Chapter 365 You Have Been Spying On Us!
At first, Edward had been misled by the name of ‘Steel Earth’ into assuming that the Fourth Stratum was a realm of metals, which proved not to be the case after he looked around a bit more.
Aside from steel, there were many other things in this weird city of steel… such as food.
It was indeed very weird. After Edward noticed a building that resembled a restaurant in the steel city, entered and settled onto one of the ice-cold seats, one of the teapot automatons outside the building shambled inside and asked for his order-or something like that, since he didn’t understand a word of the text which that thing was showing on its lid, and hence simply poked one.
It was worth mentioning here that the name hovering over the teapot automaton’s head is ‘Silver Agent’ and was yellow, meaning neutral. Still, its name did not match the rather cool name, which was why Edward called it teapot in his head.
And soon enough, another teapot shambled inside while carrying a steaming steak.
Still, after having died a few times, Edward decided dying again would lose him too much EXP for his liking, not to mention dropping a level below. That was why he did not go bon appétit straightaway, and instead casted Detect on the steak.
And soon, the result of the appraisal appeared over the steak.
[Sky High Steak (consumable)]
[Item description: A steak made from a Sky High’s shell. The meat is as stiff as metal and unbendable, and edible since it is not poisonous—in theory. Recharges stamina.)
[Note 1: Has a chance of causing vomiting.)
(Note 2: “Hmm… this is soft but fatless, and feels rough and hard to the bite. It is so… Blargh!”-a certain high elf aiming to be a gourmet.) Edward: “…”
It would be better if he did not eat it.
Even though Edward assumed the teapot automatons would stop him if he left without eating, it turned out that the automatons did not pursue him at all even after he had already left the building. When he turned to check, he could see one of the teapots recycling his steak.
“I guess they really are neutral units…”
Edward shook his head, rather unsure what he should do now.
“Ah-!” That was when Joe yelled from a nearby building
Frowning, Edward’s Happy Flames promptly appeared in his hand while he dashed towards the direction of the shout, running into Jessica, who heard the shout as well along the way.
Princess Leah and Gou Dan had arrived when they reached the direction of Joe’s scream as well… but they were too late.
Joe… was lying in a room full of gold coins and was swimming through it.
“Joe! What are you doing?!” Edward yelled helplessly, frowning.
“Look, Edward! So many gold coins!” Joe only noticed Edward and the others then, and happily waved at them. “If we bring it back, Marni would definitely die from happiness!”
“Sorry, but that probably won’t work.”
Princess Leah had picked up one gold coin and was studying it, her Detect hence activating and revealing what the gold coins really were.
(Elven Gold (novelty)]
[Item description: A special alchemical creation by the high elves of the last age. Unless carried by its owners, Elven Gold disappears after being taken a certain distance away and would reappear where it was previously found.)
[Note 1: Ranked second in best anti-theft currencies of this world (Game Coin is ranked first)]
[Note 2: “We hadn’t need physical currency for a long time, damn it! Leave these wretched things here, or they would keep wasting the energy of the Starpulse Core whenever they activate!”-high elf technician]
As such, Princess Leah held the gold coin and walked out of the building, and she was just two hundred meters away when the Elven Gold disappeared.
At the same time, one gold coin appeared mid-air back in the room full of gold coins, clanging clearly when it landed.
“So, we can’t take them away… what a shame.”
Joe walked down from the pile of gold coins miserably.
It was fortunate that he was not greedy for money, and after having joined the Church of Games at a young age, his consumer practices had long since been distorted by game coins. He was therefore interested in the gold coins because it was new and interesting rather than out of greed.
“But this Steel Earth Stratum is really weird… there are no enemies in the building I went to, only some Silver Agents (teapots) that tailor clothes for people. Still, its fashion tastes are just a little weird, and it uses too little cloth…”
Princess Leah pondered, holding her cheek as her head tilted sideways.
“I’ve found a costume accessory maker myself,” Jessica added. “Those trinkets are beautiful, but anyone who doesn’t have high elf blood would be cursed for wearing it…”
“Everything looks perfect somehow, but there really isn’t anything practical.” Gou Dan said suspiciously then. “There are many plants in the building I checked, but most are ornamental, and there’s none grown for potions or food… So weird.”
“We have to keep looking… but is it really going to work if we keep investigating without a clue?” Princess Leah couldn’t help asking. “The steel city is grand and vast as we all could we see for ourselves, but I had not even seen its border. We don’t even know where our enemies are even now, and with four days left until this event ends, can we really find the key to clearing this stratum?”
Although Leah has talent for combat, was also easily influenced and had been instructed enough by Old Vanke to show some gift in politics, she clearly was not happy with a codebreaking event like this one.
“No need,” Edward chuckled just then. “I think I have an idea about what’s behind this floor.”
“What? Oh, right, what facility was the building you went too?” Gou Dan quickly asked, turning on his forum and was ready to write a post.
“The Elven Synchronized Intellect Nation (SIN) is an offensive weapon of the high elves and where they lived… but it is obvious that the Faint Crystal Stratum, Deep Wall Stratum and the Dark Sky Stratum aren’t fit for living, and that is why the high elves must have lived or settled their own tribe here!”
“I see… if that’s so, what we saw just now makes sense.” Joe put a fist over a palm in understanding, but soon became confused again. “But who is our enemy if that’s the case? How could we get to the next floor without enemies?”
“If my hunch is right…” Edward’s facial expression turned solemn just then-he looked around, before crying out at the top of his lungs, “You must have been spying on us all along, protectors of this city!”
