by Zhuang Bifan
"Norfeller, don't do this, you'll scare him…" Lin Li smiled, and ushered Norfeller aside before turning to Lasorick with a smile. "Sorry about that, he's got a bit of a temper. I apologize if he has offended you…"
"Humph!" Lasorick glared at Norfeller, but for some reason, the curses at the tip of his tongue could not find their way out as he looked at the deathly red eyes. Instead, he gulped…
"One thing he was right about, however. If you do not keep your hands in check, Young Master Lasorick, I cannot be sure they will remain by your side…" Lin Li smiled as though he had not been threatening to cut somebody's hands off.
"What did you say!?" Lasorick almost erupted at that. He had thought that he was the most arrogant man in Doland, but he'd never thought that this young mage would trump him by a long shot. How dares he threaten to cut my hands off like that? Damn it, who does he think he is?!
Lasorick was furious. In his 20-odd years in Doland, nobody had dared to say this to him. Even the Archmages from Alanna had to treat him with respect because of his father, much less a young mage! How was he going to live this down without teaching the young mage a lesson?
"Damn it, I'd like to see you try!" Lasorick lifted the machete worth thousands of gold coins with an angry cry, only for a blue Combat Energy to rise, and all he saw was the shimmer of light reflected on the blade…
Then, he heard the clink of metal!
"Young man, your temper will do you no good…" Only when Garza said this did the people realize that Lasorick had not managed to wield the machete before Garza had stopped him easily with the sword in his hand.
Garza's words were not directed at Lasorick, however, as he kept his eyes on the black-cloaked Norfeller both threateningly and cautiously.
"… " Norfeller remained like a marble statue as though he had not heard the blacksmith. Only those s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e to magical energy realized that while Norfeller remained still, strong magical waves were pouring off of him…
Without a doubt, this was the reason why Garza had stopped Lasorick. A pity that Lasorick did not understand this, as he wanted to continue his attack after that. "Master Garza, you don't have to plead for this guy! He's too much, how dare he threaten me in Doland!! I must show him some color to see today…"
"Forget it, Young Master Lasorick…" Garza shook his head as he looked somewhat helpless. Honestly, he would have left Lasorick here to let him try and show them some color to see if not for Anjay. What a fool, the black-cloaked guy moved like a ghost and shielded the young mage in an instant! If they really fought, he would have Lasorick's head in an instant too. Show them some color to see? More like show them your head…
Unfortunately, he could not say this due to Anjay as well. Hence, he only shook his head, and patiently persuaded him. "Alright, Young Master Lasorick, you have punished the corrupted businessman, let's talk when we return, ok?"
"No, Master Garza, you have to teach him a lesson for me today. He's too arrogant, how dares he threaten me!" Lasorick refused to let go of this still.
"…"
Chapter 303 - Smithing Guru
Honestly, even Garza was afraid of the pale-faced young man. The unrestrained magical wave pouring off of him was too scary; if he was not wrong, this man had to be at least level-17. Even if he went against him, the odds of winning were slim. Besides, with the speed at which he moved, this man was most likely well-versed in martial arts as well…
Without question, it would be foolish to go against a man like that.
"But, Master Garza—"
Lasorick wanted to continue his protests, but was immediately cut off by Garza. "Alright, Lasorick, let's end this here. I'm tired and wish to rest, you can settle the rest of it with Kaman…"
"Ok…" Lasorick debated for a while before he reluctantly agreed. He did not have a choice, as he could not go against Garza. Even his father Anjay had to treat him with utmost respect as the President of the Guild of Blacksmiths was not merely a blacksmith—he had an unimaginably formidable backing…
With Lasorick's agreement, it all became easier. Kaman had long wanted to settle the issue amicably, and bought the machete from Lasorick at two times the original price without a second thought.
After sending off Lasorick and Garza respectfully, Kaman looked deflated as he sat in the thrashed shop for half an hour before he returned to his senses. "I'm sorry Mage Felic, that was embarrassing…"
"Haha, that was nothing. If we must, it was me who had troubled you…"
Kaman patronized him half-heartedly before burying the incident as though it had never happened. As for the shimmering machete which lay amidst the debris in the shop, Kaman never gave it another glance, and treated it like it was nothing but air…
Kaman thought that this was the wisest way to deal with the situation, and since Master Garza had said that it was not forged from rainbow adamantine, something had to be wrong here…
But even then, Kaman dared not say anything, since he did not have any evidence. Even if he did, he could not question Mage Felic with the machete and ask him why he gave him a fake to sell.
What a joke, hadn't he been in enough trouble?
Thus, Kaman thought the best thing to do was to remain silent…
Unfortunately, Kaman did not know that Lin Li knew what he was doing, and could not help finding it amusing. Lin Li knew what he was thinking, but did not want to explain it to him…
Honestly, Lin Li might have been the only one who knew that the machete was indeed forged from rainbow adamantine. Only, he had used a skill that was too advanced when forging it, so even a Smithing Master like Garza had thought it was fake.
True, weapons forged of rainbow adamantine would look dull, but everything had an exception, rainbow adamantine included. Amongst the techniques of Smithing Gurus, there was one targeted at rainbow adamantine.
Everybody knew that weapons had to be quenched at least once—even most magical weapons. It was just that the method of quenching was more complicated. Rainbow adamantine, however, had to be quenched at least two to seven times as every time it was quenched, the weapon was infused with another magical attribute. This was a testament to a blacksmith's skills, for the number of times it was quenched determined the quality of the blacksmith's technique as well as the quality of the weapon forged of rainbow adamantine. The more times it was quenched, the more magical attributes it had. A blacksmith who was able to quench the weapon seven times was no doubt a true master!
However, Lin Li's skills were way above that of a master, and he knew that to quench it seven times was not the limit. Actually, it was better to quench it only once and infuse it with eight magical attributes created in that single instance. That was the true limit of forging rainbow adamantine!
A Smithing Guru was one because they could achieve what a Smithing Master could not. It was every blacksmith's life goal to reach the seven magical attributes of rainbow adamantine, and to be able to forge a weapon with seven magical attributes meant that their forging skills had peaked out. However, the blacksmiths who stood at the peak knew that an eighth magical attribute existed—it was only that its presence was more obscure than a god's words. To be able to forge a weapon with eight magical attributes with one quenching was a goal only Smithing Masters could pursue…
Legend had it that the Smithing Gurus who were above Smithing Masters in skills could forge the weapon with one quenching and activate the eighth magical attribute of rainbow adamantine. At the same time, the weapon would shimmer unlike what usually happened…
And Lin Li had used the technique belonging to Smithing Masters for this machete.
A pity that nobody, Garza included, could see the true value of this machete.
"Alright, Kaman, time is ticking, bring me to the dwarf…" Lin Li was a little dejected to have the masterpiece he'd created in a moment of passion depreciated. He was not in the mood for small talk; hence, with a few half-hearted words, he rushed Kaman to bring him to the carriage of ore.
&nb
sp; "Ok, ok…"
As the two exchanged half-hearted words, Lasorick had already boarded the carriage with Garza at his side. Garza was resting with his eyes closed, and paid no mind to Lasorick's endless complaints.
"Master Garza, the two foreigners were too much!! Why didn't you let me punish them? And Kaman, that corrupted businessman, how dares he doubt your appraisal after selling me a fake! If not for your sake, I would have torn down his shop!"
"Alright, Lasorick, don't forget that you're Anjay's son and will take over from him one day as the castellan of Doland. Rashness is not a good trait to have as a castellan…" The middle-aged blacksmith could not help frowning at Lasorick's endless complaints.
"But…"
"No buts, Lasorick. I'll tell you this: the two foreigners are not people you can punish, especially the black-cloaked man…"
"The black-cloaked man?" Lasorick was not convinced. "Isn't he just a servant, why can't I punish him?"
"Servant?" Garza shifted himself and sat up straighter, a sneer on his tan face. "You really think he is a servant? Don't be funny, Lasorick, he is at least a level-17 mage! Even the most powerful mage that your father has may not have such capabilities, and you think he is a servant you can punish?"
"Le… level-17?" Lasorick gulped, his beady eyes filled with disbelief. "Y-y-you… You said, that black-cloaked guy, is a level-17 mage?"
"Maybe even level-18…"
"…"
"But something is strange…" Garza frowned deeply again at this, his tanned face filled with doubt as he spoke as though to himself. "I couldn't tell how powerful the other mage was, could he be more powerful than the guy in the black cloak?"
"Master Garza, what are you saying?" Lasorick was confused when he heard this. What other mage, who was stronger than the guy in a black cloak? Could Master Garza be referring to the guy who had threatened him about his hands?
"Right, right, weapons forged of rainbow adamantine do not have to be dull, that must be it, that must be it, the eighth magical attribute, the legendary eighth magical attribute… " Garza muttered to himself, and became more excited as he did. In the end, he leaped up, and yelled, "Stop the carriage!"
"What happened, Master Garza?" Lasorick was taken aback.
"Don't ask anymore, Lasorick, get someone to bring me the machete from the shop now!"
"Uh, the machete?"
"Yes, the machete forged from rainbow adamantine!"
"Alright, Master Garza, calm down, I'll have someone do it now…" Garza looked very serious, so Lasorick did not dare delay it any further as he stopped the carriage and alighted before getting one of his attendants to buy the machete back.
After that, Lasorick returned to the carriage with a doubtful expression. "Master Garza, w-why is it you want it back?"
"Lasorick…" The middle-aged blacksmith shook his head; the calmness from earlier could not be seen on his tanned face anymore. "I was wrong, how could I not have thought of that, there really is a Smithing Guru in this world…"
"Smithing Guru, what Smithing Guru?"
"Only in legends, a Smithing Guru who can activate all eight magical attributes of rainbow adamantine with one quenching!"
Lasorick finally understood something when he heard this. "You're saying…"
"Yes, if I'm right, the one who forged the machete is a true Smithing Guru!"
"Good heavens…"
Chapter 304 - Dwarf
While Lasorick was not all that smart, he knew what being a Smithing Guru entailed. It meant forging skills that were out of this world and an incomparable status that commanded great respect. In the 1300 years after the Dark Ages, there had only been two Smithing Gurus, and they had godlike status amongst blacksmiths as they could both achieve the impossible like a god. No doubt that a piece of scrap metal could be transformed into a weapon in their hands!
"… " Lasorick was stunned. He could not believe that the machete he called a fake had been forged by a Smithing Guru; he gulped as he thought of this. "What do I do, Master Garza, what do I do, will he be angered by what I said at the shop…"
It was no child's play to offend a Smithing Guru. He might not have much influence, and might not have anything apart from his forging skills, but the consequences of offending him were terrifying as there was no saying how many legendary and powerful individuals were waiting to get into his good books…
"Don't worry, a blacksmith who has achieved a guru status would not be angered by your words. You are only a child who's throwing a tantrum in their eyes, do you think an a.d.u.l.t would be angered by that?" the middle-aged blacksmith comforted him before frowning again. "But Kaman would be a bit of a problem…"
"Kaman?" Lasorick paused before showing his disdain. "What problem could that old fatty be, he is only a businessman with a bit of power. I'll have Father issue an order to keep his mouth shut or we'll close down his shop and banish him from Doland…"
"Fool!" The middle-aged blacksmith almost exploded in anger, and he nearly stabbed Lasorick with his finger. "Can't you use your brains, Lasorick?? Think about it, how did Kaman get the machete?"
"How…" Lasorick pondered with a blank look before covering his mouth suddenly, then his face started becoming white. "Ma… Master Garza, you're saying that Kaman got the machete because he knows the Smithing Guru?"
"What else do you think…"
"My god…"
"People like Kaman are the most troublesome, if he can fawn over you because of your father, he can also bear a grudge because of what you did to his shop…"
"Yes, Master Garza, I know what to do…"
The Smithing Guru was not aware of the pair's conversation. To be honest, he was pulling out his hair in frustration in Kaman's shop. If not for the carriage of Ice Crystal Metal, he would have gone on a rampage…
It was Lin Li's first encounter with dwarves since he came to Anril, and so he only realized today that they really lived up to their reputation of being difficult. To put it bluntly, the dwarves from Danmod were as difficult and stubborn as a bull!
According to Kaman, this bull— no, this dwarf had some status in Danmod. His grandfather or his great-grandfather had once led an army to go against the High Elves' Magic Legion during the Dark Ages, and thus, this fellow's full name was ridiculously long. It would take a minute to recite it in its entirety. Well, this was how the dwarves were—the more impressive their history was, the longer the names of their descendants were as they liked to add their achievements into their descendants' names. Andoine had once said that to know the history of the Dwarf Kingdom, one need not visit the library, for all they had to do was to ask a dwarf of high status to recite his full name…
Of course, if his name took a minute to recite completely, he could not use it on a daily basis. In the following conversation, Kaman addressed him as "Mr Sturn". As "Sturn" translated to "forge" in Khuzdul, the language of the dwarves, it seemed that the Sturns were a family of blacksmiths.
"No, no, no, my father said that humans are crafty creatures, and I will not fall for this. My ore will only be sold in exchange for food, no amount of money will suffice!" Sturn spoke with a thick Danmod accent, and Lin Li had to use the same amount of concentration he used when memorizing spells to decipher a bit of it…
This was all because of Sturn's accent.
No choice—his accent was really too strong, and even Kaman who had spent years dealing with various races could not understand him. Yes, the carriage of Ice Crystal Metal cost one million gold coins, but he wanted one million gold coins' worth of food…
Lin Li was incredibly angry when he thought of this. Damn it, I don't know anyone here in the Breezy Plains, how am I going to get you one million gold coins' worth of food? Even then, how would I dare to? One million gold coins' worth of food would pile up higher than the walls of Doland, and require an army of hundreds to transport. If I did that, wouldn't I be charged for colluding with other countries? If the Sky Knights and the Three Guard Army came for me, are y
ou going to help me explain this mess?
"I can't do that, Sturn, one million gold coins' worth of food is too much. I can't get you that much now. Why don't you give me some time, say, three to six months, and I'll send it over to Danmod in batches?"
"No, no, no, my father said…"
"…" Lin Li was hopping mad, and would have slapped him for wasting his afternoon away if not for the Ice Crystal Metal. All he did was say "no, no, no, my father said"… Damn it, since your father already said so, why are you here in Doland? To waste my time?
The worst part was that Lin Li could not do anything about it even after trying to persuade him the whole afternoon; that fellow refused to budge. Lin Li had no choice, and so he stood up as he said helplessly, "Alright, Sturn. You're staying in Doland for some time, aren't you?"
"Yes, my father said that if I can't exchange the ore for food, I can't return to Danmod, either."
"What about this, Sturn? I don't have so much food right now, so can you give me a few days? Just a week. Keep the ore for me for a week and don't sell them to anyone else. In a week, I'll get you million gold coins' worth of food."
"No, no, no, my father said humans are crafty, what if you don't return to me after a week?"
"… "
"What are you looking at me for, this is what my father said…"
"I'll give you 50,000 gold coins first, and if I don't return in a week, you can take that as compensation for your time!" As Lin Li said this, he really wondered which idiot had said that dwarves were honest people. Damn it, this fellow even knows you have to compensate for defaulting a contract… Honest? I must be a saint, then…
"Deal!" Sturn had agreed very quickly this time.
Lin Li held in his anger again and again so as not to land a slap on the damned dwarf. His face had darkened from his anger as they walked out of the shop. It terrified Kaman, who panicked internally as he smiled carefully at Lin Li while reminding himself to watch his words lest Lin Li's anger was taken out on him.
"Kaman, what do you think of this?"
