Jerry sat atop Erica's back. As a centaur, her back was broad and stable, her muscles firm and rhythmic beneath him. It felt far more comfortable than riding a common horse, but Jerry's attention wasn't on the novel experience.
He was still struggling to adapt.
The gravity of this world was heavier than anywhere he had ever been. It felt as if he were wearing a suit of armor forged from solid lead. Every breath, every heartbeat, even the simple act of turning his neck required double the usual effort. Jerry's bones groaned, and his internal organs felt as if an invisible hand were pulling them downward.
Logically, creatures living in such high gravity should have evolved to be short, squat, and thick-set with massive bone density to lower their center of gravity. They should have sacrificed agility for structural integrity.
Yet, everything he saw contradicted this theory.
Whether it was the towering Minotaur he saw earlier or this centaur girl beneath him, everyone displayed physical forms and mobility that defied the crushing pull of the planet. Erica, in particular, had shown a level of agility and power during her earlier sprint and sudden stop that was nothing short of miraculous. Her sleek muscle lines and lithe figure showed no signs of being suppressed by gravity.
It was irrational.
As Jerry pondered this, a strange sensation began to flow from where his body met Erica's. It was a foreign energy fluctuation. It wasn't mana, which could be clearly perceived and guided by the mind, nor was it pure physical heat.
It was more like a "rhythm" of life itself.
Jerry could feel a warm, resilient energy flowing through Erica's body, synchronized with the contraction of every muscle and the support of every bone. This energy seemed to permeate every cell, reinforcing her structure at a microscopic level and neutralizing the omnipresent terror of the gravity.
Jerry quietly expanded his mental sense, casting an invisible net over the passersby.
He "saw" it.
It wasn't just the centaur girl. The Dwarven blacksmith leaving a nearby shop with a hammer, the Fox-kin merchant peddling low-grade herbs on the corner, even a yawning human guard... every single one of them possessed this power. It was like a second heart, an organ they were born with.
The intensity and texture varied—the blacksmith's energy was as fierce and hot as a forge, while the Fox-kin's was weak and disorganized—but the essence was the same. It supported their bones and strengthened their muscles, allowing them to walk, run, and live on this heavy earth.
I really want to... catch one and cut them open, Jerry thought coldly. To see which organ generates this energy, and how it flows through the body via meridians or blood vessels.
While Jerry was immersed in this clinical curiosity, a light, hurried set of footsteps approached.
"Erica!"
The Elf and the Bribe
Li, the elf girl, ran over panting. Her face was full of worry as she looked at the wreckage of the house. But when her eyes landed on Erica, her concern turned into deep confusion. Erica wasn't crying; instead, her face was flushed with a strange mix of joy and satisfaction.
Even more baffling was the stranger in strange black robes sitting on Erica's back.
Li circled to the front of the centaur, her pointed ears twitching. She looked Jerry up and down. "Erica, your house... what happened? And... who is this guy?"
Li was far more perceptive than she looked. Not only was she a natural at steam-mechanics, but she was also blessed by magic. The ancient power in her blood made her extraordinarily sensitive to energy changes. Erica, while gifted with Combat Qi, was relatively dull when it came to mana.
Li didn't just see a stranger; she felt an abnormal energy fluctuation. It was a cold, precise power that possessed a "sense of order"—unlike the chaotic elemental mana in the air or the warm, rhythmic Combat Qi of the residents.
Erica, however, was still drowning in her windfall. She clutched the gold box. "Li, you're finally here! My house... my house was hit by this benefactor..."
To Erica, the disaster had already been erased by the "heaven-sent fortune." She was too preoccupied with the gold to notice Li's suspicion.
Li ignored Erica's vague answer and stared straight at Jerry. "Hello. I'm Li. Are you a mage's apprentice?" she asked in the Common Tongue, her voice full of innate curiosity.
Jerry didn't understand the vocal vibrations. His brain was working at high speed, attempting to map the alien linguistic structures to known languages, but that would take time.
However, he didn't need to understand the words. Jerry could see "emotions" as colors. Around this elf girl, colors were swirling: bright yellow for "curiosity," light blue for "confusion," and a deeper grey for "caution." There was no hostility, only uncertainty.
Jerry made a decision. With a slow, deliberate movement, he reached into his sleeve. He did it slowly to show he wasn't a threat. When his hand emerged, he held a small, exquisite wooden box.
Click.
He flicked the lid open with his thumb. A silver necklace lay on a crimson velvet cushion. It was woven from countless tiny silver rings, reflecting the dim light with a soft metallic luster. In the center were three sea-blue sapphires, each the size of a fingernail, as pure as ice from the deep ocean.
Jerry didn't speak. He touched his finger to his lips, then his ear, and shook his head slightly. Then, he held the box out to Li.
I don't understand you. But this is a greeting gift.
Li's breath hitched. She had seen jewelry before in the high-end Dwarf shops in the Upper District, but those were for nobles and factory owners. For a girl living in the Centaur Quarter, such pure gems and fine silverwork were things she had only ever seen through shop windows.
It turned out that elves in this world—or at least in Blackiron Stronghold—didn't live as loftily as legends suggested. In a world of endless war with the Hive, beauty and art were the ultimate luxuries.
Li cautiously touched the cold gems, then looked at Jerry. The boy was expressionless, his deep eyes watching her calmly. She took the box.
As her fingers touched the wood, Jerry "saw" the grey of "caution" dissolve like mist in the sun. It was replaced by more "curiosity" and a hint of pink "joy."
Of course, it wasn't just the gift. It was hard to remain on high alert against an eleven-year-old human boy who looked innocent and couldn't even speak.
Li put the necklace on. The three blue gems rested perfectly against her collarbone, complementing her silver hair and pointed ears. She looked at her reflection in a shop window and beamed.
"Thank you!" she whispered. Remembering he couldn't understand, she turned to Erica. "Erica, where did this... 'benefactor' come from? He's incredibly generous!"
Erica gestured to the ruins with one hand while clutching her gold with the other. "He's the 'meteor' that fell from the sky and smashed my house. I think he hit his head on the way down, so he can't talk anymore." Her voice turned slightly somber. "Just like my father... in his final days, the Hive toxin got to his brain, and he lost his speech too."
Li nodded, looking at Jerry with a touch of pity. She knew Erica's father had been a hero on the walls.
Erica quickly shook off the sadness, patting her gold box. "Anyway, I need to get to the 'Gold-Melt Bank' in the Lower District and exchange this for cash. Then I'm hiring the best steam-construction crew to rebuild my house! Otherwise, I'm crashing at your place tonight." She nudged Li playfully.
"Don't build the house yet!" Li stopped her, looking at Jerry. "He fell from the sky... what if he has internal injuries? We should take him to 'Herbalist Alley' first. He smashed your house, after all. If he dies on your back, it'll be a nightmare to explain."
The Steam-Augmented
Jerry remained silent on Erica's back. His mental scans were spreading out like spilled mercury, absorbing the sounds of the city. The haggling of Dwarf miners, the hiss of steam pipes, the chatter of the crowds—all of it was being parsed, categorized, and learned.
The air was thick with elemental fluctuations, as dense as the world of Hogwarts. But while Hogwarts used this energy for a brilliant magical civilization, this world had taken a different path: Steam and Gears.
Massive pipes coiled like dragon skeletons above the city, pumping hot power everywhere. But Jerry knew steam wasn't the true foundation. Every living thing had an internal "forge" of energy.
Combat Qi.
Through the fragments of thought he picked up, the term finally solidified in his mind. This "Combat Qi" was what allowed these creatures to survive the gravity and maintain their vitality.
As they walked, Jerry's scan hit a figure emerging from an alley. He diverted extra mental power to analyze it.
It was a massive man, shirtless, his bronze skin covered in scars. But it wasn't the scars that caught Jerry's eye. It was the brass pipes and precision gears extending from his shoulders, back, and arms, fused directly with his flesh.
It wasn't armor. It was an Implant.
Jerry could see the brass pipes, hissing with steam, rooted deep into the muscle fibers like a second set of blood vessels. As the man walked, pistons in his arms rose and fell with his muscles, making a rhythmic clack-clack sound. Hot steam was pumping incredible energy into his physical form.
This was a technology Jerry had never seen. It was a brutal, barbaric fusion of meat and machine. This man also had Combat Qi, but it was mixed with the steam-driven energy, creating a much more violent, explosive hybrid power.
The "Steam-Augmented" man raised a metal-clad fist to the sky. "FOR THE STRONGHOLD LORD!"
The crowd cheered back, caught in the fervor. Erica and Li watched with eyes full of envy and respect as the warrior marched toward a roaring steam train.
Following the flow of the crowd, Erica and Li turned Jerry into a narrow, dark alley. Here, the air was different—smelling of bitter herbs and the rot of biological remains.
On both sides of the alley, rows upon rows of crude iron cages were crammed together. Inside were bizarre, mutated insects—disturbing hybrids that looked like a fusion of human and bug. Some even had translucent carapaces, revealing the rhythmic squelching of their internal organs. These creatures were primal and savage; their scythe-like limbs struck the iron bars, sending showers of sparks flying with a sharp, grinding screech that suggested the metal wouldn't hold them for long.
Erica and Li showed no fear. They pointed at the monsters as if discussing common pets. Finally, they stopped in front of an alchemy shop. The storefront was small and the sign was weathered, but several strange vehicles equipped with hissing steam pipes were parked outside. Erica and Li were clearly regulars. Li pounded on the closed door until a frantic "clink-clink-clink" sounded from within.
Erica stepped aside and carefully lifted Jerry from her back, setting him firmly on the ground. After a period of adjustment, Jerry's magic was now effectively counteracting the world's crushing gravity. Though his legs felt a bit weak and shaky due to the unfamiliar posture, his body was adapting at an incredible rate. Soon, he would be moving freely in this high-gravity environment.
He looked up, his gaze traveling from Erica's light-armored, muscular thighs upward. Since Jerry was only the height of an average human adolescent and Erica—even as a young centaur—possessed an upper body much taller than a human woman's, his upward angle was particularly lewd.
His eyes inadvertently fell upon the area just beneath her heavy chest. Her crude leather breastplate, designed for combat rather than modesty, failed utterly to contain her voluptuous flesh. From the bottom edge of the leather, a pair of snow-white, rounded arcs spilled out—the heavy under-curves of her massive tits. The soft mounds were pushed upward by the armor, creating a breathtaking, gravity-defying slope that looked ready to overflow at any moment.
Jerry felt a flash of pure curiosity. What kind of energy is this? He found it hard to imagine how "Combat Qi" not only countered the planet's pull but also supported such massive, heavy globes of fat, keeping them thrusting upward against the laws of physics instead of sagging under their own weight.
As Jerry was captivated by this sight, Li noticed his "condition." Even as he stood, the hem of Jerry's oversized robes was propped up by a massive, stiff object, creating a strikingly obvious tent.
The elf girl's face flickered with confusion. She wondered if he was hiding a weapon or a stolen artifact. Li stepped forward, her voice dripping with feigned concern. "Oh dear, you're covered in dust."
As she spoke, Li reached out with her slender hand, pretending to brush the dust from his robes. Her palm swept casually across the front of his body, but her fingertips moved with calculated precision. She let her fingers hook and slide firmly over the thick, monstrous meat-rod through the fabric.
"What on earth is this?" Li whispered to herself. She couldn't tell what it was, but it felt incredibly elastic and throbbing.
At that moment, the shop door creaked open. A thick wave of floral perfume mixed with a mature woman's musk wafted out. A lazy, sultry voice followed—a voice like dripping honey, slightly raspy from sleep. "Which little darling is interrupting my nap?"
A woman stepped out. She was the definition of an hourglass figure, her curves so extreme they were almost obscene. Her skin was as white as milk, and her seaweed-green hair flowed loosely over her shoulders. She wore only a few strategically placed leaves and vines. Her humongous, gravity-defying tits were barely held up by two broad leaves, revealing nearly the entire rounded tops and a cleavage that looked like a bottomless canyon. Her waist was impossibly thin, while her rounded, jutting buttocks were wrapped in a short vine skirt that shook with every step, creating a tantalizing friction.
More strangely, fresh, dew-covered flowers bloomed from her shoulders, wrists, and ankles. She was a Flower-kin, the owner of the shop.
She stretched, a movement that thrust her massive chest even higher, causing the soft globes to jiggle violently. She yawned, rubbed her eyes, and finally focused on the trio. Erica and Li quickly explained the situation: the "meteor" falling from the sky, the destroyed house, and Jerry's inability to speak.
The Flower-kin's watery, almond-shaped eyes never left Jerry. She looked him over with predatory interest, specifically focusing on the massive bulge under his robes.
"Oh? A poor little thing fallen from the heavens?" She giggled, a sound wet with lust. "Lucky for you, big sister is an expert at curing 'unusual' ailments. Come here, let me give you a... thorough physical exam."
As she leaned in, a heavy scent of damp garden soil and nectar hit Jerry. Just as her red-stained fingernails were about to touch his robes, the boy spoke.
"I'm fine."
His voice was the clear tenor of a youth, but his words were sharp and the grammar perfect. Erica and Li froze. The Flower-kin's hand stopped in mid-air, her expression shifting from lazy flirting to genuine surprise.
"Oh, the little mute can talk?" She smirked. "Even more reason for me to check if the impact knocked something loose in your head."
She didn't give Jerry a chance to argue. Several vibrant green vines slid out from her arms and waist like living snakes. They were slick, moist, and covered in dew. One vine coiled around his waist, yanking him close, while another slithered up the inside of his thigh.
Jerry tried to retreat, but the vine around his waist had the strength of an iron cable. He was in an awkward position; he was currently funneling all his magic into adapting to the gravity. He was at a critical juncture and couldn't risk casting a spell yet.
He could only watch as the most restless vine slid under his robes. It precisely and playfully coiled around his engorged, massive cock. The tip of the vine was a fresh, budding sprout, wet and sensitive. It slid slowly along the thick, veiny shaft, sensing the staggering girth and heat. Then, the slick bud began to rub and rotate repeatedly against the swollen, sensitive head of his glans.
The fabric of his robes was quickly soaked by the vine's juices, clinging to his cock and outlining the majestic shape of the head. Every twitch and squeeze of the vine felt like it was measuring the monstrous "weapon" that was far too large for the boy's frame. More sap began to secrete from the vine, dripping down the shaft and leaving a dark, wet stain on Jerry's robes. The wet sprout scraped against the hyper-sensitive tip of his cock, making faint, squelching gluck-gluck sounds that were embarrassingly audible in the quiet alley.
"Hey, Romor!" Erica finally realized something was wrong. She frowned and stepped forward. "What are you doing? I asked for a check-up, not... whatever this is!"
Li also saw that Romor's actions had gone far beyond a medical exam. Her face was flushed, but her voice carried a warning. "Romor, don't overdo it!"
Romor ignored them. She licked her lips, her eyes glazed as she enjoyed the hard, burning sensation transmitted through her vines. She tightened the coil around Jerry's waist, pulling him flush against her. His soaked, throbbing crotch was now pressed hard against her flat, soft stomach.
Suddenly, Jerry's passive gaze changed. He raised his right hand, palm facing the thickest vine at his waist.
Zap!
A faint blue arc of electricity jumped from his palm, instantly surging through all the vines. Romor's body jolted. She let out a short, sharp moan—a sound that was a mix of pain and an intense, unexpected pleasure. Her vines, once as strong as pythons, shriveled and snapped back into her body as if burned.
Romor shook her numbed hand. Her lazy smile was gone, replaced by a much deeper fascination. She looked at the defensive boy and chuckled. "My, the little guy has quite the sting. He's angry."
She waved off the worried Erica and Li. "Relax, big sister was just playing a little joke. He's healthy as an ox. He doesn't need my help."
She leaned down again, her massive breasts nearly falling out of her leaf-clothing. She whispered close to Jerry's ear, her breath smelling of orchids. "But listen, little brother... if you ever feel 'uncomfortable' again... like if you're feeling too hot or too 'pent up' down there... big sister is always happy to give you a much deeper examination."
Jerry simply shook his head with a polite, distant smile. "I feel much better now. Sorry for the trouble."
He reached into his robe and produced a shimmering gold coin—a Gold Galleon—and flipped it to her. Romor caught it, her expression turning playful as she felt the weight of the pure gold. Jerry ignored her and turned to Erica and Li, his expression softening into a calculated look of apology and confusion.
Romor opened her red lips to deliver one last tease, but a gravelly voice interrupted her.
"Doctor Romor! Help! My arm is ruined!" A burly Dwarf miner stumbled over, clutching a beet-red arm that was literally steaming from a high-pressure steam burn.
With business calling, Romor dropped her act. She gave Jerry one last regretful glance, as if mourning a delicious toy that got away. She brought the Gold Galleon to her lips and gave the cold metal a slow, wet lick with her tongue. Then, she pressed it against her lips as if kissing a generous lover.
Finally, she stuffed the coin into the deep crevice between her breasts, where the gold was instantly swallowed by the soft, white meat. She winked at Jerry, her eyes promising a future encounter. "I'll remember you, little thing."
She turned and sauntered toward the Dwarf, her fiery, voluptuous hips swaying hypnotically.
Once she was out of earshot, Jerry spoke softly. "I apologize. I seem to have... temporarily lost the ability to speak. I've just recovered. I'm not from Blackiron; I come from a very distant place. If possible, could you help me find a place to stay? Or... I'm quite hungry. Can we find a place to eat?"
The fluent Common Tongue left Erica and Li speechless. This "boy" was far more complex than they thought. Li's suspicion returned. She took a half-step back, pulling Erica's arm and partially shielding her friend. "Who the hell are you, exactly?"
Jerry didn't answer directly. He leaned against the wall, looking pale and exhausted. He let out a soft breath. "Can we find a place to sit and talk? I've had a very long journey. I am... truly tired."
Erica, however, wasn't interested in the hidden tension. Her mind was on a more practical matter. She clutched her gold box tighter and asked, "Are you... going to ask for this back?"
Li almost face-palmed at the question. Jerry looked at the nervous centaur and smiled, shaking his head. "Of course not. I destroyed your home. That is your compensation."
All of Erica's doubts vanished, replaced by pure elation. She hoisted the gold box like a trophy and slapped Jerry on the shoulder with her massive hand. "Great! To thank you, I'm buying dinner! We're going to the best place in the Upper District!"
Li hesitated. "The Upper District? That's too expensive... and he..."
"Who cares!" Erica patted the heavy gold. "I'm paying!"
The restaurant in the Upper District was a world away from the filth below. Polished redwood floors, gleaming brass steam-pipe decorations, and intricate crystal chandeliers filled with rotating gears defined the luxury of the space.
In the center was a massive table. To accommodate Centaurs, Minotaurs, and other large races, the furniture was oversized. Erica sat in a custom chair without a backrest, her upper body still towering over the table. The entire table was raised high, looking like a banquet for giants.
Li looked uncomfortable, her eyes darting between the astronomical prices on the menu. Even Erica felt a bit out of place. Only Jerry remained calm.
The chair in front of him was like a small mountain. He put his hands on the seat and tried to climb up, looking like a determined kitten scaling an obstacle. Seeing his struggle, Erica reached out with her powerful hand and lifted him by the waist, setting him on the chair as easily as if he were a doll.
"Careful there," she grinned, showing white teeth.
"Thank you," Jerry replied with an innocent smile.
The moment he sat down, a series of melodic chimes—audible only to him—rang in his head.
[Temporary Tasks Issued]
Task 1: Root Analysis Objective: Research the world's core energy system "Combat Qi." Analyze its composition and how it fuses with living organisms. Reward: Family Prestige +100, Random Combat Qi Skill x1.
Task 2: Touch of Civilization Objective: Learn the basics of this world's unique "Steam Alchemy" and successfully craft an alchemical item. Reward: Family Prestige +150, Random Alchemy Blueprint x1.
Food was brought out on a steam-powered elevator cart. Massive racks of ribs sizzled from the steam oven, accompanied by vibrant juices pressed by machines and steaming, soft bread.
For this extravagant meal, Erica and Li were noticeably tense, their movements careful and restrained. While waiting for the food, Li took a sip of her juice, her sharp eyes locking onto Jerry again with a probing intensity.
"You said your name is Jerry," she said softly, weighing her words. "That name... it sounds very strange."
Erica, who was already wielding her knife and fork in anticipation of the massive ribs, looked up and nodded. "Yeah! Haven't you ever seen the puppet show The Cat and the Mouse? The unlucky mouse is named Jerry. Why would anyone give a child such a weird name?"
Jerry shrugged, a helpless but calm smile playing on his lips, as if he were used to the misunderstanding. He sliced a small piece of roasted meat, savored it, and then explained unhurriedly.
"In my homeland, 'Jerry' stands for the 'Spear of God's Favor.' it's a blessing, hoping the child will be as resilient and sharp as a lance."
Jerry paused, putting down his utensils. His expression turned slightly somber as his gaze drifted toward the distance.
"As for why I appeared here... I am a magic apprentice. My mentor was conducting a fusion experiment regarding 'Steam Magic,' trying to pour magical power into steam machinery. But... there was an accident."
Jerry opened his hands, his tone carrying a hint of lingering fear. "A massive explosion rocked the lab. I only remember a deafening bang before being blasted away by a surge of force. I don't remember anything after that. When I woke up, I saw you two. I assume my mentor used a protective spell at the last second to save me."
This logical explanation caused Li's suspicion to waver, though her questions didn't stop. An elf's natural sensitivity made her wary of strangers falling from the sky.
"Steam Magic?" Li wiped her mouth with a napkin, her eyes filled with curiosity. "I've heard of Elemental Magic, Evocation, even ancient Necromancy... but fusing magic with steam? That sounds... incredible. How do you achieve that?"
Jerry wove his lies as he ate, his answers seamless. He satisfied her curiosity without revealing a single truth. "It's a new field, still in the exploration phase. Simply put, we engrave spell arrays onto specialized alloy pipes and use mana instead of coal to drive the steam core. Theoretically, it produces a more stable and powerful output. Unfortunately..." Jerry sighed perfectly. "Theory and practice are two very different things."
Just as Li was about to ask for more details, Erica made a muffled sound. Her mouth was stuffed so full of food her cheeks puffed out like a hamster. She forced it down and grabbed a massive roasted chicken leg, biting into it as she spoke to Li. "Li, why ask so much? Let the boy eat! Look how thin he is, he barely looks human."
Erica tore off a juicy chunk of chicken and tossed it onto Jerry's plate. "Eat! Eat more! Upper District steam-roasted chicken is the best!"
Jerry smiled and thanked her, digging in. Through this back-and-forth, set against the background of Erica's voracious eating, Jerry began to piece together the outline of this world.
"Do you have magical talent as well? I'm sorry, there aren't many elves in the lands I come from," Jerry asked, feigning curiosity.
Li's expression grew complicated. "Of course. Many of us elves are born with the talent to cast. But... in the Silent Plains, magic is very limited."
"Why?"
Erica beat her to the punch, letting out a loud burp after gulping down juice. "Because of the bugs! Those monsters from the sky—their carapaces have a crazy high resistance to magic! You throw a fireball at them, and it might scorch their shell a bit, but it won't touch the meat inside!"
"The Tyranids?" Jerry caught the keyword.
"Yes," Li said gravely. "Years ago, a rift opened above the Silent Plains, and countless monsters rained down like an insect plague. They are the Tyranids."
Li explained that Blackiron Stronghold and the scattered fortresses across the plains were the last bastions of humanity. Outside the walls, the entire world belonged to the Hive. The only safe way to travel between these isolated cities was via the massive, smoke-belching steam trains.
"That's why Combat Qi and Steam Augments are the main path," Erica said, flexing her muscular arm with pride. "Our Qi can penetrate their shells and shatter their organs! And a powerful Steam-Augmented warrior can rip those big bugs apart with their bare hands! Magic is just a soft thing the nobles use for shows at banquets."
Erica's words were crude, but they revealed the brutal law of this world: utility is everything.
As Jerry ate, he observed his new companions. Erica was truly striking. If one ignored her powerful, horse-like lower body, her upper half was that of a beautiful, vibrant, and incredibly fit young woman. Years of combat and training had given her honey-colored skin a firm, healthy glow. The muscle lines in her arms and shoulders were powerful but lacked the exaggerated bulk of a man, radiating a wild, feminine health. Her features were bold—bright brown eyes, a high nose, and full lips that gave her a heroic air. Her chestnut hair was tied back, but wet strands clung to her forehead as she ate, making her look both fierce and charmingly unrefined.
Li was the complete opposite. From the side, Jerry could see her pointed ears peeking through her silver hair. Her profile was soft, her chin delicate, and her long lashes cast shadows on her pale skin. She ate with elegance, taking small bites and sitting perfectly upright, like a quiet lily.
The meal ended quickly under Erica's "search and destroy" eating style. When a waiter in a crisp uniform placed a bill on the table in a brass clip, the atmosphere froze. Erica picked it up, and her smile instantly vanished. The number was clearly beyond her imagination.
"Uh..." she coughed awkwardly. Then, looking determined, she pushed the gold jewelry box toward the waiter. "Can this... cover it?"
The waiter glanced at the box, and though surprised by the craftsmanship, he gave a professional bow. "My apologies, ma'am. We only accept cash or equivalent alchemical currency."
Erica's face turned bright red, and she looked to Li for help. Li bit her lip, hesitating before reaching for the silver necklace around her neck.
Jerry let out a soft chuckle. "Allow me."
To their shock, Jerry pulled a handful of shimmering gold coins from his robes and tossed them onto the tray. The clinking sound was purer than ordinary gold. The waiter's eyes lit up. He respectfully took three coins and bowed out. They had appraisers for foreign currency, common in the trade-heavy Upper District.
"Is that... money from your home?" Erica picked up one of the remaining coins. It was purer and heavier than Blackiron gold, engraved with complex, beautiful patterns she didn't recognize.
"Yes," Jerry nodded, rolling a coin over his fingers as a faint shimmer of mana danced on the gold. "It's more than just currency. Each one contains a spark of pure mana. In my home, we call these Galleons."
Spending precious alchemical materials containing pure mana as if they were common gold was a level of luxury that would make anyone gasp. But Jerry didn't care—he had plenty.
After the waiter left, Erica looked annoyed, as if she had been cheated. She slammed the table. "No! I said I was buying! How can I let you pay?"
She pushed the gold jewelry box back to him. "Take this back. One thing at a time—the meal was my treat, so the money should be mine!"
Jerry saw her stubbornness. He understood her character now—blunt, honest, and strictly transactional with debts and favors. Pushing back would only annoy her. He reached out and took the jewelry box back, tucking it into his robe. Erica's expression relaxed; she felt her "honor" was intact.
However, Jerry then pushed the remaining Galleons toward her. "Keep these."
Jerry's voice was calm. "I took the box back because its value is much higher than you think—worth many more times than these coins. You just don't recognize it yet. These extra coins are my advance for rent and guide fees. After all, I still need your help to find a place to stay."
Erica looked at the glowing gold, then at Jerry's sincere eyes. Eventually, Li stepped in. "Take them, Erica. We truly need the money to rebuild your house."
With a graceful exit strategy provided, Erica scratched her head and sheepishly tucked the gold away.
As they stepped back onto the clean streets of the Upper District, a low, rhythmic hum like a giant bellows echoed from above. They all looked up. A massive, cigar-shaped airship was drifting slowly over the city. Its silver-grey hull reflected the dim sunlight, its propellers churning out clouds of white steam. Brass pipes and exposed gears covered the vessel, a masterpiece of complex, cold mechanical beauty.
Hanging beneath the airship's belly was a massive poster, nearly as long as the ship itself. The art was exaggerated and impactful: a background of burning cities and Tyranid corpses, featuring a hero in heavy Steam Power Armor planting a battle flag into the skull of a Hive Tyrant the size of a mountain.
Bold red and black letters read:
HEART OF BLACKIRON: THE FALL OF GESSOR THE HIVE TYRANT The legendary battle of the Steam-Augmented hero, 'Iron Fist' Roxas, now playing!
Megaphones on the airship broadcasted a dramatic, booming advertisement:
"Witness history! Witness the hero! Blackiron Royal Theater's masterpiece of the year! See how 'Iron Fist' Roxas single-handedly tore through a hundred thousand bugs to slay the Hive Tyrant! An epic of steam and steel, a hymn of blood and fire! Every night, don't miss it!"
The airship cast a massive shadow over the city as it moved toward the central square.
"The Royal Theater's promo ship..." Li murmured. "I heard this play has been running for a month and is sold out every night."
Erica stared at the poster with pure adoration and worship. "Iron Fist Roxas! My idol! If I could drive power armor and rip the heads off those bugs one day... that would be the coolest thing ever!"