After driving for some time, Jeanne arrived at another mobile city bordering the tundra. Her plan was simple: restock her supplies here and then head straight into the frozen wilderness.
Originally, she hadn't planned on visiting this specific city. To restock for a trek into the snowfields, the neighboring city was far more suitable. Not only did it have a wider variety of goods, but more importantly, the prices there were at least twenty percent lower!
Perhaps this was due to the different roles the two cities played in the region; this particular city didn't make its living by being a supply hub.
However, the reality was that the other city had been utterly and completely destroyed overnight for unknown reasons. This left everyone planning to enter the snow realm with no choice but to divert to this city to resupply—including Jeanne, who had come from afar.
Walking through the streets of this city for the first time, Jeanne looked around curiously, observing her surroundings with a keen eye. The pedestrians were much the same as in any other city, though she heard this place actually boasted a university—a rare find indeed!
Based on Jeanne's understanding of Ursus, a university was a precious thing on this northern soil. It was as rare as finding a four-leaf clover in a massive flowerbed; in fact, it might be even rarer. Most university professors and administrators preferred the southern cities with their more pleasant scenery and comfortable environments. Who would want to attend college in this bitter cold? Was it for an education, or were they just looking for a way to suffer in their spare time?
"Hm?"
As Jeanne wandered aimlessly, her peripheral vision caught something familiar. She froze.
It was a Draco girl with sharp horns on her head and a long tail. At that moment, she was walking down the street with extreme caution, slipping past two Imperial Strikers.
What is Talulah doing here? What has she been up to lately?
Jeanne watched Talulah, who was moving warily through the streets, constantly scanning the crowds as if she were worried about being spotted.
In the past, Talulah had always been like this—slipping away for days at a time to go who-knows-where. But now... given her massive responsibilities and her "large family" of followers, did she really have the spare time to run out like this?
Jeanne could understand why she was so guarded. After all, the girl was an Infected. Walking down the street without a care in the world would be the real problem—that was just asking to be arrested.
Seeing how cautious Talulah was, Jeanne decided not to approach her directly and blow her cover. Instead, she chose to shadow her silently. Her plan was to wait for the perfect moment to step out and give her an old-fashioned surprise.
Relying on her near-supernatural Instinct, Jeanne kept her movements perfectly concealed. Talulah, despite her alertness, remained completely unaware of Jeanne's presence.
And so, the two of them played a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek through the city. Fortunately, both were experts at not drawing attention to themselves; otherwise, passersby would have certainly stared, wondering what on earth these two were doing.
Along the way, Jeanne noticed that Talulah's pace was quickening. But such small things couldn't trouble Jeanne; she had absolute confidence in her own speed. Even if Talulah ran until her legs gave out, Jeanne could still catch her.
However, Talulah didn't seem particularly familiar with the city's layout. she kept making circles, looking for all the world like she was lost. Jeanne had passed the same traffic light four times already. Is this dragon actually lost?
Finally, after a series of confusing turns, Talulah walked straight into a deserted alleyway.
"This place is desolate enough. I suppose this is the standard equipment for every mobile city on this land—a slum," Jeanne thought as she surveyed the area. The surroundings were dilapidated and bleak, offering very little that looked fit for human habitation.
It had to be said that the slums of Terra were the most expansive and unique regions Jeanne had ever seen. They weren't rare; they were everywhere. It seemed every mobile city survived only while being cradled by these belts of poverty.
The location of a slum was never a "prime" area. These were the small, valueless places the great figures looked down upon. Old, rusted pipes were everywhere—metal veins that had served the city for more years than anyone could count. At any moment, they might release a "beautiful" firework of steam and pressure, taking the lives of whatever unlucky souls happened to be nearby. But to the numb inhabitants here, that wasn't a threat; at most, it was just gossip to pass the time.
As Talulah went deeper, even the hollow-eyed residents vanished. Just how remote is this place that there isn't a single soul around?
"You've been following me for so long, and we've finally reached a place with no witnesses. Are you still not going to show yourself?"
Reaching a completely empty street, Talulah stopped and waited. When there was no response, she spoke in a sharp, commanding voice. Her crimson-red eyes swept across the open space, searching for the shadow that had been dogging her steps.
In truth, she wasn't 100% sure someone was there. She hadn't actually seen a pursuer once, but she had felt a persistent gaze on her back. It felt as if someone were stalking her, yet even when she nearly broke into a run, the stranger left no opening.
Talulah knew her pursuer was no amateur. She was puzzled—she had only come out for a quick trip; who could be good enough to track her like this? She couldn't tell if it was a coincidence, as she hadn't told many people about this solo excursion.
Finding no sign of the enemy, Talulah grew increasingly cautious. The air around her began to shimmer with rising heat, and the faint scent of sulfur drifted through the alley.
She had chosen this spot specifically. Not only was it wide enough to make hiding difficult for a stalker, but there was a more important reason: in this empty street, she could unleash her Originium Arts without restraint!
Talulah stood on guard, ready to strike the moment her enemy was forced out by the rising temperature. Unfortunately, because she had planned to enter the city, she hadn't brought her sword. Otherwise, she could have handled the threat with steel alone without relying on her Arts. Her fire and explosions were far too destructive and far too conspicuous in an urban environment.
Then, from a blind spot she hadn't noticed, a figure drifted close. A hand reached out and smacked Talulah right on the shoulder.
"Long time no see! Did you miss me?"
Jeanne greeted the "Fire Dragon" with her usual boisterous enthusiasm. But the sudden contact sent a jolt of pure terror through the hyper-alert Talulah.
Caught completely off guard, a cold sweat broke out across Talulah's back. Jeanne saw the dragon's tail stand straight up in that instant of shock.
And in the next heartbeat, Jeanne found herself staring down the business end of a fist wrapped in roaring flames.