Chapter 78: Ranking List

Chapter 78: Ranking List He looked at it for a while before picking some instruments from the neatly arranged shelf at the side.

That was probably the only thing which was in the room that was arranged apart from another shelf which helps several different things he couldn’t recognize. He did manage to recognize a few weapons that had been uniquely crafted.

Aside those two shelves, the whole space was a total mess. Materials and unknown objects scattered all around the place making it hard to find stable footing, but the man didn’t seem to care as he kicked all the obstacles along his way to getting his equipment.

After a few more minutes of inspection with his tools, he turned to Kieran and said with a professional face.

"Hmm, the bastards really do their best to preserve their reputation. The work is good for a weapon of that level."

"I don’t know the kind of stress you’ve put it through, but that, coupled with your carelessness put it in a really bad shape."

"There’s the obvious crack across the blade and the ones on the polearm. Apart from that. There are several not so noticeable fissures across the whole weapon. I’d say the next time you used it in a serious fight in that state, you’d have it shattered in the first strike"

The man gave Kieran a breakdown on what he had noticed after conducting a full inspection on the weapon, making Kieran realize just how much he had neglected his weapon.

He had even thought of using it even if he couldn’t get it fixed. Who knew it was going to fail the next time he put it to use. The man was right, he was one of those who just saw the weapon as a tool, means to an end.

Seems like he had to change this way of thinking. It conflicted with the idea behind the last step of the technique; to follow the weapon back to the origin.

While it was too early for him to bother himself with the advanced aspect of his technique while he was still struggling to comprehend the first step, it wasn’t too bad to get the correct mindset now.

"Can it be fixed?"

Kieran asked after thinking through all the errors he had made so far.

"No!"

The man said, making Kieran’s heart sink a little. No matter how he wanted to phrase it, he was just too broke to get a new weapon, even if it was the mass-produced version and not a custom made one.

"But there is a way"

He added after a few moments, bringing Kieran out of his messy thoughts.

"What’s that?" He asked, keen to hear the solution to his current problem.

"Get a new one!" He said, instantly shooting Kieran back to how he was feeling before.

"That’s the best thing you can do." The man advised seeing Kieran’s slumped shoulders, misunderstanding why he didn’t want to get another weapon.

’Does this one mean that much to him?’ The man wondered, seeing Kieran in a new light, but Kieran’s next words shattered his thoughts.

"I do, but too broke for that. All I can afford right now is repair."

Kieran finally stated the reason why he had been avoiding the idea of getting a new weapon.

"I ..... see" The man scratched his bald head, an awkward silence depending among them

"Alright, I there IS another way. While I can’t fix it, I will just have to re forge the weapon. After the process though, it won’t be like you have been used to, keep that in mind"

"And the price?"

"500 CP"

Kieran suppressed a wince at the man’s words. He was back to working in the kitchen, but even then, his pocket was going to feel the sting, a painful one.

"Alright!"

"You just need to sign here, here and here. The money will be deducted afterwards."

The man said, preparing a contract in front of Kieran before sending it to him by bring their watches in contact with each other.

Reading through the contents of the contract, Kieran looked back to the man’s face suppressing the shock within him.

The terms of the contract were very simple and direct. All Kieran had to do was to pay and wait till the job was completed without disturbing him and he, the blacksmith, had to complete the job and reforge Kieran’s scythe.

If the weapon was damaged or broken within the first 2 months, then he would fix it or make a new one entirely for Kieran, all out if his own pocket.

He was either very confident in his craftsmanship or he just had too much money and didn’t know how to spend it.

’With this there’s no way he wouldn’t be tempted to come back here as a happy customer, he might even bring some people along. They better be sensible ones.’ The man thought with a broad smile on his face.

"Thank you!" Kieran said, giving a deep bow.

He didn’t know what he was thinking, but with this, he wouldn’t have to worry much if his weapon got damaged for the next two months.

"Sure, sure!" A faint blush crept up the man’s face.

"I’ll be going then"

Kieran took his leave from the shop, only to realize moments later that he hadn’t asked for his name.

Unfortunately, it was too late to go back now. He had signed the contract and the first statement was to not disturb him until he was done. He had even given him a specific time to come for it. He would have to wait till then to ask for the name of the man.

With that sorted, he had nothing to do for the rest of the day. For the first time since his lost against Richard, he was free and not rushing to catch up to something.

’I might as well catch some sleep!" Kieran thought.

He needed it after all the ass whooping be had gotten earlier.

With this he made his way back to his room and crashed on his bed, falling to sleep instantly, missing the beep and notification that had popped up on his watch.

<Ranking list has been released>

<Challenges are now available!>