fist]
|Uncommon Trait|
Your fists are like iron, enhancing the power behind your unarmed strikes and fist-type abilities.
No it was the final one that made my mind mentally shutter to a complete stop.
[Tome of Alteration]
|Elite Item|
Skyrim - A tome that compiles the various alteration spells found in the kingdom of Skyrim and allows the user to train in and learn the spells inside. Spell List: https://elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/Alteration_(Skyrim)
I won the game... I didn't have to be fucking broke anymore! I could turn simple scrap iron into gold through Alteration nonsense and there wasn't a damned Mage College to stop me!
And who says I could only transform iron into silver and then gold? What kind of rule is that? That was just some game logic, as I didn't have 'armor' points for the alteration armor spells to affect either.
Still, this tome wasn't just an instant. 'Here is an entire school of magic. Have fun kid.' No I actually had to learn how to use said magic, and I doubted I had the innate bullshit talent as the Dragonborn.
"How is this battery spicy as well?" Billy asked with a question mark somehow appearing on his robotic face plate.
And without any 'hesitation' I said firmly. "The right amount of hot sauce to battery acid ratio."
Billy gave me a long look of silence before he just sent me a thumbs up and said. "I like you dude! Nicooooole! Can we adopt him too? Isn't he prime material for adoption? Plus he is a Thiren, we need a Thiren for the Cunning Hares or the people on the Interknot will call us racist!"
"The people on the Interknot typically call Nicole and me in particular much worse things." Anby said calmly before she shivered and smiled with dull eyes as she took another bite of her breakfast cheeseburger.
'Just wait till they realize that food gives buffs as well.' I thought helplessly before I cleared my throat and asked curiously.
"So, can I hear the details of the job? How much material are we moving and are we going to have to go through any hollows?"
Nicole leaned back in her chair even as she looked longingly at her now-empty plate as though it had betrayed her somehow.
Then she spoke with a small, confident grin. "Oh, we got a large garbage truck outside of New Eridu, and you and Billy will be in charge of loading up hundreds of bags of concrete mix. Near the edge of the hollows in the Outer Rim's livable zone, where a concrete factory was abandoned at the hollow's getting bigger and pressing into the area."
After taking a breath, she added. "As for Hollow's on the way. Nah, we will just be driving around them even if it's annoying as many hollows grew over the old highways that were painted across the Outer Rim."
I nodded in understanding though I was a bit annoyed at the thought of needing to move so many damned bags of concrete before I had an idle thought.
'Maybe I should try to learn the telekinesis spell? It shoudn't drain as much mana as it does in the game right? As it's mana drain is truly obscene in the game.' I thought.
"Alright, sounds good. But... There is one issue I have with this. I can't cook us decent food with what we have in stock here." I said with finality.
Nicole's face went pale as she said helplessly. "I mean... We are a little tight on money after a big investment, you understand? Like you can't make do with what we have on hand?"
To which I said flatly. "Nicole... If you want a toasted bread sandwich, and water soup with ice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner while trying to work. I will bring my own food, but you can't expect me to pay out of pocket to feed you all right?"
And Nicole looked down to our food and she looked at me with utter horror as she whispered. "How much did this food cost... Is this going to cost more than our commission!?"
To which I just shook my head and said easily. "I will not charge for labor and the sheer quality of the food. But at cost is about seven thousand dennies."
Nicole sagged in place before she sadly nodded with tears clearly in her eyes. "Alright... I am thrifty, but I am not a thief!" She said trying to keep up a strong front even as she pulled out a small money pouch from between her hefty breasts and she carefully... Very carefully counted out seven silver dennies coins worth seven thousand.
After passing it over... The room went quiet as Anby said dully. "What about the money for Jake to buy more food to make while we are on the commission?"
Nicole slowly turned to look at Anby with dead eyes, and I coughed before saying. "How about I just pay at first... And then Nicole can reimburse me according to the receipts I bring back? After the commission."
The busty leader of the Cunning Hares laid a hand over her heaving chest as she sighed with relief. "Thank you Jake! Having to fork out more of my savings twice in a row was going to kill my poor heart, I tell you."
With that, I could only smile helplessly and shake my head before I asked curiously. "So, besides all of that. Is there anything else we need to do before we head out?"
Nicole made a humming noise as she put a finger to her chin, and then with a shake of her head, she said easily. "Nah, How about you and Billy go get the groceries. While Anby and I get the dump truck and set up a couple of seats in the back for you and Billy to sit in for the ride?"
I looked to Billy, who sent me a thumbs up and said easily. "I am game if you are man. Gives us bro's a good minute to talk and stuff, haha."
Whelp, with a shrug, I just said with an easy smile. "Alright then. Sounds good."
And with that, I stood up and quickly moved the dishes to the sink and left them there for Nicole the house owner, to deal with. I was a chef after all... I didn't wash dishes. I just stacked them up and left them for someone else!
Billy and I then left the storage warehouse of a house behind as we had to walk, seeing as Nicole and Anby were going to have to drive to get the large garbage truck that was on the edge of the city, apparently.
"So... Besides being an awesome chemist and chef. What else can you tell me about yourself? Do you also love Starlight Knights and other hero shows?" Billy asked excitedly.
And after a moment of thought, I said with a hum. "I am more of a reader, and slice of life show enjoyer for my entertainment. Hmm, anyway, besides burgers for Anby, does Nicole have a favorite food?" I asked curiously at the end.
To which Billy thoughtfully folded his arms across his robotic chest plate and made a loud humming noise that vibrated his entire damned body as he thought hard.
And then... After half a street of walking, he said with finality. "She would want something small, filling, delicious, and cheap!"
My face pinched at that before I thoughtfully paused as I realized with my cooking abilities, I could do some weird nonsense as well.
Like, what if I made those tiny Krabby Patty candy snacks in size, but actual burgers with the same amount of nutrition and just as filling?
Could that be another way for me to get rich? Sell micro meals to Hollow Investigators who could carry a dozen meals in a pill box?
Still, after a moment of thought, it hit me! 'Willy Wonka's full meal gum! Couldn't I just do that, but just give the gum all the nutrition and such?'
I thoughtfully nodded as it seemed doable, even if I was just using the Cunning Hares kitchen.
So I said firmly. "Billy lets go! I have an amazing idea!"
And Billy, being the total goober he was. Only happily followed me as I went and got the raw ingredients to make the food I planned out.
So I quickly got all the ingredients needed to make several burgers of different kinds. As well as the materials to make some pasta, some meatloaf, some soup, and a salad.
And before Anby and Nicole even got back, I was already cooking up a storm as I could feel the Grandmaster of Cooking perk in me as I fully cooked the food. Then, using a vice and a press. I compressed the food into tiny cubes while layering the flavors and sealing them so the mixed food woudn't taste awful.
Half an hour of efforts latter the meal cubes of gun were left in a couple pill boxes I put the cubes into.
"Uhhh I may be an intellitron, but that isn't really human food bro." Billy said in a helpless manner.
To which I shook my head and said firmly. "Billy it's fine I promise. I am not a normal chef... I am a voidhunter level chef!"
Billy's voice became strained before he just shrugged and said helplessly. "Alright then. If Nicole refuses to pay you. Don't be suprised.
At that... Well I woudn't be surprised if that was the case.
Still I just shrugged as well and got comfy with a book I brought with me knowing we would be leaving New Eridu and would be without signal in some areas.
Soon enough Nicole and Anby got back with the roar of heavy machinery and I brought the heavy pill boxes with me as Billy and I went outside to see Anby and Nicole climb out of the large city garbage truck.
'How come it feels like this garbage truck was stolen after being abandonded for years?' I thought helplessly.
Still Billy ran over and told Nicole I made 'super pill' food that made Nicole's face twitch and look at me in confusion.
Then I explained that the food was just compressed with a special cooking technique and was just as filling. But was easier to take and could be eaten on the go as you just needed to pop the cube into your mouth and slowly break it down in your mouth.
"You said you made a cheeseburger one right? Can I try it?" Anby strode up and asked with a gleam in her eyes as she continued. "If I could carry a dozen cheeseburgers into a hollow. I could increase my combat effectiveness by seventy percent!"
I didn't quite believe her words and neither did Nicole as she snorted and said flatly. "Like hell it would!"
But... There was just slight thing that they didn't quite know yet. My food gave them passive buffs. Granted they weren't permanant buffs due to the ingredient quality. But still, the food would actually make her stronger for a time was the funny thing.
So I seriously nodded and said with total honesty. "You are right Anby. Eating one of these cheeseburger cubes will make you physcially stronger by forty percent for four hours. As well as give you a fifty percent durability boost for three hours as well!"
Though Anby didn't quite trust my words. She still hurriedly nodded as she 'gleefully' for her mostly cool expression popped the cheeseburger cube into her mouth and her eye's widened and she paused.
Then she looked over to Nicole with her jaw moving with some force as she tried to break down the compressed burger. "Hmm.. Good burger. It's not poisoned." She announced with a thumbs up.
But then she paused with a hand going to her exposed stomach before she said thickly. "Ah... Eating a whole cheeseburger in one bite. Fills too much oooh." She said before looking back to the pillbox in my hand.
And with no fucking shame she held out her hand and said with dead seriousness. "The ride ahead will be dangerous... I will watch over our supplies with my life."
Even Nicole finally gave up at this scene as she said hurriedly. "No eating all the damned food! If those cubes really are a whole meal in one. You will literally explode if you eat them like you are treating them like popcorn to eat by the handful!"
I cleared my throat and said. "Alright. Here Nicole you watch them. As wasn't Anby the one driving anyway? Just keep the pillbox out of sunlight and they should be fine even by tommorrow if they are kept in the pillbox."
Nicole threw me a look of agreement and thanks at saving Anby from probably turning into the girl who ate Willy Wonka's gun and got inflated into a giant blueberry. Even if she didn't know such a thing existed.
"Whelp climb on back into the truck Jake! I already got a couch back there for us to chill in for the ride there haha!" Billy said as he patted my shoulder and I nodded climbing into the back of the large garbage truck and low and behold there was a shitty couch in the thankfully empty truck's back.
Honestly... If this truck's back was filled with trash and nasty shit I might have just walked away from this job as I wasn't going to be riding for hours in a giant literal trash can.
"So anyway Jake... How about I tell you about every single fight that the Starlight Knights have taken part in. Across their fourteen seasons and two hundred and fifty episodes!" Billy said excitedly as the truck rumbled to life and we began to move.
And for a brief moment I looked up at the trash compactor above our heads and I thought. 'You know what... Having all of the local Power Rangers shoved into my head sounds like the fucking perfect excuse to just end it all!'
But I didn't want to be rude. So I just utterly turned off my brain and just started counting the road stripes from the back of the truck as the girls up front drove.
And you know what... Bily being a robot who didn't need to breath or even take drinks allowed me to transcend. I started mentally playing fucking guitar hero with the road strips to the sounds of Bily playing all thirty different intro's and outro's to his damned obession.
-
Hours passed by as we drove outside of New Eridu without much fanfare even if some of the NEPS or New Eridu Public Security gave me and Billy weird looks at times as they drove behind or around our garbage truck.
But after leaving the city and entering the badlands of the Outer Rim we saw far less people and the people we did see were also heavily armed and their vehicles were large and armored as well.
With Billy explaining that in the Outer Rim, the law was the gun in your hands and your background was whoever was directly behind you at the time. It was an almost completely lawless place.
But... We weren't robbed or anything thankfully as we just drove for six hours without much fanfare besides Anby running a couple weak Etherials over with the oversized garbage truck.
Thankully the trucks tires were foam filled as well. So I didn't need to worry about being stranded out here in the badlands as well.
"Ahhh it feels good to walk again." I said with a stretch though my heart was rather heavy as I stared at the endless wall of differing sized hollows that stretched as far as the eye could see.
Billy's heavy metal arm landed on my shoulder as he leaned in and said quietly. "First time seeing the Hollow Zones right... Yeah you can't go in there man. You are almost certain to get lost as you are funneled between infinite different hollows as the rest of the world as far as we know is over taken by the hollows."
I slowly nodded before saying quietly. "If I kill all the Etherials and the cores of the hollow I could get out... But that requires me to find all the etherials and whatever is acting as the core of the hollow before supplies run out."
Billy gave my shoulder another pat before saying helplessly. "Yeah, best to leave that for the HIA or HAND. We humble Hollow Raider's only aspire for limited merch, unlimited burgers, and to relieve ourselves of crippling debt."
At that point Nicole had gotten out of the truck and was in the midst of stretching and hearing Billy's words she shouted out in annoyance. "Shut the hell up! I am not in debt! I am just in the midst of a negative investment!"
'Negative investment huh? That is literally the first time I heard that.' I thought with a wry smile before shaking my head.
"Sooo where is the concrete we need to move?" I asked as I wanted to get my part of the work done as soon as possible so I could sit down in peace without Billy yammering in my ears about how the Pink and Yellow Starknights were in a love triangle with the Red Starknight.
Nicole pointed at the large metal storage building and said. "It should be in there. If you two can't break or move that giant metal door. We can use the backdoor even if it will be effort for you guys."
Said metal door was a giant sliding metal sheet that had clearly seen some damage over the years this place had been left by Etherials. As the large door that was clearly large enough for a couple garbage trucks to drive through together was scarred with large scrapes across it.
And with a hum I lifted up Kubikiribōchō my giant ass sword and then lowered it as I said thoughtfully. "Honestly... I don't have a W engine yet so I can't cut through a giant door of metal outright. Especially with how curved my sword is."
Billy walked over and with a loud autistic scream of effort he tried to lift the door to open before a loud metallic crunch rang out as the door hit a lock/chain or something.
And hearing that, I said thoughtfully. "Actually, let's see if we can get the door open from the other side."
Billy shot up and said proudly. "I will do it!"
And he ran around the back with his motorcycle jacket flying behind him like a cape as he ran out of sight. While me and the girls meanwhile waited by the door.
Then as he ran, I looked to Nicole and said. "You think you could pull the truck's back up closer to the door? Would be nice to not need to walk these bag's of concrete far."
Nicole and Anby nodded with Anby jogging off to do just that.
And just as Nicole was about to say something. We paused as the sounds of loud gunshots rang out!
Instantly I realized there must be some etherials in the building so with my sword resting partly on my shoulder I ran around the building as well to find the back door.
I found the back door without issue that was already open though the room within was very dark so I just mentally flipped the switch with my eye's glowing with the power of Cybele.
"Billy where are you?" I yelled out past the sounds of gunfire as I coudn't see him in the giant warehouse filled with construction supplies and racks filled with pallets that blocked my sight.
"Down here! The ground is broken!" Billy screamed before two more gunshots rang out towards my right and I ran over only to see a large metal panel in the floor that was for meant for ore drop off's or something was broken, and flashes of Billy's giant handcannons' fire drew my attention.
So without hesitation, I threw myself down into the hole which led to a large atrium, and as I landed, I saw at least a couple dozen basic etherials with their arm blades trying to attack Bill,y who was running around in circles almost comically.
'Holy shit. He is a master at making zombie trains!' I thought with almost amusement before I took a breath and mentally said fuck it.
"Billy! Run far to the right!" I yelled out, and Billy thinking I just had a grenade or something, sprinted like an Olympic athlete while screaming not blow him up...
Then... My eye's glowed more before I put forth a small bit of my energy as a wide beam of black and red energy shot forward and ran over the Etherials.
And I quickly cut off the noble phantasm even at it's lowest power as I was curious as to what it would do at such a weak level.
Then with a crackle of shattering stone, the etherials broke the surface layer of stone to keep moving. But a few of them died as their cores were hit by Cybele and with much if any, damage to their cores, they just broke apart into ether energy.
Still, I didn't just stand there and watch as I dashed in with my giant sword and with a swipe I cut through three more Etherials with the force of the giant curved sword, carving through their weird flesh without pause.
Then a crackle of lightning ran out as Anby also arrived, as she was a good ways behind with how she had to climb out of the truck it seemed. And her lightning-covered sword also killed the low-level etherials without pause.
Until finally Nicole got down here as well, and we finished cleaning them up without too many issues.
But once the Etherials were dead... I looked around and my gaze fell onto several large twisted black and purple crystals seemingly growing up from the ground.
"Tsk! No wonder no one else managed to clean this place out. This place is already starting to show ether corruption. A hollow will probably originate from these Ether stalagmites!" Nicole said with a heavy expression at seeing the giant crystal constructs that were half the length and height of our garbage truck.
Looking at the crystals... I coudn't help but ask curiously. "Uhh aren't these Ether crystals super valuable though? Can't we mine them up and sell them?"
Nicole's face turned excited before she said flatly. "If it were smaller crystals sure... But does it look like I have an industrial drill or explosives in my pockets! Plus how the hell are we going to move these crystals out of this ore area up into the truck!?"
That. Was a fair point, admittedly, and these crystals explained why there were so many low-ranking etherials that were kept mostly locked up down here.
Then after a moment of thought, I hefted up Kubikiribōchō and investigated the crystal to see if it had any weak points or something. But nope.
And I had a strong feeling that although a full-power cybele 'could' break down these crystals... There was a small voice in the back of my head screaming that shooting a magical laser that turns eldritch ether energy into stone was a terrible idea.
So I shook my head and said thoughtfully. "Could we come back to mine these things with like a pulley system to pull them up from under here after using some explosives?"
Nicole's face pinched and I realized she probably was a bit miffed at the thought of sharing such a bounty with me. As I wasn't properly part of her crew or anything and was just a laborer at the moment.
However... Billy came over and grabbed my shoulder before asking excitedly. "Jake! What was the beam attack that came from your eyes! It was just like when Mimoji was fighting Blue Knight and it also turned the Etherials into stone!"
And with complete honesty I said calmly. "I am a Gorgon Thiren so I have Eye's of Petrification."
There was a pause before Anby said quietly. "There is no such thing as Thirens with magical abilities."
I just smiled and said with total honesty. "I AM a Gorgon Thiren. I can shoot lasers from my eyes that turn everything I look at into stone. It's not like I am saying I am a unicorn or dragon Thiren or anything." I finished with a helpless shrug.
The three shared a look of 'Wtf' before Nicole paused and asked hurriedly. "Wait! So besides shooting super lasers from your eyes. Does that have anything with that weird food you make!?"
And I just shamelessly nodded at the easy excuse. Being a Gorgon obviously meant I could cook food that could make other people stronger.
"Nicole you are so observant! Since I got to New Eridu, you are the first person to notice haha!" I said with Nicole proudly throwing her very ample chest forward with them swaying in the motion as she laughed proudly in turn.
Then the room went quiet before Nicole took a breath and said. "Ok... Moving on from Jake being an impossibility in a. Magical Thiren race, soooo! We are sitting on a couple million dennies of raw Ether Crystals that no one else knows about. How do we get it out right now?"
She took a breath and then continued. "Because the whole reason I got this commission was the construction company who gave this commission. Had another team die on the road due to a really strong Etherial snatching them up from a Hollow they drove by."
I paused as I realized what she was getting at. "You are saying if we do succeed in bringing the materials. Or at least as much as the truck can carry. That company will know there is at least a safe path to get the rest... And they could easily get these crystals without as much issue."
Nicole firmly nodded before she muttered. "Those damned super corporations. I refuse to give this payday away!"
I looked to Billy who looked utterly stumped as well as to how to get this very small gold mine under our control... And then I looked at Anby who was holding her stomach with a frown as she also put away the pillbox of food into her backpack.
"Oi! Anby you are overeating!" I pointed out helplessly as Nicole whipped her head around with her long pink hair trailing through the air.
And as Nicole yelled at Anby for eating another cheeseburger in a single bite... I likewise considered my options in getting these crystals out.
I asked Billy who was not getting yelled at. "Billy, how durable are these crystals anyway?"
Billy put a finger up to his chin and explained. "Hmm... Normally super, duper durable honestly. When you mine them, you basically just mine up all the ground beneath them and just rip them out of the ground and then you can kinda break them apart as the large crystals themselves are what are valuable and useful. Not the base of the crystals."
I looked back up to the upper level that was a straight shot upwards towards the truck and I said. "Screw it. How about we just wrap a bunch of chains and cables around the truck around the crystal and just rip it out directly?"
Nicole at hearing my words paused before she giggled evily and said. "Hey you know... That's not a bad idea haha! It's not like this is my truck anyway haha!"
With trouble afoot we quickly looked around the site and what do you know... In the midst of all the pallets of raw materials and stuff was a pallet that had a stack of metal cables.
So while Billy and Anby tied a fuck load of cables around those crystals in the bottom. I wrapped the cables up top around the giant slab of metal that was the press for the garbage compressor.
"Alrighty Nicole! Hit the gas!" I said as the cable went taunt... And then I promptly fucked off to hide behind the building as I had seen in my old life what happens when ropes and cables snap under extreme stress.
A high tension rusted metal cable snapping could send a metal wire flinging around at lethal speeds and being cut in half by a wire wasn't on my to-do list!
The roar of the engine filled the surroundings until finally loud cracking noises of concrete filled my ears and Billy's voice rang out from atop the building he was hiding atop to watching through the windows in the roof to see the work being done.
"The already broken concrete is giving way! Keep up the pressure Nicole!"
And it took a good while, with black smoke pouring from the exhaust of the garbage truck. But vehicles made in New Eridu were made to last. This world didn't have the resources to waste for corporations to fuck around and make stuff that needed to be replaced all the time.
So finally with a loud rumble the large garbage truck shot forward as the crystals base, buried under ground obviously gave way and I called out. "Hold on! Stop!"
Nicole hit the breaks after drifting forward a couple more feet and I called out. "Shut it off!"
And once Nicole got out of the truck we went over to go look at the 'damage' so to speak.
'Huh well that works.' I thought as I saw that the cables indeed dragged the crystals out of the ground. Though the wide base of the crystals was going to make getting it out of the ore deposit area damn near impossible.
So Billy and I went to work using Kubikiribōchō to break apart the diluted and mostly worthless base of ether minerals to break apart the actual giant crystals for Anby and Nicole to help us move up towards the truck
Long... Hard work that made me feel fucky icky as even Nicole and Anby looked ill with Anby saying tiredly. "We been working around Ether materials in too high of dosages without protective equipment... Our bodies are rejecting the either corruption that is seeping in."
For a long moment, I considered if I should show off proof of my magical cooking before I literally just said. "Fuck it. I feel like crap, you guys feel like crap. There is no point in us feeling this way if I can help it."
Though I was using my 'Shrug It Off' perk that allowed me to get rid of the ether corruption doing damage to my body... It was like deleting the poison in my body all the while as I was gnawing on a massive chunk of enriched nuclear fuel.
So I pulled out the spicy squid sticks, and I said. "Remember how I said my food makes us stronger? These squid sticks can remove ether corruption and increase a person's resistance to ether energy for a couple of hours."
"That's impossible," Anby said blankly as she looked between me and the food before she paused and added. "Also, your kindness is weird with how we just met, not even a few hours ago."
Even as Nicole nodded, I looked at Billy and said calmly. "After having Billy recite the events of the hundreds of episodes of Starlight Knights. And we fought together. Why would I lie, plus Billy already called me a bro!"
The girls still looked unconvinced, though Billy all but sobbed in his robotic voice as he said. "Jakkke! You acknowledged our bond over Starlight Knight! If I had a mouth, I would kiss you!"
My face actually twitched at that, and I said helplessly. "I... I am good bro. You can keep that affection."
Still, I shrugged and said easily. "But yeah. If you guys don't trust me just yet, it's understandable. I am an enigma after all."
The world of ZZZ was a weird off brand apacolpyse setting after all. So, while I wanted to roll with a group to keep myself safe. I couldn't hide my weird as shit abilities obviously.
Then Anby looked me dead in the eye and asked bluntly. "Are you a wizard? Is that why you can make magical food and have a magical bloodline?"
There was a moment of silence at Anby's out-of-left-field question before I scratched my head and said helplessly. "I mean... A wizard in training, yeah. I even have a spell book to learn magic from." I said as I pulled out the Alteration book from the gacha inventory.
Seeing the book... Anby just tilted her head to the side before reaching forward and taking one of the meat sticks and biting into it with a frown as she said quietly. "Spicy... Don't like spicy that much."
Meanwhile, Nicole just looked between Anby and me before she said flatly. "So... Is your stomach melting? Are we just taking candy from strangers now Anby Demara!?"
Then, with a shrug Anby said calmly. "Hmm, nope. Stomach fine, mouth hurts from spicy level... Ether corruption and pain is fading quickly as well."
Anby then turned to me and said. "Jake, you are looking for a team, right? Welcome to the Cunning Hares."
And for a good bit as Billy awkwardly just went to move more crystals into the back of the garbage truck. The two argued even as their faces got red from the spices of the sticks settled in.
Though the argument mostly just boiled down to Nicole being annoyed that Anby was so blunt in inviting me to join.
Then, finally with a huff, Nicole threw back her hair and looked me straight in the eye as she pointed at me. With her cleavage being shown as she leaned in towards me with the pointing motion.
"Fine, you want to join the Cunning Hares, Jake! I will take you into this disloyal and even more dysfunctional family. But when you get your first paycheck, I don't want to see you back out, or I will ridicule you forever!"
I didn't even get a chance to properly ask to join the Cunning Hares, to be honest... I just didn't want them to feel the pain of Ether Corruption.
Especially when we were going to have to drive with those ether crystals next to us the whole way home.
Then the Gatcha System hummed to life as it pinged out.
[Joined the Cunning Hares without your own consent/Joined an organization touched by major fate in your world.- 1 Diamond Ticket]
Even as I thought about how this ticket was almost certainly a one time thing. As it would be overpowered as fuck to join like Yunkui Summit, TOPS, Section 6, or other factions to farm more tickets.
But even as I nodded to Nicole and said. "Please watch over me then. I am still new to New Eridu."
I pulled the ticket and my face pinched both in slight pain at the flood of information as well as just incredulity as this 'Infodump and power' was only peak Gold tier, not even Platnium or Diamond rank in reality.
[Tinker - Star Wars]
|Legendary Ability|
[Allows you to build technological constructs or contraptions from the Star Wars universe including Kyber Crystal synthesis]
'Ahhh fuck. My entire plan to be a monster-slaying hobo is utterly ruined... I wanted to be Conan the barbarian with all the scantily clad waifus. But why are my powers pushing me to be the ultimate support unit!'
Because this power set wasn't just making light sabers... It was making droids, making star ships, making the fucking Death Star itself.
What the hell could the Hollows do, when I rolled up with forty million Super Battle Droids!
'There is just uhhh one major issue with this power.' I thought helplessly. Sure, in theory, I 'could' build a Death Star with an unending legion of droids and such.
But uhhh, literally 98 percent of the planet was engulfed in Hollows, which were twisted spheres of spatial wormhole nonsense that I can't mine safely if at all.
Star Wars does not have technology that can freeze a massive spatial anomaly, and even if it did... I still don't have the materials to make such a thing.
But. I could definitely make some badass Superbattle droids, and most mid-level Etherials weren't going to walk away unscathed from a wrist rocket to the face!
Still with everyone's ether issues dealt with. I pointed out something with a wry smile. "Soooo uhm little issue I noticed. With those giant ether crystals, we won't be able to put too many concrete bags in the back."
The Cunning Hares paused before Nicole folded an arm under her large breasts and then she planted a fist on an open hand as she said with a grin. "Ha! We can just sell those crystals at a tiny discount to the construction company. They had the refiner's there at the sight to refine these crystals into Ether fuel anyway! We just gotta meet the bare quota at worst"
With that, Billy and I got to work helping guide our Bangboo's control some forklifts that still worked... Somehow. We got several pallets of the concrete bags loaded up into the back of the garbage truck.
Then, after everything was loaded up, we ate quickly to get our energy back. Nicole said firmly. "Seeing as our Bangboo's could actually use the machines here. We might now need to camp out in the badlands tonight if we drive late into the night! So, this time Jake you ride with Anby in the front cab so I can make sure the materials aren't going to fall out or anything."
I gave a small nod before I added. "Here are a couple of spicy sticks as well. You will be basically sitting on those ether crystals, so make sure to eat one every few hours."
And with that, we were off.
'Thank god I don't have to hear about an entire new run-down about how Star Knight Red is totally cheating on both Pink and Yellow with some monster girl who is mind controlling him as a major plotline.' I thought as the truck was brought to life and we got moving.
-
In the back of the truck. Billy and Nicole were sitting atop the couch that was strapped down atop some of the loose concrete bags that were laid atop the Ether crystals.
But they weren't just reading or in Nicole's case. Trolling through the Interknot to look for the next big score to make some money.
Billy was giving Nicole an especially serious look as he said helplessly. "Did you agree to take Jake in because he is like Anby? Someone you want to basically adopt?"
As Nicole had in fact 'adopted' Anby, she even had Nicole's last name of Demara as Nicole had provided her a home and helped her adapt to the world outside of endless combat.
And Nicole sighed before she said helplessly. "I mean... Kinda? He is totally like Anby, all doe-eyed and defenseless. He is going to get used up and abused in this cruel world, and if, like the TOPS, figure out what he can do. Who knows if some freaks in there will chop him up to see how he works!"
"They would be something of a threat. Ehhh, oh well, Anby has already gotten nice and settled in. I guess you need a new pet project hahaha." Billy laughed before gagging as Nicole's leg snapped over and kicked him in the chest making the robot bend over to support his chest.
"Nicole! You are going to dent my chassis!" Billy groaned as he rubbed his chest for a moment while Nicole just snorted in disdain.
Then she sighed and said thoughtfully. "Hmm... Might need to make even more money, actually. If he can make food for the orphanage's kids. It would be good for their future."
Though Billy once again rained on her hopes and dreams as he said bluntly. "We need to help him get a W-Engine still, Nicole. He can't be running around a Hollow without a W-engine to make him stronger... And that's super expensive to say nothing of him might needing a weapon upgrade of some sort."
Nicole was quiet for a long moment... Torn between hitting Billy again for ruining her good mood, and the thought of having to spend more money. And just ignoring him and just living in her own dreams and fantasies where Jake ,a 'wizard' could make her infinite Dennies!
Then it struck her. "Wait, do you think Jake has any abilities to make us a bunch of Dennies? I mean, selling his food could get waaay too much attention even if we could make a lot off of it. But does he have any other abilities that could be turned to making us filthy rich?"
Billy raised an eyebrow in thought before he said quietly. "Uhhh, besides his Gorgon ability to kill Etherials. All I know he can do is make extremely powerful food. Food that isn't just for organics either. As those batteries he made for me also have special effects for me as well?"
Nicole hummed thoughtfully as actually... Having Jake make exclusive premium batteries could be useful and much more easily sold under the excuse of some private Ether energy refinement to make said batteries.
With Nicole finally nodding as she said thoughtfully. "You aren't wrong, though Billy... Jake clearly needs some help as well. I am such a beautiful, generous, and kind woman. Of course, I can take Jake under my wings, and he can help the Cunning Hares grow in turn, haha!"