Chapter 78: Chapter 78 - Grens City (2/2)
Solving mysterious ways of creating greater things from smaller pieces was a heart-burning pa.s.sion of his, one he was certain he'd never abandon.
The Major's Manor was guarded heavily; even at the outermost gates, dozens of guards stared at the people like hawks from five meters tall walls. The gates themselves were tightly shut, and people would have to walk through the small doors at the side if they wanted to enter.
When the guards saw an unfamiliar, shabby-looking youth approach, they brandished their weapons tightly, ready to pounce at him immediately.
”Turn around and leave. You can't beg here!” one of the guards who was stationed in front of the gates beckoned Lino.
”Ho ho, I'm not here to beg big bro,” Lino said, putting on an innocent, childish smile. ”I'm here to present a gift to the honored Major!”
”A gift? You?” the guard scoffed. ”Beat it, kid. What could you possibly have to gift to the Major?”
”Here,” Lino casually took out the mirror and handed it to the guard. ”Also mention I'm the one who crafted it when you hand it over.” the guard naturally had no intention to take the mirror, but when he heard the youth crafted it, he became a bit intrigued. Not many people knew it, but the Major was far more impressed by people like blacksmiths, talisman and rune inscribers, formation and array masters etc., than by cultivators. Taking the mirror, he quickly looked at the stats and found himself sh.e.l.lshocked. His eyes darted between the mirror and the youth, seemingly in complete disbelief.
”Old San, what are you standing like a statue? Shoo him away already.” the voice of another guard jolted the man out of his stupor whereupon he swallowed a large gulp of saliva, immediately reevaluating the youth in front of him.
”You sure you crafted this?”
”Aye, with these beautiful hands of mine!” Lino still smiled widely.
”Wait here.” without daring to delay for a second, the guard called San darted through the small doors and headed toward the Manor. Though the other guards were confused, they said nothing and merely waited.
Major's Manor was ma.s.sive, far larger than any other compound - even those of three great Sects - and could house hundreds if not thousands of people at the time. Without paying heed to strange gazes headed his way from the city's officials, he immediately headed toward the tower.
The tower was like an oval obelisk, and was nearly a hundred meters tall, guarded day and night by no less than fifty people, all of whom were at least at Soul Realm. He was immediately stopped as he approached, despite his guard insignia.
”You have no clearance to be here. Step back immediately.” a guard that was half a head taller than San stepped out and pointed a ma.s.sive sword. The latter, however, didn't even flinch and presented the mirror to the guard.
”A blacksmith has come to present this to the Major,” San said, bowing slightly. ”I am certain it would be most welcome.”
”...” the heavily armored guard took the mirror and inspected it only for a moment before his ever-cold eyes shone in strange light. ”Wait here. I suspect Major will want to reward you.”
”Yes!” while San waited outside, the heavily armored guard headed inside the tower and climbed to the topmost floor. There, a door to a room awaited him and he respectfully knocked, waiting for nearly a minute before a melodic voice replied.
”Come in.” opening the doors, the guard went inside slowly and immediately knelt; on the other end was a table with a large bookshelf behind it. In-between the two, sitting atop a mildly decorated chair, was a thirty-something woman, her black hair braided beautifully, face decorated with only a small amount of make-up. She had a mix of gentle and fierce features, with small nose and full lips and black eyes that looked like nightly sky. It turned out that the city's Major was actually a woman.
”Oh? Evan? Has something happened?” the woman asked, seeming surprised over the guard's visit.
”Please take a look.” the guard called Evan spoke respectfully and handed over the mirror. ”A man claiming to be a blacksmith brought this in as a gift.” the woman seemed immediately intrigued and took the mirror, tracing its surface with the finger before inspecting its stats, only to be left shocked, like two guards before her.
”... invite him up. Immediately.” the woman said; the guard seemed to have expected it and left without saying another word, leaving woman who started caressing the mirror. ”Interesting... now, I wonder what is it that you want from me?” the woman once again looked at the mirror's stats and sighed. Though it was crafted from low-level materials, and couldn't help one's fighting capabilities that much, the crafter's talent oozed from every single inch of the mirror.
[Disillusioned Heart - Unique]
Level: 0
Defense: 0
Durability: 10
Special Effect: Can see through any illusion below the G.o.dmaster Rank
Special Effect: Can become a core of a large-scale Formation, either Illusion or Disillusion one
Note: Crafted from low-level materials, it mainly denotes the Blacksmith's talent; indispensable auxiliary item.
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