Great Great Asset Chapter 39 (Patreon)

Rangiku was starting to honestly look like at me like I was her worst nightmare at some point after I quickly picked up the lower-ranked Kido spells. As it wasn't like Rangiku herself was really that much of a Kido master.

While she definitely earned her rank in terms of pure swordsmanship skill. Her real talent was using her zanpaktou in particular. Something that was obviously not transferable. Even if I could in fact buy a zanpakuto.

I obviously woudn't have the same one. 

Still, things were calm as I continued my reading skill books once Rangiku threw in the towel when it came to teaching me Bleach's magical system. This floating tank made everything ALOT simpler when it came to traversing this hell hole of a place.

And once we left that massive water dimension after another few days of travel, we reached another badlands-like realm. Where Feixiao said that Tabane and her group was currently living and roaming around.

"Why a badlands though? There can't be much natural food and whatnot?" I asked in confusion.

Feixiao shrugged and said evenly. "You will see all too soon. They are well set up and don't need to go on regular food supply runs we do." 

Her words proved prophetic and I was reminded about what Matsu told me about how Tabane and her group had taken over a Regios.

"Whaaat the fuck?" I muttered quietly as I looked at the utterly massive walking city that was supposed to be from the anime/manga Chrome Shelled Regios. 

"How... How the fuck have they taken over it? Shouldn't this shithole of a dimension stop them from getting such a nice thing?" I asked in wonder at seeing the massive city crossing the ground quickly with it's massive spider-like mechanical legs.

Feixiao let out a cold laugh and said bluntly. "This universe has its own cap on the strength of nonsense it can pull due to the many seals on it. That city, that 'Regios' was built to face a dead world that was overflowing with monsters to begin with."

Matsu's face turned a bit green as she said. "Not only is the city heavily defended to say the least. But this realm, part of a shattered world, is innately extremely hostile to all life due to extreme amounts of radiation in the air as well as toxic gases. The monsters here are, although strong, but very few in number." 

Then Feixiao added calmly. "Combined with dozens of different magic systems protecting it with every kind of ward and protection from curses of misfortune and everything else. It's an actually safe place... For the people within it, and only while it has fuel."

I realized what she meant then. Sure, it was 'totally' safe right now and in the near future. But actual magical fuel for such wards and even the actual fuel for a roaming massive city that obviously had a bunch of industry and such living within the city? The costs had to be insane!

Our hovering tank caught up with the still walking city and I could feel from inside the very tank itself the massive steps the walking city took even with the tank literally flying over the ground.

Then the tank's automated system spoke up. [Please proceed to the landing pad that is being lowered and then turn off the vehicle.]

Feixiao then took over direct control of the tank. And from the monitor I could see that from the undercarriage of the city we had gotten under. There was a massive lift, no basically an entire bridge meant to pick up entire convoys on a series of cables that were lowered down towards us.

Without too much fanfare the tank was drove down onto the bridge and we were then likewise pulled up into the city even as Feixiao killed the engine before giving me especially a look.

"Jake, I know you got some goodies of your own in your inventory to trade. But be careful, as this isn't our home turf. Some of the people who will come to buy stuff from you will happily pull some tricks to either steal your goods or make a mess... Or just actually get you in trouble."

I understood what she meant. In a semi-apocalyptic setting in an area that was 'peaceful' and safe. Such peace and the illusion of safety would only drive the merchants to try to rip other outsiders off even more.

As they would think that they had the far greater upper hand in any negotiations due to how we came to them to trade.

"I will keep close. I am not going to be running around all willy-nilly after all." I said bluntly before Kuroka piped up.

"Boss, I will keep an eye on his little birdie flock. Plus I want to show Jake over to where some food stores are. Jake don't you want to pick up some spices at the very least?"

To be fair... Our food runs haven't exactly been focused on getting things like spices. We mostly focused on staple foods like rice/grains, meat, canned goods, and other things.

And after a moment of thought, I sighed and said. "Yeah, that's a good idea I guess. Also, is there any magic shops around here?" 

Lust made a humming noise and said idly. "Jake, just because Tabane and her crew have taken over such a large city... That doesn't mean there is an entire city's worth of population. There won't be such a diverse set of shops to look about. To say nothing of how most mages hoard their knowledge and materials."

That was also a damned fair point. But then a loud rumble rang out as the landing pad rumbled heavily as it locked into place with Feixiao speaking out with some excitement. "Well, show time anyway. Come along, Jake. I still want you to meet Tabane as we are old drinking pals at this point haha."

The back of the tank opened up even as Akitsu and Matsu all but grabbed my arms to follow me as we all left the tank.

As soon as we left the tank and I got to breathe in the air of the Regios, I realized that the air in the Regios also had a very... Recycled flavor to it as well. And it hit me that no matter how the fan's blew the recycled air around in this massive membrane-covered city.

The air was still completely contained with no 'fresh' air being added to it as well.

But besides that, the view I was welcomed to was rather outstanding, as this wasn't some industrial area for sure. It had more of a clean cyberpunk/Academy City feeling to it.

And as I looked around, I quickly saw our welcoming party approaching which made me blink. "Welcome to Paradisum City, guests. Feixiao, may I assume you wish to be directed towards Lady Tabane?"

'Holy shit... A maid army of androids and ship girls!' I thought with wonder at seeing several 2B and other Nier androids following alongside several shipgirls in maid uniforms with Belfast leading this group.

Then Belfast tilted her head to the side and said with some confusion even if elegantly, "Has... Some issue befallen you on the trip? Weren't you coming back to trade in minerals and basic supplies?" 

Feixiao let out a loud laugh and said easily. "Yeah don't worry. Just lead us to an open patch. Our new little buddy right here has a spatial spell of sorts. So lead on maid queen, he needs to drop stuff off, and I want to let Tabane take a good look at him."

Belfast let out a demure hum before nodding gracefully and saying to me. "Very well. Let us deal with the labor before we may settle in for some tea."