BXBX NOVEL Chapter 35: A Big Investment
A few members of the Fire Adventurer Team were also surprised by Qian Jin’s knowledge. Although warrior and mage academies did teach about energy stones, it was only taught at intermediate and advanced academies. From the badge on Qian Jin’s chest, they knew that he was only a student at a novice academy.
“Yeah, this is a Level 4 Energy Stone.” Wilfred nodded as he admitted. “Since you are a warrior student, you should know that warriors don’t normally trade energy stones, and instead use it themselves. Even if they need money, they would do fair trades at energy stone shops. We are under a really tight time schedule, so...”
Qian Jin nodded as he expressed his understanding. He turned around and asked Franklin, “Boss, what do you think is a fair price for this energy stone?”
Franklin looked at Qian Jin with the hammer in his hand and asked back, “Why? Are you interested in this energy stone?”
Qian Jin shrugged his shoulders and didn’t deny it. There was no way that a warrior wouldn’t be interested in energy stones! Even Elf King bloodline warriors who had their primary awakenings would be interested in energy stones!
The key and centerpiece to a Warrior Energy Concentration Array was a Level 10 Energy Stone! If Qian Jin could bring a Level 4 Energy Stone to the Warrior Energy Concentration Array, even if he wasn’t at the center of the array, he would get as much of a benefit, if not more than at the second or third best location.
What if he could get the best location in the array, and also bring a Level 4 Energy Stone? The smile on Qian Jin’s face turned brighter and brighter as he thought more about this possibility. “It would be amazing!” he thought.
“If this is the case...” Franklin whispered as he stroked the thick beard on his chin. He suddenly slapped his palm on the wooden table that wasn’t too short compared to himself and shouted, “Mr. Wilfred, since our Chief Blacksmith Qian Jin is interested in your energy stone, then I will forge a weapon that contains [Level 2 Refined Iron] for each one of you. What do you think?”
“One for each of us?” Everyone in the Fire Adventurer Team, as well as Qian Jin, were shocked as they stared at Franklin who had made such a promise in unison.
Lucas also stared at Franklin in surprise. As the number one blacksmith in Oakland, he knew that this trade wouldn’t land Franklin any profit. “Is this Franklin crazy?” he thought to himself.
“Haha, Qian Jin, don’t look at me like that.” A warm smile appeared on Franklin’s face. “If it wasn’t for you, then I would have never gotten [Level 2 Refined Iron] unless I purchased it at a premium from some other people. If I don’t, Franklin’s Blacksmith Shop would never produce items with [Level 2 Refined Iron] as the base, and that would hurt our reputation. Therefore, you really are our blacksmith shop’s backbone. Since you are interested in this energy stone, I’m willing to make a loss on this deal.
“That’s right!” Francis patted Qian Jin’s back. “It’s fine as long as you like it.”
The other members of Franklin’s Blacksmith Shop also smiled at Qian Jin humbly. Qian Jin’s performance yesterday had conquered everyone who worked at the shop. This was especially the case since he wasn’t arrogant at all. Although he could forge [Level 2 Refined Iron], he was very polite. Also, he didn’t bargain with Franklin on his pay, nor did he try to squeeze every coin he could out of Franklin’s Blacksmith Shop.
“Really?” Wilfred still couldn’t believe what he had heard, but it seemed like he had made a decision. “Then...”
“Haha... Captain Wilfred...” Lucas interrupted. He took a sip out of the tea that was prepared for Franklin’s Blacksmith Shop’s guests and laughed casually. “You are not a blacksmith, so it’s normal for you not to understand the technicality of the work we blacksmiths do. However, those of us in this industry know about these things, but we never mention it to customers. This idea of putting profit first and customers’ lives last is not something that I personally despise.”
All of the members of the Fire Adventurer Team looked at Lucas in anticipation for more information, because it sounded like Lucas was hinting at something important.
Lucas put down the wooden tea cup and scornfully glanced at the people from Franklin’s Blacksmith Shop, including Franklin and Qian Jin. “I don’t know if Franklin’s Blacksmith Shop is now capable of producing [Level 2 Refined Iron], but I do know that there is a difference in quality between [Level 2 Refined Iron]!”
“Lucas, what are you trying to say?!” Franklin suddenly raised his voice, and the hand that was holding onto the hammer started to shake. He walked up to Lucas who was taller than himself and looked up. However, Franklin was too short. He could only reach Lucas’ chest even if he stood on his toes. He didn’t look very threatening. Rather, he looked a bit funny and comical.
“What am I trying to say?” Lucas lightly rubbed his yellow mustache under his nose as a proud smile popped up on his face. “What could I mean? I’m just telling the truth. If Captain Wilfred doesn’t believe me, then please follow me...”
Lucas pushed Franklin who was in his way aside and walked towards the workshop at the backrooms. He picked up a piece of regular iron with the tongs smoothly and threw it into the hot forge as he shouted, “Crank up the heat!”
The other blacksmith who was also from Lucas’s Blacksmith Shop quickly rushed to the bellows and started pumping air, increasing the size of the fire.
Franklin stared at Lucas resentfully. It was obvious what the only Level 2 Blacksmith in the city wanted to do! He wanted to forge a [Level 2 Refined Iron] on the spot and use the higher quality [Level 2 Refined Iron] to damage Franklin’s Blacksmith Shop’s reputation!
Franklin knew that this Lucas was capable of forging [Level 2 Refined Iron] with his many years of experience blacksmithing! But if he stopped Lucas now, he would be indirectly admitting to what Lucas said before.
He turned around and look at Qian Jin. Qian Jin was still very calm, but Franklin was getting very anxious. Although the piece of [Level 2 Refined Iron] Qian Jin forged out was of top quality, Franklin worried that the young man may have lacked experience. With fewer years of experience, if he became distracted or nervous, there was a high chance of failing...
Lucas saw the ugly look on Franklin’s face; he was very happy with his reaction, and the smile on his face got bigger. He thought to himself, “You want to challenge my dominant blacksmith position in Oakland? You don’t qualify, Franklin!”
The fire was getting bigger and bigger. Lucas grabbed the piece of iron from the forge with the tongs in one hand and held onto a thirty-pound hammer that was passed to him by Madeline. He started striking on the metal with the hammer as he used the tongs to flip and turn the metal around. The metal looked like a butterfly dancing on the anvil.
Franklin snorted through his nose, but he had to admit that Lucas was a great blacksmith. He wasn’t just smooth and skilled; watching his forge was like watching a show, and the hammer and metal were the dancers. Without a doubt, Lucas was the number one blacksmith in Oakland.
After the hot metal met the cold water, a crystal, shiny [Level 2 Refined Iron] appeared in front of the crowd as the steam dispersed.
However, Lucas didn’t stop here. He threw a few more pieces of pig iron into the forge. After they turned red hot, he started swinging the hammer and beating the metal again.
Two long hours slowly passed as the crowd stared at Lucas forging. Lucas was breathing heavily and wiped off the sweat from his forehead repeatedly. His arms were slightly twitching uncontrollably; it was a sign that he was near exhaustion. However, Lucas looked proudly at his masterpieces and enjoyed being the center of the attention.
“Cough...” Lucas cleared his throat as he picked up the two pieces of [Level 2 Refined Iron] from the anvil and walked towards the crowd as he stretched his shoulders. “To be fair, I won’t be judging my work. Mr. Franklin, if you are a true blacksmith, then please comment on my work,” Lucas said.
“Top quality! You could even say that these are premium quality!” Franklin said unwillingly. Although he didn’t want to admit that Lucas was a great blacksmith, he wasn’t willing to say something that was against his professional opinion. “Judging by the fact that Lucas can forge two pieces of [Level 2 Refined Iron] in such a short time, it looks like he is very close to advancing to a Level 3 Blacksmith!” Franklin thought.
Lucas clapped his hands and shrugged his shoulders as he looked in Qian Jin’s direction; his stare was very provoking. “Kid, it’s your turn.”