Chapter 22 (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“Sir… Zhang Yinfan,” Ou Yangming mumbled and frowned.

He probably would not be too concerned if someone else had given the order, but since it was Zhang Yinfan, he could not help but link this issue to something else.

“Yes.” Xiong Gaoan was helpless. “Although the Armament Camp and the Provision Camp are both under the Supply Division, you should know that everything involves money, and they can stop us anytime they want… Even if Old Craftsman comes personally, I dare not open the depot for him.”

Ou Yangming curled his lip and thought to himself, ‘If you don’t open the depot when the old man comes personally, I’ll change my surname to yours.’

Nevertheless, he dared not say it as he would be smacking the supervisor in his face.

Feeling helpless, Ou Yangming could only leave disappointedly.

A brief moment after he left, a stout man arrived.

Xiong Gaoan quickly stood up to greet the person affectionately. “Sir Kang, why are you here?”

“I just had my meal, so I’m here to check the depot’s inventory.” The person was Kang Weibo, the Armament Camp’s supervisor. He smiled when he spoke, but sighed after that. “The Armament Camp isn’t very peaceful lately.”

“Yes, Sir Zhang just ordered us to control the cost strictly, and he asked that we don’t waste too much stock, but Old Craftsman’s spending increased recently…” Xiong Gaoan gestured to Kang Weibo to sit, then asked him softly, “Sir, how about you talk to Old Craftsman about this?”

“Hmph!” Kang Weibo glared at him. “Old Craftsman’s the only presentable person in the Armament Camp. If I go talk to him about it, am I not bringing bad luck upon myself?”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Xiong Gaoan’s face turned bitter. “Sir, Ou Yangming, Old Craftsman’s helper, was here just now to withdraw some featured iron ingot. I didn’t open the depot, look…”

Kang Weibo was stunned. “Ou Yangming was here?”

“Yes.”

Kang Weibo furrowed his eyebrows a little and began pondering.

Xiong Gaoan was rather surprised as he did not know why Kang Weibo looked so prudent. He knew that Ou Yangming was only Old Craftsman’s helper and did not think that it was a big deal when he rejected Ou Yangming earlier as Old Craftsman could simply make a visit himself. As long as the old man made a fuss about it, he would open the depot for him.

Being a powerless person, Xiong Gaoan could not go against a prestigious person like Old Craftsman, but he also did not want to be blamed for a breach of responsibility.

Since Kang Weibo has been the Armament Camp’s supervisor for many years, he figured that he understood the situation very well and saw through the little trick.

After all, the way of being an official was to look after oneself first. Opening the depot for Ou Yangming and for Old Craftsman were two different matters.

However, Xiong Gaoan felt that it was not as simple as he thought when he noticed Kang Weibo’s facial expression. Feeling quite anxious, he asked carefully, “Sir, did I do something inappropriate?”

It was clear that he was Kang Weibo’s confidant since he managed the accounts in the Armament Camp, or he would not have been so straightforward with his question.

“I heard a rumor a few days ago.” Kang Weibo sighed, then lowered his voice. “Old Craftsman exchanged his meritorious deeds over the years for a Military Fire Badge as he wanted Ou Yangming to be successful, and Ou Yangming acquired the Military Fire Seed.”

Xiong Gaoan was stunned. He commented enviously, “That fella’s quite lucky.”

Ou Yangming was not related to Old Craftsman at all, but they coincidentally clicked with each other and were closer than a grandfather and a grandson who were blood-related.

This was also why Xiong Gaoan spoke to Ou Yangming nicely. If another helper were to act so rashly, he would have sent him to be caned.

“Hehe, it’s not necessarily good luck!” Kang Weibo sneered. “Sir Zhang found out about it, and he put an obstacle in the way as he wanted someone else to take the place instead. Ou Yangming agreed at first, but he broke his promise when it was time for him to decide, and he accepted the Military Fire Badge’s legacy.”

“Ah.” Xiong Gaoan was dumbfounded. “That, that… Sir Zhang?”

Kang Weibo responded, “Which Sir Zhang can it be if it’s not that one?”

Xiong Gaoan felt uneasy. “Sir, if that’s the case, the order from the Provision Camp is probably not as simple as it seems. What should we do?”

Kang Weibo sighed. “The Provision Camp is our superior, but Old Craftsman isn’t one to be messed with. Moreover, he has been getting a lot of attention because General Chen recently asked him to smith a weapon. If we make things difficult for him, General Chen will definitely chop our heads off to warn the others.”

Xiong Gaoan shrunk his neck as a chill went down, which gave him gooseb.u.mps.

“Forget it, guard the depot strictly, and don’t open it unless it’s really necessary. I’ll go visit Old Craftsman to check out the situation,” Kang Weibo said as he stood up as he said.

Xiong Gaoan sighed after Kang Weibo left. In a fight between celestial beings, things were especially difficult for little devils like them who were stuck in the middle.

Kang Weibo arrived at Old Craftsman’s smithing workshop with a smile on his face and noticed that the old man was making gestures at a staff. He hesitated for a while before knocking on the door.

When Old Craftsman opened the door and saw him, he smiled. “Sir Kang, why are you here?”