Titan: A LitRPG Adventure (UnderVerse Book 4) by Jez Cajiao (beach books .txt) 📗

the original crew, cursed to spend eternity protecting the city as punishment for their failure to protect it in life. Both types are extremely aggressive, and they won’t stay dead, so their presence had greatly slowed exploration and looting. Then there are then more common undead, risen skeletons, adventurers and explorers who were killed, that sort of thing. Lastly, there are rumors of feral creatures and Golems roaming the lower levels, as well.”

“Golems?” I perked up hopefully.

“Yes, and they are apparently extremely hostile to explorers, unfortunately. They seem to be unconcerned with the upper levels, but the ones closer to the core, they protect most assiduously. Teams sent into those never return.”

“Okay, well we can take a few days on the island, see what we can find, and if the Golems can be hacked, maybe?” I said to myself, rubbing my chin.

“Hacked?” Romanus asked. “Hacked apart, you mean? They are apparently made of several different forms, some metal, some stone…”

“Ah, no; where I come from, there were groups that ‘hacked’ secure locations and items, it means to take control of them, to remove their allegiance to the city, for example, and convert them to serve me.”

“Is this possible?” He frowned. “I mean, I saw the Golems on the main deck, but…”

“The deck?” I interrupted him abruptly. “What are they doing on the deck?”

“Standing,” interjected Athena. “They just stand there all day and get in the damn way. I’ve had my people shore up the deck underneath them, but I tell you, a wooden ship, especially one that’s half-built, is no place for those monstrosities!”

“No, I mean they’re just standing there? They’ve not been put to work?” I clarified, looking around. “Augustus, I told you I set them to obey your orders…”

“I’ve not been able to order them, Jax, unfortunately… and even when we arrive, the entrances to the Sunken City are legendarily small. They’re unlikely to be able to fit…”

“Augustus?” I cut him off.

“Yes, Jax?” he answered with a note of confusion.

“You do remember what the Golems are, right?”

“I do…?”

“Two of them are ‘Complex’ level, so they can order the others around. If you need things moved, like the wood that fills the corridors, or walls held in place in order to secure them, the Golems can make that happen. The one that’s a Servitor class is ‘Complex’ as well, which means it can independently build and repair shit. Tell me you at least made it help the Engineers?”

“I did not, Jax. In fact, I was ordered to stay away from them,” Augustus said stoically.

“Wait, so they didn’t ignore you because I set the orders incorrectly; you were ordered to stay clear of them?” I asked, and he nodded shortly. “Why?” I asked Romanus, who shook his head. “I wasn’t aware of these orders. I…” He turned suddenly to Alistor, who’d been growing paler by the second. “Alistor?” he pressed, and the Tribune swallowed hard before straightening.

“I ordered the Maniple Prime to stay away from the Golems. In fact, I ordered everyone stay clear of them, including your ‘people,’ Lord Jax. I received a report of them roaming wild and devastating the Magical Emporium just prior to our… exit… from the city. I see no reason to risk them doing the same here.” He glared at me, as though daring me to countermand his orders. I frowned, then replied.

“Well, I can understand you being cautious, but I’ll be clear. Next time I order that someone has authority over something, such as Augustus having the direct authority to command the Golems, they are to have unopposed access to that item. The Golems didn’t run wild. They were under my orders, and I took control of them; that’s how they ended up on this Airship.” I tried to maintain an even tone of voice, while internally, I was growling at this jumped-up shit.

“So, it’s true, then? You ordered them to loot and rob an innocent man’s property?” Alistor asked acidly.

“No, Tribune,” I retorted harshly. “I robbed the shop, and if you want to view the Golems as artifacts, I stole them as well. I, however, don’t. I am at war with that prick Barabarattas, and they were being controlled using Imperial Authority to guard a particular location. The ‘Emporium’ was originally a Golem repair facility for the city, one of several, and as near as I can tell, the only one that survived the Cataclysm. I used my authority as Lord of fucking Dravith to take command of the site, and yes, I took everything I could, considering that thecity is at war with me, and they remain the property of the Empire!” I paused, realizing how loud my voice had gotten and the way that the entire room was staring at me, and I took a deep, calming breath.

“Look, I apologize for shouting,” I said, reaching out a hand placatingly. “But seriously, you’re accusing me of a fucking crime? I’m at war with that city, and as such, so is the Empire. You, as a Legionnaire of the Empire, and as an Imperial subject, are therefore also at war with the city, which means you can loot the shit out of it, if it’s for the greater good, okay?” I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache building, and the warning, wriggling bar of light in the left of my vision, which had always signaled a migraine incoming, was growing brighter.

“We accepted you as our lord, Jax. Never fear; we understand our place, and the responsibility of the Legion,” Romanus said soothingly. “I apologize; you’ve barely survived your injuries, and we have exacerbated them, giving you stress at such a time. Perhaps if we could get some clarity on your orders, then you could rest for the day? Tomorrow, we can look to address more details,” Romanus offered.

“Fine,” I said tiredly, rubbing my eyes again. “Look, I’ll go rest for a few hours, see if I can get rid of this migraine. As to orders: yes, land on the