THE RUST

In addition to the smell of rust, oil and gunpowder, Glax found a metal ruin at the top of the hill. A huge facility falling apart on the edge of a cliff. Now it was a kind of entertainment center for the strong at heart.

To the west, he realized that a gigantic cable-safe freight elevator had served in the past to drain the cargo from a small port, also in ruins on the river bank.

Stapolis was cut by three rivers, he had accidentally discovered, because Hikesias really hated silence. The main structure looked like it would still resist, but oxidation had already devoured a lot. He started walking around the place, attracted by what he saw.

People were scattered between something that happened in the big elevator, and other attractions across the wide space lit by torches and gas lamps.

In fact, gas lamps… They seemed to be something very appreciated by this subculture Glax found there. Some women wore small and large lanterns as ornaments on their heads. Some men did, too, but to a lesser extent. Many of the people there were with their friends just hanging out and showing off their extravagant clothes.

Glax could understand the mood completely. It was like a Cosplay event, where they could use items that had no practical use, but were cool as hell.

Hell. Hehe.

Aside from being amused by his own silly mental jokes, everything he saw fascinated him. He didn't think he was going to find lovers of 'old' forbidden technology.

Artisans showcased and sold ornaments made of brass and iron, of no practical use, but which emulated armor and weapons. Some bad-looking young people had burn marks on their hands and also wore masks, probably to hide burns by oil or steam.

'Jeez… Are they enthusiastic amateurs who got seriously injured trying to create weapons, or were injured by them, actually?' It was difficult to know, just as it was difficult to know what the old factory produced in the past. Many things seemed to have been dilapidated, and only what they could not carry remained. Even that was pretty much destroyed.

Glax reflected that the technology used there was nowhere near the same as what he saw in Armorion. He realized that there were also game rooms: dice, the inevitable memory games, a very popular type of game where you could stick your hand in a box and try to get a ball out of it... if your fingers would not get caught in a guillotine first. Frog racing? There was that, too, in long glass tubes.

There was an intriguing kind of skating duel, and Glax was mesmerized for a while, watching his opponents' agility chase and face each other with gladios. The fighter was disqualified if his two feet touched the ground.

High sums of money were being wagered there.

At the end of a fight, he looked around. Glax still hadn't found what he wanted, and he wasn't sure how to get there.

"In the past, when the Echelian clans did not yet have a treaty, the King of Stapolis made a deal with the Steam People ... They built this great facility, which they called 'Officina'," Hikesias spoke excitedly. Glax was startled, with that unexpected voice telling what he saw.

"What was that for?" he asked, turning around.

"They forged weapons here. The ore got here by river and they forged weapons. Stapolis was a great weapons producer in the style of the Steam People! And then these weapons were sent to the other clans ... But it didn't take long and the King was deposed, and not long after, the Echelians became a single clan, with the Alliance."

"Didn't the Echelians use these weapons?"

"The Krios of the clan who live further north didn't want to be involved with the Steam People. Well, they, too, did not want to get involved with the vselys, but for other reasons ... What matters is that Stapolis produced many weapons before the Steam War. There were also plans for a train..."

"And who won the Steam War? " Glax asked excitedly, only to regret it afterwards. His guide's surprised and judgmental look made him want to swallow his words.

But before Hikesias could say anything, Glax felt sandwiched by smooth marshmallow textured surfaces on either side.

'Are these… boobs?'

Looking at each side in surprise, he came across two girls, looking up at him with make-up eyes.

"Lord Kroton, pay us a round, huh? Would you pay us a round, kind sir?"

He swallowed. The two girls continued giggling and pressing their breasts against Glax, introducing themselves.

"I am Arin and this is my friend Uniq, Lord Kroton. Join us for a game match, pay us a round, uh?"

Those cosplayers cornered him shamelessly! It hadn't happened since he cosplayed Sasuke at a comic con!

Their earrings with gears and wings and necklaces with nuts and chains swayed while their tiny fake armors, not at all like the general ladies' he knew, tinkled with each movement. One was blonde and the other had red dyed hair, a bit faded though.

But both were tempting. Glax felt an unmistakable warmth and tingling overtake various parts of his body, although he remained apparently unmoved.

These girls did not seem at all aware of the new concepts about sexism in the cosplay universe. They were completely old school from what he could see... And he could see a lot.

'These seducers are in the hunt for an ambulant wallet and they don't even pretend they're not...!'

"Okay, what do you really want?"

"Oh, Lord Kroton! You are so cool!" They exclaimed. Arin, or Uniq, ran her hand under his belt, attaching herself to her prospective patron.

Even if Glax was 60% flattered, he was still able to reason. Unfortunately, the haunting image of that damned pythoness dancing and saying things like 'the hand that caresses you will be the hand that will betray you' had come back very clearly in your mind.

The other girl grabbed his arm.

"Come on, come on! Lord Kroton, you will like it, come!"

Being dragged by the two girls, Glax heard the plea behind him,

"Boss. I'm sure you should pay me an hour in advance!"

:::::::::::::::

The girls were interested in knowing everything about him. But just as they presented themselves with obviously false names, Glax decided to do the same.

"I am Neo."

"Neo?"

He controlled his urge to laugh, and nodded solemnly. For two fish he bought everyone a drink, including Hikesias.

"Well, girls, I'm looking for someone, but I don't know exactly who he is. But you seem to know everyone here."

"Lord Kroton, ... Neo! If you are looking for some disaffection, we cannot help. This place is an Elysium… A place where nobody can be attacked or arrested."

"Not quite," interrupted Hikesias. "If you duel, it won't be a problem, as duels are allowed."

"Well, your friend is technically right, Neo ..." Arin purred. "But I thought he was going to take a walk with us to get to know everything that is fun and tasty here..."

"And Neo is looking for someone specific to duel?" Uniq asked.

"No, nothing like that. I need a dealer. A bold businessman who is capable of achieving anything."

"Uh, there are some people like that around here, but I think there is only one person in the whole Rust who can get ANYTHING," Arin said after exchanging a look with her friend. Uniq nodded.

"However, Neo, he's a difficult and capricious person. Everyone obeys him around here. Nobody wants to get in trouble with him." They warned. "Can we let him know you need to speak to him? Why don't we go upstairs to see the view of the river and the wharf?"

Glax figured it was really the kind of problem he was going to face. But he couldn't waste any time. I also didn't want to give them time to find out who he was.

"Where is he? I go to him."

"Okay, Lord Kroton. Medon is in the Elevator. That's where he usually stays. Are you going to take us there?" They got excited.

"What's so special about there?"

"Oh… Duels. High stakes... It's the area for those who have money have fun ... Or have Medon's friendship..."

Glax didn't have a detailed plan of what to do next, but when he understood he should go to the Elevator, all he could do was get to the next step.

"Take me there, girls! Let's have fun in the Elevator! You are my guests!"