City of Fallen Souls: A LitRPG Adventure (UnderVerse Book 3) by Jez Cajiao (fb2 epub reader .txt) 📕

to the best of my ability, speak no lie to him when commanded otherwise, and treat all other citizens as family.

I will work for the greater good, being a shield to those that need it, a sword to those that deserve it, and a warden to the night.”

“I will stand with my family, helping one another to reach the light, until ten years have passed, the hour of my death, or my Lord releases me from my oath.”

“Lastly, I will not be a dick!”

“Thank you.” I nodded to each of them, then drew out a second book and set it down on the table before them, turning it around so that I could be sure they could read the cover.

“’Mana Engine Integration’ and ‘Magical Device Creation’ are two books I’d imagine you’d each find a use for, considering they’re journeyman ranked,” I said, watching their eyes bugging out. “So, here’s the deal. Get your ships ready to fly in two days, by midnight. Anyone you plan to bring will need to be aboard, and I’ll give you these books. Two of you get the reward when we’re in the air. The third gets to pick when we get back to the Great Tower.”

“Ah, Lord Jax…” Viktoria said apologetically. “We’re… Finbar an’ me, I mean, we’re on th’ Ragnarök. She’s in th’ middle of a refit, but I think w’ can make it, iffin we work hard. But t’ battleship? It be a shell, tha’ be all…”

“It can’t be done,” Elise said angrily. “We’ve only just started installin' the engines. They need test firin', the entire structure be needin’ fixin' and powerin' before we can fly, an’ we won’t be given all the parts we need until next week!”

“The way I hear it, she’s got the basic systems, right? Just none of the trimmings?” I asked, and she snorted.

“Aye, iffin ye call decks an’ cannons, walls an’ cabins as ‘trimmings’!” she said, shaking her head in disbelief.

“But she could fly, if you had the manastones?” I pressed.

“Well, aye, but she’d be a bitch to guide. She’d no have a helm, nor decks. She’s literally just got th’ structure in place, and th’ mana channels laid down. Th’ engines will only be fired to test iffin w’ need te add more!” she said, frustration clear in her voice. “An’ even iffin we could get her launched, then what? They’d send ships after us! We’d have no cannons, no decks, no hull t’ absorb hits. We’d just have t’ turn around an' land, an’ then we’d all be sent t’ prison!”

“But if I could get you cover, you could fly it, with hundreds of people aboard, as well as equipment and supplies?” I asked firmly.

“Well, aye, but we’d no get far…”

“Then do it; do whatever you need to. You’ll have friends turning up tomorrow night and the night after to help you. Tell your people that they’re there to work off a debt, or that the nobles want the ship done. Tell them anything you want, but get the ship ready!”

“You’re changing the plan…” Mal groaned, rubbing his temples.

“I’m fixing it. Taking hundreds of people out by the Smuggler’s Path was never going to be a good option, and we’d always planned on stealing a few ships to carry everything.” I smiled. “Good to meet you three, though I think you all need to go now, and get to work… oh, and one last point. The deal is only on if you all make it. Three books, or none.” I said, smiling evilly as they started to protest.

“Ah, ah! Now go on, get to work. I’ll make sure you get some help tonight!” With that, I waved them to the door, which Grizz opened for them, grinning at their attempts to change the deal. He closed it firmly in their faces as Mal started swearing at me.

“You crazy bastard! The ships were going to be the small ones, ones we could run fast out to sea and swing around with; now these? We can’t do this!”

“We can… if we take more ships…” I said, smiling.

“Oh god, no…” Mal swore, rubbing his eyes. “Look…”

Mal’s tirade cut off before it got properly started as a loud knock on the door interrupted us. It opened to reveal both Mistress Nerin and Augustus.

“You!” she snapped, pointing at me. “It’s about time! I’ve a bone to pick with you, boy, and it’s not one you’ll like!”

“Mistress Nerin,” I said, attempting a smile at the platinum-haired woman who glared at me. “It’s great to see you…”

“Don’t give me that, boy! You cost me my shop! It was looted to the damn wood by the time I got back from helping you!” she said, striding in and poking me in the forehead.

“Ow!” I rocked back and glared up at her, noting that the Legionnaires’ protectiveness that had previously kept her back had evaporated at some point, and now they were all grinning.

“Well? What have you got to say for yourself?” she snapped, and I grinned up at her mischievously.

“That I’d like to offer you a job as the official Healer at the Great Tower?”

“You already asked me to join you, boy. Have you forgotten?” She crossed her arms, her stare boring through my skull, and I shook my head.

“No, but I know that you’ve lost the only reason to stay here now, so how about you reconsider and come with us? I’ll introduce you to Ashante? Maybe chuck in a new healing spell or Skillbook?”

“And a hell of a lot of gold!” she fumed. “I’ve been healing people ever since I met you, and not one has paid up yet, so you better be good for it!”

“So, we’re agreed then?” I pressed. “I’ll give you a Spellbook, and a healing-oriented Skillbook, and some gold, and you’ll be a member of the Great Tower, taking over the role of official healer?”

“Not ‘some gold’ boy! A lot!” she corrected, and I quirked an eyebrow at her.

“So, what’s a lot to you?” I