Chapter 164 – Floor 15: Part 10
New York City was different in this world.
Mathew remembered the city clearly, something that couldn’t be said about his other memories of home. His parents' faces, friends, job, and everything about his previous life before the Tower of Avarice were hazy as if he were trying to remember a dream.
But he could recall New York City vividly. The buildings, the streets, the smells. Even now, he could close his eyes and picture it in detail.
Mathew couldn’t see many traces of his old home in this strange town as their ship approached the harbour.
Sure, some things were the same. He could find hints of his New York in the terrain and rivers, the shape of the island and the surrounding lands. But New York City had never had a gigantic stone wall surrounding it, peppered with cannons and guarded by thousands of people against an army of Demi-Beasts that controlled most of the continent.
The United States of America didn’t exist in this world. No, instead, they had the United Colonies. No American Revolution was throwing off the yoke of their oppressors over taxes and unfair representation. Instead, Anglia, Francia and the kingdoms and Empires that had formed colonies here withdrew support and control because the cost wasn’t worth it.
There were millions of people in the Americas, men and women all doing their best to survive in a hostile environment. New York, Boston, and a few other major cities on the East Coast were all that remained. There had been settlements in the West, but they had fallen decades ago.
It was into this war torn fortress city that Mathew and the others arrived. After docking and speaking to the officials in charge, they were escorted to a large apartment complex that had been set aside for their use and told to wait until the City’s Governor could spare time to speak to them.
Standing in front of the large window and staring out over the city, Mathew could see that most of the structures were made of wood, and the streets were unpaved and muddy. It was a far cry from the modern New York City he was accustomed to.
Occasionally, patrols would march down the roads with rifles held in their hands and large, metal containers strapped to their back like packs. When he inquired about them, he had been told that it generated steam to propel the rifle's projectile at extreme speeds.
It was more efficient than using magic and mana to replicate, at the cost of being less effective against the Demi-Beasts.
“Tell me about the Kraken.” Mathew asked again, more to fill the silence than any need to be reminded of the details regarding their target.
“Ancestral Beast of the ‘Merrow,’ corrupted Merfolk twisted by its influence into Demi-Beast monsters. They are said to have a city under the sea, although no one has ever been able to verify that.” Enalious began his explanation.
“Because the Merrow kill and eat any human stupid enough to try.” Daphne added dryly.
“The Kraken has not been seen in centuries, not since the colonies were first established on these shores. The Merrow assault ships that make the Atlantic crossing. I am extremely surprised they did not make an attempt on us; there have been significantly less traffic across the ocean since we abandoned the colonies to their fate.” Enalious finished.
“Any weaknesses? How do we kill it?” Mathew asked, and Enalious shrugged in response.
“The Merrow are weak to electricity; lightning spells work the best. They are also not fond of the cold; the attacks on our settlements cease when the first snow falls. Strange, since they live in the depths where the temperature is low.” Enalious explained.
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“Spears and harpoons work as well, but they have to be enchanted. The Merrow have thick skin and scales, and I can only assume the Kraken will be the same.” Marten offered.
“We have everyone equipped with magical weapons, but we’ll need to stock up on spears and harpoons from the local stores here in the city. It may take some time to complete our preparations.” Louis spoke up.
“Time isn’t an issue. I feel that the Governor here is going to drag his feet every step of the way.” Alfred inserted.
“Would you be so eager to help us out if you knew what we were here to do? A couple of crazy Princes and their retinues out hunting Ancestral Beasts? I would also want to keep me and my people as far away as possible.” Marten countered, but no one could argue with him.
“I’ll handle the Governor. You lot need to concern yourselves with coming up with a plan to draw the Kraken out of its hiding place. I don’t like the idea of descending into the ocean to hunt it.” Mathew ordered.
“I’ve been thinking about that. What we need is a tempting enough target that it won’t be able to resist going after it. Here, take a look at this.” Alfred offered, pulling out a roll of parchment and placing it on the table in front of them. He weighed down the corners with a few wine glasses and the odd knickknack found around the room.
Mathew leaned over to take a look. There was a complicated series of magical runes on the parchment, along with sections where three Ancestral Beast hearts would be located. On the right-hand side was a list of words that Mathew recognized as spell-casting components used by the mages of this world.
“A Ritual. What does it do?” Mathew asked.
“Nothing. This is all intricate gibberish; the mana will flow through the symbols and disperse.” Enalious explained, tracing the lines with his finger. Mathew quirked an eyebrow at Alfred, looking for an explanation.
“He’s right. This won’t do anything aside from pumping out a lot of mana along with the scent of its source. Ancestral Beasts are very jealous; their connection to their territories means that they will not like another coming here. If the Kraken thinks an Ancestral Beast is located in New York, or wherever else we conduct this ritual…”
“It will come right for us.” Mathew finished, nodding as he studied the diagram. He looked up at Alfred.
“Good work. So, we have a plan. Now, we just need the Governor to sign off on it. Otherwise, we’ll need to try out luck somewhere else. But having a large wall and a ton of cannons at our backs would be preferable.”
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“Absolutely not.” The Governor replied.
Mathew and Louis stood in the Governor’s office, a well-constructed and furnished room not far from where they had taken up residence. Unlike the rest of the town, the windows here didn’t look at the wall surrounding the entire city. Instead, lush, green lawns and trees blocked it from view.
The Governor was a middle-aged man in his forties with grey hair and a mustache that had a slight curl. He wore a military-style uniform and had a sabre belted at his side. If he was off-put by the fact that not only had the Prince of Anglia come to see him, but the Prince of Francia joined him, he didn’t show it.
After they had given a simple rundown of what they wanted to do, resupply, and use New York as a staging ground against the Kraken, the governor stood up from his desk and shouted. He ignored the tea that had been spilt over the stack of papers he had been reviewing.
“I will not allow the Merrow to view New York as a threat to their domain. If I give you the supplies you seek and shelter you from their wrath, they will destroy the entire city.” The Governor explained, his mustache quivering in a combination of fear and anger at their request.
“The Merrow already see New York as a threat. What difference will this make?” Mathew asked.
“They see New York as a feeding ground! They raid ships and merchants in order to steal their supplies and crews! They have not directly assaulted the walls in three years!” The Governor bellowed, and Mathew winced at the loud noise.
“They will again once they learn that fewer ships intend to make the crossing. Better to face them now, with our assistance, than alone.” Louis interjected.
“As if the two of you will be of much use. You have what, a hundred knights and mages between you? Bah!” The Governor responded, dismissing the notion with a sharp wave of his hand.
“We’ve killed three Ancestral Beasts already.” Mathew stated, and the Governor froze. That wasn’t something you heard every day. Word hadn’t yet reached the Americas of their efforts in Anglia and Francia.
“We have a plan to draw out the fourth. I would prefer to do that here, with a wall and cannons to assist, but I’m willing to compromise and do it alone. But we need supplies, Governor. We packed as much as we could on the ship, but it’s not going to be enough. We’re just asking that you give us what we need to put this monster down for good.” Mathew reasoned.
“If…If I were to agree to your request and let you operate from behind the walls, what would be in it for me?” The governor asked, and Mathew scoffed.
“Aside from a safer coast and an end to the Merrow abducting your people?” Mathew looked at Louis, who shrugged.
“It has been said that the Kraken’s lair has many treasures. We do not have the time or means to search it. That task can be left to you.” Louis added, and the Governor’s face lit up with greed.