Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 598: Factional conflict

Chapter 598: Factional conflict

As Alex and Ana continued to converse in low tones while indulging in breakfast with the latter utilizing her senses to keep a close eye on her room on the upper floor to avoid getting robbed, Ulysses arrived, seemingly exhausted from his time out in the city.

Alex offered him a seat, and Ulysses took it with a low thank you before proceeding to plant his face on the table, letting out a long-winded sigh in the process.

Alex and Ana exchanged looks before the former inquired. "What’s the update?"

"There’s good and bad news, which do you want to hear first?"

"The good news is that I was able to secure a willing airship to take us to the Boundary though he only agreed to do so after I told him that he wouldn’t have to reach the Boundary."

"What’s the cost?"

"Ten gold coins per day. He initially said thirty but I was able to beat it down."

"How long would it take from here to the Boundary?" Ana asked with Ulysses replying.

"Give or take, ten days, if we are lucky."

"If we are lucky?" Alex raised a brow at the worrisome statement.

Ulysses nodded as he turned to ask for a glass of water from the bartender before turning back to the duo to respond. "I believe I have mentioned Mobile cities during one of our earlier discussions aboard Athena."

"You have," Alex replied before adding. "Cities on wheels, right?"

"More or less," Ulysses remarked. "Sure, not all of them are ruled by barbarians but the ones that are ensure that traveling the Henosian outback is no small matter. Barbarian tribes are most likely to attack any lone airships they come across to strip them of parts and people. Also, according to the captain I spoke to, the barbarian tribes have grown quite aggressive lately, launching attacks haphazardly."

"So if we are unlucky, we might come across a barbarian tribe?"

"Yes and since those tribes usually move erratically, I can’t claim to know any safe routes," Ulysses said before adding. "So we can only hope that we will be lucky enough. Otherwise, we’d have to consider the possibility of facing off against barbarians."

"How strong are they?"

"Well, on the plus side, they don’t believe in modern mysticism, instead believing in the art of shamanism which involves specially selected people sharing communion with their patron deity, the Berserk god. Also, you don’t have to worry about Mystics among their ranks."

"They don’t seem all that tough," Ana admitted with Ulysses shaking his head.

"Don’t underestimate those bastards. They thrive in battle and are nothing short of war-hungry animals. The only reason they haven’t been able to conquer the Solomon Alliance is because they are in a pact with the Goddess of Automation. Without her support, most of the city-states would have succumbed to the madness of the barbarians, falling to ruin."

"We’ll try to avoid them if possible. Ana, try and weave us a bit of good luck." Alex remarked with Ana replying.

"I’ll see what I can do."

"So you said there was a bit of bad news. What’s that about?"

"Give me a minute, I’m starving." Ulysses intoned as he got to his feet and rushed to the bartender to ask what was available using Kantoj, the nationally accepted language of the Solomon Alliance.

Because the twelve, formerly thirteen, state alliance was created by different factions with different languages and dialects, it was important for a single language to be adopted for ease of communication and as a show of camaraderie amongst the states, hence the adoption of Kantoj, a language created over a hundred years by the TruthSeekers.

In any case, after getting a quick rundown of what was available to eat, Ulysses decided to go along with the same meal Alex and Ana had ordered, with the bartender asking him to wait.

Five minutes later, a young lady, looking no older than eighteen with a head full of brownish-red hair, stepped out of the back where the kitchen was with Ulysses’ order.

Ulysses accepted it while eyeing the lady for a bit longer than necessary.

Only when the bartender coughed did he regain himself long enough to realize his mistake as he returned to join Alex and Ana with an embarrassed look on his face.

Alex said nothing while Ana was more than willing to tease the young lad. "I’m sure we could spare some time for you to talk with her. I heard her name was Cassandra."

Ulysses coughed awkwardly as he replied. "That’s not necessary."

"Alright, enough of that," Alex said as he turned to Ulysses. "You were talking about some bad news?"

"Ah yes." Ulysses recovered quickly, thankful that Alex had given him a way out. "We won’t be able to leave for a while."

"Why?"

"The chances of getting struck down by an Automaton is quite high."

"Firstly, what is an Automaton, and secondly, why would we be struck down?"

Taking a deep breath, Ulysses asked. "Remember the explosion from last night?"

"I do."

"It was caused due to a clash between two opposing factions, the Automatons and the Three Ring Bazaar."

"I don’t think that answers any of my questions." Alex calmly remarked with Ulysses replying.

"I’m getting there, don’t rush me."

Then, he continued. "Now to your first question, Automatons are servants of the Goddess of Automation, humans that loved the goddess so much that they were willing to give up their physical forms to become machines loyal to the goddess."

"So basically cyborgs?" Alex asked with a raised brow.

"Cy- what?"

Realizing his blunder, Alex replied. "Never mind."

"What about the Three Ring Bazaar?" Ana asked. "Are they servants of another deity?"

"Mn." Ulysses nodded. "They worship the Jester. Most of their origins and what they are capable of is shrouded in secrecy, so I can’t say much about them, but I can say this: we absolutely have to avoid them as much as we can."

"Are they dangerous?"

"It depends on how you look at it. But they can be quite the troublesome bunch." Ulysses said with Alex nodding.

"That’s fine. Though things might change depending on what happens while we are here."

Knowing that this was the best he would get, Ulysses moved on. "Anyways, the Goddess and the Joker have been in conflict for a long time. So naturally, that relationship was transmitted to their servants."

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