Chapter 72. Taking on Work
Krich was the president of the society “The Best Weapon Shop.” Unlike other societies that hired soone to serve as a receptionist, Krich handled the front desk himself.
The reason for this was simple: although it bore the na of a society, it actually operated more like a brokerage.
The mbers of his society were weapon craftsn who had passed special tests. They possessed skilled craftsmanship and were capable of forging products according to custors’ descriptions.
Thanks to Krich’s careful managent, the society had beco the largest weapon-craftsman society in the City of Apprentices three years ago. It also sold the greatest number of high-quality weapons.
When Fulan glanced around outside before stepping in, Krich recited his usual line as if reading from a template.
“Hello. You may look at the weapons on the wall. If you want to try one, notify and I will take it down for you. If you wish to commission a custom weapon, co to to register.”
Although he had hung many signs around the shop explaining these things, not every custor bothered to read them. As a result, he reminded every custor once whenever they entered.
“I’m not here to buy anything. I’m here to join the society and take on commissions.”
“You?”
Krich looked puzzled. It was not unheard of for won to join the society and take on commissions, but those won were almost as large and muscular as n. Fulan, however…
He looked at her small figure. Her pale and slender arms, the long robe hanging loosely on her body—she looked more like a sixteen-year-old girl than a weapon craftsman.
“With a body like that, how could you possibly forge weapons?! Never mind. Do you have a recomndation letter?”
Unlike Hall, who had previously accepted money, Krich spoke bluntly and said exactly what he thought.
Although he did not really believe that Fulan was a weapon craftsman, he still asked whether she had a recomndation letter.
He had already decided that if she did not have one, he would imdiately throw her out. He ran a weapon shop to make money, not to entertain little girls.
“Yes. This is a recomndation letter from Hall, the president of ‘Second Weapon Craftsman.’ He told to co here to take on commissions.”
“Oh, Hall—the one who specializes in enchantnt. No wonder you’re so thin…”
He glanced at Fulan again and stopped halfway through his sentence.
No wonder, my foot.
Even if soone was thin, they should at least be a bit sturdier than an ordinary person. With her appearance, it was hard not to doubt her ability.
Still, since she had a recomndation letter, the proper procedure had to be followed. He called out:
“Baul, co down for a mont. Soone needs to take a test.”
Almost as soon as he finished speaking, a voice replied.
“Coming.”
After hearing the response, he closed the door and said:
“Since you have a recomndation letter, you should know that our testing process is strict. If you fail, I cannot allow you to take commissions here.”
“I understand.”
Seeing Fulan’s confident expression, Krich had little more to say. He led her into a room in the back.
Baul was already waiting inside. He tidied up the tools on the table, turned around, and spoke.
“Very well. What test are you here for—… Where’s the person?”
Baul looked around and found no one. He spoke in confusion.
“I’m here.”
Fulan stepped out from behind Krich. Baul stared at her blankly, scratching his head.
“You…”
Krich leaned closer to Baul and whispered,
“She’s here to take enchantnt commissions. Her build may be a bit thin, but she has a recomndation letter from an Enchanter society.”
Baul felt the sa doubt Krich had earlier. Could soone this small really forge weapons?
Still, Krich’s reasoning made sense. Since she had brought a recomndation letter, they ought to test her at least once.
If her skill was lacking, they could simply reject her afterward. Otherwise, if they threw her out without even testing her, she might spread rumors that they rejected people without examination and only accepted commissions through favoritism.
For business, reputation was extrely important. So Baul decided to conduct a test first.
He asked,
“What type of commission do you plan to take? We only test the type of commission you want to accept.”
This rule existed to save ti. After all, everyone’s ti was valuable. The ti spent testing craftsn might already be enough for them to complete a commission.
So they only tested the specific type of work soone wanted to accept. If that person later wished to take on other types of commissions, they could return for another test.
“Spell rings.”
This was the commission Fulan wanted to take. Enchanting swords for others was far less profitable than completing potion orders.
Right now potion prices were extrely high—she could easily make money with just a few batches. Why bother with the thankless work of weapon enchantnt?
The real reason she wanted this job was simple: she wanted to steal other people’s spells.
While crafting rings for others, occasionally damaging one or two “through wear and loss” would be perfectly normal.
At that point, she could use the damaged spell rings to practice the spells. Once they appeared on her panel, they would beco spells she had mastered.
Baul’s expression changed. After thinking for a mont, he said,
“That kind of work… is very difficult for us to take on, and it’s also hard to verify your craftsmanship.”
Spell rings could be considered the most advanced type of equipnt. When soone wore a spell ring, they could imdiately cast another spell after using one.
Moreover, a person could wear up to ten rings at once, essentially turning themselves into a walking arsenal.
If casting the spells inside the rings did not still consu so ntal energy, the entire continent would probably be filled with people wearing five or six rings and blasting spells at each other upon eting.
Business of this level was a bit too high-end for their society, even though they were known for selling high-end equipnt. They had never handled such commissions before.
An ordinary spell ring—without instant casting, cooperative enhancent, or other special properties—could easily sell for ten gold coins.
The most expensive weapon they had ever sold was a longsword made from the bones of a sub-dragon, and even that had only sold for nineteen gold coins.
Orders worth ten gold coins were extrely rare for them. This kind of business was simply too high-end.
Usually, only famous masters and their apprentices publicly accepted commissions for spell rings. A small society like theirs rarely had the opportunity to get involved.
“I can pay for all the materials used in the test. Could you let try?”
Fulan knew that the material cost of crafting a spell ring alone would probably reach one gold coin. If she did not cover the cost herself, there was no chance they would let her attempt it.
Krich leaned closer to Baul and whispered a few words in his ear. Baul’s expression changed.
“We can let you try. But we need to be clear first—our society has never handled spell ring commissions before. We reserve the right to notify you three days in advance if we decide to stop accepting this type of commission.”
“Agreed.”
Fulan accepted casually. To her, making spell rings for others was not important.
What mattered was copying their spells.
Even if she did receive commissions, she would deliberately set the price just high enough to barely cover the costs.
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