Vol. 4 Chap. 20 Hungry Machine

Reality frivolously sighed and made his manner down into town under. He was fairly positive Starbrite wasn’t right here, however he needed to begin someplace. He had the nagging sensation that he was lacking one thing. There have been some parts of what he was seeing that didn’t add up. That often meant he was both lacking data, or misunderstanding the attitude of the individuals who set every part up.

He hadn’t stored very shut observe of the information since… nicely, since he began the struggle. It will all be propaganda, in fact, however it could be fascinating to see precisely what propaganda they had been selling. He slipped into the tasteless mediocrity of Gamphe with barely a ripple.

There have been roadblocks, in fact, navy roadblocks with loads of surveillance and some inner safety officers discreetly stashed close by. It’s not that they had been doing a nasty job, it’s simply that they had been by no means constructed to catch somebody like him. He simply walked proper previous them. Watching them problem folks about making an attempt to journey with out the appropriate allow, or with an expired allow, or utilizing the fallacious form of waiver request.

Not a single well mannered smile to be seen. Nonetheless conscripts manning the visitors stops, which was fascinating. That was often the sort of work they had been assigned, in fact, however the regulars wouldn’t have been dedicated to the entrance traces but. Have been all of them establishing defensive positions exterior town?

Gamphe was the identical bleak grey it seemed like from the surface as soon as you bought to the within. Surprisingly broad streets, he seen. Extra like highways operating via the center of town. Military wagons had been operating up and down them, bullying the smaller carriages out of the way in which. Not a lot in the way in which of pedestrian visitors, Reality seen. Although which may simply be as a result of he was nonetheless on the most important roads.

Fairly a queue of southbound carriages although. Everybody within the automobile acquired their sigil checked, then had been waved via. Fascinating. A partial evacuation? It will make sense, however there was no manner they’d evacuate the entire metropolis. Simply too huge, and simply an excessive amount of manufacturing functionality right here. He didn’t know what was being made in all these factories, however one thing positive was. VIsit n0(v)eLb(i)n.com for the most effective novel studying expertise

Reality slowed as he thought that one via. Simply how laborious would it not be to transform a manufacturing unit producing… say… water talismans, to producing needler ammo? Or would it not make extra sense to maintain on making water talismans, however tweaked to Military specs? Whenever you acquired proper all the way down to it, the civilian market would nonetheless want them too. They didn’t final eternally, and the rolling mana-storms have to be enjoying hell with them.

He might really feel his face twitching as he jogged alongside the street. It was one other a type of issues he might form of determine, with out actually getting a way of the scope of it.

Like a strategic curse projector- Reality knew it was a system of techniques. He might determine a number of the techniques. However what all of them had been, or did? The best way to use the entire system-of-systems? The best way to use all of it as an built-in a part of the struggle? Not an opportunity. That wasn’t the sort of factor the Military taught throughout your one-year obligatory nationwide service. It definitely wasn’t coated by the SAT.

Wasn’t coated by PMC coaching both. At the least, not for him.

Somebody on the market, in all probability a number of someones, had been working laborious to maintain the wheels turning and the nation transferring. Somebody on the market was maintaining a tally of the techniques of techniques. All these delivery containers, tracked from their level of origin, to their level of supply. He tried to think about what it could be like- to face in a spot the place you could possibly observe every tonne of iron to every element, to the wagons and carriages they went into.

Somebody was doing that, or one thing very prefer it. They must be- you couldn’t have an industrialized society with out it. Nobody was going to ship the apprentice to nip ‘spherical to the ironmongers for fifteen thousand tonnes of gentle metal.

It was a heady notion. He barely regretted not choosing the Doomsday Guide as his Degree 5 spell. There was one thing undeniably seductive about seeing all of the connections. About understanding, actually understanding, how every part suits collectively.

Reality seemed across the grey, bland authority of the grey bland industrial Gamphe, and grinned. He had simply arrived, and couldn’t wait to go away. Earth Folding Step was clearly the appropriate alternative for the Idiot on the go.

First issues first- meals. He was jonesing for an egg sandwich. Nowhere did egg sandwiches like Jeon did ‘em. There was, nonetheless, an absolute dearth of carts or distributors round. Hmm. He discovered a store promoting cleansing talismans, and requested the nervous wanting clerk behind the counter.

“Hey, any concept the place I can get an egg sandwich round right here?”

“At dwelling!” The clerk snapped. This acquired a gradual blink from Reality. Customer support tradition was no joke in Jeon. In actual fact, talking to a buyer like that might usually be an instantaneous dismissal.

“You stated what now?” His voice was deceptively gentle. He wasn’t going to scrag the poor bastard for being quick, however he was totally prepared to spend a little bit time on some inventive unpleasantness.

The clerk had the decency to wince and bow.

“I apologize, you have to have simply come into city. All of the meals carts had been ordered closed. Army order. Meals hygiene and rationing violation considerations, apparently.”

Ah. And presumably he had household that ran a cart.

The golem did its finest to sound chipper. Reality felt one thing in him snap.

“Not a jury on this planet would convict me. Not that Jeon had a jury system. Nonetheless, any simply Justice of the Peace would perceive the rightness of my trigger too. Any human being, any sapient rat, can see that is the one manner.”

The Golem jolted and a community of glowing crimson formations began rising on its physique.

“Warning. Primarily based in your language and demeanor, you’re considering damaging property belonging to Blissful Blissful Mart. This Buyer Service Interface is programmed to reply with proportionate power primarily based on B-Tier Property Safety Privilege. Blissful Blissful Mart, its mother or father firms and its workers should not accountable for any accidents or dying you could endure because of this Interface’s lawful actions.”

Reality nodded. That was kind of the identical degree of safety upper-mid tier corps had for his or her property. Considerably comforting to know some issues didn’t change.

It will be past simple to disable the golem. Barely a slap required, actually. Extra of a faucet. Ditto the glass. After which he can be left with… a Blissful Blissful Mart Bean Curd Noodle Bowl.

Oh boy. Wow. So tasty. Oh wait, there have been some alarmingly skinny sandwiches, containing extra air than fillings. That was an choice. These weren’t the massive, jaw-straining egg sandwiches of his reminiscence. Nowhere was the heaps of cabbage, the a number of sauces, the gratuitous quantities of cheese. Nowhere was the crusty brown exterior evident. Simply bland white on white, like a sandwich comprised of packing foam.

The fury drained out of him. It was simply too rattling pointless. He turned on his heel and marched off. Somebody, someplace, would have some first rate Jeon meals. He simply wanted to seek out it.

He jerked to a cease as a thought wormed its manner irresistibly into his thoughts. There was one usually uncontemplated turning level in his life, an opportunity to overlook Starbrite totally. He might have gone profession within the Military. They invited everybody, in fact, however given his service historical past and navy deserves, it could have been a fairly fast rise via the NCO ranks. Wouldn’t have gotten him the “good” house or the advantages for the sibs, but it surely had been an choice.

A beneficent smile blossomed on Reality’s face. Time to see if that they had a uniform in his dimension. He would possibly want to buy round within the camp for some time. However that was fantastic. He would discover one finally.

Three fruitful hours later, Sergeant Blouth Merichi strolled into the Blue Ox bar. “Hey bartender! Any probability of an egg sandwich for an trustworthy service man?”

“None.” The bartender seemed like he had been fashioned from scraps of shoe leather-based. “For you, nonetheless, I might be able to discover one thing.”

“Adequate.”

“Beer?”

“Tea. Iced for alternative. Scorching as balls on the market.”

“Reality.” The bartender nodded. Reality was pleased with the very fact he managed to not flinch.

He seemed across the bar. Fairly normal for a crummy bar anyplace. A bar, low cost booze displayed prefer it was price one thing, bottles in a reach-in chill chest. A couple of small tables with small chairs. A crummy scryball within the nook.

The bartender threw some butter down on a griddle and fished out some bread. “Should say you’re looking fairly relaxed, given the information.”

“Eh? I used to be simply up on the base, and have not gotten any new orders. What information?”

The bartender grinned at him. A horrible sight.

“Why, all the opposite international locations leaping in on the struggle. Seems like this combat’s going to have extra sides than a bowl of noodles.”