Chapter 64: Gears and spice

Atlan looked at the slingshot in his hands. The Y-shaped frame was made out of wood while the elastic band tied around the top edges was made out of natural rubber.

Unfortunately, he couldn't get a sniper from Custodire. She said that those kinds of weapons needed a permit from the Savior HeadQuarters to prevent not just anybody from getting access to such dangerous weapons. Unless he had a LifeSkill that needed guns or projectile weapons, he wouldn't be able to obtain a gun anytime soon, much less a high-caliber sniper.

They said that a gun could take out 90-95% of a person's SoulTime with a well-placed shot. Letting some normal person buy a gun would just be too irresponsible.

But since Atlan made some excuse about wanting some kind of protection for himself, Custodire made an exception and forged for him a new slingshot that he could use while on missions.

Although a lot less powerful than a gun, the slingshot's rubber was made out of some special material that could withstand even Atlan's greatest physical strength. And with more power he put in, the faster the projectile shot out.

Another good thing about this slingshot was that he could use any ammo he could find. It could be a rock, a pellet, or even a pencil. As long as it fits in his slingshot, he could turn it into a high-speed projectile.

Although a gun does highly explosive damage, they were limited to the amount of ammo they bring during missions. Once they run out, then they'd be as useless as sitting ducks.

"Did you like Miss Custodire's gift?" asked Lizzie.

Atlan nodded. Even though it was made out of wood, Atlan saw that it could withstand a lot more pressure than what was normally possible.

Is it because she's a blacksmith in the Specialist Realm? She must have imbued this slingshot with some magic that allowed it to have stronger tension in the bands.

"You must have made a good impression on the old dwarf. She doesn't just custom-make weapons for anyone. Even her high-class clients have to wait for months or even years before they can request something from her. Experience the journey with m_vl_em_p_yr

How does it feel to have an Indirect Masamune Original in your hands?"

"It's good. I think." Because Custodire was from a side branch of the Masamune Family, any weapons or armor that she made herself were immediately labeled as an Indirect Masamune Original. Although he didn't know what that meant, according to Lizzie, any weapon with that label was considered a treasure.

The truck continued to stroll through the Masamune district, with Lizzie showing Atlan the different stalls and buildings with a lot of enthusiasm.

"Since we still have a lot of time till your party, I'll show you some of the good food spots in Masamune district."

Lizzie and Atlan toured through the malls of the Masamune District on foot.

At noon, they went to a large establishment made out of intertwined gears. The smell of spices and hot steam emanated from the building even before they entered.

There were a lot of people inside, eating hot soups out of bowls fashioned from curved gears. The restaurant's name 'Gears and Such' proved to be true as even the spoons, forks, and utensils were made out of gears. Even the table was a giant gear.

Lizzie ordered for him because he didn't know anything about it. She asked him if he liked spicy or not, and Atlan said whatever.

That turned out to be the wrong answer because when Atlan tasted the noodle soup and felt the spice hit his nose, he almost did a spit take. Lizzie almost tumbled out of her chair laughing.

After recovering from the spice and drinking lots of water, they left the restaurant and she led him to the park where there were a lot of people basking in picnics under the shade of the trees. Dwarf children played, standing on each other's shoulders and pretending to be a tall human.

Next, they went back on the truck and it led them towards the Infernal Mountain.

It turned out that the volcanic mountain wasn't just a place where energy was harvested, it was also a popular visitor spot. There was a slow railcar installed in the mountain where people could enter and see a view of the City from one of the highest vantage points. It was quite popular as Atlan and Lizzie had to wait almost an hour in line to finally get their turn.

When the car finally moved up, Atlan immediately saw the wide expanse of the City. He could barely even see the people down below and even the buildings looked small. He always wondered how birds felt like seeing things from up above, and now he knew.

It gave him perspective. There was a lot more of the City he hadn't explored yet, and he couldn't wait to see everything.

Now, he understood why people craved immortality. He wanted to live for a long time and see more of the City. There were lots of other Districts with vastly different architectures and cultures he was excited to see. It made him wonder about the other Cities and the whole world; what would they look like?

"It's amazing, isn't it?"

"It is."

Once the railcar did a lap around the volcano, the ride was over. By now, the sun was setting and the street lights were starting to light up, courtesy of the energy generated from the volcano.

The two went back to the truck and made their way to the City Center.

Atlan requested to be dropped off near the place where the party took place.

"Have fun with your party!"

"Thank you…for today…" Sёarᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

She smiled. "You're welcome. I had fun too. Don't get too crazy over there, alright?"

Atlan nodded. As the truck moved through the streets, Lizzie put her head over the windows and waved at Atlan. He reciprocated and smiled at her.

He was very thankful for her because he wouldn't have been able to experience today if it weren't for her. Even though she wasn't getting anything from helping him all this time, she still took her time to make him feel accommodated.

"Oh! Atlan! It's me, Pacman!"

Atlan saw the pugilist leaning on the light pole. He waved at Atlan and walked over to him.

Even though it was supposed to be a party, Atlan didn't see any sign of everyone. Even the whole neighborhood was very quiet. "Where's everybody?"

"They're already inside." Pacman led Atlan through the streets and to one secluded corner where a single door was installed on the other side.

The pugilist knocked on the door with a distinct pattern and waited for a few seconds. Then, the door opened.

Atlan and Pacman walked forward until they saw two men in black suits guarding a circular construct in the middle of an empty room. Inside this circle was a black shimmering liquid suspended inside.

"Where is the party again?" Atlan asked.

Pacman smiled. "It's in the Remedium!"