Chapter 16: Unexpected Quest
Kurosawa invited Gerard to his workshop hidden in his house and Gerard was about to follow him, but suddenly, his eyes grew wide and his pupil dilated in shock!
A familiar sound echoes in his ears and he didn't hesitate to open his Menu Interface
[System Notification]
[The Host received a quest]
[Due to an unexpected encounter with a hidden expert, the Host received a quest. Learn and become Apprentice Blacksmith under the Guidance of Kurosawa.]
[Condition: The Host has 2 days to complete the quest. If failed, the issued quest will be deemed void and the Host cannot receive an appropriate reward]
[Rewards upon completion]
50 Silver Coins
50 Eternal Coins
10 Metal Ore
Unlock another Tab in Supreme System Menu Interface
After reading the information regarding the quest, different emotion surge in Gerard's heart. If he is alone right now, he will surely clutch his chest right now.
He never dreams of getting or receiving a quest from other NPCs! Not even once! The reason being is the information indicated on his character is clear as daylight. For leisure type only. Although he was able to own the Supreme System Menu Interface, it never occurs to him that he can also receive quests. Although he can receive a quest in Town Hall the rewards are limited to increasing his Charisma.
So when the Menu Interface shocked him with this news, he almost jump in delight!
Before he considers himself as one of the NPC and completely blends in with them, but since he can now receive quests, a tremendous advantage was given to him. The advantage far surpasses players and at the same time, he can also issue quests.
What's more, he can also learn a subclass job that the player has, and no matter how much Gerard control his emotion, just the thought of the possibility that he can learn other subclasses made his knees weak.
All players can only have one subclass at the beginning stage of the game, but when the story progresses, the Superior System will grant them another subclass to choose from.
Those players who didn't choose a subclass upon logging in on the official launch will get to choose two subclasses job once the system grants everyone and offer them the subclasses they can choose from.
Many players choose to ignore and didn't choose any subclass upon logging in on the official launch. The reason being is for them to advance their main job class and second, they are hoping to choose useful subclasses later on.
These types of players are the core players to the bone. They only care about becoming strong.
But players who foreseen the advantage of choosing a subclass at the beginning of the game will most likely become rich later. Because they know that these subclasses will bring them fortune over time when players' levels start increasing.
And Gerard belongs to this type of player so when he learned he can receive quests and at the same time learned a subclass job, his heart start pounding hard making his knees weak.
Inwardly, he is laughing like a villain in every manga and novel.
Feeling his knee become weak, he quickly put his right hand on the wall to help himself to keep standing.
Kurosawa noticed his abrupt action and asked him "Are you okay? You seem pale" As a highly intelligent NPC, he cannot help but doubt Payne again.
"D-don't mind it. I think I am just hungry, I only eat a little snack for breakfast and lunch that is why." Gerard wryly smiles and controls his pounding heart.
"Is that so? I have some foods left so you can freely eat it. Do you want to eat it first?"
Gerard quickly stood up straight and wave his hand repeatedly "No, I am fine. I still can carry on. In fact, I am used to being hungry."
Kurosawa in turn scrutinizes him "If you are sure, then follow me." turn around and proceeds to his workshop.
Gerard heaves a sigh of relief and follows Kurosawa. He also noticed Kurosawa's eyes flicker and he sure as hell the latter doubt him again.
He decided not to get himself in the same situation again. If Kurosawa doubted him, his chance to open another tab in his Menu Interface will be gone and before he can encounter another chance, he never knows.
Besides, the reward is too much even for him. The monetary rewards alone can last him a month without doing anything.
As for metal ore, he already had a hunch, it will serve as ingredients for him to forge weapons. And when he wants to sell it, he is not sure how much he can earn. But one thing is for sure, Metal Ore is hard to obtain.
Even Merchants didn't offer and sell it publicly. If he wants to obtain metal ore, he needs to mine it or hire a miner NPC. But hiring a miner NPC will cost him a lot.
Shorty, the two arrive at the workshop.
Gerard was amazed at how neat and clean the workshop was. All the materials and ingredients are placed in order.
Kurosawa smiled and felt proud when he glanced at the awe expression plastered on Gerard's face.
Usually, a blacksmith workshop is messy and materials are all over the place. But Kurosawa's workshop is different. No wonder, he was titled, Expert Blacksmith.
"Okay stop dillydallying, let's start! First, show me how you hammer that incomplete sword."
Gerard glanced at the sword that is seems to be still hot and almost finished. It already has a perfect shape to be called a sword, the hilt is also well-made. Gerard deduce it only needed a few hammering before it can be ready to be used.
Gerard becomes serious. This is it! Although this is the first time he will hammer a sword, the information about blacksmiths and forging a weapon is all inside his head. He needs to only apply it in this situation.
What is left to convince Kurosawa he has the potential to become a Blacksmith.
Since the dawn of times, and the first time the Blacksmith emerges, their work is often shrouded with mystery. Because through the fire, the Blacksmith transforms hard, unyielding metal into a variety of forms. That is why at the dawn of the Industrial Revolutionary, they created all kinds of steel tools available there.
If he performs well, then his future is set to be good.
Gerard treads forward where the tools are placed. He saw the hearth with its bellows and placed it near the fireplace, together with water through, shovels, tongs, rake, poker, and water container for dumping down the fire and cooling objects.
After putting everything in place, he treads toward the Anvil, the most important single tool for a blacksmith.
The heated metal is shaped on the anvil by hammering. The flat face of the anvil must be tempered to become more durable than the material being formed.
He seated pick up the incomplete sword and was about to put it on the Hearth riddles with charcoal as fuel when he noticed something amiss on the sword.
He scrutinized the sword greatly, brandish it on its handle and flip it gently. His brows are furrowed and his very essence right now is like a professional blacksmith.
Kurosawa grinned. It seems he knows huh? Good. Very good. He thought inwardly.
Earlier Kurosawa offer him how to make a weapon, but when he heard what Payne knew about the Blacksmith trade, he was convinced this brat have a high potential in the same trade. That is why he was eager to see if it was true so when they come home, fortunately for him, there was an unfinished sword that needed forging. So he asked Payne to hammer.
Let's see if he can unravel the truth. His grin grew more wildly as Payne tried to deduce what was amiss with the sword.
Meanwhile, Gerard contemplated the sword.
This is difficult. The sword has some glint of luster on it so he can assume the steel that was used is stainless steel. But the other part of the sword has some matt texture that can identify as carbon steel.
Carbon steel and Stainless steel is a different kinds of metal but are often used in forging. To differentiate the two, one needs to know the alloy content, Carbon steel needed 10 alloy content while the latter needs 10 or more. It is hard to differentiate the two without advanced proper equipment.
So when he noticed a glint of luster that only stainless steel should have, he knew the metal was used stainless steel but the matt texture from the edge to the pointy part of the sword can be easily guessed as carbon steel.
He already had a hunch why these two types of steel were used. But who is the sane blacksmith who will combine two steel? Although the two can be combined the effect it can trigger will make the weapon deteriorate more quickly than anticipated.
What kind of brain is this Expert Blacksmith has? Is he some kind of idi---?
He was about to belittle Kurosawa in his mind, suddenly it dawn on him which made him laugh inwardly.
Of course! Of course! How should I forget? This Elite NPC is like a rebellious phase regarding the Blacksmith trade!
Gerard remembers Kurosawa was also known as an unorthodox Blacksmith. He produces weird weapons compromised with a different metal.
Gerard grinned and put the sword on the hearth to heat it again.
Now he knows what to do.
Figuring out the heat is enough, he retrieve the sword and placed it on the anvil. He grips the hilt of the sword and starts hammering the weapon.
Gerard's smile grew wide as the sword is being made. After a few hammering, he dumps the sword into the water container. It created a sizzling sound and smoke rise from the water container.
After a few moments, he retrieves the sword back and lifts it, and awe filled his face like he was the original creator of the sword.
Suddenly, he heard Kurosawa's merry laughter. He instantly put the sword back on the anvil.
"So how it is? How did you feel when you finish creating a sword? The feeling is great right?"
"It is as you said, Sir." Gerard politely responded back.
"Good. Good. Now, I have a question. What do you think about the sword?"
Kurosawa's smiling face turn to seriousness.
Is he talking about the metal that was used to create this sword, he inwardly thought as he glanced at the sword placed in the anvil. What could it be right?
Gerard sighed.
"I am not sure either but there is the major metal that was used. From the Middle section to the Ricasso, if I'm not wrong, the metal used is stainless steel due to its luster that only presents in stainless steel while from the Middle section to the pointy edge of the sword, it has a matt texture that can be easily guessed as carbon steel."
Gerard is somewhat proud of his answer. He is a history professor so it is natural he knew something about the blacksmith trade and since he was a Senior Developer, he has access to the early development of the game. He deemed it enough for him to show he has potential in this trade.
Kurosawa was taken aback. He was shocked this brat was able to point it out.
Earlier, after scrutinizing the sword, he anticipate Payne will heat the sword for a long period of time but it was the opposite. The purpose is to test Payne if he can tell apart the material that was used. Whatever he will do will not affect his decision to polish this brat to the blacksmith trade but when he saw Payne retrieve the sword back and start hammering it, he knew from the start that this brat has potential!
If he is still open to the blacksmith trade publicly, he is sure only a few can tell apart the material that was used. From that point onward, he decided to keep Payne around and teach him thoroughly, after all, he is getting old and his age is keeping up with him. It is a pity if he cannot impart his knowledge to younger generations.
His nature in battle is ostentatious but in terms of the blacksmith trade, his humility is overbearing. He didn't boast anything related to the blacksmith trade. So when he noticed the innocent awe filling his face, instead of bragging about it, he become respectful towards Payne.
But the other thing is how he names those materials. That is the first time he knows about it that was he was taken aback earlier and his face almost dimmed.
The reason being is could it be somewhere already knows about the material he just recently discovered?
The stainless steel. And what he called metal? Carbon steel?
To make sure, he inquire "Brat, how did you know about the stainless steel?"
Gerard was returned to his normal state and the awe-filled on his face was banished.
"Uh. I think because of my stepfather. He used to say about… about some metals are not prone to rust which is why he called them stainless…"
Kurosawa's brow arched "And carbon steel? What a peculiar name to name the metal. It seems your stepfather is very adaptable to the blacksmith trade. It is a pity I didn't able to meet him. I might learn something new from him. Did he leave you something about the blacksmith trade? Come on! Tell me!"
Gerard almost run from him when he saw the hungry face of Kurosawa.
Scary!
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone