1031 Hoginas Gun Part 1 (2/2)

Saleen nodded. ”Well, even so, the Water Flame Alchemy would also enhance the durability of the equipment. Give me your gun, Hogina, I'll re-craft it a bit for you.”

Hogina did not refuse. The reason Saleen had stopped for breaks was mainly to craft equipment for Hogina after all. He feared for the safety of the alchemist girl tagging along. He deemed it best to craft powerful equipment for her to defend herself with, to prevent her from being helpless when something happened. He was unable to do anything for her personally.

Hogina's value laid not within her capacity for combat, but in her aptitude for alchemy. If Hogina was to lead the alchemic factories, Saleen would gain equipment that was both sturdier and more practical in no time.

The very reason why Saleen had demonstrated what he was capable of to her before they reached the Golden Plains was to catch her attention, in a bid to keep her around. While she had signed a contract with him, it was not a follower's contract. Hogina could still get herself free if she was able to pay a certain price. If the Grukos from the Golden Plains wanted her to work for them, there was no doubt that they would be able to afford it.

There was a saying among mages that went, ”When knowledge lies before you, you should never turn your back against it.”

Seeing what Saleen was capable of doing with his Water Flame Alchemy, there was simply little the Grukos would have been able to do to steal that alchemist with endless potential from him.

Saleen had genuine intentions of hiring Hogina. He would not be able to bag one such genius for himself in any other way, and definitely not through violent means. He felt himself able to understand Imposa a little bit better. Imposa was reluctant to keep her in the midst of conflict, which was why he kicked her out. He had hoped that she would be able to find some place quiet and without conflict, so she would have been able to stay alive, and keep studying.

Hogina did not go to either Cloudflow or Holy Rock City. She returned to Daliang City instead, and that was something Imposa would not have anticipated.

Hogina was indeed just as Saleen anticipated her to be. Even if someone was to put a mountain of gold before her, it would not have been enough to entice her to leave his side.

Saleen took out large amounts of metalized steel rock, to begin re-crafting her equipment.

The problem with Hogina's gun was that it required constant maintenance, and half of it performed like consumables. The maintenance of the barrel was tricky, and it would be made far easier using metalized steel rock, as it was a material that would be easy to repair.

Saleen noticed Hogina's change. The girl who seemed to be unable to grow up began to take interest in things around him. Saleen still went rummaging through his pile of materials when he went re-crafting Hogina's equipment.

Hogina's eyes sparkled looking at the materials in Saleen's hands, just like how Nailisi did when she found her targets.

Alchemists were not a greedy bunch. Their greatest desire usually laid with crafting a unique piece of something with their own hands. It need not be something meant for war, but it had to be a magical equipment, and one that stood out from the others.

One example of which was Hogina's gun. It was something she had researched and completed on her own, and it was anyone's guess what she had gone through to be able to craft something like that. She did not have Imposa's aid in completing the weapon, which gave her immense satisfaction when her equipment was finally completed.

The actual power of a mage and financial strength that Saleen had demonstrated would be more than enough to catch her attention.

Alchemists did not yearn for battles. Their training methods were also done entirely through magic experiments, as well as crafting all manner of equipment and pharmaceuticals.

”Alright, Saleen. I'll stay by your side from here on out and I'll never leave.” Hogina was not stupid; she was able to tell what Saleen tried to pull.

”That's nice to hear.” Despite obviously having his cover blown, he did not mind at all. It would have been peculiar if he did not try to do something like that instead.

”I don't want to just craft weapons. I'll need an alchemy laboratory. The very expensive kind.” There was sadness in her eyes. Saleen knew that Hogina did not want to lose her freedom, yet she could not help but be attracted to what Saleen had to offer.

With the world being in such a mess, an alchemist like Hogina would either be hired or be killed, stemming from the mentality of ”f I can't have it, no one can”. Even if Saleen would not have gone to such extremes, he would still have thought of ways to prevent Hogina from working with others. The reason why Hogina did not dare to go to Cloudflow or Alchemy City was because she knew of her own value.

It was not always a good thing to be of value. Her intuition told her, from her interactions with Saleen, that the man at least would not treat her with violence. Whatever Saleen had done, he was still a very proper mage.

”That is a given. I have factories, which means I won't need to craft equipment personally. What I need from you, is for you to continue to go about your research. At the very least, that is the best option you have before you.”