章 1845: Breather

After nearly two weeks of leisurely travel, the Archimedes eventually reached another of the 30th Floor's most scenic and beautiful regions, a group of volcanic islands known as the Ember Isles. This was one of the primary residential districts of the 30th Floor, and, thanks to its temperate climate and inordinate beauty, more than six million Regulars had taken up residence on the circular chain of islands.

As one of the Floors that had come under the influence of the Workshop, the centermost region of the Ember Isles was host to a massive research facility that extended nearly 1.7km to the depths of the sea. Despite this, less than one-hundred-and-fifty personnel called the facility home. The rest of the inhabitants were different types of automatons, each involved in the cultivation and harvesting of resources that could only be found beneath the seabed.

Due to the secrecy of the Workshop, few people knew what they were harvesting deep beneath the water's surface. Some speculated there was a deposit of Suspendium located within the interlinking magma chambers between volcanoes. Others argued that the massive facility had been constructed to imprison an ancient Shinheuh, a beast rumored to have created the massive, crater-like, hole that existed within the encirclement of the unique island chain.

As was often the case, the truth was significantly less interesting than the speculation surrounding the mysterious facility. Its primary purpose was simply the mass-production of common goods that were used throughout the Tower. It did tap into the magma chambers beneath the seabed, but the reason for this was to harvest geothermal energy in order to allow the facility to run as efficiently as possible. This was also the reason why so few researchers were present within the facility and why the Workshop often used it as a venue to host the second round of the Workshop Battle.

Had the facility held any actual value, even the Jahad Army, much less six-million Regulars, wouldn't be able to approach within three-thousand kilometers. After all, when there were numerous people who could move at relativistic speeds and collapse continental shelves, security was something that was taken 'very' seriously. For this reason, most of the genuinely important facilities operated by the Workshop had never even been heard of.

The Workshop went to great lengths to prevent any an all information pertaining to their important facilities from leaking out. Thus, with the exception of certain networks belonging to the Empire and the Ten Great Families, they monitored virtually every communication between Workshop-produced Lighthouses, Observers, and Pockets. It was possible to bypass or disable this function if you were a skilled Light Bearer, but, the moment your actions were discovered, you would be blacklisted and consequently pursued by the Workshop's 'IP Enforcement Division'.

Though Jahad and the Ten Great Families were the undisputed rulers of the Tower, even the former acknowledged the power and influence of the Workshop. After all, virtually every powerful item that existed within the Tower had been manufactured by the Workshop. This included the armaments in Jahad's personal armory, and, though they had their own production facilities, most of the Flagships and Fortresses that represented the Jahad Army's military might were provided as a courtesy by the Workshop. They had also been instrumental to Jahad's ascent to the position of King, so, unless his hand was forced, he would never even consider opposing them.

Due to the unique relationship between Jahad and the Workshop, opposing the latter was the same as earning the ire of the former. As a result, there were 'very' few people who were willing to offend the Workshop, even within a notorious organization like FUG. Fortunately, there were a number of Elders within FUG who had close ties with several important figures within the Workshop, so, much like the Jahad Empire, they were afforded their own, private, communication network. After all, the Workshop wasn't subordinate to the Jahad Empire, so, if it meant furthering their goal of reaching the origin of all things, they didn't particularly care who they were working with...

---

With the Archimedes mooring itself in the skies above the geothermal factory, the Captain gave permission for the passengers and crew to disembark. They had prepared a number of Suspend Ships that could transport people directly to the surrounding isles, or, if you were more interested in the facility below, suites had been prepared for all qualifying participants of the Workshop Battle.

Though he wasn't particularly interested in the Ember Isles, Vahn had felt a growing need to escape from the Archimedes ever since news of his activities had reached the paparazzi. This was primarily the result of several jaded male Regulars, who, despite being told 'nothing' had happened, jumped to conclusions. They found it difficult to believe that he would just listen to a woman's woes before offering them spa and beauty treatments that eclipsed those available onboard the Archimedes. As a result, he had gained a reputation as a gigolo despite numerous attestations that outright refuted these petty claims.

Unfortunately, though they didn't bother him directly, that didn't prevent the various news outlets and gossip columns from spinning the hotly debated topic in a way that generated them the most revenue. This caused the negative sentiments he was receiving from other males to increase rather drastically, not because he had actually done anything wrong, but because they used the articles as an excuse to 'justify' their suspicions. This was one of the reasons Vahn had always hated the media, as, more often than not, it was just a means of manipulating people and generating propaganda.

Even after more than three-hundred-years, Vahn still couldn't understand the propensity of people to base their opinions on unverified and unsubstantiated claims. He also completely disdained the notion of 'confirmation bias' as it was effectively the 'death of reason'. There were actually people who would, quite literally, ignore facts that had been documented and verified through countless hours of research in lieu of completely unsubstantiated claims that coincided with their own views. Even worse were the people who would use this information as a means to justify violence, often attacking anyone who disagreed with them as if it was 'everyone else' who was wrong.

Fortunately, at least within the Empire, he didn't have to worry about such things, as, the moment people began to make libelous claims or disseminate misinformation, they would be immediately exposed as the frauds they were. He had no tolerance for people whose greatest contributions to society were its stagnation or regression, so, depending on the severity of their crimes, there was a very real chance they might be put to death. He didn't really care about rumors and gossip, but, the moment people began rallying behind a cause stemmed from misinformation, he wouldn't hesitate to expose, and, if necessary, crush them...

---

Though it didn't compare to the beauty of the Little Garden, Vahn had to admit that the Ember Isles were remarkably beautiful. Even the architecture of the coastal cities was similar to something you might find in a painting of a futuristic civilization that had learned to coexist alongside nature. There was virtually no pollution, and, though the waters could be exceptionally dangerous if you ventured too far, the interior sea was an awe-inspiringly beautiful, crystal clear, sapphire blue.

Since it was a good opportunity, Vahn put Arusha and Arryn on the spot by inviting them on a date and having them choose the destination. This was exceptionally awkward for the duo, as they both possessed somewhat submissive personalities, but, with a fair amount of positive reinforcement, it didn't take long for them to get into the swing of things. It helped that they had similar styles, and, though she hadn't possessed one prior to her 'upgrades', the fact Arryn now possessed a tail gave them a good excuse to peruse a number of brand-name clothing stores.

Though he couldn't deny it was very tiring at times, Vahn had always been fond of accompanying his women when they went shopping for clothes. He greatly enjoyed watching them change into a variety of different outfits, and, though he could always make or purchase apparel far greater than anything found in a store, it lacked the novelty of finding something new and trying it on then and there. It also gave him some insight into the girls' preferences, as, even with the Law of Identity, he couldn't know how someone truly felt until he had witnessed their behavior directly. After all, most people could list off a number of their likes and dislikes, but, as such things were never objective, it was impossible to know how they truly felt until you witnessed the emotional response it inspired in them.

Proving this point, Arusha, despite genuinely believing she 'hated' girly clothes, currently had a wide smile on her face as she posed in front of a mirror while wearing a frilly dress. She would never even consider wearing such clothing under normal circumstances, but, after hearing him affirm how cute she would look, it wasn't long before she had tried it on. Her peculiar black and white hair, styled in twin-tails, actually complimented the dress quite a bit. There was also a large white ribbon that tied over her predominately black tail, a perfect contrast to the large white ears twitching atop her head.

Since important things were often worth repeating, Vahn decided to hammer home the point by muttering, "Beautiful..." in an affectionate tone. This caused Arusha's smile to become even more radiant, and, though she didn't truly believe such clothing suited her, she convinced herself that it didn't matter so long as he believed they did. She had also come up with a number of 'convenient' uses for the dress, so, even if it was only for his sake, she wouldn't mind wearing a dress every now and again...

As this thought crossed her mind, Arusha's reverie was broken by Vahn shifting his attention to the nearby changing room. Her gaze followed his, and, as a result, her expression immediately became a flawless deadpan as they both witnessed Arryn emerge in an extremely revealing white bikini. This put her pseudo-synthetic body on full display, but, unlike before, she showed no aversion to having several people eye the lines marking the connection points between her various parts with a mix of intrigue and morbid curiosity.

Though there were connecting valves that allowed the fluids in her body to flow seamlessly, Arryn's body was constructed of fourteen parts, thirteen of which were interchangeable. This was originally intended to allow her to swap out damaged parts, and, when the situation called for it, she could also replace her limbs with various weapons and other augmentations. Now, however, they were a remnant of her former self, something she had asked Android 21 to preserve prior to her operation.

Rather than show any aversion whatsoever, Vahn couldn't help but smile when he saw the unique structure of Arryn's body. He wasn't particularly fond of the team that had turned her into a Gynoid, but he couldn't deny that their workmanship, combined with Arryn's natural beauty, had culminated into a masterpiece. This impression was unquestionably influenced by his appreciation for elves and his experiences with the Einzbern Family, but, more than anything else, Vahn felt a strong attraction to the confident glimmer that had appeared in Arryn's reddish-amber eyes...

It might be the result of her strength increasing far beyond her expectations, but, compared to her previous self, the current Arryn radiated an aura of tranquil confidence. She had not only accepted what she was, but who she was as a person. She was no longer someone's experiment, and, rather than feel unworthy of the grace she had been afforded, she felt blessed beyond comparison. All of this was the result of the man standing across from her, so, even though there were quite a number of other people present, only Vahn's figure entered her gaze. At the same time, she believed that he saw something in her that even she was unaware of, so, even though she felt guilty about stealing Arusha's spotlight, she couldn't help but want him to continue looking directly at her...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Wow. Such mystery. Much suspicion (OwO)...','Vahn might seem like a tyrant, but those who spread misinformation for personal gain are the cancer of society...','I can't help but wonder if Arryn has a 'literal' switch somewhere...')

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章 1846: Anticlimactic : Climax

Following the instructions they had received the prior evening, Vahn, Arusha, and Arryn proceeded to the waiting room that had been assigned to them. The second round of the Workshop Battle had been scheduled for the early afternoon so all participants had been asked to be waiting within their respective rooms by 10:00 AM. This might seem a little early, but, by having everyone appear hours in advance, they could effectively eliminate no-shows and potential delays.

Fortunately, the Workshop wasn't filled with idiots, so, in order to prevent contestants from feeling bored, they had been given access to a buffet, a mini-theater, and tablets that detailed the rules of the second round. Vahn found this last part particularly amusing as it also assigned a rating to each of the contestants for the purpose of gambling. His own rating gave him odds of 100:1, the highest among all competing Regulars.

Since he would have access to his onboard the Archimedes until the end of the Workshop Battle, Vahn didn't actually 'need' to win the second round. This gave him to the notion of screwing with the event organizers by throwing his match, effectively rewarding anyone who bet against him a total of 100x their stake. He could also turn the entire event on his head by waiting until the last round and effectively bankrupting everyone who bet on his victory.

Were it not for the spreading of certain negative rumors, Vahn wouldn't have had any qualms about allowing someone else the chance to win the Workshop Battle. Now, however, he felt an inclination to bite back at the people who had spread negative rumors about him, essentially slapping them in the face while demonstrating who, exactly, they were trying to offend. Some might consider this a little petty, but, compared to the pettiness of those who spread such rumors, he might as well be a Saint.

---

With four hours passing uneventfully, Vahn, who had been watching a movie with Arusha and Arryn flanking him, finally received a notice to move to the arena. Arusha and Arryn had received similar notifications, so, after confirming their participation, the three of them were promptly teleported to the edge of a giant stone pillar.

Similar to the Seeded Tournament of the 20th Floor, the matches were scheduled to take place atop giant pillars that protruded from a massive pool of crystal clear, icy blue, water. For the sake of time, several rounds would take place simultaneously until only a handful of contestants remained. These would then go on to participate in a round-robin style tournament meant to conclusively determine who the strongest E-Rank Regular was.

One of the things that distinguished this tournament from the one Vahn had participated in on the 20th Floor was that forty people would be participating each round, eight per pillar of stone. As for the objective, they were required to insert peculiar plug-like weapons into grooved located at the center of each pillar. The first three people to insert their plugs into the grooves would be allowed to advance to the next round, effectively reducing the number of participants for the second round to 90.

What made things interesting was how things developed following the round of eliminations. From there, people who had been chosen as 'Gamblers', a title given to those who had earned the most points during the One-Shot One Opportunity Game, would be allowed to 'purchase' participating Regulars in order to organize a team. They would then act as Team Leaders during the Tournament Finals, an event scheduled to take place two days later so that each of the newly constructed teams would have a chance to familiarize themselves with each other.

Though he could think of quite a number of flaws in the tournament structure, such as allies from the same original team conspiring together despite being pitted against one another, Vahn didn't think it was that bad an idea from an objective standpoint. So long as everyone followed the rules, it roughly balanced out the final teams, as, even if they managed to get ahold of the most powerful participant in the entire competition, they would need to put in a considerable amount of effort just to 'summon' them during the final round. This made it smarter to secure more economical Regulars as there was a very real chance they could grasp victory before the most powerful participants even became a factor.

Fortunately, regardless of whether or not he was able to actively participate in the final round, Vahn could still complete his objective. All he needed was the island's approximate spatial coordinates to be able to teleport there whenever he wanted. FUG would likely take exception to this, but, as their strongest member on the 30th Floor was merely an Advanced Ranker, he wasn't particularly all that concerned. Rather, depending on how he played the current situation, he might even be able to get the other Elders of FUG to intervene with the faction that was causing him trouble...

As these thoughts were playing across his mind, Vahn was waiting for the announcer to finish their explanation of the rules so that the tournament could officially begin. It was fortunate that his team was so small, as, due to the unique structure of the event, both Arusha and Arryn had been placed in the same arena. This virtually guaranteed all three of them would make it through to the Finals as the other five members of their group weren't particularly special. The only thing that distinguished them was their apparent hatred towards him, as, despite his 100:1 odds being published, all five of the male participants seemed determined to defeat him.

Shaking his head in mild exasperation, Vahn waited until the start of the match before waving the club-like plug in a sweeping motion. He had already explained the situation to Laev-tan, so, while she was a little annoyed, she didn't manifest for fear of getting him disqualified. This turned out to be a mercy for the other Regulars, as, despite being pushed from the platform in an instant, they were, at the very least, spared a few burns.

Ignoring the remarks of the announcer and the booing of the crowd, Vahn sauntered over to the center of the platform, smiling at Arryn and Arusha before placing his plug into one of the three grooves present. They offered slightly wry smiles in return, but, understanding what kind of being Vahn was, neither were particularly surprised by his ability to eliminate the other contestants with a casual wave of his plug. He was already at a level comparable to Rankers, and, when he went all out, even High-Rankers would struggle against him. For the average E-Rank Regular to last even a few seconds against him, the only reason imaginable was that Vahn had allowed it...

---

After returning to their private waiting room, Vahn was the first to take a seat on the rather lavish sofa before Arusha and Arryn promptly took their positions at his flanks. Neither had any aversion to him wrapping his arms around them, so, after unpausing their movie, he made certain to take a few liberties for their sake.

Over time, Vahn had come to learn that, while they hated being objectified, the majority of women enjoyed feeling 'wanted' by their partner, so, whenever the opportunity presented itself, he made sure to express his affection through action rather than words. This might make him seem like an insatiable pervert from the perspective of others but the opinion of others had never mattered all that much to him. He might get annoyed by false articles and the spreading of rumors, but, so long as he could make his women happy, he had very little to complain about.

Demonstrating how fortunate he truly was, Arryn eventually grew too restless to simply sit still and enjoy the sensual ambiance. Neither she nor Arusha had been paying any attention to the movie, so, after some silent communication through their gazes, she extricated herself from Vahn's hold, blocking his view of the large light display. Then, with her back turned to him, she looked over her shoulder with a 'hungry' look in her eyes as her hands slowly peeled away her skin-tight shorts.

Understanding Arryn's intentions, a smile spread across Vahn's face as he made no attempt to stop Arusha from liberating his dragon from its confines with her teeth. She had become rather skilled at supporting others due to her deeply ingrained perception of relationship hierarchies, so, with Arryn being 'significantly' stronger than her, she believed it was only natural that she waited her turn. This was something Vahn had been trying to remedy as of late, but, similar to Mordred, Arusha could be 'very' insistent when it came to her observation of an established hierarchy.

In order to make things a little easier for Arryn, Arusha showed no hesitation as she collected saliva in her mouth before taking the majority of his member into her mouth. Then, in an effort to ensure an even coating of saliva, she pulled away very slowly, her tongue wriggling around his shaft before she stopped at his glans and gave it a small kiss. This last part was something she had learned from Mira, and, though he always felt it was a little strange, Vahn didn't particularly mind the affectionate way in which some of his women viewed his penis...

Due to Vahn's prior petting, Arryn didn't need to make any additional preparations of her own. The moment Arusha had finished lubricating Vahn's penis, she wasted very little time in positioning her hands on his knees, a lustful look in her eyes as she bit her bottom lip and allowed him to position himself at her entrance. Once his glans had penetrated her, sending a shiver throughout her body, she allowed him to guide her into a seated position, his member splitting her apart in a somewhat painful yet extremely pleasurable way.

Though she hadn't been made aware of it, one of the modifications that had been made to her body by the Workshop included 'calibrating' her insides to make them as pleasurable as possible. Had it not been for Vahn, there was a very real chance she would have been sold off as a sex doll of sorts the moment she had reached her limits. To that end, her internal structure had been altered in a way that quickly adapted to her partner, effectively restructuring itself to best accommodate their size and shape. As a result, she was easily able to take Vahn's full length, and, though it caused her to feel short of breath, sensors in her brain trigged a chemical cocktail of endorphins to effectively flood her system.

Unable to restrain herself, a sensual moan escaped Arryn's throat as she cupped both sides of her face with an intoxicated look in her eyes. She believed this was the result of her 'compatibility' with Vahn, so, the moment her grabbed her arms, she began twisting her hips in a circle, stirring up her insides as a series of mad trembles ran through her body. This always gave her an irresistible desire to have Vahn treat her a little roughly, so, without fear of censure, she vocalized her thoughts in a sonorous moan, exclaiming, "Please...harder...mess me up...fuck me senseless~!!!"

Though he wasn't unaccustomed to Arryn's behavior whenever her 'switch' had been flipped, a wry smile still spread across Vahn's face as he hooked his hands behind her knees before rising from the sofa. He then spread her legs wide in what was known as a 'butterfly position' before increasing the tempo of his thrusts. This caused her words to become even more colorful, but, understanding that some women were simply more vocal than others, he didn't let it bother him. Rather, it gave him an inclination to try a little 'harder', much to Arryn's appreciation...

After a solid twenty minutes of rather intense sex, Vahn finished inside of Arryn, pulling her legs together and hugging her close to him in a way he knew she enjoyed. This caused her eyes to roll into the back of her head, but, due to her unique constitution, it only took a few seconds before she recovered completely. She had inexhaustible stamina even before her upgrades, so, with a Dragon's Heart generating virtually infinite energy within her chest, she required neither food, drink, nor rest in order to continue indefinitely. Vahn could override these qualities with the use of Laws, but, as he quite enjoyed her 'persistence', he typically reserved such things until the very end.

Fortunately, even if she wanted to continue, Arryn was a very sensible woman, so, once he finally set her down, she gave him a rather passionate kiss before moving to the kitchen to prepare snacks. At the same time, Vahn moved behind Arusha, who, in anticipation for her turn, raised her butt high as she used her elbows as support.

Arusha had always been most comfortable with doing it from behind, but, for a number of reasons, she also insisted that he grab her twin-tails as if they were reins. It gave her a sense of fulfillment to be dominated by him, so, while it was a peculiar request, Vahn 'dutifully' invaded her absurdly tight cavern before gripping her black and white twin-tails. Then, as he pushed himself forward, he also pulled her hair back, lifting her elbows from the sofa. This was the main reason she lowered herself to such an extent, and, though her reaction was far tamer than Arryn's, a sensual gasp escaped her throat the moment his glans pressed against her cervix...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Omae wa mou...shikkaku!','Arryn is quite the carnivore o_o...','Vahn is a lucky lad...')

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