As we drove along the road we could see Lushingfort once again. The sight is both familiar from where we drove away just two days ago, and yet strange. Explaining the plan to Selene when she got back, I partially expected her to be resistant to the idea, but in a strange way she was agreeable to it. Though that might have partially come from the fact that I said I could look through my grandfather's alchemy stuff and maybe find one of the tools we needed to make the cure for her condition.
Even still as we drove Jax sat next to me in the seat as he looked down at our map. Our plan was a simple one, we would Travel to Lushingfort which we knew had a teleport gate, use the gate at Clayland which is on the other side of the mountains from Hopestone, and cross the mountains by going through the town at the top called Haremont. In total getting there and back to where we turned around at would take around 12 days. Another 17 would be needed to get to the tournament, which left us with an extra day to spare between all that.
As we arrived at the gates we pulled in and began to make our way down the road, this time not towards the normal teleport gate, but the one that included vehicles as well for a higher fee. A fee I volunteered to pay due to it being my suggestion and Idea. Yet even as the others hopped off so they could check out some shops that had planned to before Victors double quest day thing I was still surprised at the cost.
"So wait, it costs 2000 gold for the vehicle alone, and an additional 300 per passenger?"
I asked for what must have been the 3rd time with the shorter human man behind the counter rolling his eyes and saying.
"Yes, its not cheap, but it gets you there fast, now do you or do you not want to use our service sir?"
I could practically hear Will mumbling calculations in my head as I asked with a dejected sigh.
"Do pets count as passengers?"
The man gave me a bored look as he said.
"Yes, doesn't matter the size unless its bigger than a vehicle."
I slammed down the 4400 gold we would need to spend before taking my ticket angrily and stomping back to the vehicle. I stepped inside where Jax had been the only one to wait for me as he looked down at my significantly smaller coin pouch.
"Looks like someone is regretting this."
I shot Jax a look as I placed the ticket on the window and said.
"We have a few hours before we leave, anywhere in particular you want to go?
Jax seemed to take a moment to think before he looked back at me.
"I have a spot in mind, follow me."
Jax led us out of the teleportation gate terminal and down the road where we passed Victor and Little Fox who were talking with Liora as Liora seemed to be showing off a fancy new bracelet she had purchased. However Jax led us past before turning a corner to where a fancy black smiths area stood.
"Uh, Jax, this place is kind of expensive and I am spending basically half what the Duke gave me on this trip alone, not to mention fuel costs."
I said, giving Jax an apologetic look. Jax however rolled his eyes before reaching into his bag where he pulled out two things. The first was the receipt that the Guild had given us after turning in the remains of the crab that marked it as ours to be accessed from the guild vaults if we wanted the materials, while the other was the recommendation letter that the Duke had given us.
Jax set them down so his mouth wasn't full before he said.
"We have several hundreds of pounds of D rank monster parts that are fully intact, practically doubling the price. Plus the recommendation letter from the duke, we're gonna use it to make you some armor to help with keeping your new toy in check."
I crossed my arms, unconsciously feeling the Revolution core under my shirt as I said.
"It worked just fine when fighting the crab, I was actually really effective with it."
"Yea, you also set yourself on fire and had to consume a risky combined potion so you didn't burn to death, not to mention the complete paralysis after you let off a bunch of steam after the fight. You need something to help with that or its gonna get you hurt in a way a potion can't recover."
I wanted to argue, but Jax had already made his way inside. So I quickly followed him as I saw that several very ornate, and very expensive looking products lined the walls. Jax made his way confidently to the counter where a lightblood that seemed to have some kind of black haired beast in his sat and read a magazine. He glanced at us before he said in a haphazard tone.
"Prices here start at over 10k, so porcelain adventurers will find better prices for gear down the road."
"We have the money, and better yet, were getting a custom order because my friend here has a new toy he needs help keeping in check."
The man put down his magazine and made his way around the counter and over to me. I obligingly pulled down my shirt collar and showed the Revolution core as well as the small burn that hadn't healed yet. The man looked it over for a moment before his eyes widened in surprise.
"Where the hell did you get your hands on a revolution core?"
A bit surprised, I asked.
"You know about it?"
The man nodded as he began to take measurements while he spoke.
"Hell of a device, it's basically a small motor used by mecha designed to circulate Aether super fast. Turns out however the Inventor had a natural Aether resistance which allowed him to use it, when others got them installed it killed them, so they were mostly scrapped and the plans for them thrown away due to both the time it takes to build up enough of a tolerance, and the pain they caused in use."
Jax gave me a scowling look that seemed to be asking "And putting this thing in your chest seemed like a good Idea why?". I pretended to not see it as the man finished his measurements and walked back to the front counter. He seemed to check something over before he turned back to Jax.
"What payment will you be using, and how fast do you need it?"
"I have 300 pounds of D rank Cobalt crab material, and a Recommendation letter from duke Thenrindor. We need it done in a few hours."
The man looked at what Jax slid to him as he scratched his chin.
"The materials would pay for a D rank armor, the recommendation means I should make it C rank, but in a few hours is such a tight time crunch."
Jax unblinking reached into his bag and pulled out what was 15000 gold set into 3 bags of 5000 as he asked.
"Is it really so much of a time crunch if we're tipping?"
The man smiled and took the letter, ticket for the Crab, and bags of gold as he said.
"Not at all, do you mind sticking around so we can fit the armor just right?"
Jax nodded, but I stared at Jax flabbergasted as to why he of all people would suddenly spend 15000 gold just like that.
"My gods, this must be how you are always broke."
I said, shaking my head as I put my hands on my hips.
"Oh, I see, mocking me after I spend so much to buy you fancy armor, truly the comradery adventuring builds."
Jax said sarcastically as he batted his eyes like he was playing some crying damsel in an opera. I rolled my eyes at him as he chuckled and walked over.
"Consider it a thank you, I don't know what you said to Little Fox, but she actually looks at me without being scared now. Genuinely, it means a lot."
I wanted to say something else but an arm grabbed me as the smith began to drag me back.
"Come on, for the next 4 hours you're my manikin."
"Damn, are we sure this armor is worth it?"
Will asked most unhelpfully.